Actress and singer Melissa Barrera has weighed in on the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore drama, offering her take on the controversy surrounding the rapper’s removal from the Loop Tour. Barrera also looked back at her own situation after being fired from the “Scream” franchise due to her vocal support for Palestine. Barrera’s comments come as Macklemore receives an outpouring of support after his departure.

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Nearly a week after Macklemore was booted from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour due to his pro-Palestine remarks, Melissa Barrera is sharing how she was moved by the wave of support the rapper received.

Following the announcement, Sheeran’s backing band and his three supporting acts withdrew from the tour in support of Macklemore and what he stood for.

“It was so beautiful to see Finneas and the band and all the opening acts pulling out in support of Macklemore. It made me emotional. You know, I didn’t get that when it happened to me,” Barrera said, per AP News.

In 2023, the actress was fired from “Scream VII” after speaking out on the Gaza conflict and criticizing Israel on social media. Some co-stars and publicists showed solidarity, but she did not receive massive public support like Macklemore.

“It was too soon. People were too scared,” Barrera said of her firing. “But it’s good to see that almost three years later, at least things have changed,” she added.

The Actress Wonders What The Outcome Could Have Been If Ed Sheeran ‘Called The Bluff’

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Macklemore released a statement revealing that billionaire businessman Robert Kraft, who owned one of the concert venues, rallied other venue owners to drop the rapper or lose the stadium bookings. Sheeran also acknowledged the controversy in a statement, saying it was not his decision to remove Macklemore, but that of the promoters.

“I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Ed Sheeran had been like, ‘no,’ and called the bluff,” Barrera said, adding that he maybe would have had his tour canceled, but it would have been possible to find other venues willing to work with him.

“I wish the people who have the power understood the power that they have,” she said.

Melissa Barrera Was Accused Of Antisemitism

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Barrera was set to reprise her role as Sam Carpenter for “Scream VII” when she was terminated during pre-production. Spyglass Media Group, the studio behind the movie, released a statement, saying they have “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate.”

What prompted the firing was Barrera’s social media statements. In one post, she accused Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing” in Gaza.

Barrera responded to the studio’s accusation and said, “I condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.”

Matthew Lillard Said The Actress Was ‘On The Right Side Of History’

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Matthew Lillard, who appeared in several “Scream” movies, including the seventh installment, recently said he was ashamed to have participated in the film after Barrera’s firing. “She’s on the right side of history,” the actor added.

“What happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up. She was like a year early on what the f-ck’s going on, but the whole world should have piped up and said, ‘she’s right,’ and they didn’t. And that’s brutal,” Lillard said, per Deadline.

Lillard said that when he received the offer to reprise his role, he was overcome with excitement and did not think about what happened to Barrera. “I didn’t say ‘no.’ I’m embarrassed, and that’s the truth,” he said.

Ed Sheeran Apologizes At First Concert After Fallout

Chile, Converse has some explaining to do after two separate campaign images had social media doing a serious double take. The brand is now speaking out after folks online had some serious questions about the visuals. And once you see what had people talking, you’ll understand why the internet wasn’t letting this one slide.

RELATED: Converse Ad Sparks Controversy As Internet Users Say It Appears To Show KKK Imagery (PHOTO)

Converse Addresses Backlash Over Controversial Ad Images

Converse has apologized after photos from two ad campaigns drew criticism online, with social media users comparing elements of the images to Ku Klux Klan hoods and lynching imagery. In a statement, the Nike-owned brand acknowledged the backlash and said it understood why the image was “deeply upsetting.” Converse also said it removed the image from its channels and was working to remove it everywhere it appeared.

“We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened, and we will do better.”

Wait, What Exactly Went Down With The Converse Ad?

As previously reported, one of the images features K-pop star Karina of Aespa, who appears as the face of a campaign highlighting the Chuck 70 X and Run Star Crush sneakers. In the photo, Karina stands inside a large Converse star while wearing a white skirt and holding two sneakers. Some viewers said the lighting and positioning created a white triangular shape they felt resembled a KKK hood. While many think the shoes appeared to resemble dangling legs.

