Christopher Nolan is about as close as we get to filmmaking royalty. Even when his movies aren’t built for mass appeal, they’re technical showpieces crafted with obsessive precision. Still, across an otherwise remarkable career, one criticism has stuck: the audio. From The Dark Knight Rises' Bane to Dunkirk, even his best films have drawn complaints about muddy or overpowered dialogue. Now, the Inception director says he’s using a new piece of technology that may finally solve those long-standing issues, and fans are already sounding off.

How The New Audio Tech Differs From The Old

Since his groundbreaking comic book film, 2008's The Dark Knight, Nolan has been working with IMAX cameras to deliver some of the biggest scenes and film scope we’ve ever seen. And with each film, more and more of the movie has been shot in IMAX. While the image from an IMAX camera is incredible in scope, one of its major drawbacks, besides the size and bulk of the cameras, was the severe noise they produced. Hence why so many of Nolan’s films have been hard to hear, but that may be a thing of the past thanks to a new piece of tech called the ‘blimp.’

Per Empire's interview with the movie maker, his upcoming The Odyssey is the first movie shot entirely in IMAX cameras, something that would have been unimaginable in the past, but now, the ‘blimp system,’ as Nolan puts it, “Is a game changer,” because you can shoot up close and personal without worrying about sound issues. And to prove the point, his constant collaborator, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, shot a segment of a child reading David Bowie’s ‘Sound And Vision’ from a piece of paper, which blew Nolan away.

So, how are fans reacting to this news? They’re sounding off, and they all have opinions.

Fans' Reaction to The New ‘Blimp’ Audio System

As promising as the new tech sounds, and as game-changing as it could be for Nolan’s continued love affair with IMAX, fans are already divided. In true r/movies fashion, opinions are all over the map. Here’s a snapshot of how viewers are reacting:

• u/Will-Of-D-3D2Y – “The issue is the sound mixing. Nolan movies are not even the only offenders (but definitely among the absolute worst) as a lot of movies and tv shows nowadays have awful mixing. It seems as no one has any idea how to balance dialogue, sound effects and music levels anymore.”
• u/POO7 – “I have seen many of his movies in Theatre, some like TIFF lightbox which have a great soundsystem to go with 70mm projectors - and the dialogue was almost incomprehensible at times.”
• u/RangerLt – “Nolan is on record claiming that these were creative choices. I'm pretty sure this was his response for Bane, Interstellar, and Tenet.”
• u/HerniatedHernia – “Tenet was the fucking worst. Couldn’t hear shit at the start under the gas masks. And when they’re sailing the boats I straight gave up trying to understand whatever they were trying to say.”
• u/Zephyr_v1 – “I really enjoyed not understanding wtf Bane was saying. It may be intended and all but it’s a shitty decision that definitely loses a bunch of points for me.”
• u/Nicktheone – “Not only that. Everything nowadays is mixed so flat and boring. We've recently rewatched the first Fast and Furious movies and I was shocked by how better they sounded, despite having just a cheap Samsung soundbar…”
• u/BigRedFury – “When I saw Interstellar in 70mm IMAX at the Chinese Theatre there was a disclaimer in the lobby that basically said "No, it's really supposed to sound like that."’

Whether the blimp system becomes the miracle fix fans have been begging for in the great Nolan Audio Debate remains to be seen, but it’s hard not to be intrigued. Nolan is one of the few filmmakers still pushing theatrical technology forward with every project. If this new tool really lets him shoot intimate scenes on IMAX without drowning out dialogue, then I think that is something to be excited about.

The Odyssey could mark a seismic shift in how his movies sound as much as how they look, but we won’t know until the film hits the 2026 movie release schedule on July 17, 2026.

Movies about extreme survival go back to the dawn of Hollywood. Survival comes in many forms. It could be on a deserted island or a deserted planet. It may be in a jail or as a prisoner of war. There are many ways characters have to survive dangerous and arduous situations, and these movies will leave you white knuckling it until they either escape, get rescued, or perish trying to do either.

The Martian

Matt Damon plays an astronaut exploring Mars when he is accidentally left for dead on the red planet and is forced to find a way to live with no food and limited resources. The Martian has been praised for the science in (most) of the movie, but it's the survival aspect of the movie that really draws fans in.

The Bridge On The River Kwai

How dedicated are you to your country, and what will you endure to keep your pride? The legendary The Bridge On The River Kwai explores just how far a person will go in pursuit of both of those. In extreme conditions, the British prisoners of war go through the worst of everything, extreme heat, fatigue, disease, and torture, cannot keep them from that stiff upper lip attitude of the era.

28 Days Later

Plenty of movies show the extreme and terrifying nature of surviving a dystopian future or a zombie apocalypse. Few do it better than Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. The zombies are the things of nightmares, but somehow the characters keep living in whatever way they are forced to.

12 Years A Slave

There may be no better example of surviving under the most extreme conditions than the era of chattel slavery in 19th-century America. 12 Years A Slave is one of the hardest movies you'll ever watch, and it's also one of the most important movies of the last half century on the subject. Survival doesn't even begin to describe just how hard it was.

Society Of The Snow

The Oscar-nominated Spanish film Society of the Snow tells the now-infamous story of the Uruguayan rugby team who survive a plane crash in the Andes only to be forced into committing cannibalism to survive in the barren wilderness. It's as terrifying as it is inspiring.

Apollo 13

There are only three people in the history of the world who can really understand what it's like to survive a disaster in space. Tragically, most astronauts who have, didn't live to tell the tale. The three astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission did survive, and the 1995 movie starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon brings the story to the big screen in amazing fashion.

127 Hours

The true story of Aron Ralston, played by James Franco in 127 Hours, is one of the most visceral ever shown in a movie. It's a story that basically can understand just how harrowing it is. We can all imagine ourselves in a similar situation and wonder just how far we would go to save ourselves. Ralston goes further than most even dream possible, but he made it, and set an example of human endurance few have ever matched.

Schindler's List

Schindler's List is the kind of movie you are amazed by, but might not want to ever watch again. Of course, history is known to everyone who has been to school in the last 80 years, but that doesn't make the movie about the horrors of the Holocaust any easier to take in. It's an amazing movie and one of the scariest stories of survival by an entire group of people ever told. And it's told in honor of the six million who didn't make it.

The Revenant

Being left for dead in the wilderness, getting attacked by hostile people, and surviving a bear mauling certainly qualify a survival story for this list. Those things all happen in The Revenant, the movie that finally won Leonardo DiCaprio the Oscar he's been so deserving of.

Dunkirk

Dunkirk is not just about the survival of the British soldiers on the beaches of the titular town at the outbreak of World War Two, it's about the survival of the whole nation. Had the army not been evacuated, the entire war would likely have gone very differently, not to mention the history of the United Kingdom. Christopher Nolan's masterpiece tells a number of stories of survival, and every one is important.

Cast Away

You knew this one had to be here. It's a story as old as time: a man surviving on a tropical island. It's been in myths and stories for centuries, and there is no better example in modern times than Cast Away. From making fire to building a raft to escape on, this one has it all.

The Shawshank Redemption

Being wrongly accused and convicted of a crime you are not guilty of is a nightmare that many people share. One of the best movies of the '90s, The Shawshank Redemption lets everyone see just how scary and emotional something like that could be. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are amazing in this enduring movie that people will still be watching and relating to for many more generations.

Alien

"In space, no one can hear you scream," is the tagline for one of the most celebrated sci-fi horror movies of all time. Ridley (Sigourney Weaver) in Alien is a survivor on her own level throughout the franchise, and it all started with her surviving this movie.

First Blood

Sometimes, survival comes at the expense of the people trying to hunt you, like the cops in First Blood who make the mistake of forcing Green Beret John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) into the woods. Rambo knows how to survive, the cops never stand a chance.

The Pianist

Surviving the Holocaust has rarely been shown on screen as emotionally as it is in The Pianist. Adrien Brody's Oscar-winning performance is as powerful an example of survival as has ever been put on film.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games may not seem like it belongs on the list, but it certainly does. Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) has to endure a lot to survive the games, and she thrives when she has to. The movie may be fiction, but the reality doesn't seem impossible, as scary as that is.

A Quiet Place

Surviving is hard enough. Surviving in total silence? Wow, that is truly another level. In A Quiet Place, we learn just how terrifying the silence can be, or really how scary it is when that silence is disturbed. A budding franchise shows just how viscerally people feel the quiet.

Rescue Dawn

Prisoner of war movies are pretty common in Hollywood history. Each brings their own nightmares of survival. Some of the most terrifying come from the Vietnam War, even when the camp is not in Vietnam, as is the case in Rescue Dawn. Christian Bale stars in this movie based on the true story of a pilot shot down over Laos and the horrors he must endure as a POW.

The Road

Cormac McCarthy's excellent (and bleak) book The Road was turned into an even bleaker movie starring Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee and set in a dystopian future. Human endurance is incredible, as even in the worst kind of situation, some survive. Never underestimate the love a father has for his son.

Unbroken

Angelina Jolie directed one of the most incredible stories of POW survival ever in Unbroken. The true story, about Louis Zamperini surviving multiple ordeals, including a plane crash, 47 days in a raft in the middle of the ocean, and two years in a POW camp. At the camp, he was tortured and used as forced labor. How he survived is nothing less than astonishing. The movie has mixed reviews, but the story is incredible, no matter how it's told.

Lone Survivor

Peter Berg directed Lone Survivor, based on the incredible true story of Marcus Luttrell, who was, as the name of the movie implies, the only survivor in a group of Navy SEALs on a mission in Afghanistan. Mark Wahlberg plays Luttrell, and Taylor Kitsch plays one of the members of his team who was killed. Though the account has been disputed, the movie still serves as a shining example of survival.

Into The Wild

Sometimes, it's human hubris that puts us in a position where we have to survive. Such is the case in the book and the movie Into the Wild. Alexander Supertramp, aka Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch), made his own choices that led him to the desperate situation that eventually, tragically killed him as he tried (and failed) to survive in the Alaskan wilderness.

Gravity

Surviving space is hard enough when you have other people with you. On your own, it's downright impossible. That's the situation Sandra Bullock's character finds herself in in Gravity. It's science fiction, but it's so believable. It's not like Alien or even The Martian, it's much closer to home.

The Diary Of Anne Frank

Maybe the most famous example of survival during the Holocaust is the story of Anne Frank and her family in German-occupied Holland during World War II. The incredible diary the young girl kept has inspired countless people and put a real face on the victims of the Third Reich. The book was turned into a movie nominated for eight Oscars, winning three.

Deliverance

It was supposed to be a relaxing and exciting canoe trip that instead turned into a harrowing story of survival after a group of friends, led by Burt Reynolds in Deliverance, are terrorized by a nasty group of locals who don't want them on the river. The incredibly popular movie is part action/adventure, part horror movie as the campers deal with some really scary actions from those out to kill them.

Alive

A few decades before the Society Of The Snow brought the story of the Uruguayan Rugby Team, who survived a plane crash and weeks on top of a mountain, to the big screen, Ethan Hawke and company told the story in Alive. It's not as visceral as the newer movie, but it's still an incredible telling of the story.

The Great Escape

To be fair, The Great Escape is as much a "boys adventure" movie as it is a story of survival. Still, there is no question that there are some sad, harrowing moments for the POWs in a German camp during World War II. People do die, and there are real stakes (at times) in this classic movie from old Hollywood with an all-star cast.

Children Of Men

Alfonso Cuarón's 2006 movie Children of Men is, in a world, incredible. It may be overshadowed by his more recent work, like Gravity and Roma, but it's my favorite movie of his. It's also a unique look at survival, not just by the main characters in the movie, but humankind as a whole.

The Is The End

We had to include one comedy on this list. There are a few examples of funny takes on survival, but none are quite as ridiculous as This is the End. The all-star cast of Hollywood stars playing ridiculous versions of themselves is both funny and actually pretty scary at times.

Into Thin Air: Death on Everest

Into Thin Air: Death on Everest, a television movie based on the book Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. It depicts the true story of one of the deadliest seasons of climbing the world's highest mountain. Not everyone survives, but those who do, like Beck Weathers (Richard Jenkins), endured some of the most harrowing weather conditions ever seen on Earth.

The Swiss Family Robinson

One of the most famous stories of "surviving" has to be The Swiss Family Robinson, as told by Disney in a couple of different versions, including one in 1960. It's hardly harrowing, and it's pretty luxurious and therefore unrealistic, but it sure does seem like fun! Survival doesn't always have to be a nightmare in movies, apparently.

Man Friday

It's sort of surprising that the story of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe hasn't been made into more movies. Man Friday is probably the best adaptation of the enduring novel, so it'll stand in for all of them.

Movies and TV shows have been making drama out of historical events since the dawn of the business. Some of the best movies and TV shows of all time have focused on events that literally changed the world, like D-Day in Saving Private Ryan or the fall of the Roman Republic in Rome. This list is all about those projects and those important events. Take a read, you could even learn something like we did!

Braveheart

While Braveheart isn't the most historically accurate movie of all time, it does try to tell the true story of the Battle of Stirling Bridge. It was a huge turning point in the Scottish/English war. Ever since, many in Scotland have used it as a rallying point for independence.

Chernobyl

The 1986 nuclear meltdown of the power plant in Chernobyl, USSR (now Ukraine), was one of the most important and scariest events of the 1980s. There was already a fear of nuclear power, and the meltdown not only helped show just how technologically messed up the USSR was, but it was also used as a rallying cry by anti-nuke protestors in the West. The HBO miniseries from 2019 tells the amazing story in all its terrifying details and was pretty historically accurate.

Selma

It's hard to put into context just how important the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in the US was historically, all over the world, not just in America. It's a movement that is impossible to tell the complete story of in one movie or TV show, but Selma does a great job in focusing on one of the most significant events of the movement.

The Passion of the Christ

Setting aside the politics of Mel Gibson's controversial The Passion of the Christ, there really isn't a more earth-shattering event than the crucifixion of Jesus. Even if you are a nonbeliever, there isn't a story ever told that has had such a profound effect on human history.

Oppenheimer

The winner of the 2024 Oscar for Best Picture (and a bunch more), Oppenheimer, tells the story of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb and not only did it's terrifying effects help end World War II, but it cast a pall over the rest of the 20th Century as the USA and the USSR locked horns in the Cold War and an arms race that threatened to end the world.

Thirteen Days

During the Cold War, the closest it ever came to becoming a hot war was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was a harrowing time, and had cooler heads not prevailed, things on this planet might be very different. Thirteen Days tells the story from inside the White House during that history-changing event.

Zero Dark Thirty

The hunt for Osama Bin Laden after 9/11 affected every corner of the globe, and for almost a decade, it was front-page news. Zero Dark Thirty takes audiences behind the scenes in that hunt, leading to his death in 2011. It's a fantastic movie and one that tells the story in a pretty accurate way, though, like many of these movies, it shouldn't all be taken as fact.

Waterloo

The Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th Century reshaped politics all over the globe. Obviously, the most acute effects were felt in Europe, but without them, the US wouldn't have made the Louisiana Purchase, so the long-ranging effects were all over. It all ended with the Battle of Waterloo, where the English and other European powers finally ended Napoleon's campaign to rule the world. The movie Waterloo is one of the best war movies ever made and is a must-see for history buffs.

The Right Stuff

In the mid-20th Century, as a biproduct of the Cold War, the US and the USSR found themselves racing each other to space. The Soviets won the race, but it wasn't because the US didn't make a valiant effort. The story of the Mercury Seven, the first Americans in space, is told wonderfully in The Right Stuff, with an all-star cast and based on a book by Tom Wolfe.

The Big Short

The 2008 financial meltdown had ripple effects all over the world. The largest economies in the world were brought to their knees due to the wild speculation and lawlessness of the US housing and stock markets. It's a completed series of events that led to the meltdown, and The Big Short does an incredible job of uncomplicating it.

Saving Private Ryan

The main story of Saving Private Ryan, the rescue of one soldier among millions, isn't what changed the world, but let's be honest, what most people remember first about the movie, the storming of Normandy Beach on D-Day, did certainly change it. World War II was essentially won in those days, though it would take almost another year for the war to finally come to a close.

Schindler's List

Like other movies here, Schindler's List takes on one of the most complicated and enormous stories in the history of humankind. It is impossible to tell the whole story, but Steven Spielberg's masterpiece doesn't have to tell the whole story to find the emotion and horror of the holocaust in his story about Oskar Schindler. It's a movie many can't watch more than once, but it's a movie everyone should see.

World Trade Center

For anyone alive in the late '90s and early 2000s, there was before 9/11, and there was after. Everything changed on that day, everywhere. It started wars that lasted decades and forever changed the way countries, especially the United States, handled security. So much changed that day that it's hard to put it into words, and Oliver Stone's focus on the events of the day in World Trade Center reminds us all of the horrors and the aftermath.

Dunkirk

World War II had a profound effect on everything that has come since. From the Cold War to the decolonization of Africa and Asia, it upended the whole world order. It's important to remember that it might have ended much differently had the evacuation of the British Army at Dunkirk not been as successful as it was, and Christopher Nolan's brilliant and engaging Dunkirk does an incredible job telling the story.

Band Of Brothers

HBO's iconic miniseries Band Of Brothers is a little bit of a cheat on this list, as it tells the events of a few important moments in World War II, including D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of The Bulge, but it belongs on this list as it does one of the best jobs of any movie or TV show telling the whole story of the last year of World War II.

Darkest Hour

Like Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, Darkest Hour tells the same story, or at least the same time, as the British evacuation from France at the beginning of World War II. Darkest Hour sees Churchill, played wonderfully by Gary Oldman, rallying the British public (and the politicians) to stay in the fight when the evacuation could've ended everything.

The Insider

This one might not seem so obvious, but the story told in The Insider changed a lot. Anyone who grew up in the 20th Century can tell you just how prevalent smoking cigarettes was. It was allowed everywhere and hardly discouraged by anyone. Jeffrey Wigand, played by Russell Crowe in the movie, blew the whistle on the whole tobacco industry and forever changed the public's perception of the habit, and that has changed everyday life for everyone.

Bridge Of Spies

Though it is just one story of many from the Cold War, Bridge of Spies, which is essentially about a prisoner exchange between East and West, does have a few moments in it that profoundly affected life in the world. Especially the scene when Tom Hanks' character travels from West Berlin to East and audiences see the early days of the Berlin Wall, and, in effect, the Iron Curtain in its most physical form.

All The President's Men

The Watergate Scandal might seem like a moment that only affected United States politics, but the ripple effects go much further. All The President's Men tells the story of the two reporters who broke the story and their work forever changed how politics are covered by the media not just in the US, but everywhere. It's one of the best movies about politics, covering a moment that changed the world.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Elizabeth: The Golden Age, the follow-up to Elizabeth, both starring Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth, is, honestly, a mess, historically. It's not a very good movie, either. However, it is one of the rare movies that depicts the Battle of Gravelines, when the English Navy defeated the Spanish Armada and the balance of power in Europe, and worldwide, changed forever.

From The Earth To The Moon

The exploration of space in the mid and late 20th Century affects everyone on earth. Where would we be without satellites, jet propulsion, or any of the other things we take for granted that are a result of the space race? The HBO miniseries From The Earth To The Moon is a great starting place to learn more about it.

JFK

Oliver Stone's conspiratorial JFK might not be the most historically accurate telling of the assassination of John F. Kennedy - or maybe it is, depending on your point of view - but it is the most in-depth discussion of one of the most consequential moments of the 20th Century.

Charlie Wilson's War

Like others on this list, Charlie Wilson's War doesn't seem like a movie portraying a moment that changed everything, but, of course, it did. The Tom Hanks movie shows the beginning of the USA's involvement with the Afghan mujahideen in their fight against the Soviets. There is a direct through-line from the collapse of the USSR, 9/11, and the USA's War on Terror that all began there.

The Death of Stalin

Sure, The Death of Stalin is a comedy, and a brilliant one at that, but the event it depicts, from the actual death of the brutal dictator Stalin to the internal battle for power it created, completely changed the direction of the Cold War, which would continue for another four decades after his death.

The Ten Commandments

It may be controversial to put Biblical movies on this list, depending on your belief system, but whether fable or true story, the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments has been something that changed the world more than maybe any other single story. Charlton Heston's starring role as Moses in The Ten Commandments is still one of the most beloved performances of all time in Hollywood.

The King's Speech

It's fair to say that this movie is a little heavy on World War II moments, but it's a war that has had a profound effect on everything that has come after it. The King's Speech isn't a war movie in a traditional sense, but it does tell a story that until it, was somewhat untold and that's how important King George VI's speech was for moral for the British and indeed, all the Allies in the war.

A Bridge Too Far

It's rare that a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster with a giant cast of legends like A Bridge Too Far tells the story of an infamous battle disaster like Operation Market Garden. Had the battle gone differently, as the British General Bernard Montgomery had intended with his plan, the war might have ended earlier, and who knows how that might have affected the rest of history.

Rome

The transition of Rome from a Republic led by its senate to an Empire led by a series of all-powerful emperors was a major turning point in Western culture and had profound effects on the historical development of Europe and, in effect, the world. That story, the rise of Caesar and the fall of the Republic, is told brilliantly in HBO's ill-fated, but still great, Rome.

Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi and his belief in non-violent opposition and protest brought the British Empire to its knees in India, just as is shown in the amazing movie simply Gandhi. Gandhi's approach has changed the way the world has tried to change the world and had a major influence on the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr., and many others.

Midway

The War in the Pacific in World War II is not told as often as the War in Europe, but Midway, while not the greatest movie of all time, accurately (mostly) depicts the most important battle of that theater. It's a battle that reversed the Japanese aggression and, ultimately, led to the Allied victory.

Downfall

In a war full of consequential moments, maybe the most important moment came in that bunker in Berlin when Hitler did what no one else had been able to do: kill Hitler. Downfall is simply an incredible look inside the bunker and the last days of the war.

300

The profound effects of Greek culture on the Western world are well understood by anyone who has ever taken even the most basic history class in junior high. While 300 is more fantasy than reality, it does (kind of) tell the story of how the Greek culture survived when under literal attack from the East.

I first went to Sphere in Las Vegas for a concert in early 2024, and I was amazed by the visuals and the sound. When it was reported that the groundbreaking venue could be adapting The Wizard of Oz for its incredible 160,000-square-foot screen, I immediately started daydreaming about what movies I would love to see at the venue. Here is the list I came up with—well, at least some of the movies I would love to see at Sphere.

Star Wars

The first movie I thought of when I started dreaming up this list was, of course, Star Wars. Just the thought of that opening scene of the two starships flying across the enormous screen provides me with vivid dreams. Not only that, but can you imagine that famous John Williams score blasting through that incredible sound system? It's overwhelming, in the best way.

Gladiator

Do you want to be entertained? Think of Gladiator on the screen at Sphere. From the opening battle scene in the forests of Germany to the final showdown between Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, it would be a cinematic experience like no other.

Avengers: Endgame

Really, for this one, it all comes down to that final battle with Thanos on the biggest screen in the world. So much happened in that scene, and so much work went into it, that it all seems right to see it on the massive screen with the insane resolution.

Fantasia

Really, this one is all about the music. Sure, it would be incredible to see the vintage animation on that screen, but the sound system, which includes 1,586 speakers, would deliver that amazing classical music soundtrack that would sound absolutely incredible. The visuals would be one incredible bonus. At the least, maybe Disney should make a new version of Fantasia made just for Sphere

Lawrence Of Arabia

One of the first movies I thought of that I would love to see on that giant screen is the classic Lawrence Of Arabia. It's a movie I've never had the opportunity to see in any theater, much less the largest theater in the world. Seeing those incredible, vast vistas sweeping across the screen would be a mind-blowing experience. It's worth noting that for a movie that is really long, the seats in Sphere are very comfortable.

The Dark Knight

To be honest, as much as I'd love to see the best Batman movie on Sphere's screen, I do worry that the intense (and incredible) action sequences make the audience motion sick. Being immersed in those car chases and the other huge set pieces might actually be too intense. On second thought, it would absolutely be worth the risk.

Jurassic Park

Not only do I want to see the dinosaurs 10 stories tall (or whatever it is), but there is one other feature that Sphere has that no other theater has - rumble seats. That's right, the seats vibrate. Now, imagine the scene with the T-Rex approaching, as the ground is shaking enough to make ripples in the water glass. Now imagine shaking with the ground in the movie. Wow. What an experience that would be.

The Sound Of Music

A musical like The Sound of Music would be simply beautiful on the screen at Sphere. The magical vistas across the Alps would be incredible and the clarity of the music would be unlikely any other experience in any other theater. The hills would really be alive.

The Thin Red Line

No other war film has been as beautiful as director Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line. The cinematography and the sound design are absolutely perfect for the technology that only Sphere can provide. It's an intense war movie, but it's the best war movie to see on screen like this.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban

Without question, I think there would need to be at least one Harry Potter movie adapted for Sphere. I can't think of a better one than Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban. Director Alfonso Cuarón's imprint is all over the movie, especially visually, and for that reason, it's the perfect choice. Plus, the bus scene by itself would make the price of admission worth it.

Dunkirk

You just knew this one had to be on the list. Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk is a visual masterpiece and one of the best war movies ever. It deserves the Sphere treatment. Nolan loves to shoot in IMAX and Sphere is like an IMAX screen on steroids. Just dreaming about watching the Spitfires move across the immense screen fills me with joy. I can't imagine how it would really look.

2001: A Space Odyssey

There are so many aspects of 2001: A Space Odyssey that would be amazing. The spacewalk and all the scenes in the spaceship would just be so trippy to watch at Sphere. That's not to mention the trippiest part of the movie, the third act with the color and light and the totally wild ending. It would be like a rock concert in there.

Top Gun

The opening sequence to Top Gun, with the souring guitar of Harold Faltermeyer's theme music and all the action on the deck of the aircraft carrier, would suck audiences straight in. By the time "Danger Zone" started everyone would be fully entranced. Then we'd get to the flying scenes. Wow.

Avatar

I'm not actually a huge fan of Avatar, but that doesn't matter, because I appreciate how amazing it looks on the big screen. Putting it on the biggest screen in the world - and in 3-D - and I'll bet I'd be a convert. I'd become a huge fan of it.

Braveheart

Braveheart is another movie I'm not actually a huge fan of. It's a wildly historically inaccurate movie, and that drives me nuts. That said, visually it's an incredible achievement and for that reason alone, I'm ready to see it on the screen at Sphere. The Battle of Stirling Bridge would be absolutely insane to watch.

Black Panther

I love Black Panther and seeing Wakanda on a screen the size of Sphere would be an amazing experience. Wakanda is one of the coolest places in the entire MCU, visually, and the final battle would absolutely incredible,

The Great Escape

The Great Escape is classic old-school Hollywood. It's chock full of larger-than-life movie stars like Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough. It's also filled with amazing vistas across Bavaria that would look absolutely amazing on a giant screen. It also has one of my favorite scores of all time, so that would be an excellent bonus through those speakers.

Saving Private Ryan

I think you all know my thoughts here. The opening of Saving Private Ryan is one of the most incredible scenes ever put on film. It's terrifying and amazing. It is one of the most white-knuckle theater experiences I've ever had and seeing it on the screen at Sphere would be a completely visceral experience that would absolutely blow my mind.

Skyfall

I love the James Bond franchise and as much as I love the Connery era, it doesn't make any sense for one of those movies to be adapted for Sphere. The Craig-era, on the other hand, has multiple choices. I landed on Skyfall because it's full of wide angel amazing shots and action set pieces. The opening scene of Spectre was tempting, but Skyfall gets the nod.

Oppenheimer

This one may seem like an odd one, but that's only if you didn't have a chance to see Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX. Like most of Christopher Nolan, the bigger the screen, the better, so catching the Best Picture-winner on a screen like the one at Sphere would be totally bonkers. Talk about a "big boom"!

Ghostbusters

There is one reason to see Ghostbusters get the Sphere treatment. Who doesn't want to see a 100-foot-tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? I know I certainly do! Sure, the rest of the movie might not work all that well, a giant Bill Murray getting slimed may be too much for anyone, but I'd be willing to deal with that for the last battle of the movie on the streets of New York with the fictional marshmallow man.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid

The cliff. That's why Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid would work so well. That scene alone would make it all worth it. It would be such an adrenaline rush to see two of the biggest movie stars of all time, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, drop 100 feet down that huge screen.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Something like 19,000 people can fill Sphere when it's at full capacity. So how about all 19K doing "The Time Warp" together with that sound system blasting the music in The Rocky Horror Picture Show? I grew up going to midnight showings and seeing it with a huge crowd of dedicated fans would simply be amazing. Plus I keep thinking about that scene in the beginning as the camera zooms in on the criminologist played by Charles Gray. In the midnight showings, someone always "climbed" his tie as it zoomed in. I need to see that here.

The Hunt For Red October

The Hunt For Red October is rightfully criticized these days for the sketchy special effects in the underwater scenes. But the above-water stuff is still incredibly cool and watching the submarine battle take place on the screen at Sphere is totally worth having to deal with the rest. Plus I just love the movie.

The Matrix

How much really needs to be explained here? Is there anybody that wouldn't want to see The Matrix at Sphere? Of course not, it would be amazing.

Ben-Hur

This is another one that is pretty self-explanatory. Ben-Hur is one of the most legendary epics in Hollywood history and there is no place like Sphere to see an epic on this scale. The chariot race alone, especially with the chairs vibrating with every crash, would be worth whatever the cost to see it would be,

Patton

A 160,000-square-foot American flag with the great George C. Scott playing the titular Patton at the beginning of the movie would be completely overwhelming in the very best way. It's enough to make anyone patriotic!

Rocky IV

Of all the Rocky movies, Rocky IV is the "biggest." The muscles are bigger, the set pieces are bigger, and the villain is bigger. It's just a huge movie, visually, and for that reason, even if it's not the best Rocky movie, it's the one that makes the most sense for this list.

Dances With Wolves

No one can argue that Dances With Wolves isn't a visually stunning movie. Director Kevin Costner did an amazing job showing what the American frontier was once like. The cinematography alone makes it worthy of the Sphere treatment.

Bridge Over The River Kwai

Like the other classic epics on this list, Bridge Over The River Kwai is one of those movies that has always meant to have been on the biggest screens possible. Direct David Lean is a master of movies like that and really, his whole filmography would work for Sphere.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

This one seems like another no-brainer. With scenes like the rolling boulder at the beginning and the scene at the end when they make the poor decision to open the ark, there is just so much in Raiders of the Lost Ark that would look amazing on the giant screen. Then there is the John Williams score which would be amazing by itself with that incredible concert-quality speaker system.

Tron: Legacy

When I first saw Tron: Legacy in theaters, I was completely blown away by the CGI and the visuals. While the original Tron changed the way films were made with the use of computer-generated imagery, the sequel upped the ante significantly. Seeing those amazing effects at Sphere would raise that even more, which is appropriate for Las Vegas.

The words “period piece” can suggest boring, dry, and slow. But the movies we’re about to discuss on this list are anything but. So the next time you hear that title thrown around in conversation, remember these films that defy this trend of boredom.

The English Patient

Despite The English Patient having a reputation for being labeled as “boring,” the Seinfeld episode couldn’t be farther from the truth. Rather, if one approaches the supposed war story as the romantic drama it truly is, then Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche’s characters connecting over their own tragic pasts isn’t as time-wasting as what’s suggested by arguably one of the best Seinfeld episodes.

Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World

If you didn’t want to sail the open seas with your friends after watching Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, you’re not doing it right. Part bromance, part naval warfare, and all epic, Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany’s Aubrey and Maturin are a pair that have taught many fans about the values of honor, camaraderie, and scientific curiosity. That Master & Commander reboot still sounds like it should give way to a legacy-quel to this beauty.

Oppenheimer

For a three-hour long, R-rated historical drama about the creation of the atomic bomb Oppenheimer seemed to defy the odds stacked against it. A box office smash the 2024 Oscar-winning juggernaut saw Cillian Murphy’s sterling performance as the lead role anchor an all-star cast. Writer/Director Christopher Nolan’s compellingly tragic tale of creation and regret flies by, landing a solid punch of dread as it closes.

Tombstone

Westerns are a genre that seemed to fade away for a moment, which is unjust considering movies like Tombstone cashed in on the Oscar win of Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven in prime fashion. A pulpy delight that harkens back to old school Good vs. Evil stories of this genre, Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer are standouts in a movie that’s stacked to the top with A-game talents. Try telling anyone this movie is boring after watching Doc Holiday deliver his classic line, “I’m your huckleberry.”

Lawless

Based on author Matt Bondurant’s historical novel on his family’s dealings with bootlegging, Lawless is an electric crime drama that has Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jason Clarke as its leads. In an ensemble that broadens out to include Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, and Guy Pearce, the outlaw spirit is alive and well in this energetic picture.

