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Naming a single film as the best horror effort released over the course of an entire year is a bold statement, for sure. Yet, when one stands out head and shoulders above the rest, I have no choice but to award said film that honorable distinction.

2020 was a great year for horror. Host, The Dark and the Wicked, The Lodge, and Possessor are four celebrated features that saw release during that challenging time period. Yet, none of them claims the top slot for me. The most noteworthy effort of the year for this critic is a remake with a powerful message. A film that speaks to power dynamics, bodily autonomy, and why it’s essential to believe women.

I’m talking about Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man. The flick is a harrowing portrait of toxic masculinity, rich with subtext, that also functions as a taught, suspenseful horror thriller with infinite replay value.

Whenever a Hollywood epic gets so drunk on its own cultural importance that it attempts to pre-legitimize itself by casting every available star in town, you can be quite certain that the finished product will be either a terminal bore or a full-blown disaster. Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Longest Day" is very much the former, a 178-minute grind that tries and largely fails to thrust moviegoers into the middle of the D-Day invasion via docudrama techniques; it's often technically impressive, but it quickly turns into a game of spot-the-star, which pulls us straight out of the movie. And then there's 1967's "Casino Royale," a celebrity-studded James Bond parody that feels like watching an exclusive, booze-fueled bash from the house across the street.

There are obvious exceptions, but they come with the caveat of knowingly satirizing Hollywood's insularity (Robert Altman's "The Player") or simply being a hot project that...

Neca‘s 12th series of Toony Terrors toys features four more Universal Monsters.

The Phantom of the Opera, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, and Creature from the Black Lagoon are modeled in the style of classic Saturday morning cartoons.

The Phantom comes with two interchangeable heads. Invisible Man comes with two interchangeable heads, potion, and bag. The Bride comes with two interchangeable heads. Creature comes with a fossilized hand.

Each 6″ scale figure is individually packaged on a blister card with a cutout backdrop.

Shipping in August, the set of four is available to pre-order for $74.99.

Lon Chaney originated the role of The Phantom of the Opera. Claude Rains portrayed The Invisible Man. Elsa Lanchester came alive as Bride of Frankenstein. Creature from the Black Lagoon was played by Ben Chapman on land and by Ricou Browning underwater.

The post Neca’s ‘Toony Terrors’ Series 12 Includes 4 Universal Monsters appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!

Perhaps more than any other director in the history of cinema, Alfred Hitchcock was fascinated by identity. Many of his films revolve around a case of mistaken identity. This was played out in many of his classic films, from Saboteur to The Wrong Man and on to North by Northwest.

In each case, our erstwhile hero has been accused of some villainous act and must fight his way through 120-odd minutes to clear his name.

In others, it's the protagonist themself who isn't quite sure of who they truly are. Hitchcock never resorted to anything as cumbersome as an actual mask, although there may be a wig involved. A prime example of this is the seminal thriller Psycho.

3 new classics on Netflix that wear their Alfred Hitchcock on their sleeves

The titular character of Marnie has a deeply hidden self as well. In both films, the truth is revealed to...

In 2025, the Halloweenies are celebrating the storied legacy of the Universal Monsters. Dracula, Wolf Man, Frankenstein, his Bride, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Invisible Man… all will be covered. In fact, each monster is getting their own month, giving the Halloweenies plenty of time to dig deep into their respective origins and chart their influence over the past century and some change.

Last month, the gang booked a night at The Lion’s Head Inn to unravel the sordid and wild discoveries behind James Whale’s 1933 Hollywood wonder The Invisible Man starring Claude Rains. This month, however, they’re hitting 88 mph and traveling back a 100 years to the salad days of Universal as they search the cellars for 1925’s silent blockbuster The Phantom of the Opera.

Topics include: the torturous journey from page to set to critical consensus to multiple cuts that may or may not even exist...

In 2025, the Halloweenies are celebrating the storied legacy of the Universal Monsters. Dracula, Wolf Man, Frankenstein, his Bride, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Invisible Man… all will be covered. In fact, each monster is getting their own month, giving the Halloweenies plenty of time to dig deep into their respective origins and chart their influence over the past century and some change.

