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With the imminent release of his stunning new Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck, we’ve been taking a peek through director Mike Flanagan’s Letterboxd lists. He spends almost as much time watching movies as he does making them, maybe even more. His Letterboxd profile is filled with a flurry of activity, suggesting the filmmaker rarely has time to come up for air. He keeps a list of his favorite horror films on the platform, and spoiler alert, one of them is now available to stream on Hulu. We’re talking about the celebrated science fiction/horror/action hybrid Predator.

An endorsement from the beloved Mike Flanagan adds an additional layer of excitement to the news that the iconic first film in the Predator franchise (along with every other series installment) is now available to stream on Hulu. And just in time for not one, but two sequels.

Picture: Netflix

Whether you’re looking for sci-fi, fantasy, horror, or something just plain weird — Netflix’s catalog is filled with dozens of fantastic shows and movies. Some of them are particularly mind-bending, which is exactly what we’re looking at today!

If you do one search for ‘mind-bending’ shows and movies on Netflix, you’ll see dozens of results. In fact, it’s one of the most popular categories on the streamer. From outstanding anthology series to downright bizarre dramas, there are tons of great options on Netflix. In this list, we count down 10 of the best.

All of these shows and films are available to stream on Netflix right now. Let’s dive in!

10Dead Boy Detectives Genre: Action, Adventure, ComedyRating: TV-MARelease Date: April 25, 2024Cast: George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Kassius Nelson, Briana Cuoco, Jenn Lyon, Ruth ConnellLanguage: EnglishRuntime: 56 minsWatch on Netflix

Netflix’s Sandman spinoff Dead Boy Detectives...

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The Gorge is a sci-fi horror action film directed by Scott Derrickson from a screenplay by Zach Dean. The Apple TV+ film follows Levi Kane and Drasa, two elite snipers who are assigned to protect the guard towers on opposite sides of a massive gorge. They soon develop feelings for each other, but their love story is threatened by what’s inside the gorge. The Gorge stars Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney Weaver, and Sope Dirisu. So, if you loved the fun action sequences, wild creature designs, and entertaining characters, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Maze Runner (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – 20th Century Studios

The Maze Runner is a dystopian sci-fi action film directed by Wes Ball from a screenplay co-written by Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, and T.S. Nowlin. Based...

The Predator franchise recently received a huge shot to the arm in 2023 with the arrival of Prey, Dan Trachtenberg’s incredible prequel to the 1987 original that refreshed and revived the sci-fi action franchise, and for many even surpassed the classic Arnold Schwarzenegger movie in several ways. Now, audiences are reminding themselves of how Arnie tried, and failed, to get everyone to the chopper almost 40 years ago, and have made the original film an apex predator of Tubi's free streaming chart.

Directed by John McTiernan—who would later helm Die Hard—Predator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer, leading an elite Special Forces team on a covert rescue mission in Central America – well didn’t he always. What should have been a routine operation soon spirals into a bloody and desperate battle for survival when the group find themselves under attack from an invisible and deadly hunter unlike anything they have encountered before.

Released in 2023, Blue Beetle serves as one of the final entries in the much-maligned Dceu. However, the fan-favorite superhero is already set to return in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe, and for good reason. A standalone coming-of-age origin story, Blue Beetle impressed critics and audiences alike with its lovable protagonist, led by Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña. Fortunately, it's never been easier to catch up on the DC film, as it's now streaming for free on Tubi.

Blue Beetle is now available to stream at no cost with ads on Tubi starting Feb. 1. The film follows Jaime Reyes (Maridueña), a young college graduate who is imbued with superpowers when he comes into contact with an alien relic, the Scarab. Guided by a Jarvis-like voice, Jaime has the ability to create any kind of weapon he can imagine (sort of like Green Lantern), as well as flight. The first live-action...

Sometimes action movies aim to be serious genre offerings, yet ironically land in comedy terrain. These hilarious films that were never meant to be funny defy logic with their melodramatic line delivery and ridiculous stunts. Similar to a perfectly choreographed fight scene that ends up with the villain slipping on a banana peel, these films are absurdly funny and oddly unforgettable. Even the biggest franchises aren't immune to accidental hilarity, with unintentionally hilarious Marvel movie moments taking audiences by surprise.

Overblown action sequences and actors delivering lines with far too much gusto are just some examples of action films being flipped for comedy gold. For example, Nicolas Cage's unforgettable performance in Con Air is a perfect example. He channels over-the-top intensity into moments that stand out among most of the funniest Nicolas Cage movie moments that weren't intended to be funny, reminding audiences that even tense action films can...