Hamlet (1996)

A four-hour full-text version of Hamlet would be daunting to many an actor and viewer. Writer/director Kenneth Branagh must have felt that at some point in making his version of Hamlet, which fulfills that tall order. Slightly updating the story’s time period, there are no sacrifices made in terms of the story or the majesty of William Shakespeare’s epic tragedy. It remains a staggering achievement.

Pride And Prejudice (2005)

Where does one begin when praising Joe Wright’s 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice? Is it the pitch-perfect casting of Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett, along with Succession cast member Matthew MacFayden as a particularly dreamy Mr. Darcy? Or is it having the late Donald Sutherland knocking it out of the park as Elizabeth’s warm and gentle father? There’s a lot to love about this movie, and it’s an undeniable fact.

Goodfellas

The time period shown in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas doesn’t feel like it would match the description of a “period piece,” especially in the eyes of those who lived through the eras depicted. But believe it or not, Ray Liotta’s tale of always wanting to be a gangster does qualify, which means this baby packs more violence, cursing, and quotable moments than you’d expect from such a project.

Emma (2020)

The best rom-coms know when to lean into the tropes, and when to innovate to invite a wider audience. Screenwriter Eleanor Catton and director Autumn de Wilde adeptly used that knowledge to deliver an offbeat adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular heroine. Meddlesome matchmaking results in both awkward and heartbreaking moments, which all tie together in a visually colorful feast for the eyes and the heart.

The Last Duel

Director Ridley Scott loves his historical dramas, and 2021’s The Last Duel is firmly in the man’s wheelhouse. Based on the true story of a knight (Matt Damon) fighting an old friend (Adam Driver) over allegations of misconduct, Scott’s eye for violent spectacle is used in a measured capacity to punctuate the proceedings. Jodie Comer’s performance as the victim/accuser at the heart of the duel only further enhances the impressive result.

A Bronx Tale

Not all mafia dramas are created equal, as we saw with Robert De Niro’s directorial effort A Bronx Tale looks at organized crime through the viewpoint of a working-class family. A semi-autobiographical picture written by actor/co-star Chazz Palminteri, we see a young man (Francis Capra / Lillo Brancato Jr) growing to idolize the local boss (Palminteri), while his father (De Niro) tries to keep him grounded in 1960’s-1970’s era New York.

That Thing You Do!

Tom Hanks, in his writing/directing debut, gave the world not only one of the best ‘90s movies, but also a perfect pop song. That Thing You Do! is a beautiful nostalgia piece that remembers the days of Beatle-mania, and all the acts that tried to grab their one hit of wonder. Whether you prefer the theatrical or the extended cut, and there is a difference, The Wonders will always shine as brightly each time you see them do that thing that they do.

A Haunting in Venice

The adventures of Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) took an unexpected turn into the supernatural with A Haunting in Venice, and the franchise was all the better for it. Playing like a horror film that just happens to be an Agatha Christie adaptation, this star-studded threequel could be the best of the bunch.

Steve Jobs

Aaron Sorkin’s best screenplays are like good musical albums: you fall into the rhythm every time you listen. Unjustly overlooked during its 2015 release, Steve Jobs showcased three different periods of transition in the life of Apple’s firebrand innovator (Michael Fassbender). Director Danny Boyle uses film stock changes to signify the period on display, and also proceeded to give us one of Seth Rogen’s most powerful performances.

Thirteen Days

The Cuban Missile Crisis was something you had to live through to truly understand the terror. That being said, director Roger Donaldson’s Thirteen Days comes pretty close to capturing the panic felt by the Kennedy Administration as they navigate through a potential nuclear war. Bruce Greenwood’s JFK is teamed up with Robert Culp’s RFK and Kevin Costner’s Kenneth O’Donnell as the trio that anchors the picture, with a superb bench of supporting actors tying it all together into a gripping historical thriller.

The Favourite

For years “period piece” was almost shorthand for projects that looked like The Favourite does on the outside. Frilly dresses, powdered wigs, and English disputes over minorly hurt feelings are probably what most conjured to mind with Yorgos Lanthimos’ acidicly funny comedy. But instead, it was Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz engaging in a war of wills to curry the favour of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). Don’t be fooled, this dark comedy has teeth you wouldn’t expect.

Selma

Director Ava Duvernay’s work on Selma took an often cited moment in history, the Selma to Montgomery marches for equal rights, and turned it into a fresh and haunting look at not-too-distant American history. Digging into the human side of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his part in this epic struggle, the Civil Rights Movement becomes personal for all who watch it depicted in this movingly cinematic story.

Gladiator

While Ridley Scott’s attitude toward historical accuracy hasn’t changed, neither has his method of taking ancient history and turning it into a more modern thrill ride. In 2000’s Gladiator, Scott introduced the world to the vengeful Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), a man who has as much strategic acumen as he does names. The Roman Empire certainly became an obsession for some after seeing this rousing tale of revenge and eternal glory.

The Godfather

It’s easy to look at The Godfather and merely see Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo’s blockbuster epic that dramatizes the Corleone family’s power struggles. However, looking at the timeline of the entire trilogy and realizing that it spans almost the entire 20th century reframes one of the best movies of all time as one of three-period pieces viewers have not been able to refuse for over 50 years.

1917

1917 is, at its heart, a tribute to Sam Mendes’ grandfather, who served in World War I. Using technical knowhow to make the entire film look as if it’s filmed without cuts, the intensity of the story co-written between Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns is heightened by the almost non-stop pacing of the story. You’ll be hooked throughout the entire picture, from opening to close, feeling as if you’d made the journey yourself.

Brooklyn

Not all period pieces are about social upheaval or warfare. Sometimes, like with director John Crowley’s Brooklyn, the focus is on the life of a young woman (Saoirse Ronan) who emigrates from Ireland to New York in 1951. At times uplifting, bittersweet, and just downright heartbreaking, the Nick Hornby-penned film from 2015 will have you preoccupied with crying and laughing that you won’t be bored at all.

Kingdom Of Heaven

Upon release, Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven was slaughtered at the box office. It wasn’t until the almost 3.5-hour extended home video cut arrived that the Orlando Bloom starring epic depicting the Third Crusade found its audience. You should probably watch that version first, and then head back to the theatrical cut, if you’re curious as to how big the differences are.

Dunkirk

Dunkirk’s historical inspiration is a moment that some creators may not find to be too cinematic. Writer/director Christopher Nolan’s clever depiction of a time-shifting narrative showcases three fronts of action in the crucial evacuation effort waged in the titular French location. Displaying the better and darker sides of wartime humanity, it makes for an effective inspiration to dig further into this chapter of World War II history.

The Patriot

Is Roland Emmerich’s The Patriot a bastion of historical accuracy? No. Does Mel Gibson’s problematic history cause people to approach this film with apprehension? Absolutely. For all you can say against this movie, there are almost as many reasons to watch this visually stunning and inspirational story of fighting for U.S. independence. Also, Jason Isaac’s villain and Heath Ledger’s scrappy portrayal of Gibson’s on-screen son kind of steal the show whenever composer John Williams isn’t.

Little Women

To take a time worn tale like Little Women and make it fresh again is something similar to magic. Greta Gerwig did just that with her 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, and in doing so the Barbie director found a way to break our hearts all over again with classic literature.

Amadeus

The rivalry between Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) is, admittedly, goosed up in director Milos Forman’s Amadeus. That doesn’t make the movie any less worthy of an audience, as it’s a fine example of turning actual history into engaging tragedy. If you weren’t a fan of classical music walking into this one, you might just change your tune coming out.

Gosford Park

Director Robert Altman’s Gosford Park is kind of like a prototype version of Downton Abbey. Only instead of the Julian Fellowes co-written drama revolving around inheritances and marrying for love, it’s a ‘30s murder mystery that weaves a wicked tale. And yes, the late Dame Maggie Smith does get some richly acidic barbs into this picture.

Braveheart

The surprising success of Braveheart is one that still rings throughout the history of movies. Director Mel Gibson and writer Randall Wallace drew inspiration from the exploits of William Wallace (Gibson) and his fight during the First War of Scottish Independence. Romance and comedy mix in with fact and legend to deliver an idealized picture of a time we still don’t know everything about.

The Sound of Music

At its heart, The Sound of Music is a romantic drama, as nun turned-nanny Maria (Julia Andrews) slowly falls for employer Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). Plummer's hatred for the movie aside, the cinematic version of Rogers & Hammerstein’s beloved World War II set musical shows the values of resilience and family, all backed by a stellar soundtrack.

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Charles Dickens’ works have always been ripe for reinterpretation, but Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield is one of the most recent examples of why they should still be retold at the movies. Assembling an all-star troupe led by Dev Patel in the lead, the script co-written with Simon Blackwell brings an irreverent lens to this literary treasure but doesn’t skimp on the heart.

American Psycho

If you don’t feel like American Psycho is a period piece, you probably have to go return some video tapes. Skewering the yuppie excess of 1980’s New York, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) guides us through a satirical slasher that’s mainly based in murders and executions…or is it mergers and acquisitions?

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Downton Abbey has to be the premier example of a period piece defying conventions and attracting an audience so wide its films are successes. 2022’s sequel A New Era shines in particular, as it introduces the class drama of Julian Fellowes’ hit series to the madcap world of early film production. Just be ready to shed massive amounts of tears during the final moments of the picture.

There are a lot of great war movies out there, and a lot about military life. Movies about the Navy are especially interesting because there is such a tremendous diversity of what is told on the big screen. Whether it's life as a pilot, a SEAL, or on a 19th-century ship, the stories are endless and endlessly interesting. Still, we managed to cut it down to 32 of the best movies about the Navy on this list. 

The Hunt For Red October

While The Hunt For Red October's main character is Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin), a CIA analyst, he's a former Naval officer who finds himself in the midst of a submarine dispute and audiences get a broad look at navy life. Not only do we see U.S. aircraft carriers and submarines, but we get the Soviet side also, making it a great Navy movie. 

Sand Pebbles

1966's Sand Pebbles is an oft-forgotten epic starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough. While most war movies of the era were about World War II, Sand Pebbles takes place in the inter-war period in China. The director, Robert Wise, is mostly famous today for the musicals West Side Story and The Sound of Music, he proves here he can direct a heck of a Navy movie too. 

Greyhound

One thing that always makes a military movie interesting is an under-explored aspect of life or war. 2000's Greyhound is a great example of that, as a visceral depiction of one of the U.S. Navy's missions during World War II escorting ships across the Atlantic to the U.K. and the European theater. Tom Hanks plays the captain of a Navy Destroyer leading the mission. 

Crimson Tide

Life on a nuclear submarine is stressful for everyone, and none more so than for those charged with commanding the vessel. Crimson Tide puts viewers in that hot seat with a story about the struggle of two well-meaning officers, the captain played Gene Hackman, and his number two, played Denzel Washington, as they disagree over a communiqué to launch their missiles.  

Midway (2019)

The reviews for 2019's Midway were middling, but that's not fair. While it's not a perfect movie, it is remarkable historically accurate by most accounts and it's exciting from start to finish. The CGI is a little cheesy, but it's still a gripping movie about arguably the most important battle in the Pacific Theater and the one that turned the tide of the war toward the Allies. 

Das Boot

It's been praised not only as a great war movie but one of the best movies of all time. The German Das Boot is harrowing, claustrophobic, and simply brilliant in its visceral depiction of life on a German U-boat in World War II. It was one of the most dangerous jobs in the war, and the viewer feels just how hard and terrifying it could be. 

The Final Countdown

Released a few years before Top Gun and made with the full cooperation of the Defense Department, 1980's The Final Countdown holds up remarkably well decades later. The special effects are extremely dated, but the shots of the aircraft carrier, the planes, and the rest of the sets are excellent, as are the stars in it, notably Martin Sheen and Kirk Douglas. It's an unrealistic story of time travel, but it's very fun. 

Apocalypse Now

Capt. Willard (Martin Sheen) in Apocalypse Now is an army officer, but he's being taken up the river by a Navy river patrol boat. What makes that interesting is that we normally think of the Navy out on the high seas, fighting other ships on the ocean or with planes in the air. Rarely do we get a glimpse of life on something like a river patrol boat. It's a miracle the movie was even made, given the disastrous production issues it faced. 

Dunkirk

Just as in the real-life story, Dunkirk involves multiple branches of the British armed forces. We see the army on the beach and the Royal Air Force in the air, and we also see not only the actual Royal Navy, led on the beach by Commander Bolton (Kenneth Branagh), but we also see all the civilian boats pressed into service by the Navy in the famous evacuation. 

Tora! Tora! Tora!

Though it's likely the most well-known these days, Pearl Harbor is not the only movie to tell the story of the most infamous day of the 20th for the U.S. Navy. Indeed, the best just might be 1970's Tora! Tora! Tora! starring an ensemble cast of American and Japanese actors, showing both sides of the attack. 

Run Silent, Run Deep

Submarine movies are always tense and one of the best, Run Silent, Run Deep from 1958, has all all the tension you'll ever need in a movie. There is tension within the ranks, there is tension in the crew as they are attacked, and there is tension that comes with the claustrophobic nature of submarine warfare. It takes a special breed of Navy member to serve on a sub, that's for sure.

The Caine Mutiny

The Caine Mutiny has a couple of unique aspects to it. One, it was rare in the years right after World War II for a movie to depict a veteran of the war as anything but heroic, and two, Humphrey Bogart essentially plays the bad guy. It makes for a great movie. 

Top Gun

There may have never been a better Navy recruitment tool than Top Gun. The massive hit, starring Tom Cruise as a Naval aviator, is a timeless movie that is still beloved today and depicts life in the Navy as pretty darn awesome, yet always on the edge of serious danger. It takes your breath away. 

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World

Hailed by historians and film critics alike Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World is one of the best movies about Naval life in the Napoleonic Wars ever. Praised for its realism and its battle tactics, the movie is as gripping as it is accurate in its story about the HMS Surprise and its captain, Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe). 

Under Siege

Say what you want about the ridiculousness of any Steven Seagal movie, but Under Siege is pretty darn awesome. Tommy Lee Jones absolutely chews up the scenery with his over-the-top and fantastic performance as the bad guy and the movie set and filmed on one of the most important battleships in the history of the U.S. Navy, the USS Missouri.  

A Few Good Men

The officer being court marshaled in A Few Good Men is a Marine, but the lawyers are all JAGs - Judge Advocate General - in the United States Navy. The movie is more about life as a JAG, specifically Tom Cruise's character, as it is about the actual court marshal, though Jack Nicholson steals the show with his performance as the colonel on trial.  

Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)

There have been three epic movies about the mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789. The best of the three has to be the first though, 1935 Mutiny on the Bounty starring Clarke Gable as the leader of the rebellion, Fletcher Christian, and Charles Laughton as the dastardly Captain Bligh. It won best picture and while it's not all that historically accurate, it's a Navy classic. 

Top Gun: Maverick

Producing a sequel to 1986's Top Gun was a bold decision. So many things could've been wrong, but Top Gun: Maverick certainly did not disappoint. While it has a lot of the same beats as the first movie, the incredible flying scenes make it even more breathless than the original film and it's every bit as good, updated for a modern Navy. 

American Sniper

Naval servicemen don't only fight on the sea, of course. The Navy SEALs are legendary for their ground operations. One of the most famous SEALs is Chris Kyle, dubbed "the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history" by the book that made his story known and the movie it is based on starring Bradley Cooper as Kyle. It doesn't shy away from the glory, or the tragedy of Kyle's life. 

G.I. Jane

There are very few movies about women in prominent positions within the Navy, and G.I. Jane set out to change that. The result is mixed, it's a decent movie, but far from great. The story told, and Demi Moore's performance is the best part of it. She was dedicated to the role in a fictional account of the first woman accepted to SEAL training and got in tremendous shape for the movie to make it as realistic as possible. 

The Right Stuff

What does a movie about the early days of NASA have to do with the Navy? Well, a lot, especially considering Alan Shepard (Scott Glenn) was the first American in space and a Naval aviator. Another astronaut from the Mercury Seven portrayed in the movie was Wally Schirra (Lance Henriksen), who was also a Naval officer. 

Hot Shots!

Sometimes you just need a good laugh and Hollywood history is full of movies and TV shows sending up military life. One of the funniest has to be Hot Shots! which is, at its heart, a parody of Top Gun. It touches on other aspects as well, so it counts here! 

The Bridges At Toko-Ri

The Korean War is often overlooked by Hollywood, with the notable exception of MASH, of course. Even more overlooked is the Navy's contribution to the conflict. The Bridges at Toko-Ri is the rare exception here, telling the story of Navy pilots taking on a harrowing mission to bomb bridges in North Korea. 

Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor is a very hard movie to watch. It's the devastating true story of SEAL Marcus Luttrell, played by Mark Wahlberg. During a mission in Afghanistan in 2005 Luttrell was the only member of his SEAL team to survive an ambush by Taliban fighters. It's as harrowing as a war movie can be. 

Zero Dark Thirty

While Zero Dark Thirty is partially about the CIA's hunt for Osama Bin Laden, the movie also includes extensive scenes with the SEAL Team 6, led by characters played by Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt. It's a fascinating look into the preparation for their raid of Bin Laden's compound and his eventual death. 

The Enemy Below

The Enemy Below is a rare example of showing both sides of a conflict. On one side is Robert Mitchum, playing a U.S. Destroyer captain, and on the other is Curt Jurgens as the captain of a German U-boat. Both are skilled at their jobs as they play a cat-and-mouse game trying to sink each other in this extremely entertaining and exciting movie. 

An Officer And A Gentleman

It might be a stretch to call An Officer and a Gentleman a surprise hit, but it was huge when it was released in 1982. It tells the story of, well, an officer in the Navy (Richard Gere) going through Officer Candidate School in the Navy with the late Louis Gossett, Jr. as his tough-as-nails instructor, while dating a new girlfriend (Debra Winger). Gossett won an Oscar for one of the best performances of his career. 

They Were Expendable

The John Wayne-led They Were Expendable is an old-fashioned war movie in the best way possible. Directed by the legendary John Ford, it tells a fictionalized version of a real PT boat that fought the Japanese in the Philippines in the earliest days of the war, in 1942. If you love movies about the Navy, and you love old movies, this one has it all. 

In The Navy

If anything, you can argue there are too few great comedies about the Navy. The Army has its fair share, but it's pretty thin for the sailors. One great exception is the ridiculous In The Navy starring Abbott & Costello. Sure, it's certainly dated, but it's still pretty darn funny. Abbott & Costello are their usual ridiculous selves and there are some great moments of hilarity any sailor would appreciate. 

Sink The Bismarck!

The sinking of the German battleship Bismarck by the British early in World War II was a major event that began to set the tone for the rest of the war, especially on the high seas. The movie, appropriately called Sink the Bismarck!, tells the (mostly) true story of the hunt for, and battle with, the Bismarck, which at the time was the most formidable ship on the world's oceans and it's sinking pretty much relegated the German Navy to fighting a submarine war, with few surface ships. 

Men Of Honor

Cuba Gooding, Jr. stars in Men Of Honor alongside Robert De Niro. Gooding plays the real-life Carl Brashear who becomes the first Black master diver in the Navy after President Harry Truman desegregated the armed forces. De Niro plays his tough but fair instructor who, despite being told to make sure Brashear didn't pass the course, is impressed with Brashear and makes sure he does pass. It's a powerful statement on race within the Navy and a movie well worth checking out. 

Against The Sun

2015's Against The Sun flew under the radar as a straight-to-streaming release, but it's an underrated movie. It tells the true story of a Navy flight crew who was forced to crash land in the ocean. They survived for an astounding 34 days, but it wasn't easy and the movie depicts the hardships and horrors vividly. 

If it seems like Nicholas Galitzine has been everywhere recently, it’s because he has been, and we still can’t get enough. From playing Jeff, the airheaded quarterback in Bottoms, to starring as Prince Henry in the steamy Red, White, and Royal Blue, the 29-year-old actor has not only had a hectic schedule, but he has shown that he has major charisma and can shine in all kinds of roles thanks to his serious range. Surprisingly, Galitzine recently revealed that we also could’ve possibly seen him in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. However, he ultimately didn’t land the role because of a mix-up.

For those who haven’t seen it, Dunkirk is Nolan’s World War II epic that tells the story of the evacuation of Allied forces on the Dunkirk beaches. It was Nolan’s passion project that he’d been working on since the '90’s, and it had a jam-packed ensemble that included Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine and Barry Keoghan. So, if Galitzine had been part of the Dunkirk cast, there’s no doubt that his talents would’ve boosted the movie’s star power even further. Unfortunately, according to his conversation with Variety, things didn’t work out in his favor during the audition process because he prepared for a completely different scene than what Nolan had planned.

Here’s how it all went down according to him: 

Galitzine also mentioned that he had gotten very far in the selection process. So, this audition with Nolan was a big make-or-break moment. However, even though he didn’t land the role, getting to the last stages of an audition for a Nolan movie is no easy feat, so he still deserves all the props.

The Cinderella actor obviously has not let that minor setback stop him, and his career has been soaring. He has a few starring roles on the 2024 movie schedule, including the book-to-screen adaptation of The Idea of You. In the rom-com, Galitzine stars as Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of a famous boy band that falls in love with Solène Marchand, a single mother played by Anne Hathaway. So, while he didn't get to star alongside Dunkirk's cast, in this movie he stars with a notable Nolan alum (Hathaway was in The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar), and he's leading the project alongside her.

Galitzine will also take on one-half of the dangerous mother-and-son duo in Mary & George. He portrays George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, who has been called King James VI and I’s favorite lover. But of course, the miniseries ramps the theatrics, showing that Julianne Moore’s character, Mary Villiers, The Countess of Buckingham, schemed and twisted and manipulated her son to not just become the King’s favorite, but to ensure they had access to all the wealth and power they desired. Just based on the trailer, this is exactly the kind of drama I’ve been needing in my life.

With all the roles Nicholas Galitzine has already shined in, it feels like he's bound to become a household name, making his Dunkirk experience a minor hiccup in what's turning into an incredible career. Be sure to check him out in the premiere of Mary & George on April 5 with a Starz subscription. You can also see him hone his boy band side in The Idea of You with a Prime subscription.

In January, Apple TV+ subscribers got to watch one of the most anticipated shows on the 2024 TV schedule with the arrival of Masters of the Air, the third chapter in Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ World War II saga. Now that the finale has aired and the story of the 100th Bomb Group has concluded, fans of the war drama series are probably looking for more movies, shows, and documentaries that either focus on the characters played by Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, and Barry Keoghan or other heroes who fought around the world during the years-long conflict.

Below is just a small sampling of all the great WWII movies and shows out there, but we felt that this list best captures the heart, soul, and themes of the popular Apple TV+ original series. Here are 11 titles that you should check out after completing Masters of the Air.

The Bloody Hundredth (2024)

Released on the same day Masters of the Air wrapped up its emotional story, Apple TV+ released the companion documentary, titled The Bloody Hundredth. Directed by Mark Herzog and Laurent Bouzereau, and narrated by Tom Hanks, this one-hour documentary explores the lives and legacies of the real airmen on which the series is based. Featuring in-depth interviews with members of the 100th Bomb Group, the film goes into great detail about the historical events that shaped the men and made them heroes to their fellow countrymen through acts of heroism and sacrifice.

Stream The Bloody Hundredth on Apple TV+.

Band Of Brothers (2001)

A show that is still impactful 20-plus years later, Band of Brothers was the first World War II miniseries created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Debuting back in September 2001, this 10-part saga followed Easy Company as they prepared to fight in one of the biggest military conflicts of all time, before setting sail for Europe to defeat the Nazis once and for all. Featuring incredible performances from a large ensemble cast that includes Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Donnie Wahlberg, and dozens of others, this Emmy Award-winning series is a must-watch for fans of Masters of the Air, even if they’ve watched it multiple times over the years.

Stream Band of Brothers on Max.
Buy Band of Brothers on Amazon.

The Pacific (2010)

Nearly a decade after telling the story of Easy Company in the European Theater of World War II, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks turned their attention to the other side of the conflict with The Pacific. Starring James Badge Dale, Joseph Mazzello, and Rami Malek as three U.S. Marines deployed to the Pacific Theater, the series follows the core group and dozens of other characters as they attempt to survive the horrors of war.  

Stream The Pacific on Max.
Buy The Pacific on Amazon.

WWII In Color: Road To Victory (2021)

There are a lot of great war movies on Netflix, but there are just as many, if not more, tremendous documentaries detailing practically every aspect of World War II on the streaming platform. One of those is WWII in Color: Road to Victory, which spends 10 episodes focusing on different key moments in the years-long global conflict. While the series doesn’t focus on the 100th Bomb Group, it does dive into the impact of similar squads who helped the Allied Forces win the war.

Stream WWII in Color: Road to Victory on Netflix.

Greatest Events Of WWII In Color (2019)

Greatest Events of WWII in Color, a 2019 docuseries, is another great option for someone who wants a better historical context for the events of Masters of the Air. Similar to WWII in Color: Road to Victory, each episode of this 10-parter is dedicated to different battles in both the European and Pacific theaters. Presented in stunning HD and painstakingly converted to color, this documentary is something to behold.

Stream Greatest Events Of WWII In Color on Netflix.

The War: A Film By Ken Burns (2007)

There are documentaries and then there are documentary films directed by Ken Burns. This is the case for the acclaimed filmmaker’s landmark production, The War. Much like Burns’ previous films on the American Civil War, Vietnam, and other subjects, this intensely researched and produced seven-part series touches on practically every aspect of World War II with archival footage, still photographs, and interviews with the men and women who sacrificed everything for the war effort.

Stream The War: A Film By Ken Burns on Hoopla.
Buy The War: A Film By Ken Burns on Amazon.

The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) 

If you want to know more about the Tuskegee Airmen, the groundbreaking group of United States Army Air Corps pilots featured in Masters of the Air, then this 1995 HBO film is the way to go. Directed by Robert Markowitz, The Tuskegee Airmen tells the story of the first group of African American pilots to fight in World War II and the battles they fought in the air and back home to prove themselves. Starring Laurence Fishburne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Allen Payne, Courtney B. Vance, and the late Andre Braugher, this inspirational movie is a must-watch.

Stream The Tuskegee Airmen on Max.
Rent/Buy The Tuskegee Airmen on Amazon.

Dunkirk (2017) 

One of Christopher Nolan’s best movies, Dunkirk focuses on a much earlier part of World War II, the aftermath of the 1940 Battle of Dunkirk. Though the movie doesn’t exclusively follow fighter pilots, the sections of the military thriller spent with Tom Hardy’s Farrier are just as thrilling as anything seen in the Apple TV+ series. Sure, it’s a little more unconventional than most war films, but it’s a captivating experience nonetheless.

Stream Dunkirk on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Dunkirk on Amazon.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Saving Private Ryan is probably the movie on this list people have seen the most, but it’s still worthy of another watch after finishing Masters of the Air. With outstanding performances by the likes of Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and even Vin Diesel, this 1998 military drama is one of the best films of all time. The opening D-Day sequence remains one of the most intense depictions of battle a quarter of a century later.

Stream Saving Private Ryan on Apple TV+.
Stream Saving Private Ryan on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Saving Private Ryan on Amazon.

Greyhound (2019)

Released in 2020, Aaron Schneider’s Greyhound follows a U.S. Navy commander (Tom Hanks) as he is tasked with defending a convoy of ships from a group of German U-boats early in America’s involvement in World War II. Short (it’s barely 90 minutes long) and explosive, the movie consists of one epic battle after another. If you want to see one of Apple TV+’s earlier movies, as well as a story before the events of Masters of the Air, this is a good option.

Stream Greyhound on Apple TV+.

The Battle Above: True Stories From WWII Pilots (2020)

The 2020 documentary, The Battle Above: True Stories from WWII Pilots is something that military buffs and Masters of the Air fans will enjoy thoroughly. Consisting of interviews with pilots who carried out daring missions and survived intense dogfights, this film offers great insight into the minds of the men who risked it all thousands of feet in the sky.

The Battle Above: True Stories from WWII Pilots on Pluto TV.
Stream The Battle Above: True Stories from WWII Pilots on Tubi.
Rent/Buy The Battle Above: True Stories from WWII Pilots on Amazon.

Hopefully, these movies, TV shows, and documentaries help scratch the itch after watching Masters of the Air. If you want even more action, our list of the best war movies has other options worth checking out.

Movies based on true stories and real history have been staples in Hollywood since its earliest days. Getting the history incorrect has been a tradition as well. It’s important to note that just because a movie isn’t 100% true, doesn’t always mean it’s a bad movie. 

There are many reasons filmmakers may choose to omit facts or change the story for cinematic reasons, but it’s still important that those changes be noted. Other times though, those missing facts or changed moments ruin the film completely. 

Braveheart (1995)

Mel Gibson’s Braveheart is the king of historically inaccurate movies. Fans love the battle sequences, but those sequences are nowhere close to how they were in history. There are too many historical inaccuracies to note here, but one important one is the portrayal of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, in which there is no bridge in the movie. William Wallace used the river and the bridge brilliantly to win the battle, instead, audiences get a giant melee on an open field. 

Pearl Harbor (2001)

There are a lot of reasons to criticize 2001's Pearl Harbor, but for brevity’s sake, let’s just say that there was no one in history who was in the Battle of Britain, and at Pearl Harbor, and who took part in the Doolittle Raid, as Ben Afflect’s character did in the movie. It’s frankly insulting that they would make such a character, diminishing those who did participate in each event. On the other hand, it is about Pearl Harbor. Sort of. 

1492: Conquest Of Paradise (1992)

1492: Conquest Of Paradise is… not a good movie. It’s easy to go on and on about Christopher Columbus’ reputation, and how he is portrayed in the movie as a hero, but rather than do that, we’ll focus on one glaring historical mistake. No one with any kind of education in 1492 believed the world was flat. The idea that Columbus’ ideas were not widely accepted or even heretical is hogwash, like this movie. 

Tombstone (1993)

1993’s Tombstone is one of the best Westerns ever made. That doesn’t mean it’s historically accurate. The movie relies on the myth of Wyatt Earp more than fact. It makes for a doozy of a watch, but don’t go teaching it to kids about how life was in the Wild West. 

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Biopics are notorious for changing the facts to suit the story and the reputation of the people they portray. Bohemian Rhapsody is no exception, even though it deserved the awards it won. The worst moment for fans of Queen and those who know their history comes at the end of the movie. It ends with Queen’s epic performance at LiveAid, but that wasn’t the first time they’d played together in years as depicted, nor was Freddie Mercury aware that he had HIV/AIDS at the time. They crammed a lot in at the end. 

The Imitation Game (2014)

No one can watch The Imitation Game and call it a bad movie. No one, that is, except historians. There are numerous examples of a good story getting in the way of historical accuracy throughout the movie, from Alan Turing’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) personal life, to his personality quirks, indeed even to how he worked, and what he worked on, at Bletchley Park. Just for starters, he had a lot of friends and worked closely with everyone on his team. There are plenty of more examples, but we can leave it that for now. 

Cool Runnings (1993)

It seems a little silly to have a movie like Cool Runnings on this list, but despite being a really fun movie, it takes a lot of creative license. For one, the team was not shunned by the bobsled community, they were celebrated. They also were never in medal contention, as the movie implies. Finally, it was pressure from the whole bobsled world that got their appeal approved to even compete, not the work of one man, as depicted. Still, it’s a wonderful movie. 

Napoleon (2023)

Director Ridley Scott makes great movies, but historians love to jump all over the liberty he takes with the facts. Napoleon is no different, as many historians have come down hard on the film's inaccuracies. The criticism is something Scott simply doesn’t care about, and he strongly denounced those who called him out, telling them to, “Get a life.”

Argo (2012)

Argo is the perfect example of a great movie, that takes a lot of liberties with the actual history. The Best Picture Oscar winner tells the story of the CIA creating a fake movie as a cover to get hostages out of Iran. The problem with the movie is that most of the people involved, including President Jimmy Carter, say that the role of the Canadian government, especially Ambassador Ken Taylor, played by Victor Garber,  was greatly diminished in the movie and that they deserve most of the credit. 

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood isn’t supposed to be the “true” story of the Sharon Tate murder, but it’s still worth noting on this list. It’s presented honestly, as an alternate history where Tate is saved from the Manson Family, but obviously, that’s tragically not what happened. 

JFK (1991)

Oliver Stone’s 1991 epic JFK is a little tricky here. The movie famously focuses on Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) and his investigation into John Kennedy’s assassination. The investigation has been criticized as being mostly conspiracy theory, therefore making it fairly inaccurate. However, the movie is actually pretty accurate to Garrison’s investigation. So that makes it both accurate and inaccurate, a rarity here. 

Apocalypto (2006)

Mel Gibson’s directorial follow-up to The Passion of the Christ took him all the way to the other side of the world with Apocalypto. Set about 500 years ago during the Mayan Empire, Apocalypto is a fascinating movie, but many scholars have called it out it for unfairly portraying the Mayans as far more barbaric than in reality. While there were examples of human sacrifice in Mayan history, for example, it wasn’t as common as the film implies. 