Last month, the gang traveled to ancient Egypt to unravel Karl Freund‘s 1932 classic The Mummy starring Boris Karloff. This month, they book a night at The Lion’s Head Inn to unravel the sordid and wild discoveries behind James Whale‘s 1933 Hollywood wonder The Invisible Man starring Claude Rains.

Topics include: the movie’s long road to realization, Rains’ commanding presence, H.G. Wells’ approval over script, the iconic and groundbreaking special effects, Whale’s resistance to returning to horror post-Frankenstein, the fact that...

The New York City Opera is set to showcase a poignant concert featuring works by composers who faced significant challenges during the 20th century. The performance, titled “Music of Survival: Works by Weinberg, Korngold, and Rovner,” aims to bring attention to overlooked musical legacies and contemporary compositions that echo themes of resilience.

The concert will feature the NYC Opera Orchestra, conducted by Constantine Orbelian, with cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper and soprano Elizaveta Ulakhovich as soloists. The program includes lesser-known cello concertos by Mieczysław Weinberg and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, two composers whose works were neglected during the Holocaust and its aftermath. Weinberg’s Fantasia for Cello and Orchestra op.52 and Korngold’s Cello Concerto in C op.37 will be performed, showcasing the composers’ artistry and emotional depth.

The event also marks the American premiere of Gennady Rovner’s Symphony Metamorphosis, a contemporary piece that bridges past and present, performed by soprano Elizaveta Ulakhovich.

Flight Risk landed the top spot at the weekend box office, but the Mark Wahlberg-led action thriller only managed to make an estimated $12 million domestically (per The Numbers). Unfortunately, Lionsgate’s second No. 1 movie of the year — Den of Thieves 2: Pantera being the other — premiered during the lowest-grossing weekend of 2025 ($66.3 million) thus far. Certainly, the NFL stole some audiences as both the NFC and AFC Championship games aired on Sunday, Jan. 26, but it’s still a disappointment for the industry.

Historically, studios aren’t going to open any blockbusters in January because the month is typically a dead zone for the theatergoing experience. However, when compared to 2024, the numbers actually trended upward, even with the much-maligned Flight Risk leading the way. Over the fourth weekend of January a year ago, the box office’s domestic total of $56.6 million tallied $10 million less, even with a far more well-received title,...

Fog fetish.

After concluding 2024 with a look at toxic friendships in Into the Dark: “New Year, New You” (listen) and kicking off 2025 by concluding the Grindhouse double feature that we started last summer with a look at Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof (listen) we’re heading back to the world of Universal Monsters in George Waggner‘s 1941 classic The Wolf Man.

In The Wolf Man, Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) returns to Wales to reconcile with his father (Claude Rains) after his brother’s death. While there, he puts the moves on Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), the shopkeeper of a nearby antique shop. The night after he purchases a silver walking cane from Gwen, Larry is attacked and bitten by a vicious wolf, which he then kills. Larry eventually learns that the wolf he killed was, in fact, a man (Bela Lugosi), and that Larry has now inherited a curse...

Spoiler Space offers thoughts on, and a place to discuss, the plot points we can’t disclose in our official review. Fair warning: This article features plot details of Wolf Man.

Of all the Universal monsters, The Wolf Man is perhaps the saddest. A man, aware of his own ticking-clock monstrosity,...

Mark your calendars, Oscars fans, because the 97th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, March 2, 2025 on ABC. The annual star-studded ceremony will honor movies released in theaters within the 2024 calendar year of eligibility. AMPAS members will vote on the Oscar winners in 23 categories, including Best Supporting Actor. But who will win? Here at Gold Derby, thousands of users have been making and updating their 2025 Oscar predictions for Best Supporting Actor, so let’s take a look at all of the top contenders in our photo gallery below.

These 25 Best Supporting Actor hopefuls are listed in order of their racetrack odds, which are derived from the combined forecasts of four unique groups: experts we’ve polled from major media outlets, editors who cover awards year-round for this website, top 24 users who had the best accuracy scores last year, and the mass of users who make up our biggest predictions bloc.

The...

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If you are a horror fan then there is a big chance that you might have heard about the horror streaming service Shudder, and if you have its subscription you might be wondering what’s in store for you in January 2025. Don’t worry there is a host of new and old horror movies coming to the service in the upcoming month and we have listed the 10 best movies coming to Shudder in January 2025.

