It’s safe to say that Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated films of the year. Even a dual strike from the writers’ and actors’ unions couldn’t slow this new exciting entry down. The comic book frenemy rivalry between Deadpool and Wolverine of the X-Men was only hinted at with actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman taking friendly jabs at each other. Now that Disney has acquired Fox and the entire X-Men film franchise, the Merc with a Mouth’s inauguration into the MCU is going to be a crazy universe-bending ride. However, before Disney made its purchase and the Deadpool franchise was planning its third film outside of Marvel Studios, series co-star Karan Soni revealed the original story was a Christmas adventure.

Soni, who portrays Wade Wilson’s taxi-driving friend, Dopinder, recently spoke with ScreenRant while promoting A Nice Indian Boy at SXSW when he said that the story for Deadpool 3 was much different before the MCU got involved. When Soni was asked if he could spill some details on the initial story for the third Deadpool, he got to reveal some details,

Yes, I think it’s online a little bit, so I can. It was going to be originally a roadtrip movie where Deadpool tries to save Christmas , so we all go to the North Pole.”

When Disney bought Fox, the original Christmas angle was scrapped for a more multiverse-related plot. Soni also revealed that when Deadpool changed hands to Marvel Studios, he was kept more out of the loop. He wasn’t even aware when footage was set to be released, “All to say I didn’t get a script this time, thank God! They didn’t even tell me the trailer was coming out. I got to watch it when it came out, and I’m excited to be a small part of it.”

Soni also spoke about when he talked with his A Nice Indian Boy director, Roshan Sethi, years ago, he accidentally spilled the details of Hugh Jackman being in the next Deadpool sequel, “I didn’t even know it was coming.They’re not telling me anything, which is good. Honestly, to bring it back to Roshan [Sethi], on our first date I recapped the plot of Deadpool 3, which I wasn’t supposed to. This was the Fox version, which didn’t get made because the studio got sold or whatever. But we just met, and I was desperate to impress him, and I just blurted the entire thing. I told him Hugh Jackman was gonna be in it – this was years before.”

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From December through February, we followed the progress as writer/director Parker Finn assembled the cast for a sequel to his 2022 horror film Smile (read our review HERE, watch the movie HERE) – a project we’re referring to as Smile 2 until we hear otherwise. The cast includes  Naomi Scott of Aladdin and Charlie’s Angels, Lukas Gage of The White Lotus and You, Rosemarie DeWitt of La La Land and the Poltergeist remake, Dylan Gelula of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Dream Scenario, Raúl Castillo of Army of the Dead and Knives Out, Miles Gutierrez-Riley of The Wilds and On The Come Up, and Kyle Gallner (Red State), reprising the role he played in the first movie. The film is aiming for an October 18, 2024 theatrical release date, so we knew it had to be going to production soon, if it wasn’t already filming – and now Gage has confirmed that production is already underway. In fact, his work on the film is already finished!

The folks at Screen Rant caught up with Gage while he was attending the South by Southwest premiere of the Road House remake, which he has a role in. When asked about Smile 2, Gage told them, “I just wrapped. We finished in upstate New York. It’s gonna be really good. I’m really excited for everyone to see that one. Doing a lot of sequels, it feels like, this year. The year of the sequel. I hope you like it. Parker Finn, the director of that, it was crazy how much he knows this genre of movies and how he was able to recreate it and make it fresh. It was such a cool formula to follow. How did nobody think to do that creepy smile face? My smile face is so good.“

Smile was based on Finn’s short film Laura Hasn’t Slept (watch it HERE), which won the Special Jury Recognition Prize in SXSW’s Midnight Short category. Caitlin Stasey (Neighbours) played the title character in that short, and reprises the role in Smile, making it a follow-up of sorts. Smile has the following synopsis: After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

Stasey was joined in the cast by Sosie Bacon, Kal Penn, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Rob Morgan, Judy Reyes, and Gillian Zinser.

Smile was produced by Temple Hill, and they are producing Smile 2 as well.

Finn has previously said that he feels there’s a lot of interesting stuff left to explore in the world of Smile. “I would never want to just repeat myself or retread the same ground. I’d want to make sure that there’s a new, exciting, fresh way into it that the audience isn’t anticipating. I also want to find some new ways to scare them and unnerve them. But as far as how it may connect to the first one, I’d want that to be surprising as well.“

Are you looking forward to Smile 2? Are you glad to hear it’s so far along that Lukas Gage has already wrapped? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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X-Men: The Animated Series ran on Fox, as part of the Fox Kids programming block, for five seasons and a total of 76 episodes from October 31, 1992 to September 20, 1997. More than twenty years after the show went off the air, it’s getting a revival called X-Men ’97, which is set to premiere on the Disney+ streaming service on March 20th. With that date swiftly approaching, a new promo for X-Men ’97 has arrived online with the promise that this show is going to be “like old times.” You can check it out in the embed at the bottom of this article.

