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The 15 most beloved best-picture nominees that got robbed of their Oscars by mediocre movies

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There will be blood

The Oscars determine the best in filmmaking. 

Or do they? Often, best picture winners don't line up with the most beloved movie of the year by fans, or even critics. 

Although many of the most iconic movies in American cinema have been nominated for best picture, some didn't win. But they're loved so much and held in such high regard that you might assume they did. 

Some years were competitive — which is why "There Will Be Blood" lost the best picture win to "No Country for Old Men."

But some votes made by the Academy don't make any sense at all. Some years, the best picture winner was a movie you've probably never heard of. Or worse, sometimes it was a movie that's now considered terrible, like 2005 when "Crash" was awarded best picture instead of "Brokeback Mountain."

Here are the most beloved best picture nominees that didn't actually win:

SEE ALSO: 5 reasons 'Wonder Woman' was one of the most important films of 2017, and deserved a best picture Oscar nomination

"Citizen Kane"

Year: 1942, at the 14th Academy Awards

What beat it:"How Green Was My Valley"

"Citizen Kane," even to those who have not seen it, is one of the most recognizable films of all time, and it didn't even win best picture. A film doesn't have to have "best picture winner" next to its name in order to be iconic, and this movie is a great example. 



"The Graduate"

Year: 1968, at the 40th Academy Awards

What beat it: "In the Heat of the Night"

"The Graduate" is one of the most iconic films in American cinema. From the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack, to the cinematography, to its performances, it quickly became one of those movies that is studied in film class, and is still quoted today. 



"2001: A Space Odyssey"

Year: 1969, at the 41st Academy Awards

What beat it: "Oliver!"

To this day, Stanley Kubrick's revolutionary space odyssey film looks decades ahead of its time. And a mediocre musical beat it. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Maze Runner: The Death Cure' has no trouble winning the weekend box office (FOXA)

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maze runner death cure 20th Century Fox

  • Fox's "Maze Runner: The Death Cure" won the weekend box office.
  • It was also a strong weekend for Fox's Oscar-nominated movies.


Just in case you haven't been keeping track, we've now hit movie number three in the "Maze Runner" franchise.

20th Century Fox's YA dystopian sci-fi franchise opened "Maze Runner: The Death Cure" this weekend in theaters and won the weekend box office with an estimated $23.5 million, according to boxofficepro.com.

Despite the lowest opening of the three movies in the franchise, all three opened at No. 1 domestically.

That knocked off Sony's "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," which had been atop the domestic box office for weeks.

The actioner led by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart came in second place with $16.4 million. It's now taken in over $338 million in North America, that's third best all-time for a Sony release, passing 2007's "Spider-Man 3" ($336.5 million).

Playing on over 3,700 screens, "The Death Cure" didn't have much competition to worry about. Besides "Jumanji," mostly audiences are catching up on watching the Oscar-nominated titles, as most have finally begun to play in wide release.

But an Oscar contender that was shut out of this year's nominations came in third place this weekend, the Christian Bale Western, "Hostiles," which took in $10.2 million.

"The Death Cure" wasn't the only strong performer for Fox. "The Greatest Showman" ($9.5 million) and "The Post" ($8.85 million) ended in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

And the Oscar nominated titles from Fox Searchlight also performed well as "The Shape of Water" took in $5.7 million and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" earned $3.6 million. Both were up over 80% in ticket sales (161% for "Shape of Water") compared to last week.

SEE ALSO: How Danny McBride helped a 26-year veteran assistant director finally get his first shot in the director's chair

DON'T MISS: Here's the complete list of the 2018 Oscar nominations

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THEN AND NOW: Here's what all your favorite '90s actors are doing today

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The '90s were a glorious time. The decade was full of denim, pop music, and hundreds of teen heartthrobs. The young actors of the generation became all the rage thanks to magazines like Tiger Beat and TV shows like "TRL," but a lot has changed since their glory days.

Some stuck it out in the industry and made it big, but others opted for simpler lives, leaving their young fame behind.

It's been 20 to 30 years since many of these budding celebrities got their start and half of them haven't been heard of in years. Here's what your favorite '90s stars are up to now. 

People have seen Kenan every Saturday night for years now, but Kel Mitchell has been a steady figure in the industry as well.

Despite rumors that he had died, Mitchell is alive and well — and still acting.

Since his stint at Good Burger and his voice role in "Pink Panther," he has landed recurring roles on several small TV series including "Game Shakers" and "Wild Grinders."

Most recently, he brought back the infamous Ed character to interview players and report for Nickelodeon Sports at the 2017 Super Bowl media day. 



Bug Hall stepped onto the scene as the unforgettable Alfalfa in "The Little Rascals."

Since that pivotal role he's kept up with acting. Over the years, he had small roles in shows like "Masters of Sex,""CSI," and "Nikita." 

Aside from acting, the 32-year-old recently got married to his long time girlfriend.



Mayim Bialik got her start on the adorable TV show "Blossom," which aired from 1991 to 1995.

Since her days in that leading role, she's graduated with a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, written three books (one that hits shelves May 2017), and is currently starring in the hit CBS show "The Big Bang Theory" as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. She has even snagged a Critic's Choice Award and four Emmy nominations for that role. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The most popular movie that came out the year you were born

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Every year brings its own set of pop culture obsessions. Looking at the most popular movie from each year can tell you a lot about what people were talking about at the time, and how people's tastes have changed. It's fun to look at the most popular one from when you were born and see what everyone was obsessed with.

