It wasn’t until the titanic rise of young adult fantasy series (like Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, and Grisha) and the resurgence in adult fantasy series (like A Song of Ice and Fire, The First Law, and Mistborn) that fantasy as a genre took the world by storm. But in many ways, fantasy as a genre has grown TOO big. “Fantasy” encompasses thousands of different books, some which may not share much in common with others....

As she begs him not to stay, he tells her that if she doesn’t get on the plane with Victor, she’ll regret it. (“Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.”) It’s enough to get her on the plane and away from danger as Rick walks away with Renault into the fog. Every iconic movie catchphrase is the merging of three elements: the script, the director, and the actor....

While you can play online multiplayer games on any modern gaming console these days, Microsoft still ekes out an advantage for gamers with Xbox Game Pass, which offers a solid number of options. So many console games, across so many different genres, now have some kind of online multiplayer functionality. We’re specifically looking at games where online multiplayer is a significant part of the game’s full experience, especially if it’s the only way to play it....

Some of these old guys were badasses when they were young and stayed that way well into their age. Others only got more powerful as they grew older, and yet others lost their edge but can still kick butt when necessary. They may look old, fragile, and weak, but never underestimate them. Here are some of the most badass old anime characters we’ve seen, ranked up to our favorite!...

Martial arts movies are rarely about how big and strong characters are, but rather how much control they have over themselves and how much mastery they can exhibit over their abilities. Fight choreographers, trainers, actors, and stuntmen work in tandem to craft action-packed martial arts movies, which can even incorporate guns, cars, and parkour for elevated thrills and adrenaline rushes. Which martial arts movies have the most exciting and impressive action sequences?...

And it’s no wonder why the company has been so successful. Their films beautifully mix the joys, questions, and traumas of childhood with delicate balance. Their movies hit deeply and in ways that make us feel emotions that most movies could never manage. But Studio Ghibli isn’t the only studio producing iconic anime movies. If you’re looking for an excellent anime movie that’s different from the usual Ghibli fare, here are some of our top picks!...

Throughout cinema history, there have been many examples of two people putting their differences aside and coming together to serve the greater good—or sometimes evil. Whether that bond is forged in combat or through shared emotional turmoil, the dynamic of two people brought together has a real-world pull to it. It’s something that’s relatable for many people across all cultures, which is why buddy films remain so popular. Here are our picks for the best buddy teams and character duos in movies and why they’re so great....

The recent Star Wars movies have proven divisive among hardcore fans, so The Mandalorian was a sort of final beacon of hope for many who wanted to see Favreau and Filoni pull off something special. And they did. The Mandalorian is critically acclaimed and adored by fans. It has introduced new technologies to filmmaking, and even restored faith in Disney’s ownership of the Star Wars franchise as a whole. The series has been nominated for six Emmy awards and one Golden Globe for Best Television Series Drama, and became one of the most-watched TV series in the world in the process....

That’s why we’re so drawn to movies with exciting plot twists—the kind that make us buzz with predictions like “It might be this!” or “It might be that!” until something we don’t expect comes up. With a great storyline and extraordinary plot twists, a movie can be thrilling and worth watching. Here are some of the best movies on Netflix with plot twists and unexpected events! WARNING: Knowing that a plot twist exists is itself a spoiler, but we’re also going to name and explore the actual plot twists....

Sentai anime (sentai means “squadron” or “task force”) typically falls under the superhero genre of anime. But instead of one main hero, it involves numerous heroes who act as a team unit. The definition is somewhat flexible, so you’ll often see sentai anime blended with all kinds of other genres, from shonen anime to isekai anime, from mecha anime to magical girl anime. Normally, sentai series stick to color-coded character designs, but some have spun their own way to use clearly distinguished costume designs without the usual one-color-one-character approach....