Arnold Schwarzenegger fans are going to want to subscribe to Peacock before the new year. Two of the actor's most popular movies are set to drop onto the streaming service in January: Predator and Conan the Barbarian.

Beginning Jan. 1, Schwarzenegger fans will be able to stream Predator and Conan the Barbarian on Peacock. Conan the Barbarian was Schwarzenegger's first leading role of the 1980s and one of his most memorable, with the actor playing the popular sword-and-sorcery warrior created by Robert E. Howard. The 1982 movie follows Conan as he seeks vengeance for the death of his parents at the hands of Thulsa Doom (The Lion King's James Earl Jones), the leader of a snake cult. Conan was a commercial success during its initial run, grossing over $70 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. A sequel, Conan the Destroyer, was released in 1984.

Related Conan the Barbarian Release Date Announced for Mortal Kombat...

Xolo Mariduea's Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle will be among the few superheroes to successfully jump from the DC Extended Universe to James Gunn's DC Universe without major changes. The actor recently opened up about how "excited" he is to explore more of Jaime in the upcoming Blue Beetle animated series.

Speaking with Hablemos de Cine (via Deadline), Mariduea confirmed that he would voice the young Latino superhero in the Blue Beetle animated series, exclaiming, "Theres only one Blue Beetle." The actor continued to hype the upcoming Dcu project, saying, "Im so excited to get to continue the story of Jaime is an honor and I just cant wait to see where the heck he goes. Its still so early but I just know its about to be the next craziest anime."

Related These 2 DC Projects Accidentally Created a Major Dcu Challenge for James Gunn

The success of both The Penguin...

The collapse of the Dceu has opened up many opportunities for actors who worked with DC to jump ship to Marvel Cinematic Universe. We recently saw this play out with Henry Cavill having a small cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, where he played one of Wolverine's many variants shown in the film. While DC head James Gunn previously said Blue Beetle is canon to his new universe, and that means star Xolo Mariduea would be returning, that could be difficult if the latest rumor surrounding Mariduea and the Nova series is true.

As of right now, there's not a lot of information available about Nova other than the fact it's in development for Marvel. Instead of a feature-length film, it's a show set to debut on Disney+. On top of that, Mariduea's name is now listed on the Production List. There's been no official word about whether Mariduea has been cast,...

AMC Theatres is bringing 2023's Blue Beetle back to theaters for Septembers Hispanic Heritage Month beginning Sept. 20 and running through Sept. 26, per AMC Theaters' website. The 2023 film stars Xolo Mariduea, Adriana Barraza, Damin Alczar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon and George Lopez.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, recognizes Hispanic Americans contributions and influence on the history, culture and achievements of the United States.

Related 10 DC Characters Fans Want To See In the Blue Beetle Cartoon

With the announcement of the DC Universe Blue Beetle cartoon, Jaime Reyes may be set to interact with a legion of friends and foes from the comics.

Mariduea stars as the titular hero, recent college graduate Jaime Reyes, searching for a purpose in the world after returning home and finding it is not quite how he remembered it. In his hunt for purpose in life and the world, Jaime comes upon...

Predator has several iconic scenes and lines, but one of them would never have been in the final cut of the movie if Arnold Schwarzenegger had not fallen ill. Arnies co-star, Jessie Ventura, recently shared the story of how the films I aint got time to bleed line was originally cut from the film, and was only possible thanks to a last-minute change of plan when Schwarzenegger became sick.

Predator RActionAdventure Sci-FiThriller Where to Watchstreamrentbuy

*Availability in US Release Date June 12, 1987Director John McTiernanCast Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny LandhamRuntime 107Main Genre ActionWriters Jim Thomas, John ThomasTagline If it bleeds, we can kill it...Franchise Predator Expand

Released in 1987, Predator became one of the best sci-fi action movies of the decade, and its central alien creature proved to be one of several that would continue to appear in numerous projects throughout the following decades.

The DC Universe's vast cinematic history has led to several heroes receiving box office success, but how do they rank against each other? DC's live-action feature film history stretches back to 1951, with Superman and the Mole-Men kickstarting the long line of movies based on superheroes in the DC world. Since then, there have been several franchises featuring DC characters, from the order of movies in the Dceu to the many different franchises featuring the brand's most popular heroes.

There is no denying that some of the more commonly featured heroes include Batman and Superman, with many highly-ranked Batman movies being released over the decades. The same can be said for Superman, with the upcoming list of Dcu movies and shows from James Gunn continuing this trend by centering around the Man of Steel. However, where DC's other heroes are concerned, box office success has ranged from lucrative to flat-out unprofitable.