Here’s how Marvel describes the series: Following a familiar team with the “DNA of the original show,” an impactful event in X-Men ‘97 will launch the reunited X-Men into an all-new chapter that will resonate with fans of the original series. We’ve heard that Mister Sinister is the primary antagonist.

CanWeGetSomeToast claims to have revealed the titles of all ten episodes of the show’s first season:

E1: To Me, My X-Men
E2: Mutant Liberation Begins
E3: Fire Made Flesh
E4: Motendo
E5: Remember It
E6: Bright Eyes
E7: Shine With Strength Reborn
E8: Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1
E9: Tolerance is Extinction – Part 2
E10: Tolerance is Extinction – Part 3

X-Men: The Animated Series cast members Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Alison Sealy-Smith, Chris Potter, Catherine Disher, Adrian Hough, and Christopher Britton are back for the revival, with some reprising their original roles and some voicing new characters. The voice cast also includes Jennifer Hale, Anniwaa Buachie, Ray Chase, Matthew Waterson, JP Karliak, Holly Chou, Jeff Bennett, and AJ LoCascio.

Beau DeMayo is head writer and executive producer on X-Men ’97. Jake Castorena is supervising director and Charley Feldman is supervising producer. X-Men: The Animated Series producers and showrunners Eric and Julia Lewald are consultants on the show, as is original series director Larry Houston.

Marvel Comics will be publishing a four issue prequel comic book series that bridges the gap between the original show and this revival. The first issue of that series will reach store shelves on March 27th.

Will you be watching X-Men ’97? Let us know by leaving a comment below – but first, take a look at this promo:

The post X-Men ’97 promo says the animated series revival will “be like old times” appeared first on JoBlo.

Seeing as Cate Blanchett has been one of the most respected actresses for more than a quarter-century now, it’s best not to set her off. But it’s possible. And while Lydia Tár (her best performance, if I do say so) has her own musings on life, technology and Bach, what might get Cate Blanchett showing disgust than anything is trigger warnings.

Speaking with The Times, Cate Blanchett noted that difficult conversation is necessary in our society but is so rarely implemented, adding that so-called trigger warnings aren’t helping. “Culturally we are terrified of tough conversations. Boss to employee. Employee to boss. Friend to friend. But we need them. We talk about radical candour, but when there’s a trigger warning in front of something you are implying that there is a lack of mutual respect or that the subject hasn’t been properly interrogated.” Oh, we can just hear those words coming out of the mouth of Lydia Tár.

Many consider trigger warnings – little disclaimers sometimes meant to contextualize content (or cover somebody’s ass, depending on your reading) – a form of being talked down to, the mutual respect Cate Blanchett mentions. This can all be seen as that lack of trust in the viewer as well, automatically suspecting they won’t understand the context of the film they’re about to watch. For one example, Disney began adding trigger warnings about racial stereotypes depicted in films like Peter Pan and Dumbo. More recently, actual screenings of James Bond movies were hit with warnings, with the British Film Institute of all organizations declaring, “Many of these films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today (as they did then).”

While Cate Blanchett isn’t specifically calling out these instances – like, say, Ralph Fiennes, who said they lessen the impact of art – she does raise strong points on the matter. When we see such disclaimers from Disney and other companies, is it really generating conversation? Is there an “interrogation” going on? Not usually, and any “conversation” usually just ends with comments like, “That’s dumb” – which they can be if interpreted as such under a certain eye.

What do you make of Cate Blanchett’s comments on trigger warnings? Do you think they generate proper conversation? Give us your thoughts below.

The post Cate Blanchett sounds off on trigger warnings; she’s right! appeared first on JoBlo.

Seeing as Cate Blanchett has been one of the most respected actresses for more than a quarter-century now, it’s best not to set her off. But it’s possible. And while Lydia Tár (her best performance, if I do say so) has her own musings on life, technology and Bach, what might get Cate Blanchett showing disgust than anything is trigger warnings.

Speaking with The Times, Cate Blanchett noted that difficult conversation is necessary in our society but is so rarely implemented, adding that so-called trigger warnings aren’t helping. “Culturally we are terrified of tough conversations. Boss to employee. Employee to boss. Friend to friend. But we need them. We talk about radical candour, but when there’s a trigger warning in front of something you are implying that there is a lack of mutual respect or that the subject hasn’t been properly interrogated.” Oh, we can just hear those words coming out of the mouth of Lydia Tár.

Many consider trigger warnings – little disclaimers sometimes meant to contextualize content (or cover somebody’s ass, depending on your reading) – a form of being talked down to, the mutual respect Cate Blanchett mentions. This can all be seen as that lack of trust in the viewer as well, automatically suspecting they won’t understand the context of the film they’re about to watch. For one example, Disney began adding trigger warnings about racial stereotypes depicted in films like Peter Pan and Dumbo. More recently, actual screenings of James Bond movies were hit with warnings, with the British Film Institute of all organizations declaring, “Many of these films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today (as they did then).”

