Animated and cartoon titles used to often be classic Disney and Saturday morning staples, or raunchy adult counterpoints. Though there was some common ground, it was sparse (and dependent on a kid’s guardian’s perspective--this list included). Today, a lot has changed–the once semi-no man’s land has ballooned to offer plenty of palatable watches for all ages. Below you’ll find cartoon pioneers, today's hits, and some stellar hidden gems outside of typical Disney titles, because that could be a whole separate list! Without further ado, let's get surfing through some great picks.

Peanuts

Charlie Brown and co. are another one of those enduring and endearing cartoons that continue to win generations' hearts. While most of us only consider watching any Peanuts fodder during the holidays, there’s plenty more to choose from, including the 2015 film The Peanuts Movie. And let’s face it, we’re all holding on hope that one day Charlie won’t be tricked by Lucy.

Batman: The Animated Series

Plenty of classic comic book characters could’ve filled out this list with some ease, but Batman naturally won top spot to rep the DC list. The 1992 series was a true highlight for Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, even though it only ran for four seasons. And though there were plenty of BAM!’s and POW!’s to go around, minimal footage of foes being hurt was shown.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Like DC, Marvel’s top comic goes to Spider-Man. And though there are endless iterations, the 2018 film following Miles Morales’ experience getting bitten is an exciting refresh. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or a vet of the Peter Parker world, it’s nice to see a new angle on him.

Scooby-Doo

Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne, aka “Mystery Incorporated,” have been a sustaining staple since their 1969 introduction. The gang has a huge, comedic, family-friendly franchise that spans multiple shows and movies, and continues to win audiences time and again through their humorously balanced sleuthing skills. Those meddling kids and their dog nailed simple storylines with smart but accessible jokes.

Tom And Jerry

As more or less the OG ‘cat and mouse’ duo, Tom and Jerry are Hollywood royalty. With roots tracing back to the 1940s, their frenemy relationship entertained countless kids, who then, in turn, shared it with theirs. Whether it’s a nostalgia watch or some regular weekday fodder, these two still make the cut.

The Smurfs

Another great vintage cartoon, which has been introduced through a series of blockbuster franchises, is The Smurfs. The comic turned show turned movie is a nostalgia fun fun-filled ride that continues to appeal to old and new fans alike. Although I’m sure, for some stans, Rihanna’s first new song in quite some time being included in the Smurf’s new trailer doesn’t hurt things.

Robin Hood

From a historical standpoint, Robin Hood may be the oldest and, without a doubt, the most recognizable name on the list. With roots tracing back to the 1300s, the Prince of Thieves continues to be a world everyone can enjoy, especially the animated Disney version.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Brothers Mario and Luigi have long been a staple for generations of gamers. Sweetly animated and endlessly fun, they’ve gone on to create quite a world beyond saving Princess Peach from Bowser. This 2023 blockbuster pays homage to the sibling plumbers’ legacy.

Shrek

Boy, does this ogre have layers. When Shrek arrived on the scene in 2001, it was bursting at the seams with bathroom humor created a lot of discourse. Behind it though, was a compelling reimagine of classic fairy tale tropes that left many wanting more. Even though he’s rough around the edges to some onscreen and off, his character arc is genuine and magnetic. Those makings cemented the fictional world and the big green guy himself to sustain in pop culture.

SpongeBob SquarePants

From the jump, everyone’s favorite animated sea sponge has been ready to win the hearts of his audience, both young and old. And to his luck, many continue to adore him and his silly, silly friends of Bikini Bottom long after we grew out of kids' TV. A prime example of how SpongeBob influences a much wider audience is that Nosferatu’s director, Robert Eggers, cited the Nickelodeon icon's influence for the 2024 remake.

The Yogi Bear Show

Like the other vintage pulls on the list, Yogi Bear has lived on and been introduced to new generations of viewers over the decades. The picnic basket-loving bear and his pal Boo-Boo’s antics are simple and routine, yet they continue to steal the hearts of their viewers.

Arthur

As one of the best animated shows ever, Arthur, his family and pals showcased a lot of social, emotional and mental topics in inclusive ways. PBS paired that with realistic familial and friend relationship dynamics (D.W. fan here), which galvanized Marc Brown’s fictional aardvark in an honest way for the masses.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Since its premiere, the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender has been a fan favorite. Many regard this as one of the ultimate cartoons, noting that it again has a perfect blend of adventure, humor and heart. It’s not your typical easy animated series, but prepare for a great ride.

Bluey

Disney really hit it out of the park with their blue dog show (no offense to Blue of Blue’s Clues). While clearly marketed, made and designed for kiddos, the themes and honest reflections of familial relationships hook plenty of those who have aged out of tuning into the Mouse Ears channel.

Power Puff Girls

I don’t think you can get much better with sugar, spice and everything nice when it comes to a stellar kids’ cartoon. The lab-created superhero sisters of Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles were a thrill from their unmistakable theme song to defeating Mojo Jojo (or any other foe) before the credits rolled. I’m not the only one who believes it’s a show from the ‘00s that still holds up watching as an adult.

How to Train Your Dragon

As one of DreamWorks' best animated movies, How to Train Your Dragon really hits all the right notes of adventure, humor and heart, perfect for a universal audience. Hiccup and his sweet but brave dragon, Toothless, continue to draw crowds 15 years later. And the live-action remake, coming out later this month, is expected to do the same.

The Lego Movie

This kid's favorite toy-turned-movie is the perfect homage to illuminating all there is to create with the plastic blocks. Pair that with some comedy giants a la Will Ferrell, and you’ve got a blockbuster anyone from age 5 to 95 can enjoy.

Ponyo (many other Studio Ghibli films)

Hayo Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli offer a whole collection of exhilarating animated movies, though not all may be suitable for everyone. Ponyo, though, is essentially a Ghibli counterpoint to The Little Mermaid (although it’s not a musical). Although Ponyo, the magical fish girl, doesn’t have sea-faring friends who accompany her after she comes ashore.

Recess

For some, Recess was a paramount Saturday Morning classic during the late 90s-00s. As the title implies, the show centered around every elementary school-aged kid’s favorite part of the day and the goings-on during that quick 20-minute block. T.J. and his friends are funny yet kind, making it a perfect watch for anyone with a nostalgic bone that needs to be itched or can directly identify with the gang.

Wallace & Gromit franchise

The British claymation duo is another visual world that has found its place in pop culture. Now, with seven titles to their name, the dog and owner pairing continue to find new ground (their 7th was made in partnership with Netflix). While the duo seems straightforward, there’s plenty to take away from each installment.

Phineas And Ferb

Another Disney Channel hit for the masses is Phineas and Ferb. It’s aimed roughly at an age group who’ve graduated from Bluey-esque television but still need pretty straightforward content. What makes the jump into watchable territory for all the silly stepbrothers is the smart writing and goofy jokes, and possibly having a platypus as a family pet.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox, the movie, based on the short children's book and directed by Wes Anderson, is just as magical as the Roald Dahl classic. The retelling has a perfect kid-friendly stop animation aesthetic blended with an A-list cast including George Clooney and Meryl Streep.

The Little Prince

Another excellent book adapted into a movie (a couple of times over). This French classic has been collecting fans of all ages since 1943 worldwide, and the 2015 flick continues to carry on that torch. The simple and sweet story reminds us all that it’s the connections we make that matter most while exploring fantastical worlds.

Over The Garden Wall

As one of the great under-the-radar animated shows out there, 2014’s Over the Garden Wall has earned quite a fan base. Brothers Wirt and Greg accidentally find themselves in a captivating, somewhat spooky, and at times adventurous world after jumping over a mysterious wall. From start to end, it’s a simple but compelling tale of the bros finding their way home.

The Hobbit

While the Lord of the Rings trilogy may be the most well-known J.R.R. Tolkien movies based on modern literature, it’s not the only one. For the purposes of this list, we’ll stick to the subject at hand and highlight the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit. While it does depict some violence via battles, it’s a classic gem that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls came to Disney long after many of us had moved on, but it hasn’t stopped its popularity among adult audiences. The Pines twins visit their uncle in the Pacific Northwest for the summer, only to unlock a longstanding mystery. It’s a perfect blend of silly-sweet kid humor braided with PG Twin Peaks vibes (be warned, for some kids, there is one dark moment on the Mouse Ears show near the end). You may come for the mystery but you’ll stay for Mabel, Dipper, Grunkle Stan and Soos.

Adventure Time

What starts as a candy-colored quest quickly unfolds into an emotional, often existential journey. With layered characters, sharp humor, and simple but profound themes, it’s a show that’ll appeal to all. There’s something in the Land of Ooo that'll speak to any viewer, exactly why Adventure Time endures.

Klaus

We all knew at least one Christmas movie had to make the list, for good measure. Compared to some of the classics, Klaus could’ve easily gotten lost in the shuffle for many. The Netflix original is a story following a down-on-his-luck postman who befriended a toymaker and set up a deal to help one another.

The Secret Of The Kells

The Secret of Kells is a visual and emotional Irish treasure, first premiering in 2009. Its stunningly hand-drawn animation, paired perfectly with mythic storytelling, holds kid and adult viewers equally. Cellach and Brendan’s story is filled with creativity, fear, and hope as aggressive Vikings near and a revered illuminator comes to town.

Wolfwalkers

Like The Secret of the Kells, Wolfwalkers is another animated Irish folk-like tale that comes to life. While there are a bit of dark tones throughout the film, including hunting wolves, the fairy-tale-like story that follows Robyn as she meets Mebh is true magic.

The Iron Giant

Don’t be fooled by the animation style or color palette for young ones, The Iron Giant is an epic adventure for all to enjoy. The cast is stacked (Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Christopher McDonald, Harry Connick Jr) and the gentle sincerity of the giant will have you head over heels. Just be warned, it is a tear-jerker!

The Secret of NIMH

Another vintage gem presented as a children's story with a more complex storyline. The Brisby family experiences some strife as conflict arises in the surrounding area, and they must seek help from an unlikely friend. Admittedly, I haven’t watched this, but it’s now on my list!

It’s hard to believe that there was ever a time that Chris Pratt struggled as an actor. It seems like he’s practically in everything now, from voicing Garfield in the newly-released The Garfield Movie to having the lead role in the Amazon series The Terminal List. To go from waiting tables to his initial television roles in Everwood and Parks and Recreation, to starring in big Hollywood blockbusters is a working actor’s dream come true. Now that Pratt’s acting career isn’t slowing down anytime soon, he talked about what his four career goals are and the way he blew through his first $75K paycheck fast.

It was reported back in 2021 that Chris Pratt was one of the big-name actors reportedly earning a massive salary for his streaming show The Terminal List. Not to mention, his recent movies have been high-grossing at the box office, like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, it was revealed on SiriusXM that Samuel L. Jackson is still the highest-grossing actor of all time thanks to Avengers: Endgame, with Pratt at the #4 spot. That said, the Marvel star revealed being a high-grossing actor was never a priority to him, and that he has other goals in mind:

That’s a good way of looking at it, as not everyone out there who dreams of being an actor is able to make that happen. Before becoming an actor, something amazing to know about Chris Pratt is that he was working as a waiter at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, where he waited on actress/director Rae Dawn Chong. It was through her that he was cast in her directorial debut, the short film Cursed Part 3. After making appearances on various shows, he landed his life-changing role as Andy in Parks and Recreation, who was originally a temporary character. Then, 2014 became the year of Chris Pratt, first leading The Lego Movie and then landing the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Based on Chris Pratt’s four main Hollywood goals, it looks like he accomplished one so far back in 2014 when he kicked off season 40 of Saturday Night Live as its host. But his trophy shelf doesn't consist yet of a Golden Globe, Oscar, or star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But like the Jurassic World actor said, he has been in the business for over two decades and his career is soaring, and he seems to know about fortunate he is. He’s still got time. The Moneyball actor explains what it means to him knowing he made it in the entertainment industry.

Chris Pratt starred in 89 episodes of Everwood playing Bright Abbott from 2002-2006. If he was able to find a job that gave him enough money to buy his mother a house, I would absolutely say he “made it” too. It also shows what a generous guy Pratt is to give a gift like that to his mom. But with the bankable actor’s newfound fame, reality gave him a slap in the face when he realized the big money he was making was capable of running out.

I can understand where Chris Pratt is coming from, as he started off as a guy living in and out of his car to making serious bank because of his acting roles. When you see a dollar sign on your paycheck that’s bigger than you’ve ever gotten, you can’t help but splurge for things you never could before. But as life gets expensive, money is always capable of running out, and it’s important to pace yourself. Luckily, it looks like this was a mistake that the leading man learned from, leading to him understanding the significance of making a financial plan.

As Chris Pratt continues on with his acting career, he said his goal in the industry would be if he could score some major awards. Considering MCU actor Robert Downey Jr. just won an Oscar for Oppenheimer for the first time in his career, I think Pratt has a shot himself one day too. Plus, it looks like he’s grown a lot from the fresh-faced actor who blew $75K all at once. Right now, he’s got a promising acting career and a family to come home to. His 2024 movie release of The Garfield Movie is playing in theaters now.

Finding a funny family movie that will leave everyone laughing hysterically isn’t always the easiest of tasks. Watching a perfectly balanced film that children and adults will enjoy equally (or, at least a 60/40 ratio) can, more times than not, be a Herculean effort that will leave everyone in tears before you even get a chance to watch something, even when we’re talking about using some of the best streaming services.

However, some of the best kids movies have as much humor as life lessons or contagious songs. That being said, here are 26 funny family movies that the young and young at heart can enjoy (and how to watch them).

Ernest Goes To Camp (1987)

Ernest Goes to Camp has everything you’d want in a family-friendly comedy the whole clan can enjoy. It has laughs, it has heart, it has Jim Varney’s iconic character singing a sappy song to a turtle… you name it. Released in 1987, this iconic comedy follows Ernest P. Worrell as he and a group of juvenile delinquents become unlikely heroes as they set out to save Kamp Kikakee from a greedy mining corporation.

If you grew up watching the Ernest movies, this is the perfect way to get back into the franchise and introduce your kids to one of the great comedic characters of the ‘80s. And don’t worry, the turtle paratrooper scene is still just as funny in 2025 as it was in 1987.

Buy Ernest Goes to Camp on DVD on Amazon.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

When it comes to hilarious Robin Williams movies, Mrs. Doubtfire is near the top of the list. This iconic 1993 film about a recently divorced and out-of-work voice actor who comes up with an unorthodox yet hilarious way to spend time with his kids is still a hoot after all these years. Sure, some things about the movie haven’t aged well in the 32 years since its release, but the humor, heart, and lessons throughout make it a worthy addition to the family movie night list.

Whether it’s the scene where Williams’ Daniel Hillard gives a spot-on impression of a hot dog during an interview, the creation of the Mrs. Doubtfire character (as well as the other personas), or the epic dinner scene where he pulls double duty, there’s so much to enjoy here.

Stream Mrs. Doubtfire on Max.
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Babe (1995)

Written by George Miller (yes, the guy who made the Mad Max movies) and directed by Chris Noonan (he received an Oscar nomination for his work on this film), Babe is one of the funniest and most endearing family movies from the ‘90s. This triumphant story about a pig becoming a champion sheep dog is magical and masterful, and is a movie that’s impossible to watch without laughing or crying, or both.

Though the sequel, Babe: Pig in the City, is nothing to write home about, this 1995 comedy is the real deal. With beloved Hollywood pets, a wonderful and tender performance by James Cromwell, and an all-time great story, there’s a lot to love.

Rent/Buy Babe on Amazon.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

One of the best Roald Dahl adaptations, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is a hilarious, unique, and exciting stop-motion animated movie about a semi-retired thief planning a massive heist before calling it quits for good. With a voice cast that includes George Clooney as the titular character, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and some of Anderson’s most frequent collaborators, awesome music, and a certain charm, it’s baffling that this movie isn’t talked about enough.

It’s impossible to be in a bad mood while watching this 2009 animated gem, no matter if you’re an adult or a kid watching it for the first time. Seriously, give this a watch.

Stream Fantastic Mr. Fox on Disney+.
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The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)

Though it didn’t win the 2022 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film (that went to Encanto), The Mitchells vs. the Machines was one of the best from the world of animation in 2021. This Netflix original, which follows a dysfunctional family as they try to survive an attack from a rogue AI and its army of robots, is not only a lot of fun, but has a lot to say about a lot of things. Family, identity, the changing relationship between parents and children, and societal norms are all on the table in this Netflix original.

There’s a good chance you watched this when it first dropped a few years ago, but there’s never a bad time to revisit one of the best animated films of the decade.

Stream The Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix.
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The Great Outdoors (1988)

In the mood for a vacation movie where everything goes wrong? Well, look no further than The Great Outdoors. Starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd as two brothers-in-law from different walks of life who spend a summer vacation together with their families in a remote Wisconsin cabin, this John Hughes-penned Howard Deutch comedy is hilarious from start to finish.

A staple of cable television throughout the ‘90s, there’s a good chance you’ve watched the iconic big bear scene, the old 96er sequence, and everything else this one has to offer countless times. But have your kids? If not, change that soon.

Stream The Great Outdoors on Prime Video.
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Big Fat Liar (2002)

When it comes to early 2000s Disney movies focused on revenge, Big Fat Liar is in a league of its own. Shawn Levy’s hilarious 2002 comedy about a young slacker with a wild imagination (played by Frankie Muniz) getting back at the Hollywood executive (played by Paul Giamatti) who stole his idea and plans to turn it into a movie features one great moment after another.

If you’re looking for a fun way to revisit the comedies of your adolescence and your kids without freaking them out with more intense favorites from the early 2000s, this is going to be the way to go. You’ll be blue in the face from laughing so much.

Rent/Buy Big Fat Liar on Amazon.

Cheaper By The Dozen (2003)

Not to be confused with the 2023 Disney+ remake of the same name (which was later removed from the platform), Cheaper by the Dozen is honestly one of the funniest early 2000s movies you can watch with the whole family. Sure, there are some maddening scenes, and the sequel should be avoided at all costs, but this Steve Martin-led family film – a remake of the 1950s film of the same name – is nothing but good, clean, fun for all.

As the name suggests, there are more than a dozen characters at the center of Shawn Levy’s 2003 comedy, but don’t worry, as each is funny in its own way and never gets lost in the shuffle of this film about a family facing a life-changing decision.

Stream Cheaper by the Dozen on Disney+.
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13 Going On 30 (2004)

If you’re looking for a great way to introduce your kids to the world of romantic comedies, then 13 Going on 30 is going to be a great entry point. Light and funny enough to keep their attention, and filled with great characters (on both sides of the time jump), Gary Winick’s 2004 comedy has a lot going for it. And watching Jennifer Garner play a 13-year-old trapped in a 30-year-old’s body is just so dang charming. Like, seriously, she is so good in this.

Even if you already watched this movie with your kids when they were younger, you can still give one of the best romantic comedies of all time another shot to see how they react now that they’re a few years older.

Rent/Buy 13 Going on 30 on Amazon.
Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Big (1988)

There’s so much that makes Penny Marshall’s Big one of the best options for a family movie night, including its great sense of humor. Sure, the story of 12-year-old Josh Baskin transforming into a grown man (played by Tom Hanks) overnight has some dramatic moments, but the comedic timing of its star, especially when put in situations like the giant piano or focus group meeting, is just so grand.

I’ve watched Big too many times to count over the years, including a handful of times of my kids. I feel like they enjoy it more each time we revisit it, which makes this longtime fan even more excited to check it out from time to time.

Stream Big on Disney+.
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The Addams Family (1991)

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, The Addams Family is a movie that finds the perfect blend of horror, heart, and humor to create something that both pays homage to the source material and charts a new path forward. Some of the jokes may prove to be a little too bloody or macabre for some, but it’s all in the name of fun. There’s no maliciousness or animosity from the titular family in this romp of a good time.

Raul Julia and Christopher Lloyd, who play Gomez and Fester Adams, respectively, are especially funny in their portrayals of two long-lost brothers trying to reconnect after a number of years (and a bout of amnesia). But, they aren’t the only funny members of this all-time great cast.

Stream The Addams Family on Paramount+.
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Freaky Friday (1976, 2003)

There are two versions of Freaky Friday, adaptations of Mary Rodgers’ 1972 novel of the same name, that are worth checking out, if you have the time. Both the 1976 and 2003 adaptations have the same story that follows a mother and daughter who switch places and are forced to live each others’ lives and walk a mile in one another's shoes, and hilarious moments are bountiful.

With the Freakier Friday sequel (to the 2003 version) in the works, now would be a perfect time to revisit one of the most cherished and meaningful stories in Disney history.

Stream Freaky Friday (1976) on Disney+.
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Stream Freaky Friday (2003) on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Freaky Friday (2003) on Amazon.
Get it on DVD on Amazon.

The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride, with all its hilarious and classic lines, is something that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and it’s been that way ever since the release of Rob Reiner’s 1987 classic. This play on fairy tale tropes has action, adventure, romance, and most of all, comedy. This story about two lovers going to great lengths to reunite just never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it.

Stream The Princess Bride on Disney+.
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Get it on DVD on Amazon.

Beethoven (1992)

When it comes to family comedies from the early 1990s, few movies, if any, come close to capturing the heart, soul, and humor of Beethoven. Though the various sequels released over the years aren’t all that great, the 1992 original about a family finding a new lease on life after an adorable (and destructive) dog waltzes into their lives is the stuff of legend. And while the movie was a treat to watch as a kid, revisiting it as an adult is oddly an even more enjoyable and relatable experience.

