There’s something incredibly comforting about knowing that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is currently filming a new season, since it means fans likely won’t need to wait forever to see the Gang back at it and making life and the planet worse, one hilarious episode at a time. Details about Season 18’s subject matter are few and far between, but Rob Mac seemed to just reveal the next big action franchise the show will be parodying late in the 2026 TV schedule.

With the show likely done bringing out sporadic “sequels” to 1987’s Lethal Weapon, it only makes sense for the Gang to take another beloved blockbuster franchise to repugnant levels. And what better inspiration than an even more influential action movie from a year later, DIe Hard? While not coming right out and confirming it, Rob Mac laid the puzzle pieces out in a way where it’s easy to bring them all together. Check out his Instagram post below.

Let's directly lay out the clues here for easier understanding.

1. That appears to be the Fox Executive building (a.k.a. Nakatomi Plaza) with fire Photoshopped onto it. That skyscraper is located behind the Fox lot where It's Always Sunny films.
2. The building explosion seems like a clear nod to Die Hard, as does the person falling face-up the way that Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber does in that infamous shot.
3. Rob Mac's caption of "There’s broken glass everywhere…" is a direct reference to the Season 3 episode "The Gang Gets Held Hostage," which also featured Die Hard nods.

I'd also like to throw the fact that Charlie Day and Danny DeVito appear to be wearing white T-shirts beneath the gray coveralls, but neither appears to be the kind of sleeveless shirt that Bruce Willis' John McClane wore . But I'm calling that the only strike against this assumption.

The alternate take would be if Rob Mac is just trying to pull a fast one on fans, and this is really just another reference to Lethal Weapon, with the falling body representing Riggs' suicidal tendencies. I doubt it, though.

Over the years, It’s Always Sunny has extended the Lethal Weapon franchise with a trio of installments that, while hilarious, did put the series in somewhat controversial waters when TV shows started removing eps from streaming for use of blackface. Most agree that the creative team’s abject self-awareness and satirical humor made it less of a flagrant offense than how some other projects handled things, but there's certainly something strange about seeing Emmy-winning actor and guest star Paul Walter Hauser going from Juggalo paint to blackface.

It sounds like It's Always Sunny may be taking a brief haitus later this month, as Rob Mac and his Welcome to Wrexham co-star Ryan Reynolds will soon be doing live commentary for a Wrexham match. As he put it on IG:

I suppose the Wrexham commentary could also be part of an Always Sunny episode, but that'd be too much art imitating life imitating art imitating li... Whoops, got carried away there.

So join me in hoping, wishing, praying and yippee-kiyaying for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Gang to pull a Die Hard in Season 18. Or else the German terrorists played by British actors win.

In the ‘80s, filmmakers loved setting great action movies around Christmas. I decided long ago not to engage in the well-worn Die Hard debate, and Lethal Weapon is usually another one people love to argue over whether it’s a Christmas movie or not. I’m not engaging in that debate either. No, I’m here to open a new debate. Is First Blood (or sometimes retroactively Rambo: First Blood) a Christmas movie? I say yes.

First Blood Takes Place In December

I suppose since it’s set in the lush Northwest United States, First Blood doesn’t stand out as taking place in the yuletide season. There is no snow, and the evergreens make it seem as though it could be in any part of the year, though it is obviously cold in the movie. It could be October or February; the weather in that part of the world is notoriously unpredictable, but it’s definitely set in December.

Of course, setting it in the month of Christmas doesn’t make it a Christmas movie, per se. However, in the first act of the movie, when Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is arrested by Sheriff Teasle (Brian Dennehy), it's made clear the movie has some Christmas… cheer. In the police station, all the Christmas decorations are up, like a tree and a “Merry Christmas” banner, so it’s no accident. The movie was definitely supposed to be set during the holiday season. That’s even more obvious when Rambo hits the streets of the small, quiet town and takes off on the motorcycle, and all the stories are decorated in their Christmas best.

We Can Argue Over Which ‘80s Action Movie Is The Best

If you want to have the argument over which of the “Big 3” ‘80s action Christmas movies is the best action movie, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon or First Blood, by all means, go for it. As much as I love Die Hard, First Blood might be my favorite. It’s not as quotable as the other two, that’s for sure, and it’s not as “fun” as either Die Hard or Lethal Weapon, but it’s just such a great movie. The rest of the Rambo film series doesn’t do much for me, but to be honest, the rest of the movies in the other franchises don’t do much for me, either.

If you’re not sure which is the best, or if you haven’t watched First Blood lately, then I recommend checking it again (or for the first time) with your Paramount+ subscription. In fact, now is the perfect time because there is a great Black Friday deal going on right now. After you finish off your turkey on Thursday, start getting into that festive mood by watching Sly Stallone terrorize a whole town full of hapless police officers in the woods of Oregon.

Whether it’s movies like Heat bringing massive stars together to create one of the best ‘90s movies, all-time great romantic comedies allowing America’s sweethearts to show off in front of adoring fans, or legendary sci-fi flicks showcasing the skills of up-and-comers and established stars, there have been a lot of movies that brought two heavyweight actors together.

Below are 32 such movies that brought such an incredible one-two punch, we still can’t believe they actually happened. But luckily, these castings did happen and they were pulled off really, really well.

Heat (Robert De Niro & Al Pacino)

Though they were technically both in The Godfather Part II, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino wouldn’t share a scene until more than 20 years later in Heat. Sure, their shared time on screen was minimal (this was a cat-and-mouse game, you know), but this Michael Mann epic was made all the better with these two heavyweights together at last.

Escape Plan (Sylvester Stallone & Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger had one of the biggest rivalries in Hollywood throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s as they competed for box office supremacy with all kinds of action movies. Well, they finally started working together in the 2010s with a series of movies that includes Escape Plan. Though The Expendables came first, that was more of an ensemble affair and Schwarzenegger was relegated to a brief cameo.

Collateral (Jamie Foxx & Tom Cruise)

When it comes to movies set in Los Angeles, few are as cool or thrilling as Collateral. Michael Mann’s 2004 thriller stars Jamie Foxx (just months before he won an Oscar) and Tom Cruise (one of his most menacing performances) as a cab driver and assassin, respectively, on a night neither will forget.

Fast Five (Vin Diesel & Dwayne Johnson)

Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson would go on to have one of the strangest Hollywood feuds in the years that followed, but the two Hollywood heavyweights first came together for Fast Five in 2011. A movie that forever changed the course of the Fast & Furious franchise, this wild heist adventure saw the two beefed-up and bald actors go at it in one of the series’ best fights.

You've Got Mail (Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan)

While it is true that You’ve Got Mail was the pair’s third movie together, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan weren’t really the massive stars they were when making Joe Versus the Volcano and Sleepless in Seattle. Hanks had earned two Oscars and Ryan had led several more rom-coms between their early films and this 1998 romantic comedy.

Waiting To Exhale (Angela Bassett & Whitney Houston)

Waiting to Exhale has a great cast from top to bottom (as well as a great original song), but it was wild seeing Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston share the screen in this iconic 1995 dramedy about a group of women navigating love, life, and friendship with each other by their sides.

A Few Good Men (Tom Cruise & Jack Nicholson)

Rob Reiner’s A Few Good Men has a cast that includes Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Cuba Gooding Jr., and so much more. But then you have Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson at the top of the list. Though they don’t share the screen for all that long, they were both part of the now iconic “You can’t handle the truth” courtroom scene, which has gone on to become one of the most universally known quotes of all time.

True Romance (Dennis Hopper & Christopher Walken)

The “Sicilian Scene” from True Romance will forever be remembered as one of the greatest cinematic moments of the 1990s, and that’s thanks to Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken (two absolute legends) giving it their all. Yeah, Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are the core of Tony Scott’s 1993 romantic crime drama, but these two heavyweights stole the show.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (Paul Newman & Robert Redford)

Paul Newman and Robert Redford could very well be one of the best on-screen pairings in Hollywood history. While The Sting is great and all, we have to talk about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid bringing these two legends together. From the start of the flick to that iconic ending (you know what we’re talking about), this movie is in a league of its own.

The Departed (Leonardo DiCaprio & Jack Nicholson)

Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, one of the best 2000s movies, has one of the director’s best group of actors, which is saying something. The two megastars at the top of the list? Well, none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, who are outrageously great together. No wonder this won Best Picture.

Bad Boys (Will Smith & Martin Lawrence)

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do when Will Smith and Martin Lawrence come for you? Well, moviegoers found out with the 1995 release of Bad Boys, a landmark buddy cop movie starring two of the biggest names on the planet at the time. Still on the rise, Smith and Lawrence became even bigger stars after his great Michael Bay movie came out.

Thelma & Louise (Susan Sarandon & Geena Davis)

Thelma & Louise is one of those movies that never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it. And while we would love to give Ridley Scott all the credit, or say Brad Pitt’s small part made a difference, let’s be real and acknowledge the work of Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as two on-the-run women with nothing but the open road (and open sky) ahead of them.

Marriage Story (Scarlet Johansson & Adam Driver)

Marriage Story brought together Scarlet Johansson and Adam Driver together in 2019, the same year they starred in box office juggernauts Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, respectively. And if we’re being honest, this Netflix original was actually the best of those three films.

Lethal Weapon (Mel Gibson & Danny Glover)

Lethal Weapon, the first in a franchise of legendary buddy cop movies, brought together Mel Gibson and Danny Glover for an outrageously funny and action-packed crime story about two cops from different walks of life trying to solve a case (and not kill one another). Riggs and Murtaugh are still one of the best duos, even after all these years.

Life (Eddie Murphy & Martin Lawrence)

Though both appeared in Boomerang earlier in the decade, Martin Lawrence was a star on the same level as Eddie Murphy when they teamed up for Life. This rude, crude, and incredible 1998 comedy about two convicts making the most out of life sentences is full of hilarious and unforgettable moments.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Harrison Ford & Sean Connery)

There are some out there who think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the best of the franchise, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. With Sean Connery coming on to play Harrison Ford’s on-screen dad, this 1989 adventure film was bigger, grander, and more epic than anything that came before it in this beloved franchise.

The Mexican (Julia Roberts & Brad Pitt)

Gore Verbinski’s The Mexican may not be the best movie or even the most successful to feature Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, but these two were at or near the peak of their fame when this 2001 crime film was released. Coming out nine months before they shared the screen in Ocean’s Eleven, this oft-forgotten romance film brought the pair together.

Bruce Almighty (Jim Carrey & Morgan Freeman)

After both became two of the biggest stars of ‘90s Hollywood, Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman shared the screen in 2003’s Bruce Almighty, with the latter playing God (can you imagine anyone else playing the divine being?). Though they didn’t have all that much time together, these two legends made the most of it to create some utterly hilarious moments.

Night At The Museum (Ben Stiller & Robin Williams)

The Night at the Museum movies have all kinds of great pairings, but the original did it best with Ben Stiller as a lowly nighttime security guard and the late Robin Williams as a wax figure of a former United States President that comes to life at night. We could watch these two riff until the sun comes up, and luckily that’s what happened in two subsequent sequels.

Men In Black (Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones)

Here comes the Men in Black! This 1997 comedy, which came out a few years into Will Smith’s unprecedented run at the box office, saw the Fresh Prince share the screen with Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones. The pair of secret agents tasked with protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats have since become one of the best onscreen duos and two characters that’ll never get old.

The Fugitive (Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones)

Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones came together for one of the best 1993 movies when they shared the screen in The Fugitive. This great movie based on a classic TV show saw Ford’s Dr. Richard Kimble on the run after being falsely convicted of murdering his wife with Jones Samuel Gerard leading a team of U.S. Marshals to find him.

Mamma Mia! (Meryl Streep & Pierce Brosnan)

Mamma Mia! had great songs, unforgettable moments, and one of the best casts of the 2000s. While we could talk about Stellan Skarsgård, or Amanda Seyfried, or even Colin Firth, we have to point out that this Abba-influenced musical brought Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan together on screen, and it was marvelous.

The Nice Guys (Russell Crowe & Ryan Gosling)

Shane Black gave the world one of the great modern buddy crime flicks in 2016 with the release of The Nice Guys. Featuring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as a pair of down-on-their-luck guys tasked with solving a mystery, this throwback was so much fun. It’s a shame we never got a sequel.

Ocean's Eleven (George Clooney & Brad Pitt)

The ensemble cast from Ocean’s Eleven has talent up and down the roster and has some heavyweights from multiple generations of Hollywood. But let’s be real, this movie brought George Clooney and Brad Pitt together, a relationship that has given us nearly a half-dozen other great films in the 24 years since its release.

La La Land (Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone)

The third time’s the charm, right? Well, that was the case for Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who were electric in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. Taking on the roles of two young lovers forced to decide between following their dreams and having a great relationship, these two sing, dance, and shine throughout this beloved musical.

Independence Day (Will Smith & Jeff Goldblum)

Years before Jeff Goldblum became one of social media’s favorite (and strangest) stars, he was something of a Hollywood leading man. Between his first two stints as Dr. Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park franchise, Goldblum shared the screen with Will Smith in Independence Day, aka, one of the highest-grossing films of 1996. These two, who were on top of their game, became an unlikely duo.

Batman Returns (Michael Keaton & Danny DeVito)

Michael Keaton, as Batman, and Danny DeVito, as the Penguin, in 1992’s Batman Returns, was one of the oddest pairings of the ‘90s. But don’t let this make you think it didn’t work, as these two Hollywood heavyweights were oddly great together in Tim Burton’s second and final comic book movie set in Gotham.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey)

Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson were two of the biggest stars on the planet when they teamed up in 2003 for How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. This wildly funny rom-com, which preceded their Fool’s Gold adventure comedy by five years, further helped both actors rise through the ranks of Hollywood.

Jungle Cruise (Emily Blunt & Dwayne Johnson)

It’s crazy we never got a movie starring Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson before 2021’s Jungle Cruise, but we’re glad these two electric stars shared the screen. One of the best movies based on a Disney attraction, this throwback adventure film had action, peril, humor, and some romance before it was all said and done.

Central Intelligence (Dwayne Johnson & Kevin Hart)

Love them or hate them, there’s no denying Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart’s on-screen chemistry. Shortly before they starred in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, these two shared the screen in Central Intelligence. A good movie? No, not really, but these two had so much fun together.

Face/Off (John Travolta & Nicolas Cage)

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are two of the most unforgettable actors (for better or worse) in the history of Hollywood, and they crossed paths and swapped faces in John Woo’s Face/Off. This absurdly awesome action flick about an FBI agent and global terrorist swapping faces is as ridiculous as it sounds.

Righteous Kill (Robert De Niro & Al Pacino)

Those who were mad about Robert De Niro and Al Pacino never having a face-to-face interaction (at least on screen) in Heat were in for some good news when Righteous Kill hit the big screen in 2008. Is it a great movie? No, not really. But hey, it has two of the biggest actors of all time sharing scene after scene.

We’re all getting too old for this shit. And by that, I mean sequels to Lethal Weapon. The original buddy-cop thriller launched Mel Gibson and Danny Glover into the pantheon of Hollywood action heroes, and spawned three sequels that grew the franchise family to include Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and more. There has been talk about a Lethal Weapon 5 for years now, with Gibson even offering to direct the movie after the death of original director Richard Donner in 2021. Well, Gibson has an update on Lethal Weapon 5, and it’s a bit of Great News… Terrible News.

The Braveheart director appears to be making a bit of a comeback after spending several years in direct-to-DVD purgatory. Gibson tarnished his own reputation with controversial off-screen behavior, but seems to be re-establishing himself in the industry. He’s the director of Flight Risk, a film starring Mark Wahlberg. There are rumors he’ll direct The Passion of the Christ 2. And during a recent appearance at FanX in Salt Lake City, Gibson once again was asked about the status of Lethal Weapon 5. To which the actor/director replied (via ABC4):

OK, that’s a lot to unpack. Personally, I consider the first Lethal Weapon to be one of the best action-comedies ever made. And its immediate sequel, Lethal Weapon 2, probably ranks as one of the best sequels… ever. Most of that comes down to the chemistry shared between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh – mismatched cops forced to work together who eventually form fraternal bonds. I’m not sure that the franchise needs another one. I’m immediately drawn to the tragedy that is A Good Day To Die Hard, the fifth installment in the Die Hard series that is a putrid excuse for a Die Hard movie, and one of the worst sequels known to mankind.

But Gibson calling this script “the best one of the whole series” makes me sit up straight and pay attention. This isn’t a fledgling director trying to drum up support and attention for his student project. This is Mel Gibson talking about a sequel probably not a lot of people think they need. And he thinks it can be the best entry in the series.

There have been attempts to make a new Lethal Weapon for years. And honestly, if they did one now, they would HAVE to address the reality that Gibson and Glover are 68 and 78, respectively. But, a story that factors in their age, and leans into the seriousness of a case as opposed to the slapstick that drove parts three and four in the series could be excellent. Imagine a dramatic Lethal Weapon 5 which finds these two characters confronting their own mortality? I want to see that movie.

At the same time, Mel Gibson is persona non grata in most corners of the studio system, and I’m assuming that’s why he can’t get this movie off the ground. Do we want it without Donner? So we want it with a very old Riggs and Murtaugh? I’d like to see them get one last chance to end the series on a high point. Especially after hearing Mel Gibson talk about the quality of the script he claims to have. We’ll report any updates on Lethal Weapon 5, if and when they happen.

One of the most iconic Black detectives in pop culture history is also one of Eddie Murphy’s funniest characters, Axel Foley, whom he's reprised in the 2024 Netflix movie, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. To celebrate Axel’s latest return to 90210, let’s take a look back at more of our favorite Black detectives from movies and TV shows, starting with the man of hour.

Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop)

The original Beverly Hills Cop from 1984 and its sequels are some of the funniest Eddie Murphy movies ever, particularly for Axel Foley’s blistering wit. Yet, he is also the right kind of detective you would want on your side for his commitment to getting the job done, even if he has to break a few rules along the way.

Virgil Tibbs (In The Heat Of The Night)

In 1967, trailblazing Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier gave one of his most inspiring performances in the Best Picture Oscar winner, In the Heat of the Night, as Virgil Tibbs, who falls prey to racial prejudice when he is wrongfully accused of a murder while visiting his mother in a small Mississippi town. However, the Philadelphia cop’s arrival proves to be a godsend, as Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) would have never solved the crime without the expert investigation skills and resilience of the one they call “Mister Tibbs.”

John Luther (Luther)

The title character of the long-running British crime drama, Luther, could be called the Sherlock Holmes of his time, in the sense that his unusual methods of investigation and alienating personality traits often rub his colleagues the wrong way and even put him in legal trouble. Audiences, however, cannot get enough of the Detective Chief Inspector — who returned for Netflix’s feature-length spin-off, Luther: The Fallen Sun — his brilliant criminal perception and the charming Idris Elba’s captivating, Golden Globe-winning performance.

John Shaft (Shaft)

The crown jewel of Richard Roundtree’s best movies is Shaft — the story of a suave, streetwise detective from New York City. The Oscar-winning 1971 classic and its sequels made this bad mother— “shut yo mouth” — the undisputed king of the Blaxploitation era.

Mike Lowery And Marcus Burnett (Bad Boys)

As the title — borrowed from Inner Circle’s 1987 reggae hit — suggests, Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) from director Michael Bay’s directorial debut, Bad Boys, are not ones to be messed with. What really makes the 1995 buddy cop movie favorite and its sequels such a fun time is the two detectives’ unbreakable bond, both on and off duty.

Faith Mitchell (Will Trent)

When GBI Special Agents Will Trent (Ramon Rodriguez) and Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson) were forced to work together, they could not stand each other, with Faith being especially ticked off by his uptight attitude and connection to her own mother’s stunted law enforcement career. However, the title hero of ABC’s fun detective drama came to respect and admire his partner — a single mother to a college student with a big heart, a strong intuition, and a powerful kick — just as she warmed to him for his keen eye for evidence.

Ricardo Tubbs (Miami Vice)

One of the most dynamic duos in the history of TV cop dramas is that of Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) and James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) on one of the best mystery TV shows of the ‘80s, Miami Vice. Between the two, Tubbs was the one whom audiences would hope to identify with the most, being the more laid back undercover detective.

Alex Cross (Kiss The Girls)

As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Alex Cross knows how to get into the mind of the most disturbing criminals in Washington D.C., which often comes in handy during the many times the perpetrators make his cases a personal matter. Author James Patterson’s flagship character was first brought to life on screen by Morgan Freeman in 1997’s Kiss the Girls and again in Along Came a Spider four years later, before Tyler Perry took over the role in Alex Cross in 2012.

William Somerset (Se7en)

Two years before he became the (first) face of Alex Cross, Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman was cast in David Fincher’s breakthrough masterpiece, Se7en, as William Somerset — a veteran detective showing the younger David Mills (Brad Pitt) the ropes while working on what is meant to be his last case. However, despite how much the increasingly unsettling investigation tears him up inside, Somerset apparently decides to stay on the force by the end, based on his agreement with the second half of Ernest Hemingway’s belief that “the world is a fine place and worth fighting for.”

Misty Knight (Luke Cage)

One of the most influential comic book characters with a disability is Mercedes “Misty” Knight, who became equipped with a bionic right arm after losing it in an attempt to defuse a bomb. The brave, intuitive, hard-fighting New York detective was portrayed wonderfully on Luke Cage by Simone Missick.

Easy Rawlins (Devil In A Blue Dress)

One of the few and most esteemed Black characters in old-fashioned noir fiction is Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins — first introduced in Walter Mosley’s 1990 novel, Devil in a Blue Dress. In the book’s 1995 adaptation, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington portrayed the World War II veteran who falls into the world of private investigation when his street smart intellect gets him enlisted to find a politician’s missing lover.

Roger Murtaugh (Lethal Weapon)

We wish we had a nickel for every time Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) proclaimed he was “getting too old for this shit” in one of the all-time greatest action movies, 1987’s Lethal Weapon, and its sequels. However, despite his age and no matter how uproarious his cases with his loose-canon partner, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), would get, the L.A. cop continued to fight.

Neal Washington (Hill Street Blues)

One of the best cop dramas of its time, if not all time, is Hill Street Blues, which boasted a diverse cast of characters, including standout Neal Washington (Emmy nominee Taurean Blacque). Known for his trademark toothpick and cap, the undercover veteran officer was a stern individual, but with a track record that earned him much respect and admiration from his peers.

Cleopatra Jones (Cleopatra Jones)

While the aforementioned John Shaft was the King of Blaxploitation, its queen would have to be… well, Pam Grier, who never actually played a cop in any of her most iconic roles from the era. However, when it came to ass-kicking Black females in official law enforcement positions in the 1970s, no one was better and badder than the title character of Cleopatra Jones — an undercover government agent played by Tamara Dobson in the 1973 hit and its 1975 sequel, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold.

Ron Stallworth (BlacKkKlansman)

In the early 1970s, Ron Stallworth became the first Black cadet at the Colorado Springs police department before going on to lead a secret operation to infiltrate the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. He later chronicled this previously classified operation in his memoir, which was adapted into director Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning film, BlacKkKlansman, in which Stallworth was portrayed by John David Washington.

These are only some of our favorite examples of Black detectives in pop culture. Follow the clues and seek more of them out!

While we consider ourselves firm believers in the phrase, “a hero is only as good as their villain,” there are some villains whom we actually prefer over their heroes. While everybody loves a good and earnest antagonist who invokes genuine fear, those characters are not quite as memorable as the exuberant, and, in many cases, just plain ridiculous psychopaths who may not win in the end, but do manage to steal the show. We took a look back at some of the best action movies of all time and found some of our favorite examples of scenery-chewing, over-the-top villains.

Howard Payne (Speed)

The late Dennis Hopper has many an over-the-top villain in his versatile resume, but he gives one of his most absorbing and truly convincing performances of the like as Howard Payne in Speed. Established early on as "crazy, not stupid" in Jan de Bont's 1994 directorial debut, the mad bomber would prefer to be called "eccentric." Regardless, his idea of putting a speed-controlled explosive device on a bus is certainly not stupid, but very much qualifies as crazy.

Clarence Boddicker (RoboCop)

You can tell that Kurtwood Smith was destined to play the absurdly strict sitcom dad Red Forman in the That '70s Show cast from his performance as Clarence Boddicker in Paul Verhoeven's 1987, RoboCop. His almost hilariously sadistic approach to crime — from physically and verbally abusing his henchpeople over nothing and spouting beautiful one-liners to accompany his cruel acts — makes him one of the best movie villains of the 1980s.

Simon Phoenix (Demolition Man)

Demolition Man is an essential example of an over-the-top action movie for many reasons and among them — in addition to the weird three seashells bit — is Wesley Snipes' performance as a terrorist out of time, Simon Phoenix. Never has the actor played a role with such free-wheeling whimsey, which lends beautifully to the 1993 futuristic thriller's intentionally absurdist tone.

Immortan Joe (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Out of the many bizarre antagonists from the Mad Max movies, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) from 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road might be the maddest of them all by aesthetic alone. The Wasteland warlord's heavily decorated, transparent body plate and oxygen mask bearing a toothy grin are certainly intimidating, but we would never be able to fault anyone for snickering at the peculiar ensemble either.

Norman Stansfield (The Professional)

We are always so excited to see Gary Oldman play a bad guy because it is those types of roles that tend to garner the best results from the Academy Award winner's chameleonic talents. Case in point: morally and psychologically corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield, who forever changed the way we perceive the word "everyone" in Luc Besson’s 1994 classic, The Professional.

The Joker (The Dark Knight)

Heath Ledger might not have won his post-humous Academy Award for his now iconic portrayal of The Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight if he had ever taken a single moment to dial himself down from 11. While the performance naturally borders on comical, it also keeps us on the edge of our seats and reminds us why the Clown Prince of Crime is not the kind of clown you want to laugh at.

Bodhi (Point Break)

In 1991’s Point Break, even after after he discovers that his new friend, Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) is actually a federal agent, Ex-Presidents leader Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) has no interest in dismantling his group's operation. Why? Because to him, robbing banks is never about the money, but about feeling the ultimate rush that even surfing the biggest and most dangerous tidal wave imaginable would not provide.

William Strannix (Under Siege)

You would have to be careful using the word "insane" around William Strannix (Tommy Lee Jones) in 1992’s Steven Seagal-led favorite, Under Siege. However, the disgraced former CIA operative is kind of asking for it by seizing control of a U.S. battleship, his '80s hair band-esque fashion sense, and his general manner of being, really.

Agent Smith (The Matrix)

As Agent Smith in the Matrix movies, Hugo Weaving accomplishes a rare balancing act for antagonistic portrayal. While maintaining a straight, nearly emotionless face for most of his performance, he still manages to express an unsettling, voracious rage brewing from within in each and every mannerism.

Castor Troy (Face/Off)

The only villain on our list who is portrayed in the same movie by two different actors — and with mind-blowing results from both — is Castor Troy in John Woo's already over-the-top, 1997 classic, Face/Off. Nicolas Cage initially plays the demented terrorist in one of his most definitively unplugged roles before a face-swapping procedure with FBI agent Sean Archer allows John Travolta to go wild.

Ernst Stavro Blofeld (You Only Live Twice)

Donald Pleasance's scenery-chewing performance as the scarred, cat-petting Spectre leader Blofeld in You Only Live Twice would come to define common traits of most James Bond movie villains. The fact that Mike Myers did not divert too far from his appearance and overall demeanor when playing Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers movies really says a lot about how wonderfully weird this portrayal was.

The Sheriff Of Nottingham (Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves)

Alan Rickman's most memorable villainous role is easily Hans Gruber from Die Hard, who is an action movie antagonist we would never quite call "over-the-top." That is why we also have a soft spot for his portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which sees him as his most irresistibly animated and deliciously dastardly.

Edward "The Riddler" Nygma (Batman Forever)

In one of Jim Carrey's most memorable quotes from 1995’s Batman Forever, he asks if he is too "over-the-top,” after bellowing about being a “god” while wearing a sequined jumpsuit. Indeed, his now iconic performance as Edward Nygma (a.k.a., The Riddler) is one of most extreme and cartoonish of all of the live-action Batman movies.

Cyrus Grisson (Con Air)

It is rare to see Nicolas Cage get out-Caged by one of his co-stars, but John Malkovich absolutely runs away with the show in 1997’s Con Air. As Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom, he takes a stuffed rabbit hostage, uses his own name as a deadly pun ("Cy!" "-onara!"), and other memorably riotous moments while leading a prison plane revolt. 

Zorg (The Fifth Element)

Where shall we start with Gary Oldman's Zorg, Gary Oldman from 1997's The Fifth Element — the Southern accent, the haircut complete with a transparent dome covering his bald half, or his flamboyant wardrobe? If not for that scary black goo emitting from his forehead for whatever reason, we might not be able to take him seriously at all.

