We horror fans are a highly opinionated bunch. But when you make your career and reputation around the genre – both in music and film – it’s even more elevated. Take Rob Zombie, who has never been one to shy away from his opinions on horror cinema both brilliant and whatever Gus Van Sant was trying to pull with Psycho. Mr. Robert Zombie is certainly no stranger to directing crap of his own, but he definitely has some choice words for some flicks that he thinks can (thunder) kiss off.
Ranking at #1 for Rob Zombie is Dracula 2000, particularly calling out Gerard Butler…even if he can’t remember his name. “This may be the worst movie ever committed to film. I found every single thing about it to be offensive, from top to bottom. You just stare at it in shock…Dracula is a tough character to play, you’ve got to really bring something to the table, and I don’t even remember the guy in this movie. Everything about this movie is complete horse sh*t.”
Coming up in the #2 spot is a movie that we’d hardly consider horror but Rob Zombie felt the need to call out anyway: 2001’s The Mummy Returns, which he called “a 10th generation crappy Raiders of the Lost Ark rip-off.” Another movie Zombie particularly hates is the aforementioned shot-for-shot Psycho remake, which he deemed “pointless.” As for #4, Zombie had even a hard time remembering if he had watched Scream 2 or Scream 3 and so went with the former as his pick. Something wrong with the reveal, Rob?
Rounding out Rob Zombie’s list of the worst horror movies ever is one that many of us probably grew up on: post-Scream teen slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer, ripping at the villain. “Once again, dopey teen actors being menaced by … what? The Morton’s Fisherman guy? That’s not a horror movie, that’s barely a Nancy Drew mystery. Jennifer Love Hewitt would have to be riding on a pony stark naked to make this worthwhile.”
Personally, I’m a fan of Scream 2 and dig I Know What You Did Last Summer for what it is, but can understand his reasoning for Psycho’s inclusion and love his colorful take on Dracula 2000.
What do you think of Rob Zombie’s list of the worst horror movies ever made? Which would you include on your own?
WB Games and Player First Games (PFG) are set to relaunch MultiVersus (MVS) soon, bringing back one of the most exciting “platform fighters” in recent memory. The situation around the Open Beta period was fraught with some confusing messaging and technical issues leading to frustration from the fans, to say the least.…
WB Games and Player First Games (PFG) are set to relaunch MultiVersus (MVS) soon, bringing back one of the most exciting “platform fighters” in recent memory. The situation around the Open Beta period was fraught with some confusing messaging and technical issues leading to frustration from the fans, to say the least.…
No man is an island. As much as we hate to admit it, sometimes, no one gets anywhere in life without someone believing in them. The same is true for Hollywood. It takes the stars aligning (pun intended) for any success story for anyone to really make it, and especially to escape the shadow of how they may be initially perceived.
There may be no better example of that than Mr. Channing Tatum. He told GQ in 2009, “I got crazy lucky. Like, sometimes I think I won the lottery or something. I don’t really know how I got here. But I just keep moving forward, and it just keeps getting better and better.” Had the stars aligned differently, he could have been just an exotic dancer and never entered the public consciousness. Or just a model. Or just played a jock. Or just played generic romantic leads. Or just played generic action roles. Or faded into obscurity after 2018 like so many others have before. Or remained purely in front of the camera. Or maybe just been loved instead of beloved. But WTF happened to Channing Tatum to make him beloved? To learn that, let’s start, as we do, at the beginning, where the beginning began.
Channing Matthew Tatum, Chan to his friends and family, was born on April 26, 1980, in the small town of Cullman, Alabama, USA. His family moved to Mississippi when he was 6. He wasn’t born on the bayou, but he got there pretty quickly. Football was one of his first loves, but after receiving a football scholarship, he soon realized that it wasn’t something he wanted to make a career of. He found himself having to work for a living (tragic, I know) and worked construction like his father had before landing a job at a Dillard’s perfume counter. He was soon fired (he says he quit) for breaking into dance while on the job. He figured he may as well get paid to dance and started work as an exotic dancer. That experience would serve him well later. In 2000, a man saw Channing Tatum on the street and told him that he should be a model and that all he had to do was come back to his apartment. Luckily, Tatum only listened to the first part, didn’t get “Weinsteined,” and went to a modeling agency of his own volition.
