By Robert Scucci
| Published 9 seconds ago

In every single one of his movies, Neil Breen portrays a tragic hero with godlike powers who takes it upon himself to save the world from itself through mystical, inexplicable abilities that more often than not make no sense. 2016’s Pass Thru clings to this formula and makes for an entertaining watch for fans of outsider filmmaking.

While most Breeniacs like myself would point to 2005’s Double Down and 2012’s Fateful Findings as his finest works, Pass Thru is not without its charm. But be warned, because it’s also one of Breen’s most disjointed pieces in his entire filmography, and that’s saying a lot.

“The message is simply too powerful to be captured on film.”

Here, we have an ominous floating red dot that serves no real purpose, a tiger that occasionally shows up in the Nevada desert for reasons never explained, and cans of beans littering the landscape. Corrupt insurance, bank, and media “presidents” openly lay out their plans to be corrupt and immoral, but Neil Breen’s Thgil (light spelled backwards), an extraterrestrial AI lifeform sent to Earth to make it a better place, is here to save the day.

It’s No Double Down, But We’ll Take It

Like most Breen joints, Pass Thru is rife with sprawling desert shots, ramshackle sound design, and preachy monologues about the state of the world and how Neil Breen, wearing his finest Canadian tuxedo, is the only being in existence who can usher in a new age of enlightenment. Self-satisfaction aside, we get a mess of a story that begins with a group of nameless immigrants packed into the back of a truck and carted off to an undisclosed location by enforcers who are supposed to round them up and send them back to the countries they escaped from.

Through Breen’s narrations, we learn that he’s an AI lifeform from a far-off galaxy sent to Earth specifically to eliminate 300 million “bad people” through a great cleansing. The problem is that in his human form, he becomes a heroin addict who sleeps in garbage when he’s not eating canned food in his trailer home. He befriends Amanda (Kathy Corpus) and her niece, Kim (Chaize Macklin), who are reluctant to stay with him in his trailer even though he claims to be “the future,” after thoroughly rounding up his garbage to make his home more welcoming.

Meanwhile, a boy astronomer (Abraham Rodriguez), two girl astronomers (Taylor Sydney and Taylor Johnson), and their wheelchair-bound professor (James D. Smith) head out to the desert in search of a glowing red dot that looks like a broken pixel on your screen, but appears with purpose despite that purpose never being properly spelled out.

Somehow, all of these separate storylines converge when Thgil takes over a news broadcast to let the entire human race know how primitive they are, and again when he shows up at a mansion to tell various government officials and industry presidents that they’re corrupt. Shortly thereafter, CGI explosions burn in the background as Neil Breen walks away from the wreckage without ever looking back.

Not One Of The Classics, But A Departure Point

While Pass Thru is distinctly a Neil Breen film, it pales in comparison to its predecessor, Fateful Findings. That film is rooted in corporate espionage, government secrets, and dozens of laptops getting destroyed as our hero vows to expose the corruption running rampant in this world.

All the same trappings of self-importance and disgust with the modern world are still there, but Pass Thru fails to stick the landing because there are simply too many moving parts. For a film that people like me actively seek out because it’s so laughably terrible in every conceivable way, there’s a distinct lack of charm here, and I can’t quite put my finger on what’s missing.

If Neil Breen were a musician, Pass Thru would be his departure album. He’s been to the desert and to far-off galaxies by bending space and time as we know it on multiple occasions. This is the last film he shoots primarily on location before becoming a master of the green screen with films like Twisted Pair and Cade: The Tortured Crossing, so what we’re seeing here feels like an artificially intelligent being struggling to reach his final form through conventional means. The message is simply too powerful to be captured on film. At least that’s the narrative I’m going with. 

If you’re a fan of Neil Breen’s work, Pass Thru is essential viewing. Just know that it’s not his finest hour. To witness what Breen calls a “visionary, revolutionary film which pushes the human species to the limits of controversial, thought-provoking actions,” you can learn more about it on his website.

The Oscars are the most prestigious awards in cinema and a celebration of the craft at its absolute best, designed to recognize and commend the most illustrious achievements across every discipline of the medium. However, the passage of time isn’t always so kind, and for all the acclaimed and timeless masterpieces that won Best Picture, there have also been plenty of Oscars dished out for titles that are pretty difficult to endure today.

It’s not to say these films are innately bad. Rather, we must observe how greatly society has changed over the past 100 years, and how movies that were once regarded as being the peak of cinematic artistry have dwindled even as some of their contemporaries have endured. From hits of early Hollywood that haven’t held up from a technical standpoint to mid-century melodramas and musicals that flaunt a frightfully outdated set of social values, and even to some more modern misfires that have quickly become questionable selections, these Best Picture winners have not stood the test of time well at all.

10

‘The Broadway Melody’ (1929)

Image via MGM

A product of its era, The Broadway Melody is undeniably an important film in the history of the Oscars. It marks the first sound movie to ever win Best Picture and one of the first pictures to ever use Technicolor. Its pioneering ambition is commendable and impressive even when revisited today. Other elements haven’t aged quite so gracefully, with everything from its technical execution to its narrative, characters, and performances, and even its musical numbers being difficult to connect with now.