The best way to tell the most popular movie is by looking at box office figures. In the past few years, Disney has been dominant, with movies like "Beauty and the Beast" and its "Star Wars" and "Marvel" franchises.

To make this list, we looked at the highest-grossing movies from each year using Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. We adjusted the numbers for inflation, and used international box office figures where they became available (starting in 1975). A few years in the 1930s are missing because of a lack of data.

Read on to find out the most popular movie released the year you were born:

Tanza Loudenback and Jason Guerrasio contributed to an original version of this story.

1930: "Tom Sawyer"

Adjusted gross: $159 million

Unadjusted gross: $11 million

What it's about: An adaptation of the classic Mark Twain novel, Tom and his friends Huckleberry Finn and Joe Harper have numerous adventures, become pirates, attend their own funerals, and escape from a vengeful murderer.



1931: "Frankenstein"

Adjusted gross: $190 million

Unadjusted gross: $12 million

What it's about: Universal's original "Frankenstein" adaptation put a permanent mark on how we see the character in pop culture. After Dr. Henry Frankenstein makes the dead walk again, his monster needs to learn how to live.



1933: "King Kong"

Adjusted gross: $185 million

Unadjusted gross: $10 million

What it's about: "King Kong," one of the first mass spectacles of cinema, has been remade plenty of times. But the original one possesses a rare emotional power — of a romance between an actress and a prehistoric ape — that's hard to top.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Someone put the most badass scene in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' to pop music and it's amazing

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This post includes spoilers for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Setting fight scenes to pop music is nothing new in movies. You'll see it in everything from Marvel films to "Kingsmen."

"Star Wars" movies, though, never use pop music. They always have an original soundtrack, usually scored by John Williams. But one scene from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" was begging for the pop treatment.

Of all the badass scenes in "The Last Jedi," the coolest has to be when Kylo Ren kills Supreme Leader Snoke and then teams up with Rey to kill the Praetorian guards. It's beautifully choreographed scene, all the better because of the lush red throne room it takes place in.

So one Twitter user did an experiment to see how it would feel it it were set to, say "Mr. Blue Sky" by the Electric Light Orchestra. It's awesome.

It works with pretty much any song, especially if the "drop" is synchronized with when the lightsabers start clashing. Here it is set to "Africa" by Toto.

It's also good for thematic resonance, like with "Take a Chance On Me" by ABBA.

Here it is to "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen.

It works remarkably well with "Bet On It" from "High School Musical 2."

"Toxic" by Britney Spears may be the best.

"I'm Not Okay" by My Chemical Romance has Kylo Ren vibes.

"The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac works really well.

"I've Had the Time of My Life" from "Dirty Dancing" is a funny one.

And, of course, there are the meme songs like "All Star" by "Smash Mouth."

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After dominating Sundance for 2 years, Netflix and Amazon bought zero movies at the festival this time around — and insiders told us why

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  • Amazon Studios and Netflix didn't buy any movies at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
  • This is a shocking result compared to the past two years when both companies were on a spending spree at the fest.
  • Industry insiders told Business Insider one reason for the halt was that both companies are less interested in independent films and filmmakers are looking for traditional theatrical deals.


There were a lot of smiles around Park City, Utah, during this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and it wasn’t everyone enjoying the clean mountain air. The lack of buying activity by Amazon Studios and Netflix this year meant more companies got to be involved in the movie buys than in previous years.

After the streaming giants combined for double-digit acquisitions the past two years at the fest, both dramatically put on the brakes this year. This led to a lot more action for the traditional distribution companies and more activity for foreign sales agents, who had basically been sidelined the past few years as Amazon and Netflix took worldwide rights in their acquisitions.

Some felt this was just one of those years at Sundance where the lineup didn’t have many attractive commercial titles, as opposed to the past couple of years, which included “Mudbound” (which Netflix bought), “The Big Sick” (Amazon), “Icarus” (Netflix), and “Manchester by the Sea” (Amazon).

But many of those in the industry who Business Insider spoke with as the festival wound down last week said this Sundance marked the new game plan for both companies going forward and buying indie movies wasn't a big part of it.

Netflix, Amazon to focus on making big-budget movies with stars

In 2016 the acquisition teams for Amazon and Netflix showed up with a binge mentality to Sundance. That year both companies left having bought six titles each. Then last year Netflix walked away with a staggering 10 titles bought (including a $12.5 million buy for “Mudbound”), while Amazon took five (including $12 million for “The Big Sick”). Neither company has bought a single title that played at the 2018 festival yet.

BI Graphics_Netflix Amazon Sundance Samantha Lee Business Insider

Though both companies kicked the tires on some of the most talked-about titles from this year’s fest — Netflix was in the mix to buy the controversial “Assassination Nation” (Neon teamed with AGBO to take North American rights), while Amazon eyed the period drama “Colette” (which 30West and Bleecker Street bought) and one of the buzziest movies at this year’s festival, “The Tale” (HBO Films), according to sources — the consensus was that Amazon and Netflix were putting most of their focus into making bigger-budget titles.

According to one source, Netflix is no longer going to casually pay top dollar for indie titles that it can get later on in the library deals it has with most of the studios and distributors.

“They’ve learned that audiences don’t care if it’s first week or week 100, they are going to watch it,” a producer who wished to remain anonymous told Business Insider.

