When Thompson joined Amy Poehler on her Good Hang podcast (which is shared on YouTube), they reminisced about his audition when he was 23. Poehler brought up an “inviting” moment where the Good Burger star “zapped himself to the present” by telling himself, “Oh my God, SNL” before he began. He gave a simple explanation for the moment in a classic Thompson way. He said:

Thompson has always been one to share insight his time on the sketch comedy show, and that even includes the harrowing reason he’s been on SNL for so long. Thompson can take a simple answer involving financial stability and turn into a clever retort about the “traveling salesman” life of an actor. And that’s one reason I’ve always enjoyed watching Thompson’s perform. So I’m not surprised that he instantly stood out in his audition.

Even Poehler describes having watched his big moment, and her story is incredible. At the time, she was apparently on a private plane with SNL creator Lorne Michaels. While flying back from filming Mean Girls with Tina Fey and Lindsay Lohan, they gathered together to watch Thompson’s audition. But what Poehler remembered most was the way he used he “Oh my God, SNL” statement as a way to “secretly quiet [his] nerves.” The way Thompson described the moment as “silently putting that seatbelt on” is a lovely reminder of how quick the comedian can think on his feet. That's how his mention of Brad Pitt and Edward Norton-led cult classic came up film:

Fight Club may not have struck a chord when it was first released back in 1999, but the David Fincher-directed film has since become a cult classic. It's filled to the brim with memorable scenes, including the one featuring Brad Pitt's Tyler Durden. While that may be an unexpected reference in this context, I'm certainly not mad at it.

Also, that way of thinking obviously worked out for the former Nickelodeon star. And, clearly, he impressed more than the Mean Girls cast, as Thompson would go on to take part in some fan-favorite sketches. For example, there's the "Scared Straight" segments, which Thompson and Colin Jost concocted while sharing an office. And Thompson has continued to impress audiences with comedy gold, as was the cast with that moment when he busted out a deep cut character, Jean K Jean, after having not played him for a while.

However, just because he enjoys the stability of the skit series doesn’t mean Thompson doesn’t play outside of the long-running NBC show. He actually has a new gig outside of SNL, as he’ll be filling in as a guest judge on America’s Got Talent while Simon Cowell recovers from non-emergency back procedure. And that’s not all. The comedian has also joined Seth MacFarlane’s new Family Guy spin-off as the voice of Royal, one of Stewie’s new friends. Additionally, he can be seen in the Michael Tiddes’ Scary Movie 6.

I, for one, am glad Kenan Thompson's audition worked out, because the public would otherwise be without his vast body of work on Saturday Night Live. His journey and Fight Club reference both argue the notion that some performers should understand what they can and can't control.

Check out Thompson on SNL when Season 52 premieres on September 26 as part of the 2026 TV schedule. His various other appearances on the show can be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

Norton told the story during an appearance on the Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade, where he looked back on Fight Club’s rocky early reception. The actor reminded the hosts that people sometimes forget the movie was a box-office disappointment before it found its audience. He also recalled the movie’s Venice Film Festival premiere, which sounds like exactly the wrong room for Fincher’s bruising, anti-consumerist fever dream. Norton explained:

That is such an incredible mental image. Two of the stars of what would become one of the most quoted movies pre-the new millennium, standing behind a hotel before a major festival premiere, looking at each other and realizing the whole thing might be about to crash into the marble floor.

Honestly, I get why they were worried. Fight Club is not exactly a polite festival movie. It is loud, nasty, funny, angry and deeply uncomfortable by design. It is a movie where the satire keeps biting, and if you drop that into the wrong room, with the wrong expectations, you are basically asking for a poor reception. If someone in that crowd actually thought they were their effing khakis, their mind must have been blown.

The funny thing is, Norton’s story makes the failure sound almost inevitable in hindsight. Not because the movie was bad, obviously. Time has handled that argument pretty well. But because Fight Club was never built to be easily received. It was built to irritate, provoke and make people laugh at things they maybe did not want to laugh at. That can age into cult status beautifully. It can also make a first screening feel like a public punishment.

According to Norton, the audience response was not subtle. He continued:

Plenty of popular '90s movies have not stood the test of time, but Norton's story says a lot about why Fight Club has. Some movies need time to find the people who speak their strange little language. Fincher’s film did not become what it is because everyone understood it right away. It became many folks' favorite of his work because, once it finally found the right audience, that audience would not shut up about it.

All these years later, Norton’s account makes the movie’s disastrous premiere feel like part of the legend. Of course Fight Club got booed. Of course people walked out. Of course Brad Pitt still knew. And despite all that, it remains one of my, and many other cinephiles', favorite page-to-screen adaptations, even if plenty of film bros still miss the point, and nearly 30 years after its release, we are still talking about it.

The common consensus on this generationology Reddit thread about why “Millennials and Gen X know more about pop culture that was before they were born than Gen Z” seemed to surround how various generations grew up watching TV (and movies on TV). As Wooden-Muffin-3981 wrote:

This is true, for a long time, I haven't watched movies on a TV channel, and no, I didn't spend my childhood watching films like Shawshank Redemption and My Cousin Vinny because they were casually on. I've had to make an effort to watch flicks like Fight Club, The Silence of the Lambs, Fargo and more on streaming in my 20s. There's no casual cable watching for me anymore; it's an active choice to watch '90s movies.

Plus, when I use my Netflix subscription or click into my Hulu subscription to watch something, almost always it's new titles flooding my screen. So, if I’m casually surfing for something to watch, I’m more likely to pick a project on the 2026 movie schedule because it’s what’s being advertised. On top of that, ultimately, while these services push programming, I’m the one who decides to watch something. It's not up to the TV Guide. So, as riotalk wrote:

Riotalk went on to say that newer generations “have the ability to choose and tailor” what they watch thanks to streaming. Therefore, that could explain why it seems like they aren’t exposed to more movies from the past. To put this statement in a shorter form, crew_hour posted:

As someone who spent a lot of my childhood channel surfing, I did grow up on certain movies and shows that ran in syndication, like Friends – yeah, that’s right, I watched it on Nick at Nite, not with an HBO Max subscription. However, I almost always chose to watch Disney Channel or Nickelodeon over an old movie. That plays into the point FedoraPG made, as they wrote:

I watched my fair share of Hannah Montana, High School Musical and iCarly growing up. Disney Channel and Nickelodeon defined my childhood watching habits.

However, since my parents grew up in the 1980s, I also was schooled in the best ‘80s movies (we’re talking Top Gun, Back to the Future, The Princess Bride and more). So, that explains why I haven’t seen some ‘90s movies, and proves that maybe all generations do get exposed to what their parents love, which is something brokemillionaire572 wrote about:

Now, these days, I’m admittedly backtracking to catch the best movies of the ‘90s. However, it is an active mission I’m on; it’s not something I’m just casually doing when I turn on the TV and start channel surfing.

So, I see the points here, and I can point to myself as an example of this happening. However, have no fear, Gen Xers, Millennials and the generations who came before, there are members of Gen Z who still love movies and are doing the good work to watch the classics (myself included).

Fight Club Is Returning To Theaters

That’s set to change as a new 4K transfer of Fight Club will make its debut in theaters this year. Unfortunately, the opportunity to see this will be limited to one day only, April 22. Even event screenings often run for a couple of days, so this one is even more limited than most. Based on showtimes on Fandango, there is only a single showing of the film, so there aren't even multiple options on the one day.

As somebody who did see Fight Club in theaters back in 1999, I can say it was an experience I still remember. Although I’ll admit part of that may be due to not knowing the story or the ending; the Fight Club ending is so well-known at this point that some know it even without ever seeing the film. Which is not to say everybody agrees on Fight Club's ending. Maybe discussing the ending is the reason none of us were supposed to talk about Fight Club.

At the same time, seeing it in a theater full of people who have already seen Fight Club has a lot to be said for it too. The communal experience of watching a classic movie with other people who love it can be a lot of fun as everybody experiences those memorable moments together.

Fight Club Is Getting A 4K Blu-Ray Release Too

For those who miss out on the theatrical exhibition of the new 4K version of Fight Club, or who just want to own it, there’s also good news as pre-orders are now open for a 4K Steelbook version. Plus the movie will also be released Digitally in 4K starting May 12.

Fight Club is one of those movies that seem to generate an endless amount of fan conversation. Does it glorify the toxic masculinity which is presents, or is it a condemnation? The movie maybe hasn’t aged all that well in a few ways, but that may be exactly why the movie is still talked about, as there may be no film from the late 1990s that is more “of its era” than Fight Club.

Tickets for the theatrical return of Fight Club are available now.

However, I decided to give it a shot recently, even though I knew the biggest surprise about it, and I’m thrilled to report that I was still very shocked by this movie.

Fight Club And I Are The Same Age, And I Couldn’t Avoid The Spoilers

I was born in 1999, and Fight Club came out in October that same year. Basically, the entire time I’ve been alive, this Edward Norton and Brad Pitt film has been around and talked about. Therefore, as a film enthusiast-turned-entertainment-journalist, I couldn’t avoid its biggest spoiler and one of the best plot twists ever.

For years and years, I’ve known that Pitt’s Tyler Durden was Edward Norton’s Narrator. In other words, I’ve known the Ocean’s Eleven star’s character wasn’t real. And I’ve known it was Norton’s character running the whole entire show. Therefore, I didn’t really see the point in watching the film if there was no surprise, especially since I’m not really into this kind of intense, hyper-masculine movie anyway.

However, it’s a classic, it’s one of Norton and Pitt’s best movies, and it felt like not giving it a chance was a disgrace. So, I decided to give it a watch with my HBO Max subscription, and by golly, did it surprise me.

I Was Shocked By The Narrator's Whole Relationship With Marla

The surprises started right at the start of the movie. Obviously, I knew Helena Bonham Carter was in the cast, however, I didn’t know how pivotal her character, Marla, was to the story. I also didn’t realize how wild her plotline was or the bizarre way she met the Narrator.

So, shock number one came when Norton’s character met Marla. The fact that they came into contact because they were both attending support groups that they really had no reason to be at was hilarious and incredibly odd. However, it immediately told me that they were on a similar wavelength, and it developed their connection in a clear and memorable way.

Then, shock number two was sustained throughout the rest of the movie as I watched Marla’s relationship with Tyler grow while the Narrator spectated. Although I knew, and Marla knew, that she was actually with Norton’s character, not Pitt’s, knowing that made these interactions even better and more surprising.

Watching Pitt and Bonham Carter dance in and out of scenes with Norton was masterful, and I was enthralled by the way her relationship with the men ultimately illustrated the plot twist to me. That, my friends, was unexpected.

I Didn’t See The Terrorist Group Coming

Now, I might have known about Fight Club because everyone talked about it. However, I had absolutely no idea it would turn into, essentially, a terrorist group. So, that led to a level of jaw-dropping that likely mirrored the one I could have had at the Tyler reveal.

I mean, talk about escalation. I knew this film made comments on the idea of toxic masculinity in a big, bold and violent way. However, going to the extent of starting a cult-like group in that dilapidated house and blowing up literal buildings was something I did not see coming at all.

Terror and rage were two of of the primary emotions I felt when this turn happened. I was overwhelmed by the toxic masculinity, and couldn’t quite believe the lows these men had fallen to. It was sad, horrifying, and lame of them. And I realize that’s what the movie wanted me to feel.

I knew Fight Club had been misunderstood by many when I sat down to watch it, and I knew it was a satire of sorts. That became abundantly clear when Project Mayhem came into the picture. It took the extremes of this movie to a whole new level, and it highlighted how these men had resorted to violent actions because they couldn’t cope with their lives in a healthy and productive way.

Overall, it was a fascinating, disturbing and surprising examination of toxic masculinity through a very extreme and jarring plotline that I didn’t see coming at all.

The Ending, Where He Shoots Himself And Kills Imaginary Tyler But Not Himself, Surprised Me

If you don’t know what’s coming with Fight Club, the scene where it’s revealed that the Narrator and Tyler are one and the same is by far the most unexpected part of the movie. However, if you know that’s going to happen without knowledge of anything else (which was my case), I’d say that the moment where Norton’s character essentially kills Pitt’s character is the biggest shocker.

Now, here’s what I saw: the Narrator got into a battle with Tyler, and then shot himself. We see the bullet go through the back of Tyler’s head, and the Narrator manages to survive, seemingly by shooting the gun in a way that made it so the bullet missed his brain. Then, the film ends with Marla and the Narrator standing hand-in-hand, looking out the window, watching the city explode.

It seems like the Narrator let Tyler go and banished that part of himself from his mind. Then, he faced the inevitable by watching the buildings explode, and he was forced to take in the consequences of his actions.

However, I also can’t shake how ambiguous this all was. Like, how did the Narrator survive? Can he actually kill a figment of his imagination? What happened with his relationship with Marla?

All this and more has kept me thinking about the wild ride that is Fight Club, despite knowing the plot twist before I started watching it. So, in the end, I’m very happy I finally sat down to watch this 1999 classic, because even though I knew the biggest twist, I was still very, very surprised by it.

A movie fan on Twitter recently pointed out how dull certain elements of physical media now are. Whereas DVD and Blu-ray menus used to have cool backgrounds, the recent Blu-ray for the recent smash hit Sinners is just a static image. Film critic Courtney Howard then responded to the comment, pointing out how the Blu-ray for Fight Club, in a very on-brand move, opens with a menu that makes you briefly think you got the wrong movie in the box.

This is a pretty great opening, and considering that Fight Club is a movie that deals with the confusing perceptions of its protagonist, it's quite fitting that the Blu-ray messes with the perceptions of viewers as well.

It made me think about my own copy of Fight Club. I actually don’t own the movie on Blu-ray. I still have it on DVD. It was, if memory serves, one of the first DVDs I purchased back when I got my first player. I broke it out just to remind myself if it did anything cool with its menus, and while the selection menu itself is pretty standard, it does include a fantastic transition from the standard FBI warning into a fake one clearly written by Tyler Durden

If I went through my collection of DVDs and Blu-rays, I know I would find more cool stuff, from interesting menus to hidden special features. Part of the fun of buying physical media back in the day was looking to see if the disc did anything cool like this. Not finding a hidden Easter egg in a menu was always so disappointing, considering how often you did find them.

It’s somewhat understandable why physical media isn’t getting the investment required to do cool stuff like home releases once did. If fewer people are buying them, there simply isn’t going to be the sort of investment that’s needed to create such things.

While streaming certainly wins the war when it comes to convenience and increases one's available media options exponentially compared to what most could afford to buy, physical media is unlikely to ever fully disappear, and perhaps one day it will make a rebound. As some content disappears from streaming platforms that isn't even available any other way, many see the benefits of physical media again.

The golden age of menus has probably passed us by, but as long as you have the physical media, you can always go back and see it again. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go see what Blu-rays I can buy before Prime Day ends.

The Spinal Tap Hat In The Princess Bride

The story behind director Rob Reiner sneaking his hat from This Is Spinal Tap! into The Princess Bride is that Mark Knopfler, who did the soundtrack for the fantasy movie, only agreed to do the movie if Reiner got the hat into a scene. He did, by hanging it on the wall in Fred Savage's character's room.

Avengers Comic In The Electric State

In a blink-or-you'll miss-it moment, there is a quick call back a previous Russo Brothers' movie in the Netflix original film, The Electric State. A robot can be seen reading an Avengers comic.

R2-D2 In Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

Steven Spielberg paid tribute to his good buddy George Lucas in his film Close Encounters Of The Third Kind by adding a little R2-D2 to the underside of the alien ship. It can be seen very briefly as the ship takes off.

The Duke Brothers In Coming To America

In Trading Places, Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd's characters take down the Duke Brothers and leave them broke. A few years later, in Coming To America, Eddie Murphy's character Prince Akeem hands a homeless man a wad of cash. The bum turns out to be Mortimer Duke, who shakes his brother Randolph awake, and they celebrate being back.

Pac-Man In Tron

Disney's Tron broke a ton of new ground with CGI use, and in the first wave of the video game craze, it makes sense they would find a way to work in Pac-Man, the biggest video game of the character at the time, and really the first video game superstar.

The HMS Surprise In Deadpool & Wolverine

There are a ton of Easter Eggs in Deadpool and Wolverine, many of them when the characters land in the void. One of the most subtle, and one of the funniest, has to be the HMS Surprise from Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World, a movie that many people are sad wasn't turned into a franchise. Or maybe this wasn't an Easter Egg? There is a debate that it could be a fake.

Ezekiel 25:17 In Captain America: The Winter Soldier

You wouldn't think a Marvel movie would reference a Quentin Tarantino film, but that's what happened in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. At the end of the movie, the audience sees Nick Fury's "grave," and on the tombstone, there is a quote from Ezekiel 25:17, which, of course, is where Samuel L. Jackson's Pulp Fiction character gets his famous speech in the opening scene.

Binford Tool Box In Toy Story

If you weren't a big fan of Home Improvement, the reference to the sitcom in Toy Story would be easy to miss. In the show, Tim Allen's character's show-in-a-show "Tool Time" is sponsored by Binford Tools. In Toy Story, Allen's character is seen trying to move a Binford Tools toolbox.

Club Obi-Wan In Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

Of the many times Steven Spielberg has made reference to Star Wars, the most fun might be in Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom. The name of the club at the beginning of the movie, as seen as Indy jumps out of the window, is "Club Obi-Wan."

