News

Plot: A group of college students embark on an investigation into the legendary Sailor Man. Unfortunately for them, they find him.

Review: He’s Popeye the Sailor Man! For decades, the animated character has delighted young fans. From the cartoons to the live-action Popeye featuring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall, he is an iconic and beloved character. And just like Winnie the Pooh, the copyrights have lapsed, sending the spinach-guzzling hero into the Public Domain. And my, oh my, Popeye is kinda pissed. With his puffy, bloated face and ridiculously cartoonish arms, Jason Robert Stephens is undoubtedly having a good time killing off numerous victims in wacky ways.

Popeye the Slayer Man is what you’d expect from a B-movie horror flick. It tells of the local legend rumored to be stalking the abandoned Anchor Bay Cannery – look for more than a few fun Easter Eggs. After plans surface that...

The worlds of The Shiningand Super Mario Bros.collide in a trippy new crossover video that turns the Overlook Hotel into a video game level. Released in 1980, Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name is now a horror classic, chronicling Jack Torrance's (Jack Nicholson) descent into madness while looking after a haunted hotel with his family. The film couldn't be any more different from the child-friendly Super Mario franchise, which includes dozens of Nintendo games and multiple movie adaptations, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).

Now, Mark Cannataro Films on Instagram imagines what a crossover between The Shining and Super Mario Bros. would look like, and the result is quite strange. The video opens with Mario defeating Bowser before hacking his way through the door of Overlook Hotel room 237, with the scene edited together with shots of Shelley Duvall screaming and cowering in the bathroom as Wendy Torrance.

While he enjoys the success of his latest movie, the adaptation of Stephen King's short story The Monkey, Osgood "Oz" Perkins still finds the time to share his hot takes. The director went on a quick Q&a with fans who were eager to know a bit more about the visionary director and his unique horror career. However, opening up the floor to questions from the public is always going to throw a few curveballs, and one of those was the question whether Perkins would be interested in directing a movie in the James Bond franchise.

Through a session on Reddit, Perkins took the mic to answer several questions about his career, his inspirations, and… directing James Bond? A user known as jokermobile333 asked Perkins the following question: "Are you open to directing a bond movie/trilogy? If so, who would you cast as your version of bond?" For the most part,...

In cinema, villains are easily hated, but to know them deeply requires a deeper understanding. One such antagonist is The Shining's Jack Torrance, a horror figure whose name is synonymous with fear and whose screams are forever associated with terror. Based on the character created by Stephen King and immortalized by the celebrated actor Jack Nicholson, this villain is forever etched in the audience's minds. Despite his endurance in pop culture, Jack remains one of the most profoundly misunderstood movie characters ever.

After 44 years of significant cultural impact, something about Jack always gets lost in conversation. Although his image is undoubtedly plastered on everything from T-shirts to posters, figuring out what truly makes him a villain is something most people struggle with. Perhaps it's something far more tragic, which has been 'overlooked', and that's precisely why fans continue to get Jack wrong. What if the villain is more human...

By the time Stanley Kubrick came to make "The Shining" in the late '70s, he was firmly ensconced in England. The Bronx native had moved to Britain in the early '60s to shoot "Lolita" at the famed Elstree studios. After that, he stayed. Not only did he stay, but in order to make all the cinematic classics for which we now know him, he made everyone else come to him. Before he designed the industrial nightmare Gotham for Tim Burton's "Batman," for example, production designer Anton Furst was tasked with creating Vietnam in North London for Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket." This continued right up until the director's final film, "Eyes Wide Shut," which took Kubrick's exhausting methods to new extremes by requiring entire New York City blocks to be recreated on the backlot of England's Pinewood Studios — all because Kubrick refused to actually shoot on location.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Michelle Trachtenberg tragically passed away last week.

Many of her fans and former costars are still in shock. This was so unexpected.

The 2025 Oscars have come and gone with relatively few surprises in the mix.

But this year’s In Memoriam segment of the Oscars snubbed Trachtenberg. And she was not the only conspicuous exclusion.

Michelle Trachtenberg attends the 28th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and Walmart on February 09, 2020. (Photo Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images) Why did Michelle Trachtenberg not appear in the Oscars ‘In Memoriam’ tribute?

On Sunday, March 3, the 2025 Oscars telecast included the familiar tribute to deceased stars — and a few others from within the film industry — who have died over the past year.

The segment used the “Lacrimosa” section from Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor,” which is often a tasteful decision.

Late titans of...

The 2025 Academy Awards featured its annual In Memoriam segment, honoring industry figures who passed away over the last year. While the tribute recognized film legends such as David Lynch, James Earl Jones, Donald Sutherland, Maggie Smith, Roger Corman, Shelley Duvall, and Bob Newhart, many viewers quickly pointed out names missing from the televised montage.

