The Internet loves a good debate, and so do I. In fact, I was all-in on a recent variation of the famous “Chuck, F–k, Marry” game fans were playing with DreamWorks movies on X (formerly Twitter). That is until I realized most people don’t actually love the animated movie I consider to be the best of all time.

An animation fan took to X recently to ask fans if they had to delete one DreamWorks franchise from memory forever, which they would choose. OK, I saw where this game was going, and I expected a lively debate. Here were the choices:

And if you don’t want to pull up that tweet, the franchise options were as follows:

• Shrek
• How To Train Your Dragon
• Kung Fu Panda
• Madagascar

DreamWorks is a solid studio, and in my humble opinion there’s not a gigantic slouch in the bunch, but to me there are two timeless animated classic franchises and two franchises that are more appealing to young folk than audiences of all ages, both from humor and storytelling standpoints. I expected some discord amongst fans, but there was one outcome that thoroughly surprised me: The surprising number of “chucks” How To Train Your Dragon got.

Once people started responding to the viral thread, a lot of the comments about who they'd prefer to "delete forever" looked almost exactly the same:

• "How to Train your Dragon and it’s not close."
• "How to Train my Dragon easily."
• "How to Train your Dragon, and it’s not even remotely close."
• "Who even watched this? (shared a HTTYD picture)"
• "How to Train Your Dragon is so easily the worst here and the only correct answer."

Someone even circled the picture of How To Train Your Dragon and commented, “What ever tf this one is?’ thereby indicating they didn’t even know what the movie was. This was devastating to me.

Sure, there were some outliers who would have cut Shrek or Madagascar, and there was actually a considerable amount of Kung Fu Panda hate in the thread, but at least most people knew what the Jack Black panda move was. Reading the comments, I'm not sure I can say the same about Dragon, which I guess I’m hoping will change now that How To Train Your Dragon is getting its own land at Epic Universe.

I Did Not Expect So Much How To Train Your Dragon Hate

I recently saw the new How To Train Your Dragon Live Action and it is gorgeous. The aerial views we see on the big screen with the dragon riding are serious cinematic moments. The story hits new humor beats and the same emotional beats. (Seriously, people cry during the HTTYD movies, in a good way!) The movie still has one of the most surprising-but-lovely endings of all time. Theoretically I’m old enough that I grew up during the Shrek era of animated movies, and that is the movie that should play hardest on nostalgia for me, but I love the 2010 dragon movie way more. That's an especially unexpected outcome given I was already an adult when it came out.

I love Shrek. I think the actors are A+ in that franchise and I’m glad we’re getting Shrek 5 next year, but for that movie to get few detractors --and more so for Madagascar to land few detractors-- felt so wild to me. I would honestly mark Dean DeBlois' classic as the best animated franchise of all time from start to finish. In addition, the first movie may be my favorite animated movie of all time, though it has some minor competition from Beauty and the Beast and a few Disney classics.

Thank goodness a few other people seemed to be on the same page and were equally as shaken up as I was the Toothless-led franchise took the brunt of the shrapnel:

• "If you picked How to Train your Dragon then you were born to be sent down the mines, to plow fields, to grind wheat. You were never meant to be allowed." opinions as your betters knew they would be of no value.
• "How are people saying How to Train Your Dragon when this is the easiest Madagascar setup of all time?"
• "Anyone saying How to Train your Dragon is dead wrong."

Look, not as many people even use X these days, as people have headed to Threads and Bluesky, and even of the people who do, the people who comment is an even smaller sample size. Therefore, it could just be that the number of people who use X regularly overlaps with a larger number of How To Train Your Dragon haters.

But I will say, if you are less familiar with these movies, it’s totally worth it to see the live action version when it hits the 2025 movie release schedule this summer on June 13th. I had a (dragon) blast.

Considering James Hong’s hundreds of acting credits across his 70-year career, there’s a very high chance you’ve experienced the 95-year-old’s talent. Yet, I don’t feel like we talk about the prolific character actor’s career enough. That became abundantly clear to me after speaking to Hong about his voiceover experiences as he reprises his role in the animated Gremlins series.

CinemaBlend spoke to James Hong and Ming-Na Wen about returning for the second season of the Gremlins series, which is available to stream with a Max subscription. They both reflected on their careers as voice actors, and Ming-Na Wen shared with us how her perspective on voiceover has changed since her first experience on Mulan. Here’s what James Hong shared about his history in the vocal booth:

Talk about an incredible debut in voiceover acting! James Hong was an English voice in the first English-language Godzilla movie, and it sounds like he remembers it like it was yesterday. The actor has an incredible Hollywood career that began after he served in the Minnesota Army National Guard as a young man. He was asked to be in charge of the camp’s live shows instead of being deployed to Korea.

After the war, Hong moved to Los Angeles where he split his time between being a road engineer and acting in his time off. It wasn’t long before he became part of 1956's Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

As James Hong recalled, voiceover acting was a lot more casual at the time. In his words:

There’s a lot to celebrate about James Hong’s career, between his role as Mr. Ping in all the Kung Fu Panda movies to being in Big Trouble In Little China (he was one of those actors that really was everywhere in the '80s and '90s in particular) to Best Picture winner, Everything Everywhere All At Once. It’s so interesting to hear about how his first voiceover role shook out, and how he’s seen the industry change in recent years. As he continued:

Hollywood has changed a lot since James Hong got his start back in the 1950s, but as he spoke to, Asian stories are getting more of a spotlight than ever. From the first Asian lead on The Bachelorette earlier this year to the commercial success of a movie like Crazy Rich Asians, Hong has seen some major growth from his early days in Hollywood. In the interview, he also said he plans to speak further on his life through a memoir.

Also, Gremlins stars a predominantly Asian cast that includes George Takei as the main villain and the talents of Simu Liu, Jimmy O. Yang, BD Wong and Izaac Wang. You can check out the first five episodes of Season 2 now on Max, with the rest of the season to come at a later date on the 2024 TV schedule.

In the theme park world, it seems that bigger must always be better. When it comes to new attractions, you’re far more likely to see a location build a new top-of-the-line roller coaster than build a brand-new flying carousel. And yet, any good theme park needs both things, and Universal Orlando Resort clearly understands this.

For the last few years, Universal Islands of Adventure has been making its name in the thrill-ride world by building not one, but two of the best Universal rides, both thrilling roller coasters. First, we got the excellent Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, then we got the thrilling Jurassic World Velocicoaster. They are incredible attractions, but not every guest who visits the park can ride them. 

But now Universal is investing on the other side of the theme park guest spectrum. They're building an entire Universal Kids Resort dedicated to families and small children, but at the flagship resort, we now have the kid-friendly DreamWorks Land. It may all be "for kids" but that doesn't mean it wasn't taken seriously.

DreamWorks Land Brings Shrek, Trolls, And Kung Fu Panda To Life In Fun And New Ways

DreamWorks Land is divided into three different areas, dedicated to Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. Each one has attractions, snacks and meet-and-greet opportunities with characters, but what sets the new land apart are the additional activities that are available for kids to do.

Most will likely gravitate toward the Trollercoaster, the most traditional theme park attraction in the land. It's the only "ride" in the land, as a matter of fact. It’s a simple “kiddie coaster” but one that will certainly be a first roller coaster for a lot who ride, it, preparing them for years of fun to come. 

You’ll be able to meet and get photos with numerous characters, like Shrek, Fiona, Puss in Boots, numerous Trolls, and Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse. The interactive talking Donkey is also back, likely getting ready to be the star of several viral social media videos.

The most interesting character encounter, however, is Po from Kung Fu Panda, as his experience is done with technology, not a costume. He appears on a screen, but can fully interact with the audience to teach guests Kung Fu. Those who have experienced Turtle Talk with Crush at Disney Parks will know the technology involved, but rather than only sitting and interacting with the character, the focus here is on getting up and moving.

DreamWorks Land Is A Kinetic Experience

In fact, getting up and moving is a big part of what DreamWorks Land is all about. There are no less than three water play areas in the land, including one that has the potential to absolutely soak everybody as it dumps a large quantity of water on a main walkway every few minutes. 

There’s a full Shrek playground full of slides to go down and ropes to climb up. Trolls also has a small play area designed for the toddler set. A lot of kids just need a place to run around, or at least a place where parents can let them do so so that the parents can get a break.

DreamWorks Land also has some other cool interactive attractions. King Harold’s Swamp Symphony lets kids jump around on pressure pads on the ground that look like lily pads to make animatronic frogs croak. Mama Luna’s Feline Fiesta recreates a digital version of the home for orphan cats from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and gives kids a series of buttons, knobs and levers to interact with to cause various effects.

Finally, you have the DreamWorks Imagination Celebration. The 20-minute indoor stage show uses costumed characters music, and screens to recreate elements from Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda, with a brief Madagascar cameo as well. It’s basically the DreamWorks “jukebox musical” as the focus is the pop songs that are featured in the various films. Like most jukebox musicals, the story is a barebones excuse to sing the songs, but it’s hard to get mad about it. It’s cute, the performers sell it, and it does have some solid puppetry behind Donkey and his girlfriend The Dragon that is worth seeing.

DreamWorks Land Food Is Solid If You Need A Bite

Food is a key part of any theme park experience and DreamWorks Land has its share. The food on offer in the land won’t be much of a meal, but it will sustain you until you get to something more significant.

A great deal has been made of the Shrekzel, a large soft pretzel that is, purportedly, a recreation of Shrek’s face. Honestly, the brown face and the blank expression remind me more of something out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre than Shrek, but if you’re a fan of soft pretzels, you could do worse. The green cheese sauce at least makes this one fun to eat.

I was a bigger fan of the Far Far A Waffle. The sweet waffle is stuffed with savory ingredients; in my case, pepperoni pizza. I liked this one, if only because it was the easiest and cleanest way to eat pizza while walking around a theme park this side of a Cozy Cone.

I was also impressed by the Trolls Treats stand. I’m not usually a fan of soft serve ice cream, I prefer standard ice cream, but considering the two flavors available were huckleberry and lemonade, I was at least curious. The BroZone berry was quite tasty.

Universal Studios Florida’s DreamWorks Land Is A Modern And Welcome Update

Almost every theme park has some sort of area with rides specifically designed for younger kids. The biggest problem with them in my experience, however, is that most of them are old and unconsidered. The rides are there, but they don’t hold up against the modern “E-Ticket” experiences that are geared toward older guests. Kids shouldn't get ignored just because they're kids.

Most of what exists in DreamWorks Land isn't new. Much of it was here before as part of the Woody Woodpecker's KidZone, which previously occupied the space, but all that lacked cohesion. It was just "kid's rides" that had been put in a corner of the park you might not even see if you weren't looking for it. It's clear that Universal Creative took a new, modern look at the space. The attractions may be the same, but they're also better.

It’s not until you see a land like this that you realize that you haven’t seen anything quite like it before. While we might see individual attractions in a kids’ area replaced with something new and groundbreaking, that usually happens very slowly. That assumes that attractions for the youngest guests are even being considered.

Disney California Adventure’s newest land, Avengers Campus, replaced A Bug’s Land. The previous land was an area designed for kids and had several small attractions. Only one of the rides was saved and moved elsewhere in the park, so the number of experiences small kids could even do in that park dropped significantly.

Theme parks are for everybody, but that also includes the youngest children. A lot of the advancements in recent years have been focused on older guests. That’s not that surprising, as they’re the ones with the money, so any theme park wants to make sure it caters to them. But the reason so many adults love theme parks is because they were once kids who fell in love with theme parks. 

Universal Orlando Resort's big opening for 2024 is an entirely new land dedicated to the characters and works from DreamWorks animation. A corner of Universal Studios Florida has been under development since last year, and while we knew the new land would open this summer, we didn't know exactly when we'd be able to ride the Trollercoaster until now. The Universal Orlando website now lists June 14 as the official opening date of the new land. And that's not all that's coming on that date.

The new DreamWorks land, which is primarily focused on families, will have three major attractions. There's the Trollercoaster, based on the popular Trolls movies, is a small "kiddie" coaster, that even many of the resort's smallest guests will be able to experience. A new play area called Po's Training Camp will let kids run off all that excess energy. In addition, there will be a virtual meet-and-greet experience, where guests will be able to speak with Po via a digital screen. Finally, Shrek's Swamp Meet provides a movie-accurate recreation of Shrek's swamp home, and some odd Shrek food, where guests will be able to meet Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona.

DreamWorks Land Looks To Be A Great New Addition For Families Visiting Universal Orlando Resort

As a theme park person, but most notably a theme park person who has small kids, I'm especially happy that DreamWorks Land is almost here. In recent years there has been a real push for new "E-Ticket" level attractions at theme parks, but so often that means high-thrill roller coasters that kids aren't yet big enough to do. It's great to see Universal make a point to produce new rides and attractions that will be available for all.

Universal has shown a strong ability in recent years to balance the high thrills experiences that many guests crave with the sammler, but no less impressive, attractions that turn small children into theme park fans for life. The recent Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction is a triumph of accessibility, that doesn't even use a ride vehicle. Almost anybody can do it.

We've seen with what we know about Epic Universe the new theme park is going to have some incredible thrill experiences, but at the same time, Universal Kids Resort is being built in Texas, an entire park and hotel specifically designed for guests with young children. Universal Parks is making an investment that will likely pay off for years as kids grow up as big fans of Universal's theme parks.

Even More Is Coming To Universal Orlando Resort

The DreamWorks Land is a welcome new addition, but it's not the only thing that's coming this summer to Universal Orlando. A brand new nighttime show CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, is set to debut on the same day DreamWorks Land opens, June 14. The show will celebrate Universal's movie history with franchises including  Jurassic World, Jaws, Shrek, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, and more. The show will include 600 drones, 228 fountains and 4K projection mapping.

The same night, a new projection-mapped light show will debut on Hogwarts Castle at Universal Islands of Adventure. Hogwarts Always will include four different endings, one for each of the Hogwarts houses, giving guests a reason to return.

Finally, July 3 will see the debut of the Universal Mega Movie Parade at Universal Studios Florida. Brand new floats and balloons are promised, including a 16-foot high Stay Puft Marshmallow man, which any Ghostbusters fan is going to need to see. 

While neighboring Walt Disney World has a big opening of its own this summer with Tiana's Bayou Adventure,  Universal is bringing a lot to compete. Either way theme park fans are going to come out the winners in what is sure to be an excellent summer. 

If you’re of a certain age, then you probably grew up with Shrek. It’s for that reason that a lot of people will tell you that he is the best character to ever come out of DreamWorks Animation. But, I highly disagree. Because when it comes to Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, I’m picking the panda voiced by Jack Black all day, every day. 

I think it’s because the Kung Fu Panda movies have been consistently better than the Shrek movies (unless, of course, we’re also counting the Puss In Boots movies, like The Last Wish, to which I think we might have an argument then). It’s just that I love the characters in the Panda universe, as well as the progression of Po’s character. I also adore how he always faces a new challenger in each movie, sort of like a video game having bosses at the end of each stage. 

That said, even though I like every Panda movie, I will say that they’re not all equally good. So, which one movie is the absolute best? Well, you’re about to find out! Skadoosh.  

4. Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) 

The most recent film in the franchise, Kung Fu Panda 4 is in an interesting spot, in that we probably didn’t need another sequel. In our review of the movie, our very own Eric Eisenberg called it the “weakest entry” in the series, and I wholeheartedly agree. 

In it, Master Shifu, for some reason, is under the impression that Po needs to choose a successor, even though he still seems to be doing pretty fine as the Dragon Warrior. Reluctant to give up his title, he soon finds that he has no choice after a new villain manages to retrieve the Staff of Wisdom. Adventure (and some comedy) ensues. 

Now, a big reason why this movie just doesn’t work is because it feels both scaled back, but also too crowded at the same time. We get a new character in a fox named Zhen, voiced by Quiz Lady star, Awkwafina, and while she’s fine, she also isn’t a great substitute for The Furious Five, as they’re not even in the movie until the very end. And, they don’t even speak! 

