If you’re like me, you keep two calendars: One with all your various appointments, meetings, reminders, and family obligations, and then another that’s just all the movies that are coming out soon that you can’t wait to watch.
(It’s okay if you’re not like me, I am a total weirdo. I honestly remain astonished to this day that I am married with children.)
Actually, it’s great if you’re not like me, because then I can use my total weirdness in a constructive way for all. That’s what this piece is all about: Helping boil down all the movies coming out in 2023 down to just the biggest and most interesting films that you should keep on your personal radar (even if you don’t actively write them down somewhere because, really, that is completely excessive and even now I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I do that).
And by the way: The list below contains just movies coming to theaters. There’s a whole other list to be written of movies coming to streaming in 2023. And I will definitely get there soon. But for now, let’s look ahead to these 20 can’t-miss (theatrical) titles…
The Most Anticipated Movies of 2023`
Here are 20 of the biggest and most exciting titles coming to theaters in 2023.
The Best Movies of 2022
Here are ScreenCrush’s picks for the top films of the year.
There is almost no aspect of life that hasn’t changed in the last 40 years — and sometimes drastically. How we consume media, how we interact with one another, how we communicate, how we think, the words we use … it’s all almost unrecognizable from the early 1980s.
And so it can sometimes be quite jarring to pick up a classic film of 40 — or as little as 30 or 20 — years ago. While the content of the actual movies themselves never change (unless George Lucas is somehow involved), hits of previous eras can become timeless classics or dated oddities very easily purely by the changes in the attitudes of the viewers watching them. Older films might contain storylines or characters or language that contemporary audiences now find distasteful, objectionable, or just out of touch.
Take the 30 movies listed below. In their day, they were all sizable hits. A couple were absolute blockbusters; a few even won major Academy Awards and were considered amongst the best motion pictures of their respective eras. But they look very differently when viewed through a modern lens. We’re not saying these movies should be forgotten or discarded. We simply want to observe how the times have changed, to the point where these 30 films would have a very hard time even getting made today.
80s Movies That Could Never Be Made Today
90s Movies That Could Never Be Made Today
These movies include some of the biggest of the decade — a few even won Academy Awards. But all of them would have trouble getting made today.
2000s Movies That Could Never Be Made Today
These movies include some of the biggest of the decade. But all of them would have trouble getting made today.
As 2022 winds down, it’s time to look back on the best TV series that have graced the small screen since January. They’ve made us laugh, cry, and even see the world through a different perspective. TV is no longer something we throw on in the background while making dinner — these days, it’s more a form of high art. Many shows require our full attention, serving the same level of engaging drama once reserved for the movie theater.
But let’s be honest — it’s a bit of a weird time for television right now. The past decade has seen an exponential rise in streamable content, with production studios heaving millions of dollars into big budget series without thinking about the consequences. Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and other major streamers are all competing for viewers, similar to the days of cable ratings. And yet, the shiny veneer of these streaming services’ Golden Age is beginning to wear just a bit — just because you have thousands of shows at your fingertips doesn’t mean that all are worth watching.
That being said, there have been some exceptional TV shows released this year. Leaning away from the conventions of the standard half-hour comedy and hour-long drama, the best TV shows of 2022 create their own rules. Several of them don’t define themselves by a single genre — there are comedies that are grounded by genuine emotion, and dramas that are woven with sharp humor. If you haven’t seen these shows yet, we recommend you give them a watch.
The Best TV Shows Of 2022
We picked the 10 best TV shows of the year.
The Best Movies of 2022
Here are ScreenCrush’s picks for the top films of the year.
As 2022 comes to a close, it’s time to look back on the movies that came out this year. And while many films had exclusive theatrical releases — something we hadn’t seen in a while since the Covid pandemic — there were also plenty that were released directly on streaming platforms. Between HBO Max, Disney+, AppleTV+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount+, the year was chock-full of new titles to watch from the warm, familiar comfort of our homes. As always, Netflix has delivered a wealth of original movies and TV shows — some good, some bad. We’re here to talk about the bad ones.
It’s worth mentioning that plenty of the films below were viewed by millions upon millions of people. That doesn’t mean, however, that they were liked. Hate-watching is a thing, and while some people undoubtedly enjoyed these movies, the overall impressions from audiences and critics alike were resoundingly negative.
The worst Netflix-produced movies of the year include an adaptation of a classic book, a new installment in a fan favorite franchise, and a sequel to a lackluster teen comedy. They’re here to remind us that Netflix doesn’t have a perfect batting average — with the astounding range of content they release, there’s bound to be a few movies that miss the mark entirely. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch them. Sometimes, we all need a movie to scoff at while we do chores, catch up with friends, or scroll through Instagram.
May we present: The worst Netflix movies of 2022…
The Worst Netflix Movies Of 2022
Netflix releases so many movies every year, they can’t all be classics.
Great Disney+ Movies You Might Have Missed
These excellent films are all waiting to be discovered on Disney+.
Every ten years, the British film magazine Sight & Sound polls hundreds of film critics and directors in order to create near-definitive lists of the best movies ever made. In 2012, critics named Alfred Hitchcock’sVertigo as the finest motion picture of all time. Directors chose Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Story as their top pick.
The 2022 list is officially here — and the winners are Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles for the critics and 2001: A Space Odyssey for the directors. This time, the magazine (which is affiliated with the venerated British Film Institute) arrived at their answers by polling 1639 “film critics, programmers, curators, archivists and academics” and 480 filmmakers.
I wasn’t among them. And I’m not going to lie: Being confronted with the fact that I’m not considered to be among the 1600 most knowledgable film critics in the world sent me into an existential crisis from which I have not fully recovered. I didn’t necessarily expect to be invited (at least until I heard how many people participated) but as a film dork who obsessed over the Sight & Sound film list every decade since 1992, I had already put years of thought into who I would vote for if I received a ballot.
So while it counts for absolutely nothing, I thought I would share what I would have picked had I been invited to participate. Below, is my hypothetical ballot, along with a little of the methodology behind my choices. Again, I have nothing to do with Sight & Sound or their poll. But if I had been asked, here’s how I would have responded.
My Sight & Sound Poll Ballot (If I’d Had One)
Every ten years, Sight & Sound polls film critics and directors around the world to determine the greatest movies in history. Yours truly wasn’t invited (an oversight, I’m sure!) but here’s how I would have voted.
You can read Sight & Sound’s full 2022 film critic and director polls here.
It’s hard to believe that the 1990s were three decades ago. So much has changed since then, and that includes the types of movies being made. No matter how hard filmmakers try, it’s impossible to recapture the exact feel of a ‘90s movie. There’s the warm, grainy look of the film, the expertly-chosen soundtracks of ’90s jams, and the mis-matched, inexplicably chic outfits. Movies today understandably look and feel different, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go back and revisit that era through our TV screens.
