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The ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Reunion Reunion: How It Came Together

Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and their director, Tim Burton, look back on the first movie, the “Day-O” scene and their ghost comedy’s afterlife.

  By Kyle Buchanan

The Year Tom Cruise Gave Not One but Two Dangerously Vulnerable Performances

Twenty-five years ago, the superstar starred in “Eyes Wide Shut” and “Magnolia,” and opened himself up for the camera in ways he rarely has since.

  By Amy Nicholson

Venice Film Festival 2024: What to Watch For

“Joker: Folie à Deux,” with Joaquin Phoenix, and Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language feature are on tap. Here are the questions we hope to answer.

Zoë Kravitz Needed a Place to Put Her Frustrations. So She Made a Movie.

Her directorial debut, the #MeToo horror-mystery “Blink Twice,” examines power dynamics between men and women.

  By Melena Ryzik

These Are Our Favorite Movies From 1999. What Are Yours?

In our view, these eight comedies, dramas and more have attained classic status 25 years later. Let us know your own picks.

  By The New York Times

Seeking Free Quality Streaming? Try Plex.

This specialty streamer offers live TV along with a robust collection of free, ad-supported movies.

  By Jason Bailey

A Great Year for Movies. The Best Year to Start Writing About Them.

At the box office 25 years ago, hits like “Runaway Bride,” “The Sixth Sense” and “Bowfinger” hint at the abundance that overwhelmed a young critic.

  By Wesley Morris

‘Between the Temples’ Review: A Widower Walks Into a Bar

And meets his former music teacher, upending his life, in Nathan Silver’s touching comedy, starring Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane.

  By Manohla Dargis

‘The Crow’ Review: Resurrected and It Feels So Bad

Hoping to skate by off moody vibes, this revamp of “The Crow” comic book series seems derived from a flattened, Hot Topic image of the hero.

  By Brandon Yu

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Rudy Franchi, Who Put Movies at the Center of a Technicolor Life, Dies at 85

He brought French classics to New York, published a film magazine, worked as a Hollywood publicist and, as seen on “Antiques Roadshow,” thrived selling vintage film posters and other ephemera.

By Michael S. Rosenwald

Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses

“Wolfs,” a new film starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, was going to get a robust theatrical release. But the company is curtailing that plan.

By Nicole Sperling

Fire Destroys Grandstand From ‘A League of Their Own’

The field and wooden grandstand in Ontario, Calif., were the backdrop for the 1992 movie about a women’s baseball league.

By Emily Schmall

Childhood Stardom Is Rough. Jenna Ortega Is Still Recovering.

The actress talks about learning to protect herself and the hard lessons of early fame.

By Lulu Garcia-Navarro

How the Venice Film Festival Became an ‘Oscar Launchpad’

For the past decade, not a year has gone by without major awards-season contenders bowing at the festival.

By A.J. Goldmann

Congratulations! You Made the Film Festival. Now Finish Your Movie.

With the Venice Film Festival beginning, filmmakers are racing to the finish line to have their work ready for screening.

By Nicolas Rapold

Isabelle Huppert Believes Festivals Are Crucial to Cinema’s Future

The veteran French actress of stage and screen is the jury president of this year’s Venice Film Festival.

By Farah Nayeri

Marina Cicogna’s Glamorous, Cinematic Legacy

Cicogna, who died in November, was the face of the Venice Film Festival for decades and a pioneer for women in the Italian film industry. She also knew how to throw a party.

By David Belcher

Five International Movies to Stream Now

In this month’s picks, a yoga teacher in Argentina adjusts to life after divorce, a young woman in London struggles to move past her painful past and more.

By Devika Girish

10 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About This Week

Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or an avid buff, our reviewers think these films are worth knowing about.

By The New York Times

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Movie Reviews

“Last Summer” Is a Ferocious Vision of Sexual Frenzy

“Music” Gives the Tragedy of Oedipus an Elusive but Hypnotic Retelling

“Janet Planet”: Melt the Icebergs

The Rediscovery of “Naked Acts” Expands Film History

The Beautifully Unnerving Gaze of “Evil Does Not Exist”

“Civil War” Is a Tale of Bad News

“ ’Round Midnight,” Revisited: A Feast of Music and Acting

“Perfect Days” and the Perils of Minimalism

“All of Us Strangers” Is a Romantic Fantasy About Filmmaking

“The Zone of Interest” Is an Extreme Form of Holokitsch

The Nineteen-Seventies of “The Holdovers” Is Conveniently Sanitized

What to See in the New York Film Festival’s Second Week

Concentrated but Far-Reaching, “Civic” Is an Ideal Short Film

What to Stream: Paul Schrader’s “Hardcore” Is About Much More Than Pornography

The Political, Metaphysical Melodrama of “Dragonwyck”

Like a Political X-Ray, “Our Body” Exposes the Intrusions of Law in Medicine

“Oppenheimer” Is Ultimately a History Channel Movie with Fancy Editing

The Primal Power of “The Sleepy Time Gal”

Paul Schrader’s “Master Gardener” Is a Movie Divided Against Itself

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” Reviewed: Who’s Restraining Whom?

Director Ariel Vromen’s “1992” often plays like a significantly lesser mishmash of Kathryn Bigelow’s “Detroit” and John Carpenter’s “Assault on Precinct 13.”

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Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is the Boldest Fantasy Show of the Year

The Rings of Power expands and improves in a confident second season.

“EA Sports College Football 25” is a True Sports Game Phenomenon

Venice Film Festival 2024: Prepping for the Biennale

Locarno Film Festival 2024: Wrap-Up of a Special Event

Albert Brooks Enriches Criterion Collection with “Real Life” and “Mother”

The Ambition of “Star Wars Outlaws” Overwhelms Its Flaws

FX’s “English Teacher” Gets an Incomplete Grade for Now

Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” is Less Cozy, Still Fun

13 Films Illuminate Locarno Film Festival’s Columbia Pictures Retrospective

The Adams Family Gets Goopy in Hell Hole

Apple TV+’s Pachinko Expands Its Narrative Palate For An Emotional Season Two

Tina Mabry and Edward Kelsey Moore on the Joy and Uplift of The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat

A Look Back at MUBI FEST CHICAGO

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Clockwise from top left: Inside Out 2 , Thelma , Twisters , Hit Man , Fancy Dance and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F . Disney/Pixar, Magnolia Pictures, Universal Pictures, Netflix, Apple TV+, Netflix hide caption

These are the 19 movies we're most excited about this summer

June 10, 2024 • Comedies, action-adventures, coming-of-age tales, animation — plus that sweet, sweet movie theater air conditioning. There's something for everyone at the multiplex; our critics can help you choose.

Critics have said the promotional materials for the film It Ends With Us glamorize domestic violence. Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The movie 'It Ends With Us' faces criticism for glamorizing domestic abuse

August 28, 2024 • Critics say the film, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel of the same title, paints a love story — not a picture of domestic abuse as portrayed in the original work.

Celebrating movie icons: Molly Ringwald

August 27, 2024 • Ringwald represented teen angst in '80s films like Sixteen Candles  and The Breakfast Club . She's also worked as a jazz musician, an author and a translator. Originally broadcast Feb. 12, 2024.

Martin Short and Zach Galifianakis in the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building . Eric McCandless/Hulu/Disney hide caption

Pop Culture Happy Hour

When celebrities portray themselves.

August 27, 2024 • It's practically a tradition for famous people to portray a really offbeat version of themselves in TV and movies. The latest season of Only Murders in the Building features Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Eva Longoria all playing fictional versions of themselves. So we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about about the many ways actors portray themselves on screen, and why it does and doesn't work.