Blue Beetle will soon buzz on TV screens after the titular film received many plaudits from critics. Xolo Mariduea, who portrayed the character in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, reveals how "excited" he is about the planned animated series and what he hopes to see from Jaime Reyes on the show.

Speaking on his Lone Lobos podcast, Mariduea shared his thoughts on the recently announced Blue Beetle TV series, an extension of the Dceu movie released last year. The Mexican actor expressed enthusiasm for the show, believing it provides an opportunity to put a bigger spotlight on his superhero. "Wowza, Blue Beetle is back! I'm so excited," Mariduea said. "To get to do the...I think there is an opportunity on each platform to really make something shine, right? In the movie, you had the opportunity to do the movie stuff. In a TV show, you have the chance to do long-format stuff.

Nick's greed leads to a Lovecraftian demon unleashed from a storage unit, punishing his evil deeds in "Lot 36". Despite facing a dangerous debt situation, Nick's choices are driven by his own evil nature in "The Autopsy" episode. The demon in "Lot 36" spares Emilia because she lacks the evil that feeds its hunger for hate, revealing a moral lesson.

The first episode of the Netflix horror anthology series Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is a cautionary tale. However, viewers may not understand the meaning of "Lot 36" explained upon first viewing. The Cabinet of Curiosities premiere episode stars Tim Blake Nelson as Nick, a bigoted war veteran desperate to make money. Striving to repay a debt he owes to mobsters, he makes a living via the ethically questionable method of buying repossessed storage units and re-selling their contents.

Nick buys lot 36 at a storage auction. However, he meets a woman...

DC Universe undergoing major changes with James Gunn revamping cinematic universe, and Blue Beetle is not in immediate live-action plans. Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios are developing a new animated series starring Blue Beetle, potentially featuring Jaime Reyes again. New DC Universe includes Superman, Batman with son, and other superhero projects to revitalize franchise on the big screen and in series.

A new Blue Beetle project is on the way from Warner Bros. and DC Studios. The much-loved comic book character made his live-action, big-screen debut in the 2023 movie, titled Blue Beetle, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, and starring Cobra Kai's Xolo Mariduea as Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle. The film was moderately well received by critics, and loved by audiences, but just managed to scrape back its $100 million budget at the box office. The DC Universe is also in the midst of a major shake-up from The Suicide Squad director,...

Dios mio! Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios are scuttling toward expanding the reach of Blue Beetle with a new animated series. Miguel Puga has been working on the Blue Beetle animated series since early 2024 and will act as the project’s showrunner and director, with Cristian Martinez writing the scripts.

Angel Manuel Soto and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, the top talent behind DC’s 2023 film, return for the Blue Beetle animated series as executive producers alongside John Richard. Galen Vaisman, who helped executive produce the movie, oversees the animated adaptation. Casting for the project remains a mystery, though Deadline says DC is in contact with multiple stars from the live-action film. Although deals still need to be implemented, their response was positive.

The Blue Beetle animated series continues the story started in Soto’s live-action film. If audiences connect with the animated series, DC could continue the story in a new live-action sequel.

Blue Beetle is returning to the screen, but in a different medium. After the 2023 release of the live-action Blue Beetle film, its director and writer have boarded an animated series adaptation.

Per Deadline, it's been reported that Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios are now developing an animated Blue Beetle series. The project started production earlier in the year with Miguel Puga (The Casagrandes) serving as showrunner and director. Christian Martinez (Women of the Movement) is writing the series. Blue Beetle writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and director Angel Manuel Soto have boarded the project as executive producers alongside John Ricard, an EP on the 2023 movie. Blue Beetle EP Galen Vaisman will also oversee the project for DC Studios.

Related Blue Beetle Director Boards Universal's Next Video Game Adaptation

Blue Beetle helmer ngel Manuel Solo will direct a Universal film based on a popular video game franchise.

The animated series will reportedly "build on the movie,...

Exclusive: Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios are looking to continue telling Blue Beetle stories via an animated series currently in development, sources close to production tell Deadline. Miguel Puga (The Casagrandes) has been working on the project since early this year and will serve as the project’s showrunner and director with Cristian Martinez set as writer.

Angel Manuel Soto and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director and screenwriter of the 2023 film, respectively, will executive produce alongside John Rikard who served in the same capacity on the film. Galen Vaisman, who was an EP on the film, will oversee the animated TV series for DC Studios.

D.C. Studios and Warner Bros. Animation declined to comment for this story.

L to R: Miguel Puga, Angel Manuel Soto and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer

Many things are still in flux including contracts for any main cast, however, multiple have been approached...

“There’s something out there waiting for us, and it ain’t no man.”

The typical slasher movie formula sees a group of people, often teens, stalked and hunted by a relentless killer with bladed weapons. Predator, released in theaters on June 12, 1987, retooled the slasher rules, swapping out vulnerable adolescents with a well-armed elite military squad prepared to take on guerilla camps in the jungle. Yet, not even they were equipped for the extraterrestrial threat that targeted them as worthy prey.

Seeing special ops so effortlessly dispatched in the grisliest ways is one effective way to increase the threat level of any horror antagonist, alien or otherwise, but director John McTiernan layers in gradual reveals about the eponymous hunter in a way that launched a franchise and clinched the creature’s movie icon status.

This movie monster has not one, but two major reveals.

The Setup

Vietnam War veteran Major...

Warning: Spoilers for Blue Beetle #9!

Victoria Kord challenges Wonder Woman as the most powerful woman in the DC Universe in Blue Beetle #9. Victoria Kord is the CEO of Kord Industries and delves into her untapped villain potential. Victoria Kord's motivations echo Amanda Waller, presenting a new form of power potential in DC.

One obscure DC character has challenged Wonder Woman for the throne of the universe's most powerful woman: Victoria Kord. On a physical level, Wonder Woman is confirmed to be the strongest female character in the DC Universe. No one is going to dispute that, but strength and power doesn't always have to do with muscles. Mentally, emotionally, and monetarily, Victoria Kord may be even more powerful.

Victoria Kord suggests that it's herself, not Wonder Woman, who is the most powerful woman on the planet in Blue Beetle #9 by Josh Trujillo and Adrin Gutirrez. When recalling the day that...

Predator Movie – John McTiernan. (Photo Credit – IMDb/Wikipedia)

When it comes to power-packed action thriller movies, weapons are mandatorily used. Guns are widely used in such movies, especially in Hollywood. A few days ago, James Cameron commented on using too many guns for The Terminator. The Avatar director said he would not do something like this in today’s time. Now, Predator director John McTiernan has revealed details about using too many guns in one of the scenes in his 1987 movie.

The sci-fi action thriller stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan ‘Dutch’Schaefer, Carl Weathers as Al Dillon, Elpidia Carrillo as Anna Gonsalves, Bill Duke as Master Sergeant Mac Eliot and others. In a scene where Arnold’s Dutch and others take revenge for the death of Jesse Ventura’s character, Blain, there’s a lot of gun firing that takes place. In an interview, Predator director John McTiernan revealed...

While the original Predator was all about Arnold Schwarzenegger's character Dutch and his team getting to the chopper, for director John McTiernan it became a battle over how much “gun pornography” had to be included in his 1987 film. The scene where Dutch and company take revenge for the death of Blain (Jesse Ventura), as Mac (Bill Duke) empties the mini-gun (nicknamed Old Painless) into the jungle, came as a result of the studio wanting more “guns firing.” McTiernan said of the famous scene in an interview with Toisto:

“There was a junior executive at Fox who kept insisting that we need more pictures of guns firing. Constantly, I got this note from the studio because he was sitting in on the dailies, talking to my boss, trying to impress everyone with how much he knew. So, I got these notes about how we need more pictures of guns. Well,...

The one and only major recurring character in the Predator franchise, Greyback, a Yautja Elder, adds depth and continuity to the series. Human characters like Dutch and Isabelle are iconic but only appear in one film, highlighting the alien hunters' lasting presence. The Predator series' focus on non-human recurring character Greyback emphasizes the Yautja's dominance over mortal humans.

Since most of the installments in the Predator franchise are standalone movies, the series doesn’t have a lot of recurring characters – in fact, the most significant returning character isn’t even a human being. From Predator to Prey, the Predator films typically revolve around an alien hunter coming to Earth, choosing their target, and engaging them in a tense cat-and-mouse battle in the jungle. Even if the hero survives, they don’t usually return for the sequel.

Some of the most popular characters in the Predator franchise have only ever appeared in one movie.

The Predator franchise has an unwritten rule of not featuring returning characters, except for a minor cameo by Anna in Predator 2. Anna, played by Elpidia Carrillo, is the only character to appear in multiple films in the Predator franchise. The possibility of Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to the franchise is exciting because Predator has remained singular in its stories without connecting characters.

An unwritten rule of the Predator franchise has been in place since the earliest days of the franchise, save for a single surviving character exception that took place over thirty years ago. Each of the Predator films has focused on the same kind of alien hunter, stalking a different setting and different prey. This has led its targets to be a wide assortment of characters, from the battle-hardened 80s commandos of Predator to the 17th-century Comanche tribe of Prey (and the upcoming Prey 2.)

The one constant is the presence of a Predator,...

Thanks to ‘beetlemania’, take another look at “Blue Beetle”, the live-action superhero feature, based on the DC Comics character ‘Jaime Reyes’, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, starring Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Trujillo and Susan Sarandon, now streaming on Max:

“…Recent college grad ‘Jaime Reyes’ (Xolo Mariduena) returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it.

"As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the ‘Scarab’.

"When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor...

"...capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers forever...

"...changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero ‘Blue Beetle’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Blue Beetle star Xolo Maridueña shared the behind-the-scenes story of how DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn told him about his future in the DC Universe.

Nearly two months ago, Gunn confirmed Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes/ Blue Beetle is one of the first three Dceu characters who will be returning for DC Studios’ revamped film franchise. Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike has ended, the Cobra Kai breakout has finally addressed the news of his Dcu return. Speaking with ComicBook.com, Maridueña confirmed that Gunn had already told him about Blue Beetle’s inclusion in the Dcu before the announcement. "Luckily, I had spoken with him prior to that tweet," he said. "So, it was… We were in post-production. You know, in the offices next to each other. So, it was like, if it was gonna be anything otherwise, I would have found out before."

Joel Kinnaman Teases New Role in the...

“Blue Beetle”, the live-action superhero feature, based on the DC Comics character ‘Jaime Reyes’, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, starring Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Trujillo and Susan Sarandon, streams November 17, 2023 on Max:

“…Recent college grad ‘Jaime Reyes’ (Xolo Mariduena) returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it.

"As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the ‘Scarab’.

"When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor...

"...capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers forever...

"...changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero ‘Blue Beetle’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

“Blue Beetle” will crawl its way to streaming this month. Warner Bros’ latest DC superhero adventure will arrive on Max on Nov. 17.

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Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, the film centers on college graduate Jaime Reyes ( Xolo Maridueña) who gets chosen to become a symbiotic host to an ancient alien biotech relic that turns him into the superhero known as Blue Beetle. As one of the most preeminent Latino superheroes in comic book history, the “Blue Beetle” cast is predominantly Latino, including Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez, Raoul Max Trujillo, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar and Belissa Escobedo, along with Susan Sarandon.

The film, which came out in April, dethroned “Barbie” for the No. 1 spot but took in a softer-than-expected debut of $25.4 million.

The film represents the penultimate release of the current DC Studios regime, with the upcoming “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” representing the final installment before the...

Director Angel Manuel Soto reflects on the positive impact Blue Beetle has had on young fans, particularly those who see themselves and their families represented onscreen. The film includes references to the comic book origins of Blue Beetle, incorporating elements from Dan Garrett and Ted Kord's mythologies. Soto and James Gunn have discussed the future of Blue Beetle in the DC Universe, hinting at possible crossovers and further development of the character's story.

Blue Beetle movie director Angel Manuel Soto breaks down the makings of Jaime Reyes' movie debut from page to screen and what is in store for his future DC Universe saga. 2023 marked the beginning for one of DC Comics' most beloved superheroes as Blue Beetle finally got his own cinematic adventure. Starring Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, Blue Beetle follows the adventures of a young man discovering the power of Khaji-Da, a powerful alien Scarab that turns him into the titular hero.

“Blue Beetle”, the new live-action superhero feature, based on the DC Comics character ‘Jaime Reyes’, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, starring Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Trujillo and Susan Sarandon, is now available on Prime Video:

“…Recent college grad ‘Jaime Reyes’ (Xolo Mariduena) returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it.

"As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the ‘Scarab’.

"When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor...

"...capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers forever...

"...changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero ‘Blue Beetle’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Blue Beetle, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, was a surprise hit at the box office, particularly among Jaime Reyes' Latin community fan base, despite challenges faced by Warner Bros. Discovery and the SAG-AFTRA strike. The film will be available digitally starting September 26, following its theatrical release over a month ago. However, its availability on Max may not be confirmed for some time. Blue Beetle has earned $121.5 million globally, making it DC's lowest-grossing film. However, Jaime Reyes will continue to be part of the Dcu's future.

Blue Beetle is ready to fly its way onto digital release. Jaime Reyes' first live-action cinematic adventure hit theaters in August, and although it marked a new step back for DC and Warner Bros. Pictures in a critical year, it managed to surprise a large part of the audience, especially the hero's faithful fan base.

Xolo Maridueña left martial arts behind for a...

Ángel Manuel Soto and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer's "Blue Beetle" (check out our review here) may not have been a box office success, but the latest venture from DC Studios and one of the last films of the DC Cinematic Universe before James Gunn and Peter Safran revamp the studio is thankfully one of the most fun. Not to mention, it's also one of the rare instances where a superhero movie embraces cultural specificity, instead of just perpetuating the same ol' white stories over and over again. If you've yet to see the film, here's what to expect.

Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) is a recent college grad returning home and ready to take on the world, but a lot has changed over the last four years, and home looks quite a bit different. Thrust into a bit of a quarter-life crisis, Jaime searches for purpose when he comes across an ancient...

If you missed DC’s Blue Beetle in theaters, next week is your chance to own the movie on digital platforms! “Own your legacy, own your power, own Blue Beetle on Digital 9/26!” reads a post on the social media platform formally known as Twitter. While Blue Beetle only snagged $120 million worldwide in box office receipts, it’s still the most well-received Dceu movie of 2023. If you’re into numbers, Blue Beetle maintains a 78% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Flash holding fast to 63%, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods hanging its head in last place with 49%.

“As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab,” reads the official Blue Beetle synopsis. “When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of...

Blue Beetle, the latest DC offering, is slightly different from normal fare as it involves a more "street level" threat than we're used to seeing from the typical apocalyptic action on the big screen, and it's all the better for it. Part of the reason, a big part, is down to Jaime Reyes' (Xolo Maridueña) extended family, featuring Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, George Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, and Belissa Escobedo. The women, in particular, are a standout with Barraza's machine gun-toting abuela proving a huge hit with crowds.

Spoilers for Blue Beetle. Consider yourself warned. While Blue Beetle may be more light-hearted than other superhero stories, that doesn’t mean that there can’t be some life-or-death stakes.

Related Box Office Predictions: Gran Turismo looking at soft opening

The death of a family member or close friend in order to motivate a superhero has been done again and again, but… it does work. While speaking with Collider, Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto said that the original plan was for “nobody” to die, but DC Studios pushed for an “emotional death.” Unfortunately, that meant that Reyes family patriarch Alberto (Damián Alcázar) had to die, but Soto and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer wanted his death to mean something more.

“‘How can we create the lowest of lows with the family member?” Soto said. “And how that low is not just another death in the superhero genre, but how that low...

Spoilers for Blue Beetle. Consider yourself warned. Although Blue Beetle may not be performing at the box office the way Warner Bros. was hoping it would, the movie has received warmer reviews than the last few DC movies. The film also has a connection to the new DC Universe as James Gunn has said that Blue Beetle is the first Dcu character. Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto told THR that the mid-credit scene could provide a clue to that Dcu future.

Related James Gunn hints that the Dcu has a detailed world map

The Blue Beetle mid-credit scene reveals that Ted Kord, the original Blue Beetle, is still alive. As Warner Bros. didn’t tell Ángel Manuel Soto to cut the tease, he’s optimistic that it will have the chance to be continued.

Yes. 100 percent. This is a movie with a Latino cast and no A-list stars running the show,...

Blue Beetle's focus on family resonated with critics and made the film standout in the revamped Dcu, showcasing the importance of exploring the central role of family in future films. The Dcu superheroes need emotional stakes and something to fight for, as demonstrated by Jamie's desire to protect his family, highlighting the importance of establishing strong relationships for the heroes. Blue Beetle has the potential to bring a sense of humanity and diversity to the Dcu, instilling a feeling of family and community among the heroes, while also potentially redeeming past failures and bringing hope to the universe.

Blue Beetle has solidified itself as one of DC’s best-reviewed films. The story focuses on Jamie Reyes coming into his own as the hero Blue Beetle. His journey in the film could not be completed without his family. All the Reyes's have a role in Jamie’s journey. The central...

Blue Beetle introduces audiences to the journey of Jaime Reyes, a character brought to life by Xolo Maridueña, who undergoes an unexpected transformation. The film has received positive reviews and ratings, with a 75% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 91% from the audience. The movie took an unexpected turn in its release strategy, with Warner Bros. granting it a theatrical release due to the director's vision of the immersive action, intricate suit designs, and cultural richness of the world of Blue Beetle.

Blue Beetle introduces audiences to the journey of Jaime Reyes, a character brought to life by Xolo Maridueña. The film revolves around Jaime's unexpected transformation into the chosen host of the Scarab, an ancient relic infused with alien biotechnology. This metamorphosis bestows upon him a formidable suit of armor with an array of extraordinary and unpredictable powers that lay the foundation for an intriguing superhero narrative.

It had to happen sometime. After ruling the box office roost for four weekends, Barbie is falling to second place as DC’s superhero pic Blue Beetle takes the top spot.

Blue Beetle is on course to open to $25 million to $27 million in North America after earning $10 million Friday, including $3.3 million in previews. It remains to be seen what impact the looming hurricane has on grosses in Los Angeles, the movie’s top market, and other parts of the area.

It’s understandable why the superhero pic may be feeling a little blue. Not only is Blue Beetle coming in behind expectations — heading into the weekend, tracking had suggested $28 million to $32 million — but also it is looking at one of the lowest openings ever for a title in the DC Extended Universe, not adjusted for inflation.

Director Ángel Manuel Soto’s Blue Beetle is Hollywood’s first live-action superhero film...

In Ángel Manuel Soto’s Blue Beetle, a teenager finds a magical contraption that he isn’t supposed to touch, stolen from an evil corporation trying to unlock its secrets, but once he does, he finds himself overtaken by a super-powered suit, which the corporation wants back at all costs. If that premise sounds at all unique, mysterious, and refreshing, welcome to planet Earth. But for anyone who’s seen even a single superhero movie released in the past 20 years, you’d be right to worry about that premise sounding like a harbinger of the dullness to come.

Say what one will about DC Films’s recent string of creative and financial flops, but at bare minimum, The Flash, Black Adam, and Shazam!: Fury of the Gods all felt like they had something new to key off of, some wild-card element that at least felt somewhat intriguing, regardless of...

Blue Beetle took flight in Thursday previews yesterday and the latest Dcu release is off to a promising start.

Per Variety, Blue Beetle grossed $3.3 million in Thursday previews that began at 2:00 Pm from 3,400 locations. The preview figure isn't too far off from the $3.4 million preview night of Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, which went on to an opening of $30.1 million. That figure was deemed disappointing for the Shazam! sequel but should Blue Beetle match that figure or exceed it, this would represent a win for the film since Warner Bros. certainly put more marketing dollars into Shazam's second outing.

Related: Zack Snyder Throws His Support Behind Blue Beetle Ahead of Premiere

Blue Beetle's Projections Are Looking Good

Blue Beetle is tracking for an opening between $28-32 million, up considerably from the $12 million it was tracking a few weeks ago. The tracking figure went up after Meg 2: The Trench...

Blue Beetle comes at an interesting time for DC's cinematic prospects. Serving as an unofficial bridge between the DC Extended Universe that was and the DC Universe to come, the Ángel Manuel Soto-directed film could be the final (non-Aquaman) nail in the coffin or a fun new jumping on point for fans. While Blue Beetle sometimes struggles under the weight of its ambition and world-building, the film is likely to win fans over. With creative and fun touches from Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer's script, the film is a fun riff on the superhero genre with a lot on its mind. Blue Beetle's charm elevates its basic structure with a distinct perspective.

Upon graduating from university, the good-hearted Jamie Reyes (Xolo Maridueñ) returns to Paloma City to discover his family is in financial straits. Desperate to help, Jamie takes any job he can get and ends up encountering Jenny Kord...

The family-friendly Blue Beetle has started off its box-office run with $3.3 million in Thursday evening previews.

Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, the DC and Warner Bros. event pic is Hollywood’s first live-action superhero film built around a Latino protagonist and hopes to be a breakthrough movie for Latino audiences and for Latino representation in front of and behind the camera. And, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s review, it stands to put Cobra Kai recruit Xolo Maridueña “on the map as a young actor with the right spark to carry a new offshoot of the DC Extended Universe.”

Blue Beetle hopes to open in the $30 million range domestically and could have the bragging rights to toppling Barbie from the top spot after four weekends (talk about a superhero feat).

Adriana Barraza, Damían Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, Harvey Guillén, and Becky G also star.

“Barbie” has reigned over the box office with a historic, hot-pink theatrical run over the past four weeks, but now it’s facing its biggest challenge yet: DC’s latest superhero film, “Blue Beetle.” The comic book film, led by “Cobra Kai” star Xolo Maridueña, picked up $3.3 million in Thursday previews at the domestic box office.

It’ll be a close box office battle between “Barbie” and “Blue Beetle” (both from Warner Bros.), but the latter is tipped to come out on top in its opening weekend. “Blue Beetle” is projected to make between $25 million to $32 million this weekend, while “Barbie” is poised to add $17 million to $20 million in its fifth week.

Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, “Blue Beetle” is DC’s first superhero movie led by a Latino actor. Maridueña plays Jaime Reyes, a teen who stumbles upon a mysterious piece of alien technology that encases him in an advanced exoskeleton suit.

Based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name, Blue Beetle has made history as DC's first Latino superhero movie. Throughout the character's comic book history, there have been multiple Blue Beetles, but the movie will focus on Jamie Reyes, a teenager who accidentally discovers the Blue Beetle scarab, extra-terrestrial in origin, which bonds with him and provides him with a suit of armor that allows him to fight crime. Jaime Reyes is a relatively new character to the comics, debuting in 2006, but has become a fan-favorite and seems to have been made to make it to the big screen eventually.

Update August 17, 2023: With Blue Beetle officially opening in theaters, this article has been updated with even more details about the cast and the characters they play in the film.

Blue Beetle features a predominantly Latinx cast, much like how Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten...

While the new DC Universe won’t officially begin until the release of Superman: Legacy, James Gunn has already said that Blue Beetle is the first Dcu character. That came as a huge relief to director Ángel Manuel Soto, as he now has the reassurance that the character of Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) will continue and that all their work wasn’t in vain.

“Yeah, that was for sure one of the elements of relief. It’s the fact that all of this effort was not going to die during this regime change,” Ángel Manuel Soto told THR. “We survived regime changes throughout this whole process, and that was a testament to the hard work that everybody put into it. There’s also a belief in our characters, who are now going to be part of this new DC universe, especially Xolo’s character and his whole family and Bruna Marquezine’s character.

Director Ángel Manuel Soto and his DC film Blue Beetle have prevailed over a number of obstacles en route to Aug. 18th’s theatrical release. As the first mainstream Latino-led superhero film in live action, Soto and co. have overcome the lack of proper Latino representation that has existed for generations, while introducing a much-needed hero in Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña), as well as his thoroughly developed Latino family, the Reyeses.

Blue Beetle producer Zev Foreman originally had theatrical ambitions, but given WarnerMedia’s emphasis on streaming at the end of 2020, the project was designated as an HBO Max release. However, in December 2021, just months prior to WarnerMedia’s merger with Discovery, the powers that be at Warner Bros. decided to upgrade the film to a theatrical release, allowing Latino audiences to finally have their moment in the live-action superhero genre.

“We wanted to see our history and our legacy on the big screen,...

Xolo Maridueña has his mom to thank for an early, pre-Blue Beetle interest in superheroes.

"I personally was not a huge comic book reader," Maridueña revealed in a People interview ahead of Blue Beetle's theatrical release. "But my mother, who helped raise me and was reading me bedtime stories at night, definitely was reading comic books instead of, you know, Goodnight Moon," he added, describing her as, "the type of kid who worked to buy records and comic books. So for that reason, of course, I knew who Blue Beetle was and had watched Young Justice and was familiar with the character."

Related: Xolo Maridueña Reacts to Landing Blue Beetle Role in Emotional BTS Video

Additionally, the Cobra Kai star credited his family for supporting his acting career and other childhood interests regardless of the odds. "Growing up, because they were so toxically positive with any venture that I ever wanted to do,...

Blue Beetle, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, was originally planned for a streaming release but will now have a theatrical debut, showcasing the immersive action sequences and suit designs that the film offers. Soto wanted the Latino superhero narrative to be seen on the big screen, emphasizing the cultural richness and the importance of representation. James Gunn and Peter Safran respected Soto's creative vision for Blue Beetle, appreciating the fresh take and nostalgic factor of the film's storytelling. The movie will also include subtle nods to Henry Cavill's Superman, signaling a strategic shift in the DC Universe.

Blue Beetle was originally slated for an exclusive streaming release on Max before its director stepped in. The movie's narrative revolves around Jaime Reyes, portrayed by the talented Xolo Maridueña, who unexpectedly becomes the chosen host of the Scarab – an ancient relic of alien biotechnology. This transformation bestows upon Jaime a formidable suit of armor,...

It's been a rough year for DC, but Warner Bros. is looking to turn it around with "Blue Beetle." Starring Xolo Maridueña ("Cobra Kai") as Jamie Reyes, this represents the character's first trip to the big screen in live-action. It also shouldn't be lost on anyone that this movie was originally supposed to go directly to HBO Max (now just called Max) but was given a theatrical release instead. The early buzz has been largely positive, and this could serve as a late summer surprise for moviegoers. For those venturing to theaters to see what DC has to offer, we're here to give you a little help by letting you know what, if any, credits scenes are attached to the film, and how that will impact your viewing experience.

To be crystal clear, this is a spoiler-free guide. Proceed without fear as we're not here to spoil anything at all.