While Cate Blanchett isn’t specifically calling out these instances – like, say, Ralph Fiennes, who said they lessen the impact of art – she does raise strong points on the matter. When we see such disclaimers from Disney and other companies, is it really generating conversation? Is there an “interrogation” going on? Not usually, and any “conversation” usually just ends with comments like, “That’s dumb” – which they can be if interpreted as such under a certain eye.

What do you make of Cate Blanchett’s comments on trigger warnings? Do you think they generate proper conversation? Give us your thoughts below.

The post Cate Blanchett sounds off on trigger warnings; she’s right! appeared first on JoBlo.

After being delayed several months by the writers strike and the actors strike, season 5 of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things finally went into production at the start of the year – and it’s going to continue making its way through production for quite a while longer, as new cast member Linda Hamilton has said that filming is going to take an entire year. So we’re not going to see this season, which is the final season of the show, until sometime in 2025… and star Millie Bobby Brown is looking forward to the premiere date with excitement, because she says the final episodes are going to be “unbelievable.”

Speaking with Screen Rant, Brown said, “There’s not much I can tease, but I know everybody’s super excited. I just think if you’ve loved the seasons before, you trust the Duffers. They’re geniuses, and they’ll bring it like no other. And from what I’ve read, it is unbelievable, and I’m so excited for people to see it.“

Brown also stars in the Netflix movie Damsel, which was just released last week. You can check out our review at THIS LINK.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things has the following synopsis: A love letter to the ‘80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After a boy vanishes into thin air, his close-knit group of friends and family search for answers and are pulled into a high-stakes and deadly series of events. Beneath the surface of their ordinary town lurks an extraordinary supernatural mystery, along with top-secret government experiments and a dangerous gateway that connects our world to a powerful yet sinister realm. Friendships will be tested and lives will be altered as what they discover will change Hawkins and possibly the world — forever.

Here’s the list of the cast members and the characters they played in season 4: Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), Matthew Modine (Dr. Brenner), Paul Reiser (Dr. Owens), Jamie Campbell Bower (Peter Ballard), Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson), Eduardo Franco (Argyle), Sherman Augustus (Lt. Colonel Sullivan), Mason Dye (Jason Carver), Nikola Djuricko (Yuri), Tom Wlaschiha (Dmitri), Myles Truitt (Patrick), Regina Ting Chen (Ms. Kelly), Grace Van Dien (Chrissy), Logan Riley Bruner (Fred Benson), Logan Allen (Jake), Elodie Grace Orkin (Angela), John Reynolds (Officer Callahan), Rob Morgan (Chief Powell), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie), and Freddy Krueger himself Robert Englund (Victor Creel).

Stranger Things is produced by Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment. Series creators The Duffer Brothers serve as executive producers alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen of 21 Laps Entertainment, Iain Paterson, and Curtis Gwinn.

10 Cloverfield Lane and Prey director Dan Trachtenberg will be directing an episode of the final season, likely sometime before he heads off to make the new Predator movie Badlands in July.

Are you as excited as Millie Bobby Brown is about the final season of Stranger Things? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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2004 was an odd year for horror films. We got masterpieces, we were gifted some of the best and worst so-bad-it’s-good films and unexpected sequels seemed to come out of left field regularly and one of those is what we’ll focus on today. With its lead from the first film dead, where could a sequel possibly go? Would they dare to introduce brand new characters, or would they continue the story of the Fitzgerald sisters? Join us on JoBlo Horror Originals as we revisit Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (watch it HERE).

Coming out 4 years after the original, Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed takes a turn for the darker side, or even darker side. Brigitte Fitzgerald survives the ordeal with her sister but in the process tasted her sister’s blood. So, like her sister, she starts turning into a werewolf. However, she’s one step ahead in that she knows more about lycanthropy and how to deal with it. She has isolated herself and takes a homemade drug regularly to keep the change at bay. While doing this, she is also researching better options and being hunted by something. Unfortunately, the drugs stop working and she finds herself in a health center where she is supposed to detox. There she meets Ghost, and a few other people meant to help or hinder in her quest. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Ginger Snaps movie without Ginger, so thankfully we do get Katharine Isabelle back in ghost form. Or maybe it’s just a hallucination. Either way she doling out warnings and advice for Brigette. This may not sound like much, but it does make for an excellent sequel that reinvents its own universe and creates new stakes for itself. Back in the day, I absolutely adored that film. Was I more easily impressed back in the day, or have I learned more about film that makes me more critical? Well, of course, it’s yes on both counts. So, what was an almost perfect film to me back in 2002 is now a solid 8. Of course, the first of the Fitzgerald Sister trilogy is the best and the third one is, well, a mess, but a mess that I love. Meanwhile, the second film is a solid piece of filmmaking and takes teenage themes explored in the second film and gets a bit more mature with them.

