1. Mexican Food Has UNESCO Recognition

Traditional Mexican food is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Traditional Mexican cuisine was added to the list in 2010 due to its cultural significance and the techniques involved in its preparation, which often include grinding, pounding, and cooking on open flames. This recognition underscores the rich culinary heritage of Mexico and its importance as a part of global cultural heritage.

2. Salsa Varieties

In Mexico, salsa is not just one type of sauce. There's a staggering variety of salsas, from the fiery habanero-based ones to mild and tangy tomato-based options. Salsas are an essential condiment in Mexican cuisine. So, while people may think about just the delicious red sauce you use to dip chips, many more varieties are widely used throughout the country. 

3. Insects Are Common Ingredients in Some Traditional Hispanic Foods

Many may be surprised that edible insects aren't uncommon in Mexico. Grasshoppers are a more well-known and popular option, but a lesser-known fan favorite is escamoles. Escamoles are ant eggs, considered a delicacy in the country. They have a nutty, buttery flavor and are often used in gourmet dishes, particularly in central Mexican cuisine.

You'll usually find these specialty options at some of your fancier establishments, but they can also be snacks sold by street food vendors.   

4. Pepitos Were Named for the First Mexican President

Pepitos are beloved street food, featuring beef or chicken, cheese, and various toppings in sublike sandwiches. Fillings range from corn kernels to crispy potato sticks, and they're generously sauced with guasacaca, a zesty green avocado salsa, and salsa rosada, a delightful blend of ketchup and mayonnaise.

One interesting fact about pepitos is that their name is said to have originated from the nickname of Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of Mexico.

5. National Pupusa Day

A pupusa is a thick round cake of corn masa flour, a staple of El Salvador. These handheld delights are often filled with beans, cheese, or pork, transforming them into a hearty meal. Enjoyed with curtido (spicy cabbage slaw) and red salsa, pupusas are a national favorite, celebrated on National Pupusa Day every second Sunday in November.

6. Eat Chiles en Nogada on Independence Day

On Independence Day, households and eateries across the nation prepare chiles en nogada: green chilies filled with ground meat and vegetables. These are then generously coated in a velvety walnut sauce and adorned with vibrant red pomegranate seeds. The colors green, red, and white in this traditional Mexican dish symbolize the nation's flag, making it a symbolically fitting choice for Independence Day celebrations.

7. The Holy Trinity

Mexican cuisine features a “holy trinity” of chilies: ancho, pasilla, and guajillo. These versatile peppers play a fundamental role and contribute rich, smoky, fruity, and earthy flavors to many dishes, from moles and enchiladas to salsas and adobo sauces. They showcase the meticulous and artful use of chilies in Mexican cooking.

8. It's All About the Veggies

In many global cuisines, meat, fish, or poultry usually take center stage, while vegetables play a supporting role. However, the ancient Mayans had a distinctive approach, initially featuring vegetables as the primary focus of their dishes and later incorporating meat and fish.

Modern Mexican cuisine continues this tradition inspired by Mayan heritage, emphasizing vegetables as the central component of its dishes, with meat serving as a complementary element to enhance the overall flavor.

9. Tortillas Everywhere 

Tortillas are versatile and commonly included in almost every Mexican meal, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the morning, they might be used for breakfast tacos or burritos. They serve as the main vessel for various dishes like tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and more for lunch and dinner. Their widespread use makes tortillas a staple for Mexican meals across all mealtimes.

10. Churros Over Doughnuts

Churros made their way to Mexico during the early 1500s through Spanish influence. Originally resembling breadsticks, they gradually scaled down in size. These fried delights, reminiscent of Spanish-style doughnuts, are coated with sugar and accompanied by caramel or chocolate sauce, making them the favored choice over traditional doughnuts for most Mexicans.

11. Tuna Ice Cream, Anyone?

When you hear “tuna,” fish probably comes to mind. However, it's much different than you'd expect! Prickly pear is a type of cactus fruit, and it is commonly known as tuna in Mexico. It is often used in Mexican cuisine to make refreshing beverages, desserts, and sorbets. The flavor of prickly pear is sweet and somewhat reminiscent of a watermelon or a combination of various fruits.

The ice cream is made using caramelized milk sugar and the unique flavors of prickly pear or nopales fruit, which carries a slightly intriguing raw texture. 

12. Best Hot Chocolate Ever 

Mexican hot chocolate is far from ordinary. It's prepared from a luscious blend of ground cacao and sugar, resulting in a distinctive earthy flavor that sets it apart from any other variety you've tried. This unique treat is readily available at nearly every restaurant or café throughout Mexico. Many travelers say it's the best hot chocolate they've ever tasted!

1. Kevin Spacey 

Amidst a flurry of sexual misconduct allegations, actor Kevin Spacey opted for a controversial diversion. In 2017, he announced his homosexuality, a move widely criticized as an attempt to deflect from the grave allegations he faced. Critics deemed the timing tasteless, accusing Spacey of misusing his sexuality to sidestep accountability.

2. Rebekah Vardy

In the widely covered scandal between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, Vardy was accused of leaking personal stories about Rooney to the media. The scandal, often called the “Wagatha Christie” scandal, took social media by storm as both sides defended their positions. The public argued that Vardy mishandled the situation by responding publicly on social media, which some viewed as an imprudent move that prolonged the feud and exacerbated the media frenzy surrounding the story.

3. Amber Heard

Amid a highly publicized legal clash with Johnny Depp, Amber Heard's portrayal as a battered woman was viewed as disingenuous by the end of the trial. Revelations emerged of alleged abuse by both parties, shedding light on the fact that she initiated abuse against Depp on more than a few occasions. The case exposed complexities in their relationship, but many people in the public felt that she tried to take advantage of people's sympathy without owning up to the part she played.

4. Jonathan Majors 

One of the newest actors taking Hollywood by storm has recently come under fire amid a domestic violence allegation. Jonathan Majors released text messages purportedly from his accuser, Grace Jabbari, to exonerate himself.

However, these messages were met with skepticism and backlash. The messages read as if the abuse did occur and that the alleged victim was trying to cover for Jonathan Majors after the fact. In response to this scandal and a handful of other legal charges, Majors was dropped from his role as Kang the Conqueror in the MCU. 

5. Colleen Ballinger

Colleen Ballinger's YouTube stardom faced a severe blow when allegations of inappropriate behavior with underage fans surfaced, causing damage to her reputation. What compounded the issue was her continuous mishandling of the scandal. From sending lingerie to a minor to allegations of grooming, her actions were reckless and tone-deaf at best. This pattern of poor decision-making not only impacted her career but also left fans disheartened as the stories continued to unravel.

Ballinger followed up these accusations with a cringy apology video where she played a ukulele and half sang, half spoke her defenses. 

6. Kristen Stewart 

Kristen Stewart's affair with director Rupert Sanders during her relationship with Robert Pattinson was quite the scandal. She was put on the hot seat for how she carelessly responded. Onlookers found her public apology to Pattinson insincere and her reluctance to discuss her personal life dismissive. Her initial response was perceived as unapologetic and distant, leading to widespread disappointment in her handling of the affair.

7. Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew's scandal centered around his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sexual offender. Fans argue that he worsened the situation by giving a disastrous TV interview in 2019. His apparent lack of remorse, inconsistencies in his statements, and failure to empathize with Epstein's victims led to universal condemnation, tarnishing both his reputation and the royal family's image.

8. Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett faced a scandal in 2019 when he claimed to be the victim of a hate crime, alleging he was attacked due to his race and sexuality. Smollett supposedly set the whole ordeal up, indelibly trashing his career. The subsequent legal proceedings and charges for filing a false police report led to public outrage and accusations of damaging the credibility of genuine hate crime victims. Despite the evidence, Smollett still contends that he did not lie.

9. Harry and Meghan

Harry and Meghan became embroiled in a scandal after they decided to step back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family in 2020. Their stepping away wasn't necessarily the issue, but not thoroughly coordinating their announcement with other family members and airing their grievances publicly became a big deal. This led to a media frenzy and debates about their responsibilities and commitments to the monarchy, causing a divide between supporters and critics.

10. Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan faced a series of problems, including legal troubles, rehab stints, and erratic behavior. She refused to seek consistent help and continued to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. Her inability to receive proper help led to a decline in her career and public image, overshadowing her once-promising acting talent with a narrative of personal struggles and controversies.

Since then, Lohan seems to have turned over a new leaf, even welcoming a son with her husband, Bader Shammas. 

11. Ariana Grande 

Ariana Grande faced backlash for her “7 Rings” music video, accused of appropriating black culture and race-swapping by adopting certain aesthetics. She handled the situation poorly by not addressing concerns promptly. The controversy highlighted broader discussions about cultural appropriation and sensitivity, leading to debates on social media about the responsibilities of artists and their impact on diverse communities.

12. Will Smith

This blunder occurred on one of the biggest stages in the world and on one of the biggest nights for a beloved Hollywood superstar. After Chris Rock cracked jokes about his wife, Jada Smith, Will took to the stage to slap Chris Rock in front of the world. While his fans would advocate for his actions, many detractors disapproved of his impulsivity, empathizing with Rock and his apparent humiliation.

This situation led to Will Smith being banned from the Oscars for ten years, holding up many of his projects. He eventually apologized, but the public thought it looked like a forced hostage video that wasn't sincere.

13. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson dangled his baby off a balcony in 2002, leaving the world in an uproar. He was holding his infant son, Prince Michael II (also known as “Blanket”), outside a hotel room in Berlin. The act was widely criticized as reckless and dangerous, as it put his then-infant in harm's way needlessly. By placing his child in such a precarious position, many people railed against Jackson. He initially claimed he meant no harm and was excited to show fans his new baby. However, afterward, he apologized and said he realized he made a huge mistake. 

14. Ja Morant

In 2022, Ja Morant was suspended for a short period from the NBA because he brandished a gun at a nightclub, as captured on video. Mr. Morant then decided that it would be wise to wave another gun on Instagram Live six months later and receive a much lengthier suspension this go round. 

He eventually spoke up after the second incident and claimed it was a toy gun in the video, not a real one. Aside from the fact that not one person believed it was fake, Morant had no reason why a grown man would be riding around with a toy gun, let alone flashing it on camera. Come on, Ja, do better. 

15. Britney Spears

Britney Spears faced a highly publicized conservatorship battle, sparking concerns about her autonomy and well-being. People argued that the conservatorship was too restrictive. The #FreeBritney movement gained momentum, with supporters advocating for her rights.

Allegations of financial control and personal decisions being made for her raised questions about the singer's agency and the legal system's role in her life. Britney's mental status would eventually come into question, as she made a series of bizarre videos after her conservatorship was dissolved that indicated that she might not be mentally stable enough to handle her affairs after all. 

1. The Church of Scientology Infiltrated The Federal Government 

I think many of us can agree that Scientology is kind of crazy. Watching the South Park episode is more than enough proof of that. But outside of their beliefs, there’s also the conspiracy of the church. Enter Operation Snow White, a 1970s criminal conspiracy planned by Scientology to destroy records that showed the church and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, in a negative light.

