The 2020s have already delivered an impressive range of standout films across genres, from intimate character-driven dramas to ambitious blockbusters and visually inventive animated features. Even in a rapidly changing industry shaped by streaming growth and shifting audience habits, filmmakers have continued to produce memorable and widely celebrated work that have become modern classics.

Fans on IMDb have rated the decade’s releases, voting for what they believe are the best movies from the 2020s so far. From animated gems like Soul to blockbuster sci-fi adventures like Dune, these movies defied the odds, providing audiences with entertainment and inspiration through this remarkable time. Film lovers on IMDb have given these releases their seal of approval, granting them high rankings and cementing their place as the best films from the 2020s so far.

35

‘Godzilla Minus One’ (2023)

IMDb Score: 7.6/10

Image via Toho

The latest powerful and jaw-dropping film in the Godzilla franchise, Godzilla Minus One reimagines the kaiju’s origins, taking place just after Japan’s defeat in World War II, focusing on the country’s post-war struggles. The film specifically follows the perspective of Koichi Shikishima, a failed kamikaze pilot who is attempting to do what he can to build his life back up from the destruction left behind by both the war-torn economy and Godzilla himself.

While there have been many giant monster movies that have certainly had high levels of spectacle and destruction on display, what made Godzilla Minus One connect with so many audiences is its human characters. The film is one of the few examples of a monster movie with a human storyline that actually adds and further amplifies the themes and messaging of the film, creating a beautiful blend that makes the actual Godzilla sequences that much more impactful. The film proved that there were still a multitude of beautiful and resonating stories to be told in the monster movie genre that go beyond action simply for the sake of action.

34

‘Poor Things’ (2023)

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

Image via Searchlight Pictures

One of many masterful and abstract masterpieces from director Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things follows the story of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman who was brought back to life thanks to a wild, unorthodox scientist. As she relearns and reexperiences the beauties and difficulties of life once again, Bella soon comes to a greater understanding not only of her role in the world but also of how the world as a whole operates around her.

Poor Things is a film that simply doesn’t hold back when it comes to the vibrant and absurdity of its world and characters, allowing its strange and mind-melting execution to take a commanding hold of the audience’s attention. It can just as easily delve into deep and philosophical topics, such as life and the balance of society, as it can go full absurdist and raunchy comedy with the scenes that take place. It makes for a difficult yet powerful balancing act that the film does just right, easily making it one of the most standout viewing experiences of the decade so far.

33

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

Image via A24

The Best Picture-winning sci-fi action film that took the world by storm, Everything Everywhere All at Once is the perfect combination of kung fu action, emotional family drama, and over-the-top comedy. The film follows the story of Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), an aging Chinese immigrant who is unexpectedly told that she is the key to winning a war that has been spanning across the multiverse. She is soon taught the ability to hone in on versions of herself from alternate realities, able to use an array of wild skills to be able to become an exceptional fighter in her own world.

Everything Everywhere All at Once features just about everything that one would want from a modern action comedy, blending together exciting and top-notch action sequences with a chaotic comedic energy that serves to fuel the entire experience. What has made the film such a critical and audience powerhouse, however, is its exceptional message about generational trauma and the film’s unexpected ability to be a genuine tearjerker. Its Best Picture win only puts a bigger spotlight on the film’s greatest strengths, as it’s easily one of the best movies of the 2020s.

32

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Image via Netflix

The original, Best Picture-winning All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the most widely acclaimed and influential war films of all time, leaving a hefty legacy for this modern German remake to follow up on. However, finding inspiration from other exceptional modern war films, the modern adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front proves to be one of the most brutal and vicious portrayals of World War I ever put to film. The film mostly follows the plot of the original novel, staying true to the themes of wartime hardship and loss of innocence on the battlefield.

The story and messaging of All Quiet on the Western Front prove to be the same masterfully crafted anti-war sentiment as always, yet the story is amplified and flourishes under the vision of director Edward Berger. Berger proves to make each grueling sequence more impactful and dreadful than the last, fully amplifying the feelings of helplessness and pain that war provides. It’s easy to view the film as the quintessential war film of the decade so far, combining classic storytelling with modern craft to create the best of both worlds.

31

‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Image via Universal Pictures

Easily one of the biggest surprises of the decade in terms of animation, nobody would ever have expected a gripping tale of fear and life fulfillment from the sequel to a spinoff of the Shrek franchise. However, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is not only a monumental feat of modern animation but has also quickly risen to be one of the greatest cinematic achievements of DreamWorks Animation’s long and varied history. The clear highlight of the film is the exceptional visual flair and stylized animation, yet pretty visuals are only the beginning of the film’s many positives.