The Others (January 1) Credit – Dimension Films

The Others is a gothic supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by Alejandro Amenabar. The 2001 film follows Grace as she moves in a Jersey house with her three children but she soon begins experiencing strange occurrences and becomes convinced that the house is haunted. The Others stars Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Elaine Cassidy, Eric Sykes,...

Old Hollywood is associated with glamour and romance, and many of the great classics of the era are still worth watching in the 21st century. Also referred to as the Golden Age of Hollywood, Old Hollywood was classified by the studio system, which signed big-name movie stars and directors to multi-movie contracts. There's some debate over when exactly it ended, but New Hollywood emerged at some point during the 1960s.

Since the apogee of Old Hollywood took place from the 1930s to 1950s, it's only natural that some of the era's greatest movies don't hold up so well today. Modern audiences have different tastes, but there are still plenty of classics which are just as enjoyable. Movies like Casablanca, Bringing Up Baby and North By Northwest have stood the test of time, and they are still being watched by people all over the world.

Casablanca (1942) Bogart And Bergman Are Irresistible...

Last Updated on December 9, 2024

It’s strange how the movies you see as a child tend to stick with you throughout the years. Odder still are the movies that have a profound personal impact on you because of one specific scene. Over the years, I’ve written about plenty of them for this long-running feature I’ve done on JoBlo called The Best Movie You Never Saw. For me, one such movie is the 1991 thriller Dead Again, which was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also co-stars along with his then-wife, Emma Thompson, Derek Jacobi, Andy Garcia and the late, great Robin Williams (in an unbilled role). I saw this at ten years old on the Canadian equivalent of HBO, First Choice, and it had a profound impact on me for one specific reason I’ll get to shortly.

But first, some background on this often overlooked film. In the late eighties,...

As the nights grow longer and the air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to settle in with some of the best spooky films ever made. From eerie silent classics to modern horror hits, spooky cinema has evolved across decades, yet each era has its own spine-tingling gems. Whether you love atmospheric terror or heart-pounding scares, here’s a journey through the best films from the 1920s to today that will give you chills. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy. 1920s - 1980s ‘The Haunting’ (1963) Cast: Julie Harris,...

If there's one thing the Oscars love, it's a big moment. The envelopes containing the winners of the most prestigious film awards in Hollywood may be sealed, but that doesn't stop the powers-that-be behind each year's Oscars telecast from setting the night up for maximum surprise, drama, and inspiration. It doesn't always work, like when, at the 93rd Oscars, the categories were rearranged so the telecast could end with Chadwick Boseman's posthumous Best Actor win. Except Boseman didn't win, and category winner Anthony Hopkins wasn't at the ceremony, so the seemingly pre-planned big finish turned out to be an awkward dud.

Now and again, though, the Academy's penchant for trying to plan around potential wins results in some happy accidents. Such was the case in 1947, when Harold Russell made history as the first non-professional actor to win an Oscar -- and the only actor to ever take home two...

Wow, November got here fast. This year’s election cycle seemed shorter than usual. The presidential candidates were all but a foregone conclusion, until they weren’t. Now with election season finally here, things continue to be tense. Are smooth transitions between administrations a thing of the past, or has the fever from last cycle broken?

Despite the strange reality we live in now, politics have always been fertile ground for nerve-fraying anxiety. Whether that’s the paranoia of being under the all-seeing eye of the Nsa today, the tragedy of the assassinations in the 60s, or the scandals of the 70s, politics have never been for the faint of heart. Struggles for power rarely are.

Here’s some of our favorite political thrillers to put you in the right mood for election season:

War Room

For better or for worse, the documentary War Room defined ‘90s politics. Unlike the ‘80s,...

Roger Ebert was an authoritative voice on all things film and never shied away from letting moviegoers know his opinion. Not only was he one of the critics who helped pave the way for such critical aggregators as Rotten Tomatoes, but he was also the main source for critique on films for decades before critical aggregators existed.

As much as Ebert is known for his infamous thumbs-down for bad movies, he is just as well known for shouting out the best of the best. In 2012, Ebert shared his picks for the best films of all time.

