Moviefone Editorial

Tag: clerks

  • Best Workplace Movies

    Gary Cole as Bill Lumbergh in 'Office Space.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    Gary Cole as Bill Lumbergh in ‘Office Space.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.

    But its also a three-day weekend, and many movie fans spend the last official weekend of summer relaxing and watching a movie!

    In honor of Labor Day, Moviefone has assembled a list of the 30 best movies ever made set in the workplace.

    Without further ado, let’s begin!

    30. ‘The Intern‘ (2015)

    (L to R) Robert De Niro as Ben and Anne Hathaway as Jules in 2015's 'The Intern.' Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Robert De Niro as Ben and Anne Hathaway as Jules in 2015’s ‘The Intern.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway).

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    29. ‘The Internship‘ (2013)

    Two recently laid-off men in their 40s (Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) try to make it as interns at a successful Internet company where their managers are in their 20s.

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    28. ‘Extract‘ (2009)

    The owner of a factory that produces flavor extracts, Joel Reynold (Jason Bateman) seems to have it all, but really doesn’t. What’s missing is sexual attention from his wife, Suzie (Kristen Wiig). Joel hatches a convoluted plan to get Suzie to cheat on him, thereby clearing the way for Joel to have an affair with Cindy (Mila Kunis), an employee. But what Joel doesn’t know is that Cindy is a sociopathic con artist, and a freak workplace accident clears the way for her to ruin Joel forever.

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    27. ‘Secretary‘ (2002)

    A young woman (Maggie Gyllenhaal), recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer (James Spader), where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one.

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    26. ‘North Country‘ (2005)

    A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States — Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, where a woman (Charlize Theron) who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit.

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    25. ‘Newsies‘ (1992)

    Christian Bale in 'Newsies'. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
    Christian Bale in ‘Newsies’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
    A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York including Jack “Cowboy” Kelly (Christian Bale). When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer (Robert Duvall), tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labors, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer’s hard-ball tactics.
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    24. ‘The Proposal‘ (2009)

    When she learns she’s in danger of losing her visa status and being deported, overbearing book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) forces her put-upon assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), to marry her.

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    23. ‘Clerks‘ (1994)

    Convenience and video store clerks Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) are sharp-witted, potty-mouthed and bored out of their minds. So in between needling customers, the counter jockeys play hockey on the roof, visit a funeral home and deal with their love lives.

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    22. ‘The Paper‘ (1994)

    Henry Hackett (Michael Keaton) is the workaholic editor of a New York City tabloid. He loves his job, but the long hours and low pay are leading to discontent. Also, publisher Bernie White (Robert Duvall) faces financial straits, and has hatchet-man Alicia Clark (Glenn Close)—Henry’s nemesis—impose unpopular cutbacks.

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    21. ‘Gung Ho‘ (1986)

    When a western Pennsylvania auto plant is acquired by a Japanese company, brokering auto worker Hunt Stevenson (Michael Keaton) faces the tricky challenge of mediating the assimilation of two clashing corporate cultures. At one end is the Japanese plant manager (Gedde Watanabe) and the sycophant who is angling for his position. At the other, a number of disgruntled long-time union members (George Wendt and John Turturro) struggle with the new exigencies of Japanese quality control.

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    20. ‘Norma Rae‘ (1979)

    Sally Field as Norma Rae Webster in 'Norma Rae.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    Sally Field as Norma Rae Webster in ‘Norma Rae.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Norma Rae (Sally Field) is a southern textile worker employed in a factory with intolerable working conditions. This concern about the situation gives her the gumption to be the key associate to a visiting labor union organizer (Ron Leibman). Together, they undertake the difficult, and possibly dangerous, struggle to unionize her factory.

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    19. ‘Baby Boom‘ (1987)

    The life of super-yuppie J.C. (Diane Keaton) is thrown into turmoil when she inherits a baby from a distant relative.

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    18. ‘Night Shift‘ (1982)

    A nebbish of a morgue attendant (Henry Winkler) gets shunted back to the night shift where he is shackled with an obnoxious neophyte partner (Michael Keaton) who dreams of the “one great idea” for success. His life takes a bizarre turn when a prostitute neighbor (Shelly Long) complains about the loss of her pimp. His partner, upon hearing the situation, suggests that they fill that opening themselves using the morgue at night .
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    17. ‘Office Christmas Party‘ (2016)

    When Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston), CEO of the technology company Zenotek, expresses her intention to close the Chicago branch, run by her brother Clay (T.J. Miller), he and his co-workers organize a Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and save their jobs. But the party gets out of control…

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    16. ‘Michael Clayton‘ (2007)

    A law firm brings in its “fixer” (George Clooney) to remedy the situation after a lawyer (Tom Wilkinson) has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit. Actress Tilda Swinton received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
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    15. ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once‘ (2022)

    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh, and James Hong in A24's 'Everything Everywhere All at Once.'
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh, and James Hong in A24’s ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’

    Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes.

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    14. ‘My Favorite Year‘ (1982)

    New York City, 1954: Benjy Stone (Mark Linn-Baker) is the junior writer on the top rated variety/comedy show. His idol Alan Swann (Peter O’Toole), an actor with a drinking problem, is to be that week’s guest star.

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    13. ‘Spotlight‘ (2015)

    The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

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    12. ‘Horrible Bosses‘ (2011)

    For Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day), the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con (Jamie Foxx), the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers… permanently.

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    11. ‘The Devil Wears Prada‘ (2006)

    Andy (Anne Hathaway) moves to New York to work in the fashion industry. Her boss (Meryl Streep) is extremely demanding, cruel and won’t let her succeed if she doesn’t fit into the high class elegant look of their magazine.

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    10. ‘Trading Places‘ (1983)

    (L to R) Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in 'Trading Places.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in ‘Trading Places.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    A snobbish investor (Dan Aykroyd) and a wily street con-artist (Eddie Murphy) find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.

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    9. ‘Margin Call‘ (2011)

    A thriller that revolves around the key people at an investment bank over a 24-hour period during the early stages of the financial crisis. The movie stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci.

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    8. ‘Up in the Air‘ (2009)

    Corporate downsizing expert Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) spends his life in planes, airports, and hotels, but just as he’s about to reach a milestone of ten million frequent flyer miles, he meets a woman (Vera Farmiga) who causes him to rethink his transient life.

