Category: Trivia

  • Watch the Marvel Movies in Story Order

    Watch the Marvel Movies in Story Order

    Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe. Photo: Marvels Studio.
    Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe. Photo: Marvels Studio.

    It’s fair to say that the Marvel movies, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, have reached “cultural event” status.  And there’s a strong case to be made that the MCU is a currently a pop culture juggernaut, the likes of which we haven’t since the original ‘Star Wars‘ trilogy hit theaters for the first time.

    Now the MCU saga is continuing on TV, starting with ‘WandaVision‘ and continuing  with ‘Loki,’ ‘The Falcon and the Winter Solider,’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,’ ‘Hawkeye,’ ‘Moon Knight,’ ‘Secret Invasion‘, ‘Echo‘, ‘Agatha All Along‘, and ‘Daredevil: Born Again‘.

    Not to mention the new “Special Presentation” movies that Marvel has debuted on Disney+ including ‘Werewolf by Night‘ and ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

    It is a great time to watch the Marvel movies in order now and you can watch them all on Disney Plus in 4K format. You can even plan virtual Marvel movie nights with your friends using Disney+ GroupWatch feature.


    Captain America: The First Avenger

    (L to R) Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    (L to R) Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    During World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a sickly man from Brooklyn who’s transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) – Adolf Hitler’s ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination.

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    Captain Marvel

    The story follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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    Iron Man

    After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.

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    The Incredible Hulk

    Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe.

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    Iron Man 2

    With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.

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    Thor

    Against his father Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

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    The Avengers

    When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!

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    Iron Man 3

    When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

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    Thor: The Dark World

    Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

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    Captain America: The Winter Soldier

    (L to R) Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    (L to R) Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    After the cataclysmic events in New York with ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), aka Captain America is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.

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    Guardians of the Galaxy

    Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.

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    Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

    The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) true parentage.

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    Avengers: Age of Ultron

    When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron (James Spader) emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

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    Ant-Man

    Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

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    Captain America: Civil War

    Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron’, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.

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    Black Widow

    Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

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    Spider-Man: Homecoming

    Following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Peter Parker (Tom Holland), with the help of his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges.

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    Black Panther

    Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther in 2018's 'Black Panther.'
    Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther in 2018’s ‘Black Panther.’

    King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T’Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan ‘special forces’) and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.

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    Doctor Strange

    After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.

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    Thor: Ragnarok

    Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett).

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    Ant-Man and the Wasp

    Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.

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    Avengers: Infinity War

    As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.

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    Avengers: Endgame

    After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.

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    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization and his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung).

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    Spider-Man: Far From Home

    Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his friends go on a summer trip to Europe. However, they will hardly be able to rest – Peter will have to agree to help Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) uncover the mystery of creatures that cause natural disasters and destruction throughout the continent.

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    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    Tom Holland in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.' Photo: Marvel Studios.
    Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.

    Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Teaming with other Multiverse Spider-Men (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), they must now work together to take out the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and other Spider-Man villains from around the multiverse.

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    Eternals

    The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.

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    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.

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    Thor: Love and Thunder

    After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

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    Werewolf by Night

    On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.

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    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

    Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

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    The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

    On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present. The special follows Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they set out to give Quill the best Christmas ever, after discovering that Yondu (Michael Rooker) ruined the holiday for him as a child.

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    Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

    Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

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    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

    (L to R) Kathryn Newton as Cassandra "Cassie" Lang and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios' 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.' Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel.
    (L to R) Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel.

    Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) , and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible and pits them against Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).

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    The Marvels

    (L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.' Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.
    (L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe.

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    Captain America: Brave New World

    Captain America/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios' 'Captain America: Brave New World'. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel.
    Captain America/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain America: Brave New World’. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel.

    After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

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    Thunderbolts*’

    (L to R) Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)in Marvel Studios' 'Thunderbolts*'. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 Marvel.
    (L to R) Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)in Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts*’. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 Marvel.