Casablanca Is an Iconic Hero Story With a Romantic Layer 1942

Casablanca Critical Reception

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

99%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

95%

IMDb Score

8.5/10

Casablanca follows Rick Blaine, the nightclub owner of the famed nightclub Rick's Caf Amricain. While working during the heart of the Second World War, he's reunited with an old flame and her husband.

Director Ridley Scott's historical action feature “Napoleon" stars Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), with the ‘Director's Cut’ featuring 48 minutes of new, never-before-seen footage, now streaming on AppleTV+:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major...

Universal Monsters are regarded as one of the mainstays of frightening films. The legendary creatures have stalked nightmares for decades, preying on every anxiety possible. Their outstanding silver screen pedigree began with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and expanded exponentially. While many of these early films have been left by the wayside, one still dominates modern pop culture.

The Phantom of the Opera jumpstarted an enduring franchise of frights. Lon Chaneys outstanding performance has withstood the test of time, and the century-old film is as powerful today as it was then. Its timeless story, pulled straight from the pages of Gaston Lerouxs novel, has since been adapted countless times. Universal even took another swing at its own property, releasing a looser interpretation of the film with Claude Rains in 1943.

Lon Chaneys Phantom of the Opera

Portions of the massive replica of the Palais Garniers subterranean cistern, dubbed Soundstage 28, remained in...

With Gladiator II thrusting into cinematic arenas next month, we hand out laurels to the greatest sword-and-sandal movies of them all

In this heavy-going British Technicolor adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play, Claude Rains’s oddly relaxed Julius Caesar plays father figure to Vivien Leigh’s implausibly girlish Cleopatra, schooling her in the art of power with just a hint of May to December flirtation. The two leads are just about charismatic enough to compel interest despite Shaw’s ponderous dialogue.

Some of the best movies to watch during the Halloween season (and some of the coolest movies in the horror genre) are the classic Universal Monsters movies. Those awesome black and white movies that were built around characters like Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Mummy, the Wolf Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. So now that Halloween weekend is upon us, we here at Arrow in the Head have put together a list: Universal Monsters Franchises Ranked! Below you’ll find our rankings of the classic franchises, from least to favorite. Check it out, and let us know how you would rank these franchises by leaving a comment!

Honorable Mention: Abbott And Costello

The comedy duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello certainly weren’t Universal monsters (or any other kind of monsters), but they earn an honorable mention on this list because they played an...

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the 1946 movie, Notorious.

Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious is arguably the first in the genre of post-war Nazi political thrillers, but that wasn't necessarily intentional. Think of it as the strangest companion piece to Oppenheimer you've ever heard of. The timing couldn't be better for Rko Radio Pictures in 1946. Fresh off the war's end, this film envisioned rogue Nazis conducting a revenge terrorist attack.

Starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, this understated noir is deemed one of the director's finest, filmed at a time when he was still getting his footing in America thanks to the assistance of Rko boss David O. Selznick and writer Ben Hecht. It's a star-studded cast and crew for sure. However, it took the contribution of far more people than that to create the movie, and yet you won't find any scientists listed in the credits of Notorious.

All...

Quick Links A Chilling Adaptation of an H.G. Wells Classic A Monstrous Decade for Universal Pictures The Invisible Man Remains an Underrated Horror Hit

The 1930s were undeniably one of the most groundbreaking and lucrative time periods in Hollywood and a truly transcending decade for the horror genre, as beloved Universal Monster movies like Dracula, The Mummy, and Frankenstein made their spectacular debuts, terrifying audiences all across the world. While popular stars like Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Lon Chaney Jr. became certified movie stars after headlining the celebrated classics, there have been other lesser-known actors and films released during the '30s that deserve just as much credit and adoration.

The 1933 sci-fi horror extravaganza The Invisible Man is one of these underrated releases from the decade that does not get enough love and appreciation, with the chilling H.G. Wells adaptation following the mayhem and murder a savvy scientist...

As the star of some of the most iconic films ever made, James Stewart's career was one of the most varied and impressive in Hollywood history. From his acting debut in the 1930s until his semi-retirement at the end of the 1970s, Stewart starred in Christmas classics, acclaimed thrillers by Alfred Hitchcock, and a whole host of beloved rom-coms, screwball comedies, and thought-provoking dramas. As an Academy Award-winning performer, Stewarts likable persona and distinctive drawl made him the quintessential American ideal whose embodied qualities of strong moral resilience and fortitude.