Morgan Freeman introduced a special remembrance for two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who was found dead alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, last Wednesday. Quincy Jones also received his own tribute later in the show. The rest of the segment, set to Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor, displayed a montage of those the Academy selected for recognition.

Social media reaction grew as fans noted the absence of several well-known actors and filmmakers. Tony Todd, known for his lead role in Candyman, was not featured. Todd, who died in November at 69, was a familiar face in horror,...

The In Memoriam portion of the 2025 Oscars telecast on Sunday night paid a moving tribute to several stars and movie industry folk who have died over the last year, but there were some notable omissions that were quickly pointed out on social media.

The In Memoriam segment of the show, that was soundtracked to the “Lacrimosa” portion of Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor,” featured moving tributes to entertainment industry giants the likes of David Lynch, Maggie Smith, Roger Corman, Shelley Duvall, Bob Newhart, James Earl Jones and Donald Sutherland. Two-time Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, who was found dead inside his Sante Fe home alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, was given a moving special tribute by his longtime friend Morgan Freeman.

But as ever with the Academy Awards and the In Memoriam segment, much of the discussion online is who was omitted from the televised tribute. One of the more glaring omissions was actor Tony Todd,...

The Academy Awards honored late titans of the film industry, including actors Gene Hackman, Dame Maggie Smith, James Earl Jones, Donald Sutherland, and legendary director David Lynch, during the 2025 Oscars on Sunday night.

Morgan Freeman paid a special tribute to his “dear friend,” the two-time Oscar winner Hackman, who died aged 95 in February. Starring alongside Hackman in the 2000 thriller Under Suspicion and the western Unforgiven in 1992, Freeman said the late actor would often say, “I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.

The 2025 Oscars got reflective with the traditional In Memoriam segment celebrating the entertainment figures who died over the past year as the names scrolled onscreen. Notable names in filmmaking including David Lynch, Maggie Smith, James Earl Jones and Donald Sutherland were recognized during the emotional segment.

“Harriet the Spy” star Michelle Trachtenberg, who died the Wednesday before the Oscars, was not included in the In Memoriam segment. This year, actors including Tony Todd, Chance Perdomo, Alain Delon, “Annie Hall” star Tony Roberts, Linda Lavin, James Darren, Mitzi Gaynor, Martin Mull and “Romeo and Juliet” star Olivia Hussey were also omitted, along with documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock.

Gene Hackman, who was found dead with his wife on Wednesday, was remembered with a tribute from Morgan Freeman, who worked with the two-time Oscar winner on “Unforgiven” and “Under Suspicion.”

Quincy Jones also got his own separate Oscars tribute later in the show.

Riddle us this: Is an Oscar telecast a real Oscar telecast if there isn’t Sunday night quarterbacking over who was omitted from the annual In Memoriam segment?

The traditional five-minute interlude — which arrived during the latter half of Sunday’s ABC telecast — honored dozens of film giants that we lost in the last 12 months, including Dabney Coleman, Shelley Duvall, Louis Gossett Jr., James Earl Jones, Joan Plowright, Gena Rowlands and Maggie Smith.

More from TVLineOscars 2025: Conan O’Brien Mocks Best Picture Nominees, Calls Out Karla Sofía Gascón During Monologue — Grade It!Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Open 2025 Oscars...

Late actor Gene Hackman was given a special tribute at the Academy Awards. The acknowledgment kicked off the In Memoriam segment for the Oscars this year following the recent passing of the accomplished actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.

At the Oscars on Sunday evening, Morgan Freeman hit the stage to introduce the annual In Memoriam segment, which is used to pay tribute to some of the actors and creatives who've been lost over the past year. Freeman wanted to be sure that Hackman got his flowers, stressing how much of an icon the Unforgiven star had been in Hollywood. Along with sharing some memories of the actor, Freeman noted how Hackman was a 2-time Oscar winner himself.

Morgan Freeman pays tribute to Gene Hackman while introducing the In Memoriam segment at the #Oscarspic.twitter.com/WWak1Ed0z7— PopX is watching the #Oscars (@PopX) March 3, 2025

RelatedDune: Part Two Nabs...

Traditional in memoriam segment at Academy Awards also remembers Donald Sutherland, Shelley Duvall and James Earl Jones

Oscars 2025 — follow live Academy Awards updatesSee complete list of winners and photos from the red carpet

Tributes to the late actor Gene Hackman have rounded off the traditional in-memoriam segment at the Academy Awards in Hollywood.

The actor, whose body was found last Wednesday along with those of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs, was one of cinema’s most beloved and respected stars. His death, particularly in what appear to be upsetting circumstances, has been deeply felt across the industry.

Anora wins best original and Conclave wins best adapted screenplay

Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña win supporting prizes

No Other Land wins best documentary andFlow wins best animated feature...