For others, the lack of buying from Amazon and Netflix at the fest confirmed what they had experienced or heard the companies were doing even at the script stage of projects: They're mostly gunning for projects like Netflix’s “Bright,” starring Will Smith, or a blue-chip IP like Amazon’s upcoming “Lord of the Rings” series.

The streaming companies turning their backs on indies became public before Sundance 2018 started when Reuters ran a story that Amazon was cutting down on buying indie films. (However, both companies came to the festival with titles — the Gloria Allred documentary “Seeing Allred” and comedy “A Futile and Stupid Gesture” for Netflix; Spike Lee’s latest movie “Pass Over” for Amazon.)

It’s clear that since both Netflix and Amazon considered buying some titles at the fest this year they were, at the very least, window shopping. But it’s also clear that neither Amazon or Netflix is buying quantity over quality, as in the past.

assassination nation sundance institute

A source close to Amazon told Business Insider that the company’s slate for 2018 is pretty much locked, so it was going into Sundance very selective. But that doesn’t mean the company won’t buy something it believes has awards potential at another festival like the Cannes Film Festival in May.

And just because neither company has bought anything during Sundance doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the coming months. Often the weeks following the festival are when the buying is most prevalent.

Not all filmmakers want to work with Amazon and Netflix

But neither company holds all the cards. They also have to have willing sellers.

Recently, indie filmmakers have passed on deals with Amazon and Netflix because they wanted a traditional release for their movies.

Though Amazon has understood this better than Netflix — because Amazon gives most of the films it acquires traditional theatrical releases before making them available to stream — Netflix often doesn’t (or the release is extremely limited), and that has led to the company missing out on some titles.

Nate Parker signed a record-breaking $17.5 million deal with Fox Searchlight for his Sundance grand jury prize-winning movie “Birth of a Nation” in 2016. And at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival the hot acquisition title of the fest, “I, Tonya,” went to Neon. In both cases, the filmmakers wanted their movies shown in a significant number of theaters and passed on Netflix offers.

“Big deals with Netflix and Amazon are good paydays for the producers, but for the directors, having a movie that doesn’t get a good theatrical release doesn’t help them get their next movie made,” a source told Business Insider. “Their title just becomes one of thousands on the sites.”

Business Insider asked Amazon and Netflix to comment for this story but did not get a response.

SEE ALSO: Nicolas Cage's movie at Sundance, "Mandy," uses his vintage, insane acting style to prefection and has all the makings of a cult classic

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Amazon is reportedly having 'serious conversations' about ending its deal with Woody Allen, and had trouble getting 'Wonder Wheel' in theaters

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  • Amazon Studios is considering cutting ties with Woody Allen on the heels of the #MeToo movement, according to The New York Times. 
  • The company is contractually obligated to release his next movie, "A Rainy Day in New York."
  • Amazon's most recent Allen movie release, "Wonder Wheel," only took in $1.4 million domestically.


With the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements currently at their height, Amazon Studios has a big question it has to answer soon: Will it continue to work with Woody Allen?

Since the 1990s, the legendary director has denied the allegations that he sexually abused his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when she was a child, but in a time when women’s stories of sexual misconduct have become louder than ever before, it seems Allen has become the next target. And it may affect him professionally.

The New York Times reported Sunday that Amazon — which has a multi-film contract with Allen and is to release his next one, “A Rainy Day in New York” — is in “serious conversations” to end its relationship with the director. (The Times cited "two people briefed on the matter.")

Amazon released Allen’s latest movie, “Wonder Wheel,” in December, right when the #MeToo Movement was off and running and numerous high-profile men in Hollywood, media, and politics were being accused of sexual misconduct. The movie looks to have suffered from it, as it only made $1.4 million domestically (it earned close to $9 million internationally) on a budget of $25 million, according to the Times.

wonder wheel amazon studiosSoon after the release of “Wonder Wheel,” Dylan Farrow called out actors who supported #MeToo but had also worked with Allen in a piece she wrote for the Los Angeles Times. Since then, many actors who have been in Allen’s films have publicly apologized to Farrow for working with him. And “Rainy Day” stars Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Hall have donated their salaries on the movie to charity.

So now Amazon doesn’t just have to go up against an image problem with one of its most high-profile directors, but it’s also likely the cast of “Rainy Day” won’t do any press for the movie once it’s set to open. Amazon currently has no release date set.

From a business perspective, if Amazon cuts ties with Allen it won’t be a major loss. The director hasn’t had a box-office hit in a while. Many of his recent releases have received rotten scores on Rotten Tomatoes, and his last four films have taken in a cumulative $26.9 million domestically while carrying a collective $85 million in production budgets, according to the Times.

Amazon also had difficulty booking “Wonder Wheel” in theaters, a source at the company told Business Insider. The widest release for “Wonder Wheel” was only 536 screens. It’s the first Allen movie to show on under 600 screens since 2010’s “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.” 

Amazon Studios was not immediately available for comment.