Tatum walked the runway for brands like Marc Ecko and Sean John and was in ad campaigns for brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Pepsi/Mountain Dew. His first acting gig came when he appeared in Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” music video in 2000 as a bartender with face paint and a mohawk. His 2002 Mountain Dew spot, in particular, may have earned him the right people’s attention. More on that in a bit.
His first and really only television acting gig, since portraying himself on The Simpsons in 2014 doesn’t count, was on CSI: Miami in 2004, wherein he was spotted as aspiring white rapper Bob Davenport. His first major movie role was in 2005’s Coach Carter. Samuel L. Jackson certainly carries the movie on his shoulders, but Tatum showed his acting potential as one of a group of basketball players, and the coach uses his unique approach to inspire. Tatum originally had a small speaking role in 2005’s War of the Worlds, but he was reduced to a background extra in editing.
After supporting roles in Supercross: The Movie and Havoc, Tatum landed his first leading and real breakout role in 2006 with She’s the Man. Amanda Bynes said this took her championing for his inclusion after she saw him in his Mountain Dew commercial. Obviously, casting directors Sarah Halley Finn and Randi Hiller, who would go on to contribute to the success of the MCU, and director Andy Fickman, fresh off Reefer Madness, deserve credit, as well. Channing Tatum rewarded them for their trust. Fickman would go on to praise Tatum’s character and work ethic. His character is one of the most endearing aspects of a movie that, while it wasn’t initially commercially or critically successful, has gone on to cult status. He showed his dedication by training for weeks to look convincing as a skilled soccer player. He offered early glimpses of the comedic chops he would later come to be known for with one-liners that have persisted in the minds of viewers for decades since. But more poignant and relevant is when he quotes the play upon which the movie is loosely based: Shakespeare’s The Twelfth Knight: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” I think we’re finding that all three apply to Mr. Channing Tatum.
Next up, Tatum would step up with 2006’s Step Up. Depending on who you ask, his charm was one of the few redeeming aspects of the formulaic and shallow movie. He rounded out his busy 2006 with A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. He steals every scene he’s in in the best possible way in a movie where he proves his dramatic acting ability. After serving as a member of a loaded ensemble cast for 2007’s Battle in Seattle, Channing Tatum appeared in the solid if depressing wartime movie Stop-Loss in 2008. The marketing for 2009’s Fighting leaned hard into Tatum’s sex appeal, and his physicality in performing the top-notch fight choreography goes some distance toward masking a derivative and underwhelming story.
Channing’s 2009 started with Public Enemies, in which he portrayed “Pretty Boy” Floyd, which is…fitting. The film leans more toward style than substance, but Tatum showed he could hold his own with Hollywood heavyweights Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. His first smash hit, since War of the Worlds doesn’t count, was 2009’s G.I. Joe: TheRise of Cobra, which is basically a cartoon shot in live-action, for better or mostly worse. Maybe if director Stephen Sommers had allowed for more levity like he did in his timeless masterpiece The Mummy, critics would have been fonder of it. But more importantly to our story, G.I. Joe proved that Channing Tatum could carry a blockbuster franchise. For his part, he’s since said he regrets his participation, largely due to his reverence for the source material, but also because he…ahem…”fucking hated the script.”
In 2010’s Dear John, Tatum portrayed…John. The movie did what all romance movies have tried to do since 2004: recapture the lightning in a bottle of that other movie based on a Nicholas Sparks book. Channing’s chemistry with costar Amanda Seyfried is…fine…but the movie treads over too much old ground to be worth seeking out. Tatum’s next film was 2011’s The Dilemma, which is also a dilemma for the viewer. A Ron Howard-helmed dark comedy with THIS cast? Sign me up…in theory. In practice, not so much. But Channing is kinda perfect as 2011’s version of a f***boi.
