Chris Evans is back as Captain America for his third go around after a star-making turn in Captain America: The First Avenger and then of course in The Avengers. Also landing a character poster is Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Click through to check out all the awesome character posters from Captain America: The Winter Soldier as you gear up for the film’s April 4 release.
Anna Kendrick has become a huge celebrity for her immense acting talent. She has earned an Oscar nomination for her work on Up in the Air, and as she says in a newly released Super Bowl ad -- that’s not a Super Bowl ad -- for Newcastle beer, she’s been in blockbusters and indies alike.
Check out the hilarious advertisement where movie star Kendrick debates with herself whether she’s hot, and how she comes to the conclusion that this ad will never even air during the Super Bowl itself. This is all while she is having her hair done like a diva, ironically an act that seems worthy of a Super Bowl ad!
Fresh off the news that Elizabeth Banks will direct Pitch Perfect 2, Universal has announced a firm date for the film’s release. Fans of the Bellas, unfortunately, have to wait until May 15, 2015.
The sequel to the 2012 blockbuster Pitch Perfect will clearly have Banks back as the color commentator with a wicked wit, and you can count on Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson returning as well. As for who else will be back… time will tell and we’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, since it will be so long until we get Pitch Perfect 2, why not sit back and watch Pitch Perfect online!
It’s also one of our 9 noteworthy movie musicals! Who else made the list? Click through and see!
The first part of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Super Bowl trailer is here! And given that it was one of our 7 Super Bowl trailers we wanted to see, Movie Fanatic could not be more thrilled… and teased! Where’s the rest?
We have a feeling the remainder of this The Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer will be broadcast during the big game. At $4 million per 30-second ad, you can bet Sony will be saving the rest for when it really counts!
Andrew Garfield is back as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and it appears that his girlfriend Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) gets in on the action, and it is frankly quite dangerous. We’ve gathered that Stacy might meet the same fate as her father from the first film at some point in this series, but we suspect that will be later rather than sooner.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is due in theaters May 2.
Spider-Man is one of our fave franchises -- be sure to click through our 19 movie franchises that make us fanatic and see what made the list!
When your series is based on one of the bestselling book series of all time, that's a good place to start. With the casting of the three leads, fate struck and a movie franchise for the ages was born.
When your series is based on one of the bestselling book series of all time, that's a good place to start. With the casting of the three leads, fate struck and a movie franchise for the ages was born.
2.
The Lord of the Rings
Now on its fifth movie with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, J.R.R. Tolkien has produced a world perfect for the movies. We could head to Middle Earth time and time again.
3.
The Avengers
How could The Avengers not be one of the franchises we're fanatical about? With Avengers: Age of Ultron coming at us, we're just getting started.
4.
James Bond
James Bond seems to get better with age. Now on his 24th film, 007 shows no signs of slowing.
5.
Star Wars
The Force is so with this series that we're getting a new trilogy four decades after it started. Luke, Leia and Han Solo have become not just pop culture legends, but cultural icons.
6.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games honestly had us from the pages of Suzanne Collins' book. The fact that the movies have been so good... all the better!
7.
The Expendables
The Expendables got together some of action movies' most classic stars. It was explosive and we just want more.
8.
The Amazing Spider-Man
They said it was too soon to reboot Spider-Man. Boy, were they wrong as there is something about the webbed wonder that compels us... over and over.
9.
Jurassic Park
Fan craziness has produced the need for another Jurassic movie... Now, we've got Jurassic World coming in 2015! Color us dino delirious.
10.
Captain America
Cap had us in World War II and has us expecting much from his present day adventure Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Chris Evans was born to be Cap!
11.
Iron Man
Casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was a stroke of brilliance. That could be why Iron Man just keeps on rolling.
12.
Riddick
Riddick rules. And that's all there is to it!
13.
Thor
Casting is the key, and Chris Hemsworth was born to be Thor. We'd watch him wield that hammer any day of the week.
14.
Superman
He may be the Man of Steel, but Superman feels like the most everyman of all the superheroes. Whether Christopher Reeve and now with Henry Cavill, that "S" should stand for sensational.
15.
Star Trek
Audiences have been boldly going with the crew of the Enterprise for decades. That will not change anytime soon!
16.
Batman
Batman begins, ends, begins anew... it doesn't matter. Bruce Wayne (and his alter ego) is the rare superhero with no powers, yet is still so solidly super.
17.
Fast and Furious
They're fast, they're furious and this gang of street-racing pros, led by Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker, is simply the best. With the franchise heading towards nine movies, it is one epic series.
18.
X-Men
It's Mutants mania... and we have a bad case. Whether it's the classic cast or the First Class cast, we adore this Marvel world.
19.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
There's something fascinating about food and it falling from the sky and then getting menacing. Now on its second film with a third likely planned, we're hungry for more.