As a horror fan who was just starting to review films, I was about 1 year into the adventure. So getting to go to the premiere of this film at Fantasia International Film Festival was a huge deal. Perhaps my review may have been tainted by the experience. At the time, the premiere was something I wasn’t used to, but watching films was life, so in I went and out I came loving the film. I do remember thinking Emily Perkins was fantastic, but Tatiana Maslany stole the show as Ghost. She was phenomenal. Beyond that, I needed a rewatch to remember the movie better. So, following my recent rewatch, my 8 out of 10 rating was where I stood. Do I still think Maslany steals the show? Absolutely. However, Perkins is definitely the star here and she gives one heck of a performance. Changing it from being all about Ginger and Katharine Isabelle by extension and moving her to second, or even third or fourth banana here, was a bold move, but a necessary one. Ginger had died in the first film, so she needed to no longer be the lead. Making her a sort of ghostly or haunting presence in Brigitte’s life was a great move. It works well still to this day. Of course, a lot of folks were not happy with her having so little screen time and who can blame them? Katharine Isabelle is Queen after all. Here though? Emily Perkins and her character of Brigette take center stage. And it works. She is not going to be flashy about the whole werewolf thing like her sister was. She knows better, she’s seen death come from it, and she’s not interested. This is where you can see that the story is an extension of the first film but without repeating the same thing beat for beat. This isn’t a rinse-and-repeat sequel. They left that for the third film. Here, we get an older Brigitte, a Brigitte who has been through hell, a Brigitte who is ready to fight even though she is clearly traumatized and afraid. She’s not ready to die, but she’s also not willing to let the werewolf side of herself win. That allows for the story to go pretty dark and really deep, comparing her situation to addiction, going into depression, touching on the subject of self-harm, and just skimming the surface of PTSD. There is a ton here and a lot of it is about Brigitte, making sure the film is still very much about a Fitzgerald sister which works great. And I just love how they bring in Ghost, a truly messed up child. Her character feels almost superfluous at first, being the granddaughter of a burn victim slowly healing at the rehab center. However, it quickly becomes very clear that Ghost has some issues, serious ones. With her character, we get into co-dependency as well as what makes a person possibly psychotic and dangerous. The film doesn’t go super deep into these, but there is something here that could easily have received its own sequel. Ghost is a complex character and not just a werewolf girl’s new little sister.

Now, looking at this movie 20 years or so after its release means that some things have changed. Some of what was hitting hard back then hit differently. But it is still a very emotionally fraught film about sisterhood, changes in one’s life, and depression and it adds PTSD, self-harm, childhood trauma, co-dependence, mental instability, the yearning for a connection, and a bunch more. The film quickly becomes about much more than “just” a werewolf film. Much like the first one is about crossing from childhood into womanhood and all that comes with it, this sequel takes those themes and puts them into adulthood. But it doesn’t just feel like a silly retread. There is a ton here to latch onto. Overall, though, this film hits home like the first one had but also in a different way. With the first one, being someone who didn’t think she’d see 25, seeing sisters decide that they were going to be “out by 16 or dead on the scene” was something that hit harder at 19 than expected. As an adult, the PTSD angle, along with depression both seem to hit home a bit harder. Especially considering I made it way past 25 now, but I did make it out of my hometown, so I guess I did what the Fitzgerald sisters were planning after all. Maybe that’s why I like this series so much?

Let’s circle back to the film at hand here. The original Ginger Snaps was a tough act to follow. The film was on its way to being a cult favorite already by the time the sequel came out. This wasn’t just a cash-in, this was a sequel that needed to hit hard, and it did. These days, the first film is most definitely a cult film with a huge following. Plenty of 90s teens saw themselves in this movie when it came out, whether they were still teens or had hit their 20s by 2000. By 2004, the first film had time to find an even larger audience, and that audience had aged a bit. And so had I. Of course, nowadays, the Fitzgerald sisters could practically be my kids, so it’s a different connection but the nostalgia for the first and second film is strong. Again, the third, not so much. Rewatching Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed this month was a new experience of sorts, looking at life as a 21-year-old me was a bit of a weird thing, and not much stands out for that period of my life, except the movies.

Let’s look back at the other aspects of the film beyond the themes which are strong and well-executed and the acting which is still solid looking back. The writing by Karen Walton and Megan Martin is still strong, showing that the two of them had a grasp of the characters. But what makes their writing great is that they were not afraid to bring the Fitzgeralds into a new direction, shifting the importance of each sister and making a new film that could easily stand on its own. The direction by Brett Sullivan works. It’s moody, it’s emo, it’s something that works just right for the script. The film has a solid hand leading it with emotionally connected writing, something that helps it tremendously this far down the road as properly emotionally connected stories can become timeless more easily.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows as there are a few issues. The storyline with Ghost feels a bit forced at times, but Maslany sells it just right to give the character the impact the film needs. And as a werewolf venture, it’s a bit light on the wolf, something that is both bad and good. It’s bad because most people who come to this series want werewolves and want to see them, but it’s good as it separates it from the more generic werewolf fare. To some, including myself, bringing the werewolf into the female space, making them connected to a woman’s monthly cycle, was simply logical when the first one came out and with the age of the sisters. Following this up with the issues brought up in the sequel was also quite logical and it works beautifully well. The Ginger Snaps series has never been afraid to go for real issues and the sequel does this even better than the first one.