SEE ALSO: After dominating Sundance for 2 years, Netflix and Amazon bought 0 movies and the festival — insiders told us why

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Pepper Potts will be in the next 'Avengers' movie and she may show off some super powers

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  • Gwyneth Paltrow appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" recently.
  • At the end of their 10-minute talk, Colbert asked if she'll reprise her role as Pepper Potts in the next "Avengers" movie.
  • Paltrow confirmed she will be in this May's "Avengers: Infinity War."
  • Colbert asked if Paltrow if she thrust her hand toward someone wearing a motion-capture suit while filming and she said yes. Colbert thinks that means she'll have powers in the sequel.
  • We're not convinced. 
  • Though Paltrow briefly had some super powers in "Iron Man 3," she was supposedly rid of them by the the movie's end.
  • Paltrow also appeared to hint she'll be in more than one "Avengers" sequel.


Disney and Marvel may be keeping the lid on a lot of details for the next "Avengers" movie, but Gwyneth Paltrow has no problem letting it be known she'll appear in the sequel.

During an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Thursday, the actress confirmed she'll be back as Pepper Potts in some capacity in "Avengers: Infinity War."

"I am! I am!" Paltrow told Colbert after initially hesitating about whether or not she could reveal her role in the film. "I'm in them."

pepper potts stephen colbert gwyneth paltrow

A surprised Colbert then asked Paltrow whether or not her character still has "powers."  

"Can you still do the flame thing with your hand?" he asked.

The actress seemed a bit confused by the question and what she could say.

gywneth paltrow confused stephen colbert late night

"To be totally honest, I'm unclear," Paltrow said to a perplexed Colbert. "It's so secretive, and it's all on green screen, and I'm not exactly sure. They don't let me say anything."

Colbert made one more attempt to find out how Potts will play a part in the film.

"Is there any chance at any point when you were working on the movie, did you thrust your hand toward someone wearing like a blue suit with ping pong balls glued on?"

stephen colbert gwyneth paltrow appearance

"Yes," said Paltrow.

"Then you still have powers," said Colbert. "It's official."

If you're confused by that bit, Colbert was referencing the often silly-looking performance capture suits actors will wear when filming a scene that may need some CG added later. Here's an example of Josh Brolin in a motion-capture suit for his role as the "Avengers: Infinity War" villain Thanos.

josh brolin thanos avengers

While Colbert got a quick yes from Paltrow about the motion-capture question, we're a bit skeptical about Potts having powers in "Infinity War."

In "Iron Man 3," Potts did gain some super abilities after being exposed to the Extremis serum. However, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) gave her an antidote to rid of the serum before it could kill her. 

iron man 3 pepper potts

If she does have some sort of powers either Tony didn't actually get all of the Extremis serum out of Pepper Potts or maybe we'll just see her trying on one of Tony's Iron Man suits.

pepper potts iron man 3

The bit about the powers wasn't the most interesting thing Paltrow said during the interview. You may want to take a closer look at what Paltrow said to Colbert when she confirmed she'll have a role in "Infinity War." 

Paltrow said she'll be in "them" instead of in "it," which may mean we could see the actress in the next two "Avengers" films. Chris Hemsworth recently told Jimmy Kimmel in a late-night appearance he filmed his parts for the next two "Avengers" movies back-to-back.

That's a really big deal if Potts is in both "Avengers" movies. 

pepper potts iron man 3

The actress didn't appear at all in "Captain America: Civil War" and fans thought that was it for the character.

Co-director Joe Russo explained on the film's commentary that Potts' relationship with Tony Stark was dissolved off screen so Stark had a catalyst to go after the Winter Soldier without having someone to talk him out of it.

Fans were then surprised when Potts appeared in last summer's "Spider-Man: Homecoming." The actress' three-film contract with Marvel ended after "Iron Man 3." And though it was a brief cameo at the film's end, it hinted that we could see her again. 

Here's a spoiler warning in case you haven't seen the film.

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Tony proposed to Potts at the movie's end and made it look like he was about to break engagement news to a room full of press. So it would be a bit weird to not have her appear anywhere in "Infinity War."

We'll have to wait until this summer to see exactly how big Paltrow's role will be in the movie. "Avengers: Infinity War" will be in theaters May 4.

You can watch Paltrow discuss her appearance in the movie with Colbert below. It starts around the 8:40 mark

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An 'Ant-Man' sequel is coming this summer with a female hero — here's the first trailer

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  • Marvel released the first trailer for its "Ant-Man" sequel Tuesday morning.
  • It will be called "Ant-Man and the Wasp."
  • Paul Rudd will be back as Ant-Man. This time he'll have Evangeline Lilly as a sidekick named The Wasp.
  • Her character will have wings and blasters on her suit.
  • The movie will take place after the events of "Captain America: Civil War."
  • According to Marvel's official synopsis for the film, Ant-Man wil team up with Hope van Dyne (Lilly) and her father Dr. Hank Pym on a new mission to "uncover secrets from the past."
  • "Ant-Man and the Wasp" will be in theaters July 6. Watch the trailer below.

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'Black Panther' had its world premiere last night, and people say it's a 'thoughtful masterpiece' and the first Marvel movie with a political message

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  • Marvel's much-anticipated "Black Panther" had its world premiere last night, and the initial reactions are in: people are obsessed with it.
  • Most of the early reactions said that Michael B. Jordan is terrific as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's few interesting villains, and that the film embraces its cultural significance.

 

Marvel's "Black Panther," the first black superhero movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, had its world premiere last night.

While the reviews are under embargo until February 6 (ten days before the movie comes out), the initial reactions on social media are in: people love it. Not only did the early reactions agree that it's one of the best movies in MCU, they also loved that it's the first movie in the saga to have a social message.