According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, they went so far as to obtain and use fake IRS credentials to infiltrate government agencies and photocopy documents related to the church!

2. Ernest Hemingway Was Right About The FBI Following Him 

The famous American author is renowned for his many works throughout his life. However, another aspect of his life was a little darker. Nearing the end of his life, Hemingway was seen to be becoming more and more paranoid that he was FBI under surveillance. Whenever he ended his time here on Earth in 1961, there was talk that what was considered a delusion may have been one of the factors in his decision.

Decades later, in the 1980s, a Freedom of Information request was made by Jeffrey Myers that revealed that Hemingway had been under federal surveillance for his connections to Cuba.

3. No One Knows How The Tlatelolco Massacre Started 

Any loss of innocent life is a tragic event, and yet this tragedy was somehow able to get even worse. The 1968 Summer Olympics were held in Mexico. The country’s citizens began to protest in the days leading up to the games' opening due to the rising tensions and desire for reform. October 2, 1968, ten days before the opening ceremony, thousands of students gathered in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas to once again protest, but this would end in violence.

However, we still have no clear answer on what started it.

4. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Chose Not To Have a Second Term Because He Knew He Would Die Young 

There certainly must have been many factors that led to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to run for a second term. Of course, his popularity dwindled due to the Vietnam War. However, it turns out that there was something else.

In 1967, the president had secretly launched an actuarial study to determine when he would die. The men in his family had a history of dying young, and Lyndon B. Johnson wanted to see if that was in the cards for him, too. So, the study was done, and it was determined that he would die at 64 years old. Being 59 at the time of the analysis, this would not give him much time if he had run for a second term. What’s even more bizarre is that he did indeed die at the age of 64.

5. Tax Services Don’t Want Filing To Become Easier

Yep, you can thank tax filing services for the agony of tax season in the United States! Tax services have spent millions of dollars lobbying to prevent taxes from being any easier to file. It makes sense; if taxes were easy, no one would need these services anymore. That fact doesn’t make me feel any better about the situation, though.

6. JFK’s Brain Is Missing 

This sounds like a “frozen Walt Disney’s head” joke, and I wish it were, honestly! But, no, it’s true. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, his body was autopsied, and his brain was stored in the archives. The autopsy has been considered the most botched section of the investigation of the president’s death.

But wait, it gets worse! Three years after JFK’s death, his brain disappeared from the National Archives. No one knows where it’s gone to this day. 

7. The Backfire Effect

It's less a conspiracy and more of an interesting fact. The backfire effect happens when a person continues to believe and even digs their heels deeper into their beliefs when presented with contradictory facts and information. So, if you’ve ever been confused as to why a person refused to change their perspective after giving proof that the opposite is true, then this is likely why!

8. Native American Women Were Sterilized 

This event genuinely got my blood boiling. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was revealed that Native American women were forced into being sterilized by the Indian Health Service without their consent. Although there is likely more than that, it happened to 25-50% of Native American women between 1970 and 1976.

The Indian Health Service did so because they believed that Native women weren’t capable of making their own choices when it came to their reproduction, as ridiculous as it sounds. If my blood was boiling before, it’s practically become a lake of lava now.

9. There Was Only One Recorded Homicide in New York on 9/11

This sounds like one of those trick questions, but it’s true! The thousands killed as a result of the attack were not included in New York City’s official crime statistics; it was an outlier. Instead, Henryk Siwiak was the only recorded murder. He was a Polish immigrant, shot just before midnight in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood. His death has never been solved, and there is a conspiracy that it was set on that date because law enforcement was occupied with the attack.

10. There Are Bunkers for American Cheese

This sounds incredibly ridiculous, but it’s 100% true! The U.S. has caves or bunkers filled with hundreds of thousands of pounds of cheese. It started in the 1970s when a dairy shortage and dairy products increased. Government intervention led to farmers having vast amounts of surplus sold to the U.S. government. By the 80s, the government was the proud owner of 500 million pounds of cheese.

11. EMS Gets Little to No Government Funding

Honestly, this one’s just bizarre. In a majority of the states in the U.S., Emergency Medical Services are not seen as essential. Because of this, they get virtually no government funding. It's so strange to have something so important not be considered necessary. However, there is a push for EMS to be categorized as such.

12. Alcohol Poisoning During the Prohibition

Prohibition in the 1920s saw many ideas and plots, not just from those who refused to give up their favorite giggle juice but from the law attempting to control it. Drinking alcohol was illegal, but that didn't mean industrial alcohol was. As the government began to realize that people were willing to drink this to get their fix, it was decided that drastic measures were to be taken.

Industrial alcohol was mandated to contain toxic chemicals. This alcohol would then be used to create bootleg drinking alcohol and poison those who drank it. And before you ask, yes, people did die from this mandate.

13. The Sugar Industry Plot

If you ever had a “fat-free” craze in your house growing up, you can thank the sugar industry. During the 1960s, research had been funded by the sugar industry to point out the hazards of fats to distract and downplay the risks of sugar. This led to people avoiding foods with any fat in them, whether they are good for you or not. Now, don’t go wild, of course! It’s all about balancing things out.

14. The Treatment of Henrietta Lacks

An African-American woman named Henrietta Lacks is the origin of the HeLa cell line. Unfortunately, how those cells came to be is highly unethical. Her cancer cells were taken after her death without her consent, which is a violation of ethics. Her family was given no chance to consent, was never informed about breakthroughs, and continued to suffer financially. Only in August of 2023 was a settlement reached between the family and a science and technology company that used her cells.

15. McDonald’s Is Responsible for What Happened to Stella Liebeck

Many believe that a 79-year-old woman attempted to sue the famous fast food chain because her coffee was just a little too hot. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Stella Liebeck had ordered a coffee at McDonald’s that caused third-degree burns when she accidentally spilled it on her lap. The resulting several-day hospital stay, treatment, and lasting damage led the woman to attempt to settle with the chain to cover her expenses caused by the coffee.

She didn’t want to go to court. However, McDonald’s only wanted to offer Liebeck a minimal sum as compensation for the dangerously hot coffee, leading her to a lawsuit. After lawyers ran a years-long disinformation campaign, the reality of the case became warped, and Stella was painted as the bad guy.

1. Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus

Country legend Dolly Parton has been a friend of Billy Ray Cyrus for decades. It wasn't too surprising, then, when he made Parton his daughter Miley Cyrus' godmother. 

2. Chuck Schumer and Amy Schumer 

Amy Schumer and New York Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer don't just share a last name; they're literal blood cousins. Years ago, Amy helped support Chuck's plan for stricter gun control. 

3. Gloria Steinem and Christian Bale

Many people don't realize the famous feminist author Gloria Steinem and the intense method actor Christian Bale are actually related! Steinem became Bale's stepmother when she married his now-deceased father. And the two are still very close!

4. Prince Charles and Ralph Fiennes

Another weird one I'm obsessed with is the connection between Prince Charles and Ralph Fiennes. It's a super distant relationship, but they are eighth cousins, so Fiennes is technically part of the royal family. I don't know how I feel about Voldemort being King, but he's pretty far down the list anyway.

5. Tom Cruise and William Mapother

We all know who Tom Cruise is, but who is William Mapother? I know him best from his creepy role on Lost, but some people know him as Cruise's first cousin. In fact, Cruise's full name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, which is another fun fact few people know about the Top Gun actor.

6. Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire

The famous country star and actress Reba McEntire is related by marriage to American Idol's first-ever winner, Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson married McEntire's stepson, but the two are not very close, as there have been conflicts concerning record labels they are both associated with.

7. Barbra Streisand and Josh Brolin

Barbra Streisand is Josh Brolin's stepmother, as she's been married to the actor's father, James Brolin, for over two decades. While Josh Brolin was already an adult when the two married, Streisand and he formed a beautiful bond and are close to this day.

8. Ted Danson and Lily Collins

Lily Collins is a stunning and talented actress and happens to be loosely related to the star of the iconic show Cheers, Ted Danson. He is her stepfather-in-law and far from the only famous person in her family. However, few people know about this celebrity collection.

9. Jenny McCarthy and Melissa McCarthy

Jenny McCarthy and Melissa McCarthy are first cousins! It may seem like you should've known this because of their last names, but most people don't. They have similar facial features, and Jenny McCarthy has commented on their close relationship in social media posts.

10. Bernie Sanders and Larry David

This surprising celebrity relationship is hilarious when you realize Larry David once played Bernie Sanders for an SNL skit. They're first cousins, and when you look at pictures of them side-by-side, the resemblance is obvious.

11. Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein

The relation between Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein becomes apparent when you see the two together, as they share the same smile, facial structure, and distinct features. They're siblings! While most people don't know they are brother and sister, Hill has gushed over their close relationship in interviews before, which is, frankly, adorable.

12. Nicolas Cage and Jason Schwartzman

The nepotism surrounding Nicolas Cage and his family is strong, but this is one of the lesser-known connections. Both Nicolas Cage and Jason Schwartzman are descendants of the famous filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, and that's just one celebrity connection in this famous family tree.

13. Saweetie and Gabrielle Union

This is one of my favorite surprise connections. The sensational rapper Saweetie is a second cousin to the amazing actress Gabrielle Union, who's married to Dwayne Wade. Union has explained that she is first cousins with Saweetie's father, making the artist and actor second cousins.

14. Jamie Lee Curtis and Jake Gyllenhaal

While this is technically not a familial relationship, it's pretty close. Jamie Lee Curtis is good friends with Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal's parents. So close, in fact, that she was named his Godmother when he was born. The two are wonderful friends to this day, which simply warms my heart.

15. Macauley Culkin and Paris Jackson

Another unorthodox but interesting relation, Macauley Culkin, is Paris Jackson's Godfather. Culkin and Michael Jackson were such good friends that Jackson actually named him the Godfather of all three of his children, essentially making him part of the family.

16. Cameron Diaz and Nicole Richie

Cameron Diaz and Nicole Richie are distantly related, as they are in-laws. Diaz married Benji Madden, the brother of Joel Madden. And Joel Madden is married to Nicole Richie, making Richie and Diaz in-laws twice removed but still in the same family.

17. Ariel Winter and Jimmy Workman

I love this connection because it's so random! If you've ever watched Modern Family, you know Ariel Winter as Alex. If you love The Addams Family, you know Pugsley Addams, played by Jimmy Workman. Well, the two are siblings, with Ariel being his little sister!

18. Mark Ronson and Meryl Streep

Mark Ronson is a music producer and performer married to the lovely Grace Gummer, who just happens to be the daughter of the iconic Meryl Streep. And since Streep's daughters and both actresses, the fame in this family is strong.

19. Alexa Demie and Dennis Wilson

Alexa Demie has become a recent star since her role on the popular HBO show Euphoria. But many people don't know that her grandfather is Dennis Wilson, one of the members of The Beach Boys. They're not blood-related, but it's still an interesting connection.