The Oscars In Memoriam tribute, set to Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor,” began with a tribute from Morgan Freeman to his “Unforgiven” and “Under Suspicion” co-star Gene Hackman. Hackman, who was 95, was found dead last week in his Santa Fe home along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa.

“I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion.’ I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work,” said Freeman. “He received two Oscars. He won the hearts of film lovers all over the world. Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy, I just think people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.'”

Hackman won Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1993 for playing a sadistic sheriff in Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven.” He also won Best Actor in a Leading Role for playing a broken...

Quick LinksWhat Is Popeye's Origin in Popeye's Revenge?What Is Popeye's Mission In Popeye's Revenge?The Ending of Popeye's Revenge Is Equally Bizarre and DisjointedPopeye's Revenge Also Has Weird Plot HolesPopeye's Revenge's Biggest Mistake Is Having No Identity

The following contains spoilers for Popeye's Revenge, now available on home video and Prime Video.

One of the most popular characters is undoubtedly Popeye the Sailor. His journey began in one of the best comic strips in 1929. The sailor went on to romance Olive Oyl, feud with Bluto, and care for his adopted ward, Swee'Pea. In time, Popeye would be involved in cartoons, comic books, a manga series, and a 1980s movie starring Robin Williams and The Shining's Shelley Duvall.

Interestingly, Popeye has now received the horror movie treatment, thanks to entering the public domain. It's in the same vein as the Poohniverse movies where Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet and other A. A. Milne...

We lost some entertainment giants in 2024.

Among the big-screen legends who died during the past 12 months were Donald Sutherland, James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, Carl Weathers, Shelley Duvall, Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Louis Gossett Jr., Anouk Aimée, Marisa Paredes and Gena Rowlands.

Related: Saying Goodbye: A Video Tribute To The Hollywood And Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2024

The TV world mourns the likes of Bob Newhart, John Amos, Phil Donahue, Linda Lavin, David Soul, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Martin Mull, Shannen Doherty, Michael Cole, Richard Lewis, Richard Simmons, James B. Sikking, Peter Marshall and Joe Flaherty.

Filmmakers and producers who left us include Norman Jewison, Roger Corman, Al Ruddy, Jon Landau, Lynda Obst, Jim Abrahams, Charles Shyer, Irv Wilson and Paolo Taviani.

The industry also paid tribute to such top executives as Charles Dolan, Paula Weinstein, Jamie Kellner, Richard Parsons, Gerald Levin and Paul Fox.

Broadway’s lights were a...

Even the most anti-war artists of the 21st century could bring themselves to violence in extreme circumstances — such as when they saw Woody Allen’s stupid, smarmy, unpunched face.

Nowadays, it would be neither newsworthy nor noteworthy for anyone with convictions to say that they wish they could give comedy filmmaking legend and accused child molester Woody Allen a smack that would make his head spin faster than ours did when Allen became his own father-in-law. Allen’s filmmaking career continued on mostly unimpeded after he left his romantic partner Mia Farrow for her 21-year-old adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn in 1992, but the court of public opinion has somewhat soured on the Annie Hall star and director in the decades since, especially after Allen’s biological daughter Dylan accused him of sexual assault.

But long before film fans everywhere and Allen’s own family hated his guts, Bob Dylan hated Allen...

The Oscars will continue their long-running tradition of honoring celebrated filmmakers with their "In Memoriam" segment on Sunday. ABC will broadcast the event hosted by Conan O'Brien with Hulu streaming the ceremony live at 7 p.m. Et; 4 p.m. Pt.

Among the Oscar winners and nominees who will have their lives celebrated are Teri Garr, Louis Gossett Jr., James Earl Jones, Jon Landau, David Lynch, Joan Plowright, Gena Rowlands, Albert S. Ruddy, David Seidler, Richard M. Sherman, Maggie Smith, Robert Towne, and honorary recipients Roger Corman, Quincy Jones, and Donald Sutherland.

There are more than 100 movie professionals who died since the last Academy Awards ceremony. Each person who was an Academy member is designated below with **. Keep in mind that producers usually choose between 40 and 50 for the segment and that a performer has not yet been confirmed.

Edited to add two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman.

Jim Abrahams — Director/Writer

Anouk Aimée...

Taking on a character that has already been memorialized by another actor is no small task. In many instances, a director will forgo recasting the part and simply rely on technology to do the trick, oftentimes garnering some pushback from fans. In his 2019 film, Doctor Sleep, helmer Mike Flanagan had to make a difficult choice — rely on CGI to carry audiences back to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shiningor find performers who could embody the characters as they appeared nearly four decades prior. For his adaptation of the Stephen King-penned sequel, Flanagan chose the latter, casting Alex Essoe, Carl Lumbly, and Roger Dale Floyd in the roles first held by Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and Danny Lloyd, respectively.

One of the most emotional segments of the annual SAG Awards ceremony is the “In Memoriam.” Netflix will live stream the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday with host Kristen Bell.

