Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes‘ romance has continued to flourish over the years.

Sparks originally started to fly between Gosling and Mendes while they filmed The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011. They were subsequently spotted spending plenty of quality time together after working on the project.

Us Weekly confirmed in September 2014 that Gosling and Mendes welcomed their first daughter, Esmeralda. The twosome welcomed daughter Amada two years later.

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In 2020, Mendes explained the choice to keep their lives under wraps when an Instagram follower accused Gosling of not being there for their children publicly.

“I don’t talk about Ryan and all the wonderful things he does as a father because I keep that part private,” the Lost River star wrote on social media in April 2020. “I feel it’s best that I continue to disclose what I’m comfortable with but not involve him or my kids too much. It’s not about being cagey or weird, it’s just about staying private in a public space. Does that make sense? Hope so. Because this is my honest answer.”

Scroll down to relive the romance between Mendes and Gosling:

A simple question during a comedy interview recently unexpectedly created one of music’s most talked-about cross-genre moments. 

Doja Cat found herself at the center of a viral conversation after admitting she had no idea who chart-topping country singer Ella Langley was. 

What followed wasn’t a celebrity feud or a heated back-and-forth, but a candid explanation from the rapper and a clever response from Langley that had fans applauding her ability to laugh off the situation.

The unexpected moment unfolded during Doja Cat’s appearance on Caleb Pressley’s “Sundae Conversation” on August 23.

After steering the conversation from a joke involving Darth Vader and elevators, Pressley suddenly asked the rapper, “Did you think I was talkin about Ella Langley?” before following it up with, “Are you an Ella’s Fella?”

The question appeared to catch Doja completely off guard. “I don’t know what that is,” she replied. 

Pressley then asked, “Do you like Ella Langley?” to which Doja responded again, “I don’t know what that is.” The host seemed surprised by the answer given Langley’s massive success in country music. 

At the time of the interview, Langley’s hit “Choosin’ Texas” had spent 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her one of the most talked-about names in the genre.  

Even so, Doja’s confusion appeared genuine, though Pressley briefly wondered whether she might simply be joking.

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Rather than walk back the remark, Doja Cat addressed the situation directly during an Instagram Live session two days later. 

“I really don’t just give a f*co about country music, and I don’t understand what’s so hard to believe about that,” she said per E! News, adding,  “I never cared. I like that one Keith Urban song from 2004.”

While her comments stirred debate among fans, Doja stopped short of criticizing Langley personally. In fact, she offered several compliments after listening to “Choosin’ Texas” during the livestream.

Calling Langley “probably a fine lady,” the 30-year-old admitted the music simply wasn’t for her. “This is not my vibe, but she has a very pretty voice. If this is No. 1 on the charts, I’m sure it’s on the radio. I could see them playing this sh-t on the radio. I don’t like it, but that’s fine. It’s very earwormy it sounds like, it’s like [a] catchy melody. I get it, and she’s pretty,” she said.

Doja Cat Gets A Playful Response From Langley

If anyone expected Langley to fire back, the singer chose a much lighter approach. Instead of posting a lengthy statement or addressing the comments directly, the 27-year-old leaned into the viral moment with a subtle joke on Instagram. 

Sharing a collection of photos and videos of herself from her recent travels and performances, Langley referenced Doja’s confusion with a simple caption. “Ella Langley? What is that?”

The post itself wasn’t related to Doja, with some slides showing Langley on an airplane and others capturing the Alabama native getting her makeup done, holding a butterfly or cuddling with an adorable dog.

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While Langley chose humor over confrontation, many of her fans were far less restrained in their reactions.

Some fans openly defended the country star’s musical success, with one commenter writing, “She jealous because you have actual talent and don’t need to sing about your kitty cat.” 

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Others praised Langley for handling the situation with grace instead of escalating it into a public feud. 

“LOL I love you so much @ellalangleymusic this has me rolling you trolling @dojacat wish she didn’t mess with the smoke lol. We all know god wins over the devil every time,” another supporter commented.

A number of fans also took issue with what they perceived as Doja Cat’s attitude toward country music as a whole. One follower argued, “It’s not even about knowing, it’s just the disrespect she has towards you and country music. She seems miserable.”

Others used the moment to showcase Langley’s growing popularity. One commenter claimed, “Literally never even heard of Doja whatever until something was said about Ella. Ella has literally been the album of everyone’s summer.”

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Doja Cat’s AI Feud With Tyga Showed Her Unfiltered Side

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If Doja’s blunt comments about Langley surprised some fans, they were hardly the first time the rapper made headlines for saying exactly what was on her mind.

Just weeks before the country music debate erupted, Doja found herself in another viral controversy after taking aim at Tyga over his AI-assisted album “$tarface.” 

During an August livestream, the Grammy winner criticized the rapper’s decision to incorporate artificial intelligence into the project and didn’t mince words.

“Nobody asked me anything about Tyga, but I felt like saying this,” Doja said per PEOPLE before adding, “Tyga is a penis for making an AI album.” 

The criticism quickly gained traction because Tyga had recently acknowledged using AI tools while creating portions of the album’s production. Although he stressed that he wrote and performed all of the lyrics himself, the admission sparked a wider debate about artificial intelligence’s role in modern music. 

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Tyga eventually responded during a TMZ Live appearance, choosing not to escalate the dispute despite the insult. Instead, he defended his creative choices and argued that AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement for artists. He compared the backlash to the criticism Auto-Tune once faced when it first entered mainstream music. 

The rapper also took a playful swipe back at Doja, saying he respected her artistry while calling one of her projects a “demonic album.” Despite the disagreement, Tyga made it clear there was no personal animosity between them.

There’s something intrinsically exciting and high-energy about action movies that makes the genre one of the most fun and explosive styles of filmmaking that cinema has to offer. From massive-scale blockbusters that make the most out of their glorious setpieces to smaller-scale films with a raw dedication to choreography, incredibly fun action movies can take all different shapes and sizes. This has been even further exemplified within the 21st century, with so many amazing and incredibly fun action movies being released.

More than simply the most successful or recognizable action movies of the 21st century, these films have an inherent fun factor that keeps audiences engaged from beginning to end, with their stellar action still leaving an impact after audiences finish witnessing its greatness. Considering just how much fun factor can impact the memorability and lasting impact of a film, it doesn’t come as a surprise that these incredibly fun action movies are also some of the most celebrated of the 21st century.