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Get it on DVD on Amazon.

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

One of the best comedies of the ‘80s, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure is a laugh-a-minute type affair with several jokes (the basement at the Alamo) becoming a part of everyday life for a lot of us. It’s wild, it’s wonky, and oddly, it has a lot of heart. Watching as Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Rubens) goes off on a grand adventure to find his missing bike is an adventure like no other, and one that just gets better with time.

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Home Alone (1990)

Though it’s technically a Christmas movie, nothing is stopping you from watching Home Alone throughout the entire year. Written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, this iconic 1990 comedy film continues to bring families together (even jerk uncles) nearly 35 years after its theatrical debut. Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister is a legendary movie character and is responsible for some of the funniest moments in cinematic history. And don’t get me started on the comedy greats like Catherine O’Hara, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, and John Candy.

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The Goonies (1985)

If you’re looking for a movie that has a slightly harder edge than most kids movies, The Goonies is going to be a great option for family movie night. From director Richard Donner, screenwriter Chris Columbus, and Steven Spielberg, who came up with the story, this 1985 comedy is more than worthy of its reputation. A sense of adventure overwhelms the audience as the Goonies try to find One-Eyed Willy’s lost treasure in hopes of saving their community from greedy developers, and great jokes are present throughout as well. No wonder we keep revisiting this gem of a movie nearly 40 years later.

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The Lego Movie (2014)

“Everything is awesome” when it comes to The Lego Movie, especially the 2014 animated film’s sense of humor. In addition to conquering the task of turning a toy with no story into a grand adventure film, sneaking in all kinds of references, and getting the most out of the film’s massive voice cast, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller also managed to create a uniquely funny experience. There’s a little something for everyone here.

Stream The Lego Movie on Prime Video.
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Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)

Undoubtedly the best entry in the franchise, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids entertains the concept of what happens when a scientist’s latest invention goes haywire and shrinks his kids (and his neighbors' children) to smaller than the size of ants. Directed by Joe Johnston, this classic ‘80s movie is full of great laughs thanks to the chaotic energies of Rick Moranis and Matt Frewer’s characters, in addition to some incredible special and visual effects.

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The Muppet Movie (1979)

With an iconic movie song, wonderful creations by Jim Henson, and an all-time great road trip story, James Frawley’s The Muppet Movie has a little bit of something for everyone. Like the countless other Muppets movies that would follow, this 1979 classic sees Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and the various other beloved characters getting in all kinds of mischief and chaos as the green protagonist sets out to become a movie star in Hollywood, if a vindictive businessman doesn’t stop him first.

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Shrek (2001) 

Meta, gallows, fantasy, and just about every variation of humor are on full display in the 2001 animated adventure film, Shrek. More than 20 years after the franchise’s debut, the jokes in this early 2000s classic just hit, and hit well. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the movie follows an ogre played by Mike Myers and a talking donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy as they save a princess from a manchild of a villain.

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Get it on DVD on Amazon.

The Sandlot (1993) 

There were a lot of iconic 1993 films, and one that is quoted more than just about everything else is the beloved family-friendly baseball comedy, The Sandlot. The lines (“You’re killing me, Smalls”), the antics like the pool scene and the carnival barf-o-rama, and the cast of child actors who brought it all to life, make this not only one of the best sports movies of all time, but one of the funniest movies of the decade.

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The Parent Trap (1961; 1998)

Whether you’re checking out Nancy Meyers’ 1998 remake or the 1961 Disney classic, there’s no wrong way to watch The Parent Trap. The premise alone – two identical twins separated at birth swap places after meeting at summer camp – leads to some outrageous situations that make comedy look easy.

Stream The Parent Trap (1961) on Disney+.
Stream The Parent Trap (1998) on Disney+.

Rent/buy The Parent Trap (1961) on Amazon.
Rent/buy The Parent Trap (1998) on Amazon.

Night At The Museum (2006)

Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, and the rest of the Night at the Museum cast make this 2006 family-friendly movie a hilarious and fantastical experience. At night, the exhibits at New York’s Natural History Museum come to life and make inventor-turned-guard Larry Daley’s (Stiller) job all the more difficult, yet all the more hilarious for those watching at home.

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Paddington 2 (2017)

As the first Paddington 2 trailer teased, the adorable 2017 sequel was full of mishaps, mayhem, and jars and jars of delicious marmalade. Equal parts charming and hilarious, Paul King’s adaptation of Michael Bond’s iconic book series can and should be enjoyed by all. Even if you take out the surprisingly wholesome prison segments, Ben Whishaw, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, and Hugh Grant are to die for here.

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Get it on Blu-ray on Amazon.

School Of Rock (2003)

Though it’s hard to imagine, it has already been 20 years since Jack Black introduced us to Dewey Finn, a guitarist who poses as a substitute teacher and changes the lives of his students (and his own) in School of Rock. Child actors, awesome rock-and-roll sequences, and Black firing on all cylinders makes this 2003 classic a must for music lovers of all ages.

Stream School of Rock on Peacock.
Rent/buy School of Rock on Amazon.
Get it on DVD on Amazon.

These funny family films should be more than enough to do the trick the next time you turn your living room into a home theater. But, if you want to know about all the titles that will soon be on the big screen, check out our 2025 movie schedule.

There have been so many Batman movies over the last few years that it’s almost difficult to keep track of them all. Each one has tried to find new ways to differentiate itself. None were so successful at this as The LEGO Batman Movie. It was a hilarious take on the dark knight that fans loved and it was a box-office success. It turns out there was an idea for a sequel and it sounds incredible.

Chris McKay directed The LEGO Batman Movie and he recently revealed to Uproxx that there was at least an outline for what The LEGO Batman Movie 2 would have been. As with many superhero franchises, the film would have upped the stakes by increasing the number of heroes. We would have seen the entire LEGO Justice League but also learned about Batman’s troubled history with the group, and with Superman. McKay explained…

All the LEGO movies had an emotional core to them that, when it worked, really hit fans in the feels. The LEGO Batman Movie was no different, and it sounds like the sequel would have done more of the same, making a movie that was as much, or more, about friendship than it was about superheroes. It sounds like it could have been a great film.

And then, of course, there’s that crossover tease. McKay indicates that a “major” crossover that could only happen with LEGO. Although it has to be said, that doesn’t narrow things down very much. LEGO has the rights to make brick-based toys from just about every imaginable franchise. They do Marvel as well as DC along with everything from Disney to Harry Potter. Could a LEGO movie have given us the Marvel/DC crossover fans would love to see? Or could we have seen the Justice League team up with Harry Potter? It maybe could have happened.

Unfortunately, it’s a movie that we’ll never see. Warner Bros. made the initial batch of LEGO movies, but the license to make LEGO films now belongs to Universal, so we won’t be seeing any more LEGO movies in that universe. 

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers arrived on Disney+ in May 2022 and became an instant hit with those who grew up watching the show on which the hilarious animation/live-action hybrid was based, as well as young audiences (even if they didn’t pick up on all the jokes). I know this because this was the case in my household: my wife and I loved all the jokes, pop culture references, and abundance of amazing Easter Eggs, and my kids loved the visuals, story, and of course, Ugly Sonic (who was admittedly loved by everyone in my family).

And, after the credits rolled, I immediately started to think about movies like Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers that I would like to watch again or introduce to my kids. So, I started to put together a list of titles and began figuring out how I could watch them, and ended up coming up with a fairly remarkable list of movies that feature certain elements of the new Disney+ movie that I enjoyed so much. Here are a few of those now…

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Disney+)

Private eye Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), who’s no fan of cartoons or their zany characters, reluctantly takes on a job to trail Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner), who is rumored to be sleeping around on her husband, Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer). But when Jessica’s alleged lover winds up murdered, the grumpy detective is stuck trying to protect the cartoon star from being brought up on false charges.

Robert Zemeckis’ 1988 groundbreaking live-action/animation hybrid movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? was the first movie that came to mind when I heard about Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers, and it’s not because the titular character is in the new movie’s trailer. It more has to do with the presence of all those third-party cartoon characters featured throughout the movie, as well as its incredible sense of humor.

Stream Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Amazon.

The Lego Movie (Amazon Rental)

Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) is just a normal, everyday Lego figure who is the opposite of what you would call special. But that all changes when the nondescript construction worker becomes attached to the Piece of Resistance, a powerful Lego brick that could save the world from Lord Business (Will Ferrell) and his destructive “Kragile” super weapon.

Written and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, The Lego Movie was one of the biggest surprises of the 2014 box office, but after watching the animated film it’s easy to see why it resonated with audiences of all ages. It has that same blend of self-referential humor and dazzling animation as Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and also features an incredibly catchy song (“Everything is Awesome) written by The Lonely Island, whose members include Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone.

Rent/Buy The Lego Movie on Amazon.

Wreck-It Ralph (Disney+)

After years of always being the bad guy in the Fix-It Felix video game, Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) goes on a one-villain mission to become the hero of his own story and change the digital world’s perception of what it means to be a good guy. But, in doing so, he opens the door for an even bigger and badder nemesis to take over.

Wreck-It Ralph has a lot of similarities with Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, including an abundance of characters from multiple franchises (video games instead of cartoons, in this case), a fun and upbeat story adults and kids will both enjoy, and an incredible message about second chances and rising to the occasion.

Stream Wreck-It Ralph on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Wreck-It Ralph on Amazon.

Last Action Hero (Netflix)

There is no bigger fan of hero cop Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenegger) than Danny Madigan (Austin O’Brien), a young boy who obsessively watches all his new movies. After being presented with a magical ticket, Danny finds himself in the middle of the action in Jack Slater IV, right next to his longtime hero. However, just as Danny entered the fictional world, its characters, including the villainous Benedict (Charles Dance) can enter his world as well.

Is Last Action Hero a great movie? That depends on your taste. Is it a fun movie? You bet! John McTiernan’s hilarious and action-packed 1993 meta comedy about big-budget blockbusters is fully aware of itself, which only adds to its charm. Like the story told in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, it’s heavy-handed, outrageously silly, and never takes itself too seriously.

Stream Last Action Hero on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Last Action Hero on Amazon.

Space Jam (1996)

A greedy alien theme park owner makes a plan to kidnap Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang to use as his new attraction, but will back off if the iconic cartoon characters can defeat his all-star team known as The Monstars (who have the stolen talent of the NBA’s brightest stars). Just when it looks like all hope is lost, though, Bugs comes up with a plan that involves getting Michael Jordan to come out of retirement.

Although not the best movie to feature live-action and animated characters together, Joe Pytka’s 1996 smash hit, Space Jam, is still a lot of fun, and not just for kids of the ‘90s. It’s not as wild or expansive as Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, but is loaded with pop culture references and heart, unlike its 2021 sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Stream Space Jam on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Space Jam on Amazon.

Sonic The Hedgehog (Paramount+)

Years after being magically transported to Earth from a distant planet, Sonic the Hedgehog (Ben Schwartz) finds himself on the run from the diabolical mad scientist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who wants to use his power to take over the world.

If you are like me and can’t get enough of “Ugly Sonic” in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, why not give Sonic the Hedgehog a spin (no pun intended). The version in the new Disney+ movie is a spoof of the original model revealed in the Sonic trailer back in 2019. You know, the one that was met by fan backlash and resulted in the movie being delayed.

Stream Sonic the Hedgehog on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Sonic the Hedgehog on Amazon.
Also try Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on Paramount+.

Shrek (Prime Video)

In an attempt to get rid of all the fairy tale characters that have been forced to live in his swamp, Shrek (Mike Myers) strikes a deal with Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) to find and rescue the villain’s bride-to-be, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Accompanied by a tenacious (and annoying) donkey (Eddie Murphy), this ogre becomes the most unlikely of heroes.

Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson’s fairy-tale inspired 2001 animated comedy broke new ground upon release and proved to be a hit with audiences of all ages. The humor, which pokes fun at everything from classic folk tales to modern film franchises helped usher in a new era of meta humor in animated movies.

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

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Amazon Rental)

After his police detective father goes missing, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) teams up with his dad’s old partner, Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) to get to the bottom of his disappearance in the chaotic Ryme City, a place where humans and Pokémon live in harmony.

Like Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Rob Letterman’s Pokémon Detective Pikachu has an incredibly heartfelt story tucked behind all the pop culture references, comedic banter, and dazzling visuals. The 2019 action-comedy also happens to be one of the best video game movies in recent memory. 

Rent/Buy Pokémon Detective Pikachu on Amazon.

The Mask (Amazon Rental)

Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) is a down-on-his-luck bank clerk with not much going on in his life, but his fortunes are changed when he comes into possession of a mysterious mask that turns him into a living, breathing cartoon character.

Chuck Russell’s The Mask, which was released in the middle of Carrey’s ridiculously successful 1994 box office run (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber also came out that year) perfectly blends the chaos of old cartoons and crime serials with live-action drama, creating a unique cinematic experience that is fun from top to bottom. And, it still remains one of Carrey’s best movies.

Rent/Buy The Mask on Amazon.

Chip ’N Dale: Rescue Rangers (The Original Series) (Disney+)

And then there is the original Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers animated series that followed the titular chipmunks as they start their very own detective agency alongside their friends Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack, and Zipper. Over the course of three seasons, the fearless group went up against iconic villains like Fat Cat, Professor Norton Nimnul, and Rat Capone.

If you were interested in all the references for the show throughout the new Disney+ movie, then you should jump on in and give Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers a shot.

Stream Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers on Disney+.
Buy Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers on Amazon.

Hopefully, all of this helps you put together a nice marathon of titles to watch after watching Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, the newest film that will be added to the list of the best Disney+ movies so far before long.

Starting off his career in comedy and moving over into more serious roles, Nick Offerman has proved time and time again how great of an actor he truly is, whether that be dropping a joke or performing the scene of a lifetime. 

If you’re looking for some of the best Nick Offerman movies and TV shows to stream right now, be sure to check out our picks down below, from classics like Parks & Recreation, to some newer picks that will surely attract your attention instantly. 

Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)

If you’re looking for one of the best comedies to watch, be sure to check out Parks and Recreation. This iconic series follows the people who work for the Parks and recreation department in a small town in Indiana, trying to constantly make their city a better place, usually following Leslie Knope and her daily, hectic life. 

Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson for all seven seasons of the show, blew up after his role for his talented comedic timing and his great acting. It’s no wonder that after he grew more famous from this show and he began appearing in far more projects, and for good reason - he’s truly outstanding as Ron Swanson, and has been a huge part of some of the best episodes. 

Stream Parks and Recreation on Peacock.

The Founder (2016)

You ever wanted to know the history behind one of the biggest global food franchises ever? The Founder is the answer to that, telling the story of Ray Kroc, one of the main men behind the creation of McDonald’s, and how he, alongside the McDonald brothers, created a global empire of fast food. 

Offerman portrays Richard McDonald and I personally love his role in this movie. It’s times like this where you realize how good Offerman is in dramas, because he really shines - or maybe it’s just the fact that it’s one of the few times I see him without a mustache. Either way, he’s great. 

Stream The Founder on Amazon Prime. 
Rent The Founder on Apple TV.

Making It (2018 - Present)

The reunion we’ve been waiting for - no, it’s not the Parks and Recreation official reunion, but we do get to see Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler come together once more as the hosts of Making It, a competition show that puts the ultimate crafters up against each other to compete for a grand prize of $100,000. 

Watching this show, I genuinely can’t think of anyone better to host it other than these two. Not only are Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler great hosts, their chemistry bounces so well off of each other that they make this competition even more enjoyable to watch. It’s no wonder it’s been going on for a couple of years now. 

Stream Making It on Peacock.

We’re The Millers (2013)

Now this is a hilarious comedy film. We’re the Millers stars a talented ensemble cast following the story of the “Miller” clan, a fake family made up by a pot-dealer in order for him to be able to smuggle drugs into the United States, causing plenty of hilarities to ensue. 

Offerman plays Don Fitzgerald, a DEA agent who ends up becoming friends with the Millers, so you can only imagine how great that must have gone considering the Millers are trying to avoid getting captured by DEA people. However, Offerman is just too nice in his role and creates some hysterical moments that you just can’t miss. While he’s great in drama, comedy is really where he shines. 

Rent We’re the Millers on Amazon.

The Lego Movie Series (2014-2019)

In The Lego Movie and its sequel, we mainly follow Emmet, a normal LEGO man who goes on wild adventures in order to save all of LEGO humanity. 

For both of the official Lego movies, Offerman voices MetalBeard, a Master Builder who has now set his heart on revenge and wants to take on Master Builder in order to get his body back to normal. Watching this film makes me want to see Offerman in more voice roles. I know that he’s done plenty so far, but he’s so great and shows so much emotion just through his voice. Definitely check out The Lego Movie as well as its sequels/spinoffs. 

Rent the first Lego Movie on Amazon.
Rent the second Lego Movie on Amazon. 

The House Of Tomorrow (2017)

The House of Tomorrow is a bit of a lesser known, independent gem on this list, but that’s even more of a reason to watch it. This drama tells the story of a young man who wishes to change his life and become something different, but everything changes when he meets a punk rocker that introduces him to the beauty of the genre, changing his life forever. 

Offerman stars as Alan Whitcomb, the main fatherly figure in The House of Tomorrow, and personally, I’ve always really enjoyed his performance here. Offerman is really good in his role and I honestly loved his moments with his on-screen son, Alex Wolff, creating great chemistry. The House of Tomorrow follows a coming-of-age plotline, but it's interesting enough that it’ll captivate you right from the start. 

Stream The House of Tomorrow on Peacock.
Rent The House of Tomorrow on Amazon.

Pam & Tommy (2022)

A newer entry on this list, this Hulu miniseries has certainly sparked a lot of conversation. Pam & Tommy is a biographical miniseries that chronicles the crazy love affair of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, and how a private sex tape they filmed on their honeymoon created turmoil when it was sold everywhere. 

The Pam & Tommy cast is so incredibly talented, but oh my God, Offerman has stolen the show for me. We can talk about how great Lily James is as Pamela or Sebastian Stan is as Tommy Lee, but are we going to talk about Nick Offerman as Uncle Miltie? Dude is creepy as heck, conniving, and gross in all the right ways and Offerman did a fantastic job. After this, I for sure want to see him in more serious roles because he rocked this show. 

Stream Pam & Tommy on Hulu.

Fargo (Season 2 - 2015)

If you’re looking for a great anthology black comedy series, Fargo is the way to go. Following new cases and new people each season, this amazing FX drama constantly looks at new stories of mysterious disappearances, murders, and much more. 

Nick Offerman actually had a decently big role in the second season of Fargo, which focused on a combination of a cover-up and an investigation of a triple-homicide. Offerman played the only lawyer in the small town, and because of that, he was one of the go-to sources for legal advice - even though the character was often drunk. Offerman played the role perfectly, even for the small amount of time he was on the show. Definitely give it a shot if you haven’t seen it. 

Stream Fargo on Hulu.

Devs (2020)

Ready for another miniseries? Devs is a murder mystery/science-fiction show for the ages, when a young woman decides to investigate into her boyfriend’s death, and how the tech company that they both worked for could be the reason behind it. 

Nick Offerman plays Forest in Devs, the main man who runs the shady tech company, and he received a lot of praise for his performance, including an award nomination for the Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy series for the Critics Choice Awards. If you want a show that you’ll be invested in from the very beginning, check out Devs. 

Stream Devs on Hulu.

Hearts Beat Loud (2018)

Hearts Beat Loud is a great coming-of-age movie that you should definitely check out. A father, who was a musician, and his daughter, who wants to be a doctor, end up creating a song that becomes a viral success overnight, but even with their success, it might end in them falling apart. 

This film was such an under-the-radar summer movie in 2018, and it still is now, and I don’t know why. This is one of the few roles here where Offerman is one of the leading people and I freaking love him in this movie. He really captures that spirit of someone who just wants to find a way to connect with his daughter, hoping that the one thing they have in common can be the one thing to save them, despite outside forces pulling them apart. Him and Kiersey Clemons shine in this film and their chemistry is truly outstanding. 

Rent Hearts Beat Loud on Apple TV.

Have A Good Trip: Adventures In Psychedelics (2020)

In this documentary film from Netflix, Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics combines both comedy and education as Nick Offerman takes us on a journey into the effects of drugs, and how they have impacted the very celebrities that we watch now. 

Is this documentary film a little silly? Of course it is, but really only someone like Nick Offerman could so effortlessly host this film and somehow still make it both funny and intriguing. What makes this movie even more entertaining is all the different appearances from celebrities who tell their own stories of psychedelics, showing that it’s a lot more common than some might believe it to be. 

Stream Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics on Netflix.

The Kings Of Summer (2013)

Last but not least, we have The Kings of Summer. This independent coming-of-age movie follows a young man who is sick of the way in which his single father controls him, so he sets off into the woods to find his own path in life, changing the course of everything. 

Nick Offerman stars as Frank in The Kings of Summer, the father of the main character, Joe, played by Nick Robinson, and I think it’s one of Offerman's underrated performances. Frank is just so deadpan and the way in which Offerman delivers his scenes are just hilarious. The wonton scene makes me snicker every time, but that doesn’t excuse that he’s also great in his dramatic moments as well, mainly with his scenes with Robinson. 

