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This post contains spoilers for "From Dusk Till Dawn" and its television adaptation.

Robert Rodriguez's "From Dusk Till Dawn" is a strange, chimera-coded beast. The film opens like an action-heavy crime thriller featuring two charismatic leads, but transitions into a campy vampire B-movie halfway through. Such a drastic tonal shift shouldn't work on paper, but writer Quentin Tarantino (who also plays the psychopathic Richard Gecko in the film) weaves a frenetic story that genre hops with great skill and ease. There's also plenty to love here: a show-stopping Salma Hayek who suddenly transforms into a grotesque creature, the complex two-and-fro between Richard and his more suave brother, Seth (George Clooney), and an all-out gorefest sequence that is a lot of fun.

This half-and-half formula might not work for everyone, but "From Dusk Till Dawn" boasts a distinctive identity that deserves appreciation. The opening sequence alone points towards brilliant worldbuilding...

From crime sagas to teen romances, Netflix is a top destination for standout book-to-film adaptations. With a growing lineup of originals based on bestselling novels, the platform delivers more than 18 of the best literary adaptations in streaming today (Netflix Tudum). These adaptations include powerful storytelling with star-studded casts to bring the best of the books to the screen.

Featuring A-list stars like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Sandra Bullock, and Amy Adams, this list of six movies offers faithful retellings and the best cinematic experiences. Martin Scorsese, Joe Wright, and Sam Esmail have taken on these complex novels and delivered elite interpretations. Whether you’re watching for the performances or to see how the movie compares to the books, these titles are worth your time.

Here are six of the best book-to-film adaptations currently available on Netflix.

1. The Irishman (2019) Robert De Niro in a still from The Irishman | Credit: Netflix...

“Pulp Fiction” is a modern Hollywood classic, but upon release, the 1994 Quentin Tarantino-directed offbeat crime thriller was audacious to say the least. It told a narrative in non-chronological order, casted John Travolta off of a career slump, showcased on-screen drug use and graphic violence and gave its gun-wielding characters ample time to shoot the breeze before shooting their targets.

Nevertheless, the film succeeded, so much that audiences are still discussing it over a generation later. “Pulp Fiction” producer Lawrence Bender attended the Variety 120 Series screening, presented by Barco, a summer-long program hosted by Jazz Tangcay, that celebrates Variety‘s 120th anniversary by showing iconic films such as “All About Eve,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Psycho.”

Bender reflected on the first time “Pulp Fiction” came into his consciousness. It was 1992 and he was meeting Tarantino in Amsterdam ahead of the Cannes Film Festival premiere of “Reservoir Dogs,” Tarantino’s...

Quentin Tarantino delivered a candid, anecdote-filled eulogy at a Los Angeles memorial on 2 August for Michael Madsen, the gravel-voiced actor who powered several of his early films.

The director recalled a voicemail Madsen left after Tarantino fired volatile character actor Lawrence Tierney from Reservoir Dogs, praising the young filmmaker as a “captain” who stood up for his crew. Tarantino told attendees the message crystallised a friendship that endured through Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight and other collaborations spread across three decades.

Madsen died on 3 July at his Malibu home from cardiac arrest complicated by cardiomyopathy and chronic alcoholism, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report released two weeks later. He was 67, leaving seven children and a filmography that tops 300 credits.

Guardian archivists note that his breakout as Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs set a template for menacing charisma he would revisit in roles from Kill Bill to...

A month after his death at age 67, one of Michael Madsen‘s most prolific collaborators paid tribute to the late actor in Los Angeles.

On Friday, Quentin Tarantino hosted a private memorial for Madsen at the filmmaker’s Vista Theatre, where he recounted earning Madsen’s respect on the set of their 1992 film Reservoir Dogs after firing co-star Lawrence Tierney in the first week.

“It was the last hour of the last day of the first week of shooting. So, I had never directed a movie before,” Tarantino noted on stage in a video shared by TMZ. “And Lawrence Tierney was a f—ing nightmare. He was completely insane. He was so crazy, and I’d never directed before, so I’m dealing with a crazy man Monday through Saturday.”

Recalling the incident that forced his hand, Tarantino said, “All the other actors and the crew can’t stand him.

Quentin Tarantino, one of the most renowned directors in Hollywood, thought his directorial dreams were over before they even began when he fired a veteran actor like the late Lawrence Tierney from Reservoir Dogs. The filmmaker recently spoke about this moment during a memorial tribute at L.A.’s Vista Theatre to his longtime collaborator, Michael Madsen, who passed away last month at the age of 67 (via TMZ).