Among the Oscar winners and nominees who will have their lives celebrated are Teri Garr, Louis Gossett, Jr., James Earl Jones, David Lynch, Joan Plowright, Gena Rowlands, Maggie Smith, and honorary recipient Donald Sutherland. Some of the past Primetime Emmy winners and nominees include John Amos, Dabney Coleman, Shelley Duvall, Linda Lavin, Martin Mull, Bob Newhart, and Alan Rachins,

Seesag Life Achievement award: Full gallery of recipients since 1995

There are more than 100 actors and actresses who died since the last SAG Awards ceremony:

Marla Adams

Anouk Aimée

Jean Allison

John Amos

Erich Anderson

John Aprea

Niels Arestrup

Erica Ash

John Ashton

Susan Backlinie

Barbara Baldavin

Bobby Banas

Terrence Beasor

Joan Benedict

Meg Bennett

Robyn Bernard

Mark Blankfield

Tom Bower...

Well, it looks like Popeye has officially entered the public domain, and with that comes the inevitable low-budget horror adaptation. The beloved spinach-loving sailor is the latest classic character to be transformed into a slasher villain, following in the footsteps of Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Pan.

The film, titled Popeye’s Revenge, takes the familiar formula of turning childhood icons into nightmare fuel. If you’re curious—or just can’t look away—there’s already a trailer out for it.

Popeye’s Revenge is described by ITN Movies as a “horrifying take on the classic character,” though that may not mean what they think it does. This isn’t horrifying because of its scares—it’s horrifying because it’s essentially Friday the 13th with Popeye in the killer role.

The film follows a group of friends hoping to open a summer camp, only to be haunted by the legend of Popeye.

At London’s Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Jeff Goldblum delivered a heartfelt performance during the BAFTA Film Awards In Memoriam segment on Sunday night. The actor and accomplished jazz pianist, known for his role in the BAFTA-nominated film “Wicked,” played “As Time Goes By” as a tribute to industry figures who passed away over the past year.

Goldblum’s rendition of the classic, composed by Herman Hupfeld in 1931 and popularized by the film “Casablanca,” accompanied a montage of images honoring renowned filmmakers and actors. The tribute reel featured names such as David Lynch, Maggie Smith, Donald Sutherland, James Earl Jones, Joan Plowright, Gena Rowlands, Kris Kristofferson, and Shelley Duvall, ensuring that the contributions of these beloved talents were remembered with reverence.

BAFTA organizers expressed their anticipation of a moving segment, noting that Goldblum’s performance would add a personal touch to the remembrance of film legends. The actor,...

Jeff Goldblum tinkled the ivories during a moving In Memoriam section at the BAFTA Film Awards.

The Wicked star, an accomplished jazz pianist with three albums to his name, played As Time Goes By in tribute to stars including David Lynch and Maggie Smith.

Blue Velvet director Lynch and Smith, star of Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, were left until last on the tribute reel.

Others honored in Goldblum’s performance included Donald Sutherland, James Earl Jones, Joan Plowright, Gena Rowlands, Kris Kristofferson, and Shelley Duvall.

The 2025 BAFTA Film Awards are taking place at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London. David Tennant is hosting for the second consecutive year. The rolling list of winners is here.

Dr. Phil has been a household name since the early 2000s, he has a background in psychology and became famous after his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Eventually, he launched his own show called Dr. Phil where people sought guidance from him on all kinds of issues.

Phillip McGraw on Dr. Phil | CBS

The audience had faith in him and believed he was a trusted advisor. In the show, he conducted in-depth interviews and gave people actionable advice to bring a positive change in their lives. But he endorsed one product, which almost cost him millions of dollars, so let’s dig into this infamous chapter of the televised self-help guru.

Dr. Phil endorses shady weight loss supplements Phillip McGraw on Dr. Phil | CBS

In the early 2000s, everyone was capitalizing on the weight loss industry, and Phillip McGraw aka Dr. Phil happened to launch a venture of his own.

Dr. Phil built an empire dishing out tough love, but here’s the real kicker: he hasn’t been a licensed psychologist since 2006. That didn’t stop him from playing therapist on TV, though. Critics called him out for exploiting guests, while former employees painted a toxic backstage picture.

Dr. Phil McGraw and his wife Robin McGraw | Credits: @drphil via Instagram

Now, with past controversies resurfacing, the question lingers: Was Dr. Phil really helping people, or just selling a reality show disguised as therapy?

Dr. Phil’s empire: Self-help or just showbiz? Dr. Phil McGraw | Credits: @drphil via Instagram

Dr. Phil built an empire as America’s go-to TV therapist, but he hasn’t had a license to practice psychology since 2006.

For nearly two decades, he doled out mental health advice on Dr. Phil, but legally, he couldn’t actually practice. To avoid legal trouble, he wrapped his show in airtight guest waivers,...