When do Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis take second billing in a movie?
When they star opposite a talking bear, that's when.
Ted took theaters by storm in 2012 and it continues to resonate via home rentals or home purchases today. That's what happens when fans need to relive Ted quotes that are so raunchy, you can't believe they were uttered at all.
Let alone uttered by a talking bear who is voiced by Seth MacFarlane.
So sit back, watch Ted online now via a number of options and let the X-rated good times roll!
Teen movies can be so predictable, on so many levels. It is the rare movie that features teenagers and their struggles that goes beyond sex and partying to present characters as fully drawn as any adult drama or comedy.
We present 13 teen movies that break stereotypes, cross over into the realm of great movies and are not merely great teen movies.
Sure, these movies can have teens partying, hooking up and generally looking for a good time. But, the characters in these 13 films also go deeper and are searching for much more than immediate self satisfaction.
Click through these 13 teen movies that break the mold and we wouldn't be surprised if by the end, you think to yourself, "I'd better go and watch Breakfast Club online!"
Besides having one of the most iconic musical scenes of all time (thank you, Peter Gabriel), Say Anything is a teen romance that treats its leads like mature individuals. And... it has John Cusack at his best.
Besides having one of the most iconic musical scenes of all time (thank you, Peter Gabriel), Say Anything is a teen romance that treats its leads like mature individuals. And... it has John Cusack at his best.
2.
Election
Reese Witherspoon truly announced herself to the world in Election opposite Matthew Broderick. It stands out because it's from the brilliant mind of Alexander Payne (who went on to make Sideways and The Descendants).
3.
Dazed and Confused
Sure, Dazed and Confused was in many ways a party movie about the last day of school in 1976. But, it truly captured so much more about life's journey.
4.
Heathers
Heathers took the teen movie stereotype and basically added a bad boy who was truly lethal to the mix. With Christian Slater and Winona Ryder falling in love with explosive results, it couldn't lose.
5.
Easy A
Easy A gave us the joy that is Emma Stone. That, and a sardonic wit about the perils of being a teenager in modern America.
6.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
You may sense a theme here, great directors getting their start making teen movies. Cameron Crowe wrote Fast Times at Ridgemont High and that could explain why it's so smart, savvy... and absolutely entertaining.
7.
Juno
Few films have tackled teenage pregnancy as perfectly as Juno. There are laughs, tears, joy and love... like life itself.
8.
Clueless
Clueless is anything but, and few teen movies have had a title so innocently ironic. Alicia Silverstone is Cher and even to this day, she is one of the best teen movie characters ever.
9.
Mean Girls
Mean Girls was way ahead of its time. Not only did it give us a breakout star in Rachel McAdams, it came from the wickedly smart mind of Tina Fey.
10.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is another example of how the teen movie genre can be powerful if it gives its characters something real to feel. In fact, few movies give their characters the emotional power of this film.
11.
10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You broke stereotypes left and right with its portrayal of high schoolers and their emotional rollercoasters. Perhaps because it was based on Shakespeare it could avoid teen movie potholes?!
12.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
John Hughes was a master at capturing the reality of being a teen, without ever talking down to his audience. Ferris Bueller Day's Off was good fun, but it also delved deeper into what it means to be a teen.
13.
The Breakfast Club
There is a reason that The Breakfast Club is the king of all teen movies. Sure, there are the archetypes, but that's what John Hughes wants you to see... Diving deeper, these characters are as real as movies can portray.
Now we know what movie Disney is going to be hawking during the Super Bowl. We had heard that the famed studio had bought one 30-second spot for a cool $4 million during the game and now they’ve released the teaser for the film they chose to tease. Captain America: The Winter Soldier will get the big game trailer treatment!
The trailer will debut at some point during the battle between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, and the above vid may be short, but it shows some intriguing footage not even seen in that first Captain America: The Winter Soldier trailer.
Chris Evans is back as the Marvel hero, and he brought some The Avengers friends along too, most notably Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Oh, and check out the above sneak peek of a new Marvel hero, Anthony Mackie as Falcon!
Marvel also unveiled a new poster for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Check it out below and click through to see all the Captain America sequel’s posters!
You have to give That Awkward Moment some credit. It is trying to do something different with not only the genre of romantic comedies, but the larger idea of the chick flick. It presents a rom-com with all the chick flick trimmings, told from the guys’ perspective. Does it work?
Zac Efron, Miles Teller and man of the year Michael B. Jordan (is he in Star Wars: Episode VIIand the Fantastic Four reboot?) star as three buddies who are navigating the waters of relationships in modern day New York City.