Its inconsistent sound mixing is its most distracting pitfall. It is an understandable complication of being one of the first “talkies,” but it still distances the viewer from the story at important beats. Furthermore, the weak and clichéd melodrama clashes unnaturally with its cheesy acting, a fact that only amplifies the shallow nature of its narrative and the outdated social values the film depicts. In essence, The Broadway Melody is an impressive product of its time, but it is still a product of its time, and its storytelling style, thematic interests, and clunky execution hold little to enrapture audiences almost a century on from its release.

9

‘American Beauty’ (1999)

Image via DreamWorks SKG

The most obvious reason for American Beauty aging poorly may be Kevin Spacey’s well-publicized fall from grace, which makes any effort to watch him portray a lecherous character particularly unpleasant. Still, that certainly isn’t the only reason why the 1999 Best Picture winner has dwindled over the years. It follows a middle-aged man leading a seemingly idyllic suburban lifestyle as he backslides into depression, a misery that isn’t helped by his newfound yearning for his teenage daughter’s friend.

While the story’s premise can be seen as problematic, American Beauty does a reasonable job at executing it with a sense of melancholic earnestness that doesn’t treat Lester’s (Spacey) obsession as healthy or acceptable. However, its focus on the pitfalls of upper-middle-class life is narrow-minded, with the edges of Lester’s story littered with shallow caricatures. The story itself exudes a sense of self-indulgent pretentiousness that now, more so than ever, simply doesn’t resonate with the masses. Its satirical tone still has some bite, but it comments on a dated idea of societal angst. Given that 1999 also saw the release of such films as Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, Fight Club, and The Matrix, American Beauty’s Best Picture win is particularly difficult to stomach today.

8

‘The Great Ziegfeld’ (1936)

Image via MGM

Like many of the other earlier Best Picture winners that have aged less gracefully, The Great Ziegfeld is an astonishing feat of production, especially for its time. Alas, its longevity is burdened by its shallow thematic impact and archaic storytelling. In the case of the three-time Oscar winner, it also serves as an overly glamorous and inauthentic biopic about Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., an American Broadway impresario who was a key figure in the field throughout the early part of the 20th century.

Produced with heavy input from Ziegfeld’s widow, Billie Burke, The Great Ziegfeld strays away from the more ruthless and immoral aspects of Ziegfeld’s (William Powell) life to instead present a rollicking musical drama highlighting his rampant rise through the 1920s, along with a love-triangle intrigue. It isn’t enough to sustain the film’s gargantuan three-hour runtime, ensuring The Great Ziegfeld has dwindled over time as a historically inaccurate and blunted biographical musical executed in a manner that simply doesn’t resonate with today’s viewers.

7

‘Cavalcade’ (1933)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Adapting a stage play to the screen is always a difficult task. Even modern movies that undertake such a venture often struggle to find the right balance between honoring the style and story of the original form and using the tools uniquely available to cinema to produce a spectacle befitting of the big screen. 1933’s Cavalcade suffers as a picture that is simply a static and stagnant recreation of Noel Coward’s 1931 play, bereft of cinematic ambition.

Told with paper-thin characters and an archaic vigor for old-world values, Cavalcade follows two London-based couples—the aristocratic Marryots and the working-class Bridges family—as they react to the changing times. It features historical events, including the Boer War, Queen Victoria’s death, the sinking of the Titanic, and the outbreak of WWI, that rattle the lifestyle they know. Like many old movies, it feels forced and overly exaggerated when viewed today, substituting quiet drama for heavy-handed dialogue and over-the-top performances that take what is an interesting story of societal change and strip it of all narrative cohesion and thematic impact. It won Best Picture as well as Best Direction and Best Art Direction at the 6th Academy Awards ceremony.

6

‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ (1952)

Image via Paramount Pictures

It is quite interesting how, while the Best Picture winners from the 1940s have aged immaculately, a lot of the major titles of the ’50s have grown grating over the decades. The Greatest Show on Earth is a perfect example of why. Following the ensemble of a traveling circus as they reckon with the postwar economy, the Cecil B. DeMille picture is bloated and rife with overexaggerated melodrama, weak plotting, and characters that aren’t interesting or nuanced enough to account for the 155-minute runtime.

It was even considered a controversial Best Picture selection by the Academy, given it was competing against such classics as High Noon, The Quiet Man, and even Singin’ in the Rain, which didn’t even garner a nomination. Frequently rated among the weakest Best Picture winners in Oscar history, The Greatest Show on Earth has only diminished over time, becoming an infamous blight on the Academy Awards and an arduous watch today.