Then, there’s the villain, The Chameleon, voiced by the always fantastic Viola Davis. I used to think that these movies lived and died by how good their villains were, but Panda 4 proves that this isn’t the case, since The Chameleon is actually one of the most interesting villains in the entire series. 

However, the lead up to her is so mundane that it detracts from her presence in the film, which is a real shame, since she’s so cool once we finally meet her. Oh, well. This is a decent movie (and definitely better than something like Shrek the Third, or Shrek Forever After), but it’s one that could have been much, much better.  

3. Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) 

In this third film in the franchise, they wanted to change it up a bit. So, they addressed the lingering question teased at the end of Panda 2 of who Po’s biological father was. Honestly, it had mixed results. Because by this point in the series, I think most fans were just content with Mr. Ping being Po’s father, especially since he’s played by the incomparable James Hong. Thankfully, at least we got Bryan Cranston as the voice of Po’s biological dad, Li Shan.

The film itself is pretty fun, though. We’re introduced to a whole village of pandas, and Po needs to train them in order to take on a new villain named General Kai, who is voiced by J.K. Simmons. All of the members of the Furious Five reprise their roles, and we even get Randall Duk Kim back to voice Master Oogway, as his presence was absent in the second movie. So, in every way Kung Fu Panda 3 feels like a grand spectacle. 

Unfortunately, General Kai is sort of a dud of a villain. It was because of this film that I truly believed that the antagonist in each one was the determining factor of whether it would be great, or just good, since all of the storytelling around him is pretty snappy. But, the villain himself is just so bland. 

However, if Panda 4 taught me anything, it’s that I’d rather have a good story and a mediocre villain, than a great villain and a mediocre story.  

2. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)  

Speaking of villains, we might have the very best in the franchise in Kung Fu Panda 2 with the peacock Lord Shen, voiced by Gary Oldman. He’s truly the highlight of this entire movie, which is an all-around good time. Still, as you can see by its placement on this list, it is not the best movie in the series. 

In fact, like I said in my BluRay review at the time: “It’s not better than the original, but because it has so much heart, it’s not worse, either. It’s a fine sequel that fits and seems justified.” 

Yeah, I pretty much stand behind that statement even today. In this sequel, Po is now settling into being the Dragon Warrior and leading the Furious Five. So, in that way, it’s a transitional period film, and one that still has a ton of laughs. 

That said, it’s definitely not as consistently funny as the original, and it goes into some pretty dark territories for a kids’ film. This is mainly because of Lord Shen, who truly challenges Po and his peers.

It’s all really captivating stuff, and the third act probably has my favorite climax in the entire series. Even so, it still can’t match the original. 

1. Kung Fu Panda (2008) 

That’s right. The first Kung Fu Panda movie is still the best Kung Fu Panda movie. It’s probably because it’s the perfect fish out of water, underdog (or rather, underpanda) story. Po loves kung fu, and he admires the Furious Five more than anybody else. 

So, when it comes time to select a new Dragon Warrior, you would think that anybody but Po would be selected, so of course he’s the one who gets chosen. In a lot of ways, all of the films are about finding oneself, but the first movie still does the very best job of telling that story.

It also has a great villain in Tai Lung, voiced by Ian McShane. He’s so good, in fact, that the series frequently references him, as he represents the side of Po that’s still doubtful of his abilities. But, I think this one’s the best because all of the characters really stand out. It’s not just a Po story, but also a Master Shifu story, as well as a Furious Five story. 

The first film is, in every way, the best movie in the franchise. It’s actually interesting to note that much like the Scary Movie series, each film in the Panda franchise was not as good as the movie that preceded it. So, I really hope that they don’t make a Kung Fu Panda 5, even though I really like this series! I just don’t feel that any sequel could ever match the stellar original.

What’s your favorite Kung Fu Panda movie?  

As we approach the 2024 movie schedule, it’s time to meet some familiar friends for another adventure. In the case of Dreamworks Animation and Universal Pictures’ Kung Fu Panda 4, we’ll be cinematically reunited with Jack Black’s titular hero Po for the first time since 2016’s Kung Fu Panda 3. So what’s new with our animal friend after almost eight years away? Oh nothing; just another potential apocalypse, and our Dragon Warrior getting to kick his own butt. 

Dreamworks and Universal’s latest animated outing has finally released its first look at what we can expect this time out. While the trailer above puts everything into pretty decent perspective, here are some additional details that add to what we know about Kung Fu Panda 4: 

This is where Viola Davis’ new baddie, a Chameleon named…Chameleon, comes into play. As Po is caught in this predicament of passing the torch to his new friend Zhen (Awkwafina), he also need to make sure that Chameleon doesn’t get her hands on his Staff of Wisdom. What happens if he fails in this Kung Fu Panda 4 quest? 

Well, as the official synopsis puts it, the staff would give Chameleon “the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.” So yeah, it could get pretty apocalyptic if our hero and his family, old and new, don’t prevent such a calamity from taking place. Also, this is where the Po kicking his own butt scenario comes into play, as we've seen Chameleon take his form and his catchphrase.

Kung Fu Panda 4 comes at a good time for both Jack Black, as well as Universal Studios. With The Super Mario Bros. Movie being 2023's first $1 billion movie, Black's show stealing performance as Bowser is still ringing in everyone's ears. So returning to a familiar face, on top of that residual hype, could deliver another hit of that kind in the new year! 

Of course, the excitement for Kung Fu Panda 4’s new cast members is also being shared as a tease for the road ahead. In fact, an announcement video of both Awkwafina and Viola Davis’ roles was released into the world recently, and you can watch that clip for yourself, courtesy of Instagram, to see just how things kicked off: 

Adventure is clearly in the air with this new project, which is already building on a cast that includes the returns of Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane. But with Davis, Awkwafina, and fellow newcomer Ke Huy Quan jumping into action, Kung Fu Panda 4 is only stoking those flames even higher with this first look. 

It may not be a musical number in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but Jack Black's first reaction to "Peaches" might be the same as his feelings for this new trailer; in that he probably thinks it slaps. Should you be hungry for Kung Fu Panda 4, the film is set to break the boards and skadoosh another installment of heartfelt action comedy, starting March 8th. So it’s not too late to look at the rundown of upcoming movies, ready to help close out 2023 with a strong finale! 

While Stephanie Hsu was not among the winners at the 2023 Academy Awards, her Best Supporting Actress-nominated performance in this year’s Best Picture Oscar winner, Everything Everywhere All At Once, has undoubtedly earned her a bright future in Hollywood. Yet, those who have been paying attention to her career — and have not mistaken her for Lana Condor — should know that this is far from her first rodeo. 

The 32-year-old California native — who, according to Today, was born to a Chinese single mother who immigrated to the States from Taiwan — has been acting since she was in her teens and made her Broadway debut as Karen the Computer in SpongeBob Squarepants: The Musical in 2017, before landing small roles in the Netflix original TV show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and the Netflix rom-com, Set it Up, to name just a few. For this article, however, we are focusing on some of the biggest roles of Hsu’s skyrocketing career so far and the performances that led to her stunning breakthrough turn in Everything Everywhere All At Once. In fact, that is exactly where we shall start.

Joy Wang/Jobu Tupaki - Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

I certainly empathize with those who found it surprising Jamie Lee Curtis won Best Supporting Actress Oscar Stephanie Hsu because, while the legendary horror movie Scream Queen was fantastic in Everything Everywhere All At Once — one of the best movies of 2022 — what Hsu achieves playing two different roles at once is phenomenal. 

As Joy Wang, she demonstrates the heartbreaking lack of acceptance that many children of immigrant parents can relate to, and her variant — the ultra-powerful Jobu Tupaki — is an exaggerated representation of the rebellion such conflicts can lead to. Invoking a compelling vulnerability as Joy and dazzling sass as Tupaki, she sticks the landing in this cross-dimensional balancing act flawlessly.

Soo - Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)

Just a year before starring in one of the greatest movies about the Multiverse, Stephanie Hsu stepped into the Marvel Multiverse — or became a part of the central continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, at least. She appears in two scenes of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings — also starring Michelle Yeoh, Hsu’s onscreen mother from Everything Everywhere All At Once — as Soo, who gives our title hero (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina) trouble for their stunted approach to adulthood when catching up over dinner. It is her shocked reaction later after learning their story about saving the world was true that makes her stand out as an MVP MCU scene-stealer.

Shu Shu - Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens (2020-2021)

Before appearing alongside Awkwafina and Simu Liu in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast, Stephanie Hsu worked with them on the comedian’s hit Comedy Central series, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, which could be the peak of her comedic brilliance. She first appeared as a friend of Nora’s grandmother (Lori Tan Chinn) named in Shu Shu in Season 1’s Korean drama-inspired flashback episode, “Grandma & Chill,” which is also helmed by Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Oscar-winning directorial duo, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Sheinert. Hsu would reprise the role in the present day-set Season 2 episode, “Don’t F**k with Grandmas,” with only a silver-haired wig to show that time had passed.

Mei Lin - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2019-2022)

On second thought, the peak of her comedic brilliance might actually be her recurring role in the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel cast as Mei Lin. She entered the picture as the spunky, fast-talking Chinese-American woman who sparks up a romance with the title character’s ex-husband, Joel (Michael Zegen), in Season 3 of the beloved Amazon Prime original TV show. Hsu’s performance is so endlessly charming and funny that I am convinced she deserves a good chunk of credit for the series’ win for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2020.

Jenny - Asking For It (2020)

The first time that Hsu was given the chance to bring her gifts for humorous acting to the spotlight, front and center, was in 2020 with the dark comedy movie, Asking For It. Written by first-time screenwriter Becky Scott, who also co-directs with Amanda Lundquist, the movie stars Hsu as Jenny — a journalist whose pleas for help against a threatening internet stalker are ignored, forcing her to take matters into her own hands. As a fun, quirky film with an empowering message and a grim edge elevated by Hsu’s performance and the star-power of Janeane Garofalo and David Krumholtz, it is a good one to cite as a first leading role, even if it is one of her lesser known credits.

Morty - Poker Face (2023)

One of Hsu’s more recent dips into dark comedy came when she joined the star-studded cast of guest actors from the acclaimed Peacock original TV show, Poker Face. We do not really know the true name of her role in the ninth episode of creator Rian Johnson’s latest twist on the whodunnit (“Escape from Shit Mountain”), but after she pays for gas with a credit card under the name “Mortimer Bernstein” (which she very likely stole), our lie-detecting protagonist, Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), begins calling her new kleptomaniac road buddy “Morty.” 

In an episode the also stars two-time Emmy winner and frequent Johnson collaborator Joseph Gordon-Levitt and The Umbrella Academy’s David Castañeda, Hsu totally steals the show here in one of the most memorable of the series’ many A-list guest appearances.

Zhen - Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022)

The most recent instance of Stephanie Hsu working with one of her Everything Everywhere All At Once co-stars was when she leant her voice to Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, on which James Hong (who plays her grandfather in the Oscar-winning movie) reprises his role as noodlemaker, Mr. Ping — the adoptive father of Po (Jack Black). 

Hsu stars in three episodes from the first season of Netflix’s series spin-off of the hit Dreamworks Animation movie as Zhen — a young, angsty member of a monastery run by hedgehogs. After she is wrongfully accused of nearly destroying her village, Po and his English knight mentor, Wandering Blade (Rita Ora), break her out of imprisonment to help them find the real, dangerous culprit.

She will also be reuniting with Hong, Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan from Everything Everywhere All At Once and Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton soon for Disney+’s upcoming series adaptation of the graphic novel, American Born Chinese. The actress also joined the star-studded voice cast of the upcoming Netflix movie, Leo, and has the comedy Joy Ride coming out in 2023. No matter what, we will always, always want to see what she has next in store.

There are bad guys, and then there are villains. And DreamWorks does an excellent job at them. 

I feel like whenever I ask people about what their favorite animated villains are, they’ll think of Disney villains (which is fine and fair, their songs are awesome) or maybe ones from anime, but to me, my favorite animated villains have and always will be those that are from DreamWorks Animation. 

From their first animated movies to some of their most recent, they have truly knocked it out of the park when it comes to villains. And today, I’m going to rank the best DreamWorks Animation villains from least to the most sinister. 

8. Lord Farquaad (Shrek)

Alright, hear me out. 

Yes, I know throughout the whole movie we’re sort of supposed to take Lord Farquaad as a joke. Shrek itself is such an iconic franchise, from the animation and its characters, to everything else it has going for it, especially its comedy. But we need to talk about Lord Farquaad for a bit because genuinely, he is one of the best villains that DreamWorks has created. 

While he’s taken more as a joke than a serious king, Lord Farquaad has done some incredibly bad things. He’s willing to sacrifice anyone and anything in order to get Fiona to be his bride. And let’s not forget the fact that he’s pretty much a huge creep. He most certainly will torture anyone he pleases to get what he wants – which is why he earns a spot on the list. 

7. Ramses II (The Prince Of Egypt)

The Prince of Egypt is honestly one of my favorite movies of all time. Not only does it have a stellar story, beautiful animation, and an award winning soundtrack, Ramses II is just an amazing villain. 

While the film is based on scripture, it makes Ramses such a sympathetic villain. He has the classic case of wanting to live up to his father’s ideals and having so much pressure to be a good ruler – almost reminding me of Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender in a way. The difference between Zuko and Ramses, though, is that the latter gives into those pressures and doesn’t change. 

He continues to keep the Hebrews enslaved. He continues to do bad things. And despite being warned by his adopted brother, Moses, he continues to act out, which is what makes him sinister in a way. However, you can’t help but feel for the guy. 

6. Tai Lung (Kung Fu Panda)

You know, before re-watching Kung Fu Panda, I didn’t realize just how intense these villains are. When I was younger, and when the movie first came out, I was terrified of Tai Lung because he was just scary. As an adult, however, I almost understand him. 

He was the adopted son of Shifu, someone who thought he was training his whole life to take up a role that he was preparing himself for, all for it to be taken away and for him not to get what he believed he deserved. I honestly do feel for him, which is why he’s so low on this list. He has a sad backstory because he wasn’t always like this. 

It’s what he does after that makes me list him here – that even though he does have a sad backstory, he still continues to do evil things and kill whoever he feels he needs to in order to take back what he thinks he deserves. That, in of itself, is terrifying – a villain with a tragic backstory is never to be trifled with. 

5. Fairy Godmother (Shrek 2)

Oh, what could I say about Shrek 2 that hasn’t already been said? Truly a perfect sequel in all forms, but one of the best reasons for that is Fairy Godmother. Let’s not even talk about how iconic she is, because I could talk about that all day. Let’s just talk about the fact that she is the perfect villain. 

She’s not truly sinister in the way that you would expect. She doesn’t kill many people like others on this list. Who she is as a person is what makes her such an excellent villain. It’s the way she’s able to manipulate others to get what she wants, to use her sweet attitude to convince people of what they believe they need when in reality, it’s all a part of her master plan. Just utterly brilliant – and so sassy. I wish she wasn’t killed off in the end. 

4. Eris (Sinbad)

A little bit of an unknown person here, but Eris is bad and she knows it. 

Sinbad, a.k.a. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, was one of DreamWorks Animation’s few 2-D animated films, and honestly, Eris is one of the best villains they’ve done. She is literally a Greek Goddess who is the conveyor of all things chaos and discord, so you know she’s going to be crazy. But, it’s her attitude that makes her all the better. 

She’s not crazy, she just knows what she wants, and is willing to do anything to get it, manipulating her way through people in order to do so. I genuinely wish she got a lot more praise than she has gotten, because she’s awesome. 

3. Lord Shen (Kung Fu Panda 2)

Another Kung Fu Panda franchise villain here, and wow, they outdid Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda 2 with Lord Shen. Let me tell you – this Peacock scared the living crap out of me as a kid. Like, actually. 