One of the biggest takeaways from the movie is its inclusiveness and thoughtfulness about its significance to pop culture. It's not a small thing to be a movie of this scale that stars a black cast.

The MCU has a villain problem: They tend to be one-note and boring, with little motivation to really get into the story. But people who saw "Black Panther" said that Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger is the best villain since Loki, and has motivations that will get you emotionally invested.  

Could "Black Panther" surpass "Paddington 2" as the best reviewed movie of 2018— and on Rotten Tomatoes? We'll have to wait and see. 

Here are some of the most glowing reactions to Marvel's "Black Panther":

SEE ALSO: The Grammys snubbed hip-hop yet again — and it fits a trend of rewarding safe, apolitical pop music

"I've never seen a superhero movie like it."

 



"Top 5 all-time Marvel movie, easy."

 



"Marvel's best, most thoughtful movie to date."

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The first reactions to 'Black Panther' are here — and critics say it's 'straight up revolutionary'

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  • The first reactions for Marvel's "Black Panther" are in.
  • Critics love it.
  • Directed by Ryan Coogler, the movie has something to say about the nature of blackness.
  • The cast and design of the movie is remarkably strong.


Marvel's "Black Panther" had its world premiere Monday night in Los Angeles, and the first reactions from the critics who saw it are overwhelmingly positive.

The movie focuses on T'Challa, also known as the superhero Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman. He struggles to claim the throne of the fictional African country of Wakanda after his father, the king, dies. It also stars Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, a Wakandian exile who seeks the throne himself, and features Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, and Daniel Kaluuya.

Ryan Coogler — who directed Jordan in "Creed" and "Fruitvale Station"— directed "Black Panther" and edited across the hall from Ava DuVernay, who was working on her "A Wrinkle in Time" movie for Disney.

Disney asked critics not to publish their full reviews until February 6, ten days before the movie's theatrical release, so we won't see their full thoughts until later. And first reactions like this are generally positive. But the effusiveness of the reviews on Twitter are still remarkable.

In particular, critics are highlighting the work from Coogler and Jordan in making a Marvel movie of substance, that tackles relevant issues while still giving audiences a good time.

Here's what they're saying.

It's the first superhero movie to put black characters front-and-center.

Ryan Coogler is the first black director on a Marvel film — and he made it count.

After years of breezy Marvel movies, this one is substantial.

Michael B. Jordan's performance as the villain Killmonger was a standout.

It introduces a whole new cast of characters to obsess over.

The female characters have plenty of room to breathe.

The movie deserves Oscar nominations for its design.

"Black Panther" opens in theaters on February 16.

Watch the "Black Panther" trailer below:

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'Fast and Furious' movies might cause hyped-up audiences to drive too fast, according to a NYT study of speeding tickets

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  • "The Fast and the Furious" may cause an increase in speeding, according to a New York Times study of traffic tickets in Montgomery County, Maryland. 
  • The study found increases in average speed in tickets for the weekends following the releases of three "Fast and Furious" movies, as well as increases in "extreme speeding."

 

"The Fast and the Furious" franchise has notably driven hoards of people to the theaters (as one of the most successful movie franchises in history), but it may also be leading people to drive faster than they normally would, according to a new study published in The New York Times on Tuesday.

The Times study, led by Anupam B. Jena, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, found that "rates of extreme speeding" increased in a sample county following the releases of three "Fast and Furious" movies.

The study examined 192,892 speeding tickets recorded in Montgomery County, Maryland, between 2012 and 2017. It found that, in the three weekends after the release of a "Fast and Furious" movie, compared to the three weekends before, ticketed speeds increased almost 20 percent, "to an average of 19 miles per hour over the speed limit, from 16 miles per hour." 

"Extreme speeding" also increased drastically in the same manner, according to the study, as "the percentage of drivers charged with driving more than 40 miles per hour above the speed limit nearly doubled." The study found extreme speeders were often also concentrated within two miles from movie theaters, which they say suggests speeding "induced by moviegoing."

Though the scope of the study is limited, the article makes for an entertaining read on the possible effects of a franchise that remains relevant on a large scale. 

"The Fate of the Furious," the eighth and latest movie in the series, earned over $1.2 billion worldwide after its release last summer. The release of the ninth film in the series has been delayed a year to April 2020. 

SEE ALSO: 'Fast and Furious' movie delayed until 2020 - Business Insider

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The 5 most dastardly Disney movie villains of all time, ranked

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Our favorite Disney characters wouldn't hold a special place in our hearts if they didn't have to confront and overcome some of the meanest, most ruthless foes around. Though these villains are "bad guys" in children's stories, there's nothing innocent about the lengths they'll go to because of jealousy, greed, and madness.

We ranked the evilest Disney villains, ranking from least to most evil. 

SEE ALSO: All 49 of Netflix's notable original movies, ranked from worst to best

Dr. Facilier/The Shadow Man

Many of Disney's villains employ some sort of dark magic to make life difficult for their victims, but the witch doctor Dr. Facilier, aka the Shadow Man from "The Princess and the Frog," had a little something extra in his arsenal: voodoo.

A charismatic, but cruel and power-hungry swindler, the Shadow Man is a conjurer and a sorcerer who uses his access to malevolent spirits — which he refers to as "friends on the other side"— to terrorize and threaten his victims.

The Shadow Man takes the #5 spot on our evilest Disney villain list for being able to put a spell on you, as well as call the undead on you, too.



