Mumford (1999)
70%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 1 nomination
Memorable moments are few and far between
Mumford is like a quirky, small town where everyone knows each other’s business. It’s a fun and lighthearted romantic comedy that will make you laugh and feel good. While it may not be the deepest movie out there, it’s definitely worth a watch for the great characters and charming storyline. Plus, who doesn’t love a little bit of therapy mixed in with their comedy? Overall, Mumford is a feel-good movie that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon.
Production Company(ies)
Bi Bi Film, Rai Fiction, Film Commission Torino-Piemonte
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sex-related images, language and drug content
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
Black and WhiteBlack and White -
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 52m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 24, 1999 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 18, 2000
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Loren Dean, Hope Davis, Jason Lee, Alfre Woodard, Mary McDonnell, Pruitt Taylor Vince, David Paymer, Jane Adams, Martin Short, directed by Lawrence Kasdan, written by Lawrence Kasdan, produced by Lawrence Kasdan, Charles Okun, Comedy, R, box office performance, $4.6M, reviewed by Nell Minow, Steven D Greydanus, Chris Vognar, Jonathan Foreman, Laura Miller, Stephen Holden, Alberto Abuín, Matt Brunson, Malcolm Johnson, Rob Gonsalves, Jeffrey M Anderson, Jeffrey Overstreet, memorable moments, psychologist, small town, unique style of therapy, billionaire, chronic fatigue syndrome, established doctors, attorney, shocking secrets, past
Worldwide gross: $4,555,459
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,177,176
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,030
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 891,731
US/Canada gross: $4,555,459
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,177,176
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,675
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,851,291
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,323,119
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,152
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $50,260,781
Production budget ranking: 794
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $27,065,430
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$69,149,035
ROI to date (est.): -89%
ROI ranking: 1,956
Hope Davis – Sofie Crisp
Jason Lee – Skip Skipperton
Alfre Woodard – Lily
Mary McDonnell – Althea Brockett
Pruitt Taylor Vince – Henry A. Follett
Director(s)
Lawrence Kasdan
Writer(s)
Lawrence Kasdan
Producer(s)
Lawrence Kasdan, Charles Okun
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (81) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (35)
Great characters, but for older teens and up.
December 26, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
A film without conviction, about a town full of people with problems without depth, aided by a guru without soul.
May 8, 2002 | Rating: D
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
Mumford doesn’t go very far or deep in detailing our impostor’s road to redemption.
January 1, 2000
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Hope Davis deserves much of credit for making Mumford work.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
Mumford is a movie full of insightful moments, and some of them are even pure therapy.
January 1, 2000
Laura Miller
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
A likable semi-screwball comedy.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/5
Stephen Holden
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s the little big film in the director’s (Lawrence Kasdan) filmography. [Full Review in Spanish]
August 29, 2019
Alberto Abuín
Espinof
A worthy concept only gets half-realized in this likable yet lackadaisical piece.
July 20, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Lawrence Kasdan’s clever, inventive and endearing ensemble portrait unfolds as a latter-day Frank Capra fable.
June 8, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Mumford may look okay on your television some dead afternoon, but it isn’t a movie.
August 25, 2008 | Rating: 1/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
A lightweight but fun romantic comedy.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
… it ends up being little more than a mellow tour of quirky characters that are better as representatives of different personality types than actual characters we believe in.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: C
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer…
Plot
The story of two Mumfords – one a small town, the other a man. Mumford, the town, is full of people with problems, from a teenage girl who is unhappy with her looks to a local billionaire, “the king of modems”, who would trade everything away if he could. So when Micky Mumford, the man, turns out to be a psychologist with slightly unusual methods he soon finds a spot in people’s heart as someone to whom they can tell their secrets. But Micky too has a secret, and that one’s about to hunt him down.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Mumford.