José Coronado plays film star Julio Arenas in Close Your Eyes. Film Movement hide caption

Quietly transcendent 'Close Your Eyes' may be among the best films you see all year

August 23, 2024 • Over the past 50 years or so, Spanish filmmaker Víctor Erice has directed just four features. His latest, about a filmmaker who revisits a past project, has the pull of a well-crafted detective story.

Channing Tatum stars as Slater King in Blink Twice. Zachary Greenwood/Amazon MGM Studios hide caption

Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice' is a very weird and ambitious big swing

August 23, 2024 • In the new psychological thriller Blink Twice , Naomi Ackie plays a woman who is invited to the private island of a tech billionaire, played by Channing Tatum. He's recently re-entered public life after a scandal and has gathered his friends for a long party. But as the party stretches on, it's clear that something is seriously amiss. Blink Twice is the directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz, and the vibes are definitely pretty weird.

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo. Michael B. Thomas/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

It's Been a Minute

"the squad" loses two members; plus, colman domingo shines in 'sing sing'.

August 23, 2024 • As the dust settles on the DNC, host Brittany Luse takes a look at the challenges facing a group of progressive democrats commonly known as "The Squad." Incumbent Reps. Cori Bush in Missouri and Jamaal Bowman in New York lost their seats this summer to candidates whose campaigns received funding from pro-Israel PACs. Brittany is joined by POLITICO Congress reporter Sarah Ferris and Capital B News national politics reporter Brandon Tensley to understand how these PACs are impacting progressives in Congress.

"The Squad" loses two members; plus, Colman Domingo shines in 'SING SING'

Director Francis Ford Coppola at the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. on March 27, 2022. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

Lionsgate apologizes to Coppola for now-pulled 'Megalopolis’ trailer

August 22, 2024 • “We offer our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error,” a Lionsgate spokesperson said in a statement.

A scene from Mountains . Music Box Films hide caption

Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood is on borrowed time. A film is documenting it all

August 21, 2024 • Mountains , the first feature by filmmaker Monica Sorelle, focuses on a Haitian American family struggling to get ahead in a South Florida neighborhood targeted by developers.

Endangered Little Haiti

Noel (John Cena) and Katie (Awkwafina) in JACKPOT! Daniel McFadden/IMAGE COURTESY OF AMAZON MGM STUDIOS hide caption

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

August 20, 2024 • Entering the studio with Jesse Thorn on the latest episode is John Cena. The wrestler turned actor talks about his path to the ring and Hollywood. John recently announced his imminent retirement from wrestling – he talked with us about that decision. Plus, John's always wanted to learn how to play piano, and he's thought of a way to make that happen. His latest project is an action comedy called Jackpot! in which he stars alongside Awkwafina. You can stream it now on Amazon Prime.

The physical media we still treasure

August 19, 2024 • The vinyl record, the CD, the DVD, the VHS tape — even the paper book has been the subject of debate and concern over its future. But we haven't given up our collections just yet. Today, we're revisiting our conversation about the physical media we still treasure.

French actor Alain Delon in 1976. AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

Alain Delon, cinematic heartthrob and beloved French actor, has died

August 18, 2024 • Delon starred in more than 80 movies over six decades, including such classics as "Le Samouraï" and "The Leopard." He was 88.

1999 Haley Joel Osment And Bruce Willis Star In "The Sixth Sense." (Photo By Getty Images) Getty Images/Getty Images hide caption

Consider This from NPR

'the sixth sense' and a career of plot twists.

August 16, 2024 • Twenty-five years ago this month, one film, and one filmmaker, became synonymous with the big plot twist.

Alien: Romulus is the latest movie in the long-running Alien sci-fi/horror series. But it actually takes place shortly after the events of the very first film: Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, Alien . 20th Century Studios hide caption

'Alien: Romulus' is another franchise movie that brings more nostalgia than novelty

August 16, 2024 • The latest installment of the "Alien" series is an efficient and reasonably entertaining thriller. But dwelling too obsessively on the past won't guarantee a franchise's future.

Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson in Alien: Romulus . Murray Close/20th Century Studios hide caption

'Alien: Romulus' goes deep (space) into the horror

August 16, 2024 • Alien: Romulus is the latest entry in the venerable Alien sci-fi/horror film franchise, and it leans hard into the horror. The new movie stars Cailee Spaeney as one of a young crew of space miners, along with David Jonsson as her android brother. You'll never guess what species of slimy extraterrestrial evil they encounter. Faces get hugged, chests get burst, and acid blood eats through everything.

Izaac Wang stars as Chris Wang in Didi. Focus Features hide caption

'Didi' captures the awkwardness of adolescence almost too well

August 15, 2024 • The movie Didi is a vibrant coming-of-age dramedy and was a Sundance film festival favorite. It stars Izaac Wang as a 13-year-old just trying to survive the awkwardness of puberty as a Taiwanese-American kid living in the Bay Area. He's got a crush to impress, complicated friendships to navigate, and family members who are sooooo embarrassing. Didi was directed by Sean Wang, who earned an Oscar nomination earlier this year for his documentary short Nai Nai & Wai Po .

Gena Rowlands in 1968. Evening Standard/Getty Images/Hulton Archive hide caption

Gena Rowlands, a luminous leading lady of independent film, has died

August 14, 2024 • Actress Gina Rowlands has died. She collaborated with husband John Cassavetes on nearly a dozen films.

$#@*! we're talking profanity in pop culture

August 14, 2024 • We've got dirty words on the brain, and we're chatting about the use and functions of profanity in entertainment. In this encore episode from 2013, we cover everything from Anchorman to South Park to Shakespeare.

Hunter Schafer in Cuckoo. Felix Dickinson/Neon hide caption

Hunter Schafer's 'Cuckoo' serves up Alpine horror

August 12, 2024 • In the new, stylishly odd horror film Cuckoo , Hunter Schafer plays an American teenager who reluctantly moves with her family to a mysterious resort in the German Alps. Her rebellious spirit clashes with the resort's creepy proprietor, played by Dan Stevens. When weird stuff starts happening, long-buried family secrets come to light and the resort's true nature stands revealed.

Ruaridh Mollica in Sebastian. Kino Lorber hide caption

‘Sebastian’ re-writes the sex work movie

August 11, 2024 • Director and writer Mikko Mäkelä says he wasn’t interested in creating yet another sex worker drama focused on trauma. Instead, Sebastian is a knowing but conflicted young man learning about himself.

In 'Sebastian', an author in search of inspiration turns sex worker

Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake of its classic animated film. //Disney hide caption

The trailer for Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White’ remake has some people very Grumpy

August 10, 2024 • The film, set to be released in March 2025, has been mired by a string of controversies on everything from its new “woke” messaging to its depiction of dwarfism.

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck become uneasy partners in crime in The Instigators. Apple TV+ hide caption

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are 'The Instigators' in a classic heist film throwback

August 9, 2024 • After a heist goes bad, two inept Boston crooks (played by Damon and Affleck) become uneasy partners. The Instigators is a reasonably enjoyable film that reflects an earlier cinematic era.

Instigators

Blake Lively in It Ends With Us. Sony Pictures hide caption

'It Ends With Us' is a melodrama with serious undertones

August 9, 2024 • The 2016 Colleen Hoover novel It Ends With Us was a massive bestseller. And now that book is a movie. Blake Lively stars as Lily Bloom, a woman who falls for a hot neurosurgeon played by Justin Baldoni — who also directs the film. But their relationship is complicated by the return of her old flame (Brandon Sklenar). She also has to reckon with her feelings about her abusive father and the mother who stayed with him.

Lily Collias brings a nearly wordless intensity as Sam in Good One. Smudge Films hide caption

In ‘Good One,’ a family camping trip is full of emotional switchbacks

August 8, 2024 • On its surface, Good One is about a teen on a backpacking trip with her dad and his friend. But the film is so sharp and engrossing you might not notice the deeper story taking shape underneath.