20. Florence Pugh and Toby Sebastian

The Midsommar and Don't Worry Darling star is the younger sister of Toby Sebastian. Sebastian is a musician and actor best known for his role in the hit show Game of Thrones. The two are quite close and have taken some adorable paparazzi photos together that show how humorous their siblingship is.

21. Kate Middleton and the Fanning Sisters

Did you know the Fanning sisters are technically part of the Royal Family? They are the very, very distant cousins of Kate Middleton, and no one even knew until historians did a little digging!

22. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci

This relation is hands-down my favorite because I'm obsessed with both Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. I mean, who doesn't love The Devil Wears Prada? Blunt introduced Tucci to her oldest sister, and they married, joining these two fabulous celebs by marriage.

23. Snoop Dogg and Brandy Norwood

Most people know Ray J and Brandy are siblings, but Snoop Dogg is also part of this family. He's Brandy's first cousin, and she even appeared on of his songs titled Special. The relation doesn't surprise me since both are wildly talented musically.

24. Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson

I can't believe I didn't know this, but Kate Hudson is Goldie Hawn's daughter! Once you know, you feel foolish for not realizing sooner, as the two share many of the same features and mannerisms. Like mother, like daughter.

25. Bryce Dallas Howard and Ron Howard

Ron Howard is an actor and Oscar-winning director, and aside from his fantastic films, he also created the lovely and talented actress Bryce Dallas Howard. While the father and daughter share the same last name, few people know about this impressive Hollywood connection!

A 2023 report shows remote working is booming, but the drive may depend on a generational aspect.

The Generation Game

While there will always be exceptions, the study showed that millennials are the demographic that is most likely to work remotely. While there are specific differences of opinion regarding age groups, it's generally accepted that millennials were born between 1977 and 1995.

Younger Generation Z workers, those born from 1996 onwards, prefer to be in the office up to four days a week. Stanford economist Nick Bloom explains that people in their 20s are more likely to seek mentoring and social interaction in the workplace, and a desire to commute is also “because home is often a cramped apartment share.”

Bloom added: “Folks in their 50s and above are more likely empty nesters and are used to decades of office work, so also seem keen to be mostly office-based.”

All of this leaves millennials, those most likely to have young families among other household demands, as the chief drivers behind home working.

Best of Both Worlds

Most employers are reluctant to let their employees work exclusively from home, leading to a phenomenon known as hybrid working. Typically, the worker will commute three days each week while staying in their home office for the remaining two.

In the UK, this has seen a rude acronym attached to those who commute on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. It's become a common workplace practice and happened mainly by accident, but is it here to stay?

Times Change, and We Change With Them

I had been an early adopter of home working, although it wasn't through choice. While my experience as a single parent may be different from others, I can see the appeal of a home office, but there are some considerable obstacles to avoid.

Disturbances by children and even pets who can't understand your working schedule are inevitable, and it's not the harmonious option that many think. Anyone set to work from home, even remotely, must accept that they will be on hand for airport runs, mercy errands, and any form of unpaid taxi work.

My experience as a Gen X worker suggests that we are just at the start of a new era, and it's no surprise to see the split between generations that appears in the study. Perhaps there is an element of younger workers viewing a hybrid role as offering a perfect work/life balance, but long-term practice may see them change their minds.

Source: Business Insider.

The first teaser for the long-awaited animated series X-Men '97 has arrived! Created by Beau DeMayo, X-Men '97 picks up where the Fox Kids show X-Men: The Animated Series left off. The original show ran 76 episodes from 1992 to 1997, bringing all the soap operatics and tangled plot lines of Marvel's Merry Mutants to children everywhere.

Drawing from the writing of Chris Claremont and the visual style of artist Jim Lee, X-Men: The Animated Series focused on six main mutants: teacher and mentor Charles Xavier (Cedric Smith), leader Cyclops (Norm Spencer), his beloved telepath Jean Grey (Catherine Disher), the brilliant Beast (George Buza), weather goddess Storm (Iona Morris and Alison Sealy-Smith), Southern Belle Rogue (Lenore Zann), the charming Cajun Gambit (Chris Potter and Tony Daniels), the Canucklehead Wolverine (Cal Dodd), and teen new recruit Jubilee (Alyson Court).

The X-Men '97 trailer promises the best of the old series, with some new elements for modern audiences.

An Optic Blast From the Past

The trailer opens on a meta-note, with the crackle of a tube television firing up and a tinny voice-over announcing the series finale of X-Men, bringing the viewer back to their childhood selves. As the camera pushes in, footage plays of the show's final episode, “Graduation Day” (directed by Larry Houston and written by James Krieg). The dying Xavier expresses his pride in his students before the scene cuts to the assembled team — including arch-enemy Magneto (David Hemblen) standing outside of Xavier's Mansion. 

For those who haven't seen or don't remember “Graduation Day,” the replay leaves some questions. Is Xavier dead? Why is Magneto there? But those who recall the episode know that Xavier left with his alien lady love Lilandra of the Shi'ar Empire, the one person who could cure his disease. In his place, Xavier has left the school in the hands of his closest friend and greatest rival, Magneto. In turn, Magneto has accepted the role and tried to honor Charles by working for the good of both mutants and humans.

And yet, the flashback ends with Storm declaring, “Fate lies in our hands now,” setting up a new status quo for the team.

Not Quite the 90s

As the grainy footage from “Graduation Day” fades, the image switches to widescreen HD, signaling a change in television standards from the 1990s to today. The trailer foregrounds the updated animation of X-Men ’97. The original series suffered from clunky animation, especially in its final seasons, with awkward, thick blacks used to replicate the heavy lines of Jim Lee’s artwork. Like most American cartoons made for television, X-Men: The Animated Series used limited animation, which skipped frames of movement, making for a jerky look.

The footage from X-Men ’97 features a richer color palette and far smoother animation. For reasons of budget and state-of-the-art expectations, X-Men ’97 uses computers instead of hand-painted cells, which gives it a more fluid feel. That updated look stands out most with flares and gradients, such as the glow from Gambit’s cards or the shine on Wolverine’s claws.

However, the series does include some stuttering in the movements and exaggerated anatomy, in keeping with the spirit of the original show. And, of course, the excellent theme song remains intact, albeit pumped up with a string section.

Cyclops’s X-Men

“To me, my X-Men,” shouts Cyclops (now voiced by Ray Chase) at the end of the trailer, repeating Xavier’s line. The statement cements Cyke’s position as the head of the team, a position he held on the field. He’ll have at his back a familiar group of heroes, including all of the members of the original team. However, he has along with Morph (Rob Rubin in the original, now voiced by J. P. Karliak), the shape-shifting mutant who died in the Animated Series pilot “Night of the Sentinels” (directed by Huston and written by Mark Edward Edens) and later returned as a villain. Morph’s death gave the show stakes unprecedented in a kid’s series and brought to the screen a classic B-level character from the comics, where he’s called Mimic.

The more notable addition is Bishop (Isaac Robinson-Smith), a time-traveler who fought alongside the X-Men in a post-apocalyptic future. Bishop did show up in the original series. However, like most of the many guest stars on the show, he did not remain on the team. He shows up in most group shots.

The Shared Universe

An early shot in the trailer sees a newspaper float by with the masthead The Daily Bugle. Marvel fans know the Daily Bugle as the premier newspaper in the fictional universe, as well as its Editor-in-Chief J. Jonah Jameson and freelance photographer Peter Parker. In fact, a teaser above the headline asks, “Is Spider-Man a Mutant?” (no, no he is not). The Daily Bugle appearance points to a key feature of The Animated Series, which branched out into other properties. Non-mutant characters such as Captain America appeared on the show, and the series crossed over with Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Because it did not have film rights to the X-Men until a few years ago when Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, the MCU made few references to mutants. However, the appearance of the Daily Bugle suggests that X-Men ’97 will branch out into the wider Marvel Universe. This might mean the return of Peter Parker from the 90s series Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes. Or it could mean that X-Men ’97 will connect to newer MCU cartoons, such as What If… or the upcoming Spider-Man: Freshman Year.

The New Mutants

Part of the appeal of X-Men: The Animated Series came from its willingness to dive into the deep roster of the X-Men comics. In addition to the main team, viewers saw beloved characters such as Nightcrawler and Dazzler and other teams, including X-Factor and X-Force. While most of the footage suggests that X-Men ’97 will keep focused on the old line-up (plus the aforementioned addition), the picture on the front of the Daily Bugle hints at other mutants in the world.

“Inside Scoop: Mutant Fashion Show” declares the heading, which includes a photograph of several mutants. Fans of the original series might recognize Sean Cassidy, the Irish mutant better known as Banshee. But next to him are two unfamiliar to those who don’t read comics. The man with round sunglasses and a shock of hair is Maggot, a strange mutant with the ability to spawn two worms from his stomach and consume everything they encounter. The woman in a burka is Dust, a Muslim mutant who can turn her body into sand. With the exception of Banshee, both of these characters came after the end of the original animated series, making for interesting additions.

The Hellfire Gala

The reference to the fashion show brings to mind the Hellfire Gala, which appears in the trailer as a party with flashing lights and fireworks (much to Jubilee’s delight). The Hellfire Gala comes from more recent X-Men comics, in which all mutants live on a sovereign island nation called Krakoa. Modeled after the real-life Met Gala, the Hellfire Gala serves as an outreach event for the mutants, in which dignitaries and celebrities from around the world can participate in mutant culture.

More importantly, the Hellfire Gala offers a very different view of mutants in the wider Marvel universe. In most X-Men stories, including the original Animated Series episodes, humans fear and hate mutants as the next step in evolution. But in the 2000s, writer Grant Morrison introduced the mutants as a culture of its own, often appropriated by non-humans. The Hellfire Gala extends those themes, which might be too weighty for a kid’s show.

Papa Cyclops

Perhaps the most compelling moment of the trailer comes when Cyclops lays his hand on a pregnant redheaded woman. Viewers may assume that the woman is Grey (now voiced by Jennifer Hale) a read-head with whom Cyclops has had a romantic relationship. However, comic book readers know that it is Madelyne Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey created by the evil Mr. Sinister.

With Magneto taking a heroic role, reports have indicated that Mr. Sinister (Christopher Britton) will serve as the new show’s major villain. As the above description suggests, Sinister leads to convoluted stories about clones, conspiracies, and time travel. Some of those plot points have appeared in the original series, including the time-traveling son of Madelyne and Cyclops, Cable. But the emphasis in the trailer suggests that this storyline will get more attention in X-Men ‘97.

Off the Field, On the Courts

Several shots of the X-Men in battle point to new variations of old combinations. The most exciting involves Gambit jumping on Wolverine’s back and using his powers to charge Wolvie’s claws. Made of indestructible adamantium, the claws will not disintegrate in the explosion. That’s both a cool application of the mutant abilities and a new dynamic of the characters. In the first five seasons of The Animated Series, the grumpy Wolverine couldn’t stand the charming Gambit. Maybe they’ve learned to play nice together.