Lawrence-Kasdan.jpg
70%
Hideous Kinky (1998)
70%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Hideous Kinky is a film that takes the audience on a journey through the eyes of a young girl and her mother as they explore the exotic and mystical land of Morocco. The film’s use of dream sequences and stunning landscapes creates a feverish sense of living on the edge of reality that is both contagious and mesmerizing. Kate Winslet delivers a fine performance as the free-spirited mother, and director Gillies MacKinnon masterfully lets character, mood, and meaning take precedence over story. The film’s subtle commentary on the often-privileged idealism of Westerners seeking enlightenment in “exotic” places is both thought-provoking and quietly devastating. Overall, Hideous Kinky is a picturesque travelogue with substance that is sure to captivate and inspire.
Hideous Kinky is a movie that takes you on a journey to the heart of Africa, where Kate Winslet plays a beautiful hippie in a brilliantly colored caftan. The film’s dream sequences and evocative landscapes make you feel like you’re living at the edge of reality, and Winslet’s performance is unsurprisingly astounding. The movie takes an interesting look at the often-privileged idealism of English people who sought enlightenment in so-called “exotic” places. It’s a picturesque travelogue of some substance, but it seems to please the Baby Boomer generation more than anyone else. Overall, it’s a fun and interesting movie that’s worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique Films,
Distributor
Stratosphere Entertainment
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Marrakech, Morocco
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexuality and language
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby SR
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 37m
-
Language(s):English, French, Arabic
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 26, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Kate Winslet, Said Taghmaoui, Bella Riza, Carrie Mullan, Pierre Clémenti, Sira Stampe, directed by Gillies MacKinnon, written by Esther Freud, Billy MacKinnon, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Lisa Alspector, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Lisa Nesselson, Geoff Andrew, Peter Rainer, Philip Kemp, George Fenwick, Maitland McDonagh, Michael Dequina, Mark Halverson, Jeffrey M Anderson, Cole Smithey, MPAA rating R, Morocco, mother-daughter relationship, financial struggles, surrogate father figures, con artist, European, hippie, 1972, dream sequences, landscapes, feverish, reality, good fortune, new boyfriends, Stratosphere Entertainment, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Worldwide gross: $1,263,279
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,267,621
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,379
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 247,287
US/Canada gross: $1,263,279
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,267,621
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,005
US/Canada opening weekend: $82,431
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $147,966
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,784
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $21,540,335
Production budget ranking: 1,332
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,599,470
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$30,872,184
ROI to date (est.): -93%
ROI ranking: 1,975
Said Taghmaoui – Bilal
Bella Riza – Bea
Carrie Mullan – Lucy
Pierre Clémenti – Santoni
Sira Stampe – Eva
Director – Gillies MacKinnon
Producer – Ann Scott
Writers – Esther Freud, Billy MacKinnon
Director(s)
Gillies MacKinnon
Writer(s)
Esther Freud, Billy MacKinnon
Producer(s)
Ann Scott
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (53) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (18)
The fusion of dream sequences and evocative landscapes makes the characters’ feverish sense of living at the edge of reality contagious.
April 27, 2012
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Kate Winslet, luscious in a brilliantly colored caftan and flushed from the heat of an African sun, makes a beautiful hippie, circa 1972, in Hideous Kinky.
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Kate Winslet continues an uninterrupted line of fine performances with the modest yet affecting Hideous Kinky.
March 26, 2009
Lisa Nesselson
Variety
TOP CRITIC
MacKinnon draws terrific performances from all involved (Winslet bravely refusing to court our sympathies), lets character, mood and meaning take precedence over story, and assembles a great music track as a bonus. Spot on.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It augurs well for the long-term integrity of her career that Winslet in this movie doesn’t try to ingratiate herself with the audience.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Gillies MacKinnon is one of those stimulating film-makers who hates to repeat himself.
March 5, 2002
Philip Kemp
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Winslet is unsurprisingly astounding in the role, which takes an interesting look at the often-privileged idealism of English people who sought enlightenment in so-called “exotic” places.