E.T. In Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

George Lucas paid a tribute to Steven Spielberg in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. During the scene in the Galactic Senate, one group of diplomats appears to be from E.T.'s home planet. It's good to know that everything was represented, even aliens in other universes.

Jimmy Buffett With Two Margaritas In Jurassic World

This is really more of a cameo than an Easter Egg, but it's kind of both. Sitting in Jurassic Park's Margaritaville is none other than the man who wrote the song and opened the first restaurant, the late, great Jimmy Buffett.

Goya's Portrait Of The Duke of Wellington In Dr. No

This has to be one of the best Easter Eggs ever. In the very first James Bond, and one of the best of the Sean Connery era, Dr. No, James briefly pauses to examine a painting in Dr. No's secret lair. The painting is a portrait of the Duke of Wellington by Francisco Goya. In the real world, that painting had famously been stolen the year before the movie came out, and at the time, it was missing. It seems Dr. No had it.

Starbucks Cups In Fight Club

This one is wild. Fight Club is a lot of things, and on one level, it's a pretty harsh critique of capitalism. As part of that, director David Fincher made sure that Starbucks cups appeared in every - or at least many - scenes in the movie. They are all over the place, and next time you watch it, you'll see them, we promise.

A Cowbell In The Jungle Book (2016)

Now this one is great. Director Jon Favreau seems to have snuck a great reference to a classic Saturday Night Live episode into his live-action version of The Jungle Book in 2016. When Mowgli visits King Louie, he bangs on a cowbell to summon the king. King Louie, of course, is voiced by Christopher Walken, who starred in the famous "more cowbell" skit on SNL.

Lou Ferrigno In The MCU Movies

One of the coolest things about the Hulk-centered movies in the MCU is that Lou Ferrigno gets his due. He famously played the superhero in the 1980s, of course. Getting his due in the modern movies is a fantastic tribute.

A Xenomorph Skull In Predator 2

Many years before they would meet in Predator V. Alien, it was established that the two franchises existed in the same universe. In Predator 2, there is a very clear Xenomorph skull on the wall in a trophy room of the team of hunters.

Yoda In E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg really loves making sly references to the Star Wars franchise in his movies. In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, there is a kid dressed as Yoda on Halloween, and very briefly, you can hear Yoda's theme music from Empire Strikes Back. E.T. recognizes Yoda, but is pulled back before he can speak to him.

Batman V. Superman In I Am Legend

This one is wild. In I Am Legend, there is a billboard in a post-apocalyptic Times Square advertising a "Batman vs. Superman" movie. Legend came out in 2007, a full nine years before Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice came out. Of course, the idea of a team-up between the two giant DC comic characters goes way back, but still, it's almost like I Am Legend predicted the future in a movie set in the future.

License Plate THX-138 In American Graffiti

George Lucas' breakout movie was American Graffiti, and he found a way to work the name of his first movie, THX-138, into the movie set in the fifties. It appears on a license plate in the movie. Lucas has snuck it into most of his movies since, as well.

The Millennium Falcon In Spaceballs

Spaceballs is one of Mel Brooks's best movies. It's a parody of Star Wars, and Brooks manages to pay direct tribute to the epic space opera by sneaking in The Millennium Falcon at the end of the movie. As the main characters pull into the space truck stop, they park their RV right next to it. Sadly, Han and Chewie aren't seen inside the diner.

OB-3PO In Raiders Of The Lost Ark

This is one of our favorites. Lots of people are aware that Steven Spielberg snuck R2-D2 and C-3PO into the hieroglyphics in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but did you know that wasn't the only tribute? The tail number of the plane at the beginning of the movie (the one with the snake in the seat) is "OB-3PO," referencing Obi-Wan and C-3PO.

Douglas Adams' Face In The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Towards the very end of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, the filmmakers pay quick tribute the Douglas Adams, the author of the beloved "trilogy" the movie is based on. The face of the late writer is seen very briefly as the ship swings around to head to the restaurant at the end of the universe.

Rango's Shirt In Rango

Johnny Depp voices the character Rango in the movie of the same name, and throughout the movie, there are a few references to one of Depp's other classic movies, Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, most notably Rango's shirt, which is the same as Depp's character wears in Fear & Loathing.

A113 In Every Pixar Movie

One of the most famous Easter Eggs in movies has references to room A113 in almost all of the Pixar movies. Room A113 at California Institute of the Arts is where many of the artists and animators at Pixar studied in college, and they add it into the movie as a tribute to their education.

The Tesseract In Iron Man 2

The first time The Tesseract is properly introduced into the MCU is in the post-credit scene in Thor, but the first time it's ever referenced was in the preceding movie, Iron Man 2, when Tony Stark is seen looking through his father's journal is pauses on a drawing of the powerful object.

Hank Hill In Idiocracy

This one is really hard to catch, but it's there. At the beginning of director Mike Judge's Idiocracy, there is a family tree of the "idiot," and there are dozens and dozens of photos of his descendants. One of those, if you look closely towards the bottom, just left of center, is none other than Hank Hill. Judge, of course, is also the creator of King Of The Hill.

Roald Dahl Original Text In The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Director Wes Anderson paid a wonderful tribute to author Roald Dahl, whose story he adapted for The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and included a little of Dahl's original writing from the book.

Fire Marshall Bill In Liar, Liar

Jim Carrey had a lot of crazy ideas and nutty characters when he starred on In Living Color, and one of the most popular was Fire Marshall Bill. The idiotic fireman is seen very briefly in the background in Liar, Liar, and it's, frankly, brilliant.

Huttese Language In Men In Black

It's rare that you get an audio Easter Egg, but that's what we get in Men in Black. As K is showing J around the Men In Black headquarters, K stops for a cup of coffee, and there is a cadre of aliens making the coffee. They are speaking "Huttese," or the language of the Hutts, in the Star Wars universe. It's a great little tribute.

Callahan Institute in 50 First Dates

Lucy, played by Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates, learns about her memory problems by visiting Dr. Keats, played by Dan Aykroyd. Keats works at the Callahan Institute. Callahan Auto, of course, is the name of the auto parts company Akyroyd's character tries to buy from Tommy Callahan (Chris Farley) in Tommy Boy.

Easter Eggs In The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Did you know that there are literal Easter Eggs in a few scenes in The Rocky Horror Picture Show? The lore surrounding the eggs is that the cast had their own Easter Egg hunt and they either left some on purpose, or failed to find a few, but there are at least three that can be seen in the "Time Warp" scene, including on top of the statue to the right of Frank's throne.

The Race In Ready Player One

It feels a little like cheating by adding it to this list, since Ready Player One is basically one big Easter Egg. So we could mention dozens, but in the race alone, there is a Knight Rider car, Christine, The A-Team van, and a whole lot more.

I scoured the internet for some of the wittiest examples I could find and also managed to come up with a few decent ones of my own that I now present to you. You may never think of these classics the same way again.

A Father Asks His Long Lost Son To Take Over The Family Business (The Empire Strikes Back)

This one is inspired by an X post (from when it was still called Twitter) by Mitch Poppe, who makes, arguably, the best Star Wars movie sound more like a sweet Earthly drama (or even an organized crime thriller). Of course, it is not until the stunning climax of 1980's The Empire Strikes Back that we discover Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) is the father of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who is then tempted by the Sith Lord to come to the Dark Side and rule with him.

The Story Of One Man's Catastrophic Inner Conflict (Fight Club)

SPOILER WARNING: In one of the best movie plot twists ever, 1999's Fight Club reveals that the chaotic Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is a dissociative identity of Edward Norton's "Narrator." Unfortunately, he comes to that realization only after his other half has converted their unconventional male support group into a terrorist organization that he immediately intends to stop.

An Accident-Prone Dinosaur Theme Park, Shockingly, Still Exists (Jurassic World)

I also turned to my co-workers for help to come up with some of these simplified movie plot descriptions and one suggested this bit that, admittedly, points out just how ludicrous the plot of 2015's Jurassic World really is. It was already established in Steven Spielberg's 1993 original Jurassic Park movie that a theme park with real, living prehistoric creatures has the potential to result in disaster, much like the very plot of this sequel.

Three Escaped Convicts Start A Boy Band (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

There is a reason why O Brother, Where Art Thou? is considered to be one of the best music movies ever made and the X account Explain A Movie Plot Badly recognizes this in its simplified explanation. Joel and Ethan Coen's 2000 comedy is a retelling of The Odyssey, redefined as the story of Depression Era inmates (played by George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson) who ditch the chain gang and find success as singing folk songs as The Soggy Bottom Boys.

Deja Vu Cures A Weatherman's Cynicism (Groundhog Day)

When you really think about it, all of the best time loop movies are tales of redemption and self-rediscovery. In other words, my colleague's clever description of 1993's Groundhog Day could be applied to almost any one of them, save the mention of Phil Connors' (Bill Murray) profession as a TV weather reporter.

A Teen Plays Matchmaker For His Own Parents (Back To The Future)

Back to the Future, stars Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, who accidentally takes Doc Brown's (Christopher Lloyd) time machine 30 years in the past and nearly prevents his own existence by getting in the way of his mother (Lea Thompson) and father (Crispin Glover) falling in love in high school. If you did not realize that I was talking about the 1985 time travel movie classic, you might assume I was describing the story of a child trying to get their divorced parents back together.

A Young Man Goes Through A Lot Of Trouble To Return Some Jewelry (The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy)

I almost hate to admit this, but I have never been very interested in epic fantasy stories like the Lord of the Rings movies. However, Eser Ünsalan's X post helped me realize just how relatable Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy is if you break down Frodo's (Elijah Wood) journey into its simplest terms.

A Man Constantly Loses His Prized Possessions To This French Jerk (Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

Many would agree that the best Indiana Jones villain is Dr. René Belloq, who claims at the beginning of 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark that there is nothing Harrison Ford's heroic archaeologist can possess that he cannot take away. Actor Paul Freeman has said that he believes his sniveling, French explorer is not so different from Indy, save for his reluctance to do the work himself and alliance with fascist organizations, of course.

A Fight Breaks Out Between Two Angry Orphans (Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice)

Despite their differing methods of justice, overall sense of optimism, and respective species, Batman and Superman relate to each other in many ways, most notably that they both know what it is like to lose their parents. Explain a Movie Plot Badly reflected on that in the X post that inspired this joke, which references 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, even though Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne did not know Clark Kent's (Henry Cavill) own tragic backstory until a little too late into their quarrel.

A Man Wins Back His Wife By Throwing Out Uninvited Christmas Party Guests (Die Hard)

Many have debated whether or not Die Hard – in which Det. John McClane (Bruce Willis) wages a war against ruthless thieves taking his wife (played by Bonnie Bedelia) and her colleagues hostage in an L.A. high-rise – it deserves a spot among the best Christmas movies ever made. Well, if you strip away its more violent content, the 1988 action movie classic's plot is clearly not much different from your typical holiday rom-com.

A Man Goes Through A Lot To Have The Perfect Suit (The Silence Of The Lambs)

One would have to have a pretty bleak sense of humor to paint Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb (Ted Levine) from 1991's The Silence of the Lambs in a sympathetic light and it appears that the people at Explain A Movie Plot Badly do. Their X post, referring to a serial killer fixing to make a suit of human skin in Jonathan Demme's unsettling Best Picture Oscar winner, inspired this also quite unsettling joke.

A Teen Becomes Upset When His Computer Dies (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

In addition to its astonishing action sequences, what really makes 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day a classic sci-fi movie is the endearing relationship between the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and young John Connor (Edward Furlong). Of course, no matter how misty-eyed you may get from their final goodbye at the end, you cannot ignore the fact that this kid's father figure was still a machine.

Two Men Turn To The Bible To Solve Their Problems (Se7en)

Let me just make this clear: Se7en is not a religious movie. However, faith does play a pivotal role in how veteran detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and rookie Mills (Brad Pitt) investigate a multiple murder case in David Fincher's 1995 thriller. They recognize that the sadistic killer's pattern is related to the biblical seven deadly sins.

Water Helps A Family Survive (Signs)

One of the most divisive M. Night Shyamalan movie plot twists comes from Signs, in which it is revealed that the extra-terrestrial intruders die when water touches them. It is easy to understand why this is underwhelming, but we also should not ignore the fact that Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) and his family might not have made it through the alien invasion if not for the invaders' strange weakness.

A Man Sleeps Through A 10-Hour Flight (Inception)

Due to its visually stunning appeal, it is easy to forget that much of what we see in Inception is not even real and the main characters are all asleep as it happens. In fact, much of the film takes place in the mind of a sedated Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy), whose subconscious is invaded by Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his crew while on a long plane trip to the United States.

A Guy Jumps Through Many Hoops To Complete His Rock Collection (Avengers: Infinity War)

I do not in any way mean to undermine the efforts that the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and other concerned parties go through to prevent a cataclysmic event that, tragically, does end up happening anyway. However, darthyogi on Reddit makes a really good point in the way they describe Thanos' (Josh Brolin) ultimate goal in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. I mean, a fitting alternate title for the acclaimed Marvel movie could have been Avengers: Geology War.

Six Men Dress The Same For Their First Day At Work (Reservoir Dogs)

It is really nothing unusual for a group of coworkers to have matching uniforms. Of course, Explain A Movie Plot Badly's tweet that inspired this reimagining of Reservoir Dogs' storyline leaves out that this "first day at work" is also their last, since the jewelry store heist they volunteer for goes terribly, and fatally, wrong.

Boy Meets Girl, Boy Loses Girl, Boy Forgets Girl, Boy Meets Girl (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind)

Arguably Jim Carrey's best movie, 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is such a conceptually, visually, and even structurally unique experience, as acknowledged in this bit from the mind of my coworker. It is such a clever twist to learn that the beginning, when Joel (Carrey) meets Clementine (Kate Winslet) on a train, is actually the end of the sci-fi rom-com, taking place after they each unwittingly erased the memory of their relationship.

A Millionaire Is Forever Haunted By The Loss Of His Favorite Toy (Citizen Kane)

The end of 1941's Citizen Kane reveals that the titular, late publishing tycoon (played by co-writer and director Orson Welles) was remembering the sled he used to play with as a child when he spoke his final word: "Rosebud." For decades, this seminal film's conclusion has been heralded as one of all-time finest, but I cannot help but wonder how divisive this twist would be if the film had come out in modern times, especially if you think of it in the same terms as this joke.

A Clown Provokes An Angry Cosplayer (The Dark Knight)

Without the proper context, this sounds like a headline for a newspaper article reporting a fight that broke out on Hollywood Boulevard. Actually, even with the proper context, it does not just sound like the plot of 2008's The Dark Knight but of a few of the best live-action Batman movies.

A Divorced Dad Kills An Intruder And Takes His Job (The Santa Clause)

Even before finding Explain A Movie Plot Badly's X post that inspired this simplified film story, I had been made aware of just how dark the concept of 1994's The Santa Clause truly is in retrospect. However, that does not stop me from recognizing Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) as one of the coolest cinematic movie Santas for the way comes to wholeheartedly accept the job (after some convincing) when he accidentally causes his successor's fatal accident from the top of his roof.

A Princess Convinces A Millionaire And A Cat Lady To Give Up Their Dreams (Wonder Woman 1984)

Perhaps my favorite tweet from Explain A Movie Plot Badly offers the funniest way to describe 2020's Wonder Woman 1984 that I think anybody could imagine. The DC movie sequel features two villains for Gal Gadot's Amazonian warrior to take on: the wealthy Max Lord (Pedro Pascal), who gets ahold of a mystical rock that grants wishes, and geologist Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig), whose wish turns her into "Cheetah."

A Young Man Has A Bunny To Thank For Saving His Life (Donnie Darko)

The plot of the mind-bending high school movie Donnie Darko (a personal favorite of a friend of mine who helped come up with this bit) is set in motion when the titular teen (Jake Gyllenhaal) narrowly escapes a tragic death when he follows the voice of a possibly hallucinatory man named Frank (James Duval). I am not sure where writer and director Richard Kelly got the idea to dress Frank in the most disturbing rabbit costume imaginable, but I also believe it is essential to the 2001 thriller's legacy as an enduring cult favorite.

A Woman's Motel Room Shower Is To Die For (Psycho)

I cannot imagine there exists a motel with a bathroom shower this impressive. But, do you know what is impressive? The shocking, iconic scene from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece in which Marion Crane (Scream Queen Janet Leigh) is murdered by who we assume is the mother of Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) while taking a shower at the Bates Motel.

A Divorced Father Fights To See His Daughter (Taken)

One of the most matter-of-fact X posts by Explain A Film Plot Badly takes aim at Taken, in which retired CIA agent Brian Mills (Liam Neeson) takes action to locate his kidnapped daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), in France. Without knowing what the 2008 action flick is actually about, one might hear this description and assume it is a wholesome family film.

A Group Of Men Learn To Never Trust Dogs (The Thing)

The best kind of dog movies are the ones where the dog saves the day, but that is certainly not the case in John Carpenter's The Thing. The 1982 horror movie classic opens with the central characters taking in a Canadian timber wolf-Alaskan Malamute hybrid that turns out to be a malevolent, shapeshifting alien in disguise.

Amateur Gambler Loses Everything, But Still Keeps His Job (Casino Royale)

A coworker of mine who has a special affinity for the James Bond movies had the perfect way to summarize the events of Daniel Craig's debut as 007 in Casino Royale.

A Woman Falls In Love With The First Guy She Sees After Waking Up (Sleeping Beauty)

Many of Disney's animated princess movies take on a more creepy, problematic guise in retrospect. Take, for example, this summarization of Sleeping Beauty, inspired by a tweet from Marisa Nocito.