Channing Tatum played a soldier again in 2011’s The Eagle, this time one from ancient Rome. This may be one of the few times where the movie’s poor reception can be placed on Tatum’s shoulders for his wooden delivery, but it can be tough to discern sometimes where it’s the fault of the actor or if the writer should have showcased a defter hand or the director a firmer one. Next up for Channing Tatum was the crime drama The Son of No One, which no one saw, despite Tatum and Al Pacino in top billing. If you have a strange itch to see a Dito Montiel/Channing Tatum flick, just watch AGuide to Recognizing Your Saints. And maybe see a doctor.
2011’s Haywire was director Steven Soderbergh’s consolation prize after being dropped from Moneyballas well as lightning rod Gina Carano’s acting debut. The movie wasn’t a hit with audiences, but it did mark the start of Soderbergh’s working relationship with our hero, Channing Tatum, who would go on to be called Soderbergh’s “muse”. You could even say they’d go on to make magic together. Tatum finished up 2011 with 10 Years, where the core message is “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” It’s tough to say things were staying the same for Channing Tatum, who in 2012 starred in box office smash romance film The Vow opposite Rachel McAdams. Maybe she’s the romance movie linchpin.
Channing Tatum’s career to this point wouldn’t make his assignment to a buddy comedy reboot of a beloved 80s police procedural especially intuitive, but costar Jonah Hill, writer Michael Bacall, and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller looked at Tatum and saw their guy. His performance in 2012’s 21 Jump Street perhaps did more to change perceptions about him than any other movie. Mostly shoehorned into romantic and action films, to that point, Channing Tatum showed that he had a funny bone, in addition to his square jaw and chiseled abs in a movie that called for precise comedic timing and leaned on improv. His expanded range begat expanded appeal in one of the most pivotal years in his career.
When the original director fell through for Channing Tatum’s next very loosely autobiographical passion project, he remembered how well he vibed with Steven Soderbergh, who was excited for the reunion. This partnership spawned the Magic Mike franchise, with the namesake debuting in 2012. It was a really big hit with women, for some reason, and went a long way toward earning Tatum People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2012. 2012 also marks the peak popularity of the first name “Channing.” Our guy was on top of the world.
Tatum was back with Soderbergh for 2013’s Side Effects, a tight thriller about how the effects of drugs can amplify, magnify, and cascade. Soderbergh trusted Channing Tatum to once again act against type in the subdued supporting role.
Channing returned to his blockbusting ways with 2013’s GI Joe: Retaliation. I don’t ever care to see it, again, but it made nearly $400m at the box office, so what do I know? Spoiler Alert: Tatum’s contract with the studio obligated him to be in the movie but didn’t dictate how much, so he asked to have his character killed off right away, and the studio complied. Some former wrestlers took the reins from there. Also in 2013, Tatum appeared as one of many famous faces playing facsimiles of themselves in This is the End and in the action thriller White House Down, wherein his earnest performance is diluted by loose direction and distracting editing. This is one of those movies that’s gone on to be called self-aware parody, which I think is sometimes a crutch for underwhelming movies.
Channing was back with Lord and Miller in 2014 for The Lego Movie, with Tatum voicing Superman. He’d aptly embody the necessary gravitas and reprise the role in 2017’s The LEGO Batman Movie and 2019’s The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. Can Lord and Miller do no wrong? The band was back together again for 2014’s 22 Jump Street. The success of the first film justified the sequel we didn’t know we needed and yet appreciated even more than the “original” or “reboot” or whatever you want to call it. Tatum builds on his prior performance in a movie that’s a bit more meta, a bit more topical, and a bit more fun.
In 2014’s beautifully animated The Book of Life, the most unbelievable thing in the mythical tale is that Tatum was the odd man out in a love triangle. The next trio he was a part of was a trio of Oscar baiters for 2014’s Foxcatcher. Unfortunately, while his costars Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo were deservedly nominated, he wasn’t, despite critical acclaim.