The numerous high-quality Korean series and films have shown audiences why South Korea is now a hub for auteur-driven projects and excellent storytelling, fully emerged after Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite won multiple Academy Awards at the 2020 Oscars. The Korean TV series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha dropped on Netflix this year and was lauded for its great storytelling and fun characters, achieving worldwide popularity in the process. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is the ninth most-watched Netflix show worldwide....

From language barriers to eating habits, Italians are much more than they are given credit for. Here are some of the most common Italian stereotypes featured in movies and TV shows that are overplayed. Full disclosure: I am, myself, Italian! The views expressed in this opinion piece are solely my own and don’t necessarily reflect the positions of the wider whatNerd team. 1. Italians Only Speak Italian But English wasn’t taught in school—at least, when I was still in school—and American TV programs were dubbed in local languages....

Sometimes an anime character is scary in a badass way. Others have horrifying backstories, facial expressions, or abilities that we just want to stay clear of. And every so often, there’s an anime character who’s creepy or unsettling or scary for seemingly no reason. Here are some iconic scary anime characters and why they’re so frightening. You’ll be surprised to find both heroes and villains on this list! 18. Empty Head Girl (Parasyte: The Maxim) Who wouldn’t be afraid if they saw a girl run by who didn’t have any eyes and was missing half of her head?...

No matter how old or jaded your players might be, they’ll almost always enjoy a holiday-themed adventure to get them into the holiday spirit. And while the Monster Manual might not have Christmas-themed entries, there are several monsters you can adapt to suit the job. Eager to throw a bit of festive flavor at your players? Here are some of my favorite D&D 5e monsters to use in encounters during the Christmas season....

And that’s why no D&D party is truly complete without a Rogue! But Rogues do more than just the above. You could certainly play one straight and steal everything in sight, but in D&D 5e, Rogues can be built for several jobs—and a Rogue can fulfill different roles depending on the Rogue’s build and playstyle. In this Rogue guide for beginners, I’m going to share some of the best tips for building and playing a Rogue in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition to ensure success for your party....

This class offers all the explosive power of a spellcaster and more, but requires a bit more work and planning if you want to get the most out of its potential. Definitely not the easiest spellcaster class to play. Sorcerers in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition aren’t as flexible as Wizards (who can change their spells every day) and aren’t as versatile as Bards (who have a wealth of other abilities to expand their options)....

Ever since the very first movie was made, filmmakers have been trying to find innovative ways to make great movies on tight budgets, which often means skimping on high-profile actors. In some cases, it’s taken even further—by only featuring a single actor for the whole film. Whether for budget reasons or creative reasons, these films—when done well—have resulted in some uniquely great experiences. Here are our picks for the best one-man movies!...

Sadly, most notable anti-heroes are men—with figures like Walter White, Tony Soprano, and Don Draper dominating discussions. While women anti-heroes do exist on TV, they’re often overlooked. But times are changing. As male anti-heroes become more tragic, female anti-heroes become fiercer and more intriguing. We’re seeing more of them, and many of them have what it takes to stand among our favorite anti-hero characters of all time. Here are some of the best TV female anti-heroes we’ve seen on the small screen and why we love them as characters....

But its not just the heroes who are fleshed-out. In fact, some might even say that the villains of My Hero Academia are the best characters, who shine with depth and make us want more with every scene. These villains aren’t always outright evil and one-dimensional. Some of them have noble intentions but are misguided, while others possess a sense of justice that isn’t compatible with societal acceptance. Here are the best villains in My Hero Academia, who are captivating to watch on screen as they make lives difficult for our heroes and deepen the story as their narratives intersect throughout....

Here are some of the best biopic movies about musicians, which are great for getting to know your favorite artists better and diving a little depper into the glitz and glamour of the music industry. 12. Rocketman (2019) Elton John is just as famous for his flamboyant and glittery outfits as he is his great singing voice. As the voice behind “Tiny Dancer” and “Step Into Christmas,” John became a music legend during the 70s and is still releasing albums to this day!...