Gladiator (2000)

Remember, historical inaccuracies don’t automatically make for poor movies and Gladiator is a perfect example. It’s a great movie, with amazing performances and set pieces. But it plays very fast and loose with the facts, including, most notably, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) killing his father, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). 

U-571 (2000)

Few movies produce as much anger in historians than U-571. This is especially true of British scholars. Even then-Prime Minister Tony Blair declared the movie “an affront” to British sailors during World War II. Why? The entire plot of the movie revolves around Americans capturing the first German Enigma Machine in 1942. The problem? The Brits had captured one a full year before, months before the Americans even entered the war. Oops. 

Battle Of The Bulge (1965)

1965’s Battle of the Bulge, about the battle of the same in World War II is so historically inaccurate that Dwight Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander at the time of the actual battle, was described as “outraged” by the movie. I think that’s all we need to say. 

Dunkirk (2017)

Dunkirk is another tricky one here because most of the inaccuracies are because Christopher Nolan wanted to make a great movie, as well as tell a true story. The biggest problem most scholars have is a lack of soldiers on the beach. In reality, it was 10s of thousands of soldiers. Nolan didn’t want to use CGI, so the beaches look far less crowded than the reality. There is also the stunning scene at the end with the plane flying over the beach after running out of fuel, which is physically impossible. Still, it’s an amazing movie and much of it was very accurate. 

Gods And Generals (2003)

Among the most criticized films on this list is the 2003 Civil War epic Gods and Generals. The Southern Poverty Law Center said it “glorifies the Confederacy” and serves to further the “Lost Cause” narrative of neo-Confederates. Even the author of the book that the movie was based on denounced it. 

Mississippi Burning (1988)

This has to be the most heartbreaking movie to include on this list is Mississippi Burning. The incident it portrays is one of the most important moments of the Civil Rights movement when two Jewish and one Black civil rights workers were murdered in Mississippi in 1964. It’s a critical story to be told. Yet, it was so fictionalized in the movie that many Civil Rights activists denounced and boycotted it. 

The Patriot (2000)

Roland Emmerich 2000’s film about the American Revolution, The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson as a widowed father of seven children who is reluctant to join the fight is so offensively inaccurate that even Gibson himself called it “sheer fantasy.”

Amadeus (1984)

1984’s Amadeus won eight Academy Awards, and for good reason, it’s fantastic. It’s not, however, a true story. It may be based on the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but very little of what happens in the movie happened in real life. It was meant to be a fantastical version of his life, sure, but it’s important to remember that often myths, like the ones this movie creates, become historical beliefs in the future. 

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Like Quentin Tarantino’s other movie, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, his Inglourious Basterds is presented as alternate history. Everyone knows that Adolf Hitler died in a bunker like a coward at the end of World War II, not in a gun battle in a theater, as the movie shows. That’s ok, there’s nothing dishonest about Tarantino’s presentation, but it’s still nowhere close to historically accurate. 

The Death of Stalin (2017)

Okay, so The Death of Stalin is a really tricky one. On one hand, it really does accurately portray the chaos and power-grabbing battle that happened with the high-ranking officials in the Communist Party in the Soviet Union after Stalin died. On the other hand, it’s a comedy and a farce, meant to be funny. It is, of course, hilarious and wonderful, but the characters are very different from how they were in real life. Still, a fantastic movie. 

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

A Beautiful Mind is fairly accurate in its portrayal of mental illness, as it shows the harrowing way that the film’s protagonist, John Nash (Russell Crowe), dealt with his schizophrenia. On the other hand, much of the events of Nash’s life are not accurate, or even fabricated. So this one gets a 50% in its accuracy. 

The Revenant (2015)

The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is a story so wild that audiences would be forgiven for thinking the whole thing was made up. It’s not though, much of what is seen in the movie is true. It’s an insane story, which makes it all the more curious that the filmmakers would not be accurate with Hugh Glass’ private life, where there is no evidence he had a Pawnee wife or children, as the movie claims. 

The Untouchables (1987)

Sean Connery won an Academy Award for The Untouchables, and Robert De Niro’s performance as Al Capone is among the very best of his career. The movie is really fun to watch and is completely rewatchable. It’s not, however, historically accurate at all. Virtually every event in the film is complete fiction. 

300 (2006)

Okay, okay, we’ll obviously acknowledge that 300 is supposed to be a fictionalized version of history, but like other alternate histories, or whatever you want to call 300, it’s important to point out that King Xerxes was not an 8-foot-tall God in real life. We’re just saying. 

The Greatest Showman (2017)

While Hugh Jackman’s performance in The Greatest Showman is truly wonderful, very little about the character resembles the real-life P. T. Barnum. Barnum was cruel to his animals and many of his human performers. He was also a teetotaller, which Jackman’s character was not. A wonderful movie with terrible history.  

The Great Escape (1963)

1963’s The Great Escape is one of the greatest war movies of all time. It’s legendary reputation is based on the wonderful storytelling and great performances from a slew of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the day. While it’s based on a true story of Allied airmen breaking out of a POW camp, how it went down in real life bears little resemblance to how the movie shows. 

Elizabeth (1998)

Cate Blancett’s performance in Elizabeth from 1998 is great. Like, really great. The movie’s history, however, is a total mess. The timelines are totally off, many of the locations are wrong, and some events are totally made up. There’s more historically wrong than right in the movie. Still, it’s worth watching for Blancett. 

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

It’s impossible to imagine that 1998’s Elizabeth isn’t the most inaccurate movie about Queen Elizabeth I of England, and yet, its sequel Elizabeth: The Golden Age, is actually an even worse offender. Cate Blanchett is wonderful, again, as she was in the first, but the plot of the movie is even less based on real history than the first. It’s completely frustrating and, unlike the original, completely forgettable, despite Blanchett. 

Captain Phillips (2013)

This is a movie we didn’t want to put on this list because it’s a white-knuckle adventure that is very much based on a true story. Still, it has to be on this list because the crew members of the Maersk Alabama, the ship captained by Capt. Phillips (Tom Hanks), insist the movie does not show how the real events really happened. It seems they disagree that Richard Phillips was not the hero he is portrayed as. 

The Green Berets (1968)

Leave it to John Wayne to make a pro-Vietnam War movie in 1968, at the height of the conflict. With war protests raging across America, Mr. Patriotism John Wayne stepped in to make a piece of pro-war propaganda that extolls the virtues of the US’s involvement in a civil war in Southeast Asia. It is inaccurate and doesn’t represent the mood of the country in any way. 

While many of the movies on this list are excellent movies and we don’t want to discourage you from watching and enjoying them, it’s always good to know how close to the real history they are. 

Christopher Nolan's films have genuinely changed the world – so we decided to rank them. 

When it comes to some of the most-known filmmakers, I'm sure plenty come to mind. Maybe you think of the best Steven Spielberg movies, or perhaps you think of the best David Fincher films. But today, we're going to be focusing on a director who has released some of the most influential films of the last few decades—and that's Christopher Nolan. 

From his debut movie Following to his latest, Oppenheimer, here is how we rank Nolan's films from the very start. 

12. Following (1998)

For a debut film, Following is a great one to have. The movie mainly tells the story of a young man who follows the lives of strangers in London, only to find himself drawn into the criminal world when it's taken too far. 

Nolan directed, wrote, and produced the film, and as his debut film, it's not the big, bold pictures that we've seen him make way down the line in his career. Following is an interesting story to begin on, but certainly not his best. 

11. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises is the third film in the Christian Bale Batman trilogy, telling how Batman needs to return to crime fighting when a terrorist known as Bane threatens nuclear destruction. 

Regarding the best superhero movies, The Dark Knight Rises is a great one, but it pales in comparison to the previous trilogy installments. After losing Heath Ledger, it suffers an understandable pitfall with a clunky storyline that's barely rememberable all these years later. While it's saved a bit by the performances of Bale, Tom Hardy, and Anne Hathaway, there's not much to this Batman entry. 

10. Tenet (2020)

Tenet was released during the COVID-19 pandemic and told the story of a former CIA agent who has to trace the origin of objects that travel backward through time to stop an attack that is going to occur. 

The premise for this film is wacky. I'll give Tenet a Top 10 spot mainly because the visual effects are out of this world. I believe it should have been given a long theatrical release when it first debuted. But, the story itself leaves a lot to be desired. I've had to rewatch this film a few times to truly understand it. 

9. Insomnia (2002)

Insomnia was released in 2002 and featured the story of two homicide detectives who are looking for the murderer of a teenage girl, only for their lives to become intertwined. 

The following movies in Nolan's filmography are all objectively great; it's just that some have more outstanding qualities than others. Insomnia, for example, is a silent killer of a movie. It features an exceptional performance from Robin Williams, but also Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and so many more who rock here. If I had to pick one of Nolan's less intense films, this would be it—a true psychological thriller.

8. Memento (2000)

Memento is an interesting one – it stars Guy Pearce as Leonard, a man who can't make memories after witnessing the rape and murder of his wife. Now, he uses a camera and a gun to hunt down the person who did it to bring her justice. 

This film is excellent. I wasn't super impressed when I first watched all of Nolan's films, but when I rewatched it, the movie grew on me. The mystery unfolding is unlike any other and captures the eyes of the viewer in an instant. 

7. Batman Begins (2005)

The first film in the Nolan Batman trilogy, Batman Begins, tells not only the origin story of Bruce Wayne but follows as he attempts to stop Ra's al Ghul and other villains from turning Gotham City into nothing but a criminal haven. 

Reintroducing Batman to the general public after the bombs of the Batman franchise in the 1990s took guts, but Nolan did that and more with Batman Begin. It's a gritty drama with excellent acting, an incredible cast, and a story that made even a superhero hater like me a superhero lover early in her life. 

6. The Prestige (2006)

Starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, The Prestige is another psychological thriller that follows two rival magicians in Victorian London who try to sabotage the other to perform the ultimate magic trick. 

The Prestige surprised me when I first watched it, and even more so now, as it's one of Nolan's best movies. Both Bale and Jackman give career-high performances, but the sleight-of-hand scenes you witness mixed in with the game both the main characters are playing to outdo the other is what you stay for. Truly, so much fun.

5. Dunkirk (2017)

Dunkirk is an epic, and one of the best war films, that follows the soldiers during the real-life Dunkirk evacuation during World War II.

This film…sits with you. I don't think it's number one, but Dunkirk is a movie that you never really forget. Thanks to the sound editing, I can still feel the shaking of my theater seat years later, and I was blown away by the cinematography. 

The film is dark, realistic, and downright devastating when you think about all the lives lost. What makes it even better is that there's barely any speaking – only a true cinematic master can pull off a film with so much emotion when there's barely a peep of dialogue. 

4. Inception (2010)

Inception is a sci-fi action film about a thief who can steal information by literally entering his victims' minds. However, the chance to have his criminal record erased throws his life into a tailspin. 

Arguably, Leonardo DiCaprio should have won an Oscar for Inception, as it's one of DiCaprio’s best movies. Is it confusing at first? Yeah, it is, but everything changes once you start to understand the science behind it. And, of course, the visual effects have gone down as some of the best in film history. 

3. Oppenheimer (2023)

Oppenheimer is a biographical film about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who created the atomic bomb. Was it one of the best movie experiences I've ever had? Heck, yes, it was. 

From the incredible Oppenheimer cast to the impeccable soundtrack, Oppenheimer hooked me. Pair that with an incredible lead performance from Cillian Murphy, and this is certainly one of Nolan's best-directed features. I think there are two others that surpass this, but it's up there. 

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

Most people would say that Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker makes The Dark Knight so high, but there are so many other reasons beyond his earth-shattering portrayal. 

The action scenes were incredibly well-done. Unlike any other Batman interpretation, the story was evenly paced and thrilling. The score is phenomenal. And let's not even get started on the number of iconic lines that have cemented themselves into pop culture. 

The Dark Knight would be number one if this last film didn't exist. So, one other film takes the cake for me. 

1. Interstellar (2014)

I had to put this at number one.

Some people wouldn't agree with my pick of Interstellar, but objectively, I can't not put this at number one for so many reasons. Sure, the sci-fi aspect of this film — that— they must travel into space to find a habitable planet for humans — is a little clunky — I can understand that. I've needed to watch this film a couple of times to truly understand it. 

But the themes are downright unforgettable. The Interstellar cast gives it their all for the entirety of the film, with a positively heartbreaking and yet uplifting performance from Matthew McConaughey post-Dallas Buyers Club. Hans Zimmer's score is one I still listen to in my car as I drive down a highway late at night. 

This movie has impacted my life so much ever since I first watched it — which is why I have to place it as my number one. 

This is my list, and while I believe this is the proper ranking, your ranking of Christopher Nolan's best films might differ entirely from mine. 

Either way, let's all admire how amazing he truly is as a filmmaker — and somehow patiently await his next movie, whenever that comes. 

The Academy Awards are this evening, which means that by the end of the day, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars will be the proud owners of some gold statues. There are plenty of notable 2024 Oscar nominees, and one of them is the incomparable Christopher Nolan. The acclaimed filmmaker is part of a few major categories, thanks to his critically acclaimed historical drama Oppenheimer. While Nolan has never won one of the Academy’s prestigious awards, he has been nominated multiple times. And how many exactly you might ask? Well, let’s talk that out now. 

Memento (2000)

Those who’ve watched all of Christopher Nolan’s movies know that he has an incredible body of work, and one of his earliest features is Memento, which has some interesting BTS facts. The film stars Drew Pearce as a man suffering from anterograde amnesia while trying to find the person who killed his wife and caused his condition. Critics lauded the film, which is only Nolan’s second directorial effort, and it also landed him his first Oscar nod. 

He received a nom for Best Original Screenplay at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002. Ultimately, it was Julian Fellowes who won the award for his work on Robert Altman’s Gosford Park. Some probably would’ve assumed that the eventual Dark Knight helmer’s work might have claimed the prize that night. However, I’m really surprised that this next film didn’t win him any Oscars. 

Inception (2010)

One of the filmmaker's most mind-bending pieces of work, Inception (especially its ending) is still widely analyzed by cinephiles. The Leonardo DiCaprio-led thriller sees the star play a thief – who steals information via a person’s subconscious – receiving the opportunity to wipe his slate clean. It may only have two Oscar nominations to its name, but they’re big. Christopher Nolan received a nod for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Picture as a producer on the film. Both of those awards were claimed by The King’s Speech on Hollywood’s biggest night in 2011. 

Dunkirk (2017)

Before the historical box office behemoth that is Oppenheimer, the filmmaker made waves with the World War II epic Dunkirk, which centers on the Dunkirk evacuation. Like many of the writer/director’s other productions, it’s been critically acclaimed and is a visual spectacle to behold. Overall, it received eight nominations from the Academy, with two of those going to the man in the director’s chair. He once again received a Best Picture nod and, this time, he earned his first nom for Best Director. While both of those went to Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, the war drama itself still won trophies in three of the technical categories. 

Oppenheimer (2023)

We now come to Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic triumph, Oppenheimer. The biopic focuses on the life and work of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, whose pivotal work during World War II led to the creation of the atomic bomb. A sweeping masterpiece, it has a leading 13 Academy Awards nominations at this year’s ceremony. Among those are three nods for Nolan, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture. Some Oscar predictions point to at least a couple of those going to Nolan, with the latter two of the aforementioned awards seemingly being locked up for him. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see if that comes to pass. 

Regardless of what happens though, it’s clear that Christopher Nolan has done some truly admirable work. I won’t lie, because it certainly would be wonderful to see him finally claim one of those highly coveted awards. Yet, should that not pan out, it surely doesn’t take away from the quality and magnitude of the work Nolan has done over the years.

We’ll find out if he takes home any trophies when the 96th Academy Awards air tonight, Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. Those who want to check out the filmmaker’s work can also stream Oppenheimer with a Peacock subscription and watch Inception, Dunkirk and more online as well.

Narrative works of fiction and nonfiction alike have always been a strong device when it comes to examining the many facets of warfare. A subject that can be both personal, but also wide reaching, there’s so many lenses one can use to tell a story about the various armed combats the people of the world have experienced. It’s because of this that today, we’re here to honor the best war movies that make up the canon, from movies about Pearl Harbor and Vietnam to great films about World War I and  World War II films set around the world, and that's just breaching the surface. 

Whether on the battlefield, or at the homefront, tales such as these can help us better understand one of the most complicated impulses of humanity. Some of the movies highlighted are even based on fictional characters/conflicts, but those entries aren’t any less effective for it. Some of the best action movies even qualify for this feature as a result. With that in mind, please enjoy CinemaBlend’s rundown of the best war movies of all time. 

30. Dunkirk (2017)

Leave it to Christopher Nolan (Inception, Tenet) to take the fairly straightforward concept of a war picture and filter it through three intersecting time frames, which all converge on the key battle that’s mentioned in the title. 

You don’t quite pick it up at first. But as Nolan – and, by extension, the audience – follows the events of the Allied forces trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk during WWII, we see the timeline of a soldier (Fionn Whitehead), a pilot (Tom Hardy), and a civilian boat captain (Mark Rylance) all intersecting while the narrative unfurls. Dunkirk delivers a thinking-man’s approach to the brutality of combat, an intelligent dissection of combat as seen from the land, the sea, and the air. 

29. Ben-Hur (1959)

Few movies are more befitting of the word “epic” than William Wyler’s masterpiece, Ben-Hur. Oh, and fun fact, but Wyler also won two more Oscars for two other war films, those being Mrs. Miniver, and The Best Years of Our Lives. But back to Ben-Hur, which stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who becomes a slave, but then ultimately rises up and becomes a respected charioteer during the Roman Empire. This sprawling movie has some of the most impressive scenes in cinema, like when the Roman fleet is attacked by pirates, or of course the groundbreaking chariot race. But the real war is more of a personal battle between Ben-Hur and his former friend, Messala. All of this is set to a story of the Christ, which ultimately makes Ben-Hur’s quest for vengeance really a quest for redemption. It’s a film for the ages!

28. Valkyrie (2008)

While most World War II movies focus on the action in the major battlefields, director Bryan Singer’s Valkyrie pays tribute to a piece of history that’s more localized. One of the great Tom Cruise movies you may have never seen, the action star plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a key figure in an attempt to overthrow Adolf Hitler from within his own military.

Heading up an all star cast, including Terrence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, and Kenneth Branagh - among others, Cruise commands the picture as its dramatic anchor. A portrait of people who rejected their own government’s cruelty by using its very machinery against it, Valkyrie’s plot skews away from traditional war stories. Opting to show a more clandestine battle, the action is mixed with a climate of tension and personal stakes that makes this more confined tale as thrilling as one told with a more open battlefield.

27. Lincoln (2012)

Though Lincoln probably isn’t the first title that comes to mind when thinking about the best war movies, it’s more than deserving of a spot on this list. With the American Civil War in the background, Steven Spielberg’s historical drama follows U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he attempts to accomplish two major goals: bring an end to the bloody military conflict, and ban slavery once and for all.

Again, there’s not much in terms of battles (the only major sequence is in the opening minutes of the film), but Lincoln does a masterful job of capturing the attitudes and fears of a nation torn in two as well as the impact it has on the country 150 years later.

26. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

When Brad Pitt’s Lt. Aldo Raine looks down upon the carved forehead of Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa at the end of Inglourious Basterds and remarks, “I think this might just be my masterpiece,” it’s A) hard not to read it as a meta sentiment from Quentin Tarantino, and B) hard not to agree with said sentiment. The writer/director has made some phenomenal films, and there is an argument to be made that his 2009 contribution to the war movie genre is his greatest.

It’s gnarly and awesome to see the titular collection of commandos execute their mission to start up a collection of Nazi scalps, but the genius comes in with the integration of the fiery revenge plot unfurled by Mélanie Laurent’s Shosanna Dreyfus. With the sinister, slimy Landa slithering through both stories, it’s a movie that shocks, thrills, and delights with a killer vision of alternative history.

25. Gladiator (2000)

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is more about the aftermath of a war, and a power struggle that ensues when the Emperor’s son murders him in order to prevent losing his right to the throne to a successful war general. Scott is a master when it comes to directing historical films, and he really knocked it out of the park pitting established star Russell Crowe against a young but phenomenal Joaquin Phoenix. 

The film won five Academy Awards after its release, and was nominated for a whole lot more. Russell Crowe received his Best Actor Oscar, though Joaquin Phoenix would have to wait longer before finally getting one of his own. When it comes to modern gladiator films, there’s really no better option to choose from. 

24. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

“Please Lord, help me get one more.” Repeated variations on that plea are heard throughout director Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, as combat medic Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) tries to save as many of his fellow soldiers. The story of the first Medal of Honor recipient to be a conscientious objector, it’s a cross between a more traditional, combat heavy picture, and a moving biographical drama.

Through his dedication to protecting and saving as many lives as he could, especially during the Battle of Okinawa, Desmond’s career as a World War II combat medic is brought to life through an intense performance from Andrew Garfield. Producer Bill Mechanic once remarked on the reason Hacksaw Ridge resonates with audiences is due to how the story affects people. Basing its message on the universal belief that true heroes can rise to the darkest of occasions, it’s not hard to agree.

23. The Deer Hunter (1978)

While the famous “Russian roulette” scene is the most iconic image of The Deer Hunter, what makes the movie great, what makes it important, is the metaphorical Russian roulette of three friends who go to war, and come out of it in very different ways. Many war movies deal with the terrible cost of war, but few do it in quite the same way as The Deer Hunter. 

The movie ultimately spends little of its three-hour runtime on the Vietnam War itself. This is a story about the men who fought in it, both before and after their time there. By spending so much time with Mike (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken) and Steven (John Savage) before they ever go to war, we understand who they truly were, and therefore we understand the loss of those men that much more.

22. The Dirty Dozen (1967)

What do you get when a group of colorful criminals-turned-commandos are sent out on a top secret, high risk mission to disrupt German command ahead of the D-Day invasion during World War II? If your answer is one hell of a movie, you’re 100% right. With legend Robert Aldrich at the helm, The Dirty Dozen sports one of the best ensemble casts of any movie from the 1960s – including Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Sutherland, George Kennedy, Robert Ryan, Telly Savalas, and more – and their mission as expendables soldiers risking their lives for a pardon is a blast.

Not just a great movie unto itself, The Dirty Dozen also happens to be hugely influential. Number 26 on this list wouldn’t exist without it, not to mention the Suicide Squad blockbusters and the comics on which they are based.

21. Black Hawk Down (2001)

There are two major aspects of warfare that Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down commits to displaying in its adaptation of author Mark Bowden’s account of the Battle of Mogadishu. On one hand, the picture shows the importance of tactical awareness, as what seemed like a “routine mission” for UN peacekeepers during the Somali Civil War turned into what was known as the “longest sustained firefight” since the Vietnam War. 

Adding to the masterfully claustrophobic feel of that very war zone is the atmosphere of personal valor. Black Hawk Down’s cast boasts actors like Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, and Sam Shepherd; all playing the peacekeepers who unexpectedly find themselves in harm's way. Rather than merely showing the battle as a lesson of preparedness, Ridley Scott and writer Ken Nolan also dig into why we fight, especially when the battle becomes greater than we could have ever anticipated. 

20. The Hurt Locker (2008)

Where has director Kathryn Bigelow gone? After bursting onto the scene with Near Dark, Blue Steel and Point Break, the searing action director settled into a groove of gripping combat features with the back-to-back releases of The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, winning Best Picture and Director for Locker. Bigelow has only made one movie since then – Detroit in 2017 – and when you watch The Hurt Locker, you realize how much we, as an audience, are missing. 

The Hurt Locker goes deep behind enemy lines during the Iraq War, following bomb technicians (Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner) as they tackle fresh waves of devastating new threats. The film put human faces on a war that played out in our nation’s headlines, while also remembering to be a riveting and suspense-filled action thriller. 

19. Born On The Fourth of July (1989)

The second movie in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy (the first film being the Academy-Award winning, Platoon, and the third being Heaven & Earth), Born on the Fourth of July may just be the most potent and personal of the three. In one of Tom Cruise’s best movie performances, the talented actor portrays real-life figure, Ron Kovic, a proud American who was itching to get into Vietnam, but returned home broken and disillusioned. 

The film chronicles his change, from gung-ho soldier, to wounded veteran, to activist, and it never shies away from the message that war is never kind to anyone, especially those who go into it thinking it’s noble or glorious.

18. Beasts Of No Nation (2015)

Beasts Of No Nation is not an easy movie to watch. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga’s unflinching look at the story of a young boy in an unnamed West African country who finds himself forced into a warlord’s army of children is brutal, horrific, and completely brilliant. 

The boy, Agu (Abraham Attah) is enlisted into the Commandant's army after most of his family flees his village in the midst of a civil war and his father is killed after telling Agu to run into the jungle as the village is attacked. The Commandant, played exceptionally by Idris Elba, is remorseless and cruel with his child soldiers and the movie pushes the emotions of its viewers as far as anyone would want. It’s well worth the sacrifice, but maybe not repeat viewings.

17. M*A*S*H (1970)

While M*A*S*H is mostly famous for the television series that lasted years longer than the Korean War itself, that show owes its existence to Robert Altman’s excellently subversive film. It’s not a shock the movie translated well to television considering the film is fairly episodic, following Hawkeye (Donald Sutherland) and Trapper (Elliot Gould) from one wild situation to the next, with each story having little to do with those around it. 

Still, M*A*S*H does a fantastic job of looking at the Korean War (as well as the Vietnam War), which was raging alongside the film’s release, with a hilariously dark sense of humor, something the men in the actual conflict likely had to do to make it through.

16. Enemy At The Gates (2001)

Few war movies are as riddled with the tension that Enemy At The Gates provides, as two opposing snipers look to kill the other during the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II. Jean-Jacques Annaud does a phenomenal job of building the tension between Jude Law’s Vassili Zaitsev as he takes on Ed Harris’ Major Erwin König. 

This movie delivers both the massive battles that other great war films feature, and does a great job at showcasing some of the key minor battles that were fought, and how just a couple of key players could play a massive role in the morale of an entire army.  

15. Patton (1970)

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola (another filmmaker known for a brilliant war movie), Patton features one of the best depictions of a military leader in the medium’s history with George C. Scott’s portrayal of U.S. General George S. Patton. This epic war movie, which starts with one of the most iconic speeches of all time, spends 172 minutes dissecting the man, the myth, and the legend of the decorated military mind.

A Best Picture winner, Patton took home an impressive seven Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor, though Scott refused to accept the award.

14. Starship Troopers (1997)

For sci-fi fans, it might be hard to pick which is the best Paul Verhoeven movie: Total Recall, RoboCop, or Starship Troopers, but for the sake of this article, we’re going to focus on Starship Troopers, which is definitely worthy of being in consideration as one of the best war movies of all time. On the surface, this might not seem right. Here we have a movie about soldiers fighting giant bugs, which wasn’t in any textbooks that we remember growing up. 

Underneath the pulse-pounding action, however, is a satire that is definitively anti-fascism. In fact, many of our “heroes” are dressed like Nazis, and when our protagonists capture the enemy species, they rejoice in the fact that “it’s afraid.” So, yeah. It might not be the first movie you think of when it comes to great anti-war movies, but it definitely is once you think about it.

13. The Thin Red Line (1998)

Released the same year as Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan and set during the same conflict (World War II), Terrence Malick’s 1998 epic war film, The Thin Red Line, couldn’t be any more different than the Tom Hanks-led spectacle. Set during the Battle of Mount Austen in the Pacific Theater of WWII, the movie largely consists of a series of internal monologues by characters played by Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, and others, as they contemplate their respective roles in the war and what fate has in store for them.

Malick’s first movie in 20 years, The Thin Red Line is less of a straightforward portrayal of war and more an artistic exploration of the internal struggles soldiers face while staring death in the eye.

12. Spartacus (1960)

Spartacus, which is the story of a slave-cum-gladiator who becomes a leader of men and leads a revolt, is one of Stanley Kubrick’s most underappreciated gems. Starring Kirk Douglas (who also starred in Kubick’s anti-war masterpiece, Paths of Glory), the film is as epic in scope as you’d want it to be. 

Set during the Third Servile War (also known as the Gladiator War), the film follows the rise, and ultimate fall of its titular character. But along the way, we get stirring speeches, and excellent scenes of combat – most notably a gladiatorial fight involving a man using a net and a trident! Yes, at over three hours, it’s a bit long, but the voyage along the way is rewarding as all hell. I am Spartacus!

11. Platoon (1986)

Oliver Stone’s Platoon is considered to be one of the top war movies to win Best Picture as well as one of the most realistic military films of all time. Centering on Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), an idealistic young soldier thrown into the meat-grinder that was Vietnam, this harrowing drama is as disturbing as it is decorated with its depictions of heroism, human depravity, and a battle between right and wrong on the battlefield.

Remembered for its unflinching examination of one of the bloodiest conflicts in American military history, Platoon also gave the world one of the most emotional and cinematic scenes in movie history with Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe) being chased through the jungle set to Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings.”

10. Glory (1989)

One way to guarantee success in a war movie is to assemble an all-star cast and tell an inspirational, if little told, story of a war. That is exactly what director Edward Zwick did with 1989’s Glory. Telling the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, one of the few all-Black outfits to fight for the Union, Zwick put together a cast of serious heavyweights to show all the emotion, the glorious highs and the heartbreaking lows of the regiment. 

The movie stars Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington (who won an Oscar for his performance), Andre Braugher (in his first film role), as members of the unit, and Matthew Broderick and Cary Elwes as their commanding officers. It’s a powerful film that is as true to history as a movie can be, but also as inspiring as a film can be. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two –  Best Cinematography as well as Washington’s win.

9. 1917 (2019)

In 2019, Sam Mendes gave audiences one of the best World War I movies with 1917, a blistering and grueling thriller about two young British soldiers – Will Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) – as they try to reach the frontline and deliver an important message that could save scores of lives. But this proves to be no simple task, as the pair has to cross enemy lines where they encounter attacks on land and from the air before they can reach their destination and call off a doomed offensive.

The winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography for the legendary Roger Deakins, 1917 is presented as two extended takes, a decision that creates a sensation of being right there in the trenches and on the battlefields with its stars. This chaotic, fast-paced, and intense delivery of a story of survival and hope created a war movie like no other, and one we’ll probably remember for years if not decades to come. 

8. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket is almost three movies in one, with each act being very distinct from the others. The first, and most famous, is the Marine boot camp for new recruits. R. Lee Ermey steals the show with his amazing performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. Still, it’s the intensity of Vincent D’Onofrio as Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence that leaves the most haunting impression. 

The second act details the futility of war, particularly the Vietnam War that it depicts. Joker (Matthew Modine) travels the combat zone and sees just how pointless the whole war is and how no one seems to care, they are just doing what they are told. The third act takes on a horror-movie vibe as the platoon attempts to take out an unseen enemy sniper in the spooky, bombed-out town of Huế. Fear, death, and hopelessness consume the latter third of the movie. The film is a masterpiece by one of film’s greatest directors.

7. All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

It seemed pretty impossible that the modern version of All Quiet on the Western Front could actually be superior to the groundbreaking 1930 movie that won Best Picture back at the third Academy Awards (making it one of sixteen war films to take home the prestigious statue), but 2022’s version manages to do it. It’s the grand scope of it all, but also the fact that it feels extremely personal. By focusing mainly on one soldier — an enthusiastic 17-year-old who can’t wait to get into the trenches of World War I, but also featuring a subplot involving officials working toward armistice, the dual plots really add layers to the people on the ground, but also the people who worked toward ending the war. 

The movie is grueling, and our once plucky hero sees firsthand that war is hell. Director Edward Berger got the best performances out of his actors, while the cinematography by James Friend is top notch, really putting us in the heat of combat. It’s a powerful film that spotlights the horrors of combat, making it a modern masterpiece, and one of the greatest anti-war movies ever made.

6. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

“What have I done?” Alec Guinness’ horrified line delivery as he realizes the extreme consequences of his abetting the construction of the titular structure is perhaps the most iconic part of The Bridge On The River Kwai, but it’s really just a part of the immense power and drama of David Lean’s 1957 epic. It’s both one of the all-time great war movies and one of the all-time great prison movies – something it shares in common with other entries on this list.

An adaptation of Pierre Boulle’s novel, the branched narrative follows American and British prisoners of war building a bridge to connect Bangkok and Rangoon (aided by Guinness’ tortured/Stockholm Syndrome-afflicted Colonel Nicholson) and the efforts by escapee Navy Commander Shears (William Holden) to return to the camp and sabotage the work. It’s magnificent and gripping throughout, and yes, the film’s ending packs an incredible punch.