    After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

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    The Fantastic Four: First Steps

    (L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' 'Fantastic Four: First Steps'. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.
    (L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

    Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel’s First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

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    Deadpool & Wolverine

    (L to R) Hugh Jackman, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Dafne Keen, Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    (L to R) Hugh Jackman, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Dafne Keen, Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ delivers the ultimate, iconic, cinematic team-up throw-down on July 26.

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    Check out our post where we also ranked all of the Marvel movies from worst to best.

  • ‘Scream’ Movie Facts You Need to Know

    Scream movie 2022
    Paramount Pictures

    The new ‘Scream‘ movie is in theaters now and doing pretty well at the box office with $30.6M on it’s opening weekend.

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    Since the first film’s release on December 20, 1996, there have now been four sequels that have grossed over $615 million worldwide, and counting, as well as a spinoff series on MTV. “Scream” not only became the most lucrative slasher-film series ever, but it also revitalized the teen horror genre.

    Still, as inescapable and relentless as the “Scream” franchise has been, there are still a lot of secrets behind that mask. Here are 16 terrifying tidbits of trivia.

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    1. “Scream” was originally a screenplay by Kevin Williamson called “Scary Movie,” inspired in part by the real-life killings of five college students in Gainesville, Florida in 1990. But Dimension studio chief Bob Weinstein didn’t think the title reflected Williamson’s blend of horror and comedy.

    2. Inspired by the recent Michael Jackson hit, Weinstein renamed the picture “Scream” but kept the “Scary Movie” title for the horror-spoof franchise launched in 2000.

    3. Horror master Wes Craven turned down the movie several times, but the director changed his mind when he learned an actress of Drew Barrymore‘s stature was involved. Barrymore was initially cast as heroine Sidney Prescott, but she then shifted to the smaller role of first victim Casey Becker due to her busy schedule.

    4. Friends” star in a bitchy role. The filmmakers considered Brooke Shields and Janeane Garofalo, but Cox assured them she could play against type.

    5. The menacing phone voice of Ghostface in all the movies belongs to Roger L. Jackson, who also voices the villainous chimp Mojo Jojo on “Powerpuff Girls.” During production of the first three films, none of the other actors even met Jackson but only heard his voice when talking to him on the phone; Craven thought that would make their fear more convincing.

    6. Because of “Scream’s” extreme violence and gore, Craven had to recut and submit it to the ratings board eight times in hope of avoiding an NC-17 rating. Craven even lied that he had no alternate, less bloody take of Barrymore’s stabbing. Eventually, Weinstein persuaded the board that “Scream” deserved an R because the movie was satirizing violence, not glorifying it.

    7. With the success of “Scream,” the sequel was rushed into production, shooting in July 1997 for a release date that December. The haste led to a leak of the script, forcing Williamson to rewrite on set and change the identity of the killers.

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    8. “I hate horror movies,” said Liev Schreiber, after he had played the menacing Cotton Weary in the first two installments. So why did he act in the series? Because he liked the idea of horror movies that were “in on the joke.” Also, he said, “because I knew I wouldn’t have to watch them. I would only have to be in them.” Soon after, he signed on for “Scream 3.”

    9. Cox and David Arquette (Deputy Dewey Riley) met on the set of “Scream.” By the time they shot “Scream 2,” they were a couple off-screen. Just before the “Scream 3” shoot, they got married. When “Scream 4” was shooting in 2010, they were on the verge of splitting up.

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    10. The Columbine High School massacre in April 1999 made Hollywood much more sensitive, at least for a little while, about violence in teen entertainment. As a result, “Scream 3” was rewritten, taking it out of its initial high school setting, playing up the humor, and downplaying the violence.

    11. Williamson proposed a second trilogy in 2008, but only got as far as “Scream 4.” (Blame that film’s less-than-expected box office for why the fifth and sixth films never materialized.) Weinstein instead decided to launch the MTV series in June 2015. Craven’s death in August 2015 probably puts the kibosh on any more “Scream” movies.

    12. Campbell initially didn’t want to return for “Scream 4,” and Williamson had to write Sidney out of early drafts of the script.