First Responder Uses Government Resources To Exclusively Rescue Personal Family Members After An Earthquake (San Andreas)

The coworker of mine who came up with the idea for this bit inspired by 2015's San Andreas actually had some harsher words to describe Dwayne Johnson's central hero, who probably would have lost his job for acting in his own self-interests in the wake of a natural disaster.

A Powerful Corporation Benefits From Child Endangerment (Monsters Inc.)

I just might have ruined one of my own favorite Pixar movies for myself by the way I reinterpret 2001's Monsters Inc. and the titular company's bid to collect children's screams in this joke.

A Man Walks Up And Down A Flight Of Stairs (The Woman In Black)

The 2011 adaptation of Susan Hill's The Woman in Black certainly boasts some effective frights. However, there is a shocking amount of scenes in which Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) is seen walking up a flight of stairs to find something scary before walking back downstairs to avoid the creepy entity, only to find something else freaky, and the situation repeats.

A Team Of Athletes Try New Eating Habits (Alive)

One of the darkest posts on X by Explain A Movie Plot Badly references the 1993 thriller, Alive, which is based on the harrowing true story of a Uruguayan rugby team forced to do the unthinkable when their plane crashes in the middle of the Andes Mountains.

"After All, Tomorrow Is Another Day" - Gone With The Wind

When it comes to classic movie quotes, 1937's Gone with the Wind is full of them, with the most memorable of the bunch said by Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) just as he leaves Scarlet O'Hara (Vivien Leigh). However, the undeniably iconic and even inspirational final line of the Best Picture Oscar winner is said by her as a form of self-encouragement that there may be some hope for her and her husband.

LAURIE: "It Was The Boogeyman"; LOOMIS: "As A Matter Of Fact, It Was" - Halloween

Throughout John Carpenter's 1978 slasher movie classic, Halloween, the boy Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) babysits, Tommy Doyle (Brian Andrews), expresses great fear of the Boogeyman, whom she insists is no one to be afraid of until she comes face to face with Michael Myers. When Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance) stops the murderer from attacking the young woman, she declares he is the fabled monster and Loomis agrees.

"In Case I Don't See You, Good Afternoon, Good Evening, And Good Night!" - The Truman Show

The prophetic, paranoid 1998 dramedy, The Truman Show (also one of the best Jim Carrey movies), follows the eponymous everyman as he slowly begins to realize his life is fabricated for television. He gives his fans the perfect send-off with what he had unwittingly made into his official catchphrase before we hear a devoted viewer utter the film's actual final line, "Where's the TV guide?"

"I'll Be Right Here" - E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

More than just a great sci-fi movie, Steven Spielberg's 1982 blockbuster, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, is the story of a wonderful friendship that must come to an end when the titular otherworldly visitor boards a spaceship to his home planet. Right before he leaves, he lets young Elliott (Henry Thomas) know that, while they will be worlds apart, he will always remain in his memory.

“All Right, Mr. DeMille, I’m Ready For My Close-Up” - Sunset Boulevard

Every aspiring actor has brought out this oft-quoted line from Sunset Boulevard when living out their dreams of Hollywood stardom. Of course, those who have not seen the 1950 drama may not realize that Gloria Swanson's Norma Desmond says this at the peak of her deluded madness and is not even speaking Cecil B. DeMille at the time.

"Well, Nobody's Perfect" - Some Like It Hot

Co-writer, producer, and director Billy Wilder was way ahead of his time when he came up with the gut-busting final stinger of his classic 1959 fish-out-of-water comedy, Some Like It Hot. Jerry (Jack Lemmon), posing in drag as "Daphne," reveals to his fiancé, Osgood (Joe E. Brown), that he is really a man, which the millionaire seems pretty open-minded to.

"Ernest Hemingway Once Wrote, 'The World Is A Fine Place And Worth Fighting For.' I Agree With The Second Part" - Se7en

If not for its final line, spoken by Morgan Freeman's Det. William Somerset in a voiceover, David Fincher's masterful 1995 crime thriller, Se7en, would be entirely devoid of any shred of optimism. Of course, the iconic Black detective's perspective on author Ernest Hemingway's philosophy is still relatively bleak.

"Forget It, Jake. It's Chinatown" - Chinatown

The 1974 film noir movie classic Chinatown ends with private investigator J.J. "Jake" Gittes (Jack Nicholson) forced to move on from the tragedy and injustice he witnessed while investigating a bizarre case in 1930s California, with some plodding encouragement from Lawrence Walsh (Joe Mantell).

"You Met Me At A Very Strange Time In My Life" - Fight Club

The wild ending of 1999's Fight Club sees Edward Norton's Narrator effectively remove his evil other half, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), via gunshot before being reunited with Marla (Helena Bonham Carter). He assures her that the bizarre circumstances they faced together were not typical for him as they watch the buildings surrounding them crumble to the ground.

"Louis, I Believe This Is The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship" - Casablanca

Quite a few of the most iconic quotes in cinematic history come from 1942's Casablanca, including the concluding line, said by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) to Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains) to signify an unlikely bond forming between them.

"And In The Dream I Knew That He Was Goin' On Ahead And He Was Fixin' To Make A Fire Somewhere Out There In All That Dark And All That Cold, And I Knew That Whenever I Got There He Would Be There. And Then I Woke Up" - No Country For Old Men

The ending of 2007's No Country for Old Men, in which the now-retired Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) describes a dream he had about his father to his wife, was polarizing upon release. Of course, it was only disappointing to those who did not initially realize Joel and Ethan Coen's modern Western movie classic is really about the aging lawman's struggle to find meaning in a world full of meaningless violence.

“Because He's The Hero Gotham Deserves, But Not The One It Needs Right Now. So, We'll Hunt him. Because He Can Take It. Because He's Not Our Hero. He's A Silent Guardian, A Watchful Protector. A Dark Knight” - The Dark Knight

It may be an old cliché to start the credits after a character speaks the film's title, but 2008's The Dark Knight makes great use of it with Commissioner James Gordon's (Gary Oldman) explanation to his son, Jimmy (Nathan Gamble), why Batman (Christian Bale) is taking the fall for the tragedies he tried to prevent.

"The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled Was Convincing The World He Didn't Exist. And Like That... He's Gone" - The Usual Suspects

The mindblowing ending of 1995's The Usual Suspects sees Agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palmenteri) realize he had been fed a phony, completely improvised story by Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey), the real "Keyser Soze." This is followed by a shot of the clever criminal likening himself to Satan and his cunning nature.

"Life Moves Pretty Fast. You Don't Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It" - Ferris Bueller's Day Off

While Matthew Broderick's fourth-wall-breaking character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a mischievous troublemaker, he makes a great point about the importance of occasionally taking it easy in his final line in John Hughes' 1986 high school movie classic (not counting the post-credit scene, that is).

"I'm Finished" - There Will Be Blood

It is not until the final scene of Paul Thomas Anderson's Oscar-winning 2007 masterpiece, There Will Be Blood, when blood does hit the screen after Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) murders his rival, Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), with a bowling pin at his home, which seems to be the one thing he needed to make his life feel complete.

“Oh No, It Wasn’t The Airplanes. It Was Beauty Killed The Beast” - King Kong

The seminal 1933 monster movie, King Kong, ends with the eponymous ape falling to his death, which filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) remarks was truly caused by his affection for Fay Wray's Ann Darrow.

RAY: "You Wanna Have A Catch?"; JOHN: "I'd Like That" - Field Of Dreams

In one of Kevin Costner's best baseball movies, 1989's Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella (Costner) is reunited with the ghost of his dead father, John (Dwier Brown), with whom he gets to share a long overdue catch.

"The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" - The Maltese Falcon

The 1941 adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon ends with the discovery that the eponymous artifact is a fake. Yet, considering the trouble so many endured to get their hands on it, private investigator Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) acknowledges one way it does possess some value.

“Roads? Where We’re Going We Don’t Need Roads” - Back To The Future

Initially, there were no plans to make the 1985 time travel movie, Back to the Future, a trilogy, which means that Doc Brown's (Christopher Lloyd) hint at what awaits them 30 years from then was merely a wildly imaginative joke before director Robert Zemeckis brought a "roadless" future to life in the follow-up.

"So Long, Partner" - Toy Story 3

Woody's (Tom Hanks) final goodbye to the grown-up Andy (John Morris) after he leaves him and his other child's playthings to Bonnie was not only a perfect way to end 2010's Toy Story 3, but also the franchise of beloved Pixar movies as a whole. Thus, some feel the otherwise entertaining fourth installment was needless, but we digress.

"Aren't You His Mother?" - Rosemary's Baby

Some great horror movies like to end with a jump scare, but Rosemary's Baby proved that all you need is a chilling final line, such as when Mia Farrow's titular character from the 1968 thriller accepts her role as the mother of the Antichrist in response to Roman Castevet's (Sidney Blackmer) reassuring question.

“I Do Wish We Could Chat Longer, But I’m Having An Old Friend For Dinner” - The Silence Of The Lambs

The escaped Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) ends 1991's The Silence of the Lambs by phoning Agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) from the Bahamas and hinting that he has some gruesome plans for the recently arrived Dr. Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald).

“The Truth Is, I Am Iron Man” - Iron Man

The Marvel Cinematic Universe was essentially born the moment Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) revealed his identity as an armored vigilante at the end of 2008's Iron Man. The now iconic line made an astonishing reprise 11 years later when Stark sacrificed his life to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Endgame.

GORDON: "I Never Said 'Thank You'"; BATMAN: "And You'll Never Have To" - Batman Begins

After a rooftop meeting with Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman), Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) nobly acknowledges and accepts that his crusade against injustice is a thankless job at the end of Christopher Nolan's first live-action Batman movie, 2005's Batman Begins.

"I Think I Can Go Now. I Just Needed To Do A Couple Things. I Needed To Help Someone. I Think I Did. I Needed To Tell You Something: You Were Never Second. Ever. I Love You. You Sleep Now. Everything Will Be Different In The Morning... Good Night, Sweetheart" - The Sixth Sense

Most would agree that the greatest M. Night Shyamalan movie twist remains that child psychiatrist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) is one of the dead people his patient, Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), can see, which he realizes at the end of 1999's The Sixth Sense before saying goodbye to his wife Anna (Olivia Williams).

"If This Is Their Idea Of Christmas, I Gotta Be Here For New Year's" - Die Hard

In addition to being a classic action flick, 1988's Die Hard is also a holiday favorite, albeit an unconventional Christmas movie, which is reflected by limo driver Argyle's (De'voreaux White) enthusiastic reaction to the truly explosive event that took place at Nakatomi Plaza on the night before Christmas.

"Why Don't We Just Wait Here For A Little While, See What Happens?" - The Thing

After seemingly defeating the shapeshifting alien that terrorized their Antarctica research base, R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) essentially accepts his fate as he and Childs (Keith David) are the only survivors of the ordeal... or are they? There has been much debate over who is still human at the end of 1982's The Thing, which makes MacReady's quip such a haunting final line.

"I Just Never Want It To End" - MaXXXine

After the traumatic circumstances that Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) endures in both X and her '80s-set self-titled sequel, MaXXXine, seeing her finally achieve her dream to be a Hollywood actor and tearfully wishing that it lasts is an unusually heartwarming moment in Ti West's A24 horror movie.

"It Was Perfect" - Black Swan

Natalie Portman won a rare Oscar for a horror movie performance as Nina Sayers in Darren Aronofsky's 2011 thriller, Black Swan, which ends with the dangerously ambitious ballerina performing the final dance with a bleeding abdomen, which she believes was her magnum opus.

“Now, Where Was I?” - Memento

The ending of Christopher Nolan's 2000 breakthrough thriller, Memento, is really the beginning when Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) learns that the search for his wife's killer has been long over but allows his short-term memory condition to keep him on the case.

"Oh, God" - Avengers: Infinity War

Never had a Marvel movie ended as hopelessly as 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, in which Thanos (Josh Brolin) successfully uses the Infinity Gauntlet to eradicate half of all living beings, leaving the surviving Avengers to helplessly reflect on their defeat, including Steve "Captain America" Rogers (Chris Evans), who utters the final line with heartbreaking desperation.

"I Told Ya" - Accepted

In the underrated college comedy, 2006's Accepted, Jeremy Howard's character, "Freaky Student," aspires to learn how to blow things up with his mind. At the very end, he proves this is possible by demonstrating his ability on the Harmon University dean's car in a hilarious "I told you so" moment.

Cher's Plaid Set From Clueless

Alicia Silverstone's Cher has been sparking closet envy ever since we saw her computer whip up the perfect outfit combination in the first scenes of Clueless. And her sunshine-yellow plaid suit, paired with a Collie-esque faux-fur backpack and her best accessory of all — equally stylish BFF Dionne Davenport (Stacey Dash), of course — is as instantly iconic as her trademark rebuttal of "As if!"

Tyler Durden's Leather Jacket From Fight Club

We won't spoil that mind-blowing plot twist — though the film has been out for decades at this point — but we will say that Brad Pitt's Tyler Durden sure packs a punch in the style department. Throughout the 1999 David Fincher flick, the Fight Club character routinely sports a uniform comprised of a wide-lapeled red leather jacket, a patterned button-down and a pair of scarlet-lensed sunglasses. It's a fit so cool, it's almost too good to be true.

The Metallic Dresses From Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

If you're going to make an impression at your high school reunion, coordinating metallic mini-dresses is certainly the way to do it. After shedding their Post-it-inventing businesswomen blazers, besties Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) make their grand reentrance in ensembles entirely their own: a set of super-shiny, dance-friendly frocks in bubblegum pink and baby blue. Just think of the style moments a Romy and Michele sequel could bring!

Vivian's Crimson Opera Dress From Pretty Woman

There are many memorable fashion moments in the Julia Roberts classic Pretty Woman, from the $20 white-and-blue call girl outfit we first meet Vivian Ward in, to the pretty, polka-dotted number she later wears to polo. (Heck, the movie pretty much perfected the shopping montage!) But no look was as significant as the stunning red carpet-worth gown the character wears to attend a performance of La Traviata at the San Francisco Opera alongside Richard Gere's Edward Lewis.

The Desert Denim From Thelma & Louise

If you're going to be on the run from the law — in self-defense or otherwise — you might as well look great doing it. And road-tripping pals Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis) and Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon) certainly do in the boundary-breaking Ridley Scott drama Thelma & Louise, which sees the two Arkansas women dash and dart away from police in dusty dungarees, sleeveless tops, ripped neckerchiefs and cowgirl hats. If being stylish was a crime, consider these two guilty.

Neo’s Trench Coat From The Matrix

From Casablanca to Kill Bill, the trench coat is a cinematic fashion staple, but nowhere has it looked cooler than when worn by Keanu Reeves as computer hacker Neo in the sci-fi masterpiece The Matrix. Per Dazed, the iconic black trench the character sports throughout the futuristic franchise was crafted by costume designer Kym Barrett with traditional Chinese robes and clergy garb in mind. Whatever the sartorial inspiration, the outcome was truly otherworldly.

Mia's Bob and Button-Down From Pulp Fiction

Proof that simple doesn't mean snooze-worthy where style is concerned, mob wife Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman, in her breakthrough role) twisted her way into cultural iconography with her blunt brunette bob, crisp white button-down and perpetually lit cigarette in Quentin Tarantino's best movie, Pulp Fiction. Costume designer Betsy Heimann reportedly modeled Mia's signature look after silent film stars and French New Wave figures.

The Cheer Squad Uniforms From Bring It On

The Rancho Carne Toros in San Diego and the East Compton Clovers in Los Angeles may have been rivals on the cheer mat, but they were equals where fashion is concerned. In their peppy, contrasting red and green uniforms, the cheerleading squads led by captains Torrance (Kirsten Dunst) and Isis (Gabrielle Union) looked surprisingly sophisticated while performing their high-flying routines. And the looks are still relevant these decades later — Union even sweetly broke out her old Clovers uniform as a fun movie-themed Halloween costume alongside her daughter.

The Orange and Blue Tuxes From Dumb and Dumber

Talk about not adhering to a black-tie dress code! Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) made quite a bold fashion statement when they showed up to a formal fundraising event in a bright-orange and powder-blue tuxedo, respectively, in the classic Farrelly Brothers comedy Dumb and Dumber. They're simultaneously some of the best (in terms of funniness) and worst (in terms of fashion) suits ever put to celluloid.

The Goth Schoolgirl Garb From The Craft

The Power of Four, indeed. Each of the witchy teens at the center of the '90s cult hit The Craft — played by Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell and Rachel True — was a style goddess in her own right. But together they made quite a mystical impression with their schoolgirl style edged up with a touch of the occult, from their gothic choker necklaces to their lace-up black boots. Our wardrobes invoke thee!

Catherine's White Turtleneck Dress From Basic Instinct

Funnily enough, Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone believed that nobody would care about what femme fatale Catherine Tramell was wearing during an otherwise straightforward interrogation scene. “The movie was a thriller and we were stopping the action to watch me sit still in a chair, so I thought the possibility of anybody giving two s—ts about it was zero," the actress revealed to InStyle. How wrong she was — that leggy white dress and cashmere Hermès throw helped create one of the most infamous and controversial scenes in movie history, thanks to yet another style choice: her lack of undergarments.