Stream The Kings of Summer on Showtime. 
Rent The Kings of Summer on Amazon.

With his appearance set for some new TV shows in the future such as A League of Their Own and The Last Of Us HBO adaptation, I’m sure it won’t be long before we’re adding to this list. But until then, these are some of Offerman’s best projects so far, and no matter what you pick to watch, you’ll have a great time guaranteed.  

Over two-plus decades, Jonah Hill has become one of Hollywood's most reliable movie stars, particularly as he proves himself comedically and dramatically with a number of celebrated projects. Whether it's his starring roles in Superbad and the 21/22 Jump Street movies, his standout supporting turns in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and This Is the End, or his Oscar-nominated performances in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street, Hill has a flair for playing characters broad or mild-mannered, outlandish or intuitive. This is a trend that continues (one hopes) with his latest performance in Don't Look Up. If you love the acclaimed actor and you want to discover his finest films, here are the movies that you should check out! 

Superbad (2007)

Two dorky high school seniors (Michael Cera, Jonah Hill) clumsily partake in an all-night rager in an awkward —and eventful — attempt to be in the in-crowd. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Following a string of notable supporting turns in often less-than-notable '00s comedies, Jonah Hill finally had a chance to prove himself as a leading man with Greg Mottola's warm, endearing Superbad, a coming-of-age high school comedy that was able to be just the right cocktail of raunchy and sweet, thanks to its semi-autobiographical screenplay by Seth Rogen (who co-stars) and Evan Goldberg and its affectionate performances from Hill and Michael Cera. While Cera has the comparatively harder challenge of playing the more refrained, mild-mannered character, Hill is explosively funny, playing up the heightened absurdities of this uncomfortable teenager in broad, outlandish but also appealing and entertaining ways. The results prove to be both exceptionally funny and unexpectedly tender — even gently moving. While it's not the role that would turn Hill into a two-time Oscar-nominee, it's arguably the most pivotal performance of his vibrant and increasingly exceptional career.

Rent/buy Superbad on Amazon.
Buy Superbad on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

The rise-and-fall of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) through his epically storied and spectacularly heinous history of criminality and corruption. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Working with one of the actor's greatest filmmaking influences, Jonah Hill appeared eager to prove himself with his splashy supporting turn in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, and he proved himself in spades, resulting in his second Oscar nomination. While he must work around wide-eyed glasses, a frizzy head of hair, and some wonky fake teeth, Hill makes the pompous performance entirely his own, as he plays up the heightened buffoonery of his looney Wall Street blowhard while also grounding the character just enough in this reality to make us believe that he would exist in Jordan Belfort's already larger-than-life orbit. The result is a splendid turn, filled with vigor and vibrancy, and it remains one of Hill's most famous and infamous.

Stream The Wolf of Wall Street on Showtime.
Rent/buy The Wolf of Wall Street on Amazon.
Buy The Wolf of Wall Street on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Moneyball (2011)

Moneyball follows Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's (Brad Pitt) bold attempt to re-assemble this struggling baseball team through new-grade computer analytics.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: In the role that would turn the affable up-and-coming comedy star into an A-list Oscar nominee, Jonah Hill gives what remains one of his best performances as Peter Brand, the tech wiz who has a revolutionary new way of predicting the calculated statistical advantages of this flailing baseball team's players, in Bennett Miller's exceptionally great Moneyball. Even a whole decade later, this standout supporting performance remains fresh and proven, as Hill brings his lovable enthusiasm to the role in spades while also capturing the gentle yearning that's evident in this man's eager-hearted desire to prove his wits and his skills. As a result, this award-nominated turn captures Hill's talents at the right place and the right time, resulting in an expansive career that continues to develop in intriguing ways — especially as he pushes himself more. 

Stream Moneyball on Tubi.
Rent/buy Moneyball on Amazon.
Buy Moneyball on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

This Is The End (2013)

Several self-absorbed celebrities are trapped in James Franco's lavish house when the biblical apocalypse happens to befall the sinful city of Los Angeles. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Shortly after he became an Oscar-nominated actor, Jonah Hill poked fun at his new image by playing a vain, self-important version of himself in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's This Is the End. Reuniting with the writers that propelled his career in Superbad, Hill doesn't get as many opportunities to shine in this ensemble piece, but his warped self-image allows the actor to have a good bit of fun and play up the strangest of his raunchy comedy career origins. In this commendably bleak and uproarious dark comedy, the actor isn't doing his best work, but he's doing some of his funniest.

Stream This Is the End on Starz.
Rent/buy This Is the End on Amazon.
Buy This Is the End on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The LEGO Movie (2014)

An extraordinary LEGO construction worker (voiced by Chris Pratt) is recruited for an awesome quest when he's believed to be prophesied for epic greatness. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Though it's not remembered for Jonah Hill's lighthearted portrayal of Green Lantern, it's safe to say that the actor has a small hand in making one of the best animated movies of the past decade with 2014's The LEGO Movie, a buoyant and impressively imaginative take on the popular toy line that proved that writers-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were the real deal, in animation and live-action. Reuniting with his 21/22 Jump Street directors, Hill provides a splashy cameo alongside Channing Tatum. Even with his limited involvement, Hill played a part in building one of the most unexpectedly delightful movies — family-orientated or otherwise — of the 2010s. While it's not on the same level, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is also a good bit of fun.

Rent/buy The LEGO Movie on Amazon.
Buy The LEGO Movie on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

21 Jump Street (2012)

A pair of down-and-out cops (Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum) are recruited for a retro operation to go undercover in order to track down a synthetic drug ring. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Though perhaps not as pivotal to his career as Superbad, The Wolf of Wall Street, or Moneyball, 21 Jump Street and its 2014 sequel, 22 Jump Street, were key to Jonah Hill's stardom, notably as these R-rated studio comedies showed Hill's talents as a screenwriter in addition to being an affable action-comedy star opposite a surprisingly buoyant Channing Tatum. With its fast and, of course, funny mix of action, lewd jokes, meta-humor and pointed commentary on the sad state of Hollywood and the wobbling genre-at-large, 21 Jump Street surpassed the understandably uncertain expectations to become one of the freshest comedies of the year — quite ironically — while also continuing to demonstrate Hill's quick-to-prove-himself versatility as a lead actor.

Stream 21 Jump Street on Peacock.
Rent/buy 21 Jump Street on Amazon.
Buy 21 Jump Street on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

A Hollywood fixer (Josh Brolin) works to keep the studio happy in the 1950s. 

Why It's Worth Streaming If You Love Jonah Hill: Though he's only one part of an expectedly impressive A-list ensemble, Jonah Hill's Joseph Silverman provides a warmly flustered bit of fun in this fussy period farce's proceedings, playing up the part of an overdressed and overworked busy-man who finds himself easily flummoxed in the presence of a very beautiful woman. It's a glorified cameo in the midst of this gorgeously crafted and reverently produced movie's high-strung antics, but it's another reminder of what Hill can do when he works with writers and directors as immensely talented and well-proven as Joel and Ethan Coen. 

Stream Hail, Caesar! on Netflix.
Rent/buy Hail, Caesar! on Amazon.
Buy Hail, Caesar! on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Cyrus (2010)

Upon forming a mid-life relationship with a beautiful single mother, Molly (Marisa Tomei), divorced John (John C. Reilly) must get over the love affair's biggest hurdle yet: meeting Cyrus (Jonah Hill), Molly's dependent adult son. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: It would take the following year with 2011's Moneyball for audiences to appreciate Jonah Hill's dramatic talents, but they were already on display in 2010's underseen Cyrus, an affectionately funny, nicely sad character dramedy that doesn't reach the heights of its star's greatest triumphs, but it's elevated by their affable screen presences. In the lead role, Reilly is given the most flexibility to stretch, but Hill is its biggest success story. In the title role, Hill plays up and leans into the man's oddball tenacities, but never without the recognition of what makes this man grounded in reality, while also being divorced by common society. It's an impressive performance that relies on him being both endearing and off-putting, uncomfortable yet also entertaining. Thankfully, Hill is more than able to find that right balance, and he would continue to impress with similarly nuanced parts. Cyrus isn't his peak, but if you love this talented Oscar nominee, you would be remiss if you didn't see it.

Rent/buy Cyrus on Amazon.
Buy Cyrus on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Following a devastating break-up, Peter (Jason Segel) takes a trip to an exotic resort, only to reconnect with his ex (Kristen Bell) and her cool new boyfriend (Russell Brand).

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Though he's stuck in supporting character mode, Jonah Hill's scene-stealing work is particularly notable in 2008's Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Only a year after the wonderful success of Superbad, this happy-go-lucky performance became an instant favorite — so much so that Hill got a spin-off film alongside Russell Brand with 2010's Get Him to the Greek (though Hill, confusingly, plays a different part). With his childlike enthusiasm and his warm-hearted desire to make the most of an uncomfortable situation, Hill was far from the star of this movie, but his growing star power was already becoming apparent — even with rather minor roles like this scene-stealing turn. 

Stream Forgetting Sarah Marshall on Starz.
Rent/buy Forgetting Sarah Marshall on Amazon.
Buy Forgetting Sarah Marshall on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

A hapless young Viking (voiced by Jay Baruchel) becomes an unlikely friend to a toothless wyvern — at a time when dragons are a grave threat to humanity.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Similiar to The LEGO Movie, the How to Train Your Dragon movies only see (or, more accurately, hear) Jonah Hill in a minor supporting role. Specifically, he lends his voice to the role of Snotlout Jorgenson, a boastful young man who's eager to strut his stuff as a dragonslayer. Nevertheless, while only a small portion of this franchise's success, he played a part in making one of the most celebrated series of the past decade, particularly by DreamWorks Animation standards, and his comedic chops were well-utilized in this fiery supporting turn. While it's not the role that he'll be remembered for, it's arguable among movie fans that these are some of Hill's very finest movies.

Stream How to Train Your Dragon on IMDbTV.
Rent/buy How To Train Your Dragon on Amazon.
Buy How to Train Your Dragon on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

If you're looking for more good Jonah Hill movies, I'd also recommend Funny People, Knocked Up, Django Unchained, and The Beach Bum. He also gives one of his best performances in War Dogs. Away from acting, Hill became a multi-hyphenate with 2018's mid90s, which the actor wrote, produced, and directed. 

Alison Brie is, hands down, one of my favorite actresses who has blown up in the last decade. Not only is she extremely talented in both dramatic and comedic roles, her voice-acting skills are excellent as well. From her time on Community to the Netflix series, GLOW, Brie has shown that she’s here to stay in Hollywood. 

But, what are some of her best performances? Which one is the ultimate best? These are the Alison Brie movies and TV shows with her best work, and how you can watch them right now. 

10. The Five-Year Engagement (Suzie Barnes-Eilhauer)

The Five-Year Engagement, starring Jason Segal and Emily Blunt, tells the story of a couple whose relationship becomes strained over time, as their engagement steadily gets extended over and over again. 

I’m always a fan of a good romantic comedy, and Alison Brie definitely rocks it as Suzie Eilhauer in The Five-Year Engagement. The only reason I ranked it at number ten is that it just doesn’t stand out at much as the other characters on this list, but it’s still a great performance and a funny movie that anyone would enjoy. Emily Blunt and Jason Segal have great chemistry, as do Alison Brie and Chris Pratt in their supporting roles. 

Stream The Five-Year Engagement on HBO Max. 
Rent The Five-Year Engagement on Amazon.

9. Happiest Season (Sloane Caldwell) 

Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, is all about a woman who struggles to come out to her conservative parents at Christmastime, when she decides to travel home with her girlfriend.

Alison Brie plays Sloane, Harper’s (Mackenzie Davis) eldest sister, and she and Davis have some awesome scenes together that really make her stand out among the rest. The rest of the Happiest Season cast also work together so well, and it's filled with stars like Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza, Jake McDorman, and more. Christmas films are always some of my favorites to watch, and this one is certainly a modern tale that makes me smile. It’s a heartwarming story with plenty of comedy, drama, and Christmas joy in-between. 

Stream Happiest Season on Hulu.

8. The Lego Movie (Princess Unikitty)

In The Lego Movie, we follow Emmet, an ordinary Lego minifigure who ends up joining a resistance movement to stop a tyrannical businessman from taking over Lego world and gluing everything into his vision of perfection. 

Alison Brie voices Princess Unikitty, and let me just say - she’s amazing. Brie gives Princess Unikitty the perfect kind of chaos and cuteness that a character like her needs, and that can only be brought to life by her wonderful voice-acting talents. I do think another one of her voice roles is slightly better than this one, but The Lego Movie definitely gave her some great material to work with, alongside its wacky, yet sweet, story. 

Rent The Lego Movie on Amazon. 

7. Sleeping With Other People (Elaine “Lainey” Dalton) 

In this 2015 film, Sleeping with Other People is all about two college students who both lose their virginity to each other one night and never see each other again until years later, now having their own personal problems as they deal with relationships and life. 

In one of her first major starring roles in a film, Alison Brie rocks Sleeping with Other People as Lainey, and her chemistry with Jason Sudeikis flows so perfectly, it makes me wonder why they haven’t been in any other movies together. Their relationship is so easy to believe, from beginning to end, mixed in with some awkwardly fun moments that bring a certain charm to the way they work. It’s a smaller film than many of the others on here, but deserves so much more praise. Seriously, check it out if you haven’t seen it yet. 

Stream Sleeping With Other People on AMC+ through Amazon Prime. 
Rent Sleeping With Other People on Amazon.  

6. GLOW (Ruth Wilder)

In this Netflix original series, GLOW follows the fictionalization of the real people and story of the 1980s during syndicated women’s professional wrestling circuit, called Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (otherwise known as GLOW). 

GLOW is one of those series that deserved so much more recognition and was cancelled way too soon. Alison Brie starred in this Netflix hit, and showed us how remarkable she is as a leading lady. Not only is her character, Ruth, full of spunk and has an interesting story, but everyone else around her shines just as much. It’s a shame that GLOW was canceled on Netflix due to COVID-19 related issues, but at least we still have the three seasons to watch whenever we want on Netflix. Maybe one day they’ll return to it. 

Stream GLOW on Netflix. 

5. BoJack Horseman (Diane Nguyen) 

Taking a look at another Netflix original, BoJack Horseman is all about the titular character, BoJack Horseman, someone who was once extremely popular back in his heyday, and now barely a blip in the memory of others. He plans to make a comeback by writing his tell-all autobiography, with the help of a ghost writer. 

Alison Brie voices Diane Nguyen, the ghost writer that works for BoJack, and let me say - I love her in this series. While Alison Brie was able to bring that maniac energy to Princess Unikitty in The Lego Movie, Diane stands out to me so much more as her best voice-acting role. Diane’s story in BoJack Horseman is gut-punching and raw and will make anyone tear up for a bit, and her relationship with BoJack is one of the best on the show, by far. She’s a complex character, through and through, and Brie’s voicing of her makes Diane even better. 

Stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix. 

4. The Post (Lally Weymouth)

In this film based on a true story, The Post tells the tale of journalists who worked at the Washington Post, and their endless trials to try and publish the infamous Pentagon Papers, a set of documents that regarded the 20-year involvement of the United States government in the Vietnam War, and even earlier in French Indochina. 

While Alison Brie is always brilliant in her comedic roles, there’s something about The Post that really makes it one of her best performances. While her role isn’t as big as some of the other cast members in here - with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks as the main stars - she is one of the standouts, and portrays Lally Graham, a former journalist at the Washington Post, wonderfully alongside her co-stars.

Rent The Post on Amazon. 

3. Mad Men (Trudy Campbell)

Mad Man was a popular AMC series that starred Jon Hamm as Don Draper, an executive at an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City, hence the term “mad men,” in the 1960s. It follows his highs and lows, and the trials and tribulations of working in the advertising industry back then, and the people who surrounded him. 

Arguably, this is one of the performances that made Alison Brie famous. While she was just a recurring character in the Mad Men cast, her part as the wife of Pete Campbell stands out, creating excellent tension between the two of them and a story that no one can tear their eyes away from. She truly shines in this dramatic role.

Stream Mad Men on AMC+ through Amazon Prime. 

2. Promising Young Woman (Madison McPhee) 

In this popular thriller, Promising Young Woman stars Carey Mulligan, who plays a young woman who is haunted by a traumatic past, and takes it upon herself to get vengeance on the men who have committed horrible atrocities. 

Alison Brie stars as Madison, one of the many women and men that Mulligan’s character comes across. I’ve already expressed how I like watching Brie in dramatic roles, but I feel like she brings it hard in Promising Young Women. Her role as Madison is perfectly played, especially in her scenes with Cassie, played by Mulligan. Also, the story is top-tier in Promising Young Women. If you like thrillers, you are going to be on the edge of your seat the whole time. It’s such a fun movie to watch, filled with awesome stars, and Alison Brie only adds to that stardom. 

Stream Promising Young Woman on HBO Max. 

1. Community (Annie Edison) 

This Dan Harmon-created comedy, Community, follows Jeff Winger, a former lawyer who faked his degree, and now must go back to community college to try and become an actual lawyer. While he’s there, he meets an interesting friend group, all comprised of extremely different individuals. 

You knew it was coming. We all knew Community would be number one. While Mad Men shined a light on Alison Brie’s acting talents dramatically, Community is what shot her to stardom with how awesome she was with comedy. Her portrayal of Annie Edison, the studious classmate, is one to remember. The whole Community cast is full of stars, but Alison Brie as Annie works perfectly. Her comedic timing, heartwarming stories, and genuine friendships and relationships that she has with each of the characters created a wonderfully sweet character, which is why it’s Alison Brie’s best performance to date - let’s hope we all get to see her again in a possible Community movie. 

Stream Community on Netflix.

I’m sure that in the next couple of years, we’ll be seeing plenty more of Alison Brie in both film and TV, but for now, I can at least go back and watch some of her best performances, from beginning to end. Maybe even now you’ll have found a new show or movie to watch. If you don’t mind me, I’m going to re-watch Community for the umpteenth time. 

Everything is awesome when it comes to the LEGO series of movies! It’s kind of crazy that The LEGO Movie came out in 2014, and I only say that it’s crazy because I would think there would be way more LEGO movies by this point. In fact, after The LEGO Batman Movie’s great success, I thought there would be a whole Justice League worth of LEGO films. Like, where’s my LEGO Superman movie starring Channing Tatum? Where’s my LEGO Wonder Woman movie starring Cobie Smulders? Release the Snyder Cut? No way! I wanted the LEGO Cut!

In all seriousness though, I would say that the four LEGO movies that we got were pretty rock solid. Unfortunately, after the under-performance of The LEGO Ninjago Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, it looks like we'll only be getting these four films from Warner Bros., as the brand was sold to Universal Studios. But, out of those four, which LEGO movie was the best? That’s actually a pretty tough choice since all four have reasons to put them at the top. Most notably the voice cast. Chris Pratt, Kumail Nanjiani, Tiffany Haddish, the list goes on and on of people who wanted to lend their voices to block people. So, which is the best movie? Well, I guess the only true limit to each film is creativity itself.

Oh, and minor spoilers up ahead.

4. The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017)

By far the weakest LEGO Movie out of the four, The LEGO Ninjago Movie’s greatest fault may not be its storyline, which is fine (a son has an evil father, learns ninja powers with his friends, and reconciles with his father, the end). Its main problem is actually the fact that it loses something by not having the wild menagerie of characters who come with all the other LEGO movies. It’s like, if you have no idea what LEGO Ninjago is when you’re going into it, then you’re kind of just stuck with some oddball characters and the same irreverent humor that comes from any of the other LEGO movies or cartoon shows. In other words, it’s the least interesting of the four because it just feels so basic.

Again, that’s not saying it’s bad. Like all the LEGO movies, it is funny. But, it’s not sharp, and that’s another thing about The LEGO Ninjago Movie. It’s definitely the film that’s the most geared toward children. The jokes land, but they’re easy jokes, which again makes it feel like one of the many LEGO specials you can just as easily find on Netflix or Disney+. In addition, it’s probably the most action packed with the mech fights and the martial arts, but have you ever tried playing with LEGOs as if they were action figures? Yeah, it’s not the best, so it doesn’t look all that great on the big screen, either. A fine film with a nice message, but the least endearing of the four.

3. The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

Is The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part as good as the first LEGO Movie? Well, obviously not since it’s lower on this list, but I definitely think it deserved to do better than it did at the box office. The second film has a lot more Duplo in it, which was teased at the end of the first movie, since it has a meta story in-between like in the original film, but this time, it’s dealing with the brother and the sister arguing all the time. The LEGO narrative just accompanies their sibling strife. As a father with two young kids who fight all the time, I find this plotline very relatable.

The second film would be higher on this list if the first movie didn’t exist. The storyline still feels fresh with the whole “Systar System,” but it seems like a lot of the jokes worked better in the first film. This movie is also a bit overstuffed with characters—though I do appreciate Jason Momoa voicing Aquaman, which technically makes The LEGO Movie 2 canon with the Snyderverse. Hee hee. But it’s a more is less situation with this movie. In the end, I love The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. I just don’t love it as much as the first film.

2. The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

The LEGO Batman Movie also came out in 2017, just like The LEGO Ninjago Movie, and the differences in quality are so vast, it’s almost staggering. Batman, voiced by Will Arnett, was just a small, but memorable part in the first LEGO Movie, so a lot could have gone wrong with giving him his own film. But by lovingly parodying not only Batman, but also comic books and entertainment in general, it makes The LEGO Batman Movie a LEGO film for the ages.