Richmond Valentine (Kingsman: The Secret Service)

The fact that Richmond Valentine is a character played none other than Samuel L. Jackson with a lisp is enough to put him in the over-the-top category. However, the main antagonist of 2015's Kingsman: The Secret Service has plenty more ammunition than that — such as his choice to serve dinner guests McDonald's and an apparent self-awareness of being a spy movie villain.

Mr. Joshua (Lethal Weapon)

Academy Award nominee Gary Busey has played a number of memorable antagonistic roles, but none match the intensity of Mr. Joshua in 1987’s Lethal Weapon. The moment he shows his undying loyalty to General Peter McAllister by letting him burn his hand with a Zippo is equal parts disturbing and uproarious.

Jaws (The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker)

Played by Richard Kiel, the towering James Bond henchperson known as "Jaws" gets his name from his set of metal chompers. While not the primary antagonist of 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me, his almost absurdly unique appearance made him memorable enough to return for Moonraker two years later.

Captain Bennett (Commando)

Out of all of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best movies, 1985’s Commando boasts one of the most intelligent and truly fearsome antagonists in Bennett. Still, he earns a spot on this list for the way Australian actor Vernon Wells plays the sadistic military captain like a giddy schoolboy at times.

Lord Humungus (The Road Warrior)

When George Miller first steered the Mad Max franchise right into its post-apocalyptic era with 1981’s The Road Warrior, he introduced an appropriately mad villain in the form of Lord Humungus (Kjell Nilsson). Like fellow Wasteland warlord Immortan Joe, the hulking leader of the Marauders earns his over-the-top reputation by his attire alone, which resembles a medieval Jason Voorhees of sorts. 

Sho'Nuff (The Last Dragon)

Actor Julius Carry certainly lives up to his name by the way he “carries” 1985’s The Last Dragon as Sho’Nuff. From his boisterous swagger to his wicked hairstyle and attire, the self-described “Shogun of Harlem” makes this cheesy martial arts flick an essential selection of B-movie cinema.

Luther (The Warriors)

Rival gang leader Luther causes the titular gang from The Warriors a whole lot of trouble in Walter Hill's 1979 favorite. However, actor David Patrick Kelly made the character an icon in one classic improvised moment in which he entices his rivals to "come out to play" while clinking three glass bottles together with his fingers.

Harvey "Two-Face" Dent (Batman Forever)

It is ironic to learn that, according to Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones told his Batman Forever co-star that he could not “sanction [his] buffoonery.” Anybody who has seen Joel Schumacher’s debut DC film would probably agree that the Oscar winner surprisingly out-crazies Carrey’s Riddler with his performance as Two-Face.

Oddjob (Goldfinger)

As far as James Bond movie henchpeople go, Oddjob (Harold Sakata) from 1964’s Goldfinger, might be the most recognizable. Yet, how could you forget a character who preys on his victims with a razor-sharp bowler hat?

Wez (The Road Warrior)

While Lord Humungus may be the central antagonist of The Road Warrior — George Miller's first follow-up to Mad Max — the, arguably, more iconic villain is his right-hand man, Wez (Vernon Wells). Like Humungus, the maniacal motorhead already makes an impression with his one-of-a-kind look — from his red-tinged mohawk to his football and leather chaps — but his hot temper makes him a real force to be reckoned with in the Wasteland.

Dr. Victor "Mr. Freeze" Fries (Batman & Robin)

If there is any reason to be a fan of 1997’s Batman & Robin, it has to be Arnold Schwarzenegger’s explosively hammy performance as Mr. Freeze. His increasingly infantile ice puns — such as “What killed the dinosaurs? The Ice Age!” and “Let’s kick some ice!” — lend to some of the funniest Batman movie moments and make the otherwise widely reviled DC flick a laugh riot worth revisiting.

Ming The Merciless (Flash Gordon)

The great Max von Sydow disappears into the role of galactic emperor, Ming the Merciless, in the 1980 adaptation of of Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon comic strip. His performance as the Earthling-hating monarch — and those eyebrows especially — are key to the space opera’s irresistibly campy tone.

Ma-Ma (Dredd)

There is nothing particularly absurd or even remotely funny about Lena Headey's performance as Madeline "Ma-Ma" Madrigal in 2012's underrated comic book flick, Dredd. However, her use of excessive violence is what really pushes her over the top.

Ramon Cota (Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection)

Billy Drago shared the screen with Chuck Norris in multiple titles, but their finest dance was in Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection. The 1990 sequel saw the actor at his most frightening, but also uproarious at times, as the ruthless, sniveling Ramon Cota. 

Major Chip Hazard (Small Soldiers)

In director Joe Dante’s somewhat family-friendly, underrated ‘90s flick, Small Soldiers, a line of military action figures become equipped with an A.I. that leads them to start a legitimately dangerous conflict. The war-mongering Commando Elite are led by Major Chip Hazard — a combination of every laughable war movie cliche rolled into one character, who could have only been voiced by Tommy Lee Jones.

Max Zorin (A View To Kill)

Academy Award winner Christopher Walken is one of Hollywood’s most skilled masters in the art of over-the-top acting and an essential example of this comes from 1985’s A View to Kill. Facing off against Roger Moore’s James Bond, Walken dons a bleach-blonde hairdo and an unrecognizable accent as the dastardly Max Zorin.

Pamela "Poison Ivy" Isley (Batman & Robin)

Even before passionate botanist Dr. Pamela Isley undergoes a physical and psychological transformation into the seductive Poison Ivy, she already seems pretty unbalanced. Of course, it when Uma Thurman channels the old-fashioned femme fatale persona and turns the heat up to the highest degree is when she really makes a case for Batman & Robin being a “one-woman show.”

We would watch a whole team-up movie with these villains together.

Yes, I'm well aware that Father's Day is still a ways off. But, as a father myself, and as somebody who is enamored with the best action movies of all time (and projecting myself into said movies), I'm always a sucker for good dads in action flicks.

Unsurprisingly, I'm not alone, as there are a multitude of fighting fathers at the multiplexes, which just proves that ass-kicking daddy is a popular sub-genre, and definitely wish fulfillment. 

Sure, it's cool to imagine yourself on the big screen (or in an action movie that went right to streaming), being an ass kicking ladies man, a la all those James Bond movies. But, it's even cooler imagining yourself as a papa who could also whoop some ass. So, here are some of the best dads in action movies. Oh, and son. Hold my beer.  

John McClane (Die Hard Series) 

We don’t learn much about John McClane’s children until Parts 4 and 5, which are Live Free or Die Hard, and A Good Day to Die Hard, respectively. But, they’re very interesting relationships, nonetheless. 

His daughter, Lucy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), is not a fan of her father in Part 4, even going so far as to change her last name. But, when she gets taken hostage by a cyberterrorist, you know Papa John is coming to the rescue. And rescue her he does! They’re back on speaking terms after these heroic events. 

In Part 5, which is my LEAST favorite movie of the Die Hard series, we get introduced to his son, John, or Jack, played by Jai Courtney. John is actually as badass as his father, who fights with him in Russia. But, one thing is certain about John McClane, played by the incomparable Bruce Willis (Who our very own Sean O’Connell wrote a whole book about!): Whoever you are, you do not mess with his kids.  

John Matrix (Commando) 

In the greatest action movie of all time (I said what I said), Arnold Schwarzenegger plays John Matrix, a mountain of a man who will stop at nothing to rescue his daughter, Jenny (Alyssa Milano). Here’s the plot: A dictator wants to use John in order to get back into power, and he’s going to kidnap Matrix’s daughter as a means to fulfill his goal. But, he messed with the wrong dude.

Because you just can’t stop John Matrix! Sure, you can try to take him hostage on an airplane, but he’s the kind of man who will break the guy’s neck next to him, and then get off the plane from the wheel compartment. Hell, you’re going to need a small army to keep him from his daughter, and not even that will help you.  

Bryan Mills (Taken Series)  

We all know this, but Bryan Mills’ victims might not be aware that he has “a very particular set of skills.”  But, they soon learn as such when they kidnap his daughter, Kim, played by Maggie Grace. It sets Mills (Liam Neeson) off on a trek to kill the people who kidnapped her.

Mills is the kind of dad you don’t want to bring your boyfriend home to. He seems pleasant enough, but he’s also so protective of his daughter, that you would be walking on eggshells anytime you’re around him, especially if you’re in a kitchen full of knives. Funnily (or stupidly) enough, another bad guy attempted to take his daughter in Taken 3. But, we all know how that ended, and it definitely wasn’t in the bad guy’s favor.  

President James Marshall (Air Force One) 

You wanna talk about fathers? Well, how about our founding fathers, with one of them being George Washington. Known for his bravery and cunning, many Americans consider Washington to be one of America’s greatest presidents, and (check out this segue), one could argue that James Marshall, played by Harrison Ford, is one of America’s greatest movie presidents. 

Quite frankly, Marshall does not negotiate with terrorists. Which is bad news for Egor Korshunov (Gary Oldman), as Marshall isn’t just some pushover president. Nah. He fought in Vietnam and even won the Medal of Honor for his duties. So, mistake #1 was hijacking the plane, but mistake #2 (and this was the even bigger mistake), was taking his wife and daughter hostage. Because that’s what really set him off. Of course the bad guys lose and the good guy wins, because America. Amirite?  

Cameron Poe (Con Air) 

Since we’re already on the topic of planes, let’s talk about Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage), in the awesome (but sometimes nonsensical) ‘90s movie, Con Air. Poe, who went to jail for defending his wife, is the kind of father who will make sure you die if you even dare tamper with the bunny (Just put it back in the box!) that he got for his daughter. 

In a lot of ways, everything he does here is to be back home with his family. Because he was locked up for eight years, he’s going to be coming home to a daughter he didn’t really get to watch grow up. So, that’s why there’s nobody on earth (Or in the air!) who’s going to stop him from seeing his daughter.  

Sean Archer (Face/Off)  

Since we’re on the topic of Nicolas Cage, who I’m always happy to talk about, why not transition over to another ‘90s classic, Face/Off, starring Nic Cage and John Travolta? 

Now, this is going to be a tricky one to describe if you’ve never seen the movie, but John Travolta plays Sean Archer, whose son dies early on, due to Castor Troy, a terrorist played by Cage. Due to a series of events, though, Travolta’s face gets swapped with Cage’s so their roles flip. Now, Cage becomes “the good guy,” and Travolta is bad.

No matter whose face he has, Sean is a good dad (even though he’d been neglecting his wife and daughter while going after Troy). When he realizes how he’s been so single-minded in his pursuit, he learns the true value of being a parent. So much so, that he’s even willing to adopt his rival’s son just to keep him from a life of crime. What a mensch! 

Roger Murtaugh (Lethal Weapon Series)  

Okay, enough of the ‘90s. Let’s talk about the ‘80s, and Lethal Weapon! Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover, is a family man, through-and-through. He’s a Vietnam vet, and will do anything for his kids, such as try to rescue his daughter, Rianne (Traci Wolfe), who gets kidnapped in the first movie by a cartel.

Or, how about how awful he feels in Lethal Weapon 3, when he kills his son’s friend, and then declines mentally due to his guilt? In every way, Murtaugh is the kind of dad who isn’t perfect, but tries his damn best each and every day. And, I can relate as a parent. Because just like Murtaugh, I’m getting too old for this ish.  

Ogami Itto (Lone Wolf And Cub Series) 

On the surface, Ogami Itto (Tomisaburo Wakayama) seems like he might actually be a bad parent. I mean, what kind of dad brings his child into combat where he could die at any point? But, Itto actually presented his baby with an ultimatum: Choose the sword, and he could come with him. Choose the ball, and he would die at his father’s hand. 

Yeah, that still sounds pretty bad, but at the same time, bringing a baby carriage into combat is certainly a hindrance. Itto is ride or die now that he’s committed to taking his son along on his quest for vengeance. Hey, his kid even contributes, killing along the way as well. You know what they say! The family that slays together, stays together. That is what they say, don’t they? 

Dr. Henry Jones Sr. (Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade)  

While I’ll debate with you all day which is the better Indy sequel–Last Crusade or Temple (It’s Temple!), what I won’t debate with you is what a fascinating father Dr. Henry Jones (Sean Connery) is to Indy (Which was the dog’s name!). At first, he seems aloof to his child, as they don’t quite see eye-to-eye. But, throughout their journey together for the Holy Grail, we learn just how similar they actually are to each other. 

It’s also worth noting that Senior truly loves his son, and that it was hard for him to deal with his wife’s death. In turn, Indy truly loves his dad. But, like many contentious families, they’re more alike than they’re ever willing to admit. 

 Who’s your favorite dad in an action movie?  

Although Godzilla vs. Kong started off with the two titular Titans coming to blows, by the end of the fourth MonsterVerse movie, they later joined forces to battle a common enemy, Mechagodzilla. For Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, one of the major tentpole releases on the 2024 movies schedule, these gigantic beasts will team up once again, though that’s not to say they’re now on great terms with one another. In fact, their begrudging alliance was inspired by a classic buddy cop movie, and now I’m even more pumped for the next MonsterVerse installment.

In an interview with Empire, director Adam Wingard mentioned that 1987’s Lethal Weapon is one of his favorite buddy cop movies, and he channeled the dynamic between Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs and Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. As he explained:

So when we reunite with the MonsterVerse’s versions of Godzilla and Kong, there’s an understanding that these two are supposed to remain on their respective turfs, with Godzilla calling the shots on the surface and Kong running things down in Hollow Earth following Skull island becoming inhospitable. They’ll have to come together again for the greater good, but just like how Riggs and Murtaugh’s partnership got off to a rough start in the first Lethal Weapon movie, it won’t be smooth sailing this time around for the reptile and gorilla. Side note, my money’s on Godzilla being the one most likely to say, “I’m getting too old for this shit.”

Godzilla and Kong will have to put aside their differences when a fellow member of Kong’s species known as the Skar King starts causing trouble for both the Titans and humanity. While it remains to be seen what makes the Skar King such a formidable threat, the good news is that our two towering protagonists will up their game in the movie. Godzilla is now glowing pink, which some fans speculate is because he can now channel gamma radiation, and Kong will somehow obtain the B.E.A.S.T. Glove, which I suspect will boost his strength.

In addition to the aforementioned Titans, along with the “Mini-Kong” known as Suko, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’s cast of human characters includes Rebecca Hall’s Dr. Ilene Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry’s Bernie Hayes, Kaylee Hottle’s Jia and Dan Stevens’ Trapper, as well as Alex Ferns, Fala Chen and Rachel House in undisclosed roles. Adam Wingard crafted the story with Terry Rossio and Simon Barrett, and the latter two wrote the script with Jeremy Slater.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opens in theaters on March 29. Remember that the first four MonsterVerse movies can be streamed with a Max subscription, and if you’re interested in checking out the franchise’s TV shows, Skull Island and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, you’ll need a Netflix subscription and Apple TV+ subscription, respectively. 

Detective shows easily belong in the conversation for “most popular genre of television.” If anything trumps them, it would be medical drama, but both have fueled countless hours of TV for decades, giving employment to some of our most dependable character actors and entertaining audiences for generations. Very few of us are going to forget the likes of 24, NYPD Blue, Miami Vice, or any of the ongoing NCIS series. These are genre staples. But the following list digs a little deeper to remind you of a few classics in the Detective genre that might have flown under your radar, or that you once wanted to catch up on but never found the time. So long as you can find them on streaming, these shows definitely are worth your time. 

Elementary

You can’t go wrong with Sherlock Holmes as your primary character. But while Benedict Cumberbatch was revising the classic detective for the BBC’s Sherlock, Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu modernized the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for a sharp detective series that offered a fun spin on the classic side character of Irene Adler (Natalie Dormer), as well as Moriarty.

Cop Rock

Who doesn’t want splashy musical numbers with their police procedural? Cop Rock combined musicals with cop shows (hence the title), and came from creator Steven Bochco – Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue – so people assumed his credentials would lead to success. It didn’t, but this remains an interesting experiment.  

Father Dowling Mysteries

Here’s a successful format for high-performing mystery series. Take a beloved television veteran, and drop them into a detective mold that has a unique hook. You will see this template used often (we’ll keep calling it out), and it’s used well when Happy Days icon Tom Bosley took on the role of a Catholic priest investigating all sorts of crimes around Chicago.

Quincy M.E.

Similar to Tom Bosley stepping into a priest’s outfit, vintage Odd Couple veteran Jack Klugman rediscovered fame and celebrity when he played Quincy for the long-running medical detective series. Quincy M.E. blended crime and medical genres, with Klugman playing an L.A. medical examiner who finds himself solving multiple murders. And it was a huge hit, producing nearly 150 episodes.

Jake and the Fatman

I’m not sure you could get away with calling a television character The Fatman anymore, but the moniker fit the legendary William Conrad to a tee. This beloved series split time between L.A. and Hawaii, and gave Conrad’s character a memorable pet bulldog named Max, who probably deserved his own spinoff. 

Fish

Back in the day, Hollywood looked at Abe Vigoda and thought, “Prime time television star.” Mind you, Vigoda was spinning off of the wildly popular Barney Miller television series, And Fish focused on the home life of Vigoda’s NYPD detective, Phil Fish. But still, the show was called Fish, and starred Vigoda. Strange times. 

Booker

Another spinoff, this one from a much younger cast and source material. 21 Jump Street followed baby-faced cops (including Johnny Depp) as they investigated crimes in area high schools. Because Depp quickly jumped to movies, the series introduced Richard Grieco as his rival Booker, and that character inspired a show of his own.   

Lethal Weapon

Hollywood can be a two-way street. Movies can inspire television shows, and TV shows can inspire films. We have seen good examples of both, and I admired what Lethal Weapon did with its tropes, not recreating Mel Gibson and Danny Glover but allowing Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans to make the characters their own. I also liked Thomas Lennon as Leo Getz, the Joe Pesci character from the movies.  

Rush Hour

Not every adaptation succeeds, even if it’s coming off of beloved source material. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan had a hit film franchise in Rush Hour, but bringing it to the small screen proved to be problematic for lead actors Justin Hires and Jon Foo, and audiences bailed after the first season.

The Night Of

Some of the best detective stories happen on HBO, and in a limited-series format. Nothing will probably top the haunting first season of True Detective, but Richard Price and Steven Zaillian came close to that level with they did The Night Of. My biggest regret is that we never got to see the late James Gandolfini in the part that eventually went to John Turturro, but the rest of the cast of this crime thriller was aces. 

Poker Face

This one ranks as “forgotten,” but also “forgot it existed,” because it’s available on the Peacock service. But man, is it brilliant, as the show follows Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) on a road trip across America where she stops off, gets embroiled in a complicated case, then uses her lie-detector personality to unmask a criminal. Lyonne is magnificent, and the writing is top of the line.    

Hunter

The 1980s were the heyday for weekly detective series. They weren’t complicated, and rarely packed a gimmick. They just had a tough cop doing the Dirty Harry approach to crime fighting. Fred Dryer was a one-time NFL player who found new life while acting, and his NBC series benefitted from the chemistry he enjoyed with co-star Stepfanie Kramer.

Remington Steele

Before James Bond, Pierce Brosnan was Remington Steele, a con artist and former thief who assumes the made-up name of the title to get closer to private investigator Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist). Everyone knew this was Brosnan doing Bond – the show’s pilot was called “License to Steele.” And thankfully, Brosnan got the chance to finally play 007 starting in 1995 with Goldeneye.  

Cagney & Lacey

There aren’t enough female-driven detective shows on this list (or, in the industry in general). Which might be why we fondly remember the entertaining Cagney & Lacey, which focused on career women and working mothers while it tackled police procedurals. For a stint, leads Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless dominated the Emmys for their work on that show… a streak that remains intact to this day.

T.J. Hooker

Almost everyone reading this list knows William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. But after Star Trek, Shatner found new life as veteran police sergeant T.J. Hooker of the fictional LCPD. T.J. Hooker is a memorable program, also because it helped to make Heather Locklear a household name. 

Wolf

In the television business, there’s Dick Wolf, and then everything else. In that “everything else” category you may recall Wolf, a late-80s private eye series that starred Jack Scalia in the title role. Tony Wolf was a good San Francisco cop who was framed for a crime and took a hard fall. Now he serves as … a fisherman? Trust me, it works in the show. 

Bones

David Boreanaz has enjoyed an excellent television career. After breaking out in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he parlayed that success into Angel, and currently entertains on SEAL Team. In between, though, he and the wonderful Emily Deschanel solved FBI cases using forensics in the riveting Bones, which found a new angle into the crime syndicate of shows. 

Limitless

Another television show trying to branch off of a movie. Only, Limitless takes its idea from a less-than-successful Bradley Cooper movie, doesn’t add a whole heck of a lot when it comes to new ideas, and then flounders after 22 episodes. Note to Hollywood: Adapt the good movies into TV shows. 

Hart to Hart

There’s an entire subgenre of detective TV shows that spark off a romance. Remington Steele fell into that category, as does Hart to Hart, a show created by famed novelist Sidney Sheldon that cast Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as a wealthy married couple who frequently solve crimes. It was breezy and fun, like a Sheldon paperback novel, and belongs on this list. 

Cannon

For a while, the name Quinn Martin was synonymous with quality television. The American TV producer backed shows like Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco, Banyon, and beyond. To that list, we add Cannon, which starred William Conrad as a street-smart former LAPD officer who had deep knowledge of all types of cultural topics. 

Wiseguy

Similar to Quinn Martin, producer Stephen J. Cannell was a brand that usually led to entertaining television. This one ended up going darker than other detective shows, as it allowed lead actor Ken Wahl to dig into the repercussions of being deep undercover for the FBI, and the toll it takes on a detective both physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Look for a young Jonathan Banks (pictured above) as Wahl’s handler. 

Simon & Simon

Pairings on detective shows didn’t all have to be romantic. In Simon & Simon, the series was constructed around brothers who run their own detective agency, even though they come at problems from completely different directions. That led to both drama and comedy that entertained on a weekly basis.

Hardcastle and McCormick

They don’t have to be brothers. In the case of Stephen J. Cannell’s Hardcastle and McCormick, the main protagonists were (checks notes) an eccentric judge and a race car driver. Sure, why not?

Mare of Easttown

One of my favorite realities of cable detective shows is that they occasionally lure top-tier movie star talent. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey in True Detective. Amy Adams for Sharp Objects. And the brilliant Kate Winslet in this blue-collar, beaten-down detective series that deserves a second season, people. 

Psych

There aren’t enough comedic detective shows. Which probably makes Psych the best one, and I’ll give it bonus points for being really clever. Kudos to James Roday Rodriguez for figuring out exactly how to play Shawn Spencer, an irreverent investigator who consistently impresses with his ability to observe situations. 

Karen Sisco

Currently, I can’t get enough of Carla Gugino in the shows of Mike Flanagan, from The Haunting of Hill House to the breathtaking The Fall of the House of Usher. You might not remember that before she shifted to horror, Gugino excelled as this character from the Elmore Leonard novels, in a colorful show for ABC that deserved more than one season. 

JAG

We have a few shows that currently explore crimes in the military. They all owe a little bit to JAG, the legal drama with a Naval theme that starred Catherine Bell and David James Elliott. The main characters were uniformed lawyers, but the show often required them to investigate complicated crimes.  Without JAG, we wouldn’t have NCIS or all of its mega-hit spinoffs. 

Nash Bridges

Sometimes, an actor’s personality is just too bright, and you have to work them into some program. Don Johnson had that radiance, It carried Miami Vice for years, and later in his career, lent credence to the lighthearted Nash Bridges. Johnson and Cheech Marin were a terrific duo, even earning a Nash Bridges movie after the TV series concluded. 

Crazy Like A Fox

Another entry in the "crafty older detective and savvy younger partner" genre (see: Hardcastle and McCormick), as well as in the "set in San Francisco" category. Crazy Like a Fox leaned on the charms of the irascible Jack Warden (The Verdict, Heaven Can Wait) as an unpredictable private eye who often roped his wound-tight son (John Rubinstein) into his cases. So, we also got the "odd couple" format, and the father-son format. I swear, Crazy Like a Fox was a lot of fun, despite how formulaic it sounds on paper.

Walker, Texas Ranger

With all due respect to Chuck Norris and his long-running Walker, Texas Ranger TV program. But the main reason I know anything about this show is because of Conan O’Brien’s ridiculous late-night talk show bit where he’d pull a lever, and random clips from Walker would play out of context. And they were hysterical. I’m sure the show was very serious. To me, it’s one of the funniest detective shows Hollywood ever produced.

Bored to Death

Here's one of the comedies that deserved a longer shelf life. Jason Schwartzman is criminally underrated in comedies. He’s often the best part of any Wes Anderson feature, and he was outstanding in this quirky program about a novelist who moonlights as a private eye in Brooklyn. As good as Schwartzman was, his lunacy was met by Ted Danson and Zach Galifiankis, two gems who rounded out this memorable ensemble. 

Reacher

A more recent detective show than others on this list is Reacher. Lee Child has written a series of excellent novels about Jack Reacher, an ex-military investigator who wanders from town to town and gets caught up in cases. Tom Cruise made two Reacher movies, but hulking Alan Ritchson perfectly personifies Reacher in the Amazon Studios show, though many may not have checked it out yet. 

Normally when CinemaBlend does a staff-wide best-of list, the loudest and most aggressive arguments are about the order. Not for The Best Christmas Movies. Sure, plenty of us have #thoughts about a few festive choices being too low or too high, but the most heated conversations were all about what counts as a Christmas movie and what does not. Does merely taking place during Christmas time count? Does having a key Christmas scene in a movie with an extended time period count? Does it need to have traditional Holiday themes?

At first we tried to make hard and fast rules about what went down the chimney and what stayed outside, but Christmas isn’t a math equation or a science experiment, it’s a feeling. And after countless arguments and emails that would make Mrs. Claus blush, we finalized a list of festive movies we collectively felt elicited that aforementioned holiday feeling. We then had everyone at CinemaBlend assign a score for every movie they’ve seen. We averaged the ratings, threw out everything that didn’t meet a minimum vote count and wound up with what you’re about to read.

So, put your Santa hat on, bust out some milk and cookies and preemptively rejoice. This is CinemaBlend’s list of the best Christmas movies of all time. 

25. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Okay, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is technically a holiday special and not a Christmas movie, but it’s hard to imagine leaving off this stop-motion animated classic. From the introduction with Sam the Snowman welcoming audiences into the fantastical world that is North Pole with its reindeer games and busy workshops to the iconic journey of the titular Rudolph finding his place in the world and coming through to save Christmas, there’s so much to enjoy.

The 1964 TV special, which has been a staple of the holiday season for nearly 60 years, introduces an assortment of wonderfully crafted beloved characters like Yukon Cornelius, the Abominable Snowman, and Hermey, the young elf with aspirations of being a dentist. Plus, it doesn’t feel like Christmas until Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer guides Santa’s sleigh to save the day, even if there are some things about the film that some may find problematic. 
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "Oh, excuse me, call me Sam. What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a talking snowman before?"

24. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion film directed by Henry Selick and tells the story of Jack, the Pumpkin King, who lives in Halloween Town, but when he grows tired of the same old thing every day, he decides to turn it into Christmas Town after he gets the chance to visit accidentally. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the best stop-motion movies out there and has continued to play for many years on television because of its popularity. The movie has excellent animation and beautiful songs and is one of those few movies that could play at Christmas and Halloween. It is undoubtedly a winner and full of soul, unlike any other animated movie.
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "And I just can’t wait until next Halloween ‘cause I’ve got some new ideas that will really make them scream. And by God, I’m really gonna give it all my might!"

23. Violent Night (2022)

Santa sees you when you’re sleeping – and he will beat you up if you’re naughty. 

Violent Night, directed by Tommy Wirkola, stars David Harbour as Santa Claus, who has lost his Christmas spirit. But when he suddenly finds himself in a home that is held hostage by a group of mercenaries, he decides to rescue Trudy, a little girl with a big heart, and her family by taking out everyone one by one. 

Violent Night isn’t the typical Christmas movie that people would think of. It’s bloody, full of great fight scenes, and much more, but it is fun. The story is the perfect mix of action and heart, and features an excellent performance from Harbour as the man in the red suit, later covered in blood. If you need something action-filled, this is the movie to watch. 
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "Santa's gonna eat through these guys like a plate of cookies!"

22. Lethal Weapon (1987)

Ah, yes. The Christmas movie about a suicidal, widowed cop (Mel Gibson) and his retiring partner (Danny Glover) teaming up to take down an illegal heroin ring during the holidays. Everything we look for in a classic holiday movie. 

But Lethal Weapon has a key factor that pushes it into the Christmas movie conversation: It was written by Shane Black, who sets almost all of his action thrillers (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3) during the holiday season, and weaves plenty of references throughout his dark story to pepper in holiday cheer. The first time we meet Martin Riggs (Gibson), for example, he’s buying drugs from criminals on a Christmas Tree lot. Not every holiday movie needs to have seasonal lights, snow, and goodwill toward man. Some days, you just want to see Gary Busey punching Gibson on Glover’s front lawn. And when you are ready, Lethal Weapon awaits.
- Sean O'Connell 

Memorable Quote: "What do ya say, Jack? Would you like a shot at the title?"