Janet Jackson's Hat and Hoops From Poetic Justice

On stage, on screen, on the street — Janet Jackson is a veritable style icon wherever she goes. And the music legend certainly lived up to that sartorial greatness in the 1993 romantic drama Poetic Justice as the Los Angeles-based poet-hairdresser Justice, memorably accessorized with hoop earrings and a pageboy cap to go with her still-en-vogue ensemble of baggy high-waisted jeans and a black crop top.

Leeloo's Orange Suspenders From The Fifth Element

As a famous model-turned-actress, Milla Jovovich could pull off any costume, even ridiculous outfits from movies set in the future. Her iconic role as Leeloo in the 1997 sci-fi favorite The Fifth Element is certainly proof: the character famously wears rubber neon-orange suspenders — as citrus-bright as her dyed hair — with a ribbed crop top and gold disco pants, all designed by the one and only Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The Dude’s Sweater From The Big Lebowski

The original Westerly men's cardigan by Pendleton Woolen Mills debuted all the way back in 1974, but it become immortalized when the lambswool sweater was worn by Jeff Lebowski. a.k.a. The Dude, in The Coen Brothers' classic The Big Lebowski. The garment became so popular thanks to the groovy Jeff Bridges character that the brand permanently brought the cardigan back in stock. Style abides!

Juliet’s Angel Wings From Romeo + Juliet

Baz Luhrmann's magnetic, modernized Romeo + Juliet adaptation was packed with flamboyant reimaginings of the Shakespearean classic, particularly in the costume department. The most famous example, no doubt, is the ballroom scene that brings together our titular star-crossed lovers (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes), with Danes' Juliet looking positively ethereal in a chaste white dress and angel's wings. Nineties-era DiCaprio dressed as a literal knight in shining armor isn't too shabby, either.

Ellie Sattler's Safari Styles From Jurassic Park

Few people could make digging through dinosaur poop look fashionable, and Laura Dern is one of them. For much of the 1993 Steven Spielberg-helmed action flick, Dern's beloved Jurassic Park heroine Dr. Ellie Sattler is durably decked out in a salmon-colored shirt tied in a knot over a blue tank, a pair of khaki shorts and some jungle-ready work boots. Dern paid homage to that very outfit when she reprised the iconic character three decades later in Jurassic World Dominion.

Kathryn's Power Suit From Cruel Intentions

Any other high schooler parading around uptown Manhattan in a power suit would look foolish, but not Cruel Intentions' Kathryn Merteuil. Formidably played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, the merciless mean girl made being bad look good in a sleek Dolce & Gabbana suit, with a custom skintight corset hidden underneath and a rosary necklace filled with, well, not holy water. The only thing sharper than that tailoring? Kathryn's manipulative edge.

Josie's First Day-Of-School Feathers From Never Been Kissed

If you're a 20-something newspaper reporter trying to go undercover as a high school student to research for a story, maybe wearing a feather boa to homeroom isn't the best move. Sure, Josie Geller's all-white get-up — worn in one of the best Drew Barrymore romantic comedies, Never Been Kissed — was nonsensical, especially paired with a giant lemon-printed tot in place of a traditional backpack, but overall, it was definitely rufus!

Wooderson's White Tee and 'Stache From Dazed & Confused

Few film breakthroughs have been as indelible as Matthew McConaughey in the Richard Linklater-directed coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused. One of McConaughey's best roles, his Texan townie David Wooderson wasn't just iconic because of his one-liners (including that infamous "Alright, alright, alright" drawl) but also because of his authentic '70s digs: a tight Ted Nugent T-shirt tucked into salmon-pink pants, capped off with a groovy mustache and that easy McConaughey smile.

Nisi and Mickey's Super-Shiny Coats From B.A.P.S.

Nisi (Halle Berry) and Mickey (the late Natalie Desselle) — a.k.a. the "Black American Princesses" at the focus of the cultish 1997 buddy comedy B.A.P.S. —know that a good outfit means serving looks from head to toe. Put together by Oscar-winning costume director Ruth E. Carter, those incredible sky-high hairdos are matched with heavily lacquered outerwear in tropical tangerine and animal print, plus heaps of gold jewelry and a fresh set of acrylic nails.

Corey's Rex Manning Day Outfit From Empire Records

The '90s cult favorite Empire Records takes place over the course of one day in the lives of a plucky group of record store employees. But it's no ordinary day: it's Rex Manning Day when the childhood crush of staffer Corey Mason (played by Liv Tyler) — washed-up pop star Rex Manning (Maxwell Caulfield) — comes in for an album-signing event. Of course, that means Corey wants to look her best and she sure does, in a soft blue mohair sweater, plaid skirt and combat boots that, per Elle, were the actress's own.

The Pink Camp Uniforms From But I'm a Cheerleader

One of the best and most satirical teen rom-coms out there, But I'm a Cheerleader stars Natasha Lyonne as Megan Bloomfield, a high school cheerleader whose parents send her to a conversion therapy camp to "cure" her lesbianism. All attendees of True Directions are made to wear campy color-coded uniforms — pale pink for the girls, bright blue for the boys — a hilariously subversive sendup of absurd gender stereotypes. That candy-colored clothing is made sweeter when Megan falls for another queer girl (played by Clea DuVall) in the program.

Tupac's Layered Outerwear From Juice

The 1992 crime thriller Juice was the feature film debut of rap icon Tupac Shakur, and the rapper made a great big-screen first impression. As Roland Bishop, an aimless Harlem youth walking the chilly, dangerous streets of early-nineties New York City with his friends, Tupac wears a top-notch outerwear uniform — we're talking sporty crewnecks layered over hoodies and topped with an oversized jean jacket. It may be cold, but Pac always looks cool.

Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman Suit From Batman Returns

Superheroes usually have pretty cool costumes, tricked out with gadgets and gizmos, but for Michelle Pfeiffer, all her Catwoman needed was a skintight latex suit and a simple whip to create a seminal cinematic villain. Beyond being "black and sexy and tight and shiny," costume designer Mary Vogt revealed to AnOther, the infamous suit shrewdly incorporated silicon stitching to mimic a calico cat. "Since she was moving around at night, it looked really fluid. That costume is all about the light – and of course, all about Michelle.”

Selena's Purple Performing Jumpsuit From Selena

Jennifer Lopez is a fashion legend in her own right — her famous green Grammy dress literally inspired the invention of Google Images — but in 1997, she had her Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough for portraying another style icon, the late Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, in the music biopic Selena. The titular star had many notable performing outfits throughout her short-lived career, many of which were recreated for the film, but the glittering purple jumpsuit Selena wore while performing at the Houston Astrodome might just be her most unforgettable look.

The Spice Force Five Looks From Spice World

World-famous pop group, The Spice Girls are known for their individual personas and signature styles, from Victoria Beckham's "posh" little black dresses to Geri Halliwell's Union Jack frocks. But in their 1997 musical comedy film Spice World, the gals come together for a true joint slay as the "Spice Force Five," hamming it up as seriously stylish espionage agents in matching silver fits and, of course, massive platform shoes.

Laney's Little Red Dress From She's All That

Some outfits deserve their own slow-mo moment, and the post-makeover red dress that artsy nerd Laney Boggs (played by Rachael Leigh Cook) wears in the classic '90s teen flick She's All That is certainly one of them. "Up until that point her palette was very drab," costume designer Denise Wingate told Interview Magazine. "That’s why when she comes down the stairs to meet Zach that moment was more about the color than the dress itself." (Cue the "Kiss Me"!) Not that we don't love her paint-splattered overalls and bookish eyeglasses, too!

The Beach Hats From How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Angela Bassett always looks incredible, but especially while on vacation — the tropical costuming in one of the actress's best movies, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, certainly proves that point. The island-ready looks worn by Bassett's character Stella Payne and her best friend Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg), complete with fabulous, wide-brimmed beach hats, will make you want to book a trip ASAP.

Madeline's Silver Ensemble From Death Becomes Her

When Hollywood icons like Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Isabella Rossellini come together, you know the fashion moments will be aplenty. The '90s dark comedy Death Becomes Her is packed with them, like the silky silver jacket that Meryl's Madeline Ashton character wears while she blasts a hole straight through the stomach of her former friend Helen Sharp (Hawn). The outfit was so iconic that Adele herself wore it while crooning to Streep at one of her Vegas shows.

Rose's Dinner Dress From Titanic

It's no surprise that, out of its whopping 11 wins, Titanic took home the Oscar for Best Costume Design at the 70th Academy Awards. The ornate lace gown that Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) wears in that romantic scene as she glides down the grand staircase to meet Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) alone was worth the award!

The Wonders' Matching Suits From That Thing You Do!

"You guys look great in red, have I told you that?" It's the go-to compliment from The Wonders' band manager Mr. White (played by Tom Hanks, who also wrote and directed the movie) in the 1996 musical comedy That Thing You Do! And honestly, he's right: the matching suits he makes bandmates Jimmy (Johnathon Schaech), Lenny (Steve Zahn), Guy (Tom Everett Scott) and the bass player (Ethan Embry) wear on tour do look great, especially when finished off with some cool sunnies for "Shades" to wear.

Dickie's Italian Wardrobe From The Talented Mr. Ripley

It would be near-impossible to make film heartthrob Jude Law ever look bad, but the classic Riviera-chic stylings that the actor wears as Dickie Greenleaf in The Talented Mr. Ripley —think striped polo, breezy white trousers, boat-ready loafers and stretches of tanned skin — arguably might be the best he's ever looked onscreen.

When all is said and done, David Fincher will go down as one of our greatest filmmakers. His meticulous attention to detail. His uncompromising approach to storytelling. His uncanny ability to draw the best from his actors. All of these skills have contributed to one of the most intoxicating bodies of work from a contemporary director, which I’d argue contains more than a few pristine masterpieces, including Zodiac, The Social Network, and the movie that he’s currently promoting, the 1995 thriller Seven. Warner Bros has given Fincher’s classic a 4K UHD release, available for purchase now.

I didn’t bring up retirement while speaking with David Fincher because I want him to hang up the camera. Quite the contrary. I hope Fincher keeps making movies until he’s old and more grey than he currently is. But while revisiting Seven for the purpose of the interview, it struck me how much I now related to Morgan Freeman’s Somerset character, who’s on the verge of retirement. The veteran detective comments that he just doesn’t understand the city he is sworn to protect, that it had gotten too ugly for him to process.

I posed the question to Fincher, asking if he might look at the film industry and feel the same way. The business has changed significantly since Fincher arrived on the scene. And he was fighting for the purity of his vision 30 years ago on Seven! But as he reflected, he told CinemaBlend:

Fincher isn’t wrong. Directors like Martin Scorsese (82 years old) and Sir Ridley Scott (87 years old) are the exceptions that prove the rule. And Scott is such an anomaly, pumping out multiple movies in a year, and still aiming for massive epics like his most-recent adventure, Gladiator 2. For all of these storytellers, it comes down to material. For as Fincher explained to us:

And what bums me out is that one day, for directors like Steven Spielberg, David Fincher, James Cameron, Spike Lee, Chris Nolan, the Coen Brothers and more, they’re going to reach the end of their professional roads. It’s inevitable. Quentin Tarantino has been talking about it for a few years now. And as Fincher tells us:

And I can’t blame him. Here’s our full conversation with David Fincher on behalf of Seven, now available on 4K UHD.

Now start planning your next trip to the movies by scanning our list of the upcoming 2025 theatrical releases, filled to the brim with exciting choices for movie lovers of all tastes.

Fight Club

It's really hard to believe that Fight Club wasn't really a hit when it was released in 1999, especially given the epic ending. Not only does it tie up a disturbing bow on the whole movie, but the visual, of a city collapsing is simply stunning. If those two things are not enough, having The Pixies' "Where Is My Mind" play over the exploding city is one of the best uses of music in a movie, ever.

Oppenheimer

Director Christopher Nolan pulled off an amazing trick in Oppenheimer. With his trademark use of time in a movie, he managed to tell the whole story of Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), including what happened after The Manhattan Project but still managed to bring the film to a climax with the big boom of the first nuclear bomb test. All of that set the end, with a focus on Oppenheimer himself internally debating if it was all the right thing to do.

Psycho

Leave it to Alfred Hitchcock to end a movie with a quiet bang that leaves the audience freaked out and thinking about days and even years later. The end of Psycho, with Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) staring into the camera as we hear his internal monologue, is about as perfect an ending as a movie can have.

Dead Poets Society

You simply cannot think about Dead Poets Society without thinking of that iconic ending first. As John Keating (Robin Williams) walks out of his classroom after being fired, all of his students stand on their desks in tribute, reciting "O Captain! My Captain!" from the famous poem by Walt Whitman. It is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye every time you see it.

The Breakfast Club

Over the 90 or so minutes of The Breakfast Club, audiences all get to know each one of the characters intimately. Vice Principal Vernon (Paul Gleason) reads Brian's words as the audience hears Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) explain how each student is unique, but how they have to appreciate each other. They may be a brain, an athlete, a basket case, and a criminal, but they all have the problems of any teenager.

The Truman Show

The Truman Show is one of Jim Carrey's best films and the ending is a big part of that. The emotion of his sailing trip across "the ocean" and the moment he arrives at the door is harrowing. The joy of seeing Truman finally escape captures the audience perfectly and Truman waving goodbye as he walks out the door ends the movie in the best way possible.

The Silence Of The Lambs

The worst part about the end of The Silence Of The Lambs is that you find yourself actually rooting for a psychopathic serial killer. The movie, if you don't remember, ends with an escaped Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in disguise tracking his nemesis, Dr. Chilton (Anthony Heald) as he gets off a plane in a tropical location.

Thelma & Louise

There really isn't a more epic ending to a movie than Thelma & Louise. After being chased across multiple states after committing a justified crime, the two titular characters decide to literally ride off into the sunset - or off a cliff - as the police are closing in on them. In it together to the end.

The Godfather

There is nothing in cinema quite like The Godfather saga. There are some amazing scenes all throughout the two...okay, three... movies. None are more arresting than the final scene of the first movie when Michael (Al Pacino) fights with, and lies to, Kate (Diane Keaton) before leaving the room to greet his other family members. The door closing in Kate's face is tragic, but incredible.

Chinatown

Despite the last line of dialog in the movie, it's impossible to forget Chinatown, especially its tragic ending as Evelyn (Faye Dunaway) is killed attempting to finally escape the clutches of her domineering and, frankly, evil father played by John Huston. Jake (Jack Nicholson) is understandably distraught, yet all he can do is forget about it.

Planet Of The Apes

With one of the best twists in film history, the ending of Planet Of The Apes is so unforgettable that it has become a part of pop culture. Even people who have never seen the movie, starring Charlton Heston as an astronaut stuck on what he thinks is a distant planet, know how it ends when he discovers he's been on Earth the whole time.

Field Of Dreams

The premise of Field of Dreams is that if he (Kevin Costner) builds it "he" will come. The "he," of course, is Costner's character's father. The movie ends with the two characters having a catch on the baseball field as the camera pulls out to reveal a line of cars headed to watch a game at the magical field. Finally, they come.

The Usual Suspects

The Usual Suspects has one of the most beloved twists ever and the way it ends, with the reveal that Kevin Spacey's character is Keyser Söze, and with that final breath...poof, one of the most epic final scenes ever.

Dr. Strangelove

You can't really end a movie in a more epic way than having nuclear weapons exploding over and over. From the moment Korg (Slim Pickens) hitches a ride on one of his bombs, to the montage of actual nuclear explosions, the end brings to a point the absurdity of nuclear war.

Casablanca

There aren't many movies that have multiple quotes that have become part of the lexicon like Casablanca. Playing it again, hills of beans, looking at you... the list goes on and on. The final shot of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Renault (Claude Raines) walking off into the fog is right up there with the greatest endings ever, with that iconic quote from Rick to Renault about the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Sunset Boulevard

There are few ending scenes as uncomfortable (and wonderful) as the final scene in Sunset Boulevard. Norma Desmond's slow walk down the stars, with the over-the-top facial expressions by actor Gloria Swanson is sooooo disconcerting, and when the camera comes to a stop on Swanson's face and she delivers that famous line, "Alright, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up" is spine-tingling.

Reservoir Dogs

Quentin Tarantino's debut movie is one of the best movies by a first-time director ever. His brilliant script ends as tragically as a movie can with virtually all the characters dying. The last two, Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) and Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) are the most heartbreaking.

Whiplash

The only way to end a movie as intense as Whiplash is with a scene befitting that intensity and the final drum solo of the movie when it all comes together for Miles Teller's character. The movie is hard to watch and tension built up until that final release is felt by audiences as much as it shows in Teller's face. It's brilliant.

The Graduate

The best thing about the ending to The Graduate is just how unsure both Benjamin (Dustin Huffman) and Elaine (Katharine Ross) are when they take their seats on the bus. Sure, on the surface it's a pretty standard ending to a Rom-Com, with the two lovebirds facing the future together. But as the shot lingers, it's clear both are nervous about that future, unsure that they've made the right decision. It's an excellent ending.

The Thing

The thing about the ending of The Thing is that it really is all about one line. One iconic line. After all MacReady (Kurt Russell) and Childs (Keith David) have been through, they are left by themselves in the cold. When Childs asks what they should do, MacReady can only say, "Why don't we just wait here a little while...and see what happens."

There Will Be Blood

The final act of There Will Be Blood is one of the most intense scenes in any movie, ever. The physical and metaphysical battle for Daniel Plainview's soul is violent. In the end, after Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Eli (Paul Dano) are finished, and Eli is dead, Plainview can only turn to his butler and say, "I'm finished." He is finished in almost every way

Inception

Much like the rest of the movie, the ending to Christopher Nolan's Inception is left open to interpretation by the audience. When Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) spins the top at the end to determine if he's in the real world, he never actually looks at it, leaving him, and us, to wonder just where he is.