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‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

With exceptional directing from Gore Verbinski and a stylish combination of practical action and groundbreaking visual effects, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl made waves as a deeply enthralling icon of action-adventure. A lot of the film’s continuous fun factor can be traced back to the sheer memorability of these characters and set pieces, from Johnny Depp‘s legendary turn as Jack Sparrow to the fledgling duo Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley).

Seeing these memorable characters in wild action setpieces aboard the high seas, especially when the plot delves into massive fantasy elements, makes it one of the most engaging and electrifying blockbuster experiences that the 2000s have to offer. It makes the absolute most out of every aspect of its massive budget, with Verbinski’s distinct style of action filmmaking utilizing the blockbuster scale better than many modern blockbusters could hope to achieve. It all comes together to make the action movie incredibly rewatchable and a fan-favorite that has stood the test of time and only grown in appreciation in the decades since its release.

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‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Rarely does a legacy sequel ever live up to the stature and quality of the original film, especially when said sequel releases 36 years after the original iconic action film. However, Top Gun: Maverick is the rare exception to the rule, being a legacy sequel that not only lives up to the stature of the original film, but in many ways surpasses it to create an even more fun and even more enthralling action experience. It does just about everything one would want a legacy sequel to do, raising the stakes and upping the ante while still staying true to the timeless strengths that made the original such an icon in the first place.

Tom Cruise is as charming and charismatic as ever; the supporting cast each shine in their own distinct ways and leave a prominent impact, and the practical fighter jet action is a glorious sight to experience on the big screen. It’s a beautiful marriage of old and new action filmmaking styles that deeply resonated with audiences, being one of the faces of blockbuster success in the 2020s and a pillar of Cruise’s modern career.

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‘RRR’ (2022)

Image via DVV Entertainment

Arguably more than any other culture of action filmmaking, Indian action movies have a fundamental understanding of spectacle and fun-factor that many traditional Hollywood blockbusters could only dream of coming close to. However, no action movie from India has broken through cultural barriers and become a worldwide phenomenon quite like RRR, whose story of revolution and fighting against tyrannical oppressors, with glorious spectacle, made waves across the world. The execution proves to be so invigorating that it never falters in amping up the audience, whether it be through slow-motion action or high-energy dance numbers.

Especially for those not familiar with the filmmaking trends of Indian action films, RRR came across as a breath of fresh air and a glorious explosion of spectacle and flair. This signature sense of raw, powerful energy and setpieces makes it an exceptionally fun time, even when it delves into darker subject matter, because it always finds this balance that has the audience rooting for the heroes in moments of pure wonder. At the very least, no other action movie utilizes its top-notch choreography to create a one-of-a-kind musical number, complete with the scale of a flash mob and extremely catchy music.

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‘Baby Driver’ (2017)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

A great and well-suited soundtrack can make all the difference in terms of getting the audience invested in an action movie, with great music doing a lot to amplify the style and energy of an already great action sequence. Baby Driver understands this phenomenon more than any other action film, setting up many of its action sequences specifically to align with the tempo and energy of the soundtrack. It makes for an incredibly satisfying blending of action and music that is unlike any other action movie out there.

The stylish and satisfying editing of the film works at every moment to create all sorts of fun for the viewer, as it just feels good when the action lines up with the music so seamlessly, especially when said music includes all-time greats from Queen, The Beach Boys, and Focus. It never loses its appeal and fun factor no matter how many times it’s watched, being one of the most creative and distinctly original takes on an action movie in the 21st century.

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‘The Raid’ (2011)

Image via PT Merantau Films

One specific region of the world that has truly found its calling in the world of exceptional action filmmaking built on choreography and masterful stuntwork is Indonesia, with the undeniable face of extremely fun Indonesian action being Gareth Evans‘ masterpiece, The Raid. This ultraviolent action movie understands the sheer catharsis and joy of watching such ruthless carnage unfold on-screen, with the magnitude and craft of its action elevating the stakes to create one of the most consistently engaging action movies out there.

It’s one of those cases where the exceptional craft on display in the film serves to amplify the fun of the entire experience, as each amazing moment of action and stunt choreography proves to be more hype and awe-inspiring than the last. Rarely has non-stop death around every corner and visceral carnage been so wildly fun to experience, yet The Raid capitalizes on the fun of its carnage to create an unforgettable icon of the action genre.

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‘Kill Bill Vol. 1’ (2003)

Image via Miramax Films

A love letter to martial arts movies and action movies of the past, the first film in Quentin Tarantino‘s action movie masterpiece, Kill Bill Vol. 1, might just be the most cathartic and entertaining revenge movie ever made. With an iconic soundtrack, a stern and powerful lead performance by Uma Thurman, and a great array of blood being spilled in cathartic action sequences, the film has been at the forefront of extremely fun R-rated action movies ever since its release. The various battles in Japan, especially, are some of the wildest and most fun action scenes of the 2000s that almost single-handedly cemented the film’s classic status.

Tarantino’s love and appreciation for the action genre is on full display in this film, as it combines elements from martial arts films, westerns, and 70s exploitation films to create a full display of personality and charm. The film’s influences and stature within the action genre have only grown over the years, with its overwhelming sense of fun standing tall as one of its greatest strengths.

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‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

Image via A24

Fueled by a seemingly endless sense of creative possibilities and some highly impressive action choreography and stunts, Everything Everywhere All at Once‘s sense of energy and fun was so infectious that it became the first action film to win Best Picture since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The multiverse as a concept simply lends itself to a base level of comedic fun, yet Everything Everywhere All at Once goes all out to maximize the comedy, satisfying action, and emotional impact of the multiverse in the cinematic form.

The film became an immediate fan-favorite for good reason, as it has such a joyous, tongue-in-cheek tone in every aspect of its filmmaking, having such a blast creating all of these action sequences and concepts that said joy translates to fun for the audience. It also certainly adds to the fun of the film that Everything Everywhere All at Once is as much a comedy as it is an action film, embracing a sense of absurdity and wild comedic nonsense that has audiences laughing at the action as often as they are impressed by it. All of this comes together to make an extremely fun viewing experience and easily one of the best films of the 2020s so far.

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‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Not a particularly surprising choice for the top spot, yet George Miller‘s ruthless post-apocalyptic masterpiece Mad Max: Fury Road lives up to its reputation and more so as one of the greatest action movies not just of the 21st century, but of all time. This unrestrained mixture of practical action, dynamic characters, and outright madness took the world by storm and elevated the Mad Max franchise into the modern age, with a sense of catharsis that sees action filmmaking at its very best and most fun.