Reservoir Dogs was Tarantino’s debut film, and featured a stellar cast which included Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, and Madsen. His crime thriller eventually became a cult classic, but back in the first week of shooting, he thought it was all going to fall apart when Tierney started acting erratically, almost derailing production. With Keitel’s mediation and Madsen’s support, Tarantino was able to finish Tierney’s scenes.

Quentin Tarantino Feared for His Career After Firing Reservoir Dogs’ Lawrence...

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This August, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the much-anticipated release of the final season of the comedy series, Utopia, to The Terminal List‘s prequel series. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 7 best films that are coming to Prime Video in August 2025 with an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Blow Out (August 1) Rt Score: 88% Credit – Viscount Associates

Blow Out is a neo-noir mystery thriller film written and directed by Brian De Palma. The 1981 film follows Jack Terry, a sound engineer for a slasher film, who accidentally records evidence that proves that a seemingly ordinary accident is actually murder, and he soon finds himself hunted because of it.

August 1 will be a bad day for the highest-rated movie directed by Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino is a well-known director, writer, and actor who got his start in the late 1980s. While he has both written and performed in movies that he did not direct, including Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk Till Dawn, Tarantino is best known for his directorial efforts.

Quentin Tarantino's first movie as a director was 1992's Reservoir Dogs, a cult classic that kickstarted a career that includes major titles such as the Kill Bill movies, Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Altogether, Tarantino's directorial efforts, none of which have splats on Rotten Tomatoes, have earned him eight Oscar nominations and two wins.

Pulp Fiction Is Leaving A Major Streamer July 31 Is Its Final Day

Pulp Fiction is about to depart from one of its most important streaming homes. Tarantino's massively influential crime movie,...

If, in any case, you are living a monotonous life, I highly recommend sprinkling in some of that daily puzzle magic into your day, and to start with, I highly recommend getting into Actorle, which gives four different sets of daily puzzles based on Hollywood.

Whether it’s identifying a mystery actor by their filmography and age or rearranging different movie frames in the correct order, Actorle has it all. July 31’s challenges did not disappoint, and the following is a breakdown of all four puzzles the site has to offer.

Actorle Solution for Today The answer for Actorle on July 31 is Thomas Haden Church | Credit: Actorle/FandomWire

July 31’s Actorle gave me a bit of a nostalgic throwback. It was hard to guess the mystery actor for the day initially, but as soon as I unlocked the movies Sideways, Spider-Man 3, and Spider Man: No Way Home, my brain...

Martin Scorsese is one of many directors who earned his stripes working for legendary B-movie producer Roger Corman, and 1972 saw the release of his second picture, "Boxcar Bertha." Scorsese's friend and mentor John Cassavetes didn't mince words: "You just spent a year of your life making a piece of s**t. You're better than that stuff, you don't do that again." 

Scorsese took the blunt advice onboard, declined an offer to make a Blaxploitation cash-in, and concentrated on making what would become his favorite movie from his career, "Mean Streets." Would he have become such a celebrated filmmaker otherwise? There's no way of knowing, but Scorsese might have been more deeply ensconced in exploitation territory by that stage if he hadn't been fired from one of his first ever projects: "The Honeymoon Killers."

Produced by Warren Steibel and written by opera composer Leonard Kastle (who would later receive sole...

"Little Nicky" isn't regarded as one of Adam Sandler's best movies ... though we could say the same about many of his more disreputable flicks. The fantastical comedy was a financial flop upon its release back in the year 2000, despite Sandler riding a wave of momentum following hits like "Billy Madison" and "Big Daddy." What's more, the film gained mostly negative reviews from critics -- which, to be fair, is also part and parcel with Sandler movies. With that being said, "Little Nicky" has its defenders (this writer included), as it's one of the few comedies out there featuring angels, demons, talking dogs, slacker metalheads, and giant birds that hound creepy men. Not only that, but it boasts a memorable cameo from the late Ozzy Osbourne, who helps prevent one of Satan's sons from taking over the world.

Before we dig into the importance of Ozzy's cameo to the plot,...

Though now widely recognized as a seminal film with indelible cultural influence — sparking references, parodies and homages aplenty since its 1994 release — Pulp Fiction, created on a small seven-figure budget, wasn’t something star Uma Thurman initially realized would have such a watershed impact.

In a recent interview with The Times U.K., the Oscar nominee discussed her four-decade-plus career and turn alongside Charlize Theron in Victoria Mahoney’s The Old Guard 2, released July 2 on Netflix.

“I knew it was special, you could tell from the writing, the uniqueness,” Thurman said of the Quentin Tarantino- helmed and written feature, “but it was a relatively small film.”

Amid its debut at Cannes, where it won the coveted Palme d’Or, Thurman had already been acting for 10 years. At 24, she starred as Mia Wallace, the wife to Ving Rhames’ crime boss and an aspiring actress, for which she was Oscar nominated...