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    7. ‘Working Girl‘ (1988)

    Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) is an ambitious secretary with a unique approach for climbing the ladder to success. When her classy, but villainous boss (Sigourney Weaver) breaks a leg skiing, Tess takes over her office, her apartment and even her wardrobe. She creates a deal with a handsome investment banker (Harrison Ford) that will either take her to the top, or finish her off for good.

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    6. ‘The Social Network‘ (2010)

    The tale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punk genius (Jesse Eisenberg) who sparked a revolution and changed the face of human interaction for a generation, and perhaps forever.

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    5. ‘The Wolf of Wall Street‘ (2013)

    (L to R) Leonardo DiCaprio is Jordan Belfort and Matthew McConaughey is Mark Hanna in "The Wolf of Wall Street,' from Paramount Pictures and Red Granite Pictures.
    (L to R) Leonardo DiCaprio is Jordan Belfort and Matthew McConaughey is Mark Hanna in “The Wolf of Wall Street,’ from Paramount Pictures and Red Granite Pictures.

    A New York stockbroker (Leonardo DiCaprio) refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort’s autobiography.

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    4. ‘Glengarry Glen Ross‘ (1992)

    When an office full of Chicago real estate salesmen is given the news that all but the top two will be fired at the end of the week, the atmosphere begins to heat up. Shelley Levene (Jack Lemmon), who has a sick daughter, does everything in his power to get better leads from his boss, John Williamson (Kevin Spacey), but to no avail. When his coworker Dave Moss (Ed Harris) comes up with a plan to steal the leads, things get complicated for the tough-talking salesmen. The cast also includes Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin and Jonathan Pryce.

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    3. ‘Network‘ (1976)

    When veteran anchorman Howard Beale (Peter Finch) is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives (Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, and Ned Beatty) rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ratings.

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    2. ‘Office Space‘ (1999)

    A depressed white-collar worker (Ron Livingston) tries hypnotherapy, only to find himself in a perpetual state of devil-may-care bliss that prompts him to start living by his own rules, and hatch a hapless attempt to embezzle money from his soul-killing employers. The cast also includes Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, and John C. McGinley.

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    1. ‘Nine to Five‘ (1980)

    (L to R) Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in 'Nine to Five.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    (L to R) Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in ‘Nine to Five.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Frank Hart (Dabney Coleman) is a pig. He takes advantage in the grossest manner of the women who work with him. When his three assistants (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton) manage to trap him in his own house they assume control of his department and productivity leaps, but just how long can they keep Hart tied up?

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  • ‘Dogma’ 25th Anniversary Interview: Director Kevin Smith

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    ‘Dogma,’ which Kevin Smith made and released back in 1999, is back in theaters on June 5th.

    Written and directed by Smith (‘Clerks’), the film stars Ben Affleck (‘The Accountant’), Matt Damon (‘The Martian’), Linda Fiorentino (‘The Last Seduction’), Alan Rickman (‘Die Hard’), Jason Lee (‘Almost Famous’), George Carlin (‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’), Salma Hayek Pinault (‘Frida’), Chris Rock (‘Top Five’), Jason Mewes (‘Clerks’) and Alanis Morissette (‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’).

    Kevin Smith Says He’s Started Developing a Sequel to 1999 Religious Comedy ‘Dogma’

    Director Kevin Smith talks 'Dogma' 25th Anniversary rerelease.
    Director Kevin Smith talks ‘Dogma’ 25th Anniversary rerelease.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Smith about reclaiming ‘Dogma’ from the hands of the Weinstein brothers (the film has been unavailable for theatrical or streaming release for two decades), how he’s changed as a filmmaker and the reaction to the once-controversial movie this time around.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    (Lto R) Salma Hayek Pinault, Alan Rickman and Chris Rock in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (Lto R) Salma Hayek Pinault, Alan Rickman and Chris Rock in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what does getting ‘Dogma’ back mean to you?

    Kevin Smith: It comes at the right time in my career because right about now people are like, “No, he sucks.” So it’s nice to be able to bring out an old movie where it’s, “Well, he didn’t suck then, there was hope!” Generally when I bring out a new movie it’s like I’ve got to convince people, “No, really I should still be doing this,” and they’re, “you should have stopped a long f****n’ time ago!” Coming out with this old movie that they liked back in the day and still like today is like going out there with a shield.

    (L to R) Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (L to R) Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: How do you view it now through the lens of who you are today?

    KS: We’ve been touring it for 20 cities, then we just also played at Cannes. Every night I’ve been watching the movie and interacting with a vision of a young Kevin Smith. The kid who made that movie, believed in everything that’s up there. He’s not talking about Christian mythology, he’s not raising a hairy eyebrow or coming out with sharp teeth and claws the way Monty Python would on ‘Life of Brian.’ He believes in everything, so it’s been charming to sit back and watch the movie and be, “Aw, young Kevin Smith is so adorable.” I don’t have those same beliefs anymore so it’s like we say in the movie, beliefs are tricky to get around because once you have a belief you’re mired in it, but it’s more important to have good ideas, and now I think I have good ideas.

    (L to R) Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith and Matt Damon in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (L to R) Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith and Matt Damon in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: ‘Dogma’ was protested upon its release. Do you think the reactions would be the same today?

    KS: What an interesting question. I think if we would have done it for the first time now and it was a streaming series I don’t think people would bump into it that hard. I mean, look, last year ‘Heretic’ came out and granted it went through the prism of the Latter-Day Saints, the Church of Mormon, and the Book of Mormon, so it wasn’t as big a polemic perhaps in the Mormon community. But that was a movie where watching it, I was leaning forward going, “Oh, a kindred spirit, of sorts.” The movie came and was respected and nobody got in trouble or nearly got killed.

    Alan Rickman in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    Alan Rickman in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: Have you seen any protests at all this time around?

    KS: I’ve only seen one or two protests, one of which was as I was driving into the AMC movie theater in Dallas where we were doing our screenings. So I’m going to pull into the mall and I’m at the light. I look over at the median and there’s a kid, 18, 19 years old and he’s holding a placard, like big white cardboard, has the current ‘Dogma’ poster in the middle of it and it says, “AMC blasphemes” or something like that. So I was, “Oh my God, how adorable.” So I laid on the horn, give support and the kid is so excited and he looks around and he sees me, and then he sees who I am and he looks away. He f****n’ shunned me! So that’s as bad as the protest has been this time around. I’ll take that, that’s fine.

    (L to R) Linda Fiorentino, Jason Mewes, Salma Hayek and Chris Rock in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (L to R) Linda Fiorentino, Jason Mewes, Salma Hayek and Chris Rock in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: Finally, how else has the rerelease reaction been different compared to the original release?