Primal Fear

Edward Norton's character (or characters) in Primal Fear are terrifying and the end, with its nod to Hitchcock's Psycho, leaves the audience with a most uneasy feeling. What did we all just watch and what is real? Those are the questions we are asked and we don't have all the answers.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is one of the most unconventional romances in film history. It asks the question we all ask sometimes, are we destined to be one other person in our lives? The ending doesn't really answer it, but it is clear that two souls can be connected whether we want them to be or not.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid

Sure, it's the "Hollywood" ending to a kinda true story in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid. In the end, in classic Western style, our heroes are surrounded with no chance to escape, they choose to go out guns blazing. Of course, in real life, the fate of the real Butch and Sundance has been open to a lot of conjecture. Did they survive? Well, the movie freezes just as they burst out of their hideout, and we never see the final gunfight, so maybe they did. It's part of what makes it one of the best Westerns ever.

Se7en

It doesn't get more disturbing than the end of Se7en. John Doe (Kevin Spacey) is in control the whole time and he proves it with the delivery of "the box," getting exactly what he wants from Mills (Brad Pitt), and the audience is left with that pullback from the camera on the helicopter as we hear radio chatter about what's happened. It's one you just can't stop thinking about for days.

The Shawshank Redemption

The end of The Shawshank Redemption could be subtitled "Red's Last Journey" as he makes his way across the country, and across the border to reunite with Andy on the beach. It's a touching ending to the best movie of the 1990s.

Citizen Kane

Obviously, Citizen Kane is one of the most iconic movies of all time, and the ending is no small part of why people love it so much. The image of the burning sled called "Rosebud" at the end not only answers what Kane (Orson Welles) hinted at in the first scene of the movie, but it leaves the audience to ponder just what life, even one like Kane's, really means in the end.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

For much of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, we don't really see just how important Big Chief is. In the end, though, it's Big Chief who not only sets McMurphy free by suffocating him, but he frees himself of the hospital and all his internal baggage that he's found so hard to let go of. It's a tragically beautiful ending to a wild movie.

The Bridge On The River Kwai

So much of war is futile and no movie expresses that more succinctly than The Bridge On The River Kwai. The whole movie is a battle between the Japanese guards and the Allied prisoners, and it's a battle with nature, and the titular bridge, which, in the end, of course, is blown up. What is the point of it all?

Schindler's List

The raw power of the final scene of Steven Spielberg's masterpiece Schindler's List is undeniable. The black-and-white movie turns to color as the real-life survivors place stones on the real-life grave of Oskar Schindler. It brings even more weight to the cost of the Holocaust than you could possibly expect and it's as powerful a moment as has ever been in any film, ever.

It's A Wonderful Life

The Christmas classic It's A Wonderful Life has become a bit of a trope in recent decades, but you still can't deny how sweet and wonderful the ending is as an angel finally earns his wings.

Jaws

Never bet against Steven Spielberg, especially with John Williams providing what turned out to be an Oscar-winning score! The 1975 thriller Jaws is widely considered to be one movie that's at least as good as its source material. Spielberg cut out a lot of side plots from Peter Benchley's 1974 novel, and the actors really elevated the book's largely unlikeable characters, particularly Robert Shaw as Quint, turning the film into a classic you can watch over and over.

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

There are some pretty big differences between Roald Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder (not to mention the 2005 remake and 2023 prequel). That means it's probably a matter of personal preference regarding which is "better," but it's hard to argue with Mel Stuart's musical fantasy.

The Thing

While John W. Campbell Jr.'s 1938 novella Who Goes There? is considered a classic for its deeply developed characters and an alien that's smarter — and therefore possibly scarier — than its movie's equivalent, John Carpenter's The Thing from 1982 is considered one of the best horror movies of all time. Its truly repulsive monster and effective special effects hold up even decades later.

Stand By Me

Lots of Stephen King novels have been adapted for the screen, and not all of those projects have been great. Stand By Me, however, which was adapted from "The Body," from the Different Seasons collection, is considered one of the best movies from the '80s. Some people prefer the movie, if only for the nostalgia kick provided by its phenomenal casting of Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell.

The Ring

Both the Americanized 2002 horror The Ring and Koji Suzuki's 1991 novel are highly acclaimed, but the book simply can't match the movie in terms of the creepy imagery from the cursed video.

Fight Club

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton are simply incomparable as a dynamic duo in 1999's Fight Club. Not only is the movie considered one of the best of the '90s, and Chuck Palahniuk — author of the 1996 book of the same name — has spoken positively about David Ficher's film.

The Lord Of The Rings

I don't think anyone's arguing the talents of J. R. R. Tolkien here, and indeed many do prefer the world-building and lore of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings saga. However, other fans argue that the films are more inviting, bringing emotion to the characters and cutting through all of the author's descriptive text.

The Hunger Games

There's no question that Suzanne Collins' The Hunter Games books could stand on their own, but it was thrilling to see those terrifying games portrayed on the big screen. From the worlds built for the youngsters' trials to The Hunger Games' ridiculous outfits, it's no wonder many hold Jennifer Lawrence's movie trilogy in such high regard. To me, it was worth it all to see Katniss' red carpet-worthy "Girl on Fire" dress.

The Shining

The Shining is one of Stephen King's best books, and — thanks in large part to Jack Nicholson's unforgettable turn as Jack Torrance — the horror movie of the same name also remains a time-honored classic. Both will scare the daylights out of you, and there are enough differences between Stanley Kubrick's film and the book that The Shining is totally still worth reading after you've seen the movie.

Requiem For A Dream

Hubert Selby Jr.'s 1978 novel Requiem for a Dream is a good read, but you just can't beat the performances turned in by the cast of Darren Aronofsky's 2000 film. Whether it's the heartbreaking tailspin of Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans' characters into addiction, Ellen Burstyn's obsession with being on television or Christopher McDonald's haunting Tappy Tibbons leading a chant about JUICE, this movie elevates the already-harrowing text into something that you won't be able to shake.

Room

Emma Donoghue's 2010 novel Room is told from the perspective of 5-year-old Jack, which gives a different POV to the story of a mother and her son escaping after years of captivity than the 2015 film adaptation. The book is undoubtedly gripping, but the movie holds its own, earning four Academy Award nominations, including a win for Brie Larson for Best Actress.

The Silence Of The Lambs

It doesn't matter how good Thomas Harris' 1988 novel The Silence of the Lambs was — and it was definitely good — the 1991 film adaptation won the Academy Awards' "Big Five," which includes the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Demme), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Ted Talley). Since its release there have been three more movies and two TV series based on these characters, so I'd say that paints both the film and the novel in a phenomenally successful light.

Mean Girls

It's not really fair to compare 2004's Mean Girls to the source material that inspired it. That's because Tina Fey adapted one of the best high school movies of all time from Rosalind Wiseman's self-help book Queen Bees and Wannabes, which is a guide for parents to help their teenage daughters survive in a world of cliques, gossip and boyfriends. While moms of teens (myself included) could probably use all the help we can get, there's no way Queen Bees and Wannabees could stand up to Mean Girls' most quotable lines and pop culture references.

To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird has been a staple in schools since it came out in 1960 for its exploration of themes like race and stereotypes. It wouldn't be fair or correct to say that the 1962 film was better, but Gregory Peck and Mary Badham gave performances that earned them Oscar nominations as Atticus and Scout Finch, respectively. Overall the movie won three of the eight awards it was up for (including Best Actor for Peck), which should make it worthy of being considered as good as Lee's novel.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

While many still prefer Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the 1975 movie made Randle Patrick McMurphy's crimes more palatable for the moviegoing audience and ultimately won five of the nine Academy Awards it was nominated for, including Best Actor for Jack Nicholson and Best Actress for Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched).

Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch, but the movie proved why Hitchcock was the master of suspense, with that infamous shower scene likely inspiring audience members to start double-checking the locks on their bathroom doors. While the 1960 film may be as good (or better than) the book, the same can't be said for 1998's Psycho, which is considered one of the worst remakes in Hollywood history.

The Shawshank Redemption

Adapted from Stephen King's novella from Different Seasons, The Shawshank Redemption was turned into a classic movie that many think surpasses its source material. Frank Darabont's 1994 film adds a lot to the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman) and their decades together in prison. The film garnered seven Oscar nominations but did not win any.

Jurassic Park

Michael Crichton set the stage with his 1990 novel Jurassic Park for how dinosaurs could come to exist in the modern era and Steven Spielberg got hold of the idea and ran with it, creating a world for the big screen that we'd only ever dreamed about. As good as the book is, there was just something about seeing the prehistoric beasts walking amongst the humans with our own eyes, and that idea has since inspired two trilogies and several TV series.

Forrest Gump

A lot was changed in the story of Forrest Gump between the 1986 novel by Winston Groom and the 1994 Robert Zemeckis film, but for many, it was Tom Hanks' heartbreaking portrayal that got us, along with plenty of quotes still being repeated today. The six Academy Awards from 13 nominations also speak to it being a pretty good movie adaptation.

The Hunt For Red October

The 1990 spy thriller The Hunt for Red October cut out quite a few subplots and a lot of technical language from Tom Clancy's best-selling debut novel, making it more approachable for a wider audience. Without the popularity of this movie, would we still live in a world with three dozen Jack Ryan novels, a handful of films and a TV series? Thankfully we don't have to consider the alternative.

The Notebook

Nobody tells an epically sad love story quite like Nicholas Sparks, and that includes his 1996 novel The Notebook. However, seeing Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams' chemistry as they brought Noah and Allie's story to life in the 2004 drama was what really stuck with fans over the years.

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is one of the funniest and most quotable movies of the 1980s, and it's considered just as good as its source material, though the two are very different. William Goldman's 1973 novel is highly praised amongst those who have read it, with many fans suggesting that people who have only seen the movie would still enjoy the book.

A Clockwork Orange

Stanley Kubrick's 1971 adaptation of A Clockwork Orange is a fairly loyal interpretation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel, save for a few changes to make Malcolm McDowell's Alex more palatable. Many prefer the film's darker ending, as well, to the more optimistic conclusion Burgess wrote.

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women has been adapted twice in recent decades — the 1994 version starring Winona Ryder as Jo March and Greta Gerwig's 2019 film. Because each iteration alters the March sisters' stories to better reflect the societal roles and priorities of a woman in that day, it only makes sense that audiences connect more with the updated material.

The Wizard Of Oz

No matter how classic L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is — and there are plenty who are staunch defenders of the book — there's nothing quite like seeing Dorothy step from her sepia-toned Kansas farmhouse into the fantastic Technicolor world of Oz in 1939's The Wizard of Oz. The film adaptation remains a beloved children's movie all these decades later.

Shutter Island

Both the 2003 psychological thriller by Dennis Lehane and Martin Scorsese's 2010 adaptation of Shutter Island starring Leonardo DiCaprio are highly regarded by fans, with many choosing to experience both, despite knowing how it ends. The movie stays loyal to the novel and can be considered at least as good, if not better.

The Devil Wears Prada

In Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada, her fictionalized account of working for Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is undoubtedly fascinating, but Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly on top of the performances of Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and the rest of the cast elevate the story.

The Godfather

Mario Puzo's 1969 bestseller The Godfather was arguably made even better by Francis Ford Coppola by focusing his film on Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone and his relationship with son Michael (Al Pacino), thereby streamlining the novel's grand story.

A Simple Favor

In the movie adaptation of A Simple Favor, many find Anna Kendrick's Stephanie more likable than the blogger in Darcey Bell's 2017 novel of the same name. To that point, Blake Lively makes her own character Emily feel even more dangerous.

Blade Runner

Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time and many think it's even better than its literary counterpart, Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? From Harrison Ford's portrayal of android hunter Rick to the book's bleaker ending, this is the rare film that surpasses its source material in many fans' eyes.

City Of God

Fernando Meirelles' celebrated 2002 crime drama City of God expands on the 1997 novel by Paulo Lins in its performances and how it illustrates gang life in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. Respect and homage are paid to the people of the region, and the cinematography shows the beauty that exists amidst the tragedy.

Drive

Many fans seem to prefer Nicolas Winding Refn's 2011 movie Drive to the 2005 book by James Sallis, crediting the director and Ryan Gosling with further developing the Driver and other themes in Sallis' work.

He's made so many great movies that it's kind of difficult to pick his best. In fact, my colleague, Alexandra Ramos, settled on The Social Network as being her personal favorite of his.

However, when it comes to Fincher, there can only be one number one movie for me. Released early in the director's career, I'm pretty sure that Fight Club (with that twist!) will always be my favorite David Fincher movie, and here's why.

It Truly Represents A Time And A Place Better Than Any Of His Other Movies. Yes, Even More so Than The Social Network

Believe it or not, but Fight Club came out 25 years ago. That’s right. It’s part of that very exclusive club of movies that came out in 1999, the same year as The Matrix, The Sixth Sense, and The Talented Mr. Ripley (Which I wish somebody had told me just how good it was all those years ago).

However, of those aforementioned films, none of them (Besides maybe The Matrix) really represents that late ‘90s, early 2000’s vibe for me. Nowadays, Fight Club is seen as an excellent film–an important film. But, back then, I remember the very meathead attitude people had toward it.

My friends, all in high school at the time, watched the movie and totally missed the point. We formed a fight club in my friend’s basement, and would warn each other not to tell anybody else about our new club…only to immediately tell other people about our new club.

But, can you blame us? Much like in the film, the idea of masculinity was changing. Calvin Klein ads featured images of men in their underwear, and we were slowly but surely leaving the muscle-bound men of the early ‘90s behind for something much more…urbane? Maybe even introspective?

Even though the film was actually critiquing that reflexive attitude toward this shift, none of us really got that at the time, and I feel like Fincher perfectly encapsulated the zeitgeist better than any of his other movies. And, I’m talking even more so than The Social Network, which is often considered Fincher’s most on-the-pulse film, since it centers on the inception of Facebook.

Given how much social media has changed, though, since 2010 when The Social Network first debuted, I feel like Fight Club truly represents a time and a place more than any of Fincher’s other films. It just perpetually lives in the late ‘90s for me.

It Is Fincher At His Most Playful, Which You Don't Often See In His Work

In our list of the best horror movies of all time, we put David Fincher’s Se7en, at number three, beating out such horror classics as Jaws, Alien, and even The Exorcist. And, keep in mind, Se7en is not often categorized as a horror movie, but rather, as a crime thriller film. That’s just how damn dark the movie is!

But, Fincher just has a tendency to go dark. Zodiac, if it’s to be believed, is even darker than Se7en, and most of his films, from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo to Gone Girl, lean more into the darkness. Sure, films like The Social Network, and The Killer definitely employ elements of humor, but I truly feel like Fincher has never achieved the sheer playful puckishness that he has with Fight Club.

Tyler Durden, for all of his anarchistic tendencies, is also quite funny. He always has a smirk on his face, and many people (especially young people like myself at the time) interpreted this as cool. As we all know now, Tyler is just a projection of our narrator, but our narrator is also quite funny in a droll sort of way himself.

This seeps into the overall tone of the film, which feels whimsical, even amidst all of the darkness. In that way, Fight Club still feels like Fincher’s most accessible film, and, in my opinion anyway, also his greatest.

It Also Pulls Out Arguably Brad Pitt's And Edward Norton's Best Performances In Their Entire Careers

Speaking of Tyler Durden and our narrator, I don’t think this movie would be anywhere near as effective if not for Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, respectively.

You have to remember. The year was 1999, and Brad Pitt was not the 60-year-old (But still hot) Oscar-winner that he is today.

No, back then, with his six-pack abs, and super ‘90s haircut, he was picture perfect of what was supposed to be the “ideal man” (Which, as I mentioned earlier, the film is taking the piss out of as Brad Pitt very much looked like “the ideal man,” even though Norton’s character criticized that whole sculpted physique–while, at the same time, shaping his whole personality around it).

And, Norton plays the perfect schlub-turned-tough guy. His transformation is subtle, but effective. Even more so than the one in American History X, where he plays a neo-Nazi. Honestly, as an immense fan of both actors, I have to say that Fight Club is both of their best performances, and by a wide margin.

It Is One Of Few Adaptations That's Arguably Superior To The Book, Which Is Also Excellent

You know, for a time, I read every novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Who himself is gay).

I stopped at Damned, but I was an avid reader for well over a decade. Still, I think Fight Club is probably my second favorite novel of his (My first being Survivor).

That said, I think Fincher’s adaptation is one of the few examples of a movie that is superior to the book.

The wry tone is definitely present in the novel, but I think it’s magnified in the movie. Norton is also pitch perfect casting for the protagonist, and I think he’s even better in the film than his character is in the book, who sometimes feels needlessly aloof. I also really like how the events play out in the film, as I just think it has better pacing.

So, in every way, I feel like the film version of Fight Club is better than the book. In fact, It's one of the few instances that I would tell people to just watch the movie if they don’t have time to read the novel.

It Has Only Grown More Respected And Revered Since It Initially Came Out

Lastly, even though most of Fincher’s films have a great shelf life, I feel like Fight Club is the one film of his that has become the most revered.

And, I think this is because it was heavily misinterpreted when it initially came out, just as I said earlier. Fight Club is a story that was way ahead of its time, and it’s taken years for people to finally catch up to it.