Adam Sandler has appeared in a wide variety of comedy movies, but he has only done very few sequels. One of those, Happy Gilmore 2, is hitting Netflix this month. If the movie is well-received, it could lead to another Sandler classic getting a new sequel.

To promote the sequel, which comes out on July 25, director Kyle Newacheck spoke about Happy Gilmore 2 in a new interview with ComicBook.com. The filmmaker shared his opinion that there are several other Sandler films that could benefit from having a sequel made after Happy Gilmore 2. Newacheck cited Little Nicky as one in particular that is ripe for a sequel, given how much Sandler continues to do the character's unique voice.

As Newacheck said, “Here’s one that I think would be interesting now. Because [Sandler] was always doing the Little Nicky voice on set like so just hearing it, I was like, I...

Film critics watch hundreds of movies every year, and invariably get a little cranky when they hit a patch of lousy movies. So it is occasionally therapeutic to take out one's frustrations on a film that is egregiously putrid — particularly if that film is from a serial befouler of movie theaters (I think I logged 12 blissfully uninterrupted hours of sleep after filing my pan of Paul W.S. Anderson's "Death Race").

Scathingly negative reviews are not often illuminating, but when written by masters of the craft, they can be immensely satisfying reads. When The New Yorker's Pauline Kael got a burr in her saddle, she could inveigh at length or fire off a one-sentence kill-shot (her full review of Herbert Ross' "Steel Magnolias" was published as follows: "Chalk scraping across a chalkboard for two hours"). Roger Ebert was also practiced in the skill of invective, as he demonstrated in his...

There are certain joys in cinema that can’t be replaced or often times replicated. While showing someone you love one of your favorite movies can be a terrifying experience, especially if they don’t like it, or maybe they already knew too much about it and aren’t wowed, this experience builds even more if the movie has that One scene or that One twist that you know is coming but your viewing partner is blissfully unaware. For me, its showing The Usual Suspects to someone who somehow doesn’t know the secret of Keyser Söze or watching the tense body of a loved one jump out of their seat when R.J. MacReady tells us that Gary is going to be the Thing only for someone else’s blood to jump away from the hot needle. As fun as being the source of someone else’s thrill and living vicariously through them is,...

Actor Michael Madsen’s cause of death was confirmed to be heart failure, according to his manager, Ron Smith.

Madsen’s cardiologist told NBC Los Angeles that his heart played a role in his death, which Smith confirmed.

“The doctor’s report is accurate that he died from heart failure,” Smith said. He added that “heart disease and alcoholism” were factors as well.

>In Memoriam Slideshow: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died In 2025

Madsen was found unresponsive in his home in Malibu on July 3. An autopsy won’t be conducted because his doctor signed off on the ruling.

Madsen, who starred in films such as Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill Volume Two and Thelma & Louise, has had his death mourned by many.

“We’re not mourning a public figure. We’re not mourning a myth — but flesh and blood and ferocious heart,” Madsen’s sister, Virginia Madsen, said. “Who stormed through life loud,...

No one does characters like Martin Scorsese. His movies aren’t just iconic because of the stories or the direction. They hit because of the people. The loudmouths, the liars, the dreamers, the disasters. You don’t just watch a Scorsese movie; you get pulled into a world of absolute chaos, charisma, and characters that stay with you way too long.

This isn’t just another list of big Scorsese roles led by De Niro and DiCaprio. It’s a curated blend of icons and curveballs, a celebration of the characters who defined Scorsese’s legacy and the ones who quietly stole scenes while everyone else was yelling. Some are loud, violent, and dripping in coke-fueled excess. Others whisper, unravel, or just exist with devastating impact.

Whether they’re pulling off mob hits, breaking the fourth wall, or silently carrying the weight of an entire nation’s trauma, these characters stick with you.

Actor Michael Madsen, known in part for appearing in Quentin Tarantino movies, was found dead on July 3. At the time, an exact cause of death wasn't clear, though according to some reports, it was suspected that Madsen had suffered cardiac arrest.

Now, per NBC4 Los Angeles, Madsen's cause of death has been confirmed. According to the report, Madsen's doctor said heart failure will be listed as the cause of death. Heart disease and alcoholism will also be named as contributing factors. Because the cardiologist who was treating Madsen signed the death certificate, there will not be an autopsy performed. Authorities have also closed the case because his death is listed as natural causes, and there was no indication of foul play.

This news follows another recent report by TMZ on Madsen's sobriety. Though he had previously struggled with alcoholism, Madsen had made "enormous strides" in his recovery leading up to his death.