The best James Stewart movies have stood the test of time, and his definitive roles made him one of Hollywoods most sought-after performers throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Stewarts best movies left a major mark on Hollywood, as George Baileys story in Its a Wonderful Life has become annual viewing for families worldwide every holiday season, and his performance...

As one of the most celebrated movies in Hollywood history, there are endless Casablanca quotes that have stood the test of time and contributed to its great, long-lasting legacy. The 1942 romantic drama film starring classic Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman was written by twin brothers Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, along with Howard Koch. The impact of Casablancas script, which is full of quotable lines, cannot be denied over 80 years after its initial release.

There has been a long debate over the title of the greatest movie ever, and Casablancas dialogue makes it easy to see why its frequently brought up as a contender. Casablanca tells the story of American expatriate and club owner Rick (Bogart), who is confronted with his past when his ex-lover, Ilsa (Bergman), shows up in Casablanca with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), fleeing the Nazis and looking for Rick's help.

Director Ridley Scott's live-action Oscar-nominated "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), has been repackaged as "Napoleon: The Director's Cut," featuring 48 minutes of new, never-before-seen footage, now streaming on AppleTV+:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code',...

"What if you died and were reincarnated into another person's body?" is such a compelling concept for a movie that it's been made three times. Starting on the stage, Harry Segall's play, Heaven Can Wait not to be confused with the 1943 Ernst Lubitsch film that shares its name but has nothing to do with the play follows a boxer mistakenly sent to the afterlife who is given another chance at life by taking over a dead person's body. Segall's play got a film adaptation, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, in 1941, starring Robert Montgomery and Claude Rains. At the height of his fame, Warren Beatty made his directorial debut by remaking the film with the namesake of the original play, which earned him Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards. Now lost to time, at the height of his fame, Chris Rock remade Heaven Can Wait for a new generation.

War movies are usually retrospective by nature. Even "Casablanca," the most famous World War 2 movie made during World War 2, was set in the recent past. The movie was released in November 1942, after the U.S. had joined the Allies, but it is set in December 1941, just before America entered the war.

As documented by author Richard Osborne in "Casablanca Companion: The Movie Classic and Its Place in History," the filming of "Casablanca" took place on a Warner Bros. lot across 59 days, from May 25 to August 3, 1942. The cast and crew didn't think they were making anything remarkable, but the hand of fate intervened.

In "Casablanca," the titular city is shown as a waystation for refugees, albeit a dangerous one because it is controlled by the Vichy French government. France had ruled portions of Morocco as a colony since 1912, so when France fell to the Nazis in June 1940, they got Morocco in the package.

Carla Balenda, who starred alongside Dana Andrews and Claude Rains in the Rko Pictures thriller Sealed Cargo and portrayed Mickey Rooney’s girlfriend on the NBC sitcom Hey Mulligan, has died. She was 98.

Balenda, billed at times as Sally Bliss, her birth name, died April 9 of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, her grandson Jim Martin told The Hollywood Reporter.

She also played a nurse on the 1955-56 syndicated series The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu, starring Glen Gordon, and recurred as Miss Hazlitt, Timmy’s (Jon Provost) teacher, on CBS’ Lassie from 1958-63.

In Sealed Cargo (1951), Balenda portrayed a woman who is aboard a fishing trawler bound for Newfoundland when she and the skipper (Andrews) wind up tangling in the North Atlantic with Nazis led by Rains’ character. She often said it was her favorite role.

When Rooney took his first crack at television,...

Passage to Marseille reunited iconic Casablanca cast members in a World War II drama directed by Michael Curtiz. Humphrey Bogart's performance in Passage to Marseille alongside Greenstreet and Lorre continued his legendary presence from Casablanca. The film showcases the three's unique acting styles, making it a fresh take on the Casablanca era with memorable characters.

One amazing 1944 movie allowed most of the iconic cast of the romantic classic Casablanca to reunite while also letting Humphrey Bogart work with the film's director again. Casablanca is remembered as one of film's most beloved entries from the 1940s. The performance of its star-studded cast as well as its premise allows Casablanca to be the most quotable movie ever, as several mediums over the years have referenced and made variations of its well-known lines.