Where Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed loses some points is in the special effects. In the first film, there was something special about the final form of Ginger as a werewolf. Something animalistic. Something connected to who she was before her transformation. In the sequel, we still kind of get this, but the werewolf design on Brigitte is just not hitting right. It’s incomplete on purpose and once she gets more transformed close to the film’s end, it’s just not it. It’s somewhere along the lines of the first film, but also not. Brigitte’s wolf-self doesn’t really look like a sister-wolf to Ginger’s wolf-self. Yes, there’s a resemblance, but it’s not quite right, something is off and it’s hard to pinpoint what it is. Basically, her wolfed-out self doesn’t feel right. This is of course a very personal thing as some love her that way, I just didn’t like it back in the day and still don’t like it now. Thankfully, we see her with her wolf face for only a few minutes. The other special effects here are related mostly to Brigitte’s self-harm and it looks rather realistic, showing the damage she does to keep track of her transformation and potentially to keep some control over her life. There are other special effects here and there, but nothing that requires shouting out good or bad.

Overall, Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed is a solid werewolf as a metaphor for life’s issues sequel. It’s not quite as fun as the first one. Actually, it’s not a fun film at and that is exactly the point. The first one has some “we got the power” moments for the sisters, this one is very much introspective and leads to a brainier film than the first one which was already a fairly deep teen horror film. This is why I believe I still love these movies, they have more than teens in danger, more than pretty people getting killed by a beast or turning into a beast. Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed is a solid sequel that does more than repeat the same formula as the first with new players, it brings back some of the original casts and issues, adds new ones, shakes things up, and gives us a surprising secondary character and performance. It’s one werewolf sequel worth adding to your lineup.

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!

The post Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004) Revisited – Horror Movie Review appeared first on JoBlo.

While awards shows lend themselves to some chaos sometimes, the lengthy televised industry events are usually no Super Bowls. And usually, all the Will Smith slappings, La La Land/Moonlight mishaps, Adele Dazeems, and now Al Pacino confusions are the talk at the water cooler the next day, thanks to YouTube clips and social media memes. Despite all the mistakes and awkward things that can happen, the Oscars are almost mostly for the more dedicated cinephiles as general audiences see them as self-congratulatory, self-indulgent, pointless events that have no bearing on reality. With the challenges the show faces to pull in ratings, this recent Oscars telecast was the most-watched since 2020 and has become the third consecutive year for viewership growth.

According to Variety, the Jimmy Kimmel-hosted show would bring in 19.5 million viewers. They report that these figures are “per the time zone adjusted fast national ratings.” The awards show would get a 3.8 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic as it aired from 7:00-10:29 p.m. ET. Variety would point out, “By comparison, the 2023 telecast drew 18.8 million viewers and a 4.0 rating in the final tallies. That means this year’s show was up just shy of 4% in total viewers but down 5% in the key demo.” It was also noted how this year, the ceremony had actually commenced an hour earlier than in the previous year.

The 2021 Academy Awards would receive an all-time low in the ratings with only 10.4 million viewers. However, that year was greatly impacted by the COVID pandemic and the event would attempt to make adjustments amid the climate of social distancing and delayed films. When the pandemic protocols subsided more, ratings for the Oscars would rebound in 2022 with 16.6 million. Things have since seemingly gotten back to normal and last year’s ceremony would continue to grow with 18.8 million viewers in the ratings.

This year would also see such acclaimed films as Oppenheimer, Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon gain much attention and collect accolades early on as possible contenders. Christopher Nolan is a filmmaker who has interestingly been able to put his finger on the pulse of both summer blockbusters and award-worthy dramas, so the Dark Knight director has seen major support from a wide array of fans. Barbie is a movie that could have been a throwaway cash grab, but the team of Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach and Margot Robbie gave the film a life that could compete with Oppenheimer. And Scorsese has been praised by audiences for his latest, many saying he’s as sharp as ever and that his direction helped Lily Gladstone give a breakthrough performance. Add all these up and this year had a recipe for a higher-rated show than the previous years.

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What are the best action movies of all time? It’s a controversial question, isn’t it? Any time any publication or site puts out a new list of what they consider the greatest action movies of all time, it can’t help but generate a ton of controversy. Nevertheless, we here at JoBlo have decided to throw our hats into the ring with a list we really hope generates some nostalgia among our viewers but also encourages them to seek out the movies on this list that they may not have seen. But first, some may wonder where superhero movies are on this list. Given how broad that genre is, we decided to stick to old-school action, so we have left them off the list, as they deserve their own ranking. There are also a few absences from the list, notably some Jackie Chan films, with those to follow in another planned list, so stay tuned!

With that out of the way, here’s our Top 25 Best Action Movies Ever Made!