The Monkey, the upcoming Stephen King adaptation from Longlegs writer-director Osgood Perkins, has already received some positive reviews from critics online, but now the Master of Horror himself has weighed in. Taking to his Threads account, King shared his opinion of the film, which was also positive.

He wrote, "You've never seen anything like The Monkey. It's batsh*t insane. As someone who has indulged in batsh*ttery from time to time, I say that with admiration." Quite the positive review indeed. King fans will no doubt delight in the author's glowing words, raising excitement for the film significantly.

King's opinions of his film adaptations run the gamut. He notoriously hates The Shining, Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film of King's third novel starring Jack Nicholoson and the late Shelley Duvall, but he likes the first Children of the Corn movie pretty well. No matter where he stands, King is guaranteed to be outspoken in his views.

Jules Feiffer, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who also wrote occasionally for the stage and screen, including Mike Nichols’ film “Carnal Knowledge” and Robert Altman’s “Popeye,” died on Jan. 17 at his home in upstate New York. He was 95. Feiffer’s wife confirmed to the Washington Post that he died of congestive heart failure.

Feiffer was a cartoonist with the Village Voice for more than 40 years until 1997.

His first connection with the film business came with the Oscar-winning 1961 animated short “Munro,” based on Feiffer’s story — a parable about the mindless military mentality in which the title character, a 4-year-old, is drafted.

Feiffer adapted his own play “Little Murders,” a dark satire about life in New York that had been briefly staged on Broadway in 1967, for the 1971 film of that name directed by Alan Arkin and starring Elliott Gould. Roger Ebert gave the movie four out of four stars and said,...

Toiling laboriously for over four decades before his death in 1999, director Stanley Kubrick's career was defined by many hallmarks: a devotion to seemingly pointless minutiae, a love of classical music, pushing the boundaries of technology, and unflinching realism. Yet there's one more relatable facet of his personality that is never deeply considered when dissecting his career and subject material in the Criterion box-set. Many of his later films reflect, and were arguably shaped by, the cats in his life. All seven of them, to be exact.

Look closely, and you can see the cat hair clinging to his films. His purported favorite cat, Polly, was featured in a large portrait hanging in the NYC apartment foyer belonging to the Tom Cruise-Nicole Kidman couple in his final movie, Eyes Wide Shut. For film geeks teasing every single scene of his filmography for hidden messages and obscure clues insinuating secret Illuminati schemes,...

I consider myself something like a student, autodidact or otherwise, of cinema and––even still, must confess––had not ever grasped the concept of Argentine noir. Credit to Criterion Channel, who’ll expand my horizons with February’s program (concisely titled “Argentine Noir”) that includes one known title––Pierre Chenal’s Native Son, an Argentine film from a French director adapting an American novel about the African-American experience in Chicago––and five I look forward to discovering. Retrospective-wise, their wide-reaching Claudette Colbert program could double as a lesson in Old Hollywood, between Capra, Stahl, DeMille, Lubitsch, Sirk, and Sturges. February, of course, brings Black History Month and Valentine’s Day: the former engenders a series featuring films such as Nothing but a Man, Portrait of Jason, and Losing Ground; the latter brings “New York Love Stories,” from Carol to Crossing Delancey to, curiously, Annie Hall, which likely would not have...

The best Shelley Duvall movies and TV shows reveal exactly why the star of The Shining and Popeye came to be known as a legendary presence on the screen. Born in 1949 in Texas, Shelly Duvall was discovered by director Robert Altman, who she came to work with frequently following her debut in his 1970 comedy Brewster McCloud. From there, Duvall found herself starring in many of the best films of the 1970s and 1980s, with her career reaching its highly celebrated peak with films like Popeye and, of course, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.

However, despite being regarded as an incredible presence on-screen in the 2020s, Shelley Duvall was somewhat under-appreciated in her time - especially when it came to awards and accolades. Shelley Duvall unfortunately passed away in 2024, aged 75, though by this time, her legacy was cemented and celebrated by many critics and career peers - and the best Shelley...

Quick Links Popeye Was Set to Be an All-American Action Hero Producers Were Determined to Put a New Twist on an Old Character The Film Failed to Set Off the Mark for a Second Time

Though the world of animation is incredibly diverse and dynamic, Popeye has remained at the forefront for over 90 years. Complete with an unusual look, a passionate heart, and gigantic forearms, this sailor has been a keen fixture in popular culture for years and continues to be adored by fans. As such, it comes as no surprise that production companies are always determined to expand his lore via films, TV shows, and comic strips.

Back in 2010, Sony announced that it was going to put a new spin on this beloved character and recruited an all-star cast of animators and producers. But, after failing to hit the mark, the company decided to place all its efforts into another venture,...