5. Master and Commander: Far Side Of The World (2003)

Perhaps the reason that co-writer/director Peter Weir and co-writer John Collee’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a brilliant war movie is because, frankly, it’s not totally a war movie. Adapted from selected texts out of author Patrick O’Brien’s Aubrey-Maturin series, the Russell Crowe/Paul Bettany-led ensemble drama cares just as much about its mythic characters as it does its Napoleonic Wars setting. Nowhere is that better shown than through the camaraderie of the HMS Surprise’s crew, most notably through the friendship of the vessel’s captain Jack Aubrey (Crowe) and his ship surgeon Stephen Maturin (Bettany). While Aubrey’s orders border on obsession, we don’t totally see Russell Crowe’s protagonist lose himself in the fog of war, carefully walking between protecting his crew, while also recognizing when and how to strike. 

Master and Commander also uses a handful of intense, expertly crafted set-pieces to depict the era of warfare the story occupies. Naval battles of close proximity and great destruction are shown, which are only heightened by getting to know the HMS Surprise and its proud sailors. With great warmth, humor, and action, it’s a true shame that this attempted franchise never sailed far from port.

4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

I’m not sure if there’s any movie that can truly give viewers the full scope of what invading allied forces felt when storming the Omaha beach in Normandy during World War II, but Saving Private Ryan does a damn good job. In fact, veterans who actually were present at D-Day told Time that Steven Spielberg’s opening battle featured very little Hollywood embellishment, to the point that it may be painful for those who were there to experience. That’s truly horrifying to hear as a viewer, and a great scene to showcase the brutality of war. 

Many would call Saving Private Ryan Steven Spielberg’s best movie, and that’s hard to argue with the amount of care that went into crafting it. Even if the story is only loosely based on the rescue of paratrooper Fritz Niland after the death of his two brothers, it is a wonderful story that works to give the audience a fairly solid depiction of the most brutal war in human history. 

3. The Great Escape (1963)

We often see World War II depicted on-screen on a massive scale, it was a world war, after all. And yet, part of what makes The Great Escape such a wonderful movie is how it tightens that focus onto a relatively small group of soldiers located in one place at one point in time. It humanizes the scale of it all in a real way and tells a story of true bravery and heroism. The only way for a group of men to fight the Nazis is to try and escape from them.

The events of The Great Escape are broadly embellished for the sake of drama, to be sure, but the story of a massive jailbreak from a POW camp is exactly the sort of exciting story that works well as a blockbuster movie. While it made Steve McQueen a star, The Great Escape has one of the best ensemble casts in movie history, and one of the most iconic movie themes ever written.

2. Paths of Glory (1957)

The first war movie that springs to many people’s minds when somebody mentions Stanley Kubrick’s name is Full Metal Jacket, which makes sense, as Jacket is definitely the more popular war movie. However, Paths of Glory is probably the better one, mostly since its anti-war message is much clearer and more pronounced. Based on the novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb, the story centers around a commanding officer, played by Kirk Douglas, who defends three French soldiers against being court-martialed and shot. 

In this war movie set during World War I, Douglas delivers a powerful performance, and the film gives a more nuanced look at the closed-door machinations that occur in offices while soldiers go off to die. The film also gives a fascinating look at the effects of shell shock, and does an admirable job of showcasing the hell that was no man’s land. It’s definitely one of Stanley Kubrick’s very best movies.

1. Apocalypse Now (1979)

War is hell. As Apocalypse Now proves, making a movie about war can be hell, as well. Francis Ford Coppola’s masterful interpretation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness addresses the physical and mental toll that combat has on soldiers, as a platoon of Special Forces troops are ordered to head upriver in Vietnam and deal with rogue commander Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Turn up “The End” by The Doors, and lose yourself in Coppola’s disturbing haze.  

The story of the making of Apocalypse Now is almost as famous as the finished movie, which boasts a commanding cast (Martin Sheen, Brando, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper, Scott Glenn, Harrison Ford) in service of a filmmaker renowned for his two Godfather features. But it’s Coppola’s unflinching approach to the horrors of overseas conflict, and the psychological damage it does to our soldiers, that keeps Apocalypse Now atop virtually every list made about iconic war movies… this one, included.  

While there are certainly other great, impactful and intriguing movies that depict battles and the inner workings of military conflicts in a variety of ways, these are our picks for the thirty best war films. 

Christopher Nolan's name has become cemented in film history because of his movies. From some of his earlier films to his most recent, Oppenheimer, Nolan has continued to show his prowess with storytelling, visual effects, and more. One other area that he tends to be excellent in is casting each film.

Every Nolan movie has had a fantastic cast, and Dunkirk is no exception. One of the best war movies of all time, this 2017 thriller featured cast members such as Barry Keoghan, Harry Styles, Cillian Murphy, and more. Today, we will talk about the Dunkirk cast and where they are now. 

Fionn Whitehead (Tommy)

First up on the list is Fionn Whitehead, who played Tommy in Dunkirk. The actor has appeared in a few movies since then, including the exhausting Black Mirror: Bandersnatch in the lead role, The Duke and Voyagers. He also had a central role in Great Expectations on television and a guest role on Queers. 

Right now, Whitehead doesn't have anything coming up, but judging from his experience so far, I'm sure it won't be long before you see him again. 

Tom Glynn-Carney (Peter Dawson)

Next up is Tom Glynn-Carney, who played Peter Dawson. The actor has appeared in movies such as Tolkien, The King, and Rialto. 

However, Glynn-Carney has since made his mark on television by playing Aegon Targaryen II in House of the Dragon, a role he will continue to play in Season 2. He also had a prominent role in The Last Post and appeared in Mayflies. 

Coming up, Glynn-Carney is going to appear in The Book of Clarence movie, along with Season 2 of House of the Dragon.

Jack Lowden (Collins)

Jack Lowden played Collins and has since appeared in several movies. Some of his most known films have included Mary Queen of Scots, Calibre, England is Mine, and Capone. He also had a role in Fighting with My Family alongside star Florence Pugh, and Benediction. 

On television, Lowden also had a part in Small Axe, a miniseries, and a primary role in Slow Horses, among other guest roles. He doesn't have anything coming out soon, but with his resume, I'm sure there will be plenty to look forward to. 

Harry Styles (Alex)

Dunkirk was Harry Styles' acting debut, and what a movie to start on. He is mainly known for his singing, as he was a part of the boy band One Direction and then expanded into his own solo career. But now, we've seen him more in the acting world. 

Since his part of Alex, Styles has stepped into film more, appearing in movies such as the infamous Don't Worry Darling, and My Policeman. He also had a minor cameo in Eternals, but the role is most likely going to appear more within the MCU. 

Styles has also appeared as a musical guest/hosted Saturday Night Live a few times and guest-hosted The Late Late Show with James Corden. 

While he doesn't have anything acting-wise coming up, I'm sure it won't be long before he releases a new album after the success of his two-year tour. Film has never been his go-to, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing plenty more of him in the next few years. 

Aneurin Barnard (Gibson)

Aneurin Barnard played Gibson in Dunkirk, who has appeared in plenty of films since his time in the war movie. Some are The Goldfinch, Radioactive, Bigger, and The Personal History of David Copperfield. Barnard has also been in several TV shows, including a prominent role on 1899 on Netflix, a central role on The Catch, and a guest role on Peaky Blinders, among many other appearances. 

Coming up, Barnard will appear in Series 14 of Doctor Who and will be in the TV film Men Up, as well as another movie called Timestalker. 

James D’Arcy (Colonel Winnant)

James D'Arcy played Colonel Winnant in Dunkirk, and since his role, he has appeared in various movies and TV shows. He was part of the vast Oppenheimer cast and appeared in films such as The Snowman, Six Minutes to Midnight, Life Like, and more. He also had a recurring role on Homeland and a big role on Deadline. Coming up, he will be in a new series called Constellation. 

Barry Keoghan (George Mills)

Barry Keoghan has had quite the career explosion since playing George Mills. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin and appeared in such films as Eternals, the King Arthur adaptation The Green Knight, Calm With Horses, and more. 

Keoghan has also had experience on television, with a small recurring guest role on Chernobyl and the series Top Boy on Netflix. He will be in several new films called Saltburn, Bring Them Down, The Bird, and the upcoming Gladiator 2. He will also be in a TV series called Masters of Air. 

Kenneth Branagh (Commander Bolton)

Another famous face from Dunkirk is Kenneth Branagh, who plays Commander Bolton. Since its premiere, Branagh has appeared in several films, including Murder on the Orient Express and its sequel, Death on the Nile. He also had roles in Fireheart, Tenet, and Oppenheimer, continuing his trend of collaborating with Nolan. 

He also had a leading role on a TV series called England and had a guest role on Upstart Crow. Coming up, he will star in A Haunting in Venice, where he will again reprise his role of Hercule Poirot. 

Cillian Murphy (Shivering Soldier) 

Cillian Murphy played the Shivering Soldier in the war film. The actor has appeared in various movies since, such as Anna, The Delinquent Season, and A Quiet Place: Part II, but most are hearing about Murphy from his starring role in Oppenheimer, where he plays – you guessed it – Oppenheimer himself. 

Besides that, he wrapped up his leading part on the hit show Peaky Blinders in 2022. Soon, he'll be in a new film called Small Things Like These and appear in the horror film 28 Months Later.

Mark Rylance (Mr. Dawson)

Mark Rylance played Mr. Dawson, and has since appeared in several films. These include Waiting for Barbarians, Ready Player One, Don't Look Up, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Bones and All, and more. Regarding television, he appeared in a role on Wolf Hall and The Undeclared War. The next time you'll see him is in the movie, The Way of the Wind. 

Tom Hardy (Farrier) 

Tom Hardy is another excellent example of an actor who has continued to grow immensely in Hollywood. He played Farrier in Dunkirk and has appeared in many recent films, including the Venom movies, where he plays the main character, Eddie, and the movie Capone. 

He also had a supporting role on Peaky Blinders and was part of a nature series called Predators. Soon, he will be starring in the third Venom film and the Netflix movie, Havoc, as well as a film called The Bikeriders. 

Michael Caine (Voice) (Fortis Leader)

Last but not least, we have Michael Caine. While he was not featured physically in the movie, Caine's voice was used as a cameo when he voiced Fortis Leader. 

The actor has appeared in movies such as Dear Dictator, King of Thieves, Tenet, Best Sellers, and more, and will appear in The Great Escaper. 

With so many outstanding cast members, one can only wonder what they will do next. And now, I will see Oppenheimer again for the umpteenth time to find all the cast members from this list in there. 

Following the home release of Oppenheimer, there’s a good chance many are looking to watch the best Christopher Nolan movies more than any other point in the past few years. Whether you’ve seen his various psychological thrillers and all-time great superhero movies multiple times or never before, we have everything you need to know for one incredible marathon full of the director’s incredible scenes and his trademark style and plot devices.

And while we wait for Christopher Nolan's next movie, now's the perfect time to go back and watch everything the Academy Award-winning filmmaker has given us over the years. Here's how to watch Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and so many other great films from the visionary director.

Inception (2010)

One of the sci-fi movies to not focus on aliens or robots, Christopher Nolan’s 2010 visually-stunning action thriller Inception offers a unique concept and one hell of an execution of said premise. The movie follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), an on-the-run thief who’s given the prospect of a clean slate if he can successfully break into the dreams of his client’s rival and plant an idea instead of stealing information. 

This star-studded spectacle is full of twists and turns, as well as an ending we’re still debating more than a decade later.

Rent/buy Inception on Amazon.

Interstellar (2014) 

In 2014, Nolan gave the world one of the most awe-inspiring and emotional sci-fi stories of all time with Interstellar, a movie that features equal parts hard science and human emotion. The film centers on Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a widowed NASA pilot-turned-farmer who becomes humanity’s best chance of survival as he leads a last-ditch effort to find a new home. Leaving behind a young daughter and son on a dying Earth, Cooper sets off to the cosmos for a mind-bending and heart-wrenching journey.

What makes the movie even more impressive is its scientific accuracy and the fact much of the movie was shot without a green screen.

Stream Interstellar on Netflix.
Stream Interstellar on Paramount+.
Rent/buy Interstellar on Prime Video.

Dunkirk (2017) 

One of the best war movies ever made, Dunkirk is also one of the more unique, as it picks up after the battle on which it draws its name instead of focusing on the action. With three different storylines – one taking place over a week, one a day, one an hour – the moving 2017 drama features a nonlinear narrative that shows that heroes come in all forms with varying motivations.

The movie features some of the director’s most impressive shots and sequences, and what makes them even more extraordinary are all the tricks and techniques Nolan employed to pull them off.

Rent/buy Dunkirk on Amazon.

Tenet (2020) 

Months after the pandemic forced major changes to the theatrical calendar, Nolan came out with Tenet, one of his loudest movies yet, which was also one with one of his wildest plots to date. The movie centers on a secret agent known as the Protagonist (John David Washington) as he is tasked with traveling through time to prevent World War III. 

This is an incredibly simplified description of the film’s plot and doesn’t even tackle the Tenet ending, as there are certain elements of the labyrinthian puzzle that are still being unpacked nearly three years after the film’s initial release. 

Rent/buy Tenet on Amazon.

Oppenheimer (2023)

In July 2023, Christopher Nolan released not only one of the biggest movies of the year but also one of the most well-received films of his career with Oppenheimer. This three-hour epic detailing the creation of the Atomic bomb and the man behind it, J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is an absolute tour de force, both in terms of storytelling and filmmaking magic. 

Focusing on several different periods in Oppenheimer's life, the movie examines what made the "Father of the Atomic Bomb" tick as well as the fallout of his landmark achievement. With its blistering pace and heightened drama, Nolan rewrote the biopic with Oppenheimer.

Stream Oppenheimer on Prime Video.
Rent/buy Oppenheimer on Amazon.

The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005 - 2012)

Over the course of seven years and three movies, Christopher Nolan told the story of Batman (Christian Bale) as he transforms himself from the heir to the Wayne family legacy to a symbol of hope for Gotham City. From his early days of burning the candle at both ends in Batman Begins to taking on an anarchic and violent enemy in The Dark Knight to saving the city he loves from a zealot in The Dark Knight Rises, the caped crusader (as well as the man behind the mask) goes through tremendous change.

With some of the best Batman chase sequences and unforgettable scenes we still think about years later, there are plenty of reasons the Dark Knight trilogy remains so popular after so much time.

Stream Batman Begins on Max. (Rent/buy Batman Begins on Amazon.)
Stream The Dark Knight on Max. (Rent/buy The Dark Knight on Amazon.)
Stream The Dark Knight Rises on Max. (Rent/buy The Dark Knight Rises on Amazon.)

The Prestige (2006)

Between his first and second Batman movies, Nolan took audiences to late 19th-century London with a story about two rival magicians (Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman) who are driven to the brink of madness as they attempt to master the art of teleportation. 

The Prestige, with its complex story, outstanding performances by its cast, and stunning visuals, remains one of the best examples of the director’s work, whether or not you like the film's ending. 

Rent/buy The Prestige on Amazon.

Insomnia (2002)

Released in 2002, Insomnia follows embattled LAPD detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino) as he travels to a remote fishing village in Alaska to help local authorities nab a serial killer who has been targeting young women. With the man suspected of the killings, Walter Finch (Robin Williams) toying with the cop and taking advantage of his troubled past, Dormer finds himself in quite a heated situation.

Though it’s not talked about as much as Nolan’s other films, this remake of the 1997 Norwegian crime thriller of the same name, is something that fans of his work need to check out.

Rent/buy Insomnia on Amazon.

Memento (2000)

Memento, the movie that put Christopher Nolan on the map back at the turn of the 21st century, is one of those movies that not only transformed the director’s career but also modern cinema. This riveting psychological thriller follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) as he attempts to find out who brutally murdered his wife. But that’s not the hard part…

Leonard suffers from an extreme form of amnesia that results in short-term memory loss and the inability to create new memories, which adds a whole other dimension to this complex murder mystery.

Rent/Buy Memento on Amazon.

Following (1998) 

If you want to go back and see where it all started for Christopher Nolan as a feature film director, then you have to check out his 70-minute, black-and-white thriller, Following. What starts out as a hobby of shadowing people around the streets of London quickly turns into a game of life or death for a young writer (Jeremy Theobald) after he makes the mistake of following the wrong person.

This is your classic neo-noir story but with some inventive Nolan-isms, elements that would be fine-tuned in the movies that followed.

Rent/buy Following on Amazon.

Christopher Nolan is truly one of the greatest living filmmakers, one with an incredible number of wonderful movies. And while we don't yet know what he has in store for us moving forward, it's safe to say Nolan is going to blow us away many more times in the years to come.

I actually would consider myself a big movie-buff. While I haven’t seen many older films in my lifetime, I’ve stayed up to date with a lot of the newer directors that have become mainstays in Hollywood over the last forty years or so, such as Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Greta Gerwig, James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro – the list really goes on, but one person that I had yet to see all their filmography was Christopher Nolan. 

While Nolan is responsible for some of my favorite movies of the last two decades, he has many other films that I had never seen before. So, in honor of Oppenheimer releasing, I decided to revisit all of Nolan’s films, both the ones I did watch and the ones I had never seen before – and I have a clear favorite. Let’s get into it. 

A Lot Of His Earlier Films Didn’t Impress Me That Much

I’m going to be honest – many of Nolan’s movies from the late 1990s and early 2000s didn’t do it for me. 

Don’t get me wrong, they were all great films in many ways. Following was a great directorial debut, Memento is famous for many reasons and has an excellent story, and Insomnia has plenty of psychological moments that get you on the edge of your seat. They all have their good qualities.

But for some reason, I just couldn’t get behind these first three. While they were intriguing movies, I don’t think I would find myself watching them again. While they were fun to watch one time, I don’t anticipate heading back towards their respective streaming platforms in order to watch them again. 

It’s almost like Requiem for a Dream – I’m glad I at least watched it once, but in terms of coming back to the movie in the future, that’s not really my cup of tea. 

The Prestige Was Great – But Not My Favorite

Another Christopher Nolan film I had never seen before was The Prestige, and quite honestly, I think it’s probably my third favorite among all of them. 

The Prestige is an excellent film, helmed at the front by two amazing performances from both Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, and just the premise alone was enough to intrigue me – two rival stage magicians who are trying to perfect some sort of magic trick that would change the world as we know it. 

While The Prestige is a totally different film from Insomnia, I think it takes the psychological thriller aspect to a new level and really elevates it. And don’t even get me started on the cinematography – it was out of this world. 

Even so, the film is one of my favorites but not the best in my mind.

His Batman Trilogy Is One Of The Best 

When we talk about Batman and any iteration of the character that we have seen on screen, Nolan’s films are always in the conversation, and that’s for good reason – they’re good freaking films. The Nolan films are honestly some of the best Batman movies ever made, in my opinion.

From Batman Begins to The Dark Knight to The Dark Knight Rises, these three have cemented their legacy in the movie industry as mainstays, with brilliant performances in all three films – but of course, I have to single out Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker as one of the best. 

Beyond his impressive performance, there is so much to love about this franchise. Christian Bale is spectacular as Batman along with the rest of the incredible cast of characters. The visual effects are great. The story is out of this world. I love it. The Dark Knight Rises is definitely my number two among all of Nolan’s films. 

Even so, there’s one more that is number one – but we’re not there just yet.

Inception, Dunkirk, and Tenet Are Visual Masterpieces – But Storywise, They Lag

Okay, don’t get me wrong – I love visually dazzling films. I was eager to see Avatar: The Way of Water because I knew it was going to be absolutely beautiful on a big screen. My favorite film series of all time is the Harry Potter franchise, a movie series that is drenched in visual effects. 

Out of everyone who knows effects, Nolan knows how to make visual masterpieces and that is amazing to see. Inception, Tenet and Dunkirk are all beautiful examples of that. Heck, I remember seeing both Inception and Dunkirk in theaters (Tenet was during the pandemic so that was an at-home watch), and I was blown away. 

But the stories just lag for me. 

Before I re-watched these films, I would've had a hard time describing what they were about. The most easy one to understand was Dunkirk, since that was based on a real-life event, but the narrative moved around a lot. Tenet was almost too much information for my brain to handle that it made the movie harder to understand, and Inception is great, but the concepts – at least to me – were difficult to grasp even now watching it again. 

Out of the three of them, Inception is great, and would probably be number four because it feels like the easiest one to follow, but still – the visuals are what draw me in for that. One stands above the rest, though. 

However, Interstellar Is My Favorite, Overall

It’s just better. 

To be honest, the main reason I never watched this movie before was because when it first came out, I was in high school and taking a physics class at the time, and the last thing I wanted to do was watch a movie that was going to be centered around physics and science. So I just missed it for years. 

Now almost nine years later, I watched it. And I fell in love. 

Is the physics of the movie still a little hard to understand? For someone like me who was never the brightest bulb in science, yes, but it’s not nearly as complicated as some of Nolan’s other films, and for all the science that is included, it somehow flows very easily where it doesn’t feel like information overload. 

What makes it better is the visuals – the visuals of this film made me wish I saw it on a big screen. Granted, my partner bought an 85’’ television, so I have a pretty big screen at home, but I could only imagine what seeing this film would be like on a movie theater screen. There was so much thought and effort and design put into every one of these shots, I was absolutely floored. 

And the Interstellar cast in and of itself is just so full of talent. The story is heartfelt and inspiring and so much more. Nolan hasn’t made a film like this one since, that’s truly captured my heart and my soul in many ways. I could rewatch Interstellar again and again and not get bored. 

To me, it’s my favorite out of all of his films – and it’s time it got even more praise. 

I’m Not Sure If Oppenheimer Will Beat It

I am currently writing this piece on July 18th, 2023, and tonight, I am going to be seeing my Oppenheimer screening. 

This movie has been getting a lot of media attention recently, and I knew I was going to see it for months just based off of the incredible Oppenheimer cast, but I’m not sure it’ll beat Interstellar for me. While I do love a gritty, biographical movie about war that aims to teach me things about history, I don’t know if Oppenheimer is going to top Interstellar. 

I do think it’ll be one of my favorites. I adore these types of films and I really do think that Nolan doesn’t really miss on anything. Even with the movies I didn’t enjoy as much, they were still easily watchable. But we’ll just have to wait and see. 

What’s your favorite Christopher Nolan film? All I know is that I am prepared to have my heart hurt after watching Oppenheimer – before re-watching it all over again once I convince my dad to go see it in a theater instead of waiting for streaming. 

Whether he’s playing with time, pulling off massive action set pieces, or surprising audiences with a sleight of hand, Christopher Nolan has long had a unique sense of style that gives his movies a distinct look and feel.

As part of our partnership with AMC Theatres, where you can now purchase tickets to see Oppenheimer presented in IMAX, we’ve gone through the visionary director’s movies and picked out a scene from each that we think best represents his style, themes, and plot devices. Deciding on just one moment from each film was no easy task, so please enjoy.

Following - Following The Man In The Suit

Christopher Nolan made his feature film debut with the 1999 black-and-white neo-noir crime drama, Following, a movie about a struggling writer (Jeremy Theobald) who follows people around London as he tries to come up with material for a book. Though the movie lacks the flash and stunning visuals seen in the director’s later work, this 70-minute thriller features one of his best opening scenes: following the man in the suit (Alex Haw).

This sequence introduces several of the trademarks Nolan would use in subsequent movies, like the quick cutting between multiple scenes, expository voiceovers playing over the action, and layer of mystery that baits and hooks the audience.

Memento - The Polaroid In Reverse

In 2000, Christopher Nolan came out with Memento, a film starring Guy Pearce as a man with short-term memory loss and the inability to create new memories, leading to him tattooing himself and taking polaroids.

The scene that sticks out the most is the opening title sequence with the polaroid of a dead body being shown in reverse. Not only does it tell the audience that violence awaits, it also introduces the director’s trademark of tinkering with time, which would show up time and time again.

Insomnia - Sting Operation In The Fog

Christopher Nolan further developed his visual style in the 2002 psychological thriller, Insomnia, a disorienting film about LAPD detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino) as he travels to a remote fishing village in Alaska to assist with the investigation into the murder of a teenage girl who is believed to be the latest victim of an alleged serial killer (Robin Williams).

The entire movie has this feeling of being lost in confusion, and the scene that best represents this is the sting operation part way through the movie where Dormer attempts to lure the killer to the scene of the crime only for a wall of fog to make a mess of things. Not only is it visually stunning, it also creates this terrifying scene that messes with all your senses.

Batman Begins - The Tumbler Pursuit

Christopher Nolan has become one of the most creative directors when it comes to action set pieces over the years, and one of the best examples of this is the Tumbler chase sequence in Batman Begins.

After Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) is sprayed by Scarecrow’s (Cillian Murphy) fear toxin and goes into shock, Batman (Christian Bale) is in a race against time to save the woman he loves. And while this proves to be no easy task for the Dark Knight, considering all the police in between him and the Bat Cave, it leads to one of the most iconic action sequences of Nolan’s career, and 21st-century cinema.

The Prestige - The Reveal

Between his first and second Batman movies, Christopher Nolan released The Prestige, a movie about two rival Victorian era magicians who will stop at nothing to woo audiences and best the competition. In the final moments of the movie, both Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) reveal how they pulled off the “Transported Man” act in equally impressive yet unsettling ways.

We’ll avoid spoiling the ending for those who have yet to watch the movie, but the scene features one of the best peeks behind the curtain you’ll see in any of Nolan’s works.

The Dark Knight - Batman Racing To The Wrong Location

Coming up with the “most Christopher Nolan scenes” in The Dark Knight was harder than every other movie on this list simply because the director’s 2008 Batman movie is bursting at the seams with iconic moments like the opening bank robbery, the Hong Kong extraction, Jim Gordon’s funeral, etc., etc.

But the one that captures the essence of a Nolan film better than the rest is the sequence in which Batman races to save Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), only to show up at the wrong location. It plays with action, time, and drama, while also leads to the creation of Two-Face after Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is burned in the explosion.

Inception - The Hallway Fight

Inception, Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending heist film about a thief (Leonardo DiCaprio) who breaks into people’s dreams to steal information remains one of the director’s best films, thanks in part to all those iconic sequences.

The scene that best represents Nolan’s visual creativity is the one in which Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) fights through a hallway in one layer of a dream as it is being subjected to the gravity of the first layer. It plays with time, cause and effect, and action, all staples of Nolan’s work.

The Dark Knight Rises - Destruction At Gotham City Stadium

The Dark Knight Rises is another movie that could have had multiple examples, but none are as epic and memorable as Bane’s (Tom Hardy) destruction of Gotham City Stadium at the start of his occupation of the city. 

The sheer size and spectacle of the exploding and collapsing football field during opening kickoff combined with the simultaneous destruction of all but one of the bridges and tunnels leading to Goham kicks off the second half of the 2012 movie in a startling way.

Interstellar - Venturing Into The Black Hole

Interstellar is a movie about science, human emotion, and determination to save the ones we love, no matter what it takes or how many years we spend accomplishing our goals. Christopher Nolan best illustrates this in the scene in which Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) slingshots himself into the Gargantua black hole so that Brand (Anne Hathaway) can reach the inhabitable Edmunds’ planet. 

The act of self-sacrifice, the stunning visuals of a black hole unlike anything anyone has seen, and the epic swelling of Hans Zimmer’s score create a dizzying and emotionally-charged sequence of events that lead to the biggest reveal of the movie.

Dunkirk - The Ending Sequence

One thing that Christopher Nolan has done over the years is end his movies as another chapter begins. He did it with The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar, and again in his 2017 World War II epic, Dunkirk.

This ending sequence shows the conclusion of all three major storylines and timelines while also leaving the audience guessing the next steps, both on the micro level with Tom Hardy’s stranded pilot and the macro with the continuation of the Second World War. It messes with our emotions and also leaves us wanting more, which is honestly the best way to end a movie.

Tenet - The Protagonist Fights Himself

There probably isn’t another Christopher Nolan movie that plays around with the concept of time more than Tenet, the director’s 2020 sci-fi action thriller starring John David Washington as a character simply known as The Protagonist. At one point in the movie, the future version of the character goes back to an earlier scene and is encountered by his past self, leading to an epic and creative showdown.

Admittedly, there are parts of the movie that feel like a puzzle that require additional viewings to figure out, but this scene is one of those all-time great Nolan moments that is just so much fun to revisit.

We can’t wait to see what Christopher Nolan has up his sleeve with Oppenheimer, but if it’s anything like previous efforts, it’s going to be one unforgettable experience. If you’re just as stoked for what’s to come, you’ll probably want to go ahead and purchase your tickets before Oppenheimer arrives in theaters on July 21st. 

Every person (or, at least, every film enthusiast, I really should say) can, typically, name the one actor whose talent never ceases to dazzle them. In addition, they can also, likely, name a certain filmmaker whose work and directorial style they admire over anyone else. Sometimes, a movie fan’s choice of a favorite actor and a favorite director can end up being the same person, such as in the case of Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The Northern Ireland native came to prominence in the late 1980s and early ‘90s as one of the most acclaimed and respected actors of his generation for giving performances in movies that, many of which, he also helmed himself. He is still known to juggle both talents at once with some recent favorites (such as his second Agatha Christie adaptation, Death on the Nile), while sometimes taking a moment to focus on one duty at a time and, often, with wonderful results either way. See for yourself by taking a look at our picks for Kenneth Branagh’s best movies on streaming, available for a digital rental, or for purchase on physical media, starting with one of his definitive efforts from both behind and in front of the camera.

Henry V (1989)

After facing ridicule from the French King Charles VI (Paul Scofields), the young, vengeful ruler of England (Kenneth Branagh) aspires to conquer the country of France for himself, resulting in horror on the battlefield and turmoil in his own soul.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Kenneth Branagh earned Academy Award nominations both for directing and playing the lead of Henry V - the first of several adaptations of the work of William Shakespeare that he would star in (and often helm himself), and his directorial debut, as well.

Buy/Rent Henry V on Vudu.
Get Henry V on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Belfast (2021)

An imaginative young boy (Jude Hill in his debut role) and his working class mother (Catríona Balfe) and father (Jamie Dornan) struggle with the decision of abandoning their home or staying to endure the violent, politically fueled strife affecting their Northern Irish town in the late 1960s.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: After more than 30 years in the business, Kenneth Branagh earned his first Academy Award win for penning his semi-autobiographical screenplay for Belfast - a beautiful, inspirational, star-studded family drama set against the backdrop of an otherwise tumultuous period in history.

Buy/Rent Belfast on Amazon.
Get Belfast on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

A young woman (Kate Beckinsale in her film debut) and her soon-to-be husband (future House cast member Robert Sean Leonard) conspire to play matchmaker for a conceited curmudgeon (Kenneth Branagh) and his frequent sparring partner (Emma Thompson).

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: For his next Shakespeare-inspired film after Henry V, screenwriter and director Kenneth Branagh leads an A-list ensemble (also including Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, and Keanu Reeves) in Much Ado About Nothing - a wonderfully told rendition of one of the Elizabethan writer’s most lighthearted and romantic plays.

Buy/Rent Much Ado About Nothing on Amazon.
Get Much Ado About Nothing on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)

An ambitious scientist (Kenneth Branagh) achieves his dream of defying human mortality by creating an original being (Academy Award winner Robert DeNiro) with the use of spare body parts and successfully giving it life, but quickly comes to loathe his creation and leaves it to fend for itself.  

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: A year after Much Ado About Nothing, Kenneth Branagh tried his hand at directing and leading the cast of another film inspired by a groundbreaking author’s literary classic, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - a comparatively more accurate adaptation of the seminal novel than Universal’s 1931 monster movie from a screenplay by co-written by Frank Darabont.

Stream Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on Amazon.
Get Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

A renowned private investigator with a thick French accent and an even thicker mustache (Kenneth Branagh) boards a train where he is soon and unexpectedly called into action when one of its passengers suddenly turns up dead, leaving the the surviving travelers in suspicion.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Much later in his career, Kenneth Branagh tried his hand at directing an adaptation of one of the most iconic novels by Agatha Christie, as well as assuming the role of the influential mystery writer’s most famous character, Detective Hercule Poirot, with the star-studded Murder on the Orient Express, which was enough of hit to spawn Branagh’s dream follow-up, Death on the Nile, in 2022.

Buy/Rent Murder On The Orient Express on Amazon.
Get Murder On The Orient Express on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Othello (1995)

An accomplished war general (Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne) is manipulated by a scheming Ensign (Kenneth Branagh) into believing that his secret marriage to a senator’s daughter (Irène Jacob) is threatened by her infidelity with his lieutenant (Nathaniel Parker).

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: While not writing, directing, or having any noted input from the behind the camera in this Shakespeare adaptation, Kenneth Branagh gives one of his best and most chilling performances as Iago, the villain of Othello - the thrilling debut of screenwriter and director Oliver Parker.

Buy/Rent Othello on Amazon.
Get Othello on DVD on Amazon.