When you think of classic ’90s films, which movies come to mind? Is it something nostalgic like Matilda or The Sandlot, or something epic like Jurassic Park or The Matrix? Maybe it’s a film that became a pop culture phenomenon, like Clueless or Pulp Fiction. There’s no denying the quality or popularity of these titles — but they all receive credit where credit is due. Sometimes, it can be fun to watch a movie that isn’t nearly as popular, but shines in its own regard. That’s why we’ve assembled this list of ‘90s movies that are wildly underrated — so you can watch something retro that still feels fresh.
You might not have seen all of the movies below — or if you have, it’s probably been a while. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, it’s easy to access these ’90s gems with just a few clicks of a remote. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite movie out of this collection of underrated ’90s classics.
Underrated ’90s Films You Can Watch On Streaming
These movies don’t get the love they deserve — but you can stream them at home right now.
90s Movies That Could Never Be Made Today
These movies include some of the biggest of the decade — a few even won Academy Awards. But all of them would have trouble getting made today.
They weren’t all perfect (or great), but Marvel’s collective output in 2022 delivered a lot of definite highlights along the way. There were some very memorable action scenes, a couple of really wonderful surprises, and one of the most emotional sequences the company has ever produced. As we get ready for 2023 — Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania! Secret Invasion! Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3! — let’s take a look back at the best Marvel moments of the year… (Note that there will be a couple spoilers on our list…)
The Best Marvel Moments of 2022
We picked the highlights from all of Marvel’s films, shows, and Disney+ specials.
After eight TV shows and seven movies, Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is complete. What were the highlights and lowlights? We ranked them all.
For most people, the worst violence they encounter on Christmas is getting into a shoving match with someone over the last Cabbage Patch Doll or Tickle Me Elmo at the toy store. But while the majority of holiday movies tend to aim for a warmer, fuzzier register of emotions, there is a surprisingly robust subcategory of Christmas movies that present far more aggressive visions of the season.
The latest example is Violent Night, which is essentially an even more Christmas-y riff on Die Hard. A group of bad guys take a family hostage on Christmas Eve, but instead of Bruce Willis racing to the rescue, the real Santa Claus (David Harbour) shows up to save them. He‘s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice, and then he’s gonna kick the crap out of the naughty folks.
In honor of Violent Night, here are 50 years of dark and violent horror and action movies set in and around Christmas. They may not make the best fare to watch on Christmas Eve with the family. But if you’re feeling like a Grinch, they can really hit the spot.
Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) Directed by Theodore Gershuny
“‘Twas the night before Christmas… and all through the house, not a creature was … left living.” So begins the spooky trailer to Silent Night, Bloody Night, an early 1970s slasher about a series of killings in a small Massachusetts town on Christmas eve. The plot involves incest, amputations, and assorted slayings (not sleighing). The film is in the public domain because of a copyright snafu, so you can actually watch the entire thing right here.
Black Christmas (1974) Directed by Bob Clark
One of the all-time great pieces of movie trivia: Bob Clark, the man who made perhaps the most beloved Christmas movie of the last 50 years, A Christmas Story, also made one of the darkest Christmas movies ever. Black Christmas is the prototypical Yuletide slasher, with a series of murders in a sorority house in the run-up to Christmas. The movie became so iconic it has already been remade twice, in 2006 and 2019.
Christmas Evil (1980) Directed by Lewis Jackson
This particularly nasty piece of work is essentially Halloween set two months later. A kid gets traumatized on Christmas when he sees his mother fooling around with Santa Claus (actually it’s his father). When he grows up, instead of putting on a William Shatner mask and a jumpsuit, he dresses like — who else? — Santa, and starts hacking people up in between present deliveries. No wonder this film was originally titled You Better Watch Out.
Gremlins (1984) Directed by Joe Dante
You thought those tube socks were a crummy present? At least the tube socks didn’t turn into snarling, slimy, mischievous hellbeasts! That’s what happens in Gremlins, where an innocent Christmas present from a dad to his son, nearly destroys an entire town. For all the chaos the Gremlins cause. As gross as some of Gremlins is — like a melty death to rival what happens to the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark — the most disturbing part of the entire movie might be when Phoebe Cates recounts the story of why she hates Christmas — a tale that involves her father, a Santa suit, a broken neck, and a very clogged, very smelly chimney.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) Directed by Charles E. Sellier Jr.
If Silent Night, Bloody Night didn’t do it for you, maybe you’ll prefer Silent Night, Deadly Night. Actually, the film is closer in concept to Christmas Evil — it’s another story of a man who was traumatized as a boy on Christmas, who then grows up to associate the holiday with darkness and terror. Forced to dress like Santa Claus at his job, he snaps and goes on a rampage. All is not calm, all is not bright as the disturbed young man in the Santa suit hacks his way through town with box cutters and axes.
Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987) Directed by Lee Harry
The killer from the first Silent Night, Deadly Night had a brother — AKA an extremely convenient protagonist/killer for a sequel. Enter Part 2, which follows the brother on his own path of Christmas-themed destruction. But first: He narrates his brother’s story to a psychiatrist in order for the film to find a way to recycle a bunch of footage from the first SN,DN. Then the kid brother’s story follows, as he slaughters people he determines are “naughty.” You couldn’t just give them a lump of coal or something?!?
Die Hard (1988) Directed by John McTiernan
It’s almost embarrassing that people fought for so long over whether or not Die Hard was a Christmas movie. Of course it was! It’s a violent one, sure, but it definitely qualifies. Detective John McClane fights to rescue his estranged wife and a group of hostages when their Christmas party gets interrupted by terrorists. There are shootouts, explosions, and — worst of all — a scene where McClane runs across broken glass barefoot, leading to an aftermath where he has to drag his blood and beaten carcass across the floor. This is why I always come up with an excuse to get out of my own company’s holiday party. I don’t need that kind of aggravation in my life.
Elves (1989) Directed by Jeffrey Mandel
No, this one is not a dark comedy about Santa‘s overworked labor force rising up against their jolly overseer to demand better pay and fewer hours. That would make too much sense! These elves are — wait for it — connected to a secret Nazi cult, and attempts to take over the entire world by impregnating a pure-blooded virgin. You know, Christmas stuff. Elves also includes the immortal line “I had a rough day at work, Santa got murdered.” (Don’t you hate when that happens?)
Jack Frost (1997) Directed by Michael Cooney
As disturbing as the otherJack Frost is, this one might actually be even more horrifying. When a serial killer gets exposed to chemicals, his evil essence fuses with some snow and turns him into a homicidal Frosty. Once must at leave give this slasher some points for ingenuity; rather than the traditional instruments of destruction, Jack Frost tends to prefer holiday-themed murders, like strangling someone with Christmas lights or stabbing someone with an oversized icicle. No one gets poisoned with a bad batch of gingerbread, but you can’t win them all I guess.