21. Arthur Christmas (2011)

While classic and traditional Christmas movies are all fine and dandy, there’s something about Arthur Christmas’ modern take on Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent)  that is refreshing and totally unique. This film follows the family of Santa on the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas. Our protagonist is Arthur (James McAvoy), Santa’s youngest son and the man who responds to all the letters children send to the North Pole. He realizes a gift has been left behind, so he sets out to deliver it with the help of Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) and the spunky elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen). 

This movie imagines what it would be like if Santa ran a military-like operation, and it’s also a comedy about the dysfunctional family of Father Christmas. Seeing Arthur go on this mission and lovingly deal with his hilariously grumbly grandpa, his retired father, and his uptight older brother Steve (Hugh Laurie), is heartwarming and wholesome. It’s also the basis of a totally new and unique take on the story of Santa Claus.
- Riley Utley 

Memorable Quote: "Jingle Bells, this boat smells, 3000 miles to go!"

20. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is the sequel to Home Alone. The film, starring Macaulay Culkin, follows Kevin when he arrives in New York City after boarding the wrong plane, and how he spends his time at The Plaza Hotel. But he runs into the escaped Wet Bandits (now known as the Sticky Bandits), Harry and Marv, that turns his trip to the Big Apple upside down, and he must stop them. 

The premise of Home Alone 2 is about the same – the kid is lost during Christmas time, parents must find the kid, and the kid gets into trouble while parents struggle to get home – but this time, he’s lost in a city. However, just something about NYC during the holidays makes this movie that much better. The stakes are heightened, and the new characters are fun to watch – this is even one of Tim Curry’s best movies.
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "Get outta here, you nosey little pervert, or I'm gonna slap you silly!"

19. Love Actually (2003)

Juggling multiple plotlines is never easy. Balancing ten that are interwoven but also tonally independent isn’t something your average Christmas movie could pull off, but director Richard Curtis, with support from a fantastic cast, is mostly able to do it with his classic romantic comedy Love Actually. 

Through dozens of different characters, the film is able to depict Christmas from a wide variety of perspectives, and there’s a lot of joy and sometimes sadness in watching those characters use the holidays to enact meaningful change in their own lives. The holidays are messy. So is Love Actually, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quote: "Tell her that you love her. You've got nothing to lose and you'll always regret it if you don't."

18. Scrooged (1988)

Richard Donner directed Scrooged back in 1988, another adaptation of the famous Christmas story, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The comedy film, starring Bill Murray, is a modern retelling of the classic tale, where three ghosts visit a selfish TV executive to regain his Christmas spirit. 

Few adaptations of A Christmas Carol come quite as close as Scrooged. Not only is it hilarious – because it obviously would be with Bill Murray as the star – it features plenty of heart and great acting that translates to a great Christmas movie. 
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quotes: "I never liked a girl well enough to give her twelve sharp knives."

17. Trading Places (1983)

Not all great Christmas movies start out as traditional Christmas movies. Trading Places opened in theaters in June 1983, months before the holiday season. But it’s impossible to watch this comedy and not feel the holiday spirit, as its wintery New York City Christmas-time backdrop is as undeniably appealing as the comedic talents of Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd.

Beyond being a hilarious comedy in which Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche’s Duke brothers place a bet to see the outcome of two men — Eddie Murphy’s Billy Ray Valentine and Dan Aykroyd’s Louis Winthorpe III — when their positions in society are swapped is bit of an underdog story where, amidst a series of comedic and occasionally ridiculous events, goodness and resourcefulness overcome greed. What’s more Christmassy than that? (The only answer might be the sight of Dan Aykroyd's character devouring a salmon through a Santa beard on a bus.)
- Kelly West

Memorable Quote: "Merry New Year."

16. The Lodge (2020)

Christmas is a time for gathering with family, sharing memories, and playing in the snow. All three of those activities are present in directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s film The Lodge, but there’s one key ingredient that should stop you in your tracks when thinking about family movie night. You see, this holiday flavored entry is a pitch black psychological horror film. 

As Grace (Riley Keough) is getting to know her future step children Aiden (Jaeden Martell) and Mia (Lia McHugh) through the holidays, a steady and creeping dread starts to overtake The Lodge’s narrative. Puzzling out the source of such horror is just as exciting as experiencing it, and trust me, you’ll never forget your first time seeing some of the sights this film has to show you. 

Slow burning to a climax that’s worthy of some therapeutic discussion, this chiller is a fantastic offering for those of you who take the scary stories part of the holiday very seriously.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "Do you see now? You see that we cannot die? Because you're already dead. We're in purgatory." 

15. The Holiday (2006)

Not all Christmas movies are totally wrapped up in the holiday, but there are some that nail the spirit of the season without hammering it home too hard. Writer/director Nancy Meyers uses her masterful skills weaving romantic comedy to make The Holiday feel like an A-list version of the coziest offering Hallmark has to offer and the result is one of our favorite festive movies on Netflix right now. 

Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) agree to swap houses, and to a certain extent lives, as the both of them are having some relationship problems. Apparently, that’s what the doctor ordered, as Iris’ brother (Jude Law) and a colleague of Amanda’s (Jack Black) get entangled in the wake of this decision, and the result is beautiful. 

The Holiday is a Christmas charm offensive that’s firing on all cylinders, and if you weren’t a Jack Black fan before this movie, this will be the one to change your mind. You can definitely watch this one with someone you love, or with your own bottle of champagne to celebrate yourself.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "I've found almost everything written about love to be true."

14. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Starring Johnny Depp in one of his greatest roles, Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands tells the story of an artificial humanoid who was unfinished, so he has scissors for his hands. A family takes him in, and he falls in love with their teenage daughter. 

While Edward Scissorhands isn’t necessarily a Christmas movie, several elements surround the popular holiday, and there’s no denying the holiday spirit you will feel after watching it. No matter what, your eyes will get tearful when you see Edward carve that ice sculpture for Kim. It’s a great romantic movie for Christmas. 
- Alexandra Ramos

Memorable Quote: "I know it is a little early for Christmas, Edward, but; I have a present for you."

13. Elf (2003) 

There’s a certain intensity to how you experience Christmas when you’re a kid. The feelings of anticipation and if all goes well on the present front, realized joy are naive and over the top, but in retrospect, they’re also beautiful and unspoiled. We’d all visit that emotional place now and again if we could, and Elf gets that completely. 

With a perfect Will Ferrell performance, it brings back that unapologetic excitement and lets us watch as a human raised by elves goes through a Christmas season and experiences it all as we did when we were five. Buddy The Elf is all of us, if we weren’t encumbered by wisdom and worried about judgmental looks, and watching him take great pleasure in all the little things helps us remember how great Christmas is.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quotes: "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

12. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Rarely is the third movie in a franchise the best installment, but that just so happens to be the case with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and written by the legendary John Hughes, this hilarious 1989 classic follows Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) as he attempts to put on the best Christmas ever for his family (both immediate and extended). That, however, proves to be no easy task for the accident-prone and high-strung family man, as he is faced to overcome all kinds of obstacles in the lead-up to the big holiday.

What’s so wonderful about National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is that it doesn’t feel like a cheap way to continue a popular ‘80s movie franchise, but instead something genuine and genuinely funny. It has countless classic side characters (Cousin Eddie, Margo and Todd Chsester, Aunt Bethany), laugh-out-loud moments (“Why’s the floor wet, Todd,” the dried-out turkey, a SWAT team crashing the Christmas party), and perhaps one of the best Christmas movie songs of all time.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

11. Gremlins (1984)

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Gremlins isn’t a Christmas movie, is it?” You wouldn’t be blamed for such a viewpoint, as the chaotic horror-comedy that ensues in director Joe Dante’s classic creature feature kind of eclipses the fact that it does take place during the holidays. 

The adventures of Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and Gizmo (Howie Mandell) fending off the hordes of the titular green menace have definitely left a cultural impact. But let’s not forget, there’s plenty of Christmas carnage involved in writer Chris Columbus’ dark rollercoaster ride of yuletide terror. 

Invoking It’s A Wonderful Life, both in its idyllic small town setting and through including actual footage, is probably the best indicator of what Gremlins is trying to do. Unleashing a nightmare in small town America one monster at a time, laughs and screams are good neighbors in the world of this holly jolly horror show.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "You say you hate Washington's Birthday or Thanksgiving and nobody cares, but you say you hate Christmas and people treat you like you're a leper."

10. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Directed by Brian Henson, the Muppet adaptation of A Christmas Carol was hardly the first to tackle the classic Dickens story, but it is arguably  the most colorful and most musical, if not the funniest (Scrooged gives it a run for its money there). Not only does it feature some incredible puppeteer talent, including Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson and the great Frank Oz, but this holiday classic features none other than Michael Caine in the role of the cranky Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich, cold man who’s offered a chance at redemption in the face of a bleak alternative. In addition to Caine, the cast includes grumpy commentators Waldorf and Statler playing the Marley Brothers, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, and Miss Piggy as his frustrated wife Emily, not to mention Rizzo the Rat as the helpful co-narrator (alongside Gonzo). 

We can celebrate the greatness of the Muppets all day long, but what works so well about The Muppet Christmas Carol is that it manages to be both a Muppet movie and a proper adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story simultaneously and throughout, telling the occasionally dark and classic tale with humor and genuine heart in a way that kids and adults can appreciate every holiday season.
- Kelly West

Memorable Quotes: "You're a little absent-minded, spirit."

9. A Christmas Story (1983) 

Despite being narrated by a man in his 60s, A Christmas Story is one of the most authentic depictions of what it feels like to be a kid that we’ve ever gotten. It’s certainly the best one that touches on Christmas and how life or death getting the right present can feel. In Ralphie’s case, that life or death present is a Red Ryder BB Gun. He wants it. Everyone else thinks he’ll shoot his eye out.

He, of course, does shoot his eye out, but before he pulls the trigger, A Christmas Story delivers moment-after-moment of comedy gold, many of which feel so relatable. There’s the blowout Christmas meal that turns into an inedible disaster. There’s the embarrassing present from extended family members, the department store Santa that just wants to keep the line moving, the first f-bomb in front of the parents, the childhood dare that goes disastrously wrong, the first fight, the brother who won’t eat, the bad grade, the bar of soap punishment and the new decoration one family member loves and everyone else hates. Some of the details might be different, but A Christmas Story portrays every one of those universal emotions, which is why it means so much to so many.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quote: "You'll shoot your eye out."

8. Klaus (2019)

It is hard to stick the landing when it comes to creating a new holiday tradition. The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeers and Santa Clauses of the world don’t just happen overnight. Trying too hard is something that can sink even the best natured attempts at making a seasonal favorite, and thankfully the Netflix original film Klaus succeeds where most have failed.

Spoiled postman Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) finds himself banished to a small town in Norway with a mission: get the town to post 6,000 letters, or lose his claim to the family fortune. Banding together with Klaus (J.K. Simmons), a toymaker who keeps to himself, co-writer/director Sergio Pablos’ tale of Santa Claus’ origins is all at once hysterically funny, and also touchingly bittersweet. 

Never tipping over into overly maudlin or snarky material, watching Klaus for the first time is an emotional ton of bricks. It celebrates the season in a way that even those who don’t celebrate can still enjoy. Nurturing the wondrous inner child in all of us, it’s a picture that’s truly earned its place as a new perennial favorite with its heart firmly in the right place.
- Mike Reyes  

Memorable Quote: "We need to show people that a true, selfless act always sparks another."

7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

One of the most well-known and beloved Christmas movies of all time, George Seaton’s Miracle on 34th Street tells an exceptional and transfixing story about a department store Santa Claus who claims the be the real deal and then captures the hearts of pretty much everyone around him, save for a jealous co-worker and an arrogant psychologist. Released in 1947, this holiday staple follows Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) as he becomes the Santa Claus of the flagship Macy’s in New York City and teaches event director Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) and her young daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood), the meaning of Christmas.

As soon as Kringle is introduced in the early goings of the movie, it’s hard not to be carried away by his calm and kind nature, and it only gets better from there. Despite those around him not believing in Santa, and others doing everything they can to get rid of him, the bearded elderly man with mysterious abilities never lets it get him down, and never loses his faith in people or the holidays.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "You see, Mrs. Walker, this is quite an opportunity for me. For the past 50 years or so I've been getting more and more worried about Christmas."

6. Home Alone (1990)

On the surface, Home Alone is about bad guys, booby traps and being a kid, but beneath that adventuresome exterior, it’s also about loneliness. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) isn’t just defending his literal home from the Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), he’s defending his sense of home, which is upended when his entire family mistakenly leaves without him. With blow torches and paint cans, he keeps the robbers out, and with a suddenly more mature perspective on what matters, he connects with his elderly neighbor, who is dealing with his own isolation. 

Christmas is always wrapped up in expectations, and if you look beyond the tar and chicken feathers, Home Alone spends a lot of its runtime exploring what happens when those expectations aren’t met. Families can’t always be what we need them to be, and we can’t always be what we want to be. We all have cheap, scumbag uncles or brothers who wouldn’t let us sleep in their rooms if we were growing on their asses. We accidentally leave without our kids or leave them beside corpses at a funeral home. We steal toothbrushes and say things we shouldn’t to our sons. And then we deal with the loneliness that follows.

Beneath the wipeouts and head fires, Home Alone lives in that loneliness, and that helps turn what could be a mindless revenge fantasy for kids into something that means so much more. Having one of the best child actor performances ever helps too, who continued to delve out amazing performances, leading to a debate about which film in the Home Alone series is superior.
- Mack Rawden 

Memorable Quote: "Buzz! Your girlfriend! Woof!"

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

The first TV special based on Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts strip, and one of the most well-known holiday cartoons of all time, A Charlie Brown Christmas was released in 1965 and has been a permanent fixture of the season ever since. This short and sweet special centers on Charlie Brown as he attempts to direct a Christmas play that captures the true meaning of the season, only to be disregarded by an uncooperative cast and rampant commercialism. But that all changes when Charlie and Linus go looking for a Christmas tree to be the centerpiece of their production.

For decades, Bill Melendez’s special has captured the hearts and minds of countless viewers spanning multiple generations who can’t help but fall in love with its touching story, simple yet beautiful animation, and a score by Vince Guaraldi that is just as popular. It has everything someone could ever want in a Christmas special and laid the foundation for similar titles that followed over the coming years.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: "I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

1966’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas is the best of the network TV animated specials produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which is saying a lot given many of them are still broadcast almost sixty years later. The success starts with the creative choice to keep Dr. Seuss’ words at the center of the story. Narrated by the delightful Boris Karloff, who also provides the voice of The Grinch, the special never drifts far from the wordplay at the heart of the book, and that results in an end product that, at times, can feel like an audiobook with a visual component.

Even with that visual component hanging as the second stocking, however, the animation works extremely well. It’s a little crude compared to modern standards, but it’s also extremely clever and features a lot of fun transitions and vibrant creative choices. Apples turn into eyes. The Grinch slithers around the floor when he’s at his most mischievous, and Max, The Grinch’s trusty sidekick, delivers in every single cut-to shot he gets. All of it is just delightful, and the bow on top is Thurl Ravenscroft’s fantastic song “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” which still hits the Billboard charts every holiday season.
- Mack Rawden

Memorable Quote: "Maybe Christmas, he thought...doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps...means a little bit more."

3. Die Hard (1988)

“Now I have a machine gun. Ho-Ho-Ho.” That one line might have started the debate about whether or not John McTiernan’s Die Hard is a Christmas movie (it clearly is), but there’s plenty more evidence sprinkled throughout this action classic about an off-duty cop (Bruce Willis, at his finest) foiling a high-stakes robbery during a Los Angeles Christmas party.   

Everything about Die Hard is perfect. The pacing, the set pieces, the humor… they all help to make Die Hard one of the most rewatchable movies of all time. But little touches put us in the holiday mood while watching John McClane run barefoot across broken glass, or throw his body off the roof of Nakatomi Plaza with only a fire hose to catch him. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, “Ode to Joy,” is basically “The Die Hard Song” at this point. Stellar villain Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) leans on Christmas miracles to aid his plot. And Die Hard ends with a warm – and bloody – family reunion, as all good Christmas movies should.
- Sean O'Connell

Memorable Quote: "Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. A Monkey in the wrench. A pain in the ass."

2. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Is it even Christmas if you don’t watch It’s a Wonderful Life at least once? Released in 1946, Frank Capra’s celebrated black-and-white holiday classic follows George Bailey (James Stewart), a down-on-his-luck man who considers ending it all after all his personal and professional plans blow up in his face. However, before Bailey can jump from a bridge and put an end to his miserable life, his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) takes him on a journey through his past to prove that George isn’t all that bad.

Along the way, George is taken back in time and experiences all sorts of memories, both good and bad, as he revisits the consequential moments from his life and how those various decisions affected those around him. Full of life lessons and iconic moments, this wonderful movie not only captures the meaning of the Christmas season but also has all the best qualities of a standard drama, making it something the whole family can enjoy throughout the year. But there’s no better way to watch It’s a Wonderful Life than around the fire with your family in the final days of the holiday season.
- Philip Sledge

Memorable Quote: You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?

1. White Christmas (1954)

When you’ve got people like Clark Griswold using films like White Christmas to define the ideal holiday celebration in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, that’s saying a lot. Invoking Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye by name, that was enough to cement this movie’s place in the pop culture landscape. However, that position is not without merit, as you can clearly see by director Michael Curtiz’s movie winning out the top spot.

Just what is it about White Christmas that makes it a timeless hit? Well, one of the most well-known Christmas songs being its title and third act centerpiece is certainly a good start; as is the rest of the catalog of catchy tunes. And when you’ve got Crosby and Kaye paired with Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, that’s an anchor that’d stop a glacier from veering off course. However, much like another landmark directing gig of Curtiz’s, 1942’s Casablanca, White Christmas finds a way to appeal to a wide swath of audience members. Blending a tale of war time buddies banding together to help out a commanding officer (Dean Jagger) with a rom-com replete with subterfuge, misunderstandings, and epic makeups, it’s a movie that still looms large over the holiday canon.

If there’s a lack of laughter or a dry eye in the house after watching White Christmas, then chances are you had the TV off while playing it. Going on 70 years since its initial release, this is an all-timer that’s as merry and bright now as it was back then.
- Mike Reyes 

Memorable Quote: "We'll follow the old man wherever he wants to go. Long as he wants to go opposite to the foe."

If there is anything more irresistible in entertainment than romance, it has to be bromance. A bond between male friends almost as strong as a love between life partners is truly a beautiful thing, which is why it has been a staple in pop culture for decades. If you cannot take our word for it, just take a look at these essential, world-famous duos from movies and TV shows as proof.

Bert And Ernie (Sesame Street)

There are Sesame Street characters whom we love on their own, such as Big Bird and Elmo, and then are those we cannot separate from one another, particularly Bert and Ernie. Some have theorized that the roommates are really in a romantic relationship, but that could also just be a sign of just how strong their "bromantic" relationship is. 

Bill And Ted (Bill & Ted Movies)

The aspiring San Dimas-based musicians known as Wyld Stallyns — Ted “Theodore” Logan (Keanu Reeves) and Bill S Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) — have a friendship defined by a philosophy to be excellent to each other and “party on, dude!” It is no wonder that the time-traveling pair from the Bill & Ted movies went on to make music that ensured a most non-heinous future.

Bing Crosby And Bob Hope (Road To… Movies)

Throughout and 1940s to the early 1960s, the multi-talented Bing Crosby and comedy legend Bob Hope were one of Hollywood’s most dynamic duos, appearing in several hilarious adventure movies together and as a different set of characters each time. The Road To… movies, as they came to be collectively known, would also star Dorothy Lamour to help add a little romance among the road trip comedies’ central bromance. 

Butch And Sundance (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid)

While undisputed legends of cinema on their own, some would say that Paul Newman and Robert Redford were at their best when sharing the screen together. Case in point, their eponymous roles as a pair of desperate outlaws on the run in early 1900s Wyoming from 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Chandler And Joey (Friends)

Some use their Max subscription to revisit Ross and Rachel’s bumpy relationship or Chandler and Monica’s aspirational romance, but I think the beloved sitcom’s most essential couple is Chandler and Joey. With how seamlessly they maintain a close bond even after their tenure as roommates ends, could there be a better duo in the Friends cast than Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry’s characters?

Cory And Shawn (Boy Meets World)

The transition from adolescence all the way to adulthood is a profoundly challenging time that's hard to survive without help from friends — something the Boy Meets World cast demonstrated beautifully. This is especially true in the way Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) and Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong) relied on each other for support almost completely without fail, despite coming from entirely different walks of life.  

Crockett And Tubbs (Miami Vice)

In the ‘80s, there was no cop pairing on TV cooler than James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) on Miami Vice. The detectives’ unexpected collaboration in the pilot turned into a trusting partnership against drug trafficking and other crimes that lasted five years.

Drake And Josh (Drake & Josh)

The titular teens from this popular Nickelodeon sitcom are the only duo on our list of bromances who are actually brothers… legally, that is. If their respective mother and father had not married, Drake (Drake Bell) and Josh (Oppenheimer cast member Josh Peck) — who could not have been more different upon meeting — might not have become so inseparable.

George And Grover (Silver Streak)

In one of the best movies set on a train, 1976’s Silver Streak, book editor George Caldwell (Gene Wilder) finds himself forcibly marooned when he witnesses a murder that he is later accused of. His only hope to make it back on board to his new lover (Jill Clayburgh) is street smart thief Grover T. Muldoon (Richard Pryor) in the first of many beloved collaborations by the comedy legends.

Hank And Manny (Swiss Army Man)

Before Best Picture Oscar winner Everything Everywhere All At Once made them household names, filmmaking duo DANIELS made their feature-length debut with another great A24 movie about a friendship like no other. The title of 2016’s Swiss Army Man refers to the inexplicable arsenal of magical abilities that reanimated corpse Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) possesses, which helps Hank (Paul Dano) survive the wilderness in this hilarious, highly inventive fantasy adventure.

Harold And Kumar (Harold And Kumar Movies)

Whether they are desperate for some fast food, desperate to flee prison, or desperate to save Christmas, Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) stick by each other through thick and thin. We would love to see another Harold and Kumar movie just to see more of the stoner buddies’ friendship continue to thrive.

Harry And Lloyd (Dumb And Dumber)

As Jeff Daniels recalled on Off Camera with Sam Jones, Jim Carrey had already been cast as Lloyd Christmas in the Farrelly Brothers' classic 1994 comedy, Dumb and Dumber, and had to fight to get and keep Daniels a Harry Dunne -- a role the studio wanted a real comedian for. Casting the actor -- primarily known for drama -- resulted in a beautiful onscreen bond that made these otherwise hopelessly infantile pals hard not to like.

Harry And Ron (Harry Potter Franchise)

The Harry Potter movies (and books that inspired them) have one of pop culture’s strongest trios in the titular wizard (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). However, the group’s core bromance may be even more iconic on its own in the astonishing loyalty Harry and Ron have toward one another and the way they bring out each other’s best qualities.

Holmes And Watson (Sherlock Holmes)

Out of the various onscreen iterations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law’s versions may be the most definitive. The Guy Ritchie movies depict the detective and his flatmate/assistant/biographer as almost more than friends with genuine affection for one another despite their constant bickering.

Jay And Silent Bob (Various)

The shared universe of Kevin Smith movies that include Clerks, Chasing Amy, and more is anchored by its two most important, most dynamic, and most hilarious characters: Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith). Usually stoned and rarely seen doing much of anything productive, the inseparable pair have still managed to make a lasting impression on pop culture even beyond the View Askewniverse without saying much, in Bob’s case at least.

J.D. And Turk (Scrubs)

One of the first times I ever heard the word “bromance” was by Zach Braff’s Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian to describe his relationship with his longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison). Rarely have a pair of sitcom characters reflected the term so definitively and it helps that the Scrubs cast members have reunited on camera in recent years, as reflected in their T-Mobile ads lately.

Kenan And Kel (Kenan & Kel)

It was not until I recently rewatched Kenan & Kel that I realized these classic Nickelodeon characters (played by All That’s Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, who are reuniting for Good Burger 2) had such an aspirational relationship. Only friends who truly wholeheartedly care for one another would be able to put with up the insurmountable trouble they get each into on a regular basis.

Mike And Marcus (Bad Boys)

Detective Mike Lowery (Will Smith) is a well-to-do player, while his partner, Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), is a committed family man. What makes the heroes of the Bad Boys movies (which have a fourth installment on the way) such a strong pair despite their different lifestyles is a shared commitment to fighting crime, even if it means breaking a few rules.

Mike And Trent (Swingers)

When struggling actor Mike (writer Jon Favreau) is dumped by his longtime girlfriend, his buddy, Trent (Vince Vaughn), goes out of his way to help him get back on his feet. It is this strong inclusion of supportive friendship as a central theme amid the raunchy comedy that makes director Doug Liman’s Swingers so “money.” 

Murtaugh And Riggs (Lethal Weapon)

While buddy cop action films had already existed before the Lethal Weapon movies did, director Richard Donner’s 1987 classic is easily the most quintessential example. If not for the brotherly bond between the otherwise unlikely pairing of widowed, sharp-shooting maverick Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and by-the-book veteran detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), the film might not have spawned a four-part franchise. 

Pedro And Man (Cheech & Chong's Up In Smoke)

The many stoner buddies on our list likely would have never existed if not for Cheech Marin and Thomas Chong — the legendary comedy duo collectively known as Cheech & Chong. In their most esteemed cinematic achievement (and one of the best ‘70s movies), 1978’s Up in Smoke, they star as the motor-mouth Pedro (Marin) and slower-witted “Man” (Chong), who become fast friends and, eventually, bandmates over their mutual admiration for greens.

Peter And Sydney (I Love You, Man)

When straight-laced real estate agent Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) gets engaged, he suddenly realizes that he has no male friends to ask to be his best man, but finds the perfect choice instantly in outspoken investor, Sydney Fife (Jason Segel). I Love You Man was Rudd’s third collaboration with Segel and it certainly shows in how seamlessly their chemistry meshes in this instant classic “bromantic comedy.”

Schmidt And Jenko (21 Jump Street)

While they were enemies in high school, when Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) reunite at the police academy, they become brothers. Their new kinship certainly comes in handy when they soon have to go undercover as teenage siblings when leading the cinematic 21 Jump Street cast in 2012.

Shaun And Ed (Shaun Of The Dead)

Real life best friends and flatmates Simon Pegg and Nick Frost made their film debuts together playing best friends and flatmates in the classic horror-comedy movie, 2004’s Shaun of the Dead. Said friendship between our title hero (Pegg) and the aimless Ed (Frost), is not without its dysfunctions, but strong enough to survive a zombie apocalypse, even when one succumbs to a bite.

Shawn And Gus (Psych)

Charming con artist Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) has been best friends with the nervous Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill) since they were children, as seen in nearly every cold open from the long-running USA dramedy, Psych. That likely explains why, despite Gus’ reluctance, he becomes Shawn’s business partner after convincing the Santa Barbara police that he is psychic.

SpongeBob And Patrick (SpongeBob Squarepants)

With the exception of Squidward, anyone would be lucky to have a friend like SpongeBob Squarepants (voiced by Tom Kenny) — case in point, his life-long pal and neighbor, Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke). The square, yellow fry cook does not just accept the dim-witted starfish for who he is, but is almost oblivious to anything beyond his positive character traits, which is something I think everyone hopes to find in a friend.

Steve And Bucky (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Before he received the chance to become Captain America, the only person who ever believed in Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) potential as a hero was his good friend, James Buchanon “Bucky” Barnes. After Bucky was discovered decades later to be a brainwashed assassin, Steve returned the favor by fighting for his protection, even if that meant antagonizing his fellow Avengers in one of the best Marvel movies, Captain America: Civil War.

Troy And Abed (Community)

It is not very common for a college student (even a community college student) to find a friend who brings out your inner child, but Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) and Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi) are a clear and most heartwarming exception. From participating in intense “Floor Is Lava” challenges, to hosting their own imaginary talk show, and more of their iconic Community moments, this duo defined the kind of friendship you hope to find once you reach adulthood and, together, were the heart and soul of Greendale.

Ted, Marshall, And Barney (How I Met Your Mother)

There are not very many trios in this list, but there was no way we were going to exclude all three of the inseparable boys from the How I Met Your Mother cast. While Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) has a longer history with Marshal Eriksen (Jason Segel) and Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) had his selfish tendencies, you could argue that he really did help teach his bros “how to live,” even if they were reluctant to take his advice most of the time.

Phil, Stu, Alan, And Doug (The Hangover)

Even though they are partially to blame for Doug Billings’ (Justin Bartha) disappearance during his bachelor party, Alan’s claim that he, Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper), and Stu Price (Ed Helms) are the “three best friends that anyone could have” is not so incorrect, considering the trouble they endure for his benefit in The Hangover. Though we see most of the main trio in this blockbuster comedy, it would be wrong to not count Doug as part of The Wolfpack.

