The time has come! The leaves are changing colors, the stores are starting to smell like cinnamon, and everything pumpkin is available at our fingertips! All of this could only mean one thing, and it’s that our favorite way to end our day is with one of these movies for the foreseeable future!
Halloweentown (1998)
You simply can’t go through the fall/Halloween season without watching Halloweentown. It would be borderline criminal. There is nothing quite like the music that plays when the Cromwell kids first enter Halloweentown, seeing Debbie Reynolds be the greatest movie grandmother of all time, or seeing the quaint town of St. Helens, Oregon, transform on screen into our dream location.
Practical Magic (1998)
This movie is as close to perfect as a movie has ever been. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman light up on screen and bring such warmth and whimsy into the film. This movie features the best song placement in our memory with ‘This Kiss’ by Faith Hill, and features a quote we have lived by ever since. So remember, always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.
A murder mystery featuring Chris Evans as the villain, Daniel Craig as the detective, and a career-high performance from Ana de Armas? Count us in! This movie does a perfect job at keeping you guessing, yet if you watch it again, you will see each clue that led up to the reveal clear as day. It’s the ideal fall family watch with a star-studded cast.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice is synonymous with the spooky season. Like clockwork, the calendar turns to October and we are set ready to sing along to some Harry Belafonte and remember what sparked our love for obscure art and tiny replicas. Beetlejuice has become a cultural mainstay; you can’t go into any Halloween section without seeing the face of Michael Keaton looking back at you, as it should be.
Twilight (2008)
It is officially Twilight season! We have ‘Eyes on Fire’ by Blue Foundation on repeat, we are relishing in the rainy days, and we are falling right back into a time when the only choice we had to make that held weight was if we were Team Edward or Team Jacob. This movie launched the careers of some of the best working actors today, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, so technically, we have Stephanie Meyer to thank for the best Batman movie!
Hocus Pocus (1993)
We know we said Beetlejuice is synonymous with spooky season, but Hocus Pocus gives it a run for its money! From the endless quotes that have become a normal part of the cultural zeitgeist to the Sanderson Sisters being on every piece of merch imaginable, there is no escaping what a timeless film Hocus Pocus has evolved into.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
Scooby-Doo may just be the best casted movie of all time. They nailed every single role and crafted the world of Spooky Island in a way that made it feel real. We still think not making Spooky Island into a real amusement park was a miss of epic proportions. We actually are going to go watch this movie right now, and relish in what masterpiece it is.
Check out more of our Fall/Halloween coverage here!
We would love to hear from you! What is your comfort fall–time movie? Is it Hocus Pocus? Is it Twilight? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
The instant the weather starts to turn even a little bit crisp, I hear it: the intro to “Eyes On Fire” by Blue Foundation from the Twilight soundtrack. The entire soundtrack is a masterpiece: it catapulted Paramore to mainstream success thanks to their smash hit “Decode.” And don’t forget tracks like Muse’s “Supermassive Black Hole” and Robert Pattinson’s unintelligible lyrics in his own original songs for the album.
The subsequent films had iconic soundtracks too. Bon Iver’s “Roslyn” is one of my comfort songs as much as New Moon is one of my comfort films. But nothing sounds more autumnal than Blue Foundation singing “hoa hoa hoa hoa hoa” in that song. It’s akin to sleigh bells at Christmas. “Hoa hoa hoa” is the undisputed call of the beginning of fall.
I yearn to make my apartment super hygge, light a bunch of pumpkin-scented candles, and curl up under a blanket to watch Twilight and my other favorite cozy fall films. There’s no better time to hunker down with a fine movie. But once I’ve gotten that first Twilight watch out of my system, choosing what to watch can be more challenging than deciding between a PSL and a hot apple cider.
Don’t worry, this is not another eye-roll-inducing list of basic Halloween flicks (that list will be coming in October but it will be anything but basic) and rom-coms set in New England (okay, there might be a few of these). Let us assure you that we’ve dug deeper than your average “fall vibes” playlist. As someone who lived in New England — and actual England — I’m aware that fall is a specific feeling. It’s a mindset. And rather than slogging through fallen leaves wet with rain and despairing over the cold and damp, you must curate the precise vibe.
The best fall movies feel like candlelight. The bonfires. A cross between the last bonfire of summer and the first chestnut-roasting of winter. It’s the cozy in-between time when my seasonal depression hasn’t kicked in yet and I’m thankful for a cool breeze after summer’s unrelenting heatwaves. The essence of autumn is both obvious and subtle – from the cozy sweaters and golden-hued cinematography to the themes of reflection, change, and new beginnings that mirror the season itself. If a movie doesn’t capture that, it’s not on this list.
Fall films are one of the best macro-genres. Autumn is nature’s Instagram filter, turning everything into a warm, nostalgia-tinged reverie. I’ve also been seeing videos about how — long after we’ve left the hallowed halls of academia — fall’s back-to-school energy remains. Fall feels like a time to get serious, buckle down, and start anew – or at least pretend until we hit Thanksgiving. But in between all that girlbossing, there’s nothing like curling up to watch a fall movie and realizing that things aren’t as intense as they seem.
As the temperature drops and our nesting instincts kick in, curl up with these romantic comedies that are set in quaint villages and mysterious thrillers that take place in fog-shrouded cities. Whether you’re looking for something to watch while sipping your third fall beverage of the day (I’m addicted to Blank Street’s Gingerbread Matcha), need a backdrop for your annual “friendsgiving” gathering, or just want to feel seasonally appropriate while avoiding actual outdoor activities, we have got you covered.
These 20 films run the gamut from cult classics to hidden gems, from heartwarming to hair-raising, all guaranteed to put you in an autumnal state of mind. Just remember, if you start craving apple cider or suddenly feel the urge to go antiquing in Vermont after watching these, don’t say we didn’t warn you.
1. Twilight
Twilight isn’t just a movie; it’s a vibe. The Twilight renaissance (that RPatz himself has said he’s on board with) means I’m not ashamed to say it: Twilight, you will always be famous. None of this era’s imitation supernatural movies can compete. That’s why this is the movie I inaugurate my fall with year after year. Set in perennially gloomy Forks, Washington, there’s something undeniably autumnal about Bella Swan’s journey from Arizona sunshine to a Pacific Northwest brood-fest. The muted color palette, the endless rain, and the constipated look on Edward Cullen’s face all scream “fall mood.” And let’s not forget the iconic baseball scene — because nothing says “fall classic” like vampires playing America’s favorite pastime during a thunderstorm. Whether you’re Team Edward, Team Jacob, or Team “I’m Just Here for the Memes,” Twilight will always be a classic.
2. Pride and Prejudice
The hand scene — you know the one — has gone triple-platinum on my Netflix account. Talk about yearning! And nothing says autumn like watching the leaves change and feeling wistful. Jane Austen’s canonical tale of love, societal expectations, and really-really long strolls is one of the few instances where the movie is better than the book (don’t come for me Austen lovers). Joe Wright’s 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice walked so that Bridgerton could run. Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet traipsing through misty fields in empire-waist gowns was the original Christian-Girl harvest season. The film’s autumnal aesthetic is on point, with golden-hued landscapes that’ll drive you to book a one-way ticket to Yorkshire. Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy emerging from the mist is enough to make me say: Tom Wambsgams, who?