My Week With Marilyn (2011)

A film student (Eddie Redmayne) strikes up an unexpected and intimate relationship with American movie star Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) while working on the set of her new production, The Prince and the Showgirl, in late 1950s London.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Years after directing and leading adaptations of Shakespeare plays that were also previously directed by and led on film by fellow knight Laurence Olivier (namely Henry V and Hamlet), Kenneth Branagh portrayed the Academy Award winning actor himself (and to Academy Award-nominated acclaim) in My Week with Marilyn - director Simon Curtis and screenwriter Adrian Hodges’ adaptation of two memoirs by filmmaker Colin Clark.

Stream My Week With Marilyn on Tubi.
Rent My Week With Marilyn on Amazon.
Get My Week With Marilyn on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Road To El Dorado (2000)

A pair of fortune-seeking con artists (Kenneth Branagh and Academy Award winner Kevin Kline) stumble upon the chance the find the score of their lives when they come into possession of a map that leads to a legendary and rich city in 16th-Century South America.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Kenneth Branagh made his feature-length animated film debut with Dreamworks’ cult favorite adventure story, The Road to El Dorado - a fun throwback to the old school adventure films with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby that also features original songs by Elton John.

Stream The Road To El Dorado on Peacock Premium.
Buy/Rent The Road To El Dorado on Amazon.
Get The Road To El Dorado on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)

Ignoring the warnings of his house elf (Toby Jones), a young wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) returns for a second year of studying the art of magic at his prestigious boarding school, where a series of eerie and dangerous events begin to happen.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: As it was an unofficial rite of passage for most British actors at the time, Kenneth Branagh joined author J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World for the first and last time as the arrogant, fame-seeking Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - the second installment of the phenomenal Harry Potter fantasy franchise from director Chris Columbus.

Stream Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets on Amazon.
Get Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Dunkirk (2017)

In the early years of the second World War, hundreds of thousands of British, Belgian, and French soldiers struggle to survive when they are left stranded on the coast of a port town in France where the German army threatens them at every turn.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: In his first collaboration with writer and director Christopher Nolan, Kenneth Branagh plays a Royal Navy commander named Bolton who is tasked with rescuing the endangered soldiers at the titular French town in Dunkirk - one of Nolan’s most ambitious and technically marvelous efforts yet. 

Stream Dunkirk on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent Dunkirk on Amazon.
Get Dunkirk on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Thor (2011)

A godly and arrogant warrior (Chris Hemsworth) is stripped of his powers and banished to Earth by his father (Anthony Hopkins), where he falls in love with an astrophysicist (Academy Award winner Natalie Portman) and, meanwhile, his adoptive brother (Tom Hiddleston) vengefully conspires to assume control of their heavenly kingdom.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Among Kenneth Branagh’s most notable directorial efforts in which he does not appear onscreen is Thor - the fun, visually stunning, mythological tale that introduced the titular God of Thunder and the world of Asgard into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and skyrocketed Chris Hemsworth onto the A-List.

Stream Thor on Disney+.
Buy/Rent Thor on Amazon.
Get Thor on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Cinderella (2015)

Constantly ridiculed and taken advantage of by her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett), a meek young woman (Lily James) receives a chance to break free of her dreary life when, with help from her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), she attends a royal ball held by a charming prince (Richard Madden) she met once before.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Another time that Disney enlisted Kenneth Branagh’s directorial talents with fun and visually stunning results was a live-action retelling of its own classic animated adaptation of Cinderella, which launched Lily James onto the A-List (when she was best known from the Downton Abbey cast) and gave moviegoers another great princess to root for.

Stream Cinderella on Starz.
Buy/Rent Cinderella on Amazon.
Get Cinderella on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Next in the pipeline for Kenneth Branagh is This Sceptered Island, a miniseries in which he will play British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also joined the Oppenheimer cast, for what will be his third collaboration with Christopher Nolan.

Barry Keoghan (which is pronounced “kee-own,” by the way) has been a major factor of critics and audiences’ radar for years, especially after giving a chilling performance in The Killing of a Sacred Deer in 2017. Yet, since making his comic book movie debut in the Eternals cast, the Dublin, Ireland, native is beginning to receive a level of attention that I predict will soon go off the charts.

I also believe that with his growing popularity, his newfound fans will be eager to take a look at some of the talented actor’s earlier, lesser-known work or even revisit a few favorites they may not have initially realized he was a part of at the time. Allow us to point you in the right direction with the following list of great Barry Keoghan movies (and one TV show) you can stream and / or digitally rent now, starting with the aforementioned, blockbuster epic that nudged him further toward the A-list.

Eternals (Disney+)

A diverse group of ageless, heroic beings whom each possess their own unique super powers are forced to reunite after a thousand years apart, and hiding in plain sight, when their ancient enemy - a race of creatures known as the Deviants - reemerge to wreak havoc on Earth.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: As previously mentioned, Barry Keoghan made his comic book movie debut as the mind controller Druig, who is just about the most hot-headed and cynical member of the titular superhero group in 2021’s Eternals - one of the most visually stunning Marvel movies yet, from Academy Award-winning co-writer and director Chloé Zhao.

Stream Eternals on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Eternals on Amazon.

Dunkirk (Netflix, HBO Max)

Hundreds of thousands of young soldiers originating from the Allied armies of the United Kingdom, Belgium, and France are left stranded and desperate for rescue on the beaches of a French port town and become surrounded from the sea and air by the German Army.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: In 2017, before trying his hand at acting in comic book movies, Barry Keoghan was directed by someone well-versed in the genre - The Dark Knight Trilogy helmer Christoper Nolan - in his technically masterful, fact-based thriller, Dunkirk, in the somewhat brief, but impactful, role of a fictional English teenage civilian named George, who aspires to help his country.

Stream Dunkirk on Netflix.
Stream Dunkirk on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Dunkirk on Amazon.

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (Netflix)

Years after a routine operation unexpectedly turns fatal, a surgeon (Colin Farrell) meets the late patient’s teenage son (Barry Keoghan) and befriends him, practically making him a member of his family, only to come to the horrific realization that the seemingly innocent young man may actually be a threat to them all.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: In the same year that he made his memorable appearance in Dunkirk, Barry Keoghan gave, arguably, the most memorable, but undeniably most chilling and definitive, performance of his career yet in the A24-produced The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which might also be the most disturbing effort from Greek co-writer and director, Yorgos Lanthimos.

Stream The Killing Of A Sacred Deer on Netflix.
Rent/Buy The Killing Of A Sacred Deer on Amazon.

Stay (Tubi, Peacock, IMDb TV)

When a Canadian woman (former Orange is the New Black cast member Taylor Schilling) makes the unexpected discovery that she is pregnant, her older, Irish boyfriend (two-time Emmy nominee Aidan Quinn) does not take kindly to the news, forcing them to reconsider what they truly want in life and whether or not their otherwise blissful romance can survive the decision.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: Years before playing another badgering youth with more sinister intent in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Barry Keoghan played an Irish teen named Sean Meehan who pesters his way into the life of Quinn’s curmudgeonly adult lead in 2013’s Stay - a drama that examines the choices we sometimes have to make for the ones we love and our willingness to commit to them.

Stream Stay on Tubi.
Stream Stay on Peacock.
Stream Stay on IMDb TV.
Rent/Buy Stay on Amazon.

Trespass Against Us (Showtime)

After a heist unexpectedly goes wrong, a man (Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender) tries to protect himself and his family from capture by the authorities while struggling to break free from the damaging influence of his veteran criminal father (Brendan Gleeson).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: In 2016, Barry Keoghan shared the screen with fellow European-born, Hollywood heavies Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson in Trespass Against Us - the feature-length debut of Adam Smith that boasts an impressive combination of dysfunctional family drama and intense crime thriller, with some shades of dark comedy. 

Stream Trespass Against Us on Showtime.
Rent/Buy Trespass Against Us on Amazon.

American Animals (Amazon Prime, Hulu, Tubi, Pluto TV)

Four sharp, male college students decide to take on the roles of their favorite characters from cinematic crime thrillers and hatch a bizarre plan to rob their own campus library in 2004 Kentucky.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: In 2018, Barry Keoghan shared the screen with another Marvel movie star (X-Men movies’ Quicksilver and WandaVision cast member Evan Peters), as well as Blake Jenner and Jared Abrahamson in another heist flick called American Animals - a unique hybrid of a dramatization and a documentary analysis of the actual crime that inspired it, featuring interviews with the real people involved.

Stream American Animals on Amazon Prime.
Stream American Animals on Hulu.
Stream American Animals on Tubi.
Stream American Animals on Pluto TV.
Rent/Buy American Animals on Amazon.

Black ‘47 (Amazon Rental)

A Irish member of the British Army (James Frecheville) returns to see his family at home, where he bears witness to the brutal hardships plaguing his country during the time of the Great Famine, and vows to something about it, in 1847 Ireland.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: Also in 2018, Barry Keoghan shared the screen with yet another former Marvel movie star (Captain America: The First Avenger’s Red Skull actor Hugo Weaving), as well as famed Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent and other power-house talents, in Black ’47 - a stunning, violent tale of historical fiction from director Lance Daly.

Rent/Buy Black ‘47 on Amazon.

Chernobyl (HBO Max)

Employees at a nuclear power plant in the northern Ukraine risk their lives to contain a disaster and prevent further damage after a huge explosion erupts in 1986.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: In 2019, Barry Keoghan played yet another fictional character in a dramatization of a devastating historical event (namely a Russian named Pavel, who volunteered to help clean up in the aftermath of the crisis) in two episodes of Chernobyl - an HBO original limited series that offers a brutally graphic recreation of the infamous tragedy from creator Craig Mazin.

Stream Chernobyl on HBO Max.
Buy Chernobyl on Amazon.

The Shadow Of Violence (Netflix)

As he is trying to reconnect with his ex-lover in an effort to be closer to his son, a former boxer (Cosmo Jarvis) who has gained a reputation in Ireland as the brutal enforcer for a family of notorious drug dealers has his loyalty tested when they ask him to commit an unspeakable act.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: Executive produced by his Trespass Against Us co-star, Michael Fassbender, 2019’s The Shadow of Violence (also known as Calm with Horses) is another intense crime thriller starring Barry Keoghan as a young man on the wrong side of the law who works closely with Cosmo Jarvis’ Douglas “Arm” Armstrong on his increasingly violent assignments.

Stream The Shadow Of Violence on Netflix.
Rent/Buy The Shadow Of Violence on Amazon.

The Green Knight (Showtime)

After battling a bizarre warrior of imposing size with green skin (The Witch’s Ralph Ineson), King Arthur’s rebellious nephew (Dev Patel) is cursed with a prophecy that, in order to protect himself, sets him off on a quest that sees him face haunting spirits, bloodthirsty giants, unmerciful thieves, and his own personal demons.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Barry Keoghan: In writer and director David Lowery’s thrilling, A24-produced, 2021 retelling of a classic, medieval fantasy tale, Barry Keoghan makes a couple of appearances in The Green Knight cast, as a scavenger who robs Dev Patel’s Sir Gawain, that are as memorably menacing as they are brief, much like his mysterious, unofficially named role in a certain comic book movie released in 2022.

Stream The Green Knight on Showtime.
Rent/Buy The Green Knight on Amazon.

Before his completely unrecognizable turn in The Batman, Barry Keoghan almost made his DC Comics adaptation debut as the title character of FX’s series based on Y: The Last Man, before dropping out to star in Eternals. I would consider that a smart move considering how the show was cancelled before completing its first season, unfortunately. The actor will next reunite with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson for Martin McDonough’s The Banshees of Inisherin and is currently filming the Apple TV+ miniseries Master of the Air. 

Sometimes an event, a group, or person comes along with a tale so fascinating and engaging (for one reason or another) that it captivates the world. More times than not when that happens, those stories are turned into riveting movies detailing people's strengths (and weaknesses), merits, and other aspects, creating amazing cinematic experiences in the process. 

Below is a collection of more than a dozen of the best movies based on true stories and how you can watch them streaming on services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and several other popular platforms. These titles range from the best sports movies to great political dramas and everything in between.

Moneyball (Netflix)

Outmatched by the big market teams when it comes to being able to attract and pay high-profile players, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), and his assistant Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), come up with a revolutionary system that looks at players not because of their names or previous accomplishments, but instead by their potential (and situational hitting). Based on the true story of the 2002 Oakland A’s, a team that won 20 consecutive games and punched a ticket to the postseason, Bennett Miller’s Moneyball shows what can happen when you leave conventional wisdom on the bench.

Stream Moneyball on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Moneyball on Amazon.

The Social Network (Amazon Prime)

What starts out as a response to getting dumped while attending Harvard University turns into the world’s largest (and most controversial) social media platform in this retelling of the founding of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg). David Fincher’s thrilling 2010 biographical drama, The Social Network, explores the formative years of Facebook, a time when the social media company and its founder’s biggest problems were those that dealt with issues over friendship and money, and not being accused of being detrimental to democracy, and society as a whole.

Stream The Social Network on Amazon Prime.
Rent/Buy The Social Network on Amazon.

Schindler's List (Showtime)

Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) goes from a shrewd factory owner living in Nazi Germany who hires Jewish workers to keep down his costs, to someone who risks everything to save the lives of his employees and their families during the horrors of the Holocaust. Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List is based on the dramatic story of a Nazi who decided to go against the grain no matter the cost, and ended up saving approximately 1,200 lives from slaughter.

Stream Schindler’s List on Showtime.
Rent/Buy Schindler’s List on Amazon.

Apollo 13 (Amazon Prime)

One year after Apollo 11 made Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins household names, three astronauts, led by Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) try to escape the shadow of giants and make their own mark on history. The astronauts in Ron Howard’s Apollo 13 do achieve that goal, but for all the wrong reasons, after their spacecraft experiences a catastrophic failure halfway to the moon.

Stream Apollo 13 on Showtime.
Rent/Buy Apollo 13 on Amazon.

Into The Wild (Netflix)

Upon graduating college, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) doesn’t start a family, a career, or anything like that, but instead embarks upon a solitary journey to discover freedom and himself in the great wilderness and lesser-travelled roads of the American landscape. Sean Penn’s biographical drama, Into the Wild, explores the real-life story of the self-described Alexander Supertramp and how he became one of the cult heroes of the late 20th Century.

Stream Into the Wild on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Into the Wild on Amazon.

Raging Bull (Showtime)

Boxing legend Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro) rises through the ranks of the prizefighting world while his life at home becomes more complicated, temperamental, and violent. Martin Scorsese’s 1980 Academy Award winner Raging Bull remains one of the most beautifully shot and scripted boxing movies, even if its characters and violent outbursts are hard to stomach.

Stream Raging Bull on Showtime.
Rent/Buy Raging Bull on Amazon.

Hidden Figures (Disney+)

Three brilliant, yet unrecognized, African-American NASA mathematicians set out to prove they shouldn’t be pushed to the wayside because of their race or gender when they help send John Glenn into orbit and forever change modern history. Theodore Melfi’s 2017 motivational drama, Hidden Figures, is one of those movies with a story so good it would be easy to dismiss it as something dreamt up in Hollywood.

Stream Hidden Figures on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Hidden Figures on Amazon.

Almost Famous (Amazon Prime)

High school reporter William Miller (Patrick Fugit) goes out on the road with up-and-coming band Stillwater to write a piece for Rolling Stone magazine, only to discover a great deal about life, love, and rock and roll. Cameron Crowe’s 2000 drama, Almost Famous, which is loosely based on his own experiences as a young journalist, does have elements that haven’t aged well over the years, but it remains one of the premier coming-of-age stories of this century.

Stream Almost Famous on Amazon Prime.
Rent/Buy Almost Famous on Amazon.

Dunkirk (HBO Max)

Stranded on a French beach after a battle has gone awry, Allied soldiers are rescued by British civilians attempting to cross the English Channel before the quickly approaching German forces reach them. Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic, Dunkirk, recounts the call to action and heroism exhibited by everyday people when it was needed most during one of the most daring rescue operations in modern military history.

Stream Dunkirk on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Dunkirk on Amazon.

A Beautiful Mind (Starz)

Accomplished mathematician John Nash (Russell Crowe) begins to lose touch with reality as the stresses in his life get the better of his fragile mental state, which is made worse by the onset of paranoid schizophrenia. One of the best Russell Crowe movies, Ron Howard’s harrowing 2001 biographical drama, A Beautiful Mind, does a tremendous job of discussing mental illness in a thoughtful way.

Stream A Beautiful Mind on Starz.
Rent/Buy A Beautiful Mind on Amazon.

Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)

Following a chance encounter with an alcoholic hobo who can tell a mean story, struggling singer-turned-comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) adopts a raunchy on-stage persona known as Dolemite before becoming an underground celebrity. Craig Brewer’s 2019 biopic, Dolemite Is My Name, which is one of the best movies on Netflix, sees Eddie Murphy in a return to form as the blaxploitation pioneer willing to risk anything and everything to achieve fame for himself and his friends.

Stream Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix.

The Farewell (Amazon Prime)

When it’s discovered that her beloved grandmother has been diagnosed with cancer and only given a few weeks to live, Billi (Awkwafina) and her family travel to China to say their goodbyes, but under the guise that they are visiting for a wedding. Based on events in director Lulu Wang’s life, The Farewell perfectly blends comedy and drama about goodbyes, new beginnings, and family secrets.

Stream The Farewell on Amazon.
Rent/Buy The Farewell on Amazon.

Boys Don't Cry (Hulu)

After fleeing his hometown after being threatened with exposure, transgender man Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank) escapes to rural Nebraska in hopes of finding a better life, but only finds more fear and hate from the locals. Based on the true and heartbreaking story of a young man trying to find his way, Kimberly Price’s Boys Don’t Cry is just as meaningful now as it was upon release more than 20 years ago.

Stream Boys Don’t Cry on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Boys Don’t Cry on Amazon.

The Disaster Artist (Netflix)

Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) set out to prove Hollywood (and the world) wrong by creating a one-of-a-kind drama, one that ends up making the mysterious filmmaker more infamous than famous. James Franco’s hilarious yet extremely heartfelt 2017 biopic, The Disaster Artist, shares all of the details concerning The Room and how it became the ultimate cult film of the 21st Century.

Stream The Disaster Artist on Netflix.
Rent/Buy The Disaster Artist on Amazon.

All The President's Men (HBO Max)

Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) break the biggest presidential scandal of the 20th Century when they uncover details of the infamous break-in at the Watergate Hotel and Richard Nixon’s involvement. Released not even two years after Nixon’s August 1974 resignation, Alan J. Pakula’s All The President’s Men remains one of the most important films about journalism of all time.

Stream All the President’s Men on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy All the President’s Men on Amazon.

Fruitvale Station (Netflix)

Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) sets off to ring in the new year with his family in the San Francisco Bay area only to find himself caught in a tense situation on public transit. The heartbreaking story of the death of Oscar Grant is told in swift yet moving fashion in Ryan Coogler’s directorial debut, Fruitvale Station.

Stream Fruitvale Station on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Fruitvale Station on Amazon.

Zodiac (Paramount+)

A police detective, reporter, and political cartoonist embark upon their own personal journeys while trying to identity and catch the sadistic Zodiac Killer. David Fincher’s 2007 drama, Zodiac, explores how the infamous serial killer impacted not only the lives of those he injured and killed but also those who gave up everything to find justice for his victims.

Stream Zodiac on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Zodiac on Amazon.

The Big Sick (Amazon Prime)

Kumail Nanjiani (playing a fictionalized version of himself) and Emily Gardner’s (Zoe Kazan) budding relationship is put to the ultimate test when Emily falls into a coma after contracting a mysterious illness. One of the best movies on Amazon, Michael Showalter’s The Big Sick is based on the actual start of Nanjiani and Emily Gordon’s relationship and how they stuck with it despite cultural differences and the drama brought on by the medical nightmare.

Stream The Big Sick on Amazon.

This is just barely scratching the surface of all the great movies based on true stories. With titles being added to streaming services everyday, expect to see numerous additions to this list in the very near future.

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At first, it sounded like a tall order to find an actor who could effectively fill the position as the male lead in A Quiet Place Part II after (SPOILER ALERT) writer and director John Krasinski’s character, Lee Abbott, sacrificed himself to save his children in the first film. However, Cillian Murphy proved to be a wonderful fit with his stunning performance as Emmett in the equally intense sequel. While watching the film, if you were ever curious where you might have seen the Irish actor before or if you wanted to explore his filmography any further, allow us to guide you in the right direction with the following movies (and one TV show) you can stream, rent (or purchase) digitally now, starting with another instant classic that sees Murphy at odds with the apocalypse.

28 Days Later… (2002)

A young man (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a month-long coma to discover that a virus that turns the infected into enraged, mindless, uncontrollable killers has wreaked havoc on London. 

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: Before playing a desperate survivor of the alien invasion at the center of A Quiet Place Part II, Cillian Murphy played a desperate survivor of the Rage Virus in director Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later…, a unique, realistic take on the zombie movie genre from the mind of screenwriter Alex Garland.

Stream 28 Days Later… on Hulu.

Rent 28 Days Later… on Amazon.

Sunshine (2007)

A crew of astronauts set out to save the Earth by reigniting the dying Sun with a nuclear blast.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: In his second time working with director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, Cillian Murphy, again, plays one of a group of brave people hoping to save the world in Sunshine - one of the most visually stunning, conceptually unique, and criminally underrated space movies of its time, if not of all time.

Rent Sunshine on Amazon.

Red Eye (2005)

A young hotel manager (Rachel McAdams) discovers that the stranger (Cillian Murphy) sitting next to her on a late night flight back to Miami is part of a politically motivated assassination plot which she holds the key to achieving.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: As the eponymously named Jackson Rippner, Cillian Murphy is the sinister threat whom Rachel McAdams’ Lisa Reisert struggles to save herself (and a Homeland Security official) from in Red Eye - a relatively lighter and more psychological change of pace for director Wes Craven.

Rent Red Eye on Amazon.

In Time (2011)

In a future in which people stop aging past 25 and time is literally money, an impoverished man (Justin Timberlake) must go on the run with the daughter of a wealthy socialite (Amanda Seyfried) as his hostage when a century-old stranger gives him all the time he has left, instantly making him a murder suspect.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: While not necessarily playing a bad guy, Cillian Murphy’s In Time character, timekeeper Raymond Leon, is certainly the antagonist of this romantic thriller with a highly inventive dystopian sci-fi concept.

Rent In Time on Amazon.

The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)

Young, orphaned billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returns to Gotham City to become a vigilante and eventually takes on his former mentor (Liam Neeson), an eccentric terrorist (late Oscar winner Heath Ledger), and a destructive tyrant (Tom Hardy).

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: Cillian Murphy’s most iconic villain role is, arguably, as Dr. Jonathan Crane (a.k.a. “Scarecrow”) in Batman Begins (before reappearing in The Dark Knight in 2008 and The Dark Knight Rises), which is ironic since he initially auditioned to play Batman when the first of Christopher Nolan’s DC movies was in development.

Stream Batman Begins on Hulu and HBO Max.

Buy Batman Begins on Amazon.

Stream The Dark Knight on Hulu and HBO Max.

Rent The Dark Knight on Amazon.

Stream The Dark Knight Rises on HBO Max.

Buy The Dark Knight Rises on Amazon.

Inception (2010)

In a world in which cutting edge technology allows people to enter other people’s dreams, a top-notch thought extractor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his crew are hired by the last man they stole from to pull off the opposite task: implant an idea in the mind of his business rival.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: In his first collaboration with writer and director Christopher Nolan outside of the Dark Knight Trilogy, Cillian Murphy plays the unwitting target of the titular subconscious idea-planting procedure of Inception - one of the most celebrated and unique mind-bending thrillers (and best movies on Amazon Prime) you could dream of.

Stream Inception on Amazon Prime.

Rent Inception on Amazon.

Dunkirk (2017)

During a critical moment in the early years of World War II, a combined 400,000 soldiers from the British, Belgian, and French armies find themselves stranded near the beach of a French port town as the German Army surrounds them by sea and air.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: In his most recent collaboration with writer and director Christopher Nolan outside of the Dark Knight Trilogy, Cillian Murphy plays an unnamed British soldier saved by a civilian boat after narrowly avoiding the horrors occurring on the titular shores of Dunkirk - a technical marvel that, debatably, has changed the war movie genre forever.

Stream Dunkirk on HBO Max.

Rent Dunkirk on Amazon.

In The Heart Of The Sea (2015)

The sole survivor of a whale attack (Brendan Gleeson) that cost the lives of many whalers on a dangerous expedition off the coast of New England in 1820 recounts the events to a young author (Ben Whishaw) 30 years later.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: Just a couple of years before he played a fugitive of oceanside terrors, Cillian Murphy played one of many whalers (including MCU stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Holland) who had no choice but to endure cruel nature of the waters and its beastly inhabitants in In the Heart of the Sea - director Ron Howard’s retelling of the true story that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick.

Stream In The Heart Of The Sea on Cinemax.

Rent In The Heart Of The Sea on Amazon.

Peaky Blinders (2013-2019)

The head of a family of organized criminals will stop at nothing to maintain control of his community in 1920s England.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: Another period piece that has earned Cillian Murphy much acclaim is Peaky Blinders - a hit Netflix exclusive series in which he plays Tommy Shelby, a former soldier of the British Army who is now the ruthless leader of the titular gang.

Stream Peaky Blinders on Netflix.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006)

A medical student (Cillian Murphy) and his brother (Pádraic Delaney) are torn apart by a civil war for Independence brewing between republican rebel and British special forces in 1920s rural Ireland.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: As his fame in the States was beginning blossom, Cillian Murphy got to represent his home county’s torrid history in the 20th Century in The Wind That Shakes the Barley - a powerful war drama and heartbreaking story of sibling rivalry at its core which won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Rent The Wind That Shakes The Barley on Amazon.

Intermission (2003)

The lives of a man who has recently dumped his girlfriend, a famed cop and his thieving arch enemy, and a woman with an infamous mustache intersect in ways that range from funny to terrifying in Dublin.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: Before his fame in the States began to blossom, Cillian Murphy got to represent the torrid side of modern society in his home country in Intermission - an engrossing and delightfully dark ensemble comedy featuring nearly every Irish A-list actor you could think of (yes, even Colin Farrell).

Rent Intermission on Amazon.

Free Fire (2016)

A simple illegal arms deal suddenly spirals completely out of control, resulting in a relentless, deadly shoot-out in an abandoned warehouse in 1978 Boston.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: Cillian Murphy also got to keep his natural accent when playing a member of the IRA as part of the glorious ensemble cast of Free Fire - a rollicking, hilariously offbeat, 90-minute gunfight and one of the coolest movies on Netflix at the moment from co-writer and director Ben Wheatley and producer Martin Scorsese.

Stream Free Fire on Netflix.

Rent Free Fire on Amazon.

Breakfast On Pluto (2005)

An Irish transgender woman (Cillian Murphy) escapes to London, both in search of liberation from her ignorant peers and to find her long-lost mother.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Cillian Murphy: While his role allowed him to keep his natural accent, Breakfast on Pluto sees Cillian Murphy’s character Patrick “Kitten” Braden at odds with the IRA and several other challenging entities in this dark, yet whimsical, period piece from visionary director Neil Jordan.

Stream Breakfast On Pluto on Amazon Prime.

Stream Breakfast On Pluto on Tubi.

Stream Breakfast On Pluto on Pluto TV.

Rent Breakfast On Pluto on Amazon.

Despite his consistently impressive filmography, I would not be surprised if many fans’ favorite work of Cillian Murphy turned out to be A Quiet Place 2, streaming on Paramount+ at some point around mid-July. However, if you were to choose from 12 films and one TV show starring the Irish actor above, which would be your favorite?

This poll is no longer available.

In 2005, eight years after Batman & Robin brought the Batman film series to a grinding halt, the franchise came back with a vengeance thanks to Batman Begins. Among the movie’s most notable aspects was featuring the first theatrical appearance on Jonathan Crane, a.k.a. The Scarecrow, played by Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy. While his role as the Batman villain introduced him to moviegoers who may not have seen 28 Days Later or Cold Mountain, it also led to a running joke between him and director Christopher Nolan that continues to this day.

Because Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy provided a more grounded take on the Batman mythos, Cillian Murphy’s Jonathan Crane didn’t wear the full Scarecrow getup from the comics. Instead, his Scarecrow guise was reflected through a gas mask that looked like a burlap bag, and Murphy and Nolan can’t help but joke about having to wear a bag of some sort again for other movies they do together. When asked by THR if he was relieved not to have to wear a bag for 2017’s Dunkirk, Murphy responded:

It’s good to see Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan can still have a laugh over Scarecrow’s mask more than 15 years after Batman Begins’ release. And yes, his time wearing that particular bag came to an end a long time ago, but Nolan could certainly find away to put a more generic bag over the Murphy’s head. Luckily for the actor, that didn’t happen on Dunkirk, where he played the Shivering Soldier. In addition to that World War II tale and the Dark Knight trilogy, Murphy and Nolan also worked together on 2010’s Inception.

Funny enough, Cillian Murphy didn’t have to wear the Scarecrow mask for the entirety of his tenure as Jonathan Crane. After being driven insane by his own fear gas in Batman Begins, Crane kept the mask on for his criminal persona for the rest of that movie and The Dark Knight, but during his cameo in The Dark Knight Rises, it was nowhere to be seen. I guess when you’re presiding over a kangaroo court established by Bane in the “liberated” Gotham City, looking like a demented mannequin isn’t necessary.

Cillian Murphy originally auditioned to play Bruce Wayne/Batman, and while that role ultimately went to Christian Bale, it’s probably safe to say that Murphy being cast as Scarecrow worked out in the long run. He was the first actor to play the Caped Crusader adversary in live-action, with Charlie Tahan and David W. Thompson portraying the character the Fox series Gotham. Mad Men alum Vincent Kartheiser will appear as Crane in Titans Season 3.

Should Scarecrow be brought to the big screen, be it in Matt Reeves’ The Batman film series or the DCEU, we’ll let you know. Cillian Murphy fans can see the actor playing Emmett in A Quiet Place: Part II, which is now playing in theaters.

For two decades, Christopher Nolan has carved out an impressive niche in Hollywood, garnering a loyal fanbase that’s willing to pretty much see anything he makes. Whenever he releases a movie, it becomes a huge cinematic event. While some of his earlier work, like Memento, Insomnia, and The Prestige leaned toward slower, quieter dramas, his latest work since Inception has involved loud soundtracks, fast-paced narratives, and tense storytelling. I think it’s high time he switched back to the former.

A “quiet” drama, of course, could take on many forms for the director. It could mean going back to basics, telling a simple yet profound story, and moving away from high-concept ideas like, you know, time inversion and entropy, and the high-stakes, adrenaline rush pace.

With Tenet, Christopher Nolan has doubled down on this trend, ratcheting up the action, the pace, and the sound. And, don’t get me wrong, I liked Tenet, but now that he’s reached a fever pitch in this style of storytelling, it feels like a good time to shift gears and do something totally different. Here’s 8 reasons why.

He’s Starting To Pigeonhole Himself

When he first broke onto the scene, Christopher Nolan was a fresh, visionary filmmaker with a keen ability to direct thoughtful, exciting new movies. However, since Inception, he’s been veering into a certain style of moviemaking and has been repeating many of the same tropes, like mind-bending concepts of time, fast-paced narratives and loud sound design.

On the one hand, I understand many of these hallmarks are his stock and trade. He’s earned his fanbase by working toward his strengths and he’s very good at what he does. But with Tenet, he might just be leaning too hard on these strengths and is in serious danger of parodying and pigeonholing himself.

That would be a sad waste of talent. Christopher Nolan is a versatile director. He’s made quieter pictures like The Prestige next to big, loud, action-packed movies like The Dark Knight. I'm fairly positive he can swap back and forth between two different styles of filmmaking. Now, more than ever, would be a great time to do it.

It Would Be An Unexpected Thing To Do

When a director sticks to certain genres and themes for a while, it’s expected that they’ll stay there. If news broke tomorrow that Christopher Nolan was making a new thriller about some element of space-time, it’s doubtful anyone would bat an eye. It's more likely they would yawn.

If Christopher Nolan wants to avoid having his audience check out, he needs to shake things up and do the unexpected. I can’t think of anything more realistically unexpected than taking on a low-budget, quiet drama (except maybe doing a comedy with Will Ferrell).

The fear, of course, is that if a filmmaker strays too far from their brand, it might turn off the built-in audience. It’s a legitimate concern, but I think Christopher Nolan has earned enough license to do pretty much whatever he wants right now (though that could wane if he does the same old thing). With that said, I think there’s a good chance his audience would be eager to see a quieter Christopher Nolan film again.

His Quiet Movies Are Some Of His Best

Like many Christopher Nolan fans, my love for his movies usually focused on the action-packed stuff, like The Dark Knight and Inception. But,over the years, I’ve almost come to appreciate his quiet films, like The Prestige, Insomnia and more.