What makes this movie so good, is that while, yes, it is super zany (I especially like The Phantom Zone stuff where we get everything from Sauron to Gremlins spilling out of it), it’s also a really great Batman movie, in general, with one of the best Jokers ever in Zach Galifianakis. It’s self-referential, just like The Lego Movie, but in a way that almost rewards longtime fans of Batman. Plus, it’s just really funny and might even be the sharpest and funniest of all the LEGO movies. That said, I still don’t think it’s the best. That would be…

The LEGO Movie (2014)

What is it about The LEGO Movie that just works? Is it the characters? Yep. The story? Oh yeah. The music? Oh, yes, indeed. In fact, after watching it again just recently, that little twist toward the end with the real world still works extremely well, and do you know why? Because it actually feels organic to the story. Compare this to the second movie, which retreads the meta-narrative and feels somewhat forced, and you can tell why so many people fell in love with the first movie. It truly was one of a kind and original when it first came out, and it still feels that way today.

Yes, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller just got it completely right with that first film. Before The LEGO Movie, I really wouldn’t have believed that you could make a compelling narrative out of what are essentially building blocks, but by giving it heart, and lovable, endearing characters like Emmet and Wyldstyle, and great, great dialogue, it all just comes together in a way that could never be duplicated, no matter how hard they tried. And, they did indeed try hard.

What’s your favorite LEGO movie? Make your voice heard in the poll below. And, for more recent, 2021 movies, make sure to stop by often!

This poll is no longer available.

Once The LEGO Movie became a hit back in 2014, I’m convinced that at any given moment, a lot of our brains were bumping the animated film’s theme song “Everything Is Awesome” out of nowhere. That’s just what life was like back then, and have we truly ever come to grips with it? I mean, that song was nominated for an Oscar too. It was a huge deal, and the kind of ear worm that took multiple rinses to shake off. Hey, at least Andy Samberg is owning up to it.

The Hot Rod star rapped on the “Everything Is Awesome” track with his Lonely Island crew and the duo Tegan and Sara. Here’s what the comedian had to say when he was given the space to address the giant LEGO piece that’s been lodged in our heads for years now:

It’s a solid apology, but it has a caveat. Andy Samberg and Lonely Island did not write the hook, a.k.a. “Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you're part of a team...” bit. The SNL team of writers handled the rap bits featured in the end credits of the movie starring the talented Chris Pratt. Samberg makes a good case, considering that’s the main part of the song that’s been sitting in the background of our heads, but his name is still on the writing credits.

To be fair, “Everything Is Awesome” is supposed to be annoying. Those who saw the movie know that the song is used as a tool to show Chris Pratt’s character and the conformist society that has him “following the instructions” day by day instead of doing his own thing and being his own LEGO. But when the movie became a hit, the song started finding a life of its own, especially among young audiences.

It had a similar effect to Frozen’s “Let It Go,” because the song had started defining the movie so much that some people didn’t want to give it a look because they’d already grown tired of the song. Andy Samberg, of course ,had no way of knowing “Everything Is Awesome” would become such a big deal, but it’s fun that BBC Radio 1 forced a little apology out of him anyway. You can relive The LEGO Movie music video here:

Anyways, we can’t be mad at Andy Samberg for long considering he recently made one of our favorite movies of 2020, Palm Springs and is on set filming his final season as Jake Peralta with the Brooklyn 99 cast. Now, good luck getting that out of your head today. Maybe try “Call Me Maybe” to drown it out, that one seems to usually work.

Over the course of the past 20+ years, Will Ferrell has created hilarious characters in some of the quintessential comedies of the modern era. With his commitment to the absurd and ridiculous, the Saturday Night Live alum has become a fixture in film, television and even online videos. And with the release of Netflix's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga right around the corner, some of you may want to catch up on the best Will Ferrell movies, at least those that are streaming anyway.

Even though you can't find classics like Anchorman, Old School or Step Brothers on any streaming services at the moment, there is still a sizable collection of Will Ferrell movies that show the actor's dynamic range and ability to make everyone laugh, save for Holmes & Watson. From his early days in movies based off SNL characters to his rise as a major player in Hollywood, here are some of the best Will Ferrell movies you can stream right now.

Elf - HBO Max

Jon Favreau's Elf is arguably one of the greatest holiday movies of all time, and to many people, the best Will Ferrell movie. This 2003 Christmas instant-classic combined elements of traditional holiday movies of the past with the chaos and madness of Will Ferrell's take on Buddy the Elf. You don't see Ferrell as an actor in a role, you see an adult dressed like an elf trying to find his long-lost father and spread cheer throughout New York City. And now that Elf is streaming on HBO Max, you don't have to wait for Freeform's annual December marathon.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

The Other Guys - Netflix

Working together, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell created some of the best comedies (and characters) since the turn of the century. Starting with Anchorman in 2004, the pair released five movies together, including the 2010 buddy-cop action flick The Other Guys. Though not as well remembered as some of the pair's other collaborations, The Other Guys features one of Ferrell's more mild-mannered roles as Detective Allen "Gator" Gamble, which works really well paired up with Mark Wahlberg's Detective Terry Hoitz, as they learn to work together and uncover a major crime. Oh, and the "lion vs tuna" scene still brings the laughs 10 years later.

Stream it on Netflix here.

The LEGO Movie - HBO Max

I will be the first to admit, I wasn't that excited to see The LEGO Movie when it first came out, but about five minutes into Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's 2014 animated comedy, I was hooked and never looked back. The animation, story, large ensemble cast, pop culture references and just about everything else make this worth a second (or 100th) viewing, but nothing quite compares to Will Ferrell's President Business. In every scene in which he is featured, Ferrell's tyrannical businessman (and his real-life counterpart "The Man Upstairs") steals the show with his plan of domination with the use of the mysterious "Kragle."

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Stranger Than Fiction - Showtime

Will Ferrell deviated from his normal path in the latter part of 2006 with his portrayal of IRS auditor Harold Crick, who is convinced that someone is narrating every detail of his daily life in Marc Forster's dramedy Stranger than Fiction. With an all-star cast that also includes Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ferrell's more dramatic and nuanced performance is the best thing about this movie. Maybe that's why Ferrell was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor (Musical or Comedy). The film has become somewhat of a forgotten gem in recent years, so now's the perfect time to catch it and see Ferrell's range in action.

Stream it on Showtime here.

Casa De Mi Padre - Netflix

Remember what I said earlier about Will Ferrell's commitment to his roles? Well, there's no better place to see it than with his performance in the 2012 Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi Padre, in which the American comedian plays Armando Álvarez, the heir to a Mexican ranch who has to defend his family's home from a ruthless drug cartel. One part telenovela spoof and one part insane action movie, Casa de mi Padre is full of laughs and shouldn't be avoided just because you have to read subtitles throughout its 85-minute duration. There is nothing quite like watching Ferrell's deadpan delivery and ice-cold facial expressions, or his amusing musical numbers.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Megamind - Tubi

On the surface, Megamind seems like just another run-of-the-mill animated superhero movie, but upon watching it, especially Will Ferrell's dynamic performance as the film's titular character, you see that this is anything but the normal movie geared towards younger audiences. Not only is the 2010 animated feature one of the best superhero movies not based on a comic, it is also a great character study of heroes and villains as it plays with the dynamic of the archetypes. By the end of Megamind, you can't help but root for Ferrell's blue supervillain. And hey, you can stream it for free on Tubi right now, so there's no reason not to join in on the fun.

Stream it on Tubi here.

Winter Passing - Tubi

Two years after Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell starred alongside one another in Elf, the paired shared the screen once again in the often forgotten indie drama Winter Passing, where the former plays a struggling actress who returns to her childhood home to find the latter living there with her writer father (Ed Harris). Ferrell's portrayal as the odd Corbit is not like much else in the comedian's filmography, and it's actually a breath of fresh air to see the often loud and boisterous actor give a more subdued performance. Throughout the movie, Ferrell's Corbit is strange, quiet, and a great balance to Deschanel's Reese Holdin. Winter Passing is free on Tubi if you're want to see what else Will Ferrell has to offer.

Stream it on Tubi here

A Night at the Roxbury - Amazon

Okay, A Night at the Roxbury isn't the best Will Ferrell movie (or in any other category), but the 1998 comedy marked the first starring role for the actor who would go on to be a part of the biggest comedies of the 2000s. Based on the Saturday Night Live skits featuring Ferrell and Chris Kattan (and whoever was hosting that week), the film adaptation expands on the concept of the "Roxbury Guys" (named Steve and Doug Butabi here) as the pair tries to get into the famed nightclub before coming up with an idea for a club of their own. Despite its shortcomings, the movie did give Ferrell more screen time to show audience what he would become in the years following.

Stream it on Amazon here.

The Producers - Starz

Despite being a bomb at the box office, the 2005 film adaptation of Mel Brooks' film of the same name is a pleasant surprise with great musical numbers and a well-known cast consisting of Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell, whose turn as ex-Nazi Franz Liebkind steals the show even though he's only a supporting character. With his singing, dancing, and general mockery of Adolph Hitler and former Nazis in general, you can't help but laugh at his over-the-top characterization.

Stream it on Starz here.

Superstar - Starz

One year after appearing in A Night at the Roxbury, Ferrell starred in another Saturday Night Live skit-turned-movie with the Molly Shannon-led 1999 comedy Superstar. This time, we see Ferrell playing double-duty as Sky Corrigan, the most popular boy in school (and Mary Katherine Callagher's crush), as well as Jesus, who encourages the high schooler to enter her school's talent show. Like many of the SNL movies from that era, Superstar wasn't the best adaptation of a fan-favorite skit, but it did give Ferrell plenty of opportunities to work on different characters. And at times, Sky acts very similar to Brennan in Step Brothers, especially in the "Move on with your life" scene.

Stream it on Starz here.

The Ladies Man - Amazon

Like the previous two entries on this list, The Ladies Man is another adaptation of a popular Saturday Night Live skit that didn't translate all too well on the big screen. Starring Tim Medaows in a reprisal of his Leon Phelps character, this 2000 comedy also features Will Ferrell as Lance DeLune, the leader of the secret group Victims of the Smiling Ass, whose sole mission is to get revenge on the Ladies Man. All in all, Ferrell is quite amusing in his portrayal of the vengeful husband, especially during the first VSA meeting, the wrestling scene and the random song-and-dance number that really gives him a chance to shine. And is there anyone who pulls off a crazed villain better than Ferrell?

Stream it on Amazon here.

Well, that about does it for Will Ferrell movies you can stream right now. Like I said in the beginning, some of Ferrell's best work can be streamed right now, but there are also some other (and forgotten) performances worth checking out. And make sure to check out the list of titles (Eurovision Song Contest included) hitting Netflix in June 2020 here on CinemaBlend.

With the world still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, many have been taking the time to help keep the public informed and relaxed during these unusual times. This even includes Hollywood stars like Tom Hanks and Idris Elba, who have been doing their part to aid in the fight against COVID-19. Now, Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks have also joined in to provide support. However, they’ve opted to do so as their characters from The Lego Movie.

Lego has released a COVID-19 PSA on YouTube featuring The Lego Movie’s Emmet and Wyldstyle (or Lucy), who are voiced by the returning Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks. In the video, the two friends exchange some humorous banter before making a sincere appeal about staying safe during the pandemic. Check out the funny and sweet video for yourself down below:

What may be the most adorable aspect of the entire video is the song that Emmet has come up with to remember “Do The Five” – hands, elbow, shoulder, face and home. The fact that it’s a play on the “Hands, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” exercise song that most of us learned as kids is also a nice touch.

This also isn’t the first PSA Lego has released to fill kids in on the coronavirus pandemic, as the company also released one starring Lego Batman. Like his Lego Movie allies, the hilariously arrogant Dark Knight takes the time to ease concerns about the virus, with a little help from Alfred. The short also featured Will Arnett and Ralph Fiennes reprising their roles as Batman and Alfred, respectively.

Aside from being well done, what’s great about these videos, is that they’re an effective way to teach younger audiences about COVID-19. There has been plenty of info made available to the public, but most of it is more accessible to adults.

Lego is giving kids an opportunity to get in the know and become more aware of what’s going on in the world around them. This can be a scary time for anyone, especially children, so you have to admire a company like Lego for trying to provide them with a bit of knowledge and comfort.

Of course, there’s also the fact that these clips allow audiences (both young and old) to revisit these delightful characters. Now that the Lego’s theatrical franchise has moved from Warner Bros. to Universal Pictures, it’s unclear if we’ll get to see this gang again. So it’s great to touch base with them, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

The campaign to stop the spread of COVID-19 has been encouraging, and it goes without saying that Lego can be a big help using such small minifigs. Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more news from the world of movies and TV.

LEGO has come a long way since launching as a toy brand. Granted, those plastic construction bricks are still popular playthings for children and adults alike, but the company has expanded into a media powerhouse, which includes finally making the jump to the big screen. However, while Warner Bros handled the first round of theatrical LEGO movies, it's Universal Pictures that's taking over for the next LEGO cinematic chapter.

Back in December, it was reported that since Warner Bros’ film deal with LEGO had expired, the latter company was looking to strike up a partnership with Universal. Cut to today, it’s been announced that LEGO and Universal have signed a five-year exclusive agreement, allowing the film studio to “develop, produce and distribute theatrical releases” based on the toy company’s intellectual property and original ideas.

Here’s what Universal chairman Donna Langley had to say about the studio’s new deal with LEGO (via The Hollywood Reporter):

LEGO’s head of entertainment, Jill Wilfert, said the following about the new alliance:

It should be noted that just because Universal will now be making LEGO movies doesn’t mean ties to the Warner Bros past have been completely cut. Dan Lin, who produced all of WB’s LEGO movies, will remain involved in this new era through his Ridgeback production company, alongside Jonathan Eirich and Jill Wilfert.

Sandwiched between the two main LEGO movies were two spinoffs, both coming out in 2017. There was The LEGO Batman Movie, which finally let Will Arnett’s Caped Crusader take center stage, and then The LEGO Ninjago Movie, which spotlighted the toy’s brands lineup of colorful ninjas. The former movie was both critically and commercially successful, while the latter fell more into mixed territory.

Warner Bros has its own solid five-year run with LEGO properties on the silver screen, kicking things off with The LEGO Movie in 2014, which starred Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell and Liam Neeson, among others. Featuring a mix of original characters and favorites from other properties, this feature received a lot of positive reception and made over $468 million worldwide.

Five years later, most of that original cast reunited for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, and were joined by folks like Tiffany Haddish and Stephanie Haddish. Although the sequel was also largely received well, though not quite as much as its predecessor, it wasn’t nearly as commercially successful, collecting only around $192 million worldwide.

With LEGO and Universal now working together, it’s unclear what this means for the two LEGO movies that were still in development at Warner Bros: The Billion Brick Race and The LEGO Batman Movie 2. Given that Batman, just like everything else from DC Comics, is strictly a Warner Bros property, that could mean the sequel won’t be able to move forward unless a special arrangement is made. With The Billion Brick Race, if it consists primarily of original LEGO characters, one would think there’s a good chance of that project still happening.

Of course, with Universal now having access to the LEGO kingdom, that means the studio can incorporate its own properties and franchises into this brick-built playground. Picture it: LEGO Fast & Furious, LEGO Jurassic Park, LEGO Universal Monsters, LEGO Minions. There are plenty of possibilities to choose from.

Once Universal announces which LEGO movie it plans to make first, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. In the meantime, keep track of what’s to come this year with our 2020 release schedule.

Warning: SPOILERS for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part are ahead!

The Toy Story movies and LEGO movies have a lot of common, mainly that they revolve around child playthings that come to life and go on crazy adventures. And naturally, these playthings are owned by humans, but when looking at these movies through these toys’ owners, that’s where a big difference is noticeable. Because while the main human characters in the Toy Story movies are primarily on the sidelines and usually come out of these storiesunchanged, the main human characters in the LEGO movies are actually important to the story, as well as grow and develop. In that regard, that makes the latter franchise more interesting than the former.

Just to be clear, I’m only talking about the main LEGO movies with the particular topic. No humans appeared in The LEGO Batman Movie, and The LEGO Ninjago Movie only used that kid and the old man as bookends to the main narrative. The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, on the other hand, used humans within the main stories, although that wasn’t immediately clear in the first movie. It wasn’t until approximately three-fourths into The LEGO Movie that we learned that Emmet Brickowski and the gang’s adventure was coming from the imagination of a young boy named Finn, who’s been playing with his father’s LEGO collection, but is chastised by his dad, a.k.a. “The Man Upstairs,” for “ruining” the playlets and ignoring the instructions.

Okay, maybe the LEGO events aren’t entirely fictional given that Emmet eventually became aware of Finn’s existence and the real world (and this becomes an even more curious subject through Rex Dangervest in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part), but the point is that not only is The LEGO Movie an allegory about Finn’s father’s perfectionism and how LEGOs should be played with, but by the end of the movie, Finn’s father realized the error of his ways, unglued the LEGO sets and allowed his son to play with the toys as he saw fit. Lord Business’ redemption and the LEGO characters succeeding represented Finn and Finn Sr. (whatever his name is) improving their relationship.

Thankfully, this human element was retained for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, which built off the Duplo LEGO characters owned by Finn’s sister invading Bricksburg at the end of The LEGO Movie. This time around, the references to the real world were more on the nose, such as Queen Watevra Wa'Nab hailing from the “Systar System” and Emmet having dreams of “Our-Mom-ageddon.” And once again, the events in the LEGO story corresponded with the events of the real world, with Finn’s sister, Bianca, trying to play with her brother, but him not having any of it, eventually resulting in a big fight and their mother stepping in and forcing them to pack up their LEGOs. Ultimately, though, the siblings reconcile and learn to play together. Once again, the humans grow and develop from their small, but important life experiences, and that translates to what happens within the LEGO-verse.

Then there are the three Toy Story movies that have come out so far, with Toy Story 4 arriving this summer. These toys definitely exist in the real world, with the playthings pretending to be lifeless whenever humans are around. There are some exceptions to this rule, like when Woody, Buzz and the mutant toys belonging to Sid scare the teenager straight in Toy Story. But for the most part, humans are oblivious to the shenanigans these toys get into, and as a result, they’re basically the same person at the start of the movie as they were at the end. As key as Andy is to the first three Toy Story movies, he’s not a major player in these tales. It was emotional watching him go off to college in Toy Story 3 and having him give his prized toys to Bonnie, but we really don’t know that much about him. We didn’t need to.

None of this is to say that the LEGO movies are better than the Toy Story movies overall. In fact, in the grand scheme of animation history, the Toy Story series is likely to held in higher esteem, from how Toy Story was the first feature-length computer animated to how Toy Story 3 raked in numerous accolades and over $1 billion worldwide. Nevertheless, because The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part opted to take a different approach with the relationship between toys and their human owners, the result is that what goes down in the LEGO-verse echoes what happens in real life, which is the point. We’re watching the way these Finn play with these toys reflect how he’s growing and changing. If The LEGO Movie 3 happens, I wouldn’t be surprised if it took a Toy Story 3-like approach and showed Finn either packing up his LEGO upon reaching adulthood or, if they wanted to go even further into the future, show him playing with his and his dad’s LEGO collection with his own child.

Toy Story, on the other hand, is about what toys are up to when humans aren’t around or watching. It’s fun to see Woody, Buzz, Hamm, Slinky Dog and the rest of the main characters navigate the real world without being caught. But consequently, the humans just aren’t fleshed out because they’re on the sidelines, which makes sense given the direction Pixar wanted to go. After all, this isn’t the Human Story film series. That being said, it would be interesting to see what would happen if a human were to actually learn that toys are living entities and fully absorb this new concept, as opposed to thinking they were hallucinating or imagining things, like Sid probably ended up doing as he got older.

In any case, the LEGO movie franchise and the Toy Story franchises are each unique in their own ways, but as far as using humans goes, LEGO has the distinct advantage. The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is now playing in theaters, and Toy Story 4 will come out on June 21. Those of you interested in learning what other movies there are to look forward to this year can browse through our 2019 release schedule.

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part won the weekend's box office, but it wasn't pretty. The film took the number one spot, but only with a little over $34 million. This was well down from the $55 million the film was expected to bring in just a few weeks ago. This was a sequel to a well-loved and very successful film. So, what happened?

While the reviews of The LEGO Movie 2 have been down slightly compared to the original, the original had near perfect reviews and the sequel is only trailing behind slightly, so the actual quality of the film doesn't seem to be the issue. Instead, there are a number of other factors that lead to this unfortunate circumstance. None of these issues are a problem in and of themselves, but each stacks on the others to create a serious problem at the box office.

Too Many LEGO Movies

While The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part may be the first direct sequel to the original LEGO Movie, it is actually the fourth theatrical release of the LEGO franchise, and four movies in five years is actually kind of a lot. While I don't usually hold to the idea that franchise fatigue is a thing, people will go see any movie if they think it will be good, and again, that's not the sole problem here, but the additional LEGO movies failed to deliver what the original did and may have diluted the franchise.

While The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie were largely both critical and commercial successes, The LEGO Ninjago movie, which came out the same year as LEGO Batman had a harder time finding an audience. Even Batman, while it was a fun movie with a great character from the original LEGO Movie, was a much better film if you were a fan of the Batman franchise than if you were a fan of the LEGO franchise. It has simultaneously been a long time since we've seen these characters in a movie, and perhaps not long enough since we've seen a LEGO movie at all, for people to get excited again.