5

‘Green Book’ (2016)

Image via Universal Pictures

Marking what is the most infamous Best Picture winner in the past 20 years, Green Book has become much maligned as a movie that never should have won the award in the first place. The biographical drama aims to dissect racism as it follows acclaimed jazz pianist Dr. Donald Shirley (Mahershala Ali) on his tour in the South in the 1960s, accompanied by his driver and bodyguard, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), a hard-edged bouncer from the Bronx.

For what it’s worth, Green Book does present a beautiful real-life friendship, a wonderfully acted feel-good tale of cultural differences overcome by the simple sincerity of human connection. However, its observations on racism and its ramifications are vague, short-sighted, and sometimes plain wrong, with many criticizing it as a movie that offers comfort when it should be critical and confronting. The fact that it was heralded as being a triumphant dismantling of bigotry and hate despite its relatively tame handling of such issues has seen it become a divisive film as well as a Best Picture winner that highlights the safe stagnancy that sometimes undermines the Academy Awards.

4

‘Around the World in 80 Days’ (1956)

Image via United Artists

Based on Jules Verne’s 1872 novel of the same name, Around the World in 80 Days was the big winner at the 29th Academy Awards, winning five Oscars in total, including Best Picture, a feat that saw it triumph over fellow nominees like The King and I and Giant, while classics like The Searchers didn’t even get a nod. With its globe-trotting story and its monumental 175-minute runtime, it is easy to see why the Verne adaptation was celebrated as a significant achievement in cinema, but its sensibilities and pacing are far more at home in the 1950s than they are in today’s world.

Its depiction of foreign cultures is uninspired to say the least, resorting to stereotypical and misleading simplicities, and even featuring Shirley MacLaine as an Indian princess. However, perhaps even more grating than its politically incorrect display is its dated pacing, with its agonizingly slow narrative progression relying heavily on celebrity cameos to keep the audience invested. It may have worked a charm in 1956, but the audacious fantasy Best Picture winner simply doesn’t have the same allure in 2026.

3

‘Gigi’ (1958)

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Released as a lavish and light-hearted musical comedy in 1958, Gigi is widely regarded as a naïve and unnerving byproduct of a bygone era. It’s an incredibly awkward watch in today’s world, given its archaic perspective on gender dynamics and the sexualization of young women. Following the tentative and blooming romance between a Parisian playboy and a still-maturing teenager, the film was celebrated as a vivacious visual spectacle epitomizing the splendor of musical cinema.

While its production value remains an impressive feat, the nine-time Oscar winner has otherwise aged abysmally. Its central relationship between the “in-training” Gigi (Leslie Caron) and the far older and promiscuous Gaston (Louis Jourdan) isn’t only squeamish and predatory in its premise, but it is executed with a cheerfulness and charm that is, today, ill-suited to the subject matter. The inclusion of songs like “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” the treatment of women as commodities to be chased, and even the nature of the storytelling certainly haven’t helped it stand the test of time either. Gigi is an uncomfortable relic of an era of chauvinism.

2

‘Crash’ (2004)

A movie that capitalized on the sorrow, confusion, grief, and trauma felt across America in the wake of 9/11, Crash exudes a certain self-importance with its mighty themes of prejudice, human nature, and social stratification. Alas, its scope is far too shallow and comforting to do anything of substance with such ideas. Transpiring in a time when Americans are still reeling from the events of September 11, it follows several interconnected stories of racial tension and social misunderstanding involving deeply flawed characters striving to do their best, even as they make horrific snap judgments.

Heavy-handed, simplistic, and propelling a white savior narrative that is frankly uninspired in its plot beats and progress, Crash is one of the more egregious examples of Oscar-bait cinema audiences have been bombarded with this century. It preys on the lingering cultural heartache of 9/11 while delivering moralizing and condescending tales that reduce America’s issues of systemic racism and societal belligerence to a series of individual flaws. Controversially, it upset the highly fancied Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture, an error in judgment that will stand as one of the Academy’s most confounding misfires for many years to come.

1

‘Cimarron’ (1931)

Image via RKO Radio Pictures

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A sweeping epic that unfolds over 40 years, no one can fault Cimarron’s ambition and visual majesty, but its lethargic story and rampant insensitivities ensure that it is a movie that simply no longer has any narrative appeal. When she is dragged to Osage, Oklahoma, in the late 1880s at the behest of her husband, ambitious newspaperman Yancey Cravat (Richard Dix), Sabra (Irene Dunne) finds herself struggling to manage her inherited editorial duties while acclimatizing to a community where civilization is far from established. The couple is repeatedly separated and reunited over the ensuing decades as Oklahoma rapidly evolves.

Featuring belittling stereotypes of Native Americans, African Americans, and Jews while focusing on a supposedly triumphant tale of a white man’s burden to bring civility to the hostile and simple-minded natives, Cimarron oscillates between being boring banality and piercing controversy. It was ultimately awarded Best Picture because of the magnitude of its production and the epic ambition of its execution, but it has come to be widely viewed as the worst Best Picture winner of all time.