These movies take their time to develop the characters, the plot and the mystery. They have their moments of tension, sure, but the tension doesn’t take center stage. They’re emotional, thoughtful and feel human and intimate; narrative pieces that Christopher Nolan has been abandoning more often lately for thrills, effects and camera work.

Christopher Nolan made Insomnia and The Prestige when his career was still growing. Now that he has twenty years of filmmaking under his belt, imagine what he could do with a slow, quiet drama today. I think with the right screenwriter, it would have the potential to be something special.

There’s A Precedent For Directors To Turn To Smaller Projects

Some of the best directors can tell all kinds of stories. They don’t allow one genre or technique to pigeonhole them. They’re able to go from directing a big, action-packed blockbuster to quickly turning to something slow and quiet.

Steven Spielberg, for instance, created an entire filmography around jumping back and forth between big blockbusters and smaller dramas. In the '80s, he went from directing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom to directing A Color Purple. In the '90s, he simultaneously directed Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List, two radically different movies.

Of course, not every director can do this; Michael Bay tried shifting gears with Pearl Harbor and that didn’t turn out so well. But Christopher Nolan isn’t Michael Bay. He’s proven he can make the shift from spectacle to subdued. So while it might feel somewhat unexpected to suddenly turn to a drama, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary in the grand scheme of things.

People Are Starting To Hate How Loud His Movies Are

One of the unique elements of Christopher Nolan’s latest movies is the sound design. Not only does he refuse to use much ADR, he loves to crank up his score and sound. Christopher Nolan's devotion to the theater experience, by and large, drives him to gear the sound to that end. This can produce surprising (and sometimes frustrating) results, making you feel immersed in the story and occasionally concerned you might be going deaf.

While his use of sound doesn’t bother me (though I’ll admit that it’s growing tiresome), many others are really starting to hate it. People don’t like the overbearing sound design and the fact that they can’t understand what the characters are saying.

So not only should he create a tonally quiet drama, he should also create a literally quiet drama. Imagine, for instance, if Christopher Nolan made a movie like A Quiet Place that hampers down on sound entirely. People would certainly be taken aback by it, but it might win back those fans that refuse to subject themselves to more eardrum abuse.

It Would Give Him A Chance To Focus On Characters And Actor Performances

With a quiet drama, Christopher Nolan wouldn’t be able to fall back on his typical filmmaker toolkit. He’d have to fundamentally rethink how he’d want to tell the story. Without using fast-paced storytelling techniques as a crutch, he’d need to turn his attention to character development and actor performances to churn out a compelling drama. No more hiding behind a thrilling theater experience; the characters and story would have to do the heavy lifting.

Notably, this is one of his biggest weaknesses as a storyteller. Some of the recent movies that he's written himself lack solid characters, with Dunkirk and Tenet being prime examples. We know barely anything about the characters in those movies. His focus seems more on the technical aspects of filmmaking rather than the story.

That doesn’t mean Christopher Nolan has never produced a drama with greater attention to character. Insomnia and The Prestige both do a fantastic job following flawed, nuanced characters, and have particularly strong performances from actors like Robin Williams, Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman.

But it’s important to note that those films weren’t originally written by Christopher Nolan (Insomnia was written by Hilary Seitz and The Prestige was adapted from a novel by Christopher Priest). If he did another small picture, it might make sense to have another screenwriter tackle the script or team up with one that’s especially good at writing characters and drama.

His Status As A Power Director Could Give Dramas A Boost

Over the past decade, superhero movies have flooded the theaters and become some of the highest-grossing movies ever. Christopher Nolan had a part to play in this radical shift at the cinema. His grounded Batman trilogy totally redefined what superhero movies could be, paving the way for those types of cinematic tales to have a greater prominence at theaters.

As a result, dramas have taken a bit of a back seat to action and adventure films. Even within the last decade, the number of people going to see dramas has declined, while action and adventure movies have boomed.

I realize there’s some hubris here. I'm not saying Christopher Nolan is a wizard that can cure all ills. Still, historically, his movies have consistently been huge blockbusters; he’s one of the rare directors that draws an audience on name recognition. With that kind of status, there’s a good chance he could give greater attention to dramas and maybe give them a renewed boost at the theater.

It Might Get Him An Oscar

Christopher Nolan fans have long wanted the director to win an Academy Award. Though he’s been nominated five times, and some of his films have won awards for things like cinematography, he’s never snagged an Oscar himself.

It’s no secret that the Academy loves quiet, character dramas. If Christopher Nolan leaned in on this and proved he could provide a fresh take on this kind of story, it might turn some heads and put him back on the Academy’s radar. Nolan might have a real shot at finally winning an Academy Award.

There's no question Christopher Nolan is a talented filmmaker. He’s experimented with various genres and high-concept ideas, and found ways to make the theater experience incredible without using heavy CGI or 3D special effects. That’s quite a feat. Now that he’s done that, it feels like now is the time to shake things up and go after a new challenge that stretches him as a filmmaker. It’s time for him to make a quiet drama. Let us know if you agree in the comments below.

Those familiar with Harry Styles likely know him best for his musical career, be it with One Direction or as a solo artist. However, Styles delved into the acting world for the first time in 2017 when he played a soldier named Alex in the Christopher Nolan-directed World War II movie Dunkirk. Three years later, Styles has finally landed his next movie, and it’ll see him working with director Olivia Wilde.

After making her making her directorial debut with last year’s critically acclaimed coming-of-age comedy Booksmart, the House and Tron: Legacy actress is helming a psychological thriller titled Don’t Worry, Darling next. Olivia Wilde will also have a key supporting role in the movie, and originally the plan was for one of her costars to be Shia LaBeouf, who most recently starred in Honey Boy, The Peanut Butter Falcon and The Tax Collector.

However, Deadline reports that Shia LaBeouf has dropped out of Don’t Worry, Darling due to a scheduling conflict, and Harry Styles will replace him. Styles will perform alongside Black Widow’s Florence Pugh and Wonder Woman 1984’s Chris Pine, both of whom signed on earlier this year. Booksmart screenwriter Katie Silberman reunited with Wilde to pen the Don’t Worry, Darling script, which is based on a spec script by Shane and Carey Van Dyke. Wilde and Silberman are also tackling a Marvel movie reportedly centered on Spider-Woman.

Although it was announced back in August 2019 that Olivia Wilde was tackling Don’t Worry, Darling, no specific plot information has come out. All we know is that it’s set in an isolated, utopian community in the 1950s California desert. So it’s hard to say who Harry Styles or any of his fellow actors will be playing for now, but with New Line Cinema labeling Don’t Worry, Darling as a “high priority,” ideally we’ll learn such details sooner rather than later.

As for how Harry Styles boarded Don’t Worry, Darling, Deadline’s article noted how the executives at Warner Bros (of which New Line Cinema is a part of) were “blown away” by his Dunkirk performance and had been looking for the “next thing” for him. Styles reportedly impressed Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh during an initial meeting, and from there, the pieces fell into place for him to sign on.

While Don’t Worry, Darling will mark Harry Styles’ second movie (outside of appearing as himself in two documentaries and a concert film), there was a time where there was a different major motion picture looking to snag the singer. In summer 2019, it was reported that Disney was eyeing Styles to play Prince Eric in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, but he ended up turning down the role because he wanted to focus on his music. Instead, World on Fire’s Jonah Hauer-King will play Eric opposite Halle Bailey’s Ariel.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more news on how Don’t Worry, Darling is progressing. You can learn what movies are expected to hit theaters in the near future with our 2020 release schedule and 2021 release schedule.

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan is an iconic director who has had plenty of acclaimed blockbusters throughout his long and successful career. Currently all eyes are on what Nolan has in store for Tenet, which is one of the first movies to arrive now that theaters are reopening. And now the director has opened up about how he titled the time-reversing blockbuster. Namely, why Tenet is yet another Nolan film that is a single word.

Christopher Nolan had had a slew of hit movies over the years, many of which have big twists and make big money at the box office. And quite a few of the blockbusters have one-word titles including Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Memento. The acclaimed filmmaker recently appeared on our very own ReelBlend podcast, where he opened up about his titling process. As he put it,

It looks like Christopher Nolan is trying to keep things simple, and therefore enjoys a short and teasy title for his movies. And while the filmmaker acknowledges that finding the right name for his films is a "tricky" process, now we can understand a little bit more about the creative journey. Especially as audiences head to theaters to see Tenet on the big screen.

Christopher Nolan's comments come from his recent appearance on ReelBlend about the highly anticipated release of Tenet. Nolan's films are in a pedigree of their own, so it's fascinating to take a peek behind the curtain about just ho the filmmaker makes each visionary movie into a reality. And that includes finding out what to name the damn thing.

In his comments, Christopher Nolan specifically mentioned the 1998 British movie Following. The movie is one of the earlier entries in Nolan's opus, which he wrote and directed. Even then the filmmaker knew brevity was at the heart of wit, and therefore pushed for the movie to have the shortest possible title, one without a pesky "the."

Funny enough, that one short word was recently taken out of Marvel's Eternals movie. And over at DC James Gunn's The Suicide Squad will stand apart from David Ayer's 2017 movie titled Suicide Squad. There's a lot of power in a "the", as Christopher Nolan learned early in his filmmaking career.

As for Tenet, Christopher Nolan's latest movie is dealing with more high concepts and featuring plenty of explosions and practical stunts. The movie's reviews are in, and have been positive towards the filmmaker's latest work. The movie was delayed amid global health concerns, with Christopher Nolan hoping that the blockbuster would help revitalize the industry. We'll just have to see how much the movie ultimately makes, especially as theaters aren't able to fill to capacity due to social distancing protocols.

Tenet is hitting theaters in the U.S. today. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

There are war movies and then there is Christopher Nolan's deconstruction and reinvention of the genre, Dunkirk. The award-winning and unconventional retelling of one of the most pivotal moments of the second World War was unlike anything anyone had seen at the time of the film's summer 2017 release. And just like everything else from the acclaimed director of movies like Memento, the Dark Knight trilogy, and the forthcoming Tenet, the process of how he put the movie together makes for some mind-blowing behind the scenes facts, some of which go above and beyond what a filmmaker should have to do to make a movie.

Christopher Nolan Was Inspired To Tell The Story Of Dunkirk After Sailing Across The English Channel

One of the major storylines of Dunkirk is that of the British civilians taking their personal boats across the English Channel to rescue the soldiers trapped on the beach. Growing up hearing the fables of this monumental feat, Christopher Nolan was even more inspired to tell that story after he and his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas helped a friend sail across the waterway many years ago, which he touched on in the making-of documentary on the film's Blu-ray release:

Along with one of their friends, the couple fought tough waters on what was supposed to be a leisurely cruise across the channel, one that ended up taking nearly 24 hours as opposed to the original, much shorter planned duration. It was then when he fully appreciated the sacrifice so many were willing to make.

Steven Spielberg Helped Christopher Nolan Fine-Tune His Vision For The WWII Epic

When preparing Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan reached out to a filmmaker responsible for one of the most consequential military dramas of all time — Steven Spielberg. To better prepare for some of the large scale battle sequences featured in his own movie, Nolan told Variety that he asked Spielberg for a print of Saving Private Ryan, and he received one that had only been played a total of 12 times.

In addition to the pristine print of the film, Spielberg also gave some advice to Nolan by telling him to put the research first and foremost to best tell the story of what happened on that beach. Only after watching the print did Nolan realize exactly how he wanted to convey tension and tell the story in his own way.

Christopher Nolan Originally Wanted To Go Without A Script

Unlike a lot of Christopher Nolan's other movies, Dunkirk is very light in terms of dialogue, and because of that, the director originally wanted to go without a script because he felt like he had an understanding of the scope and movement of the story he wanted to tell and that he was comfortable with not having written lines for the actors. But as he told THR in 2017, his wife and producing partner, Emma Thomas, looked at him like he was crazy and basically told him that wouldn't cut it. After the conversation, Nolan turned around and quickly wrote a 76-page script, one of his shortest to date.

The Movie Was Partially Shot At The Actual Location Of The Dunkirk Evacuation

Christopher Nolan and the rest of film's producers could have shot Dunkirk on any given beach, but the director was hellbent on filming at least some of the movie on the actual beach where the Dunkirk evacuation took place more than a half-century earlier, a move assistant director Nilo Otero believes helped make the movie unlike anything seen before. In the making-of documentary on the film's Blu-ray release, Otero had this to say about the decision to film on location:

Not only were large sections of the movie filmed on the very beach where 400,000 soldiers waited to be rescued between May 26 and June 4, 1940, they were actually filmed during the anniversary of the monumental operation.

The Production Design Team Made Fences With Soldiers Drawn On Them Instead Of Digital Extras

At any given point in Dunkirk there are supposed to be roughly 400,000 soldiers on the beach, but finding that many extras (or relying on digital extras) wasn't going to work here, so the production team used a method from the past — they made "fences" of photographs of different people and stood them up along the beach for the far-off shots. In the making-of documentary on the film's Blu-ray release, executive producer Jake Meyer explained:

To set up the effect, the production design team would take photographs of different people in the costumes, replicate them in different poses, print them out and glue them to mesh fences that would then be stood up on the beach to make it look like there were hundreds of thousands of extras.

Dunkirk's Producers Believed The Story Required A Large Canvas, So They Went With IMAX And 65 MM Film

In order to properly tell the story of Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan and the rest of the film's producers and major players felt that it would require large format cameras, specifically IMAX and 65 mm film. This was touched on heavily in the film's making-of documentary, in which Nolan stated:

It was a no-brainer to use IMAX for all of the sweeping shots of the beach and the Channel from the air, but the more dialogue heavy scenes required a camera that wouldn't drown out the actors like the notoriously loud IMAX camera is known to do. To get around this, they figured it would be best to use the 65mm format, which would still provide the big feel of the picture but have better sound properties.

The Aerial Shots Were Captured By Attaching An IMAX Camera To The Wing Of A Plane

Dunkirk is an achievement in filmmaking for more than one reason, but one of the most striking examples is the amazing and thrilling way in which Christopher Nolan shot the dogfights and scores of aerial shots scattered about the movie. And while so many directors would have settled for CGI or composite shots stitched together in post-production, Nolan insisted on doing things the old-fashioned way, but with an IMAX camera fixed to the wing of the plane, as he revealed in a conversation with USA Today in 2017:

In that same USA Today article, Craig Hosking admitted that he didn't think the plane would be able to fly with the extremely heavy IMAX camera fixed to the wing, but as we saw in the movie, everything went according to plan.

Christopher Nolan Wanted Young And Inexperienced Actors To Add Realism To The Movie

One of the elements of the Dunkirk evacuation that the film's producers were adamant about getting right was young and inexperienced soldiers who made up the 400,000 waiting to be saved from the beach back in 1940. In the making-of documentary on the film's Blu-ray, Christopher Nolan explained:

To capture that, casting director Joseph Papsidera, looked at hiring young actors around the ages of 17 to 19 years old as well as people with little to no acting experience, explaining:

And it paid off, especially during all of those scenes where German planes come swooping over the beaches and the mole, leaving the British and French soldiers looking like fish in a barrel.

Christopher Nolan's Work On The Dark Knight Trilogy Prepared Him For Dunkirk

Filmmakers learn something with each of her different projects and that can be said for Christopher Nolan, who took elements of his Dark Knight trilogy and applied it to Dunkirk, which he explained during an interview with the Los Angeles Times:

And it's not hard to see how Christopher Nolan applied the lessons he learned from telling a superhero movie that wasn't all that action-oriented and applied it to the war genre, which is historically centered around action set pieces instead of more long and tense shots that build the mood.

Wouldn't You Know It, Michael Caine Is In Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan loves using the same actors time and time again in his movies, and it's no different in Dunkirk which features two of the director's longtime featured players: Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy. But two stars of The Dark Knight Rises and Inception aren't the only ones to make an appearance in the 2017 war drama, as none other than Michael Caine makes a brief appearance (his voice anyway).

Eagle eye, err eagle ear(?) members of the audience probably picked up on Caine's distinct voice as the commander on the other end of Hardy's radio throughout the early goings of the movie. Christopher Nolan confirmed in a conversation with NJ.com back in 2017, marking the seventh time the actor and director worked together (soon to be eight with Tenet).

Those are just a few of the insane behind-the-scenes facts about the making of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, and there are still plenty more out there worth digging up. Which one of these is your favorite? Make sure to sound off in the comments below.

Christopher Nolan is one of the 21st century's most inspiring, groundbreaking and innovative filmmakers. Every movie he’s directed has been a critical success, a box office success or both. Usually, it’s both. Starting with Following in 1999, he’s been putting out hits for twenty years, and in that time, I’ve been able to pick out some trends along the way.

Most directors reuse techniques and trademarks they’re comfortable with. However, sometimes, a director reuses something so much it becomes predictable, bland and distracts from the overall work. Here are seven things Christopher Nolan likes to reuse in his movies.

Nonlinear Storytelling

By now, nonlinear storytelling is one of Christopher Nolan’s core trademarks. This technique tells a story by breaking up the timeline, rather than telling the story sequentially along a timeline. It’s by no means a new technique and has been used for a long time in a variety of media, but nevertheless, Christopher Nolan likes to use it... a lot. He started using nonlinear storytelling in Following, his first feature film about a writer that follows people for material and inspiration. However, it’s in Memento that he took the technique to new, mind-bending extremes. This movie, and its use of nonlinear storytelling, is arguably what established him as a visionary filmmaker.

Rather than call it a day and put nonlinear storytelling away, Christopher Nolan leaned into the storytelling formula more. From Batman Begins to Dunkirk, nonlinear storytelling is used in one way, shape or form. Of his movies, Inception is the closest he comes to returning to the confusing, cerebral extremes of Memento.

While his consistent use of this technique has widely played to his strengths as a storyteller, recently some movie critics have called him out for using it too much, specifically with his latest movie, Dunkirk. One critic wrote of Dunkirk:

It’s hard to say if Christopher Nolan will use nonlinear storytelling in Tenet. Still, from the looks of the trailer and talk of “inversion” and time travel, I suspect he will.

Michael Caine

Since playing the role of Alfred Pennyworth in Batman Begins, Sir Michael Caine has appeared in every Christopher Nolan movie. He’s become something of a lucky charm for Nolan. That’s not to say he puts him in large roles. Oftentimes Caine will appear only for a few small scenes. In Dunkirk, Michael Caine only came on for a sneeze-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo, where his voice is heard over Tom Hardy’s radio. Christopher Nolan even admitted at the time that Caine had to be in the movie in some form.

In Tenet, Michael Caine got more than a voice-over cameo. According to Caine, he did one day’s work for one scene with John David Washington, which is likely the same scene we see in the trailer. Honestly, there’s little reason Christopher Nolan shouldn’t keep reusing Caine in his movies. He’s an extraordinary, two-time Academy Award winning actor, after all. At the same time, unless he plans to use him in a large, meaningful role, perhaps he’s become more of a distraction than anything else?

Trains

Alright, hear me out on this one. No, Christopher Nolan doesn't use trains in every movie, but I think his use of them is more significant than it looks. The first example of this was in Batman Begins. If you recall, Thomas Wayne builds a train in the city as means of cheap transportation. Ra’s Al Ghul later tries to use this train against Gotham by pumping Scarecrow’s poisonous gas into the city. Of course, Batman allows the crashing train to kill Ra’s Al Ghul instead.

Near the beginning of The Prestige, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) rides a train to Colorado Springs to visit Nikola Tesla, hopeful that the destination will solve some of his problems. He wants Tesla to build him a machine for his next magic trick. But it’s really in Inception where trains become an important motif. While Cob and Mal are in Limbo, they lay their heads down on the train tracks while Cob says, “You're waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away. You know where you hope the train will take you, but you can't know for sure. Yet it doesn't matter. Now, tell me why?”

The train kills them in the dream and brings them back to reality. But Mal can’t accept that it actually is reality and jumps out of a window. Later, while Cob and his crew are burrowing into the recesses of Robert Fischer’s mind, the same train comes down a city road, smashing through cars. What Cob says about the train is more important than the train itself. The train is a symbol of linear time, going from one point to another. Most people see this as an assurance that they know the train will take them from point A to point B, but from what Cob says, there is no real assurance of this.

Christopher Nolan uses the train to signify what we hope for in the future along a timeline. They’re a vehicle for where we want to go and what we want to do. For Thomas Wayne, that meant helping the poor. For Ra’s Al Ghul, that meant destroying Gotham and starting over. For Bruce Wayne, well, that meant destroying the train entirely and killing Ra’s Al Ghul in the process. Christopher Nolan seems to conclude we don’t really know what will happen on the train ride, and that it doesn’t matter in the end anyway.

All of this brings us to Tenet. I couldn’t help but notice the train scene in the Tenet trailer, which I find humorously suspect since the movie deals with the reverse flow of time. Will these trains play a large role in the story? There’s no real way of knowing until we see the movie, but I wouldn’t bet against it.

Time Relativity

Similar to reusing nonlinear storytelling as a technique, Christopher Nolan loves exploring the concept of time, specifically in Memento, Inception, Interstellar and Dunkirk. In Memento, Leonard has no real concept of time because of his memory loss. Without the ability to make memories, he’s stuck in a loop, constantly reliving the same tragedy over and over again. Inception is a sort of kindred spirit to this idea, except it’s not about memory this time, but dreams and reality. Like Joseph-Gordon Levitt’s character says,”Five minutes in the real world gives you an hour in the dream.” This long duration of time, however, also warps the character’s sense of reality, confusing them from what is real and what is a dream.

Interstellar plays with time relativity even more, using some real science theory to back it up, no less. However, in contrast to Inception, for Matthew McConaughey’s character Cooper, time becomes a precious commodity. One hour on the first planet he visits equals seven years back on Earth. He watches emotionally as his kids become adults while he stays the same.

Watch the first trailer for Dunkirk, and you’ll hear time ticking away. With this movie, it’s less about time dilation and more about immediacy. Time is closing in on our heroes as they fight for survival, each hero at land, sea and air experiencing time in different ways.

With Tenet, Christopher Nolan is back to his old ways of twisting and manipulating time to confuse the audience, not to mention the actors themselves. But, this time around, the story is about the reverse flow of time.

Paradoxes

I think it’s safe to say most audiences hate paradoxes. Typically, we want things to logically make sense and to resolve in an understandable way. If something in a movie doesn’t resolve itself neatly, the usual complaint is that there’s a “plot hole.” But a paradox, by definition, can’t be resolved, and that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Inception and Interstellar are the two most obvious examples of using paradoxes. In Inception, Christopher Nolan even gives the audience a blatant heads up when Arthur and Ariadne walk on the penrose stairs, aka. the infinite staircase. He’s practically telling everyone, “Guys, the ending of this movie is going to mess with your head.”

But it’s Interstellar where the time loop paradox comes on hot and heavy. If you’ll recall, the messages Cooper tries to give his daughter, Murph, are coming from the bookshelves. Murph uses this information from the future to save the world and eventually reunite with her father out in space. It’s a prime example of the causal loop paradox. If you didn’t catch it, Tenet handed us a paradox at the end of the trailer when John David Washington’s character says, “This reversing the flow of time, doesn’t us being here now, mean it never happened?” You better believe Tenet’s paradoxes are going to give people headaches.

Epistemology

Epistemology means the study of knowledge. It typically asks the questions, “What do we know? How do we know?” These questions play a central role in many of Christopher Nolan's movies, starting with, you guessed it, Memento. And that only makes sense since the subject matter of memory loss lends itself to the topic. Memento asks the question, “How do we know our memories are true?” With Leonard’s impaired memory, questions naturally arise about how he can know something is true. Almost every character questions him about the reliability of his memories and what he can really know for sure. By the end, we learn that Leonard’s present truth is lies he wrote down on his Polaroids.

The Prestige asks the question, “How do we know what we see is true?” In this movie, two magicians, played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, bend and twist the truth in front of an audience for entertainment. People want to be deceived for fun. Christopher Nolan reveals this with the line by Cutter, played by Michael Caine, “Now you're looking for the secret. But you won't find it because of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to work it out. You want to be fooled.”

But next to Memento, the Christopher Nolan movie that plays even heavier with these themes is Inception, which asks the question, “How do we know the real world from the dream world?” In the story, to help determine the dream world from the real world, Cob and his dream thieves use totems. At one point in the story, Cob and Mal go so deep in the dream world that they can no longer tell the difference until Cob brings them back out by planting an idea in Mal’s mind with inception. But, while in the real world, she still thinks she’s in a dream.

These threads of knowledge and truth stay fairly persistent in his work. And Christopher Nolan’s usual answer is that people don’t really want the truth; they want their truth, and who are you to tell them otherwise? Along with the paradox I mentioned before, Tenet is already laying the groundwork for more philosophical questions, like “How do we know something actually happened at all?”

Christopher Nolan reusing all of this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most directors reuse the stuff that made them successful. Sometimes these tried-and-true techniques should be reused. Tenet, though, already feels a little too familiar just after watching the trailer, like he’s getting repackaging old concepts. The danger for Nolan here is reusing so much that it becomes a faint echo rather than a powerful noise; it becomes eye roll-inducing rather than a gleaming inspiration. As a fan of Christopher Nolan, I’d rather his movies be the latter.

Of course, this isn't a full list. There's probably stuff I didn't mention. What are things you think Christopher Nolan reuses in his movies? Let us know in the comments!

Christopher Nolan has made many of the most talked about movies of the 21st century -- the kind of movies we make sure we see on a big screen. Now, as Hollywood shuts down production during the coronavirus crisis, he’s making a plea to Congress to save the movies -- or, at least, the movie theaters.

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, the director of Dunkirk, Inception and The Dark Knight Trilogy reminds us of the important role that cinemas play in our lives. Not just the lives of moviegoers, but especially the lives of those who own, operate, and work at movie theaters around the country. The piece, titled “Movie theaters are a vital part of American social life. They will need our help,” begins by highlighting a Missouri-based family-owned chain, B&B Theaters, which has been in business since 1924.

Until this year, the company has never had to lay off an employee. But, after states all around the country called for the closure of non-essential businesses to help limit large gatherings, they’ve had to close over 400 theaters and lay off 2,000 employees.

It’s just one example of the impact that coronavirus is having on the film industry -- and by now, we know there are many. Nevertheless, it illustrates the point that Christopher Nolan is attempting to make: that many movie theaters around the country will be in a precarious financial situation long after this crisis has passed. Airlines, auto factories, restaurants, countless small businesses, and cinemas, too, may need help to get back to business, and it’s up to Congress to recognize that and act accordingly:

Up until this point, we’ve paid a lot of attention to coronavirus’ impact on certain aspects of the film industry. We’ve noticed when movie debuts have been pushed back, when production has come to a halt and when Hollywood has shifted VOD releases to help keep fans entertained at home. Contrarily, Christopher Nolan argues that we cannot forget this other essential piece of the film industry, and he says that in the coming months, we’ll need movie theaters more than ever:

Over the past few years, cinephiles have debated the merits of Netflix and other streaming platforms in relation to movie theaters. Christopher Nolan even weighed in on the matter in 2017, arguing for the value of a cinema-going experience. Now that we don’t have a choice, the argument seems a bit silly. Both are valuable. Both are important. And hopefully, both will continue to play a role in our lives in the years to come.

The unmistakable themes of Jaws and Star Wars made John Williams a legend and Danny Elfman is a key element to the success of Tim Burton’s movies, but today, no other film composer is celebrated quite like Hans Zimmer. The master of film scores that range from exhilarating to exasperating is the guy you call when you want your movie soundtrack to sound epic.

However, which of the countless movies Hans Zimmer has lent his musical talents to can be called his magnum opus? It was not easy, but I have narrowed down what I believe are his most notable achievements in film scoring and ranked them in ascending order. What will be Hans Zimmer’s ultimate composition?

10. The Ring (2002)

As this list will prove throughout, Hans Zimmer has always been a composer with an ear for tone, creating a flawlessly constructed symphonic representation of a film’s atmosphere. The Ring -- Gore Verbinski’s American update of the Japanese horror film Ringu about a cursed videotape guaranteed to kill anyone who watches it within seven days -- has a dreary setting, enveloped in gloom and tragedy - something Zimmer is almost too good at nailing.

Horror films are often defined by the creep factor of their scores, and Hans Zimmer is instrumental (no pun intended) in The Ring’s lasting effects. The progression of the main overture ingeniously mirrors the range of emotions the film invokes, including a piano section that perfectly encapsulates the theme of tragedy with a subtle eeriness to merely hints at the dreadful horrors you are in for, without being kind to prepare you for it.

9. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Hans Zimmer served as a producer of Klaus Badelt’s score for 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and would only take over full compositional duties for the second and third installments of Disney’s swashbuckling hit franchise. So, while we cannot credit him for creating the series’ sweeping signature main theme, there is still much to praise the musician for what he does in the first sequel.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is just as much about what you hear as it is about what you see, as Hans Zimmer’s score conjures a wondrous sense of adventure throughout. One of its finest musical moments is the main theme for Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow, which combines large orchestral portions with a violin solo that grounds you to the film’s 18th-Century setting.

8. Gladiator (2000)

Hans Zimmer’s versatility behind the conductor stand would convince anyone that he is a man of many time periods. How else could one explain his ability to transport filmgoers on a journey through time, placing them right into the era a film is set in, just as he does with Ridley Scott’s Best Picture Oscar-winning arena battle epic Gladiator?

Roman general Maximus, an Academy Award-winning performance from Australian actor Russell Crowe, embarks on a journey that takes him from family man to reluctant pawn of life-and-death competition of which Hans Zimmer traces every pivotal moment with heart racing virtuosity. The music of Gladiator is a transfixing, foreboding score of wonderful versatility that begs the question, “Are you not entertained?!”

7. Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan is often referred to as the Stanley Kubrick of his time. So, when he announced his plans for a space odyssey of his own, it seemed obvious that Interstellar would be ripe with callbacks to his contemporary equal’s vast, dismal vision of outer space. But one thing that 2001: A Space Odyssey does not have is the tranquil sounds of a Hans Zimmer score.

Hans Zimmer understood that Christopher Nolan’s story of a man (Matthew McConaughey) who leaves his daughter (Jessica Chastain) behind on a dying Earth in search of a new home for humanity, in addition to science-fiction spectacle, is also a family story that must be blessed with a score that treats it as such without sacrificing the atmospheric tone of its outer space adventure. The music of Interstellar is one of Zimmer’s quieter film compositions, but serves dual purposes, keeping the audience’s heads in the stars, but their humanity firmly grounded.

6. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Guy Ritchie’s fast-paced reinterpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective needed to have a score that translates the seedy, crime-ridden underbelly of late 19th-Century London to music. The only choice to compose an overture to sync with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law’s adventures as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson was, of course, Hans Zimmer.

Instead of the traditional use of a large orchestra throughout, Hans Zimmer takes a page from his notes for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and uses a more modest collection of instruments for the majority of his Sherlock Holmes score. He attacks much of the composition with the same effort of a lowly street musician, resting his violin case against the cobblestone street in hopes to earn a pence.

5. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

As I have subtly touched on before, it seems that all you need to do is tell Hans Zimmer what time period your film takes place and he will know exactly what the music should sound like. His score for Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve’s cyberpunk sequel 35 years in the making, is a testament to the composer’s genius, harnessing the ability to create music that effortlessly convinces you that you are hearing what the future really sounds like.

The score for Blade Runner, Ridley Scott’s influential 1982 classic starring Harrison Ford as cop who specializes in the hunt and retirement of artificial humans known as Replicants, saw Greek composer Vangelis offering a sound that fused smooth, film noir-inspired instrumentals with ambient synth. For Blade Runner 2049, a darker continuation of the story with Ryan Gosling in the lead, Hans Zimmer ditches the film-noir and most of the ambience and goes full-synth, for a sound that can only be described as digital dystopia.

4. Dunkirk (2017)

Continuing their partnership reminiscent of Steven Spielberg and John Williams or Danny Elfman and Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan called upon Hans Zimmer once again in 2017 to score his retelling of thousands of allied soldiers days-long stranding at the seaport of Dunkirk, while surrounded by the German Army at a pivotal moment of World War II. A story this heavy requires a score that invokes ominous dread and panic, which Zimmer pulls off grandly here.

Hans Zimmer’s score for Dunkirk does more than complement the film’s perilous atmosphere, it elevates it to new heights. Using an audio clip of a pocket watch for one key section, the Oscar-nominated score envelopes the film in a claustrophobic pressure cooker that puts you right in the action and without escape.

3. Inception (2010)

There is a very good chance that, of all of Hans Zimmer’s cinematic musical compositions, his score for Christopher Nolan’s visually stunning mindbender may be his most important, if not the most influential. After Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a mind thief tasked with inserting an original idea into the mind of a shady corporate leader, no movie trailer was complete without the abrupt, ominous bellow of a thousand brass horns.