Lackluster Marketing

The issue that this was yet another LEGO Movie could have been overcome if the promotion of The LEGO Movie 2 gave us anything more to sink our teeth into beyond "hey, it's that movie you liked...again," but that didn't happen. The marketing felt like it was on autopilot. It didn't feel like it was promoting a major franchise film, it felt like it was just another movie. There was no reason given for the audience to rush out and see it. Good reviews help, but they won't draw an audience in all by themselves.

It seems that in the era of social media, the idea that a big brand "sells itself" has gained traction, but the fact is that's simply not the case. If LEGO is going to be its own franchise, then The LEGO Movie sequels need to feel like they're the Avengers of this particular cinematic universe. The marketing push behind The LEGO Movie 2 didn't make this direct sequel feel like it was any more special than The LEGO Ninjago Movie, and if the audience doesn't feel like they need to be sure to see the movie, they're not going to bother.

The Box Office Has Just Sorta Sucked

One problem that The LEGO Movie 2 is having to deal with is one that isn't the film's fault at all. The box office has been having a rough time all year. Box office revenue is down 14% compared to this time last year. There just hasn't been anything that has excited people to go to the movies. There was hope that The LEGO Movie 2 might be that film, but it seems that it actually needed something else to get the ball rolling first.

12 months ago, it was hold overs from December that kept people going to the movies. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Greatest Showman all were still doing well, putting up around $100 million a piece just in 2018. Today, only Aquaman has been able to match that feat, and only one movie that's opened this year, Glass, has been able to do the same. Part of what makes the summer movie season work is the momentum of people who plan to go to the movies during that period. While release dates play less importance than they once did, that momentum has been largely stalled this year. Going to the movies just isn't what people are doing with their weekends right now.

Sequels Aren't Automatically A Success

We continually lament the state of Hollywood and all of the perpetual sequels and franchises that are being built. If any movie does reasonably well at the box office, it seems that the cinematic universe won't be far behind. In the case of The LEGO Movie, that seems to be exactly what happened. There isn't actually anything wrong with that as far as it goes, a sequel would seem to have a built in audience, but that isn't always the case.

For every sequel that surpasses the box office success of the original, there are several more that come up short. Sometimes a movie's success would seem to indicate that an audience really wanted to see what they were given, but sometimes it seems that once they see it, the appetite is gone and they don't really need to see any more of it. Part of the original LEGO Movie success may have been the novelty of the concept. Now that the novelty has warn off, the sequel is less interesting.

In only one of these things had been a problem, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part likely would have been able to overcome and put up the $50 million or more it was expected to do. However, when each of these problems combines into what essentially became a "meh" movie launch, you're going to get "meh" box office numbers as a result.

Everything is more OK than awesome for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. So far, it has gotten good reviews, but not as good as The LEGO Movie, and its box office is even more of a drop.

According to Variety, The LEGO Movie 2 is still expected to top the box office at the end of this opening weekend, but with an estimated domestic gross of $31 million from 4,303 theaters. (That's a lot of screens.) The film had been tracking for something closer to $50 million, so this revised estimate is a bit of a disappointment.

As Box Office Mojo noted, if The LEGO Movie 2 does have a $30 million opening, that would be a drop of more than 50% off the debut of the 2014 film.

There have been four LEGO movies in the current film franchise so far. For comparison, here are the domestic box office openings:

The LEGO Movie - 2014 - $69 million

The LEGO Batman Movie - 2017 - $53 million

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part - 2019 - $31 million (estimate)

The LEGO Ninjago Movie - 2017 - $20 million

CinemaBlend will have a full box office rundown tomorrow, but The LEGO Movie 2 is still expected to be the #1 movie. It just sounds like the weekend will be quieter than hoped (but at least not as quiet as last week's Super Bowl slumbertown). We know the 2019 box office is going to kick into high gear soon, but ... not this weekend soon.

Taraji P. Henson's What Men Want is expected to take second place on the February 8-10 box office chart with an opening in the $18 million range, with Liam Neeson's Cold Pursuit earning over $10 million, and The Prodigy grossing somewhere around $6 million.

The LEGO Movie 2 brings back Chris Pratt to voice construction worker Emmet Brickowski -- and he also takes on the new role of Rex Dangervest -- with Elizabeth Banks back as Lucy/Wyldstyle, and Will Arnett returning as Batman.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directed The LEGO Movie and said everyone told them not to make a sequel. But they came back to write the screenplay for and produce The LEGO Movie 2, with Mike Mitchell now as director.

So far, fans seem to be enjoying the LEGO sequel -- it currently has an 84% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, the exact same score critics gave it, plus a 7.4/10 user rating at IMDb. That's fine, it's just not doing as well as the first one. It happens.

Check out our 2019 movie calendar to stay up-to-date on what else is playing in movie theaters right now, and to see what's coming soon as the 2019 schedule starts to get very busy.

Following The LEGO Movie’s huge success in 2014, you’d think moving on to a sequel was a no-brainer. Apparently not. Everything was so awesome about the first animated film that writer/director pair Phil Lord and Chris Miller were being told left and right not to make another LEGO Movie. In Lord’s words:

A couple weeks after The LEGO Movie was released, Phil Lord and Chris Miller that they started constructing some ideas for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. At first, as the duo recently told io9, their colleagues in the film world didn’t share their enthusiasm to bring back Emmet, Wyldstyle and the gang back to the big screen.

The eventual director of LEGO Movie 2, Mike Mitchell, even tried to talk them out of making it all together. It did come from a place of love. Mitchell said he really loved the first movie, especially the ending, and he couldn’t imagine how they could build on it and make it better.

When Phil Lord and Chris Miller explained their early plans for The LEGO Movie 2 to Mike Mitchell, his mind was completely changed. He had to be part of it. So much so that he took over Lord and Miller’s role this time around as director, while the pair also took on producing the sequel.

While the writers of LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part didn’t write the first movie with a sequel in mind, they ended up using the clever ending to the 2014 animated film as the basis for the sequel. At the end of LEGO Movie, it’s revealed there is a human boy running the events happening for all the LEGO characters.

He’s then interrupted by his dad (played by Will Ferrell) and told that he will soon have to share his play space with his younger sister. The LEGO Movie 2 is then all about sibling rivalry between the brother and sister, as told through the events happening with the various LEGO and Duplo characters clashing.

Sequels can be difficult to pull off, but considering that the early critical reactions for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part have been positive overall, it looks like the writers’ risk may have been worth it. In CinemaBlend’s review of the movie, our own Eric Eisenberg gave the movie 3.5 stars, calling it “funny, cute, clever and emotional” but not “quite as awesome” as the original.

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is the first big animation release of 2019 and is expected to win the weekend at an expected $55 million gross opening when it comes to theaters on February 8.

Sequels can be a risky business. As strong as an original film may be, there always exists a real possibility that the existence of a follow-up can be a taint (‘Yeah, but the sequel sucks’ is a nightmare refrain). As such, consternation is a part of any announcement regarding a project of the ilk – but generally you don’t hear it from the filmmakers who wind up helming the thing. That, however, was very much the situation for director Mike Mitchell in the making of The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.

Late last month I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Mike Mitchell and animation director Trisha Gum at the Los Angeles press day for the new LEGO Movie, and it was in discussion of the film’s evolution that Mitchell revealed his own hesitation about the making of the sequel. Referencing his early talks with The LEGO Movie writer/directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Mitchell said,

Apparently all it took was an explanation from Phil Lord and Chris Miller about what their vision of the sequel would be, and Mike Mitchell was not only sold on the idea of buying a ticket, but also helping bring the film to life.

As alluded to by Mike Mitchell, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part picks up literally where the first film left off: with young Finn (Jadon Sand) getting word from his father (Will Ferrell) that he is going to have to share the LEGO space in the basement with his younger sister, Bianca (Brooklynn Prince). The sibling rivalry is quietly the basis for the entire plot of the film – with the LEGO world once again mirroring reality with its own story – and its depth and cleverness is legitimately what really makes the film work.

You can watch Mike Mitchell talking about signing on for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and being convinced that the movie should even be made by clicking play on the video below.

Based on a script by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part brings back most of the original cast – including Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Will Arnett, and Charlie Day – and introduces audiences to new characters played by Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, and Richard Ayoade. The film arrives in theaters this Friday, February 8th, and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend through the rest of the week for a lot more from my interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

The first big animated movie of the year is just a few weeks away. The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is the long-awaited follow-up to the hit The LEGO Movie. There have been plenty of spinoffs since 2014 but now fans are finally reunited with Emmet, Wyldstyle, Batman, and the rest of the gang. So, was it worth the wait? Yes, for the most part, according to critics who took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the sequel.

The LEGO Movie 2 continues the adventures of Emmet (Chris Pratt), who's still his same old cheery self even as the world has descending into a post-apocalyptic wasteland because of a war with the Duplo aliens. The sequel always had a lot to live up to because of how much people love the original movie. According to CinemaBlend's own Sean O'Connell, the sequel is still funny, but doesn't quite match up to that first film.

While the first LEGO Movie was initially seen as a branded cash grab, it quickly surprised people with how funny, unique, and heartwarming it was. Audiences loved it and it went on to become a box office smash.

The general vibe from critics seems to be that while the sequel is still very enjoyable, it never really surpasses the original. One critic praised the animation, but felt that the movie went on for a bit too long.

It was always going to be tough for The LEGO Movie 2 to feel better than the original. There is the argument that it doesn't have to be "better" to be good, so it may be up to each individual person to determine how much they measure the sequel against the first movie.

Of course, there are those who have nothing but praise for the animated sequel. One critic gushed about the movie. He even went as far as to say that it was the first movie of 2019 that he really loved...which isn't that amazing considering it's still January.

So, The LEGO Movie 2 is still a very funny and heartwarming experience that may feel a little bit like we've seen this already. All things considered that's not too shabby, and I'm still excited to get a chance to see this thing for myself.

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is directed by Mike Mitchell with Chris Miller and Phil Lord (the directors of the first film) returning as producers and writers. The cast of the film is still just as stacked as the last one with Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Charlie Day, Alison Brie, and Nick Offerman returning. New additions to the cast include Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz and Maya Rudolph.

The LEGO Movie 2 arrives in theaters on February 8, 2019. To learn more about the sequel, here's what we know so far.

At the end of the first Lego Movie, Will Arnett's Batman gave his blessing for his girlfriend Wyldstyle to be with Emmet, saying that Chris Pratt's everyman was the hero his 'babe' deserved. That left Batman sans parents and a girlfriend, but it doesn't look like he'll be alone for long. Take a look below to see a new clip from The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part that shows Batman falling in love.

In the live action realm Batman is no ladies' man but in the Lego world, we get to see a softer side of the character and it is quite the hilarious sight. Will Arnett's Batman and Tiffany Haddish's Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi are quite the pair, but it isn't love at first sight. Batman is, as he says (because bat puns never go out of style), a Bat-chelor and the first time he sees the Queen, he is repulsed when she turns from a horse to an alien octopus thingy.

That sets up an entertaining turn when Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi eventually wins him over, appealing to The Dark Knight's interests. Then a wedding is planned for her and the Man of Bats, with the Caped Crusader even getting a white and completely out of character suit. Seeing the grizzled and brooding hero get all lovey-dovey when around the Queen is very funny and that dynamic could be one of the highlights of the film.

It does not appear though that the other characters of Bricksburg are quite as thrilled with this relationship. Batman and Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi look like they become that couple that is so overt in their affection that they become insufferable to be around. And the flim' prtagonist hilariously pukes in response to reinforce this.

Batman falls fast and hard for Queen Watevera Wa'Nabi and that will likely make things all the tougher for him if the relationship ends. And end it might because it appears that Batman may be blinded by love in this situation.

In the beginning of this clip Elizabeth Banks' Wyldstyle says that she is getting evil vibes from the Queen and the previous trailer showed that Emmet needs to rescue his friends from a dangerous star system where the an alien queen rules. So perhaps the marriage between Bats and the Queen is just an evil plot on her part. Then again, she could just be misunderstood and it took the tender love of a crime fighting billionaire to cure her of her despotic ways.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part picks up five years after the events of the first film and everything is no longer awesome. With Finn's sister now allowed to play with the Lego sets, she brings her Duplo invaders that disrupt the harmony Bricksburg once enjoyed, destroying everything.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part opens in theaters on February 8. For all of the movies you can look forward to in a jam-packed 2019, check out our release schedule.

Earlier today, the cast of The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part gathered in Hall H, and while answering a fan question, Chris Pratt offered up a special little tease. Asked if there was a possibility of seeing his Marvel character, Peter Quill, in the follow-up, the actor offered that the screenwriters did, in part, mine his real life to make the animated film. This was left open ended for a moment, leading to a lot of murmuring in the crowd, but it the footage from the movie that was shown a few minutes later made everything clearer. Specifically, the story will be introducing a new character voiced by Pratt, and he is basically an amalgam of some of the actor's most popular roles.

In addition to once again playing Emmet in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Chris Pratt will also be voicing a new character named Rex Dangervest. He is a character that Emmet encounters while traveling to space in order to save his kidnapped friends - as teased in the first trailer - and it sounds like he is going to be a key ally. He is described on screen as a cowboy raptor trainer (certainly references to his parts in movies like The Magnificent Seven and Jurassic World), he is depicted as a scruffy, experienced hero, and he is actually a very big fan of Emmet's.

Not only does he refer to the hero of the first LEGO Movie as "a legend," but Rex even mentions that it was Emmet who inspired him to start wearing vests. Emmet is clearly honored, and as the two quickly become best buddies Rex's raptors reference the duo as "Vest Friends."

This reveal got a great response from the audience, and it's legitimately fun how it mirrors reality. As noted by Chris Pratt on stage in Hall H, when he first signed on to the firstLEGO Movie he was still best known for playing Andy on Parks and Recreation... but by the time the film actually came out he was signed on to play Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. As a result, the contrast between Emmet and Rex Dangervest is kind of like a set of before-and-after photos. It's a cool meta gag, and one that should be a lot of fun on the big screen.

Sadly Warner Bros. decided not to release the new footage from The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, but it shouldn't be too much longer until we get another look at the exciting animated feature. The studio is planning to have the movie in theaters on February 8, 2019 - so be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for all of the latest updates and news about the project.

When The Lego Movie arrived in 2014, no one could have predicted just how popular the animated blockbuster would be. The movie ultimately made a whopping $469.1 million, picking up a bevy of award nominations and critical praise in the process. The Lego movie franchise has since expanded, with new spinoffs coming in the form of both The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie arriving in quick succession. But all eyes are on the upcoming main sequel, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, and now the first trailer is finally here. Check it out.

This first trailer opens after the events of the first film, with time probably passing at about the same pace as reality. The Lego Movie gave the fans a happy ending, with Will Ferrell and his son Finn reconciling their differences, and playing with the legos free from Lord Business' Kragle and evil plans. But it doesn't appear that things turned out quite as well for the cast beloved Lego characters, as the DUPLO invasion teased in the first film's final scene came, and seriously wrecked everything.

Things have gone seriously downhill, with Brickburg declining to an apocalyptic wasteland akin to Mad Max. And while the colorful cast of characters are all looking especially miserable and worse for the wear, Chris Pratt's Emmet is exactly the same. The jolly protagonist is still going through his day as if everything is awesome, but it's not the case. And things are about to get a lot worse.

Because before long, we are introduced to The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part's big villain: Sweet Mayhem. Voiced by newcomer Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), she comes to Brickburg to find its fiercest warrior. Ultimately she end sup kidnapping a gaggle of characters, including Wyldstyle, Lego Batman, Unikitty, Metalbeard, and Benny the Spaceman. It looks like it's going to be up to Emmet to save the day, which is probably going to make his previously mentioned friends pretty damn nervous.

The pressure is certainly on for The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part to deliver as many laughs, iconic characters, and surprisingly heartfelt moments as its predecessor. The entire starring cast is set to return, with original directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord returning as producers.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part will arrive in theaters February 8, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The world's favorite modular brick playset is coming at you in 3D, with The Lego Ninjago Movie being the first 3D flick we've seen head to theaters in some time. So naturally we're going to take a look at the film and reveal whether or not you, the audience, should spend that hard earned LEGO money on some recyclable spectacles. Get ready for a deep dive beyond the window, as To 3D or Not To 3D is back to save the day!

If you're curious as to how much we enjoyed the film, you'll need to consult the review of the film proper. But if you're ready to see if you should be taking your kids and/or friends to see The Lego Ninjago Movie in 2D or 3D format, you've come to the right place! Eyes up, glasses down, because we're on the move!

Whether 3D conversion fits The Lego Ninjago Movie is a no-brainer, really. With The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie before it taking advantage of the format, another round of bricks being thrown at the audience, zooming through the air, and being built into new and exciting forms is an easy 3D home run. At least, it should be, if the people behind the conversion do their due diligence in the crafting process.

At best, The LEGO Ninjago Movie can be considered a decent 3D experience. There are some aspects that stand out better than others, with only select sequences really taking advantage of the third dimension enhancements. However, the hallmark of where this film's 3D goes right is in the crisp visuals that manage to overcome some of the most problematic areas of this medium. So there's some silver lining to this here cloud.

Eye-popping visuals are a huge part of what make 3D truly spectacular, as throwing items at the audience is part of what defined the format. Yet The LEGO Ninjago Movie doesn't do anything hugely innovative with this part of its 3D picture. Apart from some objects sticking out at the audience, and one particular sequence where some fun stuff is done to send objects protruding past the frame and into the audience, the window is barely smashed throughout the film.

For a film with a lush variety of backdrops, The LEGO Ninjago Movie fails to take advantage of their true depths. While the film does maintain firm spacial reasoning between its characters, their vehicles, and their backgrounds, you can clearly sense where the background stops. This is one of the greatest disappointments, as most other films in 3D have a better sense of conveying a deep background, which only helps draw its characters in the foreground that much better.

Now here's something truly awesome: The LEGO Ninjago Movie is a pretty damned impressive film when it comes to the brightness being shown to its audience. Seriously, there are a good compliment of night time shots, dark castle shots, and various conditions that are presented in this film. Yet everything is crystal clear behind your 3D glasses, as the picture is brightened enough without the glasses on to accommodate their presence. Though your mileage may vary on this factor, because not all theaters calibrate their 3D rigs properly when switching between 2D and 3D showings.

Usually, the amount of blur in a 3D picture is a good indicator of just how good its depth of picture is. But sadly, The LEGO Ninjago Movie doesn't have your average amount of 3D blur, confining whatever blur the film does have mostly to the background. A good portion of this film has the LEGO characters front and center for a lot of the action, and if you take your glasses off in these scenes, you could have sworn you'd walked into a 2D showing. Whatever background blur you do get is pretty blurry, but the foreground in The LEGO Ninjago Movie tends to be a clean viewing experience, which is bad for 3D.

It's probably because of the lack of substantial blur in the 3D presentation, but The LEGO Ninjago Movie definitely won't upset your stomach. It won't even touch your eyesight, as it doesn't strain or push your vision at all. So another good piece of news out of this 3D prognosis is the fact that even if you're adverse to 3D films, you'll probably be able to sit through this one with absolutely no trouble at all.

If you're going to see The LEGO Ninjago Movie, you're probably better off seeing it in 2D, as there's not enough pizzazz to really recommend the extra ticket money. The visuals in this conversion are rather middle of the road in the 3D department, so you won't exactly be impressed, but you won't be offended by what you see. In fact, if you do manage to be talked into a 3D showing, you won't be walking into an unwatchable affair, as some aspects of the film are crisp as anything.

Click to visit our full To 3D Or Not To 3D Archive.

For self-proclaimed geeks all around the world, few events have the ability to induce utter joy quite like a comic book convention. From Comic-Con to WonderCon, these gatherings of fans are occasions where everyone can revel in each other's appreciation for pop culture, and unite over a shared love of fictional universes. There are all sorts of ways to express oneself at an event like this, but one of the most popular methods is costume play, a.k.a "cosplay."

On that note, CinemaBlend was recently in attendance at Anaheim's WonderCon 2017, and we saw a ton of fantastic fan-made costumes. There were quite literally thousands of great outfits on display at the event, but we have compiled a list of some of our favorites that we were able to see. Check out our gallery below -- hopefully, it will inspire you to create your unique outfit for your next convention. Now let's kick gallery off with a young fan who nailed his Doctor Strange look.

There are few absolute rules when it comes to cosplay. It doesn't matter if you're young or old; everyone is welcome. In fact, one guy even got man's best friend in on the action for one of the most adorable cosplay combos of the entire event.

On this page, we have a great balance of Marvel and DC. Above, we see a unique take on Marvel's Bucky "The Winter Soldier" Barnes, and below we see a great version of Catwoman from Batman: The Long Halloween, and Artemis from Young Justice.

If you have ever traveled through the apocalyptic, nuclear wasteland from the Fallout games, then the above cosplay designs should be extremely familiar to you. More specifically, these two in the next photo appear to take ample inspiration from Fallout: New Vegas for their overall designs.

Just when we thought that we had gotten over the cancellation of Firefly over a decade ago, we ran into a pitch-perfect cosplay of Mal Reynolds at WonderCon. All of our nostalgia for that series came flooding back.