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Published
February 25, 2026
10:39 AM PST

The Thunder Buddies are about to graduate from high school this year with the release of Ted Season 2. Before John Bennett (Max Burkholder) and his titular stuffed best friend (Seth MacFarlane) are thrust into the world of adulthood for the first time, though, they have to hold one last epic rager to toast their senior year with the level of debauchery they deserve. Most excitingly, however, is that everyone’s invited. Collider is partnering with Peacock to announce that, in celebration of the return of the MacFarlane-created sitcom on March 5, The Gutter in the Lower East Side in New York City is getting a Ted-themed makeover for one weekend only for a massive house party.

Ted and John’s “Mind in the Gutter Party” will wind back the clock to the early 1990s, when Ted was forced to attend school with John and navigate the trials of growing up at the bottom of the social ladder. As such, the bar and bowling alley will be imbued with the era’s aesthetic and covered in easter eggs paying homage to the Bennett family. It also promises plenty of “delights and debauchery” alike, from Ted-themed bowling to nostalgic throwbacks, classic games, exclusive clips from the second season, and much more that will only be revealed when attendees arrive. The only thing that could make such a party more accurate to MacFarlane’s crass bear is if it were taking place in Massachusetts.

Peacock has teamed with MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions to make this house party happen, with help from NVE Experience Agency. This isn’t NVE’s first time warping viewers back to the 90s, as they also helped with the Ted series premiere back in 2024. They’ve also applied their touch to activations for a wide range of other shows, from Peacemaker Season 2 to Ryan Murphy‘s Grotesquerie. Fans 18 and older will be able to enter the “Mind in the Gutter Party” at The Gutter LES for free on a first-come, first-served basis from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 6, and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, while ages 21 and older can stay thereafter until 1 a.m.

What Does Season 2 of ‘Ted’ Hold for the Bennett Family?

Ted Season 2 begins in roughly the same spot the acclaimed series started, with John Bennett still awkward and unpopular and trying to navigate high school life with a little help from his best bud Ted. Only now, time has flown, and the end of senior year is fast approaching. With so much still left unaccomplished, the duo sets out to make the most out of what little time they have left by making more mistakes, smoking more weed, and indulging in some new activities, like Dungeons & Dragons, before they become fully-fledged adults. The rest of the Bennett family will be along for the ride too, including John’s strict, blue-collar father Matty (Scott Grimes), his remarkably sweet, caring mother Susan (Alanna Ubach), and his outspoken liberal cousin, Blaire (Giorgia Whigham).

Return to the Bennett household when all eight episodes of Ted Season 2 arrive on Peacockon March 5, then live it up like it’s the 90s at Ted and John’s Mind in the Gutter Party” at The Gutter LES in New York City on March 6 and 7.

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2024 – 2024-00-00

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Peacock

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  Penny Johnson Jerald

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  Seth MacFarlane

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  Ted (voice)

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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are no strangers to reinvention. From Saturday morning cartoons to arcade brawlers to nostalgic throwbacks like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, the franchise has thrived by adapting to new generations. But the upcoming adaptation of TMNT: The Last Ronin is shaping up to be something entirely different.

According to publisher THQ Nordic and developer Black Forest Games, The Last Ronin is being developed as a serious, story driven third person action game. More notably, early reporting around the announcement described the project as being in the vein of modern prestige action titles like God of War.

That comparison alone signals a dramatic tonal shift for the franchise.

A Darker TMNT Was Inevitable

The Last Ronin comic series already proved that audiences are ready for a mature, emotionally heavy take on the Turtles. Set in a dystopian future where only one Turtle remains, the story abandons pizza jokes and lighthearted banter in favor of loss, vengeance, and legacy.

Translating that into an interactive experience almost demands a more cinematic approach. A traditional arcade style beat em up simply would not carry the emotional weight of the source material. The God of War comparison suggests a tighter narrative focus, heavier combat mechanics, and a presentation built around character development rather than multiplayer chaos.

If that direction holds true, The Last Ronin could become the most ambitious TMNT game ever made.

God of War [credit:Santa Monica Studio]

What We Actually Know

Here is what has been officially confirmed so far:

The game is in development at Black Forest Games and published by THQ Nordic.

It is based directly on the The Last Ronin comic storyline.

It is planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.

It has been described as a third person action experience with a strong narrative emphasis.

There is currently no announced release date.

That is the extent of the verified information. No extended gameplay has been shown publicly. No firm launch window has been revealed.

The Risk of the God of War Comparison

Invoking God of War sets expectations sky high. That franchise redefined cinematic action games with deliberate combat, emotional storytelling, and high production values. By aligning itself with that model, The Last Ronin invites direct comparison to one of the most respected action series in modern gaming.

For longtime fans, that is exciting. It suggests depth and seriousness that matches the comic’s tone. For skeptics, it raises concerns about whether the studio can deliver on such an ambitious promise.

Black Forest Games has experience with action focused titles, but adapting one of the most beloved arcs in TMNT history comes with pressure.