The Gingerdead Man (2005) Directed by Charles Band
Speaking of gingerbread: Meet The Gingerdead Man, who is created when the ashes of a psychotic killer (Gary Busey!) are mixed with gingerbread spices by a witch. Yes, it’s that old worn-out cliché again; the old killer-gets-reincarnated-as-evil-food-by-mixing-his-ashes-with-cookies-by-a-witch gag. The thematically-appropriate kills in this one include death by a variety of kitchen implements, not just knives. While actual gingerbread goes stale in a matter of days, The Gingerdead Man franchise continued on for four films over a decade, culminating in the classic sequel Ginderdead Man vs. Evil Bong. Yes, it’s that old worn-out cliché again: The old killer-gets-reincarnated-as-evil-food-by-mixing-his-ashes-with-cookies-by-a-witch-then-fights-with-an-evil-bong. Come up with some new ideas, Hollywood!
Black X-Mas (2006) Directed by Glen Morgan
This Black Christmas remake (a second followed 13 years later) was so upsetting to some religious groups that they actively protested the film. (“To have a movie that emphasizes murder and mayhem at Christmas, a time of celebration and joy around the world seems to be ill-founded,” said one such offended party, who had clearly not been paying attention to movies for the previous 35 years.) Admittedly, this is an even darker take on the original Black Christmas premise, with even more disturbing content and at least one impalement via Christmas tree. Ouch.
Silent Night (2012) Directed by Steven C. Miller
You know the drill by now: This remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night features yet another Santa-garbbed slasher. This guy uses axes, wood chippers, and even a flamethrower. (Look, you gotta roast those chestnuts on an open fire somehow.) One character notes that Christmas is “the number one holiday for people going nuts.” Which, at least according to the movies, may actually be true.
Krampus (2015) Directed by Michael Dougherty
Don’t lose that Christmas spirit, or you might just get a visit from Krampus, an ancient spirit that’s like the dark side of Santa Claus. He kills people with evil jack in the boxes, sentient gingerbread men, and assorted other goodies. This clever dark comedy with an awesome cast has quickly become a holiday favorite for horror fans. Be good, for goodness sake!
Better Watch Out (2016) Directed by Chris Peckover
This list could have been titled “Movies With Trailers That Start With a Cheerful Holiday Song That Builds to a Dark Twist” with very minimal changes. Better Watch Out certainly would have fit. It’s about a kid and his babysitter who are terrorized by a masked intruder — or so things initially seem. Eventually, the film evolves into a very dark take on Home Alone — which, come to think of it, is a pretty darn violent Christmas movie itself. It’s just that the violence is cartoonish and not bloody and disturbing.
The Advent Calendar (2021) Directed by Patrick Ridremont
We’re now 50 years into the history of twisted and violent Christmas movies, and while it sometimes seems like every conceivable twist on that formula has been exhausted, enterprising directors continue to invent new ways to turn the holiday season into a bloodbath. The Advent Calendar is exactly what it sounds like: A Christmas horror movie centered around a magical version of the holiday favorite. In it, a paraplegic former dancer receives this mysterious advent calendar as a gift. Eating the candy causes strange calamities. Cue the bloodshed and mayhem — just what everyone wants for Christmas.
It’s time to get freaky deaky! The Covid-19 pandemic definitely slowed down the film and TV industries for a time, and we’re still feeling those effects, of course. But luckily, the last year we’ve gotten a bounty of imaginative and provocative genre films ready to give us some much-needed catharsis.
Independent films (and especially independent horror films) have been a part of the movies from the very beginning of the history of film. Indie horror has been a thriving sub-genre for those who want to push boundaries, the limits of “good taste,” and find unique creative visions. Recently, the rise of “prestige horror” (whatever you think about the term), coincided with the glut of streaming services. And with the popularity of some trendy, name-recognizable independent studios (like A24 and Neon), indie horror is back at the cultural forefront in a major way.
The last two years have been hard on just about everyone, and since, sometimes, the best way to process the horrors of the world is to sit down, turn the lights off, and scream—I decided to make a list of the best indie horror films of the 2020s so far, with everything from zombies, to ghosts, to serial killers, to aliens! I capped the list at seventeen provocative genre gems from 2020 to the present (with two exceptions that technically premiered in 2019 but weren’t released until 2020), because there are just too many good options to choose from. If you have a favorite that missed the list, add your recommendation in the comments!
Barbarian (2022)
(Image: 20th Century Studios)
Barbarian came into close out 2022 with a bash! Written and directed by Zach Cregger (from the sketch comedy group ‘Whitest Kids U’Know’), Barbarian is one of the most entertaining and intelligent horror films to come out this decade. The less you know about it going in, the better, so let me just say that the performances from Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long as the unfortunate guests of an eerie AirBnB in Detroit are fantastic and surprising. The film tackles everything from gentrification, vacation rentals, “cancel culture,” to toxic masculinity, but it always in the way you least expect! It’s currently streaming on HBOMax and I can not recommend it enough!
Terrifier 2 (2022)
(Image: Dark Age Cinema)
A true indie horror film in every sense of the term, Terrifier 2 (written, directed, produced, and edited by Damien Leone), was made on a budget of only $250,000 but it has proven to be an undeniable hit at the box office (earning over $11million). Following up on the adventures of its antagonist in the first Terrifier, we see Art the Clown resurrect and find a new batch of young people to slaughter in increasingly gruesome ways. It is light on plot but heavy on splatter, violence, and incredible practical effects. It is not for the faint of heart, but the gore is impressively achieved and the film feels authentic to the slasher video nasties of the 1980s. It is currently available for streaming on Screambox.
Blood Quantum (2019)
(Image: Shudder)
Zombie flicks aren’t just about blood, guts, and the undead. The best of the genre are also pointed socio-political commentaries (see: Dawn of the Dead and its critique of American consumerism), and Blood Quantum is no different. A subversion of the “Blood Quantum” laws imposed upon Indigenous people in North America, First Nations writer/director Jeff Barnaby tells the story of a virus that is turning white people into flesh-eating zombies. The film is darkly funny, violent, and bleak—and a scathing commentary on American history, capitalism, and “manifest destiny.” Here, you can see violent, all-consuming monsters who have done terrible things to the Indigenous populations in the Americas—and now they’re zombies, too! You can watch it on Shudder.