Speaking of playing nice, the final shot in the trailer sees the X-Men in civilian clothes. Storm’s in a pink tank top, Cyke’s got a backward cap, and Gambit wears a dew-rag. Those get-ups come from ‘90s issues of X-Men, in which the team would take time to play baseball and basketball. Although not as exciting as battles with Sentinels, the giant robots featured in the trailer, these moments showed true team camaraderie and new dynamics.

Headmaster Magento

Of course, the biggest shock of the X-Men '97 trailer involves an element teased at the end of the fifth season, in which Magneto joins the X-Men. Even throughout the original series, Magneto has been a conflicted villain. Yes, he fights for mutant supremacy over the humans. But he respects Charles Xavier and would battle the X-Men. At the end of the original series, a dying Xavier asks Magneto to set aside his differences and run the school.

This also comes directly from the comics, in which Magneto served as headmaster of the Xavier School. During this time, the X-Men were away, and so most of Magneto’s interactions occurred with the New Mutants, a team of teenage characters. In the trailer, it appears that the X-Men will take issue with Xavier’s appointee, but Magneto will fight alongside them.

New Locations

Just because Magneto has turned good doesn’t mean the rest of the world accepts him. The United Nations appears in the new locations shown in the trailer, where Magneto stands before a tribunal. The show will adapt the “Trial of Magneto” storyline, in which the UN holds Magneto responsible for his past crimes. In the comics, Magneto gets absolved by turning into an infant and later saving the UN from an intergalactic being. One doubts that X-Men ’97 will go in the same direction, so it will be an exciting story for all viewers.

Other locations include the Savage Land, a prehistoric world hidden in Antarctica, and Genosha, an island nation that serves as a home for mutants. The statues of Magneto and Xavier in the trailer may also point to Krakoa, the stronger island nation in recent X-Men comics.

As these hints show, X-Men ’97 will pick up on the best parts of the original series and mix in new additions from recent X-Men comics, making for an experience that’s more than just nostalgia.

X-Men ’97 comes to Disney+ on March 20, 2024.

In particular, this Friday marks the release of several attention-grabbing films, including the all-star superhero movie, Madame Web, as well as the musical biographical drama, Bob Marley: One Love. In addition, genre fans can rejoice at the theatrical debut of Russell Crowe’s new action movie, Land of Bad, along with the release of the cult horror film, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2.

Along with those titles, you’ll also have time to catch up on some of the best releases from the previous few months, like the ghoulish romantic comedy, Lisa Frankenstein, the comedic spy movie, Argylle, and Wonka, an imaginative prequel to the Roald Dahl children’s book.

Here are all the movies you can find playing at your local movie theaters starting this weekend.

Updated: February 15.

Popular New Releases

All the movies that have audiences buzzing or that fans have been eagerly awaiting for months.

Madame Web

The fourth film in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, Madame Web delivers an action-packed superhero spinoff to Venom and Morbius. Unfortunately, the finished results also bear plenty of similarities to the lesser quality of each SSU movie before it.

Learning that she has the power to predict the future, a New York paramedic (Dakota Johnson) uses her superhuman abilities to try and save three young women (Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O'Connor, and Isabela Merced) from a shadowy figure (Tahar Rahim).

Though it possesses a great cast of incredible actors, Madame Web has grossed universally negative reviews thus far, with some critics going so far as to call it one of the worst superhero movies ever made.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%
IMDb score: 3.9

Bob Marley: One Love

At the height of his career, Bob Marley brought international attention to the reggae genre, entrancing listeners with his free-flowing songs and pacifistic messages of love, peace, and enjoying life’s simple moments. More recently, a biographical drama centered around Marley’s life and career has seen a release in the form of Bob Marley: One Love.

Breaking into the music industry in the early 1960s, reggae singer Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir) becomes an international sensation through his music, although his career is cut tragically short upon Marley’s death in 1981 at just 36-years-old.

While the film’s performances alone are worthy of attention (especially in the case of Ben-Adir), critics have handed Bob Marley: One Love mostly mixed reviews, believing the film fell into the same familiar territory as most other biopics before it.

Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 42%
IMDb score: 6.6

Lisa Frankenstein

Like most well-known literary classics, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has provided the basis for endless movies, TV shows, comic books, and video games over the years. Even when held up to the vast number of other Frankenstein-related movies that came before it, though, Lisa Frankenstein appears as an entirely new translation of Shelley’s novel.

In the late 1980s, a lonely teenager (Kathryn Newton) helps a resurrected zombie from the Victorian era (Cole Sprouse) search for the missing pieces of his body, unexpectedly developing an attraction to one another over the course of their adventures.

More of a loose reimagining of Frankenstein than a straightforward adaptation, Lisa Frankenstein has drawn mostly mixed reviews from critics. While the performances and romantic chemistry between Newton and Sprouse has been positively commented on, most critics believed the movie veered too heavily towards formulaic romantic comedy tropes.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%
IMDb score: 5.9

Argylle

A loose spin-off of the popular Kingsman series, Argylle offers a humorous spin on the traditional spy story, infusing it with a meta-fictional story that’s equal parts Romancing the Stone as it is James Bond.

As she prepares to finish her latest book, a shy spy novelist (Bryce Dallas Howard) is roped into a legitimate conspiracy theory when a covert agent (Sam Rockwell) reveals her books have been predicting future events.

While its massive cast list is nothing short of impressive, Argylle has been met with mostly mixed to negative reviews from critics. Like the latest installments of the Kingsman series, many critics felt the movie valued action and poor CGI over a strong story or memorable characters, accounting for it​​s lack of critical success.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%
IMDb score: 6.2

Land of Bad

Like most mainstream actors, Russell Crowe has appeared in a healthy mix of grounded dramas and more commercial genre movies. For example, Crowe’s latest movie – Land of Bad – serves as a taut action thriller that’s bound to appeal to most members of the audience.

After a disastrous ambush in Southeast Asia leaves them cut off and surrounded, a U.S. Special Forces team tries to flee from enemy territory, relying on the guidance of a drone pilot (Crowe) to navigate out of the country.

Drawing mostly mixed to positive reviews, most critics have described Land of Bad as a predictable if enjoyable action thriller, bolstered by loads of exciting action sequences and largely decent performances from the main cast.

Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On Disney+ and VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.4

Other Movies of Note

Notable films that will likely continue playing for only a few more weeks.

Wonka

As one of the most beloved characters ever created by Roald Dahl, anticipation for Wonka was high from the get-go. Fortunately, the producers of the film managed to stick the landing, providing a fascinating backstory for Dahl’s enigmatic chocolatier.

Carrying out his lifelong ambition of becoming a candy maker, the young Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) attempts to open his very own chocolate shop, only to meet with merciless competition from rival chocolatiers in his neighborhood.

Drawing a mostly positive reception in early screenings, Wonka has been deemed a suitably flavorful addition to Dahl’s list of adaptations, with many praising the film for its originality, creativity, and numerous musical numbers.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
IMDb score: 7.5

Anatomy of a Fall

After making its premiere at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, the French mystery thriller, Anatomy of a Fall, finally makes its way across seas to American theaters. An impeccable whodunit with aspects of a psychological legal thriller, Anatomy of a Fall has been a leading contender at most prestigious awards ceremonies (the Golden Globes, the Oscars, etc.)

After her husband (Samuel Theis) is killed from a seemingly ordinary fall outside their home, the local police attempt to determine whether the man’s wife (Sandra Hüller) was somehow involved in the incident.

Having already taken home the Palme d’Or at Cannes, Anatomy of a Fall seems a legitimate contender for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. On top of the film’s Oscar nominations–including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director–Anatomy of a Fall has earned extraordinarily rave reviews from critics.

Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
IMDb score: 7.8

Scrambled

In her directorial debut, actor Leah McKendrick draws on her past experiences with egg-retrieval for her comedy drama, Scrambled. A riotously funny and emotional film, Scrambled’s success no doubt explains McKendrick’s recent appearance on IndieWire’s “28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch in 2023.”

After breaking up with her latest boyfriend, a neurotic young woman (McKendrick) decides to artificially freeze her eggs, ensuring she’ll be able to have babies at some point in the future.

Premiering at the prestigious South by Southwest Festival, Scrambled has earned predominantly positive reviews in the earliest days of its release. Loaded with plenty of sincere emotion and relatable humor, critics have praised McKendrick’s acting, writing, and direction on the film.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
IMDb score: 7.0

Fighter

A strange but entertaining new development in the entertainment industry involves the sudden rise in popularity of aviation-themed movies. Following in the wake of earlier action films like Top Gun: Maverick and Devotion comes the latest entry in this incredibly niche genre with the Hindi-language Fighter.

Banding together into an experimental new military unit known as the Air Dragons, a group of Indian Air Force pilots bond over their intense, often perilous missions.

The first in a planned franchise, Fighter has met with a mostly mixed response from early critics, many of whom commended the film for its leading cast members and their respective performances. However, those same critics felt the movie lacked a strong story to gauge viewers’ interests.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 28%
IMDb score: 7.3

Poor Things

Like most notable directors, Yorgos Lanthimos always receives respectable fanfare whenever he releases a new film, thanks in large part to the filmmaker’s skillful penchant for crafting hilarious absurdist films. Following in the footsteps of The Lobster and The Favourite, Lanthimos once again serves up a fascinating surrealist epic with his most recent film, Poor Things.

Having been resurrected by a kindly doctor (Willem Dafoe), a naïve young woman (Emma Stone) runs away with an immoral lawyer (Mark Ruffalo), experiencing the wonders of the world through a wholly new perspective.

Having won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival upon its premiere earlier this year, Poor Things has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. In addition to Stone’s powerhouse performance, critics celebrated the film for its luminous set design and quirky script.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
IMDb score: 8.5

The Boys in the Boat

Along with his career as a bankable mainstream actor, George Clooney has also earned a reputation as a proficient filmmaker, his past directorial credits including such films as Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, The Monuments Men, and the recent film, The Boys in the Boat.

Participating in the 1936 Olympic Games, the University of Washington’s men’s eight crew travel to Berlin, overcoming harrowing personal setbacks in their quest to become the best athletes in their sport.

Like most of Clooney’s other directed films, The Boys in the Boat has met with a divided response from critics. While most have complimented Clooney for his accurate depiction of the real-life story surrounding the 1936 Olympic Games, those same viewers believed The Boys in the Boat fell into the same formulaic mold as most other biographical sports dramas.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 58%
IMDb score: 7.2

Anyone But You

A romantic comedy showcasing two young stars of tomorrow, Anyone But You casts Euphoria alum Sydney Sweeney opposite burgeoning leading man Glen Powell. A contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, it’s a humorous film that coasts on the abilities of its lead cast members.

Attending her sister’s wedding in Australia, a young woman (Sweeney) reluctantly poses as the girlfriend of a former lover she personally despises (Powell). Over time, however, the two set aside their mutual animosity, reigniting the dormant feelings they previously held for each other.