August 27, 2021
George Fenwick
Stuff.co.nz
The film’s gradual slide into a darker vision of the casual selfishness and presumption that often lay at the heart of Westerners’ mind-bending journeys to the East is subtle and quietly devastating.
April 27, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
A picturesque travelogue of some substance.
October 11, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Gillies MacKinnon spins Esther Freud’s autobiographical novel into an intriguing, somewhat muddled tale of escapism and revelation.
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
It seems to please the Baby Boomer generation, but it didn’t please me.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 2/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
February 13, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com…
Plot
Hideous Kinky is the story of two sisters (seven and five years old) traveling with their hippie mother from London to Morocco. They encounter many adventures, new experiences, and interesting culture as they tag along on their mother’s search for freedom and love. It is told through the eyes of the youngest girl, and we learn her observations on life, Mum, and determined sister, Bea.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Kate Winslet’s performance as the self-centered and delusional mother is praised by critics.
Gillies-MacKinnon.jpg
70%
BASEketball (1998)
70%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Baseketball isn’t just a succession of fouls thanks to the comedic zip of David Zucker’s direction, but sophomoric gags and a lack of performance hustle by Trey Parker and Matt Stone makes this satire a clumsy bunt
If you’re looking for a movie that’s both dumb and funny, then BASEketball is the perfect choice. Sure, it’s not going to win any awards for its humor, but it’s still a good time. The banter between the two main characters can be a bit much at times, but it’s all part of the charm. And let’s be real, who doesn’t want to see Jenny McCarthy and Ernest Borgnine together on screen? Overall, BASEketball is a solid choice for a night in with friends and some beers.
Production Company(ies)
Horizon Pictures,
Distributor
MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena – 3939 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language and crude sex-related humor
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 28, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2005
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
Baseketball, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, David Zucker, Gil Netter, Robert LoCash, Lewis Friedman, Jeff Wright, Comedy, R, English, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Vaughn, Yasmine Bleeth, Jenny McCarthy, Surrounded, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS, Flat, 35mm, $7.0M, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Jeff Giles, Bilge Ebiri, Michael O’Sullivan, Leonard Klady, David Nusair, Leigh Paatsch, Maitland McDonagh, Chuck O’Leary, Rebecca Murray, Emanuel Levy, Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, So I Married an Axe Murderer, Stigmata, Out Cold, White Men Can’t Jump, Marvel Movies in Order, Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Sea Beast, Black Bird, directed by David Zucker, produced by Gil Netter, Robert LoCash, written by David Zucker, Robert LoCash, Lewis Friedman, Jeff Wright, starring Trey Parker as Joe Cooper, Matt Stone as Doug Remer, Yasmine Bleeth as Jenna Reed, Jenny McCarthy as Yvette Denslow, Robert Vaughn as Baxter Cain, Ernest Borgnine as Ted Denslow
Worldwide gross: $7,027,290
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,896,068
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,886
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,406,332
US/Canada gross: $7,027,290
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,896,068
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,541
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,086,105
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,663,438
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,072
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $45,878,525
Production budget ranking: 860
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $24,705,586
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$57,688,043
ROI to date (est.): -82%
ROI ranking: 1,898
Matt Stone – Doug Remer
Yasmine Bleeth – Jenna Reed
Jenny McCarthy – Yvette Denslow
Robert Vaughn – Baxter Cain
Ernest Borgnine – Ted Denslow
Director(s)
David Zucker
Writer(s)
David Zucker, Robert LoCash, Lewis Friedman, Jeff Wright
Producer(s)
Gil Netter, Robert LoCash
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (30)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
I was bored well before the end, but found the first half hour pretty funny.
March 25, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Jenny McCarthy and Ernest Borgnine — together at last.
March 25, 2008
Jeff Giles
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Their incessant, obscene banter is meant to be endearing; their total lack of presence makes it simply annoying.