25. Hard Target:

Jean-Claude Van Damme is one of the biggest action stars of all time, and Hard Target is his masterpiece. Beautifully directed by John Woo in his American film debut, it’s not only gloriously violent and lovingly photographed, but it has one of the most memorable villains of all time, Lance Henriksen’s Emil Fouchon. It’s a take on the classic Most Dangerous Game formula, but it gives the heroes and villains equal screen time, making it highly unique as an action film. One note – to fully appreciate this movie, you must see the uncensored, unrated version, which Kino recently reissued on Blu-ray.

24. Leon: The Professional:

Luc Besson’s 1994 hitman drama ranks as one of the most stylish action movies ever made. Sporting a lush score by Eric Serra, and an iconic performance by Jean Reno as the titular “cleaner”, this one inspired many knockoffs. It also introduced the world to Natalie Portman, who plays Leon’s pseudo-daughter figure, Mathilda, who he helps avenge her family’s murder (Portman seems curiously mixed on the film now, though). Plus, Gary Oldman delivers the greatest villain performance of his career as cinema’s most iconically evil corrupt cop. 

23. Casino Royale:

You can’t seriously do a list like this without including at least one James Bond movie. While I’d wager On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and maybe Goldfinger are better James Bond movies in terms of action, I think Martin Campbell made the best overall action film of the franchise with Casino Royale. It re-invented James Bond for the 21st century, and it is an excellent showcase for Daniel Craig. Once people saw him doing parkour, all doubts about his ability to carry the franchise were immediately put to rest.

22. Commando:

Arnold Schwarzenegger became a star in Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator, but Commando changed his image from a killing machine to a more personable, loving variation. Sure, he still sends 137 souls to meet their maker, but he also establishes a loose persona as a caring dad that really changed the way people see him. Plus, Commando has some of the most creative carnage of all time packed into the insane climax. The woodshed scene alone is glorious.

21. Rambo: First Blood Part 2:

The Vietnam War was a psychic wound on America of this era, and I’m not sure contemporary audiences are aware of the cultural importance of Rambo: First Blood Part 2 in the United States throughout the eighties. Along with Commando, this was one of the first “one-man-army” movies and was endlessly imitated. It was also the second highest-grossing movie of 1985 and boosted Stallone into the stratosphere. It was also name-checked by the sitting president – Ronald Reagan – and, in some ways, paved the way for more serious examinations of the Vietnam War, such as Platoon. It’s also worth noting that the MIA issue was widely debated at the time, so of all the films on this list, it could be argued that this might be one of the most culturally significant ones. 

20. Top Gun:

Tom Cruise’s Maverick is one of the most iconic movie characters ever. Rumour has it enlistment into the US Navy skyrocketed after this Tony Scott-directed masterpiece, which stars Cruise as the famously cocky pilot. From a stylistic standpoint, this might actually be the most influential film on the list – the only reason it’s this far down is that the action is mainly contained to aerial dogfights. You could also make a good case for the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick being one of the best action movies ever, too.

19. Road House:

While some may chuckle at Road House’s inclusion on this list, it belongs here for several essential reasons. For one, it upends the era’s idea of an action hero. Many of the era’s biggest stars were monosyllabic types, but Patrick Swayze was different. His character, Dalton, is intelligent, stylish and cerebral, with a degree in philosophy and a low-key vibe that invites people to underestimate him – to their doom. But, the main reason Road House makes this list is that the fights in this movie feel real, with them the perfect antidote to the over-choreographed bouts that followed in its wake. In this one, people whack each other with tree trunks, and by the time it’s over, Swayze’s Dalton can barely stand. It’s a masterpiece of its kind (and we’re excited to see the well-received remake, even if it will never replace the original in our hearts).

18. Beverly Hills Cop:

Being an action hero isn’t all about brawn. Attitude has a lot to do with it, and there’s arguably never been a hero with more attitude than Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley. He’s not a muscle man, but he’s young and street-smart. What’s also great about this movie is how director Martin Brest allows the film to be hilarious but takes the action very seriously, especially towards the end. I also always liked that Axel becomes pals by the end with the real Beverly Hills Cops that initially antagonize him. I’m cautiously optimistic about the upcoming fourth film.

17. The John Wick Franchise:

Granted, we’re cheating a bit with this one, but it’s pretty amazing how what started as a movie that nearly went to VOD became one of the biggest action franchises of the century. At the time this was made, Keanu Reeves was on the verge of becoming a DTV star, but this reinvented him for a new generation and gave him one of his most iconic characters to play – with him becoming the most iconic movie hitman since Chow Yun Fat ditched his guns. Chad Stahelski’s take on action choreography has been tremendously influential, with every action flick that comes out nowadays owing the franchise a sizeable debt. 

16. Kill Bill Volume 1 & 2:

Quentin Tarantino has made some incredible films, but in terms of action, none was more influential than his ode to Kung-Fu cinema, Kill Bill. The first volume alone has some of the most stylish and memorable action sequences of the last quarter century, including the iconic “Showdown at the House of Blue Leaves”. Each volume is half of a bigger whole, but in terms of action, performance, direction and music, I think a case that Kill Bill is one of the greatest action movies of all time can easily be made.