The Vigil (2019)
(Image: Blumhouse/IFC Midnight)
The Vigil is an intimate haunted house story steeped in Orthodox Jewish Mysticism. The directorial debut of Keith Thomas, it tells the story of Yakov Ronen, a man who left his Orthodox community in Brooklyn behind, but returns to be a hired Shomer (a man paid to sit Shiva after a death—if no one in the family is able to) for an elderly man who has died. But he soon begins to be haunted by a Mazzik, a malevolent spirit that had been feeding off of the pain and guilt of the deceased man. Yakov must now break his link to the demon, and face his own guilt, before sunrise or he will be linked to the Mazzik forever.
The Vigil is a terrifying and claustrophobic ghost story, helmed by a very strong performance from Dave Davis in what is, nearly, a one-man movie. And it’s packed full of some legitimate jump scares and truly creepy moments. The inventive twist of never being able to see the Mazzik’s face heightens the eeriness of the film. After all, there’s nothing scarier than catching something just out of the corner of your eye. You can watch it now on Hulu.
Possessor (2020)
(Image: Neon)
The breakout hit from Sundance 2020, Possessor is a dystopian, sci-fi body horror film from Brandon Cronenberg (yes, the son of David Cronenberg). In a world where corporate assassins can hack into people’s brains and control their bodies to take out nearby targets, no one is safe. Not even the assassins themselves. Things go badly for Tasya Vos, an assassin, when she loses control of her assigned body, with disastrously bloody results. A mix of low-fi tech and horrifying visuals (the moment when Colin Tate jumps into Vos’s mind is particularly upsetting), Possessor is a lesson in paranoia (with a very high body count). It’s available for streaming on Hulu.
His House (2020)
(Image: Netflix)
One of the few truly great movies on Netflix right now (I said what I said), His House was another breakout hit from Sundance 2020. It is both terrifying and heart-wrenching—telling the story of Sudan refugees trying to make their home in the UK, while, at the same time, awaiting the official approval of their asylum application. As they deal with several different forms of racism and xenophobia from their neighbors, they are also plagued by the ghosts of their past, and attacks from an “apeth” (a night witch). The ghosts are terrifying and the jump scares are intense, and the emotional performances from Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu are incredible. You can stream it now on Netflix.
Relic (2020)
(Image: IFC Midnight)
Relic is part haunted house story, part monster movie. But at its heart, it’s a story about family, and the ways that we become (or repeat) our mothers. When Kay (Emily Mortimer) and her daughter Sam, move in with her ailing mother, Edna, things begin to go poorly. Edna is being consumed by a black mold, and she wanders in and out of secret, ever-changing passages in her spooky home. Inspired in part by the iconic horror-art novel House of Leaves and by her own grandmother’s struggles with dementia, writer-director Natalie Erika James has crafted a haunting look at family legacy, decay, and the terrors of age. You can rent it on Direct TV or buy it from Apple and Amazon.
Swallow (2020)
(Image: IFC)
A subversion of the Stepford Wives trope (that examines the tortured interior of a “perfect” housewife), Swallow follows a pregnant woman who develops pica—a psychological disorder that makes her feel compelled to swallow inedible objects. As her world becomes more and more tightly controlled by her husband’s wealthy family, Hunter swallows more and more dangerous objects. A sharp commentary on gender roles, class, and femininity, Swallow is not one to miss! Watch it now on AMC+ or buy it on Amazon.
In the Earth (2021)
Image: Neon
My personal favorite from Sundance 2021 is the darkly comedic, Lovecraftian folk-horror film, In The Earth—from director Ben Wheatley. Refusing to ignore the pandemic while making the film, Wheatley incorporated it in subtle ways. In the film,scientists and trackers have just finished quarantining from an unnamed virus. They then enter an isolated forest, intent on tracking down a missing member of the larger team. While on the trails, the tracker and scientist encounter the mysterious Zach (played by the amazing Reece Shearsmith), who quickly captures them and uses them for strange rites in worship of a sacred stone. In the Earth is violent, strange, horrifying and hilarious. You can stream it now on Hulu.
Censor (2021)
(Image: MGM)
Inspired by the real-life “video nasty” controversies of the 1980s, Censor follows Enid Baines—an employee of the British Board of Film Classification. Incredibly rigid and strict, Enid is responsible for watching horror movies that are ready for release, and then recommending that all inappropriate or violent content be cut or banned. However, she loses her grip on reality when one of the films has an actress that looks like her long missing (potentially dead) sister. As she attempts to track down the actress, and the elusive director of the film, things get weird. Niamh Algar is terrific as Enid and the film feels like a pointed commentary on the cycles of public uproar over what is considered “indecent” or “inappropriate.” You can stream it on Hulu!
A Glitch in the Matrix (2021)
(Image: Magnolia Pictures)
If you love documentaries and want a wild, unsettling ride, then A Glitch in the Matrix is perfect. From director Rodney Ascher, A Glitch in the Matrix is about several people who believe that we are all living in a simulation. The film follows their stories, how they learned about this theory and fell down the rabbit hole, but also about the terrifyingly fluid nature of reality. The film gives the men CGI video game avatars instead of showing their faces, which only becomes more haunting when you see the violent repercussions of one man’s belief that reality isn’t real. You can watch it now on Hulu.
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched (2021)
(Image: Shudder)
Another documentary, this one for my history and film buffs! Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, from director Kier-La Jannisse, traces the history of the folk horror sub-genre. From fairy tales, to the seventies, to today, Woodlands looks at the fears that inspire folk horror and the cultural archetypes (and stereotypes) that populate these movies. It dives deep into classics like The Wicker Man and TheWitchfinder General, it dissects our now decades old cultural anxieties about climate change, and the tensions that arise when colonizers and outsiders take over land that they don’t understand. It’s an incredible documentary, but the broad scope means that it has a running time of over three hours. You can watch it now on Shudder.
Psycho Goreman (2020)
(Image: Shudder)
What happens when two kids accidentally awaken a powerful, alien warlord? They make him their new BFF and take him on adventures! Psycho Goreman is a delightfully sweet, ridiculous, coming-of-age, horror-comedy. The practical effects and monster makeup are imaginative and fun (and make me nostalgic for the demons of Buffy and Angel). If you’re looking for something twisted, but lighthearted, Psycho Goreman is sure to delight. You can stream it now on Shudder.
Titane (2021)
(Image: Neon)
The wildest feature out of the Cannes Film Festival this year, Titane is the sophmore film from French director Julia Ducournau (her first feature, Raw, is also incredible). I don’t want to spoil the film too much for those who haven’t seen it, because going in blind is part of the fun, but think of it this way: what if one of the car show girls from The Fast and The Furious was a serial killer? And also, was impregnated by a car? Yes, really. Titane goes 100 miles per hour from start to finish, with an incredible sense of play, questioning everything from gender, toxic masculinity, to parenthood, and leaving the audience to find the answers for themselves. You can stream it now on Hulu.