2014 also marked the formal announcement of Fox’s unmade Gambit film, with Channing Tatum attached in the titular role. The journey of that unmade film could be its own video. Suffice to say that development hell and the Disney acquisition put the kibosh on it. Rumors persist that Tatum will embody the Ragin’ Cajun in an upcoming film, and he was long passionate about the character, so we can certainly hope one of those rumors comes true.
Channing Tatum proved his ruggedness when he ran wild with Bear Grylls on Running Wild with Bear Grylls in 2014 and again in 2019. Tatum’s first 2015 film was Jupiter Ascending. I think back in 1999, people would have thought, “Oh, The Wachowskis and sci-fi! What could go wrong?” but by 2015, they would have probably realized, “Oh, yeah, a whole lot.” 2015 also saw Magic Mike XXL, directed by Soderbergh collaborator Gregory Jacobs. Tatum’s enthusiastic cheering for Joe Manganiello’s “Big Dick Richie” as he tries to seduce a store clerk is a highlight. Channing Tatum went from leading an ensemble to a small role in one for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. Tarantino, as a director, has maybe the highest floor in film history, but to many, this film is that floor.
In 2016, Channing Tatum made a memorable appearance on Lip Sync Battle, though his then-wife Jenna Dewan may have been even better. He worked under the Coen Brothers for 2016’s Hail, Caesar!, a meta film appreciated more by critics than audiences because Hollywood types love movies about themselves. For his critically triumphant return from self-imposed retirement, director Steven Soderbergh looked to his muse, Channing Tatum, along with a positively unhinged Daniel Craig, for 2017’s Logan Lucky. Channing Tatum elevates a flick that grabs you by whatever bits you have and doesn’t let go.
Tatum kept the adrenaline flowing with the 2017 follow-up Kingsman: The Golden Circle, wherein he played a member of the Kingsman’s American counterpart, the Statesman. And you just know he had to dance in it. Channing Tatum lent his voice to the lead role in 2018’s Smallfoot, where, subversively, we follow his character, Migo the Yeti, as he discovers the existence of humans.
Following 2018, Channing seemed content to be behind the scenes for a couple of years, earning a couple of producer credits as the world went into hiding and he entered into a messy if amicable divorce. We’d next see him on the silver screen in a cameo-level appearance for his friend Ryan Reynolds in 2021’s Free Guy. He got to be silly and nerdy, something he’s grown to be really good at. He also led the Netflix animated revisionist history feature America: TheMotion Picture as a chainsaw-wielding George Washington.
2022’s Dog perhaps marked the true comeback of Channing Tatum. The movie, which he starred in and co-directed with Reid Carolin, represented a major bet on himself. Most of the runtime features just Tatum and the titular dog, the Belgian Malinois Lulu. For all the dog’s talents, Tatum did much of the heavy lifting. If Tatum leaned on anything comfortable, he did so in once again portraying a soldier. The movie made its budget back on its opening weekend during a time when movie theaters were still recovering, a testament to Channing Tatum’s enduring talent and star power.
Channing Tatum returned to his romance roots with 2022’s The Lost City…kinda. The hit movie serves to emphasize Tatum’s versatility, as he’s tasked to balance elements of romance, action, adventure, and comedy. I think the then 41-year-old Tatum and 57-year-old Sandra Bullock look better in this movie than most of us have looked in our entire lives. Also, in 2022, Tatum cameoed in David Leitch’s Bullet Train as a character that fans have speculated may be far more multifaceted than he initially appears.
Channing Tatum was named one of Time’s most influential people in 2022. The feature, penned by Matthew McConaughey, is about as vague and cryptic as you’d expect. It’s worth seeking out if you’re a fan of either man. Tatum’s only 2023 film was Magic Mike’s Last Dance, wherein he showcases a chemistry with Salma Hayek that would make his Hateful Eight director Quinten Tarantino jealous.