Bromance is in the air and here to stay!

How do you pick just one of the ‘80s movies for the biggest movie stars of the decade? It’s a challenging task, but we figure we’re up for the job. So if you find yourself only able to watch a single '80s film starring each of these icons, here’s the only list you’ll need. 

Tom Cruise - Top Gun

This one is obvious, right? Top Gun is the movie that made Tom Cruise a superstar and his career has never wavered since. It was such a cultural phenomenon at the time that not only did it make an astounding $357 million at the box office (against a $15 million budget), it became the best-selling VHS tape of all time, based on pre-orders alone! Everyone saw it that summer, and again when it was released on home video. He revived the franchise 36 years later and dominated at the box office again with Top Gun: Maverick. 

Steve Martin - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Steve Martin had a string of hits in the 1980s, but his best of the bunch was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It’s a perfect example of how varied Martin’s comedy could be. At times refined, at others completely physical and off the wall. Martin puts everything into this performance and it shows in the results. It’s just a brilliantly hilarious film. 

Whoopi Goldberg - Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Whoopi Goldberg burst onto the big screen in The Color Purple (more on that film in a minute). Her performance was lauded by critics, with Roger Ebert calling it “one of the most amazing debut performances in movie history.” It’s certainly a film worth watching for her Oscar-nominated performance, but if you really want to get a great idea of what Goldberg was all about in the ‘80s, check out  Jumpin’ Jack Flash. Goldberg is, after all, a comedian at heart, and she brings all her comedic skill to bare in this early tech/spy thriller. It’s another A+ performance from the star of The View.

Goldie Hawn - Overboard

Goldie Hawn was already a veteran in show business by the time the ‘80s started, but she saved some of her best performances for the decade. In her final movie of the decade, she teamed up with Kurt Russell for Overboard, and the chemistry between the two is right there on the screen for all to see. Both actors are amazing, and Hawn truly is one of America’s sweethearts. 

Morgan Freeman - Lean On Me

By 1989, Morgan Freeman had been steadily working in Hollywood for more than two decades, but it was that year that his career jumped to superstar levels. He starred in 4 films in the final year of the decade, including Driving Miss Daisy and Glory. Those two films garnered 14 Oscar nominations between them, including a Best Actor nod for Freeman. It was a third film though, Lean On Me that really lit the screen on fire. Based on the true story of a principal named Joe Clark who is charged with cleaning up a Paterson, NJ school. Freeman’s performance is powerful and set the stage for all that came after it in his career. 

Demi Moore - About Last Night

One of the actors to emerge out of the 1980s “Brat Pack,” Demi Moore forged a career that lasted well into the ‘90s and beyond, with some of her finest work coming in her first few films. One of those, About Last Night, holds up incredibly well. It’s a unique take on the rom-com and is at times much more serious than so many others from this era, due in large part to the grittier story it was adapted from (David Mamet’s play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago) and Moore’s excellent performance alongside Rob Lowe.  

Harrison Ford - Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Sure, there are a few movies that would fit here for Harrison Ford, like that one about the space wars or whatever it’s called. But for pure, distilled Ford, nothing beats Indiana Jones and nothing beats the OG Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s Ford at his very best: snarky, charming, witty, and tough. No Nazi is safe with Indy after them. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey’s rise to all-powerful media queen began in the ‘80s and a very big piece of that was her acting performance in 1985’s The Color Purple. She was nominated for an Oscar in her film debut and almost four decades later, the film’s powerful message of overcoming abuse still resonates with audiences. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, though it shockingly didn’t win any, which is a shame. 

Chevy Chase - Fletch

Like Harrison Ford, you could go in a lot of directions with Chevy Chase, but, like Raiders, you need to go with the purest form of Chase and for that, there is nothing better than the original Fletch. He's at his sarcastic best as Irwin Fletcher. No one can quite be as charmingly condescending as peak Chase and no one is spared here. Order up a couple of steak sandwiches and some caviar; Fletch just hit a water buffalo.

Meryl Streep - Out Of Africa

In the 10 Academy Awards shows of the ‘80s, Meryl Streep was nominated seven times. She won her first (and only of the decade) for 1982’s Sophie’s Choice, but let’s get real, as amazing as she is in it, no one really wants to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch that one. Instead, consider a performance just as good, but slightly more upbeat (only slightly, though). Out of Africa is beautiful, as are Streep and Robert Redford in the lead roles, and the tragic story comes to life like magic with her performance. 

Geena Davis - Beetlejuice

Geena Davis made steady progress in her career in the early ‘80s but really found a new level in Beetlejuice. Her on-screen partnership with Alec Baldwin as two ghosts frustrated with the people living in their house is excellent, as they more or less play the “straight man” to Micheal Keaton’s titular character. It’s not an easy gig, but Davis is amazing. 

Jackie Chan - Police Story

Jackie Chan didn’t break big in the United States until the ‘90s and by then he was the biggest action star in Hong Kong. It was 1985’s Police Story that solidified his spot at the top and if you’ve never seen it, you definitely need to. While Chan has always been an amazing stuntman, it’s Police Story that brings all his skills to the forefront, from amazing fight scenes to the epic opening car chase with Chan hanging onto a bus with an umbrella as he pursues the baddies. It’s one of the most insane stunts in Chan’s history of insane stunts. 

Kathleen Turner - Romancing The Stone

Romancing the Stone is one of the great comedies of the 1980s and features some amazing performances from Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito, but Kathleen Turner’s Joan Wilder takes the cake. Or the bail of pot, as the case may be here. Walking that line between an intrepid explorer looking for her kidnapped sister and a damsel in distress, Turner shines. Her chemistry with Douglas and DeVito is so good, they made two more films together, the sequel Jewel of the Nile and the unrelated The War of the Roses, but it’s Stone that remains the best. 

Michael Douglas - Wall Street

Michael Douglas is great as Jack in Romancing The Stone, but it’s his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street that makes for one of the greatest movie villains in cinema history. Of course, he won an Oscar for the performance, but it’s how quotable the movie and his character are that makes it one of the best of all time, even if those quoting don’t always understand the heavy-handed irony in each line. 

Edward James Olmos - Stand And Deliver

With Stand And Deliver, director Ramón Menéndez told the true story of math teacher Jaime Escalante who sought to raise the level of education single-handily in an East LA high school by daring to teach underprivileged Hispanic kids calculus. Edward James Olmos plays Escalante brilliantly, earning himself an Oscar nomination in the process. 

Tom Hanks - Big

Tom Hanks grew up with Big, literally and figuratively. It marks the point in his career when he jumped from a wild and wacky comedian to an actor who can take on any role, no matter how serious, and make it his own. There are the wilder moments, but there is also a real vulnerability to the man-child Josh Baskin that Hanks makes so authentic for the audience. It’s no wonder it earned him his first Oscar nomination. 

Daryl Hannah - Splash

Another Hanks movie also happens to be the great Daryl Hannah’s finest performance. Before Ariel, there was Madison, the mermaid who longed to walk on the land with humans and falls in love with an average Joe. Hannah’s performance magically convinces audiences that it’s exactly what a fish out of water would be like. 

Mel Gibson - Lethal Weapon

Back before Mel Gibson was a lightening rod for controversy, he played some pretty amazing roles and none more so that Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon series. From the very first scene, audiences see that classic “Mel Gibson Crazy Eyes” face and it sets the tone for the movie and the franchise, one that had remarkable life to it. That first scene is also why Lethal Weapon should be in the conversation for the best Christmas movie, alongside Die Hard. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger - The Terminator

The decade wouldn't be as big and as over the top as it was without Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrian bodybuilder took the movie world by storm and there are any number of enjoyable performances, but if you're looking at 1980s movies, you have to choose The Terminator. It launched him to superstardom, and it kicked off a franchise of Terminator movies that's lasted for decades. Sure, he only has a handful of lines, but no one could top his performance as a relentless killing machine that we all somehow fell in love with… later. 

Sylvester Stallone - First Blood

Not only did First Blood launch one of the most enduring franchises of the era, but it’s also just a really good film. It could be argued that it’s Sylvester Stallone’s best. His performance as a down-and-out Vietnam vet highlighted the plight of returning soldiers from that war. Brian Dennehy plays the antagonist perfectly as the angry sheriff that doesn’t take kindly to strangers in his town. A+. 

Michelle Pfeiffer - Scarface

Scarface really hasn’t aged all that well. Sure, the memes are fantastic, but as a film, it feels as dated as neon green headbands and electric typewriters. The lone exception is Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance. It’s still great, and made her one of the biggest stars of the 1980s. 

Molly Ringwald - Sixteen Candles

Molly Ringwald was once called John Hughes’ muse and it’s easy to see why she became such a mainstay in many of his hit movies from the era. Sixteen Candles is truly one of the funniest movies of the ‘80s, in part because of the side characters, but mostly it’s due to Ringwald’s fantastic performance as the girl the family forgot. 

Denzel Washington - Glory

Denzel Washington was nominated for his first Oscar for 1987’s Cry Freedom, but he won his first for 1989’s Glory. The cool thing about Glory is that it’s actually one of his most powerful performances, as audiences didn’t know him as DENZEL yet. The movie follows one of the few Black companies fighting for the Union during the Civil War and tells a story that had sort of been forgotten in the public consciousness at the time. The success of Glory and of Washington’s performance, especially in the scene where he is whipped, is one of the reasons that story will never be forgotten again. 

Jodie Foster - The Accused

The Accused is not an easy movie to watch. It begins with one of the most brutal rape scenes in cinema history and follows Jodie Foster’s character, Sarah Tobias, on the quest to get justice. The subject matter was so intense, the role was reportedly turned down by a number of A-listers at the time. It was fortuitous for Foster, who had struggled to re-ignite her career after attending Yale. Her performance won her an Oscar and the rest is history. 

Sally Field - Steel Magnolias

There are great Sally Field movies in every decade since she jumped from TV to the big screen in the mid-70s. For the ‘80s, you can’t go wrong with Steel Magnolias. It may be a tad melodramatic at times, but it stays grounded with the acting by Field and other stars like Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and Shirley MacLaine. 

Bill Murray - Ghostbusters

Bill Murray had so many great movies in the 1980s, it’s difficult to pick just one, but in the end, you have to go with Ghostbusters. His turn as Peter Venkman is so funny, so quotable, and so lovable, that without him, it would be a completely different movie. John Belushi in the role was the original plan, but after his death, Murray ended up in the role, and now we can’t imagine it any other way. 

Robin Williams - Good Morning Vietnam

Good Morning Vietnam was an important movie in Robin Williams' stellar career. It was the movie that truly showed audiences just how great his acting chops were. He was no longer just the frenetic comedian running around the stage inspiring laughs. Williams showed his dramatic side, especially after the bomb went off in his favorite cafe. Of course, there is plenty of off-the-wall zaniness from him that we all love, which makes it one of his most well-rounded performances. 

Glenn Close - Fatal Attraction

There are few more quintessential scenes from the 1980s than the boiling bunny in Fatal Attraction. Glenn Close’s performance as the unpredictable, jilted lover is just as iconic. Like the bunny in the pot, her character comes to a slow boil, getting more and more intense as the movie moves along. It’s a masterclass in acting from the legend. 

Micheal J. Fox - Back To The Future

No way we were going to leave Michael J. Fox off this list. Between Family Ties, and Teen Wolf, there is no actor that defines the decade quite like him. Of course, it’s no surprise that the essential movie for any Fox fan is the great Back to the Future. It’s a movie that has been introduced to, and loved by, countless people from Generation X and the following generations. It’s beloved by all. 

Jane Fonda - 9 To 5

Jane Fonda, like Sally Field, has decades of outstanding movies and performances, but when she teamed up with Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin to make 9 to 5, she became an icon to a whole new generation. It’s been more than forty years since its release, but the chemistry between Fonda and Tomlin remains, as they proved last year with Moving On.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

Last, but certainly not least, we have one of the biggest breakout stars of the 1980s, Eddie Murphy. Like others, it’s hard to decide on just one, but in the end, it simply has to be Coming To America. It’s the quintessential Murphy film filled with memorable quotes and amazing performances from the entire cast, especially Murphy. 

This list could go on and on. The 1980s were a magical decade in theaters and crafting exhaustive list would prove to be impossible. Luckily, you can find the best ‘80s movies, and even '80s movies that don't get enough love if you need more. 

Many of my favorite Christmas movies are Christmas action movies, such as my all-time favorite holiday classic, Die Hard. Of course, there are plenty more non-traditional Christmas movies that keep the holidays bright with muzzle flashes and visceral explosions. However, this list of the best Christmas movies from the action genre begins with two that I believe deserve to be called Christmas movies despite years of debating the topic.

Die Hard And Die Hard 2 (1988, 1990)

Director: John McTiernan, Renny Harlin

Starring: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia

What it’s about: New York cop John McClane is tasked with rescuing his wife and others from life-or-death situations on two different disastrous Christmas Eve nights.

Why they are some of the best Christmas action movies: While it is not exactly perfect, Die Hard is widely considered one of the best action movies ever made for its gripping suspense and incredibly talented cast, and Die Hard 2 is also a lot of thrilling holiday fun.

How to watch Die Hard and Die Hard 2

• Stream Die Hard on Amazon Prime
• Stream Die Hard on Hulu
• Buy Die Hard on Blu-ray on Amazon
• Stream Die Hard 2 on Hulu
• Stream Die Hard 2 on AMC+
• Rent or buy Die Hard 2 on Amazon
• Buy Die Hard 2 on Blu-ray on Amazon

Violent Night (2022)

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Starring: David Harbour, John Leguizamo

What it’s about: The one and only Santa Claus becomes the only hope to save a family taken hostage by ruthless thieves on Christmas Eve.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: If you take the plot of Die Hard and replace John McClane with Old St. Nick, you basically have Violent Night, which features one of the all-time coolest movie Santas as a badass, sledgehammer-wielding hero.

How to watch Violent Night

• Stream Violent Night on Starz
• Rent or buy Violent Night on Amazon
• Buy Violent Night on Blu-ray on Amazon

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Director: Peter Hunt

Starring: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas

What it’s about: 007 is forced to work during the holidays when Stavro Blofeld plans to hold the world for ransom.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: The only James Bond movie starring George Lazenby, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, is also the only film in the spy movie franchise set around Christmas.

How to watch On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

• Stream On Her Majesty’s Secret Service on MGM+
• Stream On Her Majesty’s Secret Service on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy On Her Majesty’s Secret Service on Amazon
• Buy On Her Majesty’s Secret Service on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Tower (2012)

Director: Kim Ji-hoon

Starring: Sol Kyung-gu, Son Ye-jin

What it’s about: On Christmas Eve, the residents of a 108-story apartment complex in Korea are tasked with finding a way out alive when a devastating fire breaks out during a party.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Borrowing plot elements from both Die Hard and The Towering Inferno (before Dwayne Johnson’s Skyscraper did), The Tower is a high-stakes South Korean thriller that, like any great holiday classic, is about family coming together despite insurmountable odds.

How to watch The Tower

• Rent or buy The Tower on Amazon
• Buy The Tower on DVD on Amazon

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover

What it’s about: The holidays are put on hold for an aging detective and his new, younger, loose-cannon partner who are thrown together to chase ruthless L.A. drug smugglers.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Before there was Die Hard, the definitive Christmas action movie was the first of the Lethal Weapon movies, which is arguably the best of many Shane Black-penned holiday classics on our list.

How to watch Lethal Weapon

• Rent or buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon
• Buy Lethal Weapon on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Last Boy Scout (1991)

Director: Tony Scott

Starring: Bruce Willis, Damon Wayans

What it’s about: A private investigator and a disgraced former NFL quarterback become embroiled in a violent corruption plot in the world of professional sports.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: The second Shane Black-penned Christmas classic on our list — the most overt evidence of its holiday connection being a gory illustration of “Satan Claus” — is director Tony Scott’s The Last Boy Scout, which is another action-packed Bruce Willis movie set around the holiday.

How to watch The Last Boy Scout

• Rent or buy The Last Boy Scout on Amazon
• Buy The Last Boy Scout on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Director: Renny Harlin

Starring: Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson

What it’s about: After her memories as a government assassin resurface, an amnesiac teams up with a detective to help her protect her family from enemies of her past.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Yet another Shane Black-penned Christmas classic is The Long Kiss Good Night, which is also another fun buddy movie and an action-packed holiday flick from Die Hard 2 director Renny Darlin.

How to watch The Long Kiss Goodnight

• Stream The Long Kiss Goodnight on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Amazon
• Buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Blu-ray on Amazon

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan

What it’s about: After he is mistaken for an auditioning actor, a thief on the run teams up with a private investigator to solve a case as part of research for a movie role in Hollywood during Christmas.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Considered Shane Black’s best movie (and featuring one of Robert Downey Jr’s best non-MCU performances) is his directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang — a dazzling Neo-noir thriller based on Brett Halliday’s novel, Bodies Are Where You Find Them.

How to watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

• Rent or buy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Amazon
• Buy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Blu-ray on Amazon

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce

What it’s about: Still traumatized from his battle against alien invaders, Tony Stark is forced to take on his greatest threat yet.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Shane Black would later direct Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 3, which — you guessed it — is one of the few Marvel movies set around Christmas so far and even borrows a few themes from traditional classics like A Christmas Carol.

How to watch Iron Man 3

• Stream Iron Man 3 on Disney+
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Amazon
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Blu-ray on Amazon

Batman Returns (1992)

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer

What it’s about: A wealthy vigilante finds himself at odds with a bird-like enemy but also attracted to a different cat-like adversary.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Another one of the best superhero movies set during the Christmas season is one of the best live-action Batman movies, Batman Returns — a visually inventive and infamously controversial follow-up to Tim Burton’s first box office smash about the Dark Knight.

How to watch Batman Returns

• Stream Batman Returns on Max
• Rent or buy Batman Returns on Amazon
• Buy Batman Returns on Blu-ray on Amazon

Shazam! (2019)

Director: David F. Sandberg

Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong

What it’s about: A teenage foster child becomes a hero after he is imbued with the ability to transform into a superpowered grown-up.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Another great Christmas superhero movie (also one of the funniest superhero movies) is Shazam!, which fans of the DC flick may recall has a spectacular final act set at a magical holiday celebration.

How to watch Shazam!

• Stream Shazam! on Max
• Rent or buy Shazam! on Amazon
• Buy Shazam! on Blu-ray on Amazon

Reindeer Games (2000)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Starring: Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Gary Sinise

What it’s about: Recently released from prison, a man poses as his dead cellmate and finds himself participating in a dangerous heist on Christmas Eve.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Reindeer Games is an action thriller chock-full of holiday themes such as the title, setting, the robbers’ choice to wear Santa outfits during the centerpiece crime, and the main character’s name: Rudolph.

How to watch Reindeer Games

• Stream Reindeer Games on Paramount+
• Stream Reindeer Games on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy Reindeer Games on Amazon
• Buy Reindeer Games on Blu-ray on Amazon

Enemy Of The State (1998)

Director: Tony Scott

Starring: Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Regina King

What it’s about: While searching for a Christmas gift for his wife, a lawyer accidentally comes into possession of conspiratorial evidence and becomes targeted by a corrupt politician.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Yet another Tony Scott-directed holiday classic is one of the best Will Smith movies of the ’90s, Enemy of the State — an intense everyman tale from producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

How to watch Enemy of the State

• Rent or buy Enemy of the State on Amazon
• Buy Enemy of the State on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Silent Partner (1978)

Director: Daryl Duke

Starring: Elliot Gould, Christopher Plummer

What it’s about: After receiving a tip about an upcoming stick-up, a bank teller stashes away most of the cash for himself, leaving the crook outsmarted and certainly not happy about it.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Christopher Plummer’s villainous character carries out the inciting robbery of The Silent Partner in a Santa suit, which is just one of a few ways this suspenseful, and even funny, adaptation of Anders Bodelsen’s novel, Think of a Number, deserves attention during the holidays.

How to watch The Silent Partner

• Rent The Silent Partner on Amazon
• Buy The Silent Partner on Blu-ray on Amazon

Deadly Games (1989)

Director: René Manzor

Starring: Alaine Lalanne, Patrick Floersheim

What it’s about: After a killer dressed as Santa breaks into his home, it is up to a young boy to defend himself and his grandfather one fateful Christmas Eve.

Why it is one of the best Christmas action movies: Imagine the plot of Home Alone, but with much higher stakes and more graphic violence not played for laughs and you essentially have this French cult thriller that is known in the states as Deadly Games.

How to watch Deadly Games

• Stream Deadly Games on AMC+
• Buy Deadly Games on Amazon
• Buy Deadly Games on Blu-ray on Amazon

May your holidays be merry, bright, and filled with explosive, high-octane thrills by gathering the family (sans the younger ones, to be safe) to watch one of these classic Christmas action movies.

Over the years, there have been numerous hilarious and daring romantic action comedies that combine multiple genres to create what some would describe as the perfect date movie. And, while we don’t see this as much as we used to, sometimes a movie in that category comes around and takes the world by storm. This most recently happened in March 2022 when The Lost City, a globetrotting adventure starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, became a box office champ and critical hit. 

If you were one of the millions of people who have seen the throwback adventure flick and want more, you have come to the right place, because we have put together a list of 10 movies like The Lost City that will certainly scratch an itch, make you laugh, or fall in love all over again.

Romancing The Stone (HBO Max)

Romance writer Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) finds herself in an adventure like one of her novels when she has to head into the Colombian jungle to save her sister before she is killed by a group of men seeking a priceless treasure and the map to find its location.

You can see the influence from Robert Zemeckis’ Romancing the Stone throughout The Lost City, from its story about a writer having the skills to find a missing treasure, to its over-the-top villains and dashing mercenary played by Michael Douglas. It should come as no surprise that there is boundless action, comedy, and romance throughout this classic.

Stream Romancing the Stone on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Romancing the Stone on Amazon.

Jungle Cruise (Disney+)

Upon learning of a mythical tree that supposedly has the ability to heal injuries, cure sicknesses, and more, Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) hires steamboat captain Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) to take her into the heart of the Amazon jungle in hopes of using it to revolutionize medicine. But, she isn’t the only one searching for the Lágrimas de Cristal Tree and its boundless power.

Like The Lost City, the star-studded Disney adventure, Jungle Cruise, which is based on the popular amusement park ride of the same name, has elements of comedy, action, and romance sprinkled throughout, creating a fast-paced and enjoyable adventure. But, the jury is still out on who is the more sinister villain: Jesse Plemons’ Prince Joachim or Daniel Radcliffe’s Abigail Fairfax.

Stream Jungle Cruise on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Jungle Cruise on Amazon.

Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom (Paramount+)

Together with his trusty young sidekick and a not-about-this-life singer, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) sets off into rural India to locate a missing stone. Upon reaching the heart of the jungle, though, the daring archeologist encounters a mysterious cult whose leader has a habit of pulling out people’s hearts.

The second installment in the franchise, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is the rare entry where Indy doesn’t face off with power-hungry and occult-obsessed Nazis, but instead a more mysterious (and powerful) enemy. Though without as much romance as in The Lost City, this 1984 classic has plenty of witty banter to hold you over.

Stream Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on Amazon.

The Mummy (HBO Max)

Three millennia after being cursed to damnation in ancient Egypt, High Priest Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) is brought back from the dead, unleashing a series of curses on those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In addition to having a fun story that combines humor and action, The Mummy is anchored by dashing soldier Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) and dedicated Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz), who are about as opposite as can be, but still eventually make romance work.

Stream The Mummy on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy The Mummy on Amazon.

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (Starz)

After magically becoming trapped in an old video game, four high school students are transformed into the game’s characters whose appearances and skill-sets are far different than their normal selves. In order to escape the game and make it back home, the teenagers have to put their differences aside and work together.

The well-received Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle feels like both a sequel and a reboot of the Robin Williams-led 1995 action-adventure classic, and manages to capture the thrills, chills, heart, and soul that made the original so much fun. If you love adventures through the jungle, look no further.

Stream Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle on Starz.
Rent/Buy Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle on Amazon.

The African Queen (IMDb TV)

When her brother dies at the hands of the German army while on a spiritual mission in Africa during the height of World War I, Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn) has to find a way to escape a similar fate, even if it means teaming up with drunk boat captain Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart). 

One of the best romantic comedies of all time, The African Queen laid the groundwork for movies like The Lost City and other similar action films. You have two main characters who go from bitter enemies to close companions, mystery, and danger around every corner and river bend.

Stream The African Queen on IMDb TV.
Rent The African Queen on Amazon.

Lethal Weapon (HBO Max)

Since his wife died, detective Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) has been living a dangerous life of undercover investigations and a generally reckless lifestyle. But, that all changes when he is partnered up with the more strait-laced Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), who lacks the younger cop’s tenacious sensibilities. Together the unlikely pair set out to stop a massive drug operation, but only if they survive each other first.

Okay, Riggs and Murtaugh don’t fall in love with each other in the third act, but Lethal Weapon is one of the best examples of a great buddy cop action film and is considered an all-time classic at this point. And, even though the movie is set in Los Angeles and not the jungle, the “City of Angels” is technically a concrete jungle, right?

Stream Lethal Weapon on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon.

Free Guy (Disney+)

Due to a glitch in the system, Guy (Ryan Reynolds), goes from a pre-programmed bank teller in the popular video game, Free City, to a sentient character who gains the ability to do things only the most advanced (and richest) of gamers can pull off. But upon looking into his situation, Guy learns something else is going on entirely.

Like Channing Tatum’s Alan Caprison in The Lost City, Guy becomes the most unlikely of heroes by the time his journey wraps up in Free Guy. Add in a dash of romance and some of the most intense action sequences of 2021, and you have yourself one of the best ways to spend a couple of hours. And, come on, there’s no such thing as too much Ryan Reynolds.

Stream Free Guy on Disney+.
Buy Free Guy on Amazon.

The Rundown (Amazon Rental)

When Beck (Dwayne Johnson), a hardened bounty hunter, is sent deep into the Amazon jungle to locate and retrieve his employer’s missing son (Seann Willam Scott), he soon finds out this isn’t going to be a simple job. Instead, Beck lands in the middle of bitter conflict that could not only put his mission in jeopardy, but also his life.

Whenever the topic of the best Dwayne Johnson movies comes up, you rarely see The Rundown, which is a shame. One of his first movies (and most forgotten performances), this 2003 buddy adventure film is a ton of fun and shows off the wrestler-turned-actor’s unmatched charm in action. This is definitely a must watch. 

Rent/Buy The Rundown on Amazon.

Speed (HBO Max)

Upon thwarting the plan hatched by a skilled bomber to secure a $3 million ransom, Los Angeles police officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) finds himself in the madman’s crosshairs. Instead of bringing harm to the hotshot cop, the bomber plants a device on a city bus that will explode if the speed drops below 50 miles per hour.

In addition to being one of the best Keanu Reeves movies, Speed also features the breakout role of Sandra Bullock, who plays Annie Porter, one of the passengers who becomes the driver of the explosive-riddled deathtrap. This iconic action thriller has since become one of the most iconic movies of the 1990s and also one of the most balanced.

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

21 Jump Street (AMC+)

Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) are two police officers who couldn’t be any more unlike each other if they tried. Despite this, they become fast friends at the academy and serve as each other’s support system in a variety of ways. But that friendship is put to the test when the pair are assigned an undercover gig at a local high school that has become ground zero of a deadly drug epidemic.

Based on the 1980s crime series of the same name, 21 Jump Street is one of those movies that proved that Channing Tatum is more than just a hunk made in a lab for Nicholas Sparks movies. This movie just works, and features a nearly endless line of great performances from the likes of Brie Larson, Dave Franco, and Ice Cube.

Stream 21 Jump Street on AMC+ (Amazon Add-on).
Rent/Buy 21 Jump Street on Amazon.

This is just a small sampling of the great movies like The Lost City available, with many more waiting to be found in the depths of various streaming libraries. If you’re all caught up with these and you’re still looking for a way to kill some time, check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 new movies schedule so you don’t miss a thing at your local movie house or on your favorite streaming service.

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So, Marvel’s Dave Bautista and DC’s Jason Momoa are buddies. The actors worked together on the upcoming adventure epic Dune and they really hit it off. Ahead of Dune’s release this October, Bautista just pitched a movie idea with Momoa to the internet, and it's be great to see this one in a heartbeat.

Dave Bautista took to Twitter on Thursday morning to share an idea he has just casually thought up with his fans, and it garnered a lot of excitement. This is a completely out-of-thin-air idea from the Guardians of the Galaxy actor, but he sounds serious about it if the right people are reading.

Wait, how come this doesn’t already exist? David Bautista wants to be the Riggs to Jason Momoa’s Murtaugh (or vice versa), and he has a great pick for a director. He called upon David Leitch, who is the filmmaker behind Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw and Atomic Blonde. This sounds like an awesome shoot em’ up action flick that we never knew we needed.