When Sylvester Stallone was tricked by his longtime rival Arnold Schwarzenegger into starring in 1992's "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot," he likely thought that was the lowest he would ever fall. But by the end of that decade, things were looking pretty dire, and Sly found himself in an ill-fated remake that helped hammer another nail in the actor's coffin (before he rose from the dead with 2006's excellent "Rocky Balboa").

In an era in which Disney can't stop making live-action remakes laden with uncanny valley-cgi monstrosities, there are, believe it or not, many remakes that are actually better than the original movies on which they're based. "The Bourne Identity," for example, was a TV movie before it became the seminal Matt Damon-starring actioner that maintains a lasting influence on the genre even today. From the new "Planet of the Apes" series to "The Maltese Falcon," Hollywood has...

American actor best known for playing heavies, including the ‘psycho’ Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs

The actor Michael Madsen, who has died aged 67 of a cardiac arrest, saw himself as a “throwback” to the era of noir heavies such as Robert Mitchum and Lee Marvin. But plying his jocular menace in the modern Hollywood era gave the actor expanded possibilities for movie violence that elevated him, at certain moments, to a timeless screen presence.

When he severed a policeman’s ear in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs, after sadistically bopping to the sounds of Stealers Wheel’s pop hit Stuck in the Middle With You, it became Madsen’s calling-card scene. He had originally auditioned for the part of Mr Pink, the role eventually played by Steve Buscemi, before the director realised his imposing qualities were perfect for the loose-cannon psychopath, Mr Blonde. “Are you gonna bark all day,...

When Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper took on the monumental task of making Hearts of Darkness — their 1991 documentary about the making of Francis Ford Coppola's monumental 1979 Vietnam War classic, Apocalypse Now — they found that most of the cast and crew were ready and willing to talk about their experiences. Those memories combined with remarkable on-set footage shot by the Oscar-winning director's wife, the late Eleanor Coppola, make Hearts of Darkness one of the most revealing peeks behind the filmmaking curtain ever produced.

But as the documentary returns to theaters over the July 4 weekend, there's one actor affiliated with Apocalypse Now who remains the proverbial ghost in the machine: Harvey Keitel.

During the first week of production, it was Keitel — not Martin Sheen — who had the lead role of Ben Willard, the U.S. Army captain tasked with traveling upriver deep into the heart of the jungle to locate rogue colonel...

When Quentin Tarantino emerged on the scene with "Reservoir Dogs" in 1992, he proudly wore his influences on his sleeve. Tarantino is as much of a student of the screen as he is a creator of movies for it, marrying the cinematic language of the violence in exploitation and martial arts films with the character-driven writing of high-art, American auteurism. All of the trademarks of Tarantino's filmography were on display in his debut feature, like eclectic soundtracks, non-linear storytelling, and buckets of blood. Even before the film was released, Hollywood legends like Don Coscarelli were baffled by the brilliance on display from a first-time filmmaker.

Tarantino had made a crime thriller, but instead of it being about a group brought together to carry out the crime in the climax, it focused on the aftermath when six individuals operating under pseudonyms — Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), Mr.

"Reservoir Dogs" centers on one of the most chaotic movie heists of all time -- one that quickly descends into an equally chaotic standoff that leaves virtually everyone involved riddled with bullets. Hence, it may come as no surprise to learn that things were just as wild behind the scenes on the film.

Mr. Blonde, as played by the late, great Michael Madsen, steals Quentin Tarantino's feature directing debut with his infamous torture routine set to the slick song "Stuck in the Middle with You." However, even the character's colorful personality paled in comparison to the reputation of the cast's most problematic actor: Lawrence Tierney.

Tierney had a long history of playing mobsters in classic Hollywood pictures like "Dillinger," and off-screen, he did his best to live up to that tough guy image. He was a notorious drinker with a reputation for starting bar fights wherever he went. In fact,...

You can be an actor who stars in more than 200 movies in your career, with parts ranging from leads to glorified cameos, and yet it’s just one film that people associate with your name for the rest of your natural-born life. And occasionally, the role you’re lucky enough to get in that movie is so well-suited to your skill set that it levels you up from “Oh, that guy!” to (in)famous to damn near iconic.

We think you know the movie we’re taking about when it comes to the late,...

Virginia Madsen has paid tribute to her brother Michael Madsen after his sudden death.The 67-year-old actor was pronounced dead at his Malibu home on Thursday (07.03.25) after being found unresponsive and his actress sibling Virginia, 63, remembered her brother in a touching statement.She said in a statement to Variety: “My brother Michael has left the stage,' Virginia said. “He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw. A father, a son, a brother — etched in contradiction, tempered by love that left its mark.'“We’re not mourning a public figure. We’re not mourning a myth - but flesh and blood and ferocious heart. Who stormed through life loud, brilliant, and half on fire. Who leaves us echoes - gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable - half legend, half lullaby.“I'll miss our inside jokes, the sudden laughter, the sound of him. I’ll miss...