    13. The “Scream 4″ filmmakers initially offered Scream Queens” star Emma Roberts.

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    14. Lauren Graham was cast as Roberts’ mom, but left the shoot after just a few days. Mary McDonnell replaced her.

    15. The Ghostface mask was designed by retailer Fun World in 1991, inspired (aptly) by Edvard Munch’s famous painting “The Scream.” It was also inspired by a figure from Gerald Scarfe’s artwork from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” album and some ghost figures in an old Betty Boop cartoon.

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    Dimension

    16. The “Scream” franchise has reportedly made the mask, along with the ragged-edged cloak used in the films, into the best-selling Halloween costume in America.

  • 6 Movies You (Probably) Never Knew Quentin Tarantino Worked On

    6 Movies You (Probably) Never Knew Quentin Tarantino Worked On

    As Quentin Tarantino‘s new feature, the Charles Manson-adjacent “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” continues to capture our imagination (how many times have you seen it?), we thought it might be fun to look back at his smaller contributions to filmmaking. So small, in fact, that you might not even be aware of them.

    ‘It’s Pat: The Movie’ (1994)

    Touchstone

    Yeah … it doesn’t make sense. But then again, it sort of does. Julia Sweeney, who immortalized the androgynous Pat on “Saturday Night Live” before spinning the movie off into a woefully under-seen theatrical feature, has a brief but memorable role in “Pulp Fiction.” Also, consider this: the script for “It’s Pat” was co-written by Stephen Hibbert, Sweeney’s ex-husband and the guy in the gimp costume in “Pulp Fiction.”

    Tarantino revealed in a 1994 Playboy interview that he did some uncredited re-writes on the movie but watching it, much like anyone dealing with the character of Pat, will be hopelessly confused.

    ‘Crimson Tide’ (1995)

    Hollywood Pictures

    The first script Tarantino ever sold was “True Romance,” long before he was a poster boy for the American independent film renaissance, and the filmmaker who finally would up making that film was the late British director Tony Scott. So, a few years later, after Tarantino had firmly established himself as a wunderkind, Scott called on him to finesse his script for the submarine thriller “Crimson Tide.”

    Tarantino’s contributions are far more evident in this film than any of the others he anonymously worked on, from an early discussion of submarine movies, to later dialogue built around “Silver Surfer” comics and the original “Star Trek” series (surprisingly, Denzel Washington is a big Trekkie). He adds just the right amount of QT flavor to an otherwise standard (and totally brilliant) suspense movie.

    ‘Curdled’ (1996)

    Rolling Thunder Pictures

    This is a weird one. Tarantino saw a short film by Reb Braddock and encouraged the director to turn it into a feature film, which he did (Tarantino produced it via his A Band Apart production company and released it through his Miramax-housed Rolling Thunder Pictures shingle). While Tarantino’s interjections into the “Curdled” screenplay remain hard to track, it is clear that he wrote the news report recited by Kelly Preston, who played the same character in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (“Curdled” also uses old footage of George Clooney and Tarantino from that film).

    Apparently, the Tarantino Cinematic Universe goes beyond Red Apple cigarettes and Big Kahuna burgers.

    ‘The Rock’ (1996)

    Hollywood Pictures

    While watching the finished movie, it’s hard to tell, but Michael Bay‘s “The Rock” had some pretty heavy-hitters in the writer’s room. Not only did Jonathan Hensleigh contribute significant rewrites (so much so that Bay wrote to the WGA to protest the arbitration process), but Aaron Sorkin also provided additional work, along with (of course) Mr. Tarantino.

    Again, it’s hard to pick out what his contributions were, but “The Rock” is an action movie that ends with several characters having to inject themselves in the heart with adrenaline. Why does that sound so familiar?

    ‘Girl 6’ (1996)

    Fox

    It’s weird to think of Tarantino and Spike Lee ever being buddies, especially after Lee took Tarantino to task for his excessive use of the n-word. But, there was a time before such grudges, and 1996 was that time. Tarantino appeared, in a brief role (essentially playing himself, but still dramatic) in “Girl 6,” Lee’s call girl comedy.