Casablanca's iconic cast included Bogart, who was already a large star at the time, alongside now well-known actors including Ingrid Bergman,...

[Editor’s note: this list was originally published in May 2023. It has since been updated with new entries in honor of the release of “Longlegs.”]

Movies offer an excellent excuse to ruminate on your deepest fears, and they’re certainly cheaper than therapy. So if you’re struggling with some deep mommy issues, why not cue up a matriarchal tale of terror and sort through some of that trauma in style?

Auteurs have been hashing out their issues with their mothers on the big screen for decades, to varying degrees of success. Consider mother-centric horror as its own subgenre, and you’ll notice there’s a tendency among filmmakers to take more than one stab at the thorny subject matter. Alfred Hitchcock used the real crimes of serial killer Ed Gein and added a profoundly morbid murder of a mother at a motel to brilliantly realize Norma and Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) for his exquisite “Psycho” in 1960, of course. But he’d whipped up something just as insidiously spectacular with Leopoldine Konstantin for his...

Over the 96 years of Academy Awards history, over 900 men and women have been honored with acting nominations. On July 4, 2024, the oldest surviving acting winner (or nominee) has turned 100 years old. Our research shows that Eva Marie Saint joins a very short list of centenarians who received Oscar acting nominations, with four winning the award.

A star of stage, radio, TV and film, Saint won the Best Supporting Actress statue in 1955 for her debut movie performance in “On the Waterfront;” she is also the earliest surviving acting winner, and one of the last stars of the Golden Era. She later starred alongside Cary Grant in one of Alfred Hitchcock‘s most acclaimed films, “North by Northwest” (1959), and became known to a younger generation as Clark Kent’s adoptive mother in “Superman Returns” (2006). Although she’s never received another Oscar nomination, she’s earned five Emmy nominations, winning Best Miniseries Supporting Actress...

By the 1950s, the Universal Monsters had become a punchline with most of them ending their onscreen careers meeting Abbott and Costello. Many of them had become victims of their own success, becoming so iconic that they had lost any ability to frighten anybody. Creatures from outer space, radioactive monsters, and giant bugs had taken over the throne as horror’s reigning attractions and anything that deviated from these felt passé and played out. Universal itself supplied plenty of its own creations into this theatrical landscape and relegated its classic monsters to the small screen. Into this environment came something new from the studio that all but created the modern horror film when Universal unleashed Creature from the Black Lagoon into the world.

There is much about the Creature that is similar to the Universal monsters that have come before. Like Lon Chaney’s Phantom, Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein Monster,...

Casablanca is one of those films that is practically perfect. Set against the background of World War II, it finds nightclub owner Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) dealing with the fact that his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) needs his help to get her husband (Paul Henreid) on a plane to America. In between there's music, a gunfight, and plenty of romance... not to mention some of the most iconic quotes in film history. So the question remains: why did Casablanca never get a sequel? The answer might lie in the story being completed: Rick and Ilsa reconcile, the mission to get her and her husband to America is a success, and Rick even forms a friendship of sorts with police captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains). Despite this, Warner Bros. attempted to fast track a sequel, with disastrous results.

The highest-paid actors in Hollywood — Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., Keanu Reeves, and others — could easily command millions of dollars in upfront salary. For Avengers: Endgame, Downey Jr. earned a $20 million upfront salary and a $75 million total income. The precedent for these humongous salaries was Elizabeth Taylor’s upfront salary of $1 million for Cleopatra.

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame | Marvel Studios

The British-American actress worked in the industry for nearly seven decades. She was cast in Cleopatra after she completed her contract at MGM Studios. 20th Century Fox, who produced the film, recognized her incredible talent and offered her a massive guaranteed salary along with a percentage of the gross profits.

Elizabeth Taylor Became The First Movie Star To Be Paid $1 Million Salary Elizabeth Taylor in a still from Cleopatra | 20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox set aside a sum of $2 million for the production of their project Cleopatra.

Released theatrically November 22, 2023, director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) and Vanessa Kirby (“The Fantastic Four”) earned Oscar nominations for ‘Best Costume Design’, ‘Best Production Design’ and ‘Best Visual Effects’, with Scott now readying his director’s cut, with a streaming runtime of more than four hours:

"...the film is a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film also captures Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as a military leader, war visionary and war criminal.”