Michael Madsen is being remembered by his Hollywood peers. The actor, who collaborated with Quentin Tarantino ever since his directorial debut “Reservoir Dogs,” died at age 67 after suffering from a cardiac arrest.

Madsen’s team confirmed his death to IndieWire, stating that he had been found unresponsive at his Malibu home. Madsen starred in both “Kill Bill” films, “The Hateful Eight,” and “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood,” and almost appeared in “Pulp Fiction” as Vincent Vega, the character that was later played by John Travolta. Outside of his work with Tarantino, Madsen acted in “Donnie Brasco,” “The Natural,” “The Doors,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Die Another Day,” “Sin City,” “Boarding Gate,” and “Free Willy,” among many other films. His representatives cited that he had more projects in the works, too.

“Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many. […] In the last two...

Michael Madsen has died at the age of 67. Madsen is remembered for his work in Quentin Tarantino movies, such as Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill: Vol. 2. His manager, Ron Smith, shared the news of Madsen's passing, stating that he had passed away due to cardiac arrest. His rep, Liz Rodriguez, also further confirmed the news. The news comes as a shock for fans who have loved Madsen's work spanning from the 80s and beyond.

Madsen's career is one that fans love to talk about.His role as Mr. Blonde in Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs is a standout performance in the film, which has heavy hitters like Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, and Tarantino himself. But he also starred in classics that fans revisit time and time again. He had roles in Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise, he played Sonny Black in Mike Newell's Donnie Brasco, and most recently,...

Michael Madsen, the actor known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films and “Reservoir Dogs,” has died, Variety has confirmed. He was 67.

Madsen had a cardiac arrest and was found unresponsive in his Malibu home Thursday morning, according to his rep.

“In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life. Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems currently being edited,” Madsen’s managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a joint statement. “Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”

Madsen portrayed Mr. Blonde in “Reservoir Dogs,” the 1992 crime film that also starred Harvey Keitel,...

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Tubi might not be as big as some of the other popular streaming services, but it does have some of the best movies and TV shows of recent times, and that too for absolutely free. The Fox-owned streaming service adds a ton of new monthly content to its ever-expanding library. So, we thought of compiling a list of the best movies coming to Tubi in July 2025.

Pale Rider (July 1) Rt Score: 94% Credit – Warner Bros.

Pale Rider is a Western film directed by Clint Eastwood from a screenplay co-written by Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack. The 1985 film follows a mysterious preacher as he single-handedly tries to protect a prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to take their land. Pale Rider stars Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Christopher Penn, Richard Dysart, Sydney Penny, Richard Kiel, Doug McGrath, and John Russell.

There’s a reason people are still obsessed with Heat, even nearly three decades later. Directed by Michael Mann and starring two absolute titans, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, including the legendary Val Kilmer, it’s the kind of film that just feels different. The buildup, the tense conversations, the characters—everyone feels like they are carrying decades of regret and conviction in equal measure.

You don’t just watch the movie; you live in it for a while. From quiet confrontations to that downtown L.A. shootout chaos, everything is unreal. And once it’s over, you are left sitting there, wondering what’s next. If you’ve found yourself in that exact post-Heat slump, welcome, we’ve got you.

This is not just a list of heist movies or gritty cop dramas. It’s a collection of stories that feel like Heat. Films where the stakes are high,...

This 4th of July, ditch the crowds and crank up the A/C because Disney+ is serving up America on a whole new level. We’re talking shows that dig deeper than red, white, and boom. From star-spangled heroes wrestling with what that shield really means, to families flipping the script on the American Dream, these stories hit where it matters: heart, grit, and all the messy in-between.

Whether you’re vibing with Marvel mayhem, nostalgic cartoons, or stories that changed the game, these five picks prove one thing: patriotism isn’t one-size-fits-all. And well, that’s what makes it bada**.

1. ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Redefines the American Hero

No better way to celebrate the 4th of July than diving into The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a bold Marvel miniseries that reshaped what it means to carry the stars and stripes. Set six months after Avengers: Endgame,...

Most behind-the-scenes documentaries function as extended advertisements, carefully curated to enhance a film’s mythology. Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse is something else entirely. It stands as a harrowing chronicle of a film production actively imploding, a psychological thriller where the monster is artistic ambition itself.

The film documents the notoriously difficult creation of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, a production that descended into a state of chaos so profound it began to eerily reflect its subject matter. Coppola’s famous declaration at Cannes, “My film is not about Vietnam.