The Comments Were Split

Folks quickly ran to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section, and chile, the reactions were definitely split. Some felt people were reachingand reading too much into the campaign imagery. While others pushed back, saying that dismissing the comparisons is part of the problem and that the imagery should have been caught before the ads went live.

One Instagram user @theealvingray said, “Can y’all bully FASFA some kinda way and make them come off as racist , so we can get a refund or something”

This Instagram user @bibbs.__ claimed, “Corporations really be trying to see what they can get away with…the “we’ll do better” message was already made just in case 😂”

And, Instagram user @chefjohncartel shared, “I Been Black 37yrs Did I Miss The Meeting Or Something??? All I Seen Was A Lil Wednesday Girl Holding A Pair Of Keds Well Chucks & A Star ⭐️”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @ocst_ar87 commented, “That’s why diversity is important. They need people of color in these marketing rooms.”

While Instagram user @poseidon__1995 wrote, “It really wasn’t that deep yall just love to make something out of nothing”

Finally, Instagram user @guardian.network said, “People who’s saying it’s not deep is part of the problem 🙄”

RELATED: Coca-Cola Pulls Ja Morant Powerade Advertisements After He Brandished Gun On Instagram Live

Tiffany Haddish is clearly not letting anyone forget who’s bringing the heat! The comedian and actress had the timeline doing a double-take after stepping into a whole new vibe for her latest Instagram post. And judging by the reactions, the look definitely had folks talking.

RELATED: Revenge Complete?! Tiffany Haddish Gets Real About Why She Chose To Defecate In Her Ex’s Shoes (VIDEO)

Tiffany Turns Up the Western Heat

On Friday, Tiffany shared a fresh set of photos that showed her channeling some Western-baddie energy. In the snaps, she rocked a dark cowboy hat, an open denim jacket with nothing underneath, and a red bandanna tied around her neck. She kept the beauty look relatively natural, letting her face and nails complement the sultry, country-inspired aesthetic.

Tiffany’s Caption Doubles Down On Her Baddie Energy

And if the outfit wasn’t already making a statement, Tiffany’s caption made it crystal clear how she was feeling. “I’m the only baddie in the room,” she wrote alongside the post, adding the caption, “Daddy said shoot 🐄🌵.”

Folks Had Plenty To Say

Folks quickly ran to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section with plenty of thoughts on Tiffany’s latest look. While some commenters said she looked cute and loved the Western-inspired vibe, others weren’t feeling the outfit and made their opinions known.

One Instagram user @weluvyazli said, “She’s beautiful but I’m sure ya’ll will find something negative to say 😒”

This Instagram user @ray__bandsss joked, “She look tired of ts on every photo 🤣😭”

And, Instagram user @gotaprilshowers added, “🔥🔥🔥”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @shopwithaspenelise wrote, “This is me when i think im being sexy 😑”

While Instagram user @sunniemurphyx shared, “Someone come get her”

Finally, Instagram user @shaehollywood commented, “She looks good”

RELATED: Aht Aht! Tiffany Haddish & Jason Lee Speak Out After Folks Thought They Welcomed A Baby Together (WATCH)

Belly Gang Kushington has social media talking after sharing a throwback photo from his childhood amid ongoing online conversations about his race and identity.

RELATED: YK Niece Spills Tea On Awkward Onstage Reunion With Pluto Da Brat During NBA YoungBoy’s Concert (WATCH)

Belly Gang Kushington Digs Into The Archives For Childhood Throwback

Belly Gang Kushington is taking a trip down memory lane, and his childhood throwback photo has social media taking a closer look. On Friday, Sept. 18, the Atlanta rapper took to his Instagram Story to share a childhood photo. In the snapshot, Belly appears to be a young child wearing denim shorts and a denim shirt, standing alongside several other children. While the photo gives followers a glimpse into Belly Gang’s younger years, the rapper’s caption quickly caught attention as well.

Alongside the throwback, he wrote, “They ain’t know I was Black, but only God know what I did with the White 🍴”

The post comes as he has continued to face online conversations surrounding his racial identity and his use of the N-word in his music.