The LEGO franchise has become insanely popular over the course of the last few years. While The LEGO Batman Movie was the most recent incarnation of the series to hit theaters, the above picture has us genuinely excited about the possibility of a LEGO Star Wars movie. Think about it, there are so many possibilities.

It's no secret that Star Wars is an incredibly popular pop culture topic of convention cosplay. However, that General Grievous cosplay quickly stood out among the crowded field of Star Wars-related costumes for how intricate it was.

The world of Metal Gear Solid is packed to the brim with memorable characters, so it's not uncommon to see these badasses roaming around a comic book convention. One of the coolest Metal Gear characters that we saw during our time at WonderCon was The Phantom Pain's favorite sniper, Quiet, who you can see in the above picture.

By now you have probably figured out that cosplay is not just an individual endeavor. Some of the best examples of cosplay that we saw at WonderCon this year involved two people taking on iconic comic book duos. The above Logan/X-23 cosplay was a total scene stealer, and DC fans will always love the Harley/Poison Ivy pairing like the one below.

One of the best things about cosplay is the fact that it can bring comic book characters to life in a way that actually feels more authentic than their silver screen counterparts. Few examples that we saw at this year's WonderCon epitomize that idea more than this pitch perfect Rogue from X-Men.

Given the immense popularity of Arrow on The CW, it's not uncommon to see people dressed as Oliver Queen at any comic book convention. That said, this duo deserves special credit for incorporating Cheshire into the mix for an added layer of authenticity. That said, authenticity isn't ALWAYS important, as these two Tyrannosaurus X-Men also stole the show.

Of course, WonderCon was just a warm up. Now we set our sights on San Diego Comic-Con. Will you be in attendance? Let us know what you plan on wearing for cosplay in the comments section below!

In case anybody thought that the whole LEGO Movie thing was a one hit wonder, the box office take for The LEGO Batman Movie would seem to indicate that's not the case. There are at least two more movies on the way and now that we know that licensed properties work when it comes to these films, we expect we'll be seeing even more of them going forward.

The LEGO toy brand has numerous deals to create toys based on all sorts of franchises. As such, they've already built a number of opportunities for tie-in films. While we're sure that there would be numerous hoops to jump through when it comes to licensing deals between other studios as well as LEGO themselves, that doesn't stop us from wanting. Here's a few that we'd love to see.

Harry Potter

This one seems incredibly obvious. The Harry Potter film franchise is owned by Warner Bros., as is the LEGO film franchise. This means that putting the two together would be potentially easier to put together than most other options. We saw Voldemort take a significant role in The LEGO Batman Movie, not unlike what Batman did in the original LEGO Movie. Maybe that means we'll be seeing him again in a future spinoff of his own. J.K. Rowling appears to have a solid sense of humor, so we can't imagine she'd have a problem with having a bit of fun with her beloved characters.

Ghostbusters

The Ghostbusters brand is clearly still popular, but the recent reboot just didn't resonate with fans. At the same time, we'll never see a true sequel to the original films. The word is they're working on an animated Ghostbusters movie but what they should make is a LEGO Ghostbusters movie. That way the original characters can return, they could even bring up the new ones if they want. It's an idea that could poke fun at the attempted reboot in the same way that LEGO Batman had some fun with the current DC universe. Everybody could laugh at this one equally and nobody can argue their childhood is being ruined.

Star Wars

Star Wars was the brand that LEGO started their licensing deals with back in 1999. Since then, they've appeared in toys, video games, and TV series and movies. However, they've never had a big screen outing. The fact that Star Wars characters have appeared in previous LEGO films would seem to indicate that LEGO has the appropriate rights to put them on the big screen. Look at the LEGO version of Star Wars as one of the spinoff opportunities that the series is now working with. It doesn't even need to deal with existing characters, just call it a LEGO Star Wars Story.

Doctor Who

This one is a long shot, to be sure, as popular as The Doctor has become in recent years he's still a bit of a niche character, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't love to see it. Doctor Who has seen his own LEGO sets and is also part of the LEGO Dimensions video game. His mortal enemies, the Daleks, also make an appearance in The LEGO Batman Movie. The LEGO universe is the perfect place for a Doctor Who movie because the film can be just as wild as the series but it won't be subjected to the series' endless history. A standalone movie that could just be funny for its own sake, and include every incarnation of the character in the last 50 years. Who doesn't want to see that?

Disney

This may be the longest shot of them all but if it worked it could also be the most entertaining. Disney has created one of the most beloved universes in the history of pop culture with their animated films, and while the Disney Princesses are grouped together for marketing purposes, we've never seen any of them together in a proper film. There are an infinite number of reasons that will likely never happen, as such, let's use LEGO bricks for what they're designed for, combining things together into something new. You could put Mickey, Minnie, all the princesses, and even Captain Jack Sparrow together if you really want to. It'll be nuts, it'll be ridiculous, but it'll be fun.

Director Chris McKay's The LEGO Batman Movie is unquestionably a follow-up to The LEGO Movie - featuring not only the same animation style but also a shared lead character -- but the connections are surprisingly slim. Will Arnett's incarnation of the Dark Knight is clearly the same, and there are mentions of Master Builders, but the titular hero pretty much lives in his own world beyond that. As you might guess, this approach was taken for a specific reason, and it's why Chris Pratt's Emmet and Elizabeth Banks' Wyldstyle don't wind up making cameos in the animated blockbuster: the filmmakers really wanted it to specifically be a Batman movie.

I brought up the lack of Emmet and Wyldstyle when I sat down to talk with producer Dan Lin at the LEGO Batman Movie press day in Los Angeles earlier this month, and asked why it was ultimately decided that they shouldn't be in the film. Lin admitted that it was something they definitely considered, but at the end of the day they made a decision to keep them out of the spin-off. Said the filmmaker,

To further Dan Lin's point, having Emmet, Wyldstyle, or any of the other LEGO Movie characters appear would somewhat undercut everything that The LEGO Batman Movie is doing with its story and ensemble. If Batman can just lean back on his relationships with the heroes from The LEGO Movie, that makes Alfred, Robin and others far less significant in the broad view. By just ignoring Emmet and Wyldstyle, the cast in The LEGO Batman Movie feel that much more important to the emotional journey that the titular hero goes on.

Plus, as the producer alluded to, it won't be too long until we get to see Batman reunite with Emmet, Wyldstyle, Benny, or President Business. The LEGO Movie Sequel is now in development and on track to be released on February 8, 2019.

You can watch Dan Lin talk about the relationship between The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie in the video below!

The LEGO Batman Movie is in theaters now. Be sure to stay tuned for more from our interviews with the cast and filmmakers here on CinemaBlend!

The following contains minor spoilers for The LEGO Batman Movie. Stop here if you wish to avoid them.

The finale of The LEGO Batman Movie has a whole lot going on in it. The movie brings in pretty much all of Batman's Rogue's Gallery. However, there were a few characters that the director wanted to add who he wasn't able to bring in. Since the list of iconic villains in the film extends far beyond those associated with Batman, it seems pretty much anybody could have shown up, including villains from such films as Misery and Kill Bill.

While Director Chris McKay admits that getting the rights to use so many villains was a chore for the movie, the reason that characters like Moriarty and Bill "The Butcher" weren't used had less to do with being able to get the ok, and much more to do with the fact that a large segment of the audience, largely the kids, wouldn't have gotten the joke. In addition, he tells Entertainment Weekly that when you're transforming all of these characters into LEGO minifigs, it can be difficult to create a look that's able to express everything you need to express in just a look. With the sheer number of villains seen at the end of The LEGO Batman Movie, the vast majority don't get a lot of screen time, as such, how do you create a LEGO version of Kathy Bates from Misery that makes it clear to everybody that that's the character you're looking at? As cool as it would have been to see Moriarty make an appearance, that character, being born of literature, doesn't really a visual representation who would be universally recognized. To be fair, though, a Bill "The Butcher" cameo probably would have worked out, that's a pretty iconic look. As long as the mustache makes the transition to LEGO, you're fine.

The other reason that some characters who were originally considered were left out, according to Chris McKay, is that he was worried they weren't doing enough with the characters they had. This was The LEGO Batman Movie after all, as such, you don't want to overshadow the Batman world with too many unrelated characters.

We're guessing there will be plenty of additional cameo opportunities for more villains in the future. The LEGO franchise appears to be going strong so there's a good chance that Batman will be getting more screen time in the future and thus he'll need more villains to fight.

Back in 2014, Phil Lord and Chris Miller's The LEGO Movie was not only a blockbuster success, but very much set the table for a sequel. Sadly, we still have a couple more years to wait until that anticipated film will arrive in theaters, but the good news is that we now have details about its core themes and premise -- straight from producer Dan Lin. In short, siblings will be a very important element of the follow-up, not to mention the differences in the ways that both boys and girls play with their toys.

I sat down with Dan Lin at the Los Angeles press day for The LEGO Batman Movie earlier this month, and it was at the very end of the interview that we got to talk about the upcoming LEGO Movie Sequel. Discussing how the filmmakers are approaching the material, Lin explained how they are building upon the end of the first movie and what they are aiming to say with the narrative. Said Lin,

For those that don't remember, the end of The LEGO Movie saw Emmett (Chris Pratt), Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and the others make peace with President Business (Will Ferrell), but find their world rocked by an alien invasion. In the real world, the young boy Finn (Jadon Sand) is told by his dad (Ferrell) that his younger sister is going to start playing with them, with introduces the central LEGO cast to the aliens from Planet Duplo, who are there to "destroy" them. It's worth noting that the follow-up is following real time, and that The LEGO Movie Sequel will be set a few years after the events of the first film, so we'll have to see how that plays into the mix.

You can watch Dan Lin talk about plans for The LEGO Movie Sequel in the video below!

But that's not all! Given that everyone expects that Batman will be back for more in The LEGO Movie Sequel, I also asked Will Arnett about the project at the LEGO Batman Movie press day, and you can read his thoughts about the sequel on the next page!

Like I did with Dan Lin, I also asked Will Arnett about the development of The LEGO Movie Sequel when I sat down to interview him, though I did take a different tact. I asked the actor if the upcoming film would reflect the changes in Batman's character made in The LEGO Batman Movie -- and while he couldn't really answer that, he did explain why he's happy to be working with The LEGO Movie filmmakers. Said Arnett,

You can watch Will Arnett talk about his work on The LEGO Movie Sequel in the video below:

There is still another LEGO movie set to hit the big screen before The LEGO Movie Sequel, with the LEGO Ninjago Movie scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 22nd... but after that comes a good bit of waiting. The LEGO Movie Sequel is set to arrive in theaters on February 8, 2019 -- almost exactly four years after its predecessor.

Was The Lego Movie a flash in the pan? Warner Bros. certainly hopes not. The studio is banking on the colorful and fast-paced method of storytelling that was introduced in The Lego Movie to carry a series of upcoming films, including a Lego Movie 2. Having already seen The Lego Batman Movie, I can tell you that the format translates into new and different genres (like, superhero comedy, for example) and now this first trailer for The Lego Ninjago Movie suggests that the Lego foundation is strong, and the sky is the limit for the types of stories Lego movies can tell. Watch the trailer, and judge for yourself:

You might not realize it, particularly if you don't have kids, but the Lego Ninjago brand has been very strong for years now, having been introduced by the company in play sets back in 2011. It essentially builds off an existing line of Lego Ninja toys, but enhances the mythological backstory of the world to include modern elements as well as the touches of feudal Japan. Since 2011, the story has weaved through video games, graphic novels and a TV series that ran on Cartoon Network in the U.S. Now it's getting a large screen adaptation, and as the new trailer suggests, the animators and storytellers are taking full advantage of the massive canvas.

Yesterday, we ran a full feature introducing you to the main players in The Lego Ninjago Movie, and this new trailer explains how they will interact. It's a standard "Forces of Good vs. Evil" scenario, only the twist is that main hero Lloyd (Dave Franco) is the son of the movie's chief baddie, Lord Garmadon (Justin Theroux). Before you can scream, "Holy Empire Strikes Back, Lego Batman!" the movie gets bonus points for at least revealing that nugget in the trailer, making it a driving point of the narrative.

The Lego Ninjago Movie comes out in September, and based on this trailer, it will feature fast-paced Lego action, but also be soaked in the same type of clever jokes and pop-culture references that made The Lego Movie a hit. I mean, Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" is the chosen tune of the trailer. This franchise knows what its audiences like, and it's prepared to deliver.

While you are waiting for The Lego Ninjago Movie to open on September 22, check out The Lego Batman Movie, which brings back Will Arnett as the arrogant Dark Knight and explores some twisted yet hilarious facets of his damaged psyche. It opens in theaters on February 10, and you can read our review of the movie right here. Also, click to the next page to see the Lego Ninjago Movie poster. It's beautiful.

From the current landscape of both TV and movies, its clear that audiences love superheroes. Between three cinematic universes, as well as a ton of TV shows currently airing, you can't turn a corner without bumping into a hero in tights. But because so many comic book adaptations are available to audiences, naysayers are worried about "hero fatigue", meaning that each film will become so formulaic and stale that the genre will eventually devour itself. But then there are the rare superhero movies that are wholly unique: Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy, and now The Lego Batman Movie. And yes, all three are fairly ridiculous properties.

While there have been plenty of Batman versions throughout the years, perhaps the most popular in recent memory is Will Arnett's Batman from The Lego Movie. The Dark Knight appeared in mini figure form during the 2014 hit, and was widely considered one of the movie's high points. Why is that? Because he's just plain bananas. In fact, Arnett gave one word to describe the character: absurd (via THR):

That's right, Lego Batman is downright absurd. Although to be fair, Batman and Robin is pretty damn absurd as well, despite George Clooney's attempts.

While the past two iterations of Batman have been extremely serious dramatic affairs, The Lego Batman Movie offers something fresh and new to Batfans. Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy was a layered film franchise that told a very specific story, while Ben Affleck's Batman in the DCEU is perhaps the most broody and dark iteration of the character yet. Then there's Lego Batman, whose ridiculousness and ego is only matched by his crime fighting abilities.

Surely part of what makes Will Arnett's Batman so absurd is the fantastic cast of characters set to appear in The Lego Batman Movie. Joining Arnett for his yellow brick adventure are Michael Cera as Dick Grayson/Robin, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, and Zach Galifianakis as the Joker. Additionally, there are a ton of hilarious actors making up Batman's rogue gallery and allies including Jenny Slate (Harley Quinn), Billy Dee Williams (Two-Face), Conan O'Brien (The Riddler), Jonah Hill (The Green Lantern), and Adam Devine (The Flash). How all of these characters will float in and out of the film's plot remains to be seen, but there will be no shortage of bad guys for Lego Batman to take down.

The Lego Batman Movie will be in theaters in just a few short days, complete with the most absurd Batman ever to hit the silver screen. The film will hit its wide release on February 10, 2017.

The success of The LEGO Movie could be pinned down to a lot of different factors. But, for the sake of argument and this article, we're gonna lay it all on the feet of Will Arnett's portrayal of Batman. Argue as you may, he's the first one to get a spin-off film, and The LEGO Batman Movie ended up produced before The LEGO Movie 2. And it's all because the people want the Bat. At least, that's probably what this version of the Caped Crusader would have you believe, and his views on the upcoming film ahead are pretty outspoken in the latest video promoting it. But don't expect his voice to be the only one piping up as you watch below.

Warner Bros' YouTube channel released the latest video for The LEGO Batman Movie, and rather than taking the standard "actors talk about how awesome their movie is" approach to this featurette, they did something more fitting. In "Behind The Bricks," the characters that inhabit the world of The LEGO Batman Movie get to talk about how awesome they are. And really, who would know better than them? They're the ones that are living the day to day chaos of Lego Gotham City. Though depending on who you talk to, this movie's main theme is something different.

Talking to Barbara Gordon, The LEGO Batman Movie is about the new Gotham City. One where ambitious police commissioners looking to work alongside The Dark Knight himself are vindicated. Alfred, Batman's loyal butler, seems to think that the movie is about a butler's dream to be the best in his profession, as well as a touching story about an active superhero caring for the young ward he's adopted under his batwing. And then there's The Joker, who reads the film as an exploration of the nicer parts of his psyche, rather than the gruff antagonist all the other films seem to write him as. Jared Leto, we hope you're taking notes on this one.

But, of course, the opinion that shines the brightest (and the loudest) is that of Batman, who is nothing like his roommate Bruce Wayne. Naturally, those views see The LEGO Batman Movie as a movie that focuses on Batman's awesomeness, as well as the adventures of his biggest fans. All of those views are valid in their own way, and it's really up to the audience to decide which way they want to look at this movie. But the one point that can be agreed upon is the fact that trying to figure out what type of film this is will be part of the fun, as there's plenty of action, adventure, and emotional pathos to go around.

Whether you like your Batman as a vigilante, a father figure, a hero without equal, or as Bruce Wayne's much cooler roommate, The LEGO Batman Movie will be flying into theaters on February 10th.

With January 1 finally upon us, some of you are likely getting started on your New Years resolutions, while others are possibly nursing a hangover. Regardless of your current state, we hope you had a fantastic New Years Eve. As it turns out, there's someone else who also hopes you enjoyed yourself last night: LEGO Batman. A new promo for The LEGO Batman Movie has debuted online, and it serves as a fantastic reminder that 2017 is going to be an amazing for all of us. Check it out below.

If you weren't already excited for The LEGO Batman Movie, then that promo should've done the trick. Despite the fact that Ben Affleck's solo Batman movie isn't set in stone at this point, we still have another version of The Dark Knight to look forward to. This February The LEGO Batman Movie will debut, and we will receive a film unlike anything we have ever seen from The Caped Crusader. It looks campy, it looks fun, and it looks like a perfect continuation/expansion of Will Arnett's character from The LEGO Movie. Beyond that, we simply cannot contain our excitement for Michael Cera's rambunctious and energetic Robin.

One of the most fantastic things to note about this promo is the fact that it actually is a parody of Baz Luhrmann's 2013 take on The Great Gatsby. The moment in which we see a LEGO Bruce Wayne turn around is a clear homage to the endlessly GIF-able scene in which Leonardo DiCaprio's Jay Gatsby raises his glass -- complete with fireworks in the background.

Although that seems like a somewhat specific and bizarre thing to get excited about, it seemingly promises that The LEGO Batman Movie will parody more that the DC mythos. With not-so-subtle references like this defining the movie's promotional campaign, we can rest assured knowing that the final product of The LEGO Batman Movie will come packed to the brim with some cutting pop culture commentary. Just like The LEGO Movie, this is going to be a film that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

CinemaBlend will bring you any and all relevant updates related to The LEGO Batman Movie as more details are made available to us. The interlocking brick version of The Caped Crusader will take center stage in his solo movie on February 10, 2017.

Check out a full trailer for The LEGO Batman Movie on the next page for an even better look at the upcoming animated DC adventure!

The Lego Batman Movie has announced that Billy Dee Williams will reprise his role as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in the animated spin-off, a part that the legendary actor portrayed in Tim Burton's Batman back in 1989. Well, nearly. That's because Billy Dee Williams' Harvey Dent never actually manifested into Two-Face in Batman, and he was ultimately replaced as the character by Tommy Lee Jones for Batman Forever.

Chris McKay, who is making his feature film directorial debut with The Lego Batman Movie, made this revelation on Twitter. After being asked outright, "Please tell me Billy Dee Williams voices Two Face?" Chris McKay didn't dare beat around the bush, as he responded:

At the moment we're not exactly sure quite how big Two Face's role in The Lego Batman Movie will be, but at least this time Chris McKay has already confirmed that Billy Dee Williams will get the full chance to portray Two Face. Especially since he looked so spiffing just as Harvey Dent. I mean, just look at him.

There's every chance that Lego Batman Movie might poke fun at the decision not to continue with Billy Dee Williams as Two Face in the Batman franchise. Well, at least that's the hope, because it would be a bit of a waste if they didn't. Billy Dee Williams previously opened up at the 2013 Wizard World Nashville Comic Con (via Comic Book) about not reprising the role for Batman Forever, admitting that he'd originally hoped that he would. However, once Tim Burton dropped out of the film and was replaced by Joel Schumacher the decision was made to take it in a "different direction."

For a while there was an internet rumor that, despite being dropped as Harvey Dent in favor of Tommy Lee Jones, Billy Dee Williams still was actually paid for working on Batman Forever, as his original contract had guaranteed him the chance to do so. But during the same convention, Williams debunked this speculation, insisting that he only had a "one picture deal for Batman."

There's already quite a bit of hope surrounding The Lego Batman Movie, most of which comes off the back of the huge success of 2014's The Lego Movie. But it's also helped that as well as Will Arnett returning as the animated Caped Crusader, and the cast has impressively been rounded off by Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Michael Cera as Robin, Rosario Dawson as Batgirl, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth, Jenny Slate as Harley Quinn, and now Billy Dee Williams as Two Face. You can check out the Comic Con trailer for The Lego Batman Movie, below.

The jury is still out on Mariah Carey as Mayor McCaskill, though. We'll get to if she and the film can deliver the goods when The Lego Batman Movie is released on February 10, 2017.