A great deal of the film’s praise and surprise factor comes from its multifaceted villain, Death, acting as both a symbolic and literal battle for Puss in his fear of dying. It makes for one of the most original and compelling messages and core themes for a children’s film, which, combined with top-notch comedy and exceptional vocal performances, made the film an immediate fan favorite. The film nearly single-handedly revitalized DreamWorks’ stature and legacy as a leading force for blockbuster animation, once again being a fierce rival to the likes of Pixar.

30

‘RRR’ (2022)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Image via Lyca Productions

The 2020s have been an exceptional time for massive cinematic breakthroughs from India, with easily the most prominent and recognizable Indian film of recent memory being RRR. This Telugu-language action epic remix of classic Indian revolutionaries broke through the global cultural barrier to become a massive worldwide hit, thanks in part to exceptional spectacle at every opportunity. From explosive action to high-energy musical numbers, the film delivers everything one would want out of a complete high-budget Indian epic.

The film exemplifies all the greatest strengths of Indian filmmaking since 2020, personifying a great path forward for the region in terms of striking blockbusters that not only rival the works of traditional Hollywood blockbusters but, in many ways, surpass them. The sheer craft and brilliance of its filmmaking, combined with the massive and dedicated subsection of Indian cinema fans on IMDb, have helped give the film an exceptionally high score.

29

‘The Batman’ (2022)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

While many different renditions of the Caped Crusader have graced the silver screen over the years, The Batman immediately made a name for itself as one of the most stylistically rich and original takes on the character. The film follows Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) in only his second year of crimefighting under the mantle of Batman, as he is forced to uncover the corruption hidden in Gotham City brought to the surface by serial killer, The Riddler (Paul Dano). The investigation leads him to the darkest and most dangerous parts of the city, as well as leading to an unexpected connection to Bruce’s own family.

The Batman character has, in a sense, become the perfect surrogate and showcase for exceptional filmmaking chops in the modern era, with director Matt Reeves creating a visual spectacle that stands head and shoulders above other contemporary superhero blockbusters. Especially after the widely mixed reception of DC’s other recent films, The Batman‘s striking visuals, instantly iconic song, and deeply thematic story of hope and corruption helped the film write a name for itself as one of DC’s best.

28

‘Past Lives’ (2023)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Image via A24

Celine Song’s feature directorial debut, Past Lives, is a riveting and emotionally charged romantic drama. It traces the journey of two childhood friends, Na Young (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), and their evolving relationship spanning 24 years as they grapple with the changes in their lives and slowly grow apart. The plot draws inspiration from real events in Song’s life and is semi-autobiographical in nature.

Past Lives is realistically subtle and understated, occasionally veering into the ordinary but ultimately reflecting the complexities of lives through a universal tale of life choices. It captivates viewers, particularly in its climactic, emotionally draining moments. A further aspect of the movie’s charm is the way the camera seems to caress the landscape of the desolate cities while it catches their beauty.

27

‘Flow’ (2024)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Image via  Dream Well Studio

Proving that a sprawling and compelling story can be told with so little, Flow is a meticulously crafted masterpiece of visual storytelling that achieves its prowess without a single word of dialogue. The film was largely created and animated by a singular visionary, Gints Zilbalodis, telling a beautiful story of various animals coming together and adapting when the world around them begins to be flooded. There is a sense of raw emotion and aura emanating from every second of the film, creating an immediately engaging and compelling narrative through striking visuals alone.

Flow proves to be a magnificent achievement in the realm of modern independent animation, showing the exact type of glorious works of art that can be created through modern technology and with a dedicated vision. It goes beyond simply capitalizing on and utilizing the trend of modern stylized animation, but instead uses the style as a tool to tell a timeless story of community and bonding during a time of disaster and communal pain. There are many different interpretations and meanings that one can attribute to the film, a sign of a truly transformative and immortal work of art.

26

‘Hamnet’ (2025)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Image via Focus Features

Chloé Zhao‘s exceptional return to elevated award-winning filmmaking after her detour with the MCU and Eternals, Hamnet proved that the award-winning female director was far from a one-time fluke and one of the most emotionally resonant directors of the modern era. This remixed origin story of the Shakespearean classic is massively elevated by a duo of heart-wrenching performances by Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, adding layers of grief and underlying pain to the timelessness of Hamlet.

As opposed to directly following the characters of Hamlet, the film follows a young interpretation of Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, seeing them fall in love, start a family, and experience painful loss in their lives that directly inspired the writing and story of Hamlet. Zhao knows how to bring the absolute most out of the central performances of the film, with overwhelming emotional weight and power, making Hamnet one of the 2020s saddest, most heartbreaking films.

Singer K. Michelle has been open on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” about her health issues that stemmed from prior plastic surgery procedures. However, in the most recent episode, Porsha Williams asked what the “RHOA” newbie considered to be an insensitive question. Now, following the show’s airing, the “VSOP” singer is revealing why Williams’ question bothered her.