Thus far, Anyone But You has met with mixed to positive reviews, with ample praise dished out to Sweeney and Powell’s performances and chemistry. On the flip side, the film has been criticized for its predictable plot line and more mean-spirited humor.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%
IMDb score: N/A

Mean Girls

In 2004, SNL alumnus Tina Fey took the world by storm with her riotous teen comedy, Mean Girls. Two decades later, the iconic film series returns with an ambitious remake, combining the underlying story of Fey’s original film with its subsequent Broadway adaptation.

Moving to the suburbs of Chicago, a young transfer student (Angourie Rice) tries her best to fit into her new high school setting, leading her into an eventful relationship with the school’s most popular students.

While not as singularly great as the initial Mean Girls, critics have complimented 2024’s Mean Girls for its close adherence to its source material. In addition, those same critics also praised the movie for its astounding musical dance numbers, all of which are taken faithfully from the original Broadway production.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.5

The Book of Clarence

Taking a page from the larger-than-life playbook of Monty Python’s Life of Brian, The Book of Clarence offers a clever satirization of Biblical legend, using an intelligent script and talented cast to carry out its main message.

In 33 A.D., a young man named Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) uses lies and deceit to build a new life for himself, posing as the next Messiah in the wake of Jesus Christ’s (Nicholas Pinnock) arrival.

Earning mostly positive reviews, critics have been quick to underline The Book of Clarence’s stellar performances and entertaining script as the movie’s strongest characteristics. Though its religious undertones may not always be as poignant or thought-provoking as it could be, The Book of Clarence has enough originality to sustain a majority of viewers.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%
IMDb score: 6.0

Night Swim

Next to A24 or Neon, Blumhouse Production currently ranks as one of the main film studios cranking out palpable horror films on a regular basis. Following in the footsteps of their recent releases in M3GAN and Five Nights At Freddy’s comes the company’s latest effort, the mysterious supernatural horror movie, Night Swim.

Moving into a new home in the suburbs, an ordinary family begins to suspect that their seemingly average backyard swimming pool is haunted by a paranormal entity.

Like most of Blumhouse’s recent outpouring of films, Night Swim has earned mostly mixed reviews from critics. Though many were quick to praise the movie’s originality, many also felt the film spent far too much time on exposition and not enough on building towards actual scares.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
IMDb score: 5.5

The Beekeeper

Like most action stars, Jason Statham tends to appear in either very good movies–or incredibly bad ones. Fresh off the disappointing sequel that was The Expendables 4, Statham returns in the far better action movie, The Beekeeper.

When his elderly best friend (Phylicia Rashad) takes her own life as a result of a phishing scheme, a retired secret agent now working as a beekeeper (Statham) sets out to destroy the company that ruined her life.

While a bit overly reliant on earlier action movies (such as John Wick), critics have singled out The Beekeeper as one of Statham’s best outings in some time. With sharp action and an A-list cast, it's a film that continues to demonstrate why Statham has maintained his favored status among diehard action fans.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.8

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

The latest installment in the DCEU, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also bids a soft farewell to the pre-established continuity of the DC universe as fans know it. With James Gunn planning to reboot the series with his upcoming films, Aqua and the Lost Kingdom marks the end of an era for DC, with Jason Momoa in his final outing as the famous nautical hero.

After his arch-nemesis Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) secures the all-powerful Black Trident, Aquaman (Jason Momoa) reluctantly enlists the help of his disgraced brother (Patrick Wilson) for help.

As joyous as it is to see Momoa return as the famous DC hero, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has grossed mostly negative reviews, with critics calling it a bland and disappointing sendoff to the original version of the DCEU. 

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%
IMDb score: 6.0

Migration

While Illumination has yet to achieve the same grand-standing reputation as their competitors at Disney or DreamWorks, the studio has done a fantastic job releasing their own unique family-friendly movies, as seen from their latest release, Migration.

Hoping to expand her family’s horizons, a female mallard (Elizabeth Banks) convinces her neurotic husband (Kumail Nanjiani) and their children to migrate from New England to Jamaica, passing through New York City along their route.

Earning mixed to positive reviews from critics, Migration has been applauded for its humor and overarching theme of broadening one’s perspective–a thematic issue most younger audiences will likely find endearing.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
IMDb score: 7.1

The Zone of Interest

One of the most sobering films of the past year, The Zone of Interest has already been acclaimed as one of the best movies of 2023. A harrowing historical drama based on one of the most infamous members of the Nazi Regime, it’s been acclaimed for its writing, direction, performances, and timely themes.

Near the beginning of World War II, German officer Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) accepts a position as commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, with both he and his wife trying to build the perfect life for themselves in spite of their horrific war crimes.

Delving deeply into Höss and his wife’s complacency in Nazi war crimes, The Zone of Interest also probes deeply into the disconnect between one’s inhuman actions and their own idyllic desires for the future (a beautiful home, a healthy garden, a stable family life, etc.). Having been named one of the best international films of the year by the National Board of Review, it’s also been submitted for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
IMDb score: 8.0

The Boy and the Heron

It’s been 10 years since Hayao Miyazaki last directed a movie, the filmmaker having won widespread renown for his 2013 anime biopic, The Wind Rises. A decade later, the founding father of Studio Ghibli returns with his most recent masterpiece, the brilliant The Boy and the Heron.

As World War II wages around him, a young boy whose mother recently passed away follows a mysterious gray heron into a magical world populated by fantastical creatures and benevolent spirits.

Like every Miyazaki film before it, The Boy and the Heron has earned incredibly warm reviews from critics, nearly all of whom have praised the film for its poignant themes, vivid animation, and wondrous depiction of grief, trauma, and healing.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
IMDb score: 7.6

The Holdovers

Throughout his career, director Alexander Payne has consistently churned out some of the best movies of the century so far, including dark comedies like Nebraska, Sideways, About Schmidt, and The Descendants. With The Holdovers, Payne returns to the layered films of his early career, balancing laugh-out-loud humor with some poignant studies of hopelessly flawed characters.

At the prestigious Barton Academy in the early 1970s, an authoritative history teacher (Paul Giamatti) is tasked with chaperoning four students unable to return home for the holiday.

With critics hailing the movie as a return to form for Payne, The Holdovers has been met with universal acclaim from viewers. Along with the praise heaped upon the principal cast (Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph), reviewers have also commended The Holdovers for its blend of comedy and drama–a standout feature found in most of Payne’s earliest films.

Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD & Peacock
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
IMDb score: 8.3

Comedy

For movie fans who love to laugh.

American Fiction

If The Zone of Interest is an attack on the dehumanizing effects of fascism, American Fiction can be seen as an attack on the gradual dumbing-down of today’s mass culture (albeit drawing on a more humorous and satirical tone than The Zone of Interest).

Frustrated by his lack of popularity among mainstream readers, an intelligent novelist (Jeffrey Wright) writes the worst book he can think of as a joke, only for the novel to become a massive best-seller.

Earning rave reviews from critics, American Fiction has been universally well-received for its humor and satirical subject matter. With particular praise heaped on Wright for his career-defining performance here, American Fiction has already garnered numerous accolades, in addition to its several nominations at the 81st Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

Where to watch:  In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
IMDb score: 7.8

Sports

For fans of every sport, from baseball to chess.

The Iron Claw

Leave it to A24 to make a biographical sports drama every bit as memorable as their mainstream horror and comedy films. A mesmerizing study of the lives and tragically short-lived careers of the Von Erich wrestling family, The Iron Claw is the best wrestling-centric movie since 2008’s The Wrestler.

In the 1980s pro wrestling industry, retired wrestler Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) trains his sons (Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Harris Dickinson) to follow in his footsteps, even as the family contend with personal tragedy in their careers.

A movie as oriented around wrestling as it is about the profound drama that made up the Von Erichs’ lives, The Iron Claw also underscores the tumultuous nature of living up to your family’s high standards and following your individual dreams. Having been named one of the year’s best films by the National Board of Review, the movie has won large-scale praise from almost every critic who has seen it.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
IMDb score: N/A

Horror

For movie fans looking for a good scare.

Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2

When A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh entered the public domain in 2022, creative filmmakers quickly seized the opportunity to construct their own unique movies centered around the honey-loving bear. This can be most clearly seen in the release of 2022’s Winnie-the-Pooh Blood and Honey and its recent sequel, Winnie-the-Pooh Blood and Honey 2.

With Christopher Robin (Scott Chambers) spreading word about their existence to the townspeople of Ashdown, Winnie-the-Pooh (Ryan Oliva) and his psychopathic animal companions descend on the town in order to wreak vengeance on Christopher and his friends.

Like the initial Blood and Honey film, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 has earned mostly negative reviews. Even then, though, more dedicated horror fans have expressed their appreciation for the film, deeming it a satisfyingly kitschy slasher movie.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
IMDb score: 5.0

Popular Re-Releases

Iconic movies that are headed for the big screen for a limited time.

Dune (1984)

Sadly, audiences still have a few more weeks before the release of the highly-anticipated, Dune: Part Two (set to hit theaters on March 1 in the U.S.). Interestingly, though, the original 1984 version of Dune will see its limited re-release to theaters to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

In a distant future, a young man from a royal family (Kyle MacLachlan) fights to defend the hostile desert planet of Arrakis from the corrupt warlords seeking to control it.

Yes, 1984’s Dune is a far cry from the sophisticated sci-fi splendor of Denis Villeneuve’s recent Dune movies. Yet, as with most David Lynch films, the movie has accrued a strong cult following of fans in the decades since its release.

Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On Max and VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 44%
IMDb score: 6.3

Turning Red

Two years after its initial release to Disney+, Pixar’s imaginative 2022 animated film Turning Red finally makes its long-belated theatrical debut. A characteristically unique movie for Pixar, it’s a wonderful allegory on the growing pains that come with reaching adolescence.

In early 2000s Toronto, a 13-year-old girl (Rosalie Chang) discovers she has the uncanny ability to transform herself into a giant red panda whenever she feels any strong emotion.

As with almost every Pixar movie, Turning Red earned incredibly positive reviews when it made its streaming debut in 2022. In particular, critics applauded the film for its thoughtful and engaging discussion of physical maturation and the awkward stages of puberty–topics the film brings up in fresh and relatable ways.

Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On Disney+ and VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
IMDb score: 7.0

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Returning to theaters for a very limited time this weekend is the 2023 superhero film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A worthwhile addition to Sony’s animated Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse might just be that rare sequel that surpasses the quality of the original.

As he tries to find a balance between his time as Spider-Man and his personal life, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is pulled into an interdimensional battle between the Spider-Society and an aspiring supervillain known as the Dot (Jason Schwartzman).

Like the initial Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse was released to universally positive reviews from critics upon its theatrical debut last summer. Fortunately, anyone who somehow missed their chance at seeing this animation extravaganza will have another opportunity this weekend.

Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On VOD and Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
IMDb score: 8.6

Those are the movies out now.

Grab your tickets ahead of time and skip the lines at the theater.

From floppy disks to lava lamps, many of the most iconic things from the 1990s are practically nonexistent in the 2020s.