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Film Reviews

Movie Review: ‘The Crow’ reimagined is stylish and operatic, but cannot outfly 1994 original

Movie Review: Style triumphs over logic in Zoë Kravitz’s great-looking but vexing ‘Blink Twice’

Movie Review: In ‘Between the Temples,’ Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane make beautiful music

Movie Review: Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry lead a middling spy comedy in ‘The Union’

Review: ‘Jackpot!’ has a winning star in Awkwafina but never pays off

Movie Review: Yep. They’re back! ‘Alien: Romulus’ introduces next-gen Xenomorph foe Cailee Spaeny

Review: Incarcerated fathers and their daughters dance in the heart-wrenching doc ‘Daughters’

Movie Review: ‘It Ends With Us’ with Blake Lively tackles big issues but slips into soap opera

Movie Review: Delicate and powerful, ‘Good One’ is one of the year’s indie breakouts

Movie Review: ‘Cuckoo’ is a stylish nightmare, with a wonderfully sinister Dan Stevens

Movie Review: Josh Hartnett goes big as the serial killer in M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Trap’

Review: In ‘The Instigators,’ a heist goes terrifically wrong

Movie Review: ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ brings beloved book to life in a familiar story

Movie Review: A third-act friendship comedy in ‘The Fabulous Four’

Movie Review: ‘Dìdi’ is a warm, nostalgic hug straight from 2008

Movie Review: In ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ the superhero movie finally accepts itself for what it is

Movie Review: A new generation drives into the storm in rousing ‘Twisters’

Movie Review: Finding love and followers atop urban heights in ‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’

Review: In the chilling thriller ‘Longlegs,’ Maika Monroe cuts like a knife

Movie Review: ‘Sing Sing’ cheers the power of art inside a maximum security prison

Movie Review: Luke Gilford takes you on a trip to a queer rodeo in ‘National Anthem’

Movie Review: Scarlett Johansson lends star power to earthbound ‘Fly Me to the Moon’

Movie Review: Hollywood, sleazy 80s-style, in ‘MaXXXine’

Movie Review: Eddie Murphy returns to Beverly Hills, which is good enough for everyone

Movie Review: More Minion mayhem in ‘Despicable Me 4'

Movie Review: Shhhh...the novelty is gone in ‘A Quiet Place’ prequel

Movie Review: Kevin Costner sets the table with overstuffed first take on epic ‘Horizon’

Movie Review: Taxicab confessions with Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn in ‘Daddio’

Movie Review: ‘Kinds of Kindness,’ Emma Stone’s latest foray into fearlessness with Yorgos Lanthimos

Movie Review: In ‘The Bikeriders,’ the birth of a subculture on two wheels

More entertainment, k-pop singer taeil leaves boyband nct over accusation of an unspecified sexual crime, ‘beetlejuice beetlejuice’ prepares to open 81st venice film festival, ‘er’ creator michael crichton’s estate sues warner bros. over upcoming hospital drama ‘the pitt’, disbarred celebrity lawyer tom girardi found guilty of stealing millions from his clients, anaheim ducks will move local broadcasts from bally to over-the-air channel and streaming.

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Top Headlines

‘Honestly, I was terrified’: Winona Ryder on returning with ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’

The Gen-X icon always hoped to be back in black for one of her most signature roles. But Ryder and her director Tim Burton still can’t believe it’s happened.

Aug. 28, 2024

‘La Bamba’ is getting a remake. Luis Valdez isn’t sure why

Aug. 27, 2024

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Close to You review: Elliot Page’s big screen return is a sincere joy

Improvisational director dominic savage's collaboration with the oscar-nominated actor is a character study that sharpens periodically into polemic.

The return of the prodigal son is an enduring staple of indie cinema – only here, there’s a difference. He’s a trans man, played by Elliot Page in his first film for six years, and his first since transitioning (he came out as a trans man in 2020).

As he returns to the movies, so his character, Sam, is returning to his childhood home from Toronto for the first time in almost five years. While reconnecting with the lost love (Hillary Baack) he meets on the train, Sam meanders through encounters with family members, wrestling with their protectiveness, incomprehension or contempt. That, in terms of story, is about all we get, but the story is not the point; Close to You is a character study that sharpens periodically into polemic.

Director Dominic Savage developed the movie in a similar way to his female-led Channel 4 anthology series, I Am , co-writing the outline with his lead actor, before filling it in through improvisation. If the film makes clear the perils – as well as the positives – of that approach, it is lifted out of the ordinary by its honesty, its disruption of a familiar formula, and Page’s excellent performance.

We’re introduced to Sam in the city, standing by the kitchen window, shirtless. The camera lingers on his scarred torso, before panning up to his resigned expression; we cut to him putting on his clothes, re-arranging the contents of his pants. This isn’t mere visual exposition, but a statement of intent. If trans people’s bodies are to be treated as public property, then this is Page, co-author, co-producer and star, seizing the initiative, openly satisfying audience curiosity while unapologetically saying, “Here I am.”

What follows is slightly shapeless and light on incident. It is also, at times, quite extraordinarily compelling. Sam’s heart-to-heart with a sister coughs up the film’s message in a single line (“You weren’t worrying about me when I was actually not OK”), before a truly touching two-hander with his dad that clambers out of disjointed mundanity towards something lovely. “When you finally called … it was probably one of the happiest moments of my life,” his father says, and Sam’s worldview shifts a little, tears falling, lips pinching into a rare smile.

Zoe Kravitz's debut Blink Twice is a deeply entertaining eat-the-rich revenge

Close to You is at its best, though, when its hero bares not just his soul but his teeth. That opportunity is afforded by antagonist Paul, the fiancé of another sister. During their first flare-up, Paul boasts that it’s not his style to leave things unsaid, and Page slips thrillingly into the sardonic delivery familiar from Juno (2007). “Oh it’s not, is it?” he smirks. “You’re just really radically honest and vulnerable all the time?” In their second head-to-head, that drollness erupts into wounded anger. Paul, angling for an argument, claims he doesn’t know all the “rules” about what you’re allowed to say to trans people. “What are you talking about, ‘rules’?” asks Page. “Like, I’m just a fucking person.”

The specificity – and broader resonance – of that scene is invigorating but does expose the film’s shortcomings elsewhere. While the improvised approach can create a realism, especially in the moment and in the dynamics between characters, it results here in a wider vagueness, and some banal dialogue.

Even when resorting to the clichés of therapy-speak, though, Page is compulsively watchable. He couples the effortless charisma of a star with a great depth and subtlety, his eyes inexpressibly sad. Seeing him in that red beanie, your mind flits back to the little red riding hood of Hard Candy (2005), in which he gave surely the most exhilarating breakthrough turn of the noughties. While Close to You is transparently imperfect, it is a sincere joy to have its gifted lead back on the big screen.

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Movie review: ‘Slingshot’ a sluggish trip to space

In “Slingshot,” a space travel thriller directed by Mikael Håfström, the title refers to a risky flight maneuver involving orbital mechanics. Astronauts journeying a billion and a half miles to one of Saturn’s moons, Titan, will need a gravity assist — the “slingshot” in question — from Jupiter’s orbital velocity in order to make it all the way. Why are they going to Titan? It’s the only other planet that has liquid on its surface, methane that they intend to harvest for clean energy to combat climate change on Earth.

But despite the bouncy title and seemingly action-oriented premise, this psychological character study starring Casey Affleck is a slog. The film isn’t about the slingshot, or the methane gas, or even climate change, but about the challenges of the journey itself. In order to endure the yearslong trip, the crew needs to “hibernate” in three-month-long chunks, their sleep aided by heavy doses of drugs, which causes disorientation and confusion every time they wake up to perform some task.