K. Michelle Thought Porsha’s Miscarriage Question Was Out Of Bounds

Episode three of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” featured Michelle discussing her hospitalization. Notably, this happened during a group scene with Cynthia Bailey, Phaedra Parks, and Williams. During the scene, Michelle explained that she experienced leakage, leading Williams to ask the singer if she’d suffered a miscarriage.

After the episode aired, Michelle took to X to vent about the question. She said, “Have you ever almost died from surgery? Have you ever lost several babies?” The “RHOA” newbie went on to note that the cast had been informed about why she had been hospitalized, meaning Williams had no reason to wonder if she’d had a miscarriage.

The “Love & Hip Hop” alum continued, “I was out of the hospital bed an hour and being asked if I had a miscarriage in an Atlanta nail salon. I forgive and come in peace, but I’m very much clocked in.”

K. Michelle Made Her Disdain Known To Porsha Williams

Williams asked Michelle about her hospital stay, which came fairly early in the third episode of “RHOA” season 17. Because of this, she was able to voice her concerns not only to the other ladies but to Williams herself.

While talking to Bailey and fellow newbie Pinky Cole, Michelle was asked about her August 2025 tweets, in which she seemed to call someone in the group a bimbo. Notably, this would have been during the show’s production.

She told the group that the posts were about Williams. According to Michelle in a clip from the show, “I had already talked to Porsha about what happened and what was going on with me, and this big dingbat burst out and says, ‘You had a miscarriage?’”

She went on to question why the “RHOA” legend would “say that to a woman.” Bailey and Cole then told the singer to speak with Williams, which she did. The two came to an understanding, and Williams apologized to Michelle.

Fans Think K. Michelle Overreacted & She’s Defending Herself

Following the most recent episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” fans took to social media to offer their opinions on the situation between Michelle and Williams. One person said, “K Michelle dragging it with the miscarriage thing … like that was a valid question.”

The singer quoted the post, writing, “Would you want someone in the middle of a nail shop screaming out in front of Atlanta when you’re an hour out of the hospital asking you in front of other women you just met if you had a miscarriage?????? Oh.”

After that, another “RHOA” fan noted that they had resolved their issues within the episode. Michelle responded, “You can’t be that slow, honey bunny? We are discussing the episode as I’m supposed to do.”

Someone else wrote on X, “You are reaching for the stars with this one, K. P didn’t mean any harm.” Lastly, a different viewer stated, “I love you, girl. But Porsha was the only one who stopped you before you spoke and asked you if you were sure you wanted to talk about it! Puddle of liquid does not give its coming from my a-s. Yes, Porsha should not have interrupted.”

The ‘RHOA’ Star Explained Her Health Scare In A Recent Episode

According to Bravo, Michelle was hospitalized during the second episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” season 17. This came after she performed at the Academy of Country Music Honors. She stated that while at the event, she experienced an “open wound” that had become infected and caused leakage.

Michelle explained in the episode, “I was preparing for the Academy of Country Music performance. I’m sitting there minding my business, and I stand up. The whole coach is soakin’ wet. I didn’t feel anything. I was completely numb.”

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She also revealed that her condition required reconstructive surgery. She vulnerably admitted, “I did not think I was going to be going to no hospital today. I just hate I did this to myself. That’s the worst thing I ever did to myself.”

Andy Cohen Revealed K. Michelle Reached Out To Him

Following the confirmation that Michelle had joined “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Andy Cohen shared his thoughts on “Radio Andy,” revealing that she had previously direct messaged him about joining. He said, “I have never seen one frame of ‘Love & Hip Hop.’ Now, once we started filming and I was reading hot sheets from Atlanta, I DM’d K. Michelle to say, ‘you’re so great. I’m so glad you’re on the team.”

Cohen went on, “What did I find but a DM from K. Michelle from like 2023 or something, being like ‘I need a peach. This is the show that I belong on.’ Somehow, I had missed this.” He then praised her confessional interviews featured on the show.

“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” airs on Bravo Sunday nights.

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Even if you’ve never seen a popular sci-fi film or TV series, certain genre quotes have gained such omnipresent prominence within the cultural lexicon that there’s a good chance you’ve heard them and recognize their origins. Look no further than the plethora of options provided by Star Wars or Dune, for instance. Where television is concerned, there’s no saga more preeminent than the grandfather of them all, Star Trek, and no shortage of famous words within its 60-year history, either.

Despite facing decent competition, between his philosophical insights, his sneaky repartees, and the fan-traumatizing rite of passage that is Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan‘s “You have been and always shall be my friend,” Spock’s (Leonard Nimoy) quote collection reigns supreme. Arguably the franchise’s most defining and recognizable character, no Spock phrase from Star Trek: The Original Series is more recognizable to the general culture or more defining to Star Trek‘s enduring ideals than “live long and prosper” — four words coined by writer Theodore Sturgeon in his screenplay for the Season 2 episode “Amok Time.”