It is Vietnam,” was less a boast than a weary confession. Built from an archive of shockingly candid 16mm footage shot by the director’s wife, Eleanor Coppola, the documentary offers an unfiltered look at a creative process pushed past the brink of disaster. It is a story not of how a movie was made, but how it...

There may be no villain more famous than Judas Iscariot, the character who, in the Bible, betrays Jesus Christ. In the past, the part has been played by the likes of Harvey Keitel in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ and Carl Anderson in Norman Jewison’s cinematic adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. The latest actor to take on the role in a global kind of way is Luke Dimyan, who appears as the character in Dallas Jenkins’ The Chosen. Just like what was done in Jesus Christ Superstar, Jenkins and his team took a different approach to Judas, better filling the character out and giving him more of an empathetic backstory that leads up to the ultimate betrayal. While chatting with Variety, Jenkins opened up about the decision to put a more positive twist on The Chosen’s Judas and explained how nuanced the character really is.

A pick of our favourite reader responses to a question raised by Jaws’ 50th anniversary: which films did you watch at too young an age…?

Last week, in the wake of Jaws’ 50th anniversary, we asked: what films did you see at too young an age? For this writer it was – surprise, surprise – the TV premiere of the aforementioned 1975 shark thriller, which made such an impression on my four year-old mind that I refused to paddle in the sea for months afterwards.

“It was Jaws for me too,” says Film Stories reader Big Dunc. “I was seven when it was on TV for the first time, and I made it as far as the head popping out of the boat. I then took myself to bed but couldn’t sleep because I was too freaked out. I’m pretty sure I slept with the light on for a few weeks after that.

When you hear the name Martin Scorsese, your brain probably flashes a rapid-fire montage of gangsters, Catholic guilt, De Niro staring into the void, DiCaprio yelling on yachts, and needle drops that hit harder than most directors’ entire careers. The man doesn’t just make movies, he creates seismic cultural moments. Scorsese’s filmography spans over five decades, and he’s dabbled in everything from period romance and rock docs to violent epics soaked in sin. The craziest part? Even his so-called “misses” are more interesting than most directors’ greatest hits.

But not all Scorsese films are created equal. Some changed cinema forever. Some were ahead of their time. And a few are just interesting detours. So, whether you’re a lifelong Scorsese disciple or just watched Killers of the Flower Moon and realized you’ve got a lot of homework to do, this ranking is for you.

We’re...

Another Meet the Parents 4 return from a previous star, now 83 years old, is possible, but only if one condition is met. A fourth film in the series is officially in development with John Hamburg, who co-wrote the first three films, set to both write and direct the project. Meet the Parents 4 will feature the return of Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, and Owen Wilson, with Ariana Grande also joining the cast in her first role since Wicked.

During a recent interview with Variety, Barbra Streisand addressed a possible return in Meet the Parents 4. The star says she would only consider returning if she were paid significantly more, as she was underpaid compared to her male co-stars in earlier films. She highlighted the pay disparity for women at the time, though she appreciated a bonus check from Universal's then-head, Ron Meyer. Read her...

The One Actor Quentin Tarantino Refuses to Work With Ever (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Quentin Tarantino doesn’t forgive or forget and certainly doesn’t fake admiration. Most actors would sell their souls or at least ditch their schedules for a chance to work with him, and why wouldn’t they? If you get on his good side, chances are he’ll bring you back for more. His films may be bloody, but his loyalty to actors is ironclad.

The Director Who Resurrects Careers & Chooses Favorites Wisely

From the moment Quentin Tarantino stitched together Reservoir Dogs with the help of Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel, and Michael Madsen, a tight-knit troop began to form, one that has only grown more iconic with the likes of Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio added to the lineup.

Tarantino doesn’t just build careers but revives them. Just ask John Travolta,...

Jodie Foster’s Breakout In Taxi Driver Explained(Photo Credit –YouTube)

Taxi Driver marked a sharp departure from the wholesome roles that had defined Jodie Foster’s childhood on screen. The legendary actress, who was known at the time for Disney titles like Napoleon, Samantha, and Freaky Friday, stepped into far darker territory with this 1976 Martin Scorsese film, and in doing so, she transformed her career trajectory forever.

Jodie Foster’s Iconic Role In Taxi Driver

Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller became a defining pivot in her early career. Cast as Iris, a street-hardened teenage sex worker, Foster stepped into a role that was miles away from her earlier screen image. At just 12 years old, her portrayal left a lasting impact — and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Jodie Foster on the set of Taxi Driver (1976) by Steve Schapiro. pic.twitter.com/KLprjzeDeo

— filmartbox (@filmartbox) December 1, 2017

The preparation was intense,...