3. Mystic Pizza
If Mystic Pizza isn’t on your fall movie radar, and your fall moodboard, you’re missing out on a big bowl of cinematic comfort food. This late 80s gem is like the perfect autumn day — a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and full of unexpected warmth. Set in the quaint coastal town of Mystic, Connecticut, this is a feast of small-town fall vibes and sentimentality. As young as she is in this early triumph, Julia Roberts is completely charming. She leads a cast of feisty young women navigating love, ambition, and the perfect pizza recipe. I describe it as Love, Actually for the girls. Or if The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was set in small-town Connecticut in the fall. Mystic Pizza is a coming-of-age classic that paved the way for Gilmore Girls.
4. Practical Magic
Wanna add a hint of the occult to your fall movie marathon without going full Halloween just yet? Look no further than Practical Magic — the witchy 90s rom-com starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters who live with their witchy aunts and practice small acts of magic in their everyday lives. Whether you’re in it for the magical realism, the fin de siè·cle fashion (those witch-chic outfits are totally due for a comeback), or just to watch Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman be absolutely iconic for two hours, Practical Magic is an exceptional addition to your fall watchlist. It’s like a warm, witchy hug for your soul. For bonus points, watch it on the Harvest Moon on October 2nd and really hone that magical feeling.
5. Twitches
Talk about nostalgia. It’s been almost 20 years since Twitches came out. Feel old yet? This Disney Channel Original Movie is a guilty pleasure that simply screams “fall.” Starring Tia and Tamera Mowry as long-lost twin witches (get it? Twitches?), this film is what happens when you throw The Parent Trap and Charmed into a bag of candy corn and shake vigorously. Set during Halloween, Twitches is packed with campy costume parties and spooky prophecies. Twitches is like that beloved Halloween sweater you break out every year — it might look tacky, but it’s cozy, familiar, and brings back all those warm, fuzzy feelings of falls past.
Calling all mystery lovers! The Perfect Couple is a wild ride set in Nantucket at the end of the summer season. No spoilers, but it ends with its characters contemplating what’s next for them. Well, what’s after summer but fall? This new Netflix mystery feels like the last show of summer preparing me for all the new stuff coming this fall. This Elin Hilderbrand relies on familiar enough tropes to make it comforting but with enough kick to keep you on your toes.
The show’s aesthetic is peak New England fodder — Nicole Kidman giving coastal grandmother is always a win. But don’t let the pretty scenery fool you, The Perfect Couple is dark and complex, unraveling like an intricately knit sweater, revealing layers of secrets, lies, and family drama that’ll keep you guessing until the very last moment. Think Big Little Lies mixed with Knives Out — also sensational fall watches. The ensemble cast is led by the always-fabulous Nicole Kidman with Dakota Fanning, Liev Schreiber, and Eve Hewson (latest favorite nepo baby unlocked, she’s Bono’s daughter). Whether you’re in it for the whodunit aspect, the gorgeous fall scenery, or just to watch rich people make spectacularly bad decisions, The Perfect Couple is an ideal addition to your autumn watchlist.
7. Only Murders in the Building
Selena just became a billionaire. And, honestly, I deserve a personal message of thanks from her for how many times I’ve streamed Only Murders in the Building while eagerly waiting for the next season. Set in a grand old New York apartment building (hello, fall-in-the-city vibes), the show follows an unlikely trio of true crime podcast enthusiasts turned amateur sleuths. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez have an electric and undeniable chemistry — not to mention Selena’s delish fall wardrobe. But what truly makes Only Murders a fall essential is how it captures autumnal New York. The Upper West Side is awash in golden light and crunchy leaves that make you want to book a one-way ticket to the Big Apple, Come for the clever writing, stay for the star-studded cast — the cameos are as crazy as the plot.
8. Agatha All Along
Agatha All Along aims to save the latest iteration of the Marvel Universe. After the success of WandaVision, Agatha All Along is a spinoff that follows the show’s surprising antagonist: Agatha. It’s a wild ride through small-town intrigue and witchcraft. Kathryn Hahn reprises her role as Agatha Harkness, bringing her signature blend of surprising depth and campy villainy. Agatha’s backstory unveils layers of her character that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about this wicked witch. It also stars Heartstopper’s Joe Locke, Patti LuPone, Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, and more.
9. Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus isn’t just for 90s kids thanks to the recent sequel. This cult classic hits the spot every single autumn. The Sanderson sisters are the OG camp girlies with quotable lines galore. Set on Halloween night in Salem — because where else? — Hocus Pocus is both creepy and sentimental. Hocus Pocus is a perennial fall favorite with its cany blend of humor and heart. Whether you’re watching it for the umpteenth time or introducing it to a new generation (you lucky soul), Hocus Pocus is best enjoyed with a side of candy corn and a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief. Let the Sanderson sisters cast their spell on you once again.
10. Remember the Titans
Maybe it’s because I was half-raised by my older brother, but something within me drives me to watch Remember the Titans come autumn. Set in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971, the movie captures that incandescent moment when summer heat gives way to crisp fall air, mirroring the changes and tension in the recently integrated T.C. Williams High School. Remember the Titans isn’t merely about pretty fall scenery and football (though there’s plenty of both). It’s a powerful story of overcoming racial prejudice and finding unity in the face of adversity — themes that are as relevant today as they were in 1971 — and when the film was released in 2000. Denzel Washington leads the cast with his signature charm and gravitas, delivering inspirational speeches to a cast that includes a young Ryan Gosling.
11. Halloweentown
Welcome to Halloweentown, where every day is October 31st. If you’re a Halloween hardo and already out there celebrating spooky season, by all means, play this on repeat until November. And the PSL flows like water. This Disney Channel classic is guaranteed to give you a sugar rush of warm fuzzy feelings. Set in a magical realm where witches, warlocks, and monsters live in harmony (sort of). Halloweentown is like if your local Spirit Halloween store came to life and lectured you on family values. So this fall, when you’re craving something that’s equal parts spooky and sweet, this is it.
12. Immaculate
Horror fans — and fans of Sydney Sweeney — unite: Immaculate is about to take you on a twisted ride. This psychological thriller premiered at SXSW 2024 and has been giving viewers the creeps since. It’s Sweeney’s turn at Midsommar. Set in an isolated Italian convent, Immaculate is pure gothic autumnal fantasy. Think misty mountains, shadowy cloisters, and enough flickering candles to make a fire marshal nervous. Sydney Sweeney stars as a young American nun who finds herself in out of her depth, bringing her A-game to a role that’s both innocent and increasingly terrified. The movie’s exploration of religious dogma, bodily autonomy, and the darker side of blind faith is as complex and layered.
13. Little Women
Grab your coziest blanket and a mug of something warm, because Little Women is about to wrap you in a big, comforting hug. From Lady Bird to Barbie, anything by Greta Gerwig is an affirming celebration of girlhood. But nothing will hit harder this fall than Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of this classic tale. Set in Civil War-era Massachusetts, the film is like a New England tourism board commercial.