    KS: Last time the protests were loud and vicious because people hadn’t seen the movie so the people who were making hay over it did so without anyone seeing what the movie is. Once people saw the movie, they’re, “this doesn’t go after the faith, this movie’s so reverent it’s crazy.” I now know years later, people may have heard about, “oh, you guys went through it.” But I’m seeing current reviews, people going, “can you believe that this movie took s**t back in the day and almost got people killed?” It seems to have aged better and plays way better now although, oddly enough, it feels like there’s less freedom in 2025, religious or otherwise, than there was in 1999.

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    What is the plot of ‘Dogma’?

    An abortion clinic worker with a special heritage is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loophole and re-enter Heaven.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Dogma’?

    • Ben Affleck as Bartleby
    • Matt Damon as Loki
    • Linda Fiorentino as Bethany
    • Alan Rickman as Metatron
    • Jason Lee as Azrael
    • George Carlin as Cardinal Glick
    • Salma Hayek Pinault as Serendipity
    • Chris Rock as Rufus
    • Jason Mewes as Jay
    • Kevin Smith as Silent Bob
    • Alanis Morissette as God
    (L to R) Chris Rock, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Linda Fiorentino in 'Dogma'. Photo: Lionsgate Films.
    (L to R) Chris Rock, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Linda Fiorentino in ‘Dogma’. Photo: Lionsgate Films.

    List of Kevin Smith Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Dogma’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon

  • Every Kevin Smith Movie, Ranked

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Writer and director Kevin Smith is one of the most popular and prolific filmmakers to come out of the independent film movement of the 1990’s.

    Smith first gained attention for his groundbreaking movie ‘Clerks‘, which has spawned two sequels, the spinoffs ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back‘ and ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot‘, and ‘Mallrats‘, ‘Chasing Amy‘ and ‘Dogma‘, which are all set in the same cinematic universe (Entitled the ‘View Askewniverse’).

    But Smith has gone on to direct a wide range of movies including ‘Red State’, ‘Cop Out‘, ‘Tusk‘, ‘Yoga Hosers‘ and ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno‘. His latest, the coming of age film ‘The 4:30 Movie‘, opens in theaters on September 13th and will be available on digital October 1st,

    In honor of the new release, Moviefone is counting down every film Kevin Smith has ever directed, including his latest.

    Without further ado, let’s begin!

    15. ‘Jersey Girl‘ (2004)

    (L to R) Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler in 'Jersey Girl'. Photo: Miramax Films.
    (L to R) Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler in ‘Jersey Girl’. Photo: Miramax Films.

    Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) is a young, suave music publicist who seems to have it all, with a new wife and a baby on the way. But life deals him a bum hand when he’s suddenly faced with single fatherhood, a defunct career and having to move in with his father. To bounce back, it takes a new love and the courage instilled in him by his daughter.

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    14. ‘Cop Out‘ (2010)

    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan in 'Cop Out'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan in ‘Cop Out’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Detectives Jimmy (Bruce Willis) and Paul (Tracy Morgan), despite nine years as partners, can still sometimes seem like polar opposites—especially when Paul’s unpredictable antics get them suspended without pay. Already strapped for cash and trying to pay for his daughter’s wedding, Jimmy decides to sell a rare baseball card that’s worth tens of thousands. Unfortunately, when the collector’s shop is robbed and the card vanishes with the crook, Paul and Jimmy end up going rogue, tracking down the card and the drug ring behind its theft, all on their own time and without any backup—except for each other.

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    13. ‘Clerks II‘ (2006)

    (L to R) Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes in 'Clerks II'. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
    (L to R) Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes in ‘Clerks II’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

    A calamity at Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randall’s (Jeff Anderson) shops sends them looking for new horizons – but they ultimately settle at Mooby’s, a fictional Disney-McDonald’s-style fast-food empire.

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    12. ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot‘ (2020)

    (L to R) Shannon Elizabeth, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes in 'Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'. Photo: Saban Films.
    (L to R) Shannon Elizabeth, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes in ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’. Photo: Saban Films.

    Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith) embark on a cross-country mission to stop Hollywood from rebooting a film based on their comic book characters Bluntman and Chronic.

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    11. ‘Clerks III‘ (2022)

    (L to R) Elias (Trevor Fehrman), Dante (Brian O’Halloran), Becky (Rosario Dawson), and Randal (Jeff Anderson) in the comedy film, 'Clerks III,' a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Baer.
    (L to R) Elias (Trevor Fehrman), Dante (Brian O’Halloran), Becky (Rosario Dawson), and Randal (Jeff Anderson) in the comedy film, ‘Clerks III,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Baer.

    After narrowly surviving a massive heart attack, Randal (Jeff Anderson) enlists his old friend Dante (Brian O’Halloran) to help him make a movie immortalizing their youthful days at the little convenience store that started it all.

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    10. ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back‘ (2001)

    (L to R) Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith in 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'. Photo: Miramax Films.
    (L to R) Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith in ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’. Photo: Miramax Films.

    When Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith) learn that their comic-book alter egos, Bluntman and Chronic, have been sold to Hollywood as part of a big-screen movie that leaves them out of any royalties, the pair travels to Tinseltown to sabotage the production.

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    9. ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno‘ (2008)

    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks in 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno'. Photo: The Weinstein Company.
    (L to R) Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks in ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’. Photo: The Weinstein Company.

    Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.

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    8. ‘Yoga Hosers‘ (2016)

    (L to R) Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny Depp and Harley Quinn Smith in 'Yoga Hosers'. Photo: Invincible Pictures.
    (L to R) Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny Depp and Harley Quinn Smith in ‘Yoga Hosers’. Photo: Invincible Pictures.

    Two teenage yoga enthusiasts (Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith) team up with a legendary man-hunter (Johnny Depp) to battle with an ancient evil presence that is threatening their major party plans.

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    7. ‘Red State‘ (2011)

    Michael Parks in 'Red State'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Michael Parks in ‘Red State’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Set in Middle America, a group of teens receive an online invitation for sex, though they soon encounter Christian fundamentalists with a much more sinister agenda.

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    6. ‘The 4:30 Movie‘ (2024)

    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith's ‘The 4:30 Movie'. Photo: Saban Films.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

    Writer-director Kevin Smith presents his most personal film to date with this coming-of-age story — set in the summer of 1986 — that follows three sixteen-year-old friends who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local cineplex. When one of the guys invites the girl of his dreams to see an R-rated film, all hilarity breaks loose, as a self-important theater manager (Ken Jeong) and teen rivalries interfere with his best-laid plans.