For a film that is primarily a massive-scale vehicle chase across the desert, it continuously finds ways to stay engaging and extremely fun in its execution, utilizing its blockbuster budget and scale to create a beautiful concoction of chaos and carnage. The film is as impressive to witness as it is electrifyingly fun to experience, being the type of extremely entertaining action masterpiece that blockbuster filmmaking was made for. It was already heralded as one of the best action movies when it was released, and will continue to build up its legacy throughout the rest of the 21st century.

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Mad Max: Fury Road

Release Date

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May 15, 2015

Runtime

121 minutes

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Director

George Miller

Writers

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Brendan McCarthy, George Miller, Nico Lathouris

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Se7en is such a dark and effective crime thriller that it’s very easy to overlook how silly the title is, given it replaces a “v” with a “7,” and so is seemingly pronounced “Sesevenen.” It was arguably David Fincher‘s first great film, and has a plot that follows two detectives going after a dangerous serial killer who appears to be committing a series of murders that are each based on one of the seven deadly sins.

It’s the sort of movie that’s proved to be influential and remarkably popular in the years since its release (even getting a 4k remaster), and at the same time, it’s possible to see certain titles released before Se7en as influencing it and its dark neo-noir narrative. The following movies all have certain similarities to Fincher’s 1995 film and are worth checking out for fans of dark, twist-filled, and sometimes stomach-churning crime, thriller, and mystery movies.

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‘Resurrection’ (1999)

Image via Columbia TriStar Home Video

One of the many abstract police procedural films of the ’90s that were directly influenced by and inspired by the success of Se7en, Resurrection adds a layer of biblical allegory to its string of mysterious homicidal murders. The film sees a jaded detective set to take down a ruthless killer in Chicago, leaving behind ironic bible quotes alongside his mutilated and dismembered victims. The Easter-centric horror crime film is pretty compelling in its execution, even if far from the most original story being told.

Resurrection proves to be so similar stylistically and conceptually to Se7en to the point where it could be considered a ripoff, yet considering just how masterful Fincher’s magnum opus is, even a ripoff manages to feature some compelling attributes. There’s a pretty effective cast, with the likes of Christopher Lambert, Leland Orser, and even David Cronenberg in a rare acting role putting in a great performance. —Robert Lee

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‘Strange Darling’ (2023)

Image via Magenta Light Studios

One of the greater strengths of Se7en is how the complete picture of its narrative and wider messaging makes the earlier entries all the more beautiful and impactful with this newfound context, a facet similarly shared by modern cult classic Strange Darling. The film purposefully keeps information hidden from the audience through its non-chronological story, telling its chapters out of order for maximum impact in its story of a one-night stand turning into a deadly chase through the woods.

Strange Darling succeeds thanks to the core strengths of its two leads, with Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner giving exceptional, layered performances that evolve and change perspective as more information and knowledge is gained while watching the film. It makes for a highly entertaining mystery thriller that gets the audience hooked early on before delivering some truly great twists. The indie film made a large splash when it first released, with it easily being one of the best horror thrillers of the 2020s so far. —Robert Lee

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‘The Bone Collector’ (1999)

Image via Universal Pictures

Combining the absolute star power of Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie to create a pretty underrated crime thriller, The Bone Collector is about as classically executed as psychological crime thrillers get. The film sees Denzel as Lincoln Rhyme, a top homicide detective who is made incapable of working due to an injury that left him paralyzed. However, after a gruesome murder leaves other detectives without answers, Rhyme teams up with a rookie cop (Jolie) to put together the cryptic clues left behind at the crime scene to catch the serial killer.

“Se7en but paralyzed” doesn’t exactly seem like the kind of film that would be that exciting, yet the screen presence of Washington and Jolie, combined with an array of effective twists that play into the inability of Rhyme to actively see these crime scenes in person, makes for a pretty memorable watch. With an exceptional supporting cast rounding out the film, including the likes of Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker, and Bobby Cannavale, the film is easily one of the more underrated Denzel Washington films. —Robert Lee

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‘Faces of Death’ (2026)

Image via IFC

The original Faces of Death was one of the most controversial horror releases of all time, with its quasi-documentary style and sickening usage of real-life death footage making it an infamous icon of the era. However, in the modern era of social media, where users are subjected to horrifying gore and death and have grown completely desensitized to it, this modern reimagining of the classic film evolves it into a new beast entirely. It largely follows a slasher plot, with a serial killer recreating scenes from the original film with his victims and posting them online for massive notoriety, with a local content moderator setting out to stop his conquest of murder.

This type of socially aware messaging on social media in film has often times failed due to feeling half-baked in their execution and like the ramblings of an old person simply not understanding the digital age. However, Faces of Death is instead scarily tapped into the sickening details of social media culture and the gross part of human nature where users actively seek out such sickening material. Combined with an effective game of cat and mouse and some memorable twists, Faces of Death is a must-watch psychological horror film for the modern age. —Robert Lee

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‘Fallen’ (1998)

Image via Warner Bros

Yet another underrated police procedural psychological thriller from the 90s with Denzel Washington in a leading role, Fallen certainly has much more abstract, fantasy elements than The Bone Collector. The film sees Washington as a homicide detective witnessing the execution of a serial killer, only for his murders to mysteriously continue. While initially believing it to be a copycat killer, they soon realize that something much more sinister and demonic is at play.

Combining together demonic possession and police procedurals doesn’t necessarily seem like it would be an effective combination, yet Fallen soars thanks to some truly memorable twists and turns and an exceptional cast who delivers across the board. Washington himself is great, yet it’s the support of John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, James Gandolfini, and more that truly turn Fallen into a horror fantasy gem of the era. The film also features an amazing twist ending that sticks with the audience, much like how Se7en‘s ending leaves such an undeniable impact. —Robert Lee

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‘Frenzy’ (1972)

Image via Universal Pictures

While Alfred Hitchcock made most of his movies at a time in history when there were certain restrictions in place content-wise, he was still able to craft his fair share of dark, morbid, and violent films. Frenzy, one of his last ones overall, did have the benefit of being made at a time when you could get away with showing a little more, ensuring that much of it still packs a punch 50+ years later.

There is a dark sense of humor to be found at the heart of Frenzy, but it is still pretty bleak and intense overall, following a chaotic chase to find the serial killer behind a series of murders targeting women in London. It’s worth a watch for anyone who likes a good crime/thriller flick and doesn’t mind the idea of things getting a little mean-spirited (again, in a somewhat funny way, at least at times).