Social Media Has Plenty To Say About The Throwback

The photo quickly sparked an online conversation, with some social media users questioning the rapper’s appearance and identity, while others pushed back against the criticism.

Instagram user @nyzaiiii wrote, “Everybody ina comments got so much to say but still gone listen to this man music he everywhere you can’t tell me you’re not listening 😂”

Another Instagram user @fatbellyjam wrote, “Every neighborhood had a ‘Red’ lmaoo. Lighter than the rest, but was somebody’s blood 😂”

While Instagram user @lovemee127773 wrote, “He’s just very albino n that’s ok 😂😂”

Instagram user @jakaylasa wrote, “I’m still not convinced.”

Another Instagram user @localfattty wrote, “Biracial ppl making being biracial their whole personality.”

While Instagram user @popit.peezyp wrote, “Where is this in Atlanta? I need to get to the bottom of where this man is from.”

Instagram user @theyenvy_.steph wrote, “How does this prove you black? 😂😂 where the parents and grandparents.”

Another Instagram user @nuuu.lii wrote, “Having a picture hanging around black kids don’t make you black 😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @nenetheegoat wrote, “If his dad is black who are y’all to tell him he isn’t black? What y’all want him to do? Show y’all his genetic codes or something jeez.”

Belly Gang Kushington Previously Opened Up About Being Biracial

The latest conversation comes after Belly Gang Kushington previously addressed his mixed-race identity and the backlash he has received over his use of the N-word in his music.

During a January interview with ‘The Breakfast Club’, the rapper discussed growing up mixed and said he was raised by his Black side of the family. He also explained that he sometimes felt “too Black for the white kids” and “too white for the Black kids.”

When asked about criticism over his use of the N-word in his music, Belly Gang Kushington compared his experience to Drake, who is also biracial. He said he has not felt the need to explain his identity to people online and described the way he speaks and raps as part of who he is.

Related: Oop! Bunna B Responds After Trim Claims She Ran Into A Female Rapper At Atlanta Airport And Left “Untouched”

Ed Sheeran‘s Loop Tour has become the center of a major music-industry controversy after Macklemore was dropped from the lineup following a pro-Palestine chant during his opening set.

Fallout from the situation has since sparked chatter from the likes of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Pink and a string of other artists.

Scroll down for a breakdown of the situation unfolded and where things stand now:

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Related: Finneas and More Acts Exit Ed Sheeran’s Tour After Macklemore Is Dropped

Finneas and other musical acts are showing their support for Macklemore — and the Palestinian people — by exiting Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour amid the controversial decision to drop the Seattle rapper from the show. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas, 29, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, September […]

Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ Moment 

While opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, 2026, Macklemore chanted “Free Palestine” and denounced genocide in all forms before performing his protest track “Hind’s Hall” in opposition of Israel’s war in Gaza. During his set, the rapper claimed one of his primary reasons for signing onto the roster for the stadium shows was to advocate for Palestine amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Pink’s Involvement in the Backlash

Days later, Pink reposted comments from StopAntisemitism, accusing Macklemore of spreading “anti-Israel propaganda” that soon sparked backlash. She addressed the controversy in a statement that month.

“I was born a Jew. I didn’t pick it, and I’ve never hidden it,” she wrote in an Instagram statement shared on Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish year, claiming that, “Hamas is a terrorist organization” but “Palestinians deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations.”

Of her reaction to Macklemore’s speech, she added, in part, “A repost isn’t a statement, and a meme isn’t a spine.”

Macklemore Removed From Ed Sheeran’s Tour

News broke on September 14, 2026, that Macklemore would not perform at Sheeran’s remaining U.S. shows. Concert promoter Messina Touring Group told Rolling Stone in a statement that several venues had notified the company they would not allow concerts to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, “which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.”

Sheeran addressed the decision via Instagram on September 15, writing, “After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting.”

He added that “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine” and stressed that he respects Macklemore “as an artist.”

Sheeran continued: “I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”

Macklemore fired back on Instagram, alleging, “I didn’t need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2. Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say the words that somehow became too dangerous to say. Free Palestine. But if those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I’ve ever been on.”