Lord Shen was just so calm. You rarely see a villain so calm and yet so calculated. You looked at him and always expected him to snap but he was always so collected and it made me feel so eerie. When he did snap, you remember it whole-heartedly. His entire plan, to take over China, just showed how ruthless he was in wanting to achieve his goals, and he stands out as one of the best bad guys. I don’t know if the upcoming Kung Fu Panda 4 is going to make a better villain than the first two. 

2. Pitch Black (Rise Of The Guardians)

I bet you weren’t expecting to see someone from Rise of the Guardians on here, but we have to talk about Pitch Black – because no one freaking talks about him otherwise. 

This is such an underrated DreamWorks movie, and Pitch Black is an underrated villain and I’m giving him the praise he deserves. Not only is he voiced by Jude Law, the character is the literal personification of all things darkness – he’s known as the Boogeyman, the thing we’re all scared of when we’re kids. All he wants is to encase the world in darkness and feed off of the nightmares of children. How can you get more evil than that? 

What makes him even scarier is that he knows the mind better than anyone – so he always knows what you are thinking. He can be the ultimate villain and turn you against yourself just because he knows all your insecurities. How can you not be terrified of him? 

To be honest, Rise of the Guardians is a modern holiday classic, and if you haven’t seen it, watch it.

1. The Wolf/Death (Puss In Boots: The Last Wish)

I mean, he had to be number one. 

Ever since Puss in Boots: The Last Wish released in theaters, everyone has been talking about The Wolf – otherwise known as Death. The entire Puss in Boots: The Last Wish cast is great, but The Wolf is the best, and therefore the best villain on this list. 

He is literal Death. The whole movie, all he does is hunt Puss down in order to take his life when Puss is getting closer to losing his last life. The film is about Puss wanting to fight back against his literal demise and deal with the idea of aging and the unknown, and it’s all because Death is constantly looming behind him. 

Puss literally has a panic attack during the movie because of his fear of Death, something I’m sure we can all relate to. Death doesn’t need to try to be sinister – he is the embodiment of it. And that’s what makes him number one. 

While there are plenty of villains from DreamWorks Animation to be excited about, these are just my top eight that I feel need more praise, and if you haven’t seen any of these movies yet, be sure to check them out – even if not just for the villains themselves. 

I was born in 1983, so I was 18 when the first Shrek came out, and 25 when the first Kung Fu Panda debuted. 

So, while I was definitely there when both the Shrek movies, and the Kung Fu Panda movies became megahits, I can also say that they probably didn't hit me the same way as somebody who was born in, say, 1993 who may have grown up with either Shrek or Po.

I only bring this up just to show that I can discuss both of these film series with as little bias as possible, as I didn't grow up with either of them, and don't have the same emotional attachment as some other people might have. So, which is the better overall animated series? Well, you're about to find out. 

Overall Story 

Every series needs an overall storyline that ties the franchise together. So, which series has the better one? 

Shrek’s Overall Story 

Over the course of Shrek’s four main movies, an ogre (voiced by the unforgettable Mike Myers) goes on a series of adventures with some oddball characters, like a donkey, a dragon, etc. Besides the first movie, the subsequent films really have pretty interchangeable plots.  

One movie sees Shrek’s marriage in peril, while another sees him living the life of a dad and wishing he could go back to his old life again. But, if you were to ask me which one is which, I honestly couldn’t tell you without looking online. Really, it was always the jokes (some of them pretty risqué) that made Shrek stand out. Not so much the plots themselves.  

Kung Fu Panda’s Overall Story 

A panda who loves martial arts learns kung fu and faces various challenges. Over the course of three films, we see Po (voiced by Jack Black in one of his best movies) face off against a snow-leopard, a peacock, and a yak, and they’re all pretty distinct and interesting foes.    

Overall Story Winner - Kung Fu Panda  

Kung Fu Panda follows the KISS method by keeping it simple, stupid, and just having a new challenger show up for each movie, whereas the Shrek series always seemed to struggle with coming up with new ideas for the character. So, Po wins!  

Main Character 

Every series needs an interesting main character, so which series has the better protagonist? 

Shrek’s Main Character 

To be honest with you, Shrek was always kind of the most annoying character in his own universe, which might be why memes of him are so prevalent. Myers definitely gave him warmth and heart, but I feel like a lot of people used to love all of the inhabitants of Far Far Away more than Shrek himself. 

Kung Fu Panda’s Main Character  

Po is an absolute delight of a character, and the series wouldn’t be the same without him. From the very first scene in the first movie where we hear Black explaining how awesome he is, we love Po. Even when he’s the Dragon Warrior, we still get a sense that he’s not completely confident in himself, which makes him lovably flawed. Who doesn’t love Po? 

The Main Character Winner – Kung Fu Panda 

I know Shrek is love, Shrek is life, but he’s also super annoying, and I kind of hate thinking about him these days. I know there’s talk of a possible Shrek 5, but honestly, all I really want to see is more of the world that he inhabits. Not so much the ogre himself. That said, I definitely want to see Kung Fu Panda 4 , which I KNOW we’re getting, and it’s mostly because I want to see more of Po, so, yeah. Kung Fu Panda wins this category, too.       

First Movie 

When it comes to a series, the first movie is crucial for establishing tone, setting, themes, characters, etc. So, which franchise has the better first movie?  

Shrek’s First Movie 

Shrek just wants to be left alone in his swamp. But, when Lord Farquaad (which I still, to this day, can’t believe they got away with in a children’s movie) starts kicking people out, Shrek makes a deal with him to rescue the princess so he can have his swamp back. He ends up falling in love with the princess, though, and she has a major secret…she’s an ogre herself!   

Kung Fu’s Panda’s First Movie 

There is word that there's going to be a new Dragon Warrior, and Po, the kung fu enthusiast, just wants to simply watch the coronation. But, when he learns that HE’S the Dragon Warrior, he has to learn to believe in himself because an old nemesis of his teacher's is coming to town, and Po needs to be ready to face him. 

First Movie Winner - Kung Fu Panda 

While the first Shrek is definitely still watchable, it’s not as engaging as Kung Fu Panda, which has heart and humor to spare.  

Sequels 

Every franchise needs sequels, so which franchise has the better ones? 

Shrek’s sequels  

I mentioned earlier how I can’t tell the Shrek’s apart, but this is actually in the franchise's favor, since I can simply tune in to any one of them and just start watching, because none of them really feel like they matter all that much.  

They’re all pretty silly, have pop culture references which haven’t really aged all that well, and Shrek will make out fine in the end. Eddie Murphy has already weighed in on whether he’ll come back for a Shrek 5, but honestly, even if he doesn’t, I don’t think it would make much of a difference.   

The world itself is so inventive and alive, that they could probably just create some new annoying animal character, and it would work out just as well. I mean, I know this makes it seem like I don’t like the Shrek series, but I actually do. The world is unique and distinct, even if the sequels are not.  

Kung Fu Panda’s Sequels 

There are two sequels to the original Kung Fu Panda, but unfortunately, neither of them are as good as the original, which just seemed to get everything right. An issue with this, though, is that both movies are very distinct, so they each stand out as being inferior to the first movie, unfortunately. 

The Sequels Winner - Shrek  

Sure, none of the Shrek sequels are all that memorable, but they still work in the series favor, as you could just turn one on and at least have a good time without thinking about how far the franchise has fallen. So, Shrek wins this category.  

Cultural Impact 

Sure, having a popular series is great and all, but cultural impact is where it really matters. So, which animated series has really captured the zeitgeist? 

Shrek’s Cultural Impact 

It’s actually quite fascinating to me how Shrek has stuck around for all these years. Today, it's highly memeable, and a lot of times, people seem to make fun of both the films themselves, and also the early 2000s. 

That said, I still see talk of it all the time on the internet. Most of it is ironic, but some of it is people actually reminiscing about the films, as it made a major mark on their childhoods. So, it definitely has that going for it.  

Kung Fu Panda’s Cultural Impact 

Kung Fu Panda hasn’t disappeared, either, and I may even see more of Po and the Furious Five than Shrek because there is a show and specials for the franchise. That said, I don’t consider that the same thing as what Shrek has going for it. 

Yes, I make fun of it, as a lot of people do. But, if another entry WERE to come out, I think a lot of people would watch it. This isn’t Morbius, where people on the internet just like making fun of it. 

If anything, I think Shrek is more like Avatar, where you might not think people are serious about liking it, but then they show up in droves and make it a huge box office success like Avatar: The Way of Water. I’m not saying that a Shrek 5 would climb the charts like an Avatar, but I think the culture impact is much stronger for those movies than it is for Kung Fu Panda. For some reason, Shrek is an icon!  

The Cultural Impact Winner - Shrek 

The Kung Fu Panda movies might be better told stories, but Shrek, as a character, is still massive for some reason, whereas Po isn't so much.  

The Overall Winner - Kung Fu Panda 

The quality of the Kung Fu Panda movies is what puts them over Shrek, but Shrek’s street cred is undeniable. Like Ron Burgundy, Shrek is kind of a big deal.  

For more news on both franchises, make sure to swing by here often.  

You know the face. Hell, you even know the voice, as you've undoubtedly heard his distinctive cadence and pitch at some time in your life. I'm talking about Lo Pan himself, James Hong, as this is a celebration of the many James Hong movies and TV shows that have been made throughout the years. And "many" is actually an understatement, as Hong has played over 600 television and movie roles in the course of his almost 70-year long career. Damn. 

He started out as an uncredited South Korean Pilot Trainee in 1954’s American war film, Dragonfly Squadron, but found his first major break in the 1957 TV show, The New Adventures of Charlie Chan as “Number One Son” Barry Chan for 36 episodes. Since then, he’s been in several movies, and made multiple appearances on TV shows like Dynasty, The A-Team, and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., just to name a few.  

Hell, he’s also done voice acting in video games like Diablo III, and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. And, he even directed some movies, including a horror flick called The Vineyard, and even a 1979 sexploitation comedy called Teen Lust. But, this article isn’t about teen lust! It’s about some of Hong’s best roles! Can I get an “indeed!”?  

Big Trouble In Little China (David Lo Pan) 

In one of Kurt Russell’s best movies, a truck driver named Jack Burton (Russell) ends up on an adventure with his friend in order to rescue “a girl with green eyes.” He needs to do this since an eternal spirit desires to marry her so that his curse can be lifted!    

And, James Hong plays the “evil spirit” by the name of Lo Pan. When I wrote my article about Big Trouble in Little China after re-watching the cult classic for about the millionth time, I couldn’t help but appreciate just what a silly (yet spooky!) performance Hong put in. From his wheelchair-bound old man form, to his evil magician form, he OWNS this movie, having some of the very best moments. Trust me, if he wasn’t in this film, it wouldn’t even come close to being the cult classic that it is today. He’s that great in it.   

The Golden Child (Dr. Hong) 

In one of Eddie Murphy’s funniest performances, a private detective (Murphy) is tasked with finding a missing person who just so happens to be “the golden child.” Murphy cracks jokes while Charles Dance makes angry faces. It’s a good time all around.   

And, James Hong plays a sort of straight man to all of this nonsense. What’s crazy is that The Golden Child and Big Trouble in Little China came out in the exact same year of 1986, and yet, you couldn’t get a more different performance from Hong, who plays a sort of guide into this mystical world. From being an evil, mystical character himself in one to being one of the safe harbor characters here, these two movies are proof that he could do it all.  

Wayne’s World 2 (Jeff Wong) 

In one of Mike Myers’ many unforgettable movie roles, he plays the lovable Wayne Campbell in this hit sequel to the 1992 original. Here, Wayne and Garth want to put on a concert, and wackiness ensues.    

One of the wackiest movements, though, has to come from James Hong himself, who plays Jeff Wong, the father to Wayne’s girlfriend, Cassandra, played by the great Filipino actress, Tia Carrere. In this scene, Hong and Myers have an intense (and ridiculous) martial arts fight, with the former hamming it up every second. It doesn’t get much better than this.      

Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (Master Sun)  

In this lesser, direct-to-video sequel to the Jean-Claude Van Damme masterpiece (yes, masterpiece), a new character (Daniel Bernhardt) gets imprisoned and mistreated, but then learns martial arts from a fellow inmate, played by our boy James Hong. Our hero then enters the next Kumite (hence the title) and uses his teacher’s “Iron Hand” technique to fight his way to the top of the competition. 

Honestly, I probably never would have even watched Bloodsport II, III, and 4 if not for Blockbuster, which is where I saw most of my favorite obscure movies. Hong played—what else?—a martial arts expert in II and III (but not 4), and he was undoubtedly the best part of these two flicks, bringing gravitas to something as silly as grown men kicking and slapping each other. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend II or III if not for him. He pretty much saves these two movies. And, since he’s not even in 4, I wouldn’t recommend that one at all. I need my James Hong, people!    

Mulan (Chi-Fu) 

Mulan, which is one of the very best movies in the Disney Renaissance era from 1989-1999, is about a young woman who poses as a man so that her ailing father doesn’t have to be conscripted. It’s a sweet film, with some powerful ballads.  

James Hong plays a real scumbag as Chi-Fu, the Emperor of China’s advisor. It’s not one of the biggest roles in the film, but it’s certainly memorable, as he talks down to women, and generally is the most annoying character in the entire movie. But, as soon as you hear that voice, you instantly say, "Huh, that’s James Hong." Because honestly, you just can’t miss it.  

Everything Everywhere All At Once 

A24’s highest grossing film ever, Everything Everywhere All At Once, is about a woman punching, kicking, and finding herself throughout the multiverse. Or, it’s a family drama sci-fi epic. Or, it's a dark comedy about the meaninglessness of life. Truthfully, it could be any of those things, or none of those things. But, whatever it’s actually about, you need to see Everything Everywhere All At Once right now!  

James Hong plays the senile father, Gong Gong, to our heroine, Evelyn Quan Wang (Michelle Yeoh). But, he also plays Alpha Gong Gong, one of the leaders of the Alphaverse. Once again, he plays dramatic and silly with aplomb, even appearing in a zooming wheelchair, which brought back happy Big Trouble in Little China memories to my ‘80s soul.  

Kung Fu Panda (Mr. Ping) 

A panda who loves kung fu (Jack Black) may be the laziest panda in all of China, but that’s until he learns that he can actually do kung fu, just like Neo in The Matrix. It went on for three movies and multiple TV shows.

Guess what? James Hong pretty much always showed up to voice Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the big screen, or the small, Po’s adorable goose dad is in love with his noodle shop, and also his son. In that way, he adds warmth (and silliness) whenever it’s necessary. 

Honestly, I could have gone on and on about James Hong, but I thought I’d end it there. For more news on Hong and other great actors, be sure to swing by here often. 

Another familiar DreamWorks franchise is coming back to big screens: Kung Fu Panda. It’s been a long time since we’ve caught up with Jack Black’s martial arts-wielding panda, but have no fear, because the film series is officially set to return. Kung Fu Panda 4 has officially found a place among upcoming movie releases. 

DreamWorks is continuing the super popular saga set in ancient China come 2024. The animation studio will take audiences back to the world of smooth fighting anthropomorphic animals on March 8, 2024, to be exact.

Other than a release date to mark our calendars for, not many other details have been disclosed about the next Kung Fu Panda movie. We certainly hope it’ll be among Jack Black’s upcoming movies given his character of Po is the heart of the franchise. Previously actors including Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu and David Cross have continued to reprise their roles ,and we’d imagine some of them would come back on board as well. 

March 8, 2024 previously had a slot for an untitled DreamWorks animated movie, but now we know it’ll be the first Kung Fu Panda movie in eight years (by the time it comes out). Also coming to theaters that March are the action movie The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt the week before, horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One the same day, and another animated movie, Sony Animation’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, coming on March 29 after being delayed from a summer 2023 date. 