The gap between the big and the small screen has never been closer. In fact, more people are now inclined to boast about their binge watching antics than show off about the latest film that they trekked to the cinema to see. But rather than withering in the corner, accepting their fate, and watching television streak ahead in popularity, movie studios are fighting back. Warner CEO Kevin Tsujihara has now devised a plan for how cinema can compete with TV. But it's far from new. In fact, it's exactly what the studios have been doing for the last few years, as Kevin Tsujihara insists that cinema has to focus on big franchises and universes to succeed.

Kevin Tsujihara made these comments while talking at the Credit Suisse Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona (via The Wrap), insisting that over the next few years the studio will be focusing more and more attention on evolving the DC Comics, Harry Potter, and the Lego Movie franchises. Kevin Tsujihara declared:

In addition to admitting that tapping into the increasingly profitable Chinese market is key, Kevin Tsujihara also teased that Warner Bros. are looking at how to bring one of their most storied and recognizable franchises to a modern audience. He openly asked the audience, "Do we have an opportunity to rejuvenate Looney Tunes?"

Kevin Tsujihara, who has come in for some criticism for his treatment of DC Comics, also boasted that Warner Bros. has the second most impressive slate of intellectual properties in Hollywood. However he was unable to make the argument that they rival Disney, which owns Lucasfilm (Star Wars, Indiana Jones), Marvel Cinematic Universe (Iron Man, The Avengers, Captain America et al), and Pixar (Finding Dory, Toy Story 3), but their own live-action and animation efforts this year (Zootopia, Jungle Book) have been tremendously successful, too.

While those of us looking for more diverse blockbuster cinema from Hollywood's main studios will find Kevin Tsujihara's comments slightly worrisome, the stats regarding the increase in popularity of franchise cinema prove his point. During his chat Kevin Tsujihara pointed out that back in 2013 the top films of the year accounted for 25 percent of the box office. In 2016 it will be around 30 percent, which means that finding and then maintaining a franchise has become even more important.

It's not that Warner Bros. hasn't tried to inject original movies from visually mesmerizing directors and writers into their slate over the last few years. In the last 24 months alone Warner Bros. have brought us Interstellar _(Christopher Nolan), _Inherent Vice (Paul Thomas Anderson), Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller), Midnight Special (Jeff Nichols), and _The Nice Guys _(Shane Black). From the sound of things, though, films of this ilk are getting squeezed out in favor of sequel after sequel after sequel, and that's just depressing enough to make me openly weep.

If you've been paying any attention to the world of TV and movies, you'll notice that superheroes are everywhere. You can't turn a corner in Hollywood without bumping into some hero in tights kicking ass and taking names. But because this genre has become such common practice, it's easy to suffer from "superhero fatigue"; with so many comic book movies being produced they can be a bit predictable. But then there are the exceptions, movies so unique and different that they breath some fresh air into the genre. Examples include Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool, and a new animated movie may just join these ranks: The Lego Batman Movie.

The Lego Batman Movie is a spinoff from the massively successful Lego Movie, focusing on the mini figure caped crusader. From the trailers it's clear that the movie will poke fun at Gotham's hero, as well as his previous appearances on the big screen. But how awesome would it be if this type of comedy could exist in live action? Luckily for us, someone edited together clips of the Batman movies to coincide with The Lego Batman Movie. Check it out.

Pretty awesome, right? Using clips from Batman, Batman and Robin, and Batman Forever, the above video makes The Lego Batman Movie in live action, to hilarious results.

There's a bunch of things going right for this video, and some moments that are less successful. Let's talk about both.

To start, the opening moments are gold. We see Michael Keaton's Batman being adored by tons of fans. No longer a vigilante, Batman is now a hero in Gotham City who the public applauds with each crime fighting adventure. The Lego version of Batman has a bit of an ego, and it's hilarious to see his dialogue associated with Michael Keaton's Batman. The whole opening scene gets even sillier when you notice that Batman is unable to turn his head, and must pivot his entire body in order to catch the spot light.

From there, Batman takes the Batwing home and enters the Batcave. Like his lego counterpart, Batman fires up the super computer and begins to dictate tasks for it to accomplish. It's all super silly, which is made even funnier with the juxtaposition of the serious live action Batman footage.

Of course, this video is not without its flaws. Moments of rapid fire dialogue are pretty sloppy, as we see the same cut of footage used over and over again. This starts with Batman's conversation with Alfred, and continues with his interaction with Robin.

But the ability to laugh at oneself is an extremely attractive trait. Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck were smart, they'd use some self-deprecating humor to lighten up the DCEU and level with fans.

The Lego Batman Movie will be released February 10th, 2017.

We've all been waiting for news on the follow-up to 2014's surprisingly awesome The Lego Movie, but now it sounds like we'll have to wait a little longer. Warner Bros' release schedule seems to still be in flux after we reported that they were looking to focus more on their individual franchises like DC Comics and Harry Potter. That includes the Lego franchise, with The Lego Batman Movie spinoff and The Lego Movie 2 on the docket. Unfortunately, that sequel will be coming later rather than sooner as it's being reported that the film is getting pushed back almost a full year.

According to Deadline, The Lego Movie 2 has been pushed back from its initial release date of March 18, 2018, to February 8, 2019. That's almost a full year later and the sequel will now premiere almost five years to the date after the first Lego Movie. The Lego Movie 2 isn't the only movie over at Warner Bros to be shifted around for better or worse. The disaster flick Geostorm is getting moved for the second time while Bastards, the Owen Wilson and Ed Helms comedy, has been pushed from November of this year to January 2017. Considering that it was initially going to open against Marvel's Dr. Strange, that move is probably a wise decision.

There are no reasons stated for why The Lego Movie 2 was pushed back so far, so your guess is as good as mine. Animation takes a long time to produce, so it could be something as simple as giving the movie more time to figure itself out. Zootopia went through a bunch of different story iterations before Disney settled on the one eventually seen in theaters. On the other hand, it could be a trainwreck of unimaginable proportions and the movie needs those extra months to somehow become the greatest movie ever made.

Another possibility is that Warner Bros is stretching out the franchise to avoid Lego overload. The Lego Batman Movie remains at its February 10, 2017 release date and The Ninjago Lego Movie is slated for September 2017. That means that The Lego Movie 2 would have originally opened just one year after two other different unrelated Lego films. Now it's premiering two years afterward, making the audience wait to see another Lego movie, thus building its hype.

There's still very little information on The Lego Movie 2. Scarce plot details are known and no returning cast members have been announced, but one would imagine that favorites like Emmet, Wyldstyle, Batman, Metal Beard, and Unikitty will come back. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are returning to write the screenplay but have passed over directing duties to Rob Schrab. The duo is also hard at work on a gazillion other projects that include the young Han Solo film and Sony's animated Spider-Man film.

The wait is a bit longer but The Lego Movie 2 will eventually hit theaters on February 8, 2019.

Make no mistake, in modern Hollywood there is no such thing as an idea that’s too crazy. There is simply too much money on the line for any idea to be dismissed out of hand, except possibly a Black Widow movie, for some reason. This is why abominations like the Battleship movie exist.

This weekend, another idea, an animated family movie based on a smartphone game about shooting birds out of a slingshot, will become the latest film to have moviegoers wondering how such a wild idea made it to the screen. The reason is that it wouldn’t be the first time a wild idea became a fantastic movie (or, at the very least, a fantastically successful movie). Here are 7 times that the craziest of ideas paid off in Hollywood. Which ones did we forget?

Idea #1: Let's Make An Action Franchise Out Of A Theme Park Ride

Disney built most of its theme park success on their films, which were all based on animated movies. We should have guessed it would only be a matter of time before they flipped the script, and made a movie based on one of their original theme park ideas. The crazy part was, it worked. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl was a fun and exciting adventure that took elements from the classic ride and used them as the basis for a great story. A great cast helped build an original adventure. It may have only been a great idea once, however.

Bonus Crazy Idea: Depp deciding to play his role like he’s a drunk Keith Richards.

Idea #2: Let's Update Everything Around The Brady Bunch, But Keep Them Exactly The Same

Television series are one of those evergreen ideas that will perpetually be made into movies. Most of them fail. The insane humans who took on the herculean task of making a movie out of The Brady Bunch had a couple of major issues. Simply making a comedy version of the original show would be too easy, as the 70s were a fairly ridiculous decade to begin with. (Have you even seen the pants?) However, if you modernize the story, you lose everything that made The Brady Bunch what we loved. The solution? Modernize everything, except them. The juxtaposition of the two time periods is what we were all going to be laughing at anyway, so just make the movie about that. And it really, really worked.

Idea #3: Let's Create A Superhero Franchise Around The Fat Guy From Parks & Rec

Today you can’t swing a dead cat at an action franchise without hitting a rumor that Chris Pratt is going to be part of it. It’s a remarkable turnaround, considering prior to his turn in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, he was the chubby dude on TV’s Parks & Recreation. Casting Pratt as Peter Quill made some sense. Comedy was a key part of the film, and so you need somebody who can deliver it, but first and foremost it’s a Marvel movie. Quill may not have superpowers, but he’s a comic book hero nonetheless. It was the ensemble which made the movie something special, even by Marvel standards, but Pratt played his part.

Bonus Crazy Idea: These Marvel movies are crazy popular, let’s make one based on a comic that even the fans have never read. And one with a tree and a raccoon as major characters.

Idea #4: Let’s Adapt An '80s Teen Drama, But Make It A Comedy With The Guy From Superbad

Turning 21 Jump Street into an action vehicle for "generic action hunk #342" should have been a no-brainer. That’s the movie you completely expect Hollywood to make. Yet, let Jonah Hill take a shot at the script, and put the team behind Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs behind the camera, and you’re in for something very different. It’s not a parody of the original series, as much as the entire decade of the '80s, itself.

Bonus Crazy Idea: Let’s make a sequel, where the joke is the fact that the studio is insisting on a sequel.

Idea #5: Let’s Hire A Guy With A History Of Personal Problems To Anchor Our Entire Venture Into Continuity Driven Storytelling

When Marvel banked their entire future on turning their beloved characters into movie superheroes, it was a crazy enough idea. When they decided the place to start the new venture was with Iron Man, rather than the more generally well-known Captain America, it was another gamble. When the studio submitted to director Jon Favreau’s insistence that Robert Downey Jr. was the only man who could play Tony Stark, anybody who said what they knew would happen is lying. Downey had a troubled past leading into 2008's Iron Man, but as Favreau believed, that was the very reason he needed to play the role. Downey Jr. was Tony Stark, and now he’s the biggest movie star in the world.

Idea #6: Let’s Make An Emotional Story About Growing Up, Based On Interlocking Bricks

What can one even say about The LEGO Movie that hasn’t already been said? There was no way that movie was going to be anything other than a 90-minute commercial, was there? But they didn’t simply make a movie that used LEGO, they actually made a movie about LEGO, about what the over-60-year-old toy brand has come to mean to multiple generations of kids, and kids who’ve grown up with it. It’s a brilliant twist on the formula that elevates The LEGO Movie to a unique place.

Idea #7: Let’s Make A Slapstick Who-Done-It, Based On A Board Game

However, long before all of these crazy ideas, there was one of the craziest. A movie based on Clue. How in the hell did this idea work? Well, to start with, the movie was able to assemble one of the greatest comedy casts in the history of time. The only important thing they had to get right was the characters' names. After that, you let the likes Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, and Michael McKean fill in their personalities themselves. The film let the game build the mechanics of the story, but smart writing did the rest.

Bonus Crazy Idea: Since the game can end in multiple ways, let's give the movie multiple endings, so people have to see the movie three times. That shouldn't annoy people.

As video games have become mainstream entertainment, they have become prime fodder for cinematic adaptation. Having said that, many of the previous attempts at turning video games into movies have not been particularly stunning. However, one producer has an idea that might be the key to making Nintendo’s characters finally get their moment to shine on the silver screen.

Roy Lee is the president of Vertigo Entertainment and he has some experience turning popular brands into successful films. He was a producer on The Lego Movie, a smash hit in 2014. Speaking at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, he was asked about what his dream movie project would be. According to Game Informer, Lee would love to give the Lego Movie treatment to Nintendo’s cast of characters.

Needless to say, a successful Nintendo movie would be the Holy Grail for countless video game fans as well. Only the Super Mario Bros have ever seen an actual film adaptation, and it was far from great. While there has been a lot of fan demand to see the likes of Link and Zelda or Samus Aran on the big screen as well, what most fans have probably been thinking about is giving each character their own film. The idea of doing a single big Nintendo Movie that includes all the great characters has probably not been on most people’s radar.

While the idea may seem to be more than a little crazy, that's what we all thought about The Lego Movie, and that turned out to be so crazy that it worked. It might also be the best solution for Nintendo, because this way no single character would have to hold up the entire story. If there’s a concern among the powers that be that another shot at a Super Mario movie would be as big a disaster as the last one, then maybe the solution is to make him part of an ensemble cast of characters. Nintendo’s Suicide Squad. It wouldn’t be the first time all these characters came together. They could make a Super Smash Bros. movie.

As Roy Lee points out, he doesn’t have the rights to any Nintendo characters, so at this point any actual movie is just a pipe dream. Still, if Nintendo likes the concept, maybe Lee’s interest will lead to real possibilities. What do you think about a feature film starring all your favorite Nintendo characters in one place? Could this idea finally be the one that makes video game movies as mainstream as the games themselves?

The Star Wars universe is is moving full steam ahead and not just with the upcoming Episode 7. Plans are also moving forward with all of the "Anthology" projects including a starring role for everybody’s favorite smuggler, Han Solo. Director Chris Miller can’t say enough good things about Solo. In short: Best. Character. Ever.

Speaking with IGN, Miller, who will be co-directing the Han Solo film with his LEGO Movie partner Phil Lord, could not be more excited about being given this task.

Miller’s excitement is palpable in the full interview. You can tell he’s over the moon to have the job of directing this movie, while at the same time more than a little terrified. He knows being handed the Solo character is a huge responsibility and he doesn’t want to screw it up. That’s probably, the perfect mix of emotions. As a fan himself he knows how important it is and he wants to make the movie great.

Solo really is a special character in the Star Wars universe. While the prequel films had their Jedis, princesses, aliens, and droids, just as the original trilogy did, they were utterly lacking in any sort of Han Solo-like character. I’m not saying that was the reason the prequels were not as good. But I am saying that was one of the reasons the prequels didn’t work.

Little is known about the film itself other than the fact that it will focus on a young Han Solo, and how he became that perfect blend of rouge and cowboy that Miller references. No word on who will play the young Han Solo, though we have a few ideas if anybody is interested. The screenplay is being worked on by Lawrence Kasdan of The Empire Strikes Back so there is certainly a strong pedigree backing up the movie. To work, the movie needs to start with a good script and Kasdan gives us confidence.

Miller seems to have a strong handle on one of our favorite characters and we’re excited, if slightly scared, to see what he and Lord put together. Are you excited to see a young Han Solo on screen? Who would you like to see take on the role? We just hope that whoever the young Han Solo is, he’s the type of guy that shoots first. The Han Solo film is scheduled for a May 2018 release.

Whether it be Parks and Recreation, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lego Movie or Jurassic World, there are too many wonderful Chris Pratt moments to count. Over the past few years the comical goober has seen wild success, and with that, an abundance of fans. So when the charming actor was put in a pickle, who is he going to call? Well his fans of course. Last night, Pratt reached out to his fans in the form of a Facebook status, to ask for their help in making the best FB header around. And boy did they deliver.

Photo Credit: Glenn Triggs

You would think that someone of Chris Pratt's status could easily just hire someone or ask a friend to create a cool header for his Facebook page. But why do that when you have the adoration of millions of talented fans? His status inviting fans into this contest of sort already has over 2 million likes, and thousands of submissions. Pratt asked for a few specifications, stating that he would like to have his four favorite characters in the mix: Peter Quill, Owen, Andy Dwyer, and Emmet, but aside from those, the entries can include anything that “looks badass”. A few suggestions Pratt gives under that category include “some largemouth bass” or “a steak maybe even some corndogs”. Here’s the full status:

Pratt also makes note that fans should be sure to make their names clear on their entry, and who knows, maybe they’ll even win a free dinner at Applebee's. Needless to say, there have already been a few fabulous entries. Star-Lord is going to have his work cut out for him in choosing just one.

There are those fans who hit pretty much every suggestion the actor put out:

Photo Credit: Cameron Attard

Or those who entered their own incredible original artwork:

Photo Credit: Evelien Vangrieken

And of course, my personal favorite, those who don’t follow any of the rules and just stick to the classics (by classic I mean Andy Dwyer, of course):

Photo Credit: Kristen Nakel

But when all else fails, Chris Pratt x100:

Photo Credit: Sammy Wyatt Dunn

Admit it: at some point since seeing The LEGO Movie, you've wondered just how feasible a double-decker couch would be in your own home. Well, while you're still fiddling with ideas, a professional team has actually constructed a real double-decker couch for a family of superfans, and you can watch the construction below:

In the latest episode of the series Super-Fan Builds - which you may remember from the Groot swing episode - a professional team of "master builders" has actually come together to construct what may be the most illogical piece of furniture of all time. Of course, it's not built out of LEGO, presumably for safety purposes, but it does still look pretty awesome and movie accurate:

For comparison purposes, you can see the movie version in the still below:

The design flaws in the double-decker couch are still pretty apparent, as the "watching TV through a pair of dangling legs" is certainly continues to be an issue, and there's the added fact that it had to be bolted to the wall because it's so tall... but that doesn't stop it from being pretty damn awesome. While it's actually made out of foam, steel, and wood, the team did a nice job trying to make it at least appear to be built out of LEGOs, and the inclusion of the in-seat compartments is pretty slick. The thing actually looks surprisingly comfortable, and I could definitely see what would be enjoyable about hanging out on the top bunk.

Unless you're a professional builder yourself, it's probably unwise to try to make one of these for yourself, but surely LEGO fans around the world can appreciate a build this impressive. As a bonus, head over to Page Two to watch the Jurassic Park LEGO movie referenced in the video - as it's actually pretty fun.

The latest news running through the rumor mill has to do with a certain speedster solo-film, DC’s The Flash movie. With little out there on the production other than the titular role going to Ezra Miller whose Flash will be introduced in Justice League Part One, any news is exciting. But, DC has been busy giving us so much tease into Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad that it was only natural to forget about some of their other projects. That was until now, as talk has begun that The Flash may be directed by a popular director duo, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, known for their work on The Lego Movie and 22 Jump Street.

The rumor comes from SchmoesKnow’s Meet the Movie Press where they revealed that both hosts have heard word that Sony and Warner Bros. are looking to bring Phil Lord and Chris Miller on to helm a major tentpole. Whether or not that tentpole be The Flash or a Ghostbusters movie is still a bit unsure. The duo turned down a Ghostbusters project last year, but that was before Paul Feig’s fresh new take, so the two may find interest in it after all. So with Warner Bros. and Sony fighting for The Lego Movie directors, who will come out on top?

With the huge success of not only The Lego Movie but also 22 Jump Street last year, Phil Lord and Chris Miller are a hot commodity right now. But more so than their box office success, they’ve created an impressive fan base who would probably be thrilled to see them helm a movie in the DC Cinematic Universe. And while The Flash has started to make a name for himself on The CW, he has yet to show himself on the big screen in a live-action form. Ironically though, the speedster’s first theatrical appearance was in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s The Lego Movie. So, if anyone deserves to get the gig for Barry Allen’s solo-film, it is definitely the dudes who first gave him life on the big screen.

The man behind the mask, Ezra Miller has reiterated his own excitement for the solo-film as well, and hopes that The Fastest Man Alive can keep kicking butt on the big screen for years to come. While rumors have not been confirmed on whether the Flash may cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, he will definitely be making an appearance in 2017’s Justice League Part One followed up by his own solo film in 2018. Then, Barry Allen will team-up with his fellow Justice Leaguers once again in 2019 for Justice League Part Two.

While there’s no guarantee that the dynamic directing duo will officially sign on to help the DC hero’s solo film, we sure hope that if they do we can expect as great of an outcome as the awesome The Lego Movie. And with Jason Momoa’s latest tease of the Justice League films, we now know that DC may be going down a more comedic route with their future films. So, the comedic style of Phil Lord and Chris Miller could be the exact type of laughs the franchise is looking for.

It appears that the burgeoning film franchise that was launched last year with The LEGO Movie is getting a rather curious choice of filmmakers for one of its upcoming spinoff films. It’s being reported that actor Jason Segel has been hired for the upcoming spinoff film, The Billion Brick Race, except not for an acting performance, but rather to co-write the script and co-direct. How did the Segel, the sitcom star and former Freak get into the creative aspect of the business? Well, truthfully it’s been a long time coming.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jason Segel will step out from the front of the camera to join Iron Man 3/Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’s Drew Pearce at the helm of The Billion Brick Race. Segel’s transition from actor to writer/director began with writing his 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall (in which he also starred), but his writing career was ignited with his role in making 2011’s The Muppets - which he co-wrote with Nicholas Stoller and executive produced. Now, thanks to that revival of the late Jim Henson’s furry fabrications, Segel has a serious opportunity to make serious green as a behind-the-scenes creative force.

While no production or release date has been settled, The Billion Brick Race will be one of three additions to the LEGO film franchise after next year’s Ninjago (which is already a TV series), The LEGO Batman Movie in 2017 and finally, the proper mothership sequel The LEGO Movie 2 in 2018. Given that annual rollout strategy, one might presume that this new project will be a marathon headed for 2019. However, nothing is set in stone as of yet.