1. Answering Machines

Before we all had our phones strapped to our hands 24/7, people would call when you weren’t home and leave a message for you. You needed a whole separate device to record the message! People would press play on their answering machine to hear messages the moment they got home.

2. Paper Maps

Most of us are probably relieved that we no longer have to find our way using confusing paper maps. Mapping out a route and planning drives was a nightmare before GPS devices became common, and hardly anyone relies on paper maps these days.

3. Zima

Alcoholic seltzers are all the rage now, but Zima used to be the cool, hip drink. It’s a clear malt liquor with slight carbonation. We’re not sure why people were obsessed with it because it tastes awful, but it is an undeniably ‘90s thing.

4. Discmans

Before iPhones and iPods, people took their music on the go with portable CD players, like Discman and Walkman devices. It seems insane now, but these devices attached to people’s pants so they could listen to music hands-free, even though it was a little clunky.

5. Butterfly Clips

We’re actually hoping these make a comeback because they were so cute! They're small hair clips shaped like butterflies that create playful and feminine looks. They came in different colors, sizes, and styles, but all had the same whimsical vibe.

6. Tape Recorders

Lots of people used tape recorders in the ‘90s, from journalists to musicians to tween girls. You just popped in a cassette tape and pressed “record,” whether capturing your random thoughts or recording a new song. Now, everyone just records things on their phones.

7. Beepers

Looking back, beepers feel like such an unnecessary invention. Basically, they just alerted you to a new message or call on your home phone. This outdated device is utterly obsolete today, but it’s one of the most notable items that define the ‘90s.

8. Catalogs

Kids today probably have no idea what a catalog is, but we used to anxiously wait to get the newest catalog from our favorite store. People were elated to receive their Disney or Delia’s catalog in the mail so they could check out all the hottest new items and maybe order a few.

9. Mixtapes

Mixtapes were fiercely romantic and special in the ‘90s. Rather than AirDropping someone a Spotify playlist, people took the time to record songs and compile them onto a cassette tape. This adorable trend has died out, but mixtapes will always represent a beautiful aspect of ‘90s romance.

10. VCRs

It feels like the jump from VHS tapes to DVDs to streaming happened in the blink of an eye. But many of us define our childhoods by the collection of VHS tapes we have and the struggle to remember to rewind them. While VCRs are a thing of the past, some people still have them in their homes!

11. Lava Lamps

Some hipsters might still have lava lamps in their apartments, but this funky item is mostly gone. While this groovy lamp isn’t popular nowadays, they were everywhere in the ‘90s, and people adored the fun, trippy vibe they created. Honestly, we still think they’re pretty cool.

12. Beanie Babies

Whenever someone encounters an old Beanie Baby today, their first thought is, “I wonder if this is worth a fortune.” But in the ‘90s, you could find these cute little stuffed animals at every convenience store, grocery store, and mall. They were all the rage among kids and adults, becoming a staple of the ‘90s.

13. Pokémon Cards

Pokémon certainly has not gone anywhere, as people obsess over the newest Pokémon Nintendo game or app. However, Pokémon cards have gone away because people can trade digitally with all this new technology. Some people still have robust card collections, but they are few and far between.

14. Blockbuster Membership Cards

Back in the day, a Blockbuster membership card was a coveted item, a magical plastic card that allowed you to rent every movie your heart desired. It was a staple in any cinephile's wallet. It was the key that unlocked the Blockbuster locations! Now, it’s just a piece of plastic.

15. Rainbow Parachutes

Do you remember the massive, colorful, parachute-like tarps from elementary gym class? Everyone would toss them up in the air and then run underneath them into the mystical world of colors. For some reason, these aren’t used much in schools anymore, but any ‘90s kid will remember them fondly.

16. Zoobooks

Frankly, the commercials for Zoobooks were relentless. Every kids TV channel advertised these subscriptions to kiddos so they could harass their parents for it. They were basically National Geographic for children, and while you can still buy them, no one ever talks about them anymore.

17. Floppy Disks

Floppy disks were quickly replaced with SD cards and flash drives, but they were an iconic moment in our technological history. We can all agree the name “floppy disk” was weird since the disk was rigid plastic. Most kids born after 1995 would chuckle at these clumsy storage devices.

18. Floor Scooters

This gym class throwback either fills you with memories of speedy fun or painful ones of sore fingers. Floor scooters were plastic seats with four wheels that hovered a few inches above the ground. We’d zip across the gym floor on these things, sometimes running over our own fingers.

19. CRT Monitors

Most of us have slim, sleek laptops that fit into our bags and can come on airplanes with us. But the ‘90s tech world was all about bulky CRT monitors. These boxy computer screens weighed as much as a small child and took up entire desks but were considered super high-tech back then.

20. PB Crisps

PB Crisps were a sensational ‘90s snack that people still petition to bring back. These puffy, crunchy treats were shaped like peanut shells and had a wonderfully nutty flavor. Why did they disappear? It’s unclear why they were phased out after only three years on the shelf, and many people want answers as to why Planters ripped this tasty snack away from us.

21. Magic Eye Posters

Magic Eye posters featured psychedelic patterns that looked like blurry nonsense. This hippy-dippy item looked random and abstract until you looked at it from just the right angle, and then a new image would appear. These optical illusions have mostly fallen out of fashion but were fun while they lasted.

22. Disposable Cameras

We love it when people use disposable cameras at weddings! These plastic cameras were super popular in the ‘90s, allowing people to capture moments and have the photos printed. One camera could capture a whole vacation. They don’t get used much nowadays because of smartphones, but we still adore a disposable camera moment.

23. Jelly Shoes

Many ‘90s fashion trends have returned to popularity, but jelly shoes aren’t coming back quite yet. Jelly shoes were usually sandals, flats, or flip-flops made from a hard, translucent, and often sparkly material, creating a playful and glittery vibe. They were cute but not the most sophisticated look.

24. Encyclopedias

People used to go door to door selling encyclopedias because they were seen as intelligent and cultured home items. Encyclopedias were a necessity for doing any research. We’re glad we can look things up on our tiny phones rather than flipping through a 10-pound book.

25. Tamagotchis

Did you know Tamagotchis actually still exist? They’re not mainstream anymore, but in the late ‘90s, everyone had one. If you left your Tamagotchi alone for too long, it would die. Looking back, it was an incredibly stressful and demanding toy, albeit adorable and entertaining.

Sure, all those nicknames referred to boxer Apollo Creed, but they also capture the essence of the awesome actor who portrayed him, Carl Weathers. A former football player turned actor, Weathers worked his way through the B-movie market before getting picked to play Creed in the Rocky franchise.

Although he electrified audiences with his magnetism and moved them with his dramatic depth, Weathers never got the career he deserved. But even when the projects didn’t match the quality of his acting, Weathers always impressed, on the big screen and the small screen. To remove any doubt, check out the best Carl Weathers movies and TV shows.

1. Action Jackson (1988)

It took far too long for Weathers to get his first vehicle, but Action Jackson proved worth the wait. Directed by former stunt coordinator Craig R. Baxley, Action Jackson pits the titular disgraced cop against businessman/martial arts expert Peter Anthony Dellaplane (Craig T. Nelson).

Weathers makes for an ideal 80s action star, commanding the screen during the fight sequences and charming the viewers while he romances his leading ladies (played by Vanity and Sharon Stone). Even better, the script by Robert Reneau deals with union disruption, making Jackson more of a people’s hero than his contemporaries, played by Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Tailor-made for the actor, it should come as no surprise that Action Jackson features on of the great Carl Weathers performances.

2. Rocky (1976)

When writer/star Sylvester Stallone and director John G. Avildsen cast Carl Weathers in Rocky, they gave him an unenviable assignment: he needed to play a variation on Muhammed Ali, a charismatic and arrogant boxing champ called Apollo Creed, who sets up an exhibition match with blue-collar brawler Rocky Balboa.

That’s a thankless role, especially since the film asks viewers to pull for the hard-working, hard-luck Rocky instead of the boastful Creed. And yet, Weathers exceeds all expectations, winning the hearts of viewers without distracting from the hero's story, raising the stakes of the fight without ever tamping down Apollo’s flamboyant nature.

3. Predator (1987)

The image of Carl Weathers clasping hands with Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the stuff of internet legend, a testament to the bicep-bulging study of masculinity that is the 1987 film Predator.

Weathers plays a key role not just on a plot level, but on a thematic level as well. A veteran of action movies, Weathers reads as a recognizable tough guy for viewers, the exact sort of person who commits the carnage seen in the movie’s first half. But when director John McTiernan and screenwriters Jim Thomas and John Thomas set the titular monster against the commandos, the disarming death of Weathers’s Al Dillon demonstrates the tremendous threat that Schwarzenegger faces. Of course, it lands here as one of the best Carl Weathers movies.

4. Arrested Development (2004)

A lesser actor would not have even joined the cast of Arrested Development, let alone played the part with perfect comic timing. When Weathers shows up in the season one episode “Public Relations” (written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Courtney Lilly, and Abraham Higginbotham, and directed by Lee Shallat Chemel) playing a version of himself, it almost felt like a mean joke.

The Weathers of Arrested Development is a failed actor who makes ends meet by scraping together ingredients for a stew and scamming fools like would-be actor Dr. Tobias Fünke (David Cross). But Weathers plays the part with such a twinkle in his eye that viewers cannot help but laugh with him, not at him.

5. Rocky II (1979)

Even more than the title character, Rocky II pushes Weathers’s Apollo Creed into a new gear. After he almost lost to Rocky (Stallone) in the previous film, Apollo has lost his swagger and gained an angry edge, desperate to prove himself against the Italian Stallion.

Written and directed by Stallone, Rocky II focuses on Rocky adjusting to his newfound fame. But scenes of Apollo fighting back his doubts and preparing to put the Rocky incident behind him stand out. In those moments, Weathers proves that he isn’t just an impressive physical specimen — he’s a proper actor.

6. The Defiant Ones (1986)

Few actors would relish the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Sidney Poitier, at least not in a made-for-TV movie. Yet, Weathers makes the convict Cullen his own in the 1986 remake of The Defiant Ones, directed by David Lowell Rich.

Weathers stars alongside Robert Urich in the Tony Curtis role as fellow convict Joker. As the two of them go on the run, chained together, they must overcome their antipathy to survive an unjust system. The 1986 version doesn’t quite have the punch of the original film, but not because of the lead performances, which have a palpable edge.

7. Fortune Dane (1986)

The television series Fortune Dane knows what its audience wants. The opening title sequence consists of Weathers’s cop-turned-special agent working out, washing up, and suiting up for work, with plenty of close-ups on his muscled chest, shoulders, and thighs. Weathers does cut an impressive figure as the title character, but creator Ronald M. Cohen has more than just beefcake on his mind.

Cohen gives Fortune a tragic backstory with corrupted adoptive parents and makes him a hero for the people, as demonstrated by scenes of Dane playing football with local boys. Fortune Dane ran for just six episodes, none that transcend cheap prime-time network fare. But there’s a promise of a more complex and interesting hero in those episodes, potential for the scripts to reach the level of one of the best Carl Weathers performances.