“Live Long and Prosper” Embodies ‘Star Trek’s Core Values

A deservedly iconic highlight of The Original Series, “Amok Time” houses several Trek firsts beyond originating “live long and prosper.” The Enterprise visits the planet Vulcan for the first time, dives into their cultural conventions and biology (that pesky pon farr mating drive), and provides the first glimpse at Spock’s private life through his fiancée, T’Pring (Arlene Martel). “Live long and prosper,” usually paired with the Vulcan salute, doubles as a benediction and a traditional Vulcan greeting or farewell.

Spock speaks the words before he returns to the ship near the episode’s conclusion. After giving his well-wishes to T’Pau (Celia Lovsky), the Vulcan official overseeing his failed wedding, and receiving hers in return, Spock solemnly states, “I shall do neither. I have killed my captain and my friend.” It’s an unexpectedly heartfelt moment for a character known for his cool-headed stoicism, stripping away Spock’s cerebral mystique and replacing it with vulnerability. He’s spent “Amok Time” alternatively embarrassed, delirious, and resigned to his fate, which already subverts expectations. Once his senses return, he believes he murdered Captain Kirk (William Shatner) during their ceremonial combat. Unlike the rest of the episode or his rare outbursts throughout Season 1, Spock’s visible regret isn’t a side effect of either pon farr or outside manipulation. His response to T’Pau’s “live long and prosper” reflects the depth of his capacity to feel grief, loyalty, and affection.

Following “Amok Time,” the phrase and the Vulcan salute were formally integrated into the species’ society and sprinkled throughout the spin-off movies and series. Outside the screen, the combination adopted a life of its own, transforming into a signature catchphrase and a greeting that fans exchange. An easy shorthand for fan enthusiasm, “live long and prosper” also resonates once it’s applied to a wider context. It speaks to Trek‘s optimism, compassion, and acceptance, a galaxy where celebrating differences is a form of empowerment. “Amok Time” doesn’t assign that framework to its most famous four words, but the relevance being retrofitted doesn’t deprive the words of their deeper sentiment.

Leonard Nimoy’s Input and Experience Expanded Spock’s Character

As for Spock, for all his credentials and the admiration bestowed upon him by his fellow officers, he’s a permanent outsider. His parents’ marriage bridges two worlds, neither of which he can fully fit within. Even among the Enterprise‘s interspecies crew, he either symbolizes professional balance or alien oddity, depending on the officer’s perspective and prejudice. Spock’s inner conflict takes decades to align into a balance between his human heart and his Vulcan head. “Live long and prosper” reverberates on a deeper level when coming from a wise, dignified, deeply feeling individual of mixed heritage.

Besides being the main speaker and keeper of those words, Nimoy applied his own sense of alienation to the role through his performance and by improvising the Vulcan salute. He based the sign on the Jewish Priestly Blessing, a benediction performed by the Kohanim upon their congregation. “[Director Joe Pevney] had me approach T’Pau and I felt a greeting gesture was called for,” Nimoy reflected in a 2012 guest blog post for Star Trek.com. “So I suggested it to Joe, who accepted it immediately.”

After Nimoy’s parents, both Ukrainian Jews, immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, the household spoke fluent Yiddish and actively attended Orthodox synagogues. In the same blog post, Nimoy shared how strongly the blessing ceremony affected him once he witnessed it as a child:

“I still have a vivid memory of the first time I saw the use of the split-fingered hands being extended to the congregation in blessing. […] I was entranced. I learned to do it simply because it seemed so magical. It was probably 25 years later that I introduced that gesture as a Vulcan greeting in Star Trek and it has resonated with fans around the world ever since. It gives me great pleasure since it is, after all, a blessing.”

The only Trek actor nominated for an Emmy Award and in many ways the keeper of the franchise (a leading aspirational image, at least), Nimoy naturally integrated a cherished cultural and religious practice into a series that’s become an empowering balm for those who experience ostracism. Those four excellent words, paired with an intentional but incidental moment, did what fiction does best: coalesced into something greater. There’s no better legacy for Trek‘s iconic phrase and its most famous face to embody.

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Star Trek: The Original Series

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Release Date

1966 – 1969-00-00

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Showrunner

Gene Roddenberry

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Directors

Marc Daniels, Joseph Pevney, Ralph Senensky, Vincent McEveety, Herb Wallerstein, Jud Taylor, Marvin J. Chomsky, David Alexander, Gerd Oswald, Herschel Daugherty, James Goldstone, Robert Butler, Anton Leader, Gene Nelson, Harvey Hart, Herbert Kenwith, James Komack, John Erman, John Newland, Joseph Sargent, Lawrence Dobkin, Leo Penn, Michael O’Herlihy, Murray Golden

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Alex Garland’s Elden Ring has felt like one of those projects that barely needed a hard sell the second it was announced. The game is already a worldwide sensation with a massive fanbase, and Garland — whose experience in the last decade with horror, sci-fi and extremely weird cinema makes him the perfect fit — is leading from the front. Now the adaptation has taken a major step forward. A24 and Bandai Namco have officially set a release date for the film and confirmed it will be filmed for IMAX, while also unveiling the full cast as production gets underway this spring.

