https://collider.com Examine the past, present, and future of film with in-depth writing on classics, overlooked favorites, blockbusters, and the filmmakers behind the movies you love. Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:00:44 GMT en-US hourly 60 With its signature style, avid fanbase, and an industrious yearly tradition producing continually flourishing returns (the annual "Countdown to Christmas" extravaganza), Hallmark almost counts as a franchise. No, there's no Hallmark Christmas Movie Cinematic Universe yet. But if some prickly fictional cynic isn't rediscovering childlike wonder while simultaneously finding their soulmate against an appropriately cozy backdrop with fake snow sprinkling down the screen (and within a wacky plot line's framework), then it just isn't Christmas, gosh dang it! Admittedly, yours truly is a Hallmark novice. The list of movies I've technically watched remains shamefully low even though I approve of escapist guarantees beholden to the, quote-unquote, "Hallmark Christmas Movie" concept. I embraced said concept enough that I stayed up past my bedtime to catch a live broadcast of a movie with a logline that resonated with my soul. The result? I devoured this movie like cotton candy, or, more aptly, like an entire box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes.

]]> Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:00:18 GMT https://collider.com/a-biltmore-christmas-best-hallmark-movie/ A movie fan’s favorite James Bond actor is a very personal decision that is largely dependent upon when they grew up with the character. It’s very easy to associate Ian Fleming’s 007 with the version of the character that you were introduced to first. Younger viewers who grew up with Daniel Craig’s Bond may associate the character with his darker attributes, while older viewers who were introduced to Bond through Roger Moore’s films might think of him as a slightly goofier character. While every actor who has played 007 has their fans, the cheering section for George Lazenby’s version of Bond may not be very significant. Lazenby only got one chance to play Bond, but his screen debut in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was certainly a memorable one. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service isn’t just one of the best Bond films ever made; it’s also a surprisingly great Christmas movie.

]]> Thu, 21 Dec 2023 03:16:17 GMT https://collider.com/james-bond-on-her-majestys-secret-service-christmas-movie/ It's the most wonderful time of the year to snuggle up with a hot drink and watch some of the best holiday movies. And among those is a popular romantic comedy that is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year: Love Actually. This enjoyable rom-com stars some of the UK's most distinguished actors, which helped elevate this film to become a holiday classic. A few noteworthy names, like Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, and the late Alan Rickman. But among the other famous faces in the film is one small, and very special cameo from Britain's funny man, Rowan Atkinson.

]]> Thu, 21 Dec 2023 07:46:18 GMT https://collider.com/love-actually-rowan-atkinson/ Considering that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the last film in the DCEU as we know it, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this sequel does not have an end-credits scene. However, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom does include a small mid-credits gag after the first chunk of credits that calls back to a joke from earlier in the film—a lighthearted way to say goodbye to this cinematic universe. While the DCEU has had plenty of end-credits scenes that hint at future projects that never came to be, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ends on a silly gag, as we wait for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s vision for this universe.

]]> Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:00:44 GMT https://collider.com/aquaman-2-does-have-end-credits-scene-post/ Gran Turismo is a video game adaptation, but not in the way you think. Starring David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Archie Madekwe and directed by Neill Blomkamp, Gran Turismo is inspired by the real-life journey of Jann Mardenborough, a passionate gamer who had the opportunity of a lifetime when Nissan offered him a position in their professional driving team. Such a curious story does deserve its time on the silver screen, but as expected, Gran Turismo takes some liberties with Mardenborough's journey in favor of storytelling drama. So, how much of Gran Turismo is true, and what are the main differences between the movie and Mardenborough's successful career?

]]> Thu, 21 Dec 2023 01:00:21 GMT https://collider.com/gran-turismo-true-story/ 2023 has been a wild year for the movies. Who would've thought this year would've seen the resurgence of concert movies, underperforming Marvel films, a rise in original properties, and the massive theatrical experience that was Barbenheimer? Even with the strikes, 2023 managed to put out an absurd amount of great films throughout the year, from gigantic blockbusters that did worse than usual, to compelling original projects that became surprise successes. In a year when a film about J. Robert Oppenheimer can make more money worldwide than Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, 2023 was full of surprises.

]]> Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:30:24 GMT https://collider.com/best-movies-2023/ Nancy Meyer’s 2006 comedy, The Holiday, might be better known for its quartet of dazzling star power (Cameron Diaz as Amanda, Kate Winslet as Iris, Jack Black as Miles, and Jude Law as Graham) and the sweet, romantic pairs that result — but the friendship between Iris and Arthur (Eli Wallach) is the heart of the film. Iris, a London journalist, is suffering. She loves such a narcissistic jackass (Rufus Sewell as Jasper) that I swore every time he came on screen. She takes a two-week break, swapping her countryside Surrey home for entertainment entrepreneur Amanda’s Los Angeles mansion (Amanda will come to stay in Surrey) to get away from Jasper and his just-announced engagement, which she is supposed to cover for their newspaper. Her feelings of self-worth are punctured. She knows she deserves better than the cat-and-mouse Jasper hook, yet she supports his career, hoping they’ll be intimate again.

]]> Tue, 19 Dec 2023 21:45:19 GMT https://collider.com/the-holiday-kate-winslet-eli-wallach/ Christmas is nearly here, and there are plenty of films that will be arriving on streaming this week that you can sit back and enjoy while sipping on some hot chocolate or mulled wine. Including the latest blockbuster from Zack Snyder, a passion project directed by Bradley Cooper, and the newest flick from Emerald Fennell, here are the titles you won't want to miss on streaming this week.

]]> Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:30:18 GMT https://collider.com/streaming-movies-new/ Zack Snyder's DCEU Snyderverse may seemingly never die, with a "faint hope" clause from Snyder himself, stating, "If Netflix had the rights to the characters from my DC universe, of course I would do it, absolutely" in an interview with CulturaOcio.com. Even Netflix president Scott Stuber is open to the idea. That interview is dated December 12, 2023, after the Snyderverse had "officially" been declared over by Snyder in response to a post on Vero. If, and it is a big if, the Snyderverse was allowed to continue on Netflix, it would be fascinating to see what Snyder had in mind for the DCEU. Visually spectacular? Yes. Unique? Absolutely. Divisive? You know it. But before looking at what Snyder had in mind for the DCEU, it's only fair to add that, as the old proverb goes, "it takes two to tango." Snyder's vision still had to fall within the scope of what Warner Bros. was asking for, meaning Snyder shouldn't shoulder all the blame for its demise.

]]> Thu, 21 Dec 2023 03:30:19 GMT https://collider.com/zack-snyder-dceu-plans/ Directed by Bob Clark, A Christmas Story has become one of the most beloved holiday films of all time. It spawned not just one but two sequels, and the one better accepted one just last year on Max titled A Christmas Story Christmas, bringing back a majority of the original cast of kids, including Peter Billingsley as Ralphie. It is a testimony of just how beloved the original film is. A Christmas Story has prevailed over other holiday films because it feels like a real depiction of childhood, and the reason it does is that it is mostly based on a true story. A Christmas Story is based on semi-autobiographical stories by Jean Shepherd.

]]> Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:15:19 GMT https://collider.com/a-christmas-story-true-story/