March 25, 2008 | Rating: D+
Bilge Ebiri
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
What kind of movie is it where Yasmine Bleeth is the best thing about it?
March 25, 2008
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The vulgar, obvious humor of Zucker brother David and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone elicits easy, guilty laughs, yet the material has an underlying innocence that’s just shy of good clean fun.
March 25, 2008
Leonard Klady
Variety
TOP CRITIC
…a disappointing misfire that’s aged terribly in the years since its 1998 release.
September 5, 2020 | Rating: 2/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Here’s a treat for South Park fans… Better than you might suspect.
April 29, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Is it dumb? You bet. Is it funny? Sporadically.
March 25, 2008 | Rating: 2/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
An inane, painfully unfunny comedy.
October 8, 2005 | Rating: 0/5
Chuck O’Leary
Fantastica Daily
August 31, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Rebecca Murray
About.com
August 11, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
Two losers from Milwaukee, Coop & Remer, invent a new game playing basketball, using baseball rules. When the game becomes a huge success, they, along with a billionaire’s help, form the Professional Baseketball League where everyone gets the same pay and no team can change cities. Coop & Remer’s team, the Milwaukee Beers is the only team standing in the way of major rule changes that the owner of the Dallas Felons wants to institute.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Baseketball.
David-Zucker.jpg
70%
The Craft (1996)
70%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 7 nominations
The Craft’s campy magic often overrides the feminist message at its story’s core, but its appealing cast and postmodern perspective still cast a sporadic spell
The Craft is like a witchy version of The Breakfast Club, but with more spells and less detention. The characters are all so different and interesting, and the movie does a great job of exploring their individual stories. Plus, the soundtrack is totally banging. Sure, the special effects might be a little dated, but that just adds to the charm. Overall, it’s a fun and empowering movie that will make you want to start your own coven.
Production Company(ies)
New Line Cinema, Wing Nut Films, The Saul Zaentz Company,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Verdugo Hills High School – 10625 Plainview Avenue, Tujunga, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some terror and violence, and for brief language
Year of Release
1996
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):English, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 3, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 3, 2002
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, Rachel True, Skeet Ulrich, Helen Shaver, directed by Andrew Fleming, written by Peter Filardi and Andrew Fleming, horror, box office gross $22.7M, reviewed by Chris Stuckmann, Douglas Wick produced, R MPAA rating, witchcraft, supernatural, high school, female empowerment, friendship, revenge, telekinesis, spells, occult, Pagan, Wicca, feminist message, postmodern perspective, campy magic, appealing cast, troubled backgrounds, power-mad, dangerous consequences, minor spell, hair loss, nascent powers, box office hit, cult classic, dark fantasy, sexy, lack of depth, plot holes, variety in characters, delicious witches, energy, creepy material, bloodshed, violence, invoking spirits, restricted rating, top horror movies, MCU movies ranked, renewed and cancelled TV shows, worst horror movies, best Netflix series
Worldwide gross: $24,819,936
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,374,941
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,358
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,166,297
US/Canada gross: $24,819,936
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,374,941
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,100
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,710,995
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,809,582
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 871
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $28,631,183
Production budget ranking: 1,177
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,417,892
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,325,867
ROI to date (est.): 8%
ROI ranking: 1,361
Fairuza Balk – Nancy Downs
Neve Campbell – Bonnie
Rachel True – Rochelle
Skeet Ulrich – Chris Hooker
Helen Shaver – Grace Downs
Director(s)
Andrew Fleming
Writer(s)
Peter Filardi, Andrew Fleming
Producer(s)
Douglas Wick
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (26)
I really enjoy the characters. Every single one of them is very unique and the film does an excellent job at fleshing out each girl.
October 23, 2020 | Rating: B-
Chris Stuckmann
ChrisStuckmann.com
TOP CRITIC
What can you say about a movie that seems to have been conceived like a trailer and written in exclamation points and gets stolen by the cinematographer?
December 6, 2018 | Rating: 1.5/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
… deliciously dangerous excursions into adolescent self-discovery.