15. Mad Max: Fury Road:

Not every movie is a walk in the park, and it figures that sometimes, to get excellent results on the big screen, you need a little behind-the-scenes chaos. Indeed, Fury Road was a madhouse of a shoot, with the two stars, Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy, famously feuding. In the making of book, Blood, Sweat and Chrome, both look back at the complex making of the film with regret, with it seeming like no one ever knew exactly how much of a classic it would become, with Hardy especially noting how his head he was. The result on screen was arguably worth it. George Miller took decades to get a new Mad Max movie underway finally, and the result was widely considered one of the greatest movies of its kind ever made.

14. Point Break:

In 1991, Point Break was considered another quite solid action movie. Still, like another movie starring Patrick Swayze on this list, its legacy grew over time, with it being one of the most quotable and rewatchable movies of all time. It helped make Keanu Reeves an action star, and it’s one of the best-directed studio films of the nineties, with Kathryn Bigelow’s movie ripped off over and over in the years to follow- most notably by The Fast and The Furious. There. We said it. Vin Diesel doesn’t have anything on Crazy Swayze. 

13. Predator:

Fact: there has never been a more macho movie made than Predator. Think about it – you have Arnold Schwarzenegger, the late Carl Weathers, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, Bill Duke, crazy Sonny Landham, and the Predator! Even before the alien shows up, this would be up there with the greatest “men on a mission” movies ever made, but when suddenly the team starts getting picked off, and Arnold has to go mano-a-mano with his otherworldly foe, you know you’re watching a classic. Also, Predator pulls off a neat trick – it makes Schwarzenegger an underdog. This won’t be the last John McTiernan movie on this list.

12. First Blood:

While Rambo 2 is maybe more impressive from a pure carnage standpoint, First Blood is devastating and arguably Sylvester Stallone’s best-ever movie after the original Rocky. John Rambo is a tragic character here, and the action, while lower-key than in the next film, will blow you away, such as his fantastic cliff-dive. There’s an incredible score by Jerry Goldsmith and Stallone’s astonishing action in the shattering climax. 

11. The Matrix:

The only bad thing about The Wachowskis The Matrix is that it was so good a whole slew of movies tried to copy it, only for no one to do it quite as well. Even the Wachowskis were never quite able to nail a follow-up, with none of the sequels particularly good, even if they have their fans. The first is one of the best sci-fi action movies ever, with Keanu Reeves reinventing himself as Neo, one of the millennium-defining heroes.

10. The Raid:

Audiences who saw Gareth Evans’ The Raid at its original TIFF Midnight Madness screening walked out of this one feeling like they’d just been hit by a freight train. The martial arts action movie was re-invented by this, and it’s an equally impressive sequel, with Iko Uwais showing off moves as we’d never really seen on the big screen before. The sequel, The Raid 2, is arguably just as good. We’re pretty excited to see Evans’ long-delayed Havoc, starring Tom Hardy, which should hit Netflix this year.

9. Lethal Weapon:

While it’s not the first buddy-cop movie, this is the one that made it a genre unto itself. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are perfectly cast as the iconic pals Riggs and Murtagh. Richard Donner’s lean and mean direction gives the movie a pulse. The (admittedly excellent) follow-ups come close to matching, but not quite. Gibson’s Riggs, in particular, feels like one of the few truly dangerous action heroes.

8. Robocop:

Paul Verhoeven’s hyper-kinetic, ultra-violent future cop movie will never be equalled. Peter Weller is iconic as the tragic Alex Murphy-turned-Robocop, and it’s one of the few movies on this list that no one could ever accuse of being dated. Everything about it is cutting edge, from the novel use of miniatures to the social commentary and the excellent score by Basil Poledouris.

7. Aliens:

This is unique because it’s an action movie sequel to a tight horror flick. Everyone has their own opinion about whether James Cameron’s space actioner matches Ridley Scott’s original. Still, it remains one of the best sci-fi actioners ever made, with Sigourney Weaver our choice for the greatest action heroine ever. Plus, the movie also has Michael Biehn in one of his best roles (Corporal Hicks), Bill Paxton, an amazing score by James Horner and more.

6. The Road Warrior:

Some will say George Miller’s Fury Road is better, but for my money, nothing matches the intensity of The Road Warrior, which is shot without the benefit of CGI and any other bells and whistles. The vehicular carnage is fantastic, and Mel Gibson, like it or not, is the definitive Mad Max. It’s a rollercoaster ride of a movie. While one could argue that the first Mad Max film was more influential, Miller always considered it a rough draft of what he wanted to do with the franchise.

5. Enter the Dragon:

Very few movies on this list are as influential as the final film made by the great Bruce Lee; this movie would have broken him through to a North American audience. Granted, his dying does add to the mystique, but boy, is this ever one of the best martial arts action movies ever made? With Enter the Dragon, I wonder if English-language martial arts action stars like JCVD or Steven Seagal would have ever happened. Simply put, Enter the Dragon gave North American audiences the appetite for martial arts mayhem.