John (Affleck), an ambitious pilot who made it through a rigorous selection process for this dangerous mission, spends most of his time on board trying and failing to shake off dreamy visions of a former lover, Zoe (Emily Beecham) one of the designers of the cutting-edge spacecraft. Every time he goes to sleep, he dreams of Zoe rolling around in bedsheets, and every time he wakes up, he’s fighting through brain fog in order to discern what’s real and what’s not, or fighting with his colleagues about their orders.

The situation with the other crew, Captain Franks (Laurence Fishburne) and scientist Nash (Tomer Capone) becomes increasingly untenable as their mental health devolves over many taxing hibernation cycles. When the ship is mysteriously damaged, perhaps from structural stress, Franks is determined to finish the mission, while Nash wants to turn back, with John caught in the middle. Despite this central tension, “Slingshot” is an undeniably sleepy film, in which a groggy Affleck stumbles around a spaceship for most of the running time.

As Nash sows the seeds of mutiny, Franks attempts to violently wrest back control, using both physical force and mental manipulation. Ultimately, it plays out a bit like “Gaslight” in space, with Fishburne playing Charles Boyer to Affleck’s Ingrid Bergman. Screenwriters R. Scott Adams and Nathan Parker don’t bother digging into the available themes or big ideas, and instead throw twist after twist into the script just to keep things from getting too somnambulant.

The desire to know what’s real and what’s not sustains enough mild interest to keep us engaged, but the continual flashbacks to a syrupy and unconvincing romance in which John and Zoe lie on the floor talking about moths have a devastating effect on the momentum. The terrific Beecham is saddled with a dismal hairdo and an even more dismal role, her character simply an object of wan yearning for the drowsy John. Affleck seems lethargic even in flashback, and is entirely implausible as a hotshot pilot in his late 30s. Affleck sleepwalks through this film in more ways than one.

Håfström’s direction is equally sluggish. While there’s some pretty lighting in the hibernation pods, the creative choices made around John’s hallucinations are predictable and pat. There’s just simply nothing to hook into aside from Fishburne’s performance, which is the only captivating element of the film, and even that is derivative of his iconic Morpheus role in “The Matrix.” Despite the many twists and turns that never let up, there are simply no signs of life in “Slingshot.”

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Introduction

“A superbly controlled and engrossingly detailed account of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the widespread pedophilia scandals and subsequent cover-ups within the Catholic Church,” Variety‍  ’s Chief Film Critic Justin Chang wrote in his review of “Spotlight,”  likening the ensemble pic to “All the President’s Men” and “Zodiac.” The film from director/co-writer Tom McCarthy tells the true story of a group of journalists whose reporting eventually led to the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law, Archibishop of Boston, who had hidden years of sexual abuse by other priests, and yielded other revelations of molestation and cover-ups around the world.

In honor of “Spotlight’s” release, here are the 11 best newspaper movies of all time (all the news that’s fit to screen), which might just outlive print journalism itself. – MK

“All the President’s Men” (1976)

“All the President’s Men” is arguably the gold standard for newspaper movies. Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein made history by unraveling the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon. They published a 1974 best-seller about the experience, which was turned into this 1976 film, starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman. The movie inspired a whole generation of journalists, despite its spotlight on the not-so-glamourous tactics and grunt work involved in getting a story. – MK

“Citizen Kane” (1941)

Widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, Orson Welles’ directorial debut follows a reporter’s futile search for the meaning of “Rosebud” — the last word megalomaniacal newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane utters before he dies. The American classic opens with a newsreel obituary narrating Kane’s life story. The movie also explores the often corrupt industry as Kane uses his newspaper empire to promote his candidacy for governor. He also fabricates news, running the front-page headline “Fraud at Polls” when he ultimately loses the election. The film is based in part on the life of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who condemned the pic and blocked any mention of it in his publications, contributing to its box office flop. – MK

“Zodiac” (2007)

The David Fincher-directed drama centers on a team of reporters (played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr.) and investigators (“Spotlight” star Mark Ruffalo) as they obsess over San Francisco’s Zodiac killer in the 1960s and ’70s. Despite critical praise and big-name cast, the thriller pulled in a soft $33 million domestic haul. – MZ

“State of Play” (2009)

The film, based on a BBC miniseries, stars Russell Crowe as a veteran Washington Globe investigative reporter and Rachel McAdams, another “Spotlight” star, as a blossoming blogger. The two work together to solve the murder of a congressman’s (Ben Affleck) mistress. The film explores the clashing print and online sides of journalism and the difficulty of maintaining journalistic ethics when there’s a conflict of interest (Crowe’s and Affleck’s characters were college roommates). – MK

“It Happened One Night” (1934)

The only true “newspaper movie” to win a Best Picture Oscar, “It Happened One Night” reflected the ’30s fedora-wearing, press-card sporting, fast-talking reporter archetype. It was also the first film to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay) — a feat only achieved by two other films: 1975’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs.” Frank Capra’s screwball romantic comedy follows Clark Gable’s reporter as he blackmails a spoiled runaway socialite (Claudette Colbert) for a big scoop. – MK

“His Girl Friday” (1940)

Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell star in this proto-rom-com as a newspaper editor and investigative reporter who get tangled up in a murder investigation. The Columbia release remains a touchstone for the screwball comedy genre, maintaining a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. – MZ

“The Paper” (1994)

Before he was generating Oscar buzz for his performance as investigative reporter Michael Rezendes in “Spotlight,” Michael Keaton starred as metro editor Henry Hackett in “The Paper.” Ron Howard’s 1994 dramedy depicts a day in the newspaper editor’s life at the fictional tabloid New York Sun (modeled after the New York Post and Daily News). He fights, much to his managing editor’s (Glenn Close) disdain, to stop the presses on an inaccurate cover story. The film also features a famous line from Robert Duvall’s publisher character: “I hate columnists. Why do I have all these columnists? I got political columnists, guest columnists, celebrity columnists. The only thing I don’t have is a dead columnist. That’s the kind I could really use.” – MK

“Absence of Malice” (1981)

Paul Newman and Sally Field star in Sydney Pollack’s intelligent thriller about a reporter (Field) who helps a businessman (Newman) prove his innocence, raising questions about what happens when the media behaves irresponsibly. Newman, Melinda Dillon and scribe Kurt Luedtke each earned Oscar nods. – MZ

“Ace in the Hole” (1951)

“Bad news sells best. ‘Cause good news is no news,” Kirk Douglas’ character, Chuck Tatum, says in Billy Wilder’s “Ace in the Hole.” Tatum, who’s ambitious to a fault, is the poster boy for yellow journalism. The big-city-newspaperman-turned-small-town-reporter stumbles upon a man trapped in a cave-in. Seeing the man’s unfortunate accident as his ticket out of Albuquerque, he exploits the tragedy, delaying the rescue effort for almost a week in order to see his own byline on the front pages of newspapers nationwide and thereby feeding the public’s insatiable appetite for sensational stories. – MK

“Deadline – U.S.A.” (1952)

Humphrey Bogart headlines this pic as an editor desperate to keep his publisher’s widow (Ethel Barrymore) from selling the paper. Richard Brooks wrote and directed the drama. Variety ‘s review praised Bogart for giving “a convincing performance all the way.” – MZ

“The Front Page” (1974)

Billy Wilder’s newspaper comedy stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau as editor and star reporter of a Chicago paper who spar over Matthau’s character’s desire to quit and get married. Carol Burnett and Susan Sarandon also star. The pic was something of a disappointment to critics, with Variety ‘s review comparing the film to “the slick, machine-tooled look of certain assembly line automobiles that never quite seem to work smoothly.” – MZ

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Amy adams is the best actress of her generation.

