Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)Director: Adam WingardScreenwriters: Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, Jeremy SlaterStarring: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen Three years ago Adam Wingard delivered a spectacle of giant monsters clashing in neon-lit Hong Kong with Godzilla vs. Kong. It was loud, silly, and energetic—visually striking … Read more

Singin’ in the Rain was warmly received when it premiered in 1952, and over the decades it has grown into one of the most celebrated musicals and films in cinema history. Co-directed and co-choreographed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, the film assembles a collection of pre-existing songs—many originally written for other movie musicals—and integrates … Read more

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)Director: Gil JungerScreenwriters: Karen McCullah, Kirsten SmithStarring: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, David Krumholtz, Susan May Pratt, Allison Janney, Larry Miller Ten Things I Hate About You, the spirited 1999 teen comedy loosely inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, … Read more

The Matrix (1999)Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly WachowskiScreenwriters: Lana Wachowski, Lilly WachowskiStarring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Matt Doran, Julian Arahanga, Anthony Ray Parker, Belinda McClory There’s little left to say about The Matrix that hasn’t been observed, dissected, or celebrated, yet the film still rewards revisiting. … Read more

The Sugarland Express (1974)Director: Steven SpielbergScreenwriters: Hal Barwood, Matthew RobbinsCast: Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Ben Johnson, Michael Sacks, Gregory Walcott, Steve Kanaly, Louise Latham, Dean Smith, James Kenneth Crone Steven Spielberg’s The Sugarland Express, released in 1974, stands as an intriguing and often overlooked debut feature in the director’s filmography. While his earlier work Duel … Read more

Discussing religious exploitation might seem out of place in an article about film, yet cinema and television have been powerful vectors for the misuse of Christian imagery and messaging. Over the years, the commercialization of faith on screen has contributed to the modern cynicism many feel toward Christianity. The rise of lucrative televangelists and for-profit … Read more

The idea that there are only a handful of fundamental story patterns—the so-called “Seven Stories”—remains a powerful force in art and storytelling. Contemporary films often draw on ancient myths and archetypes, and nowhere is this more evident than in cinematic portrayals of Jesus Christ. The narrative of the Chosen One—God made human who sacrifices himself … Read more

Austin Butler in ‘Elvis’ (2022) Caught Stealing will pair Austin Butler with director Darren Aronofsky for a new Sony Pictures crime thriller. Austin Butler, whose profile has continued to rise with acclaimed performances in recent years, has been confirmed to lead Darren Aronofsky’s next film for Sony Pictures, titled Caught Stealing. The announcement marks another … Read more

Kong: Skull Island (2017)Director: Jordan Vogt-RobertsScreenwriters: Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, Derek ConnollyStarring: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly, John Goodman, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, Thomas Mann After Legendary Pictures revived Godzilla in 2014, the studio quickly followed up by reintroducing another titan of the monster cinema: King Kong. The intent was … Read more

Why do we love monsters? Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro suggests that “in fairy tales, monsters exist to be a manifestation of something that we need to understand, not only a problem we need to overcome… monsters are here in our world to help us understand it.” That idea resonates: monsters can be metaphors for fear, … Read more