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‘Longlegs’ (2024)

Image via NEON

Scratching the same sort of crime/thriller/horror itch that Se7en does, Longlegs is perhaps one of the more interesting horror flicks of the decade so far. There is a familiarity with the core premise, which involves the tracking down of a dangerous criminal, but there’s a good deal more to it than that, with various revelations made in the back half that help Longlegs get a little weirder and less predictable.

It’s also a movie that benefits from having a very strange Nicolas Cage performance, and he’s used the perfect amount here for the kind of character he plays. Elsewhere, Maika Monroe is very good in the lead role, and writer/director Osgood Perkins injects the whole thing with a ton of energy from a stylistic viewpoint. It’s an odd sort of blend of horror and crime, but a largely compelling one overall.

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‘Spiral: From the Book of Saw’ (2021)

Image via Lionsgate

While it’s unlikely to be anyone’s favorite entry in the series, Spiral: From the Book of Saw is a bit over-hated. Yes, being on board with the fact that this is a Saw movie starring Chris Rock can be a bit of an obstacle, and there is a twist here that’s probably the least surprising of any Saw movie twist… but there’s an element on the police procedural side of things that helps it stand out.

In Spiral: From the Book of Saw, there are still some grisly traps and moments of ultra-violence, but it’s also a little like the first movie in that the investigation occurring around the traps/murders proves arguably more important than the other stuff. When the conclusion to the mystery underwhelms, it does hurt the movie overall, but before then, there’s a sense of brazenness and grit to this one that makes it more than watchable.

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‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)

Image via Miramax Films

A crime movie where there’s an intentional focus on those outside the law, and an emphasis on how those on the “right side” can’t do much, No Country for Old Men is as stunning as it is bleak. It’s all about the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong, with one man stumbling across the site and taking a large quantity of cash with him, which makes him the target of a relentless assassin tasked with getting that cash back.

Even if you know how it ends, No Country for Old Men is unwaveringly intense for almost its entire runtime, with a central villain who’s a big reason for that continued sense of dread and/or outright terror. It’s not a feel-good movie by any means, but it is a remarkable film, and likely the best film adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy story to date.

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‘8MM’ (1999)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Another film starring Nicolas Cage, alongside a noteworthy supporting cast that includes the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, James Gandolfini, Peter Stormare, and Catherine Keener, 8MM works fairly well as a dark and dingy mystery/thriller flick. Cage plays a surveillance specialist who comes across a reel of plastic film and discovers its contents might point to something incredibly disturbing. This, naturally, sets him off on a surprising investigation.

There is an element of traveling further into an off-putting underworld as 8MM goes along, and it can be fairly involving and suspenseful at times. The acting is also quite strong, at least compared to how the film’s written and directed… in those areas, 8MM can be a little disappointing. It doesn’t come together quite well enough to be a masterpiece by any means, but the stuff that works is generally strong enough to make it recommendable for those who like their crime/thriller movies dark.

One of the main reasons that people go out to the movie theaters to see superhero movies is because they want to have a boat load of fun. Superheroes movies, inherently—most of the time—are fun! Wild action sequences, fun humor, popping visuals, and more, keep people coming out and enjoying these films—a big reason that these projects continue to be as popular as they are.

Whether they’re from Marvel, DC Comics, or a company not part of the big duo, superhero projects have always had audiences leaving the theaters with smiles on their faces in some way, shape, or form. This isn’t to say that every superhero movie needs to be fun, per se, but some of the best ones are, and these projects more than prove that.

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‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Avengers franchise is one that is filled with gigantic crossover events—completely made up of them, in fact—and that’s a huge part of what makes them so much fun. There are cameos from characters that people love, great character introductions, and action sequences that are genuinely well-made spectacle. None of the other films in the franchise—no, not even Avengers: Endgame—do these things like the third entry, Avengers: Infinity War, does.

The first part of the two-part finale of the legendary Infinity Saga is one that is commonly considered by most to be the best movie in The Avengers franchise. From minute one to the final second, Avengers: Infinity War has abundantly epic moments. Characters are getting sick introductions, gigantic battles are seeping spectacle and excitement, and the performances across the board are great. Despite this very much being Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) movie, every single Avenger included gets a moment in the sun that gives most of them an arc of some sort. This is some masterful storytelling and balancing on the directors, Anthony Russo and Joe Russo‘s, parts.

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‘Kick-Ass’ (2010)

Image via Lionsgate

One of the most popular non-Marvel or DC Comics superhero movies of all time comes in the form of not some high-budget epic, but the smaller Matthew Vaughn movie, Kick-Ass. With a budget of only $30 million, this project ends up being one that is incredibly enjoyable. It has excellent humor—truly one of the funnier superhero movies ever made—and the performances from the entire cast help bring it to life.

Kick-Ass has a good balance, though. While it may mainly be a comedic flick, it balances heart, emotion, and drama, blending it into the lightheartedness borderline perfectly. Director Matthew Vaughn absolutely knew what he was doing when he brought this movie to the table, clearly aiming to give people the kind of experience they could walk out of theaters of with a huge smile on their faces—continuing to deliver said smiles to people to this day.

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‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

If his entire filmography is any proof, James Gunn knows how to make a fun movie. After a bit of a scuffle with Marvel Studios and Disney for a bit there, Gunn got the opportunity to hop over to DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment for a little bit to bring a new product to life. Given the choice, he actually chose to do none other than a Suicide Squad sequel/soft reboot. While many would initially consider this a bad idea, it actually ended up working out very well for everyone, as it was executed excellently.

When The Suicide Squad was released in 2021, Gunn proved that this franchise could be saved, and was worth giving another shot. It’s clear that if there’s anything that the director is great at, its taking characters and franchises that are underrated—like Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy—and showing the world that they’re actually amazing. This movie has great humor, pretty visuals—see: Harley Quinn’s (Margot Robbie) flowery action scene, and a very solid cast. Many consider this to be DC Comics’ Guardians of the Galaxy for the very best reasons. It also has one of the best superhero movie openings of all time, killing off such a plethora of characters in multiple ridiculous ways.

5

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

After the massive success of the first movie, fans everywhere—all across the world—were waiting in both excitement and anxiousness for what was going to come next. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had so much riding on it to be considered a success… and it did, in fact, succeed! This sequel may very well be one of the best superhero sequels of all time, and for very good reasons.

Everything that made the previous movie so great is present in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, featuring an all-new villain, all-new—and way more—Spider-People, and excellent attention to detail, this project is legendary. The visuals are bright, stunning, visceral, and truly beautiful. When it comes to Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, this sequel is going to be hard to beat.

