Most notably, horror got a resurgence from directors like Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, and Mike Flanagan. Plus, filmmakers like Taika Waititi, Gareth Evans, and Jordan Vogt-Roberts rose to blockbuster fame. This particular decade also presented a unique challenge for indie cinema in the form of “cinematic universes” and the rise of streaming, both factors that pushed indie movies back into nichedom, out of brick-and-mortar theaters, and onto streaming platforms. Nevertheless, some of the best movies since the turn of the millenium were indie movies from this decade, and many eyes look forward to the influence these films have had on today’s films....

For 70 years, Elizabeth II sat the throne and remained one of the most renowned people in the world, right up to her death this year. She was an enduring icon who lived through more eras than most. Because of the longevity of her reign and the grace with which she lived life, Queen Elizabeth II became the subject of multiple portrayals over the decades, both on television and in cinema....

Yet while most viewers tune in to The Simpsons for laughs, comfort, and a bit of relaxation after a long day at work, the show has had its fair share of emotional scenes over its run. They don’t come often, but that’s part of the punch—they catch you off guard. Similar scenes exist in Matt Groening’s other esteemed animated series Futurama, but he did it first with The Simpsons. Here are several sad Simpsons moments that’ll get you tearing up....

While early days for Apple TV+ were tough, things are turning around with notable success for shows like Ted Lasso, See, and now The Morning Show, a series based on the behind-the-scenes drama of America’s biggest light-entertainment breakfast shows. The caliber of acting on this project is phenomenal, with Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, and many others keeping Apple’s reputation in the streaming industry afloat. With Aniston, Carell, Witherspoon, and Crudup all nominated for Emmys in their roles, we’re looking at the characters they portray and ranking them to see which of them are truly the best....

Indeed, not every film director has the capability to take audiences into the streets of Los Angeles in 2049 or through the creepy hallways of The Nostromo while a creature hunts down the ship’s crew. The skill and talent to make an audience believe that we’re really there with the characters of the film, in this fictional world that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen ourselves—whether an alternate version of our world, a possible future for our world, or a completely different world altogether—is one that very few can pull off....

Infidelity and unfaithfulness aren’t just there to escalate tension and heat up scenes. They also give rise to thrilling plot developments like betrayal, revenge, and even a character’s will to kill. Love affairs create intense drama between the betrayer and the betrayed, making viewers feel mixed emotions about a series and its characters, from sympathy to hatred. Here are our picks for the best K-drama series that involve infidelity, unfaithfulness, cheating, and love affairs....

It took time, but video games eventually invaded our daily lives—first by driving children to the arcades to play their favorite titles, then moving into our homes, then moving into our pockets. The narratives became more complex, the graphics got better, and the industry that had broadly started with one circle going side to side is now worth over $100 billion every year. Through the countless adventures that have seen the light of day, some characters have become ingrained in the fabric of video game history—and some even in the fabric of pop culture itself....

By 2015, Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear series had become one of the most critically acclaimed video game franchises of all time, primarily for its story (which has been heralded as one of the most dense and innovative tales told in any medium) and its characters. Unfortunately, due to disputes with Konami, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was the final Metal Gear video game with Hideo Kojima’s name attached....

In fact, The International has been the tournament to beat since 2014, back when its prize pool was just shy of $11 million. By comparison, the 2018 LoL World Championship offered a prize pool of $6.5 million while the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Finals (Solo) had a prize pool of $15 million. Furthermore, ESPN doubled down on their esports coverage back in 2016 as they hired more writers and covered more games....

Guests stars on The Simpsons aren’t just there to be gimmicks. They often take up interesting roles that impact the show in important ways—even when they don’t have too much screen time. The best guest stars on The Simpsons have left indelible marks on the show’s legacy and its fictional residents. Here are some of the most memorable guests to appear on The Simpsons! 8. Johnny Cash “In your face, Space Coyote!...

Batman Returns has aged like a wine with the best grapes of a century. It never left the minds of the Batman fanbase, even among those who have long forgotten many of The Dark Knight’s escapades. The image of Michael Keaton’s Batman standing with Danny DeVito’s Penguin as Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman flips toward them with a nonchalant “Meow,” just as a building explodes? That’s come to define the characters in ways that others have never managed....

It’s like the exact opposite of fan service, in which a fan favorite character becomes more important than they were originally meant to be just to please fans. In this case, we want more but we’re denied. And it’s even worse when an anime character with lots of potential is wasted and/or killed off for the sake of another character’s big moment. (At least when a character is overlooked with zero development or screen time, there’s hope for growth in the future....

The main factor is usually the same in both cases: cold, hard cash. If a film earns a gigantic sum of money at the box office, you can pretty much expect a sequel to be rubber-stamped these days. But just because a lot of people watched—and even enjoyed—a movie doesn’t necessarily mean they want to see a sequel. And movies that flop at the box office may still deserve sequels....

But critics aren’t always perfect, and they can’t catch everything. There are many great TV shows that critics either missed or didn’t care for, that garnered smaller initial audiences but continue to grow through the only real marketing that matters: word of mouth. We live in a golden age of television with streaming platforms pumping out more TV shows than we can keep up with, and too many of them go unnoticed despite the originality they bring to the table....

But then there are life-saving items that aren’t needed every day—in fact, if you’re lucky, you may never even use them—but are important to have in case of emergencies like fires, earthquakes, and other disasters. You never know when an emergency will break out, so the best thing you can do is be prepared ahead of time. Whether you’re heading out into the wild or always at home, here are some important tools and gadgets you’ll want on hand in case of emergencies....

Indeed, he’s contributed so much to cinema and pop culture. We simply can’t count the number of times we’ve heard somebody shout “Heeeeere’s Johnny!” or “You can’t handle the truth!” Here are our picks for Jack Nicholson’s best movie performances of all time that remain memorable, impressive, and heart-wrenching to this day. 6. The Pledge (2001) How far would you go to keep a promise? That’s what’s at stake in The Pledge, a lesser-known Nicholson performance....

As the genre’s name suggests, found footage films imitate the look of old home movies, so they’re relatively quick and easy to make. The visuals are wholly unimpressive next to Hollywood blockbusters, but that’s part of the charm. Of course, found footage cinema is saturated by amateurs and shortcut horrors, so the bulk of it is quite terrible—but when done well, the found footage appproach can elevate a story and make it feel more authentic....

These characters are what make Hogwarts such a great setting, even through its many highs and lows. Sadly, the characters in the Harry Potter movies were lost in translation, delivering versions of our favorites that were diminished in ways. The book versions of the characters in Harry Potter remain our favorites, as they each have depths that go further than what the movies had time to explore. The movies simply weren’t able to unravel them to the degree that the books did....

Every Bond movie comes with certain expectations: cool gadgetry, clever espionage, sleek cars and beautiful girls, thrilling stunts and action spectacle. And while the tone of the Bond movies has changed from time to time, the heart remains. Ian Fleming’s suave hero has left a tremendous mark on cinema ever since the debut of Dr. No in 1962, resulting in one of the most iconic characters in movie history. And with more than two dozen movies in the series, Bond has been through quite a bit....

Father and son have a unique bond unlike any other, and that bond can often come under strain. And what better material for a touching, emotional, and often cathartic drama? Here are some of the best movies that explore the important father-son relationship, across all genres. 10. Road to Perdition (2002) Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Daniel Craig, and Jude Law? Yes, please! Plus Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes? Don’t mind if we do....