Despite being shamelessly copied by countless Zimmer-wannabes to over-saturation since, the ingenuity of the Inception score should not be overlooked, or forgotten. Christopher Nolan’s spectacular, albeit highly exaggerated, exploration into the science of the human subconscious would be incomplete without Hans Zimmer’s moody, epic, sometimes rock-inspired melodies that one could only dream of.

2. The Lion King (1994)

Disney has always been happy to have Hans Zimmer around, as one could infer from how he elevates the adventurous sense of wonder in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but it is clear that he is happy to provide service to them since the film that earned him his sole Academy Award for composing was this animated classic.

While the beloved original songs we sang along to as children can be credited to one Elton John, the devastating melodies at the most trying moments of Simba’s conquests in The Lion King that we hummed to are the work of Hans Zimmer. It is a score of bold, striking execution and astonishing precision that does not require the visual accompaniment of the film it is written for to conjure the same feelings.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

Hans Zimmer has scored every one of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, 2005’s Batman Begins to 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises and even shares a composer credit with Junkie XL on the Nolan-produced Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice if you really want to get technical. Yet, I would say his greatest achievement when scoring the grounded, dismal world of Gotham City comes in The Dark Knight and essentially for one especially unique and unforgettable piece.

Christian Bale’s Batman is given the sweeping, heroic melody Hans Zimmer is known for, but when creating a theme for Heath Ledger’s anarchic portrayal of the Joker, he creates a disorienting, dreadfully ominous noise reminiscent of a guitar string slowly being bent toward its inevitable breaking point. It ingeniously channels the essence of madness and brilliantly encapsulates The Dark Knight’s potent themes of chaos.

Is our ranking of Hans Zimmer’s greatest movie scores music to your ears, or a deafening blow to your sense? Let us know in the comments!

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It's been about a year and a half since the release of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, and the acclaimed director's next film is still shrouded in mystery. Well, at least it was until new reports claimed that it was a romantic thriller that was a cross between North by Northwest and Inception. It was a concept that intrigued film fans, but it sounds like it's back to the guessing games because a new report claims that the last rumor is false.

Christopher Nolan is one of the most prestigious directors working today. He's the mind behind excellent movies like The Prestige and Memento, and gained mainstream popularity for his work on The Dark Knight Trilogy. He was finally nominated for an Oscar on his last film, 2017's Dunkirk, and since then movie fans have been eagerly awaiting to find out more details about his next project.

It seemed like those details had finally come when a report from Production Weekly claimed that Christopher Nolan's new film was described "as a romantic thriller, North by Northwest in tone meets Inception." Inception blew people's minds back in 2010, and North by Northwest is said to be one of the greatest films ever made, so it's a pretty cool mashup on paper.

However, it sounds like the update was off-base. A source told IGN the information provided by Production Weekly was inaccurate. No further elaboration was given, so it sounds like we are all back in the dark on this one.

On one hand, this can be seen as good news. Christopher Nolan has many strengths, but I don't know that I would say that romance is one of them. His films usually come off as being a bit colder and focused primarily on the drama or psychosis of his main character. That's not to say he does't have a great romantic thriller in him, but it's a bit of uncharted territory for Nolan.

For those who may not know, North by Northwest is a 1959 thriller from Alfred Hitchcock. It followed Cary Grant as a man with mistaken identity who winds up running across the country as he's swept up into a conspiracy. Even if you've never seen the film, you've probably seen the above image of Cary Grant running from an airplane recreated a dozen different times in pop culture.

Inception is one of Christopher Nolan's most well-known films, and it starred Leonardo DiCaprio as a thief who steals information by entering people's dreams.

At least we know one thing about Christopher Nolan's next movie: the release date. The movie is currently slated to arrive in theaters on July 17, 2020. There are lot of movies to look forward to until then, so be sure to learn about them all in our handy 2019 movie release guide.

The year 2017 was an amazing one for the film industry, and the Academy Awards celebration absolutely reflected that. While Guillermo del Toro's The Shape Of Water walked away the big winner - taking home prizes for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Score, and Best Production Design - there was a whole lot of love spread around. Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri was huge in the acting categories, with both Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell taking home trophies, and both Darkest Hour and I, Tonya received recognition thanks to the prizes given to Gary Oldman and Allison Janney. On opposite sides of the spectrum, Jordan Peele won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his directorial debut, Get Out, while Roger Deakins broke a 13-nomination-long losing streak with a Blade Runner 2049 win in the Best Cinematography category. It was a fantastic night, and we have a lot to say about it.

For your convenience, below you'll find a wide variety of our Oscar 2018 coverage - including everything from news stories to features to reviews. There's a lot to celebrate, so dive in, and hit the comments at the bottom to tell us what you thought of the ceremony and the results!

Hot Topics

1. 2018 Academy Awards: See The Full List Of Winners

2. 9 Shocking Snubs From The 2018 Oscar Nominations

3. 2018 Oscars: What We Thought Of Every Best Picture Nominee

4. The Biggest Oscars Snubs, According To Fandango Users

5. Netflix Has Won Its First Oscar

6. We Have Our First Ever Double EGOT Winner Thanks To The Oscars

Hot Takes

1. How Oscar Season Needs To Change, According To Roman J. Israel's Director

2. Gal Gadot Responds To Wonder Woman's Lack Of Oscar Nominations

3. Sam Rockwell Deserves His Oscar After A Career Full Of Amazing Performances

4. The Only Oscar Nominations Wonder Woman Actually Deserved

5. AwardsBlend Podcast #10: Avengers News, Steven Spielberg's Best Film, And Final Oscar Picks

6. In Praise Of Roger Deakins, And All His Incredible Movies

7. The 3 Best Things About The Shape Of Water

Oscar News

1. Some Guy Tried To Steal Frances McDormand's Oscar Last Night

2. Tiffany Haddish Wore The Same Dress To The Oscars She Wore Twice Before

3. The Oscars Are Letting Warren Beatty And Faye Dunaway Announce The Best Picture Winner Again

4. These Zootopia Inspired Movie Posters For The 2018 Oscars Are Perfect

Oscar Night 2018

1. Watch The Oscars 2018 Black And White Opening

2. The 2018 Oscar Monologue's 3 Funniest Jokes

3. Watch The Tremendous 2018 Oscars Movie History Montage

Reviews Of The Winners

1. The Shape of Water

2. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

3. Darkest Hour

4. I, Tonya

5. Get Out

6. Call Me By Your Name

7. Coco

8. Blade Runner 2049

9. Phantom Thread

10. Dunkirk

After months of discussing and dissecting this year's most critically acclaimed movies, the big night is here. Whether you are a person who loves the red carpet or the speeches, you won't have too much longer to wait before the evening kicks off with a bang. While some betting sites have given odds on which big movie might take home this year's Academy Award for Best Picture, we won't know if Get Out makes a surprise win, or if Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri may repeat its Golden Globes success until Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway take the stage again this year. We'll be here as all of the big awards are announced, and you can check out the full list of nominees -- and winners as they come in -- below.

Best Picture

Call Me By Your Name

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Get Out

Lady Bird

Phantom Thread

The Post

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Director

Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan

Get Out, Jordan Peele

Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig

Phantom Thread, P.T. Anderson

The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

Meryl Streep, The Post

Best Actor

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Best Supporting Actress

Mary J Blige, Mudbound

Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Leslie Manville, Phantom Thread

Laurie Metcalf, Ladybird

Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Best Supporting Actor

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Original Screenplay

The Big Sick

Get Out

Lady Bird

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Adapted Screenplay

Call Me By Your Name

The Disaster Artist

Logan

Molly's Game

Mudbound

Best Animated Feature

The Boss Baby

The Breadwinner

Coco

Ferdinand

Loving Vincent

Best Foreign Language Film

A Fantastic Woman, Chile

The Insult, Lebanon

Loveless, Russia

On Body and Soul, Hungary

The Square, Sweden

Best Documentary Feature

Abbicus, Small Enough To Jail

Faces Places

Icarus

Last Men in Aleppo

Strong Island

Production Design

Beauty And The Beast

Blade Runner 2049

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

The Shape Of Water

Best Cinematography

Blade Runner 2049

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Mudbound

The Shape Of Water

Best Costume Design

Beauty And The Beast

Darkest Hour

The Shape Of Water

Phantom Thread

Victoria & Abdul

Film Editing

Baby Driver

Dunkirk

I, Tonya

The Shape Of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Makeup And Hairstyling

Darkest Hour

Victoria & Abdul

Wonder

Best Score

Dunkirk

Phantom Thread

The Shape Of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Original Song

"Mighty River," Mudbound

"Mystery of Love," Call Me By Your Name

"Remember Me," Coco

"Stand up for Something," Marshall

"This is Me," The Greatest Showman

Best Sound Editing

Baby Driver

Blade Runner 2049

Dunkirk

The Shape Of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best Sound Mixing

Baby Driver

Blade Runner 2049

Dunkirk

The Shape Of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best Visual Effects

Blade Runner 2049

Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol 2

Kong: Skull Island

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

War For The Planet Of The Apes

Best Animated Short

Dear Basketball

Garden Party

Lou

Negative Space

Revolting Rhymes

Best Documentary Short

Edith+Eddie

Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405

Heroin(e)

Knife Skills

Traffic Stop

Best Live Action Short

DeKalb Elementary

The Eleven O'Clock

My Nephew Emmett

The Silent Child

Watu Woto: All of Us

This year's Academy Awards air on ABC starting at 8 p.m. ET. Jimmy Kimmel is once again back as the host of the awards, although the jury is out on how many times he will reference what happened with the Moonlight and La La Land mishap last year. Whether the nods are understated or overkill, it should be a night full of surprises, as this year is the 90th year the Oscars have come together in Hollywood. So, stay tuned to CinemaBlend, as this page plans to keep you posted regarding which of the former nominees actually take home the coveted statues. And if you want a reminder of that envelope debacle or a refresher on who took home awards last year, we have you covered, as well.

Photo Courtesy of ABC.

The 2018 Academy Awards are coming up this weekend and everybody is wondering who will win Best Picture. However, no rundown of the nominees will be funnier than this one. The team at Honest Trailers goes through all the nominees and breaks them down for you as only they can. If the Oscars were actually this funny, they'd get much better ratings. Check it out.

After briefly reminiscing about the epic insanity that was the end of last year's Oscar ceremony, the Honest Trailer jumps into the nominees with Darkest Hour. That movie, like a couple of the others, isn't really about the movie as it is about a single performance, the one by Gary Oldman as Winston Churchhill. It points out that the film actually covers a lot of the same time period as another Oscar nominee Dunkirk, but that this movie had a lot less action and a lot more of people chatting at each other.

From there we move to The Fish Banging Movie, or, as it is sometimes referred, The Shape of Water. The Honest Trailer does point out that there are a pair of films which could be viewed as more than a little creepy out of context. Both The Shape of Water and Call Me by Your Name center on relationships which, might not seem quite as romantic if they weren't in movies. In the case of Shape, the fantasy element helps diffuse any unwanted tension. In the case of Call, the trailer avoids getting too serious by making a joke about Armie Hammer's balls. It turns out even serious Oscar dramas need quality digital effects these days.

I wasn't as big a fan of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as a lot of people were, but I can absolutely get behind the idea that Sam Rockwell needs to be a bigger name. He's a fantastic actor and if this movie does result in him no longer being "that guy" then I suppose it will be worth it.

Phantom Thread seems to get the briefest treatment over the course of the trailer, but the joke comparing Daniel Day-Lewis' character in the movie to the actor himself is a layup that needs to be made. So they did, and then they moved on.

On a personal level, the highlight of the video is the Lady Bird section, because, as somebody who lived outside Sacramento in the late 90s, the movie's incessant use of "Crash Into Me" by the Dave Matthews Band is actually incredibly true to life. It didn't matter how much you wanted to escape that song, it could not be done.

Dunkirk gets a little beat up for being the most Christopher Nolan movie ever. The Post takes its, well deserved, shots for feeling like the most calculated Oscar movie that it's going to be shocking when the movie probably doesn't win very much. Get Out, takes the final slot, and while the video heaps a lot of praise on the film, it also points out that the remarkable story of the horror movie, which is largely the reason it was nominated, is also the reason it probably won't win.

We'll find out which movie will actually be Best Picture during the, almost certainly less funny, Oscar telecast this Sunday.

At this point, it's no secret that Christopher Nolan has become known as one of Hollywood's most beloved and consistent filmmakers. He has a knack for blending blockbuster spectacle with big ideas in a manner seldom seen in the film industry, and it turns out that this has sometimes caused confusion and concern among studio insiders. In fact, the Dunkirk director's frequent collaborator Emma Thomas recently opened up, and admitted that industry insiders have consistently shown concern over whether or not audiences would "like" his films. Thomas explained:

Even in the face of Christopher Nolan's consistent success, it sounds like he has continuously left insiders with a sense of unease whenever he has screened his movies before release. The reason for this is likely because Nolan likes to experiment with structure and format in his films. From Memento to Dunkirk, almost all of his films have toyed with non-linear storytelling, or experimental narrative structure in ways that aren't often seen in big movies. However, despite the worry, fans seem to always take an interest in Nolan's "challenging" films and prove that his experiments have a place in the modern movie world.

One need only look at Nolan's filmography to understand why Emma Thomas means in her statement to Variety. Insomnia (one of his most underrated films) conveyed the sense of sleeplessness and exhaustion experienced by its protagonist in a way that intentionally threw audiences off-balance. Inception made viewers question the sheer reality of the movie itself in its final moments. Then there's the Oscar-nominated Dunkirk, which played with the concept of time and told three stories over the course of an hour, a day, and a week.

Even the more straightforward Christopher Nolan movies take risks in how they approach their material. Batman Begins arguably kicked off the modern dark and gritty superhero movie trend that's still very much the standard for many comic book movies. From there, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises continued that trend by experimenting with different thematic ideas (chaos for The Dark Knight, and pain for The Dark Knight Rises) and focusing on highly-practical stunt work.

In the interest of fairness, it's not entirely difficult to understand why some in the Hollywood landscape would show concern over the big swings that Christopher Nolan takes with his movies. He has proven himself successful time and time again with big and bold projects, but other filmmakers of a similar ilk have had some difficulty maintaining the same degree of success with smart, spectacle-based movies in recent years. In 2017 alone, Matt Reeves' War for the Planet of the Apes and Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 both underperformed at the box office while earning widespread critical praise, lending credence to the idea that a brash, Nolan-esque approach doesn't always translate to financial success.

With that said, while industry insiders and studio executives have apparently shown hesitation with all of these films, but Nolan's fans continue to come out of the woodwork every single time. Given Dunkirk's box office performance and Oscar nomination, it doesn't look like that's going to slow down anytime soon.

Considering Christopher Nolan's near-perfect track record with audiences, we will just have to wait and see what he does next. For now, check out CinemaBlend's 2018 movie premiere guide, and make sure to watch Dunkirk duke it out with all of the other Oscar nominees when The Academy Awards ceremony airs on Sunday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

What is Christopher Nolan's best film? Is it the twisty dream-infiltrating thriller Inception? Or the galaxy-hopping Interstellar? Maybe you'd choose one of his Batman films, or something else entirely? It's a question that the AwardsBlend hosts -- Sean O'Connell, Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy -- tackle in this week's episode of the AwardsBlend podcast, which you can listen to below.

AwardsBlend is a weekly podcast dedicated to the ongoing Oscar race, though the hosts -- three friends who love talking movies -- are fond of branching off in a million different directions. This week, for example, the guys weigh in on the first full Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer, as well as the best spots from this weekend's past Super Bowl. The Mission: Impossible -- Fallout trailer gets them talking about Tom Cruise's dedication to this films. For real, who gives more to this audience than Cruise these days?

And this week, the guys break down the Best Director category. Which got them talking about Christopher Nolan (a favorite on the AwardsBlend podcast). Which got them talking about Dunkirk, and the films of Nolan. Which one do they think is his best? Press play below and find out.

Agree? Disagree? Remember, head over to Twitter and send us a message using the hashtag #NolanBlend to tell us YOUR favorite Christopher Nolan movie... or the one that you think is his absolute best.

If you missed any of our previous AwardsBlend episodes, you are in luck. We have an iTunes page! Visit. Subscribe. Like and comment. Review! Some really nice listeners have been rating the show, which we really appreciate. Apple loves when you have star ratings and reviews, so if you listened, and you liked it (or even if you didn't), let us know. Meanwhile, follow the guys on Social Media at @Sean_OConnell, @JakesTakes and @KevinMcCarthyTV. See you next week, when we break down the Actor and Actress categories heading into the Oscars. We'll even review Black Panther, without spoilers. See you Tuesday, February 13 at 4 pm EST / 1 pm PST.

With this week's nominations for the 90th Academy Awards locked and loaded, it's time for the Academy's voters to review the nine films they've deemed the best pictures of 2017. But this is also the time when the movie-going public tries to catch up with the nominees they're particularly interested in, or in some cases the whole entire smash.

Since the line-up is so diverse, with release dates ranging from the beginning of last year to just recently, you're going to want to know what your options are to be in the know before the big show, which is where this guide really comes in handy. So break out your calendars, send this article to your movie friends text chain, and let's look at how you can see the best and brightest of 2017 today.

Theatrical Marathon Events

For a little over a decade, there has been a slowly building trend of theatrical chains bringing back the best picture nominees in time for Oscar season, and one of the oldest and best established is the AMC Best Picture Showcase. Shown over the two Saturdays before the Oscars, the line-up will set you back $30 for 2/24's session, and $40 for 3/3. Though if you're daring enough to try, some locations will be doing a 24 hour marathon on 3/3 for $65. If you're an AMC Stubs member, you'll receive a $5 credit on your account for each day of the showcase, so that's an additional $10 value added to your ticket. Though if you're looking to only pick up some individual screenings of certain best picture nominees, AMC will be showing all nine Best Picture nominees at select locations, starting January 29th. Be sure to check AMC's official listings for further details, as well as more accurate pricing.

Also returning to the table is Regal's Best Picture Film Festival, which is more affordable, albeit with an interesting scheduling method of its own. This marathon clocks in at $35, but is only available through the Regal Theaters app. Unlike AMC's Best Picture Showcase, Regal's program gives you access to all BP noms between 2/23 & 3/4, with a tiered scheduling system that spreads out the line-up across that span of time. All films are shown at various times each day, so you'll need to check Regal's schedule, found here, for specifics.

New to the race is Cinemark's Oscar Week, which will also set you back $35, and gives you access to not only all of the best picture nominees, but also all of this year's Oscar Nominated Best Short Films. It's programmed similar to Regal's offering, with certain films at certain times each day. That schedule, as well as further details on Oscar Week, can be found here. But say you're not really looking to head out to a theater, or just want to watch one or two of these movies in the comfort of your own home? Well, if that's the case, let's see what each film's home video options entail at this moment.

The Shape of Water

Synopsis: Eliza (Sally Hawkins) is a mute cleaning lady for a government facility, with a pretty average day to day life. All of that changes once she falls for a specimen brought to her lab (Doug Jones). With the help of her friends (Richard Jenkins and Octavia Spencer), she'll try to grant this creature his freedom. Although it seems that there are forces with unknown (Michael Stuhlbarg) or opposing agendas (Michael Shannon) in mind.

Is It Still In Theaters: Yes. The Shape of Water's wide release started at the end of December, so there should be a good amount of theaters still running the film.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: 2/27 (Digital HD) / 3/13 (Home Video)

Possible Streaming Options: iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu & FandangoNOW.

Darkest Hour

Synopsis: After his sudden, unexpected rise to the position of Prime Minister, Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) finds himself inheriting the post at one of the bleakest periods in British history. With the Nazi war machine gaining steam, and the evacuation of Dunkirk staring him in the face, Churchill will have to prove to his detractors that he can do the job, while finding a way to provide the morale boost that the nation could use.

Is It Still In Theaters: Some theaters are still showing Darkest Hour, so you'll have to check your local listings.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: 2/6 (Digital HD) / 2/27 (Home Video)

Possible Streaming Options: iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu & FandangoNOW.

Dunkirk

Synopsis: In 1940, the evacuation of Dunkirk was one of the most harrowing events in the history of World War II. Christopher Nolan's action drama focuses on three stories, all taking place during various time spans, on the fateful day of the evacuation.

Is It Still In Theaters: Yes, but check your local listings, as Dunkirk is about to make a return to theaters in the wake of its nomination. Screening options may be limited.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: Currently available on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.

Possible Streaming Options: iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu & FandangoNOW.

Phantom Thread

Synopsis: Thanks to a chance encounter, designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day Lewis) has found a new muse / lover in a young waitress (Vicky Krieps). Through the course of Phantom Thread, we see the push and pull of their relationship, and all of the darkly comic side effects that happen at each turn.

Is It Still In Theaters: Yes. Phantom Thread's wide release started on 1/19, so it should be pretty easy to seek this one out. Though if you're looking for the 70mm option, you're going to run into a much more limited range of options.

*When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: *TBD (Digital HD) / 4/10 (Home Video)

Possible Streaming Options: iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu & FandangoNOW.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Synopsis: After the investigation into the rape and murder of her daughter has yielded no tangible results, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) decides to call out the local police chief (Woody Harrelson) through a series of three incendiary billboards. Through a series of escalating events, Mildred will find herself clashing with strangers, the chief himself, and even his loyal deputy (Sam Rockwell).

Is It Still In Theaters: Yes, but Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri may be harder to find as it's been running since November.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: 2/13 (Digital HD) / 2/27 (Home Video).

Possible Streaming Options: iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, & FandangoNOW.

Get Out

Synopsis: On a weekend getaway to meet his girlfriend's family, Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) begins to suspect something is amiss. With an atmosphere of creeping dread, and racial tension, Get Out puts its protagonist through the ringer, with each step he takes towards the horrifying truth.

Is It Still In Theaters: Much like Dunkirk, Get Out is making a return to the big screen, in honor of its Oscar campaign.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: Get Out is currently available on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.

Possible Streaming Options: iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, FandangoNOW & HBO GO

The Post

Synopsis: In the midst of the controversial Vietnam War, a study is leaked to the press that provides a damning account of how the conflict was managed throughout its inception. With the New York Times gaining the first scoop, but being barred from printing any further items, it's up to Kathryn Graham (Meryl Streep) and Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks) to fight the battle to publish at the Washington Post. The only things standing in their way are nervous board members, the possible jeopardy of a recent acquisition, and President Nixon himself.

Is It Still In Theaters: Yes. The Post completed its wide release roll out on 1/12.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: No release dates are currently set, though a "Spring 2018" window has been mentioned.

Possible Streaming Options: Unknown, as The Post is currently in its theatrical window, though most digital retailers are already offering a pre-order to own.

Call Me By Your Name

Synopsis: In 1983 Italy, a young man (Timothee Chalamet) is discovering himself in the summer sun. During that discovery, he meets a young student (Armie Hammer) who plays an important part in that process, as he's the first man he's fallen in love with.

Is It Still In Theaters: Yes. Call Me By Your Name went into wide release on 1/19, after a slow indie roll-out.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: 2/27 (Digital HD) / 3/13 (Home Video).

Possible Streaming Options: iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu & FandangoNOW.

Lady Bird

Synopsis: Don't call Christine McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) by her birth name. Call her Lady Bird, the name she's given to herself. Through the tumultuous days of her senior year in a Sacramento Catholic school, she'll contemplate college, hang out with her best friend (Beanie Feldstein) and try to survive living with her mother (Laurie Metcalf) in those final days before she goes off to the school of her choosing. Or rather, the schools that dare to choose her.

Is It Still In Theaters: The screening options for Lady Bird are probably limited, but some theaters may still have it in their rotation.

When Will It Be Available On Digital HD/Home Video: 2/13 (Digital HD) / 3/6 (Home Video)

Possible Streaming Options: Unknown, as Lady Bird is currently in its theatrical window, though most digital retailers are already offering a pre-order to own.

Welcome to AwardsBlend #5, the first episode since we launched this podcast where we finally have actual Oscar nominees to discuss. And discuss them, we do!

AwardsBlend co-hosts Sean O'Connell, Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hamilton hop behind their microphones this week to talk about the various Oscar nominations, where Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi creature romance The Shape of Water led all contenders with 13 noms, but Jordan Peele's Get Out followed right behind. Peele and his colleague, Greta Gerwig, also made headway as first-time filmmakers who broke into the coveted Best Director race. And we made connections to the Screen Actors Guild Awards winners, who all got Oscar nominations -- so we wonder if that makes them frontrunners in their respective categories.

But things really heat up when the guys get into a discussion about beloved cinematographer Roger Deakins, who is nominated for his work on Blade Runner 2049. But he shot it digitally, and the AwardsBlend hosts wonder if the decision to not shoot on film will hurt him in his bid to FINALLY win an Oscar after 13 previous nominations and not one win.

You have to listen to this one:

Now that we have the full field of Oscar nominees, we are going to use the next few weeks to break down the top categories, discussing possible upsets, clear-cut frontrunners, and bold predictions to help you win your Office Oscar Pool. (If your office doesn't have an Oscar pool, start one! We'll help you win some money.)

And if you missed any of our previous AwardsBlend episodes, you are in luck. We have an iTunes page! Visit. Subscribe. Like and comment. Review! We got our first review recently, and it made us so happy. Don't let that one review sit there, all by itself. Add some more, so it doesn't get too lonely. Meanwhile, follow the guys on Social Media at @Sean_OConnell, @JakesTakes and @KevinMcCarthyTV. See you next week, when we break down the Supporting Actor and Actress categories on Thursday, February 1 at 4 pm EST / 1 pm PST.

And then there were nine.

The Academy Awards announced their complete list of nominees or the 90th Oscars ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, March 4. In doing so, the Academy singled out nine films that will compete for Best Picture, ranging from Christopher Nolan's World War II epic Dunkirk to the harrowing social commentary of Jordan Peel's Get Out.

You wonderful people have been nice enough to follow CinemaBlend's coverage of all things film through the years, and 2017 was no different. We dove deep into all nine movie that proudly call themselves Best Picture nominees, hoping on board the Get Out train early and riding the wave of Phantom Thread right as 2017 drew to a close. Now that we have our Best Picture contenders, let's revisit our reviews, to see what we thought about the Academy's choices for the best of 2017:

Call Me By Your Name

Our review: Call Me By Your Name is the type of film you want to climb into, set up camp, and live inside for an extended period of time. By this rationale, it'd be the opposite of Jordan Peele's Get Out, a movie whose landscape you'd choose to avoid at all costs. Quite the contrary for director Luca Guadagnino's leisurely, lush and heartachingly romantic excursion, which beckons you into its frames with every visual cue, then lulls you into wanting to linger by weaving an embracing message of inclusion, of first-love experimentation, and of finding a way to be comfortable in our own skin, no matter how challenging that journey may seem.

Full review

Darkest Hour

Our review: Unlike Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, which showcased a very different side of the same time period and events earlier this year, Darkest Hour isn't a war film built on explosions and spectacle, but it is stunningly gorgeous all the same. With due credit going to both the cinematography and production design, there is no shortage of elegance and magnificence in Winston Churchill's aristocratic home or King George VI's palace -- but the movie also offers up some perfect contrast with the stark, dark, greyness of the war rooms where the gravest and most important decisions are made about the future of the country. The persistent beautiful image of curling cigar smoke caught in sunbeams is the perfectly lit cherry on top.

Full review

Dunkirk

Our review: While no surprise given his track record, Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk is impressively ambitious. It is not only an extraordinary spectacle thanks to the extensive use of IMAX cameras (seriously demanding that it be seen on the largest screen possible), but it navigates a smart-yet-challenging non-linear path that plays out in three different threads -- all individually taking place over a different amount of time (specifically a week, a day, and an hour). Clocking in at only 107 minutes long, it's tightly paced, and end-to-end it is furnished with stunning sequences that leave you holding your breath.

Full review

Get Out

Our review: The great genre filmmakers recognize that horror's just a device for commentary, and while Get Out may look like everything is just painted on the surface, it's an impressively rich and powerful execution of a smart, scare-packed premise. It certainly takes cues from cinematic history, and could be elevator pitched as "The Stepford Wives meets Guess Who's Coming To Dinner," but with a playful sense of tone, amazing performances, and a sharp bite, it resonates with you long after you've left the theater.

Full review

Lady Bird

Our review: Ever since her debut in Atonement, Saoirse Ronan has been on a role when it comes to the leads she's scored in films like Lady Bird. In fact, all throughout writer/director Greta Gerwig's film, I was reminded that Ronan is an ace when it comes to portraying this particularly sensitive time in a young woman's life. She continues to captivate the screen with her acting skills, making both "Lady Bird's" sympathetic and more childish moments come to life without turning them into caricatures. While we can take issue with some of her actions and statements to those she knows and loves, we can never write off her character as a typical screen brat. It's a delicate line to walk with such a story, and Saoirse Ronan makes it look damned easy.

Full review

Phantom Thread

Our review: While Paul Thomas Anderson has presented an eclectic mix of tones and stories during his endlessly impressive career, Phantom Thread presents a stunning contrast of elegance and darkness, leading the filmmaker to aesthetically build something unlike anything we've ever seen from him. And the results are expectedly incredible. He keeps the argument of film over digital very much alive, and acting as his own cinematographer for the first time delivers scene after scene of visual splendor -- bathing the detailed work of uniformed seamstresses in angelic, soft white light and offering sinister, fire lit visions of the future through its non-linear narrative. You expect beauty in a film about fashion, and Anderson practically overwhelms you with it.

Full review

The Post

Our review: The Post, Steven Spielberg's exceptional new film about the vitality of journalism, might be his first movie to weave both genres together, pouring a valuable history lesson into a briskly paced race-the-clock political thriller that pushes all the right buttons we need in a crowd-pleaser. Shot and edited in a seven-month span, The Post boasts a stunning ensemble of extraordinary character actors sinking their teeth into a riveting screenplay, all choreographed by a genius filmmaker who is firing on all possible cylinders. The Post is the best movie I saw this year, and likely the most important movie you'll see in several years.

Full review

The Shape of Water

Our review: If you really wanted to, you could tuck yourself in for The Shape of Water and let the film tell you one of the best adult bedtime stories you've ever heard. With a poetry and rhythm that flows as strong as the currents of the world, Guillermo del Toro and co-writer Vanessa Taylor has brought us another film that pays homage to classic Hollywood, while existing firmly in a modern frame of mind. It's a story of romance crossing boundaries, of the outsiders teaming up to defeat the status quo, and of the true beauty of life available to all, so long as they choose to see it. This is the most beautiful film of the year, both in body and spirit, and it is not to be missed.

Full review

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Our review: As much as folks are going to be talking about Frances McDormand come Oscar season, they'll more than likely speaking towards Sam Rockwell's portrayal of Officer Dixon. As his battle of wits with Mildred Hayes escalates to further levels of anger and one-upmanship, the events only serve to show just how alike both participants are when pursuing what they believe to be justice. In a lesser movie, we'd totally be on Mildred's side, but in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, we're forced to consider both sides of the matter, as the film shows us both sides in humane detail.

Full review

The Golden Globes may have kicked off award season in 2018, but now it's time to move up to the major leagues. We are just a few weeks away from this year's Academy Awards ceremony, and there remains no major front-runner in the race. We fully expect that to continue for the foreseeable future, but at the very least we now know which movies are in contention.

The official list of nominations for the 2018 Academy Awards have been announced, and, just like every year, it's a list of "No-duhs" and "Whoas!" You can check out all of the categories below, and stay tuned all day here on CinemaBlend for our coverage regarding our thoughts and expectations.

Best Picture

Call Me By Your Name

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Get Out

Lady Bird

Phantom Thread

The Post

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Director

Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan

Get Out, Jordan Peele

Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig

Phantom Thread, P.T. Anderson

The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

Meryl Streep, The Post

Best Actor

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Best Supporting Actress

Mary J Blige, Mudbound

Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Leslie Manville, Phantom Thread

Laurie Metcalf, Ladybird

Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Best Supporting Actor

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Original Screenplay

The Big Sick

Get Out

Lady Bird

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Adapted Screenplay

Call Me By Your Name

The Disaster Artist

Logan

Molly's Game

Mudbound

Best Animated Feature

The Boss Baby

The Breadwinner

Coco

Ferdinand

Loving Vincent

Best Foreign Language Film

A Fantastic Woman, Chile

The Insult, Lebanon

Loveless, Russia

On Body and Soul, Hungary

The Square, Sweden

Best Documentary Feature

Abbicus, Small Enough To Jail

Faces Places

Icarus

Last Men in Aleppo

Strong Island

Production Design

Beauty And The Beast

Blade Runner 2049

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

The Shape Of Water

Best Cinematography

Blade Runner 2049

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Mudbound

The Shape Of Water

Best Costume Design

Beauty And The Beast

Darkest Hour

The Shape Of Water

Phantom Thread

Victoria & Abdul

Best Editing

Baby Driver

Dunkirk

I, Tonya

The Shape Of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Makeup And Hairstyling

Darkest Hour

Victoria & Abdul

Wonder

Best Score

Dunkirk

Phantom Thread

The Shape Of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Original Song

"Mighty River", Mudbound

"Mystery of Love," Call Me By Your Name

"Remember Me", Coco

"Stand up for Something", Marshall

"This is Me", The Greatest Showman

Best Sound Editing

Baby Driver

Blade Runner 2049

Dunkirk

The Shape Of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best Sound Mixing

Baby Driver

Blade Runner 2049

Dunkirk

The Shape Of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best Visual Effects

Blade Runner 2049

Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol 2

Kong: Skull Island

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

War For The Planet Of The Apes

Best Animated Short

Dear Basketball

Garden Party

Lou

Negative Space

Revolting Rhymes

Best Documentary Short

Edith+Eddie

Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405

Heroin(e)

Knife Skills

Traffic Stop

Best Live Action Short

DeKalb Elementary

The Eleven O'Clock

My Nephew Emmett

The Silent Child

Watu Woto: All of Us

Now that awards season is fully in swing, stay tuned to CinemaBlend to hear more about what movies are impressing the critics and industry. In addition, you can catch the official Oscars ceremony on March 4, only on ABC. The ceremony will again be hosted by the one and only Jimmy Kimmel. In addition, be sure to check out what movies are coming in 2018 with our full schedule.