4

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

Image via Marvel Studios

Another incredibly fun, spectacular, hilarious, and visually-popping James Gunn superhero movie comes in the form of his first huge superhero hit, Guardians of the Galaxy. As stated earlier, the director knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to bringing lesser-known or lesser-appreciated franchises to the theater screen. The greatest case of this is one of Marvel Comics’ most under-appreciated cosmic teams put to page.

Guardians of the Galaxy went from a movie many were unsure about—Marvel Studios were probably not even sure it’d be such a massive success—to a group of heroes that almost immediately became the favorites of fans everywhere. Nobody could have expected the Guardians to become such a gigantic property before 2014, but that’s what Gunn excels at. It’s funny, has great acting, beautiful frames, and inventive space-opera action.

3

‘The Incredibles’ (2004)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

With Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man 2 releasing the exact same year, one would most definitely expect another superhero movie to become such a triumph and, arguably, one of the best animated movies ever made. Pixar knows how to bring the heat, and boy, oh boy, do they do exactly that with the revolutionary Brad Bird‘s—known for The Iron Giant—The Incredibles.

This super family—the Parrs—is filled to the brim with some abundantly relatable characters for almost every single demographic that would be sitting down to watch this movie. This story is a classic Pixar tale that’s bursting with heart, extremely well-written characters, unique action and powers, and, clearly, a story that is unforgettable. It is so difficult to step up against The Incredibles, and if that isn’t proof of its quality, nothing is.

2

‘The Lego Batman Movie’ (2017)

Image via Warner Bros.

When it comes to the character of Batman—whose become quite a dark character since the 80s—no one could have ever expected to have a lighthearted, comedy-centric Lego movie to end up being one of the best representations of the character put on the screen. The Lego Batman Movie is a flick that is entertaining for pretty much everyone. It proves that a Batman movie doesn’t need to be dark and gritty to be phenomenal.

The Lego Batman Movie encapsulates the heart and soul of the hero in a way few others have. Alongside that, as stated, it is so funny—potentially one of the funniest superhero movies ever made. Will Arnett‘s performance as the Caped Crusader is unironically a top-tier performance for the character (regardless of it being comedic). The humor has perfect comedic timing, which is very in line with a Lego property. Somehow, The Lego Batman Movie wound up being one of the best superhero movies of the 2010s.

1

‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

No matter what, there has yet to be—and most likely will not be for quite some time—a movie like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This is a film that is genuinely groundbreaking. It changed the animated film medium forever, inspiring studios to get more creative with their overall art styles, and opening up a world of animated projects that have abundantly unique styling. Alongside this, though, the movie itself is one of, if not the most fun, superhero flicks out there.

The visuals are astounding, the comedy is smart, the animation is flowing and done very well, and the vocal performances from literally every single cast member are so dang great. Daniel Pemberton‘s score and the soundtrack also treat the ears and not just the eyes. There is so much that is amazing about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse that is truly undeniable. Despite this being a Phil Lord and Christopher Miller production, the directors—Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman—do not get the credit they deserve for delivering such an excellent movie.

The golden age of cinema was a brief shining moment when it seemed every movie that came out was a masterclass of its craft. The 2008 Academy Awards were a particular triumph, even if Paul Thomas Anderson didn’t win Best Director. His feature, There Will Be Blood, is remembered as a gold standard of modern cinema, and for good reason. Daniel Day-Lewis stars in the period film about the oil rush that considers the lengths one man will go to achieve success.

There Will Be Blood is a classic American story, particularly because Day-Lewis’ best character, Daniel Plainview, was such a ruthless and remorseless capitalist. Plainview loses everything he cares about, including his humanity, culminating in a final scene that will be quoted forever. There are many memorable quotes in this final sequence, but one of them is the most important.

‘There Will Be Blood’ Is Summed Up In Two Words

Everyone remembers Daniel Plainview’s iconic “I drink your milkshake” speech in one of the most rewatchable scenes of There Will Be Blood, but that isn’t even the most important declaration of the scene. The greatest epic masterpiece comes together in the final sequence after he beats the ruined preacher, Eli (Paul Dano), to death in his bowling alley. After years of strife between the two, Eli’s death marks an end, and Daniel declares: “I’m finished!”

This quote can be taken in a lot of ways, but it signifies the conclusion of Daniel’s character arc, as the oil man spent decades losing his humanity in the name of wealth. This internal struggle was externalized by his dynamic with Eli, who challenges him at every turn from the beginning, when Daniel purchases land from him in exchange for funds for his church.

The film commences with a battle of wits between the two of them as they take turns at humiliating each other. Resentment grows because of this, so that even when Daniel loses his soul, he still holds on to his hatred of Eli. Daniel becomes so corrupted in the end that he loses his son and any chance at having a typical family.

Eli’s return at the end of the narrative proves just how low Daniel has gone. There is no hope for him to ever be redeemed. Daniel’s final moment of triumph is bragging about how he swindled Eli one last time and all the while getting him to renounce his faith. Though it is a triumphant moment for Daniel, it’s a tragedy for the audience, who have watched this man destroy everything for his greed. When he exclaims that he’s finished, viewers truly believe him. That is the conclusion of his story, and it is a dark one.

There Will Be Blood is a story about how capitalism corrupts everything. Even when someone feels as though they have won everything, they have really lost. Daniel murders, betrays, and schemes his way through life. Even though he ends his story technically successful, he has lost his humanity in exchange. This scathing indictment of capitalism is not just Paul Thomas Anderson’s best work, but one of the best movies in modern cinema. No one has done it like Anderson, and every component came together to create a masterpiece.

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Release Date

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December 26, 2007

Runtime

158 minutes

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Director

Paul Thomas Anderson

Writers

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Paul Thomas Anderson

Producers

Daniel Lupi, JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson

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It’s been three years since Cal Kestis returned to us and continued his journey in a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The wait for the third and final outing is still ongoing but Respawn Entertainment are making sure we don’t go entirely without, as the world of Jedi is returning in a brand-new way.

Hot Toys has officially unveiled a new sixth-scale Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Jetpack Trooper figure, priced at $270 and expected to ship between September and December 2026. The release is limited to just 2,000 units worldwide, with purchases restricted to one per person, so it’s super limited. Standing approximately 30 centimeters tall, the Jetpack Trooper features 30 points of articulation and recreates the specialized Imperial soldiers encountered by Cal throughout Jedi: Survivor. It includes a newly crafted helmeted head, weathered white armor, and the black undersuit worn beneath it. Collectors will also get seven interchangeable gloved hands, an E-11 blaster rifle, utility belt, thermal detonator and a specially designed Star Wars display stand.