The live-action Elden Ring will open in theaters on March 3, 2028, with Garland writing and directing. The original film project was first officially announced in May 2025, when Bandai Namco and A24 confirmed Garland’s involvement and revealed that the adaptation would be based on FromSoftware’s hugely successful 2022 game, which has shipped more than 30 million units worldwide. Filming is now underway in the UK, which lines up with the latest production update.

Who Stars in ‘Elden Ring’?

The cast is stacked, and for this one the names alone do a lot of the work. Elden Ring stars Kit Connor (Warfare, Heartstopper), Ben Whishaw (Peter Hujar’s Day, This Is Going to Hurt), Cailee Spaeny (Alien: Romulus, Civil War), Tom Burke (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Black Bag), Havana Rose Liu (Tuner, Bottoms), Sonoya Mizuno (Ex Machina), Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes, The Crown), Ruby Cruz (Bottoms, The Threesome), Nick Offerman (The Last of Us, Margo’s Got Money Troubles), John Hodgkinson (Dear England, Napoleon), Jefferson Hall (House of the Dragon, Oppenheimer), Emma Laird (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, A Haunting in Venice), and Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace).

The film is being produced by Peter Rice alongside Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich from DNA, with George R.R. Martin and Vince Gerardis also producing after Martin helped build the game’s mythological backstory. FromSoftware’s previous titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne were well received but very dense and not considered the most accessible for casual players. Martin was approached and given the freedom to design the backstory and with world building,

a job he accomplished with some aplomb.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about how Garland plans to tackle the Lands Between on screen, but this update makes one thing very clear: Elden Ring is coming.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Director

Alex Garland

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Writers

Alex Garland

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Travis Barker celebrated wife Kourtney Kardashian’s recent birthday by sharing a peek inside their spicy bedroom life.

Barker, 50, took to Instagram on Sunday, April 19, to post a gushing tribute to Kourtney, who turned 47 one day prior. Capturing recent memorable moments, the post showed the reality TV star enjoying quality family time, plus the pair posing for photos together. In the final frame, the Blink-182 drummer was seen with two of Kourtney’s toes placed inside his mouth.

The image zoomed in on Barker’s amused face as the pair appeared to be stretched out on a bed together. Kourtney’s foot appeared in Barker’s mouth from the opposite direction, suggesting that she had snapped the shot herself.

“Happy Birthday my beautiful wife. I love you forever and ever. Thank you for being such an amazing woman, an incredible wife, and the best mom to our humans. I feel so grateful to spend this life with you @kourtneykardash 🖤,” he captioned the carousel.

Related: Travis Barker Marks Kourtney Kardashian’s Birthday With Sweet Tribute

Travis Barker is feeling grateful for the life he and wife Kourtney Kardashian have created together as she celebrates her 45th birthday. “Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife, soulmate and best friend forever,” the Blink-182 drummer, 48, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, April 18, alongside a carousel of photos of the husband-wife duo, including a […]

The post attracted plenty of praise, including fond words from Kourtney’s sister, Kim Kardashian. “I love this post and all of these pics,” Kim, 45, wrote, attracting amused fans who pointed out the toe photo. “Even the last one lol,” wrote one follower, while another wrote, “The last one is the best one 🤫😂.”

Barker even responded to Kim’s kind words, sharing a black heart emoji with his sister-in-law before Kourtney responded with her own black heart emoji directed at Kim.

Khloe Kardashian also commented on the post, writing in the comments section, “The cutest girl ever.” Barker agreed with Khloe, 41, responding with, “1000%” and sharing another black heart emoji with her.

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Kourtney and Barker were longtime friends before they began dating after spending quality time together at mom Kris Jenner’s Palm Springs, California, house in January 2021. They tied the knot in 2022 and have since shared plenty of PDA with fans through their social media accounts.

In March 2022, Kourtney even publicly discussed the couple’s sex life, revealing in an interview with Bustle that the pair underwent a “sex fast” as part of an Ayurvedic cleanse that resulted in better-than-ever performance. “Oh, my God, it was crazy,” she told the publication at the time. “Like, if you can’t have caffeine, when you have your first matcha, it’s so good.” (According to Healthline, the cleanse involves sex fasting, dietary adjustments and the tweaking of other lifestyle habits.)

Kourtney is also accustomed to turning up the heat on her socials via posts that flaunt her sizzling frame. On January 19, she compiled a series of her favourite swimwear photos as part of the 2016 trend bandwagon and shared them with delighted fans.