I kind of liken it to Joker. A lot of people saw Arthur Fleck as being cool, which I don’t think was the director’s intention. In fact, I think Todd Phillips was kind of annoyed by this reaction, which was why he probably pivoted so hard with its sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux.

Now, I personally don’t believe Folie a Deux will be reappraised as some masterpiece in a decade’s time, but Fight Club has certainly been elevated to that status, and rightfully so!

And, that’s the list, my fellow soap enthusiasts. For more news on all things related to David Fincher, be sure to swing by here again.

Let’s look at 32 times Brad Pitt ate food in movies and try not to get hungry in the process.

Look At The Shrimp Cocktail In Ocean's Eleven

Rusty Ryan, Brad Pitt’s iconic character from the Ocean movies, snacks on random foods like someone trying to kick a smoking habit whenever on screen, including Ocean’s Eleven, where he can be spotted going to town on a shrimp cocktail in a casino. With his bottomless stomach, it’s no surprise that he needed to pull off a big score.

Eating A Twinkie In Moneyball

Moneyball has some of the most incredible moments from baseball movies, but it also has a handful of great “Brad Pitt eating food” scenes like when Billy Beane takes down a Twinkie in like two bites while discussing advanced analytics with Jonah Hill’s character. Was that even scripted?

Cooking Mac And Cheese In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

There have been some great cooking scenes in movies over the years, ranging from Michelin-level delicacies to more practical fare. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood falls into the latter category thanks to a scene where Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth makes himself a box of mac and cheese in his trailer. Sure, there’s no milk or butter, but you have to admire the simplicity and execution of the bachelor meal.

Digging Into A Greasy Bag Of Tortilla Chips In Johnny Suede

Johnny Suede, one of Brad Pitt’s earliest films, sees the actor eat multiple meals before everything is said and done. But the best? Well, that goes to the scene where the aspiring rock n' roll star is digging through probably the greasiest bag of chips in cinematic history. But hey, we’ve all been there before.

Eating Sandwiches And Killing Nazis In Inglourious Basterds

Though Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) says his team of eight Jewish-American soldiers has one mission in Inglourious Basterds: kill Nazis, you could add “eating sandwiches while killing Nazis” if you want to be more accurate. We’re not sure what he’s eating, but that sandwich does look mighty good.

The Diner Scene In Mr. & Mrs. Smith

One of the best scenes in Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the one where John Smith (Brad Pitt) and Eddie (Vince Vaughn) are chatting in a diner. What makes it so great, you ask? Well, Pitt’s character spends the duration of the chat taking down a pancake like it’s nobody’s business.

Trying Caviar In The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button sees Brad Pitt’s titular character experiencing all life has to offer, including trying some unique and expensive foods along the way. At the top of that list is the caviar a young (or old, depending on how you look at it) Benjamin enjoys with Tilda Swinton’s Elizabeth Abbott.

Detective Mills Waiting... And Eating Chips In Seven

David Mills (Brad Pitt) doesn’t like what he finds in the box during the infamous Seven ending, but the young detective does enjoy getting to the bottom of a bag of Lay’s potato chips while killing time in a library earlier in the movie.

Rusty Eating Chips In Ocean's Twelve

Ocean’s Twelve has just as many Rusty-eating scenes as its predecessor, including the time Brad Pitt’s iconic character is eating chips (one of his favorites, at this point) while on the phone. We’re still trying to figure out how Rusty ranks his passions – does he like snacking or robbing more?

Sharing A Sandwich With A Dog in The Mexican

The Mexican is one of those Brad Pitt movies that seemed like a massive deal before it came out and then was quickly forgotten, which is a shame because it has one of the actor’s funniest food scenes. Where else are you going to see Pitt share a sandwich with a dog in the middle of nowhere?

Sipping A Smoothie In Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading’s Chad Feldheimer, arguably one of the greatest Coen Brothers characters, really gave Brad Pitt the chance to play a dim-witted and hilarious character back in 2008, and he ran with it. Not only that, Pitt also got in another food scene, this time featuring Chad sipping a smoothie while on a stakeout.

Chowing On Some Dog Food In Seven Years In Tibet

The contents are still questionable after all this time, but Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) goes to town on a bowl of dog food (or scraps or slop or some mystery meat) when he’s on his epic journey of self-discovery. Where else are you going to see Pitt down on all-fours competing with fido over a meal?

Rusty Eating Potstickers In Ocean's Thirteen

We pretty much see Rusty take down food from every corner of the planet by the time Ocean’s Thirteen wraps up, including one scene where Brad Pitt’s character pulls off a walk-and-talk with a cell phone in one hand and a pair of chopsticks holding a potsticker in the other.

Chowing On Chinese Food in Kalifornia

For those who haven’t seen it, Kalifornia is a wild 1993 psychological thriller in which Brad Pitt plays the demented and oddly charismatic serial killer Early Grayce. While traveling with journalist Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) on a tour of infamous killing sites, Grayce makes life a living hell for everyone, especially during the scene where he’s chowing down on some Chinese food with table manners so bad they should be a crime.

A Feast in Legends Of The Fall

There’s some good food all through Legends of the Fall, but the one that catches our eye (and nose) the most is the ham feast at the Ludlow house. Though not overly extravagant or anything like that, the dinner is a site for sore eyes, and we get to see Brad Pitt’s Tristan Ludlow eat yet another meal.

Licking Peanut Butter From A Spoon In Meet Joe Black

Though the movie is about 45 minutes to an hour too long, Meet Joe Black does give fans of Brad Pitt eating scenes something to celebrate. The funniest has to be when Joe Black, aka the angel of death, is introduced to the deliciousness of peanut butter on a spoon. 

Eating Fried Eggs In Fury

The vast majority of Fury is spent in a cramped tank on its last leg, but the crew does get to step out of the death trap from time to time, including the scene where Brad Pitt’s Don Collier and company sit down for some ham and eggs. It’s a tense scene, but the look on “Wardaddy’s” face as he’s taking down his first proper meal in ages is pure magic.

Eating And Scolding His Children In The Tree Of Life

Brad Pitt’s Mr. O’Brien from The Tree of Life is probably one of the actor’s meanest characters, and he never passes up an opportunity to scold his children, even during dinner. If you thought a dinner scene directed by Terrence Malick would be conventional or at least happy, this sequence proves otherwise.

Chomping On Chips (Off-Screen) In Fight Club

Okay, Tyler Durden isn’t actually on screen during the scene where Edward Norton’s nameless character calls him after his apartment is destroyed in an explosion, we can hear Brad Pitt chomping down on chips. What kind of chips? We don’t know, but considering the actor’s history, they were either Lay’s or some kind of tortilla chips.

Eating Hot Dogs In A Car Lot In Cutting Class

One of Brad Pitt’s earliest films (his third credited role), Cutting Class saw what is perhaps the first example of one of his characters on screen. At one point in the movie, Dwight Ingalls (Pitt) manages to hold a conversation while eating a hot dog, which is no easy feat.

Achilles Eating A Turkey Leg In Troy

Some people really like Troy, but we don’t think it’s because it sees Brad Pitt eating a turkey leg as Achilles, one of the most iconic figures in Greek mythology. If you want a decent enough historical drama with some killer battle sequences (and food scenes), maybe it’s time to revisit this 2004 epic.

Popping Wasabi Peas In Bullet Train

Bullet Train is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride from start to finish, but that doesn’t mean Ladybug (Brad Pitt) isn’t going to work in a snack or two before it’s over. The accident-prone yet comically lethal assassin is seen popping wasabi peas during one reprieve from the mayhem in this 2022 action comedy.

Eating A Rat In Interview With The Vampire

Okay, this isn’t food in the traditional sense, but there is an unforgettable scene in Interview with the Vampire in which Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) feasts on a rat for nourishment. Disgusting? Yes. But a vampire has to do what a vampire has to do, right?

Taking Down Some Bread In The Devil's Own

Stale bread has never looked as good as it did for Francis "Frankie" McGuire (Brad Pitt) in The Devil’s Own. After being pulled out from under a floor while in hiding, the IRA soldier goes to town on a loaf of bread like it’s the finest cut of beef money can buy.

Beef Stew In The Woods In The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Though not the best scene in the movie (that would go the train robbery sequence), there’s a key moment in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford where Brad Pitt’s outlaw eats a bowl of beef stew in the woods. A hot bowl of stew has never looked so good.

The Spy Game Lunch Scene

Everyone loves a good lunch scene in a spy thriller, right? Well, we get one in Tony Scott’s 2001 action flick, Spy Game, in which Nathan D. Muir (Robert Redford) and Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt) talk shop over a meal. While the older CIA officer is going over some tech, the younger Bishop just sits there and eats and eats and eats.

A Coconut In The Lost City

Jack Trainer in The Lost City is one of the silliest yet coolest Brad Pitt characters in recent history. And while the former Navy SEAL and CIA operative is only in the movie for a hot minute, Pitt, to the surprise of no one, has an eating scene when he’s seen with a coconut early on. 

Hot Dog On A Bench In Sleepers

Even movies that are as dark and unnerving as Sleepers have featured Brad Pitt eating scenes over the years. When having a conversation on a bench with Lorenzo “Shakes” Carcaterra (Jason Patric) while they’re planning their scheme to keep their old buddies out of prison, Michael Sullivan (Pitt) is eating a hot dog. 

Allied's Shrimp Salad

If you’ve ever wanted to see a movie where a Canadian Intelligence officer posing as one half of a happily married couple on a secret mission during WWII is seen eating a shrimp salad, Allied is for you. Though not the best Robert Zemeckis movie, this 2016 romantic war thriller does see Brad Pitt chow down on the seafood delicacy.

A Cheeseburger In Ocean's Eleven

Ocean’s Eleven sees Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) take down all kinds of food before the credits roll, and Brad Pitt’s character gets to sneak in one final snack at the end when he’s seen eating a cheeseburger while waiting for Danny Ocean (George Clooney) to get out of prison.

Popcorn Out Of A Coffee Filter In Moneyball

Considering Moneyball is all about the cash-strapped Oakland A’s trying to remain competitive with a near-microscopic payroll, it only makes sense for Billy Beane to find other ways to cut costs throughout the organization. And who cares if this means the A’s general manager has to eat popcorn from a coffee filter instead of a bowl?

Some Stir Fry In Ocean's Thirteen

Rusty Ryan finished off the Ocean’s trilogy by taking down some exotic foods in 2007’s Ocean’s Thirteen, including some stir fry (which looks really good, by the way), while planning the film’s big heist. Hey, he can’t think on an empty stomach.

That being said, I put together a list of a dozen movies like Fight Club and how to watch them on some of the best streaming services. I will be getting into spoiler territory with this one, but that’s to be expected, as some of these films have notoriously crazy endings that we’ve talked about for years at this point.

Seven (1995)

Though not technically David Fincher’s debut film (that would be Alien 3), Seven very much felt like the director’s coming out party in Hollywood. Released four years before Fight Club, this 1995 crime thriller about a diabolical serial killer claiming lives based on the seven deadly sins marked the first time Fincher and Brad Pitt worked together.

I watched this and Fight Club at a friend’s house in high school, and I’ve viewed both movies as companions ever since. Both are dark, oddly humorous at times, and don’t pull any punches when it comes to depictions of violence.

Rent/Buy Seven on Amazon.

American Psycho (2000)

Much like Seven being a satire of toxic masculinity and man’s inability to form meaningful relationships unless some kind of physicality is involved, American Psycho spends two hours poking fun at Wall Street narcissists obsessed with their image and place in society. Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman is a character not unlike Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden in that these psychopaths have somehow become cult heroes over the years.

If you’re looking for a hyper-violent, mind-bending, and devilishly funny thriller about a man losing touch with reality, Mary Harron’s adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ blood-soaked novel is going to do the trick.

Stream American Psycho on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy American Psycho on Amazon.

Joker (2019)

Whenever I watch Todd Phillips’ Joker, I tend to find myself thinking about Fight Club and how both films have a lot to say about society, violence, and unchecked mental illness. Yeah, this surprising $1 billion box office hit is totally a DC Comics movie, but it goes beyond the trappings of the genre to create something more like one of Martin Scorsese’s best movies than your typical Batman adaptation.

Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performance as Arthur Fleck is a force of nature, danger, and anarchy over the course of his journey, especially as reality begins to slip out of his hands.

Stream Joker on Max.
Rent/Buy Joker on Amazon.

Nightcrawler (2014)

Though Nightcrawler and Fight Club don’t really have too much in common when it comes to story, these two movies have the same chaotic energy and center on two characters that are more like wild animals than human beings. Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of videographer Lou Bloom is something to behold and feels like he could be a distant cousin of Tyler Durden in an alternate universe.

Both movies also make use of cities at night, so much so that their settings almost feel like characters.

Stream Nightcrawler on Starz.
Rent/Buy Nightcrawler on Amazon.

Being John Malkovich (1999)

Spike Jonze’s Being John Malkovich is a great companion piece for Fight Club, and not just because they both feature Brad Pitt in some capacity. This 1999 psychological dark comedy about a man who finds a portal into the head of John Malkovich is one of the most unique and transfixing experiences of 1999, which is saying something.

Despite not making bank at the box office, Being John Malkovich has remained one of the staples of ‘90s cinema and an influential film that inspired a new generation of filmmakers to try something weird.

Rent/Buy Being John Malkovich on Amazon.

Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan put himself on the scene in 2000 with Memento, a transfixing film that combined elements of film noir, psychological thrillers, and action better than ever before. Like Fight Club, this movie about a man (played by Guy Pearce) with a severe case of memory loss, gets better with each subsequent watch as you begin to piece together the intricate and engaging story.

Stream Memento on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy Memento on Amazon. 

American History X (1998)

One year before leading Fight Club, Edward Norton gave a commanding performance in American History X, a biting drama about a reformed skinhead trying to prevent his younger brother from taking a similar path. 

Not a lot in common story-wise here, but it’s wild seeing how jacked-up Norton got for this role, especially when you compare it to his more diminutive and exhausted appearance the next time moviegoers saw him.

Rent/Buy American History X on Amazon.

The Game (1997)

Sometimes it feels like The Game is the black sheep of David Fincher’s filmography. Though not his best work, this 1997 thriller starring Michael Douglas as an uber-wealthy man who can’t figure out what is real and what’s fantasy is a trip and a unique experience.

Admittedly, this is a much more complicated and drawn-out story when compared to that of Fight Club, but you can see the infancy of some of the ideas and techniques used by the director two years later.

Rent/Buy The Game on Amazon.

Office Space (1999)

Just like Fight Club, Office Space is one of the most iconic Gen X films of all time. Both deal with fed-up and frustrated characters who find ways to escape the banality of office life and seek to break free from the doldrums. Sure, they take two completely different routes – an accounting scam in one case, and an underground fight club in the other – but they feel like part of the same generation.

Stream Office Space on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Office Space on Amazon.

Primal Fear (1996)

If you’re looking for a movie with not only one of the best twist endings of all time but also one of the meanest ‘90s movie villains, make sure you check out Primal Fear. This 1996 legal drama starring Edward Norton as an altar boy being charged with murdering a high-ranking church official is absolutely wild and never gets old.

I know I said spoilers are fair game here, but this one is best left unspoiled in case you have yet to watch this classic.

Rent/Buy Primal Fear on Amazon.

Black Swan (2010)

One of Darren Aronofsky’s best films, Black Swan is a psychological thriller that honestly feels like Fight Club from an alternate reality. Both movies center on characters who get so caught up in their own heads that they begin to lose touch with reality and then suffer the consequences of their actions. 

Just swap in Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and ballet for Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and underground fights, and it all begins to make sense.

Stream Black Swan on Max.
Rent/Buy Black Swan on Amazon.

Falling Down (1993)

One thing I love about Falling Down, well besides Michael Douglas’ bonkers performance, is how it tricks you into rooting for a psychopath for the better part of the movie before pulling the rug from beneath your feet.

Rewatching Falling Down today will probably make you feel a little torn, and that’s okay. Sometimes it’s best to revisit your favorite movies of yesteryear and think about that experience, even if they haven’t aged all too well.

Rent/Buy Falling Down on Amazon.

Some more than others, but each of these films has something in common with Fight Club and would be perfect for a double or triple feature during your next movie night. 

To prove the latter point, we’ve put together this special feature. Feel like you need to start treating yourself better and improve your well-being? Try giving any of these films a watch and see if they can’t get you excising more and eating better.

Brittany Runs A Marathon

Of all the movies mentioned in this feature, Brittany Runs A Marathon probably embodies the larger spirit of the piece better than anything else. Jillian Bell’s Brittany Forgler is an exceptionally relatable protagonist who comes to recognize that taking better care of herself is a path that can lead to her living a happier life.

Captain America: The First Avenger

No, Chris Evans was never as scrawny as Steve Rogers is at the start of Captain America: The First Avenger, and yes, the Super Soldier Serum is kind of the ultimate cheat to getting in ridiculously great shape… but what you should be motivated by is the spirit of the titular hero and how he ends up expressing his inner goodness on the outside.

Rocky IV

There is surely at least one gym in the world at this moment that has Rocky IV playing on a television screen to motivate patrons – and with good reason. For one thing, it doesn’t have the downer ending with Rocky Balboa losing at the end, but more significantly, it has some of the best training montages in the entire Rocky franchise (and that includes the work of both Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in the Cold War-era showdown).