Fox crime drama series "The Cleaning Lady" aired its season 4 finale on June 3, 2025. The series' fans didn't have long to savor the episode or guess what would come next, because mere days later, on June 6, Fox canceled the series, citing low ratings. 

In fact, ratings for "The Cleaning Lady" had been declining consistently. The first season generally enjoyed around three million viewers (give or take) per episode back in 2022, while by the fourth season, it was down to one million. It's possible that the decline just has to do with fewer people watching all network TV, but the end result is the same.

Created by Miranda Kwok, "The Cleaning Lady" is a remake of an Argentine TV series, "La Chica que Limpia" (Spanish for "The Cleaning Lady"). The series starred Elodie Yung as Thony De La Rosa, a Cambodian-Filipino surgeon living in Las Vegas. On an expired visa and with an ill young son,...

Sonja O’Hara is back onscreen with another genre-bending queer feature, this time titled “Snare.”

O’Hara made her debut feature with “Root Letter,” which starred Danny Ramirez. She later was Daytime Emmy–nominated for creating, directing, and starring in horror series “Doomsday,” with the script inspired by her being cast in Scientology instructional videos. Now, O’Hara is launching her sophomore feature “Snare” during Pride 2025, just as she also is one of the selected filmmakers to be part of the Tribeca Creators Market.

“Snare” stars O’Hara as Rowena, a mycologist studying the connection between all living mushroom biology. Yet it’s her own drug-fueled chemistry with ex Jackie (Mars) that threatens to disrupt life as she knows it.

The official synopsis reads: “Ro and Jax aren’t right for each other, but the women can’t bring themselves to separate. It is a dark kismet that each found the...

Stars: Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Jane Kaczmarek, George Martin, David Clennon, Dianne Wiest, Frances Conroy | Written by Michael Cristofer | Directed by Ulu Grosbard

Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro are wonderful Hollywood actors who, together, have won 5 Academy Awards: 2 for De Niro and 3 for Streep. They have acted on screen together several times in their careers. Including their first on-screen film, 1979’s The Deer Hunter, followed by Marvin’s Room (1996) and The Good House (2013).

In between these films, in 1984, right at the height of De Niro’s popularity, he was cast alongside the lovely Streep for a romantic drama entitled Falling in Love. Now this film just celebrated its 40th anniversary. So, what better time for a Blu-ray debut?

Sometimes magic is the only thing that’s real. Falling in Love is a shining example of the magic that’s created when two of Hollywood’s biggest and...

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Hulu is one of the most underrated streaming services, even though it has some of the most brilliant movies in its library. The Disney-owned streaming service is one of the most profitable streaming services as it has great indie films because it is partnered up with great independent studios as well as some of the biggest blockbusters around. So, we compiled a list of the best movies that are available on Hulu right now.

Pulp Fiction Credit – Miramax Films

Pulp Fiction is an independent crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The 1994 film is set in the underworld of Los Angeles, and it revolves around two mobsters, a gangster’s wife, a boxer, and two criminals as their paths intertwine in a gloriously violent fashion. Pulp Fiction stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel,...

Most of the time, when you think about video game adaptations, they're movies or TV shows based on video games, but what about when it goes the other way? In the early days of video games, we used to get (usually pretty terrible) tie-in games based on movies, but the practice has mostly gone away with the exception of mega franchises and omnipresent IP like Batman or "Star Wars." Which is why it's so strange that the world was somehow given a video game adaptation based on one of the most well-known independent films of all time: Quentin Tarantino's 1992 feature debut, "Reservoir Dogs."  

If that doesn't ring a bell, don't fret, because the 2006 game was actually banned in a couple of countries and was not particularly well-received by critics, so it's become something of a cult oddity. Given the cult classic status of the original film, that almost feels appropriate,...

If anyone else but Sylvester Stallone starred in "Rocky V," then in the critically-maligned "Oscar," and then got tricked into starring in "Stop! Or my Mom will Shoot," their career would be over. But just like Rocky Balboa himself, Sly has always risen from the ashes and the early '90s was a prime example of his ability to stay the course. In 1993, a year after "Stop! Or my Mom will Shoot," Stallone fronted "Cliffhanger" and "Demolition Man," which helped put things back on track. 1995's "Judge Dredd" — the stupidest sci-fi movie to predict our terrifying present — didn't exactly help, but the ever-determined Stallone kept working, and in 1997 led a crime drama that turned out to be a modest hit and a critical success.

"Cop Land" was written and directed by "A Complete Unknown" filmmaker James Mangold, and starred Stallone as Freddy Heflin, the sheriff of a small New Jersey...