Maybe it’s because I went to school where this was filmed (thinking of Timothee Chalamet driving past my high school truly makes me cringe), but nothing is more nostalgic than Little Women. During their childhood scenes, the cinematography is intentionally orangey and warm, but even their more stark adulthood scenes are tinged with joy. The March sisters — Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy — navigate love, loss, and sisterhood as 19th-century women. Saoirse Ronan’s Jo March is the ultimate fall mood — passionate, creative, and not afraid to get a little messy (emotionally and literally — girl’s got ink stains for days). It’s giving dark academia in the best way. And I love seeing Timothée Chalamet’s hair flop about in the autumn wind while I head up to the attic to work on my first novel.
14. When Harry Met Sally
You probably wondered when this would hit the list. The godmother of all fall-friendly love stories is undoubtedly When Harry Met Sally. This Nora Ephron classic is like a piercing autumn day. Set in New York City through the changing seasons, this film’s most luminous scenes take place in fall. From long strolls through Central Park to cozy, sweater-clad conversations in dimly lit cafes, each scene is a visual love letter to autumn in the Big Apple.
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s Harry and Sally are the original “will they, won’t they” couple, and the ultimate outfit inspo for fall. The film’s exploration of friendship, love, and the blurry line between the two is as layered and complicated as the fashion combos — think high-waisted jeans and really good jackets. Harry and Sally’s decades-long dance will warm your cynical heart. Just remember — I’ll have what she’s having.
15. You’ve Got Mail
Okay, now we’re deep in the rom-com world. Another classic: You’ve Got Mail is one more Meg Ryan fall classic. Nora Ephron doesn’t miss. This comedy is set in the Upper West Side of New York — where else to set a rom-com about books? — and follows Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox, two rival booksellers who unknowingly fall in love over email. Soooo 90s coded. From Meg Ryan’s enviable autumn wardrobe to the leaf-strewn streets of Manhattan, Nora Ephron is at her apex. And let’s not forget the charm offensive that is Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
So this fall, when you’re in the mood for something that’ll make you believe in the power of love, books, and a really good email subject line, give You’ve Got Mail a watch.
16. One Fine Day
This is a criminally underrated knock-em-out-of-the-park 90s rom-coms. It has everything: Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney, 90s haircuts, and the cutest kids ever. One Fine Day is a 1996 gem about two frazzled single parents whose paths cross on the most chaotic day of their lives. It’s like if Mr. Mom and Working Girl had a baby, and that baby was really into missed connections and fall fashion. Set in Manhattan over the course of a single day, the film starts on a crisp morning when both parents miss the ferry for their kids’ school trip and have to swap childcare all day. A magical premise for a romantic comedy. Pfeiffer and Clooney dash about the city, juggling lost children, missed deadlines, and falling in love. One Fine Day will instantly become your new fall favorite.
17. Brown Sugar
The 90s was the heyday of Black romantic films and Brown Sugar deserves all the flowers. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs star as Sidney and Dre — childhood friends whose shared love of hip-hop (and each other) takes them on a journey that explores love and work — simmering with years of unresolved tension and shared history. But what really makes “Brown Sugar” a quintessential fall watch is its terrific blend of music, romance, and cultural commentary. Sanaa’s brown-tinged work outfits are also giving major corporate hottie aesthetic.
This 2002 gem is like the R&B slow jam of movies: familiar, comforting, but with enough soul to make you actually feel things. Set in the world of hip-hop journalism and music production, Brown Sugar makes me miss growing up in Harlem. It also features a cameo from one of my favorite rap actors, Mos Def.
18. The Devil Wears Prada
Girlbosses, this one’s for you! This list would be void if I were to omit The Devil Wears Prada. This 2006 classic never gets old. Anne Hathaway? Meryl Streep? The dream of working in a fashion magazine and being able to afford a life? Set in the high-stakes world of New York fashion magazines, this film is half plot and half Pinterest board dedicated to sweater weather. Anne Hathaway‘s Andy Sachs is the epitome of the fall transformation story — going from frumpy grad to chic fashion insider faster than you can say “cerulean.” But the real star of this show is Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly and all those icy glares and cutting remarks. It might be as predictable as florals for spring but it works. I can’t wait for the sequel.
19. The Notebook
Like I said, fall is about yearning. So of course, I must mention The Notebook. This adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ eponymous novel is synonymous with romance movies. And for a good reason: young Ryan Gosling. But don’t count out young James Marsden, either. Set in 1940s South Carolina, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams star as Noah and Allie, the star-crossed lovers whose chemistry is so electric it makes someone as skeptical as me believe in the kind of love that spans decades and defies all odds.
20. Knives Out
One more New England movie, this film satirizes the rich New England families and cultures that some of the others romanticize. Yet it still causes me to savor the fall. Set in a Massachusetts mansion full of mahogany interiors and book-lined rooms, this leafy, murderous paradise is home to the Thrombey family. This dysfunctional brood has gathered to celebrate — or mourn, depending on who you ask — the passing of their patriarch, mystery novelist Harlan Thrombey. Enter Benoit Blanc, a private detective with a Southern drawl played by Daniel Craig. Knives Out’s clever blend of classic mystery tropes and modern sensibility is an exploration of wealth, privilege, and immigration. Talk about timely. And the subtle politics are ripe for this fall since we’re in an election year. Godspeed to all of us.
In an era where everything old is new again, millennial nostalgia has reached fever pitch. Everything is a reboot or a remake or a rehash these days — from films like
Yes, IP is king, and Hollywood runs on sure bets. But also, we can’t overlook the power of a heartthrob to shape culture. And the particular brand of nostalgia I’m feeling is totally fueled by the unexpected comebacks of two early 2000s heartthrobs: Zac Efron and Chad Michael Murray.
Efron had a surprising summer Netflix hit in his turn as a reformed celebrity playboy in A Family Affair. Yes, the film stars Nicole Kidman — who’s in another age-gap romance this year Babygirl, alongside Efron’s former costar Harris Dickinson. But the most headline-worthy thing about the film was the press tour. Fueled by costar Joey King’s own memories of being a High School Musical and Hairspray fan, Efron took fans through a highlight reel of his finest moments.
From reaction videos of his most iconic scenes to brand-new revelations about decade-old performances, it was refreshing to hear Efron’s perspective. After distancing himself from the Disney bubble, Efron barely talks about his days as a teen dreamboat. But we haven’t forgotten. So this influx of information was a welcome change — and oh my god, the lore was better than I could have imagined.
Efron spent a lot of time reminiscing on his breakout role in the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical. From revealing that the “Getcha Head In The Game” dance number (basketball shots and all) was filmed in one take to shouting out his castmates and saying he’s up for a reunion, it was everything I never knew I needed. The most rousing revelation was when he casually dropped the fact that his most memorable — and most memed — performance of “Bet On It” in High School Musical 2 was entirely improvised.