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Which cancelled show would you bring back for more seasons?

Unfortunately, both The Acolyte and My Lady Jane have been cancelled after their first season, which is disappointing considering both offered unique concepts that we haven't seen before. Sure, The Acolyte was a part of the Star Wars franchise, but it focused on characters who had no connection to the Skywalker saga and highlighted the Sith and dark side characters in a way that the franchise never really has before. Then My Lady Jane tried capitalizing on the Bridgerton craze, but that did little to help the show on Prime Video, getting cancelled not long after its premiere on June 27. My Lady Jane combined all that we love about historical period dramas with the whimsy and magic of fantasy, and perhaps it was that uniqueness about it that ultimately landed it on the chopping block. Both of the shows left Season 1 with the door

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The 21 best journalism movies

EW takes a look at some of the best journalism-centric films of all time, spanning classics like "Network" to modern movies such as "The French Dispatch."

Sometimes the story behind a story can be just as compelling as the actual narrative itself. Cinema's rich history of films chronicling the real and fictionalized accounts of journalists chasing the stories they believe deserve to be told have continued to entertain us for years — investigating imbalances in power, newsrooms generating fraught relationships, and cynical writers learning to look at the world in a new way from the idealization of their subject. Through it all, tales of journalism are ripe for dramatic tension and complex characters.

When She Said hit theaters in November 2022, detailing the shocking story of the New York Times report by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor that exposed the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein and kick-started the #MeToo movement, we took a look at some of the best movies with the newsroom and reporting at the forefront. The films range from dramatic retellings of history's biggest breaking news stories, like Spotlight and All the President's Men , to 20th-century classics such as Citizen Kane and modern-day marvels like The Post . These are EW's picks, in no particular order, for the most memorable journalism movies.

Spotlight (2015)

Winner of the Oscar for Best Picture, Spotlight is an outstanding dramatization of the tenacious Boston Globe writers who investigated the shocking revelations of child molestation and cover-up in the Catholic Church. Rachel McAdams , Mark Ruffalo , Michael Keaton , Liev Schreiber , Stanley Tucci , and John Slattery are some of the high-profile actors who embody the true-to-life, painstaking journalistic efforts that shocked the world. Spotlight does an incredible job of showing the lengths investigative reporters go to when they feel passionate about a story.

Where to watch Spotlight : Max

Almost Famous (2000)

William Miller is a teenage boy who gets the chance of a lifetime to go on tour and write a Rolling Stone article about up-and-coming rock band Stillwater, but he soon learns that the real life of a rock star isn't as glamorous as it appears in this funny, heartfelt, 1970s-set coming-of-age story. Patrick Fugit stars as William accompanied by a perfect ensemble cast featuring Kate Hudson , Billy Crudup , Jason Lee , Frances McDormand , and Zooey Deschanel .

Almost Famous captures the complexity of writing so well in its excitement and disappointment that can come along with a story that isn't what it first seemed. Still, watching a frustrated band come together to sing Elton John 's "Tiny Dancer" on their tour bus is a timeless moment of movie magic from writer-director Cameron Crowe .

Where to watch Almost Famous: Paramount+

Network (1976)

Network follows a fictional television network, UBS, and the producers who exploit a deranged former anchor, Howard Beale, to continue his ravings and rantings about the media for their own profit. Peter Finch (who won the first, and still only, posthumous Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Beale), Faye Dunaway , William Holden, Robert Duvall , Beatrice Straight, and Ned Beatty are some of the stars that each give a tour de force performance in this Sidney Lumet-directed classic satirical dramedy that helped shape American film as a medium and remains one of the quintessential movies from the 1970s.

Where to watch Network : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

"WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You'll get paid when we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed." Three magazine employees ( Aubrey Plaza , Jake Johnson , Karan Soni) go on an assignment to interview a man ( Mark Duplass ) who placed an advertisement seeking a companion for time travel in this indie flick from Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly, the team behind Jurassic World . Safety Not Guaranteed puts characters first, allowing them to discover joy in pursuing the unimaginable, both physically and emotionally.

Where to watch Safety Not Guaranteed : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles ' magnum opus is well remembered for its pioneering cinematography and ambitious plot structure. The use of flashbacks effectively allows the audience to follow reporters trying to uncover the meaning of Kane's final word: "Rosebud."

With interviews and countless hours of research in the high-vaulted library room, Citizen Kane employs journalistic investigation to help propel the mystery forward in its discovery. It's easy to feel like an investigative journalist while trying to find out for ourselves what made the publishing tycoon tick.

Where to watch Citizen Kane : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

The Insider (1999)

Russell Crowe and Al Pacino shine in this earnest and entertaining thriller about ex-tobacco industry chemist Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe), who comes under attack after breaking an NDA and appearing in a 60 Minutes piece on Big Tobacco produced by the show's Lowell Bergman (Pacino).

Director Michael Mann is a master of the crime drama, and The Insider is no exception in his catalog of intriguing films that peel back the layers of those in power trying to stifle stories before they are told.

Where to watch The Insider : Apple TV (to rent)

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

A year after his war film Gallipoli , director Peter Weir reteamed with his Australian star, Mel Gibson , in this historical drama about a reporter covering the political turmoil in Indonesia in the 1960s.

Gibson plays a foreign reporter who falls in love with a British photographer, played by Sigourney Weaver . Juggling professional romance with political intrigue, The Year of Living Dangerously is a complex film about the lengths reporters will go to get the story they're after.

Where to watch The Year of Living Dangerously : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

George Clooney co-wrote, directed, and starred in this biopic about CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow (in a career-best performance from David Strathairn ) who challenges the fear-mongering of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clocking in at just above 90 minutes, Good Night, and Good Luck tidily and expertly showcases the integrity of Murrow during a restless 1950s. Using archival footage of McCarthy helps place the film in a time and place and accurately displays broadcast news in the middle of the 20th century.

Where to watch Good Night, and Good Luck : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

The Post (2017)

When modern day events mirrored a similar threat to journalism and truth, director Steven Spielberg fast-tracked his dramatic retelling of The Washington Post 's involvement in the publishing of the Pentagon Papers that declassified over 20 years of government documents relating to the Vietnam War.

Starring Meryl Streep , Tom Hanks , Bob Odenkirk , Sarah Paulson , Tracy Letts , and Matthew Rhys , The Post is a powerful film of the first female newspaper publisher and her editors to ensure democracy took precedence over power and corruption.

Where to watch The Post : Freevee

Nightcrawler (2014)

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a sociopathic con man who, armed with a video camera and a police scanner, dives into the LA crime world to make money and a name for himself. He deals with a TV executive ( Rene Russo ) to sell exclusive crime videos straight to the news, no matter the cost. Nightcrawler provides a thrilling look into the shady secrets of modern-age news with a pulse-pounding third act that shows all that can go wrong.

Where to watch Nightcrawler : Max

The Parallax View (1974)

While investigating the assassination of a presidential candidate, reporter Joseph Frady ( Warren Beatty ) uncovers a secret organization that lurks in the shadows and deals in political assassinations. The Parallax View is a taut political thriller that puts a resolute reporter at the center of a story that shows the crucial role journalism plays in thwarting corruption.

Where to watch The Parallax View: Kanopy

Shattered Glass (2003)

Stephen Glass was a hotshot young reporter at The New Republic until it was discovered that he had fabricated over half of his articles. Hayden Christensen traded in his lightsaber for reading glasses as the infamous reporter who fell from grace in this impressively acted and intense drama — also starring Chloë Sevigny and Peter Sarsgaard — that sheds light on the importance of integrity and consequences of lacking any.