Jordan’s wife wants a divorce and Teller and Efron are too busy building their “roster” to even think of settling down. We learn repeatedly throughout That Awkward Moment that any single guy worth his salt should have a roster. That is a bevy of babes to hook up with regularly. And like a baseball team, when one loses its worth, you take it out of the lineup and bring up someone new.
Writer-director Tom Gormican has tried to craft a film that is a traditional chick flick but with a different flair. Yet, he uses some of the same stereotypes throughout, just with a male living and experiencing them instead of a female. An example of that was present from that first That Awkward Moment trailer. Jordan, upset that his wife wants a divorce, shows up at his buds’ house with a tub of ice cream... ready to drown his sorrows.
See, if That Awkward Moment wanted to be truly original, it would present the same “feel” as a traditional “chick flick” without resorting to the stereotypes of those films, and simply trading a girl for a guy. If a filmmaker wanted to truly delve into unchartered waters, surely there must have been a million other ways to show emotional turmoil rather than to go back to the same old well and simply change the gender of the character.
Even Teller and Efron’s characters follow the same blueprint as the men from some of the most famous romantic comedy chick flicks of all time. They don’t want to settle down. They hear the word commitment and run like the wind. Yet, when they meet what could be the right girl -- and often she is right in front of them -- they can’t tell until it’s too late. There’s even the, “wait, I really love you” scene times two!
Our That Awkward Moment review has to state that we truly appreciate what Gormican was going for by turning a genre on its head. But, in the end the movie simply switches roles all within the same stereotype mold that we’ve seen a million times.
Now if you watch Love Actually online, you’ll see what we mean by a rom-com that breaks the mold… and time truly has shown that classic does it better than anyone.
Labor Day is the most unique of premises for a romance. It's not quite a Stockholm Syndrome idea. Yet it is kind of in that ballpark. But in the hands of Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air), it elevates the most bizarre of romantic tales into a pretty compelling movie.
Kate Winslet is Adele, who is raising her son solo in a small New Hampshire town. The teen (Henry, played by Gattlin Griffith) is our narrator and establishes that he is there for his troubled mom as much as he can be. But at the end of the day, she is lonely. Henry only sees his father (The Avengers star Clark Gregg) when they go to dinner on Sunday nights.
Adele is depressed and rightfully so. She was full of life, but after a series of miscarriages and her husband running off with his secretary to start a new family, she has been filled with sadness for years. That is, until Josh Brolin’s Frank forces his way into her and Henry’s life.
Frank is an escaped convict. He meets Henry and his mom in a Pricemart and essentially takes them hostage. They go back to their home where Frank needs medical attention and a place to lay low, until he can run off into the night towards the nearby train tracks and be whisked away.
See, Frank went to jail for murder years prior and over the course of the movie, through flashbacks, Reitman does explain that it is complicated. But, still at the end of the day, we cannot get over the fact that this man did kill someone. It is a serious challenge to get your audience to pull for Frank and Adele to fall in love. But, somehow, they do, and we want them to. It speaks to the power of Reitman as a filmmaker and frankly as a writer. He penned the screenplay, based on the popular book by Joyce Maynard.
Told you it was a tricky endeavor to find romance where one would think none should exist!
There is also the supreme talent of Reitman’s leads. From that first Labor Day trailer, one could tell that Winslet and Brolin had chemistry. And each has such power to emit emotion, regardless of the role, that given something as meaty and challenging as the effort to make an escaped convict and a lonely single mother fall in love… they rise to the challenge.
The title of the movie comes from the fact that it takes place during the titular holiday weekend. Reitman plots out his story in a matter of days, beginning each new day by telling us in many ways, that the clock is ticking. When Adele and Henry ask Frank to stay until his wounds have healed, we actually believe that the father figure that has been missing from this family could be filled by Frank. It is truly amazing how the audience can not only believe that this could happen, but that we pull for it to succeed.
Our Labor Day review finds that much of the success of the movie lies in Winslet’s hands. The woman who became a household name because of her work in one of the best romances of all time (watch Titanic online now and see what we mean!) seems to have the power to get the audience to pull for her character to find happiness -- regardless of her suitor’s moral compass.
All the rumors and speculation can be put to rest: Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor in Batman vs. Superman! The man who played the founder of Facebook in The Social Network is set to tackle one of the comic book world's most legendary villains.
In hindsight, this makes perfect sense. Luthor is a contemporary of Clark Kent and so many of the names mentioned for the role in the past few months were significantly older. For the Man of Steel sequel to do the Luthor-Superman rivalry justice, the actor cast to play the villain had to be around the same age as the man portraying Superman. So, we say… this is brilliant!
Director Zack Snyder is clearly thrilled with his choice.
"Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What's great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain,” Snyder said in a statement.
“He's a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions."
Eisenberg is not the only actor cast today in the Batman vs. Superman world. Legendary thespian Jeremy Irons has been cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne butler and confidant Alfred. Again, the casting is brilliant!