Creed III

Ryan Coogler’s Creed would also be a good fit for this feature, but I’ve selected the Michael B. Jordan-directed installment of the boxing series instead – primarily because of the plotline that sees Adonis Creed have to come out of retirement for a revenge match against his childhood friend. He has deeper and greater adversity to face in Creed III than in the first movie, arguably making it more motivational.

Batman Begins

The vast majority of people don’t have the resources of Bruce Wayne to travel to the Himalayan mountains and get trained by a secret society of elite warriors… but just think about what you could accomplish if you exerted even a fraction of the effort of the Dark Knight! If a spoiled punk can travel halfway around the world to get ripped so that he can save the soul of his city, you can wake up an hour earlier every morning to do a jog around your neighborhood.

G.I. Jane

Putting aside unfortunate legacy aspects like a Razzie Award and a memorably bad Oscar joke, Ridley Scott’s G.I. Jane is a movie that sees Demi Moore morph into a warrior. She doesn’t just shave her head; she is put through rigorous training that sees her transform into an intimidating figure.

Rudy

Movies don’t really get much more motivational than David Anspaugh’s Rudy – a film based on the true story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger’s efforts to play football at the University of Notre Dame. It’s one of the all-time great underdog movies, and if you ever need something to remind yourself of the power of human will, it’s an ideal title to recall.

42

As depicted by Chadwick Boseman in writer/director Brian Helgeland’s 42, Jackie Robinson is one of the all-time great examples of emotional fortitude, as what he went through breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball took incredible strength. Not to be ignored in that fact’s shadow, however, is that Robinson was also an exceptionally gifted athlete, and his awesome athletic skills on the diamond are well illustrated in the 2013 biopic.

Bleed For This

Based on the true story of former world champion boxer Vinny Pazienza, Bleed For This unfurls an astonishing comeback story that sees its protagonist break his neck in a car accident and actually recover to the point where he is able to restart his career as a pugilist. Witnessing what he’s able to overcome would motivate anyone to get into better shape.

Fight Club

This article is in no way advocating that anybody should try and get in shape by joining an underground bareknuckle boxing club. That being said, it’s hard to watch David Fincher’s Fight Club, compare one’s own body to Brad Pitt’s, and not instantly wish that you had the insane muscles that he had going on in the 1999 cult classic.

Scream

Here’s a reality check for you: if you’re ever being pursued by a serial killer, they aren’t just going to amble along as they chase you, a la Michael Myers in the Halloween movies. Instead, they are going to be moving toward you at a full sprint like Ghostface in Scream. You’re not going to survive long if you don’t have any endurance – so let that thought get you to spend a bit of time on a treadmill a couple of days a week.

28 Days Later

If a zombie apocalypse breaks out, there are no guarantees that the brain-eating monsters will be shambling along like those in George A. Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead. There is an equal chance that they will be rampaging around at full tilt like those infected with the Rage Virus in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later… and if that’s the case, you need to be ready to outrun them.

Furious 7

I’m going to be honest: while there are many muscle-bound heroes in the Fast & Furious franchise, James Wan’s Furious 7 gets the special recognition on this list simply because of the scene where Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs opts to remove the cast on his broken left arm by simply flexing his awe-inspiring muscles. I think we  can all say that we wish we could do that.

T2: Judgement Day

You want to talk about finding motivation to work out? Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor is a poster child for the concept in James Cameron’s T2: Judgement Day. She knows that the artificial intelligence-caused apocalypse is coming, and she needs to protect her kid, so what does she do? She gets crazy buff – even while locked up in a mental institution. You don’t have to have the same motivation as Sarah, but you can use her journey to help you find your own big reason to get in shape.

Guardians Of The Galaxy

Prior to joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Pratt was best known as the silly, chubby guy from Parks and Recreation, but he transformed himself when he got the role of Star-Lord in James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, and we have not looked at him the same way since then. Obviously most people aren’t going to be able to achieve what he accomplished, but seeing what he was able to do can at least push you to attempt a percentage.

Deadpool & Wolverine

There’s a joke around the middle of Deadpool & Wolverine that Hugh Jackman is wearing his full yellow costume because he isn’t in his prime fighting form… but that idea is wholly dismissed by the time the film gets to its third act climax and Jackman finally loses his shirt. Jackman may be over 50 years old now, but you can still probably grate cheese on his chest.

Enter The Dragon

The vast majority of us don’t require the dangerous martial arts skills of Bruce Lee in our everyday lives, but when you watch what the man is able to simply physically accomplish in the action scenes in Enter The Dragon, it does at the very least make you wonder about just how awesome your own body could potentially be.

Run Lola Run

You know what’s funny about life? On a random day, your significant other might call you and tell you that they will be killed unless you can sprint around your neighborhood in under 20 minutes collecting a scary amount of money that you don’t have legal access to. Ok, I am admittedly describing the plot of Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run, but among other things, the film is a cinematic reminder that your life might one day require you to demonstrate some extreme physicality. Ask yourself: are you ready for that day?

Eternals

Chloe Zhao’s Eternals makes it on to this list for a reason you can probably guess: the transformation of Kumail Nanjiani. The actor seriously committed to altering his physique for his role as Kingo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it’s admirable.

The Whale

Taking care of your physical well-being is an important part of everyday life, and if you let things slip too far in that regard, there can be serious consequences. This is disturbingly illustrated in Brendan Fraser’s controversial turn in Darren Aronofksy’s The Whale, as the film is a depiction of extreme darkness at the end of that path.

Southpaw

I could have included Doug Liman’s Road House on this list for similar reasons as Antoine Fuqua’s Southpaw, but the boxing movie beat the Patrick Swayze remake to release by nearly a decade, so I’m giving it the highlight. It’s not a particularly good film (in truth, it’s pretty generic), but it’s impossible to watch it and not be impressed by the results of the training star Jake Gyllenhaal went through in preparation for the role.

300

I’m not sure I need to explain why Zack Snyder’s 300 is on this list. The Spartan lifestyle should never be advocated, but just about everyone in the film is crazy ripped and represent fitness goals.

Thor

Being an Asgardian, Thor probably didn’t have to really work for the muscles that Chris Hemsworth possesses in MCU’s first God of Thunder movie – but if you’re ever going to be both worthy of possessing Mjolnir and properly use it, you should get up off your couch right now and start planning out tomorrow as Arm Day.

Forrest Gump

I’m not sure that there is any doctor on Earth who would recommend that anyone run back and forth across the continental United States, a la Tom Hanks’ Forrest Gump in Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump… but the film does make one wonder if one could personally accomplish what the character achieves. You don’t have to start with a plan for a 6,000 mile jog, but you can start by going four miles in a day and see how you feel after.

Eddie The Eagle

Dexter Fletcher’s Eddie The Eagle is a silly and fun movie about one of the worst Olympic competitors in history – English ski jumper Michael David Edwards – but above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and not letting naysayers stand in the way of you and your goals. If you’re determined to take better care of yourself and get in better shape, Eddie The Eagle is actually a fantastic person to emulate.

The Karate Kid

With enough focus, training, and determination, people can achieve incredible things, and that’s the essence of Daniel LaRusso’s story in John G. Avildsen’s 1984 classic The Karate Kid. It also obviously helps to have a great support system, so let this movie inspire you to go out and find your personal Mr. Miyagi.

Cool Runnings

It’s not difficult to pick up on the core moral at the heart of Jon Turteltaub’s Cool Runnings – based on the true story of the Jamaican national bobsleigh team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. While people might dismiss you or even laugh at you, if you believe in yourself enough, you can achieve legendary things. This can not only be applied to taking care of yourself and getting in better shape, but in all aspects of life.

Chariots Of Fire

Truth be told, you probably don’t even need to watch all of Chariots Of Fire to be motivated by it. Just listening to the iconic instrumental theme from the film written and recorded by Vangelis should be enough to get you out of the door and running (preferably on a local beach).

Run Fatboy Run

To be totally honest, David Schwimmer’s Run Fatboy Run is a film that shares a lot in common with Brittany Runs A Marathon and is not as good – but it is a movie that can be said to have its moments, and it still provides the audience with a nice touch of inspiration. The movie was released the same year as Hot Fuzz and sees star Simon Pegg play an emotionally weak man who tries to prove himself to his ex by training for and running a marathon.

Police Story

Jackie Chan’s legacy is as a true maximum effort performer. The man (often literally) throws himself into his movies, and seeing what he pushes himself to do is inspiring. Police Story is one of many titles in his filmography where he pulls off feats that utterly drop your jaw, and if he can push himself like that, why can’t you do something similar to drop a few pounds?

The Fighter

In the case of David O. Russell’s The Fighter, you’re definitely going to want to focus on the story of Mark Wahlberg’s Micky Ward instead of the dark tale of Christian Bale’s "Dicky" Eklund. It’s an excellent sports film about battling back against adversity and it has a strong message about working hard to achieve your ultimate goals.

Million Dollar Baby

With Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, you may only want to watch about two-thirds of the film if you’re simply going for workout motivation, as the end of the movie isn’t going to do you any favors in that department. That aside, Hilary Swank morphs into a force playing Mary Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald in the Oscar-winning boxing film, and she makes for a positive spirit to channel as you get into your own routine.

Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more of our film-centric features, and for a look at all of the titles heading to theaters and streaming in the coming months, check out our 2024 movie release calendar.

If you’ve recently gone back and watched the film Quentin Tarantino has long despised, now that it’s one of the best movies on Netflix and would like other options that have something in common with it, stick around. Here are 12 movies like Natural Born Killers and how to watch them.

Badlands (1973)

Terrence Mallick is best known for ambitious, beautifully shot, and evocative epics about space, time, love, and human emotion. But before he went on to direct The Thin Red Line and The Tree of Life, he made his directorial debut with Badlands, a 1973 crime drama inspired by the story of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. 

Starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, the film follows a young couple as they embark upon a killing spree and try to find a place for themselves in the world. Though not as trippy or chaotic as Natural Born Killers, this is a perfect companion piece.

Rent/Buy Badlands on Amazon.

True Romance (1993) 

Like Natural Born Killers, True Romance was written by Quentin Tarantino, but unlike Oliver Stone’s 1994 crime flick, the filmmaker doesn’t seem to have as much of a problem with Tony Scott’s take on his material. This wild and chaotic crime drama follows two lovers (played by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) as they go on the run after a chance encounter and a lot of bloodshed.

You can see similar elements throughout both films, but this 1993 defining movie is a more toned-down affair that focuses more on the love shared by the leads and less on the sensationalist approach of ‘90s media figures. 

Stream True Romance on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy True Romance on Amazon.

Man Bites Dog (1992)

A ‘90s movie no one talks about, Man Bites Dog, for a lack of better terms, is a biting satirical crime comedy about a documentary crew that follows a cold-blooded killer (played by Benoît Poelvoorde) as carries out a series of murders. Bleak, violent, and nihilistic as all hell, the movie explores the media’s role in not only covering violent acts as spectators but also accomplices in the crimes.

If you’re a fan of Robert Downey Jr.’s Natural Born Killers performance and what it says about ‘90s media figures, then Man Bites Dog is something you won’t want to miss.

Stream Man Bites Dog on Max.
Rent/Buy Man Bites Dog on Amazon.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Released less than two months after Natural Born Killers, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction quickly became one of the most popular and influential films of 1994 with its non-linear structure, iconic characters, and intertwined tales of crime, violence, and cultural references. All four of the storylines are great in their respective ways, so much so that it’s hard to rank them, honestly.

Easily Tarantino’s best movie, Pulp Fiction is going to be perfect for anyone who loved what aspects of his NBK script made the final cut and want more of his signature wit and knack for incredible storytelling and dialogue.

Stream Pulp Fiction on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Pulp Fiction on Amazon.

Wild At Heart (1990)

Though somewhat hard to find these days (it’s not streaming or available digitally), David Lynch’s Wild at Heart is worth seeking out. Similar to Natural Born Killers, it tells the story of two young lovers who go on the run, though there are some key differences in how the road trip gets underway.

If you’re into couples going to great lengths to be together, violent stories, and all-time great performances by Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern, then Wild at Heart is going to do the trick.

Buy Wild at Heart on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Thelma & Louise (1991)

Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise follows the tight bond shared by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon’s titular characters as they embark upon an epic American road trip after being wanted by the law. Featuring one of the best female friendships ever captured on film, this iconic ‘90s movie is full of great moments that have become the stuff of legend.

Rent/Buy Thelma & Louise on Amazon.

Fargo (1996)

The Coen Brothers’ Fargo tells the story of a car salesman (played by William H. Macy) who comes up with a far-fetched scheme to get himself out of debt. But when the plan ultimately goes awry, everyone involved has something coming their way.

Though set in the frozen Midwest instead of the desert like Natural Born Killers, Fargo explores how seemingly normal people can find themselves caught up in the violence and evil of the criminal underworld. And like NBK, it has some unforgettably bloody scenes.

Rent/Buy Fargo on Amazon.

Bonnie & Clyde (1967)

You couldn’t have Natural Born Killers without Bonnie & Clyde or the real-life couple on which this 1967 crime classic was based. Telling the story of the titular pair of bank robbers (played by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway) as they ride across the country robbing and killing, the movie does a tremendous job of exploring love, violence, and the freedom of the American spirit.

Rent/Buy Bonnie & Clyde on Amazon.

Fight Club (1999)

Okay, David Fincher’s Fight Club doesn’t deal with acts of murder, cross-country road trips, or prison riots, but it does capture the pulse of 1999 better than most movies released that year. Similar to Natural Born Killers in its messaging, this movie is about a group of men shunned by society starting a revolution, for better or worse.

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton kill it around every turn, and their iconic characters’ attack on society (as misguided as it is) works perfectly to create an iconic and unforgettable experience.

Stream Fight Club on Hulu.

Run Lola Run (1998)

One of the great movies under 90 minutes, Run Lola Run makes the most of its short runtime with a story about a young woman (played by Franka Potente) as she races against time to save her boyfriend from a vengeful crime boss.

Much like Natural Born Killers, Tom Tykwer’s thriller has a fast-and-furious atmosphere and attitude, wasting no time to tell its unique and frenzied story.

Stream Run Lola Run on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy Run Lola Run on Amazon.

JFK (1991)

Three years before Oliver Stone gave us Natural Born Killers, he released JFK, a three-hour crime epic diving into the fallout of the assassination of John F. Kennedy and one man’s quest to prove a conspiracy was involved. Though not the most historically accurate movie, JFK is a thrilling and intense experience.

Plus, if you like all those wild camera cuts and the use of different film stock in NBK, you’re going to love what Stone and company did here.

Rent/Buy JFK on Amazon.

In Cold Blood (1967)

Richard Brooks’ 1967 adaptation of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood is still considered one of the greatest crime films nearly 60 years after its release. Telling the story of the violent murder of the Clutter family in rural Kansas, this black-and-white thriller explores senseless crime and how it impacts those on both sides of the gun.

Rent/Buy In Cold Blood on Amazon.

Each of these movies has at least one thing in common with Natural Born Killers. If you want even more blood-soaked or mind-bending crime flicks, there are countless available to watch on some of the best streaming services. 

I was in the sixth grade when Fight Club came out, and in the years following its release, I watched what some consider to be one of the best ‘90s movies more times than I can count. There was something about David Fincher’s adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s breakthrough novel of the same that just resonated and made me want to watch it whenever I could. But until recently, it had been years since I checked it out or revisited its mind-blowing plot twist.

I must admit, while watching the Edward Norton and Brad Pitt-led drama about a group of Gen-Xers finding new ways to work through their issues with themselves and society as a whole was still an enjoyable experience, I had a very different response to it as a 30-something myself. Allow me to explain…

Fight Club Was One Of My Favorite Movies As A Teenager, One I Watched All The Time

As mentioned above, I was OBSESSED with Fight Club as a teenager, so much so that I read Chuck Palahniuk’s book (and pretty much every one of his other novels through about 2007) multiple times in high school. Road trips to the beach? Pop in that VHS. Spending the night at a friend’s house? Make it a Fight Club and Seven double feature. You get it.

Even outside of the crazy ending, I used to love talking about this movie with anyone who’d listen, even my unfortunate junior-year English teacher who made the mistake of talking about book-to-screen adaptations. This was my jam back in the day, is basically what I’m saying.

I Used To Relate To Edward Norton's Character's Struggle And Saw Him As A Hero Of The Underground

Back when I was younger, I used to relate to Edward Norton’s unnamed narrator more than just about any movie character. I thought his breaking free of the corporate hellscape and finding new purpose and meaning in life was not only admirable but really freaking cool. He was this hero of the underground, at least when viewed through my adolescent eyes and mind.

Though misguided and whiny at times, the iconic ‘90s movie character had a relatable struggle, and as an actual middle child, I felt seen with his day-to-day problems and eventual escape from the madness of the doldrums.

But Now I See Him As A Whiny Dude Who Can't Handle Being An Adult

Oh, how things have changed since I last watched Fight Club. Though I still think this is one of Edward Norton’s best performances, “Jack” as he often refers to himself as while reading those old books at the Paper Street house, is just a whiny dude who can’t handle the pressures of being an adult. Dude, none of us want to spend a large chunk of our lives working for corporations – and call me cynical – but that’s just the way it is sometimes.

And I know that’s one of the points of the movie and we’re not really supposed to sympathize with Norton’s character, or Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden for that matter, but teenage me didn’t know that at the time.