Historically Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has...

George Waggner's 1941 horror film "The Wolf Man" introduced audiences to, essentially, the "second officer" of the Universal Monsters canon. Everyone knows that Dracula is the captain of the monster ship, and that Frankenstein is his first officer (a position he often shares with the Bride). The Wolf Man is always third in command, perhaps serving as a security officer or an enforcer. Mummies, gillmen, invisible men, Dr. Hydes, and other ancillary ghouls serve lower down in the crew. 

Watching the original "Wolf Man" film, however, reveals a dark and sad tale about Larry Talbot who is attacked by a wolf on a misty night in Wales, afflicting him with the curse of the werewolf. Throughout the year, Larry will transform into an animalistic wolf/human creature and stalk and kill random victims. The tale is terrifying and tragic and inspired many pop culture tales to follow -- as well as many nightmares.

Heroes is set to get a remake and deserves a return of key characters like Sylar, portrayed by Zachary Quinto, to continue their stories. Characters like Tommy Clark and Malina Bennet from Heroes Reborn have unresolved stories that should continue in the new series. Characters like Mohinder Suresh and Tracy Strauss should also be brought back to help develop the narrative in the upcoming Heroes: Eclipsed series.

Heroes is set to get a remake, but to do the original series justice, several characters need to return and finish their story. Heroes quickly gained widespread critical acclaim after the first season began airing in 2006 and the series was nominated for a variety of awards, including Primetime Emmys. However, after the incredible start to the series, later seasons lost momentum and viewership took a sharp dive (via The Guardian). The series was then canceled due to the ratings drop, and the series...

Gay Flowers.

March featured a variety of conversations, including the Kristen Stewart vehicle Personal Shopper (listen), Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train (listen), and Raja Gosnell‘s live-action cartoon sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (listen here).

After previously covering The Old Dark House and Bride of Frankenstein, we wrapped the month up with another James Whale classic, The Invisible Man (1933).

In the film, Jack Griffin (Claude Rains) is an egomaniac with plans to sell his invisibility formula for a fortune, but first he has to “find a way back” from invisibility with the help of scientist/love interest, Dr. Kemp (William Harrigan). Alas, Griffin’s serum has also turned him insane and murderous, and he embarks on a killing spree that will claim the highest body count of any Universal Monster title.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts,...

Blumhouse Productions' upcoming Wolf Man pushed back to 2025 as release schedule shifts.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Blumhouse confirmed that Leigh Whannell's upcoming Wolf Man starring Christopher Abbott, previously scheduled to hit theaters on October 25, has been pushed back to a Jan. 17, 2025 release date. Universal also confirmed that Blumhouse's The Woman in the Yard, originally slated to release on Jan. 10, 2025, has been removed from the studio's calendar. A new release date for the film has not yet been announced.

Related A Fan-Favorite Guy Ritchie Movie Is Finally Coming to Prime Video One of critically acclaimed director Guy Ritchie's most beloved films is finally on its way to Prime Video this April. Day one on the set of Wolf Man. Director Leigh Whannell pictured here. Lfg!!! 📸: Nicola Dove/Universal Pictures and @blumhouse pic.twitter.com/qeny3bjYdl — Jason Blum (@jason_blum) March 18, 2024

Producer Jason Blum confirmed that production on...

From A Streetcar Named Desire to Gone With the Wind, Vivien Leigh captivated audiences with her iconic performances in classic movies. Known for her talent and beauty, Leigh's personal struggles and reputation often overshadowed her professional achievements. Despite complications behind the scenes, Leigh's filmography remains a testament to her remarkable talent and star quality.

Vivien Leigh is an icon of old Hollywood, and her best movies earned her a series of awards and millions of admirers. Leigh was born in India while it was under British colonial rule, and she began her career as an actor on stage. Soon after making her break into film, she began an affair with Laurence Olivier, and the two later divorced their spouses to be with one another. Although she was famous for her relationship with Olivier, she was just as professionally well-respected as he was. She won two Oscars and plenty of other...