Fans reeled at the tsunami of tea. What do you mean that every perfectly executed moment of angst in that video was improvised? Pure genius. Virtuosic commitment to the bit. “Give Zac Efron a Retroactive Oscar,” exclaimed The Cut. And I agree. I’ve been saying that Zac Efron needs his flowers for years. He’s our generation’s McConaughey. And he’s finally getting his due — especially since his role in The Iron Claw last year, alongside Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson. With upcoming projects on the way, he’s in a verifiable career resurgence.
But he’s not the only one of my teenage crushes experiencing a second act to their career.
Chad Michael Murray, the brooding heartthrob who filled every millennial girl’s dreams during his time on One Tree Hill, has been staging a comeback of his own. While promoting his latest projects — Mother of the Bride, along with the new steamy CW series Sullivan’s Crossing — he’s been doing interviews, appearing on podcasts, and making TikToks to fuel our nostalgia — and it’s working.
For the past few years, Murray’s been popping up in the most random media. He did a stint on Riverdale as a hot cult leader (I would have fallen for it too). He did a couple of Hallmark movies. But now he’s back in the mainstream and digging into this nostalgia hole alongside us.
As he prepares to film Freaky Friday 2 — a sequel to the 21-year-old Lindsay Lohan flick, which is in turn a remake of the original-original 1976 Freaky Friday that starred Jodi Foster! — we’re eating it up. It’s 20+ years since the original, so Murray’s celebrating by spilling the tea on some of his best roles. He’s also been reciting some of his most memorable lines to melt fans’ hearts.
But along with the lore, there’s gossip galore. In hindsight, some facts about backstage beef and our faves feuding have emerged. But they don’t cloud our visions of those iconic millennial dramas — honestly, the smell of drama just makes me more intrigued.
The headline? Chad Michael Murray found himself in the middle of a love triangle between Lindsay Lohan, Hillary Duff, and Aaron Carter. Carter dumped Duff for Lohan in a move that’s reminiscent of the Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter drama.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Murray worked with Lohan on Freaky Friday the year before A Cinderella Story. As a co-star to both starlets, he became a conduit for chaos. Long story short, they both gossiped about each other in the press — a 2000s version of subtweets or Twitter beef — and Duff barred Lohan from the A Cinderella Story premiere. Here’s hoping Duff will make it to the Freaky Friday 2 premiere.
But it’s not just the stars who are feeling this nostalgia wave. The reunions and comebacks have created a strange new reality where millennials are simultaneously reliving their youth and facing their mortality. This nostalgia boom has led to some unexpected trends in the world of fashion and pop culture. Low-rise jeans are fully back and other millennial memories are being resurrected in front of them by Gen Z — raising questions about whether we’re moving forward or simply stuck in a Y2K time loop.
The resurgence of these millennial icons, combined with the run of reunion tours sweeping the nation, has created a perfect storm of nostalgia that’s hitting millennials harder than the realization that “10 years ago” is no longer the 90s. Take the reunion of the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus being crowned a Disney legend, and even Justin Bieber having a baby. Everything’s a reminder that our favorite childhood stars are old now — and we are too.
The resurrection of these cultural touchstones has sparked a new phenomenon: nostalgia whiplash. One minute, you’re belting out “Breaking Free” in your car, feeling like you’re 16 again. The next, you’re googling “Zac Efron age” and having an existential crisis when you realize he’s old enough to play the dad in movies. It’s like emotional time travel if time travel leaves you with a slight hangover and the realization that you can’t stay out as late as you used to.
And with time, secrets often emerge. Like how when Britpop icons Oasis announced their reunion, fans took a trip down memory lane to revisit the best and worst of the Britpop/hard rock band. With time, the good seems better, and the bad just gives it layers.
There’s no show that epitomizes this more than Glee. For better or for worse, Ryan Murphy changed the television landscape with this one. By making a show entirely about outsiders — namely putting queer people front and center for the first time — he was a pioneer of representation. But Glee didn’t birth a legion of gleeks for no reason — that chaotic, cursed show had a profound impact on us. Can you believe the first episode premiered 15 years ago?
It’s been 15 years since “Don’t Stop Believing” got an update, since a whole new generation of these kids were indoctrinated into loving the musical Funny Girl (guilty), and the world met Lea Michele. But the past 15 years haven’t been easy. The Glee curse is just about as tragic as the Kennedy family curse.
Stars of the show — Corey Monteith, Naya Rivera, and Mark Salling — have died. Members of the crew have also been victims of the Glee curse, including assistant director Jim Fuller, who died of a heart attack; production assistant Nancy Motes, who died by suicide; and Matthew Morrison’s stand-in Mark Watson, who died from a “car fire.”
Plus, shows like The Price of Glee and Quiet on Set have revealed the dark truths behind some of our cherished childhood shows. That’s the price of getting older: seeing the hard truths beneath the rosy veneer.
Yet, for all the existential crises and surreal moments, there’s something undeniably comforting about this latest wave of nostalgia. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, there’s solace to be found in the familiar chords of a Jonas Brothers song or still saying, “they did this on Glee” whenever you’re at a bar and a classic rock song plays.
I often wish it could just be 2008 again, the year High School Musical 3 and Twilight both came out in theaters. Or better yet, Summer of 2007, when High School Musical 2 premiered on the same night as the first episode of Phineas and Ferb and the Hannah Montana Episode “Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas” — the epic Disney Channel crossover that inspired the best Jonas Brother song, “Lovebug.” That just might have been the best night of my life.
But now I’m here: slathering on anti-aging treatments, considering “preventative” Botox, and checking my 401K balance. If you want to feel even older, here are some of our other teen media favorites that are having Significant Anniversaries this year:
1. A Cinderella Story (20th Anniversary)
Remember when we thought AOL Instant Messenger was the height of romance? Oh, to text Austin Ames “LOL” over AIM. Now we’re getting ghosted on the apps and no amount of fairy godmother magic can fix our dating lives.
This flick sold us the lie that the hot quarterback was secretly a sensitive poet who’d fall for the quirky outsider. A classic tale for rom-coms but this is arguably one of the best that’s ever been executed. No Cinderella adaptation has come close to this one. Especially not Another Cinderella Story with Selena Gomez — though “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” was a banger. With a new Freaky Friday in the works, I’m hoping this Chad Michael Murray flick will also get its remake.
I’ll never forgive Ryan Murphy for giving theater kids a platform …yet they can never make me hate Glee. Cast feuds, diva drama, and rumors of on-set fights just add to the allure of the drama. Glee is the reason TV went from High School Musical to an even more musical high school and then further onto musical college, like Pitch Perfect. But I can still sing every Mercedes harmony in the Glee soundtrack.
Yes, age has taught me that Mr. Schue was kind of a creepy man-child with a vest fetish who lived vicariously through his students — why were his students the only people at his wedding??? And though Rachel Berry was supposed to be the protagonist, we realized that being a diva doesn’t get you ahead in life. It only makes everyone hate you at the office Christmas party.