It’s not a major surprise DreamWorks is making another Kung Fu Panda movie following its success over the years. Between its existing trilogy, 2008’s Kung Fu Panda, 2011’s Kung Fu Panda 2 and 2016’s Kung Fu Panda 3, the movies have made a collective $1.8 billion worldwide at the box office. Looking over the trilogy, the sequel made the most with a $665 million gross, and the last movie made the least with $521 million in global earnings. 

While interest dipped a bit between the second and third Kung Fu Panda movies, the franchise has remained alive through a number of TV specials and series, including the most recent release of Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. The Netflix series, which picks up after the events of the third movie, was a top trending Netflix series in July.  

This year, DreamWorks delivered an original animated film in The Bad Guys, which was met positively by audiences overall. The studio will cap off the year with a sequel for Puss In Boots called The Last Wish, and there are also plans to release a third Trolls movie for late 2023. The return of Kung Fu Panda brings back one of DreamWorks’ most popular properties back in to the fold after a long hiatus. 

Cobra Kai forever, am I right?

Throughout the first four seasons of Cobra Kai, I’ve developed an appreciation not only for the real Cobra Kai (Johnny Lawrence-style), but Miyagi-Do and everything else this amazing drama has to offer, becoming one of the best shows on Netflix. However, since Cobra Kai Season 5 won’t premiere until September 2022, I’m in need of another show or movie that I can watch to feel those same awesome feelings again - and if you’re here, you’re probably looking for a new show too. 

Thankfully, I have a good list of both movies and shows like Cobra Kai that you can stream right now. 

Warrior (HBO Max)

First off, we have Warrior, a martial arts crime drama that is set in the late 1800s. This show follows Ah Sahm, a prodigy from China who has immigrated to the United States in search of his sister, landing him in San Francisco. However, as soon as he arrives, he finds that the country isn’t as he originally thought, and he ends up getting sold into crime factions for his fighting skills. 

Warrior is a great show. Some of its fight scenes are so incredibly well done and will have your eyes glued to the television for minutes on end, but what really sells it for me is the story of the main character himself, Ah Sahm. He’s a very likable protagonist and one that you’ll get hooked on instantly, much like the characters of Cobra Kai. 

Stream Warrior on HBO Max.

Into The Badlands (Netflix)

If you’re looking for a more modern show that’s come out in the last few years, check out Into the Badlands. This AMC original series takes place in a post-apocalyptic feudal land, titled, “the Badlands,” hence the title. In this place, a warrior and his student train to become the ultimate fighting masters, but as life happens, they encounter people that want to use their talents to their own advantage. 

Into the Badlands is one of those shows that only ran for a short period of time, but was really good. As someone who hadn’t watched a lot of series’ that depicted martial arts very well (at least from the United States), it was great to see a show come out that showed amazing martial arts skills, on a network that was very popular with huge hit series like The Walking Dead or Breaking Bad. This is one to watch for sure for fans of Cobra Kai.

Stream Into the Badlands on Netflix.

Ip Man (Amazon Prime)

Based on the martial arts movie series in China, Ip Man is all about one of the masters of Chinese kung-fu, quite literally known as Ip Man, and all about his life as a teacher and passing on his teachings to his students - most notably, one of the most famous of all time, Bruce Lee. 

While this series is romanticized a bit just because it is TV, it still honors the legendary story of one of the most knowledgeable teachers in all of martial arts history, and is so entertaining from beginning to end. As a fan of Cobra Kai, I obviously loved the fighting scenes that this show had to offer, mixed in with the truly amazing story of this teacher. It makes me want to watch the movies that the series was based on. 

Stream Ip Man on Amazon Prime.

Stranger Things (Netflix)

Probably one of the most known Netflix shows ever, this is the perfect series to give you that ‘80s nostalgia Cobra Kai delivers on a consistent basis. Stranger Things is set in the town of Hawkins, a seemingly quiet little town in Indiana. When a boy goes missing and strange happenings begin to occur, it’s up to his friends and someone they just met with weird powers to band together in order to save him. 

Stranger Things has become a phenomenon on Netflix, with Season 4 of the series just releasing in May 2022, breaking records. For fans of Cobra Kai, if you’re looking for something that will completely transport you back in time to the eighties, there really is no better show than Stranger Things. And what makes it better is that it has that danger-vibe that Cobra Kai has, where they face a new enemy every season. This is a show that you don’t want to miss. 

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix. 

Iron Fist (Disney+)

If you’re looking for something that has superheroes in it, check out Iron Fist. This Netflix original, which has now moved over to Disney+, follows Danny Rand, a young man who has spent many years of his life training in the martial arts in the city of K’un-Lun, somewhere far from his home planet, but when he finally becomes the most powerful he can be, he decides to use these talents to avenge his dead parents and return back to Earth, even though everyone thought he was dead for fifteen years. 

I’ll be honest - out of all the Marvel TV shows that have happened, Iron Fist is one of my least favorite in terms of pure storytelling. However, if you’re a fan of Cobra Kai and you want another show that has some kick-ass fight scenes, Iron Fist is a great option. And plus, if you end up watching any of the other Marvel shows that came out on Netflix, he does show up in The Defenders, so you get to learn his backstory beforehand. 

Stream Iron Fist on Disney+.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

Disney+ has some great original shows, and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is one of them. In this sports series set in the same world of the Mighty Ducks movies, the original team is now known for its skills and cuts anyone that isn’t the pinnacle of the best, including Evan Morrow. Upset over being cut, he decides to form his own hockey team, and seeks the help of Gordon Bombay, the old coach of the original Ducks.

I feel like this premise sounds quite familiar, doesn’t it? While The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers has nothing to do with martial arts, it’s very similar in what it tries to do. It takes place in the same world, has characters from the original movie that return to the show, features new characters, and has a classic underdog story. I mean, what’s not to enjoy? Plus, how can you not be impressed with how skilled these kids are on ice? I mean, I can barely wobble ice and you’re telling me they can play a whole game like this? Talk about talent. 

Stream The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers on Disney+. 

Kung Fu Panda Series (Netflix, Amazon Rental)

Okay, okay, hear me out. The Dreamworks series, Kung Fu Panda, follows Po, a big ol’ panda who has a love for food and kung fu. But when his life is suddenly thrown upside down when he is named the Dragon Warrior, someone who is meant to do good with kung fu, it’s up to him to learn how to become the best he can be - and save everyone else when lives are threatened. 

From that premise, you'd never expect this to be a kids movie series, but Kung Fu Panda is specifically targeted towards a younger generation. However, I do think fans of Cobra Kai would love this series because while it does have its moments of younger humor, there is something so sweet about Po. He’s such an easy-going protagonist who just wants to do good, and his fights of good vs evil - especially in the first movie vs Tai Lung - reminds me of many of the competitions in Cobra Kai. 

Stream Kung Fu Panda on Netflix. 
Rent the rest of the Kung Fu Panda series on Amazon.

Kung Fu (HBO Max)

This CW series is kick-ass. In Kung-Fu, which is based on the 1970s series of the same name, a young Chinese-American woman is going through an existential crisis as she is visiting China, wondering what to do with her life. While she’s there, she ends up dropping out of college and joining an all-female Shaolin monastery. Once she’s learned everything she could, she returns home and uses her skills to protect the innocent.

There are so many shows on the CW, some of which are very good, and others that have gotten canceled throughout the years. However, Kung-Fu is one of the better new shows that has come out, and I really enjoy it, especially as a fan of Cobra Kai. The fight scenes are awesome, and the protagonist is really cool and likable and kick-ass. Does it have some of those classic CW cliches? Yeah, of course it does. But it’s still a super entertaining martial arts show. 

Stream Kung Fu on HBO Max. 

Highlander The Series (Peacock)

If you’re looking for another fun continuation of a classic movie like Cobra Kai, check out Highlander: The Series. A continuation of the movies of the same name, we follow the hero, Duncan MacLeod, otherwise known as “Highlander,” an immortal man who has seen the worst in humanity throughout his years, and must fight between good and evil. 

While it’s not as grounded as Cobra Kai, this series is full of amazing moments that will really keep you entertained. With six seasons to binge, Highlander: The Series not only provides really good fight scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but has a basic premise that all Cobra Kai fans can relate to - good vs evil, just like the good dojo vs the bad dojo. 

Stream Highlander: The Series on Peacock.

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (Amazon Rental)

For another movie on this list, check out Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. In this biographical film based on the book, Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew by Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee’s wife), this movie takes a deep dive into the mind of Bruce Lee, from his life at home to his life as a fighter, and all the way to his rise as one of Hollywood’s most known martial artists. 

What I think Cobra Kai fans will like about this movie is that it really shows the life behind the martial artist. While we do love the fighting scenes in the show and all the rivalries that occur, at the end of the day, there's more to the story. They all have struggles and personal issues to face, and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story tells that beautifully. Instead of just telling the story of Lee, I feel like this movie celebrates his life, and it’s something that all fans of martial arts, not just Cobra Kai, should watch. 

Rent Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story on Amazon.

Kingdom (Netflix)

South Korean horror has been growing in popularity over the last decade, and Kingdom is a part of that. This Netflix original series is set in Korea during the Joseon period, and tells the story of a young prince who must travel across his country in order to look into a plague that is turning people into monsters - often reminding the viewer of zombies. 

For fans of Cobra Kai, you are going to love the action sequences in this show. Not only does it combine some sick martial arts, but the usage of certain types of weapons against the monsters is skillfully done and will have your eyes glued to the screen. I’ve always been a big fan of zombie TV shows, including another great South Korean one on Netflix, All Of Us Are Dead, but Kingdom was one of the first that really got me into it - and you should watch it too. 

Stream Kingdom on Netflix. 

The Karate Kid Series (Peacock) 

Without it, Cobra Kai wouldn’t even exist. In The Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso is the new kid in town who gets bullied by Johnny Lawrence and his friends, members of the dojo, Cobra Kai. With the help of his apartment building’s maintenance man, Mr. Miyagi, he starts to learn the art of karate to not only take on his bullies, but become one of the best martial artists in the Valley. 

Who says that you can’t spend a day re-watching The Karate Kid movies? I can’t tell you how much I love Cobra Kai when it flashes back between the original films and now, because you can really tell the love that the creators of the show poured into it and how much they respect the original movies. And with so many characters from these films popping back up in the series, it’s the perfect time to re-watch them and refresh your memory on who they are. 

Stream The Karate Kid movies on Amazon Prime through AMC+..

Rent The Karate Kid series on Amazon. 

To be honest, this just makes me want to learn karate myself - or maybe just pop some popcorn and sit down and watch other people be badass. Regardless of how you feel, maybe now you’ll have a new show or movie to enjoy. 

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Few modern comedic performers have willingly diversified themselves as consistently or as dependably as Seth Rogen does. The A-list comedy actor/producer is known to broadly experiment with various genres, styles, and tones, producing a number of outlandish comedies that don't always prove successful but showcase an incredibly passionate and commendably opportunistic on-screen personality. That tradition continues with his latest film, An American Pickle, which recently premiered on HBO Max. Though it should be noted that quite a few Seth Rogen movies are available to stream on several services at this time. If you're a Seth Rogen fan, hit up these movies!

An American Pickle (HBO Max)

An immigrant pickle factory worker (Seth Rogen) is accidentally brined for 100 years, waking up in modern-day Brooklyn and interacting with his great-grandson (Rogen).

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Much like its well-preserved generation-jumping main character, An American Pickle arrived on the scene a few years after it was originally intended, receiving a late-summer HBO Max debut opposed to its originally-planned theatrical rollout. While it's more off-kilter than what some folks might expect from Rogen's sophomoric brand, Brandon Trost's movie proves to be a richly funny, delightfully high-concept, and touchingly heartfelt exploration on heritage, generational divides, and cultural identity, specifically Jewish identity. The humor is gleefully absurd, but the focus is intimately focused on the two mismatched ancestor-and-lineage protagonists, both played by Rogen. As Herschel, Rogen gives one of his most soulful, wonderfully sweet-as-a-pickle performances.

Stream It On HBO Max here.

50/50 (Showtime)

A young man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is diagnosed with a cancerous spinal tumor with a 50-percent survival rate and fights the deathly disease accompanied by his crude-yet-supportive friend (Seth Rogen).

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: While tragedy is often at the root of comedy, finding humor in something as serious as cancer is far from easy. Though it doesn't result in an easily marketable movie, 50/50 is, nevertheless, a surprisingly hilarious, emotionally poignant look at what one must endure when battling such a terrible disease — particularly at a young age — and how humor helps people navigate through it. This autobiographical slice-of-life dramedy is immensely benefitted by drawing from screenwriter Will Reiser's real-life account, allowing the story to be told in a grounded, emotionally resonant way, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and producer Seth Rogen's believable buddy chemistry making 50/50 a total success.

Stream It On Showtime here.

Funny People (Starz)

A washed-up comedy star (Adam Sandler) returns to stand-up, aided by a comic wannabe (Seth Rogen), following a terminal diagnosis.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Not unlike 50/50, Funny People explores the root of tragedy in comedy and the sorrow that's sometimes hidden underneath the laughter. While that gives Judd Apatow's third movie a moody undercurrent, the title isn't ironic. As observant and emotional as his other movies, Apatow produces a mature, reflective work with equal bouts of heart and humor, communicating the humanity that comes through in the best comedians' stage work. Adam Sandler's (possibly) meta performance got a heap of the film's praise, but Seth Rogen's commendably vulnerable performance is at the heart of this wistful, emotionally soul-searching dramedy.

Stream It On Starz here.

Donnie Darko (IMDb TV/Tubi)

A troubled teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal) is plagued by visions of a man in a bunny suit who promises anarchy and doom.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Weirdly enough, Seth Rogen made his cinematic debut in Richard Kelly's disturbingly excellent feature directorial debut, Donnie Darko. As a class bully who picks on our moody title character, this early Rogen performance is a notably darker, meaner role than what we've come to expect from his affable brand. Nevertheless, considering how good the movie is, it's well worth your time, and it's intriguing to see where Rogen started on the silver screen.

Stream It On IMDbTV here and Tubi here.

Steve Jobs (Netflix)

A biopic covering fourteen years of Steve Jobs' (Michael Fassbender) life and career over the course of three pivotal days.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Many comedic actors have been given their time to shine as dramatic actors. For Seth Rogen, that time came when he played Steve Wozniak opposite Michael Fassbender's titular Apple founder in Steve Jobs. Communicating the vast frustrations of a brilliant browbeat partner who does a lot of the work but receives little of the glory, Rogen gave an effectively and commendably nuanced performance worth celebrating. Alas, ironically, this portrayal was overlooked on the awards circuits over Fassbender's mesmerizing portrayal.

Stream It On Netflix here.

Pineapple Express (Amazon Prime/Showtime)

A process server (Seth Rogen) and his weed dealer (James Franco) flee from hitmen and a corrupt cop after witnessing a murder.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: This goofy, high-energy stoner action-comedy doesn't feature a screenplay that's as sharp, personal, or emotional as the one Seth Rogen co-wrote for Superbad, but Pineapple Express earned its wide audience appeal thanks to the easy chemistry shared between Rogen and James Franco, with the latter giving one of his strongest performances. With its amusing antics, decent action beats, and (naturally) weed-filled silliness, Pineapple Express became a defining movie for Rogen as an A-list comedy star/writer/producer.

Stream It On Amazon Prime here and Showtime here.

Kung Fu Panda 1 & 2 (HBO Max)

A bumbling kung fu-loving panda (Jack Black) finds his fate rocked when he's considered the all-mighty Dragon Warrior.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Though bold to say, I consider the Kung Fu Panda trilogy is one of the best animated film series in modern animation. Infused with great heart, winning characters, wacky humor, and surprisingly impressive martial arts sequences, they're extremely entertaining, endearing family movies, and they're among the finest DreamWorks Animation movies yet. While Jack Black's giddy voice-work is the star, this butt-kicking franchise features a delightfully strong ensemble, including Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, and Seth Rogen. As Mantis, Rogen isn't given as many lines as his co-stars, but his signature voice is always recognizable — if strange to hear inside an insect.