Movie, TV and music fans are remembering notable figures who have died since the start of 2024. “Beverly Hills 90210” star Shannen Doherty, “Bob Newhart Show” star Bob Newhart, “An Officer and a Gentleman” Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr., “Alice” star Linda Lavin, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Richard Lewis, “Starsky and Hutch” star David Soul and “Honeymooners” star Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie, are among celebrities from the world of television who have died.

In film, cinephiles are remembering actor Donald Sutherland, actor James Earl Jones, “Romeo and Juliet” star Olivia Hussey, producer Roger Corman, “Chinatown” screenwriter Robert Towne, “Moonstruck” director Norman Jewison, “Harry Potter” star Maggie Smith and “The Shining” star Shelley Duvall.

Music stars we lost this year include Quincy Jones, Liam Payne, Kris Kristofferson, Toby Keith, Steve Lawrence and Phil Lesh.

Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic The Shining is surrounded by rumors and myths, and one of them has recently been debunked, which is actually great for the movie. Stanley Kubrick is responsible for various classic movies across different genres, but he was also a very controversial filmmaker. Kubrick pushed boundaries in most of his movies and this wasn’t always well-received by the audience, but his biggest controversies came from behind-the-scenes stories, though not all of them have turned out to be true.

One of Kubrick’s most controversial movies is The Shining, based on Stephen King’s 1977 novel of the same name. The Shining follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), who takes a job as the off-season caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, and he takes his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and son Danny (Danny Lloyd) with him. Once there, Danny’s “shine” is triggered by the ghostly presences at the hotel,...

An expert on The Shining debunks one of the biggest myths from the making of the Stanley Kubrick horror classic. Released in 1980, the Stephen King adaptation hasn't just become one of Kubrick's most iconic films, but one of the most iconic horror movies ever made. The Shining, which stars Jack Nicholson and the late Shelley Duvall, has become almost as well-known for what went on behind-the-scenes as what ended up on-screen, with tales of Kubrick's exacting directing style now the stuff of legend.

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com to promote the release of his new two-volume book, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, author Lee Unkrich debunks a popular story about the film. The story claims that Kubrick had Duvall do 148 takes of the scene in which she walks up the stairs swinging a baseball bat as Jack advances toward her. Though the Guinness Book of World Records claims that...

For a wide variety of reasons, many beloved actors eventually retire from Hollywood and shift their focus toward something else. However, not every actor can stay away forever. Sometimes, a role is so enticing that it is enough to bring an actor out of retirement for one last great performance. These returns to the big screen can be incredibly exciting for audiences, particularly for fans who have spent years hoping to see their favorite star back in theaters once again.

It is also important to note that some of these performances didn't end up being the "last hurrahs" that they were expected to be. Sometimes, a single role is enough to rekindle an actor's passion for their craft, leading them to launch a whole new era of their career. Others, of course, merely wanted to perform one last time before returning to retirement. Whether they decided to continue their career...

Talkshows have been an important cornerstone of the entertainment industry for decades. But while most leaned towards being more family and advertisers-friendly, Jerry Springer had no intentions of playing in the same ballpark when he entered the format with The Jerry Springer Show.

The Jerry Springer.Show | Credit: NBC

While Dr. Phil has often found himself amidst heavy scrutiny for its exploitative nature against guests for entertainment purposes, it was Springer who popularized the idea of bringing in more problematic personalities. However, unlike Phil, Springer didn’t bank on being serious, which led to some batsh-t insane moments.

Mark’s Problematic Crusade Got Spotlight in a Now-Banned Episode The Jerry Springer.Show | Credit: NBC

In a 1988 episode, Jerry Springer shared the stage with three people, one of them being a Missouri farmer Mark, infamously known as the man who married a horse. Although the talk show, which rejected the more civilized essence of the format,...

It's been said that Jack Nicholson plays crazy a little too well, and while that's true in its own way, it's also inaccurate insofar as it suggests the man just channels some sort of innate insanity for his more unhinged roles. The truth is that before Jack Nicholson disappeared from Hollywood, he was one of the most intelligent and thoughtful actors ever to grace the screen, and spent years honing his abilities via deep research. As the New York Times' Ron Rosenbaum put it in a 1986 profile of the man, Nicholson would "devotedly go from acting teacher to acting teacher seeking truth the way others of his generation would go from guru to guru or shrink to shrink."

In other words, Nicholson was far more intellectual about his craft than you might imagine when watching his effortless performances. It's the reason Stanley Kubrick said that Nicholson brought an "unactable" quality...

From its Southwestern skyscraper surfaces to its bush- and junk car-pocked bedrock, there’s something slightly off-kilter about the America of Wim Wenders’s Paris, Texas. The solidly masculine cast is nothing if not indigenous: For one, when the sun-punched Travis Henderson, played by Harry Dean Stanton, first stumbles into frame, his uncultivated, hirsute face and dusty red cap seem like natural geological formations that have been patiently waiting, cragged and craterous, for us to anticlimactically discover them. And the relationship-oriented, plot-shunning dialogue by multihyphenate creative Sam Shepherd taps into dialectal heartbrokenness without a shred of disassociating local lingo.