4. Hard-Boiled:

John Woo was at the peak of his filmmaking abilities when he made this buddy cop action flick, pairing Chow Yun-Fat’s rebellious cop, Tequila, with an undercover operative played by Tony Leung. The last forty minutes of this film have never been matched from a shoot-out standpoint. Someone once told Quentin Tarantino that “John Woo sure can direct an action sequence”, to which he replied, “yeah, and Michelangelo sure can paint a ceiling.” Watch Hard-Boiled and see what he’s talking about.

3. Raiders of the Lost Ark:

Steven Spielberg’s Ode to Adventure is the most iconic film of its kind, introducing us to the great Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford. What else can be said about the adventure masterpiece that hasn’t been said already? If you’ve never seen this movie in a theater, I urge you to go check it out if it ever plays near you. There’s something different about watching this movie with an audience in a theater, especially during the last hour, where it just goes from set-piece to setpiece. Also, has any action star ever thrown a better punch than Harrison Ford as Indy?

2. Terminator 2: Judgement Day:

The greatest sequel of all time remains the last of its’ kind, being a huge budget action flick done in the old ways, with real explosions and real heart, with Schwarzenegger giving his most affecting performance as the cyborg who slowly learns the bittersweet truth about being human. Plus, Linda Hamilton as a newly musclebound Sarah Connor is one of the greatest action heroines. So many movies, including Terminator films, have tried to recapture the magic of this one, but have failed. It’s one of a kind.

1. Die Hard:

What else could it be? Bruce Willis’s John McClane is the definitive action star, as he is a regular guy forced into action and wants to get home to his family for Christmas. Willis, Alan Rickman, the score, and everything else about this movie are iconic, but what makes it so great is that Willis isn’t a superhero but a man. Yes, it’s the best Christmas movie of all time, but it’s also – in our opinion (and that of many others) that it’s the greatest single-action film ever made.  

So, those are our picks for the twenty-five greatest action movies, but I’m sure there are titles we left off the list that you think belong on here with the others. Let’s discuss it in the comments!

The post The 25 Greatest Action Movies of All Time! appeared first on JoBlo.

Dev Patel has come a long way from being the slumdog. Images from his feature directorial debut, Monkey Man, feature him standing menacingly in a suit or with an ominous mask of a monkey on and you see that the film is produced by Jordan Peele, so it gives the impression that it could be a new psychological horror movie. Then, the trailer shows Patel taking on opponents in a wrestling ring and plowing through bad guys like John Wick and Jackie Chan to the soundtrack of a bumpin’ Jay-Z tune. Immediately, heads turn at attention.

Patel’s Monkey Man has now premiered at SXSW, and the first reactions are in. Those in attendance at the unveiling have taken to social media and revealed that once the credits rolled and the lights came up, Patel received a standing ovation when taking the stage. @AnAntLife posted a video of a tearful Patel wiping away tears amid this overwhelming reaction and said, “A long and very deserved standing ovation for Dev Patel and #MonkeyMan y’all are gonna love this one!!!”

@kirkneverdied also posted that Patel received a “2 minute long standing ovation in a packed 1,200 person theater for #MonkeyMan #DevPatel #SXSW”

@myrcellasear showed her overwhelmed positive response to the film, saying, “I think I have never been as proud of a career trajectory as I am now of Dev Patel’s from Skins to #MonkeyMan. He has created a hard-hitting action masterpiece that in full of pulsating emotion throughout. Thank God it’s coming to theaters! #SXSW”

@LeosAMovieGuy raved about Monkey Man, saying, “MONKEY MAN: Every bit of this movie is earned. A powerful revenge story that goes through the gamut of action with powerful force. Dev Patel with a directing debut that rips. #AMovieGuySXSW#MonkeyMan”

@FrederickNuti calls Monkey Man one of the best action movies of our time and praises Patel’s direction as he says, “Monkey Man directed by Dev Patel is one of the best action movies of our time. His directorial debut and he absolutely executes it masterfully. Visceral and action packed with a new style unseen before! People are gonna absolutely love this! Talented as hell! #SXSW #MonkeyMan”

@JaredBuckendahl has a bit of criticism in how Patel has paced the story, but also raves about the film despite that flaw, “Dev Patel delivers a one-two punch with his directorial debut. A superb blend of meaning story, deep message, twisted comedy, kung fu homages & badass action (see image below). A bit uneven with its story pacing, but you cant deny the guy has a great future ahead #MonkeyMan #SXSW”

@ryanmcquade77 says Monkey Man is the first great film he would see in his time at SXSW, “After a couple of long days at #SXSW2024, MONKEY MAN is the first great film of the fest. With tons of top notch action sequences and plenty of heart, director/writer/star Dev Patel delivered something truly special! An absolute knockout of a directorial debut! #MonkeyMan”

The post Monkey Man: First reactions hit social media as the Dev Patel action movie premieres at SXSW appeared first on JoBlo.