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    5. ‘Tusk‘ (2014)

    Justin Long in 'Tusk'. Photo: A24.
    Justin Long in ‘Tusk’. Photo: A24.

    When his best friend and podcast co-host (Justin Long) goes missing in the backwoods of Canada, a young guy (Haley Joel Osment) joins forces with his friend’s girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez) to search for him.

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    4. ‘Mallrats‘ (1995)

    (L to R) Jason Lee, Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London and Claire Forlani in 'Mallrats'. Photo: Gramercy Pictures.
    (L to R) Jason Lee, Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London and Claire Forlani in ‘Mallrats’. Photo: Gramercy Pictures.

    Both dumped by their girlfriends, two best friends (Jeremy London and Jason Lee) seek refuge in the local mall. Eventually, they decide to try and win back their significant others (Shannen Doherty and Claire Forlani) and take care of their respective nemeses (Ben Affleck).

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    3. ‘Chasing Amy‘ (1997)

    Joey Lauren Adams in 'Chasing Amy'. Photo: Miramax Films.
    Joey Lauren Adams in ‘Chasing Amy’. Photo: Miramax Films.

    Holden (Ben Affleck) and Banky (Jason Lee) are comic book artists. Everything is going good for them until they meet Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), also a comic book artist. Holden falls for her, but his hopes are crushed when he finds out she’s a lesbian.

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    2. ‘Dogma‘ (1999)

    (L to R) Chris Rock, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Linda Fiorentino in 'Dogma'. Photo: Lionsgate Films.
    (L to R) Chris Rock, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Linda Fiorentino in ‘Dogma’. Photo: Lionsgate Films.

    An abortion clinic worker with a special heritage (Linda Fiorentino) is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) trying to exploit a loophole and reenter Heaven.

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    1. ‘Clerks‘ (1994)

    (L to R) Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson in 'Clerks'. Photo: Miramax Films.
    (L to R) Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson in ‘Clerks’. Photo: Miramax Films.

    Convenience and video store clerks Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) are sharp-witted, potty-mouthed and bored out of their minds. So in between needling customers, the counter jockeys play hockey on the roof, visit a funeral home and deal with their love lives.

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  • ‘The 4:30 Movie’ Interview: Director Kevin Smith

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    Available on digital beginning October 1st is ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ directed by Kevin Smith, and starring Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, Reed Northrup, Siena Agudong, Jason Lee, Kate Micucci, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, and Ken Jeong.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The 4:30 Movie’

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking over Zoom with ‘Clerks‘ and ‘Chasing Amy‘ writer and director Kevin Smith about his new film “The 4:30 Movie,” a semi-autobiographical, warmly nostalgic look at a teen romance that blossoms in the seats of a local movie theater in the summer of 1986.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Kevin Smith.

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Moviefone: To begin with, how are you feeling about the response to the movie so far?

    Kevin Smith: So good, man, no complaints. It’s a nice byproduct when people like the movie. Never the aim but never not the aim. It’s never like, “I want to make something people hate.” But it’s nice when you make something and people are like, “Yeah, good on you.”

    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith's ‘The 4:30 Movie'. Photo: Saban Films.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

    Moviefone: Are the events of this film sort of ripped right from the pages of the Kevin Smith biography?

    Kevin Smith: Yeah. I mean, look, the events of every movie I’ve ever made are pretty much ripped from the pages of the Kevin Smith biography with the exception of ‘Dogma.’ Even parts of that are pretty autobiographical. I’m not a very inventive storyteller or filmmaker. I crib from real life all the time, and this movie is absolutely no exception. The first scene [in which the teen lead calls the Chinese restaurant where his crush works], that long phone conversation, that literally happened and that’s almost verbatim the things that I said in terms of making a big order and then saying “Six and a half almond cookies and your hand in marriage.” Stuff like that came right out of real life. There are moments where Brian David, our main character, is riding around talking into his tape recorder — I lifted that from recordings of me doing the exact same thing. I cribbed liberally from my real life to make this flick. But to be fair, I do that with all the flicks.

    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Moviefone: You filmed this in the theater that was your local cineplex as a kid — which you ended up buying and turning into Smodcastle Cinemas. Was the theater in danger of closing before you jumped in?

    Kevin Smith: In fact, the other day was the two-year anniversary of us taking over officially and it becoming Smodcastle Cinemas. This was a movie theater I grew up going to in my childhood. My father would take me there, I’d go there with my family, I’d go there with my friends on the weekend. It’s in the neighboring town, Atlantic Highlands [New Jersey], right next to where I grew up. Post-COVID, like many movie theaters, they fell on pretty hard times. There are multiplexes all around us with better seating and bigger, better quality but this was our local community theater. Me and my friends got together and bought it to keep it going. It’s over 100 years old so we were like “Let’s try it for another 100.” But when we bought it, one of the first things I realized is I got a free set. I can make a whole-ass movie here. This is a location for heaven’s sakes. Naturally being the guy who made ‘Clerks,’ it’s like “Do I make a movie about what it’s like to work in a movie theater?” I never did that myself so that would be like pretending or stolen valor. So I was like “You know what I can do? Tell a story about all the times that I hopped theaters as a kid.” Our parents would drop us off for the matinee and then come pick us up at 10:00 at night, and only give us two bucks to go to the movies, man. You pay for one movie and then you snuck into another and then you snuck into another and you kept going. So I figured with this location I can tell that story. There’s something cheeky about making a movie in a movie theater about movies and stuff. It’s not so much cheeky as affectionate. Obviously, movies have been a big part of my life. So much so they shaped my adulthood. Where I saw them, where I ingested those movies, that gets the shout-out this time around. I’ve been shouting out movies my whole life and it’s time to shout out where I saw those movies. At the same time, it could be a free commercial for Smodcastle Cinemas — two birds, one stone, or two birds, one seed as my kid said.

    Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Moviefone: Finally, is it your policy as the owner now to look the other way if people sneak in and out of the auditoriums?