Cruella de Vil

What's right up there as a hot-button issue with cruelty to humans? Animal cruelty, of course. Which is why Cruella de Vil from "101 Dalmatians" is named our fourth evilest Disney villain.

Cruella de Vil is an eccentric, wealthy, chain-smoking fashionista who wants nothing more than a fabulous new coat made out of the fur of 99 Dalmatian puppies. Cruella, indeed. We think animal cruelty groups would agree.



Gaston

Gaston, Belle's self-proclaimed would-be husband in "Beauty and the Beast," is an arrogant, male chauvinist hunter. His determination to make Belle his wife — whether she wants to be or not — is just as awful as his determination to keep all other suitors away from her. Even if he has to kill them.

Gaston's jealousy and murderous intentions only grow stronger when he finds out that Belle only has eyes for a beast. If Belle were around today, she'd probably be justified in using the hashtag #metoo.

Gaston is our third evilest Disney villain for being a murderous, entitled, chauvinistic, harasser.



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Every Oscar-winning animated movie from the last 28 years

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We're living in a golden age of animation.

Disney is making crowd-pleasing, critically acclaimed work from Pixar and the Disney Animation studio, independent studios are making gems like "Kubo and the Two Strings," and "The Boss Baby" is nominated for an Oscar.

But acclaim isn't always easy to get. Animated movies take years to make, and that effort is often under-recognized by institutions like critics groups and the Oscars. It wasn't until the creation of the best animated feature category in 2002 that the recognition first became regular. Before then, Disney just had to hope one of the songs in their musicals was nominated, or settle for a best animated short award. In other years, the Oscars totally ignored animated movies, so you'll see some gaps on this list.

To honor the animated movies that deserve acclaim, we looked back at the most Oscar-worthy animated films stretching back to 1990, when "The Little Mermaid" won a pair of Oscars and marked a renaissance period in Disney's animation studio. The history of the award is, in some ways, a history of Disney Animation during that time, from its rebirth in the 1990s, to its relationship with Pixar, to the CGI era we're living in now.

Here are the Oscar-winning movies from the last 28 years.

SEE ALSO: All 49 of Netflix's notable original movies, ranked from worst to best

1990: "The Little Mermaid" brought prestige back to Disney, which went on to dominate Oscars for animated movies. It won Oscars for best score and song.

After around two decades of mostly forgettable movies, Walt Disney Animation Studios produced "The Little Mermaid" to critical acclaim. It won the Oscar for best original score, and "Under the Sea" won for best original song.



1992: "Beauty and the Beast" broke Oscar records.

The movie was nominated for six Oscars, winning for best score and best original song, for the song "Beauty and the Beast.""Be Our Guest" and "Belle" were also nominated in the best song category.

The movie also received a best picture nomination, the first animated movie in history to do so, as well as one for best sound. It retains the title of the animated movie with the most Oscar nominations, tied with 2008's "Wall-E."



1993: "Aladdin" kept up Disney's streak.

The movie received the same awards as its predecessor, for best score and best song, honoring "A Whole New World."

"Friend Like Me" was also nominated in the song category, and the movie received nominations in the best sound and best sound effects editing categories.



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The honest trailer for the latest 'Transformers' movie perfectly explains why the movies are so awful

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transformers the last knight

  • The "Transformers" movie series from Michael Bay has gotten increasingly ridiculous over the years.
  • In last year's entry,"The Last Knight," the Transformers befriend Merlin the Arthurian wizard, kill Hitler, help Harriet Tubman, and fight in pretty much every war in human history.
  • It's even harder to watch because of the inconsistencies, repetitive stories, and juvenile humor.
  • A new "honest trailer" for "Transformers: The Last Knight" skewers the movie.
  • Watch it below.

 

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10 actors who have publicly denounced Woody Allen or donated their salaries to charity after working on his movies

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As the #MeToo movement gained momentum in Hollywood following the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations, Dylan Farrow asked pointedly in a Los Angeles Times op-ed in December, "Why has the #MeToo revolution spared Woody Allen?"

In 1993, Allen faced accusations that he had sexually abused Farrow, his then-seven-year-old adoptive daughter. Allen, who has continually denied the accusations, was investigated but never prosecuted. 

But Farrow has long maintained that Allen sexually assaulted her, after she first discussed the issue publicly in a New York Times op-ed in 2014. 

In her 2017 op-ed, Farrow asked why A-list actors like Kate Winslet, Blake Lively, and Greta Gerwig have continued to work with and praise Allen.

And in an interview with "CBS This Morning" earlier this month, Farrow described Allen's alleged sexual assault in disturbing detail, while calling on actors to to "acknowledge their complicity" in perpetuating Hollywood's "culture of silence."

Over the last few months, Farrow's words appear to have shifted to the tide against Allen, as a number of actors who starred in Allen's movies (including Gerwig, Rebecca Hall, and Colin Firth) have now either disavowed him or donated their salaries from his films to abuse victims charities.

Here are all the actors who have disavowed Woody Allen after working in his movies:

SEE ALSO: 19 Netflix original shows that both critics and audiences agree are amazing

Griffin Newman

In October, before the LA Times published Farrow's op-ed, actor Griffin Newman said on Twitter that he regretted his "one-scene role" in Woody Allen's upcoming film, "A Rainy Day in New York," and would donate his salary from the film to RAINN (the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network).