While no details have been released regarding the plot, The Billion Brick Race certainly sounds like a project that might tap into the tried and true "big race" genre of films like It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Gumball Rally and Rat Race. With a bit of brick-breaking zaniness injected while carrying the ever more prestigious LEGO label, the film is virtually a guaranteed hit, barring any disastrous creative choices. However, both Segel and Pearce will likely be watched over closely by the overseers of The LEGO Movie franchise, Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Roy Lee - who collectively conceived the original idea behind the monumentally successful first film.

For Jason Segel, this gig of a lifetime opportunity seems to represent a change in direction in his career – and at a very important time. As the former How I Met Your Mother star has been slowly transitioning to having creative input in his starring film vehicles, such as the aforementioned Sarah Marshall and The Muppets, it also happened that his last wide release, Sex Tape went anything but viral at the box-office, with a domestic take that would fall short of its $40 million budget. Hopefully, projects like The Billion Brick Race will help him get his mojo back.

Now co-writing and co-directing a major film with serious money-making potential, Segel has an extremely good chance to redefine himself as creative force. It makes us wonder if past The End Of The Tour later this year if it might a be while before we see him in front of the camera again.

General rule of thumb for the Academy Awards. If your ceremony begins on Sunday, it needs to end before Monday. Audience members on the East Coast who stayed up to watch Birdman soar to a Best Picture win are likely dragging this morning, and it’s going to take more than a few cups of coffee to get the internal motors running.

But as long as the Oscars ceremony was on Sunday evening, I don’t think you could say that it ever dragged. (No, that is not a "rushing or dragging" joke, Whiplash fans.) As the ceremony stretched on into the night, there were more than a few standout moments that kept us engaged and entertained. Not Neil Patrick Harris’ interminable suitcase bit. That joke needed a better payoff. Instead, these are the five highlights from the Oscars telecast, the moments that we will be talking about and sharing for weeks. What were yours?

Neil Patrick Harris’ Tribute to Moving Pictures

It’s so important to set the right tone, and I thought the evening’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, struck that perfect balance between honoring Oscar’s past while celebrating the groundbreaking contemporary nominees. As the host sings, it was a magic trick done in plain sight, placing the talented NPH into famous scenes alongside everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Darth Vader. Anna Kendrick was a sweet addition. Jack Black was a distraction. ("Screens in our jeans?") In general, though, this was a tremendous kick off to what would end up being a largely enjoyable ceremony.

Graham Moore’s Speech

This year, more than in year’s past, the Oscar speeches tended to be more memorable, as winners used their time in the spotlight to champion a cause. J.K. Simmons encouraged us to call our parents. The Ida director totally ignored the ever-present musical cue to get off the stage. Patricia Arquette made an impassioned plea for wage equality. And Graham Moore warmed all of our hearts when he collected the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game and made a candid confession. "When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself, because I felt weird, and I felt different, and I felt like I did not belong," he told the audience before turning it around and telling all of us that we DO belong, and we need to stay different, and creative, and weird. It was a beautiful speech, delivered from the heart, that wasn’t one of those, "Thank a long list of people no one knows." These types of speeches, soaked in honesty and actually about something, are always appreciated, and Moore’s was the best from Sunday evening.

John Travolta’s Continued Buffoonery

There was a time when John Travolta’s name was synonymous with cool. Early in his career, he was a TV star, a heartthrob, and a silver-screen sensation in movies like Grease. When he disappeared, Travolta always found a way to reinvent himself. Lately, though, these Oscar shenanigans are doing more harm than good to the all star’s career. Last night, he tried to redeem himself for the "Adele Dahzeem" debacle, but he somehow made the whole situation worse by uncomfortably Joe Biden-ing Idina Menzel’s beautiful face. Between that, and Travolta creeping on both Scarlett Johansson and Benedict Cumberbatch, the Pulp Fiction star gets points for keeping us guessing all Oscar telecast.

John Legend and Common Perform ‘Glory’

Traditionally, the musical segments at the Oscars disappoint. It’s a good time to run to the bathroom, grab a snack, and just stretch the legs. But if you walked away from the TV during Sunday night’s musical odes, you likely missed some of the most stirring televised moments during the entire Oscar telecast. The LEGO Movie exploded across the stage with colorful insanity. Adam Levine stirred hearts with his Begin Again song. And brilliant artists John Legend and Common brought the audience to ACTUAL tears with this heartfelt rendition of Glory from the movie Selma. Fittingly, they won the Oscar shortly after performing this song, meaning Selma (thankfully) didn’t go home empty handed.

Lady Gaga’s Sound of Music Tribute

Because it happened so late in the show, I – like most of you – had zero patience for a lengthy tribute to The Sound of Music. As an East Coaster, I was looking at the clock, realizing how many more categories we needed to get to, and was dreaming about my pillow. Did the Academy really need to choose this moment to honor the classic movie musical with a tribute by Lady Gaga, of all people? Then, the pop royalty started singing. And within seconds, I was all in. Gaga destroyed at the Oscars, running effortlessly through a musical montage of the Sound of Music staples. By the time she brought true Hollywood royalty Julie Andrews to the stage, the hills were alive with the sounds of clapping, and the 2015 Oscars telecast finally had its showstopping moment.

Tegan and Sara’s "Everything Is Awesome" Oscars performance was the craziest moment from one of the dullest awards ceremonies of recent memory. The duo got up on the Oscars stage on Sunday to perform their hit, Oscar-nominated song from The LEGO Movie, and they weren’t alone. While there were a ton of dancers, Questlove and an "awesome possum," you might have missed Will Arnett. But you definitely didn’t miss what he was wearing.

You saw the man in the Val Kilmer-inspired Batman suit, right? He was standing next to Questlove rockin’ out on a guitar. According to Chris Miller, who co-directed The LEGO Movie with Phil Lord, that was Arnett. He revealed this fun fact on Twitter during the show.

Arnett voiced Batman to hilarious effect in The LEGO Movie. Thanks to the film and his character’s successes, he’s getting his own spin-off, The LEGO Batman Movie, which is coming out February 10, 2017. A while ago, Lord said that one of the best perks about researching this film was that they got to try on the Batman suits. I guess he wasn’t kidding.

Kilmer’s Batman run may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, but his suit was pretty awesome. Though, he only remained in it for one film, Batman Forever. Which was a shame, considering it bested its predecessor, Batman Returns, at the box office and earned three Oscar nominations. Kilmer dropped out of the franchise after he reportedly exhibited a bad attitude on the set and thought that the Caped Crusader didn’t have enough time in front of the camera. But we’re glad to have seen it return for Hollywood’s big night. Watch the performance below.

According to Lord, The LEGO Batman Movie will be honoring all eras of the Batman franchise. Though he didn’t specifically say, we’re assuming this also means nods to Adam West, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Christian Bale and perhaps even our newly minted Batfleck, Ben Affleck.

"Everything Is Awesome" was one batshit crazy performance, and it should’ve made everyone scratch their heads over why the film wasn’t nominated for Best Animated Feature. We’re happy Big Hero 6 walked away with that honor, but we’re clearly still sore over the LEGO snub. The filmmakers used actual LEGO sets and figures, mixed with VFX magic, to create the spectacular worlds of the movie. Even the flaming explosions were made of LEGO bricks. We can only hope the Academy voters realize their mistake in the future. There’s still hope for The LEGO Movie 2, the Batman spin-off or that Ninjago movie.

Photo Credit: ABC

More often than not, the Academy Awards ceremony can be a real drag. However this year’s was giving an injection of awesomeness thanks to Tegan & Sara and The Lonely Island’s appearance and rendition of The Lego Movie’s "Everything Is Awesome," which benefited from having a number of rather sensational cameos. You can watch it in all of its glory below.

Superb. Simply superb. That song could brighten up even the darkest of Sundays. Fully equipped with a plethora of Oscar statuettes that were made from LEGO, the vast array of performers stooped into the star-studded crowd and handed them out to a number of individuals. Foxcather’s Steve Carell and Channing Tatum were each treated to one, while Oprah Winfrey somehow even managed to bag herself one too. How? Because she’s Oprah, that’s how. Whatever she wants, she gets.

After being introduced by Marion Cotillard (which was a delightfully random, but perfect choice), an animated segment started off the performance, and then, suddenly, the gathered choir cut straight to Tegan & Sara on stage belting out the track. The stage then turned around to reveal Akiva Schaeffer, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, otherwise known as The Lonely Island, and the effervescent trio immediately bounced into action and began effortlessly sprouting off the contagiously joyous lyrics to the LEGO Movie track. Plus they were wearing light blue suits that you would normally associate with a 1970s prom. And capes. Each of them wore a cape too. But they managed to pull off the attire with aplomb.

They didn’t arrive to the stage alone though. In fact they brought along someone inside a rat costume who danced next to them, break-dancing construction workers, and Will Arnett in a Batman suit, who did his best Christian Bale impression, rocked out on a fake guitar and mumbled his way through his section of the song. The Roots’ drummer, Questlove, also held up Will Arnett’s amp and then whacked away on a kit, while the sways of dancers seamlessly moved together and then the entire piece ended with an explosion of confetti. Because how else would you end it?

All in all, there probably wasn’t a better way that the Academy could have celebrated The LEGO Movie. Well, maybe they could have given the beloved movie a nomination in the Best Animated film category. This snub incensed so many moviegoers and critics last month that it managed to overshadow the other nomination announcements. Not that Disney’s Big Hero 6 didn’t deserve to be honored. It was a scintillating joy-ride of action, animation and comedy that was as heartfelt as it was enthralling. It’s just that The LEGO Movie was, simply put, absolutely awesome.

When The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this year's batch of nominees, one of the most notable snubs that had movie fans all kinds of riled up was the omission of Phil Lord and Chris Miller's The LEGO Movie. Despite the fact that the movie was one of the most critically appreciated titles of the year, and also one of the biggest box office hits, the Academy felt it fine to ignore it in favor of fiver other titles. But Lord and Miller have been getting their own form of retribution since, and the latest came during the BAFTA Awards ceremony.

As you may have noted in our rundown of the BAFTA Award winners, The LEGO Movie beat out both Big Hero 6 and The Boxtrolls for the title of Best Animated Film of 2014, and when Phil Lord and Chris Miller took to the stage, they used part of their acceptance speech time to both diss the rewarding organization and the one that ignored them a few weeks ago. According to a report from Digital Spy, Lord announced to the audience,

As alluded to earlier, this isn't the first time that Phil Lord has publicly responded to The LEGO Movie's Oscar snub in a snarky, clever fashion. Shortly after the Academy Award nominees were announced, the filmmaker took to his personal Twitter account and posted,

While an Academy Award for The LEGO Movie would have been nice - and certainly well-deserved - Phil Lord and Chris Miller obviously don't have too much to complain about.With just about all of the numbers in, it currently sits as the fifth highest grossing domestic hit of 2014 and the 16th highest worldwide. It's also been doing extremely well on home video, thus far bringing in nearly $111 million. Oh, and there's both a direct sequel in the works as well as a spin-off following one of the most popular characters, Will Arnett's Batman. So yes, it does suck that the Oscars didn't feel that the film was worth celebrating, but it's also pretty clear that they are in the minority where the larger audience is concerned.

We’re still a full two weeks away from the Academy Awards, but tonight in London was the biggest in British cinema. The British Academy Film Awards, better known as the BAFTAs, were held this evening - and it will be fascinating to see how it winds up having an effect on the on-going race in Hollywood.

Recently it’s been Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Birdman that has been sweeping up big awards, winning the Director’s Guild, Producers Guild and Screen Actors Guild prizes, but it was Boyhood that the BAFTAs deemed to be the Best Film of 2014. In addition to winning the big award of the night, the 12-years-in-the-making movie also won Best Director for Richard Linklater amd Best Supporting Actress for Patricia Arquette. The Theory of Everything - the Stephen Hawking biopic – was also a big winner. The drama took the Outstanding British Film title, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Eddie Redmayne beat out the likes of Michael Keaton and Benedict Cumberbatch for Best Actor.

For a full account of the winners and losers, check out the list below!

BEST FILM

Boyhood - Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland - WINNER

Birdman - Alejandro G. Inarritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson

The Imitation Game - Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman

The Theory of Everything - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

The Theory of Everything - James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten - WINNER

’71 - Yann Demange, Angus Lamont, Robin Gutch, Gregory Burke

The Imitation Game - Morten Tyldum, Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman, Graham Moore

Paddington - Paul King, David Heyman

Pride - Matthew Warchus, David Livingstone, Stephen Beresford

Under the Skin - Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Nick Wechsler, Walter Campbell

BEST DIRECTOR

Boyhood - Richard Linklater - WINNER

Birdman - Alejandro G. Inarritu

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson

The Theory of Everything - James Marsh

Whiplash - Damien Chazelle

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson - WINNER

Birdman - Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bo

Boyhood - Richard Linklater

Nightcrawler - Dan Gilroy

Whiplash - Damien Chazelle

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Theory of Everything - Anthony McCarten - WINNER

American Sniper - Jason Hall

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

The Imitation Game - Graham Moore

Paddington - Paul King

BEST LEADING ACTOR

Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything - WINNER

Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game

Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler

Michael Keaton - Birdman

Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST LEADING ACTRESS

Julianne Moore Still Alice - WINNER

Amy Adams - Big Eyes

Felicity Jones T- he Theory of Everything

Reese Witherspoon - Wild

Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

J.K. Simmons - Whiplash - WINNER

Edward Norton - Birdman

Ethan Hawke - Boyhood

Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher

Steve Carell - Foxcatcher

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Arquette - Boyhood - WINNER

Emma Stone - Birdman

Imelda Staunton - Pride

Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game

Rene Russo - Nightcrawler

BEST ANIMATED FILM

The LEGO Movie - Phil Lord, Christopher Miller - WINNER

Big Hero 6 - Don Hall, Chris Williams

The Boxtrolls - Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Alexandre Desplat - WINNER

Birdman - Antonio Sanchez

Interstellar - Hans Zimmer

The Theory of Everything - Johann Johannsson

Under the Skin - Mica Levi

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Citizenfour - Laura Poitras - WINNER

20 Feet From Stardom - Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Gil Friesen

20,000 Days on Earth - Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard

Finding Vivian Maier - John Maloof, Charlie Siskel

Virunga - Orlando von Einsiedel, Joanna Natasegara

BEST MAKE-UP AND HAIR

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Frances Hannon - WINNER

Guardians of the Galaxy - Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou, David White

Into the Woods - Peter Swords King, J. Roy Helland

Mr. Turner - Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener

The Theory of Everything - Jan Sewell

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock - WINNER

Big Eyes - Rick Heinrichs, Shane Vieau

The Imitation Game - Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana MacDonald

Interstellar - Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis

Mr. Turner - Suzie Davies, Charlotte Watts

BEST BRITISH SHORT FILM

Boogaloo and Graham - Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney - WINNER

Emotional Fusebox - Michael Berliner, Rachel Tunnard

The Karman Line - Campbell Beaton, Dawn King, Tiernan Hanby, Oscar Sharp

Slap - Islay Bell-Webb, Michelangelo Fano, Nick Rowland

Three Brothers - Aleem Khan, Matthieu de Braconier, Stephanie Paeplow

BEST BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

The Bigger Picture - Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka - WINNER

Monkey Love Experiments - Ainslie Henderson, Cam Fraser, Will Anderson

My Dad - Marcus Armitage

BEST EDITING

Whiplash - Tom Cross - WINNER

Birdman - Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Barney Pilling

The Imitation Game - William Goldenberg

Nightcrawler - John Gilroy

The Theory of Everything - Jinx Godfrey

BEST SOUND

Whiplash - Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann - WINNER

American Sniper - Walt Martin, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman

Birdman - Thomas Varga, Martin Hernández, Aaron Glascock, Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio, Pawel Wdowczak

The Imitation Game - John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Stuart Hilliker, Martin Jensen

BEST SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

Interstellar - Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley - WINNER

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Erik Winquist, Daniel Barrett

Guardians of the Galaxy - Stephane Ceretti, Paul Corbould, Jonathan Fawkner, Nicolas Aithadi

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White

X-Man: Days of Future Past - Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Tim Crosbie, Cameron Waldbauer

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Birdman -Emmanuel Lubezki - WINNER

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Robert Yeoman

Ida - Lukasz Zal, Ryzsard Lenczewski

Interstellar - Hoyte van Hoytema

Mr. Turner - Dick Pope

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH ACTOR, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

Stephen Beresford (Writer), David Livingstone (Producer) - Pride - WINNER

Elaine Constantine (Writer/Director) - Northern Soul

Gregory Burke (Writer), Yann Demange (Director) - ’71

Hong Khaou (Writer/Director) - Lilting

Paul Katis (Director/Producer), Andrew de Lotbiniere (Producer) - Kajaki: The True Story

BEST FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Ida - Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska - WINNER

Leviathan - Andrey Zvyagintsev, Alexander Rodnyansky, Sergey Melkumov

The Lunchbox - Ritesh Batra, Arun Rangachari, Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga

Trash - Stephen Daldry, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kris Thykier

Two Days, One Night - Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel - Milena Canonero - WINNER

The Imitation Game - Sammy Sheldon Differ

Into the Woods - Colleen Atwood

Mr. Turner - Jacqueline Durran

The Theory of Everything - Steven Noble

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)

Jack O’Connell - WINNER

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Margot Robbie

Miles Teller

Shailene Woodley

Most people who have seen The LEGO Movie can't help but be charmed and enthralled by the delightful animated epic. There are exceptions, however - and we're not just talking about the Academy. The Oscars have been joined in the Pool of Haterade by Screen Junkies’ Honest Trailers series. That’s because the latter has just explained that The LEGO Movie is basically just one long, cynical advert.

So, is everything not awesome then? You wouldn't think that there would be that much to hate about the nearly universally beloved film, but, as Honest Trailers has explained, there's an argument to be made that The LEGO Movie should never really have been turned into a film in the first place. It’s a toy franchise with no story or defined characters. There is also the fact that from a certain angle the movie can be seen as being simply a feature length commercial for various LEGO products that is packed to the brim with a variety of celebrities, a clichéd romantic angle and repetitive pop music.

Intensely capitalist as that may sound, though, Honest Trailers also points out that the plot of The LEGO Movie actually possesses some communist undertones as well. Will Ferrell’s Lord Business is only toppled after the world’s population decides to follow instructions, work together and sacrifice their personal goals. Uh-oh. Maybe Lenin was right after all? Surely if characters from the Star Wars, DC, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises can set aside their differences for the good of mankind, then maybe we should give communism a shot?

The LEGO Movie can be faulted for some of these sins, but who are we really kidding? The Phil Lord/Chris Miller written and directed film was easily one the best features to be released in 2014. Not only was it sweet, but it was a laugh out loud hoot too. And underneath its warm and heartfelt exterior were scenes of great toil and menace, such as the destruction of an entire planet and a police officer killing his parents. All in all, The LEGO Movie was supreme. It doesn’t matter what the Academy Awards think.

In addition to all its complaints, the Honest Trailer does take the time to point out that the Oscars’ decision to overlook The LEGO Movie was beyond preposterous. Surely one of the likes of Big Hero 6, The Boxtrolls, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Song of the Sea and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya should have been omitted for it. Hopefully one of The LEGO Movies’ impending sequels, which will include a Batman spinoff, will be rewarded with an even more rabid fanbase to make up for the Oscar snub.

Though Christopher Nolan said he won’t return to direct another superhero movie, making a Batman movie has to be one of the most surreal experiences of a director’s life. But a LEGO Batman movie? That sounds like way more fun — and apparently it is! The LEGO Movie co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and the LEGO Batman spin-off director Chris McKay, hit up the Annie Awards and revealed some making-of details that would make any Batman fan drool with envy.

When you’re making a LEGO Batman movie, what’s the best thing you get to do? According to Lord, who was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter at the Annies, he said he gets to try on all the Batman suits, noting that he’s particularly interested in the Adam West classic and George Clooney’s armor. It’s hard to tell if this funny guy is being all that serious or is just trying to be playful. After all, this seems too good to be true. But even if it’s not, McKay dropped a tidbit that’s almost as good and still pretty awesome.

As Lord and Miller revealed earlier, the plan is to honor all eras of the cinematic Batman in The LEGO Batman Movie as they possibly can. And there have been a lot, from Christian Bale’s dark and gritty Caped Crusader to Michael Keaton’s "let’s get nuts" Dark Knight to the camp of West. As such, all gents involved in making this project a reality needed to take an up-close look at all the various iterations of the Batmobiles…you know, for research purposes.

It’s still unclear whether any of the actors who’ve played Batman in the past — Keaton, West, Bale, Clooney, Val Kilmer or even the recently minted Ben Affleck — will voice characters in this LEGO spin-off. But it does seem like a strong possibility, considering how many celebrity voice cameos we heard in The LEGO Movie, including Channing Tatum as Superman, Jonah Hill as Green Lantern and Avengers star Cobie Smulders as Wonder Woman. We at least have Will Arnett returning as the hilariously dark and brooding Bats, though.

The LEGO Batman Movie is giving Arnett his own superhero mini-flick, and it will attempt to answer an important question: Can Batman be happy? It’s a valid one, considering how this man is still royally messed up from witnessing the death of his parents at such a young age. Though, we’re looking forward to seeing a more comedic spin on the Batman story, in light of all the gritty takes we’ve seen recently.