    Kevin Smith: 100%. In the end credits of ‘4:30 Movie’ I tell people, “Smodcastle Cinemas, go visit. Pay for one movie, hop around, go see as many movies you want. If you get caught tell Ernie I said it was okay.” As a film exhibitor I know how tough it is to get asses in seats, man. We had ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ open a couple of weeks ago, I asked Smodcastle keeper Ernie O’Donnell, the guy that runs the place, “How’d we do with ‘Beetlejuice’?” He goes, “Friday we had 50 tickets, Saturday we had 100.” That’s the whole day. That’s good for a brand-new movie for us. Really the stuff that tends to do well at our theaters is retro screenings. So like “Hey man, I’m going to show ‘Tusk’ and Justin Long’s here. Hey, we’re going to show ‘Mallrats’ and Jason Lee’s here.” I could sell out those screenings and stuff. But when it comes to just selling real movies on the daily they’ll prefer to go to other movie theaters that have the better seating and s**t like that. So anything to get people to head to our theater is a good thing. Hopefully, them going, “What, there was a movie shot here?” is just one more reason for them to come visit. This is a temple that taught me my craft. The thing that I would eventually spend my life doing, my vocation, was born by sitting in those seats. I sat in those seats with people that I dearly love, some of whom are not even around anymore, like my father. Keeping it alive, man. It started as like, “Hey, I’m a filmmaker, this makes sense having a movie theater.” Quentin [Tarantino]‘s got one. It’s a little harder to run a movie theater in suburban New Jersey in terms of getting talent to come out. When you’re in Hollywood people just live here. But I’ve been able to bring Hollywood to the theater over the course of the last two years. No more so than when we brought cameras in and started rolling. Now for the rest of my life, or as long as we own that movie theater, I’ll always be able to play ‘The 4:30 Movie’ there on a Sunday at 4:30 from now until the end of time. It’ll never stay in other movie theaters. Maybe they’ll do retro or rep house screenings of it one day. But in our theater it will always live. Very rarely does a movie theater get to be like, “The whole movie was shot here.” We’ll showcase that forever.

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    What is the plot of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    Three teenage friends (Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) map out an afternoon outing to the local cineplex in the summer of 1986, but their plans to sneak into a new R-rated movie could be disrupted by the irritating theater owner and a host of other characters — not to mention one of the boys bringing his dream girl to the cinema as well.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    • Austin Zajur as Brian David
    • Nicholas Cirillo as Burny
    • Reed Northrup as Belly
    • Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat
    • Justin Long as Stank
    • Jason Lee as Brian’s dad
    • Kate Micucci as Melody’s mom
    • Genesis Rodriguez as Usher
    • Ken Jeong as Manager Mike
    (L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Other Kevin Smith Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The 4:30 Movie’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘The 4:30 Movie’

    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Nicholas Cirillo as Burny and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Nicholas Cirillo as Burny and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Opening in theaters September 20th is ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, Reed Northrup, Siena Agudong, Jason Lee, Kate Micucci, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, and Ken Jeong.

    Related Article: Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’ and the Legacy of the Franchise

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Moving away from the deconstructed horror and near-nihilistic meta comedy of his past few films (including the pure despair of his last one, ‘Clerks III’), Kevin Smith seems to be in a much better mood with ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ a semi-autobiographical teen comedy that draws heavily from his own early life and finds just enough of a sweet spot between his usual tasteless humor and some genuinely earnest coming-of-age romance to keep the film interesting and perhaps even attract a few new viewers to his walled cinematic garden.

    Smith’s latest joint benefits from nice performances by his young cast as well, which partially counteracts his usual tendency to park the camera and let scenes roll on for too long. At the same time, he can’t help but include a bunch of his trademark raunchy humor, and the list of guest stars from the vast canon of his View Askewniverse can be equal parts distracting, irritating, and funny.

    Story and Direction

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    For those of us of a certain age who grew up in the New York/New Jersey area – as Kevin Smith did – “The 4:30 Movie” was a holy after-school ritual every day. Broadcast on the local ABC-TV affiliate (Channel 7, back in the prehistoric days when cable was something you towed a car with and streaming was what rain did down your windows), the program fit both theatrical and made-for-TV films into a daily 90-minute timeslot. The show’s themed weeks, in which it would show all five ‘Planet of the Apes’ films or a string of Godzilla features, were an essential part of many grade-schoolers’ film education.

    We suspect Smith was a fan of that ‘4:30 Movie’ too, but that’s not the nostalgia that his new film ‘The 4:30 Movie’ harvests, sadly. Instead, the title refers to the showtime of a new R-rated film playing at the local multiplex in the New Jersey town of Atlantic Highlands (near where Smith grew up) that three friends – film-obsessed Brian (Austin Zajur), ladies’ man Burny (Nicholas Cirillo), and seemingly dim yet observant Belly (Reed Northrup) – plan on sneaking into after paying to see an earlier PG movie they’ve watched before. But there’s a new wrinkle to the plan: Brian has also invited his crush Melody (Siena Agudong) along. After failing to go to second base (with her encouragement and permission) in her pool last summer, Brian has remained infatuated with Melody and wants to take her on a proper date…with his two best friends along for the trip.

    ‘The 4:30 Movie’ takes place in the summer of 1986, right in the midst of Smith’s teen years and clearly inspired by events from his own life (the film was shot at the cineplex in which it takes place, which Smith now owns). As with all Smith films, the plot is only a loose framework on which to hang a bunch of character interactions and random incidents, most of which feature walk-ons from Smith regulars like Rosario Dawson, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Harley Quinn Smith, and of course ‘Clerks’ stalwarts Jeff Anderson, Brian O’Halloran, and Jason Mewes (spoiler alert: they don’t play their regular characters here, but the movie is very much set in the View Askewniverse).

    Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    There are plenty of moments, characterizations, and jokes in ‘The 4:30 Movie’ that fall flat, just as there are others that are crude or, in the case of the overbearing, self-important multiplex owner Manager Mike (Ken Jeong), borderline offensive. But there is a sweetness at the heart of the movie, exemplified by the relationship between Brian and Melody. He is shy, horny, and immature, but respectful where it counts, while she is self-possessed, confident, wise beyond her years, and direct in her eagerness to be Brian’s girlfriend. Their blooming romance comes into direct collision with Brian’s relationship to his two bros, Burny and Belly, with Burny in particular having a dim view of the female species that one hopes he’ll eventually grow out of. The situation brings the friendship between the three to a head, changing their dynamic in ways they don’t see coming.

    Those are the best parts of ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ where Smith hits at some genuine emotional truth among teenagers who are just starting to brush up against the feelings and experiences that mark their transition to adulthood. Smith’s empathy for that, as well as his genuine affection for the time, place, and cultural zeitgeist in which the film is set, makes this one of his better movies in recent years. The rest of it – the inert camerawork, staid compositions, jokes that just dangle helplessly in the air – in a weird way, they’re part of the charm too this time.