December 6, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Wally Hammond
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Still, with suitable suspension of disbelief this makes for agreeable enough nonsense.
December 6, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Caroline Westbrook
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The best teen flick since Clueless is The Craft.
December 6, 2018
Emma Forrest
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The great strength of The Craft is that it doesn’t pass judgment on why the girls are doing what they do… The film’s message of female empowerment felt cathartic, but so did its rage.
December 4, 2018
Anne Cohen
Refinery29
TOP CRITIC
The Craft … has a legacy that outweighs both its limited success and few flaws.
May 21, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Sean Collier
Box Office Prophets
Set to a banging alt-rock soundtrack, it follows four teenage outcasts who begin dabbling in the dark art of witchcraft, and soon find themselves out of their depth.
May 10, 2021
Nick Levine
NME
Masquerades as a female empowerment film despite prioritizing the toxicity that can be rampant in groups of friends (female or otherwise).
December 30, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
I’ve never subscribed to this genre of movie…I found a lot of this stuff to just not be palatable. But for its time, it’s an okay movie.
August 12, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Justin Brown
Medium Popcorn
The effects are obviously a bit rough around the edges, and the acting is very mixed.
August 12, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Brandon Collins
Medium Popcorn
Despite the fact that none of the actresses were anywhere near teen age while making the film, they’re all pretty convincing as tortured teens expressing their pubescent angst through magic.
March 31, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Jo Berry
Movies4Kids…
Plot
In Los Angeles, the teenager Sarah Bailey has just arrived from San Francisco with her father Mr. Bailey and her stepmother to live in an old house. When she goes to the Catholic high school, she is not well received by her schoolmates and has a crush on the football player Chris Hooker. He lures her and tells lies and gossips about their relationship. Soon the outcast Nancy Downs, Bonnie Rachel and Rochelle, who are known as witches, invite Sarah to join them. Nancy lives with her drunken mother and her boyfriend and hates him. Bonnie has awful burning scars on her back and has complex. Rochelle hates the racist Laura Lizzie, who despises her color and her hair. Sarah does not know that she is a powerful witch and when they form their coven, they become powerful and cast spells on their enemies. When Sarah feels that something is wrong with her friends, she meets the clairvoyant Lirio that tells that the spells may return three times stronger.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fairuza Balk shines when she is full of energy.
Andrew-Fleming.jpg
70%
Wayne’s World 2 (1993)
70%RT Audience Score: 63%
Awards & Nominations: 3 nominations
The characters are still endearing, but the jokes in Wayne’s World 2 are more hit-and-miss the second time around
Wayne’s World 2 is like a party that just won’t stop, and I mean that in the best way possible. Sure, some of the jokes are recycled from the first movie, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? Wayne and Garth are back and better than ever, and their misadventures will have you laughing until your sides hurt. It’s silly, it’s goofy, and it’s exactly what you need when you want to forget about the real world for a little while. Party on, Wayne!
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros.,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
United Methodist Church – 3205 D Street, La Verne, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for ribald humor
Year of Release
1993
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 34m
-
Language(s):English, Cantonese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1993 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2001
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Christopher Walken, Tia Carrere, Kim Basinger, Ralph Brown, Lorne Michaels, directed by Stephen Surjik, written by Mike Myers, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, comedy, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Leonard Klady, Janet Maslin, Joe Brown, Roger Ebert, James Berardinelli, Rita Kempley, David Nusair, Malcolm Johnson, Brian Costello, Kevin Carr, Peter Canavese, Wayne’s World, rock concert, musical acts, Cassandra Wong, manager, antics, Garth Algar, Honey Horneé, Del Preston, Paramount Pictures, Surround
Worldwide gross: $48,198,019
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $100,119,585
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,023
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,918,166
US/Canada gross: $48,197,805
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $100,119,140
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 752
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,516,699
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $28,077,633
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 491
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $40,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $83,090,207
Production budget ranking: 504
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $44,744,077
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$27,714,699
ROI to date (est.): -22%
ROI ranking: 1,508
Dana Carvey – Garth Algar
Christopher Walken – Bobby Cahn
Tia Carrere – Cassandra Wong
Kim Basinger – Honey Horneé
Ralph Brown – Del Preston
Director – Stephen Surjik
Producer – Lorne Michaels
Writers – Mike Myers, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner
Director(s)
Stephen Surjik
Writer(s)
Mike Myers, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner
Producer(s)
Lorne Michaels
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (18)
Hilarious.