Where to watch Shattered Glass : Freevee

The French Dispatch (2021)

Distinctly Wes Anderson , The French Dispatch follows an American newspaper in a French town and the eclectic lives of the citizens that unfold in three uniquely charming tales. Hailed as a "love letter to journalists," Anderson's film is one of his best, weaving the prose and stories that makes journalists breathe.

The story unfolds in multiple acts that features an impressive cast including Timothée Chalamet , Benicio Del Toro , Tilda Swinton , Frances McDormand , Jeffrey Wright , Owen Wilson , and too many others to name.

Where to stream The French Dispatch : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

His Girl Friday (1940)

Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell star in this workplace comedy about a newspaper editor who does everything in his power to stop his ex-wife, who is also one of his reporters, from remarrying. Aside from its famous and utterly memorable star leads, His Girl Friday was innovative for its sound design and the use of the now-commonplace overlapping dialogue. Eighty-plus years later and the film's comedy and depiction of the newsroom holds up well.

Where to watch His Girl Friday : Amazon Prime Video

Zodiac (2007)

When a serial killer in the Bay Area taunts police by sending letters and cryptic messages, an amateur cartoonist joins the investigative reporters in the spine-tingling case to find the murderer, starting an obsession that leads him to the brink of becoming a victim.

Jake Gyllenhaal joins Robert Downey Jr. , Mark Ruffalo, and Brian Cox in this expertly crafted thriller from David Fincher , which centers on the journalists in the newsroom in their terrifying quest for the unknown identity of the namesake killer that plays out with such tension that it haunts us long after the credits roll.

Where to watch Zodiac : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

All the President's Men (1976)

Telling the infamous story of the breaking of the Watergate scandal, All the President's Men is a richly detailed and exhaustive fictionalization of the two famed reporters from The Washington Post , Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford step into the shoes of the inspirational journalists in a classic film that deftly walks us through the determination of Woodward and Bernstein as they unravel their story.

Where to watch All the President's Men : Amazon Prime Video

Frost/Nixon (2008)

On the other side of the Watergate scandal is Frost/Nixon , Ron Howard 's exhilarating drama about the post-Watergate interviews between former President Richard Nixon ( Frank Langella ) and British talk show host David Frost ( Michael Sheen ).

The two actors who originated the roles in London and on Broadway came to the big screen in a film that is superbly acted and earnestly detailed. Frost/Nixon smartly interweaves archival footage within these complex characters and their game of cat-and-mouse for the truth amidst political scandal.

Where to watch Frost/Nixon : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Philomena (2013)

A septuagenarian joins a world-weary journalist to find her long-lost son who she was forced to give away by the Catholic Church more than 50 years ago in this powerful true story. Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in Philomena , an Oscar-nominated tale about two vastly different protagonists that sheds light on important societal differences in a lighthearted way. No matter how spent and over it the journalist Martin Sixsmith becomes, his profile subject has the power to inadvertently change his heart.

Where to watch Philomena : Max

Broadcast News (1987)

Broadcast News interweaves complex narratives about the behind-the-screens dealings that make broadcast TV happen and the dimensional characters at the heart of the story. William Hurt , Albert Brooks , and Holly Hunter play three journalists in a love triangle, delivering memorable characters and an insightful look into the industry.

Where to watch Broadcast News : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Great Odin's raven! Is there a fictional anchor more of a big deal than the classy, mustachioed, number one local news anchor in San Diego? Will Ferrell 's Ron Burgundy immediately became a pop culture phenomenon in this quirky comedy from Adam McKay about an old-school news anchor who falls in love with his ambitious coanchor, Veronica Corningstone ( Christina Applegate ) in a male-dominated field. Steve Carell , Paul Rudd , David Koechner , Kathryn Hahn , and Fred Willard round out the stellar cast in this oft-quoted comedy that is a surprisingly astute observation of the chauvinistic '70s workplace (and beyond).

Where to watch Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy : Netflix

She Said (2022)

Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

She Said is unique in that it's a movie about journalism released almost immediately after the incidents it depicts. Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan play New York Times investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey — both of whom are credited as co-writers — as they turn an eye toward Hollywood in their "Me Too"-era coverage. What starts as hushed rumors becomes a bombshell report about the sexual abuse women endured at the hands of famed producer Harvey Weinstein. It's a difficult story, especially when it was produced so close to the time survivors chose to speak out. —Dustin Nelson

Where to watch She Said : Amazon Prime Video

Related content:

• Vatican newspaper praises Spotlight for drawing attention to sex abuse
• How David Zinn recreated the 1970s music scene with his Almost Famous musical costumes
• Jake Gyllenhaal starved himself and shunned friends for Nightcrawler

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A 62-Minute Horror Movie With $800 Budget Is Going Viral & It Might Be One Of The Best Of 2024

Star wars theory reveals the real reason darth vader died in return of the jedi (not palpatine), one of the best western remakes of all time comes to netflix in september.

The newly released The French Dispatch  has shined a light on the newspaper industry, being a love letter to The New Yorker and investigative journalism at large. But as great as the colorful movie is, there have been many other classic films about the newspaper and publishing industry released over the decades.

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The French Dispatch sits right in the middle of the greatest publication-related movies, according to IMDb. It was rated lower when the movie was first released in Europe, but ironically, despite being based in France, US audiences love the Wes Anderson-directed film a lot more.

The Paper (1994) - 6.7

The newspaper industry is one of the most hectic workplaces, as journalists work around the clock to get stories to the printers in time. Though it has a comedic edge to it, no other movie represents the exhausting environment like The Paper , which takes place over a period of 24 hours at the fictional New York Sun .

Though it wasn't as loved by general audiences, it was praised endlessly by critics, but that may have something to do with the fact that they relate to the movie so much. It's also the first of a couple of great performances by Michael Keaton, as he stars in both The Paper and Spotlight .

Absence Of Malice (1981) - 6.9

Absence of Malice doesn't get enough attention, as it's a must-watch for not just viewers who want to see investigative journalism, but it's a gripping courtroom drama and neo-noir thriller too. The title refers to the defense against libel defamation in that the defense has the right to know damaging personal information.

The movie isn't all that realistic, as the journalist in the movie does certain things that no self-respecting journalist would ever do, but it's still massively entertaining. There are a lot of similarities between Absence of Malice and the much more popular All The President's Men , and all the snappy dialogue and the procedural investigative format are just as compelling.

Shattered Glass (2003) - 7.1

Hayden Christensen doesn't have a great reputation because of his starring roles in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. But he is in so many great movies that are unfairly overlooked, and Shattered Glass is one of many. The movie follows a journalist who fabricates his outrageous stories to become more popular.

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The movie also stars Rosario Dawson, and with Christensen and Dawson's chemistry so strong, they'll be reunited in the upcoming Disney+ Star Wars series, Ahsoka . The actor will be reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker, and Dawson couldn't be more excited about it .

The Post (2017) - 7.2

It's almost as if there was an increase in popularity for investigative journalism-based movies after the award-winning Spotlight , as The Post followed not long after. But The Post is much more ambitious, as it's directed by Stephen Spielberg and stars Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. However, it proves that a big-name director and two of the biggest movie stars in the world isn't always a winning recipe, as it doesn't touch on the perfectly paced captivating 2015 movie.

But there are still things to love about the film. The movie is about The Washington Post's attempts to publish the Pentagon Papers in the 1970s, and it does still make what would have been a routine humdrum ordeal exciting. Not only that, but it's a great-looking period drama and it features  one of Spielberg's best opening shots .

The Front Page (1974) - 7.3

Where movies about newspapers and publications are generally fairly serious, as they're usually thrilling exposés, The Front Page is much more lighthearted. The movie marks the fifth and penultimate collaboration between the directing-acting duo Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon, and it's one of their most grounded.