"I need to get this off my chest: I worked on Woody Allen’s next movie. I believe he is guilty. I donated my entire salary to RAINN," Newman tweeted. 

Newman said he "spent a month debating whether or not to quit" the movie, but decided to speak out following the "compounded" list of sexual misconduct allegations in the wake of Harvey Weinstein.



Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Hall, who starred in Allen's 2008 film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," said in an Instagram post earlier this month that she regretted her brief role in Allen's "A Rainy Day in New York," and would donate her salary from the part to Time's Up, a movement in solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct.

"After reading and re-reading Dylan Farrow’s statements of a few days ago and going back and reading the older ones — I see, not only how complicated this matter is, but that my actions have made another woman feel silenced and dismissed," Hall wrote in the post.

"I regret this decision and wouldn’t make the same one today. It’s a small gesture and not one intended as close to compensation but I’ve donated my wage to @timesup," she continued. 



Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet, the breakout star of "Call Me by Your Name," said in an Instagram post earlier this month that he would donate his salary from "A Rainy Day In New York" to Time's Up, The LGBT Center in New York, and RAINN.

"I have been asked in a few recent interviews about my decision to work on a film with Woody Allen last summer. I am not able to answer the question directly because of contractual obligations," Chalamet wrote. "But what I can say is this: I don't want to profit from my work on the film, and to that end, I am going to donate my entire salary to three charities: TIME'S UP, The LGBT Center in New York, and RAINN."

"I want to be worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with the brave artists who are fighting for all people to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve," he continued.

 



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Mel Gibson is making a 'Passion of the Christ' sequel — and people are furious

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passion of the christ

  • Mel Gibson is planning a sequel to "The Passion of the Christ."
  • The first movie, released in 2004, is one of the most controversial movies ever made.
  • Critics said it uses an ahistorical, anti-Semitic narrative.
  • Since its release, Gibson has gotten in trouble for anti-Semitic and sexist remarks.
  • But he's undergone a career rehabilitation and is now positioned to make his sequel.


Mel Gibson is preparing a sequel to one of the most controversial movies of all time — and he's already gotten people outraged.

He's planning to make a follow-up movie for 2004's "The Passion of the Christ," and is currently in talks with Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus Christ in the first movie, to star. Gibson has been at work on the movie for years, and told USA Today in a 2016 interview that it will focus on the resurrection story from the New Testament.

The first "Passion of the Christ" movie sparked controversy upon its release in 2004. Critics assailed it for having excessive violence, being ahistorical, and including anti-Semitic themes. In part, the movie suggests the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem — considered one of the most tragic events in Jewish history — happened because local rabbis didn't support Christ. The movie made $612 million on a $30 million budget.

"For filmmakers to do justice to the biblical accounts of the passion, they must complement their artistic vision with sound scholarship, which includes knowledge of how the passion accounts have been used historically to disparage and attack Jews and Judaism,"The Anti-Defamation League said in a joint statement with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and other religious groups upon reviewing the movie's screenplay. "Absent such scholarly and theological understanding, productions such as 'The Passion' could likely falsify history and fuel the animus of those who hate Jews."

Gibson himself became a pariah in Hollywood in 2006 when he gave anti-Semitic, sexist, and violent remarks to an officer who arrested him for allegedly drunk driving, and further in 2010 when he was investigated for domestic violence following sexist and violent remarks to his then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

Despite never publicly apologizing for his comments and retaining a defensive stance, Gibson made and was nominated for an Oscar for his 2016 movie "Hacksaw Ridge," signaling a broad acceptance for him returning to Hollywood's fold. He also starred last year in the comedy "Daddy's Home 2."

But not everyone is ready to forgive him. Twitter's reaction to the news that Mel Gibson is making a "Passion of the Christ" sequel — an apparent anti-Semite making a sequel to an apparently anti-semitic movie — was overwhelmingly negative.

Gibson's "Passion" sequel is planned for a release in 2019 or 2020. No studio is attached to the project yet.

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Amazon is reportedly on the hook for 4 more Woody Allen movies, and considering a 'hefty payout' to kill the deal

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  • Amazon is reportedly considering a "hefty payout" to end a five-movie deal it signed with Woody Allen in 2016, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 
  • The studio is currently on the hook for four movies from Allen, including his upcoming film, "A Rainy Day in New York."
  • Allen has recently come under renewed scrutiny over allegations that he sexually abused his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow, when she was seven years old.

 

Amazon Studios is reportedly considering a "hefty payout" to end a five-movie deal with Woody Allen, according to The Hollywood Reporter

Allen signed the deal with former Amazon Studios boss Roy Price in 2016. The studio is reportedly on the hook for four more releases from Allen, including his upcoming 2018 film, "A Rainy Day in New York," which does not yet have a release date. 

At this point, Amazon is contractually obligated to release "Rainy Day," which has recently seen its stars Timotheé Chalamet and Rebecca Hall publicly disavowing the director over allegations that Allen sexually abused his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow, when she was seven years old.

But the renewed wave of protest against Allen reportedly has Amazon Studios strongly considering cutting ties with the director:

"Internally, the consensus is that Amazon will have no choice but to sever ties with the director, even if that means a hefty payout," writes THR's Tatiana Siegel. 

THR notes that Amazon likely won't make a decision on the matter until it finds a replacement for former studio head Roy Price, who resigned in October after being accused of sexual harassment. 