Stream Kung Fu Panda 1 & 2 On HBO Max here and here.

The Disaster Artist (Netflix)

Aspiring actors Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) and the elusive Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) form an unlikely friendship, teaming up to make 2003's cult film, The Room.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Making a movie about what's considered one of the worst movies of all-time is a risky proposition. Thankfully, James Franco's The Disaster Artist is an entertaining and poignant biopic exploring the collaborative process and how even the most terrible movies can become great art — in their own respective way. Much like Wiseau did on The Room, Franco directs and stars here. While it doesn't reach the same heights as Tim Burton's Ed Wood, which it's clearly evoking, Franco's commitment makes for a sweet portrait of friendship and dedication in Hollywood's always-uncertain seas. Likewise, Rogen produces and stars as Sandy Schklair, The Room's experienced-and-thus-belabored script supervisor.

Stream It On Netflix here.

Paul (HBO Max)

Two sci-fi loving geeks (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost) make an out-of-this-world discovery when they meet Paul (Seth Rogen), an alien outside Area 51.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: While it doesn't compete with their collaborations in the Cornetto trilogy, Paul is, nevertheless, a funny and charming sci-fi road trip buddy romp for Nick Frost and Simon Pegg (who also co-wrote the screenplay), aided by Seth Rogen's bubbling persona in a little grey alien's body. While broader and even more irreverent than Pegg and Frost's work with director Edgar Wright, the winning mix of genre spoofing, high-stakes action, and gleefully silly/winking jokes makes for an appealing package in this studio comedy, proving to be a consistently likable Americanized effort for this British comedy duo. Likewise, Rogen's animated alien performance fits well with his goofy, boisterous personality.

Stream It On HBO Max here.

Observe And Report (Netflix)

A mentally-unstable security guard (Seth Rogen) pursues a flasher tormenting female visitors.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Jody Hill's incredibly dark comedy certainly isn't one for everyone. But as an unflinching depiction of its chemically unbalanced would-be cop, Observe and Report proves to be one of the boldest, balliest studio comedies in recent memory. It's also one of Rogen's strongest, most underrated performances yet, showcasing the vile menace behind this ruthlessly determined, entirely negligent character.

Stream It On Netflix here.

Zack And Miri Make A Porno (Netflix)

Lifelong platonic friends (Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks) decide to solve their money problems by making a porno movie.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: Despite its bold title and its cheeky marketing, Zack and Miri Make A Porno isn't as graphic as its eye-catching title makes it seem. Nevertheless, Kevin Smith's surprisingly conventional but amusing buddy movie/rom-com is as lewd and crude as it's sweet and sincere. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks share appealing casual chemistry together, and it's an altogether decent studio comedy that comes together well enough.

Stream It On Netflix here.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Netflix)

Based on the books by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, The Spiderwick Chronicles follows a group of children who discover a field guide to fairies.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: On the onset, The Spiderwick Chronicles looks like yet another young adult wannabe fantasy film franchise that didn't find Harry Potter-level success. While it's true that the movie didn't become as profitable as the producers hoped, it's surprisingly better than your average failed franchise starter — particularly thanks to the performances, notably from Freddie Highmore, as well as Seth Rogen, who voices Hogsqueal, a bird-eating hobgoblin.

Stream It On Netflix here.

The Interview (Netflix/Hulu)

Two journalists (Seth Rogen, James Franco) set up an interview with Kim Jong-un (Randall Park), only to be recruited by the C.I.A. to assassinate him.

Why It's A Good Option for Seth Rogen Fans: It's the comedy that nearly started World War III. While the controversy surrounding it overtook the narrative, it's a commendable high-concept satire in its own right, featuring another winning pair of performances from Seth Rogen and James Franco.

Stream It On Netflix here and Hulu here.

If you have a cable subscription, you can stream The Night Before on FX and This is the End on TNT. What's your favorite Seth Rogen movie/performance? Let us know in the comments!

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While the Harry Potter franchise might be leaving HBO Max towards the end of August 2020, it’s not all bad news in terms of the streaming service's incoming lineup. Actually, there’s a lot of good movies that are coming back, as well as some brand new movies to make the next month of HBO Max action all the more exciting. Comedy, horror, suspense and drama all get their turn in the next batch of debuts, and there are even some classics heading into the mix as well!

Please note that unless specified, most of the titles on this list will be headed to HBO Max’s lineup as of August 1. Also, if you want to see what notable titles came online during this past month, the list of the best incoming movies for July 2020 will be provided for your perusal as well. At this moment though, it’s time to see what exciting new flicks are headed to HBO Max in August 2020!

The Fugitive

Making a film based on a TV series isn’t an easy feat, especially when it’s based off of a long term mystery like The Fugitive. But the fact that this 1993 action-thriller took the legendary CBS series and turned it into a very modern, self-contained thriller isn’t the most impressive aspect of this Harrison Ford starring vehicle. The film eventually became a major contender at the 1994 Oscars with seven nominations, including Best Picture and a win for Tommy Lee Jones as a Best Supporting Actor. Above all else though, this is a slick mystery that still plays as perfectly today as it did almost 30 years ago.

Kung Fu Panda

Speaking of underrated, it’s not hard to see how in the same studio stable that gave us Shrek and How To Train Your Dragon, a hit trilogy like Kung Fu Panda could get lost in the shuffle. However, that just means that Jack Black’s Po is a character whose adventures can easily be revisited, as they aren’t as well known or as potentially overplayed as either of those other films. With Po’s journey to become a kung fu master starting in this 2008 blockbuster, it’s a saga that starts the way it finishes: with a huge heart and impressive action.

My Blue Heaven

Mention Rick Moranis or Steve Martin in a conversation with your movie loving friends, and if anyone happens to mention My Blue Heaven when talking about both of these comedy titans, they’re they type of friend you need to keep around as long as you can. The tale of a straight laced FBI agent (Moranis) who has to keep watch over a mobster (Martin) who’s set to testify against his former crime family, My Blue Heaven is a comedy gem that’s flown under the radar for some time now.

Ocean's Eleven

Another remake that totally grabs the source material and runs with it, Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven works with elements from the Rat Pack-starring original. Playing with audience expectations, Soderbergh’s all-star cast (including George Clooney, Brad Pitt and the late Carl Reiner, among others) tell a story that only their collective skill set could tackle. You’ve probably seen this one already, but is it ever a bad time to revisit Danny Ocean’s caper of precision and shenanigans?

Spy Game

As a CIA operative (Brad Pitt) is set to be executed before the President’s visit to China, it’s up to the man that trained him (Redford) to launch a last ditch effort to save him on his last day before retirement. Another impressive entry in the canon of late director Tony Scott, Spy Game is a must for anyone who loves a thinking person’s espionage thriller. It also pairs well with the next film of his we’re about to mention.

Three Days Of The Condor

Three Days of the Condor sees Redford play Joe Turner, a CIA operative whose job is reading the printed word to help decipher potential plots of intrigue. Unfortunately for Joe, he gets roped into a real-life game of death, as he may have stumbled onto something a little above his pay grade, and he’ll have to stay a step ahead of the game to survive. So if you're in the mood for a Robert Redford Spy-Fi double feature following the legendary actor taking down organizations with inside knowledge, you’re pretty much set.

Time Bandits

A Terry Gilliam classic that’s set to be remade into an Apple TV+ series, Time Bandits is a film you definitely need to watch before it’s reimagined for a new generation. Showing the adventures of a neglected young boy (Craig Wornock) and his travels throughout time and space with a band of mischievous time travellers, Time Bandits is a movie that could have only come from a member of the Monty Python family. A deep cut favorite of ‘80s movie buffs, wider audiences will now be able to catch up on the fun they may have only ever heard about.

Top Hat

Distinguished readers, stop the presses: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are headed to HBO Max! The legendary dancers are going to see a couple of their classics going into streaming circulation, including what’s arguably their most classic collaboration, Top Hat. Two of the most impressive performers in the early days of film, Astaire and Rogers play a pair of actors who meet after a bit of late night tapdancing and eventually fall in love. That’s not really spoiling anything, as you don’t watch Top Hat merely for the love story, but you come to this party for the abundance of fancy footwork.

Walk the Line (Extended Version)

Walk The Line is collaboration between director James Mangold and actor Joaquin Phoenix to tell the story of Johnny Cash’s life and times, both good and bad. While we see Phoenix bristle with energy throughout what could have been a business as usual movie, it’s Reese Witherspoon’s Oscar-winning performance as June Carter Cash that really revs things up. Whether you’re a country fan or not, the magic of Walk The Line will rope you in, sure enough.

Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn)

Should you have missed the theatrical run of Birds of Prey, the film’s debut on HBO Max is good news for those of you who didn’t want to rent or own the film during its Premium VOD release. Margot Robbie’s Harley makes her solo debut as one of Gotham’s most infamous criminals team up with a bunch of do-gooders (Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez and Mary Elizabeth Winstead) to raise some hell in the criminal underworld.

Available August 15th

The Way Back

Ben Affleck dug deep into his own personal experiences to make his portrayal of a struggling alcoholic in The Way Back all the more believable. An inspiring story of perseverance and teamwork, it’s not quite the sports movie you’d expect it to be. Rather, The Way Back is a very personal story of overcoming addiction, with basketball as a vehicle for Affleck’s character to reconnect with people at large. It’s tremendous work.

Available August 29th

That’s all for the impressive HBO Max titles coming your way in August 2020. If you’re not a subscriber yet, check out the 7-day free trial that’s being offered, and get your fill of streaming delights. Though keep in mind, all titles above are subject to change or availability. Until next time, stream responsibly, and we’ll see you back here next month!

Angelina Jolie is only 44 years old, but I have no problem calling her the legend. The icon. She’ll soon be entering the MCU in the upcoming The Eternals movie, but her storied career has taken her everywhere. She’s like Clint Eastwood in that she acts, directs movies, produces, you name it.

And since Angelina Jolie is so amazing, it’s hard to pick her very best films. Now, this list will be relegated to the movies she’s acted in, not directed (Though, I do love In The Land of Blood and Honey). But in the end, you really can’t go wrong with Ms. Jolie. Even her not so great movies are somehow elevated by her presence in them. Honorable mentions go to: Sky Captain And the World of Tomorrow, Salt, Changeling, and The Good Shepherd.

10. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is a really silly film, and that’s just fine. It’s probably not saying much, but it’s one of the greatest video game movies of all time. What makes it so enjoyable though is Angelina Jolie, who plays the titular Lara Croft. The plot concerns the Illuminati and planetary alignment, and it really does feel like a story line that belongs in a video game.

But Jolie makes it seem like it's the most important story in the world. And I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say this, but if there was no Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, then there probably wouldn’t even be female-led superhero movies like Captain Marvel or Black Widow today. While there were a few other action movies like Aliens that had female-led performances before it, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was the first movie that actually pushed the fact that the leading role was played by a woman. You go, girl!

9. Hackers (1995)

Has Hackers aged well? No, not really. But that’s why it’s so awesome. It’s like a time capsule to the 90s. The story concerns a bunch of teenage hackers who are out to take on the man! Or something like that. Angelina Jolie plays a short-haired teenager who enjoys video games and leading unsuspecting new students to the roof of the high school.

In all truths, like Tomb Raider, Hackers isn’t the best movie in the world. But its cult fan base has cemented the movie as the go-to movie when talking about the early internet, and Angelina Jolie’s cocksure performance is one such reason why it’s so beloved.

8. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)

Mr. and Mrs. Smith will likely be remembered as the movie that brought Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt together as a couple. But the Doug Liman directed action-comedy is a really enjoyable film of its own merit. The story is about a bored husband and wife who are actually assassins in competing agencies, and they’re sent out to eliminate each other. It’s kind of like True Lies, but slightly less good.

Brad Pitt is great in the movie, but Jolie manages to outshine him. It’s not the hardest role she’s ever had to pull off, but she’s so damn good in action movies, that it was expected by this point.

7. Beowulf (2007)

“Hrothgar! Hrothgar!” Beowulf doesn’t look too hot today (it has that whole uncanny valley thing going for it). But the story is pretty faithful to the original poem of Beowulf, which is about a warrior who slays a monster (Grendel), then that monster’s mother, and finally a dragon.

Angelina Jolie plays the monster’s mother. But this is probably the greatest deviation from the original story since Angelina Jolie is far too attractive to play a swamp hag. Instead, she rises up out of the water like Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now and tries to seduce Beowulf. It’s an interesting take on the character, and one that could probably only be pulled of by Ms. Angelina Jolie.

6. Maleficent (2014)

Disney has been doing a lot of live-action retellings of their classic cartoons lately, and many of them simply keep the same exact story line as the original movie with a few changes here or there. But Maleficent is different. Taking the Wicked approach, it tells the story from the “villain’s” perspective, and Angelina Jolie plays said “villain”.

With Sleeping Beauty being one of the ancient Disney classics, it would take a great deal to modernize the story, but Maleficent manages it with aplomb. Jolie is both sinister and sympathetic, and you really feel for her. Especially with the horrific “wing-tearing” scene, which even Jolie admitted was a metaphor for rape. And this is a Disney film, mind you.

5. Wanted (2008)

Out of all the action movies Angelina Jolie ever did, I consider Wanted her best (and I can’t believe I forgot to mention it on my superhero movies that weren’t from Marvel or DC list. What was I thinking?). Angelina Jolie plays Fox, an assassin who mentors an account manager to also become an assassin in a secret group called The Fraternity.

Wanted is 100% Bad. Ass. I mean, for God’s sake, the characters can curve their bullets. Angelina Jolie is just so cool in this movie. It’s pretty much the epitome of action films. And while she may not be the main character of the movie (that would be James McAvoy), she’s definitely the star attraction.

4. A Mighty Heart (2007)

Even though there was a bit of a brouhaha over casting the white Angelina Jolie as the mixed-raced Mariane Pearl, this is probably Ms. Jolie’s second best performance to date. Jolie plays the wife of the slain Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl, and the movie feels more like a documentary than anything else.

What makes this movie so great is that Jolie tones down the star power and just plays it straight, which makes it even more distressing and sad. It’s not a fun or enjoyable movie, but it’s an important one, and Angelina Jolie makes it work.

3. Gia (1998)

I know I haven’t mentioned it in this entire list so far—because this list is not about that—but Angelina Jolie is super hot. And Gia is probably—no, definitely—her sexiest role to date. In this biographical HBO movie, Jolie plays the real Gia Marie Carangi, who was a supermodel to the nth degree.

What makes Gia an amazing star turn for Jolie, though, is the many ranges of emotions she has to play. Suffice it to say, Ms. Carangi didn’t have the happiest of lives, and between the drugs and the wild outbursts (and the unfortunate AIDs diagnosis) Angelina Jolie proved that she could pull off any role. All these years later, and this is still one of her most powerful performances to date.

2. Kung-Fu Panda (2008)

It’s funny to think, but even my four-year-old daughter knows who Angelina Jolie is since the actress voices the role of her favorite Kung-Fu Panda character, Tigress. The original Kung-Fu Panda is the kind of movie that you could watch again and again and never get tired of it. It’s the story of a Panda, played by Jack Black, who becomes a martial arts legend, and Jolie’s character, Tigress, is the toughest warrior in the Furious Five, a band of expert fighters that the Kung Fu Panda idolizes and eventually befriends.

Angelina Jolie is just perfect as Tigress. She’s tough as nails but exudes a vulnerable softness that only Jolie could pull off. Honestly, it’s probably my favorite Angelina Jolie movie, but it’s not her best movie. That would be the next entry on this list.

1. Girl, Interrupted (1999)

The movie that garnered Jolie’s first (and only, so far) Academy Award win for acting, Girl, Interrupted is the quintessential Angelina Jolie movie. The film is based on the memoir of a girl who stays in a mental institution. But that girl is not Angelina Jolie. It’s Winona Rider. Despite this fact, Angelina Jolie is by far the most interesting character in the movie. Seriously, when I think about this film, I have to force myself to remember that Angelina Jolie is not the main character. She's just the one I remember the most and associate with this film.