Before dragons became every fantasy fan’s obsession on TV and the big screen, vampires and werewolves ruled the genre. These supernatural creatures dominated the 2000s and 2010s, thanks to hits like The Twilight Saga, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and True Blood, captivating audiences with their brutality and dark mythology. During that period, a popular teen drama emerged, quickly becoming a standout in the supernatural-fantasy era and which led to the birth of one of Paramount+’s most-watched original productions.

Since its debut, the teen fantasy series has built a loyal fanbase that, to this day, remains supportive of the franchise. It ran from June 5, 2011, to September 24, 2017, ending after six seasons. Six years later, a follow-up movie was released. Teen Wolf is the fourth installment overall in the titular franchise, inspired by the 1985 film of the same name. It follows Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), an ordinary high school student whose life changes after a werewolf bite draws him into a dangerous world of supernatural creatures.

On January 26, 2023, Teen Wolf: The Movie premiered on Paramount+ as a continuation of the dark fantasy, with most of the show’s cast reprising their roles. The supernatural thriller was a critical flop upon its release, but went on to break Paramount+ records as the most-watched original film on its debut day. Three years later, it is surging on Tubi in the U.S., making it a recommendable late-night binge as you can stream it absolutely free.

‘Teen Wolf: The Movie’ Is the Perfect Late-Night Binge

In Teen Wolf: The Movie, fifteen years after leaving his hometown, the fictional Beacon Hills, Scott, no longer a teenager yet still an Alpha, now runs an animal shelter in Los Angeles and is single. As he lives his life peacefully, a full moon rises in Beacon Hills, and with it, a terrifying evil emerges. The wolves are howling once again, calling for the return of Banshees, Werecoyotes, Hellhounds, Kitsunes and every other shapeshifter of the night. But only a werewolf like Scott can gather both new allies and reunite trusted friends to fight back against what could be the most powerful and deadliest enemy they’ve ever faced.

You can watch Teen Wolf: The Movie on Tubi.

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Release Date

January 26, 2023

Runtime

140 minutes

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Franchise(s)

Teen Wolf

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Paramount+ faces stiff competition in the streaming game. While other streamers like Prime Video and Disney+ offer a wealth of pop culture hits for their subscribers, the major draws of Paramount+ tend to fall into one of two categories: the ever-expanding Yellowstone universe or a dwindling collection of Star Trek spin-offs. When it comes to movies, Paramount+ is packing two of the biggest action films ever in Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick. Both films, particularly Maverick, have been major hits for the platform and a reminder of why Tom Cruise is one of the biggest action stars in the world.

The Top Gun films focus on Cruise’s Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, as he attends the U.S. Navy’s Fighter Weapons School, better known as “Top Gun”. There, he hones his skills as a fighter pilot while also forming personal bonds with fellow pilots and instructors. Both films also became major box-office hits during their theatrical runs, as the mix of high-flying heroics and character dynamics proved a major draw for audiences. With the franchise receiving a major update during CinemaCon, there’s never been a better time to revisit both Top Gun films, especially if you’re an action fan.

The ‘Top Gun’ Films Cemented Tom Cruise as an A-List Action Star

Image via Paramount

Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick do not disappoint when it comes to aerial combat, as both films are packed full of heart-racing flight sequences. This was accomplished by the men behind the camera, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the flight sequences felt as real as possible.Tony Scott mounted cameras inside the cockpit of an F-14 fighter jet, while Joseph Kosinski developed camera technology to withstand the punishing G-forces of actual flight. The end result feels like the audience is in the cockpit with Maverick, experiencing every barrel roll and takeoff. The Top Gun films don’t hold back on the emotional stakes, either. In the original Top Gun, Maverick struggles with the loss of his fellow pilot Goose (Anthony Edwards). Top Gun: Maverick takes it one step further when Maverick ends up training a new class of pilots that includes Goose’s son, Rooster (Miles Teller), forcing him to revisit his past.

The Top Gun films transformed Tom Cruise into a bona fide action star, as his commitment to the high-flying action sequences is equal to his rapport with the rest of the cast, particularly Val Kilmer‘s Iceman. It also led him to take on more action roles, particularly in the Mission: Impossible films, where he developed a reputation for performing death-defying stunts. While Top Gun would earn Cruise an actual award from the U.S. Navy, Top Gun: Maverick earned blessings from none other than Steven Spielberg, who told Cruise that he felt the film was a godsend for Hollywood:

“You saved Hollywood’s ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously, Top Gun: Maverick might have saved the entire theatrical industry.”

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‘Top Gun’ Meets ‘Transformers’ in This Colossal Sci-Fi Sequel Exploding Onto a New Streamer

A Star Wars icon leads the sequel.