Following the viral tweet, Dave Bautista's other Dune costar David Dastmalchain replied that he was hoping he could find a role in this fictional movie pitch. The actor who recently became Polka-Dot Man for The Suicide Squad said this:

What if these tweets were really the start of an actual movie? In the age of social media, it would not be completely surprising. Marvel’s upcoming hero Shang-Chi did @Marvel about starring as the hero in 2018 before actually being cast in the role the following year. However, as the Marvel president shared, he did not see the social media post before casting him.

A tweet like this certainly can get people talking and rooting for Dave Bautista’s idea. Both Bautista and Jason Momoa are gifted in action moves and comedy quips, making a Lethal Weapon-type buddy cop movie a great idea. Plus, with David Leitch’s stunt work expertise, it’d be plain old badass. What’s really missing here is a script.

While we envision that, I’ll be excited to see Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista in Dune, coming to theaters and HBO Max on October 22. You can sign up for the streaming service ahead of the release using this link if you wish to catch it at home. Writer/director Denis Villeneuve has made it clear that he would prefer you to see in theaters as well as he intended. Check out the latest Dune trailer:

Dave Bautista also joined Jason Momoa for the second season of his Apple TV+ series See as Baba Voss' brother. The show is set to return on August 27. Check out what else is next for Dave Bautista’s acting career here on CinemaBlend.

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There are some directors whose names alone are synonymous with adventure, thrills, and all other emotions we seek at the movies and I firmly believe that the late Richard Donner is such a filmmaker. The man who helped bring Superman to the big screen in one of the most cherished DC movies of all time, helmed all four action-packed installments of the Lethal Weapon movies, and directed many other undisputed classics passed away on Monday, July 5, 2021, at the age of 91. In honor of his lasting legacy, and we have compiled what we believe are the best Richard Donner movies with info on where they are streaming or available to rent online, starting with the movie that made the world believe a man could fly.

Superman (HBO Max)

The infantile surviving member of a doomed alien race crash lands on Earth where he is raised by a couple of Kansas farmers and grows up to live a double life as a journalist and a vigilante with extraordinary abilities.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: With all due respect to the DCEU’s Henry Cavill, the late Christopher Reeve is still the definitive Man of Steel in the eyes of many for his winning performance as the title character of Richard Donner’s highly imaginative 1978 comic book adaptation Superman, which won a Special Achievement Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects.

Stream Superman on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Superman digitally on Amazon.

Buy Superman on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Lethal Weapon Movies (HBO Max)

After being thrown together as partners, aging detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and unpredictable loose cannon cop Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) evolve into close friends as they take on vicious drug smugglers, ruthless South African diplomats, illegal weapons traders, and Chinese crime lords in Los Angeles.

Why they are some of Richard Donner’s best movies: You would be hard pressed to find anyone who disagrees that 1987’s Lethal Weapon is the definitive buddy cop movie and that its sequels (Lethal Weapon 2 from 1989, 1992’s Lethal Weapon 3, and Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998) - all directed by Richard Donner - make up one of the most beloved action movie franchises in history for their masterful blend of grounded thrills with relatable wit.

Stream Lethal Weapon on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Lethal Weapon digitally on Amazon.

Buy Lethal Weapon on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Stream Lethal Weapon 2 on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Lethal Weapon 2 digitally on Amazon.

Buy Lethal Weapon 2 on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Stream Lethal Weapon 3 on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Lethal Weapon 3 digitally on Amazon.

Buy Lethal Weapon 3 on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Stream Lethal Weapon 4 on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Lethal Weapon 4 digitally on Amazon.

Buy Lethal Weapon 4 on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Omen (Amazon Rental)

As a series of terrifying events begins to happen to the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain (Gregory Peck) and his wife (Lee Remick), he begins to suspect that his son (whom he adopted in secret after his own real child was stillborn) is to blame and may even be the living embodiment of evil.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: Not only is the original 1976 version of The Omen one of the finest films in Richard Donner’s directorial career, but it is one of best horror movies of all time for its indelible moments of bloodshed and little Harvey Stephens’ breathtaking performance as the Antichrist.

Rent/buy The Omen digitally on Amazon.

Buy The Omen on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Goonies (HBO Max)

A close knit group of youths (including future The Lord of the Rings cast member Sean Astin and Oscar nominee Josh Brolin, a.k.a the Marvel movies’ Thanos) embark on a death-defying quest involving booby traps and a family of escaped criminals in search of a long lost treasure to save their financially strapped neighborhood.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: The next time that Richard Donner worked with kids in 1985, the thrills came much lighter (but still a bit dark) in The Goonies - a timeless family classic from executive producer Steven Spielberg that feels like what a child imagines their backyard adventures could be like.

Stream The Goonies on HBO Max.

Rent/buy The Goonies digitally on Amazon.

Buy The Goonies on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Radio Flyer (Amazon Rental)

A father (Tom Hanks) reminisces about a time when he and his younger brother tried to escape from their mother’s (Lorraine Bracco) abusive husband (Adam Baldwin) by building a plane out of a toy wagon.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: The next time that Richard Donner worked with kids after The Goonies, the story also became a bit dark (but still quite adventurous and brimming with imagination) in Radio Flyer, which also stars a future Lord of the Rings alum (Elijah Wood) and the Jurassic Park cast’s Joseph Mazzello.

Rent/buy Radio Flyer digitally on Amazon.

Buy Radio Flyer on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Maverick (Amazon Rental)

A charming, clever con artist (Mel Gibson) teams up with a feisty, attractive thief with a talent for faking accents (Academy Award-winner Jodie Foster) to compete in a poker game that promises a large prize of loot for the winner in the Old West.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: The next time that Richard Donner worked with Mel Gibson after the first three Lethal Weapon movies, he cast the Australian actor in the title role of a different kind of action adventure story, 1994’s Maverick - the acclaimed, often funny period piece based on the classic 1960s western TV show starring The Notebook’s James Garner, who also stars in the film.

Rent/buy Maverick digitally on Amazon.

Buy Maverick on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Ladyhawke (Amazon Rental)

A bumbling thief (Matthew Broderick) teams up with a rugged, troubled warrior (Rutger Hauer) to help take down a corrupt bishop (John Wood) who has hunted the knight since he went on the run with a mysterious beauty (Michelle Pfieffer).

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: Years before Richard Donner worked on Maverick, he directed a pre-Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Matthew Broderick in the role of an unlikely kind of action hero in 1985’s Ladyhawke - an underrated, thoroughly funny, and romantic period piece with some fun, unexpected elements of fantasy.

Rent/buy Ladyhawke digitally on Amazon.

Buy Ladyhawke on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Conspiracy Theory (HBO Max)

A New York City cab driver (Mel Gibson) with a compulsive habit for coming up with hidden truths in everyday situations is forced to go on the run with the government attorney he is in love with (Julia Roberts) when one of his seemingly hair-brained theories turns out to be true.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: The next time that Richard Donner worked with Mel Gibson after Maverick and before Lethal Weapon 4, he cast him as an unlikely kind of action hero in 1997’s Conspiracy Theory - a crime thriller that makes for a fun, intriguing time if you try not to take its approach to truth in speculation too seriously.

Stream Conspiracy Theory on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Conspiracy Theory digitally on Amazon.

Buy Conspiracy Theory on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Scrooged (Hulu, Paramount+)

A curmudgeonly TV executive (Bill Murray) is shown the error of his ways when he visited by a trio of spirits who remind him of his past, help him reflect on his present, and warn him about his future on Christmas Eve.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: The first and last time that Richard Donner worked with Bill Murray was on the set of 1988’s Scrooged - a hilarious and heartfelt holiday comedy which, despite its rocky behind-the scenes history, is often cited by many as their favorite interpretation of the iconic Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol to watch every season.

Stream Scrooged on Hulu.

Stream Scrooged on Paramount+.

Rent/buy Scrooged digitally on Amazon.

Buy Scrooged on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Timeline (Hulu, Paramount+)

An ambitious archeologist and his team must risk their lives to save his father when they discover that he is trapped in 14th Century France.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: If you are not invested by the way time travel in Timeline works, you may be entertained by the medieval action that our modern-day heroes (including a young Paul Walker and a pre-300 Gerard Butler) must endure in this 2003 sci-fi flick based on the novel by the late Michael Crichton that is also one of Richard Donner’s last movies.

Stream Timeline on Hulu.

Stream Timeline on Paramount+.

Rent/buy Timeline digitally on Amazon.

Buy Timeline on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

16 Blocks (Amazon Rental)

A boozy, washed up police detective must risk his life to protect a young man while escorting him to testify in a trial when he discovers that some corrupt cops have conspired to prevent him from making it to the courthouse alive.

Why it is one of Richard Donner’s best movies: In Richard Donner’s last movie, 2006’s 16 Blocks, Bruce Willis plays the kind of man Die Hard’s John McClane might have become if he turned to alcohol to cope with his misfortune and rapper Mos Def arguably gives the strongest performance of his acting career thus far in this tense, subtle action thriller.

Rent/buy 16 Blocks digitally on Amazon.

Buy 16 Blocks on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

As you can see from the binge-ready list of movies above, Richard Donner may be gone, but he has left behind a legacy that will forever live on in the hearts of people of all ages who love to go to the movies.

The list of the best ‘80s movies is a massive and diverse list of everything from iconic action movies to Best Picture winners, and so much more. With so many great movies having come out in the penultimate decade of the 20th century, keeping track of all those rom-coms, sci-fi thrillers, horror flicks, and tear-jerking dramas is no easy task.

Looking for a way to revisit your favorites from the ‘80s while waiting for those new releases on the 2025 movie schedule? Well, come with us as we explore the best the ‘80s had to offer and how to watch those movies on some of the best streaming services. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s go back to the ‘80s with these great movies…

The Big Chill (1983)

The Director: Lawrence Kasdan

The Cast: Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt

What It’s About: A group of college friends reunite to bury one of their own who has committed suicide. Together for the first time in years, the once close-knit gang examine their college experience and what has changed.

What To Expect: With one of the best movie soundtracks ever assembled, incredible performances by some of the biggest ‘80s stars, and an unflinching story about friendship and identity, The Big Chill has it all.

• Stream The Big Chill on Max.
  Rent/Buy The Big Chill on Amazon.
• Get The Big Chill on DVD on Amazon.

Major League (1989)

The Director: David S. Ward

The Cast: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes

What It’s About: After discovering that their team’s new owner is planning on tanking the team to relocate to sunny Florida, the ragtag group of misfits that make up the Cleveland Indians take matters into their own hands and attempt to pull off the impossible.

What To Expect: One of the best baseball movies of all time, Major League hits the triple crown of a sports flick: comedy, drama, and all kinds of web gems.

• Rent/Buy Major League on Amazon.
• Get Major League on DVD on Amazon.

Clue (1985)

The Director: Jonathan Lynn

The Cast: Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Michael McKean

What It’s About: Six seemingly random strangers, who appear to have nothing in common with one another, are summoned to a mansion for dinner, only to discover they are in the middle of a murder mystery where no one can be trusted, not even the staff.

What To Expect: With its multiple endings, hilarious gags, and unforgettable performances by some of the funniest people in Hollywood, Clue takes a classic board game and turns it into a classic whodunit comedy.

• Rent/Buy Clue on Amazon.
• Get Clue on DVD on Amazon.

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)

The Director: Joe Johnston

The Cast: Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Amy O’Neill

What It’s About: After being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a group of teenagers are turned into a fraction of their normal size and are forced to survive the dangerous hellscape that is their backyard.

What To Expect: One of the most hilarious Rick Moranis movies, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, is full of great practical effects, a wild story, and some of the most iconic movie moments of the ‘80s.

• Stream Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on Amazon.
• Get Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on DVD on Amazon.

Field Of Dreams (1989)

The Director: Phil Alden Robinson

The Cast: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta

What It’s About: Ray Kinsella’s (Kevin Costner) life is forever changed after hearing a mysterious voice whisper “If you build it, he will come” while out in his cornfield.

What To Expect: What follows is one man’s journey to “ease the pain” of his hero, an odyssey that concludes with one of the most emotional scenes in any sports movie.

• Rent/Buy Field of Dreams on Amazon.
• Get Field of Dreams on DVD on Amazon.

Raising Arizona (1987)

The Director: The Coen Brothers

The Cast: Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman

What It’s About: A down-on-their-luck couple goes to extreme lengths to have a baby of their own, even if that means kidnapping one from a wealthy family.

What To Expect: One of the Coen Brothers’ best movies, Raising Arizona has a perfect blend of comedy and crime, as well as no shortage of iconic and unforgettable characters.

• Rent/Buy Raising Arizona on Amazon.
• Get Raising Arizona on Blu-ray on Amazon.

9 to 5 (1980)

The Director: Colin Higgins

The Cast: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton

What It’s About: A trio of fed-up secretaries team up to get even with their sexist boss, but things get out of hand when they learn their dream may have come true.

What To Expect: In addition to having one of the best movie songs of all time, 9 to 5 also has one of the best premises of the ‘80s and a cast that is untouchable.

• Rent 9 to 5 on Amazon.
• Get 9 to 5 on DVD on Amazon.

A Christmas Story (1983)

The Director: Bob Clark

The Cast: Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon

What It’s About: A young boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) tries to convince everyone from his parents to his teacher and even Santa Claus himself to bring him a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

What To Expect: Made up of a series of vignettes showcasing life in 1940s Indiana, A Christmas Story perfectly captures childhood obsession and what happens when reality brings your dreams crashing down.

• Rent/Buy A Christmas Story on Amazon.
• Get A Christmas Story on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Adventures In Babysitting (1987)

The Director: Chris Columbus

The Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Anthony Rapp, George Newbern

What It’s About: After being stood up by her boyfriend, high school senior Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) decides to spend the night watching a group of young siblings. What at first seems like a quiet night and easy money quickly turns into anything but.

What To Expect: Adventures in Babysitting, one of the best movies set in Chicago, is full of great and hilarious moments, all kinds of danger, and Elisabeth Shue in all her glory.

• Stream Adventures in Babysitting on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy Adventures in Babysitting on Amazon.
• Get Adventures in Babysitting on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Airplane! (1980)

The Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

The Cast: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen

What It’s About: With the crew and passengers incapacitated and no one else left to land the plane, a nervous pilot has to rise to the occasion and save the day.

What To Expect: The 1980 disaster film spoof, Airplane!, answers the question: what happens when a man who’s afraid to fly is the only one who can prevent a jumbo-jet from crashing?

• Rent/Buy Airplane on Amazon.
• Get Airplane! on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Aliens (1986)

The Director: James Cameron

The Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn

What It’s About: After spending decades floating through space, Ellen Ripley is awoken and sent with a group of highly-trained space Marines to investigate a mining colony that has gone dark.

What To Expect: Ripley is back with a vengeance in James Cameron’s 1986 sci-fi action flick, Aliens, and she isn’t stopping until the final Xenomorph is launched into outer space.

• Rent/Buy Aliens on Amazon.
• Get Aliens on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Back To The Future (1985)

The Director: Robert Zemeckis

The Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Llyod, Lea Thompson

What It’s About: When Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) steps into a DeLorean time machine and is transported back to 1955, he must avoid high school bullies and a younger version of his own mom if he wants to get back to 1985.

What To Expect: With great time-traveling scenes, Michael J. Fox at his best, and some hilarious scenarios (both in the past and the present), Back to the Future has everything you’d want in an ‘80s movie.

• Rent/Buy Back to the Future on Amazon.
• Get Back to the Future on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Batman (1989)

The Director: Tim Burton

The Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger

What It’s About: After falling into a vat of toxic chemicals, one of Gotham’s most ambitious and dangerous criminals is transformed into the prince of crime, and only Batman can stop him.

What To Expect: Tim Burton’s dark and moody 1989 unconventional superhero film, Batman, forever changed the face of comic book movies and gave audiences one of the best representations of the iconic character.

• Stream Batman on Max.
• Rent/Buy Batman on Amazon.
• Get Batman on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Beetlejuice (1988)

The Director: Tim Burton
The Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin

What It’s About: When the efforts by a ghostly couple (played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) to scare away the new owners of their country home are fruitless, they turn to a spirit by the name of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to regain control.
What To Expect: More than 35 years after its release, Beetlejuice remains one of the most inventive, iconic, and hilarious additions to Tim Burton’s massive library of movies.

• Stream Beetlejuice on Max.
• Rent/Buy Beetlejuice on Amazon.
• Get Beetlejuice on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

The Director: Martin Brest

The Cast: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton

What It’s About: A wise-cracking and rebellious Detroit police officer comes to Los Angeles to track down those responsible for his best friend’s murder.

What To Expect: Expect to laugh, like a lot, because this Eddie Murphy classic starts and doesn’t stop until the credits roll.

• Stream Beverly Hills Cop on Paramount+.
• Rent/Buy Beverly Hills Cop on Amazon.
• Get Beverly Hills Cop on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Big (1988)

The Director: Penny Marshall

The Cast: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia

What It’s About: When 12-year-old Josh Baskin (David Moscow) wishes he was a little bigger, he gets his wish and then more when he wakes up to find he has been transformed into a full-grown adult (Tom Hanks).

What To Expect: Penny Marshall’s timeless comedy sees Baskin navigate 1980s New York City, but as a child trapped in a man’s body and various situations.

• Stream Big on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy Big on Amazon.
• Get Big on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

The Director: Stephen Herek

The Cast: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin

What It’s About: Strange things are afoot at the Circle K in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure when two dopey high schoolers (played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves) are given access to a time-traveling phone booth to pass their history exam and keep their band together.

What To Expect: Looking for righteous time-traveling sequences, air guitar, and Napoleon going to a water park? Well, look no further.

• Rent/Buy Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure on Amazon.
• Get Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Blade Runner (1982)

The Director: Ridley Scott

The Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young

What It’s About: Blade Runner follows replicant hunter Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) as he tracks down four escaped criminals who have returned to Earth from an off-world colony.

What To Expect: What starts off as a simple game of cat and mouse slowly turns into something much more complex.

• Rent/Buy Blade Runner on Amazon.
• Get Blade Runner on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Blue Velvet (1986)

The Director: David Lynch

The Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Isabella Rossellini

What It’s About: College student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) becomes involved with the dark and twisted world of his town’s criminal underbelly after finding a dismembered ear.

What To Expect: Come in expecting Lynchian twists and turns, unforgettable characters (that you’ll want to forget), and a great soundtrack.

• Rent/Buy Blue Velvet on Amazon.
• Get Blue Velvet on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Blues Brothers (1980)

The Director: John Landis

The Cast: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Carrie Fisher

What It’s About: Two brothers attempt to get their old band back together to help save the orphanage in which they were raised.

What To Expect: In the mood for great music, even better characters, and quite possibly the best car chase of all time? Well, look no further than The Blues Brothers.

• Stream The Blues Brothers on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy The Blues Brothers on Amazon.
• Get The Blues Brothers on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Broadcast News (1987)

The Director: James L. Brooks

The Cast: Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks, William Hurt

What It’s About: In addition to presenting the news day in and day out, a news producer finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with her longtime best friend and a dreamy yet under-qualified anchorman.

What To Expect: James L. Brooks’ romantic comedy, Broadcast News, finds the perfect balance between drama and comedy, composure and awkwardness, and so much more.

• Stream Broadcast News on Starz.
• Rent/Buy Broadcast News on Amazon.
• Get Broadcast News on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Caddyshack (1980)

The Director: Harold Ramis

The Cast: Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase

What It’s About: Set at the Bushwood Country Club, which is infested with rodents and yuppies alike, Harold Ramis’ 1980 sports comedy, Caddyshack, follows caddies (led by Michael O’Keefe), grounds crew (led by Bill Murray), and all other sorts of characters who spend a summer at the prestigious club.

What To Expect: Considered one of the best sports comedies ever made, Caddyshack has some of the subgenre’s most quotable scenes and one of Hollywood’s most hatable villains.

• Rent/Buy Caddyshack on Amazon.
• Get Caddyshack on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Coming To America (1988)

The Director: John Landis

The Cast: Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, Arsenio Hall

What It’s About: John Landis’ 1988 comedy, Coming to America, follows Prince Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) as he travels to Queens to find a wife to bring back to the African nation of Zamunda.

What To Expect: If you’re in the mood for classic Eddie Murphy moments, some outrageous characters, and a great look at ‘80s NYC, this will do the trick.

• Rent/Buy Coming to America on Amazon.
• Get Coming to America on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

The Director: Peter Weir

The Cast: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke

What It’s About: Set in a prestigious college prep academy, the 1989 drama Dead Poets Society follows newly arrived English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) as he spends a semester opening the eyes and changing the lives of his students, for better or for worse.

What To Expect: Dead Poets Society, one of the great coming-of-age stories of all time, is at times incredibly hopeful while at others utterly heartbreaking.

• Rent/Buy Dead Poets Society on Amazon.
• Get Dead Poets Society on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Die Hard (1988)

The Director: John McTiernan

The Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia

What It’s About: NYPD officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) finds himself in the right place at the right time in Die Hard when his wife’s holiday Christmas party is overtaken by a group of international terrorists who hold them hostage in hopes of securing unfathomable wealth.

What To Expect: Bruce Willis’ wisecracks, explosive action scenes, and one of Alan Rickman’s great villains all make Die Hard an unforgettable classic.

• Stream Die Hard on Hulu.
• Rent/Buy Die Hard on Amazon.
• Get Die Hard on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

The Director: Emile Ardolino

The Cast: Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach

What It’s About: Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) goes to spend a summer in the Catskills with her family in Dirty Dancing. Thinking she’ll spend the time bored out of her mind, Baby quickly finds herself learning what it means to dance, love, and stand up for herself, thanks to her dance instructor-turned-lover Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze).

What To Expect: There is no short order of romance, drama, dancing, and legendary ‘50s music in this decorated classic.

• Rent/Buy Dirty Dancing on Amazon.
• Get Dirty Dancing on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Do The Right Thing (1989)

The Director: Spike Lee

The Cast: Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis

What It’s About: What initially starts out as a disagreement over which actors should or shouldn’t be included on the wall of a Brooklyn pizzeria quickly escalates into a full-blown riot in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

What To Expect: If you’re looking for comedy, drama, and a large dose of social commentary, give Do the Right Thing a shot.

• Stream Do the Right Thing on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Do the Right Thing on Amazon.
• Get Do the Right Thing on Blu-ray on Amazon.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The Director: Steven Spielberg

The Cast: Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore

What It’s About: Steven Spielberg’s 1982 sci-fi adventure E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial follows a young boy (Henry Thomas) as he forms an unbreakable bond with a gentle alien who is trapped on Earth and just wants to go home.

What To Expect: This 1982 sci-fi classic is full of wonder, adventure, and quite possibly one of the best John Williams scores of all time.

• Rent/Buy E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Amazon.
• Get E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Blu-ray on Amazon.

Escape From New York (1981)

The Director: John Carpenter

The Cast: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine

What It’s About: John Carpenter’s 1981 dystopian thriller, Escape From New York, sees Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) attempt to save the U.S. President from a group of fanatical criminals who run the streets of Manhattan, which has been turned into a prison colony.

What To Expect: With one of Kurt Russell’s most badass characters, some great practical effects by James Cameron, and a legendary John Carpenter score, there’s a lot to love here.

• Stream Escape from New York on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Escape from New York on Amazon.
• Get Escape from New York on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

The Director: Amy Heckering
The Cast: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold
What It’s About: The school lives, social lives, and love lives of several teenagers are explored both in and outside their California high school.
What To Expect: If you’re looking for a movie that captures the heart and soul of the ‘80s high school experience, look no further than Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Yes, that includes the good, the bad, and the unbearingly uncomfortable.

• Rent/Buy Fast Times at Ridgemont High on Amazon.
• Get Fast Times at Ridgemont High on DVD on Amazon.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

The Director: John Hughes
The Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara

What It’s About: John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows the charismatic titular high school senior (Matthew Broderick) as he convinces his girlfriend and best friend to skip class and have an epic adventure in Chicago.

What To Expect: A quintessential ‘80s movie, and one of John Hughes’ best cinematic experiences, there are few teenage comedies that hit as hard (or as often) as this one.

• Rent/Buy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on Amazon.
• Get Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on DVD on Amazon.

Footloose (1984)

The Director: Herbert Ross

The Cast: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow

What It’s About: When Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), a dance-obsessed high schooler, moves to a small town that has banned all forms of music and dancing, he does what any teenager would do in his position: rebels with loads and loads of dancing, in Footloose.

What To Expect: If you’re in the mood for angry dancing, John Lithgow villains, and great movie songs, look no further than Footloose.

• Rent/Buy Footloose on Amazon.
• Get Footloose on DVD on Amazon.

Friday The 13th (1980)

The Director: Sean S. Cunningham

The Cast: Betsy Palmer, Kevin Bacon, Adrienne King

What It’s About: The slasher film Friday the 13th follows a group of counselors as they are picked off one by one by a sadistic killer with one hell of a backstory involving Camp Crystal Lake.

What To Expect: You won’t see Jason Voorhees tracking down and killing teenagers this time around, but the killer in this iconic slasher is just as brutal and perhaps even more unhinged.

• Rent/Buy Friday the 13th on Amazon.
• Get Friday the 13th on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Ghostbusters (1984)

The Director: Ivan Reitman

The Cast: Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson

What It’s About: Who ya gonna call? Well, Ghostbusters if you’re looking for a fun supernatural comedy involving college professors who use their knowledge to rid New York City of ghostly threats.

What To Expect: Want to go back and see how the Ghostbusters got started? Want to see the Marshmallow Man walk through NYC again? Want to experience one of the best ‘80s movies? Here’s your chance!

• Rent/Buy Ghostbusters on Amazon.
• Get Ghostbusters on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Gremlins (1984)

The Director: Joe Dante

The Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton

What It’s About: Written by Chris Columbus and directed by Joe Dante, the 1984 horror flick Gremlins answers the question: What’s the worst that could happen when you spill water on your new pet and feed them after midnight?

What to expect? Well, you’ll find out what happens when you feed a gremlin after midnight. That’s for sure!

• Rent/Buy Gremlins on Amazon.
• Get Gremlins on DVD on Amazon.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

The Director: Richard Donner

The Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey

What It’s About: Los Angeles police detectives Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) are forced to look past their differences and opposing lifestyles to uncover a massive drug-trafficking ring in Richard Donner’s Lethal Weapon.

What To Expect: If you want to see one of the premier buddy action movies, Lethal Weapon is going to do the trick, and then some.

• Rent/Buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon.
• Get Lethal Weapon on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Midnight Run (1988)

The Director: Martin Brest

The Cast: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, John Ashton

What It’s About: Bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) sets out to capture mob accountant Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas (Charles Grodin), who has skipped out on his bail.

What To Expect: What follows is a cross-country adventure involving two personalities that mix like oil and water. But with mobsters, bounty hunters, and the FBI hot on their tail, they’ll have to work together.

• Rent/Buy Midnight Run on Amazon.
• Get Midnight Run on Blu-ray on Amazon.

National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

The Director: Harold Ramis

The Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall

What It’s About: Bumbling father, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), takes his wife and two children on what is supposed to be two weeks of family bonding but quickly devolves into a trip from hell in National Lampoon’s Vacation.

What To Expect: Expect chaos. Pure chaos!

• Rent/Buy National Lampoon’s Vacation on Amazon.
• Get National Lampoon’s Vacation on Blu-ray on Amazon.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The Director: Wes Craven

The Cast: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp

What It’s About: Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street follows a group of teenagers who are being terrorized by the undead killer Freddy Krueger, who attacks them when most vulnerable: while they sleep.

What To Expect: If you came looking for an iconic horror villain to be both unbelievably brutal yet undeniably hilarious, as well as terrifying dream sequences, this franchise starter will do the trick.

• Rent/Buy A Nightmare on Elm Street on Amazon
• Get A Nightmare on Elm Street on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Platoon (1986)

The Director: Oliver Stone

The Cast: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe

What It’s About: Oliver Stone’s 1986 Academy Award-winning military drama, Platoon, follows a group of American soldiers in the Vietnam War who are pushed to the brink of losing what little humanity they have left.

What To Expect: Don’t go into Platoon looking for a happy-go-lucky or romantic view of war, because this brutal, realistic, and unflinching military drama doesn’t hold back.

• Rent/Buy Platoon on Amazon.
• Get Platoon on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Raging Bull (1980)

The Director: Martin Scorsese

The Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty

What It’s About: Robert De Niro plays Jake LaMotta, a former heavyweight champ whose life is falling apart in Martin Scorsese’s 1980 acclaimed, all-time great boxing movie, Raging Bull.

What To Expect: You won’t find likable or redeemable characters, but you will find one of the most engaging and hard-hitting stories ever told in and out of the boxing ring.