8. Rocky III (1982)

Rocky III is the most enjoyable of the original franchise entries, in part because of the central role reversal. After Rocky gets beaten by the hungrier and angrier fighter Clubber Lang (Mr. T), Apollo steps in as the Italian Stallion’s new trainer, taking over for the late Micky (Burgess Meredith).

The part lets Weathers play Apollo as a likable character without reservation, someone whom the audience cheers for all the way. Again written and directed by Stallone, Rocky III retains some anger for Apollo — see the scene in which he stares down Clubber — but it’s a lot more fun seeing him play Rocky’s pal. For that reason, it lands among the best Carl Weathers movies.

9. Happy Gilmore (1996)

Part of the magic of Weathers’s performance as Chubbs Petersen is the fact that the character would fit well in a regular inspirational sports drama. One could imagine Weathers playing a past-his-prime athlete who inspires the next generation by helping an upstart smooth down his rough edges.

Weathers nails all the inspirational speeches he gives the titular hockey player turned golfer, played by Adam Sandler. But when Happy Gilmore, directed by Dennis Dugan and written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy, turns toward the absurd, Weathers acquits himself just as well.

10. The Mandalorian (2019)

Viewers were already happy when the premier episode of The Mandalorian, directed by Dave Filoni and written by Jon Favreau, leaned into the Western vibes that influenced the original Star Wars trilogy. But when Carl Weathers showed up as Greef Karga, the series got that much better.

That sense of excitement returns every time Karga pops up over the show’s first three seasons, bringing a playfulness and gravitas to the series, which too often gets mired in larger universe lore. As Karga, Weathers plays a man whose natural dignity covers a haunted past, full of both compromises and heroism.

11. Street Justice (1991 – 1993)

Created by David Levinson, Mark Lisson, and David H. Balkan, the syndicated series Street Justice tried to tap into a market of genre fans who wanted a weekly action show. Weathers plays Detective Adam Beaudreaux, a Vietnam vet who cannot forget his mistakes overseas, who teams with young martial arts expert Grady Jameson (Bryan Genesse).

Street Justice has fun with all of the genre tropes, and Weathers relishes his part. Even when the Vietnam flashbacks get too sappy, Weathers underplays his characters’ torment, making them believable. Even better, Weathers nails the buddy camaraderie with Jameson, playing both a father figure and a tired veteran.

12. Toy Story 4 (2019)

The Toy Story franchise already had some fantastic characters, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Ned Beatty as a pink bear/prison warden. Toy Story 4, written by Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom and directed by Josh Cooley, quadruples the cast list, adding Keanu Reeves as Canadian stuntman Duke Kaboom, sketch comics Key and Peele as Ducky and Bunny, and Tony Hale as talking spork Forky.

Within that stuffed cast, Weathers stands out as Combat Carl, a G.I. Joe-style action figure. Bringing his well-honed combination of tough-guy gruffness and a desire to coach others, Weathers holds his own alongside the beloved other toys. 

13. Tour of Duty (1989)

The military drama Tour of Duty ran for three seasons on NBC and received strong reviews if not the highest ratings. Weathers joined the cast for the final season, playing new commander Colonel Brewster. Weathers’s arrival signaled a change in direction for the series, created by Steve Duncan and L. Travis Clark, as the network hoped to boost ratings with more action-heavy stories.

The gambit failed, but not because of Weathers, who played Colonel Brewster as a no-nonsense soldier who fought to restrain his natural empathy in order to complete his impossible mission.

14. Regular Show (2011)

The absurd Cartoon Network series Regular Show, created by J. G. Quintel, pulled in a lot of surprising stars for whacky cameos. Carl Weathers's character, the God of Basketball, just shows up in two episodes, but no one will forget them.

A lanky figure with a basketball for a head and glowing gold cape, the God of Basketball boasts that he can teach anyone to love the sport, something he puts to the test with Regular Show protagonists Mordecai and Rigby. Even though the episodes surround the God of Basketball with weird situations, Weathers plays it straight, voicing the character as an earnest and insistent mentor, making it that much funnier.

15. Death Hunt (1981)

As Sundog, Weathers plays just a supporting role in the gritty Western Death Hunt, written by Michael Grais and Mark Victor and directed by James Bond veteran Peter Hunt. Sundog is the right-hand man to Sergeant Edgar Millen (Lee Marvin) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, whose quiet Yukon home gets turned upside down when forced to hunt trapper Albert Johnson (Charles Bronson).

Weathers has fun with the B-movie trappings of the story, even when they get more than a bit uncomfortable, and nails a monologue about his character’s pro baseball dreams.

16. Rocky IV (1985)

Of the four original Rocky movies, the absurd fourth entry gives Weathers the least to do. Apollo exists in that movie just to die at the hands of Russian Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), an incident that inspires Rocky to come out of retirement and end the Cold War.

Ever the egoist, writer and director Stallone diminishes Weathers in Rocky IV, but the actor makes the most of his few scenes. The song and dance he does during the “Living in America” performance shows Weathers at his most brilliant, while Apollo’s death scene shows him at his most vulnerable.

17. In the Heat of the Night (1993 – 1995)

Although he doesn’t play Virgil Tibbs, the television series In the Heat of the Night finds Weathers once again stepping into an adaptation of a movie that starred Sydney Poitier. Howard Rollins plays Tibbs in the TV show In the Heat of the Night, based on the 1967 Norman Jewison movie of the same name, with Caroll O’Conner as Bill Gillespie, whom Rod Steiger portrayed in the film.

Weathers joined the cast in 1993 as Hampton Forbes, with the season seven premiere “Child’s Play,” written by James Lee Barrett, Mitchell Schneider, and John Ball and directed by Harry Harris. As the replacement for Gillespie, who gets voted out of office, Forbes brings a new level of tension to the series and a different approach to the show’s exploration of racism in the American South.

18. Dangerous Passion (1990)

Some distributors gave Dangerous Passion the title Action Jackson II, but that’s a misnomer. Not only does Weathers not reprise his role as cop Jericho Jackson, playing instead mechanic Kyle Western, but Dangerous Passion is not action but full noir.

Written by Brian Taggert and directed by Michael Miller, Dangerous Passion follows Western as he gets involved with a charismatic gangster (Billy Dee Williams). When he falls for the gangster’s wife (Lonette McKee), Kyle must go on the run to leave his criminal past behind him. Weathers and Williams both relish their parts, and the former makes a great complex noir hero. But Miller’s lackadaisical direction undercuts the tension Weathers brings to the movie.

19. Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2017)

Like Regular Show, Star vs. the Forces of Evil doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that would draw the attention of Weathers. Created by Daron Nefcy for Disney, the animated series follows the misadventures of alien princess Star Butterfly (voiced by Eden Sher), who befriends human Marco Diaz (Adam McArthur). Together, the duo gets into wacky magical scrapes, sometimes encountering Omnitraxus Prime, voiced by Weathers.

With his skull face and starfield body, Omnitraxus Prime looks unlike any other character that Weathers has played. But his cheerful demeanor and helpful attitude put him right alongside Weathers’s late career roles.

20. The Hostage Heart (1977)

The TV movie The Hostage Heart has a lot of characters, including a tough cop (B-movie legend Cameron Mitchell), a supportive wife (M*A*S*H*‘s Sally Kellerman), and so many more. With so many other faces to follow, it’s understandable that Weathers gets relegated to just a few scenes as the bag man waiting to pick up the ransom money. But even in these small moments, Weathers shines, giving his character a calm and intelligence one wouldn’t expect from a minor player. 

21. Friday Foster (1975)

Based on the comic strip of the same name, the Blaxploitation movie Friday Foster stars Pam Grier as a reporter who investigates the attempted assassination of Blake Tarr (Thalmus Rasulala), the world’s first African American millionaire.

Director Arthur Marks and writer Orville Hampton gather a cast of greats, including Yaphet Kotto as PI Colt Hawkins and Eartha Kitt as Madame Rena. Weathers, in his first credited film role, gets a small part as the muscle Yarbro, and he makes an immediate impression.

22. Semi-Tough (1977)

Part anti-establishment farce, part hicksploitation romp, part sports comedy, Semi-Tough strings bits about reckless footballers and self-help gurus with a story about the genial rivalry between good ol’ boy Billy Clyde Puckett (Burt Reynolds) and hippie-dippy Shake Tiller (Kris Kristofferson) for the love of their best friend Barbara Jane Bookman (Jill Clayburgh).

A veteran of both sports flicks and satires, director Michael Ritchie handles the subject matter well, but writers Walter Bernstein, Dan Jenkins, and Ring Lardner Jr. cover far too many subjects for an effective comedy. Weathers appears in just a couple of scenes as Dreamer Tatum, captain of an opposing football team, but his playful banter with Reynolds makes for one of the better parts in Semi-Tough.

23. Chicago Justice (2017)

Although it was part of the very successful franchise of primetime shows set in the Windy City, Chicago Justice failed to capture the attention of viewers and lasted just one season.

As its name indicates, Chicago Justice follows the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, exploring the complexities of the legal system. As one of the lead actors, Weathers played State's Attorney Mark Jefferies. And while Jefferies does have a military background, his stories relied on more than just his brawn, allowing Weathers to show off his impressive dramatic chops.

24. Assault on Devil’s Island (1997)

Assault on Devil’s Island and its sequel, Assault on Death Mountain find Weathers at a low point, starring alongside Terry “Hulk” Hogan and Shannon Tweed. First aired on TNT as part of the channel’s WCW promotion, Assault on Devil’s Island gives Hogan the most attention. And as is the case in all of Hogan’s non-wrestling outings, he’s wooden and unconvincing.

Director Jon Cassar and screenwriter Calvin Clements Jr. lather the heroic nonsense on Hogan’s character Mike McBride, which accentuates the problem. In honesty, Weathers doesn’t give the most committed takes to his character Roy Brown, an old pal of McBride. But even dialing it in, Weathers has more charisma than any of his co-stars.

1. Super Mario Bros.

The Mario games have served as an introduction to video games for millions of people for generations. The original Super Mario Bros. kicked it off with simplistic (but fun) side-scrolling action as the player controls Mario on his journey to save Princess Toadstool. Mario accomplishes this by jumping on enemies' heads, sliding down pipes, jumping over gaps, and utilizing special power-ups. The game's increasing difficulty helps introduce new mechanics and concepts to the player, including finding secret passages that allow Mario to skip some worlds.

2. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

The Lego games have been popular for many years and have covered a lot of popular franchises. One of the biggest franchises Lego has worked with over the years involves the Star Wars license. The Lego games can be a great way to introduce new players to action games since players only have to concentrate on the action and don't have to worry about other matters, such as controlling the camera. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, in particular, remains one of the best collections out there because it covers all nine episodes of Luke Skywalker's saga in Lego form. The charm and humor in Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, combined with easy-to-learn gameplay and a popular, well-known franchise, make this an excellent choice for those beginning their gaming journeys.