Despite the prospective loss of a payout to Allen, the move could likely be a cost-effective one for the studio in the long run. Allen's last four films have taken in a cumulative $26.9 million domestically while carrying a collective $85 million in production budgets, according to a recent report from The New York Times.

Amazon Studios did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SEE ALSO: 10 actors who have publicly denounced Woody Allen or donated their salaries to charity after working on his movies

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'Fantastic Beasts' director says the next movie won't address Dumbledore being gay — and fans are rolling their eyes

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  • Director David Yates said Albus Dumbledore's homosexuality won't be addressed in the next "Fantastic Beasts" movie.
  • It may still be acknowledged in future entries of the franchise.
  • Fans don't see why there's any reason to wait.
  • The movies follow the rise of Gellert Grindelwald, a dark wizard who had a romantic involvement with Dumbledore as a teenager.
  • Fans are also upset with the casting of Johnny Depp, who allegedly beat his ex-wife in charges that were later dropped, in the role of Grindelwald.


"Fantastic Beasts" director David Yates said Albus Dumbledore's homosexuality won't be addressed in the next movie in the series, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald."

Fans think it should be.

"Not explicitly,"Yates told Entertainment Weekly, referencing whether the movie makes clear Dumbledore is gay. "But I think all the fans are aware of that. He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other's ideas, and ideology and each other."

The story of "The Crimes of Grindelwald"— starring Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore and Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald— continues after the events of the first movie, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," where we meet Newt Scamander, one of Dumbledore's former students at Hogwarts. The arc of the five-movie series will follow the rise of Grindelwald, the dark wizard who had a romantic relationship with Dumbledore during their teenage years. The entire series is set decades before the events of "Harry Potter" and has a planned ending set in 1945, the year Dumbledore vanquishes Grindelwald in a duel.

"He's a maverick and a rebel and he's an inspiring teacher at Hogwarts," Yates told Entertainment Weekly. "He's witty and has a bit of edge. He's not this elder statesman. He's a really kinetic guy. And opposite Johnny Depp as Grindelwald, they make an incredible pairing."

Dumbledore in office good lighting

It's possible that Dumbledore's sexuality will be more explicitly addressed in future entries. At a press conference before the first movie's release, J.K. Rowling, who is writing the screenplays for the entire series, said it's a possibility.

"I can't tell you everything I would like to say because this is obviously a five-part story so there's lots to unpack in that relationship," Rowling said. "You will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man. ... We'll see him at that formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned, watch this space."

Many fans don't see why the movies should be shy.

To many fans, Yates invoking the implicit understanding between the audience and the movie is a cop-out. If we all know Dumbledore is gay, why be shy about it? It's a missed opportunity for diverse representation, they argue.

J.K. Rowling first revealed Dumbledore was gay in 2007.

Although Dumbledore's sexuality wasn't addressed in Rowling's "Harry Potter" books or movies, it was the subject of fan speculation for years. Rowling explicitly said he was gay and in love with Grindelwald in a public event after all the books were already published.

"I always thought of Dumbledore as gay,"she said. "Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was."

jk rowling

She also said she had to push back on heteronormative assumptions from other people working on the movie.

"Recently I was in a script read through for the sixth film, and they had Dumbledore saying a line to Harry early in the script saying I knew a girl once, whose hair…'" she quoted, laughing. "I had to write a little note in the margin and slide it along to the scriptwriter, 'Dumbledore's gay!' If I'd known it would make you so happy, I would have announced it years ago!"

The comments led to a lot of debate about the series.

The movie is also at odds with fans when it comes to Johnny Depp's casting.

Development of the "Fantastic Beasts" movies has also frustrated fans when it comes to the casting of Depp as Grindelwald.

Depp's ex-wife, Amber Heard, accused him of domestic abuse in charges that were dropped during their divorce settlement. In the midst of the #MeToo movement, giving him a prominent role in a series beloved by children has enraged fans. Even Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the original movie series, questioned the wisdom of the decision.

Rowling and Yates have steadfastly defended Depp, clashing with fans of the series.

"Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies,"Rowling said in a statement published in December.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," will be in theaters on November 16.

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The 100 best movies on Amazon Prime right now

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BI Graphics_The 100 best movies on Amazon Prime_4x3 Samantha Lee

If you aren’t using your Amazon Prime account to sit back and binge some of the best movies ever made, you are really not using it to its full potential.

The library of movie titles that are available for Prime members is vast and has an impressive mix of old classics and current releases.

We get it. You’re busy with your life, it’s kind of tough to scroll through all the titles. So we did it for you.

Here are the 100 best movies available right now on Amazon Prime:

Note: Numerous Amazon Prime titles drop off the streaming service monthly so the availability of titles below may change.

SEE ALSO: The 17 biggest Oscar snubs of 2018

“10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016)

This sneaky sequel to 2008’s “Cloverfield” looks at a whole new set of characters (and isn’t shot as a faux documentary — thankfully!) who have a lot more to worry about than an alien invasion.



“20th Century Women” (2016)

Partly based on director Mike Mills’ childhood, Annette Bening plays a single mom who tries to raise her son into a good man along with the help of two women (Greta Gerwig and Elle Fanning).



“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” (2016)

A small financial institution in Chinatown is the only company to be indicted in the wake of the 2008 mortgage crisis. But this Oscar-nominated documentary, directed by Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”), shows that the company wasn’t going to go down without a fight.



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