Nanny (2022)
(Image: Blumhouse Productions/Amazon Studios)
Part ghost story, part fairy tale, Nanny tells the story of Aisha, an immigrant who becomes the nanny of a wealthy, New York couple. She begins to be plagued by visions of spiders and mermaids. Are they hauntings? Or trying to send her a warning? Nanny won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year and is led by the incredible performance of Anna Diop as Aisha. Nanny will be coming soon to Amazon Prime.
Resurrection (2022) – Shudder
(Image: IFC Films/Shudder)
A Cronenbergian, psychological horror film, Resurrection is surreal, nerve wracking, and deeply disturbing. Rebecca Hall stars as Margaret: a successful single mom who leads a seemingly ordered and predictable life. However, when her ex David (Tim Roth) comes back into her life, things begin to unravel. Margaret becomes increasingly paranoid, and we learn about David’s abusive, cult-like control of her when she was a young woman.
Hall’s performance as Margaret is extraordinary, as her all-business “boss queen” unravels into someone who can no longer trust any of her senses. It starts out as a slow-burn thriller but ramps up into a gory spectacle that is both shocking and satisfying. Resurrection is available to stream on AMC+ and Shudder.
Hatching (2022)
(Image: IFC Midnight)
I have to say, my second favorite (behind Barbarian) of all of these movies has to be the Finnish, creature feature meets coming of age story, Hatching. A satirical commentary on puberty, girlhood, and the pressures placed on girls by their family (and by society), Hatching tells the story of Tinja—a young girl struggling to live up to her mother’s (a popular mommy blogger) strict expectations.
One day Tinja finds an egg in the forest and nurtures it until it hatches. The creature that emerges becomes a mirror of her darker, more turbulent emotions and wish-fulfillment. The humor is dark and twisted. The production design is pink and frilly. But most importantly, Alli, the creature that Tinja hatches, is incredible. Horrifying and yet fragile, the design and special effects makeup create a monster that is both repellent, and yet, easy to love. And it is available to stream on Hulu!
Since its first full-length animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, arrived in 1937, Walt Disney Studios has been churning out beloved classics that have ingrained themselves into popular culture. An overwhelming majority of these movies are downright excellent, gifting us with some of the most memorable songs and characters to ever grace the silver screen. Some are marginally better than others — and of course, there are a few clunkers — but overall, Disney’s batting average for family friendly hits is remarkably high.
When Disney joined forces with Pixar Animation Studios in the latter half of the 1990s, the bar was subsequently raised. New computer-generated animation techniques opened up the floodgates for some superb works, starting with 1995’s Toy Story all the way up to this year’s stellar Turning Red. Disney Animation Studios is also responsible for some popular entries into the Disney canon, such as Moana, Zootopia, and of course, Frozen.
While many of Disney’s standouts receive the due credit they deserve, there are a select few that frequently get left out. Maybe their box office performance wasn’t as successful as hoped, or perhaps they just became overshadowed by more popular films. One such movie considered by many to be underrated is 2007’s Enchanted — a live-action-animation hybrid that satirizes its own fairytale cliches while also proving their worth. Despite its critical praise, it took 15 years later to get a sequel. At long last, Disenchanted finally arrived on Disney+ on November 18. Let’s look back on Enchanted and the other underrated Disney movies of the past 25 years.
The Most Underrated Disney Movies Of The Last 25 Years
No one considers these Disney movies “classics” — but they should.
There seem to be two kinds of people in this world — those who are genuinely frightened by horror movies, and those who dismiss them as nothing more than some predictable jump scares and plot devices. Either type of person can enjoy a horror film, just in different ways. But no matter how scary — or not scary — you deem a film to be, there’s no denying that the productions behind many of these movies are a little, well, cursed.
Now, we’re not saying that there was any real paranormal activity going on behind the scenes of The Exorcistor The Conjuring, but you’d be surprised to learn just how many bizarre and sometimes tragic incidents occurred while making these movies. Does it have anything to do with the fact that these films deal with occult-ish matters? Or is it merely a coincidence? Sure, accidents happen on movie sets from other genres, but there seems to be a trend with films that focus on the supernatural.
Typically, these on-set accidents can be attributed to more explainable causes — such as unsafe working conditions and pre-existing health complications. However, in the cases of these 10 movies, it almost seems like there’s some sort of curse at play. Sure, some might call it bad luck, but the filmmakers and actors involved believe there’s more to it than that. Learn more about the “curses” that plagued these scary movies — and then decide for yourself whether or not you think otherworldly forces were involved.
10 Horror Movies That Are Supposedly Cursed
From mysterious on-set accidents to unexplainable audience reactions, these movies have all gained a reputation for being cursed.
In cases such as these, not even a single frame of the actual movies would have been changed, just the name. And yet it’s hard to imagine something called Space Man From Pluto becomes a generational favorite in the way that Back to the Future did. On the flip side, you have to believe the reception of other movies would have been greatly enhanced if they’d only chosen a better title. (It’s been 15 years and we still want to know: What the hell is a quantum of solace?!?)
As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression. For movies, that first impression is their title. There is an art to crafting a title just as there is an art to making a movie. Below we have compiled two different lists: One featuring those motion pictures who mastered the art of the movie title, and another ranking those that did not. Take these films as valuable exemplars and as constructive criticism, respectively. Also note that we are judging the titles here, not necessarily the movies. A great movie can have a bad title and vice versa — although it much more frequently seems the case that a masterpiece has a title to match, and a stinker has an equally crummy title.
And now, here are the best and worst movie titles in history…
The Best Movie Titles in History
What’s in a name? A lot, as these great film titles prove.
The Worst Movie Titles in History
Some of these films were good, others were bad. But they all have one thing in common. They have absolutely terrible titles.
When a book gets turned into a movie, there are, of course, going to be some creative liberties taken. However, the amount of creative liberties varies from film to film. Some directors choose to include as many details from the book as possible, altering very little — if any — of the source material. Others deviate greatly from the original book, resulting in a movie that ends up telling a drastically different story than the novel it’s based on.
Oftentimes, the most significant changes happen at the end of the film. Crafting a satisfying ending has often been a challenge of filmmaking, and sometimes, the ending of a book just isn’t suited for the big screen. This has the potential to divide fans of the original book, as some may have wished to see a more faithful adaptation of the ending. Those who haven’t read the book are experiencing the story fresh for the first time, so they may not mind the changes as much.
A book’s ending may be changed because it’s too bleak, or because it’s too complex to express in a visual format. No movie can capture every single detail from the book, and the elements that are omitted can have an impact on what the ending is. Just because a movie changes the ending from the original book doesn’t make it bad — there are plenty of excellent films that benefit from the new interpretation.