“As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne's most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne," Snyder added in the statement.
So, now we have Ben Affleck as Batman, Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Eisenberg as Luthor and Irons as Alfred. This puppy is starting to take some serious shape. We just wish we didn’t have to wait for Batman vs. Superman until 2016!
What do you think?
Is Jesse Eisenberg a good Lex Luthor?
.
Superman is absolutely one of our favorite franchises and we cannot wait until Batman vs. Superman hits theaters. Click through the below slideshow to see what other franchises have us utterly fanatical!
When your series is based on one of the bestselling book series of all time, that's a good place to start. With the casting of the three leads, fate struck and a movie franchise for the ages was born.
When your series is based on one of the bestselling book series of all time, that's a good place to start. With the casting of the three leads, fate struck and a movie franchise for the ages was born.
2.
The Lord of the Rings
Now on its fifth movie with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, J.R.R. Tolkien has produced a world perfect for the movies. We could head to Middle Earth time and time again.
3.
The Avengers
How could The Avengers not be one of the franchises we're fanatical about? With Avengers: Age of Ultron coming at us, we're just getting started.
4.
James Bond
James Bond seems to get better with age. Now on his 24th film, 007 shows no signs of slowing.
5.
Star Wars
The Force is so with this series that we're getting a new trilogy four decades after it started. Luke, Leia and Han Solo have become not just pop culture legends, but cultural icons.
6.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games honestly had us from the pages of Suzanne Collins' book. The fact that the movies have been so good... all the better!
7.
The Expendables
The Expendables got together some of action movies' most classic stars. It was explosive and we just want more.
8.
The Amazing Spider-Man
They said it was too soon to reboot Spider-Man. Boy, were they wrong as there is something about the webbed wonder that compels us... over and over.
9.
Jurassic Park
Fan craziness has produced the need for another Jurassic movie... Now, we've got Jurassic World coming in 2015! Color us dino delirious.
10.
Captain America
Cap had us in World War II and has us expecting much from his present day adventure Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Chris Evans was born to be Cap!
11.
Iron Man
Casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was a stroke of brilliance. That could be why Iron Man just keeps on rolling.
12.
Riddick
Riddick rules. And that's all there is to it!
13.
Thor
Casting is the key, and Chris Hemsworth was born to be Thor. We'd watch him wield that hammer any day of the week.
14.
Superman
He may be the Man of Steel, but Superman feels like the most everyman of all the superheroes. Whether Christopher Reeve and now with Henry Cavill, that "S" should stand for sensational.
15.
Star Trek
Audiences have been boldly going with the crew of the Enterprise for decades. That will not change anytime soon!
16.
Batman
Batman begins, ends, begins anew... it doesn't matter. Bruce Wayne (and his alter ego) is the rare superhero with no powers, yet is still so solidly super.
17.
Fast and Furious
They're fast, they're furious and this gang of street-racing pros, led by Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker, is simply the best. With the franchise heading towards nine movies, it is one epic series.
18.
X-Men
It's Mutants mania... and we have a bad case. Whether it's the classic cast or the First Class cast, we adore this Marvel world.
19.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
There's something fascinating about food and it falling from the sky and then getting menacing. Now on its second film with a third likely planned, we're hungry for more.
Johnny Knoxville has the rarest of talents that is being able to slip into a character with a hidden camera rolling and produce hysterical laughs from his audience. Nowhere is that more prevalent than with his latest blockbuster, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa… out now on DVD and Blu-Ray.
The Bad Grandpa trailer shows us the story, but can’t even come close to showing the massive amount of hilarity that comes from Knoxville’s latest.
Knoxville is Irving, an eighty-something man who has just “lost” his wife. His “daughter” shows up and says she needs to leave town and grandpa has to take care of his grandson, Billy. Irving wants to get rid of Billy so that he can sow some wild oats now that his wife has passed -- so, the two hit the road in search of Billy’s father.
Hidden cameras follow them everywhere and their hijinx to unsuspecting souls results in some incredible hilarity.
The greatness of the Bad Grandpa DVD and Blu-Ray is on its bonus features that fully compliment an already awesome movie. Many already hilarious scenes are given a few extra minutes and alternative takes that only add to the hysterics. And yes, there are dozens of fall out of your chair laughing moments in the movie itself, and especially the bonus features. We adore the deleted scenes... simply because in this case, there is no such thing as too much Bad Grandpa!
We adore the behind-the-scenes features with director Jeff Tremaine that take you behind the wizardry to show you how they pulled off some of these hysterical moments -- all without the general public every figuring out that the man behind the makeup is Knoxville. On that note… congrats to Bad Grandpa for that Oscar nomination for Best Makeup!