Yet, there’ll never be anything like belting the Glee version of “Don’t Stop Believing” — or better yet, Jonathan Groff’s rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
3. Mean Girls (20 years)
20 years ago, fetch happened. The movie is a hallmark of millennial nostalgia, with quotes so insidious they worked their way into memes and lexicons alike. Tina Fey’s magnum opus about teenage cruelty gave us unforgettable quips and unrealistic expectations of high school hotness. Two decades later, the remake they made for Gen Z starring Renee Rapp, frankly, doesn’t come close to the original. I cherish the Lohan version even more now that I’ve seen what a trainwreck the second version is. The limits of our obsession does not exist, apparently.
4. Napoleon Dynamite (20 years)
Remember when random equaled funny? This indie darling made awkward cool in peak millennial humor. Nothing about this movie would fly anymore. Gen Zs probably cringe at our love for it. But when it was good, it was very-very good.. We quoted it ad nauseam, wore “Vote for Pedro” shirts unironically, and thought “ligers” were a laugh riot. Every year, more than one person donned a Napolean wig, glasses, and a “Vote For Pedro” shirt and did that dance sequence in my high school talent show. That experience can never be replicated by TikTok dances or Netflix films.
5. Saw (20 years)
Nothing says millennial childhood quite like a sadistic puppet forcing people into elaborate death traps. This torture porn franchise kickstarted our generation’s fascination with escape rooms and moral dilemmas. Now we’re too anxious to watch anything more intense than “Great British Bake Off.” How the mighty have fallen.
6. The Notebook (20 years)
The fact that The Notebook was 20 years ago is a testament to Ryan Gosling. He’s still managed to be relevant to the zeitgeist and one of the least awful men in Hollywood. From playing our dear Noah in this Nicholas Sparks masterpiece to playing Ken in Barbie, he is always in our hearts. In the words of Glenn Powell, “Gosling is a legend.” Cut to 2024, and we’re swiping through dating apps, wondering why our Hinge matches don’t build our houses or write us 365 letters. But we can still dream.
7. Anchorman (20 years)
Is Anchorman the boy equivalent of Mean Girls? Every non-funny man I’ve ever met thinks “Stay Classy” is a hilarious quote and witty reference. And who can blame them? At the time, Anchorman was the peak of comedy. We laughed our asses off at Ron Burgundy’s chauvinistic antics. But still liking this movie is a red flag — it’s a sign that a person’s sense of humor might not have matured beyond age 15.
8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (20 years)
The way stills of this movie haunted Tumblr should be examined. Pink and blue-haired Kate Winslet is admittedly still on my winter mood boards. This film was an episode of Black Mirror before Black Mirror. For a film about erasing our exes from our brains, it sure felt romantic at the time. Two decades later, we’re still trying to Marie Kondo our emotional baggage while stalking our high school crushes on Facebook. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet’s mind-bending romance feels more like an indie fever dream with each passing year.
9. Spider-Man 2 (20 years)
Have you heard about the Spiderman to tennis movie pipeline? Kirsten Dunst doing Wimbledon, Emma Stone doing Battle of the Sexes and Zendaya doing Challengers — I might venture to say these are the finest things to come out of the Spiderman franchise. But I have to admit, the Tobey Maguire version is a classic. The fact that we’ve been through Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland as Spiderman, plus the Spiderverse series — in the past twenty years! — is mind-boggling to me.
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Hey Hayley, where the hell have you been loca? Paramore has been opening up for Taylor Swift throughout Europe for the Eras Tour, and for the London dates, Swift has added a few friends to the line-up. Suki Waterhouse opened during the fifth night at Wembley Stadium, and Hayley Williams has given her and her fiancé Robert Pattinson a warm welcome. “Did you see Suki earlier? Suki fucking killed it! But I’d like to dedicate this next song to Mr. Waterhouse. He has the skin of a killer, Bella,” exclaimed Williams as they began to play their song“Decode” from Twilight. In case you were wondering how we got here, people used to know Twilight so well— Mr. Waterhouse was Edward Cullen himself. Fast forwarding a few years, Pattinson and Waterhouse have been together since 2018 and have a daughter (not named Renesmee). There is no word yet on if the baby has sparkling skin but she does have a 50/50 chance of it. If not, surely a Swiftie nearby would have plenty of glitter to share.
Let me just start by saying that I actually hate romance, and I don’t discriminate. I hate romance film, books, and television shows: the tacky plot, the cringe writing, the insufferable characters. But, to be transparent, I watch every single teeny-bopper love triangle show on the market.
I loved to hate The Summer I Turned Pretty, the adaptation of Jenny Han’s novel starring Lola Tung, Gavin Casalegno, and Christopher Briney in which Belly (Tung) falls in love with not one, but two brothers. It took over the world, having 30 year old women debating the question: Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah?
The “stuck between two brothers” trope is ever-popular and goes hand-in-hand with the classic Love Triangle. Think The Vampire Diaries, where Elena can’t decide who’s really right for her: Stefan or Damon. Or Twilight’s ever-present battle of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob. So when I hear that Netflix has released their dupe of The Summer I Turned Pretty, I figured it would be the same, deliciously terrible media that we all love to consume…
Except it’s inherently terrible. Originally a Wattpad novel by Ali Novak, My Life With The Walter Boysfollows recent orphan Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez) as she’s forced to move from Manhattan to Silver Falls, Colorado to live with her mom’s best friend (and her plethora of 10 sons) on a ranch.
Immediately, she’s torn between two boys: Cole, ex-football player who had a full ride to Alabama before he was injured (more on this later), and book nerd Alex, who is shy, soft-spoken, and making a play at Jackie’s heart. It has all the makings of the worst Hallmark film you’ve seen: overworked Manhattan socialite gets lost in small town with lumberjack that teaches her the meaning of Christmas. Except the men of the show are laughable at best.
Starting with Cole (Noah LaLonde), who absolutely cannot let anyone enjoy a football game without having a tantrum that he can’t play. Seriously, the guy had a breakdown when he learned someone else was wearing his number. So obviously, the clear lack of therapy and emotional comprehension is already a red flag…and to make matters worse he’s still in high school, so he just doesn’t want to play football if you ask me.
Jackie and Cole
Netflix
And then there’s Alex (Ashby Gentry). Hopeless, hopeless Alex. The Jeremiah of the brotherly duo. Poor Alex likes to read in his free time and is clearly the safer option for recently traumatized Jackie Howard. I have minimal problems with Alex in the same way I hate every character in this show, but his behavior offends me the least.
The show begs the question: what would happen if you combine The Vampire Diaries, The Fosters, The Summer I Turned Pretty…and gave it no plot with bad writing? And don’t you dare blame it on the Wattpad of it all…how could you when it gave us cinematic masterpieces like After?!
What is normally tolerable about these shows is that they are so simple, and the dialogue is so outrageous, that you physically can’t stop watching these characters ruin their lives. However, all I could think about while watching My Life With The Walter Boysis that every single character needs the heaviest of in-patient therapy.
Nevertheless, like all incessant annoyances in my life, My Life With The Walter Boys has been renewed for second season. And I guess I’ll have to watch.