Macklemore also described Sheeran as a  friend of 13 years and hoped that the disagreement would not end their friendship.

“I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim. We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world,” he added in his statement. “Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families.”

Other ‘Loop Tour’ Acts Withdraw

Since Macklemore’s exit, additional Loop Tour acts — Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga — have dropped out. Kehlani, who was not affiliated with the concerts, voiced support for Macklemore in the comments of his Instagram post, writing, “A LOT of the venues / owners are rallied together this way. Honored to know you brother. Adore you. Behind you!!!!”

Robert Kraft Weighs In 

Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, was partially blamed for Macklemore being removed from the Loop Tour bill. 

In a statement, Kraft told ESPN that Macklemore’s participation in the September 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium “would cross that line” following an alleged “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.”

Macklemore’s $1 Million Donation Challenge

Macklemore announced on September 17, 2026 that he planned to donate the $1 million he earned from the Loop Tour to six organizations that support Palestinians.

“I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation,” he wrote. “Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting.”

Kraft responded the same day, sharing in a statement of his own, “Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.”

According to Kraft, Sheeran reportedly “plans to reach out to other venue owners” to continue “to work together to build bridges.”

“I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people,” Kraft added. “I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting.”

Ed Sheeran Cries as He Addresses Controversy at Philadelphia Concert

All eyes were on Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on September 19, 2026, as Sheeran returned to the stage for the first time since the controversy with Macklemore erupted.

Ahead of the show, his management changed the start time from 5:30 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET to account for support acts dropping out. Ticket prices also took a hit, with some seats dropping from $100 early to as low as $42 on Saturday.

Sheeran made the decision to drastically alter the format of the Philly show, removing the B-stage where he traditionally took song requests from fans.

At showtime, Sheeran got choked up as he addressed the events of the past week, explaining to fans that he was used to his “music being criticized” but never his personal beliefs.

“This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take [it in] and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry,” he said from the stage.

Sheeran reflected on being placed “in the middle of an important, passionate argument about freedom of speech.”

“This is a humanitarian issue [in Palestine] and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he acknowledged. “What happened in Israel on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable — and disproportionate. … The systemic injustice we see unfolding in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

The singer-songwriter thanked his fans for standing by him, telling them he was “honestly so grateful” that they’d come out to support him after such a tumultuous week.

Melissa Barrera Compares Her ‘Scream 7’ Firing to Macklemore’s Situation

Melissa Barrera spoke to The Associated Press on September 16 about how the support Macklemore was receiving from fans and fellow artists differed from her own firing from Scream 7 after making pro-Palestinian statements.

“It made me emotional, you know,” Barrera said. “I didn’t get that when it happened to me. I didn’t have any of that happen. It was too soon. People were too scared. But it’s good to see that almost three years later, at least things have changed.”

The actress was infamously dropped from the cast of Scream 7 for showing support for Palestinian causes in the wake of the October 7, 2023, terror attacks. (Production company Spyglass has maintained that her support for Palestinians was not the reason for her departure from the franchise.)

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Speaking about the current situation, Barrera suggested Sheeran should have sent a powerful message about free speech by standing by Macklemore.

“I wish that the people that have power understood the power that they have,” she told The Associated Press. “ I think that the problem is that there’s a lot of people that actually have a lot of power; they think that they don’t, and they’re operating out of fear, and it’s just a shame because, you know, we just saw what happened — the support that rallied behind Macklemore — and I think that’s a big step. I think that what we’re seeing, what we’re witnessing, is going to inspire real change, and I’m very hopeful about that.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

Jordyn Lucas had plenty to say during her latest appearance on Cam Newton’s ‘Funky Friday’ podcast, and one comment about Skai Jackson has social media talking.

Related: Spend Dat! Social Media Celebrates Jordyn Lucas After Drake Stream Date Ends With $25K And A Birkin Bag (WATCH)

Jordyn Lucas Calls Skai Jackson “Brainless” During Cam Newton’s Name Game

During the interview, Jordyn opened up about meeting Drake and receiving a Birkin, her experience at Streamer University, and what’s next for her career and personal life. But one clip from the episode is getting plenty of attention online. During a game with Cam Newton, Jordyn had to give her immediate reaction to different names he threw out, and her response to Skai Jackson had the internet talking.

