Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a 2023 animated superhero film produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, it is the sequel to the Academy Award-winning Into the Spider-Verse (2018).
Shameik Moore returns as Miles Morales, who is pulled across the multiverse and introduced to the Spider-Society — an interdimensional task force of Spider-People led by the severe Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac). When Miles learns the Society operates on a rigid doctrine about which tragedies must be allowed to happen, he finds himself at odds with hundreds of versions of himself. Hailee Steinfeld returns as Gwen Stacy, with Jason Schwartzman voicing the villainous Spot.
Released on June 2, 2023, the film grossed over $690 million worldwide and drew rapturous reviews, with critics calling its animation among the most ambitious ever committed to a mainstream feature. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and ends on a cliffhanger leading into Beyond the Spider-Verse.
"Bee Movie" is an animated film that tells the story of a young bee named Barry who decides to sue humans for stealing honey from bees. Throughout the movie, Barry struggles to navigate his way through the legal system while also dealing with his own personal relationships.
The film features a star-studded cast, including Jerry Seinfeld as the voice of Barry and Renée Zellweger as the voice of Vanessa, a human who befriends Barry. It received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $287 million worldwide.
The movie has become a popular meme on the internet, with many users creating parodies and remixes of the film's famous "bee movie script." Despite its popularity, some viewers have criticized the movie for its portrayal of gender and race.
"Office Space" is a 1999 American comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. The film is a humorous look at the mundane and repetitive nature of office work, as well as the absurdity of corporate culture. The story follows Peter Gibbons, a disgruntled programmer at Initech, who becomes increasingly frustrated with his job and his overbearing boss, Bill Lumbergh.
Peter's life changes when he visits a hypnotherapist who puts him into a state of deep relaxation, causing him to stop caring about his job and become indifferent to his boss's demands. This newfound carelessness lands him in hot water with his superiors, and he is eventually fired from his job. However, his carefree attitude also allows him to pursue a relationship with Joanna, a waitress at a local restaurant.
The film received mixed reviews upon its initial release but has since gained a cult following. It is often cited as one of the most accurate depictions of office life in popular culture, and its themes of corporate disillusionment and apathy continue to resonate with audiences. The film also features several iconic scenes, including the destruction of a malfunctioning printer and the use of a baseball bat to smash a faulty fax machine.
Friday is a 1995 American stoner comedy film directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh. The film follows Craig Jones (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker), two friends who spend their day smoking weed on a porch in South Central Los Angeles. The film also stars Nia Long, Regina King, Anna Maria Horsford, and John Witherspoon.
The film was a box office success, grossing $28 million on a $3.5 million budget. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its humor and portrayal of urban African-American life. The film has since gained a cult following and is considered a classic in the stoner comedy genre.
Friday was followed by two sequels: Next Friday in 2000 and Friday After Next in 2002, both of which also starred Ice Cube and Mike Epps. A fourth film, titled Last Friday, has been in development for several years but has yet to be officially confirmed.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a 2006 American sports comedy film directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell. The movie was produced by Jimmy Miller and Judd Apatow and written by Ferrell and McKay. It also features John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Gary Cole, and Jane Lynch in supporting roles.
The film follows the story of Ricky Bobby, a NASCAR driver who, along with his loyal teammate and friend, Cal Naughton Jr., becomes a racing legend. However, their friendship is tested when a flamboyant French Formula One driver named Jean Girard challenges their supremacy on the race track. The movie is a satirical take on the world of professional racing, with Ferrell's character embodying the stereotypical American idea of a successful sportsman.
Talladega Nights was released on August 4, 2006, and was a commercial success, grossing over $163 million worldwide. It also received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of Ferrell and Reilly. The movie's success led to it becoming a cultural phenomenon, with many of its catchphrases and jokes becoming part of popular culture.
Evan Almighty is a 2007 American comedy film and sequel to Bruce Almighty (2003), directed by Tom Shadyac, and starring Steve Carell, reprising his role as Evan Baxter, with Morgan Freeman also reprising his role as God. The film follows Evan, now a newly elected congressman, as he is tasked by God to build an ark in preparation for a flood.
Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Carell's performance but criticized the film's plot, direction, and lack of humor compared to its predecessor. The film was also a box office disappointment, grossing $173 million worldwide against a $175 million budget, making it one of the most expensive comedies ever made.
Despite its poor critical and commercial performance, Evan Almighty was nominated for multiple awards, including the ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards and the Kids' Choice Awards. The film's environmental themes and message of faith and family were praised by some critics, while others felt that the film was heavy-handed in its execution. The film has since gained a cult following and is often cited as an example of a big-budget Hollywood comedy that failed to connect with audiences.