If 2005 was the debut, 2012 the peak, and 2022 the return, then 2024 might be the year of the Channing Tatum renaissance. He’s set to appear opposite Scarlett Johansson in Fly Me to the Moon, a romantic comedy-drama set against the backdrop of the 1960s space race. He’s playing tech entrepreneur Slater King in beau Zoë Kravitz’ directorial debut Blink Twice. He’s been attached to Soundtrack of Silence, Roofman, Calamity Hustle, andBloodlines, which are all in pre-production, as well as the announced Wingmen opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is also the writer and director.
I think it’s safe to say he’s escaped the shadow of his exotic dancer and model origins and joined the realm of the auteurs. He says he got lucky, but sometimes luck also means good genetics, natural talent, hard work, and the right people taking a chance on you. It looks like we’ll be getting more Channing Tatum for the foreseeable future, and I’m sure your mom and sister are happy about that. And I’d bet Amanda Bynes, Steven Soderbergh, Jonah Hill, and Channing Tatum himself are, too.
The goat is him. That sounds a little strange, but that’s what has happened with the title of the upcoming Jordan Peele-produced horror movie. Once titled GOAT (as in “greatest of all time”), the movie has since been retitled Him. It, too, has been given an official release date of September 19th, 2025.
Him was announced earlier this year, a few months before the most recent Jordan Peele production, Monkey Man, hit theaters. With that movie doing well with critics, Universal and Monkeypaw Productions are putting even more stock in him (and, well, Him).
Him, which has been described as “an anti-sports horror movie”, was actually part of the 2022 Black List, the annual survey which reveals the best unproduced screenplays of any given year. Then known as GOAT, Him has the following plot, as per The Black List: “A promising first-round draft pick is invited to train at the private compound of the team’s legendary but aging quarterback. Over one week, the rising star witnesses the horrific lengths his hero will go to to stay at the top of his game.” Interestingly, another football-centric movie, Madden – about the creation of the John Madden series of video games – also made that year’s list. That screenplay – which has found its Madden in Hugh Jackman and director in David O. Russell – is expected to begin filming later this year.
Certainly Jordan Peele is one of the key figures in horror right now, directing a trio of films that marked him as one of the reinventors of the genre. While he is only producing, Him will no doubt be one for fans to keep an eye on next year. Him will instead be directed by Justin Tipping, who made his mark on TV by directing episodes of Joe vs. Carole and Dear White People. The movie stars Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jeffries, and more. As per The Hollywood Reporter (citing Universal’s announcement), Him is a “blood-chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, power and the pursuit of excellence at any cost.”
Are you looking forward to Him? What do you think of Jordan Peele’s producing work so far? Let us know below.
Prime Video will be working with the UK production company Drama Republic on a new heist series. Drama Republic was also recently behind the 2024 romantic drama series One Day, which can be seen on Netflix. According to Deadline, the company will partner with Amazon on the heist series that currently has the working title Haven. An ensemble cast has been assembled for the team and the show will be headed up by Game of Thrones and X-Men series star Sophie Turner. Joining Turner will be Archie Madekwe, who had broken out in the dark comedy Saltburn, as well as Bodies cast member Jacob Fortune-Lloyd.
The synopsis plot synopsis from Deadline states that “Turner will play Zara, an office worker at pension fund investment company Lochmill Capital. Zara has her day upended when a gang of violent thieves burst in demanding she helps them steal billions of pounds of ordinary people’s pensions. Madekwe features as Zara’s best friend Luke, while Fortune-Lloyd will play DCI Rhys, a detective with a recently relapsed gambling problem who must keep his own money troubles at bay as he examines the Lochmill Capital crime.”
The project is written by S.A. Nikias, who is making his television writing debut. However, Nikias is no newcomer. He has written a series of crime novels in the past titled City Blues Quartet. Although he would be credited under the pseudonym of Ray Celestin. Sam Miller, the director of I May Destroy You, will be on board to helm the first three episodes of Haven. Miller is also serving as executive producer in addition to directing. Amazon MGM Studios is producing the show alongside Drama Republic. Vernon Sanders, who is the head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, professed that Haven is a “uniquely thrilling ride” and will provide a “gripping, addictive, entertaining” story for Prime Video subscribers.