Cam Newton kicked the game off with “Kai Cenat,” to which Jordyn responded, “Black history.” Newton then threw out Skai Jackson, prompting Lucas to respond, “No thought, brainless.”

The game continued with names including Juelz Smith, Deshae Frost, Blueface, and more, but Lucas’ response to Jackson quickly became the standout moment circulating online.

Social Media Reacts

Once the clip began circulating, social media users jumped into the comments with their reactions.

Instagram user @wokeishaa wrote, “He set her up lmaooo saying Skai 💀💀💀💀”

Another Instagram user @pooraudixoxo wrote, “Messy question, messy answer but I don’t think I heard a lie 🤣”

While Instagram user @1.killashit wrote, “Brainless took me out 😂😂😂”

Instagram user @mayahmolly wrote, “She’s right about Blueface 😂😂”

Another Instagram user @onikacandyy wrote, “She’s so miserable & obsessed with Skai… she literally wants to be her 😂”

While Instagram user @4tdgarvv wrote, “Kai Cenat black history ??”

Instagram user @peachy.cravings wrote, “Her issue with Skai is so one sided… Jordan please 🙄”

Another Instagram user @bequietmusty wrote, “This is why Skai is richer, she minds her business.”

While Instagram user @501_keyy wrote, “Whole time Jordyn couldn’t fw Skai on no time. Y’all forgot Skai been popping since 3 lets be fr anddd she got that old money add to the new money plus sit down Jordyn.”

Jordyn Lucas & Skai Jackson’s Past Drama Explained

The latest viral moment comes after Jordyn and Skai appeared to have a disagreement during Streamer University in July. At the time, Jordyn said she initially tried to be cool with Skai but became frustrated with how the interaction played out. She criticized Skai’s attitude and questioned why she attended the streamer-focused event.

Skai later shared her side of the situation. She said Jordyn approached her to gossip about someone, but she shut the conversation down. Skai also said she didn’t believe she had done anything wrong and explained that she attended Streamer University to have fun.

RELATED: Jordyn Lucas Puts Skai Jackson On Blast As Streamer University Drama Has The Internet Talking (VIDEO)

Baseball has a long and important history in cinema, with an exciting new addition to the genre coming next year. Directed by Dave McCary and written by Patrick Kang and Michael Levin, The Catch is a star-studded rom-com scheduled to be released on May 21, 2027. The film features a selection of Hollywood favorites, led by Emma Stone following her recent flurry of performances for Yorgos Lanthimos, which included an Oscar win for Poor Things. She is joined by the likes of Chris Pine, Tim Robbins, Irina Shayk, Chris Fleming, and more in the exciting new sports movie.

But if The Catch is going to make its name as an all-time home run in the baseball movie genre, it’s going to have to live up to the best of all time: A League of Their Own. Penny Marshall‘s sports classic was released in 1992 and dramatized the founding of the AAGPBL and the pivotal women who revolutionized the sport. The brilliant Geena Davis starred alongside Tom Hanks in the film, just a year after she brought to life her best and most famous performance as one half of Thelma & Louise.

A League of Their Own is today considered a classic, but also earned great reviews at the time of its release. “The movie has a real bittersweet charm,” Roger Ebert wrote in his review at the time, noting that the movie “follows many of the time-honored formulas of sports movies.” The film is “certified fresh” on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, unsurprisingly boasting strong ratings by both critics and audiences. 34 years after it first debuted, A League of Their Own is still a big hit on the streaming charts. However, in a sad twist, it is being removed from the Netflix catalog on October 1, 2026.

How Much Did ‘A League of Their Own’ Make at the Box Office?

Released in early July 1992, A League of Their Own proved a big hit at the box office, turning a reported production budget of $40 million into a global haul of $132 million, with the majority of this total, unsurprisingly, coming from domestic ticket sales. The film opened at #2 in its first weekend, falling just short of Batman Returns. However, with just a 15% drop in ticket sales for weekend #2, A League of Their Own ​​​​​​climbed to first place.