    The movie isn’t very good, aside from some well-placed Prince songs, and Tarantino isn’t very good either, but it’s worth watching as a pre-feud time capsule.

    ‘Muppet Wizard of Oz’ (2005)

    ABC

    Everything about “Muppet Wizard of Oz” is a painful exercise in WTF-worthy randomness, and this includes Tarantino’s brief cameo as himself. What does he do? He pitches a “Kill Bill“-style take on the classic story, which somehow already felt dated and unfunny even though “Kill Bill, Vol. 2” had just been released the year before.

    Watching Tarantino yell at Kermit, while swinging a samurai sword around, is supposed to be off-putting but maybe not this off-putting. (On the DVD’s special features, Tarantino says that the Muppets are some of his “favorite actors.”) Well, Tarantino, you worked with the Muppets, check it off the list and move on.

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’ on its 15th Anniversary

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’ on its 15th Anniversary

    New Line Cinema

    It’s been 15 years since the movie world was introduced to the greatest stoner buddy pair since Jay and Silent Bob. “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” launched a new franchise and revived the image of both Neil Patrick Harris and the White Castle fast food chain in the process. Grab a a sack of burgers and learn more about the making of this cult-favorite comedy.

    1. While White Castle happily granted the filmmakers the necessary licensing rights, Krispy Kreme proved more difficult. A subplot involving Harold and Kumar trying to track down donuts had to be changed to hot dogs after Krispy Kreme refused to sign off.

    2. While the movie is set in New Jersey, the majority of filming took place in Toronto, Canada. The crew had to build a White Castle set because White Castle doesn’t operate any locations in Canada.

    New Line Cinema

    3. White Castle issued a series of commemorative cups after the movie hit theaters, making “Harold & Kumar” the first R-rated movie to receive a fast food restaurant promotion.

    4. Writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg based the character Harold Lee on their high school friend of the same name.

    5. Hurwitz and Schlossberg specifically wrote Neil Patrick Harris’ cameo into the script before approaching him to appear.

    New Line Cinema

    6. “Harold & Kumar” is credited with reviving Harris’ career and paving the way for his starring role in the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.” Both Kal Penn and John Cho would go on to guest star in the series.

    7. Hurwitz revealed that “The Karate Kid” star Ralph Macchio would have been the duo’s backup choice if Harris refused to appear in the movie.

    New Line Cinema

    8. The characters Rosenberg and Goldstein were intended as homages to Shakespeare characters  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. At one point Hurwitz and Schlossberg even considered a spinoff movie in the vein of “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.”

    9. Luis Guzmán originally had a cameo role as Maria’s brother, but his character was cut from the final version.

    10. The scene where Ryan Reynolds cameos as a doctor assisting Kumar in surgery is intended as a callback to 2002’s “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder,” where Reynolds and Penn’s roles were reversed.

    New Line Cinema

    11. Despite quoting the line “Thank you, come again!” made famous by “The Simpsons” character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Penn would later appear in the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu,” where he criticized the character for perpetuating racial stereotypes.

  • 13 Things You Never Knew About ‘The Mask’ on its 25th Anniversary

    13 Things You Never Knew About ‘The Mask’ on its 25th Anniversary

    New Line Cinema

    It’s been 25 years since “The Mask” hit theaters and capped off an amazingly successful year for Jim Carrey. Even now, we can look back on this kooky romantic comedy as one of the only good comic book movies of the ’90s. Celebrate this big anniversary by learning more about the making of “The Mask” and why it’s so different from the source material.

    1. “The Mask” is loosely based on a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. However, the source material is much darker, with the stories focusing on ordinary people who are transformed into a sadistic killer called Big Head.

    2. One of the biggest differences between the comic and the movie is that Stanley Ipkiss is much less sympathetic in the former. in fact, he’s eventually killed when his girlfriend steals the mask and murders him in his sleep.

    Dark Horse Comics

    3. Originally New Line intended “The Mask” to form the basis of a new horror franchise. One early pitch involved a mask maker who removes the faces of corpses and transplants them onto teenagers in order to transform them into zombie-like slaves.