    The Cast

    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith's ‘The 4:30 Movie'. Photo: Saban Films.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

    Whether it’s the aging semi-professional slackers of ‘Clerks III’ or the insipid leads of ‘Yoga Hosers,’ Kevin Smith has a knack for casting people it can sometimes be difficult to watch. With ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ however, his two leads – Austin Zajur as Brian and Siena Agudong as Melody – are two of his better choices. Agudong in particular is a potential star in the making, radiating intelligence, charisma, and warmth, while Zajur is quite effective himself as a teen pulled in several directions while trying to find his own.

    Nick Cirillo and Reed Northrup both show their own flashes of wit and depth as Brian’s friends, with Northrup in particular having a standout scene late in the game. As for the rest of the cast – well, it’s a wonder than Ken Jeong manages to eke out some memorably funny lines and even a moment of humanity or two as the otherwise abrasive Manager Mike, while Genesis Rodriguez gets a brief spotlight as a box office cashier with a secret of her own. Everyone else – Smith’s usual coterie of pals and repertoire players – more or less walks through and waves.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    As we said above, ‘The 4:30 Movie’ is not likely to be a game-changer for Kevin Smith – he might gain a few more viewers for this one, but his style of filmmaking is what it is, and his fanbase is pretty much entrenched. When you sit down for a Kevin Smith film, you know what you’re going to get, and you’re either open to navigating that or not.

    Having said that, this movie does have a lot more warmth to it that his last few outings, and while Smith always pours his heart into his films, that heart comes through a little more clearly here. It’s an ode to what he himself describes in a long end-credits thank-you list as a “happy childhood,” and there are moments that many of us can relate to here (including sneaking from the PG movie into the R-rated one). Now we’d like to see a film about ABC’s “4:30 Movie” as well.

    ‘The 4:30 Movie’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    Three teenage friends (Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) map out an afternoon outing to the local cineplex in the summer of 1986, but their plans to sneak into a new R-rated movie could be disrupted by the irritating theater owner and a host of other characters — not to mention one of the boys bringing his dream girl to the cinema as well.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    • Austin Zajur as Brian David
    • Nicholas Cirillo as Burny
    • Reed Northrup as Belly
    • Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat
    • Justin Long as Stank
    • Jason Lee as Brian’s dad
    • Kate Micucci as Melody’s mom
    • Genesis Rodriguez as Usher
    • Ken Jeong as Manager Mike
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Other Kevin Smith Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The 4:30 Movie’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon

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  • Kevin Smith Announces New Comedy ‘The 4:30 Movie’

    Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith's ‘The 4:30 Movie'.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

    Preview:

    • Kevin Smith has shot new comedy ‘The 4:30 Movie’.
    • A new coming-of-age saga about three teen friends, it’s set in 1986.
    • Smith will tour the movie this summer ahead of a theatrical release.

    Kevin Smith has made a career riffing on pop culture and channeling nostalgia, along with a steady stream of stoner gags.

    With his time in the ‘Clerks’ universe apparently over for a while, Kevin Smith has turned his attention to an original movie. His latest, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, might sound like it’s headed back in a weed direction (but it’s not ‘The 4:20 Movie), but is instead founded upon his own teenage love of cinema.

    And now the coming-of-age movie has a distribution deal, with Saban Films.

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    What’s the story of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    Set in the summer of 1986, the coming-of-age comedy follows three sixteen-year-old friends (played by Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local multiplex. But when one of the guys also invites the girl of his dreams (Siena Agudong) to see the latest comedy, each of the teens will learn something serious about life and love before the credits roll.

    Who else is in ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    Justin Long as Hap Jackson in the thriller, 'House of Darkness.'
    Justin Long as Hap Jackson in the thriller, ‘House of Darkness,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.

    To support the young leads, Smith has recruited several returning veterans of his other movies and some new faces. The other cast includes Ken Jeong, Sam Richardson, Genesis Rodriguez, Justin Long, Jason Lee, Rachel Dratch, Kate Micucci, Adam Pally, Harley Quinn Smith and Method Man.

    Related Article: Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’ and the Legacy of the Franchise

    What has Kevin Smith said about his new movie?

    'Clerks III' director and writer Kevin Smith.
    ‘Clerks III’ director and writer Kevin Smith.

    As with the original ‘Clerks’, which was famously shot at night in the convenience store where Smith worked in his 20s, ‘The 4:30 Movie’ utilized the Smodcastle Cinema that the director owns. A cinema, in fact, in New Jersey where he used to visit as a teenager himself.

    This is what he told Deadline:

    “The day we bought Smodcastle Cinemas, I not only reclaimed an integral piece of my childhood, I also suddenly had access to a visually interesting and cost-free movie location! So I started writing a personal paean to the past for us 70’s and 80’s kids –– the pre-information generation who grew up without the Internet, when romance and relationships required much more than a swipe to get started, and the idea of asking out someone you had a crush on was as terrifying as the looming threat of nuclear war.”

    When will ‘The 4:30 Movie’ be in theaters?

    Smith is returning to a release policy that has worked for him in the past –– he’s taking the new movie out on a roadshow tour this summer. Then, it’ll be released nationwide in theaters, but a date has yet to be announced.

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith on the set of the comedy, 'Clerks III.'
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith on the set of the comedy, ‘Clerks III,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Bayer/Lionsgate.

    Other Kevin Smith Movies:

    Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Clerks III’

    Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Releasing in theaters this week, Kevin Smith’s return to his “View Askewniverse” (named for his View Askew production label) with ‘Clerks III’ finds the filmmaker in thoughtful, nostalgic mood.

    Much as he did with his last visit to the world kicked off with ‘Clerks’ in 1994 – that would be 2019’s ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’ – this is Smith taking stock of his output.

    And even more directly than ‘Reboot’, ‘Clerks III’ serves as the director turning the clock back to where it all began, the Quick Stop convenience store at which he made the original ‘Clerks’ and a full return for the characters who populate it. His trademark mix of pop cultural references and sex jokes is present and correct, but this time he also leavens with a healthy mix of heart… in more ways than one.

    ‘Clerks III’ catches up with Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson), the counter jockeys we first met way back when. Following a brief diversion to the fast food trade (in 2006’s ‘Clerks II’) They’re once more at the Quick Stop, still complaining about the customers, but this time co-owning and running the place.