Universal Pictures birthed post-silent horror with iconic monsters like Dracula & Frankenstein, paving the way for today's horror franchises. A Limited Edition Collection showcases original Universal Classic Monsters films in stunning 4K restoration with bonus features. Renowned artist Tristan Eaton created exclusive art for this collector's set, inspired by the classic Universal Monster characters.

After the silent era, horror films as we know them were essentially birthed by Universal Pictures. They had a monopoly on the great monsters and villains that still attract audiences to this day — Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man. With 'The Universal Monsters,' they began horror franchises half a century before the myriad Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street series. And now, a new Limited Edition Collection will contain this horror history and reveal it like you've never seen before, in a stunning new 4K restoration.

From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal...

Casablanca remains relevant today with a timeless and powerful story that resonates with modern audiences. The characters in the film are complex and multifaceted, displaying realistic struggles and sacrifices. A technically marvelous film, Casablanca captivates viewers with perfect pacing and a compelling narrative that feels modern.

Casablanca is undoubtedly considered one of the best movies of all time. Released in 1942, the film went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture. The film stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, an expatriate who runs a nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco. Set during World War II, Rick operates his business under the watchful eye of German forces, who now control the country since they took over France. When Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), a former love Rick initially met in Paris, happens to walk into his club with her husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), he is ultimately forced to...

Released theatrically November 22, 2023, director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), streams March 1, 2024 on AppleTV+:

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide,...

From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection showcases eight of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Starring Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that they made famous, these original films set the standard for a new horror genre with revolutionary makeup, mood-altering cinematography, and groundbreaking special effects. Featuring over 12 hours of revealing bonus features plus an exclusive collectible book, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements for the ultimate classic monster experience.

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on February 13.

Enter for your chance to...

Following the nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards on Tuesday, Lily Gladstone, Martin Scorsese and Emma Stone were among the stars and films setting new records or carving out their own unique place in Oscar history.

Gladstone achieved a historic nomination, with the Killers of the Flower Moon star paving a new path for Native American women in the lead actress category. Meanwhile adding to his list of accolades, Scorsese has surpassed Steven Spielberg with having the most best direction nominations and, at 81, is also recognized as the oldest directing nominee. Then, Emma Stone is going into the race eyeing two possible Oscar wins for Poor Things, with both nominations making history as she follows in the footsteps of Frances McDormand’s Nomadland Oscars wins.

Famed musicians like John Williams and Diane Warren continue making their mark on the Academy — adding to their existing achievements while continuing their reigns as being...

After strategically withholding Napoleon from the festival circuit, Ridley Scott went guerilla instead, launching his controversial military epic into cinemas like a carefully-thrown hand grenade. The tactic worked, overriding critical reviews that tore apart its history, its script and even its star, Joaquin Phoenix, to give Scott a $200 million worldwide gross. Overlooked in the fallout was a terrific performance by Rupert Everett as the Duke of Wellington, the stiff-upper-lip Brit who proves to be Napoleon’s nemesis at the Battle of Waterloo. Here, the laconic British actor reflects on the influences that fed into his portrayal of the Iron Duke.

Deadline: How did you get involved with the Napoleon project?

Rupert Everett: It just came up out of the blue. I love Ridley Scott, so I was thrilled to take part, really. I’m a fan of the Duke of Wellington too, so it was exciting.

Deadline: What was your take on Wellington?...

Released theatrically November 22, 2023, director Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" feature, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as the 'Emperor' of the French as seen through the eyes of his wife 'Josephine' (Vanessa Kirby), has so far earned $59,600,000 (Domestic) and $141,100,000 (International) for a worldwide box office gross of $200,700,000 :

"...the new film is described as a personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of the addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, 'Josephine'.

"The film will also capture Napoleon’s famous battles, his relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader, war criminal and war visionary..."

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the latter stages of the 'French Revolution' and its associated wars in Europe. As 'Napoleon I', he was 'Emperor' of the French from 1804 to 1815.

His legal reform, the 'Napoleonic Code', has...

While there have been actors whose names may be more recognizable, few performers throughout the history of cinema can lay claim to a more impressive or illustrious career than that of Claude Rains, something Letterboxd users can attest to with their rankings of his greatest films. A prolific supporting actor defined by his enormous presence, his flawless line delivery, and his debilitating right eyebrow raise and sarcasm, Rains was a delightful feature in some of the best movies ever made.