    4. Jim Carrey’s distinctive yellow zoot suit was actually inspired by the suit he wore to his very first stand-up comedy set.

    New Line Cinema

    5. If the body shop where Stanley is getting ripped off by the mechanics seems familiar, that’s because the scenes were shot in the unused firehouse that also doubled as the headquarters in 1984’s “Ghostbusters.”

    6. Anna Nicole Smith was the studios original top choice to play Tina Carlyle. However, Cameron Diaz (who made her acting debut in “The Mask”) got the part after being discovered at a modeling agency. Bullet dodged!

    New Line Cinema

    7. Vanessa Williams and Kristy Swanson were also considered to play Tina.

    8. The movie was originally meant to end with Stanley’s friend Charlie Schumaker inheriting the mask.

    9. The DVD includes a deleted scene that sheds more light on the origins of the titular mask. It shows a group of Vikings burying the mask in what would later become New York City.

    New Line Cinema

    10. Carrey was nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Razzie Award for his performance.

    11. While it was the third Jim Carrey movie released in 1994, “The Mask” was the first of the three to enter production. Because filming began before Carrey’s explosion in popularity, he was paid a surprisingly modest $450,000 for the role.

    New Line Cinema

    12. At the time, “The Mask” was the second highest-grossing superhero movie ever, only topped by 1989’s “Batman.” However, both have since been eclipsed by the current wave of superhero movies.

    13. The magazine Nintendo Power held a contest where the winner would receive a cameo role in the sequel movie. However, after Carrey dropped out of the sequel and the project became trapped in development hell for years, Nintendo Power was forced to award the winner an equivalent cash prize instead.

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘North by Northwest’ on its 60th Anniversary

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘North by Northwest’ on its 60th Anniversary

    MGM

    It’s been 60 years since “North by Northwest” hit theaters and further cemented Alfred Hitchcock as one of the greatest American filmmakers of all time. Even six decades later, this film is regarded as one of the greatest ever made. So celebrate this huge milestone by learning some fun behind-the scenes facts about this classic tale of suspense and mistaken identity.

    1. Hitchcock and writer Ernest Lehman conceived of “North by Northwest” after suffering from writer’s block while working on an adaptation of the Hammond Innes novel “The Wreck of the Mary Deare.”

    2. MGM executives wanted Cyd Charisse to play Eve Kendall, but Hitchcock was adamant that Eva Marie Saint be cast in the role.

    MGM

    3. While Hitchcock had final say over most aspects of the film, he was forced to re-dub one of Saint’s lines. “I never make love on an empty stomach,” became “I never discuss love on an empty stomach.”

    4. The production went severely over-budget because a delay in filming activated a penalty clause in Cary Grant‘s contract. That clause resulted in him being paid an extra $5000 per day.

    MGM

    5. Part of the reason for the delay is that Hitchcock accidentally led James Stewart to believe he’d be cast as the lead. In order to mitigate Stewart’s disappointment, Hitchcock waited until Stewart was busy filming 1959’s “Anatomy of a Murder” before “offering” him the part.

    6. Hitchcock wanted to film a scene where Grant’s character Roger Thornhill hides inside Lincoln’s nose at Mount Rushmore and is given away by his sneezing. He was eventually convinced to abandon the idea, but he did use “The Man Inside Lincoln’s Nose” as a tongue-in-cheek working title.

    MGM

    7. Grant’s iconic business suit was the model for the near-identical one worn by Tom Cruise in 2004’s “Collateral.”

    8. “North by Northwest” is one of only two MGM projects filmed in the widescreen VistaVision format, the other being 1956’s “High Society.”

    9. In its August 2009 issue, Empire magazine ranked the crop-duster scene as the #1 greatest movie moment of all time.

    MGM

    10. Given its tone and subject matter, many fans refer to “North by Northwest” as “the first James Bond film.” In fact, the helicopter chase in 1963’s “From Russia With Love” was directly inspired by the crop-duster scene.