We are only a week into 2018, but already it's awards time. The Hollywood Foreign Press is ready to announce what they feel are the best films, performances, and more tonight at the Golden Globes, and as always, we are ready to keep track and see which trophies go to which people in this year's competition.

While this feature is launching at the start of the Golden Globes 2018 ceremony, we will be refreshing it throughout the night. As the winners are announced, we will be continually updating the sections found below - highlighting the big winners with images and emphasized text. Keep coming back to this page to see the latest news, and be sure to keep an eye on homepage for our reactions to the developments!

Best Motion Picture, Drama

Call Me By Your Name

Dunkirk

The Post

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

The Disaster Artist

Get Out

The Greatest Showman

I, Tonya

Lady Bird

Best Director

Guillermo Del Toro, The Shape of Water

Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk

Ridley Scott, All The Money in the World

Steven Spielberg, The Post

Best Screenplay Motion Picture

Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor, The Shape of Water

Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird

Liz Hanna Josh Singer, The Post

Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Aaron Sorkin, Molly's Game

Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture, Drama

Jessica Chastain, Molly's Game

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Meryl Streep, The Post

Michelle Williams, All The Money in the World

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture, Drama

Timothy Chlumet, Call Me By Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread

Tom Hanks, The Post

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq

Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Judi Dench, Victoria and Abdul

Helen Mirren, The Leisure Seeker

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Steve Carell, Battle of The Sexes

Ansel Elgort, Baby Driver

James Franco, The Disaster Artist

Hugh Jackman, The Greatest Showman

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

Best Performance By A Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture

Mary J Blige, Mudbound

Hong Chau, Downsizing

Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Laurie Metcalfe, Lady Bird

Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Best Performance By A Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project

Armie Hammer, Call Me By Your Name

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

Christopher Plummer, All The Money in The World

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Motion Picture, Animated

The Boss Baby

The Breadwinner

Coco

Ferdinand

Loving Vincent

Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language

A Fantastic Woman, Chile

First They Killed My Father, Cambodia

In the Fade, Germany, France

Loveless, Russia

The Square, Sweden, Germany, and France

Best Original Score, Motion Picture

Carter Burwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Alexandre Desplat, The Shape Of Water

Johnny Greenwood, Phantom Thread

John Williams, The Post

Hans Zimmer, Dunkirk

Best Original Song

"Home" Ferdinand

"Mighty River" Mudbound

"Remember Me" Coco

"The Star" The Star

"This is Me" The Greatest Showman

The 2018 Golden Globes air on NBC and will feature Seth Meyers as the host this year. To find out what else is heading to TV in the new year, take a look at our full schedule.

This year was a fantastic time for movies, as films from every conceivable genre delivered thrills, laughs, chills, and every other emotion on the spectrum. Now, with 2017 drawing to a close, it's time to look at all of the movies that debuted and pull out the favorites.

Those are the movies that we are going to talk about today. I have compiled a list of my top ten favorite films of the year, as well as some rationale for why they resonated with me as deeply as they did. On that note, let's dive into my first movie, and its ability to give us a more comedic look at one of our favorite brooding anti-heroes.

10. The LEGO Batman Movie

Following the success of The LEGO Movie was always going to represent a daunting challenge for the folks at Warner Bros., and despite his popularity, LEGO Batman seemed like an odd choice because of his relatively one-note personality. That said, Chris McKay pulled off something amazing with The LEGO Batman Movie: he delivered a heartwarming and hilarious sequel that honors the source material and maintains an effective emotional core that works for audiences of all ages.

It also doesn't hurt that The LEGO Batman Movie is a feast for anyone with an affinity for DC lore. Chris McKay very clearly understands the mythology of The Caped Crusader, and the film itself is a love letter to any and every adventure that Batman has been on since he first hit the pages of DC Comics back in the 1930s. A discerning comic book fan can tell when a lot of love goes into a movie, and The LEGO Batman Movie is full of love.

9. Get Out

Arguably no movie that debuted in theaters this year feels more relevant or timely than Jordan Peele's Get Out. An obviously personal and intimate horror story about systemic racism and oppression, the film blends well-worn tropes of the horror genre with the laugh-out-loud comedy that the director honed in his work on Key & Peele, and it works in ways that other horror-comedies often fail achieve -- using an original property not based on any preexisting material, no less.

It also doesn't hurt that Get Out is a legitimately inventive and fun scary movie that doesn't resort to cheap tricks to deliver its terror. It's a film that relies on old-school creepiness, and it is evident from the opening scene that Jordan Peele understands the horror genre in a way that makes him ideally suited for this type of story. The biting satire is just icing on the cake.

8. John Wick: Chapter 2

There's something to be said about a movie that embraces practical effects and solid stuntwork in an era that's very much defined by CGI and high-tech visual effects. In that regard, John Wick: Chapter 2 stands out as the film from 2017 that reminded us what a handful of talented people could do in-camera. Between the gunfights, the hand-to-hand choreography, and the opening car chase, the second installment in the John Wick franchise epitomized why action movie aficionados love the genre so much.

It also doesn't hurt that the film (despite not being based on a pre-existing IP) continued to flesh out the world of John Wick in a fascinating way. The ecosystem and economy of The Continental have turned into one of the most fascinating fictional landscapes in all of pop culture, and out hope remains high that John Wick: Chapter 3 can maintain that fantastic sense of immersion going forward.

7. IT

Few individual authors had a better year than Stephen King, whose work was faithfully adapted into some great projects like Gerald's Game and 1922. That said, no movie to debut in 2017 captured the spirit of King's work quite like Andy Muschietti's IT -- a film that honored the nature of the source material while also putting a unique and nostalgic spin on the original story.

Quite a bit of credit can be attributed to Andy Muschietti for his expert handling of the film's scares, but it's also worth pointing out how damn-good the cast is in this movie. Bill Skarsgard is an obvious standout for his ability to take the baton from Tim Curry and create an entirely new (yet arguably just as iconic) version of Pennywise, but we also need to point out the strength of the casting for The Losers Club. With IT: Chapter 2 slated for a September 2019 release, our hope remains high that this masterful horror movie can deliver the same amount of terror and heart as the original did this year.

6. Annabelle: Creation

I am a sucker for a horror movie that sends its audience on a roller coaster, and Annabelle: Creation epitomizes that idea better than any other scary flick that debuted in theaters this year. Although it is not quite as narratively complex as movies like IT or Get Out, the film exceeds because of Lights Out director David F. Sandberg's expert handling of the film's best scares -- not to mention some great performances by young stars like Talitha Bateman and Lulu Wilson.

Above all else, Annabelle: Creation is simply one of those films that remind us that we should not give up on a piece of intellectual property just because of a bad initial outing. It's a sequel that not only improves upon the DNA original in almost every conceivable way, but it also retroactively makes the original better as a result. If you were looking to get scared in 2017, there was no better option than watching Annabelle: Creation in a crowded theater.

5. Logan

The Wolverine solo movies have thus far ranged from downright awful (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) to pretty good (The Wolverine). However, when Hugh Jackman decided to hang up his claws for good, he also decided to go all out with director James Mangold in the form of Logan. The result? A comic book movie that's pretty much a masterpiece, skewing closer to Unforgiven than anything from the X-Men franchise.

The line between blockbuster and a legitimately great artistic film has always existed, but Logan stands out because it is one of the few movies ever really to blur that distinction. Wolverine's final silver screen adventure isn't just a bloody and violent journey into a comic book universe (although it indeed is that), it's also a heartwrenching story about an adopted father, son, and daughter that caps off a 17-year arc with one of the best movie endings that we have ever seen.

4. Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan has become well-known as a master of spectacle over the course of his career as a filmmaker, and there's a solid case to be made that Dunkirk may stand out as his crowning achievement. Telling the story of an entire British army trying to evacuate a French coastal town in the face of an impending German attack, the film follows three separate stories and timelines (an hour, a day, and a week), and interweaves them to tell one cohesive tale of heroism in the face of insurmountable odds. In the simplest terms, there has never been a movie like Dunkirk before.

It also helps that Dunkirk plays to Nolan's strengths as a filmmaker. I would contend that the man behind Inception and Interstellar is better and dealing with big ideas than he is at dealing with more intimate character moments, and Dunkirk addresses those strengths head-on by playing almost like a silent film for the bulk of its story.

3. Baby Driver

Before watching Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, I never would've assumed that the musical and heist genres could blend in a way that would highlight the best of both styles of film. Alas, the movie debuted this summer and took the moviegoing community by storm. Not only is Baby Driver a masterclass in action filmmaking in the way that Edgar Wright shot many of the sequences (particularly the opening car chase), but the inclusion of one of the year's most stylish soundtracks helped elevate it to the status of an instant classic. Think about it; how often do you see a movie that syncs gunshots up with rock and roll songs?

It's also worth mentioning that Baby Driver is anchored by one of the most charismatic ensembles of actors in recent memory. From Ansel Elgort to Jon Hamm and even Jon Bernthal, everyone brings their A-game in this movie, and we have our fingers firmly crossed that this will be the movie that finally gets a sequel out of Edgar Wright.

2. The Disaster Artist

I am a longtime devotee of the cult created by Tommy Wiseau when The Room first premiered, so naturally was interested to see what a movie chronicling its creation could look like. Luckily, the film pulls little to no punches in its depiction of the lives of Tommy and Greg Sestero, and the result is a masterpiece that's almost too bizarre to believe in the form of The Disaster Artist.

Quite a fuss has been made about James Franco's performance as Tommy Wiseau, and while he is excellent (and well worth the awards recognition that he's receiving), that almost doesn't give credit to the other great aspects of the film. Dave Franco is brilliant, and most of the cameos are brilliantly cast. All in all, it's The Disaster Artist is the type of movie that Tommy Wiseau promised us The Room would be before it debuted in theaters almost 15 years ago.

1.Wonder Woman

Finally, we come to my absolute favorite film of 2017: Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman. Many fans weren't sure what to expect from Diana Prince's solo movie following the lackluster releases of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad in 2016, but the DCEU's first female-centric superhero movie worked by combining the hallmarks of classic adventure movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Romancing the Stone with fresh ideas, settings and an iconic superheroine who has never fronted a solo film in live-action.

The success of Wonder Woman (both financially and critically) already seems to have had massive implications for the comic book movie genre as a whole, and it's something worth getting excited about. We have seen that non-white male heroes can lead this genre to strong box office results, which means Diana has paved the way for an army of diverse and eclectic heroes to enter the fray within the next few years.

As 2017 continues to march towards its conclusion, more awards boards, film institutions and media outlets will be providing their take on just what their solid top 10 rankings of the year's films are. Everyone does it, and it's a celebrated tradition that falls right in with egg nog, writing your resolutions and trying to see Star Wars with as many friends as possible. Well, the American Film Institute has ranked in with their top 10 for the year that was, and you can see that list below:

Now one big thing to keep in mind is that the AFI doesn't rank their favorites of the year. Rather, they list them in alphabetical order, in lieu of trying to rank their favorites in a preferential order. With that in mind, this list is a welcome mix of the usual end of the year fare that sticks out in the minds of the film criticism community, as well as some standouts that made a name for themselves earlier in the year.

In the corner of the predictable, films like Steven Spielberg's The Post, Martin McDonaugh's Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, and Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water were all mentioned as honored films. Not to mention, festival favorites like Call Me By Your Name and The Florida Project, as well as early fall delights like Lady Bird, all made their way to safety on the list. But perhaps the biggest surprises came from the films that built a cloud of steam earlier in the year, despite the possibility of later year prestige players pushing them out of the game.

The biggest example of such a contender is Jordan Peele's Get Out, a film that cleaned up with critics and audience members in February of this year, shortly before Logan was starting to win folks over into thinking it would last as one of the year's top films. While some are still talking about the latter film, the former has proved to have strong legs throughout 2017, and seems poised to be one of the possible outside candidates for top honors this year. Three other early risers, The Big Sick, Wonder Woman and Dunkirk bring up the metaphorical rear, rounding out a field of 10 films worthy of distinction.

Just how much the list of the AFI's Top 10 of 2017, as reported by THR, will manage to shape the 2018 Oscar race is yet to be seen. But what can already be observed is the fact that the compliment of films we've run through are a healthy mix of both your usual trophy chasers and mass appeal hits that pushed the public to the theater at various points of the year. These crowned cinematic children will be honored at the AFI's annual luncheon, scheduled to be held on January 5, 2018. But if you're interested in seeing when these films had their theatrical run, you can head on over to the 2017 release schedule to see what's already out and what's coming to town.

December is a month for spending time with family members, and especially for gift giving, so it should come as no shock that the major studios are throwing out some pretty exciting Blu-ray, DVD and Digital releases in the coming weeks. Let's be honest though, December is also a month where the weather is a lot colder and you aren't out and about with your partner or your kids as much. In fact, I am very willing to bet you spend a lot of nights around the holidays not spent with your family just vegging out on the couch and binge-watching random crap to your heart's desire. So, keeping that in mind, there's also plenty of stuff coming out this month.

If you are looking around for some fun gifts, there were also plenty of exciting releases in November, and you can take a look at our list here. As usual, Digital releases are listed on the day the Blu-ray and DVD are out, unless a movie or TV series also gets an early Digital release in December. Be sure to take a look, below.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

Despicable Me 3

Fargo: Season 3

American Assassin

The Simpsons: The Eighteenth Season

Twin Peaks: The Return Season 1

Better Watch Out

Singularity

Crash Pad

The White King

Santa Stole Our Dog!

Conor McGregor: Notorious

Valley of Bones

Straight Outta Oakland 2

The Crucifixion

Dementia 13

The Osiris Child

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 Early Digital Releases

Little Thief (December 4)

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

mother!

Victoria & Abdul

Stronger

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Boston (narrated by Matt Damon)

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season

The Strain: The Complete Fourth Season

Home Again

Detroit

Wolf Warrior II

Fuller House: The Complete Second Season

The Trip To Spain

Zoo: Season Three

All Saints

Luke Cage: The Complete First Season

Viceroy's House

Cops and Robbers

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Early Digital Releases

Dunkirk

The Lego Ninjago Movie

Flatliners

Tuesday, December 19, 2017 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

Dunkirk

Stronger

The LEGO Ninjago Movie

mother!

Victoria & Abdul

Leatherface

Salvation: Season One

Stan Lee's Lucky Man: Season One

Blood Money

Tuesday, December 19, 2017 Early Digital Releases

American Made

Tuesday, December 26, 2017 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

The Mountain Between Us

Jeepers Creepers 3

The Recall

Killing Gunther

Tuesday, December 26, 2017 Early Digital Releases

Marshall

It's been an interesting and surprising year for cinematic storytelling about the famed Dunkirk Evacuation. This past summer, Christopher Nolan took audiences directly into the chaotic World War II event in his big screen blockbuster Dunkirk, and now director Joe Wright is about to show off the political side of that same time in his new historical drama Darkest Hour. It's surprising that two very different takes about the same event would come to the big screen in the same year, but Darkest Hour star Gary Oldman recently proposed to me a cool way the two films can co-exist going into the future:

While both Darkest Hour and Dunkirk are set during the same dramatic and intense period of British history, they each tell a very different side of the story featuring completely different characters -- with the former following Winston Churchill as he makes the big picture decisions for the country, and the latter bringing audiences to the frontlines. This lack of crossover has evidently inspired Gary Oldman to think that the two films could potentially co-exist in close harmony as one edited piece -- as he recently told me during the Darkest Hour press day in Los Angeles. Director Joe Wright, who was sitting beside him at the time, was on board with the idea as well, saying,

Gary Oldman, of course, has his own personal history with Christopher Nolan -- having starred as Jim Gordon in all three movies in the director's Dark Knight trilogy -- and what he proposes is certainly a logistically possible idea. While Dunkirk is structured non-linearly, both it and Darkest Hour make their specific timetables in their respective narratives very clear to the audience, which would make the two stories surprisingly easy to cut together. It should be recognized that the finished product would be nearly four hours long, but it would be one hell of a thing to see.

You can watch Gary Oldman and Joe Wright (who also shares his very positive thoughts about the Christopher Nolan film) talk about the relationship between Darkest Hour and Dunkirk by clicking play on the video below!

Featuring a stunning, transformative performance by Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour tells the story of Winston Churchill's trials and tribulations guiding Great Britain towards war with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, and is one of the most impressive historical dramas of the season. You'll be able to get eyes on it yourself when it arrives in theaters November 22nd, but also be on the lookout for more from my interview with Oldman and Joe Wright here on CinemaBlend!

Oscar season is getting closer and closer, and while hopeful nominees are getting their movies out in November and December, what could be one of the top contenders already came out in July. Christopher Nolan is gearing up for an Oscar campaign for his modern war epic, Dunkirk, a beautifully shot film that's fairly untraditional. When first making Dunkirk, Nolan consulted his friend Steven Spielberg, who made his own Academy Award-winning war movie, Saving Private Ryan. In order to get an idea for how to stage his own battle sequences, Nolan asked to see a pristine print of Saving Private Ryan and Spielberg delivered big time.

Dunkirk follows the story of several different British soldiers during World War II at a time when it looked like the British Army would be wiped out by the Nazis. The film is not without its battle sequences, but to give his crew an idea of how to best orchestrate the battles, Christopher Nolan turned to the man who directed one of the most gut-wrenching openings in cinema. He asked Steven Spielberg to lend him a pristine print of Saving Private Ryan, which had only been run half a dozen times. He wanted to see the opening battle at Ohama Beach, a 30-minute battle full of torn limbs, blown apart soldiers, and blood-soaked waters. Spielberg delivered, but not without also imparted some words of wisdom.

Christopher Nolan is the mind behind The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, and Memento -- all deeply imaginative fictional movies. A war film based on true events was a bit of new terrain for Nolan, so Spielberg's advice no doubt had to have come in handy. Nolan told Variety that Spielberg's advice and print of Saving Private Ryan went a long way in telling him exactly what kind of movie Dunkirk needed to be. Talking about Saving Private Ryan, here's what Nolan said:

Indeed, no movie about war should ever try to compete with what Saving Private Ryan did and its unflinching look at just how horrible the battlefield is for a soldier. In contrast, Dunkirk is surprisingly bloodless, focusing less on the gore of war and more on the survival. That's where the tension of Dunkirk comes into play. Dunkirk is unconventional and arguably not worth watching unless it's on the biggest screen imaginable, but it's some real good Nolan. Here's hoping he finally gets some of that Oscar recognition!

Christopher Nolan may not be the foremost expert on creating successful movies, but he is certainly an expert when it comes to creating movies that get both critical acclaim and love at the box office. In a lengthy profile this week, the famous director explained why his latest movie, Dunkirk, did so well at the box office, noting that it's because he is able to find a balance between giving the audience big superhero projects that they might expect, he also has figured out how to give the audience new things. According to Nolan:

Obviously, with something like The Dark Knight trilogy, fans got a set of big budget superhero movies, although even those had Christopher Nolan's own look and style. However, even between his movies starring the Caped Crusader, Nolan worked on films like The Prestige and Inception, movies that he felt fit into a niche that people wanted. It's a formula that seems to have worked for Nolan.

Christopher Nolan seems to think a lot of this has to do with taste, or at least having an understanding of where the movie market is and what it can accomplish in terms of doing something creative but also giving the people what they want. In his profile with Variety, he also noted,

The director is a pretty special case in the movie industry. Right now there are a lot of movies being produced on fairly low budgets and a lot of movies being produced on massive budgets with very little being created in between. Dunkirk cost $100 million to make--which is a big budget, but not extravagant compared to, say, a Marvel film. However, it's a bet that seems to have paid off, as the movie made $524.8 million worldwide during its theatrical run after a healthy start at the U.S. box office.

Dunkirk came out over the summer and the longtime director has yet to announce his next directorial project, although recent comments indicate we won't see that project hit a streaming service such as Netflix, first. We'll keep you posted as soon as Christopher Nolan announces what he'll start working on next. In the meantime, Dunkirk is going to hit early VOD windows on December 12 and will hit Blu-ray and DVD on December 19--just in time for the holidays, if you have a member of the family who is a Nolan or WWII buff. To find out what else is heading to homes soon, take a look at our full home entertainment guide.

Right now the entertainment business is in a state of flux. Oftentimes big budget movies are becoming more expensive to produce, meaning the studios need a high box office intake to recoup a film's budget. In addition to the changes with theatrical releases, outfits like Netflix and Amazon have also gotten into the film game, producer lower to mid-sized budget movies for an at-home audience. However, director Christopher Nolan has long stated that he feels movies need to be produced for studios and given a theatrical run, first. In a recent interview he clarified his comments, explaining why he feels movies are for the big screen. Per Nolan,

We're currently living in an age when television is produced for a variety of platforms and reasons. Network television isn't the main outlet for TV anymore, as people head to cable, subscription cable and definitely to streaming services to view a variety of TV. The variety of TV available compared to a decade ago is astonishing, and that does lend itself to Christopher Nolan's views. Similarly, while a few films on TV and streaming services have earned good reviews and numerous eyeballs, they still don't have the power of, say, a superhero film or even Christopher Nolan's own Dunkirk, which did very well at the box office.

There's also been the idea mentioned that those involved in the backend make less money on streaming services than with the major studios. Plus, in the interview with Variety, Christopher Nolan also shared his view that the reason movies are better with a theatrical release window has to do with control over the product, which isn't as big of a component on streaming TV, where products are pushed out faster and (often) more cheaply.

To be fair, streaming services are just now pushing into the movie business, and both Netflix and Amazon started on a small scale before taking on some bigger budget projects. Now, Netflix especially is working on producing films with bigger budgets and on more of a theatrical scale. The most noticeable of these upcoming projects is probably Netflix's Bright, which was produced on a $90 million budget and should be a bold take on urban fantasy. The trailer has already been released for that flick, and shows a movie that should be taking chances.

Closing out, Christopher Nolan concludes that the new release window from movies, away from the eyes of critics and without the big screen promise is similar to straight-to-video films.

So, for Nolan, movies that are made for television and streaming don't quite have the sanctity of movies made for the theater. Some directors are clearly on his side and have spoken out saying they would prefer to keep working on projects that will go to the big screen. Other directors, including Okja's Joon-ho Bong, Bright's David Ayer and even The Meyerowitz Stories' Noah Bombach have happily headed to the new medium. We'll see if it's a trend that continues to become a bigger deal or if the movie theater will continue to be the first way to see theaters.

This poll is no longer available.

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Andres Muschietti's IT has continued its killer box office tear in its second week, and has been crowned king once again. We have all of the details below in our Top 10 chart, so check it out, and we'll analyze below

While IT faced off against a pair of newcomers in its second weekend, they proved to be no competition for the horror blockbuster. Dropping only 51.4 percent compared to its first go-round, the movie brought in an additional $60 million in the last three days, and shattered a few more records in the process. The big one that's been broken is the all-time September box office record, which is pretty insane when you consider that the film has been out for only a little over two weeks. The record previously belonged to Crocodile Dundee, which made an impressive $174.8 million after it was initially released in September 1986, but a new champion has now been crowned.

And while it didn't happen this weekend, IT will also be hitting another major milestone in the next few days. Now that the feature's total domestic gross stands at $218.7 million, it is on the verge of becoming the highest grossing R-rated horror movie of all time (the current record belongs to William Friedkin's The Exorcist, which made $232.9 million - unadjusted for inflation - back at the end of 1973). This wouldn't quite be enough to establish the Andres Muschietti blockbuster has the highest-grossing domestic title in the genre, as M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense, which made $293.5 million in 1999 - but at this rate it would surprise nobody if that winds up being another crown stolen by Pennywise.

Unfortunately, the rest of the box office news isn't so exciting. The performance by Michael Cuesta's American Assassin was thankfully enough to prevent the fourth straight week of only one title making more than $10 million, but it's still hard to get excited for a $14.8 million take. The new action movie was budged at a reported $33 million, and has been eyed as the start of a new thriller franchise, but whether or not that future will play out has a big question mark attached to it now. The film didn't exactly get positive reviews, but the fact that crowds gave it a B+ CinemaScore means that the feature could grow some legs as we move through the rest of the month.

The story couldn't be more different for Darren Aronofsky's mother!, however. The movie got a mixed response from both the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals - but while critics remained mostly positive, it seems that audiences absolutely hate it. Said to be a rather unpleasant experience at the movies, mother! actually managed to earn an 'F' CinemaScore, which is far from a common feat. Ultimately it was able to make $7.5 million this weekend while out in over 2,000 theaters, but one has to wonder how long it will actually stick around in theaters. If this one has your curiosity, you might want to check it out on the big screen sooner rather than later.

With the exception of IT, new releases have left us wanting a lot more in the last few weeks, but the movie world should definitely be getting a big boost on Friday. In addition to the horror feature Friend Request, and the limited release of Battle of the Sexes, studios are providing film fans with a double dose of big titles - including Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Golden Circle (expected to be a nice and profitable sequel to an original that was a big surprise on the business side), and the LEGO Ninjago Movie (which will hopefully break the terrible trend in 2017 animation that the industry has been seeing since the release of LEGO Batman in February). Be sure to come back next week to see how it all shakes out!

World War II has always been a popular topic for movies. Most recently we saw Christopher Nolan's take on the rescue at Dunkirk, next we're going to get a movie about the climactic Battle of Midway. Lionsgate just made a deal with director Roland Emmerich to distribute the project which will tell the story of the aerial battle which is viewed as the turning point of the Pacific theater during the war.

With Roland Emmerich behind the production, one expects that Midway will be a fairly spectacular action blockbuster. Emmerich is the man behind the likes of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow. One might be inclined to compare it more to another infamous World War II movie, Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, though, according to Deadline, Midway will deal with the real soldiers and aviators who were involved in the battle, so it looks like the plan is to tell a story which is a bit more grounded in the reality of the event. The film is based on a script written by Wes Tooke, who will be making his feature film debut, having previously written episodes of the USA series Colony.

Whether or not the success of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk specifically led to the interest over Midway is unclear, but it can't be entirely overlooked. Dunkirk made almost a half billion dollars at the global box office, including nearly $200 million domestically, which is impressive, considering the Dunkirk evacuation was an event most Americans weren't necessarily familiar with, as it took place prior to US entry into the war. The Battle of Midway, however, is likely to resonate more with an American audience as it was an American battle.

The air combat of Midway certainly lends itself to a massive action movie which appears to be the sort of film that Midway is going to be. Maybe we're in for something of a World War II era Top Gun, which, all things considered, isn't the worst idea for a film. World War II was when we learned about the importance of aerial superiority in warfare, so a movie about how that came about could be interesting as well as exciting.

The Battle of Midway took place in June of 1942 and is viewed by historians as being a decisive battle in the war. The damage the American fleet did to Japan during the four days of the battle was significant and Japan was never able to recover from it. Coming only six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor it was a major win for the Allies.

Since the deal for financing is just being put together, the film is looking at a budget of at least $100 million, it's a bit early to have any idea when we might actually see Midway on screen, but stay tuned with CinemaBlend and we'll have details as they continue to emerge.

Anticipation for director Andres Muschietti's IT has been boiling for weeks now, but in the past three days audiences showed Hollywood just how hungry they were for this new Stephen King adaptation. After making a stunning $51 million on Friday alone, the new blockbuster has shattered multiple records, and has immediately become one of the most successful fall releases of all time. Check out the top 10 below!

It was rather amazing to watch the estimates for IT's opening weekend climb over the last few weeks. First it was between $50-60 million. Then it was $85 million. Then came $95 million. Hell, as of mid-Saturday the professional prognosticators were still saying that the horror feature would probably make around $103 million. Now, however, the final figures are in, and they are stunning. The $117 million take is a stunning achievement by itself, but even more amazing when you consider it has an R-rated horror title between released during the fall season.

In the eyes of box office analysts these are all elements that usually ding opening weekend numbers, but IT obviously shattered both expectations and records. It's the most successful horror opening of all time, and the most successful fall opening of all time - and it would be the most successful R-rated opening of all time had Deadpool not set the bar so high in February 2016 making $132 million during its first three days.

The immense success of IT is not only wonderful because Andres Muschietti has made a legitimately great film, but also because the box office news that we've been getting in the last few weeks has been truly dreadful. August was an extremely hard movie month to get through, and you can see it all on display in the rest of the Top 10 that unfolded above (the rest of the weekend's totals in the Top 10 are equal to only about a quarter of IT's take). The Hitman's Bodyguard, which got rough reviews when it was released in mid-August, finally got dethroned from the number one spot after three weeks, and it has still only managed to make $64 million thus far. Spider-Man: Homecoming - which was released in early July - is somehow still holding on to the seventh spot. It's a great thing for the industry to see so many people excited by a new release, and it gives us renewed hope for how the rest of 2017 will play out.

As you can see, the only other new release this week was the Reese Witherspoon-starring romantic drama Home Again, which got absolutely crushed. You get the sense that the film came out hoping that it would attract movie fans who aren't big into the horror scene, but it seems that it didn't take into account that the competition would be a true-blue all-around crowd pleaser. It should be noted that the $9 million take isn't devastating, as it's hard to imagine the feature carrying a huge price tag, but it's performance certainly does look incredibly underwhelming compared to IT's final tally.

Given the strong buzz that IT has, and then fact that it should continue to be watercooler conversation for the next week, there's a strong chance that the new Stephen King movie will put up impressive second week numbers as well. That being said, it does face some interesting competition in the form of Darren Aronofsky's mother! (another critically-acclaimed horror feature), and the Michael Cuesta-directed action thriller American Assassin. We'll be back next week to analyze the aftermath, so we'll catch you then!

This Labor Day weekend is shaping up to be one for the record books... except, it's not the kind of history the studios want to make. Official stats are still rolling in, but so far as the traditional weekend goes, this will be the lowest-grossing Labor Day box office in 12 years, with only one movie reaching double-digit figures in the millions and other films struggling to pad their totals. Here's the rundown:

A quick glance at this weekend's box office chart suggests that not a lot changed. Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds' The Hitman's Bodyguard held on to the top slot of the Top 10, with the horror hit Annabelle: Creation holding on to its second-place finish. The latter has inched closer to $100 million, making it a true late-summer success and a shot in the arm for the Conjuring Cinematic Universe that James Wan is helping Warner Bros. build.

In third place, also very encouraging, is Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen's Wind River, a tense murder mystery from writer/director Taylor Sheridan. The movie took in $5.8 million domestically in its fifth week, because it has been rolling out into more theaters, building on buzz and capitalizing on the fact that people know Sheridan from his previous films, Sicario and the exquisite Hell or High Water. Wind River currently has $18M in the bank on a reported $11M budget, a tidy win for The Weinstein Company.

Beyond the top three, there wasn't much change, with movies like Logan Lucky, Dunkirk and even Spider-Man: Homecoming holding on to the same slots that they had the week before. Marvel and Sony's Spider-Man movie is doing much better than the Amazing movies in the States, coasting well above $300M at the box office and showing impressive legs. Wonder Woman, meanwhile, pushed its massive cume to $408.9M with and additional $1.9M over the holiday weekend.

There were a few unusual blips at the box office that bear note. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind returned to select theaters and notched $1.8M in 901 locations. Also, the upcoming Marvel television show Inhumans tested its waters on IMAX before being available on ABC, which is a lot more than I expected people to pay for a show that they'll be able to watch for free. And after botching the marketing campaign, Weinstein finally unveiled the steamy romance Tulip Fever, with Alicia Vikander risking her marriage in order to screw Dane DeHaan. But audiences didn't turn up, as the Fever only banked $1.2M in 765 theaters. Not terrible. But not good. Which kinds up sums up this entire box office weekend, in a nutshell.