Naturally, Hot Toys hasn’t forgotten the most important part of a Jetpack Trooper. It needs the jetpack! Luckily, this one figure includes a magnetically attachable jetpack, complete with translucent exhaust flame effects that can make the Imperial soldier appear to be taking flight when displayed. Additional tubes can be connected to either the jetpack or the breathing apparatus located on the Trooper’s chest plate. At $270, it’s certainly aimed at the more dedicated end of the Star Wars collecting market, particularly given the limited 2,000-unit production run.

When Will Cal Kestis Return?

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was released in April 2023 as the sequel to 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The game once again follows Cal Kestis as he attempts to survive the growing power of the Galactic Empire while searching for a future beyond its reach. A third Star Wars Jedi game is in development at Respawn Entertainment and is expected to conclude Cal’s story, although fans are still waiting for a full reveal and release date. Until then, the franchise continues to expand outside the games — although this particular piece of the Empire will set collectors back considerably more than a copy of Jedi: Survivor.

The Hot Toys Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Jetpack Trooper is available to pre-order now for $270, and is expected to ship between September and December 2026.

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Released

April 28, 2023

ESRB

T

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Developer(s)

Respawn Entertainment

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Publisher(s)

EA

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Star Wars

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Welcome to Plathville‘s Isaac Plath is officially back with his ex Kaylynn Brinkley.

“Always been you,” the reality TV star, 20, captioned a Sunday, August 30, joint Instagram carousel that shared romantic glimpses from a couples’ shoot with Brinkley. The photos, captured in an idyllic field at sunset, showed the exes embracing each other in a series of poses including Isaac spinning his girlfriend around by the hand.

Isaac, whose breakup with Brinkley was documented in the April 14 episode of the TLC reality series, also tagged her in the post.

Welcome to Plathville, which follows rural Georgia couple Kim and Barry Plath and eight of their nine children. The conservative Christian family’s children’s love lives provide plenty of intrigue as each navigates sparks with matches from outside their strict and protected farm upbringing.

Isaac and Brinkley’s rekindled flame drew plenty of fan support in the post’s comments section, with one fan writing, “I’m so glad they are still together. I hope they marry and have lots of babies,” and another writing, “You sweet dolls!!!!! I just love this and seeing that you stayed together.”

During the pair’s breakup episode, which saw Isaac call time on the romance due to feeling overwhelmed by how quickly things were progressing, Isaac admitted that he regretted his decision. “That’s one of the things that makes me feel so stupid, and it’s one of those things where, right after you make the decision, you just know in your gut it wasn’t a good decision,” he said at the time.

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Isaac added that he’d reached out to Brinkley in the hope of reviving their relationship. “I have no desire to do anything other than to rebuild it with her,” Isaac said. “That’s all I want. That’s all I can see myself doing. She’s going to have to decide what she wants to do. A few days of being by myself is too much already, and it’s killing me inside.”

Brinkley’s response to her ex’s change of heart was far from being impressed. “Honestly, right now, I don’t necessarily know where me and Isaac stand. I really believed so much that he was the one. But trust isn’t just given,” she said at the time. “It’s something that you have to earn with your actions. We’ll just see what he does. And just give it to God, because that’s the only other thing I can do.”

Season 8 of Welcome to Plathville wrapped in June, with a new season yet to be announced, or confirmed, by TLC.

There’s an inherent brilliance to the medium of animation that has made it a staple of the film industry for generations, as the advancements and capabilities of animation continue to evolve and grow, bringing wildly creative stories to life in vibrant colors and overwhelming creativity. The 2020s have largely been no different in terms of prominent animation excellence, with feature-length animation arguably being some of the best that it’s ever been and getting even better as time goes on.

Even without the decade being fully complete, there is an exceptional quality to the animated films released so far in the 2020s, from breathtaking original concepts to the latest entries in beloved animated franchises. Especially with major animated releases like Wildwood and Shrek 5 on the horizon, it’s easy to envision the 2020s as one of the absolute best decades for animation. These films simply solidify its inherent greatness as the best that the past 6 years have had to offer in animation filmmaking.

10

‘Wolfwalkers’ (2020)

Image via Apple TV+

2D animation has largely fallen out of favor in the 21st century thanks to the rise of 3D animation as the standard for massive productions. However, dedicated 2D animation studios like Irish studio Cartoon Saloon have continued to evolve and showcase the brilliance 2D animation can have in the modern day. Easily, their greatest and most highly acclaimed film is Wolfwalkers, a powerful story of identity, Irish folklore, and the ruthless cycle of fear and prejudice.

Even today, the film stands as one of the most beautifully constructed 2D animated films ever made, with it feeling as if it were ripped directly off the pages of a children’s book. It’s a work of art that deserves much more praise and recognition than it received, as while it was certainly celebrated at its release, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely limited its reach, made worse by being stuck on one of the most unused streaming services, AppleTV+.

9

‘Memoir of a Snail’ (2024)

Image via IFC Films

From Adam Elliot, the acclaimed director of Mary and Max, Memoir of a Snail is a stop-motion animated film filled with personality and darkly comedic charm. It’s a film that completely breaks from the mold and perceptions of animation as a genre, being incredibly crass and raunchy with its R-rated humor while sticking to the beauty and overwhelming personality that stop-motion animation provides. The film has a sense of individuality that makes it an absolute one-of-a-kind animated feature and a genuinely sweet yet dark experience.

Its style has more in common with a traditional dark comedy, focusing on shocking and often unsettling subject matter but having a tongue-in-cheek tone that makes it all come across as hilarious. The stop-motion animation does wonders to ease the audience and catch them off guard for its most shocking jokes, easily making the film one of the most underrated comedy experiences of the decade.

8

‘The Wild Robot’ (2024)

Image via DreamWorks Animation

While DreamWorks Animation has always been a competent force in the world of blockbuster animation, they have truly come into their own during the 2020s as a true titan of the industry that can consistently compete with the best that the industry has to offer. At the forefront of this uptick in quality is The Wild Robot, an extremely beautiful sci-fi family film that soars thanks to its beautiful colors and emotional story of family and adaptation. It’s an exceptional modern family movie that may just be the most approachable, mass-appealing animated movie of the decade.

Its central story of a robot learning to go against its own programming to live alongside wild animals and help a young goose grow is immediately compelling and engaging, made all the better by its quirky humor and beautiful watercolor visuals. If DreamWorks continues with this level of quality from their original films, they may just surpass the modern dependability of their longtime rivals Pixar, who have largely been in a slump this decade.