    11. The movie inspired a long-running annual live music festival in Austin, TX called South by Southwest.

  • 9 Things You Never Knew About ‘Orphan’ on its 10th Anniversary

    9 Things You Never Knew About ‘Orphan’ on its 10th Anniversary

    Warner Bros.

    Orphan” turns ten years old this month, and it still maintains a strong cult following. Not since “The Exorcist” has a horror movie managed to make us so terrified of a preteen girl. Celebrate this horror movie milestone by learning more about the making of “Orphan” and how the story changed from page to screen.

    1. The film drew outrage from adoption and foster groups, forcing WB to remove a line in the trailer that said, “It must be difficult to love an adopted child as much as your own.” The line remained in the actual film, however.

    2. The filmmakers were so impressed by Isabelle Fuhrman‘s audition that they cast her despite Fuhrman not resembling the fair-skinned, blond-haired girl described in the script.

    3. Director Jaume Collet-Serra made a point of filming the scene where Esther walks in on her adoptive parents having sex in as few takes as possible, so as not to make Fuhrman swear any more than necessary.

    Warner Bros.

    4. The movie poster is designed to be psychologically off-putting. Rather than featuring an ordinary photo of Fuhrman’s face, it features half of her face mirrored to form an impossibly symmetrical full face.

    5. Actress Aryana Engineer, who plays the deaf Max, is actually mostly deaf and normally wears cochlear implants.

    Warner Bros.

    6. Actress Vera Farmiga is an accomplished pianist and was reportedly very angry at Collet-Serra for editing down the scene where Kate is composing music, as she felt her hard work was wasted.

    7. There are several major plot differences between early drafts of the screenplay and the final version of the film. For example, originally Esther was supposed to have succeeded in killing Daniel in the hospital.

    Warner Bros.

    8. Earlier versions of the script also included much more background information for Esther, revealing that she was molested by her biological father from an early age and was sent to the orphanage after murdering him and his lover.

    9. The film also has a deleted subplot where Esther frames a homeless man for the murder of Sister Abigail. Portions of this material are included as bonus features on the DVD.

  • 9 Things You Never Knew About ‘(500) Days of Summer’ on its 10th Anniversary

    9 Things You Never Knew About ‘(500) Days of Summer’ on its 10th Anniversary

    Fox Searchlight

    Romantic comedies don’t get much better than “(500) Days of Summer.” Ten years later, we still enjoy getting caught up in the whirlwind, doomed romance between Tom and Summer. To celebrate this anniversary, here are some things you might not know about “(500) Days of Summer.”

    1. Co-writer Scott Neustadter based the screenplay and the characterization of Tom on one of his previous relationships. On the DVD commentary he estimates 75% of the events in the film actually happened to him.

    2. While well-known now for directing the “Amazing Spider-Man” movies and 2017’s “Gifted,” at the time director Marc Webb was mostly known for his music video work. “(500) Days of Summer” was his first feature-length project.

    Fox Searchlight

    3. Webb returned to his roots after completing work on the film, filming a music video starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel dancing to the song “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” from Deschanel’s band She & Him.

    4. The movie is widely praised as a showcase for Los Angeles architecture, but originally the script was set in San Francisco.

    Fox Searchlight

    5. Before Deschanel was cast as Summer, the character was written as having a short, blond hairstyle representative of summer.

    6. Matthew Gray Gubler‘s dialogue had to be slightly altered in order to avoid an R-rating. Apparently Paul saying the word “humjob” instead of “blowjob” made all the difference to the MPAA.

    7. The documentary about love contains a great deal of footage not included in the final movie. In fact, it wasn’t originally intended to be included at all, at least until it received strong test audience reactions.

    Fox Searchlight

    8. The rooms used for Tom’s apartment and the New Hampshire Greetings offices were both in the same building.

    9. The movie gives conflicting information as to what year it takes place. The narrator refers to May 23 being on a Wednesday, which would suggest the film unfolds from January 8, 2006 to May 23, 2007. However, one of Summer’s email messages to Tom is dated 2008.