A League of Their Own is leaving Netflix on October 1. Stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

July 1, 1992

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Runtime

128 minutes

Director

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Penny Marshall

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Movie taste would be unbearably dull if everyone behaved themselves. Sometimes the film with the cleaner reputation loses to the one that makes you feel eight years old again. Sometimes a supposedly messy movie gets defended for twenty years because one scene lives in your bloodstream. And sometimes a director’s most important work has to sit politely in another room while the movies with dinosaurs, pirates, treasure maps, flying bicycles, and gloriously stupid danger take over the evening. Today I want to dig into Steven Spielberg’s most vibrant takes from that angle.

There is a little narcissism in loving movies this way. Of course the scene that worked on you feels like the scene everybody should understand. Of course the adventure that rearranged your brain at twelve still seems objectively superior to whatever respectable answer somebody brings to the table. Fine. Let taste be irrational for once. Something impossible appears, common sense leaves the building, and suddenly watching a movie feels like the only sensible thing to be doing. Here are 8 most fun Spielberg films that people have all the right to be irrational about, and they’re ranked.

8

‘Ready Player One’ (2018)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Ready Player One is probably the easiest Spielberg movie to roll your eyes at and one of the easiest to have a blast with once you stop resisting it. Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) lives inside a miserable future and escapes into the OASIS, where an entire civilization has turned nostalgia into currency. Then James Halliday (Mark Rylance) leaves behind a contest for control of the whole virtual world, and every obsessive pop-culture nerd suddenly has a reason to treat obscure trivia like military intelligence.

The references can absolutely become too much. That complaint is fair. But when the movie stops showing off what it recognizes and starts using the OASIS as a giant playground, it becomes ridiculously enjoyable. The opening race is pure controlled chaos. The trip into The Shining is even better because half the characters have no clue why entering the Overlook is a catastrophically bad idea. Spielberg takes somebody else’s nostalgia obsession and occasionally turns it into genuine movie magic. Eighth place feels right. Dismissing it completely even if I’m not a fan would be a bad take.

7

‘Catch Me If You Can’ (2002)

Image via DreamWorks

Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) discovers something incredibly dangerous while still a teenager. Adults are often bluffing too. That realization powers Catch Me If You Can. Frank walks into rooms wearing the correct uniform, sounds confident enough, and watches people supply the rest of the illusion for him. Pilot. Doctor. Lawyer. He keeps building identities faster than anyone can expose them, while FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) stays behind him with the patience of somebody who knows charm eventually runs out of road.

Watching Frank talk his way through impossible situations is pure pleasure because every lie feels like a high-wire act. Yet the movie never lets the confidence become the whole person. Christmas phone calls, motel rooms, and the wreckage of his parents’ marriage keep slipping through the glamour. That little sadness makes the con more addictive rather than less. Frank is having the time of his life and trying desperately not to notice why.

6

‘Hook’ (1991)

Image via TriStar Pictures

Yes, Hook is excessive. Yes, it is sentimental. Yes, it sometimes behaves as though one more set, one more costume, one more emotional swell, and one more shouting child might finally satisfy it. Good.

Peter Pan becoming Peter Banning (Robin Williams) is such a wonderfully mean idea. The boy who never wanted to grow up has become a stressed lawyer who cannot even watch his son’s baseball game without checking his phone. Then Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) drags him back to Neverland and forces him to confront the embarrassing possibility that adulthood has made him boring. The imaginary food fight still rules. Rufio (Dante Basco) still feels impossibly cool if you first met him young enough. Hook still acts like every minor inconvenience deserves Shakespearean outrage. And Peter remembering how to fly works because the movie commits to the emotion without flinching. Plenty of people consider this minor Spielberg. Plenty of people are also wrong in exactly the way childhood nostalgia permits.