7

‘Robot Dreams’ (2023)

Image via NEON

An exceptionally beautiful story of friendship and the pain of navigating its ending, Robot Dreams is a resoundingly beautiful work of art that actively goes against the trends of modern animation filmmaking. It isn’t just that the film is in 2D animation, but Pablo Berger harkens back to the earliest days of animation by creating a story with no spoken dialogue, entirely telling its story through visuals and accompanying music.

It would be one thing to simply tell a story of this unlikely friendship between a dog and a robot, yet Robot Dreams grows much more compelling when it deals with how the two halves of this duo are forced to navigate being separated from one another. It’s an uplifting story of growth and perseverance that feels timeless in its execution, blending its light and approachable visuals with a story rife with layers and emotional depth. It may be the least recognizable film on this list, but it’s also one whose strengths go without question.

6

‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)

Image via DreamWorks Animation

Releasing 11 years after the previous Puss in Boots film, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a triumphant return to the Shrek franchise that utilizes glorious stylized animation and surprisingly poignant themes on mortality that make it one of the absolute greatest DreamWorks movies. The film massively caught audiences by surprise with its quality, proving to be infinitely better than anyone could have expected the sequel to a Shrek spin-off film to be.

It’s a true revitalization of the core concepts and strengths of a Shrek film, with a larger focus on the creative prospects of a more ruthless fantasy world, but it employs an electrifying visual style that elevates the action and makes the comedy that much more effective. The fact that the film simultaneously works as this insightful story about enjoying life as well as a goofy animated family movie makes it that much more endearing and timeless as an undeniable classic of the modern age.

5

‘Flow’ (2024)

Image via Baltic Content Media

One of the greatest benefits of the technological growth of animation in the modern age is how just about everyone has access to high-end software that allows people to create their own animated works of art. Flow is one such brilliant, deeply impressive achievement, being a breathtaking film with no spoken dialogue made by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis in open-source software Blender. Easily standing as the defining indie animation masterpiece of the decade so far, Flow’s exceptional scale, created across 5 and a half years of development, is one of its greatest strengths.

This story of cutesy animals having to come together and work to survive a massive flood is filled with charm and passion in every second of its filmmaking. It’s an immediately compelling story of survival and community that can be easily recognized and appreciated by all cultures, expertly making use of the mass appeal and approachability of animation as an art form. It also features some of the absolute best visuals of the decade, which is all the more impressive when considering the extremely small team behind the film.

4

‘Ne Zha 2’ (2025)

Image via Chengdu Coco Cartoon

While the film was largely ignored by Western audiences, Ne Zha 2 was an absolute cultural phenomenon in China that couldn’t be compared to any other animated film in its level of success. The film still stands as the highest-grossing animated film ever made, as well as one of only 8 films that have grossed $2 billion worldwide, with over 90% of that gross coming only from China. This overwhelming success isn’t without merit, as the explosive action and striking visuals easily make it one of the best animated films to ever come out of the region.

Ne Zha 2 continues the story from the previous Ne Zha film, setting the stage for powerful celestial beings to undergo trials and retain their physical bodies while an underlying struggle between mortals, immortals, and dragons is simmering under the surface. The real selling point is its brilliant action setpieces, with a sense of explosive glory that maximizes the potential of animation as a medium for flashy action filmmaking. With a third film currently in development, the stature and legacy of this massively successful Chinese film franchise is only just beginning.

3

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

The original Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was one of the most acclaimed and celebrated animated films of the 2010s, so it only makes sense that the sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, would receive similar levels of near-unanimous praise. With larger stakes, more colorful and mesmerizing animation, and a full exploration of multiversal potential, the film immediately became a fan favorite not just among animation fans, but is considered one of the very best superhero movies ever made.

While the original film did a great job of setting up the world and characters, Across the Spider-Verse amps up the emotional stakes and weight of the story, with a striking villain and the emotional struggle of fighting against seemingly impossible odds. Considering the fact that the film ended on one of the most painful cliffhangers of recent memory, many are waiting with bated breath to see how this legendary finale will finally conclude in the highly anticipated Beyond the Spider-Verse.

2

‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ (2022)

Image via Netflix

Guillermo del Toro was already highly celebrated as one of the greatest fantasy filmmakers of the 21st century, so the prospect of him helming a stop-motion animated adaptation of Pinocchio is the type of thing dreams are made of. While the film took 14 years of development hell to release following its initial announcement in 2008, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio managed to live up to all of the potential and prospects of a stop-motion film co-directed by a fantasy filmmaking legend and one of the masters of stop-motion, Mark Gustafson.

It helps that this adaptation is far from the child-friendly bundle of joy that the character is often treated as, as del Toro utilizes his signature sense of bleak worldbuilding combined with a sense of joyous optimism to create the darkest yet arguably most insightful rendition of the character to date. The film is breathtaking from start to finish, with the beautiful stop-motion animation amplifying the narrative brilliance of the timeless fantasy story.

1

‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023)

Image via Studio Ghibli

Few animation filmmakers can come close to the staggering number of absolute masterpieces brought to life by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, whose work under Studio Ghibli is often celebrated as some of the greatest animated movies of all time. This made the news of his return to feature directing after having been retired for a decade all the more tantalizing for fans, with The Boy and the Heron living up to the director’s legendary stature and then some.

This breathtaking work of art reflects upon Miyazaki’s entire career of fantasy coming-of-age storytelling, with masterful visuals complementing a classic story complete with all the signature conventions and stylings of Miyazaki’s other masterpieces. This, combined with the breathtaking evolution of 2D anime animation in the modern age, allows this modern masterpiece to stand tall alongside the perfection that came before it as a true titan of anime filmmaking.

The Academy Awards serve an important role in the entertainment industry because they encourage studios to make high-quality films that contend for trophies. While it might seem like a simplistic justification for giving filmmakers the authority to make projects that aren’t purely motivated by financial returns, the ecosystem of fall festivals, awards coverage, and campaign discourse does help to put a spotlight on films that would not have attracted as much attention otherwise. Although it can be frustrating when certain films are completely shut out of the conversation and the seasons last for over half the year, it does have an important function ensuring that these films are made.

There is the complication that the Oscars don’t always get it right, and are sometimes completely off-base. There are some instances in which a perfectly fine film ends up beating a masterpiece, as was the case when The King’s Speech won Best Picture over The Social Network, or when Dances With Wolves beat Goodfellas. There are also examples of films that are both bad and legitimately harmful are validated by the Oscars; Driving Miss Daisy and Crash are two notable examples of films with disparaging racial commentary. In looking at the most recent decade of Best Picture winners, it’s interesting to note of how significantly the Oscars have evolved in terms of their voting body and what type of films are awarded.