Here are ten movies based on books with endings that differ from their original stories. (NOTE: Some spoilers follow for both these movies and their books.)
10 Movies That Changed The Ending Of The Books They’re Based On
These movies are drastically different from the movies that inspired them.
One of the first articles I wrote when I joined ScreenCrush some (gulp) eight years ago was a list of recent trailers with sad cover versions of popular songs. At the time, they seemed to be everywhere. In the wake of the trailer for The Social Network — which paired images of social media with the sounds of a women’s choir singing Radiohead’s “Creep” to brilliant effect — the concept of inserting bleak and/or haunting renditions of popular songs into trailers had exploded. It seemed worth documenting, so that’s what I did.
A year and a half later, I had enough examples for a second list. Two years after that, I did another. A fourth followed in the fall of 2020. And now here we sit, two years later, and there are still so many trailers like this — not just for movies, but for television shows and video games as well.
Will I ever stop writing these lists? Yes, if Hollywood trailer editors stop making them. Almost eight years later, they keep churning them out. Here are 10 more recent examples.
1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Featuring “The Super Mario Bros. Theme”
Who could forget the upbeat cheerful sounds of the theme to Super Mario Bros.? That sound is about as iconic as video game music gets. And that’s one of the reasons to twist and slow down a classic song in a trailer; to make people feel warm and fuzzy by reminding them of something they know and love, and then to twist that song in a new direction as if to subliminally suggest the film delivers a novel approach to something the viewer already knows and loves. Slowing down that Mario Bros. theme, and playing it on a twinkly piano, suggests this movie is a grand, mind-blowing adventure.
2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Featuring “No Woman, No Cry”
This is definitely an interesting example of the sad cover song trope. The trailer starts with a melancholic cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” but eventually that gives way to Kendrick Lamar’s more upbeat “Alright.” I haven’t seen Wakanda Forever yet, but the combination of songs seems to acknowledge the grief fans collectively feel about the death of Chadwick Boseman, while implying that the franchise will somehow find a way to move on in his absence.
3. Red Rocket Featuring “Bye Bye Bye”
Here is another meaningful use of this idea. Red Rocket is about a down-on-his-luck porn star who returns home after years in Los Angeles. The original “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC came out during the character’s glory days; playing a sad version in the trailer underscores just how far he’s fallen all those years later.
4. Last Night in Soho Featuring “Downtown”
The song “Downtown” by Petula Clark takes on major significance in Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho, so using it in the trailer is not simply trying to capitalize on a trend. (Of course, as relevant as it is to the content of the actual movie, it still qualifies here as well.)
5. Slumberland Featuring “Clocks”
Yes, that’s an instrumental (and somewhat somber) version of Coldplay’s “Clocks” that plays during the trailer to Netflix’s Slumberland. As you’re about to see, Netflix is a fan of sad covers of pop songs in trailers.
6. Wendell & Wild Featuring “How You Like Me Now?”
Jordan Peele is another fan of sad covers — or at least cleverly downbeat remixes — in his trailers. A version of “I Got 5 On It” was used in the trailer for Us; Nope messed with the tempo of Stevie Wonder’s “Fingertips.” Peele’s animated movie with director Henry Selick, Wendell & Wild, uses a sinister cover version of The Heavy’s “How You Like Me Now?”
7. M3GAN Featuring “It’s Nice to Have a Friend”
It is not nice to have a friend, you see. In fact, if your friend is an advanced artificial intelligence that looks like a little girl but murders people like Jason Voorhees on steroids it is not nice at all. That is the ironic point of that song choice. Just want to make sure we’re all on the same page here.
8. Dumbo Featuring “Baby Mine”
The original “Baby Mine” isn’t exactly a toe-tapper; it’s a lullaby sung by Mrs. Jumbo to Dumbo. So the version here isn’t quite a sad cover of a popular song. More an even-more-sad-and-operatic version of a popular song, and its use indicates the epic emotions of this live-action remake. (At least that was the intent.)
9. Midnight Suns Featuring “Enter Sandman”
Although this trend is best known from movie trailers, ads for other things have gotten into the act too. This Marvel video game, for example, has a sad cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” I imagine the words “Exit light / Enter night” were the primary reason the song was selected for a game about the superhero team Midnight Suns.
10. The Magicians Featuring “This Magic Moment”
Do you get it? Because they’re magicians? And the song is “This Magic Moment”? You get it.
The Best Fake Movie Trailers From Actual Films
We love when real movies feature phony trailers for nonexistent movies. Here are the 15 funniest ones ever made:
Theme parks have to simultaneously satisfy two different audiences: People who are nostalgic for attractions they experienced in their youths, and tourists on the hunt for newer and bigger thrills. When to update or replace an aging ride is a constant question for amusement parks. Some attractions feel dated after a decade or less. Some remain timeless after a century of operation.
That push and pull is even more pronounced when a ride is based on a movie or TV franchise — because then it’s not just the attraction that has to remain popular, the intellectual property it’s based on has to as well. Some franchises linger in the public consciousness for decades; others, even some really popular ones, might fade into obscurity. (Or a company might wish a franchise would fade into obscurity for a variety of reasons.) If you’re a theme park and you have a big roller coaster based on one of the obscure (or controversial) ones, well, you might have a problem on your hands.
For example, Universal Studios Orlando recently announced they were closing a whole batch of attractions in their park, including a Woody Woodpecker roller coaster, a Shrek & Donkey meet and greet, and a playground called Fievel’s Playland, based on the animated movie An American Tail.
An American Tail was a fairly large box-office hit in 1986 (although its sequel, Fievel Goes West, was not just a few years later). So it wasn’t a left-field choice for a themed playground when it opened at Universal Studios in the early ’90s. But that was 30 years ago, and American Tail hasn’t done much since then; just a handful of video games and a couple direct-to-video sequels. It’s kind of astonishing that playground remained open this long.
But while Fievel’s Playland might not be long for this world, there are quite a few other theme park attractions based on movies that are as old (or much older) that are still going strong. Here now, a tribute to these rides and their baffling longevity.
1
Mr Toad’s Wild Ride
First Opened: 1955
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is one of a handful of opening day Disneyland attractions that remain in operation some 67 years later. Most of the others that are still around are connected to major Disney properties like Peter Pan, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland. Mr. Toad, originally of the children’s book The Wind in the Willows, only appeared in one of Disney’s lesser-known anthology films, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Plus, the ride itself harbors some surprisingly adult content for the supposedly family-friendly Disney company; guests are taken via old timey car on a wild joy ride that ends with a head-on collision with a train and a trip to a literal hell. While Florida’s version closed in 1998, California’s Wild Ride keeps on sending tourists to hell hour after hour, day after day.