The movie follows a reporter who covers his final crime story before his retirement, which is about a man on death row. It's based on a play from 1929, and while it has been adapted numerous times on TV and in movies, The Front Page is the best of them all.

The French Dispatch (2021) - 7.5

The French Dispatch is the newest movie about the newspaper industry, and it's the most interesting because, though it isn't based on a true story, it is based on a fictitious version of The New Yorker . Not only is it about the newspaper industry, but  The French Dispatch is a great anthology movie  too, as each story follows different journalists' work on fictionalized versions of infamous New Yorker articles.

The cartoon-like movie hasn't been out for long, but the general response is mostly positive and has been referred to as a love letter to journalism. Though it has been criticized for Anderson indulging too much in his trademark style, such as using different film formats depending on the time period, and every shot being so perfectly symmetrical.

Zodiac (2007) - 7.7

It might seem strange that Zodiac is one of the best movies about the newspaper industry, as it's a crime thriller about the real-life Zodiac killer. But it was the San Francisco Chronicle who were sent ciphers from the killer, and it was the cartoonist of the newspaper, Robert Graysmith, who was deciphering them. Graysmith did as much work of attempting to uncover the killer as the police.

The movie does a great and accurate job of depicting the events of what happened, and  Zodiac is now considered a classic . Between the procedural way it lays down each clue, and the distinct high-definition look of the movie, the 2007 film is one of the greatest thrillers of the 21st century and one of the best newspaper movies ever.

All The President's Men (1976) - 8.0

All The President's Men is the most well-known political biopic, as it depicts the Watergate scandal during the Nixon administration. Just like The Post , the 1976 movie is another film that centers around The Washington Post's attempts to bring the real facts to its readers.

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Along with being exhilarating and intense, President's Men features the best, most observant portrayal of investigating journalists ever put to film. Because of this, the movie is considered a classic and is one of the most important American movies of the 1970s.

Spotlight (2015) - 8.1

Though it doesn't sound like it, as the all-star ensemble cast perfectly captures the tensions of trying to expose the Catholic church for its child sex abuse, Spotlight  has become a modern classic. Spotlight is a special investigative team for the Boston Globe, and the 2003 story was their biggest triumph.

Despite its touchy subject matter, the film was a triumph and it's Mark Ruffalo's best 2010s movie . It could have been the first of a series of anthology movies about the Spotlight team, as they won Pulitzer prizes for exposing political favoritism in Massachusetts in 1972 and transit mismanagement in 1980. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem like the case.

Citizen Kane (1941) - 8.3

Citizen Kane is a perfect movie for so many reasons. From the incredible establishing shot at the beginning to the reveal of the meaning of the word "Rosebud" at the very end, the movie is iconic. But on top of that, the film centers around the titular character, a publishing magnate who had so much power over the tabloids.

The character is even based on real-life media barons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, the latter of which the Pulitzer Prize is named after. There are a hundred different reasons to watch the masterpiece, and the journalistic aspect of the movie is just one of them.

NEXT:  10 Films (Apart From Mank) To Watch If You Liked Citizen Kane

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Opinion | There are a lot of great journalism movies. Here are our top 25.

Most journalism movies, even the ones that aren’t exactly like the day-to-day lives of flesh-and-blood journalists, are still pretty entertaining..

There are a lot of movies about journalism. A lot more than you might think. And most of them, actually, are quite good.

It’s not like sports. For every sports classic such as “Hoosiers” or “Raging Bull” or “Bull Durham,” there’s a dog like “Caddyshack 2” or “Rocky V” or “Blades of Glory.”

This isn’t like movies about presidents. For every “Lincoln,” there’s an “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.”

Most journalism movies, even the ones that aren’t exactly like the day-to-day lives of flesh-and-blood journalists, are still pretty entertaining. Many perfectly capture the journalistic experience.

That’s why coming up with a list of the 25 best-ever movies about journalism was not easy. Yet, we’re confident in our selections. So grab your popcorn and take in our 25 Greatest Movies About Journalism.

25. Almost Famous (2000)

“Almost Famous.” (Dreamworks LLC)

Teenager William Miller  tricks Rolling Stone into believing he’s a veteran rock writer  and, after some advice from legendary music writer Lester Bangs, he hits the road with a band called Stillwater and a groupie (sorry, I mean “band-aid”) named Penny Lane — and his career is born. Loosely based on the experience of writer and director Cameron Crowe.

24. The Parallax View (1974)

Warren Beatty in 1974’s “The Parallax View.” (Paramount Pictures)

Two years before he directed “All the President’s Men,” Alan J. Pakula released this thriller about a reporter , played by Warren Beatty, investigating a secret organization that specializes in political assassination. Somehow, this movie has gotten better with time.

23. Frost/Nixon (2008)

Michael Sheen in “Frost/Nixon.” (Courtesy Universal Pictures)

A fictional look back at the interviews British journalist David Frost did with disgraced former President Richard Nixon after Watergate. Frost’s final session with Nixon is a masterclass in interviewing.

22. Kill the Messenger (2014)

“Kill the Messenger” movie poster. (Focus Features)

Based on a true story, this is the film about the late San Jose Mercury-News reporter Gary Webb and his series about CIA involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking. Often overlooked when talking about great films about journalism.

21. Zodiac (2007)

Jeff Daniel Phillips in “Zodiac.” (Paramount Pictures)

No one knows the case of San Francisco’s Zodiac serial killer better than Robert Graysmith, a former cartoonist and true crime author who spent 13 years and wrote two books (and saw his marriage end in divorce) over the case. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Graysmith in this David Fincher thriller.

20. Under Fire (1983)

“Under Fire” movie poster. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)

Set during the last days of the Nicaraguan Revolution in the late 1970s, this film is based on the murder of ABC reporter Bill Stewart and his translator in 1979. Its all-star cast features great performances from Nick Nolte and Gene Hackman.

19. Salvador (1986)

“Salvador” movie poster. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)

There was a time when actors James Woods and Jim Belushi and director Oliver Stone were all really good. They all came together for this better-than-you-think film, which focuses on a hard-drinking and drug-using photojournalist played by Woods, who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.

18. His Girl Friday (1940)

From left, Earl Dwire, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy and Rosalind Russell in “His Girl Friday.” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

I briefly considered putting “The Philadelphia Story” in this slot, but went with this screwball comedy starring Cary Grant (as a newspaper editor) and Rosalind Russell (as his ace reporter) because it’s more about “journalism” and it’s just, well, better.

17. Live from Baghdad (2002)

“Live from Baghdad” movie poster. (HBO Films)

This made-for-TV HBO movie shows the pivotal moment in CNN history when the network was in Iraq for the start of the Persian Gulf War in 1991. It showed the power of a 24-hour news network. Actor Michael Keaton (who, by the way, is in three of the movies on this list) is superb as CNN producer Robert Wiener.

16. State of Play (2009)

Reporters Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) and Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) star in this political thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. (Universal Pictures)

Russell Crowe plays a journalist who looks into the suspicious death of a congressman’s lover. The cast is ridiculous: Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright and Jeff Daniels.

15. Reds (1981)

Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton and Warren Beatty star in “Reds.” (Paramount Pictures)

One of the best movies of the 1980s is about John Reed and his first-hand account of the Bolshevik Revolution, which resulted in his book “Ten Days That Shook the World.” Warren Beatty directed, produced, co-wrote and starred in this movie that also featured Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Maureen Stapleton, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

14. The Post (2017)

Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in “The Post.” (20th Century Fox)

I still think most of this movie about the Pentagon Papers is only slightly better than average, but if you don’t get goosebumps when the presses start rolling and if you don’t tear up when the Supreme Court decision is announced, well, you might want to see if you have a pulse

13. The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver in “The Year of Living Dangerously.” (United International Pictures and MGM/UA Entertainment Company)

This really is a love story, but it’s set during the overthrow of Indonesian President Sukarno in the 1960s and features Mel Gibson as an Australian journalist. He falls in love with Sigourney Weaver’s character. The real star of the movie is Linda Hunt, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress while playing a man.