When people think of the first Twilight movie, their minds inevitably drift not to an action sequence or special-effects-driven set piece, but to the baseball scene. That’s where we learn that vampires can only engage in America’s favorite pastime during a heavy storm, because their super-speed and strength capabilities can only be sheathed beneath thunder and lightning. The two-and-a-half minute scene relies on a moody blue filter, some in-camera slo-mo, and Muse’s “Supermassive Black Hole.” In between takes, the cast say they speculated about the production’s fate. “We were like, ‘Man, I wonder if anybody’s going to see this film,’” Peter Facinelli, who played coven patriarch Carlisle Cullen, has previously said. “We were doing this little vampire movie in the woods.”
Based on Stephanie Meyers’s best-selling novel, the film premiered in November 2008 to $69 million in its opening weekend, eventually grossing more than $400 million worldwide. It was a box office hit for indie studio Summit Entertainment and spawned four more films based on Meyers’s books—2009’s New Moon, 2010’s Eclipse, 2011’s Breaking Dawn–Part 1, and 2012’s Breaking Dawn–Part 2. The franchise generated more than $3 billion total and spawned other YA franchises like The Hunger Games and Divergent, as well as the Fifty Shades franchise, which was based on Twilight fan fiction.
The series was unavoidably popular, but also easy to poke fun at. Because it was created by and for women, the plot was often reduced to the love triangle between Kristen Stewart’s mortal Bella, Robert Pattinson’s vampire Edward, and Taylor Lautner’s werewolf Jacob. Movie marketing fueled by the Team Edward versus Team Jacob debate didn’t help matters. Fifteen years before the pop cultural dominance and subsequent respect earned by ventures like Barbie or Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, even valid criticism of Twilight was drowned out by the prevailing notion that art targeted towards a predominantly female audience should be stigmatized.
Tides started to turn in 2020 with the publication of a new Twilight book from Meyer, a Netflix streaming deal for the original films, and a global pandemic that had the world indoors and eager to escape. The rise of TikTok, where the Twilight hashtag has upwards of 28 billion views, gave way to nostalgic trends about the movies. Those who once felt shame about their fandom could reclaim the movies, and those who weren’t old enough to experience the initial fervor were exposed to Twilight secondhand. Take this comment under a clip of the movie’s baseball scene on YouTube: “POV: you saw a TikTok recreation and came to check how accurate it was.”
Evidence of Twilight’s endurance is plentiful. Fans are flocking to Forks, Washington (where the series takes place) in record numbers. “In 2022 we had the biggest year, tourism-wise that we’ve had since 2010, and we’ve already beat out those numbers as of this September,” Lissy Andros, the executive director of the Forks Chamber of Commerce, recently told Wired. “Probably 65% of visitors to Forks come because of Twilight.”
Robert Pattinson’s looks were called into question by studio executives ahead of his casting in the Twilight film franchise.
The English actor was cast in the star-making role of vampire Edward Cullen in the films based on the books by Stephanie Meyers.
But the studio was not sure if he was good-looking enough to be cast, according to director Catherine Hardwicke, who revealed a conversation she had with studio executives after they met Pattinson in person.
Robert Pattinson attends the GO Campaign’s Annual Gala 2023 on October 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. The actor was thought not to be good-looking enough to star in ‘Twilight’. Albert E Rodriguez/Getty Images North America
“They call me back and go, ‘do you think you can make this guy look good?’” she said on Josh Horowitz’s podcast,Happy Sad Confused.
The director revealed Pattinson had turned to the meeting in a stained shirt, which was “so funny,” but she promised the studio bosses that they would give the actor a makeover and would start working out.
“He’s going to be gorgeous,” she tried to assure the executives. “But they didn’t believe it at first.”
Hardwicke also opened up on how Pattinson felt he was not good-looking enough for the role in Twilight.
“He’s a very modest and humble person and self-deprecating in a way,” she explained.
“So he was nervous about, you know, ‘am I living up to the book? Am I gorgeous enough for the book?’”
Hardwick added: “I tried to give him a lot of love and encouragement. And we did, of course, do a makeover on him too. I mean, the hairstyle, the eyebrows, even the teeth. He started working out with a trainer, he put a lot of effort in.”
Pattinson, 37, previously starred in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Cedric Diggory before rising to fame in 2008 in the first Twilight film.
He has since starred as the Caped Crusader in the 2022 film The Batman.
Last year, director David Cronenberg sent Twilight fans into a frenzy when he suggested the potential of Pattinson reuniting with his co-star and ex-girlfriend, Kristen Stewart, on a new film project.
“It was Robert who actually introduced me to Kristen. They have developed beautifully, separately, as actors,” Cronenberg said in an interview with World of Reel.
“Making arthouse movies and successfully carrying that off. Kristen and I had a great time and Rob and I had a great time. For me, yeah, I can definitely think of a movie, or idea, that would be great to have them both together,” adding that at the stage it was still an idea.
It was revealed this week that Pattinson is expecting his first child with partner, Suki Waterhouse.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Like flared jeans and choker necklaces, vampires always come back in style eventually. It’s no surprise — especially when Hollywood keeps finding such great actors to play them.
Megan Thee Stallion revealed that she has a soft spot for vampire TV shows in July 2021, tweeting that she loved Nina Dobrev‘s character Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries and even stopped watching when the actress left in the sixth season. (Dobrev returned two years later for the 2017 series finale.)
Though Ian Somerhalder‘s Damon Salvatore was Megan’s favorite on the CW show, it’s actually another bloodsucking drama that holds a special place in her heart: True Blood. “I’ve watched every season like 10 times… might be my favorite show lol,” she told a fan who asked if she’d seen it.
Not everyone sees how vampires are romantic. The entire Twilight cast has offered plenty of hilariously shady commentary about the blockbuster franchise over the years, and the most biting remarks are usually from Robert Pattinson.
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“I guess the books are very romantic, but at the same time, it’s not, like, The Notebook romantic,” he said during a November 2019 conversation for Variety’s Actors on Actors. “The Notebook is very sweet and heartbreaking, but Twilight is about this guy, and he finds the one girl he wants to be with, and he also wants to eat her. I mean, not eat her, but drink her blood or whatever. It’s not that other people are telling them they can’t be together, it’s his own body telling him that.”
Check out Pattinson and more celebs who have have donned fangs as vampires in movies and TV:
In the history of Hollywood, the Twilight saga remains a cultural phenomenon that defines a generation. And Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Edward Cullen in the Twilight series left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. However, what many fans may not know is that Robert Pattinson, the actor who brought the brooding vampire Edward Cullen to life, almost lost his iconic role due to a creative difference with the producers.
Pattinson’s creative battle in Twilight
In one of his interviews with Howard Stern, Pattinson opened up about his early twenties and the intense commitment he brought to playing Edward Cullen. He revealed that he had envisioned Edward as a brooding and intensely serious character, mirroring the broody and emo essence that the Twilight Saga was known for.
However, this vision clashed with what the producers had in mind for the character. They wanted a happier, more cheerful Edward Cullen, in line with the expectations of the broader audience, particularly the teenage demographic.
Change your approach or face termination: Twilight producers
The conflict came to a head when the producers handed Pattinson a copy of the book highlighting every instance where Edward smiled. In response, Pattinson took a different-colored highlighter and marked every occasion where the character frowned. Despite his unwavering commitment to his interpretation, Pattinson’s agents intervened when they realized that he risked losing the coveted role. They flew to the set and delivered an ultimatum: change your approach or face termination.