May 18, 2008
Leonard Klady
Variety
TOP CRITIC
This film is sometimes too familiar, especially in early scenes that deliberately repeat the first film’s gags. But the formula isn’t tired yet.
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
The sequel to last year’s breakaway hit offers more of the same, but it’s somehow fresher, funnier and more endearing than the airheaded original.
January 1, 2000
Joe Brown
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The secret to the comedy of the Wayne’s World movies is their goodwill… and in Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar the series has created two characters it is impossible to dislike.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
There are some worthwhile moments in Wayne’s World 2, but not enough to justify a feature-length movie.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
Carvey is such a lovable doofus and Myers such a well-intentioned naif that it’s hard to get down on them, especially considering that the heirs to their niche in pop iconography are Beavis and Butt-head.
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A disappointing sequel…
May 23, 2020 | Rating: 2/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
There is something weirdly droll about the further misadventures of two loveable dropouts, Wayne and Garth.
April 13, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Catchphrases and sexual innuendo abound in goofy sequel.
March 11, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Brian Costello
Common Sense Media
became more about an excuse to party. Sure, that fits Wayne Campbell’s style, but I was hoping for some more story, even if it was a bit silly
November 23, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/5
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures
Wayne’s World 2 revels in silliness even more than the first movie, but it turns out that’s a good thing as compensation for the otherwise repetitive feel. [Blu-ray]
May 24, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
No one was more surprised than I was that not only did this “Saturday Night Live” sketch work as a film, it worked twice, and uproariously both times.
June 20, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid…
Plot
Wayne is back, this time trying to organize a rock festival with help from friend Garth and the spirit of Jim Morrison (Doors). Meanwhile, his girlfriend’s manager is busy trying to woo her away from Wayne and move her to LA. Life gets interesting when Wayne must rush from the concert to try and stop the wedding. Aerosmith are featured at the concert.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Wayne’s World 2.
Stephen-Surjik.jpg
70%
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991)
70%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear delivers a handful of moderate laughs, but overall, its strained antics pale in comparison to its gut-busting predecessor
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear” is a sequel that’s hit or miss, but still manages to deliver some laughs. Leslie Nielsen’s performance as the sweet yet crazy Frank Drebin is a highlight, even if some of the jokes fall flat. The film’s parody of corporate influence on the energy industry is biting and clever, but the comedy law of diminishing returns is at work here. Overall, it’s a raunchy and dated send-up of cop movies that’s worth a watch if you’re in the mood for some silly humor. Just don’t expect it to be as funny as the first film, and remember that a dildo drill can’t solve every problem.