12. Good Night and Good Luck (2005)

David Strathairn and Ray Wise in “Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Bros. Entertainment)

This George Clooney movie about how Edward R. Murrow brought down Sen. Joe McCarthy resonates today as journalists take on politicians who are bullies and liars, and who push agendas that separate the country.

11. The Insider (1999)

“The Insider” features Russell Crowe and Al Pacino.

A fictionalized account of a “60 Minutes” report about tobacco-industry whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand. The all-star cast includes Christopher Plummer as Mike Wallace, Philip Baker Hall as Don Hewitt and Al Pacino as award-winning journalist Lowell Bergman.

10. Citizen Kane (1941)

“Citizen Kane” movie poster.

In terms of filmmaking, this is the best movie on this list and one of the greatest movies ever made. The story, believed to be based on the life of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, would have been higher in our rankings if there had been just a little more actual journalism.

9. Killing Fields (1984)

John Malkovich, Julian Sands, Sam Waterston, and Haing S. Ngor in “The Killing Fields” (Warner Bros./Getty Images)

The fall of Cambodia is the backdrop in a movie that can be hard to watch even once . But the true story of New York Times’ Sydney Schanberg and his friendship with Cambodian colleague Dith Pran is a movie that should be seen — at least once.

8. The China Syndrome (1979)

Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, and Daniel Valdez in “The China Syndrome” (Archive Photos/Getty Images)

How creepy is this: This movie about a nuclear power plant disaster referenced a leak that could impact a chunk of America the size of Pennsylvania. Twelve days after its release, there was a nuclear accident at Three Mile Island in central Pennsylvania. Everyone in this cast — Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Wilfred Brimley and, especially, Jack Lemmon — is phenomenal.

7. The Paper (1994)

Michael Keaton and Lynne Thigpen in “The Paper.”

The most underrated film on this list . When it came out, many journalists scoffed at this movie because of the stereotypes. Then you realize clichés become clichés because they are true. This used to be a guilty pleasure movie for journalists. Now, it’s a cult favorite among anyone who has ever worked at a newspaper.

6. Shattered Glass (2003)

Hayden Christensen in “Shattered Glass.”

This movie should be talked about more. Hayden Christensen and Peter Sarsgaard are perfect in this nearly flawless film about how The New Republic’s Stephen Glass built a reputation as one of journalism’s hot-shot young writers by making up most of what he wrote.

5. Absence of Malice (1981)

Paul Newman in “Absence of Malice”

The most journalistic movie title ever . It’s the legal definition for a defense against a libel lawsuit. Paul Newman is on top of his game, Wilford Brimley takes over one of the climactic scenes, Sally Field is perfect as the eager young reporter and Melinda Dillon is heartbreaking in a scene when she picks up newspapers off the lawns in her neighborhood to keep readers from finding a story that she had an abortion.

4. Network (1976)

Peter Finch in “Network.” (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.)

This bitterly funny movie about TV news is more than 40 years old, yet has a message that is as powerful now as ever. Seriously, Howard Beale’s legendary “I’m as mad as hell” speech would fit in perfectly on today’s TV, where anger and polarization trump journalism and reporting.

3. Spotlight (2015)

Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, and Brian d’Arcy James in “Spotlight.” (Kerry Hayes)

The true story of The Boston Globe’s investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic church is this generation’s “All the President’s Men,” showing relentless and tedious shoe-leather reporting, while going up against a powerful organization. Like “All the President’s Men,” it’s an inspiration for young journalists.

2. Broadcast News (1987)

Holly Hunter and William Hurt in “Broadcast News.”

This hilarious satire hits closer to real-life network TV than you might realize. Holly Hunter’s character, Jane, who is loosely based on former CBS News president Susan Zirinsky, is one of the richest characters ever written for the screen, while William Hurt (the dumb but pretty anchor) and Albert Brooks (the smart but awkward reporter) are brilliant.

1. All the President’s Men (1976)

Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in “All the President’s Men.”

Let’s not get cute or overthink this. This is the best movie about journalism ever made , and it’s not even close. The nail-biting (even though you already know the ending) gold standard is the reason many journalists reading this went into the business.

As a bonus, here are our 10 favorite fictional journalists, our 10 favorite funny journalists and our 10 favorite fictional news organizations.

Our 10 favorite fictional journalists

• Jane Craig (Broadcast News)
• Henry Hackett (The Paper)
• Steve Everett (True Crime)
• Camille Preaker (Sharp Objects)
• Clark Kent (Superman)
• Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)
• Lou Grant (Lou Grant)
• Will McAvoy (Newsroom)
• Brenda Starr (Brenda Star, Reporter)
• Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report)

Our 10 favorite funny journalists

• Les Nessman (WKRP in Cincinnati)
• Ron Burgundy (Anchorman)
• Slap Maxwell (Slap Maxwell)
• Irwin Fletcher (Fletch)
• Carl Kolchak (Kolchak: The Night Stalker)
• Ted Baxter (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
• Murphy Brown (Murphy Brown)
• Oscar Madison (The Odd Couple)
• Hildy Johnson (His Girl Friday)
• Michael McDougal (The Paper)

Our 10 favorite fictional news organizations

• The Daily Planet (Superman)
• Union Broadcasting System (Network)
• New York Sun (The Paper)
• KVWN-Ch. 4-San Diego (Anchorman)
• WJM-Minneapolis (Mary Tyler Moore Show)
• Daily Bugle (Spiderman)
• The Lone Gunman (X-Files)
• Los Angeles Tribune (Lou Grant)
• Atlantic Cable News (Newsroom)
• New York Star (Sex and the City)

What do you think of our list? Do you agree, disagree or think we left a deserving film out? Let us hear from you at [email protected] or on Twitter @ poynter .

Correction: Maureen Stapleton starred in “Reds,” not Jean Stapleton. We’d like to say we at least kept it all in the family but the two are not related.

This column was originally published April 12, 2019.

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Comments are closed.

I have only one quibble: you’re missing Deadline U.S.A. I would easily pick it over Shattered Glass. Ed Hutcheson holding up his phone as the press starts rolling page one: “That’s the press, baby. The press! And there’s nothing you can do about it. Nothing!”

Great list Tom. Broadcast News is a little high for me, and I would have somehow found a spot on a list for J. Jonah Jameson, but overall, we mostly agree. Most interesting of all is there are too many I haven’t seen. I need to get to work.

Much to enjoy and chew over but first, these glaring omissions: How could you have missed “Ace in the Hole”? it’s one of the most scathing, entertaining and accurate takes on journalism ever filmed. As close to a tragedy as you’re likely to find featuring director Billy Wilder & I.A,L Diamond’s brilliant dialog and Kirk Douglas’s hallmark razzle-dazzle with those words. Also — “A Face in the Crowd”! That prescient film has gotten a lot of notice in the wake of Trump’s TV-driven rise. Andy Griffith’s portrayal of a rube-turned-demagogue via radio will surprise first-time viewers. (The original British series “State of Play” featuring Bill Nigh, among others, was vastly surperior to the slimmed-down film version) One last thing: you really think Clark Kent was a “fictional journalist”?

Re: No. 18 – His Gal Friday. Okay, I get it. It is “the classic” version, but some homage should made to the original “Front Page;” the 1970s “The Front Page” remake with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, which by far is the most entertaining version; and the 1980s “Switching Channels.” Interesting mini film festival: watch all four in succession.

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