Knocked Up is a 2007 American romantic comedy film written, directed, and co-produced by Judd Apatow. The plot follows the story of Alison Scott, played by Katherine Heigl, who gets pregnant after a one-night stand with Ben Stone, played by Seth Rogen, and must confront the challenges of unexpected parenthood. The film also stars Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, and Martin Starr.
Knocked Up was released in the United States on June 1, 2007, and received positive reviews for its humor, performances, and emotional depth. It was a box office success, grossing over $219 million worldwide against a budget of $30 million. The film also earned Heigl a nomination for Best Female Performance at the MTV Movie Awards and was named one of the Top Ten Films of the Year by the American Film Institute.
The film deals with themes of responsibility, adulthood, and the complexities of relationships. It portrays the struggles and joys of becoming a parent unexpectedly, as well as the difficulties of navigating a romantic relationship under such circumstances. The film has been praised for its realistic depiction of these issues and for its humor and heart, making it a beloved classic in the romantic comedy genre.
Superbad is a 2007 American teen comedy film directed by Greg Mottola and produced by Judd Apatow. The film stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as Seth and Evan, two high school seniors who want to lose their virginity before graduation. The film also features Christopher Mintz-Plasse in his debut role as Fogell, aka McLovin, a socially awkward teenager who befriends Seth and Evan.
Superbad was released in the United States on August 17, 2007, and grossed over $170 million worldwide against its $20 million budget. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its humor, writing, and performances, particularly from Hill and Cera. It has since become a cult classic and has been credited with influencing a new wave of raunchy teen comedies.
The film's screenplay was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who based the characters on themselves as teenagers. The film's title is a reference to the 1970s television series, "Police Woman," in which the main character was named Sgt. Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson. The title was also meant to reflect the film's focus on male adolescent behavior and immaturity. Superbad has been praised for its portrayal of male friendships and the awkwardness of teenage sexuality.
Blended is a 2014 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Coraci and written by Ivan Menchell and Clare Sera. It stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, with supporting roles by Bella Thorne, Emma Fuhrmann, Terry Crews, Joel McHale, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kevin Nealon, and Shaquille O'Neal. The plot revolves around two single parents, Jim and Lauren, who end up going on a safari vacation in South Africa with their children after a disastrous blind date.
The film received negative reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, grossing $128 million worldwide against a $40 million budget. Sandler and Barrymore's performances were praised, but the film was criticized for its recycled plot, lack of originality, and reliance on offensive humor. It received three Razzie nominations, including Worst Picture, Worst Director, and Worst Actress for Barrymore.
Despite the negative critical reception, Blended has since gained a cult following among fans of Sandler and Barrymore's collaborations, and is considered a guilty pleasure by some viewers. The film's depiction of family and blended families has also been praised for its positive portrayal of co-parenting and step-parenting.
Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Mike Myers, based on his Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name. The film stars Myers in his feature film debut as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, a pair of rock fans who broadcast a public-access television show. The film also features Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, Lara Flynn Boyle, Brian Doyle-Murray, Chris Farley, Ed O'Neill, Ione Skye, Meat Loaf, and Alice Cooper. The film was released in the United States on February 14, 1992, by Paramount Pictures.
Wayne's World was a critical and commercial success, grossing $183.1 million worldwide against a budget of only $20 million. It received positive reviews for its humor, performances, and soundtrack, which featured songs from various rock bands. The film's success led to a sequel, Wayne's World 2, in 1993.
The film's popularity also sparked a brief fashion trend of ripped jeans and black Converse sneakers, known as "Wayne's World fashion". The film has since become a cult classic and is often cited as one of the greatest comedy films of all time. The film's theme song, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, also experienced a resurgence in popularity and became a cultural touchstone.
"Neighbors" is a 2014 American comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and produced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver. The movie stars Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne in the lead roles. The plot follows a couple with a newborn baby who move next door to a fraternity house and struggle to get along with the rowdy and party-loving neighbors.
The idea for "Neighbors" originated from writers Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O'Brien, who drew inspiration from their personal experiences of living near college fraternities. Rogen and Goldberg soon became attached to the project, and Stoller was brought on to direct. Principal photography took place over two months in Los Angeles, California, in mid-2013.
"Neighbors" premiered at South by Southwest on March 8, 2014, and was theatrically released in the United States on May 9, 2014. The film was a commercial success, grossing $270 million worldwide against a budget of $18 million. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for the performances of Rogen, Efron, and Byrne. The success of the film spawned a sequel, "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," which was released in 2016.