I thought I was safe,” Pattinson admitted. “Then my agents flew up and told me, ‘You have to do the opposite of what you’re doing now, or you might lose your job today.’ I didn’t stick to my original plan. After lunch, I came back and greeted everyone with a big smile, saying, ‘I want to keep my job.’ But I still managed to do things my way. I was maybe a bit too serious, so we found a middle ground.”
Eventually, Robert Pattinson’s passion for the role and compromise helped him in securing his place in cinematic history as the enigmatic vampire who won many hearts.
In an interview with Variety completed before the actors’ strike, Spears recalled drama surrounding the end of Zoey 101 after four seasons—a decision made prior to her pregnancy, but announced alongside news that she was expecting a baby at age 16. “I think when I wrapped Zoey there were all these plans of things like, ‘Let’s go do movies.’ I was reading scripts for things I was excited about,” she told the outlet.
One such script? “I did read for Twilight,” Spears said. “This was before vampires had really made their mark. Now we all love to watch stories about vampires, but I literally was like, ‘Vampires? Are you kidding me?’ I remember reading it and going, ‘Who is going to watch these vampires?’ Boy, was I wrong.”
Spears previously recalled this experience to Nylon, revealing that she was unknowingly pregnant during the audition. “I remember sitting in this little room, and I think Lily Collins was there, and I felt so sick. Little did I know, I was pregnant,” she told the publication in 2020.
Instead of appearing in Twilight, Spears retreated from the spotlight to Mississippi, where she welcomed her daughter Maddie, now age 13. “I was so concerned about bringing another human being into this world, but I needed to figure out who I was. And the press wasn’t exactly very nice,” Spears said. “I wanted to get as far away from it as I could.”
Spears maintains that while raising her daughter “was not something that I regret or held me back,” she did harbor fears that her acting career wouldn’t bounce back. “I was like, ‘What if it doesn’t work out?’ But it was something I always wanted,” Spears said. “I think I was afraid to admit it to myself because I didn’t wanna give everybody the satisfaction of saying, ‘It’s not gonna happen for you. You had a baby, remember?’”
Since returning to the screen in 2020, Spears has appeared on Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, which returns for a third season on July 20, and stars in Zoey 102, a revival of her hit show that debuts via Paramount+ on July 27.
There’s no such thing as a “perfect” movie — although some films definitely come close. More often than not, movies have their strengths and weaknesses. Some are consistently great throughout, while others fail to hit their marks. A film’s quality is not black and white — there is a lot of room for that gray area. There are plenty of fantastic films that have subpar scenes. On the other hand, even movies that are widely considered to be “bad” may have glimmers of greatness — or, at least, one incredible scene. Let’s take a look at some, shall we?
Maybe it’s an epic opening scene that sets up what could have been an amazing drama. Or maybe it’s a shocking plot twist that energizes the narrative. Perhaps it’s even just a pleasant break from the movie’s main events. It’s important to remember that even though you may not be particularly enjoying the movie you’re watching, there’s always a chance that a truly memorable scene might be just around the corner. The right camerawork or a mesmerizing performance can elevate an otherwise lackluster film, if only for a few, brief minutes.
While a movie’s greatness is subjective based on the viewer’s personal taste, there are certain movies that have gained a reputation for being, well … not good. Still, we’ve singled out one scene from each that stands out as being captivating. From elaborate chase scenes to show-stopping musical numbers, here are 10 well-executed, re-watchable scenes from movies that were panned by critics.
Suicide Squad was all over the place. The characters are thinly written, the story structure is chopped up… It fails to deliver on several levels. But Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn managed to be a bright spot. She was perfectly cast in the role, and watching her beat bad guys to a pulp with a baseball bat will always be fun. In one scene, she rides in an elevator, ruthlessly killing her opponents while simultaneously fixing her hair. When she strolls out of the elevator, she walks right past a crew of rough-looking characters, swaying her hips without a care in the world. It’s pretty badass.
2
The Prom (2020)
The Scene: Trent Gives It His All With“Love Thy Neighbor”
Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of Broadway musical The Prom hit a lot of flat notes during its 131-minute runtime, despite its lineup of world-class talent. It’s hard to blame any of the actors for the poor creative choices — although several critics didn’t love James Corden’s overly flamboyant performance as Berry Glickman. Regardless, the movie was the most fun to watch when the stars were given the chance to do what they do best — sing and dance their hearts out. The obvious standout is Andrew Rannells’ performance of “Love Thy Neighbor” in the Midwestern town’s local mall. Rannells, known for his work on Broadway in The Book of Mormon (as well as his role of Elijah on the HBO comedy Girls), reminds us that any movie musical should, first and foremost, be fun.
3
The Happening (2008)
The Scene: Central Park Suicide
M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening is, quite frankly, a mess. But its initial premise is actually intriguing — the world is overrun with a mysterious disease that causes mass amounts of people to commit suicide. The movie opens in New York City’s iconic Central Park on an ordinary day, until crowds of people mysteriously freeze in their tracks. It starts with a girl on a park bench, who promptly puts down her book, pulls out her hairpin, and stabs herself in the neck. From there, it devolves into violent chaos. While as a whole, The Happening is incredibly silly, the opening scene is genuinely chilling.
4
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
The Scene: Opening Sequence
As the follow-up to Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice flounders amidst a potentially powerful story. It’s more frustrating than anything — there was so much potential for a movie where Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) go head to head. One thing the movie got right, however, was the opening sequence. In a flashback, Bruce Wayne runs from his parents’ funeral and falls into a cave, where he’s lifted up by a vortex of bats. The scene is cut with Bruce’s memories of his mother and father at the hands of an armed mugger, resulting in a stylish, moody sequence that helps humanize the Caped Crusader for the rest of the film.
5
Twilight (2008)
The Scene: The Baseball Game
Based on Stephanie Meyer’s best-selling novel of the same name, Twilight was not so much destined to be a cinematic masterpiece as it was to be fan service for a specific demographic of vampire-loving teens and tweens. While it’s become a campy cult classic for millennials, it was never really taken seriously. But we can all agree, that baseball scene during the thunderstorm is pretty epic, right? Set to Muse’s 2006 single “Supermassive Black Hole,” the scene depicts the Cullen family participating in what might be the coolest family sporting event of all time. Their superhuman strength and speed — combined with Alice’s iconic high kick pitching, is enough to fully engage any viewer.
6
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2003)
The Scene: Deadpool’s Fight Scene
Despite Hugh Jackman’s compelling lead performance, X-Men Origins: Wolverine can’t overcome its cliched, overblown plot. One exception? Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds)’s fight scene. Not only is his showdown with Wolverine incredibly tight and well-choreographed, the scene also serves as Deadpool’s cinematic debut. While the Wade Wilson we see here is so different from the persona we meet in Deadpool, it’s still exciting to see an iconic character first come to life on screen.