It’s because she’s just so charismatic in this movie. She plays a sociopath who gets what she wants because she’s so damn charming, and she ultimately forms a bond with Winona Rider’s character that is both icky and somewhat sweet at the same time. This was the movie that made me fall in love with Angelina Jolie, so I may be biased, but apparently, the Academy loved her, too, since they awarded her the Best Supporting Actress award that year.

And that’s the list. Angelina Jolie continues to impress and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Whether she’s directing or acting, I’ll always buy a ticket to an Angelina Jolie vehicle. And even though she has a few stinkers tucked into her filmography (The Tourist, anyone?) even her worst films are a lot better than most other actresses’ best films. That’s why she’ll always have a place in my heart.

We might be seeing a lot less Jack Black movies in the future. In a recent interview, the actor admitted that his latest film, Jumanji: The Next Level, might very well be his last. With Black concentrated on spending more time with his family, as well as working on his music and other projects (which includes his popular YouTube channel), the performer admits that movies aren't what he is looking to do. While he might squeeze in a few TV gigs along the way, it sounds like acting is something that Black wants to put on the back-burner — at least, for the time being. Which is truly a shame.

There's no denying that Jack Black is an exceptionally versatile and gifted performer. Whether it's comedy, drama, musical or seemingly any other genre, the actor has a great physical presence, a wealth of energy, a ton of charisma and a great on-screen personality. To lose his acting talents would be a tremendous shame, though it's understandable that he wants to spend more time at home and focused on his other time-eating projects. Nevertheless, let's take a look back at Jack Black's best movies throughout the years, all of which showcase his wide range and tremendous talents.

10. Nacho Libre (2006)

Nacho Libre is a movie that doesn't work for everyone. Co-written by School of Rock scribe Mike White and directed by Napoleon Dynamite filmmaker Jared Hess, it is a fitfully dumb, exceptionally juvenile sports comedy centered around its title character, Nacho Libre (Jack Black), a priest in Mexico who moonlights as a wrestler to support the orphanage he helps run. It is based (quite loosely) on a true story, but it is a largely absurdist, entirely goofy slapstick comedy that often relies on pratfalls, corny asides, and dumb jokes galore. But it's also a movie with a rich and beating heart, one that prides itself on being gleefully inspiring in addition to being consistently amusing, and it's boosted by a quirky-but-charming Jack Black turn.

Critics were largely divided on Nacho Libre, notably with some folks believing that it's a one-joke movie that overstays its welcome. While Nacho Libre isn't quite as inspired as some of Jack Black's other, better movies, it does have an unexpectedly sweet demeanor, one that is elevated by the fine character work provided by Black and his surprisingly sweet and sincere performance. By the end, Nacho Libre turns into a rousing, winsome, if largely unorthodox, sports comedy, one that showcases the strength of Black's physicality as a comedy star and his emotional depth as a character actor.

9. Jesus' Son (1999)

Admittedly, Jesus' Son isn't as well-known as a few of Jack Black's other movies. This independent dramedy earned a great deal of acclaim upon release, but it didn't find as wide an audience as some of the actor's other, bigger movies later in his career. Nevertheless, this period drama, which is adapted from a short story collection from author Denis Johnson, is a winning title, and it is benefitted from its talented cast, including Jack Black.

As an orderly in a hospital where our lead character, played by Billy Crudup, works, Jack Black doesn't get a ton of scenes in Jesus' Son, but he does participate in an amusingly gruesome scene which showcases his talents for understated humor, something that often gets ignored when he's asked to play it big and broad. Nevertheless, Jack Black is an actor of many talents, and he plays a part in the small-but-appealing success of Jesus' Son.

8. Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

While not as strong nor as memorable as the previous two Kung Fu Panda movies, Kung Fu Panda 3 is a sweet, emotionally touching trilogy capper that provides audiences with one final chance to get acquainted with Jack Black's wonderful voice performance as Po. In this second sequel, our kung fu fighting lead character reunited with his biological family, while also attempting to become a master of chi in order to defeat his biggest foe yet.

Though this sequel isn't as consistently funny or as distinctive as its predecessors, it features another exceptional voice performance from Black playing one of his best, liveliest, most passionate, and most beloved roles throughout the wide course of his movie career — animated or otherwise.

What often makes Jack Black's best roles as good as they are is the high volume of passion and emotion that he infuses inside them. He carries every emotional beat with a stunning crescendo of humor and heart, and it's clear that he cares deeply for the characters and the material itself. Even when he's playing an animated panda, Black brings such a depth of humanity to his performances that he makes you believe in the plight of this kung fu fighting character, resulting in arguably the best trilogy of films created by DreamWorks Animation yet. Kung Fu Panda 3 is a fitting franchise finale.

7. King Kong (2005)

Peter Jackson's epic 2005 remake of King Kong wasn't everyone's personal favorite. Its extended three-hour runtime, mixed with a few melodramatic tendencies, resulted in an old-fashioned blockbuster that wasn't what audiences in the mid '00s were anticipating — not even from the Oscar-winning director of the astounding Lord of the Rings trilogy. Nevertheless, this under-appreciated re-imagining was a flawed but stunning achievement, and it proved Jack Black with an opportunity to expand his resume by applying his well-proven talents into an Oscar-caliber blockbuster from a hit director.

As Carl Denham, the filmmaker who obsession with his film takes many dangerous turns, Jack Black plays only one piece in the giant epic puzzle. But his contribution helps contribute rather than damages its splendor. The actor's broad performance style plays into the macho director's big, bold desire to make something outstanding, particularly with his financial standing and seemingly everything else on the line. It's another astounding epic accomplishment from mid-period Peter Jackson, one that allowed Black with a fine chance to prove his major talents in this major cinematic remake.

6. Tropic Thunder (2007)

After several attempts to translate his boisterous comedy into more raunchy material, Jack Black finally found an R-rated comedy worthy of his comedy chops with Ben Stiller's provocative Hollywood satire, Tropic Thunder. Playing a vain, drug addled comedy star trying to make his serious dramatic turn in an overblown war drama, one that goes awry when an experiment to toughen up the actors in the jungle goes askew, Black can sometimes be playing third bill behind co-writer/director Ben Stiller and Academy Award-nominated Robert Downey Jr. in a truly unforgettable, multi-layered performance. But Jack Black more-than-holds his own in the movie, particularly when his loose grip on reality only continues to get unhinged.

Thanks to the movie's heightened tone, Jack Black makes exceptional use of his broad comedic skills, allowing his character to divulge deeper and deeper into madness — particularly as (and even despite when) the character's drug addiction becomes an even more serious problem. While Tropic Thunder is ultimately an ensemble piece, Black's performance is just one key into the movie's surprisingly deft success. In another movie that could have easily gone south in a number of different ways, Tropic Thunder succeeds thanks to the many talents of its performers — including Jack Black.

5. Bernie (2012)

Jack Black and director Richard Linklater elevated themselves into the major leagues with the phenomenal success of 2003's School of Rock, but it took 2012's Bernie to finally reunite the actor and filmmaker. While this dark comedy didn't quite find the same success as their previous work, it's another triumph for both the performer and storyteller, particularly with Black providing one of his best performances in the title role of Bernie Tiede.

Telling the stranger-than-fiction story of a beloved Texas funeral director who shakes up a small town when the 39-year-old kills his 80-year-old millionaire wife, Bernie blends drama and documentary as it allows Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, and Shirley MacLaine to dramatize this sensational story while real-life interviews from actual town residents paint us a picture of his true-life tale through their pointed and often amusing perspectives.

It's through Black's touching, poignant performance that we see the humanity of this warm, complex figure, as well as the different reasons why the residents were willing to believe in Bernie's innocence and good character, even despite this terrible crime. It's a gentle, engrossing story told with care, insight, and heart, and it continues to show how Jack Black and Richard Linklater still do some of their best work with each other.

4. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Jack Black is an exceptionally animated performer. It only makes sense that he would lend his voice to a major animated production. While it didn't work out the first time around when he provided his voice to 2004's underwhelming Shark Tale, DreamWorks Animation found a project that suited the performer's comedic, dramatic skills in the role of Po in 2008's exceptional Kung Fu Panda. What could have easily been another sub-par animated family film turned into a surprisingly engaging, emotionally satisfying character piece, one that provided a great character for Jack Black to embody.

This computer-animated martial arts comedy centers around an eager, if clumsy, panda with aspirations of becoming a great kung fu warrior. Through a series of happenstance and destiny, Po suddenly finds himself a peer among his kung fu idols when he's selected to become an apprentice. While it is an uphill battle, the team must turn the designated "Dragon Warrior" into a formidable kung fu expert before the villain Tai Lung destroys the land.

It is a simple formula told enjoyably and commendably through its fast pace, liberal use of humor, and overwhelming heart. But it also provides Black with another character through which he can apply his passionate, energy, and sharp comedic timing into a role, allowing the character to bristle with life as his journey grows over the course of the narrative. Added in the deep-seated respect for Chinese culture, its immensely beautiful designs, the plethora of likable characters, and a fine number of exceptional action beats, and you have got a kung fu comedy that kicks butt and wins your heart.

3. High Fidelity (2000)

For many folks, High Fidelity is the movie that put Jack Black on their radars. In his scene-stealing supporting turn as Barry Judd, a passionate music fan who works in a record store with our main protagonist, Rob Gordon (John Cusack), Black cemented himself as a performer to watch, an energetic and appealing screen performer who could feel both larger-than-life and someone who you know all-too-well in your day-to-day life. Suffice to say, it was a great role, letting Jack Black play to his strength. High Fidelity played a big hand in paving the way for Black's film career as we know it today.

Particularly in contradiction to John Cusack's more mellow screen presence, Jack Black is a firecracker in High Fidelity, taking up all the air in the room and filling it with his volcanic personality. While that might come across as off-putting under a weaker performer's hand, in this movie and with Black's performance in particular, it worked very well, allowing us to be taken into this store dynamic and appreciate the in-depth conversations on life, love, and (above all else) music found therein. This charming character piece is John Cusack's movie, ultimately, but Black often takes it home.

2. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

While the original Kung Fu Panda was an unexpected hit, both critically and commercially, its excellent sequel was even more surprising in its own successes. It's a darker, more character-driven story, one that relies more heavily on emotional and dramatic pathos to tell its introspective story, and it results in a meatier, more engaging and cinematically rich sequel that proves to be even better than its predecessor. Kung Fu Panda 2 also features Black's finest voice performance in the series, allowing him to show his fine talents as both a comedic and dramatic lead performer in key, deft ways.

Progressing and expanding upon Po's character, Kung Fu Panda 2 still provides the wit, humor, heart, charm, and kung fu action wizardry that made the original movie such a rewarding success, while also adding some key dramatic and subdued moments that showcase a maturity and a grace that only benefits this addition to the franchise. It provides equal parts belly laughs and heart tugs, while also providing animated sequences that are even more gorgeous than before and fluid, vivid kung fu action sequences that rival the best in the genre. Kung Fu Panda 2 kicks more booty than before, resulting in not only one of the best animated movies of the decade but one of Jack Black's funniest, finest, and most emotionally engaging films yet.

1. School of Rock (2003)

While School of Rock wasn't Jack Black's first film, it was undoubtedly the one that turned him into a household name. For damn good reason too. This charming, entertaining ensemble comedy, crafted to fit Jack Black's oversized talents, was a wonderful showcase for Black's musical, comedic, and dramatic skills, while also providing a consistently funny, heavily quotable, and massively heartfelt studio comedy through which director Richard Linklater finally translated his well-proven expertise as a sensitive filmmaker into worldwide success. Indeed, School of Rock rocked folks' socks off.

Centered around Dewey Finn, a struggling rock musician who impersonates his roommate Ned Schneebly (played by screenwriter Mike White) to work at a prestigious boarding school, where he teaches the students how to become a school-themed rock band, School of Rock is the type of premise that simply wouldn't work without the immensely appealing talents of its lead performer. Indeed, through Black's endearing Dewey Finn/ Faux Ned Schneebly, we grow to admire the camaraderie he forms with his students, while also translating his passion for hard rocking and building a band worthy of his big-headed ambitions.

The result is a constantly funny, appealing studio comedy that earned Black a Golden Globe nomination for his lead role. Rightfully so, too. Through School of Rock, Jack Black became a mainstay performer, and it's not hard to see why, thanks to this movie.

These are only a mere few of Jack Black's best performances. Particularly when you take into account his scene-stealing role in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, his musical prowess in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, his understated nuance in Margot at the Wedding, his heartbreaking supporting turn in Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot, or his winsome work in Be Kind Rewind, to name only a mere few titles from his extensive resume, it is evident that Jack Black is an enormously talented actor with a diverse, eclectic range of talent. If Jumanji: The Next Level is truly his last film, then it's a great shame to lose such a talent performer from the screen. But at least we can look back on all the work he has done in his film career and smile.

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Going to a theme park is a quintessential summer activity enjoyed by folks all around the world. Rides and snacks are obvious staples of the experience, but so is the act of getting away from the heat to duck into a show. We've seen some massive advancements in how theme parks entertain visitors in recent years, and Universal Studios' Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor's Quest looks like a major leap forward. In fact, CinemaBlend recently got a chance to check out the attraction during an early look at the park's upcoming DreamWorks Theatre, and it should be a must-visit element of the Universal Studios Hollywood experience when it opens this week.

On May 17, CinemaBlend and other outlets were invited to check out the new DreamWorks Theatre in the final stages of construction and given a tour by Universal Creative Senior Director and Executive Producer Jon Corfino. The DreamWorks Theatre is located in the heavily renovated Shrek 4D theater at Universal Studios Hollywood, and it was created to look like classic Hollywood -- complete with much of the same Mediterranean architecture that has defined the look of some of the most iconic studios in the film industry.

However, despite the classical look of the outside of the structure, the inside of the DreamWorks Theatre is where Universal has opted to show off some of the most cutting-edge advancements. Once inside the building, guests are treated to a pre-show in the lobby area that consists of Po and Shrek debating over who the show truly belongs to right now, as the theatre used to be a Shrek-themed attraction.

The pre-show lasts about two and a half minutes, takes place on a series of LED panels that line the walls and are nearly indistinguishable from the standard architecture when turned on. This tech not only allows the building to show animation from a wide variety of angles, but it also adds a sense of depth to the interior of the building. You can check out what the pre-show looks like, below!

Once inside the actual theater, the real show begins. The DreamWorks Theatre uses an advanced projector system to bring the environment to life. The Christie 4K Boxer Cinema projectors put the audiences in a six-minute POV boat ride with Po that takes some pretty wild fantasy twists and turns. Original voice talent from Kung Fu Panda like Jack Black did not return to the roles for the attraction (though it's difficult to tell that it's not them in the show), but the folks behind the DreamWorks Theatre did make sure to note that The Emperor's Quest was developed in collaboration with senior members of the DreamWorks team.

The projectors also create the detail on the interior of the theater, which is completely white when the projector system is turned off, and the lights come on. It's pretty staggering to see the amount of detail and precision that Universal Studios has put into the mapping technology, and it creates a lot of exciting opportunities to blend the show with the environment around the audience. You can check out what the show looks like in its most standard form, below.

However, there are also moments where the projection really kicks into high gear and blends the scenery with the adventure. You can check this out, below, as well.

One interesting thing to note about the Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor's Quest attraction at the DreamWorks Theatre is the emphasis on a 2D experience for the audience. The decision to not use the 3D format was intentional, and while the seats do move in coordination with the action on-screen, the focus is on offering up a unique viewing experience.

The technology used to create Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor's Quest inside of the DreamWorks Theatre is breathtaking, and it also raises one crucial question: What other properties does Universal plan to adapt in this venue? As of right now, Jon Corfino confirms that there are no plans to introduce any other pieces of Universal IP to this theater. That said, the idea has apparently been discussed, so the possibility of seeing another Universal or DreamWorks property introduced in this theater is not entirely off of the table. For now, however, we're going to have as much fun as we can with Po and the other members of the Kung Fu Panda ensemble.