Some of our favorite behind-the-scenes moments follow how they achieved The Funeral, Estate Sale, Shipping Billy, Wedding Crashers and Irving Hits on Women scenes.
The weekend movie preview for the final weekend in January is all about the love. But, as that emotion can be... it's complicated.
Labor Day finds Kate Winslet falling for Josh Brolin's escaped convict who has taken her hostage. And That Awkward Moment has Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Zack Efron finding love when they absolutely did not want to.
That Awkward Moment: Imagine a rom-com told from the point of view of the guys. That is the premise of That Awkward Moment and for the most part, it's pretty entertaining. Efron, Jordan and Teller have great chemistry together and are quite charismatic. But overall, for a film that is trying to forge new ground, they sure fall into a slew of classic romantic comedy and chick flick stereotypes. Our That Awkward Moment review reports that the film's heart is in the right place, even if it doesn't quite hit all the right notes.
Labor Day: Jason Reitman follows up his Up in the Air with the most unlikely of love stories. Brolin is an escaped convict who is serving 18 years for murder. He "kidnaps" Winslet and her son and over the course of Labor Day weekend, Winslet and Brolin fall in love. It's a difficult task to have an audience pull for an imprisoned murderer to fall for a single mom, but as our Labor Day review states, Reitman, Winslet and Brolin pull it off. In fact, we find that Winslet has not lost a single beat in terms of anchoring a romance... just watch Titanic online and see what we mean!
Liam Neeson has become the most unlikely of action heroes in the last several years and that is clear from the newly arrived extended TV trailer for his thriller Non-Stop. And judging by that full Non-Stop trailer, this one should have audiences a little concerned the next time they get on a plane.
Neeson stars as a U.S. Air Marshal who settles in to his seat as the flight takes off. Almost immediately he gets a text saying that if he doesn’t help this unidentified person get $150 million into an off-shore account in 20 minutes, a person on the flight will perish. In fact, every 20 minutes that the money is not deposited… people will die. Check out Non-Stop in theaters February 28.
This week, Oscar Watch takes our weekly look at the first of the five main categories of those who received Oscar nominations. We begin with the five outstanding women who scored a Best Supporting Actress nod and by the end of our look… we will predict the winner.
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lawrence, a winner last year for David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, looks like she could go two-for-two, albeit in the Best Supporting Actress category this year. She is nominated for her work in another Russell film, American Hustle.
From the moment Lawrence appears on screen, teased in the American Hustle trailer, she tears it up. It’s hard to watch anything else when she is in a scene. And that is saying something for a cast that includes Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner. The race is likely to come down to between her and…
Lupita Nyong’O, 12 Years a Slave
After picking up the Best Supporting Actress awards at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Movie Awards and SAG Awards, Nyong’O is most likely your front-runner. 12 Years a Slave earned some serious nods, including Best Director, Best Supporting actor and Best Picture, but its best chance for Oscar gold has to be in the Best Supporting Actress category. Nyong’O took a role that had to be almost impossible to film and made it approachable as it was awfully painful to watch.
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
With Cate Blanchett looking to win Best Actress, one might think her acting partner in Blue Jasmine, Sally Hawkins, would have a good shot at victory for Best Supporting Actress. But Hawkins has to be satisfied with the “happy to be nominated” prize this year in this particular category.
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
Roberts held her own opposite Meryl Streep and anyone who considers themselves a movie fanatic has to know that is one impressive feat. Roberts could win her second award, after winning Best Actress for Erin Brockovich.
She turns in the most powerful of performances as the daughter of Streep, who is sick and tired of her mother’s manipulation and seeming life mission to make her children utterly miserable. The film was not the best, as we stated in our August: Osage County review, but this is one to see for the performances of Roberts and Streep.
June Squibb, Nebraska
Squibb could be a surprise winner as the Academy loves a story like hers. Nebraska is her second Alexander Payne movie after her work on About Schmidt and she steals every scene she is in, which is not an easy task given her co-star is fellow Oscar nominee Bruce Dern. She is a firecracker who says whatever is on her mind and after years of working as a stage actress in New York, this could be her year to hoist an Academy Award.
Best Supporting Actress Prediction: Lupita Nyong’O, 12 Years a Slave.
Speaking of Oscar, be sure to click through our slideshow below of Best Picture Oscar winners who have stood the test of time.
The Academy is not always the best at picking the movie that years later we think is still the best picture of that year. But these films, are some of the best... of all time!
Some think Forrest Gump is a simple pop culture celebration. Oscar was right to award it Best Picture as few films capture evolving American culture as Forrest Gump did.
Some think Forrest Gump is a simple pop culture celebration. Oscar was right to award it Best Picture as few films capture evolving American culture as Forrest Gump did.
2.