6

‘CODA’ (2021)

Image via Apple Original Films

CODA won Best Picture in a truly bizarre year that oddly paralleled the infamous case of Crash beating Brokeback Mountain. In both cases, there was an LGBT Western viewed as a masterpiece on the festival circuit that seemed destined to win after being showered with praise by critics, only to have it beat by a sloppy, Lifetime Channel-quality melodrama that did nothing but maintain the status quo. Even if CODA’s victory didn’t come at the cost of The Power of the Dog, it’s a shallow and one-note film that seemingly evokes the perspective of the deaf community, but only to affirm a hearing character whose artistic ambitions are lifted straight out of a ‘90s teen dramedy.

CODA is the first streaming film to win Best Picture, and there is something decidedly uncinematic about it, despite the fact that it was acquired at the Sundance Film Festival. This isn’t a case like The Irishman or Roma where a great film just happened to be released by Netflix; CODA is best viewed passively at home because of its bland visuals and basic characterization, which isn’t engaging enough to sustain interest in a theatrical format. Its win, which came without nominations for Best Director or Best Editing, is an anomaly for stats obsessives.

5

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)

Image via A24

Everything Everywhere All At Once is the film likely to age worse among recent Best Picture winners because there isn’t a single emotional moment that isn’t broadcast to the audience in the most identifiable strokes. Characters speak in Reddit posts and declarations, as the dialogue isn’t all that different from what would show up in the films of Anthony and Joe Russo (who helped produce it). The moments of seemingly bizarre spontaneity involving hot dogs and dildos might have seemed amusing at first, but they significantly dampen the rewatchability factor of a film that simply isn’t profound.

The best thing that can be said about Everything Everywhere All At Once is that it’s a well-shot action film, and serves as a break from tradition when considering how opposed the Oscars have traditionally been to genre fare. Yet, the degree to which Everything Everywhere All At Once affirms its quirks as being profound can be exasperating, showing that sincerity alone is not a hallmark if the message is no more complicated than a greeting card.

4

‘Nomadland’ (2020)

image via Searchlight Pictures

Nomadland is among the strangest Best Picture winners ever because it is a completely atmospheric, existential road film that doesn’t have obvious commercial appeal. Although it may have only been able to win Best Picture in 2020, a year where people were feeling more alone than ever and not able to leave their homes to see films in theaters, Nomadland is beautifully made and deceptively simple. Chloe Zhao is at her best as a director when riffing on the naturalism of environments and working with non-professionals and it’s remarkable how much more comfortable she is with Nomadland compared to her work on Eternals.

Nomadland might be a film that is destined to be admired, but not loved, as it purposefully eschews monumental moments of emotion for quieter instances of truth. It’s a case where the totality of the experience has tremendous value, even if the pacing can occasionally drag. Although it’s silly to debate the ethics of what Nomadland is doing (a ridiculous hate campaign at the time claimed it was “Amazon propaganda”), Zhao is ultimately trying to connect with an aspect of reality that she can come very close to replicating, even if it there will always be some distance with the subject.

3

‘Anora’ (2024)

Image via NEON

Anora is among the most entertaining Best Picture winners of its time because of the pure emotional rollercoaster ride that it creates. Sean Baker has traditionally made small-scale character dramas about low-income communities, and Anora attains the same intimate focus while expanding into a raucous road trip adventure that goes in unexpected places. It’s a surprisingly reserved film that does not ask the audience to feel anything that isn’t earned, and the sheer versatility of Mikey Madison’s leading performance makes it all the more riveting.

Anora is a far more complex film than it seems at first due to the nuance given to its side characters, with Yura Borisov being a particular standout. Baker has a clear admiration for cinematic classics, and his ability to weave in a highly personal story about loss of self among young people with a greater commentary on the American experience feels directly linked to past Best Picture winners like On the Waterfront and Midnight Cowboy. Although there is a risk that Baker’s continued obsessions with the same subject material of sex workers and paycheck living could grow derivative over time, Anora at least feels like an elevation of the work that he has done before.

2

‘One Battle After Another’ (2025)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

One Battle After Another is a true epic that follows Paul Thomas Anderon’s tradition of complex family sagas, and feels specially attuned to the world as it exists within the 2020s. It’s both a condemnation of the failed efforts of past resistance movements and a notice of hopefulness about what this generation can achieve, but it also doesn’t feel bitter in its sentiments. Anderson assembles an electrifying thrillride that manages to never fall into dry periods, a truly remarkable achievement for a film that is almost three hours long. It’s also a better sign than ever that there is no director working today who is better with actors; Leonardo DiCaprio is at his funniest and most endearing, Sean Penn creates one of the greatest modern cinematic villains, Chase Infiniti is a true discovery, and there are also plenty of unknowns and non-professionals who make the film even richer.

One Battle After Another is the platonic ideal of a Best Picture winner because it is filled with subtext that makes it worthy of analysis and revisitation, yet also exists as an entertaining work of spectacle with a truly sincere father-daughter story. If Everything Everywhere All At Once was an encapsulation of temporary trends that will soon fall out of fashion, One Battle After Another is so grounded in modern sentiments that it is bound to be timeless.

1

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

Image via Universal Pictures

Oppenheimer is a film that only Christopher Nolan could have made, as there is not another filmmaker with the ability to create a towering historical epic about the moment in which human history changed forever. Approaching such complex subject material would seem untenable, but Nolan structures Oppenheimer in a thoughtway way that allows for multiple narrative arcs to exist at once before congealing into a powerful thesis. It’s simultaneously the story of a single man and his flaws, portrayed in an all-time great performance by Cillian Murphy, that also takes advantage of a brilliant ensemble where even one-scene characters are portrayed by great actors. Robert Downey Jr. may have won an Oscar and Matt Damon delivered a scenery-chewing performance, but Oppenheimer is littered with standouts; Jason Clarke has a brutal single scene, Rami Malek delivers a career-best monologue, and Josh Hartnett provides a moral clarity to the first act.

Nolan leaves no stone unturned with a film that somehow manages to address everything about the creation of the atomic weapon, questioning if such a device was truly necessary to prevent the technology from falling into the hands of fascists. Enough time may not have passed to unpack all of the political theory and modern connections that Nolan packed into the film, but Oppenheimer is a completely deserving winner that is destined to be viewed as one of the century’s greatest classics.

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Oppenheimer

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Release Date

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July 21, 2023

Runtime

181 minutes

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