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’

    Warner Bros.

    It’s been ten years since the Harry Potter saga delivered one of its most pivotal sequels. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” pushed this beloved fantasy saga in a darker direction, complete with a tragic death and new insight into the origins of the wizarding world’s greatest villain. Celebrate this milestone by learning more about the making of the sixth Potter movie.

    1. “The Half-Blood Prince” is the third-longest movie in the series, falling behind only “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

    2. The actor who plays the 11-year-old version of Tom Riddle, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, is the nephew of Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes.

    Warner Bros.

    3. Though roughly 7,000 girls auditioned for the role of Lavender Brown, Jessie Cave was cast despite not attending these auditions. Fortunately for her, she had a recommendation straight from Emma Watson.

    4. This is the first film in the series not to feature any Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom scenes, despite the fact that Professor Snape is revealed to have taken over the class early in the film.

    Warner Bros.

    5. Director David Yates said the film’s color and lighting were heavily inspired by the work of Dutch painter Rembrandt. Fittingly, this is the only film in the series to be nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar.

    6. While Yates has directed every “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” movie since “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” WB almost went with a different director for “The Half-Blood Prince.” They approached Terry Gilliam, but Gilliam refused, having been passed over to direct “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” years before.

    Warner Bros.

    7. Kevin McKidd was approached to play werewolf villain Fenrir Greyback, but had to decline due to his other commitments. McKidd has since said he doesn’t regret turning down the part, as it would have terrified his children.

    8. Bill Nighy was cast as Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in “The Half-Blood Prince,” but after his scene was cut, Nighy instead made his series debut in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.”

    Warner Bros.

    9. The set used for Professor Slughorn’s office is a modified version of the same one used for the Trophy Room in “The Goblet of Fire” and the Room of Requirement in “The Order of the Phoenix.”

    10. Actor Alan Rickman admitted to feeling a perverse sense of glee over Snape’s role in Dumbledore’s death scene, comparing it to the climax of “Die Hard” and pointing out how his character got to be on the opposite end of a battle involving one character falling to their death.

    Warner Bros.

    11. Narcissa Malfoy actress Helen McCrory was originally cast as Bellatrix Lestrange in “The Order of the Phoenix,” but left the project after becoming pregnant.

     

  • 9 Things You Never Knew About ‘When Harry Met Sally’ on its 30th Anniversary

    9 Things You Never Knew About ‘When Harry Met Sally’ on its 30th Anniversary

    Columbia Pictures

    One of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time is now 30 years old. “When Harry Met Sally” is a terrific reminder that the best rom-coms are truly timeless. Celebrate this anniversary with some fun trivia about the making of this modern love story.

    1. Both director Rob Reiner and writer Nora Ephron drew from their own personal lives while making the film. Ephron based Sally on herself and several friends, while Reiner’s struggle with his divorce influenced the portrayal of Harry.

    2. Reiner has a cameo in the film during the New Year’s Eve scene. He’s the unseen person announcing that the new year is happening in ten seconds.

    Columbia Pictures

    3. Ephron originally envisioned the movie’s title as “When They Met.” Other potential titles included “Boy Meets Girl,” “Just Friends” and “Words of Love.”

    4. Tom Hanks and Michael Keaton were both considered for the role of Harry.

    5. Katz’s Deli still pays tribute to the film’s most famous scene by displaying a sign that reads “Where Harry met Sally… hope you have what she had!”

    Columbia Pictures

    6. That fake orgasm scene was added to the movie on the fly after it was decided Sally needed more to talk about in the deli. Meg Ryan chose the topic of conversation and Billy Crystal came up with the line, “I’ll have what she’s having.”

    7. It took no fewer than 60 takes to pull off the scene where the four characters are talking on the phone simultaneously.

    Columbia Pictures

    8. Harry can be seen the Stephen King novel “Misery” in one scene. Ironically, Reiner went on to direct the film adaptation after completing “When Harry Met Sally.”

    9. The scenes featuring couples relating how they met were performed by actors, but the material itself was taken from real-life testimonials Reiner collected.