Image: Inhyuk Lee/IDW Publishing

A Franchise at a Crossroads

TMNT is in a fascinating position. Nostalgia driven projects continue to succeed, but The Last Ronin represents a chance to push the brand into prestige territory. If successful, it could redefine how future TMNT games are developed.

For now, fans are left with a compelling premise and a bold comparison. Until gameplay is revealed, the conversation will revolve around one question.

Can The Last Ronin truly stand alongside God of War, or is that comparison simply aspirational?

Either way, this is not just another TMNT game. It is a statement about where the franchise wants to go next.

“Heart of Glass” is undoubtedly one of Blondie’s biggest hits. The disco-infused anthem of lost love was officially released as a single in 1979 after appearing on Parallel Lines the year before, but its foundations are much older. Tucked away for years, the 1975 demo of the song, then titled “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song),” eventually resurfaced on a reissue decades after its recording.

The hidden demo, released on the 2001 version of Plastic Letters, offers fans a rare glimpse into the band’s creative evolution. “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song)” is slower, funkier, and rawer than the polished reinvention, revealing how dramatically Blondie reshaped “Heart of Glass.” The contrast is audibly fascinating, but paints a bigger picture of Debbie Harry’s fearless instincts and embrace of experimentation.

Before “Heart of Glass” Came Blondie’s Lost 1975 Demo: “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song)”

Debbie Harry and fellow Blondie bandmate Chris Stein actually first wrote what would become “Heart of Glass” in 1974-75. The initial version was recorded as a demo in 1975 and remained a public mystery until 2001, when it was released on a reissue of Blondie’s second studio album, Plastic Letters. The song is featured under its first working title of “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song),” taken from the lyrics and its musical influences. Harry shared that the eventual “‘Heart of Glass’ was one of the first songs Blondie wrote, but it was years before we recorded it properly. We’d tried it as a ballad, as reggae, but it never quite worked.”

This version, “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song),” of the future hit is much slower, with a funkier and more straightforward beat than the version we all know and love. Its feature on the 2001 reissue of Plastic Letters was an early display that Blondie’s experimental rearrangements were paying off. Perhaps the starkest difference, though, is the use of an acoustic drum set as opposed to the drum machine in the Parallel Lines version of “Heart of Glass.” The beat from the real instrument rather than its electronic counterpart gives the song a much more relaxed atmosphere and highlights the grooviness of the scattered, almost-reggae-sounding electric guitars in the mix.

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The release of the 1975 demo of “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song)” on the reissue of Plastic Letters is a true insight into the evolution of Blondie and how they developed their sound as they approached the release of one of their most beloved hits. In sharing “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song)” with the world, we have been afforded access to the past and how it influenced the future of the band. It really is a gift to Blondie’s fans by allowing them a glimpse into the demo stages and the behind-the-scenes happenings of the mid-1970s.

From Disco To New Wave: How Blondie Reinvented “Heart of Glass”

Image via Private Stock Records

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In 1978, “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song)” was rerecorded to ultimately be a little more pop-oriented. Guitarist Stein shared that “When we recorded it for Parallel Lines, we were really into Kraftwerk, and we wanted to make it more electronic. We weren’t thinking disco as we were doing it; we thought it was more electro-European.” This redirection also explains why Blondie dropped the parentheses of “AKA The Disco Song.” The development of electronic elements as a diversion from disco to rebrand as “electro-European” is quite ironic. Disco tracks did use drum machines, and Blondie’s version emphasized programmed electronic beats inspired by Kraftwerk, diverging from the 1975 live drum demo. Maybe it’s just me, and Debbie Harry, but you don’t need to camouflage disco as anything else in order for it to be cool. A tune’s a tune.

Speaking about disco and the implied stigma against it, Harry herself said that “It’s commercial, but it’s good, it says something… that’s the kind of stuff that I want to do.” What is so groundbreaking about this statement is that Harry does not make commercial success and good quality music mutually exclusive. Harry perfectly bridged the gap of this, let’s face it, absurd implication and allowed her work to be fun and have artistic integrity. The success of the song only goes to show that sticking to your guns and giving power to your own authenticity often pays off.

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The acknowledgment of the disco influence in the initial title of the song shows how Blondie was never afraid of the genre. The power of the band is their fearlessness and refusal to adhere to any rules. There is great irony in alternative genres like punk, rock, and new wave in that their rebellious existence relies on a set of unspoken rules, guidelines to follow if you want to be part of the club. But Blondie rejected that with “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song)” by proudly accepting its sonic foundations.

The journey from “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song)” to “Heart of Glass” captures exactly what made Blondie so compelling: a refusal to stand still. The journey between the two versions doesn’t simply map the song’s evolution but also charts the reshaping of the band’s identity. What began as a shy experiment ended as a cultural phenomenon showing that, when done boldly, reinvention is its own form of authenticity.

Movies. What can be said that hasn’t been said likely a trillion times over by almost every voice in the world by now? Film has not only helped shape pop culture as we know it, but it’s helped the world—social and political climates alike—as the medium continues to evolve and grow. With that, there are specific franchises that have helped lead the charge.