Casablanca
What is not to love about Casablanca? It is still one of the best movies of all time -- and we'll play it again and again, Sam.
3.
Shakespeare in Love
Sure, at the time we wanted another movie to win. But, time has shown that Shakespeare in Love is simply super.
4.
Braveheart
When Braveheart swept its Oscar year, it was one of those rare moments where everyone agreed the right movie won. And time has shown that the Scottish story is still sensational.
5.
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg finally won his long-deserved Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture for this tear-jerking true story. To this day, it is one of the more difficult films to watch, but a must see nonetheless.
6.
Rocky
People forget that Sylvester Stallone has an Oscar not only for Best Picture, but also for Best Screenplay! This underdog story set the standard for believing-in-yourself movies and we still can't get enough.
7.
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind may have won its Oscar back in the 1930s, but fan craziness for the film has only expanded in the decades since. And frankly, we do give a damn after all these years.
8.
The Godfather
Do us a favor and watch The Godfather again. Not only was it worthy of its Best Picture, but it belongs in the top 10 movies of all time... period!
9.
The Departed
Some have said that giving Martin Scorsese the Oscar for The Departed was a career award. But after witnessing it a dozen times since it won Best Picture, it is absolutely the best picture of 2006.
Some truly said news this morning has arrived out of New York City, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has died. The Oscar winner actor was 46 years old and had a history of battling with substance abuse.
NYPD is reporting that Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment this morning and investigators are hard at work to determine the reason.
Immediately, beyond the sadness of this great loss of talent to the movie world, director Francis Lawrence and the filmmaking team behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay must swiftly find someone to step into those enormous shoes. Hoffman was in the middle of filming his role as Plutarch Heavensbee in Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2.
Hoffman first garnered our attention as the quiet, but screen attention demanding porn movie worker in Boogie Nights. And who didn't love him for his scene-stealing role in Almost Famous?!
He most recently was seen, not only in Catching Fire, but in The Master.
Hoffman earned four Oscar nominations in his career, and won for his role in Capote. He will be greatly missed. Stay with Movie Fanatic as we get more information on this evolving story.
[UPDATE] Early reports have Hoffman dying from a drug overdose. We'll keep you posted as more information comes in.
Click through below and remember Hoffman for what he has left us... a life on film.
Hoffman was an impeccable choice to join the cast of Catching Fire. His Plutarch Heavensbee is unforgettable.
2.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
Hoffman commanded the screen. That was never more clear than in The Master.
3.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Moneyball
Who would have thought that Hoffman would be perfect for a baseball movie? Well, with talent like his, in hindsight, his riveting role in Moneyball should not have surprised.
4.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Quartet
Quartet was a true well, quartet. But, the one we couldn't take our eyes off of was Hoffman.
5.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights star Philip Seymour Hoffman. The movie was one of his first roles.
6.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt
Star of Doubt, Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Oscar nominated movie featured Hoffman as a priest who may or not be who he says he is.
7.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote
Capote star Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman won his first Oscar for his role as the real life legend.
8.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Almost Famous
Almost Famous star Philip Seymour Hoffman. His characterization made you want to get into music in the Cameron Crowe classic.
9.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman will be missed. The extremely talented actor was found dead at the age of 46.
The latest The Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer has premiered during the Super Bowl. Movie Fanatic has been given the extended trailer, that clocks in at over three minutes! It is called Enemies Unite and that moniker refers to the villains who all seek the demise of Spider-Man.
Spider-Man is just one of 19 movie franchises that truly get us fanatical. Click through our slide show below of the 19 franchises that get fans utterly fanatical.
When your series is based on one of the bestselling book series of all time, that's a good place to start. With the casting of the three leads, fate struck and a movie franchise for the ages was born.
When your series is based on one of the bestselling book series of all time, that's a good place to start. With the casting of the three leads, fate struck and a movie franchise for the ages was born.
2.
The Lord of the Rings
Now on its fifth movie with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, J.R.R. Tolkien has produced a world perfect for the movies. We could head to Middle Earth time and time again.
3.
The Avengers
How could The Avengers not be one of the franchises we're fanatical about? With Avengers: Age of Ultron coming at us, we're just getting started.
4.
James Bond
James Bond seems to get better with age. Now on his 24th film, 007 shows no signs of slowing.
5.
Star Wars
The Force is so with this series that we're getting a new trilogy four decades after it started. Luke, Leia and Han Solo have become not just pop culture legends, but cultural icons.
6.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games honestly had us from the pages of Suzanne Collins' book. The fact that the movies have been so good... all the better!
7.
The Expendables
The Expendables got together some of action movies' most classic stars. It was explosive and we just want more.
8.
The Amazing Spider-Man
They said it was too soon to reboot Spider-Man. Boy, were they wrong as there is something about the webbed wonder that compels us... over and over.