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A Third ‘Top Gun’ Movie is in The Works

The success of Top Gun: Maverick more or less guaranteed another sequel, and at long last, said sequel was finally confirmed during Paramount Pictures’ presentation at CinemaCon. Co-head of film Josh Greenstein revealed the news, saying that Tom Cruise would return to the role of Maverick alongside producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Last year, Joseph Kosinski also revealed to Collider’s Steve Weintraub that screenwriter Ehren Kruger was also working on a script for a third Top Gun, saying that it would “make Maverick feel small in comparison.”

This means that Cruise will continue a working relationship with Paramount, as he also filmed a video touting the studio’s history for CinemaCon. Since the Top Gun franchise helped make him into a household name, it only makes sense that he’d continue to be involved with future films. It also means that action fans can expect more high-flying, death-defying action to hit movie screens in the future, and cements the first two Top Gun films as a perfect weekend watch.

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Release Date

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May 16, 1986

Runtime

110 minutes

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Writers

Jack Epps Jr., Jim Cash

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Universal love is a hard thing to earn in action cinema. Plenty of action movies are iconic. Plenty are influential. Plenty have one immortal set piece, one immortal star, one immortal villain, one immortal line. Universal love asks for more. It asks for a movie people return to with real affection, the kind that survives changing tastes, new technology, endless imitation, and the usual backlash that comes for anything successful enough to become part of the culture. These are the films that somehow keep clearing every generation anyway.

And I’ve noticed that among these movies, the common thread is precision. Each one understands movement, stakes, character, and escalation so well that the thrills never feel empty. The action keeps revealing people. The plot keeps tightening while the set pieces get bigger. The audience gets excitement and emotional payoff in the same breath. That is why this list is limited to eight movies. All eight of them stayed beloved instead of becoming dusty important classics for a reason.

8

‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)

Image via Sony Pictures Classics/Columbia TriStar Film

This film has universal love because Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gives action the one thing a lot of imitators never quite manage to hold onto: yearning. Every fight has longing inside it. Every leap across rooftops carries pride, repression, unfinished love, wounded discipline, or the hunger to live outside a life somebody else designed. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) are heartbreaking because the movie lets years of restraint sit between them in every scene. Jen (Zhang Ziyi) explodes into that emotional geometry like a lit match, gifted enough to astonish everyone and immature enough to weaponize that gift against herself.

That is why the action feels so complete. Jen stealing Green Destiny is plot. Jen fighting Shu Lien with escalating weapons is character. Jen flying across rooftops is rebellion. The desert story with Lo (Chang Chen) turns her into something fuller than a spoiled prodigy and makes the final tragedy hit harder. People love Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon because it gives them beauty, velocity, romance, pain, and one of the greatest uses of movement as emotional language ever put on screen.

7

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

People love Mad Max: Fury Road because it feels like action cinema purified down to instinct and then rebuilt with miraculous control. The movie has speed, noise, sand, chrome, fire, and vehicles that look like they were invented by people who never slept again after the apocalypse. It also has an emotional spine strong enough to make the whole thing matter. Furiosa (Charlize Theron) is the key. Her decision to smuggle the wives out turns the movie from chase spectacle into liberation story, and once that clicks into place, every mile gets heavier.

Max (Tom Hardy) helps because he enters as a man reduced to survival reflex, and the script slowly drags him back toward human commitment. Nux (Nicholas Hoult) becomes one of the film’s secret weapons because his arc turns fanaticism into something sad, then brave. The Green Place revelation is where Mad Max: Fury Road becomes a masterpiece. Hope in one direction dies, and suddenly the answer is to go back through the nightmare and take the citadel itself. That reversal is such a brilliant plot turn that the second half feels even more alive than the first.

6

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

This movie has stayed beloved because Aliens gives people everything they want from action while deepening everything they loved in Alien. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns carrying trauma that the film treats seriously, then gets pushed right back toward the species that broke her life. That alone gives the movie emotional weight before a single pulse rifle starts firing. Then James Cameron adds marines, machinery, swagger, military procedure, corporate greed, and the child-survival bond with Newt (Carrie Henn), and suddenly the film has a much bigger heartbeat.

The colony discovery is such a great slow burn. The movie lets dread accumulate through architecture, silence, and evidence. Then the motion trackers start mattering. Then the hive becomes a kill box. Then Gorman (William Hope) collapses, Hudson (Bill Paxton) loses his nerve, Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) goes full war spirit, Burke (Paul Reiser) exposes his rot, and Ripley becomes the only adult in the room who understands what this enemy actually means. The power loader ending has action writing with blood in it.

5

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

This movie remains beloved because Raiders of the Lost Ark moves with the confidence of a film that knows every second should entertain, reveal, or endanger. Indy (Harrison Ford) gets the idol in the opening and already feels complete as a hero: smart, lucky, tough, vain enough to miscalculate, human enough to get hurt. Then the movie keeps handing him problems that feel bigger than one man without ever breaking the line of adventure. Marion (Karen Allen) matters because she brings emotional friction and toughness. Belloq (Paul Freeman) matters because he is the version of Indy with the conscience sanded off.