• Rent/Buy Raging Bull on Amazon.
• Get Raging Bull on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

The Director: Steven Spielberg
The Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies
What It’s About: The world is introduced to Harrison Ford’s iconic archeologist in Steven Spielberg’s 1981 adventure film Raiders of the Lost Ark, which kicked off the Indiana Jones franchise with a story about the mysterious Ark of the Covenant.
What To Expect. You can expect legendary movie sequences, Nazis losing their faces, and Harrison Ford being charming as all hell.

• Stream Raiders of the Lost Ark on Disney+.
• Stream Raiders of the Lost Ark on Paramount+.
• Rent/Buy Raiders of the Lost Ark on Amazon.
• Get Raiders of the Lost Ark on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rain Man (1988)

The Director: Barry Levinson
The Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino

What It’s About: Barry Levinson’s 1988 drama, Rain Man, netted Dustin Hoffman an Academy Award for his portrayal of Raymond Babbitt, an autistic man who has a knack for counting cards and the game of blackjack.

What To Expect: Rain Man features what could be one of Hoffman’s best performances as well as a story that is both heartwarming and incredibly maddening at times.

• Get Rain Man on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Scarface (1983)

The Director: Brian De Palma
The Cast: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer

What It’s About: Brian De Palma’s sprawling 1983 crime epic, Scarface, follows Cuban immigrant Tony Montana (Al Pacino) as he climbs from the bottom of the food chain to the top of Miami’s booming cocaine market.
What To Expect: Though being a remake itself, Scarface would go on to become one of the most influential crime films of the ‘80s and of all time, thanks to its electric tone, over-the-top violence, and one of Al Pacino’s most unhinged characters.

• Rent/Buy Scarface on Amazon.
• Get Scarface on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Spaceballs (1987)

The Director: Mel Brooks
The Cast: Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, John Candy

What It’s About: Mel Brooks’ 1987 sci-fi spoof Spaceballs takes plot points from the likes of Star Wars and other classic adventures and creates a farcical race to save the galaxy from the evil President Skroob (Brooks) and Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis).

What To Expect: Spaceballs has some of the most hilarious spoof movie gags, great comedic moments, and one of the wildest villains of the decade.

• Rent/Buy Spaceballs on Amazon.
• Get Spaceballs on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Stand By Me (1986)

The Director: Rob Reiner
The Cast: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell

What It’s About: Based on a story by Stephen King, Rob Reiner’s 1986 coming-of-age story, Stand By Me, follows a group of childhood friends as they spend the final days of their summer break looking for the dead body of a missing boy.

What To Expect: This is perhaps the best “end of childhood” movie ever released, as well as a drama that never gets old no matter how many times you watch it.

• Rent/Buy Stand By Me on Amazon.
• Get Stand By Me on DVD on Amazon.

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)

The Director: Nicholas Meyer
The Cast: William Shatner, Ricardo Montalban, Leonard Nimoy
What It’s About: The 1982 sci-fi adventure film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan sees Enterprise commander Captain James Kirk (William Shatner) cross paths with the villainous Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalbán), a genetically enhanced superhuman he never thought he’d have to see again.
What To Expect: In the mood for one of the best Star Trek movies as well as an iconic space film, look no further.

• Stream Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Paramount+.
• Rent/Buy Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Amazon.
• Get Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Steel Magnolias (1989)

The Director: Herbert Ross

The Cast: Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton

What It’s About: The 1989 Golden Globe winner, Steel Magnolias, follows a tight-knit group of women in northwestern Louisiana who stand together through thick and thin.

What To Expect: Expect to laugh, cry, and then cry some more. Seriously, try watching this movie without crying.

• Stream Steel Magnolias on Max.
• Rent/Buy Steel Magnolias on Amazon.
• Get Steel Magnolias on DVD on Amazon.

The Abyss (1989)

The Director: James Cameron

The Cast: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn

What It’s About: James Cameron’s 1989 sci-fi thriller, The Abyss, follows a group of Navy Seals and petroleum engineers as they go to the bottom of the ocean to make a remarkable discovery, one that could destroy or save humanity.

What To Expect: If you want to see state-of-the-art visuals from the late ‘80s that stand up 36 years later, an engaging story, and one of Ed Harris’ best performances, check out The Abyss.

• Rent/Buy The Abyss on Amazon.
• Buy The Abyss on DVD on Amazon.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Director: John Hughes

The Cast: Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson

What It’s About: John Hughes’ 1985 “Brat Pack” classic, The Breakfast Club, follows five high school students from different walks of life who are brought together during Saturday detention, forever changing their lives.

What To Expect: This is one of the best “Brat Pack” films and a movie that everyone needs to watch at least once.

• Stream The Breakfast Club on Peacock.
• Rent/Buy The Breakfast Club on Amazon.
• Get The Breakfast Club on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Goonies (1985)

The Director: Richard Donner

The Cast: Josh Brolin, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman

What It’s About: Richard Donner’s 1985 coming-of-age film, The Goonies, centers on a group of friends who set out for one more adventure together before their neighborhood is demolished and turned into a multi-million-dollar development.

What To Expect: An adventure like no other, The Goonies is all of your childhood dreams (and nightmares) come to life. Pirate ships, mobsters, a “monster” who’s actually a hero, and so much more.

• Rent/Buy The Goonies on Amazon.
  Get The Goonies on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Director: Irvin Kershner

The Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

What It’s About: The best Star Wars movie, 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back starts off with an epic battle on the ice planet of Hoth and only picks up from there as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) uncovers a dark secret about his past.

What To Expect: Seriously, this is the greatest sequel ever made.

• Stream The Empire Strikes Back on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy The Empire Strikes Back on Amazon.
• Get The Empire Strikes Back on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Karate Kid (1984)

The Director: John G. Avildsen

The Cast: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue

What It’s About: When high schooler Daniel LaRusso is forced to pack up his life and leave the East Coast, he lands in Southern California, where he finds himself the target of the evil Cobra Kai dojo. That is, until he learns a few tricks of his own in The Karate Kid.

What To Expect: You want karate? You want drama? You want evil dojo owners willing to do anything and everything to win? Time to watch The Karate Kid.

• Stream The Karate Kid on Netflix.
• Rent/Buy The Karate Kid on Amazon.
• Buy The Karate Kid on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Director: Ron Clements, John Musker

The Cast: Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Samuel E. Wright

What It’s About: The 1989 Disney animated film The Little Mermaid follows the rebellious Ariel (Jodi Benson) as she tries to chart her own course in life, even if that means sacrificing everything.

What To Expect: There’s a reason why people say The Little Mermaid helped start the Disney renaissance that would follow in the early ‘90s. Simply put, this movie is a masterpiece of animation.

• Stream The Little Mermaid on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy The Little Mermaid on Amazon.
• Get The Little Mermaid on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Princess Bride (1987)

The Director: Rob Reiner

The Cast: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin

What It’s About: Rob Reiner’s 1987 fantasy comedy, The Princess Bride, offers a new spin on the classic fairy tale setup with an epic and hilarious story about a man who would go to the end of the Earth to save the woman he loves.

What To Expect: The Princess Bride is a great movie that literally anyone in the family can enjoy, which isn’t something you can say too often.

• Stream The Princess Bride on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy The Princess Bride on Amazon.
• Get The Princess Bride on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Shining (1980)

The Director: Stanley Kubrick

The Cast: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd

What It’s About: Stanley Kubrick’s controversial 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining follows writer/caretaker Jack Torrance as he descends into madness while isolated with his family in the Overlook Hotel in Colorado one winter.

What To Expect: The Shining slowly builds the tension until the movie reaches a tipping point and we’re given one of the most unsettling yet exciting chase sequences ever captured on film.

• Rent/Buy The Shining on Amazon.
• Get The Shining on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Terminator (1984)

The Director: James Cameron

The Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

What It’s About: James Cameron’s iconic sci-fi thriller, The Terminator, centers on Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) as she is hunted down by a cyborg assassin from the future who has been sent to the past to kill the young waitress before she can give birth to John Connor, humanity’s last hope.

What To Expect: Want to see an emotionless silent killer stalk his prey through 1980s Los Angeles, as well as one of the best sci-fi thrillers of all time? Well, time to start watching The Terminator.

• Rent/Buy The Terminator on Amazon.
• Get The Terminator on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Thing (1982)

The Director: John Carpenter

The Cast: Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley

What It’s About: The crew of a remote research facility in Antarctica is torn apart when a shapeshifting alien finds its way into the complex in John Carpenter’s The Thing.

What To Expect: Please know that this movie will make you twist and turn in your chair, leave you with trust issues, and will leave you traumatized (especially when it comes to that dog sequence).

• Rent/Buy The Thing on Amazon.
• Get The Thing on Blu-ray on Amazon.

They Live (1988)

The Director: John Carpenter

The Cast: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster

What It’s About: Wrestler-turned-actor Roddy Piper plays a drifter armed with a pair of sunglasses that give him the ability to see behind the illusions of an alien race that has invaded the planet in They Live.

What To Expect: Come for the sunglasses scene, stay for the best fight ever recorded on film.

• Rent/Buy They Live on Amazon.
• Get They Live on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Tootsie (1982)

The Director: Sydney Pollack

The Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr

What It’s About: Fed up with not being able to get a job, struggling actor Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) does the unthinkable in Tootsie and reinvents himself as Dorothy Michaels, a female actor who quickly lands a starring role on a popular daytime soap opera. It only gets more complicated from there.

What To Expect: Tootsie has just about everything you’d want in an ‘80s movie, plus one of the best “walking through NYC” shots of all time.

• Rent/Buy Tootsie on Amazon.
• Get Tootsie on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Top Gun (1986)

The Director: Tony Scott

The Cast: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis

What It’s About: Tom Cruise plays Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Tony Scott’s 1986 action thriller Top Gun. Upon being invited to a specialized fighter pilot school, Maverick’s skills, as well as his attitude, are put to the ultimate test.

What To Expect: Beach volleyball, epic dogfights, and multiple iconic ‘80s tracks are on full display here.

• Stream Top Gun on Paramount+.
• Rent/Buy Top Gun on Amazon.
• Get Top Gun on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Trading Places (1983)

The Director: John Landis

The Cast: Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis

What It’s About: In John Landis’ 1983 comedy, Trading Places, Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy play two men who find their positions reversed as part of a sick game by a duo of villainous millionaires.

What To Expect: A young Eddie Murphy steals the show in this 1983 comedy classic.

• Rent/Buy Trading Places on Amazon.
• Get Trading Places on Blu-ray on Amazon.

WarGames (1983)

The Director: John Badham
The Cast: Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, Ally Sheedy

What It’s About: The 1983 thriller WarGames follows high school student David Lightman (Broderick) as he begins to play what he believes to be a high-tech arcade game but what is actually a supercomputer that could bring on the destruction of the planet through nuclear war.

What To Expect: If you’re looking for a chess match between a teenager and a supercomputer, here ya go!

• Stream WarGames on Max.
• Rent/Buy WarGames on Amazon.
• Get WarGames on DVD on Amazon.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

The Director: Rob Reiner

The Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

What It’s About: Written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, the all-time great romantic comedy, When Harry Met Sally, follows the titular characters played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as they try to prove that a man and woman can have a relationship that doesn’t involve sex.

What To Expect: Seriously, this movie is perfect. No notes.

• Rent/Buy When Harry Met Sally on Amazon.
• Get When Harry Met Sally on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

The Director: Robert Zemeckis

The Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer

What It’s About: Robert Zemeckis’ 1988 live-action/animation hybrid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, follows Hoskins’ hardened private investigator who is tasked with proving the titular rabbit has been framed with the murder of a high-profile figure.

What To Expect: Here is what can best be described as the ultimate animation/live-action hybrid and a tremendous example of competing movie studios working together to create an unprecedented cinematic experience.

• Stream Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Disney+.
• Rent/Buy Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Amazon.
• Get Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Well, that was a comprehensive list of the best ‘80s movies streaming. Now that you know where and how to watch all these classics, all you have to do is start watching (but hopefully not all in one big marathon).

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For what it is worth, HBO Max has one of the biggest and most versatile collection of movies on any streaming service out there, with literally thousands of movies ranging all genres, languages, and time periods. Where else can you watch Wonder Woman 1984 and then immediately jump into something like City of God or Modern Times? But deciding on what to watch (I mean after you jump into the latest addition to the DCEU) is no easy task and it isn’t hard to find yourself lost in the library of cinema’s greatest achievements. That’s where we come in.

Whether you are a new subscriber who jumped on the HBO Max train ahead of all the Warner Bros. releases, someone who has been with the service since day one, or someone who is finally able to access everything after the Roku deal was worked out, here are a couple dozen movies to enjoy on the streaming service. From superhero epics to romantic comedies, here are some of the best movies on HBO Max.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) And Other DCEU Movies, Including Justice League (2013)

If you are a fan of the DCEU and DC Comics superheroes like Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and the rest of the Justice League, there is no better place to turn to that HBO Max. With everything from Man of Steel to Wonder Woman 1984 streaming right now, you can see where the shared universe has come from and where it’s going moving forward.

Wonder Woman 1984 will be available to stream on HBO Max starting 12:00 p.m. EST on December 25 (Christmas Day) and will remain available to stream on HBO Max for 31 days from its theatrical release. Stream Wonder Woman 1984 here.

Stream Justice League, and Man of Steel, and others on HBO Max.

The Batman Movies (1989 - 1997)

The four Batman movies directed by Tim Burton and later on by Joel Schumacher are a mixed bag when it comes to quality, but each has a certain quality that make them classics in their own way. From the dark and art deco Gotham city in 1989’s Batman to the pun-infested madness of Batman & Robin, there’s a lot to enjoy here.

Stream Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin on HBO Max.

The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

There are few movies that withstand the test of time and continue to fill audiences with as much wonder as The Wizard of Oz. Chances are you’ve already seen Dorothy (Judy Garland) being transported from black-and-white Kansas to the technicolor dreamland that is Oz, but have you taken a trip down the yellow brick road in glorious HD?

Stream it on HBO Max here.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Tim Robbins' take on the wrongfully convicted Andy Dufresne and and the poetic narration from Morgan Freeman’s Ellis “Red” Redding make Frank Darabont’s classic The Shawshank Redemption one of the best Stephen King adaptations and movies of the past 30 years. It’s true that the movie has played on TNT more than probably any other movie, but now you can watch the lanky Dufresne spend his time planning his escape without sitting through all those commercials.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

The Die Hard Movies (1988 - 1995)

It is not Christmas until Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) falls from Nakatomi Plaza, so why not start a Christmastime marathon with the first three Die Hard movies? From 1988’s original holiday spectacle involving a cold and hardened New York cop in sunny Los Angeles to 1995’s Die Hard With a Vengeance there’s plenty to enjoy with this trilogy of John McClane (Bruce Willis) adventures this holiday season.

Stream Die Hard, Die Hard 2, and Die Hard With a Vengeance on HBO Max.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

In the 1987 romantic drama Dirty Dancing, Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) goes from the timid black sheep of her high society family to a strong and self-assured woman after meeting and falling for dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) in one of the most timeless and watchable dance movies out there.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Chasing Amy And Clerks (1994 - 1997)

Following the success of Clerks and Mallrats, which saw Kevin Smith lightly dabble in the world of romantic comedies, the filmmaker went all out with 1997’s Chasing Amy. More of a drama than anything else from Smith’s filmography, the movie follows Holden McNail (Ben Affleck) as the hopeless romantic comic book artist tries to win over fellow artist Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), who, unbeknownst to him, is not really looking for the same thing.

Stream Chasing Amy and Clerks on HBO Max.

The Way Back (2020)

Another great Ben Affleck movie streaming on HBO Max is the 2002 sports drama The Way Back, which centers on former basketball hotshot Jack Cunningham (Affleck) as he struggles with his own personal demons while also trying to resurrect his former high school’s basketball program. This isn’t your typical sports movie and HITS hard, especially when discovering just what sent Jack’s life over the edge.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

When Harry Met Sally (1989), Crazy Rich Asians (2018) And Other Romantic Comedies

There are some truly amazing romantic comedies on HBO Max with something for people of all generations. With timeless classics like Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally, the Nia Vardalos-penned indie smash hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and more recent phenomenons like Jon Chu’s Crazy Rich Asians there is plenty to choose from if you’re looking for a great date night movie, something to watch with friends, or just a way to forget about life for a bit.

Stream When Harry Met Sally, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)

Over the course of three consecutive holiday seasons, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy reigned supreme at the box office, bringing millions of families to the theaters to take part in this landmark achievement in storytelling and special effects. From the beginning of Frodo’s (Elijah Wood) journey to destroy the ring to Aragorn’s (Viggo Mortensen) rise from outcast to king, now’s the perfect time to begin the unexpected journey once more.

Stream The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King on HBO Max.

Cast Away (2000)

It may be hard to believe, but Robert Zemeckis’ epic survival drama Cast Away was released 20 years ago this month. Starring Tom Hanks as FedEx systems analyst Chuck Noland, the movie centers on a man’s transformation from a time-obsessed executive with everything he ever wanted to someone with nothing but the will to live. And even though it gets a little long in the final act, Cast Away is an achievement in storytelling, acting, and filmmaking that should be revisited.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

You’ve Got Mail (1998) And Joe Vs. The Volcano (1990)

No on is saying You’ve Got Mail is the best romantic comedy and no one is saying that the 1998 remake of a remake is even the best movie starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, but there’s a certain quality to this oddly aged movie that makes it something you can’t help but watch on a cold winter’s night. Maybe its the early days of the internet, the idea of a big box store killing off a mom-and-pop bookstore, and everything else about this movie that makes it more like a time capsule to a more simple and less technologically advanced era. And if that isn’t your cup of tea, there’s always the tried and true Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks classic that is Joe vs. The Volcano from a time when Hanks had some really out there roles.

Stream You’ve Got Mail and Joe vs. The Volcano on HBO Max.

The Matrix Trilogy (1999 - 2003)

We still have a little less than a year until we get to see what Neo (Keanu Reeves) has been up to in The Matrix 4, but why not start your homework early watch the Wachowski’s definitive sci-fi action flick The Matrix and see how the siblings redefined the action genre with that layered story, eye-catching special effects, and mind-boggling plot devices. And while the two sequels aren't viewed as favorably as the 1999 original, they each have their own moments.

Stream The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions on HBO Max.

Enemy Of The State (1998) And Wild Wild West (1999)

One of the biggest head-scratchers in the history of movies will always be Will Smith’s decision to turn down The Matrix for Wild Wild West, but the 1999 steampunk western is a bonkers sideshow that has become a beast of its own in the 22 years since its release. With a cast that also includes Kevin Kline, Selma Hayek and Kenneth Branagh, you can see what drew the Fresh Prince to the spider-infested adventure. At least the year before we got Enemy of the State, which remains one of Smith’s best performances and best movies involving a cat as a central character.

Stream Enemy of the State and Wild Wild West on HBO Max.

Casablanca, Citizen Kane And Other TCM Movies

For film buffs who don’t have the money to get the Criterion Channel, HBO Max has more than enough classic movies from Hollywood’s various eras and from around the world. With classics like Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Cool Hand Luke, and An American In Paris, the Turner Classic Movie section on the streamer is a beast of its own and will afford you the opportunity to revisit your favorites from yesteryear or finally watch those movies you’ve always been too afraid to admit you’ve never seen.

Stream Turner Classic Movies on HBO Max here.

Bessie (2015)

The Primetime Emmy Award-winning HBO biopic Bessie features one of the best performances from Queen Latifah’s career as she takes on the life and career of blues singer Bessie Smith. With an amazing story and cast that also includes Michael K. Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, and Tory Kittles, there are plenty of reasons why this one of the most watched HBO original movies of all time.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Happy Gilmore (1996) And Billy Madison (1995)

No one is saying that Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore are the best movies or best comedies of all time, but there are few movies from the ‘90s that are more quotable and enjoyable as Adam Sandler’s back-to-back side-splitters. Whether it’s Sandler’s take on the spoiled son of a hotel magnate or failed hockey player coming up with ways to save his grandma’s house, this pair of movies are just as enjoyable now as they were upon release.

Stream Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison on HBO Max.

The Crow Movies (1994 - 2006)

The Crow will probably always been remembered for being the movie where star Brandon Lee was killed, but this quintessential 1994 action thriller about a rock star coming back from the grave to exact revenge on those who killed him and his wife should also be remembered for its dark tone and gripping story.

Stream The Crow, The Crow: City of Angels, and The Crow: Wicked PowerOn HBO Max.

The Friday Trilogy (1995 - 2002)

Ice Cube was already a star by the time he co-wrote and starred in 1995’s Friday, but the rapper-turned-actor a bonafide megastar with the release of the stoner comedy and its two subsequent sequels Next Friday and Friday After Next. With the story of Craig Jones (Ice Cube) getting fired and spending an entire day doing a whole lot of nothing until standing up to neighborhood bully Deebo (RIP Tiny Lister Jr.) and insane cast, there are plenty of reasons this movie remains just as beloved 25 years later.

Stream Friday, Next Friday, and Friday After Next on HBO Max.

Richard Jewell (2019)

Clint Eastwood’s 2019 drama Richard Jewell tells the story of the security guard (Paul Walter Hauser) falsely accused of planting the bomb that killed one and injured more than 100 others at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Risky Business (1983) And Other Tom Cruise Movies

Time and time again, Tom Cruise proves why he became and remained one of the brightest stars in Hollywood. And while not every single one of Cruise’s films can be streamed on HBO Max, you can watch the career-making performance as a high school student trying to save his butt in Risky Business and several other great additions to his filmography on the streamer.

Stream Risky Business, Magnolia, The Last Samurai on HBO Max.

The Lethal Weapon Movies (1987 - 1998)

There are buddy cop movies and then there is Lethal Weapon, which features one of the best pairings of a straight-laced detective in Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh and wild-eyed man-on-the-edge in Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs. Over the course of four Lethal Weapon movies, the unlikely duo bring justice back to the streets and become responsible for millions in property damage.

Stream Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, and Lethal Weapon 4 on HBO Max.

The Austin Powers Movies (1997 - 2002)

The first Austin Powers movie will forever be one of quintessential comedies of the ‘90s and serve as one of the crowning achievements of Mike Myers’ legendary career. See the British secret agent and his terrible teeth find himself as a man out of time in International Man of Mystery and its two sequels.

Stream Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers in Goldmember on HBO Max.

Those are just a couple dozen of the great movies you can watch on HBO Max right now. Which one do you plan on watching over the winter break? Sound off in the comments below.

One of Mel Gibson’s most notable roles is Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon franchise. He played that character through four Lethal Weapon movies, capping things off with Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. Since then, there’s been talk of making a Lethal Weapon 5 and recently Mel Gibson offered up an update on that front.

Since a Lethal Weapon movie hasn’t released in over twenty years, there’s always been a healthy dose of skepticism from fans that a Lethal Weapon 5 would actually happen. Of course, there’s always hope in the air that perhaps Richard Donner, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover will have one last ride. Now, Mel Gibson gave Good Morning America an update when asked if it’s possible there will be a Lethal Weapon 5:

Well, there you have it. There’s still a chance we could get a Lethal Weapon 5 and director Richard Donner is trying to make it happen. So, now it seems to be more a question of when rather than if because time isn’t exactly on their side. This is very exciting news for the generations of fans.

Mel Gibson’s not the only one to confirm Lethal Weapon 5 is happening. Earlier this year producer Dan Lin said they’re actively trying to make it with Richard Donner, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover all coming back for it. But it sounds like the story is what’s holding things up.

Richard Donner himself back in 2018 also hinted that Lethal Weapon 5 was in the works. While featured as a guest on a podcast, Richard Donner’s filmography was being listed off and after Lethal Weapon 4 was read, he said, “And 5 coming up.” We'll just have to wait to see when.

At the time, Richard Donner explained his vision for the film as well. He said it would be called Lethal Finale, would be very dark, and written by Channing Gibson, who wrote Lethal Weapon 4. However, he claimed things were being held up at Warner Bros. and he expressed doubts it would happen at all.

Of course, the prospect of Lethal Weapon 5 happening raises some serious questions and makes us wonder how in the world it would work and what the story would be. After all, Mel Gibson is 64 and Danny Glover is 74. It would be quite a stretch to make us believe they’re still on the force.

At the same time, it’s not out of the question that they could make one last swan song devoted to focusing on Riggs and Murtaugh in their old age, taking on one more bad guy. Whatever they decided, hopefully, we’ll hear more details soon.

Lethal Weapon is one of the greatest action franchises of all time, but there’s still a lot that needs to be resolved with Riggs and Murtaugh. While Lethal Weapon 5 has been stuck in development hell for years, Richard Donner seems intent on making it a reality. Since this is likely his last shot to end the series, they need to learn from past mistakes and end the series well. Here are some ways Lethal Weapon 5 can do just that.

Shane Black Should Write The Script

Lethal Weapon is Shane Black’s brainchild that made $120 million worldwide and launched three sequels over the course of two decades. He knows these characters; he knows the buddy cop genre. Sadly, his Lethal Weapon 2 script was mostly scrapped and rewritten. He never returned to the franchise.

With movies like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, Shane Black is great at writing dark, buddy cop comedies. If you want a dark end to Lethal Weapon, and if you want to get Lethal Weapon fans excited again, he’s the logical choice.

Unfortunately, while Shane Black wrote a treatment for a Lethal Weapon 5, Richard Donner said in the past that he wants to use a script by Channing Gibson, who also wrote Lethal Weapon 4.

Address Societal Issues

Lethal Weapon has a history of addressing society’s ills, like illegal drugs, weapons proliferation, South African Apartheid, and human trafficking. It only makes sense that the last in the series would continue this trend, possibly addressing things like Black Lives Matter, the death of George Floyd, and calls to defund the police.

This definitely would put Riggs and Murtaugh in the hot seat. While they usually have their heart in the right place, they have both skirted the rule book and taken justice into their own hands numerous times, abusing their power as a means to an end. The tension and conflict practically writes itself.

The temptation might be to ignore this stuff, but I think it presents an opportunity to address it, instead, especially since Lethal Weapon has set a precedent in the past tackling tough topics.

Don’t Pass The Baton To A Younger Duo

When characters grow older, the cliché is to hand things off to a younger hero. It felt like they were trying to do this in Lethal Weapon 4 with Chris Rock, but it just didn't work; Chris Rock was mostly a distraction. So, to have an effective ending, they shouldn’t even try it with Lethal Weapon 5.

First, passing the baton on to a younger team would be, like Lethal Weapon 4, a distraction and potentially overshadow Riggs and Murtaugh. Also, for a finale, it puts too many cops in the squad car, which can make the story feel overcrowded with a scattered focus. Lastly, it would inevitably feel like a “set up” movie rather than a concrete end to Riggs and Murtaugh's story.

Focus Entirely On Riggs And Murtaugh In Their Old Age

Right now, Mel Gibson is 64 and Danny Glover is 74. They’re much older than when they last appeared on screen. But, this is okay; it works with the theme of Murtaugh complaining about being old. Focusing on Riggs and Murtaugh in their old age is the only way to go. Where have they been all this time, how has that shaped who they are now, and what antagonist will put pressure on that relationship? They might think they’ve gotten old, but I think fans would come to see them for one more outing.

Besides, “Geriaction” movies have been a hot genre lately. From The Expendables to Taken to Logan, there’s an audience for watching elders hunt down bad guys and execute justice. It’s not too far-fetched to watch Riggs and Murtaugh do the same.

Murtaugh Needs To Retire For Good

Lethal Weapon fans know Murtaugh almost retired in Lethal Weapon 3 and has been saying he’s “too old for this shit” for a long time. Yet, he’s always getting pulled back into the heat.

With Lethal Weapon 5, the irony should be that he was forced into retirement but suddenly pulled back into the game by Riggs. Riggs and Murtaugh have gone on rogue missions before, so It wouldn’t be a stretch to have Murtaugh help him out.

Still, at the end of the movie, Murtaugh should retire for good. The man deserves a little peace and quiet after all he’s been through.

Throw The Old Formula Out The Window

A big problem with the Lethal Weapon franchise is that each installment leans more on a formula rather than telling a fresh story. By Lethal Weapon 4, it was clear the writers ran out of ideas. They kept using a silly opener, a plethora of car chase scenes, silly gags at Murtaugh’s expense, and one-note bad guys. I think they can do better and overcome these tropes.

If they want to effectively end the Lethal Weapon franchise, they should start with a clean slate and tell a fresh story that doesn’t rely on a gag every other scene and has real, rounded villains. Make the story dangerous again and throw in plenty of twists and turns that we aren’t expecting. It’s the last movie; they might as well swing for the fences.

Make It A Dark Swan Song

Funny enough, Lethal Weapon was always meant to be much darker than what we got. Shane Black’s scripts for Lethal Weapon and Lethal Weapon 2 were either modified or totally rewritten because they were deemed “too dark” by Richard Donner. Still, Richard Donner apparently wants a darker tone for the last movie.

In my mind, it should try to strike a tone similar to what James Mangold did with Logan. That movie handled old man Charlies Xavier and old man Logan with incredible class. It knew it was going to be a swan song to Logan and it stuck to that idea like glue.