If you plan to make your way down to Universal Studios in the coming days, Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor's Quest will be open to the public starting on June 15 when the brand-new DreamWorks Theatre officially opens at Universal Studios Hollywood. Make sure to check it out, and as always, check out our movie premiere guide to get more information on all of the films set to hit theaters this year!

Back in 2013, DreamWorks Animation was in the middle of a lawsuit that was heading to court related to the Kung Fu Panda franchise when the plaintiff, artist Jayme Gordon, suddenly dropped his complaint. Four years later that same artist has been sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to defraud DreamWorks animation of $12 million dollars. He has also been sentenced to pay $3 million in restitution to the company, which spent that much on legal fees during the original lawsuit. Here's what happened.

It seemed like a really strange move when Jayme Gordon had backed out of the lawsuit he had put together back in 2013. At the time, the lawsuit was set to head to trial, and Gordon seemed at the outset to be in a pretty good position. He had already been a part of a plot by DreamWorks Animation to set in motion a summary judgment motion, and a federal judge had denied that, effectively moving his case, which claimed he had produced artwork similar to the characters found in the 2008 flick Kung Fu Panda, forward to trial. He had also noted he had created the character in the 1990s and had even copyrighted similar artwork to the movie in 2000, prior to the DreamWorks film's release.

Then it all came crumbling down, as DreamWorks Animation lawyers argued Jayme Gordon had actually taken his own Kung Fu Panda artwork from a coloring book with strikingly similar illustrations. He had also backdated and even fabricated drawings of his characters in the hopes he could achieve a big payout. In 2015, the U.S. Attorneys office went after him for fraud, noting that copyright laws are meant to protect individuals and not help them to try to scheme their way into big payouts from large companies.

According to Deadline, in November of this year, Jayme Gordon was found guilty of both fraud and perjury. However, he had to wait until May for sentencing to commence. Prior to this week's big announcement, word on the street was he could have earned up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. He got off light on the prison sentence. He did not get off light when it came to paying back DreamWorks Animation.

Copyright law can get really complicated. It was only a few days ago that Khloe Kardashian actually got sued for sharing a photo of herself on social media that another person had actually taken. In this case, it looks like Gordon was trying to earn money for an idea he had not, in fact, created. As for DreamWorks Animation, the company has made a killing off of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, bringing in $521 million globally for Kung Fu Panda 3, which hit theaters last year. Other potential sequels to the original movie have been rumored to eventually be in the cards.

For the longest time, Disney was the mostly unchallenged ruler of the world of animated film, handily dispatching of its competition without much thought. That all changed when upstart studio DreamWorks SKG opened its own animation division, releasing Antz upon the world in 1998, in an effort to directly compete with Disney’s release of Pixar’s A Bug’s Life. Almost 20 years, and several magnificent successes later, DreamWorks Animation has become a worthy opponent of Disney and Pixar’s combined powers, with their latest effort - Kung Fu Panda 3 - being released into theaters this weekend.

This is the perfect excuse to run through our top 10 favorite DreamWorks Animation films, and laugh as you may - it was hard to narrow down the list. With well-known gems, deep cuts, and a couple of mid-level hits in the mix, it’s a roster that’s as diverse as the studio’s total history of animated films. So without further ado, here’s the 10 DreamWorks Animation films we love the most - and in the order of their greatness.

10. Shrek

You can’t avoid the fact that Shrek literally made DreamWorks Animation the success story it is. At the time of its release, the film was the most successful release in DWA’s history, leading to three sequels and a spinoff franchise that made their mark on the world. More importantly, the post-modern approach to animated humor that both kids and adults could enjoy turned the world of animation upside down. To this day, the influence of Shrek can still be felt in the marketplace, and it’s destined to go down as one of the most notable animated films in history.

9. Road To El Dorado

While DreamWorks Animation is now a heavy hitter in the animated film world, there was a wilderness period of films that most audiences don’t remember. For every Shrek and Madagascar, there’s a Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and The Road To El Dorado, and it’s a damned shame, especially with the latter film. For starters, Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline play a pair of con men who convince a tribe in Mexico that they’re a pair of gods. Of course, this leads to both funny and harrowing moments - all rendered beautifully in hand drawn animation. But if the humor and adventure don’t completely win you over, the Elton John / Tim Rice songs should help seal the deal.

8. Chicken Run

There once was a fruitful partnership between DreamWorks Animation and legendary stop-motion animation house, Aardman Animation. Through this team-up, the studios produced several stellar works - the first of which is the loose remake of The Great Escape we call Chicken Run. With their trademark British humor being applied as perfectly as any Wallace and Gromit film, Chicken Run also boasted the use of Mel Gibson as Rocky, a cocky American rooster that a colony of English chickens think will be able to teach them to fly. With jokes that fly as fast as a rooster out of a circus cannon, this flick not only kept the kids entertained, but it’s a fan favorite of many adults.

7. Flushed Away

Another Aardman collaboration, Flushed Away played both Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet against their stereotypical roles. While Jackman got to play Rodney, an uptight pet rat that gets flushed into the sewers of England, Winslet was the street-wise Rita, Rodney’s guide through modern city life. Throw in some impressive chase sequences, a healthy dose of slapstick and wordplay, and Ian McKellen as a villainous frog kingpin who’s after some loot Rita stole from him, and you’ve got a surprisingly fun comedy that ups the stakes and blazes through its running time.

6. Kung Fu Panda

A talking panda movie with Jack Black as the lead and "Skadoosh" as a catch phrase once looked like the pinnacle of annoyance. Yet when Kung Fu Panda took its first bow in 2008, it proved that the commercials were merely playing to the kids, as the rest of the film was a much more beautiful enterprise. With visuals and story beats inspired by Asian cinema, as well as ancient lore, Kung Fu Panda turned out to be a story of self discovery that just happened to have some kid friendly antics, and a buttload of martial arts action. It’s a series that’s kept on giving in action, as well as story, and it all started with this supremely impressive first effort. Skadoosh indeed, Po.

5. Shrek 2

While Shrek was a master stroke of animated storytelling, there was one factor that was missing from its total package: the characters weren’t all that developed. So while we had a really funny movie about an ogre and true love’s first kiss, it was still a film that was more about events than people. Enter Shrek 2: a film that not only keeps the momentum of events from the first film, but actually dives deeper into the characters we’ve grown to know and love. Shrek and Fiona’s burgeoning romance may have glued Shrek together, but their continuing development as ogres in love was what really made Shrek 2 the best film in the franchise. Well, that and Puss in Boots.

4. Rise of the Guardians

Avengers style flicks are all the rage these days, with studios teaming up the figures of your childhood to face down the various, over-powered nemeses you always rooted against. And yet, Rise Of The Guardians never found the audiences that crave films like that, despite being released in the same year as The Avengers. With Rise, a handful of childhood "guardians" like Jack Frost, Santa, and The Tooth Fairy, team up to fight against Pitch - the boogeyman himself. While it’s an adventure film on the surface, the depths that Rise of the Guardians explores when it comes some of the more emotional notes of the story are what really shine. Jack Frost’s origin especially dips its toes into some darker shades of children’s storytelling, lending credibility to the lighter fluff that’s mixed throughout the rest of the film.

3. Mr. Peabody And Sherman

Much like Rise Of The Guardians before it, Mr. Peabody and Sherman is one of those DreamWorks Animation films that had the misfortune of landing during the company’s current period of turmoil. The chances of this film getting a sequel are not too good, but in a way that’s a good thing, considering how good of a standalone product it actually is. Not only does Mr. Peabody and Sherman mine the source material for all it’s worth, it’s also an emotional origin story about the smartest dog in the world trying to be the best father in that same world. If you don’t tear up during the montage set to John Lennon’s "Beautiful Boy," good luck proving you’re a human.

2. Wallace & Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit

Out of the films that were made during the Dreamworks / Aardman partnership, the best film was obviously Wallace & Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit. But as history would have it, the feature length adventure of everyone’s favorite short form duo not only maintains the jovial spirit of the original three shorts, it manages to keep that same momentum for an entire feature film. It’s like your favorite TV show becoming a feature length film, only to expand on everything you loved about it in the first place. Come for the contraptions, stay for the vegetarian spin on The Wolf Man.

1. How To Train Your Dragon

While Shrek may have been the film that built DreamWorks Animation’s foundation, How To Train Your Dragon is the project that cemented DWA’s place in the animation firmament. Of course, it helps that Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the creative team behind Lilo and Stitch, were the minds behind this beautiful, moving film. While Toothless is adorable beyond belief, he’s also a well-rounded character that doesn’t need a word of dialogue to his credit. His relationship with Hiccup - played to a tee by Jay Baruchel - is the nucleus for this film, and it’s sequel; which makes the stunning action that propels How To Train Your Dragon all the more harrowing. It goes places a Disney film wouldn’t dream to go, while nailing the rudiments of the Mouse House’s golden era, and it’s all the better for it.

This is just the kind of thing that studios love to see, DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 3, which just opened this weekend, is poised to rule the box office by a large margin. Based on strong early showing numbers, the studio should wind up with a substantial chunk of change in their pockets come Monday morning.

According to Variety, Kung Fu Panda 3 it out-grossing fellow theatrical newcomer The Finest Hours—which is also its closest competition at the moment—by more than four times. If this keeps up, the latest chapter in the continuing adventures of Po (voiced by Jack Black) should have a $13 million Friday and take in well north of $40 for the whole weekend.

Current estimates put it in the $44 million range, which, if these predictions play out over the course of the last weekend in January, would put it close to the debut of Kung Fu Panda 2, which raked in $47 million during its opening frame. Considering that film ultimately went on to gross more than $660 million worldwide, that’s certainly a promising start. The two opened in a comparable number of theaters, with the earlier film showing on 3925 screens, while the latest endeavor is booked at 3955.

By all appearances, unless something drastic happens, like all the copies are somehow lost, Kung Fun Panda 3 will easily be the box office champ this weekend. The other new releases are lagging way behind—real-life Coast Guard rescue drama of The Finest Hours, Marlon Wayans’ Fifty Shades of Grey spoof Fifty Shades of Black, and the troubled Natalie Portman western Jane Got a Gun, are all way in the rearview. Heavy Oscar-favorite The Revenant and juggernaut Star Wars: The Force Awakens should also continue to be players, but won’t take the top slot.

DreamWorks Animation also has an additional scheme to help Kung Fu Panda 3 become even more of a financial success. When it opens in China, there will be two different versions. One will be the standard release, where the characters’ mouths match the English dialogue. There will be another, however, where the animation will be tweaked so that when the dialogue is all dubbed, the mouths and movements will match that—so no more comical dubs where the lips and words don’t quite sync up.

DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffry Katzenberg hopes this will encourage Chinese audiences to see the film multiple times. If nothing else, it is also yet another illustration of just how important the international market, and especially China, has become to the success of Hollywood films. Kung Fu Panda 2 was the highest grossing animated movie ever in China, and the studio hopes to best that this time around. We’ll see how successful they are with this endeavor fairly soon as Kung Fu Panda 3 also opened in China today.

**UPDATE** With 2016 in the rearview window, it’s time for you to check out the always updated schedule for new movies in 2017!

2016 is loaded up with interesting and exciting films this year, including Captain America: Civil War, Ghostbusters, Suicide Squad, Finding Dory and the anticipated Star Wars spinoff, Rogue One. For those of you trying to keep all of the dates straight, here’s the rundown on what’s headed into theaters in 2016.

Dates and titles are subject to change. We'll do our best to keep this list updated with the most current information. We’re mainly focusing on wide releases here, but if there’s a 2016 movie you don’t see on the list, and want to know the date, drop it in the comments and we’ll do our best to dig up the info!

The Hateful Eight - January 1 (expanded release)

The Forest - Friday, January 8

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi - Friday, January 15

Norm of the North - Friday, January 15

Ride Along 2 - Friday, January 15

The 5th Wave - Friday, January 22

The Boy - Friday, January 22

Dirty Grandpa - Friday, January 22

Fifty Shades of Black - Friday, January 29

The Finest Hours - Friday, January 29

Jane Got a Gun - Friday, January 29

Kung Fu Panda 3 - Friday, January 29

The Choice - Friday, February 5

Hail, Caesar! - Friday, February 5

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Friday, February 5

Deadpool - Friday, February 12

How to Be Single - Friday, February 12

Zoolander 2 - Friday, February 12

Race - Friday, February 19

Risen - Friday, February 19

The Witch - Friday, February 19

Eddie the Eagle - Friday, February 26

Gods of Egypt - Friday, February 26

Triple 9 - Friday, February 26

Desert - Friday, March 4

London Has Fallen - Friday, March 4

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - Friday, March 4

Zootopia - Friday, March 4

10 Cloverfield Lane - Friday, March 11

The Brothers Grimsby - Friday, March 11

Coco - Friday, March 11

The Other Side of the Door - Friday, March 11

The Perfect Match - Friday, March 11

The Young Messiah - Friday, March 11

Miracles from Heaven - Wednesday, March 16

The Bounce Back - Friday, March 18

The Divergent Series: Allegiant - Friday, March 18

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Friday, March 25

The Disappointments Room - Friday, March 25

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 - Friday, March 25

God’s Not Dead 2 - Friday, April 1

The Boss - Friday, April 8

Hardcore Henry - Friday, April 8

Barbershop: The Next Cut - Friday, April 15

Criminal - Friday, April 15

Everybody Wants Some - Friday, April 15

The Jungle Book - Friday, April 15

The Huntsman Winter’s War - Friday, April 22

Keanu - Friday, April 22

Elvis & Nixon - Friday, April 22

Mother’s Day - Friday, April 29

Ratchet & Clank - Friday, April 29

Same Kind of Different as Me - Friday, April 29

Captain America: Civil War - Friday, May 6

Going in Style - Friday, May 6

The Darkness - Friday, May 13

Free State of Jones - Friday, May 13

Money Monster - Friday, May 13

The Angry Birds Movie - Friday, May 20

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising - Friday, May 20

The Nice Guys - Friday, May 20

Alice Through the Looking Glass - Friday, May 27

X-Men: Apocalypse - Friday, May 27

Me Before You - Friday, June 3

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - Friday, June 3

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping - Friday, June 3

The Conjuring 2 - Friday, June 10

Now You See Me 2 - Friday, June 10

Warcraft - Friday, June 10

Central Intelligence - Friday, June 17

Finding Dory - Friday, June 17

Independence Day: Resurgence - Friday, June 24

The Shallows - Wednesday, June 29

The BFG - Friday, July 1

The Legend of Tarzan - Friday, July 1

The Purge 3 - Friday, July 1 (Purge: Election Year Trailer)

Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates - Friday, July 8

The Secret Life of Pets - Friday, July 8

The Infiltrator - Wednesday, July 13

Ghostbusters - Friday, July 15

La La Land - Friday, July 15

Ice Age: Collision Course - Friday, July 22

Lights Out - Friday, July 22

Star Trek Beyond - Friday, July 22

Nerve - Friday, July 29

Bad Moms - Friday, July 29

Jason Bourne - Friday, July 29 (New Jason Bourne Trailer)

Nine Lives - Friday, August 5

Suicide Squad - Friday, August 5 (Suicide Squad Trailer)

Pete’s Dragon - Friday, August 12 (Watch the trailer.)