    Justin Long, and Jeff Anderson as Randal in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Justin Long, and Jeff Anderson as Randal in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Our heroes are much as we remember them – Dante is still overworked and under satisfied, while Randal remains more confident but lazier. Yet in the middle of a one of his usual rants, Randal keels over, finding it hard to breathe. Turns out he’s in the middle of what is known as a “Widowmaker” heart attack (Smith here drawing from his own life and his own 2018 heart incident, which has led to a resurgence in his filmmaking career).

    When he recovers, he’s grateful, at least as much as Randal can be, and decides that his legacy will be a movie made within the environs of the store, featuring customers as characters. Which means he’s essentially recreating ‘Clerks’. It’s an inspired plot turn and leads to some of the strongest humor of the movie.

    It allows Smith to revisit his work through the lens (literally) of the filmmaker he has become in the 28 years since he maxed out his credit cards and shot that little black & white movie that would play at the Sundance Film Festival and launch his career.

    Though he’s obviously learned a lot through the film and TV he’s made since then, Smith keeps the aesthetic of the original (with monochrome for the movie-within-the-movie). And while detractors point to his lack of visual polish, the stark style works for a return to the convenience store.

    Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Also still hanging around are Smith stalwarts Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (the director himself, as always), the local drug dealers who have upgraded from slinging weed outside the next door video store to taking it over for a legal dispensary now video retailers have all but gone the way of the dinosaur.

    Though Jay and Bob here are a largely one-joke concept (Jay’s a filthy motormouth, Bob only talks when he has a good point to make), Smith has made strides in expanding their characters, and it really wouldn’t be ‘Clerks’ without them.

    Yet while it’s enjoyable to catch up with most of the characters, Trevor Fehrman’s Elias from ‘Clerks II’ is unnecessarily squeezed back in with the original gang. It’s no fault of Ferhman, who is committed to the role, but he’s burdened with a ludicrous subplot about rejecting his fervent Christianity after Randal’s heart attack and become an even more devout Satanist. It’s a step removed from the rest of the film and is uncomfortably unfunny.

    Likewise some others who crop up, albeit briefly, during Randal’s hospital stay and are surprisingly less effective even though they’re played by reliable performers including Amy Sedaris and Justin Long.

    Brian O'Halloran as Dante and Rosario Dawson as Becky in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Brian O’Halloran as Dante and Rosario Dawson as Becky in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    The movie is at its strongest when it stays within the store environs, focusing on Dante, Randall and the others, touching on plot points from both ‘Clerks’ and ‘Clerks II’, the latter featuring a heartbreaking update on one of the best parts of that first sequel. It will certainly turn some off the movie, but it works as an emotional throughline and offers O’Halloran more layers to play than simple exasperation.

    Those who haven’t watched most of Smith’s work or heard one of his lengthy Q&As will be baffled by all of this, unmoved by the collection of cameos and call-backs, but if we’re truly honest, starting your dive into the Kevin Smith oeuvre with a movie called ‘Clerks III’ is a losing proposition to begin with.

    Diehard fans, though, will likely be thrilled, lapping up the references to the Salsa Shark scene (a recreation of which sparks possibly the best, angriest monologue Smith has ever written, and delivered with show-stopping force by O’Halloran), roof hockey, characters we haven’t seen since the original film and funny digs at the director’s own style.

    And while a scene featuring “local actors” auditioning for roles in the film begins to stretch the boundaries of self-indulgent (the likes of Ben Affleck, Ethan Suplee, Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood are among those showing up), it’s a minor part of the movie and offers enough chuckles to justify its existence.

    And more than even ‘Clerks II’, the third movie can be described as hurdling over the bar of worthwhile filmmaking, Smith’s brush with death giving this a depth that a planned previous attempt would likely have lacked. Plus, the writer/director can still spin a yarn and find funny turns of phrase. ‘Clerks III’ is a welcome return to a world that many first visited in their teens and early adulthood, and while its appeal will primarily be to those whose walls were graced by ‘Clerks’ posters, it’s not simply retreading old ground but reframing it.

    ‘Clerks III’ receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
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  • Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’

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    Lionsgate in partnership with Fathom Events will release director Kevin Smith’s ‘Clerks III’ exclusively in theaters from September 13th – September 18th.

    The new movie is a direct sequel to ‘Clerks’ and ‘Clerks II,’ and is the ninth film in Smith’s ‘View Askewniverse’ franchise.

    ‘Clerks III’ focuses on Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson), who after having a heart attack decides to make a movie with Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) about their lives at the Quick Stop convenience store.

    In addition to Anderson and O’Halloran, the cast also includes Marlyn Ghigliotti, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Amy Sedaris, Fred Armisen, Justin Long, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ben Affleck, as well as Jason Mewes and Smith as Jay and Silent Bob, respectively.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Smith about his work on ‘Clerks III,’ making the sequel, revisiting the characters, the original’s cult status, his overall career, and how his heart attack changed his outlook on life.

    'Clerks III' director and writer Kevin Smith.
    ‘Clerks III’ director and writer Kevin Smith.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Smith, Jason Mewes, Brian O’Halloran, and Jeff Anderson.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what do you think ‘Clerks’ would look like if you first made it in 2022 rather than 1994?

    Kevin Smith: It exists. You can watch it. There’s a guy on TikTok, I got to learn his name. He’s a comedian. He’s very funny. He’s got a mustache and he’s a younger kid, and he works at Ikea or did work at Ikea. So, his bit on TikTok is like, he’ll do an Ikea customer complaining and then he moves the camera dramatically on himself, the music kicks in and he bitches back at the person who’s complaining.

    That would be the modern day ‘Clerks.’ You wouldn’t make 90 minutes of a movie. You would just have somebody be like, “This is what we deal with on my job,” and then move on. I don’t think you could do ‘Clerks’ today, or at least I can’t. Number one, you got to work in retail. You got to be in the trenches. I haven’t been in the trenches for a long time. Now I own the trench.

    But that’s what I could bring to it. I could bring the movie to it. Somebody online was trying to tag me a couple months ago saying, “Oh, his last three movies have been about movies and making movies.” And I’m like, well, that makes sense. My first movie is about working at a convenience store because guess what? That’s what I did. Now I make movies. I’m not that creative. I just crib from my own life and change the names around. So, at the end of the day, whatever’s happening in my real-life winds up in the work.

    MF: What would you say to someone who is watching ‘Clerks III,’ but hasn’t seen ‘Clerks’ or ‘Clerks II?’