2
Casey Jr. Circus Train
First Opened: 1955
This original Disneyland attraction is a train ride for children inspired by the company’s animated classic Dumbo. It is sweet and quaint and certainly speaks to Walt Disney’s personal love of trains. But Disneyland already has another (far more famous) Dumbo ride; the one where guests get to take a “flight” with the character. As such, it’s shocking that Disney hasn’t tried to repurpose the space occupied by this secondary attraction in all the years since.
3
Earthquake
First Opened: 1989
The Earthquake attraction was first introduced as part of the Universal Studios tram tour in 1989, some 15 years after Universal’s Earthquake film starring Charlton Heston opened in theaters. It made a fine showcase for practical special effects of the time, and it got its own standalone ride when Universal Studios Florida opened in Orlando in 1990. As practical special effects became less and less relevant to moviemaking (and the Universal theme parks), the Earthquake ride closed in 2015 to make room for a Fast & Furious ride. But the old school Earthquake stop on the Universal tram tour in Hollywood is still around, rumbling guests who probably have never seen 1974’s Earthquake and maybe don’t even know it exists.
4
E.T. Adventure
First Opened: 1990
Not far from Fievel’s Playland stands one of the few opening day attractions at Universal Studios Florida still in operation: E.T. Adventure, based on the beloved Steven Spielberg movie. The attraction is a riff on the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland; guests board “flying” bicycles and then take a bizarre trip to E.T.’s psychedelic home world, the “Green Planet.” Although the ride has been refurbished through the years, its animatronic effects are no longer cutting edge, and E.T. isn’t quite the cultural touchstone it was in the late 1980s. But when Universal announced the closure of Fievel’s Playland and all those other attractions, E.T. Adventure was spared from the wrecking ball.
5
The Blues Brothers Show
First Opened: 1991
Do kids today even know the Blues Brothers? Mine certainly don’t, and when I tried to show them the original movie — one of my personal favorites, I should note — they were amused by the music and car chases, and utterly baffled by the comedy and the film’s absurd length. The last Blues Brothers movie, the mega-flop Blues Brothers 2000, opened more than 20 years ago. Yet Jake and Elwood Blues still regularly roam through the streets of Universal Studios Florida, putting on (surprisingly entertaining) performances of their classic blues and soul hits.
6
Gadget’s Go Coaster
First Opened: 1993
Perhaps the single most obscure attraction in all of Disneyland is this children’s roller coaster inspired by one of the supporting characters on the ’90s animated series Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. The Disneyland version of the ride is currently closed while the park redesigns the area around it, and it will supposedly be altered when it reopens. But the old school Go Coaster is still up and running at Tokyo Disneyland if you ever feel the need to visit.
7
Hurler
First Opened: 1994
For a dozen years in the ’90s and 2000s, Paramount owned the Carowinds amusement park in North Carolina, and during that period they installed several rides inspired by Paramount movies — including a roller coaster called the Hurler taken loosely from Wayne’s World (where the characters occasionally make jokes about needing to hurl). When Paramount sold its theme park division, all the references to Paramount movies were removed, and most of the rides’ names were changed. But the Hurler remained the Hurler, and if you look around the attraction, you’ll still see a few faded references to the SNL-inspired film.
8
Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular
First Opened: 1995
The Waterworld stunt show has to be one of the most improbable success stories in theme park history. The movie it’s based on was a notorious bomb, and is mostly only remembered for being the most expensive Hollywood production ever made to that point in history. And within a few years, the stunts and effects on display in Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular had very little in common with modern blockbusters, whose pyrotechnic visuals are now mostly created by computers. And yet the Waterworld show remains extremely popular with Universal Studios guests all over the world. Not only is original version still open almost 30 years later, but Universal keeps building new versions of the show at parks around the world. The latest, at Universal Studios Beijing, debuted just last year.
9
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
First Opened: 1999
Dudley Do-Right was already a bit of a relic when Universal added a log flume ride inspired by the character to its Islands of Adventure, although he did appear in a live-action movie starring Brendan Fraser that same year. The movie was a huge flop, though, and the character hasn’t done much since. Nevertheless, Ripsaw Falls remains in business. Its enduring popularity despite its somewhat dated theming, is probably due to the fact that it is an extremely fun ride.
10
U-571
First Opened: 2006
Do you remember the 2000 movie U-571? No? You don’t recall U-571-mania sweeping the globe in the spring of 2000? Okay, me neither. The film, a submarine thriller starring Matthew McConaughey, was a modest hit in theaters but left little impact on broader pop culture. For some reason, Movieland Park in Italy opened an attraction based on the film in 2006. 15 years later, it’s still there. Go figure.
For many of us, the experience of having roommates is a rite of passage. Whether you lived with others in college, during a first job, or upon moving to a new city, there’s nothing quite like sharing a space with others that are close to you in age but are neither your sibling nor your significant other. Maybe you started out as friends, or you decided to sign a lease as virtual strangers. Every experience is different, and there are many hurdles to overcome. As it turns out, there are plenty of famous actors who can relate to these roommate struggles — although unlike most of us, their housemates also just happened to be other famous actors.
Many of these actors lived together before either one had found fame, making ends meet with the occasional jobs they were booking. Of course, after their careers took off, they could afford to buy their own houses — a far cry from the two-bedroom apartments they were sharing. Yes, even some of the most successful actors were once splitting utilities and dividing chores. Some pairings were successful, while other actors learned that they were better off as friends than housemates.
Below, you’ll discover both the expected and unlikely roommate pairings of Hollywood. Certain actors, such as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, were frequent collaborators. Others, such as Jamie Dornan and Eddie Redmayne, were auditioning for the same roles. Through thick and thin, these stars persevered — and they have a ton of roomie stories to tell.
20 Famous Actors Who Used To Live Together
These actors were roommates before they became big stars.
10 Famous Actors Who Lied To Get Movie And TV Roles
These actors told some minor fibs to score roles in major Hollywood productions.
It’s hard to always predict which movies are going to live on as classics. While you might assume something like Star Wars was always destined for greatness, the truth is that you never really know which movies are bound to become pop culture touchstones. The actors in these movies don’t know, either — what starts off as a one-time movie deal might turn into a lucrative franchise run. In other cases, a movie sequel or reboot may lie dormant for several years, and when it finally does happen? Those actors prepare to return to a role they haven’t touched in decades.
Since Hollywood can be so unpredictable, it’s never quite clear what the future holds for a movie franchise. In some situations, a franchise completely starts fresh with new characters. This creates the opportunity for the original actors to come back and make a cameo. There are some movies, however, where those original actors serve as the leads of that sequel — a good example would be Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels as Harry and Lloyd in 2014’s Dumb and Dumber To. There’s something undeniably special about seeing an actor reappear as a certain character so many years — even though they may look a bit older, they still bring the same energy to the table.