3. It Takes Two

It Takes Two features some action gameplay combined with some platforming. This game requires two people to play, with online and local options available. The two players must work as a team and solve puzzles together. The story deals with a married couple planning on getting a divorce. They get trapped in the bodies of their daughter's dolls and have to work together to try and repair the relationship as well as reach their daughter. While going through the game and learning about relationships, players also learn how to work together to achieve a goal. It can be a great introduction to video games for those without much experience.

4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past raises the difficulty slightly compared to something like Super Mario Bros., but it can still be a great adventure, regardless of skill level or experience. In this game, the player doesn't have to worry about controlling the camera and just has to concentrate on the game's events. A bit of strategy and puzzle-solving are necessary as Link tries to navigate the different dungeons and find important items in the world. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past offers a nice challenge with basic mechanics. Beginners will learn a lot from this game to bring forward to more complicated titles in the future. For that reason, this Nintendo classic belongs on this list.

5. Crash Bandicoot

Crash Bandicoot features platforming action with a different twist. The gameplay takes place from a third-person perspective. However, most of the game has Crash moving toward the camera instead of going side to side. This can provide an additional layer of challenge for those not used to this perspective and can be a valuable learning experience for those picking up a controller. While running towards the camera, Crash also has to jump over gaps, spin to destroy boxes to gain the items inside, and, on some levels, run away from a rolling boulder, Indiana Jones-style.

6. Metroid

Even though Super Metroid receives a lot of credit for helping coin the term “Metroidvania,” the original Metroid started it all. The player assumes the role of Samus, a bounty hunter sent to take care of some space pirates and destroy Mother Brain. Samus begins the adventure fairly weak, with only a power beam and the ability to jump. Throughout the course of the game, players will come across different items and power-ups that will open previously inaccessible areas. Backtracking becomes an integral part of Metroid, and for those who might not be familiar with this type of action, it can be a great learning tool for more advanced games.

7. Ratchet & Clank

The first Ratchet & Clank title features platforming action with goofy weapons. The gameplay mainly takes place from the third-person perspective. The calling card for the Ratchet & Clank series revolves around insane weapons, and this game started it all. One of the starting weapons includes the “OmniWrench 8000,” a melee weapon with some other uses as well. Some other weapons Ratchet comes across include the Pyrocitor, the Devastator, R.Y.N.O., and more. Clank also gets in on the action when areas that Ratchet can not explore appear. This Ratchet & Clank game showcases how much fun crazy weapons can be, which makes it an excellent recommendation for beginning players.

8. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

The original PlayStation console had its share of platformers. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus includes some stealth elements that differentiate it from other titles in the genre. The gameplay revolves around sneaking through missions while trying to avoid enemies and security systems. For those instances where a fight might be unavoidable, Sly carries a cane with him. The problem is that Sly isn't great at combat, so the player needs to either employ stealth or take out enemies silently. While going through these missions, players will want to be on the lookout for clue bottles. These clue bottles become the key to gaining new moves that will improve Sly's chances of completing the mission.

9. Castle Crashers

Castle Crashers features side-scrolling hack-and-slash action. Castle Crashers supports up to four players, both online and off. The straightforward gameplay in Castle Crashers makes this an easy recommendation for those learning to use a controller. Playing a game with friends can be a lot of fun, and in this instance, beginners can play with friends until they learn how everything works. Combat features melee and combination attacks, so someone new can button-mash their way through this adventure or try to do a bit more and learn how the system works. Once the player earns enough experience points through combat, they can upgrade certain attributes, giving their character an advantage over the enemy.

10. New Super Lucky's Tale

Lucky travels through many different worlds in this platforming adventure. Each level has a variety of different objectives to complete. Once enough objectives are completed, players will encounter a boss fight. Winning this boss fight opens up a brand new world. Players use the analog stick to control the camera in New Super Lucky's Tale, so this might be a good game for a beginner to start developing that skill. For standard enemies, Lucky can dispatch them by either jumping on them or utilizing his tail. Controlling the camera and the 3D world featured in this game makes it more advanced than some of the games on this list, but it can be an excellent way for new gamers to start exploring more modern titles.

11. LittleBigPlanet

LittleBigPlanet provides gamers with an interesting combination. The gameplay features platforming action with Sackboy, the game's mascot. For those with creative minds, LittleBigPlanet also allows players to create their own levels. Once the player finishes a level, they can make it so the rest of the world can play it. This means that LittleBigPlanet features almost unlimited replayability as long as the servers stay online. This combination can work beautifully because not only can someone gain experience playing a platformer, but gamers can get a small taste of what goes into developing a level for others to play.

12. Dynasty Warriors 3

Dynasty Warriors 3 features hack-and-slash action. The player assumes the role of an officer, and it becomes their job to defeat the commander on the other side. The gameplay in Dynasty Warriors 3 takes place on a battlefield where the player must plow through hundreds of soldiers. Playable characters can upgrade their weapons to be more efficient in battle. Players can also upgrade their health, defense, attack power, and more. The gameplay can be pretty mindless at times, but that means this game can be a great learning tool for beginners. It will allow them to learn how to properly use a controller as well as some light role-playing mechanics in the form of the upgrades previously mentioned.

13. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate doesn't require much experience to play. For those new to games, button mashing often works. However, knowing how to effectively pull off moves will take your gameplay to the next level. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can be one of those games classified as easy to pick up but hard to master. The gameplay includes the player picking their fighter and then battling it out on a stage, trying to knock their opponent off the screen. Players can do that through various means, which remains one reason why beginners can enjoy success but should try to learn the game's mechanics to become competitive.

14. Rayman Legends

In Rayman Legends, up to four players can enjoy platforming action while trying to get through levels. Defeating enemies will give Rayman some collectibles. When the player collects enough Teensies, new worlds open up, available to play anytime. Rayman Legends features a pretty nice variety of levels. This can range from your standard levels to areas where projectiles fly across the screen at enemies to some more rhythm-based ones that will have everyone nodding their heads in time with the music. Rayman Legends features over 120 levels as well as different challenges to compete in to showcase the best players.

15. Journey

One of the more tranquil experiences on this list, Journey would be an excellent way to introduce someone to video games. The gameplay involves walking through the levels, jumping, creating a musical note with someone else, and more. The camera's controls involve the analog stick, which may seem advanced for beginning players, but Journey's serene gameplay gives everyone a chance to develop and improve upon that skill. Since Journey has non-verbal communication, players must also learn to communicate with other players if someone shows up in their level.

16. Ori and the Blind Forest

Ori and the Blind Forest can be a challenging game. That said, it can be a great introduction to the “Metroidvania” genre. The colorful and vibrant backgrounds will immediately draw players into the game. The player controls Ori, a white guardian spirit, who tries to help the forest recover from a cataclysmic event. Along the way, Ori will gain new powers and learn new abilities, and the player can choose the upgrade path via the game's skill tree. While some of the other games on this list should go before Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori's adventure will help beginners improve their gaming skills.

17. Spyro the Dragon

Spyro the Dragon features platforming gameplay in an open-ended 3D world. Combat in Spyro the Dragon includes his fire breath and a head-on charging attack. Players have to engage in boss fights in each Homeworld, in addition to finding a hidden stage. The open-ended gameplay in Spyro the Dragon should help beginners become accustomed to roaming around in a 3D world.

18. Bastion

Bastion approaches gameplay from an interesting angle. The game utilizes an isometric viewpoint that causes the player to look at the levels at an angle. Bastion also features a dynamic narrator who will talk about your actions in real-time. Bastion has a beautiful and vibrant art direction and the main character, “the Kid,” has two weapons to choose from in combat. Bastion also features some light role-playing elements. This combination of different mechanics could make an interesting experience for someone trying to broaden their gaming horizons.

19. Detroit: Become Human

A bit different than the other games on this list, Detroit: Become Human features action with decisions that actually matter. Detroit: Become Human has three main characters the player can control at different times. One of the key aspects of Detroit: Become Human revolves around the branching story paths. The actions and decisions made by the player will affect how the story plays out. Whether the player gets tasked with talking a criminal down from the roof or trying to free others like him, decisions must happen quickly. This form of storytelling can benefit beginners who still need to gain the skills to play something that relies on split-second reflexes.

20. Feeding Frenzy

In Feeding Frenzy, the player controls a hungry predator in the ocean, looking to eat as many fish as possible. The goal is to move up the food chain by first eating smaller fish and then growing to the point where nothing can escape your grasp. Of course, there are hazards and other items for players to look for, including bigger predators that might also be trying to eat your fish. Feeding Frenzy's rather simplistic controls and concept make it an excellent choice for new gamers to dive into playing.

21. Habroxia 2

Set in space, Habroxia 2 might be a smaller game, but it's a great way to introduce newcomers to some basic mechanics. Habroxia 2 features old-school space shooter action. Throughout the game, the action changes from side-scrolling to top-down and will keep players on their toes. Upgrades also become available to make your ship more powerful to deal with some of the boss fights in the game. The overall easy concept and gameplay make Habroxia 2 an excellent choice for those who want to start playing games.

22. Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country features side-scrolling, platforming action as Donkey and Diddy Kong try to reclaim their stolen banana hoard. Some of the action elements include the combat where either Donkey or Diddy Kong can jump on enemies, throw barrels at them, or roll through them. An animal can also be available in some special instances, giving Donkey and Diddy special abilities, such as a rhino blasting through a wall. Players can switch between Donkey and Diddy Kong at any time to utilize their different strengths. The side-scrolling nature of this title should make it easy to control for newcomers.

23. Super Mario World

Super Mario World has it covered for those who want to do more than Super Mario Bros. offers. Super Mario World brings new ideas to the table not seen in any of the other Mario games up to this point. This particular Mario game also features Yoshi's debut. Some of the new features in the game include the ability to fly when using the Cape Feather and the new Spin Jump. Some of the levels will have more than one exit, meaning players can control the route taken, to a point. The side-scrolling action combined with some new mechanics make Super Mario World a great game to hand to newcomers.

24. Contra

Contra has a basic concept that should be easy to understand for everyone. Your character starts with a weapon and runs across the screen, shooting enemies while trying to avoid getting hit. Some levels go from side to side, while others might be vertical. Different power-ups float across the screen, ready for the player to grab them. When players start Contra, their character begins with three lives. Of course, the famous Konami Code, when entered correctly, increases that to 30 lives. This gives players of all skill levels more of a chance to get through the game, especially beginners who might not know what to expect.

25. Sunset Riders

Set in the American Old West, Sunset Riders incorporates run and gun action in a side-scrolling format. The gameplay for Sunset Riders has similarities to games like Contra. The overall objective revolves around defeating a gang of outlaws. Along the way, the player can grab power-ups, making dealing with the more challenging enemies easier. The action in the game changes up a bit, with some levels being on foot, some on horseback, and one on a train. If someone wants to pick up a controller, have fun, and not have to worry about complicated game mechanics, Sunset Riders definitely fits the bill.