But there are tellingly alien factors out there. How did Travis and his brother Walt (Dean Stockwell) wind up with women who drip sophisticated European sex appeal from their ripe lips and honey hair? And why does every truck stop along highway 10 emit the same sickly green aura that glows like a clumsy,...

Shelley Duvall may be synonymous with Wendy Torrance, but it's her role as Olive Oyl in the 1980s Popeye that is the true high watermark of her career. The 1980 Popeye, ndirected by Robert Altman and starring Duvall, Paul L. Smith as Bluto, and the late great Robin Williams as the titular sailor, is a fascinating piece of pop culture that, for all intents, should not have worked, and yet it's wound up as one of the most memorable non-dc or Marvel comic adaptations, and it's left a surprising legacy, with a song even appearing in Punch Drunk Love.

The film, based on the E. C. Segar comic character of the same name, follows Popeye's first venture into Sweethaven, where he searches for his father, Poopdeck Pappy (Ray Walston). There he meets the scrappy, sweet, and strong-willed Olive Oyl, who is set to marry the hulking and crude Captain Bluto. Popeye...

The 1980s were a great time for horror movies and a decade full of undisputed classics and several underappreciated hidden gems. With advancements in special effects and increased use of animatronics and prosthetics, horror movies during this decade could depict gruesome imagery and shocking visuals in ways previously thought unimaginable. This was also the era when slasher movies really took off, and horror films dared to become even more gory, shocking, and violent than what was permissible in previous decades.

Some of the greatest horror movies ever made were released in the 1980s as all-time great directors like David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven really came into their own. The 1980s saw the creation of franchises that have continued right up to this day and the introduction of horror villains like Freddy Krueger, who have become icons of modern popular culture. With films that reflected the social and political anxieties of their time,...

There’s a reboot of the classic Universal Monsters property The Wolf Man coming our way from Blumhouse Productions and The Invisible Man (2020) director Leigh Whannell, aiming for a January 17, 2025 theatrical release – and while speaking to Empire, Whannell revealed that he drew inspiration from David Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly when he was crafting his take on this classic werewolf story.

Whannell said, “What The Fly did that a lot of other practical-effects-driven horror movies from that time did not do was bring the tragedy out of these practical effects. It wasn’t a joke in The Fly. It was there to illustrate someone who was dying of an illness. I was like, ‘I’ve got to do that.’ It’s not about being funny or icky or gory. This is about the tragedy of the human body falling apart.“

The leads of this version of Wolf Man are Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner,...

Wolf Man is set to be released in January, and director Leigh Whannell has promised good things for horror fans in the new Universal Monsters movie. Since the teaser trailer came out, the director has been teasing what can be expected when the film is released, and with his latest statement, we cant help but be more excited. According to Whannell, one big inspiration was David Cronenbergs The Fly, which included a horrifying transformation sequence for its lead, Jeff Goldblum. For Whannell, this was something he really wanted to replicate in the werewolf transformations of Wolf Man, suggesting that there will be plenty of practical effects involved.

During an interview with Empire, Whannell spilled the beans about what the transformations in Wolf Man will look like. Per Whannells reveal about the inspiration he took for his upcoming movie:

What The Fly did that a lot of other practical-effects-driven horror movies...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Roxy Cinema

An Adrian Lyne retrospective features Fatal Attraction, Jacob’s Ladder, Lolita, and Foxes on 35mm, while Bob Saget and Norm MacDonald’s seminal Dirty Work plays on a print Saturday.

Bam

A Shelley Duvall retrospective is underway.

Museum of Modern Art

A celebration of Robert Frank’s centennial begins.

Museum of the Moving Image

A Lana Wilson retrospective begins while the Frank Oz series continues.

Film Forum

As an Ealing Studios retrospective continues, The General screens on Sunday.

Metrograph

The Beaver Trilogy, The Machinist, and The Last Metro show on 35mm; a Crystal Mosell and Derrick B. Harden retrospective begins while The World Is a Stage, My Crazy Uncle (or Aunt), Insomnia, and Crush the Strong, Help the Weak continue.

IFC Center

A 4K restoration of The Fall plays daily; Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Ichi the Killer, Threads,...

Eyes Wide Shut star Nicole Kidman explains how Stanley Kubrick really made movies, including his on-set persona. Released in 1999, Eyes Wide Shut marks the only collaboration between Kidman and Kubrick, the latter of whom directed iconic films like 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Shining (1980), and Full Metal Jacket (1987). Kubrick, who died in 1999, shortly before the release of the Tom Cruise-starring erotic thriller, has remained a legendary figure not only due to the movies he made, but also due to his on-set persona and his exacting methods of filming.