Lethal Weapon 5 should keep its iconic charm, charisma, and humor intact, but still lean into the dark, swan song it’s meant to be. It’s the only thing that truly makes sense.

End It On Christmas

Lethal Weapon opens in a very strange way—with “Jingle Bell Rock” playing over the opening credits. They never revisit this in future movies, turning instead to the typical noir saxophone music it's widely known for over the credits. The Christmas music at the beginning of Lethal Weapon is what makes it so great. It sets the Christmas themed tone from the start, fully embracing its role as an unconventional Christmas movie.

To bookend the series, they would be remiss if they didn’t end the franchise on Christmas. Plus, if Lethal Weapon 5 ends dark (and it should), throwing in a little “Jingle Bells” when the end credits roll would be the perfect chef’s kiss.

Riggs Should Die At The End

I love Riggs. I think he’s a complicated, multi-faceted character. But, he was always meant to die, even back in Lethal Weapon 2. I think, then, that he should die at the end of Lethal Weapon 5.

When we first meet Riggs, he’s suicidal because of the death of his wife and is living in a dirty trailer on the beach. The only purpose he has is the job. But, as the series continues, he slowly heals, gets adopted into Murtaugh’s family, finds love again, and becomes a father. His life turns around.

In Lethal Weapon 5, Riggs should be in a good place with an overall peaceful life and no desire to die as he did in the first Lethal Weapon. His purpose isn’t the job anymore. With that setup, it would be a bitter pill to swallow when Riggs dies at the end, but also a fitting end for a hero with as troubled a history as he does.

Unlike Murtaugh, Riggs’ character should go out with a bang. Maybe he saves Murtaugh in a shoot-out? Or he sacrifices himself to kill the bad guy? Whatever the case, it seems fitting, especially in a dark Lethal Weapon 5, for Riggs to die.

Richard Donner has a unique opportunity to bring back Mel Gibson and Danny Glover to wrap up the Lethal Weapon franchise right. It would be a mistake to double down on the old formula and to continue to do what they did in Lethal Weapon 3 and 4. I think these are just a handful of ways he could end the Lethal Weapon franchise well, but what do you think? What did I miss? Let us know in the comments.

Since starting his acting career in the late '70s, Danny Glover has built quite an impressive acting legacy, appearing in movies like The Color Purple, Predator 2, Witness and of course, the Lethal Weapon franchise. Now, after reflecting on his accomplishments, he explained why Lethal Weapon was important to him as a black actor.

Danny Glover spoke in length with Variety about things like George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. When the topic switched to his own career, Danny Glover listed movie projects that were important to him, and then said Lethal Weapon was one of them. Here’s what he said about some of the important movies he’s been a part of:

It's true, Danny Glover has been in some truly inspirational and powerful films. The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg, received 11 Academy Award nominations, and Places in the Heart won two out of its seven Academy Awards nominations.

You’d think being in these films would top his list, but he later added Lethal Weapon, which at face value is a little surprising. However, Danny Glover took the time to explain why it was important that he was in Lethal Weapon. Here’s what he had to say:

Lethal Weapon is one of the greatest action franchises of all time, and Danny Glover’s performance as Roger Murtaugh is a big reason why. It’s truly masterful. With each movie, he provided the backbone, heart and soul of the story, in contrast to the typically unhinged Martin Riggs. From the hilarious comedy to the truly heartbreaking moments, Danny Glover took a complex character layered with so much humanity, and makes him truly memorable.

Of course, right now, Danny Glover is still busy as ever acting. The last we saw him, he played Milo in Jumanji: The Next Level, which included its own little Lethal Weapon callback. But, the real question is, will we see him return as Roger Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon 5?

Lethal Weapon 5 has been rumored to be in the works for some time, but earlier this year, it was reported that there’s a script with Richard Donner set to return as the director. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are also wanting to return as well. It's impossible to know what the story would be about, but just the fact that Riggs and Murtaugh could be coming back for a new installment is enough to get this Lethal Weapon fan excited. Stay tuned for more updates.

The bad news: Hawaii Five-0 has ended. The worse news: the series is not available to stream on Netflix. The good news: there is plenty of content available on the streaming service that will appease fans of the long-running drama.

For 10 seasons, the hit CBS crime procedural, itself a remake of creator Leonard Freeman’s classic CBS crime procedural that ran from 1968-1980, gave viewers a taste of the darker side of paradise. Reserve Naval officer Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Laughlin), Detective Danny Williams (Scott Caan), and their task force dubbed “Five-0” investigated a series of crimes in the Hawaiian Islands ranging from organized crime as far as terrorism.

Now that the series is over, where can fans find more justice under the sun (not including CBS’s Hawaiian-based remake of the classic Hawaiian-based CBS crime show Magnum P.I.)? While I cannot promise a tropical climate for all of them, I have compiled numerous TV shows, and even a few movies, available to stream on Netflix that those already missing Hawaii Five-0 will have a ball with. Let’s “book ‘em.”

Criminal Minds

A federal law enforcement team that specializes in the psychological analysis of the most dangerous people in the United States tries to predict their next move in an effort to catch them in the act in this fan favorite that recently had its series finale after 15 seasons.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: Inspired by the cases of FBI’s Behavior Analysis, but presented in a far less brutal fashion than Netflix’s Mindhunter, Criminal Minds is yet another long-running CBS procedural drama featuring an ever-evolving, often interchanging cast of likable people (initially led by Mandy Patinkin, but then by Joe Mantegna from the series’ third year until its end) who have dedicated their lives to studying some very unlikable folks.

Stream it on Netflix here

The Blacklist

On her first day as an FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) finds an unexpected ally in elusive master criminal Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader), who shocks the bureau by turning himself in with a proposal to offer his assistance in the hunt for the country’s most wanted criminals.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: This Golden Globe-nominated hit crime drama, currently in its seventh season on NBC, is a deliciously mysterious and addictively exciting series about unlikely partnerships that happen to pay off nicely.

Stream it on Netflix here

Person Of Interest

Outside the knowledge of the authorities, a wealthy tech wizard (Michael Emerson) teams up with a former CIA agent (Jim Caviezel) to form a preemptive task force that uses a highly sophisticated artificial intelligence software he designed capable of detecting impending crimes in the New York City before they happen.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: This Emmy-nominated series, executive produced by J.J. Abrams and creator Jonathan Nolan (Christopher’s brother, and co-creator of Westworld), may not have ran for as long as most CBS procedurals tend to last, but its grounded, Minority Report-esque concept and dynamite cast make for five seasons of unique and clever entertainment.

Stream it on Netflix here

Lethal Weapon

Veteran Los Angeles detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) must set aside his differences with loose cannon Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) when they are thrown together as partners and assigned to nab a drug smuggling.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: This 1987 buddy cop classic directed by Richard Donner, and also one of many Shane Black-penned thrillers appropriate for the holiday season, is one of the top action films of its time, or any time, especially for the dynamics of its mismatched pair of heroes.

Stream it on Netflix here

Limitless

An ordinary, young New Yorker (Jake McDorman) comes into possession of a pill that unlocks the full extent of his brain, which at first makes him the prime suspect in a murder tied to the drug, before eventually earning him a consulting position with the FBI.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: Bradley Cooper produces, and occasionally appears on, this continuation of his 2011 film of the same name that, despite lasting only one season on CBS, is remembered as an enjoyable combination of science fiction, comedy, and, of course, good old fashioned crime procedural drama.

Stream it on Netflix here

Taken

Speaking of TV series inspired by popular movies, a vengeful former Green Beret named Bryan Mills (Clive Standen) is enlisted by the CIA to use his “particular set of skills” for a potentially “long career” of dangerous operations involving people whom he could prove to be “a nightmare” for.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: This short-lived prequel to the blockbuster action movie franchise of the same name starring Liam Neeson was two seasons of high-octane thrills that took audiences on adventures all over the world.

Stream it on Netflix here

NCIS

Former marine turned special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) leads his team from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in cracking cases, particularly involving Marine or Navy personnel and their family members, in Washington D.C.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: Currently in its 17th season and having inspired two hit spin-offs along the way, this top-rated drama from veteran producer Donald P. Bellisario is one of the longest-running procedurals of all time, and most definitely the longest to air on CBS, kept afloat by its first-rate writing, Emmy-nominated action choreography, and dynamic cast of colorful characters.

Stream it on Netflix here

The Good Cop

For straight-laced New York City detective Tony Caruso (singer turned actor Josh Groban), solving crimes is nothing compared to sharing a home with his father, Tony Caruso Sr. (Tony Danza), a troublesome former police officer recently released from prison.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: This is yet another Netflix original series which the streaming service’s premature cancellation of had fans devastated, wishing they could see more of the irresistible wit and endearing characters that this crime dramedy from the creator of Monk had to offer in its sole season.

Stream it on Netflix here

Haywire

After enduring a double-cross against her by the government agents who hired her, a highly skilled black ops soldier turned freelance covert operative (MMA athlete and future The Mandalorian star Gina Carano) seeks to punish on her betrayers.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: Director Steven Soderbergh convinced screenwriter Lem Dobbs into rewriting the central protagonist of Haywire as a woman so that Carano could lead the all-star cast (which includes Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, and Channing Tatum to name a few) of this action-packed espionage thriller that, like Steve McGarrett character arc in Hawaii Five-0 began, is a thrilling quest for revenge.

Stream it on Netflix here

Quantico

After becoming the prime suspect of a devastating terrorist bombing, FBI agent Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra) recalls the early days of her recruitment in hopes to figure out which her former fellow trainees may have framed her.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: Like any good network television drama, Quantico is a decent balance of lighthearted, sometimes funny, and often sexy character-driven side stories wrapped up in dark, titillating mysteries that, in this case, lasts over the course of three seasons.

Stream it on Netflix here

Spenser Confidential

After being released from prison, ex-Boston cop Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) teams up with his aspiring MMA fighter roommate (Winston Duke), his longtime friend and landlord (Alan Arkin), and his feisty on-and-off girlfriend (Iliza Schlesinger) to investigate the murder of two of his former colleagues, one of which he was suspected of killing.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: Inspired by author Robert B. Parker’s famous private investigator, director Peter Berg’s offbeat Netflix original feels a bit like the pilot of network TV procedural drama (despite frequent F-bombs) extended to 110 minutes, from the tense score, cinematography, and the creation of a ragtag group of justice seekers right before your eyes.

Stream it on Netflix here

Malibu Rescue: The Series

A team of scruffy young lifeguards run into the occasional problems faced by the average teenager while carrying out their oath to protect the beachgoers of Malibu, even if it does not involve the same glamorous style, action-packed thrills, and slow motion running shots they had anticipated.

Why Hawaii Five-0 fans will love it: This comedy series that acts as a continuation of a 2019 Netflix original movie of the same name, may not have the same grit and dramatic narrative style of a crime procedural targeted at a more adult audience, but it has its fair share of high-stakes adventure in a sunny, ocean side environment and what more can a Hawaii Five-0 fan ask for?

Stream it on Netflix here

What do you think? Do these shows and movies remind you of why you fell in love with CBS’s Hawaii Five-0 reboot in the first place, or do these selections just make you miss it more? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for more recommendations of crime procedurals or other television genre staples available to stream on Netflix here on CinemaBlend.

There’s no question that the Lethal Weapon series remains one of the most beloved and respected action franchises in Hollywood history. Warner Bros. has tried for years to rekindle interest in the series by luring Danny Glover and Mel Gibson back to their signature roles for Lethal Weapon 5, though some dedicated fans worry that, yes, the leads both may be too old for this shit.

But that hasn’t stopped the wheels of progress from turning on this production over the years, and there actually have been some positive signs indicating that Lethal Weapon 5 will make its way to theaters in the future. We may need to be patient. None of these moves are imminent. But there’s plenty we can report on Lethal Weapon 5, so read on and see what we know about this long-awaited sequel.

Will Lethal Weapon 5 Happen?

The latest bit of news that we have heard regarding Lethal Weapon 5 is that it IS moving forward, so that’s the good news. Producer Dan Lin was speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about his Oscar contender The Two Popes when he confirmed that Lethal Weapon 5 was in the pipeline at Warner Bros.

This news came after decades of false starts and fizzled plans. The last Lethal Weapon movie hit theaters in 1998, and rumors of a fifth movie have been hot and cold, with frequency, essentially since that time. But this 2018 interview with THR was the latest confirmation that executives and creatives were working on Lethal Weapon 5, and that they wanted it to move forward, so that’s where we are in regards to the future of the anticipated movie.

Who Might Come Back For Lethal Weapon 5?

It wouldn’t really be a Lethal Weapon movie without specific talents being involved, so the report that Lethal Weapon 5 is happening only really mattered because three names were attached to the project: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and director Richard Donner. These three have been involved with the franchise from day one, and so long as they are willing to return to the series, the Lethal Weapon story can continue.

The Lethal Weapon in the title refers to Martin Riggs (Gibson), who was suicidal at the start of the franchise, but also an extremely efficient cop. He’s paired with Glover’s no-nonsense and by-the-book family man Roger Murtaugh, and this odd couple comes to learn that they are far more effective as a team than they ever could be apart.

Over the years, as Riggs and Murtaugh dealt with crooked cops, Asian crime lords and South African drug smugglers, the Lethal Weapon family grew. At the time of the discussion surrounding Lethal Weapon 5, no other cast members beyond Mel Gibson and Danny Glover had been attached to the sequel. Though, if Lethal Weapon 5 was going to follow the pattern established by the other movies in the franchise, we can expect director Richard Donner to try and bring back familiar faces such as Rene Russo (who plays Riggs’ wife), Chris Rock (as Murtaugh’s son-in-law) and possibly even Joe Pesci. Good luck on that last one, however. The actor has long since retired, and had to be coaxed back to the big screen by Martin Scorsese for The Irishman. I’m not sure he’d also come back for Lethal Weapon 5.

What Could Lethal Weapon 5 Be About?

There’s one significant factor that Lethal Weapon 5 will have to address and be brutally honest with, and that’s the age of its main characters. Even if the movie were to come out this year (which is won’t), Danny Glover would be 73 and Mel Gibson would be 64. The idea that either of them would still be working for the LAPD would be ludicrous. Hell, Glover’s character was trying to retire in the FIRST movie, but the series kept figuring out how to keep him employed and on the job. Now, though, they’d have to come up with something different.

Reports on the progress of Lethal Weapon 5 rarely got into plot specifics. There were reports that Richard Donner wants Lethal Weapon 4 screenwriter Channing Gibson (no relation to Mel) to come back and pen the script for Lethal Weapon 5. And in the aforementioned THR roundtable, producer Dan Lin expressed that the story they have for Lethal Weapon 5 is “very personal” to Dick Donner and the cast, suggesting that they do, in fact, have an idea they are pursuing. Which is great.

Back in 2016, original Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black – who has gone on to write and direct his own crime-comedy masterpieces – revealed a plan that he had for Lethal Weapon 5. His pitch acknowledged the fact that Riggs and Murtaugh were older, and he shifted the action from L.A. to New York City during a blizzard… which is a fantastic way to instantly freshen up the franchise. But Black hasn’t been associated with the series in decades (too bad, as his contributions led to the best movies in the saga), so we don’t see Channing Gibson using this idea if and when Lethal Weapon 5 moves forward.

Who Will Direct Lethal Weapon 5?

The same person who has directed all four Lethal Weapon films to date: Richard Donner. And really, without Donner’s involvement, would they even do it?

I’m torn on that. We have seen multiple film franchises that move on from their original directors, such as the Terminator movies, the Die Hard films, and more. They don’t always work. But every once in a while, someone like J.J. Abrams will swoop in and revive the Star Wars franchise with a movie like The Force Awakens. At the same time, Ridley Scott keeps getting deeper and deeper into the Alien franchise and really seems to have lost his way, so there are caution stories in both avenues, and none of us really know what to expect when Richard Donner returns with Lethal Weapon 5.

While everything that we have reported in this story suggest that Donner is coming back to conclude this series (he has said that the working title for Lethal Weapon 5 is Lethal Finale), it’s worth pointing out that Donner hasn’t helmed a movie since 2006’s 16 Blocks, with Bruce Willis. And currently, Donner is 89 years old. Now, here’s where I tell you that 89-year-old Clint Eastwood still releases, essentially, one movie a year. So it’s very possible. And what a way to end a career!

What About The Lethal Weapon TV Show?

Ah yes, that’s right. The Lethal Weapon television show. Well, the FOX series has no impact on the movie side of Lethal Weapon, and so will have no effect on Lethal Weapon 5. It’s essentially a multi-verse story, where different actors (Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans) played different versions of Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. There were similarities to identities and structure of the characters and their relationship. But the TV show was free to explore different factors of how these characters existed, whereas Lethal Weapon 5 would have to carry through on important plot points that were introduced in the Lethal Weapon movies.

Like what? Well, when Lethal Weapon 4 ended, Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Lorna (Rene Russo) had their first child. And they got married… by a rabbi! Also, Murtaugh’s oldest daughter Rianne delivered a child, as well, turning Roger into a grandfather. Officially, he is too old for this shit. But it also means that these two men, who we have followed for years, have a lot more to lose in their lives. And if Richard Donner has a story point that he calls “personal,” then it could mean that there’s a threat leveled at the family members of our two leads. We’ve seen action films introduce older versions of child characters in movie series. Will Lethal Weapon 5 choose to go in this direction?

The signs we have for Lethal Weapon 5 are far more positive than they ever have been in the past. If Richard Donner has a script, and a desire to close out the saga, then we absolutely can see both Mel Gibson and Danny Glover returning to their classic characters. Also, both men are still acting, as we saw them on screen in Boss Level and Jumanji: The Next Level, respectively.

We will continue to track the progress of Lethal Weapon 5, and also hope that the production delays that are currently plaguing the film industry don’t lead to a pause in production that leaves the sequel on the Development Shelf for eternity. Stay tuned, and we shall see how this plays out.

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Quarantine: what is it good for? Well, besides the general health of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s also a great means of allowing people a chance to kick back and catch up on some of their favorite movie franchises. Which makes the news that a good majority of the James Bond movies will soon be available to stream at a TV near you all the more exciting.

There’s a lot of material out there, should you want to program your own movie marathon in the room of your choice. Naturally, as duly appointed representatives of the internet media, we here at CinemaBlend would like to point you to where some of the best options lie. Through this list, you’ll have a good picture of where you can enjoy

The James Bond Franchise

With No Time To Die being pushed until November, fans are more than likely upset that 007 won’t be on the big screen as soon as they’d hoped. But that doesn’t mean the globetrotting action of the James Bond series isn’t available as a virtual vacation for those confined at home. And the good news is, almost every Bond film is going to be available on streaming as of April 1st!

From that date, Prime Video will have the first 20 James Bond films (from 1962’s Dr. No to 2002’s Die Another Day) available in 4K UHD, as well as the unofficial remake of Thunderball, Never Say Never Again. Throw in the original 1953 TV adaptation of Casino Royale on Pluto TV, with HBO’s streaming platform housing the spoof adaptation of that same book, as well as Daniel Craig’s first two films, and you’re only missing the two most recent titles out of the complete set.

Where To Stream: Pluto TV / Prime Video (available 4/1) / HBO Go

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

The James Bond collection is only one of the movie franchises available for film fans in these trying times. As a matter of fact, if you’re a Disney+ subscriber (and if you aren’t, you should think about signing up for a 7-day free trial), you’ll have a majority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s offerings at your fingertips.

Which means if you never got around to revisiting your favorites before Avengers: Endgame, now’s the time to get in on those superpowered feats of strength and wit. With the exception of Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-man and the Wasp, both Spider-Man standalones and the Edward Norton version of The Incredible Hulk, every other Marvel Studios flick is on its corporate parent’s digital library. Though if you have a cable subscription, you’ll be able to catch Spider-Man: Homecoming on FXNow and Spider-Man: Far From Home on Starz.

Where To Stream: Disney+ / FXNow / Starz/ Netflix

The Matrix Franchise

As fans are gearing up for The Matrix 4 to head back into production, and hopefully keep its 2021 release date, a refresher course on Neo’s adventures in “The Trilogy” feels just about right in these times of need. Even if staying cooped up at home feels akin to being in The Matrix in its own way. Starting April 1st, Netflix is going to have all three films from The Wachowski’s iconic movie franchise ready for viewing.

Pairing one of the oldest philosophical arguments in the book with slick wire-fu and anime sensibilities, every punch, every vehicular chase, and every moment of Hugo Weaving’s insidious Agent Smith is returning to the streaming library it just recently left. It’s a shame no one has The Animatrix available for streaming as well, but that’s definitely a rental to consider if you’re ready for more.

Where To Stream: Netflix (Available 4/1)

The Star Trek Franchise

Star Trek: Picard is about to end its first season on CBS All Access, which means two things are about to happen. Not only are fans in for what’s more than likely going to be a guns a’blazin season finale, and that next Trek fix is going to be harder to come by, what with Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 running into minor delays. It’s going to be a bit tough, but that just means that fans of the first nine films in the pre-Kelvin timeline universe will have to turn their attention to Prime Video to keep the party rolling.

Should you not have Prime, but happen to be a Hulu subscriber, you can catch all of the Captain Kirk films, save for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and Star Trek: Generations; as well as the two Kelvin timeline sequels Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond, should you have the live TV plan on your subscription. Either way, diplomacy and warfare among the stars awaits you!

Where To Stream: Prime Video / Hulu

The Toy Story Franchise

Picture this: your kids are on their fifth walkthrough of Frozen II. You’ve heard “Lost In The Woods” precisely four more times than anyone ever should, and you need something new on the TV. But you want to keep it kid friendly, while still saving your own sanity. That Disney+ is about to pay off, as the entire Toy Story franchise is now available to save the day again.

With the recent addition of Toy Story 4, Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys in Andy’s toy box are available to keep your kids smiling, and draw some tears from your very adult face. But that’s not all, as the various Toy Story Toons, and Forky Asks A Question vignettes are also included in that handy streaming platform. That should make infinity and beyond look like a breeze, and will give you a much needed break from the Frozen duology.

Where To Stream: Disney+

The Lethal Weapon Franchise

The kids are asleep! I repeat, the kids are asleep! It’s time for the grownups to play, and/or for your older children to be introduced to the classics. With The Matrix Trilogy on offer through Netflix, that’s one way you could play the cards. But, if you really want to treat those you love to a classic, you’re going to want to cue up the Lethal Weapon franchise.

Coming online the same day as all three Matrix movies, all four cases from the files of Captains Riggs and Murtaugh will be open for review of the public. While there’s sadly no news on where the elusive Lethal Weapon 5 is in terms of its development, and with the Fox TV series off the air, the only comfort we can provide is the fact that these movie still hold up, and they’ll provide a hysterical throwback to those who could use a laugh.

Where To Stream: Netflix (available 4/1)

The National Lampoon Franchise

You know what else the coronavirus crisis has put on hold: family vacations! With no end in sight to this quarantine, those plans for spring break trips to Disney World, or even summer trips to Europe are all in jeopardy. In the long term, it’s kind of sad; but in the short term, that means it’s time to mount up with The Griswold family and head out on the various trips National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise has put its much beleaguered family through.

With all four films in the Chevy Chase/Beverly D’Angelo led entries being provided on Hulu, you can take a vacation across the highways of America and the major cities of Europe, as well as those Vegas and Christmas vacations you were planning to take this summer. Hey, if everyone’s putting their Christmas lights up again, you can take watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation anytime!

Where To Stream: Hulu

The Star Wars Franchise

Did you really think we were going to skip Star Wars? In this economy? While Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker isn’t available with the rest of its brethren on Disney+ just yet, the home video and Digital HD release of the final Skywalker Saga movie will more than likely trigger a mass revisitation to the Star Wars saga at large, as well as some of its spinoff properties.

With the first eight Skywalker saga entries, ranging from The Phantom Menace to The Last Jedi, are available in Disney+’s library, there’s also both Star Wars Story spinoffs, Rogue One and Solo to enjoy. But if you really, really want to go hard in the paint, then television series like The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Clone Wars will complete your total immersion experience in that galaxy far, far away. It might not be a trip to Galaxy’s Edge, but it’s good prep for when you eventually get there.

Where To Stream: Disney+

The mass COVID-19 quarantine doesn’t have to be a pain for you, or anyone you’re holed up with! Through the ever useful world of streaming, the titles above will help you fill your mind with imaginative adventures, fast paced action, and everything else you could hope for while being housebound! Make sure to stay safe, stay indoors, and stream responsibly; and we’ll all get through this time of hardship in a most entertaining way.

Here’s the bad news of April 2020: most everyone is locked down in a protective quarantine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. So unless you’re roaming the streets to loot supplies of toilet paper, or worse, are headed to Florida for spring break, your entertainment options are limited. Which only makes the fact that Netflix has more great movies coming than ever all the more appropriate in these trying times.

Looking at the April 2020 lineup, it’s clear that either by design or coincidence, the new movies coming online are part of one of the most ambitious lineups of Netflix titles in quite a while. So since we have all this extra time to spare, let’s run down the best and brightest titles heading to a streaming queue near you this April!

Deep Impact

Okay, so a huge disaster movie like Deep Impact might not be the most obvious option for quarantine entertainment. But if people are going to be prone to watching Contagion and Outbreak at a time like this, then surely there’s room for a movie about the more personal side of an asteroid crisis. Also, if you are watching Outbreak, consider this the other half of your “Morgan Freeman in a time of crisis” double feature.

Just Friends

There’s still no word about whether or not Fox’s Free Guy, or any other movie for that matter, will still be making its big debut in theaters this July. So just in case there’s an off chance that Ryan Reynolds’ latest movie gets delayed, you can always revisit one of his best films with Just Friends. Yeah, it’s a Christmas themed movie, but that doesn’t stop the jokes from still being funny in any season.

The Lethal Weapon Franchise

What’s better than watching one Lethal Weapon movie during your quarantine? Apparently being able to watch every film from the Richard Donner-directed franchise. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s legendary run of buddy cop films are all presented as a complete unit on Netflix, which may or may not prompt the public to hope even harder that Lethal Weapon 5 gets under way as soon as safely possible.

Minority Report

In 2002, Steven Spielberg hit a double play out of the park that’s still well regarded to this very day. In that summer, he made Minority Report a blockbuster name, with Tom Cruise trying to solve a crime he hasn’t committed yet. That fall, Catch Me If You Can teamed Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio for an adventure of high crimes and emotional lows. While the latter film recently left the library, that former film is now available to take the edge off of your social distancing habits.

Road To Perdition

Okay, that was a foul trick mentioning Catch Me If You Can when it’s no longer available on Netflix. But allow me to make up for that absence with the fact that a very underrated Tom Hanks movie is coming very soon: director Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition. Providing one of Hanks’ best performances, it’s a bittersweet story of family bonding between a mafia hitman and his son during a most dangerous time in their lives.

Sherlock Holmes

Some sequels feel like they’re always on the edge of starting and being cancelled, and Sherlock Holmes 3 is one of the most prevalent examples of such a state. We can’t blame fans for wanting that film to happen, as director Guy Ritchie’s original Sherlock Holmes adventure was so damned good, one sequel didn’t feel like enough. If you agree, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law will be there to help us all deal with this endless delay real soon.

Taxi Driver

Netflix is in the Martin Scorsese business, as evidenced by its work with the director on his awards season darling The Irishman. The streaming giant has also been known to have quite a few of the iconic director’s films on its service, and Taxi Driver is one of those titles that’s been here before, only to come back again. Now you can watch one of Robert De Niro’s most memorable film performances and compare it to the film most feel should have nailed him another Academy Award nomination.

The Death Of Stalin

If the world was progressing as previously scheduled, we’d be seeing director Armando Iannucci’s latest film, The Personal History of David Copperfield, opening in domestic theaters this May. While that release is now put on hold, fans of Iannucci’s flavor of witty humor will still have cause to celebrate, as The Death of Stalin unleashes an all-star cast of comedic talent in this adaptation of the darkly comic graphic novel of the same name. Fans of Veep and Avenue 5, rejoice!

The Matrix Trilogy

How’s this for a glitch in The Matrix? Not too long ago, the entire trilogy of The Wachowski’s sci-fi masterwork was removed from the Netflix library. So just as The Matrix 4 is ready to send fans back to the world of Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus’s struggle to save humanity, all three of their classic exploits will be returning to the queue, and not a moment too soon. Whoa!

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a powerful story of getting to know oneself through the power of friendship and dealing with trauma. It’s also a good opportunity to set up a joke about how one of the actual perks of being a wallflower is that social distancing is something you’re already really good at. Now that the joke is out of the way, prepare to feel wrapped in a warm blanket of adolescence with this beautiful portrait of those vulnerable days known as high school.

The Social Network

Almost a full decade ago, director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin chronicled the origins of Facebook in The Social Network. After all these years that have passed, the relevance of this particular movie has not dimmed one iota. The performances still shine, the dialogue still sparks and the desired effect always hits as intended. Only a decade stands between this movie and its classic status, but you won’t have to wait that long to watch it again on Netflix.