Whether they’ve become the highest-grossing franchise on the planet, changed the world and pop culture as they know it, or are simply extremely beloved by all, these movie franchises are quite easily some of the most iconic there are. Without these franchises, the world simply would not be what it is today.

10

Shrek (2001–)

Image via DreamWorks Animation

One of the most impactful and high-quality animated series of all time is quite easily the Shrek collection of films. With the likes of Pixar and Disney Animation at the head of the animated film game at the time, the first entry in the series. Shrek totally changed the game and offered a project that was not only for children, but appealed to the adults as well, with crude humor that could go over kids’ heads while adults could bask in the humor.

Animation was proven to not just be for the kiddos. Everyone can enjoy it. This makes it not only iconic, but very important to the entire animated film space. Shrek tells a heartfelt story with every entry, and pushes for self-acceptance for all audiences. It’s a great franchise all around and has done so much for cinema.

9

Jurassic Park (1993–)

Image via Universal Pictures

Starting as a novel three years prior to the film in 1990, the Jurassic Park franchise has grown to become one of the most famous horror/action series. First brought to life by Steven Spielberg, the first Jurassic Park was one of the most unique horror films of the time (and many argue still is in the modern day), and since, it has grown into a major motion picture action franchise.

Some enjoy the new, more action-oriented Jurassic World saga of the franchise, and some definitely do not. Regardless of this, the franchise has not only made a plethora of money at the box office with every entry, but has one of the largest directional shifts in a film franchise to this day. Love it or hate it, this has made the Jurassic Park franchise pretty iconic.

8

Avatar (2009–)

Image via 20th Century Studios

James Cameron absolutely changed the game for visual effects in film in 2009 with his massive hit, Avatar. It is still, even in 2026, the highest-grossing movie of all time (though it did battle it out with Avengers: Endgame for a bit), which alone makes it super iconic. This has led to Cameron becoming one of the most hailed directors in the current film landscape.

With every movie that releases in the series—most recently Avatar: Fire and Ash—Cameron proves the worth of this franchise and the audience shows him that with how many people come out to see them. There seems to be no stopping this director or this series from being one of the best their is, and no one is complaining.

7

Harry Potter (2001–2011)

Harry Potter is another franchise that was birthed from a largely popular book series. Upon release in 2001, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduced audiences to the Wizarding World, and they almost instantly fell in love. One of the biggest appeals of the series was that audiences got to grow with these kids, with each new movie bringing a new year to Hogwarts, and another year of the kids’ lives.

Getting to see an evolution like this in characters and plot had people massively invested in the franchise. Something like this hadn’t really ever been seen in film before. It was an exciting experience, and keeps the series feeling memorable to this day. People feel profoundly connected to these characters, which has kept the series alive to this day.

6

James Bond (1962–)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

One of the longest-running film franchises of all time is the action-packed spy series known as James Bond. This is a super special series that has held its longevity by consistently introducing new actors as the titular character for each new saga. Not many other franchises decide to take on this strategy, making James Bond stand out among the rest.

This has led to many different interpretations of the character over the decades—different actors and different stories through them all. Having a franchise that seemingly never dies is a great idea on the studio’s part, as it keeps people invested in what could come next and who could be the next actor to portray the great super spy himself.

5

Batman (1966–)

Image via Warner Bros.

Much like James Bond, superhero films have taken on a similar approach when it comes to keeping their franchises alive—changing actors as the franchise evolves. Batman is one of the most popular superheroes of all time, so it only makes sense that his films seemingly never stop coming out. He’s a favorite among many and has had some incredible evolution over his cinema tenure.

Some younger audiences may not know that, at the beginning, he was far goofier than he is now, via the Adam West adaptation. As the franchise has grown, it’s gone on to hold some incredible films—The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan being known as one of the best superhero movies of all time—and that’s proof of how quality the Batman franchise has always managed to be.

4

Spider-Man (1977–)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

With the well-known fact that Spider-Man is the most profitable superhero of all time, it stands to reason that Marvel Comics and Sony Pictures Entertainment (the owners of the Spider-Man movie and partial television licensing) would want to start and keep making Spider-Man movies to break the box office. Spider-Man is one of the most relatable and beloved superheroes because he’s an everyman, which makes him appealing to audiences and keeps them coming out to see him in action. Also, not to many people’s knowledge, but it—like many of the other most iconic franchises out there—Spider-Man also holds one of the longest-running franchises out there. He’s had minor live-action films far before his 2002 theatrical debut.

Whether he’s being played by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, or one of the many portrayals in the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse franchise, the character always delivers something great. Maguire’s first Spider-Man movie served as one of the first high-flying superhero movies of the modern age that set the standard alongside X-Men, the huge legal deal between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment to get the character involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe proved how important the character is to the industry, and the excellence of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse redefined the cinematic animation space forever. The proof in the pudding of Spider-Man’s worth makes his franchise more than iconic.