5

‘The Adventures of Tintin’ (2011)

Image via Paramount Pictures

There are stretches of The Adventures of Tintin where the camera behaves like it has just been informed that walls, gravity, and basic physics are optional. Tintin (Jamie Bell) buys a model ship, stumbles into a mystery involving hidden treasure, and ends up traveling with Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis), whose relationship with alcohol and common sense is already complicated before anybody starts shooting at them.

The Bagghar chase is the sort of action sequence that makes you grin simply because of how many things it refuses to stop doing. Streets collapse, vehicles change, objects keep passing between hands, and somehow you never lose track of the goal. Haddock supplies most of the human chaos because he can turn a family legacy into an argument, a disaster, and eventually a reason to keep going. Snowy remains suspiciously competent throughout. Motion capture never became everybody’s favorite visual language, but freedom suits Spielberg here. He finally gets to stage adventure without asking whether a camera could physically survive the shot. You can practically feel him enjoying the loophole.

Image via Universal Studios

The beautiful thing about E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is how quickly Elliott (Henry Thomas) stops treating an alien like an alien. He finds a terrified creature stranded near his home, hides him from adults, feeds him whatever a child thinks an extraterrestrial might enjoy, and starts loving him before he understands anything about where he came from.

That relationship is why all the famous stuff still works. Reese’s Pieces. The improvised English lessons. E.T. (Pat Welsh) getting drunk and Elliott feeling the effects elsewhere. The wig. “Phone home.” None of it feels like iconography while you are watching because the friendship underneath it remains so weirdly intimate. Then government agents close in and the movie turns neighborhood bicycles into escape vehicles. The moon shot has been copied, parodied, printed, and referenced into cultural oblivion, yet the actual scene still gets you. That is irritatingly impressive. It should have become wallpaper decades ago. Somehow it still feels like a kid discovering that the impossible can love him back.

3

‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)

Image via Universal Pictures

There are adults who can watch a brachiosaurus appear in Jurassic Park without feeling anything. Those people are fascinating and should probably be studied. The movie understands exactly how long to let wonder breathe before turning the same idea against you. First comes the awe. Then the goat disappears. The water trembles. The fence is no longer a fence.

Suddenly the T. rex is standing in the rain and every beautiful promise John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) made about the park has become hilariously irrelevant. The raptor kitchen scene later turns stainless steel counters into childhood nightmare architecture, while Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) keeps finding time to be amused by everyone’s confidence in a system he already knows is doomed. What makes the movie so much fun is that terror never replaces wonder. They keep feeding each other. You are scared because the dinosaurs feel real, and you are thrilled for exactly the same reason.

2

‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade understands that the funniest possible person to embarrass Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is his father. That choice changes the whole adventure. Indy can punch Nazis, escape burning rooms, leap onto tanks, and bluff his way through ancient mysteries, yet one disapproving look from Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery) can make him feel twelve.

Their relationship gives the movie a warmth the first two films approach differently. Henry is scholarly, stubborn, distracted, and somehow completely unimpressed by the fact that his son has become one of cinema’s greatest adventurers. The Grail hunt gives them castles, catacombs, motorcycles, zeppelins, and one immortal exchange about sleeping with the same woman. Then the final trials strip everything back to faith, trust, and whether Indy can let go of the thing he has been chasing. It is hilarious, ridiculously rewatchable, and dangerously close to number one.

1

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark is almost rude in how quickly it establishes the fantasy. Jungle. Temple. Darts. Golden idol. Betrayal. Giant boulder. Escape. Plane. Snake. And that is before the movie has really started. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is great because the adventure never treats him like a superhero. He gets punched, dragged, bruised, annoyed, exhausted, and occasionally solves a problem by deciding he has absolutely no patience left for it.

Hence the swordsman. Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) makes the movie better because she can drink, argue, fight, and call Indy on his nonsense without becoming an accessory to his adventure. The truck chase is absurdly good. The Well of Souls remains a nightmare for anyone with basic feelings about snakes. The Ark carries enough mystery to make the final act genuinely eerie. Raiders has been imitated so many times that its rhythms can feel familiar before you remember it helped invent half the language everyone copied. Then you watch it again and, annoyingly, it is still that good.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark

Release Date

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June 12, 1981

Runtime

115 minutes

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Writers

Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman

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