9.
Jurassic Park
Fan craziness has produced the need for another Jurassic movie... Now, we've got Jurassic World coming in 2015! Color us dino delirious.
10.
Captain America
Cap had us in World War II and has us expecting much from his present day adventure Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Chris Evans was born to be Cap!
11.
Iron Man
Casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was a stroke of brilliance. That could be why Iron Man just keeps on rolling.
12.
Riddick
Riddick rules. And that's all there is to it!
13.
Thor
Casting is the key, and Chris Hemsworth was born to be Thor. We'd watch him wield that hammer any day of the week.
14.
Superman
He may be the Man of Steel, but Superman feels like the most everyman of all the superheroes. Whether Christopher Reeve and now with Henry Cavill, that "S" should stand for sensational.
15.
Star Trek
Audiences have been boldly going with the crew of the Enterprise for decades. That will not change anytime soon!
16.
Batman
Batman begins, ends, begins anew... it doesn't matter. Bruce Wayne (and his alter ego) is the rare superhero with no powers, yet is still so solidly super.
17.
Fast and Furious
They're fast, they're furious and this gang of street-racing pros, led by Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker, is simply the best. With the franchise heading towards nine movies, it is one epic series.
18.
X-Men
It's Mutants mania... and we have a bad case. Whether it's the classic cast or the First Class cast, we adore this Marvel world.
19.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
There's something fascinating about food and it falling from the sky and then getting menacing. Now on its second film with a third likely planned, we're hungry for more.
Kevin Costner has been busy this Super Bowl Sunday. He first starred in that Draft Day Super Bowl trailerand now the latest 3 Days to Kill trailer has premiered.
Costner stars as a retired CIA agent who is pulled back into duty by Amber Heard . When Costner's family is threatened, he has no choice but to do what Heard says and assassinate someone who "The Agency" wants taken out.
It appears for all intents and purposes that this Super Bowl is all but over. Ready for some "good" football? Check out our slideshow of 7 football flicks that score a touchdown!
Rudy is as inspirational as any movie can get, much less a football movie. The true story of Rudy, who dreamed of Notre Dame glory, is impeccably captured by star Sean Astin.
Rudy is as inspirational as any movie can get, much less a football movie. The true story of Rudy, who dreamed of Notre Dame glory, is impeccably captured by star Sean Astin.
2.
Remember The Titans
Remember the Titans is another true story as there must be something about the game of football that brings out the best in us! Denzel Washington stars in a movie that has power in droves.
3.
The Blind Side
This is the unlikely true tale of how a suburban family adopts a homeless teen and he goes on to become a football titan. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Toughy, the mother who is tough as nails, with a heart of gold.
4.
Jerry Maguire
Cameron Crowe wrote and directed this film about a sports agent who loses everything, except one football player who believes in him. Tom Cruise stars, and Cuba Gooding Jr. co-stars... and won an Oscar!
5.
Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights is one amazing football film. Long before it became a hit TV show, Billy Bob Thornton played the small town Texas football coach with dreams of glory for his team.
6.
Any Given Sunday
Oliver Stone crafts an entertaining and realistic portrayal of professional football in the modern era. Jamie Foxx broke out as a movie star as the flashy quarterback who learns to win through his older and wise coach (Al Pacino).
7.
Invincible
Invincible stars Mark Wahlberg as the real Philadelphia bartender who answers an open try-out for the NFL Eagles. Not only does he make the team, but he makes history.
Ride Along just won’t stop racing to box office victories as the Kevin Hart and Ice Cube-starring action comedy won its third straight weekend box office battle. Ride Along scored $12.3 million in its third weekend out, bringing its total within reach of the coveted $100 million mark. Ride Along’s total gross is $93 million!
The movie that won’t quit, Frozen, landed in second place. The film, in its eleventh week of release, earned $9.3 million to bring its cume to $360 million. Even though the Frozen DVD has been announced, audiences are still flocking to see the Disney masterpiece.
Third place belonged to the first of the new movies released this week to make its presence felt on the box office chart, That Awkward Moment. The Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller-starring rom-com banked $9 million in its first weekend. That figure may go up as couples looking for Valentine’s Day-type fare zero in on that flick.
Coming in fourth place was another animated movie that shows no signs of slowing, The Nut Job. The Will Arnett and Katherine Heigl-starring vehicle sold another $7.6 million in tickets, bringing its total to a sequel demanding $50.2 million.
Closing out the top five is Lone Survivor. The Mark Wahlberg-starring true story earned $7.2 million in its sixth week of release.