For some performers, one iconic role becomes the gift that keeps on giving. No matter how much time goes by, that character will always be a defining part of their career. These actors returned to their roles decades after their first appearance on screen.
13 Actors Who Returned To Iconic Roles Decades Later
What Happened To Your Favorite Child Actors After They Left Hollywood
The history of superhero comics truly begins with 1938’s Action Comics #1. And the history of superhero movies truly begins with Superman, who starred in the first-ever feature film adapted from a DC Comic in 1951 and then returned to theaters in the movie that revolutionized the way the world looked at these stories, 1978’s Superman.
Today, Marvel is an even bigger presence in Hollywood. But for many years, DC and its library of iconic superheroes — Batman! Robin! Wonder Woman! And to a much lesser extent, Aquaman! — was dominant. With DC movies riding a hot streak of movies thanks to the success of The Suicide Squadand The Batman, it seemed like a fun time to take stock of every DC Comics film ever made — at least until I started rewatching them for this piece. Then it often seemed less fun.
The list below contains 40 feature films. I excluded anything that went straight to home video, and also ruled out anything from DC’s publishing imprints like Vertigo and Wildstorm. (The adaptations of Alan Moore’s comics for DC remain a weird gray area; I included Watchmen because those characters have now crossed over into the main DC Comics Universe, and excluded V For Vendetta because that movie actually starts with the Vertigo logo.) I also restricted myself to feature films, which meant no movie serials. If you do want to read about Spy Smasher, Hop Harrigan and the rest, I wrote about all but one of them during my History of Comic Book Movies column.
I’ll get around to finishing that some day. In the meantime, here’s my ranking:
Every DC Comics Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best
From Superman and the Mole Men to The Suicide Squad, we ranked every movie based on DC comics.
Actors Who Turned Down DC Roles
These major stars could have played some of your favorite DC Comics’ heroes onscreen. But they all said no for one reason or another.
The only thing scarier than an immortal demon clown who feeds on your fears is trying to keep track of where your favorite horror movies are on streaming. It’s so hard! There’s just too many titles, and too many places to find streaming films these days. There are big streamers like Netflix and HBO Max, specialty sites like The Criterion Channel or Shudder (which, as an all-horror streaming service, is particularly valuable at this time of year), and even ad-supported hubs like Tubi or Pluto TV.
Then there’s the additional consideration of titles jumping from one streaming service to another. If something is made by a Netflix or a Prime Video, you can feel pretty confident it will remain there in perpetuity. But for most classic horror favorites, they are usually licensed by a separate distributor. And the deals to stream those types of films can be as short as a couple of months — at which point a movie is free to jump to another streaming service.
So this list was written and intended for use around Halloween 2022. If you’re reading it after that, it could be out of date. But this Halloween season, if you’re looking to watch one of the most popular horror films in history, here is where you will find 20 of the biggest titles. Happy (or technically scary) viewing!
The Most Popular Horror Movies and Where to Stream Them
If you’re looking for a classic to stream this Halloween, here’s where to find them:
Vincent Macaluso, MD, found out he had multiple sclerosis (MS) when he was in medical school. Today, he treats people who have MS at his clinic in New Hyde Park, NY.
He understands that MS can change the way you think, feel, and act better than most people. He also knows firsthand how hard it can be to explain this to others.
Symptoms like memory problems and depression happen because MS affects the way your brain works. Although these problems can have a huge impact on your life, other people may not always know you have them. Macaluso says it’s common for people with MS to look fine on the outside but not feel fine on the inside.
It can go the other way, too. Tim Vartanian, MD, director of the Judith Jaffe Multiple Sclerosis Center in New York, says family members or co-workers may notice the changes first.
Either way, it’s important to let those closest to you know what’s going on now and what could happen down the road. This helps them better understand any changes they see. They can also offer help when and if you need it.
Cognitive Problems
At some point, more than half the people with MS will have cognitive problems. (Some people with MS call it “cog fog.”) Vartanian says the most common symptoms are:
Slowed thinking
Fuzzy memory
Trouble with executive function — your ability to plan and do things
And sometimes you just might not feel as sharp as you used to.
People with MS can have some or all of these things. But for most, memory problems top the list. Vartanian says MS can affect recent memories or those in the distant past.
For many, though, day-to-day symptoms are often mild. But even minor lapses can be a challenge. (Memory problems are one of the main reasons people with MS stop working.)
To explain how this feels, try putting it in terms others can relate to. You could say, “Remember how upset you were when you couldn’t find your car keys yesterday? As my MS goes on, that could happen to me more often.”
People with MS should work with a doctor called a neuropsychologist who can suggest ways to sharpen the mind. This includes both mental and physical exercises. Things that can affect how well your brain works, like “depression, anxiety, and stress, all need to be addressed head-on,” Vartanian says.
Let your loved ones know things that can help you manage the memory problems that come with MS.
Keep it cool. Damaged nerves don’t work well in the heat. That’s why many (but not all) people with MS think and learn better when it’s cool. To improve focus, spend time with your friends in a cool, quiet place without distractions. (Step away from Netflix!) Let them know that’s the goal in case you forget now and then.
Make to-do lists. Many people with MS say they lose track of bits of paper. Instead, you may use a small recorder you can hang around your neck or the voice recorder on your phone. And let your friends know you’re doing it so they can help.
Set a routine. Put your car keys, phone, and glasses in the same place so you always know where they are. Let your loved ones know where that place is, so if they spot them someplace else, they can put them back.
Sound the alarm. Use bells and whistles on your phone or computer to remind you to do things. Loved ones can set the same alarms so they can remind you in case you forget what the alarm is for.
Put it on repeat. When someone tells you something, repeat it to them. That way, it’s more likely to stick in your mind — and theirs.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common MS symptoms. It can be hard to discuss. Some people see it as a sign of weakness. Others feel embarrassed or ashamed. And when you’re depressed, it’s normal to want to withdraw from others.
But it’s important to share how you’re feeling with people close to you. Explain that depression is a natural part of the process of MS and it needs treatment, just like any other symptom. It isn’t something you can snap out of. And despite their best efforts, your friends and family probably won’t be able to cheer you up.
Jessica Thomas is a social worker in Greensboro, NC. She has MS, as do many of the people she sees. She says that while a counselor can help manage the emotions of living with MS, people who are depressed may need medication, too. She also notes that people need an MS-free zone — “a part of life or a passion that MS may not interfere with.”
Exercise is a crucial piece, too. It’s important for your overall health and well-being. It also helps almost every aspect of MS and may work better for depression than antidepressant medicine. So you can tell a friend that a workout partner can really help you stay on track.
Also tell those closest to you that these things can help keep depression away:
