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What is a classic? It's hard to define, and definitely overused. How many new things claim to be a "classic," yet fall from favor once the hype train moves on? Classics take time. Once the initial praise has passed and moved onto something shiny and new, we're left with the movies that people still talk about years or even decades later. Sure, many Academy Award winners are now considered classics, but many more are not (check out the worst Best Picture Oscar Winners here). Meanwhile, some certifiable classics never won Best Picture or were even nominated.

For this list we're defining "classic movie" as a film that was made before 1990. Not to make you feel old, but that gives the movie more than three decades to make its case for being a classic. I'll also only be including one director's best movie, lest this list become exclusively Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford,...

Jerry Bruckheimer, start your engines. The veteran producer's latest summer spectacle, F1: The Movie, races into theaters on Friday and is already expected to top the weekend box office courtesy of Brad Pitt's star power and the global popularity of the Formula 1 racing circuit.

Based on advanced looks, F1 also has the right stuff to appeal to Oscar voters — much like Bruckheimer's previous collaboration with director Joseph Kosinski, 2022's Top Gun: Maverick. That legacy sequel received six nominations, including Best Picture. That also happened to be Bruckheimer's first nod in a five-decade career.

"We got recognized for a terrific film and thanks to Tom Cruise, I'm here," the producer said at the time, adding: "I've been doing it for so long and haven't had the accolades from my peers. ... I finally got that which is kind of a completion for making movies for all these years."

While Top Gun: Maverick...

It’s hard to sum up the work silent film historian Ben Model does under one profession; he’s a preservationist, a lecturer and teacher, an author, and accompanist and composer who performs his own scores live at silent movie screenings all over the world. As someone with a deep love of silent cinema and an evangelical fervor for sharing the movies he adores, Model sums what he does up by referring to something his mentor Walter Kerr once told him.

“Walter said that showing silent films was like missionary work,” Model told IndieWire. “Everything that I’ve done in my adult life has come from a similar place wanting to spread the gospel of silent film.” To that end, Model has now collected his thoughts on the art form in “The Silent Film Universe,” a book that breaks down all the things silent movies do beautifully and explores why...

Who wouldn’t want to live on the fifth floor of Los Angeles’ new Gower Court building, an architectural landmark with one of the best views in town? Looking over a vast swath of the city, with the Hollywood sign in the distance, it has the ideal vista for anyone who would like to be part of showbiz history. There’s just one thing — only the deceased can stake out a premium spot on the Sky Terrace of this mausoleum, where crypt prices start at a cool million.

This real estate, right next door to Paramount Studios, wasn’t always so desirable. Before Tyler Cassity and co-owner Yogu Kanthiah took over in 1998, Hollywood Forever Cemetery — the final resting place of legendary cinematic figures including Rudolph Valentino, Judy Garland and John Huston — had fallen into disrepair.

The new five-story Gower Mausoleum was designed by Lehrer Architects with a nod to the...

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When it comes to heroes who are cloaked in darkness and use fear and intimidation to spook their enemies, Batman leads the charge. After all, the Dark Knight has been protecting Gotham City for almost 90 years and has more than established himself as one of the world's most popular superheroes in that time. However, Batman wasn't the first hero to boast the aforementioned hallmarks -- and some folks might argue that he ripped off the pulp hero known as The Shadow, aka the man who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.

The Shadow began life as a radio host in 1930, providing the voiceovers for a program called "Detective Story Hour." However, the mysterious character proved to be more popular than the stories being told on the air, so the bosses at publisher Street & Smith hired William B. Gibson...

When Shazam: Fury of the Gods‘ reception was not very optimal for star Zachary Levi, the star turned heads when he pleaded directly with viewers on his Instagram Live to give the film a chance. It was an unorthodox method that many saw as part of a meltdown. Since then, the former Chuck star became increasingly controversial as he was outspoken about his personal views and his recent projects, like Harold and the Purple Crayon, didn’t match the kind of success that the first Shazam had put him on the path for. In a recent profile with Variety, Levi addresses his position on politics and his place within (or outside of) Hollywood.

One of the things he was inevitably asked was his interest in returning to the Shazam franchise. While Levi opposed the critical response of the second film, the actor maintains that making both movies was an immensely joyful experience.

At the dawn of 2023, Zachary Levi was riding high.

Following a five-year run as the titular star of the NBC spy caper “Chuck,” the actor positioned himself as a legit leading man in film thanks to the breakout success of “Shazam!” The DC tentpole was a low-risk proposition for Warner Bros. that delivered strong reviews and a $368 million global box office haul against a $90 million budget. But in the run-up to the sequel that year, Levi ignited a furor when he weighed in vaguely on the Covid vaccine debate. In response to a Twitter user who asked, “Do you agree or not that Pfizer is a real danger to the world?” Levi wrote, “Hardcore agree.”

It was the kind of vaccine skepticism that had already dinged the career prospects of fellow superhero stars Letitia Wright and Evangeline Lilly, but Levi doubled down. The following year, he endorsed presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr....

If you've ever expressed even a cursory interest in the entertainment industry, you have almost certainly come across the term "Hollywood accounting." This is the shady corporate practice of manipulating numbers to make sure the people responsible for crafting blockbusters, top-rated television shows, and hit singles never receive the full financial compensation they are owed. What kind of monster would do this? The kind of monster that lives to make money instead of art that can enrich and delight people all over the world. Not all Hollywood executives are like this, but the ones who got into this business because they love using their business expertise to enable (and protect) talented people are watching their ranks get thinned by the day.

In movies, there's always been a push-pull between talent and the money folks. When silent film stars Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford teamed with filmmaker D.W. Griffith...

London, England – May 12: (L to R) Tom Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer and Christopher McQuarrie attend the BFI Chair’s dinner where Tom Cruise was awarded a BFI Fellowship at The Rosewood on May 12, 2025 in London, England.

Photo by Dave Benett In London, the British Film Institute (BFI) bestowed its highest honor, the BFI Fellowship, upon the one and only Tom Cruise. The prestigious award was presented at the annual BFI Chair’s Dinner, hosted by BFI Chair Jay Hunt at the elegant Rosewood Hotel. Christopher McQuarrie, a close friend and longtime collaborator London, England – May 12: Tom Cruise attends the BFI Chair’s dinner where he was awarded a BFI Fellowship at The Rosewood on May 12, 2025 in London, England.

Photo by Dave Benett of Tom Cruise, presented him with the Fellowship in a heartfelt tribute. After working together on cinematic landmarks for almost two decades, McQuarrie expressed his admiration for...

Wamg’s St. Louis and Los Angeles teams attended the screening of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning on Monday evening. Starring Tom Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the last film ended on a literal cliffhanger, having just survived a vast locomotive plunging off a bridge, Ethan Hunt and his fellow Imf team members – Ving Rhames’ Luther, Simon Pegg’s Benji, and converts to the cause, Grace, played by Hayley Atwell – face an uncertain future.

St. Louis writer Jim Batts first reaction out of the early preview was “Tom Cruise and his cast, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, along with a talented behind-the-camera crew, once again take movie audiences on a spectacular around-the-globe “thrill-ride”, combining a “ripped-from-the-headlines” plot with some of the most amazing action stunt sequences ever committed to film. From a sunken submarine search to a breathtaking bi-plane battle, this fantastic film is a superior entry in the nearly thirty-year-old franchise.

The “swashbuckling adventure” is a subgenre that became more and more antiquated as the spectacle of action movies evolved. It probably has less of an edge over westerns since the latter can still rely on gunplay, but sword-fighting films have roots in Hollywood since the golden era with movies like Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers and countless Pirate films. It was the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that brought swashbucklers into a whole new world with modern audiences.

However, 1998 would see the return of a legendary folk hero, both in the context of the story and in the world of cinema, when Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment produced the Martin Campbell film The Mask of Zorro.

The History

Zorro was created in 1919 by Johnston McCulley. And amazingly this property (that’s over a hundred years old) still has influence on a bevy of popular characters that still goes strong today.

Technically, there were two Best Picture winners at the first Oscars ceremony. The event was held on May 16, 1929, in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and it only took 15 minutes to hand out all the awards. This was because, unlike modern-day Oscars telecasts, the winners had already been announced a few months before; the ceremony was only held as a way to provide a "prom" for the winners (one in which Douglas Fairbanks handed them their statuettes).

The two Best Picture categories were divided by "vibe." One category was called Outstanding Picture, while the other was called Best Unique and Artistic Picture. William Wellman's war epic "Wings" took home the former, with F.W. Murnau's "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans" winning the latter. There were also two Best Director categories that year, with Best Directing (Comedy Picture) going to Lewis Milestone for his film "Two Arabian...

Four years after launching United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D.W. Griffiths, Charlie Chaplin distributed his first film through the company. It was a dream project that defied expectations. After making over 50 comic shorts, all of which he starred in, Chaplin not only released a straight romantic drama with A Woman of Paris, but—as he only appeared in it in a brief cameo, and under heavy makeup—it was easy to miss him on screen.

This 1923 film delighted critics, and its narrative and visual sophistication and the highly natural performance style of the actors made it a watershed release during Hollywood’s silent era, influencing countless directors, most notably Ernst Lubitsch. But it was a commercial failure, as audiences only wanted more of the Little Tramp. Still, while neither that iconic character nor anyone like him appears in it, A Woman of Paris is distinctly Chaplinesque,...

Why Did Tom Cruise Turnn Down The Role Of Steven Spielberg’s Zorro? (Photo Credit – Koimoi)

Tom Cruise almost became Zorro, but even he knew it wasn’t the right call. Before Antonio Banderas put on the mask in The Mask of Zorro, Cruise was on Steven Spielberg’s radar for the role. And while Hollywood’s ultimate action star has taken on almost every daredevil gig, this one didn’t make the cut – for a surprisingly bold reason.

Cinematographer Mikael Salomon, who was once attached to direct The Legend of Zorro, revealed the surprising casting consideration while speaking in an interview with Slash Film for the 25th anniversary of The Mask of Zorro. According to Salomon, Spielberg, an executive producer on the film, had Cruise in mind for Don Alejandro de la Vega.

But Salomon saw trouble ahead. “He wanted to offer it to Tom Cruise,” he said during...

Fans are excited to see the Oscars ceremony unfold this year. After seeing Jimmy Kimmel for the last two years at the center stage, fans look forward to seeing a new host. Conan O’Brien will be hosting the 97th Academy Awards on March 2nd at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Besides its ABC broadcast, this year’s event will stream on Hulu, a first in the history of the Oscars.

From actors to performers to comedy greats, the Oscars have seen several celebrities take over the hosting duties over the years. The first-ever Academy Awards took place as a private dinner, without a formal host. Douglas Fairbanks, Academy President at the time, hosted the dinner alongside Vice-President William C. deMille.

Conan O’Brien is the host for the upcoming Oscars ceremony | Credits: Conan/TBS

Bob Hope holds the record for hosting the most number of ceremonies. He hosted the Oscars...

In 2003, Disney released Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, a movie that would reimagine pirates forever. Since then, these films have dominated the genre, and it's been very hard for other films to compete with its monumental success. As such, a lot of modern fans tend to associate pirates with what they've seen in these movies.

However, pirates are a unique part of history and have been discussed in a wealth of older films. From swashbuckling adventures to locating buried treasures, older pirate movies tend to attract viewers with their vintage charm. As such, some of the pirate movies were released long before Johnny Depp became Captain Jack Sparrow.

A Nobleman Seeks Revenge From Those Who Wronged Him The Executioner of the Seas

Even though he was sentenced to death, a swift and crafty nobleman named David Robinson manages to make a lucky escape. Now that he's on the run,...

Exclusive: HanWay Films has expanded its classics library after being appointed to represent The Cohen Film Collection.

The library of Cohen Media Group’s founder, Charles S. Cohen, comprises more than one hundred restored classic titles spanning from the silent era to the present day, including The Buster Keaton Collection and The Merchant Ivory Collection.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed and Cohen Media Group is the owner of HanWay, having acquired the company in 2022.

Late last year Charles Cohen’s media group hit choppy waters when the company was forced to sell multiple assets including British arthouse exhibitor and distributor Curzon to Fortress Investment Group. The company was acquired in a foreclosure auction involving multiple Cohen assets, including the Landmark cinema chain. Fortress had lent Cohen $534M but sued him last year for default. Cohen acquired Curzon in late 2019 amid a buying spree by the U.S. real estate developer.

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The very first Academy Awards were held on May 16, 1929, in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Douglas Fairbanks, one of the biggest stars of his time, presented every single one of the awards. Right away, the timing was a little off, as the Oscars didn't adhere to specific calendar years for their awards. Instead, the awards were given to all the films released between August 1, 1927, and July 31, 1928.

The Academy continued with the "straddle" schedule for its first five years, considering a "release year" to be August 1 to July 31. Perhaps wanting to keep things a little cleaner, the Academy expanded the year of the 6th Academy Awards, which considered all the films released from August 1, 1932, all the way to December 31, 1933. The 7th Oscars was the first Oscars to finally measure by a proper calendar year. The Awards have been following that pattern ever since.

The teaser trailer for director James Gunn’s newest movie version of Superman was recently released online. And, unlike previous films, this one has a cute dog that everyone seems to already love.

Play

Of course, Superman has proven to be one of the most enduring heroes in the history of pop culture, even surviving John Cleese’s awkward take on the character. But this multibillion dollar franchise began as a simple idea from two guys who were eventually screwed out of those billions of dollars: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Also, it could be argued that the character of Superman wouldn’t be quite the same if not for the influence of one of Canada’s most famous comedians: Joe’s cousin Frank Shuster.

Frank, along with Johnny Wayne, performed as the comedy duo Wayne and Shuster for decades. They had their own shows on radio and television in Canada,...

Quick Links Chaplin Is One of The Most Underrated Biopics Ever Made Charlie Chaplin Was One of Robert Downey Jr.'s Most Demanding Performances Who Won The Best Actor Oscar Against Robert Downey Jr. in 1993?

This year, Robert Downey Jr. received his first-ever Oscar win for his supporting role as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. With the remarkable performance that he gave, it was certainly well-earned, but having been nominated twice previously, it was an achievement that was long overdue. Even though he's now perhaps most well-known for his decade-spanning turn as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he's had quite a remarkable career outside that one character that has proven him to have a wider range than some may give him credit for. One of these films that displayed said range and his ability to completely vanish into a role was the first film...

In 1994, David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Steven Spielberg -- three of Hollywood's biggest power players -- united to form a brand-new major motion picture studio called DreamWorks, something that hadn't been attempted in decades. The trio of execs had three stipulations: they wouldn't make any more than nine films a year, they would be allowed to make movies for other studios, and they would be able to go home in time for dinner.

For three years, the trio would wrangle contracts and make deals with various music, film, and television entities to make sure it was standing on solid ground and could handle being the outsize business entity they wanted it to be. In 1997, DreamWorks finally released its first three movies: "The Peacemaker," "Amistad," and "Mouse Hunt." The year after, the studio broke into feature animation with the bad-but-popular CGI insect film "Antz" and the highly acclaimed and very good "The Prince of Egypt,...

As long as there are rapacious billionaires and corrupt politicians hoarding wealth and making life miserable for the less fortunate, there will always be a need for the Robin Hood folk tale. The Sherwood Forest-dwelling outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor has been depicted in films since Douglas Fairbanks slung a bow over his shoulder and strapped on a spiffy pair of tights in the 1922 landmark silent production "Robin Hood." Michael Curtiz delivered what still stands as the platonic ideal of a Robin Hood movie in 1938 with the Errol Flynn-starring "The Adventures of Robin Hood," but there have been other worthy takes on the character over the years, most notably Disney's 1973 animated film "Robin Hood" and Richard Lester's poignant 1976 romance "Robin and Marian" starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn.

For most modern audiences, the most well-known rendition of the Robin Hood saga...

MGM+ has ordered a new drama series take on the beloved hero Robin Hood.

“Robin Hood” hails from writers John Glenn and Jonathan English as well as Lionsgate Television. Glenn serves as showrunner with English serving as director. Both are executive producers on the series.

“We call MGM+ television for movie lovers and English and Glenn’s ‘Robin Hood’ is the epitome of our brand promise,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “This is a new imagining of the classic tale of the roguish outlaw hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. It’s an exciting, smart, sweeping, romantic adventure that brings historical authenticity, psychological depth, and a heightened focus on the relationship between Rob and Marian to the beloved story.”

The official description of the series states, “Following the Norman invasion of England, Rob – a Saxon forester’s son – and Marian, the daughter of a...

In realizing the latest incarnation of “Zorro,” producer Marc Dujardin found inspiration in the classic 1950s series starring Guy Williams, the absurd premise of super hero tales, and the fond childhood dreams he shared with brother Jean, who portrays the buttoned-up mayor of early 19th-century Los Angeles, Don Diego de la Vega, and his masked and care-free alter ego.

“Zorro” stormed into Le Havre on Thursday, where it closed the Unifrance Rendez-Vous market with a highly anticipated premiere, followed by a dance floor-pumping Alta California-themed fiesta, replete with delectable Spanish and Mexican cuisine à la normande.

Produced by Marc Dujardin’s Le Collectif 64 for France Télévisions and Paramount+, “Zorro” offers a comedic yet straight take on the legendary swashbuckler of old California.

The series sees Don Diego becoming mayor of Los Angeles with the hope of improving his beloved city. Facing growing, unstoppable corruption, however, he decides to again suit...

Media talent discovery app Husslup has launched a new “Greenlight Studio,” which uses “ethical gen-ai” to help freelancers create and sell content. The first tool in that studio, “Full Script Assessment,” launches this week.

The platform is also utlizing AI to launch a smart content marketplace that it says will “make it easier for producers, financiers, execs and reps to efficiently and quickly discover new projects.”

Husslup founder H Schuster compares Greenlight Studio to the formation of the performer-led United Artists studio a century ago. That’s because as part of the launch, Husslup members will be given the opportunity to invest in a new round and help turn it into a community-owned studio. This round of funding opens with Vitalize Venture Capital’s Vitalize Angels, an investment group led by founder/managing Partner Gale Wilkinson.

Husslup, which moved from invite-only beta phase to a public launch of its service earlier this year,...

Brad Pitt's character in "Babylon," Jack Conrad, mirrors real 1920s actors like John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks, and Rudolph Valentino. Conrad's tragic death in response to Hollywood's transition to sound films reflects the struggles of many silent era stars. "Babylon" features fictional characters inspired by real Hollywood figures, exploring the industry's shift from silent to sound films.

This article contains mention of suicide and substance abuse.

With Babylon's in-depth look into a certain period in Hollywood history, many people wonder if Brad Pitt's Jack Conrad is a real actor. Damien Chazelle's Babylon examines the rise and fall of several stars as 1920s Hollywood transitions from silent movies to talkies. Conrad plays a pivotal part in giving Nellie Laroy (Margot Robbie) and Manny Torres (Diego Calva) their big breaks, even as he feels they could replace him. At a time when the industry was in a great phase of transition,...

Former Netflix film head Scott Stuber has closed a deal with Amazon MGM Studios to relaunch the United Artists label and finance and release features from his new production company.

The arrangement includes a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios and will see Stuber based on the Culver City lot, producing several films a year under the UA label for release theatrically and on Prime Video.

Stuber will be involved in all projects released by the new UA including those that do not originate from his company. UA was launched in 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks...

If you know anything about Hollywood history, you are probably aware of the many, many incarnations of United Artists studios. Founded in  1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, it has been a distributor and, since 1981, a division of MGM Studios (then named MGM/UA Studios). Today, Amazon MGM Studios revealed that United Artists will live once more under a new deal with producer Scott Stuber and his yet-to-be-named financing company.

Continue reading United Artists Lives Yet Again Powered By Producer Scott Stuber at The Playlist.

Scott Stuber wasn’t out of the game for long, and he’s bringing back with him a venerated classic film brand. The former Netflix film chief is teaming with Amazon MGM Studios to relaunch the United Artists label and help produce movies for both theatrical and streaming.

Stuber left Netflix this spring, and under his new production company about to launch, he’ll already have a first-look, multiyear film deal with Amazon MGM Studios and will be involved in anything released by the new United Artists.

“With his proven track record of delivering global hits and an eye towards theatrical fare, Scott’s expertise and vision align perfectly with our film strategy,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios. “We are so proud to welcome him to our lot and partner with him on the relaunch of the legendary UA brand, as we work to leverage existing and new IP into big,...

Scott Stuber has found his post-Netlfix gig, re-launching the storied United Artists studio label under Amazon MGM.

The multi-year partnership will see Stuber finance and produce films via his soon-to-be-launched production company that will be released through United Artists, both theatrically and on streaming for Prime. Stuber will be involved in all UA releases, even those his company does not produce.

Stuber and his new shingle will also have a first-look deal with Amazon MGM and will be based out of the company’s Culver City offices.

Stuber joins Amazon MGM after announcing his departure as the film head of competing tech giant, Netflix, at the top of the year. Under Stuber’s direction, Netflix’s feature business aggressively entered the blockbuster space, courting filmmakers such as Zack Snyder and the Russo brothers, as well as award-winning auteurs like Martin Scorsese. To join Netflix in 2017, Stuber, who established himself as an executive at Universal,...

It was a surprise to many of her admiring fans that the legendary Carol Burnett was not already immortalized with her handprints in the iconic Hollywood cement. That fact finally changed on Thursday as she was surrounded by friends, co-stars and family at a brief ceremony outside of the Tcl Chinese Theater.

Before cementing herself for decades of tourists to visit, she said, “I grew up just a few blocks from here, Yucca and Wilcox. It was a block north of Hollywood Boulevard. And when I was a little girl, I can’t begin to count the times my grandmother and I would walk up her to Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Betty Grable was one of my favorites, and I remember bending down and putting my hands on her handprints, never dreaming that someday I’d be putting my hands here 80 years later.”

See‘Palm Royale’ scene stealer Carol Burnett...

He was one of the biggest screen icons and one of the most colorful real-life characters in Hollywood history. Still considered the king of swashbucklers more than 60 years after his death, Errol Flynn’s success was a combination of happenstance, luck and his ability to charm.

Errol Leslie Flynn was born on June 20, 1909, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia to an affluent family. A natural born rascal, he was thrown out of several private schools, and eventually wandered, working odd jobs. He fell into acting quite by chance when he won the role of Fletcher Christian in the Australian film “In the Wake of the Bounty” (1933). There are conflicting stories of how he landed this part, but it is the film that piqued his interest in acting, and eventually caught the attention of Warner Bros. executives.

In Hollywood, a combination of luck and Flynn’s athleticism and charm landed him the lead...

While both fans and detractors speak of superhero cinema like it began yesterday—or about a decade ago when the Marvel Cinematic Universe came into being—the truth is masked do-gooders are virtually as old as the movies themselves. One of the silver screen’s first great adventurers, Douglas Fairbanks in The Mark of Zorro (1924), was a major influence on Bob Kane and Bill Finger when they created Batman.

As long as there’s been source material with heroes doing daring deeds, there have been producers willing to take a gamble on putting them on the screen. For better or worse that process found its peak synthesis (or corporatized formula) in the 21st century. Yet there was a period just before then—ahead of folks figuring out they should adapt currently popular ‘90s comic book characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Hulk—where the studios went all in on resurrecting something older and,...

From early cinematic works like 1903's The Great Train Robbery and Douglas Fairbanks silents like Robin Hood and The Mark of Zorro, it's been abundantly clear that action films have a singular ability to excite, even to raise the pulse. Swashbuckling films of classical Hollywood, grindhouse films of the '60s and 70s and more modern landmarks like John Wick and The Raid are all essentials for fans of the action genre.

Zorro's unique origin story and all-black costume set the stage for future superheroes, inspiring even Batman's creation. Zorro's popularity spanned across various media, from movies to comics, captivating audiences globally for decades. Actors like Antonio Banderas and Tyrone Power brought new dimensions to the iconic character, making Zorro a timeless hero.

All the actors who played Zorro, from Douglas Fairbanks to Antonio Banderas, had unique takes. The charming vigilante was introduced as the savior of the New Spanish commoners of California in pulp writer Johnston McCulleys 1919 novel The Curse of Capistrano. The nobleman Don Diego de la Vega embraced this alter ego to defend the rights of his people from tyrannical officials and a corrupt law-enforcement system. A trendsetter in the swashbuckler genre, Zorros all-black costume turned him into an early blueprint for future superheroes. The consensus remains that Zorro even inspired the creation of Batman.

Following the immense popularity that Zorro accumulated,...

Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer are set to star in a dark Robin Hood retelling titled The Death of Robin Hood, set for production in February 2025. The film will see Robin Hood grappling with a life of crime and murder, offering a darker take on the legendary hero. Director Michael Sarnoski should bring a fresh and innovative approach to the story, similar to his past work on Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One.

Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer are set to star in a dark retelling of Robin Hood. The legendary figure from English folklore, who famously stole from the rich to give to the poor, has been adapted to the screen countless times over the years, going back to 1922's Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood, 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Disney's The Story of Robin Hood from 1952. More recent adaptations include Kevin Costner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves...

For over 25 years, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival called the Castro Theatre home. With the iconic theater now closed for a year-plus-long renovation, Sfsff has relocated to the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, located in a beautiful park created for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition at the north edge of the Presidio. The auditorium, primarily a performance space, seats nearly a thousand and features a spacious foyer where passholders could visit and relax between shows (particularly useful on chilly weekends).

Sfsff prides itself on mixing landmark productions and audience favorites with rediscoveries, revelations, and rarities, often recently uncovered and restored. And for its 27th edition this year, the festival presented 20 features and six short films over five days, all with live musical scores by some of the finest silent film accompanists in the world.

The opening night film, Albert Parker’s 1926 swashbuckler The Black Pirate, certainly qualifies as both landmark and favorite.

Warning: Spoilers for Batman / Dylan Dog #1!

Batman and Sherlock Holmes are on par as detectives; their similarities run deep, as Batman is described as "Sherlock Holmes with a cape." Batman's creator Bill Finger drew inspiration from Sherlock Holmes for the Dark Knight's character. Detective Comics #572 implies Sherlock Holmes exists in the DC Universe: Batman reacts as if he's met his idol.

Sherlock Holmes is now part of the official DC canon as a direct inspiration for Batman. Batman and Sherlock Holmes have always been linked in some form or another, either by comparisons from readers or by direct in-universe similarities, like both having a memory palace. However, there's always a question among fans about who is better the better detective.

The comparisons between the two iconic characters deepen in Batman / Dylan Dog #1 by Roberto Recchioni, Gigi Cavenago, and Werther Dell'Edera, which confirms that Batman and Sherlock Holmes are not unequal in scale.

Throughout the decades, the Academy Awards has relied on iconic figures from the world of entertainment to grace its stage. These hosts, from actors to comedy greats, become the face of Hollywood’s biggest night, whether solo, paired, or part of a team.

The first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929 began as a private dinner hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and director William C. DeMille and had no formal host. However, as the awards gained popularity, the master of ceremonies would become defined by comedian Bob Hope, whose sharp wit and charisma set the standard for future hosts. Hope would host a record 19 ceremonies, starting in 1940.

Others followed, including Billy Crystal, who hosted an impressive 9 times solo. Johnny Carson came next with 5 solo appearances, followed by Whoopi Goldberg, who hosted 4 times solo. Jack Lemmon also hosted 4 times, twice solo and twice as a co-host. Jimmy Kimmel brought his charm to the Oscars 3 times solo,...

The early days of Hollywood were quiet, at least on screen. The silent movies captivated audiences with broad theatrics and vivid expressions, paired with music that ebbed and flowed with the action on screen. Moviegoers made mega-stars out of actors like Greta Garbo, Clara Bow, and Douglas Fairbanks, to name just a few. Then came 1927's The Jazz Singer, the first Hollywood release with spoken dialogue, and five simple words from the mouth of actor Al Jolson changed everything: "You ain't heard nothing yet." It was a touchstone moment in Hollywood history (a time that's captured in 2022's Babylon), changing how films were made on a revolutionary scale. Actors like Franklyn Farnum were able to make the switch to talkies relatively easily, but for others the advent of sound ended their Hollywood careers forever. That's what happened, but why? Why their Hollywood dreams ended is a different question altogether, and there's more than one answer.

The 1st Academy Awards ceremony took place 95 years ago, on May 16, 1929. There were only 12 categories at the inaugural Oscars, three of which were permanently discontinued the following year. Wings was the very first movie to win Best Picture, then called Outstanding Picture, at the Oscars.

12 lucky individuals and movies won the very first Oscars 95 years ago at the 1st Academy Awards. The 2024 Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, are just around the corner. With a stacked lineup of 2024 Oscar nominees across all categories, the 96th Academy Awards are sure to be an exciting night. The award show may be a grand spectacle now, but the very first Oscars, which took place on May 16, 1929, before the ceremony and the awards themselves were ever colloquially known as "Oscars," was a much more lowkey affair.

The 1st Academy Awards ceremony, which honored films released between August 1, 1927, and July 31, 1928, was hosted by Academy President Douglas Fairbanks...

Jimmy Kimmel is hosting 2024 Oscars for his 4th time. As an experienced and proven host, he's navigated live mishaps in past ceremonies. The diverse lineup of star presenters includes past Oscar winners, Best Actors/Actresses, and stars from upcoming films. The 96th Academy Awards airs March 10, 2024. Watch on ABC at 7 pm Est/4 pm Pst.

The 2024 Oscars are airing on Sunday, March 10th, so here is a breakdown of who is hosting and presenting during the ceremony. The first-ever Academy Awards were held on May 16, 1929, and were hosted by William deMille & Douglas Fairbanks, founding members of the Academy. Since then, there have been more than 60 people who have hosted the Oscars.

In 1957, the animated character Donald Duck even served as a co-host of the awards, working alongside David Niven, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, and Rosalind Russell. Throughout the 96-year history, there have only been a few instances when the Academy Awards went without a host,...

The beloved Hollywood star Pedro Pascal has once again won over the hearts of millions with his appearance at the 30th Annual SAG Awards. The 48-year-old actor, who secured his SAG for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for The Last of Us, has also sparked considerable attention for his red carpet look, which has now fans rallying for the actor to embody the iconic masked hero, Zorro.

Pedro Pascal

Created by writer Johnston McCulley, the character has been the subject of several adaptations, including Antonio Banderas’ 1998 film The Mask of Zorro and its sequel. And fans are now re-imagining Pascal in the role as they share their reaction to his red carpet looks.

Pedro Pascal Shined at the 2024 SAG Award Red Carpet

Pedro Pascal, who has created a buzz with his performance in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us, made waves on the 2024 SAG Awards red carpet as well.

In the US and Europe, a combination of figurehead film-makers allied with community partners really seems to work

One of LA’s loveliest cinemas – the huge, sentinel Village Theater in Westwood - has been bought by Jason Reitman, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Lulu Wang, Chloé Zhao, Guillermo del Toro, Alexander Payne, Alfonso Cuarón, Ryan Coogler, Bradley Cooper, Gina Prince-Bythewood and lots of other film-makers.

The news has a hint of early Hollywood about it when, in 1919, four very different film-makers – Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Dw Griffith – threw their hats into the industrial ring to found the United Artists Corporation movie studio.

The last American movie star. The savior of cinema. Maverick. There are plenty of superlatives thrown around Tom Cruise these days—including by us—and for good reason. In an era where audiences increasingly only venture to the theater for familiar intellectual property (if at all), Tom Cruise remains one of the last old school marquee names people turn out for in order to watch the actor.

And more often than not, they’re justified in that trust, because Cruise has spent his middle-age proving that like his most popular alter-ego—Navy pilot Pete Mitchell—he has no intention of turning in his wings. It’s a common observation to even note that the Mission: Impossible movies Cruise made in his 50s were better than the ones he made in his 30s, and his dedication to in-camera stunts in those films, as well as Top Gun: Maverick, have increasingly resembled...

After a 31-year absence, Amazon's new Zorro show brings back the traditional formula of the classic hero, focusing on Diego de la Vega and his adventures as Zorro in 1834 California. The last two Zorro movies, The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro, were not accurate adaptations of the source material, instead featuring a different character named Alejandro Murrieta taking on the Zorro identity. Zorro's recent absence from pop culture makes Amazon's new show even better, as it returns to the original formula and provides viewers with something they haven't seen in 31 years.

There hadn't been a "real" live-action Zorro story in 31 years, though this was finally rectified by Amazon's new show. Starring Miguel Bernardaeu as the titular character, the Spanish-language series from Amazon Prime Video follows the exploits of The Fox in 1834 California. The show was one of several Zorro projects in development, but also the first live-action...

Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for Zorro episode 1.

The new Zorro series on Prime Video incorporates the Native American aspect of Zorro's mythos, making Diego an outsider as the masked hero. Miguel Bernardeau plays Diego de la Vega, who investigates the death of his father and becomes the new Zorro, tasked with proving his worthiness. Renata Notni portrays Lolita Márquez, Diego's childhood friend and love interest who doubts his ability to make up for past mistakes. She is also a skilled fighter.

Prime Video’s Zorro (2024) cast brings the latest iteration of the iconic vigilante and his supporting characters to life in a new series. Zorro was created by Johnston McCulley in 1919 and has since become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters of all time, having appeared in dozens of adaptations for film, television, animation, comics, and more. The newest Zorro series, a Spanish production,...

With The Mask of Zorro, Antonio Banderas truly marked himself as a genuine star and sex symbol across the globe. While he earned acclaim for his collaborations with Pedro Almodóvar in Spain and made his presence known in the States with Philadelphia and Interview with the Vampire, The Mask of Zorro was his first leading role to near $100 million at the domestic box office. But the iconic swordsman almost had another man behind the mask: Tom Cruise.

According to The Mask of Zorro‘s original director Mikael Salomon, executive producer Steven Spielberg wanted Tom Cruise to star. “Who else was [in the mix]? Some big — oh yeah, Tom Cruise. Early on, [Spielberg] wanted to offer it to him. Have you heard that? He wanted to offer it to Tom Cruise. And my friend and countryman Bille August had done The House of the Spirits with all non-Latinos, and he got in so much hot water because of that,...

His predictive sci-fi action film "Minority Report" was still several years away, but in 1997, Steven Spielberg could already see the future.

At that time, Spielberg was an executive producer of "The Mask of Zorro," and during production, he sensed something in the air. In an interview earlier this year, "Zorro" star Antonio Banderas recounted what the famed filmmaker told him:

"Steven Spielberg said to me once when we were shooting, 'This is probably going to be one of the last Westerns shot in the way the Westerns were shot in the old days, with real scenes and real horses, where everything is real, real sword fighting, no CGI.' Everything was practical. And he said, 'But things are going to change. They're going to change and they're gonna change fast. And so you should be proud of this movie.' And I am, probably even more now than at the...

The first Oscar ceremony in 1928 took place at the famous Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with tickets going for five dollars (about $70 in today’s money). The ceremony lasted only about 15 minutes, and was hosted by director William C. deMille and actor Douglas Fairbanks, who was also the first president of the motion picture academy. Winners in 12 categories were announced weeks prior to the event, which was the only Oscar ceremony in history to not be broadcast on radio.

Actor and comedian Bob Hope holds the record for the most frequent Oscar host with 19 appearances either solo or as co-host. For most of the 1990s and early 2000s, Billy Crystal was synonymous with the Oscars, hosting on nine occasions, always bringing out his now-classic medley of songs that interpolated the titles of the Best Picture nominees for that year. Crystal’s fellow “Comic Relief” host Whoopi Goldberg made history twice when she...