Box office top 10:
1. Ride Along, $12.3 million
2. Frozen, $9.3 million
3. That Awkward Moment, $9 million
4. The Nut Job, $7.6 million
5. Lone Survivor, $7.2 million
6. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, $5.4 million
7. Labor Day, $5.3 million
8. American Hustle, $4.3 million
9. The Wolf of Wall Street, $3.6 million
10. I, Frankenstein, $3.5 million
As you can tell, Frozen is well on its way to becoming one of the most profitable movie musicals of all time.
Click through our gallery below of 9 noteworthy movie musicals to see what other flicks have us singing (and often dancing!).
The Super Bowl has come and gone, and it's a good thing that those 9 movie trailers that appeared during the big game broadcast were exciting. As the Seattle Seahawks trounced the Denver Broncos, for us at Movie Fanatic, it was those movie teasers that kept our interest on high alert.
From Muppets Most Wanted, that premiered during the pre-game, to the explosion that was that Dinobot arrival during that first Transformers: Age of Extinction spot... Hollywood rolled out their A-game during the big game.
Liam Neeson even had his latest Non-Stop trailer appear during the broadcast, and he may have another action hit on his hands. Heck, it worked for that first film that made him an action star when it had its trailer premiere during a Super Bowl.
Dinobots! Dinobots! Dinobots! That's all you need to say about this first trailer for Transformers: Age of Extinction.
2.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America proved he's back by making that announcement to the biggest TV audience of the year. The Captain America: The Winter Soldier trailer also featured the first look at the two title characters going at it!
3.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The Amazing Spider-Man debuted their latest spot during the game. But, Sony also released this extended spot called "Enemies Unite."
4.
Draft Day
Kevin Costner stars in Draft Day. The story of the NFL draft and one GM's Draft Day journey could not have picked a more perfect spot to debut.
5.
Non-Stop
Liam Neeson swung back into action with his latest trailer for Non-Stop. Neeson first became an action hero with Taken, which debuted its first trailer during that year's Super Bowl!
6.
Need for Speed
With this trailer, Aaron Paul let the world know what he was up to after Breaking Bad closed shop. Need for Speed may feel like Fast and Furious, but it is something entirely different!
7.
Noah
The Noah Super Bowl trailer showed that Russell Crowe can add biblical hero to his resume. The bible story gets the big screen treatment, courtesy of director Darren Arronofsky.
8.
3 Days to Kill
Kevin Costner makes his second Super Bowl appearance with the trailer for 3 Days to Kill. This time out, he's a retired CIA assassin, called back for "one last job."
9.
Muppets Most Wanted
Muppets Most Wanted made a splash at the big game with what they called the "Muppets Most Wanted Big Game Trailer." Kermit and the gang are back!
Another actor has died way too young -- like the recent Paul Walker death. And like Walker’s death left Fast and Furious 7 in a bind, so too has the Philip Seymour Hoffman death. Hoffman is a huge part of The Hunger Games conclusion. How will his passing affect the coming Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2?
Lionsgate has stated that a “substantial” part of Hoffman’s work on the film is done and that the film will not have to recast. Although his passing is way beyond sad, for fans of the series that is good news, because as we reported in our Catching Fire review, Hoffman’s casting as Plutarch Heavensbee was beyond perfect.
The studio released a statement in regards to the star’s death.
"Philip Seymour Hoffman was a singular talent and one of the most gifted actors of our generation. We're very fortunate that he graced our Hunger Games family,” Lionsgate said in the statement. “Losing him in his prime is a tragedy and we send our deepest condolences to Philip's family."
The Hunger Games writer Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence, producer Nina Jacobson and the franchise’s star Jennifer Lawrence, also issued a combined statement on the actor’s death.
"Words cannot convey the devastating loss we are all feeling right now. Philip was a wonderful person and an exceptional talent, and our hearts are breaking. Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to his family."
Be sure to click through the slideshow below of Hoffman’s life in movies, and understand what a loss the death of Hoffman is, as his talent is likely to never be seen again.
Hoffman was an impeccable choice to join the cast of Catching Fire. His Plutarch Heavensbee is unforgettable.
2.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
Hoffman commanded the screen. That was never more clear than in The Master.
3.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Moneyball
Who would have thought that Hoffman would be perfect for a baseball movie? Well, with talent like his, in hindsight, his riveting role in Moneyball should not have surprised.
4.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Quartet
Quartet was a true, well, quartet. But, the one we couldn't take our eyes off of was Hoffman.
5.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights star Philip Seymour Hoffman. The movie was one of his first roles.
6.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt
Star of Doubt, Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Oscar nominated movie featured Hoffman as a priest who may or not be who he says he is.
7.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote
Capote star Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman won his first Oscar for his role as the real life legend.
8.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Almost Famous
Almost Famous star Philip Seymour Hoffman. His characterization made you want to get into music in the Cameron Crowe classic.
9.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman will be missed. The extremely talented actor was found dead at the age of 46.