    KS: I’d be like, did you see that there’s a three in the title? Are you curious about the one and the two by any chance? At one-point Lionsgate said to me, “Do you want to do test screenings?” I was like, why? The movie’s got a three in the title. The only people who are coming are people who liked one or two. Their point was, no, I think the movie works. I was like, what do you mean? They were like, “I think it works without one at two.”

    I was like, you’re out of your mind. They’re like, “No, you actually retell ‘Clerks’ and ‘Clerks II’ in ‘Clerks III.’” I was like, you know what? I can’t argue with that. So, I think there are people that can watch this movie and not be lost even though they didn’t see the other ones. But if they’re in a theater with other people, and other people are laughing at literally every reference, they might be like, “I think I’m missing something here.”

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith on the set of the comedy, 'Clerks III.'
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith on the set of the comedy, ‘Clerks III,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Bayer/Lionsgate.

    MF: ‘Clerks’ has become a cult classic, at what point did you realize that you had created something special that was really resonating with audiences?

    KS: I think when at Quick Stop, people started making the pilgrimage. So, you’d get people coming in from out of state, first. New Yorkers would come and take pictures in front of Quick Stop. Then you had people coming from outside of the East Coast, then you had people coming from outside of America, all to stop by this little convenience store and take pictures with Gatorade and stuff like that, and stand behind the counter. So, I realized at that point.

    Early on, somebody described it as a cult movie and as a big movie fan, I was like, oh, that’s good because that doesn’t mean worldwide popularity, but it means a hardcore love by a certain amount of people that’ll keep you alive for a while. So, once we got 10 years in and people started floating the term cold classic, I was safe. It felt like no matter what happens for the rest of my career, I got one. I got a movie that they’re going to remember, good or bad, I made an Impact. Then years later, if you’re still in a career, you get to a place where you’re like, let’s make a movie about that movie.

    MF: In the film, after having a heart attack Randall has a big epiphany that he wants to be a film director. Did you have a big epiphany after you had your heart attack?

    KS: There was that aspect of it. Also, the fact that you’re painfully aware of living on borrowed time, so you’re like, well, act accordingly. So, that means I’m going to get to ‘Clerks III.’ It means make ‘Clerks III’ happen sooner rather than later. Because I’ve changed my life, I want vegan, and I lost weight. But my heart attack was more about my genetics than anything else. I can’t change that.

    So, the heart attack could come back around. Best to be on a movie set when that happens. Not dreaming about, well one day I’ll do it, actually doing it. Because that’s been my whole career, my whole life. Nobody’s going to give you permission. Nobody’s going to give you help. Help is never coming. Do it yourself. So, that kicked back in a big bad way after the heart attack.

    MF: Finally, does it feel like it’s been 28 years since you made the first ‘Clerks?’

    KS: Yes, but not in a bad way. Not where I’m like, oh my God, what a life. But I know that we’ve been around. I know we’ve done a lot of stuff. I was waiting for this moment in the beginning. I was always fixated on the future because I wanted to get to a place where people considered me seriously because I’d been around for a while. They don’t treat you that seriously or consider you that seriously off the first movie. My second movie almost killed me. ‘Mallrats,’ oddly enough, a movie that people love now, but when it came out, it didn’t do that well.

    So, I dreamed of being in a place in my career where people were like, “Oh, director Kevin Smith.” That people knew my name and that people knew what I did. So, I was always dreaming about getting here, having a decade, two decades, three decades in. What I never dreamed about was that we would continue the story. The first ‘Clerks,’ when we shot it ends with Dante getting killed. So, it’s clearly not a guy going like, “Wait till ‘Clerks II.’” That came kind of later on. So yeah, after the heart attack, it just became about ramping things up, and getting there faster.

    Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
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  • Kevin Smith Unveils the First Trailer for Legacy-Referencing ‘Clerks III’

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    Though he’s forged new horizons (‘Red State’, a ‘He-Man’ TV series among others), writer/director Kevin Smith has never been afraid to look back. He doesn’t so much wallow in nostalgia as dive in fully, crafting what he used to refer to as the View Askewniverse to chart the misadventures of characters in New Jersey.

    For his latest, ‘Clerks III’, he’s gone full meta, merging his more recent life-threatening experience via a heart attack with the start of his career, committing the eccentricities of convenience store work to celluloid for the original 1994 ‘Clerks’.

    We’re back at the Quick Stop, which, while some of the products and adjoining stores might have changed, is still the same grudge work occasionally patronized by locals and local weirdoes (including Smith and Jason Mewes as drug dealers Jay and Silent Bob).

    Our focus once again is on Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson), who are back slinging smokes, coffee and gum at the store. After a heart incident of his own, Randall decides he’s going to stop being a wastrel and make a movie about his experiences.

    This first trailer for ‘Clerks III’ itself is packed with references to the other two ‘Clerks’ movies and Smith’s wider career (hello, Ben Affleck!) The likes of Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Marilyn Ghigliotti return from the previous movies, while we can also expect cameos from Justin Long, Fred Armisen and more.

    Elias (Trevor Fehrman), Dante (Brian O’Halloran), Becky (Rosario Dawson), and Randal (Jeff Anderson) in the comedy film, 'Clerks III.'
    [L to R] Elias (Trevor Fehrman), Dante (Brian O’Halloran), Becky (Rosario Dawson), and Randal (Jeff Anderson) in the comedy film, ‘Clerks III,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Baer.
    And Smith, in his usual self-deprecating style, is unafraid to poke fun at the whole endeavor, going so far as to reference the darker deleted ending where Dante is shot during a robbery. “I’m

    not letting you kill me off in the third act! What if there’s a sequel?” bleats Dante. “What am I, a hack?” replies Randal. Cue Smith – as Silent Bob – pointing at him.

    Jay and Bob, meanwhile, are referred to as the C3PO and R2D2 of the ‘Clerks’ world – “they’ve been here since the first movie, which was the last time they were cool, but they’ve been with the franchise so long they still give them cameos and put them on lunchboxes.”

    There are lots of other callbacks to the original movie, such as hockey played on the roof and some of the customers. Oh, and one of the most famous, quoted snippets of ‘Clerks’ dialogue, Randal musing on how many innocent independent contractors died when the unfinished Death Star was destroyed in ‘Return of the Jedi’. Though this time updated with a worry that Disney might sue if they use it.

    Fans of Smith’s oeuvre will no doubt be happy to see the various references and it’s honestly fun to be hanging out with this people again.

    As has become common with Smith’s big-screen work, the release is not your standard opening, tied instead to Fathom Events for two nights of screenings across the country on September 13th and 15th. You can get tickets here.

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