Shaft (1971): A Defining Film of a Controversial Era Released in 1971 and directed by Gordon Parks, Shaft arrived at a critical moment for MGM. Made on a modest $500,000 budget and initially rolled out in a selective release over the Independence Day weekend, the film exceeded expectations and became a sleeper hit. Its surprising … Read more

About Dry Grasses (2023)Director: Nuri Bilge CeylanScreenwriters: Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan, Akın AksuStarring: Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses arrived with significant expectations. The director, whose previous film won the Palme d’Or and whose work has repeatedly represented Turkey for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, … Read more

The Beast (2023)Director: Bertrand BonelloScreenwriter: Bertrand BonelloStarring: Léa Seydoux, George MacKay Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast arrived at the 2024 Glasgow Film Festival with high expectations: a star-studded cast led by Léa Seydoux and George MacKay, a bold premise that blends period romance with near-future science fiction, and a runtime that promises an immersive experience. Loosely … Read more

Dead Ringers (1988)Director: David CronenbergScreenwriters: David Cronenberg, Norman SniderStarring: Jeremy Irons, Geneviève Bujold, Heidi von Palleske, Barbara Gordon, Shirley Douglas, Stephen Lack, Nick Nichols, Damir Andrei, Miriam Newhouse, David Hughes, Richard W. Farrell, Jonathan Haley, Nicholas Haley David Cronenberg’s 1988 psychological horror film Dead Ringers remains a potent and unsettling work whose influence can still … Read more

The Batman Sequel Delayed to October 2, 2026 Warner Bros. has announced that the long-awaited sequel to Matt Reeves’ The Batman has been postponed by one year and is now scheduled to open in cinemas on October 2, 2026. The studio’s decision gives writer-director Matt Reeves additional time to refine the screenplay and avoid a … Read more

Lisa Frankenstein (2024)Director: Zelda WilliamsScreenwriter: Diablo CodyStarring: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, Joe Chrest, and Carla Gugino Mary Shelley spent a great deal of time in cemeteries. As Bess Lovejoy described in a 2018 piece for JSTOR Daily, Shelley frequently walked through St. Pancras churchyard and visited the grave of her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. … Read more

Imaginary (2024)Director: Jeff WadlowScreenwriters: Jeff Wadlow, Greg Erb, Jason OremlandStarring: DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Betty Buckley, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Matthew Sato, Veronica Falcón It’s wise not to judge a film before watching it. Jeff Wadlow’s previous Netflix effort, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, wasn’t a masterpiece but delivered a cozy, family-friendly Halloween mood. Likewise, … Read more

Damsel (2024)Director: Juan Carlos FresnadilloScreenwriter: Dan MazeauStarring: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Brooke Carter, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Bassett, Robin Wright Damsels in distress have long been a staple of storytelling, from ancient myths to classic cinema. Over time creators have both reinforced and subverted that archetype, producing iconic examples and memorable flips on … Read more

96th Academy Awards Winners: Oppenheimer Dominates as Cinema Is Celebrated The winners of the 96th Academy Awards were announced in a ceremony that emphasized craft, storytelling, and the collaborative work of filmmakers. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer emerged as the evening’s most awarded film, taking home multiple top prizes including Best Picture and Best Director. The ceremony … Read more

Thank you for taking part in The Film Magazine’s surprise film quiz. We hope you enjoyed testing your Academy Awards knowledge. Share your scores on social media by tagging @thefilmagazine on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook — we love seeing how readers fare and encourage friendly debate about cinema history, records, and memorable Oscar moments. … Read more