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Director Sergio Leone’s spaghetti western classic, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, has been a certified classic for about 34 years. Which means there’s plenty of you folks out there that have discussed the film with your friends, but may not have actually experienced Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name for yourselves. What better time to finally sit down and watch this three-hour epic than a time of quarantined entertainment?

Hail, Caesar!

Fans of The Coen Bros may debate whether or not Hail, Caesar! is a good or bad entry in their overall canon. But in a time of urgent entertainment, it feels fitting that the matter can be discussed yet again, with the film’s entry into the streaming world of Netflix’s library. At the very least, can we all agree that Channing Tatum’s big musical number is a thing of beauty?

The Artist

The key to any good movie marathon is variety, and there are lots of titles that have one key factor in common: they all have spoken dialogue. So should you want a little bit of a break from words in your ears, the beauty of past Best Picture winner The Artist is something you definitely need to have in your rotation. Also, if you’re a fan of black and white films, your eyes will thank you for the change of pace.

Django Unchained

No matter what sort of marathon you want to run in your place of quarantine, you'll need an explosive finale. Obviously Quentin Tarantino is good for such a big bang, and while Inglorious Basterds and The Hateful Eight are already on Netflix, Django Unchained is heading back to the fold to serve this very need. Though as a note of suggestion, you should probably spread those Tarantino adventures out through the entire schedule of your quarantine adventures.

Still, no matter how you enjoy these films, or anything else in the Netflix library, we suggest that you stream responsibly and stay safe from the elements in the comfort of your own home. Who knows what next month will bring, and whether or not the suggestion of quarantining will still be in effect. Whatever happens, you can count on us to be back here this time next month, with a list of the best titles coming to the Netflix galaxy in May!

Stunt teams are often the unsung heroes of action films. They’re the faceless names making the A-list actors we know and love look badass. They make us believe the high-flying and death-defying choreography can be pulled off. The art is not recognized enough by Hollywood. One stuntwoman who has worked in more than 70 film and television projects since the ‘80s was killed Wednesday at 59-years-old... after a shootout that involved her allegedly aiming fire at her ex.

Cheryl Sanders and her husband Robert Reed Sanders were both killed this week during a shootout in Yellow Springs, Ohio, according to the Dayton Daily News. Sanders’ ex-husband Lindsay Duncan is connected to the deaths, per WHIO, as the Sanders were allegedly armed with guns when they ambushed Duncan and his wife in the driveway of their million-dollar residence. The report has listed the incident as “justifiable homicide."

According to a friend of the couple, the shootout was over the matter of having access to their children’s college fund. Lindsay Duncan and Cheryl Sanders have two daughters of college age. They married in 1999, divorced back in 2009 and records indicate their relationship remained “sour," per WHIO. Lindsay is the founder and CEO of the health and fitness brand, Genesis Today. He sued Cheryl and Robert Sanders back in 2016 for alleged defamation, slander, and libel among other accusations of his brand.

The stuntwoman was a stunt double for the likes of Brooke Shields, Sharon Stone, Rene Russo, and Kathleen Turner, to name a few. Often credited as Cheryl Wheeler Duncan, the late stuntwoman started off as an expert in martial arts and kickboxing before she pursued work in Hollywood in 1987. Her first movie was Fatal Beauty starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott. She moved on to more projects such as in Bird on a Wire, Die Hard 2 and stunt work for the Lethal Weapon movies.

However, when she worked on Back to the Future Part II she had a major stunt incident. She was a double for one of the members of the teen gang going after Marty McFly in the hoverboard sequence when the young time traveler is in "2015." During the stunt where the gang falls through the window of the clock tower, Cheryl fell 20 feet, shattering bones in her face, right arm, and hand.

The accident came after a series of moving parts during the scene shifted around, such as the type of glass or rocket on the back of Biff’s hoverboard. The first stuntwoman actually bowed out of taking part in the scene and Cheryl Sanders stepped in. After the major fall, she still did work in movies such as Batman & Robin, The Mask, Charlie’s Angels, and Thor. Her latest project was in 2015’s Dark Places starring Charlize Theron.

Greene County investigators are still exploring further into the shootout.

This is the happiest Clayne Crawford has been in his career, after the "greatest year" of his life -- which happens to be the year after he was fired from Lethal Weapon. This current career happiness only happened because he was "backed into a corner" with his ousting from the Fox show. Crawford got pretty candid about his Lethal Weapon exit while premiering his new movie The Killing of Two Lovers at the Sundance Film Festival.

While Clayne Crawford said he loved Lethal Weapon and playing the action character of Martin Riggs, the actor told UPI he missed the kind of work he got to do on the Sundance show Rectify. It sounds like he regrets his reasons for joining Lethal Weapon.

Clayne Crawford was fired from Lethal Weapon, with the character of Riggs being killed off. Crawford's firing was tied to his alleged bad behavior on set and clash with co-star Damon Wayans, which both have been pretty open about. Crawford had a graceful parting message when he left Lethal Weapon, but also spoke previously about being blindsided by his firing, and his difficult time on the show after apologizing for an incident with an episode director.

While Clayne Crawford said he's still friends with Lethal Weapon co-stars Jordana Brewster, Chris Coy, and Hilarie Burton, he learned that working on a network TV show just isn't for him:

Clayne Crawford said he told his wife he wanted to "take all that ill-gotten money" from the show and make something that made his heart feel good again and reminded him of why he got into this industry in the first place. And so now we have The Killing of Two Lovers, which was written and directed by Robert Machoian, with Crawford as both producer and star. In the film, he plays David, who is going through a time of transition with his wife Nikki in a claustrophobically small town.

So things are turning out OK for Clayne Crawford, who also returned to TV for Hulu's Into the Dark (but not NCIS: New Orleans). However, Crawford isn't completely letting himself off the hook for his experience on the set of Lethal Weapon, as he continued to UPI:

Lethal Weapon replaced Clayne Crawford with Seann William Scott for Season 3, but fans just weren't happy about any of it. Crawford had a lot of support from viewers, and Lethal Weapon only lasted for the 15 episodes of Season 3 before Fox ended the show.

The Killing of Two Lovers just premiered at Sundance, but so far it seems to be getting very positive reactions. We'll have to wait and see if Clayne Crawford continues making films or eventually returns to TV -- maybe for an HBO project or something. Keep up with everything premiering in early 2020 with our handy TV schedule.

Another year of TV is in the books. Sadly, for some shows, 2019 ended with them not surviving the year. There were a lot of disappointing cancellations that shook and shocked fans. From network television to Netflix’s surprising amount of eliminations, it was a lot to take in.

It was a tough time to be a freshman series, as well as being a rough year to for Marvel series and spinoffs. From TV shows in the action-adventure wheelhouse to sitcoms and ambitious fantasy shows, none were safe. Without further ado, these were the most disappointing TV cancellations of 2019.

Fam

Things were cleared in Nina Dobrev’s schedule for a potential return to The Vampire Diaries’ universe early in 2019. Unfortunately for CBS’ Fam, the actress’ return to television ended up being short-lived. Dobrev weathered an anxiety attack to do Fam, only to have it get cancelled in the notoriously brutal month of May. Since the cancellation, though, Dobrev has landed a new project.

Whiskey Cavalier

Fans had to raise a glass and pour one out for Whiskey Cavalier, as ABC decided to cancel the series, starring The Walking Dead’s Lauren Cohan and Scandal’s Scott Foley. Despite a brief hint of hope regarding its future, the cancellation ended up going through. While disappointing for fans, it paved the way for Cohan to return to the AMC zombie drama.

Lethal Weapon

The TV adaptation of the beloved movie franchise went through a lot during its three seasons on the air. After a casting shakeup that saw Sean William Scott join the show and Damon Wayans, at one point, indicate plans to exit, Lethal Weapon set itself up for a potential fourth season. Disappointingly, fans will never get to see that setup pay off.

Pearson

Suits ended its long run without Meghan Markle but with the hope of a hit spinoff in the Gina Torres-led, Pearson. After a considerable wait, the series finally debuted in 2019. Following a single season, USA cancelled the much-anticipated legal drama, in a move that now leaves TV without a show in the Suits universe.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger

As previously mentioned, 2019 was not a great year to be a Marvel series. After two seasons on Freeform, Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger joined the slew of cancellations to befall the Marvel Universe TV landscape. Adding to the disappointment was that the decision came as anticipation was mounting for the characters' exciting crossover with Hulu’s Runaways (which was later cancelled itself).

Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists

Fans hoping for the stars of Pretty Little Liars to get involved with the long-running drama’s spinoff quickly became disappointed. Following one season, The Perfectionists got cancelled to many fans’ chagrin. During its short time on the air, the spinoff provided a sad relationship update, a happy one, thrilling baby news, and the answer to a dangling plot thread. Silver lining?

Jessica Jones

The one-time Defender was gearing up to return for Season 3 when Netflix announced it had cancelled Jessica Jones. Making the superhero drama’s third season the show's last. Krysten Ritter may not be interested in reprising her run as the title character in the MCU. As fans await word on Jones and other characters’ futures, TV is undoubtedly down a superheroine.

The Punisher

While expected, considering the trend that started, The Punisher’s cancellation was still a huge gut punch. Fans of the Netflix show will never get to see what would have become of Frank Castle and Karen Page’s sizzling chemistry. Mercifully, the ending of Season 2 did not leave viewers with many other loose ends. That would have been an unmerited punishment.

Santa Clarita Diet

Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant’s dark comedy about a zombie mom living in suburbia was a fan-favorite among Netflix users. No matter how beloved it was, the streaming giant still decided to cancel Santa Clarita Diet after three seasons. So long, potential Season 4 storylines! The cast may be moving on, but fans are no less engulfed in disappointment over the cancellation.

Lucifer

Fans of the Fox-turned-Netflix series fought very hard to get another season of the supernatural drama. Following a successful Season 4, Lucifer fans got the shocking and disappointing news that Season 5 would be the show's last. A petition for another season was quickly circulated with the co-showrunner weighing in on the development. Regardless, a super-sized final season is on its way.

The OA

Despite a shocking Season 2 finale, Netflix decided The OA would not continue to unravel its many implications. The streaming giant cancelled the sci-fi fantasy drama in August. While a fan theory hoped it was a fake-out, months have passed without that positive turnaround. Fan outrage has followed, and protests have been had, but there will not be a follow-up movie.

BoJack Horseman

In a super-surprising 2019 development, Netflix announced that the beloved animated adult series, BoJack Horseman, would end with Season 6. Star Aaron Paul subsequently spoke out with a different explanation for the show ending. Whatever the cause, BoJack Horseman’s creator talked openly about Netflix’s changing cancellation policy, as BoJack Horseman readies to say goodbye.

Fuller House

So much for Kevin Costner or the Olsen twins stopping by Fuller House. After some disconcerting rumblings and shut down rumors, Netflix announced Season 5 would be Fuller House’s last. Cue cast reactions and the emotional final day of filming. “Cut it out” Netflix! The second half of Season 5 awaits, with some wedding bells ringing to brighten fans’ spirits.

Counterpart

Academy Award winner and proverbial scene-stealer (in my opinion), J.K. Simmons came to television with Starz’s dramatic sci-fi thriller, Counterpart. Crazy reveals, and Simmons’s dual roles were not enough to get the series renewed for Season 3. In the end, the acclaimed show was cancelled for being a “very male show" which, supposedly, didn't fit Starz’s female-driven strategy.

The Passage

People were warned, but it still did not help Fox’s dramatic thriller, The Passage, stick around. The TV adaptation was cancelled by Fox after a single season, meaning that Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s concerns that The Passage would share the single-season outcome of Pitch came true, which was a sad recurrence. Gosselaar did land back on TV via ABC’s mixed-ish, but no Saved by the Bell reboot for him just yet.

Legion

Noah Hawley’s ambitious superhero drama got renewed for Season 3 back in 2018. Fast forward to 2019, and Hawley explained why Legion would be ending with that third season. The show finished its run in the summer of 2019, but, thankfully for fans, Legion’s final season saw the introduction of Professor X and a series finale that may have needed some explaining.

All of these might not be disappointing for you, but many fans certainly felt the anguish of these cancellations. But, television is known for its highs and its lows. The month of May will be here before you know it, which means more shows will undoubtedly join 2019’s cancellations in television's great beyond. The medium continues making new strides, but the stinging disappointment of TV cut short still burns.

While television fans continue to mourn the disappointing cancellations of 2019, they have a lot to look forward to in 2020. Netflix has tons of new content coming this year. If that is not enough, this winter’s premieres are not cold comfort.

For as much as I enjoy watching great Christmas movies, my annual cinematic traditions might be a little different from yours. For instance, my personal favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard, which is widely regarded as the greatest action movie of all time but only considered by some (save star Bruce Willis himself) to be a genuine holiday film even though it takes place on Christmas Eve.

As far as I am concerned, that is the only requirement necessary to determine if a film is worthy of holiday viewing, and furthermore, I believe movies that do not depend on seasonal tropes or even involve the holiday as a main focal point are some of the most entertaining Christmas movies ever. Perhaps you might find yourself adopting a new tradition when you take a look at these movies (most of which are available on some of the best streaming services to subscribe to) that are anything but traditional but still deserve to be considered Christmas movies for one reason or another.

The Holiday (2006)

Director: Nancy Meyers

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black

What it’s about: Looking to get away from their respective romantic troubles for the holidays, an L.A. movie trailer editor and an English journalist agree to trade homes.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Also one of the best movies on Amazon Prime at the moment, The Holiday is one of the best romantic-comedy movies that just barely pays any reference to the fact that it is set during the Christmas season.

How to watch The Holiday

• Stream The Holiday on Amazon Prime
• Buy The Holiday on Blu-ray on Amazon

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan

What it’s about: After accidentally walking into a detective movie audition and winning the role, a thief is sent to L.A. to shadow a private investigator for research.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: The modern film noir classic Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – inspired by Brett Halliday’s novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them – is one of several films on this list of “sort of” Christmas movies from filmmaker Shane Black.

How to watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

• Rent or buy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Amazon
• Buy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Blu-ray on Amazon

Inside (2007)

Director: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury

Starring: Alysson Paradis, Béatrice Dalle

What it’s about: A pregnant widow becomes embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a mysterious woman who has broken into her home on Christmas Eve.

Why it's one of the best Christmas Horror Movies: One of the most brutal entries to the French New Extremity movement, Inside should also be recognized as a holiday classic as it involves a woman who wants to give herself the ultimate holiday gift (the main character’s unborn child) by any means necessary.

How to watch Inside

• Stream Inside on Tubi
• Buy Inside on DVD on Amazon

Die Hard (1988)

Director: John McTiernan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson

What it’s about: New York cop John McClane must single-handedly take on a gang of deadly European thieves when they take over an L.A. high-rise on the night of his estranged wife’s company Christmas party.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: If you disregard the violence, excessive language, and brief nudity, we can easily settle the debate over Die Hard being a Christmas movie by its use of classic holiday tunes, romance, and concluding “snowfall.”

How to watch Die Hard

• Stream Die Hard on Amazon Prime
• Stream Die Hard on Hulu
• Buy Die Hard on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Ice Harvest (2005)

Director: Harold Ramis

Starring: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen

What it’s about: Looking to run away with a beautiful strip club manager after embezzling millions from a local mobster, Kansas lawyer Charlie Arglist’s unusual holiday plans get ruined by his partner in crime, his drinking buddy, and some suspicious cops.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Another crime thriller about a man whose plan to spend Christmas Eve with the woman he loves is interrupted by violence is the underrated dark comedy, The Ice Harvest.

How to watch The Ice Harvest

• Rent or buy The Ice Harvest on Amazon
• Buy The Ice Harvest on Blu-ray on Amazon

Shazam! (2019)

Director: David F. Sandberg

Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Mark Strong

What it’s about: A teenager looks for help from his superhero-obsessed foster brother when he is granted powers that temporarily turn him into a grown-up costumed vigilante.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of a few great superhero movies set around Christmas is the equally funny and exciting Shazam!, which ends with an exhilarating battle at a public holiday celebration.

How to watch Shazam!

• Stream Shazam! on Max
• Rent or buy Shazam! on Amazon
• Buy Shazam! on Blu-ray on Amazon

Love Actually (2003)

Director: Richard Curtis

Starring: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney

What it’s about: A collection of interwoven love stories set in London around Christmastime.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Despite some subject matter that feels more suited for Valentine’s Day, Love Actually is a charming anthology-style rom-com that has become a holiday season tradition for many (save some of its own cast members, however).

How to watch Love Actually

• Stream Love Actually on Amazon Prime
• Buy Love Actually on Blu-ray on Amazon

Just Friends (2005)

Director: Roger Kumble

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Chris Klein

What it’s about: A music executive is forced to re-confront his unrequited love for his childhood friend while visiting his hometown.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Just Friends is another rom-com that happens to take place during Christmas but takes advantage of its holiday setting in many key moments, such as when a vengeful Samantha James turns a decorative display into an elaborate death trap for a group of carolers.

How to watch Just Friends

• Stream Just Friends on Hulu
• Rent or buy Just Friends on Amazon
• Buy Just Friends on DVD on Amazon

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman

What it’s about: A man’s curious participation in a bizarre and erotic masquerade ends up putting him and his family in danger.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: No Stanely Kubrick movie screams holiday cheer quite like his final film, Eyes Wide Shut, considering how its inciting incident takes place at a Christmas party and William and Alice Harford are seen holiday shopping with their daughter near the end.

How to watch Eyes Wide Shut

• Stream Eyes Wide Shut on Paramount+
• Rent or buy Eyes Wide Shut on Amazon
• Buy Eyes Wide Shut on Blu-ray on Amazon

Batman Returns (1992)

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer

What it’s about: Bruce Wayne struggles to focus on investigating a bird-like politician when he finds himself falling for a woman who dresses like a cat at night.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of the most unique live-action Batman movies, Batman Returns, is full of seasonal references – including Batman and Catwoman’s “kiss” under the mistletoe, Penguin releasing his goons in a giant green box with a red bow, and the snow that always covers Gotham City.

How to watch Batman Returns

• Stream Batman Returns on Max
• Rent or buy Batman Returns on Amazon
• Buy Batman Returns on Blu-ray on Amazon

Black Christmas (1974)

Director: Bob Clark

Starring: Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder

What it’s about: A group of college students spending their winter break in a sorority house are stalked by a murderous stranger.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of the first and most definitive Christmas horror movies, Black Christmas, comes from a filmmaker who certainly knows a thing or two about the holiday as he would later helm A Christmas Story.

How to watch Black Christmas

• Stream Black Christmas on Amazon Prime
• Stream Black Christmas on Tubi
• Stream Black Christmas on Peacock
• Buy Black Christmas on Blu-ray on Amazon

Gremlins (1984)

Director: Joe Dante

Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates

What it’s about: A young man accidentally breaks three important rules that come with his new Christmas gift – a unique, furry creature called a Mogwai – putting his entire town in danger.

Why it's one of the best Christmas Horror Movies: From executive producer Steven Spielberg and writer Chris Columbus, Gremlins may be PG but it is a pretty terrifying and funny creature feature with more green and red than some Christmas lovers may be able to handle.

How to watch Gremlins

• Stream Gremlins on Max
• Rent or buy Gremlins on Amazon
• Buy Gremlins on Blu-ray on Amazon

Home Alone (1992)

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara

What it’s about: A 10-year-old must single-handedly protect his home from a pair of thieves he is accidentally abandoned by his vacationing family around the holidays.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Home Alone (which bears a plot eerily similar to Die Hard) is an undisputed Christmas classic, despite a plot that does not necessarily require its holiday setting, as the McCallisters could have taken their Paris vacation in the summer, for instance.

How to watch Home Alone

• Stream Home Alone on Disney+
• Rent or buy Home Alone on Amazon
• Buy Home Alone on Blu-ray on Amazon

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Director: Frank Capra

Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers

What it’s about: On one disastrous Christmas Eve, a businessman and family man is shown by his guardian angel an alternate reality in which he had never been born.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: It’s a Wonderful Life is another cinematic Christmas tradition that has no real practical use for its holiday setting but it does make its timeless themes of self-worth especially powerful.

How to watch It’s a Wonderful Life

• Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime
• Stream It’s a Wonderful Life on Plex
• Buy It’s a Wonderful Life on Blu-ray on Amazon

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

What it’s about: Tony Stark suffers an identity crisis around Christmastime as he takes on his most threatening enemy yet.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Even Disney+ agrees that Iron Man 3 is a Christmas movie, as evidenced by Stark becoming stuck in a more wintry setting and, of course, Shane Black at the helm.

How to watch Iron Man 3

• Stream Iron Man 3 on Disney+
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Amazon
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Blu-ray on Amazon

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover

What it’s about: Thrown together as partners, a veteran LA detective and a younger loose cannon set aside their differences to catch a gang of drug smugglers in time for Christmas.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Written by Shane Black, Lethal Weapon is a buddy cop movie favorite that, like Die Hard, producer Joel Silver fought to assure it would become a Christmas movie classic.

How to watch Lethal Weapon

• Rent or buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon
• Buy Lethal Weapon on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Director: Renny Harlin

Starring: Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson

What it’s about: When her past as a government assassin begins to surface, an amnesia-stricken suburban mother teams up with a detective to fight off her old enemies.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Written by Shane Black, The Long Kiss Goodnight is another action thriller that checks plenty of Christmas movie boxes, such as a holiday parade and a main character suffering an identity crisis around the season, much like It’s A Wonderful Life and Iron Man 3.

How to watch The Long Kiss Goodnight

• Stream The Long Kiss Goodnight on Paramount+
• Rent or buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Amazon
• Buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Director: Henry Sellick

Starring: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara

What it’s about: After discovering a world engulfed by the spirit of Christmas, a man from a world engulfed by the spirit of Halloween tries to introduce its traditions to his fellow citizens, inadvertently threatening the sanctity of the season.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: From producer Tim Burton, stop-motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas is an undeniable holiday classic that is also a perfect horror movie for kids to watch on Halloween… or any time of the year.

How to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas

• Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+
• Rent or buy The Nightmare Before Christmas on Amazon
• Buy The Nightmare Before Christmas on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Ref (1994)

Director: Ted Demme

Starring: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey

What it’s about: Abandoned by his partner during a Christmas Eve crime spree, a burglar randomly takes a married couple hostage in their home, acting as the reluctant moderator to their incessant bickering.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: Released in March, The Ref is the kind of Christmas movie that trades joyful spirits for bitter cynicism, while managing to be boldly hilarious all the way through.

How to watch The Ref

• Rent or buy The Ref on Amazon
• Buy The Ref on DVD on Amazon

Trading Places (1983)

Director: John Landis

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis

What it’s about: A stockbroker and a poor street hustler take a walk in each other’s shoes, unwittingly being used as pawns in a wager between two billionaire brothers.

Why it is a great non-traditional Christmas movie: One of the best riches-to-rags movies (which also counts as a rags-to-riches movie) is Trading Places, which reaches the peak of its holiday appeal when Dan Aykroyd’s Louis Winthorpe eats a stolen fish through his dirty Santa beard in front of disgusted city bus passengers.

How to watch Trading Places

• Rent or buy Trading Places on Amazon
• Buy Trading Places on Blu-ray on Amazon

Unless you still have your reservations over whether or not you can confidently call these films Christmas movies, perhaps you have some refreshing prospects to add to your traditional holiday viewing. To that I say, you are welcome and Happy Holidays!

Every Christmas the same old debates come out to play. Was Ebenezer Scrooge really changed? Did Mrs. Deagle really deserve to die at the hands of Gremlins? Does fruitcake count as a war crime? But one of the greatest debates is over what sort of film constitutes as a “Christmas Movie,” and both Die Hard and Lethal Weapon have been put through that particular wringer one too many times. So let’s settle this all with one simple equation, which if it doesn’t pass muster, should settle the debate for good: If Die Hard is a Christmas movie, that means Lethal Weapon is too.

We’re going to weigh in on both films individually, as well as pull in some evidence from the people behind both films as to why this case is as solid as Roger Murtaugh’s sensibilities. Of course, there will be a chance for you, the public, to weigh in with your own thoughts on the matter. But for now, let’s get into the case of whether both Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are Christmas movies.

Why Die Hard Is Definitely A Christmas Movie

One of the biggest debates in modern film discourse has to be about whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Some feel that the setting is enough to land the film a slot in their holiday rotation, while others think the case is extremely flimsy and not worth the time. However, take the following rundown into consideration.

Bruce Willis’ John McClane is a man who’s separated from his wife, missing his family on the holidays, and ultimately trying to reconcile with Bonnie Bedelia’s Holly. Truly learning the meaning of family, and how much he misses her, John fights off iconic baddie Hans Gruber (played with historic relish by the late, great Alan Rickman,) as he tries to put the Grinch on Christmas for everyone in Nakatomi Plaza.

By the end of the movie McClane’s heroism pays off, Reginald Vel Johnson’s Sgt. Al Powell overcomes his traumatic experience in the line of duty to save the day, and it starts snowing paperwork on the aftermath. With lessons of selfless devotion to duty and family, a Christmas Eve setting, and several sweet seasonal needle drops, Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie; no matter what Bruce Willis himself has said on the matter. But just to be sure, let’s take a look at how Lethal Weapon meets those standards.

Does Lethal Weapon Meet The Standards Of A Christmas Movie?

Knowing what we know about Die Hard, we can begin to look into just what makes Lethal Weapon a Christmas movie more effectively. Is the film set at Christmas? Like most, if not all of writer Shane Black’s filmography, yes it is. Does the film have a message of selfless devotion to duty and family togetherness? Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh exemplifies those values perfectly, and we see that through his relationship with his own family around Christmas time.

But the one big thing that really ties Lethal Weapon into the Christmas movie canon, besides the opening usage of “Jingle Bell Rock,” or even the fact that the film has an action set piece set in the middle of a Christmas tree lot, is Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs. A suicidal mess who’s a loose cannon, Riggs isn’t exactly the jolliest cop on the LAPD beat when we meet him.

And yet, through the caper that throws him together with Murtaugh as a partner, Riggs goes through a Christmas Carol style journey that helps him become a better man. Making a friend in Roger Murtaugh, Martin Riggs eventually becomes a better person after a harrowing Christmas, and even spends Christmas with the entire Murtaugh family; allowing him to give a symbolic gift that proves he’s a changed man. Does Lethal Weapon meet the standards of a Christmas movie? It absolutely does, and to help prove that fact we have evidence provided by none other than Die Hard writer Steven de Souza, who freely admits that thanks to Lethal Weapon, Die Hard was inspired to become a Christmas classic in the making!

What Do The People Behind Die Hard Have To Say About It?

In his case to pitch both Lethal Weapon and Die Hard as Christmas movies, Steven de Souza cites a pretty important source: legendary film producer Joel Silver. A man who was involved with both of those movies, as well as other megahits of the ‘80s like Commando, Predator, and Road House, de Souza told a journalist at Dazed Digital that not only are both Die Hard and Lethal Weapon considered Christmas movies, they were deliberately made to be considered as such.

De Souza explained the scenario as follows:

Not only is Lethal Weapon considered a Christmas movie because it falls into the same criteria that Die Hard does when being evaluated in a similar context, the film was the inspiration for making John McClane’s holiday adventure a holiday themed classic. Throw in the fact that the novel that inspired Die Hard was also a tale set at Christmas, and you’ve got a tight circle of proof that these two films are cinematic tree toppers to any good holiday themed marathon.

At their hearts, Die Hard and Lethal Weapon happen to be movies that show characters in a tough spot during the holidays. Through a journey of the soul, and some action packed adventure, they eventually discover that their personal baggage doesn’t matter. What matters is that they have friends and family they cherish, and through the magic of Christmas (and some gunfire) they learn this lesson just in time to celebrate with the ones they’re closest to.

When all else fails, Joel Silver made sure they were Christmas-y enough to enter heavy rotation in December, so whether you want to take the sentimental route or the logistical one, Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are definitely considered Christmas movies. So no matter what the polls may say, the facts tell a different story. But, of course, just because there’s a compelling argument of logic and reason in front of you doesn’t mean there’s no room for other opinions.

Below this very case study is a poll that you can take to weigh in on how you feel about both Die Hard and Lethal Weapon being considered as Christmas movies. You also have the usage of the Comments section, where you can leave notes explaining just why you feel so strongly in either case. And if you’re still in the fighting mood, head over to our explanation as to why Iron Man 3 is a Christmas movie, because we don’t make the rules, we just make the arguments!

This poll is no longer available.

Lethal Weapon had a fun but tumultuous run on Fox for three seasons, but it finally came to an end in the 2018-2019 TV season. The good news is that one of the most consistently funny and heartfelt members of the cast is sticking around on Fox, just moving over to Empire. Yes, Empire has a Lethal Weapon alum on board for its sixth and final season, and she won't just be a one-off guest star. Prepare to see plenty of Keesha Sharp on Empire!