In a recent interview with British GQ in which she breaks down her most iconic characters, Kidman speaks about her experiences filming Eyes Wide Shut, sharing new details about what Kubrick was like to work with and his approach to filmmaking. Instead of touching on more talked-about Kubrick details like his pursuit of perfection, Kidman explains just how collaborative the director...

From Blumhouse and The Invisible Man director Leigh Whannell comes a terrifying new lupine nightmare, Wolf Man. In the movie, Golden Globe nominee Christopher Abbott (Poor Things) stars as Blake, a San Francisco husband and father, who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his own father vanishes and is presumed dead.

With his marriage to his high-powered wife, Charlotte (Emmy winner Julia Garner; The Fantastic Four: First Steps), fraying, Blake persuades Charlotte to take a break from the city and visit the property with their young daughter, Ginger (Matlida Firth; Coma).

However, as the family approaches the farmhouse in the dead of night, they’re attacked by an unseen animal and, in a desperate escape, barricade themselves inside the home as the creature prowls the perimeter. As the night stretches on, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable, leaving Charlotte to decide whether the terror...

In 2020, before the world fell apart, director Leigh Whannell unleashed a seriously smart take on one of cinema’s greatest foes: The Invisible Man. His vision of the Universal Monster offered an entirely new idea on what H.G. Wells first dreamed up – turning the premise into a terrifying tale of gaslighting, as Elisabeth Moss’ architect Cecilia is convinced her seemingly-dead abusive ex is still haunting her. Now, Whannell is following up The Invisible Man with another Universal Monster movie, Wolf Man. And this one, too, delivers an all-new approach to the legendary lycanthrope. Here, it’s Christopher Abbott’s Blake who’s about to undergo some lunar lunacy, beset by a beast whose claw has him slowly transforming into something else.

As that premise suggests, Whannell’s Wolf Man will be leaning into the body-horror elements inherent to the werewolf mythos. And he’s taking cues from one of the all-time greats.

There's nothing like a good, well-executed plot twist in a movie. The best ones manage to completely change how the audience understands the plot, the characters, or numerous other elements within the film. The best movie plot twists not only shock their viewers but also evoke an intense reaction that is bound to keep the film circulating in their minds for long after the credits roll. Unsurprisingly, most great twists occur near the end of the film, when the audience thinks they have the story completely figured out.

However, every once in a while, the filmmakers take things a step further, waiting until the very last shot of the movie to unveil a massive twist. Just when they think everything has been wrapped up, the film pulls the rug right out from underneath the audience, revealing one final piece of information that changes their entire perception of what they just watched.

What if Popeye the Sailor Man was a deadly murderer? That's the premise of the upcoming horror movie Popeye from ITN Studios.

Per Bloody Disgusting, ITN Studios has released some first look photos of Popeye, a horror comedy film that reimagines the spinach-scarfing sailor as a sadistic serial killer. The film is coming to be after the Popeye character entered the public domain, similar to how Winnie the Pooh and Steamboat Willie the very first incarnation of Mickey Mouse have been given horror parody movies. However, it should be noted that Popeye is not part of the "Poohniverse," the cinematic universe that will tie Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey to other upcoming horror parody films based on other beloved children's story characters like Bambi and Peter Pan.

Related Pinocchio Attacks in New Poster for Horror Parody From Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey Team

The new poster for Pinocchio...

He's one tough Gazookus, which hates all Palookas wot ain't on the up and square, and ol' Popeye will be doling out more than a few spinach-fuelled ass whuppings in a new slasher movie from ITN Studios.

The success of the recent low-budget Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey has led to a number of classic animated tales being given a horror makeover, and Popeye is the latest beloved character to be turned into a bloodthirsty killer for an upcoming indie project.

Described as a "raunchy and gory slasher," it's worth clarifying that ITN’s Popeye is not connected to the Twisted Childhood Universe, aka the "Poohniverse."

Stephen Murphy is set to play the title character. Rene August is producing, with William Stead on board as director.

A brief synopsis reads: "The legend of Popeye haunts a group of councilors as they intend to open a summer camp."

It sounds like Popeye...

It's subjective as to what the greatest horror movie ever made is, but when those lists come out every year, you'll find Stanley Kubrick's The Shining at or near the top every time alongside other classics such as The Exorcist, Psycho, and Halloween. Collider's own 'best of' list puts it at number five, in case you were curious. The Shining is remembered for many things, including Jack Nicholson's performance, the verbal abuse Shelley Duvall suffered on set, and the fact that the man who wrote the novel it's based on, Stephen King, absolutely hated it. Four decades later, though, it's still perhaps best known for Kubrick's masterful direction. He took a haunted house movie and made it a complex art film. Because of this, theories have abounded for years about what hidden message the director was really trying to convey.