As A Teenager, I Saw Project Mayhem As A Revolutionary Force Fighting Back At The Man

If you asked any middle schooler about Fight Club on the bus, they’d first recite Tyler Durden’s “The first rule of Fight Club…” speech. Once that was out of the way, it wouldn’t take long for the conversation to turn to Project Mayhem, the little terrorist group of 30-year-old teenagers who got bored of fighting in basements and started carrying out massive plots.

I was one of them. I loved (and still do) this aspect of the movie and sometimes wish it was further explored before the big final reveal (you know the one). I didn’t have dreams of installing burning smiley faces on buildings, destroying Starbucks with art installations, or planning a devastating string of explosions, but a healthy dose of anarchy, as misguided as it was, seemed like a fun release.

Now, I See The Group As A Bunch Of Single Guys 'Sticking It To The Man' Because They Can't Cope

At times, it feels like David Fincher and Chuck Palahniuk are making fun of the members of Project Mayhem, and that seems to be the point. Here we have a group of single adult men who can’t handle the complexities of modern life and revert back to an immature and almost primitive state to carry out acts of vandalism (and worse) because they feel cast aside by society. 

This exploration of toxic masculinity and fragile egos is absolutely brilliant as it makes you evaluate your perception of something you once held so dear. At least, that’s how I see it watching Fight Club as an adult.

I Guess I Missed The Point Of The Movie As A High Schooler, But Now The Satirical Tone Is Incredibly Clear

It’s not on the level of folks not realizing that All in the Family was a satire of a certain type of person in the 1970s, but I guess I just failed to pick up or look over the satirical tone of Fight Club. Filled with characters we hate to love and over-the-top monologues and manifestos that sound like they’re written by a teenager who just got his PlayStation taken away, the movie plays out like a really dark (both tonally and in the way it’s shot) comedy. 

But Don't Get Me Wrong, I Still Love Fight Club

Don’t let any of this lead you to believe that I hate Fight Club. Sure, maybe I’m not as crazy about it as I was back in the day, but I still think it’s one of the best 20th Century Fox movies even if Roger Ebert famously despised it. It’s just that my perception of the movie has changed over the course of the past 25 years, and I think that looking at it through a different lens has almost made me appreciate it more, just on a different level.

Yeah, there are choices I don’t agree with and some aspects of the movie are still a drag, but to call this a bad movie would be a lie.  

All in all, watching Fight Club after all these years was a fun and eye-opening experience. If you want to go back and revisit one of David Fincher’s best movies, you can do so right now with a Hulu subscription.

Stream Fight Club on Hulu.

The Big Lebowski

One of the things that makes the Coen Brothers' masterpiece The Big Lebowski is how The Dude and other characters learn things along the way and use those new facts and lines later in the movie. It's something you might never notice if you didn't watch the movie over and over and that kind of thing will not stand. Not to mention it has some really classic lines that are endlessly quotable. 

Clueless

As if we'd ever get bored of watching Clueless. There are so many great characters, from Cher (Alicia Silverstone) to Tai (Brittany Murphy) to Mr. Hall (Wallace Shawn), that we could watch over and over just to watch one character each time. 

The Dark Knight

Of all the comic movies that have been released in the 21st Century, there is one performance that will always stand above all the others. Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight ranks among the best roles ever seen on film, superhero movies or otherwise. It's so good that it literally never gets old or stale. There is something to behold every time you watch the movie. 

Die Hard

Watching Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman face off in Die Hard is the main reason the movie will always be rewatchable. Both put in some of the best performances of their careers and even though there have been many Die Hard sequels, none of them quite have the charm and magic that the original has. 

Dirty Dancing

For decades now people have been having the time of their lives watching Dirty Dance on repeat. The music, the dancing, the love story... it brings audiences along for a realistic, yet fantastical story all in one. It's been beloved for years for a reason. 

Dazed And Confused

Dazed And Confused is among the best movies about high school ever made. It's also one of the best movies of the 1990s, though it's set in the '70s. Those aren't the qualities that make it so rewatchable. It's simply the amazing cast and the endless amounts of quotable lines those actors deliver. It's always pleasurable to watch actors like Paker Posey, Ben Affleck, Cole Hauser, and Matthew McConaughey so early in their careers. 

Back To The Future

There is a level of rewatchability to all three Back To The Future movies, but the first still stands way above the sequels. It's a movie so fun and so well-paced that you never get bored, even if it's the 150th time you've watched it. 

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All at Once has a lot going on. It's a movie worth watching again and again if for no other reason than it's easy to miss stuff the first, or even fifth time you watch it. The concept is so cool and so well executed, and the acting performances are so good, that it's impossible to get bored with the film. 

The Godfather

Though the entry just says The Godfather, this could really count for either Part I or Part II, as both are among the most rewatchable movies ever. There is a reason they both consistently rank among the best movies ever made. The acting performances are amazing, the dialog is incredible, and Francis Ford Coppola's directing is as good as it gets on film. 

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 1

Let's be honest, there are quite a few movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that you can watch over and over. There is one that stands above the rest though. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 1 has great music and great quotes, which are two things that really make movies forever rewatchable. It's just a really fun movie with some of the most fun characters in the whole universe. 

Legally Blonde

If you want to know how valuable Elle Woods can be, just try to stop watching Legally Blonde when you randomly come across it. It can't be done. It's filled with quotable lines and one of the most charming performances of Reese Witherspoon's stellar career. 

The Princess Bride

From Gen Xers to Zoomers, The Princess Bride has become part of millions of people's childhood. It's a movie that kids and adults can watch over and over, finding different wonderful things about it, depending on your maturity level. No matter how many times you watch, you can always find something new to observe and love about The Princess Bride. 

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Who doesn't love Indiana Jones? The character, played of course by the great Harrison Ford, has become one of the most enduring movie heroes of all time. Well into the 21st Century, Hollywood is coming up with new adventures for the old archeologist. In the end, it all goes back to the beginning though, with the O.G. movie, Raider of the Lost Ark. 

Clue

If you were to ask around the staff of Cinemablend what off-beat comedy is their favorite, there is a decent chance Clue would be the answer you get. If for no other reason, the movie can be - and should be - watched over and over just for Tim Curry's amazing, manic, hilarious performance as The Butler...who butles and creates absolute mayhem. 

The Shawshank Redemption

It's hard for people to believe that The Shawshank Redemption wasn't a big hit in theaters. For whatever reason, it failed to find an audience. That all changed when the movie hit cable TV and became one of the most-watched movies in movie history. It was on TV all the time because people watched it all the time, over and over. 

Jurassic Park

The moment in Jurassic Park when Dr. Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Sattler (Laura Dern) see the dinosaurs for the first time, with John Williams' amazing score swelling in the background is such a great movie moment, that you can watch it over and over and a tear will still come to your eye. Now throw in all the other great parts and you have a seriously rewatchable movie. 

The Lion King

Disney sure knows how to make movies that kids and adults alike can watch over and over. We could really pick almost any of their classic cartoons here, but The Lion King is so good it's been remade into a live-action hit and one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time. All three are eminently rewatchable. 

Mean Girls

You know if a movie gets a remake less than 20 years after it was originally made, especially when that remake is based on a Broadway musical adaptation, it must be a movie you can watch over and over. Fans of Means Girls just can't get enough of the comedy, both on stage and screen. 

The Wolf Of Wall Street

If you're a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, or bad language, The Wolf Of Wall Street is likely a movie you've watched numerous times, right? And why wouldn't you? It's an almost perfect movie. Much of the story is tragic, but the ride to get there is wild. 

9 To 5

Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda are three national treasures. Put them in a movie where they torture their horrible boss played by the late great Dabney Coleman and you've got the recipe for a movie that people will never get bored of, just like 9 to 5.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars fans can watch any of the many movies over and over. All movie fans can watch Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back over and over, however. You don't have to be obsessed with every bit of Star Wars lore to absolutely love Empire. It's the best of the movies and one of the best movies ever made. It's got some of the craziest action scenes, the coolest characters, and the best plot twist of all time, at least according to many. It's simply the best. 

10 Things I Hate About You

When a movie is a hit with teenagers, especially one as popular as 10 Things I Hate About You, you can bet it'll be a rewatchable movie. Throw in some breakout performances by Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Julia Stiles, a plot based on a Shakespeare play, and you've got all the ingredients you need for a massive hit that people will watch again and again. 

Fight Club

The first rule of Fight Club might be don't talk about Fight Club, but no one really follows that rule, and the second rule might as well be, "watch Fight Club over and over and quote it endlessly" because that's what Fight Club really is. Like many of director David Fincher's movies, Fight Club is so well done that you see something new in it every time you watch, just like many of the great movies on this list. 

Titanic

To paraphrase the late, great Jerry Garcia, Titanic is like black licorice. Not everyone likes it, but the people that do like it, really like it. The James Cameron mega-hit isn't for everyone, in fact, it might have as many haters as it does lovers, but those who do love it never get bored with watching the wonderful sets and spectacular effects that the movie is best known for. 

The Matrix

While it's true that the Matrix trilogy had diminishing returns, there is no denying how amazing and groundbreaking the first one was. It still has a hold on popular culture, decades after its initial release. While some fans may not go back to the three sequels, the original is still a favorite for everyone that was red-pilled from the beginning. 

Pretty Woman

As rom-coms go, you can't get more perfect than Pretty Woman. Sure, the plot is a little dated and in some ways problematic, but the performances from the leads, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, and the side characters, like Jason Alexander and Hector Elizondo are so good, it allows us to overlook the aging flaws of the movie and watch it again and again with nothing but joy. 

Gladiator

It really doesn't matter how many times you seen Gladiator, you are still going to jump up out of your seat when Maximus (Russell Crowe) reveals himself to Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). it's a moment in cinema history that will stand the test of time and still be a classic centuries from now. 

Jaws

It's no accident that Jaws is on this list. It's considered the first "summer blockbuster" but it's so much more. The characters are so well-developed that you can't help but root for all of them, except the mayor, of course. Sure the shark looks a little dated, but director Steven Spielberg did such an amazing job building the suspense by not seeing the shark, that it's easy to look past the 1970s movie magic.

The Great Escape

On Christmas in the United States, we watch things like A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life every year. In the UK, they watch The Great Escape. We'll admit, that's a pretty amazing tradition because despite its nearly three-hour runtime, there is never a dull moment and it proves that longer is often better. The all-star cast and sharp direction keep the movie humming along from the time they are all locked up until they all get locked up again after the escape. 

The Incredibles

The Incredibles was an incredible hit for Pixar in 2004. Just like many Pixar and Disney movies before and after it, it became an indelible part of millions of kids' childhoods and even as they've aged, they still love the Parr family. While it took 16 years, when a sequel was finally made in 2018, it took in a cool $1.2 billion, attesting to just how loved (and watched) the original was and is. 

A League of Their Own

We all know that there is no crying in baseball because we've all seen Tom Hanks say it a million times as we've watched A League of Their Own over and over. All the characters are so unique and memorable that it's like watching an old friend every time it's on. 

Caddyshack

Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Ted Knight are four of the most quotable actors of all time. When you put them all in the same movie, and give them some of the best lines ever written, it's no surprise that Caddyshack is the kind of movie that people watch so often they end up memorizing it. Dangerfield, a king of the one-liner, is especially great in this one. 

To clarify: a lot of these titles are great projects that are worth the watch. But if you're someone who is naturally nervous when traveling in the air, they might not be the best choice for you to watch mid-flight. In no particular order, here are some movies someone of that nature might want to avoid. 

Snakes on a Plane

2006's Snakes on a Plane is a campy action thriller, one that has been endlessly quotable and meme-able in the years since its release. Despite the comedy involved in the project, watching it on a plane is probably not the smartest call.

Gravity

While not set on a plane per se, Gravity is a movie that would still give me the willies if I were on a plane. After all, Sandra Bullock is on an aircraft high above Earth, and eventually crash lands in the third act. Maybe it's better to have seen Gravity in theaters.

Flightplan

Flightplan hit theaters in 2005 and was a fun psychological thriller focused on a mother whose child mysteriously disappears in the midst of a long flight. Jodie Foster is incredible as always, but this could be anxiety-inducing to watch while flying. 

Red Eye

Red Eye came from the great Wes Craven and stars Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy, who admitted he wasn't a huge fan of the movie. It's a thriller that's almost entirely set on a plane, so anxious fliers might want to avoid it.

Final Destination

This entry might be the most obvious on this list. In the OG Final Destination, Devon Sawa's Alex Browning has a premonition of his plane exploding While he and a few classmates rush out before it explodes, death follows them as they die in horrifying ways.

United 93

United 93 came out in 2006, just a few years after the events of 9/11. Given that this movie tells the emotional true story of United Airlines Flight 93, it's a movie you want to stay far away from while flying. 

Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko is a cult classic 2001 film that follows Jake Gyllenhaal's title character as he navigates the space-time continuum. It all starts when a jet engine mysteriously crashes into his bedroom, and that mysterious doomed flight is a big part of the overall story. 

Plane

Plane is a 2023 thriller starring Mike Colter and Gerard Butler, which starts when lightning hits a plane that carries both police and a homicide suspect. This unlikely duo has to work together after the plane goes down, but that opening sequence is not great for nervous flyers. 

Sully

Tom Hanks stars as the title character of Sully, aka Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger the pilot who famously landed on the Hudson River in 2009 after striking a flock of birds. It's a solid movie, but not exactly what one wants to watch on a plane. 

The Mountain Between Us

The Mountain Between Us is another movie on this list that is kickstarted by a plane crash. This time it's a super small plane carrying Kate Winslet and Idris Elba's characters as the pilot suffers a stroke mid-flight. 

Cast Away

There are a few Tom Hanks movies on this list, although Cast Away is his most synonymous plane movie. He ends up stranded on an island after his FedEx cargo plane crashes, leading to a moving adventure and iconic friendship with Wilson. 

Society of the Snow

Society of the Snow is a 2023 survival drama about Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which hit a glacier in 1972. A Uruguayan rugby football team was forced to live in the unforgiving Andes Mountains, eventually resorting to cannibalism to stay alive. 

Fight Club

Fight Club is a cult classic from this list, which tells the story of Tyler Durden's descent into madness and therapy. The narrator speaks to Tyler for the first time on a plane, after having terrifying visions of a midair collision as well as a sobering conversation about plane safety that's nightmare fuel for nervous flyers. 

World War Z

World War Z is an apocalypse movie, with Brad Pitt's Mitch Buchannon trying to survive a never-ending supply of zombies One of the movie's most chilling scenes is set in a plane, where zombies cause all sorts of claustrophobic chaos to ill-fated passengers. 

The Incredibles

The Incredibles is a beloved Disney/Pixar movie, but there's one sequence that's not exactly ideal for nervous flyers. The villainous Syndrome shoots Elastigirl and the kids out of the sky, and it's only their superpowers that save them from doom. 

Flight 666

Flight 666 is a 2018 independent horror movie that is truly the thing of nightmares for nervous flyers. It follows as a zombie outbreaks begins mid-flight, bringing all sorts of chaos for those trying to reach their final destination. 

Air Force One

Air Force One is a 1997 hijack movie that shows the titular plane being taken over by bad guys while the President (Harrison Ford) is on board. It's up to the Commander in Chief to save those on board. And while I love the movie it's not exactly what you want to watch mid-flight. 

Moon

Moon follows Sam Rockwell's Sam Bell as he finishes his three-year solitary time residing on the far side of the Moon. But the idea of being left alone floating on a ship is one that might be chilling for nervous flyers. 

Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down is an acclaimed 2001 film that's considered one of the best war movies of all time. But its storyline is very much inspired by a helicopter going down, which isn't the type of programming one wants to watch when on a plane. 

Con Air

Nicolas Cage's Con Air is one of several movies centered on a plane getting hijacked on this list. While there are parts of Con Air that make no sense it's a classic... just not one that's for folks who hate flying. 

Jurassic Park III

Jurassic Park III movie might not be high on the ranking of Jurassic Park movies, but it's got some great things going for it. But there's also a plane crash sequence, so it's probably better to re-watch this movie on the ground. 

Passengers

There are a number of space movies on this list, as there is something similar about being lost in space and traveling on a plane for nervous flyers. Passengers hit theaters in 2016 and follows two protagonists (Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt) who are woken 90 years early from their medically-induced hibernation while traveling to a new planet. 

No Way Up

No Way Up is a 2024 thriller that combines two tried and true horror elements: plane crashes and sharks. A group of passengers try to survive as their crashed plane sinks into deep water, and it's truly a nightmare scenario.

Alive

Alive is one of the many survival movies on this particular list. The 1993 flick follows the true story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which crashed in the Andes with a team of rugby players on board.

Non-Stop

Non-Stop is a Liam Neeson-led thriller that hit theaters back in 2014. The movie ex-NYPD officer turned Federal Air Marshal who is tasked with finding a killer on a flight from New York City to London, and it's not really what you want to watch in the air. 

7500

7500 was released in 2019 on Amazon Prime and features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a pilot who is faced with an attempted hijacking situation. For obvious reasons, this is not what nervous fliers will want to watch on a plane. 

Alien

Alien is considered one of the best horror movies of all time, but it might not be great on a plane. Just like Ripley is trapped on the Nostromo, it's possible that nervous flyers might feel the same way when watching the movie on a plane. 

Airplane! is a classic comedy set on a flight where all sorts of crazy shenanigans occur. But as funny as it is (and while some fans may have what-in-the-heck reactions), some of the hi-jinx might be frightening if you're watching it in the air.