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The Lord of the Rings (2001–2014)

Image via New Line Cinema

Arguably the most popular and earliest high-stakes action/adventures fantasy franchise is none other than Peter Jackson‘s The Lord of the Rings. Based on the novel by the legendary author, J. R. R. Tolkien, these films (which include the eventual prequel series, The Hobbit) arguably changed film forever when they first released in 2001 thanks to how much they changed the realm of visual/special effects to achieve creating a world like this.

Before James Cameron did so with Avatar, The Lord of the Rings shifted the ground beneath everyone with how it accomplished its visuals. Not to mention, they’re some of the greatest fantasy stories told in cinema, much like their reputation in the literature space. These movies are beloved to this day—to the point that they continue to get re-releases in theaters everywhere every once in a while.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008–)

Image via Marvel Studios

When Iron Man debuted in 2008, the world changed forever, as it was graced with one of the largest, most expansive, highest-grossing, and most beloved cinematic franchises/universes of all time. The MCU is, to this day—a whopping 18 years later—always looked forward to, even in its less than ideal eras. A handful of its movies are among the highest-grossing of all time, and the impact this world has had on pop-culture is profound.

The likes of Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and dozens more have become some of the most popular cinematic characters of all time. It’s pretty dang hard to argue with the facts in the box office numbers and the critical reception of almost every movie.

1

Star Wars (1977–)

Image via Lucasfilm

Much like how The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest fantasy stories ever told, the Star Wars franchise is one of the greatest science fiction stories ever told. This series has completely set the standard and defined how sci-fi stories are told 49 years post-original film release. Star Wars is exceptionally long in tenure and provided many films and television series over the decades.

Star Wars‘ impact on not only film, but sci-fi storytelling as a whole, is unlike anything seen in modern cinema. The legends of the Skywalkers, Mandalorians, its many empires, and more are unforgettable and continue to be looked forward to, even after the Skywalker Saga has ended (the saga that started the series in the first place). There’s just no replacing Star Wars.

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Created by

George Lucas

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First TV Show

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Star Wars The Clone Wars

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Since launching its original programming, Netflix has been home to some of the biggest science fiction shows in modern pop culture. Most people will point to breakout hit Stranger Things as Netflix’s best sci-fi show, or the dark, thought-provoking Black Mirror. The series that’s managed to stand out, both in terms of concept and critical reception, is Love, Death + Robots. Created by Tim Miller and David Fincher, Love, Death + Robots pushes the envelope both in terms of storytelling and visuals, making it one of the strongest series in Netflix’s stable.

Ironically, Love, Death + Robots almost started life as a reboot of the popular Heavy Metal series, as Miller and Fincher attempted to gather filmmakers, including James Cameron and Zack Snyder, to produce segments for it. Their Heavy Metal project never came to fruition, but it was the success of Deadpool that eventually led to Love, Death + Robots in its current form, per an interview with Miller:

“Deadpool had just come out… so what does David [Fincher] do? David calls and says, ‘OK, so we’re going to use your newfound popularity to get our anthology movie made,’ and then literally like two weeks after that, he said, ‘F*** the movie stuff, let’s just take it to Netflix, because they’ll let us do whatever we want.’”

The gambit paid off, as Love, Death + Robots is one of Netflix’s most critically acclaimed shows; Seasons 3 and 4 earned a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, while reviews praised the series’ constantly evolving storytelling. Anyone who watches Love, Death + Robots would agree, as it delivers plenty of stories that aren’t just visually stunning but sit with you long after the credits roll.

‘Love, Death + Robots’ Is a Visually Stunning, & Often Disturbing, Watch

Image via Netflix

No two segments of Love, Death + Robots look alike, thanks to Tim Miller’s Blur Studio gathering together a series of animation studios, including Polygon Pictures (Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) and Titmouse (The Legend of Vox Machina). Some segments look extremely photorealistic, like Season 1’s “Three Robots” and its Season 3 sequel, “Three Robots: Exit Strategies”. Others hew closer to traditional animation, such as the Season 3 segment “Kill Team Kill,” which pits a team of Green Berets against a cybernetically enhanced grizzly bear. The variety on display is incredible and shows why animation deserves more respect.

What Love, Death + Robots is best known for, other than its beautiful animation, is the sheer nightmare fuel packed into some of its segments. Take the segment “Bad Travelling,” directed by David Fincher himself; it features a massive crab-like creature menacing the crew of a sailing ship and even using a dead man’s corpse as a macabre puppet. “In Vaulted Halls Entombed” pits a squadron of soldiers against a Lovecraftian entity, revealing how its very presence drives them to madness and murder. But the Love, Death + Robots segment that will truly terrify viewers is Season 2’s “All Through The House,” featuring a version of Santa Claus that will immediately make you want to board up your chimney. Once again, the depth of animation is on full display as these twisted visions could only come to life through this specific medium.

Related

Netflix’s 10-Part Sci-Fi Saga Conquers Uncharted Territory on Streaming

The flagship series remains a franchise favorite.