The truck chase makes you grow out of everything the movie has built, and puts Indy through hell in a way that keeps him heroic. The supernatural payoff at the end is the final reason people love this film so fiercely. The Ark stays mysterious long enough that when it finally opens, the movie reveals it was never just an object to be won. Everybody chasing it with greed, pride, or arrogance gets exactly the ending they earned.

4

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros.

Universal love came to this film because The Matrix gave people action that felt like revelation. And it’s more relevant than ever today in 2026, 27 years later and that’s something. That’s brilliant. Neo (Keanu Reeves) starts out with a feeling every audience member understands in some form: something about life is wrong, but the structure around him is too complete to challenge directly. The red-pill choice is a pop culture phrase now. Once Neo wakes up in the real world, every piece of action that follows gains an extra charge. Fights are arguments about reality, control, and belief.

Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) gives the movie mythic conviction. Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) gives it emotional proof that faith in Neo existed before he could justify it. Smith (Hugo Weaving) turns authority into hatred with a face and a voice that keep getting more frightening the more he talks. And while the set pieces aren’t brilliant as per today’s standards, they’re okay still because the movie is strong. The themes justify them still. The dojo teaches the rules. The lobby shootout declares war on those rules. The rooftop and helicopter rescue announce that Neo is crossing into a new level of agency. The subway fight and resurrection make the whole film click into destiny. People still love The Matrix because it feels smart, cool, emotional, and structurally perfect all at once.

3

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros.

The Dark Knight takes blockbuster action and ties it directly to moral pressure. Gotham feels like a real city under stress instead of a comic-book backdrop waiting for destruction — all thanks to Christopher Nolan. Bruce (Christian Bale) wants Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to become the public face that could let Batman step back, which gives the story a genuine political and emotional center. Then the Joker (Heath Ledger) arrives and starts attacking every fragile structure at once: organized crime, public confidence, legal order, heroic symbolism, and the private bonds between Bruce, Harvey, and Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

The action sequences are beloved because each one changes the story. The bank robbery introduces the Joker’s logic. The penthouse attack exposes how vulnerable Bruce’s emotional hopes really are. The armored convoy chase feels huge because Dent matters. The interrogation scene works like action without movement because the power balance keeps shifting. Harvey’s collapse matters because the movie spent real time building him as Gotham’s answer. The ferry dilemma and the ending give people something bigger than spectacle to love.

2

‘Die Hard’ (1988)

Image via 20th Century Studios

This movie has universal love because Die Hard feels perfectly calibrated from the first minute. John McClane (Bruce Willis) arrives in Los Angeles carrying marital strain, attitude, and enough vulnerability to make him feel human before the shooting starts. Then the office Christmas party gets hijacked, and the movie becomes a masterpiece of pressure. Every floor of Nakatomi has a purpose. Every side character adds friction. Every setback deepens McClane’s isolation while also making him more inventive.

Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) is one huge reason people love this film so much. He brings intelligence, style, contempt, and adaptability, which means the movie never gets lazy about the villain side of the chessboard. Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) gives the story warmth and a lifeline to the outside world. Holly Gennero McClane (Bonnie Bedelia) matters because she is written as capable and proud, which raises the stakes far above generic hostage material. The barefoot detail is classic action writing because it turns McClane’s body into part of the suspense structure. By the time he is bloody, tired, and pulling glass from his feet while still trying to stay alive long enough to stop the whole operation, the audience is completely with him.

1

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Image via Tri-Star Pictures

This is number one because Terminator 2: Judgment Day gives people almost everything they could want from action cinema and does every part of it at an elite level. And it has this weird nostalgic pull that other films in this list don’t. It’s the one that you watched with your cousins and kept thinking about it. Watching it now reveals that Judgement Day’s first brilliant move is the role reversal. Arnold enters carrying the memory of terror from the original film, then the mall hallway sequence flips that memory into protection. Suddenly the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the shield, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) is the nightmare, and the sequel has reinvented its emotional engine before the chase has fully begun.

Then there’s John Connor (Edward Furlong). The movie lets him be a kid with pain, defiance, and genuine emotional influence. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) matters because the film shows what surviving the first movie actually did to her. She has become hard, prophetic, nearly machine-like in her sense of purpose, and the Dyson scene proves how close that hardness has brought her to losing the line entirely. Every action sequence does story work: the canal chase, the hospital escape, the Cyberdyne siege, the steel mill finale. It has scale, clarity, sadness, and perfect payoff.

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Terminator 2: Judgment Day

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Release Date

July 3, 1991

Runtime

137 minutes

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Director

James Cameron

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Writers

James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, William Wisher

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