This announcement is the latest to add to the string of Turner’s upcoming projects. She was recently reported to star in a psychological thriller called Trust as well as reunite with her Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington for The Dreadful. The Dreadful will be set against the backdrop of the War of the Roses, which took place from 1455 to 1487. The story follows Anne (Turner) and her mother-in-law Morwen, who live a solitary, harsh life on the outskirts of society. But when a man (Harington) from their past returns, he will set off a sequence of events that become a turning point for Anne.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has found its Galactus. The planet-eating villain will make his MCU debut in the upcoming Fantastic Four film, premiering next year. Final Fantasy XVI fans will immediately recognize his voice, because Ralph Ineson, the actor behind Cidolfus “Cid” Telamon, has officially secured the role.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has found its Galactus. The planet-eating villain will make his MCU debut in the upcoming Fantastic Four film, premiering next year. Final Fantasy XVI fans will immediately recognize his voice, because Ralph Ineson, the actor behind Cidolfus “Cid” Telamon, has officially secured the role.
Whether it’s large Marge in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure or the Ark being opened in Raiders of the Lost Ark, horror can spring up in all sorts of genres. Those moments excite you and work as an entry point into the true world of horror. Today, we’re looking at a film that checks all the boxes. We’re revisiting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and why it’s the perfect entry into the world of horror.
Are you in the mood to watch the ’90s TMNT movies again? BUY HERE to purchase a collection of the ’90s trilogy!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was directed by Steve Barron and written by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Bobby Herbeck. Here’s the synopsis: Four teenage mutant ninja turtles emerge from the shadows to protect New York City from a gang of criminal ninjas.
Tyler Nichols wrote, narrated, and edited the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ’90 episode of Revisited. John Fallon and Tyler Nichols produced it, with Berge Gerabedian as the executive producer.
What do you think of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Two previous episodes of Revisited can be seen below. To see more of our shows, head over to the JoBlo Horror Originals channel – and subscribe while you’re at it!
For those who remember, the game show Press Your Luck relied a lot on good timing. In a very roulette-like manner, contestants would watch squares on a board randomly be highlighted until they prompt it to stop in order to get the prize it halted on. An amazing episode in 1984 would have a contestant endlessly receiving good luck as he won big money every time he called, “Stop!” His fortune would be called into question as he would get accused of cheating on the show. Deadline has now shared the first look at Press Your Luck — a movie that will depict the events of that episode and all the controversy surrounding it, starring Paul Walter Hauser as the fateful contestant.
The synopsis, according to Deadline, reads, “Set in 1984, the film follows Ohio resident Michael Larson, who steps on to the set of game show Press Your Luck harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.”
Hauser leads the cast as Larson and he will be joined by an ensemble that features Walton Goggins (Fallout, The Hateful Eight), David Strathairn (Nomadland, Good Night and Good Luck), Emmy-nominated Maisie Williams (The New Look, Game of Thrones), Haley Bennett (Swallow, The Magnificent Seven), Shamier Anderson (John Wick: Chapter 4, Invasion), David Rysdahl (Fargo, Oppenheimer), Johnny Knoxville (Jackass, Dukes of Hazzard), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker, Chicago P.D.), Patti Harrison (Theater Camp, Together Together) and Shaunette Renée Wilson (Indiana Jones, Black Panther).
Maggie Briggs, known for Joyland, penned the screenplay and Samir Oliveros is on board as the director. Oliveros’ company, Plenty Good (Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint) is producing the film, and the co-producer is Fabula (El Conde). The film is currently in post-production. Protagonist Pictures will be handling international sales and CAA Media Finance represents the North American rights. Protagonist Pictures’ CEO, Dave Bishop, comments, “Samir has crafted a unique and stylish telling of the incredible true story of a down on his luck everyman gaming the system. We couldn’t be happier to be working with the very talented Samir and our friends at Fabula and Plenty Good.”