A ‘Love, Death + Robots’ Creator Brought Another Sci-Fi Anthology to Life

Tim Miller wasn’t content to rest on his laurels after Love, Death + Robots, as he created another animated anthology in the form of Secret Level. While Love, Death + Robots fully embraced science fiction, Secret Level gets its name from adapting video games into animation, though it keeps the former’s approach of putting a unique twist on said games. Pac-Man is transformed into a dark fantasy full of horror and blood, while Keanu Reeves lends his talents to a somber take on the Armored Core video games. Secret Level was renewed for a second season, meaning that Miller and his crew have the chance to bring more video games into the world of animation.

Love, Death + Robots is a standout in Netflix’s catalog because it showcases the depths to which animation can go while pushing the boundaries of science fiction. It’s more than worth a weekend binge.

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Release Date

March 15, 2019

Network

Netflix

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Directors

Víctor Maldonado, Patrick Osborne, Robert Valley, Alfredo Torres Martínez, Jerome Chen, Emily Dean, Rémi Kozyra, Léon Bérelle, Dominique Boidin, Alberto Mielgo, Maxime Luère, Andy Lyon, Robert Bisi, Dave Wilson, David Nicolas, Simon Otto, Damian Nenow, Laurent Nicolas, Kevin Van Der Meiren, Vitaliy Shushko, Owen Sullivan, István Zorkóczy, Javier Recio Gracia, Oliver Thomas

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Jenna Ortega‘s Wednesday is returning for a third season but not every cast member is confirmed to reprise their role.

Wednesday, which premiered in November 2022, is based on the character originally introduced in The Addams Family cartoons. The concept later was adapted into a TV series, several feature films and a live musical adaption.

Christina Ricci previously played Wednesday Addams in 1991’s The Addams Family and its subsequent sequel, Addams Family Values, before joining the Netflix series in a new role. She shared scenes with Ortega, who has since brought her own version of Wednesday Addams to life.

The first season followed Wednesday’s attempts to master her psychic powers at Nevermore Academy while dealing with a killing spree at the hands of a mysterious monster. Season 2 followed Wednesday returning to school after becoming the savior of Nevermore. She then prepared to save the day again after getting visions of Enid’s impending death.

Season 3, which is currently in production, is expected to follow Wednesday as she digs further into the Addams and Frump lore.

Keep scrolling to see which cast members are — and aren’t — coming back when the show returns for season 3:

Jenna Ortega

There would be no Wednesday without the titular character, so Jenna Ortega is front and center when the show comes back for season 3.

Hunter Doohan

Tyler quickly became a fan-favorite character who is confirmed for season 3.

Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Christie’s Principal Larissa Weems went from main cast to recurring and her future on the show hasn’t been confirmed.

Jamie McShane

Following his onscreen death, Tyler’s dad isn’t expected in season 3.

Percy Hynes White

Season 1 introduced Percy Hynes White as Xavier but the actor was ultimately written off following an offscreen scandal.

Emma Myers

The friendship between Wednesday and Enid will remain an important part of the series in season 3.

Joy Sunday

Similar to Enid, Joy Sunday’s Bianca is a major part of the show.

Georgie Farmer

Ajax is still part of season 3 after Georgie Farmer’s character was introduced in the show’s first season.

Naomi J. Ogawa

After Naomi J. Ogawa exited the show ahead of season 1, Yoko has yet to appear on the show.

Moosa Mostafa

Eugene has been confirmed as part of season 3 — with Moosa Mostafa returning to set.

Christina Ricci

While Christina Ricci’s Laurel was killed off in season 2, it remains to be seen if the show is truly not planning to bring the actress back again.

Victor Dorobantu

Thing has become a scene stealing character as Victor Dorobantu’s role has been expanded.

Isaac Ordonez

After being promoted to main cast, Isaac Ordonez returns for season 3.

Luis Guzmán

Luis Guzmán’s Gomez is credited as a main cast member for season 3.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

The Addams family lore will continue to be at the center of the show as Catherine Zeta-Jones returns in season 3.

Steve Buscemi

Principal Barry Dort appears to be a one-off role with Steve Buscemi not returning for season 3.

Owen Painter

While Slurp a.k.a Isaac was a key presence in season 2, Owen Painter wasn’t announced as part of the next chapter of the show.

Billie Piper

Isadora’s story will keep being expanded when Billie Piper returns for season 3.

Noah B. Taylor

Following his short-lived romance with Enid, Taylor’s Bruno is exiting the series.

Evie Templeton

Agnes will keep playing an important role in season 3 of Wednesday.

Winona Ryder

The Stranger Things alum has joined Tim Burton’s Wednesday in a mysterious role in season 3.

Joanna Lumley

After being a recurring cast member in season 2, Joanna Lumley is returning in a larger capacity as Grandmama Hester Frump.

Eva Green

Ophelia Frump will be introduced in season 3 with Eva Green taking on the role.