Before he established himself as a steady studio hand with franchise films such as Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, director James Mangold was known for making the kind of movies that are rarely made these days: star-driven pictures aimed at adult audiences. One of his breakout films was Cop Land, which was released in theaters back in 1997, and boasted a stellar cast that included Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro. The movie was a solid hit at the time of its release, and it is now witnessing something of a resurgence on the Paramount+ streaming service. This is the same platform where Stallone's Tulsa King reigns supreme.

On May 27, Cop Land was the seventh-biggest title on the Paramount+ viewership charts, according to FlixPatrol. It debuted on the streamer on Friday, and has since accumulated 161 points. On May 27, Cop Land earned 91 points in total, outperforming three...

Sonja O’Hara will write and direct Cottagecore, one of only 12 narrative features invited to participate in the annual Tribeca Film Festival Creators Forum and Market, Deadline reports.

In the psychosexual thriller, when jealousy and resentment simmer during a polyamorous, Gen Z intimacy retreat, the weekend descends into violent chaos.

Producers include O’Hara, Peter Phok (Stake Land), Corey Moosa (Margin Call), and Michael K. Dwyer (Nightmare Cinema) for A Group of Ferrets, Zach Hagen (“What We Do in the Shadows”), and Sabrina Munik (Locked) for Pink Flamingos Films. Bec Smith (Animal Kingdom) of Anonymous Content will executive produce.

Verve Ventures and UTA Independent Film Group are co-representing North American sales.

O’Hara created and starred in “Doomsday,” earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Fiction Program. More recently, she helmed the supernatural thriller Mid-Century with Shane West, Stephen Lang, and Bruce Dern.

The Canadian filmmaker is currently in pre-production on Theirs,...

Exclusive: Emmy-nominated filmmaker and actress Sonja O’Hara will direct the feature project Cottagecore, which Verve Ventures and UTA Independent Film Group will introduce to buyers at the upcoming Tribeca Creators Market.

Verve and UTA are co-repping North American sales on the film.

Cottagecore is one of the 12 narrative features invited to participate in the annual Tribeca Film Festival Creators Forum and Market. Companies that have previously attended the market include Sony Pictures Classics, Neon, HBO, Plan B, Impact Partners, and Paramount+.

O’Hara directs from a screenplay she wrote. The Cottagecore synopsis reads: When jealousy and resentment simmer during a polyamorous, Gen Z intimacy retreat, the weekend descends into violent chaos.

Bec Smith of Anonymous Content will Executive Produce. Producers are O’Hara (Tender), Peter Phok, Independent Spirit Award-winner Corey Moosa (Margin Call), and Michael K. Dwyer (Hanky Panky) for A Group of Ferrets, Emmy-nominee Zach Hagen...

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This June, Paramount+ is a little light on original content as nothing new is coming out on the streaming service aside from the fourteenth season of SpongeBob SquarePants. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Paramount+ next month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 10 best films coming to Paramount+ in June 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Boogie Nights (June 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% Credit – New Line Cinema

Boogie Nights is a drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 1997 film is set in the 1970s, and it follows the rise and fall of Eddie Adams as he goes from being a nightclub dishwasher to a popular adult film star with a drug addiction. Boogie Nights stars Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore,...

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese’s pair is undoubtedly one of the greatest Hollywood actor-director duos ever. They have worked in 10 movies and a short film, and nearly all of them have received critical acclaim. But we could have never gotten all this if it were not for the 1973 movie, Mean Streets.

Mean Streets, directed by Scorsese and starring Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro in the lead, presented exceptional work by the entire cast and crew. It marked the start of Martin Scorsese’s contribution to the gangster genre. Interestingly, Robert De Niro, who found himself in the Oscar conversation with Mean Streets, was initially reluctant to do it.

Robert De Niro’s Oscar journey began with Mean Streets Robert De Niro (L) with David Proval (R) in Mean Streets | Credits: Warner Bros.

Robert De Niro starred as a petty criminal and gambler, John ‘Johnny Boy’ Civello, in Mean Streets.

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Fountain of Youth is an action-adventure heist film directed by Guy Ritchie from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. The Apple TV+ series follows Luke Purdue, a disgraced archaeologist who teams up with his sister to go on a dangerous adventure to find the mythical fountain of youth while being chased by the Interpol and an ancient secret society. Fountain of Youth stars John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza Gonzalez, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian Moayed, Laz Alonso, Carmen Ejogo, and Stanley Tucci. So, if you loved the globetrotting adventure, death-defying action, and entertaining characters in Fountain of Youth, here are some similar films you should check out next.

National Treasure Credit – Walt Disney Pictures

National Treasure is an action-adventure heist film directed by Jon Turteltaub from a screenplay co-written by Jim Kouf, Cormac Wibberley, and Marianne Wibberley. The 2004 film follows Benjamin Franklin Gates,...