7
Wonder Woman 1984
The Scene: The Invisible Jet
While Wonder Woman struck just the right tone, its follow-up, Wonder Woman 1984 was a much more uneven affair. The pacing is off, the story is convoluted, and any promising premises are abandoned as soon as they’re introduced. However, the movie shines whenever Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) shares the screen with Steve Trevor (Chris Pratt). The scene where they steal an invisible jet is sweet and romantic — and the moment when they fly through the fireworks display is downright magical. Gadot and Pine have great chemistry, and it’s a shame that the movie didn’t lean into that more.
8
Cats (2019)
The Scene: Grizabella Belts Out “Memory”
Once the absolutely abysmal reviews for the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Cats came rolling in, the film’s A-list cast understandably distanced themselves from the horrible buzz. But besides the uncannily fuzzy human bodies and charmless dancing cockroaches, viewers could rally together behind one bright spot — Jennifer Hudson’s performance as Grizabella. Hudson is tasked with singing the musical’s most famous number, “Memory,” a song which has eclipsed even the tremendous popularity of Weber’s Broadway mainstay. And we’ll just say this — even obscured by a coat of scraggly CG fur, Hudson has some serious pipes. Her performance is raw, grounded, and ethereal, a sole highlight in a movie that disturbs more than it delights.
9
Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (2002)
The Scene: The Duel of the Fates
The Star Wars prequel trilogy often leaves fans divided — but nearly all can agree that compared to the original trilogy, they’re simply not as good. The Phantom Menace gives us a glimpse of greatness, but ultimately, there’s just too much Jar Jar Binks and not enough depth and character development. That being said, the lightsaber duel between Obi Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Maul is hands-down one of the franchise’s most thrilling sequences. An honorable mention goes to Anakin’s pod racing scene on Tatooine — it’s pretty dazzling.
10
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
The Scene: Gwen Stacy Dies
The Amazing Spider-Man film series — while beloved by some diehard fans — didn’t receive a ton of praise at the time of its release. But ever since Andrew Garfield reprised his role of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, viewers have reminisced on his tenure in a more forgiving light. And, not to mention, the scene where Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) falls to her untimely death is genuinely moving. Peter attempts to rescue Gwen as she descends from the clock tower, but his web grasps onto her body just a second too late — she makes contact with the pavement, and dies on impact. He utters the lines “You’re okay,” and “Stay with me.” He tries in vain to bring her back, but it’s too late. He doesn’t even get to say goodbye. It’s a heartbreaking moment that adds some much needed gravitas to the film.
This was such a good year for animation. Last year it truly boiled down to “Encanto vs. Mitchells”, but the field is wide open, so let’s run it down with the help of Vareity!
With Disney/Pixar, we have Turning Red, a critical darling. Not commercial, because Disney didn’t give it a wide release….and Lightyear and Strange World, both of which did receive wide releases, flopped, and are non-entities in this race. Turning Red, which marks the first from Pixar to be solely directed by a woman, has received critical acclaim for Shi’s depictions of female friendships and the mother-daughter relationship.
OP Note: TR is still probably my favorite film of the year.
The article does not, however, mention Henry Selick’s Wendell and Wild.
OP Note: Sea Beast was fine enough, and GDT’s Pinocchio was really cool. Nice to see a multitude of stop motion available, sad W&W isn’t getting more attention.
GKIDS missed a nomination last year with Belle (tip: the soundtrack is amazing), but with Inu-Oh already being nominated for a Golden Globe, maybe they can take it all the way (and give us a US release, y/y?).
Did you, like most people, forget Dreamworks Animation had not one, but two films this year? The Bad Guys had a fairly slow rollout worldwide with it’s soft, almost Spider-verse-esque style for a bunch of criminals. It sadly seems to have sunk out of the public conciousness. Meanwhile, the sixth entry into the Shrek franchise, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, may be 11 years too late, but it was worth the wait, with very positive reviews, and a bombastic artstyle and story that stops just short of saying memento mori.
OP Note: Ok, maybe Puss in Boots is my favorite this year?
Welcome to the animation side, A24, and welcome Marcel The Shell With Shoes On. I didn’t like it. But I’m glad another stop motion/live action hybrid is making the rounds, and is winning a lot of smaller circuits!
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 08: 100 illuminated drones perform a choreographed routine over Sydney … [+] Harbour accompanied by Beethovens Fifth Symphony performed by Sydney Youth Orchestra on June 8, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. Vivid Sydney is an annual festival that features light sculptures and installations throughout the city. The festival takes place May 27 through June 18. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Light pollution is a serious problem for humanity and it’s getting worse. The creep of LED lights across the world in the past decade or so has caused skyglow to increase, so much so that urban stargazing is becoming much more difficult.
Now another insidious kind of light pollution is being talked up in a recent study published in the journal Aerospace.
It looks at the possibility of a space advertising mission. Yes, that’s right—advertising in the night sky. The researchers from Skoltech, a private university Moscow, Russia, studied the economic feasibility of launching a bunch of satellites into orbit to fly in formation and reflect sunlight to display commercials in the sky above cities.
This is surely the ultimate definition of space junk.
“As unrealistic as it may seem, we show that space advertising based on 50 or more small satellites flying in formation could be economically viable,” said Shamil Biktimirov, co-author and a research intern at Skoltech’s Engineering Center.
They arrived at a tentative cost of $65 million.
The concept uses small CubeSats that nevertheless each unfurl a 32-square-meter solar sail to maximize reflectiveness, though since they reflect sunlight they would only work in the hour or so after sunset (or before sunrise).
There are various factors involved that affect how much money could be made, from the cloudiness to the demographics of the city the commercials are shown to.
The model works by picking the most profitable city within reach and displaying an ad there for one minute before switching to the next one. So perhaps only big cities—already blighted by light pollution—would be visited by these monstrosities.
There are two aspects of this concept to be worried about.
The first is that the study finds space advertising to be commercially viable. The authors show that space advertising revenue could reach approximately $2 million per day for a series on one-minute commercials over a profitable city. So the mission would only have to last just over a month to break even. The researchers claim that such a mission could operate for several months.
The second is the researchers cavalier attitude to light pollution. In the paper the researchers state that light pollution concerns is unwarranted since commercials could only be shown around sunrise or sunset—and not at night—and that it would only make economic sense to show commercials to large cities that are already exposed to permanent light pollution. For example, they wouldn’t be visible from anywhere that observatories study the night sky.
This is both massively disrespectful to people in cities, hugely damaging to wildlife that live in them and completely misunderstands the value of twilight.
No, professional astronomy is not done in cities. So what? There are plenty of urban astronomers. I would argue that the majority of amateur astronomers live in cities. Yes, you can go stargazing in London. Go up to the High Line in Manhattan and you’ll find members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York looking at stars, planets and galaxies. The last thing the iconic Griffith Observatory in Hollywood, Los Angeles needs is yet more light pollution in the form of logos for car companies or fast food brands.
Twilight is a gorgeous and incredibly important time. It’s when the birds roost and the stars come out. It’s a time for looking for planets low on the horizon and for spotting a crescent Moon.
It’s when night’s window opens and always has done. Commercials are for TVs, not twilight.