Florence Foster Jenkins - Friday, August 12

Sausage Party - Friday, August 12

Spectral - Friday, August 12

Ben Hur - Friday, August 19

Kubo and the Two Strings - Friday, August 19

War Dogs - Friday, August 19

Don't Breathe (Formerly titled A Man in the Dark)- Friday, August 26

Mechanic Resurrection - Friday, August 26

Hands of Stone - Friday, August 26

Solace - Friday, September 2

Morgan - Friday, September 2

The Light Between Oceans - Friday, September 2

Sully - Friday, September 9

Before I Wake - Friday, September 9

The Wild Life - Friday, September 9

When the Bough Breaks - Friday, September 9

Snowden - Friday, September 16

Blair Witch - Friday, September 16

Bridget Jones's Baby - Friday, September 16

Hillsong - Let Hope Rise - Friday, September 16

The Magnificent Seven - Friday, September 23

Storks - Friday, September 23

Deepwater Horizon - Friday, September 30

Masterminds - Friday, September 30

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Friday, September 30

The Girl on the Train - Friday, October 7

The Birth of a Nation - Friday, October 7

Friend Request - Friday, October 7

Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life - Friday, October 7

The Accountant - Friday, October 14 (The Accountant Trailer.)

Kevin Hart: What Now? - Friday, October 14

Max Steel - Friday, October 14

A Monster Calls - Friday, October 21

Boo! A Madea Halloween - Friday, October 21

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - Friday, October 21

Ouija 2 - Friday, October 21

Keeping Up with the Joneses - Friday, October 21

I Am Ashamed - Friday, October 21

Inferno - Friday, October 28

Doctor Strange - Friday, November 4

Trolls - Friday, November 4

Hacksaw Ridge - Friday, November 4

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk - Friday, November 11 (Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Trailer)

Shut In - Friday, November 11

Almost Christmas - Friday, November 11

Arrival - Friday, November 11

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them - Friday, November 18

The Edge of Seventeen - Friday, November 18

Bad Santa 2 - Wednesday, November 23

Allied - Wednesday, November 23

Moana - Wednesday, November 23 (Moana Trailer)

Rules Don't Apply - Wednesday, November 23

Jackie - Friday, December 2

The Eyes of My Mother - Friday, December 2

Incarnate - Friday, December 2

La La Land - Friday, December 9

The Bounce Back - Friday, December 9

Office Christmas Party - Friday, December 9

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Friday, December 16

Collateral Beauty - Friday, December 16

Assassin’s Creed - Wednesday, December 21 (Assassin's Creed Trailer)

Passengers - Wednesday, December 21

Patriots Day - Wednesday, December 21

Sing - Wednesday, December 21

The Space Between Us - Wednesday, December 21

Why Him? - Friday, December 23

A Monster Calls - Friday, December 23

Silence - Friday, December 23

Fences - Wednesday, December 28

20th Century Women - Wednesday, December 28

Hidden Figures - Wednesday, December 28

Live By Night - Wednesday, December 28

Which 2016 movies should you still be looking forward to? We break down the most anticipated movies of (the rest of) the year next...

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Kung Fu Panda 3 is a pretty big film for Dreamworks Animation. The studio has released a number of flops over the last few years, and because of this they're relying on the third instalment of the hugely popular franchise to thrive to keep them afloat. In order to get as much money as possible from Chinese audiences, Dreamworks came up with a nifty ploy. They decided to release two different versions of the film, which they believe will entice viewers back to cinemas not just twice, but three times, maybe more. 

Dreamworks Animation’s master plan is to release one version of Kung Fu Panda 3 where the animation matches the English language, and a Chinese version where the characters’ mouths and body match the nuances of that language. Jeffrey Katzenburg, the CEO of Dreamworks Animation, made this revelation ahead of Kung Fu Panda 3’s impending release. But he doesn’t just expect people to go and see the film once or twice, he believes that they’ll flock to see it on numerous occasions so that they can really find out which version they prefer. 

For the previous Kung Fu Panda films the approach was rather simple. Chinese actors were brought in to dub over the likes of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, and the rest of the voice cast. While Jeffrey Katzenburg’s above remarks, which he made to an industry crowd last month in Sanya, were met with laughter, The Hollywood Reporter’s sources insist that the studio head wasn’t exactly joking with his ambition.

Dreamworks Animation hopes that viewers will be so curious about the different versions that they flock to see them both. In order to try and convince audiences to do just that, Oriental Dreamworks, the Chinese contingent of the studio, has been promoting Kung Fu Panda 3 relentlessly, highlighting that two different incarnations of the film will be available.

It’s no surprise that Jeffrey Katzenberg and Dreamworks are going to such lengths to tap in the Chinese market. In 2008, Kung Fu Panda surprisingly grossed $26 million in China, which was the first time that a U.S. film had performed so well in the region. This success was replicated in 2011, when Kung Fu Panda 2 made $92.2 million, to become China’s highest-grossing animated film ever, a record it still holds to this day.  

Dreamworks hopes that the dual-language release will give Kung Fu Panda 3 a prolonged period of success in China, which will then lead to it eclipsing its predecessor’s huge haul in the region. We’ll find out in the next few weeks if it’s been successful, as Kung Fu Panda 3 is due in Chinese cinemas on January 29.  

The first Kung Fu Panda 3 trailer has arrived, and even though it's in Chinese, the footage is still awe-inspiring. Even better, though, is that the villain is finally revealed! Po, Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper and Crane are up against...one mean-looking minotaur. Watch the trailer below.

The official plot synopsis for Kung Fu Panda 3 was pretty vague: in continuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness," our jolly Panda must face two threats, one of which is supernatural and the other close to home. The latter we found out earlier to be the presence of Po's father, Li (voiced by Bryan Cranston). He's the master of hanging out and has been absent for most of his son's life. It was only through a promise he made to his dying wife that he would reunite with his son. This will, no doubt, cause some problems with Mr. Ping, Po's adopted father. Now with the first Kung Fu Panda 3 trailer, we can see what this other more menacing challenge is.

Not much is known about this mysterious creature shrouded in green light, but he looks like the biggest and most powerful threat these warriors have ever faced. He wields what appears to be blades attached to the ends of chains, like Kratos in God of War, and he's even strong enough to shot put a massive stone statue. And with his glowing eyes, he certainly seems supernatural.

Putting this beastie aside for a moment, the trailer makes this film look like a luscious animated painting, perfect for anyone's zen garden. In terms of story, though, there are still a lot of secrets remaining close to the vest. Who and what is this strange minotaur? Where did he come from and how can Po and co. send him running back with his tail between his legs?

DreamWorks Animation moved the released date around for this next sequel a couple times. The latest move pushed it out of 2015, where it would've competed with Star Wars: The Force Awakens for box-office dominance, into 2016. That said, we know there's even more of a personal component on top of everything that's going on. Po discovers that there are a lot more pandas like him than he thought in the world. In addition to the returning voice talent of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen and Lucy Liu, there's also Rebel Wilson voicing a panda named Mei Mei, who's super into ribbon dancing.

Kung Fu Panda 3 hits U.S. theaters on January 29, 2016.

DreamWorks Animation executives spent the bulk of Thursday morning’s panel previewing the studio’s two major upcoming features: The holiday superhero team-up Rise of the Guardians, starring Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and The Easter Bunny on a world-saving mission; and The Croods, a family adventure set in caveman times featuring the voices of Emma Stone, Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds. But the panel also took the opportunity to drop a few details about highly anticipated features that will make DW fans jump for joy.

Bill Damaschke, co-president of production at DreamWorks Animation, was asked how many movies the studio currently has on its plate at the moment. He estimated that DreamWorks has 10 movies in production, with an additional eight or nine in advanced pre-production. The biggest has to be Kung Fu Panda 3, which Damaschke reluctantly confirmed during the Q-and-A portion of the presentation.

Specifically, a woman approached the mic and referenced a scene after the credits of Kung Fu Panda 2 that teased a significant event from Po’s past. Does that mean a sequel is coming? "Yes, there will be a Kung Fu Panda 3," Damaschke confirmed, though he gave no other details beyond that.

Madagascar director Tom McGrath also told the panel attendees that he’ll bring a penguin movie to theaters in 2015. And McGrath should know, as he voices lead penguin Skipper in the films. It’s tentatively titled The Penguins of Madagascar, though I’m not sure how concrete that is.

Two other projects were briefly teased. Damaschke said DreamWorks will have a Mr. Peabody and Sherman movie coming to theaters next Christmas, which will be based on the vintage Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. And they talked in short about Me and My Shadow, a movie due in theaters in 2014 that will blend 2D and 3D animation techniques, because the story required it. Right now, Kate Hudson and Bill Hader will lend their voices to that production.

In this day and age there's a simple formula for family movies: if they do well, they get a sequel. This is true for live-action and animated, Pixar and DreamWorks. In the case of Kung Fu Panda, the movie was not only a box office success - raking in $631 million world wide - but was also a critic favorite. Naturally a sequel was greenlit and is currently scheduled for a May release. But Kung Fu Panda won't be the last we see of Po and friends.

Empire recently sat down with DreamWorks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg who promised not one, not two, not even three, but four more sequels after the second movie is released next year. According to Katzenberg, the whole thing has been laid out in chapters that have been mapped out. But here's the kicker - KungFu Panda won't be the only Dreamworks animated film getting this kind of treatment: Madagascar will likely have a fourth film after the third arrives in 2012 and two more How To Train Your Dragons will be coming to theaters in the next few years (and they are considering a grand total of eight movies.)

Two words come immediately to mind: Holy Shit. While I encourage forward thinking on a regular basis, do we really need to see Kung-Fu Panda 6 let alone Kung Fu Panda 3? Apparently the studio didn't learn anything from Shrek, which started out great but became incredibly worn down by the end, and that was with only four movies. Let's just hope this isn't the cash grab it appears to be and that they actually have a legitimate plan.

Even with the brilliance of How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda remains my favorite DreamWorks Animation film and it’s a measuring stick for what the company’s capable of when they’re not obsessed with horrible, worn out, farting ogres. In fact at the time it was so much better than any of their previous efforts, it almost didn’t feel like a DreamWorks film at all. Maybe that’s because it wasn’t?

The Wrap says a screenwriter named Terence Dunn is suing DreamWorks Animation, claiming they stole his idea and used it for Kung Fu Panda. Dunn is described as an “Ivy League-educated Chinese-American writer-producer-teacher-philosopher,” and also occasional Tai Chi instructor for the LA Lakers. If you’ve seen Panda it’s not hard to imagine it being thought up by exactly that kind of dude. He claims he pitched the idea for a movie about a kung-fu loving panda and his tiger, leopard, snake, crane, monkey, and tortoise companions to DreamWorks way back in 2001. All of those characters were indeed present in Kung Fu Panda, with a few additions.

Sounds plausible, right? Particularly since the lead character in his pitch was a panda who wanted to learn Kung Fu. That’s pretty specific. But aside from that, most of the idea is pretty general, really. Part of what makes Kung Fu Panda so great is that it takes a fairly universal idea and makes something special out of it. Would this guy’s involvement have made the movie any better? Probably not. Maybe it was his pitch, I suppose we’ll find out in court, but I’m not sure I care. If he’d written a script and they’d stolen it, then I’d be up in arms about this; but I’ve never felt all that comfortable with the notion that guys who simply wander around and say “hey what if we made a movie that did this…” get big paychecks to begin with. Give him a sawbuck and send him on his way.

Pixar launched the world of computer animation with Toy Story, but DreamWorks Animation wasn't far behind. Other animation studios have come and gone, but since the beginning of the CGI feature format back in the 90s it's been DreamWorks and Pixar going head to head, and since the beginning there's been almost no question that Pixar is better. DreamWorks movies may make tons of money, yet everybody knows Pixar's the king of animation. After all, they've never made a Shrek the Third. Maybe that's true, but Pixar isn't better at everything.

This weekend you'll see some of the things DreamWorks does best showcased in their fantastic new movie How To Train Your Dragon. Pixar may continue to get all the awards, but here's a quick look at just a few of the things DreamWorks does better.

The Bigger The Better

If you take The Incredibles out of the equation, you'll see a pattern in Pixar's movies. They've made an art form out of taking something big and making it incredibly intimate. In WALL-E they took a huge, outer-space adventure and made it about one, tiny robot in one specific place. Ratatouille takes place almost entirely in one restaurant, Toy Story in one small bedroom, Cars takes a character out of the big wide world and confines him to one tiny town. DreamWorks on the other hand, thinks bigger. They take small stories and make them massive. In How To Train Your Dragon the troubles of one, nerdy boy lead to a big, wide world full of thousands of dragons and Viking warriors, sailing the seas and doing battle. In Over the Hedge the problems of one, small group of animals burst out and take over an entire neighborhood. In Kung Fu Panda mountains and villages are swept up in the battle between a master and his student. In Monsters vs. Aliens, um well, gigantic monsters fight even more gigantic aliens. DreamWorks makes epics on a massive scale, stories of size and breadth, wide-open spaces and eye-popping vistas. When they get it just right, even Pixar can't do it better.

Once Upon A Time...

Pixar has largely left the fairy godmothers and magical weddings to their older sisters at Disney. Maybe that's because it's just not their thing, or maybe it's because DreamWorks has changed the fairy tale formula forever. Ever since Shrek introduced its fractured world in 2001, DreamWorks has had its stamp on the stone castles and square-jawed princes, making it so even Disney had to play catch-up with the deliberately silly Enchanted. Even though the Shrek movies eventually fell off in quality, the recent DreamWorks gems have all used the fairy tale formula as their backbone, stories about unlikely heroes brought into greatness. There's no real magic in those movies, unless you count the crazy meteor of Monsters vs. Aliens, but they all have the same generosity and optimism that made us root for Rapunzel and The Gingerbread Man, all those original characters that Shrek made such fun of. They've built a reputation as the studio that breaks fairy tales down, but really, they're keeping the spirit alive for another generation.

Adventure Has A New Name!

Up made you cry, admit it. That's where Pixar's movies are at their best; they're built, all of them, on making an emotional connection between their characters and the audience. They're brilliant at it and the truth is DreamWorks has never, even at their best, been able to pull that off quite as well. Instead, they sell adventure. Pixar's movies may make you think, or make you cry, or make you call someone and tell them they're loved, but DreamWorks wants you to feel the wind in your hair or wow you with an incredible kung fu kick. Their films, all of them, are pure escapism. Pixar may carry you away to a different place, but DreamWorks sends you there on a rocket-powered school bus driven by an amorphous blob named B.O.B. Their movies are faster and wilder, with a devil may care attitude. They don't stop and look around, for DreamWorks it's always time to turn the page and move on to the next big adventure.

Keep Animation Weird

When you enter Pixar world, you enter a world of smoothness, of class, of originality that's been polished to a sheen. DreamWorks is a much shaggier operation, which explains why many of their films have been outright disasters, but also how they create some of the weirdest, and funniest, films out there. They had the guts over a decade ago to create a villainous character purely to make fun of former Disney head Michael Eisner, then made an entire movie about a panda who is inexplicably the son of a goose. When they decided to adapt How To Train Your Dragon, with characters named Hiccup and Snotlout and Tuffnut, it should have come as no surprise-- that kind of eccentric but sweet humor is the thing DreamWorks has been perfecting ever since Shrek reluctantly left his swamp. Surprise can be a bad thing, especially when coming from a studio with a hugely imperfect track record, but when a DreamWorks film truly works-- as so many of their recent films have-- it's a delight to realize that you really have no idea what might be coming next out of those cracked heads.

Everyone Knows Pandas Wear Pants

Talking animals, once the staple of any respectable animated film, have been pushed to the wayside by the folks over at Pixar. Sure they did a rodent for Ratatouille, but when Pixar gives an animal a voice, they do it realistically. Ratatouille may speak human, but they're careful to make him think and act rodent. DreamWorks on the other hand, takes the Hanna-Barbera approach to talking furballs and does it just for the hell of it. Why is Po a slow moving, kung fu doing panda? No reason, it's just cool. Ever thought fish should be sexy? Me either, but DreamWorks tried to do it in Shark Tale. They've flirted with animal kingdom realism too, in movies like Antz, but they're not afraid to put a pair of floppy ears and a cold wet nose a character just for the hell of it. While Pixar teaches rats to cook, DreamWorks is busy creating the next Hong Kong Phooey. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I'm happy to live in a world where there's room for both.