Production Company(ies)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Stanley Kubrick Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Dodger Stadium – 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Chavez Ravine, Elysian Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
1991
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Mar 20, 2012
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O.J Simpson, Robert Goulet, Richard Griffiths, directed by David Zucker, written by David Zucker, Pat Proft, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Terrence Rafferty, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Vincent Canby, Kathleen Maher, Roger Ebert, PG-13, produced by Robert K Weiss, John D Schofield, Naked Gun, police procedural spoof, energy corporations, eco-friendly plans, imposter, gut-busting, moderate laughs, strained antics, Leslie Nielsen’s performance, B-movie earnestness, exuberant mugging, trouper’s slightly desperate cheerfulness, sweet, ebullient lunatic, biting parody, corporate influence, U.S energy industry
Worldwide gross: $78,756,177
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $201,650,569
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 688
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 21,990,247
US/Canada gross: $78,756,177
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $201,650,569
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 343
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,331,746
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $23,893,388
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 563
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $30,725,296
Production budget ranking: 1,143
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $16,545,572
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $154,379,701
ROI to date (est.): 327%
ROI ranking: 426
Priscilla Presley – Jane Spencer
George Kennedy – Det. Captain Ed Hocken
O.J. Simpson – Det. Nordberg
Robert Goulet – Quentin Hapsburg
Richard Griffiths – Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer, Earl Hacker
Director(s)
David Zucker
Writer(s)
David Zucker, Pat Proft
Producer(s)
Robert K. Weiss, John D. Schofield
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (18)
Nielsen combines B-movie earnestness, exuberant mugging, and a trouper’s slightly desperate cheerfulness: he turns this rather alarming character into a sweet, ebullient lunatic — albeit one who’s hell on innocent bystanders.
May 6, 2014
Terrence Rafferty
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
A feeble sequel.
January 11, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Even if the laugh machine isn’t operating at top efficiency, it still cranks out a few choice bits of irreverent lunacy.
January 11, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The enthusiastic Zucker, Zucker & Abrahams style of movie parody is too rarely seen to prompt much head-shaking about gags that don’t work.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Vincent Canby
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
No joke is passed up or thrown away. There just might be a little too much.
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5
Kathleen Maher
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Nielsen’s secret is that he does almost nothing, and certainly nothing he seems to think is funny.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s as funny as the first film while also making its plot a biting parody of corporate influence on the U.S. energy industry.
July 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Stephen Silver
Tilt Magazine
[A] so-so second instalment…
July 28, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Raunchy, dated send-up of cop movies has lots of sex.
April 19, 2016 | Rating: 2/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media
It may not deliver as many sustained laughs as its predecessor, but the hit-to-miss ratio of its comic content is still high.
December 12, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
What’s at work here is the comedy law of diminishing returns: if you tell the same jokes over and over and over again, they become less and less and less funny.
May 6, 2014 | Rating: 2/4
Dennis King
Tulsa World
A nifty, crisp package, but not quite up to the standards of the original picture. A dildo drill can’t solve every problem.
June 28, 2011 | Rating: B
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com…
Plot
A rerun of many of the gags from the television series Police Squad! (1982). An Airplane! (1980)-type spoof, this time with the an incompetent Lieutenant Frank Drebin, who always “gets his man”. Visual gags come thick and fast, and it’s impossible to catch them all with one viewing. The plot: Queen Elizabeth II of England is coming to town, and Vincent Ludwig has plans to assassinate her using a brainwashed baseball player.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Leslie Nielsen’s performance as Lt. Frank Drebin is described as “sweet, ebullient lunacy – albeit one who’s hell on innocent bystanders.”
David-Zucker.jpg
70%
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
70%RT Audience Score: 57%
Awards & Nominations: 6 nominations
Gremlins 2 trades the spiky thrills of its predecessor for looney satire, yielding a succession of sporadically clever gags that add some flavor to a recycled plot
Gremlins 2: The New Batch” is a wild ride that will have you laughing and cringing at the same time. It’s like a live-action cartoon that takes place in the chaotic streets of New York City. Sure, the plot may be lacking, but who needs a plot when you have mischievous little creatures wreaking havoc everywhere? This sequel is definitely better than the original, and it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves a good horror-comedy. Just make sure to keep some snacks nearby, because you never know when a gremlin might pop out of nowhere and steal them.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
101 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
1990
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 46m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 1990 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 12, 1990
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Prosky, Robert Picardo, Christopher Lee, directed by Joe Dante, written by Charles S Haas, Fantasy, Comedy, PG-13, Michael Finnell, $40.5M, reviewed by Dave Kehr, John Hartl, Nigel Andrews, Gene Siskel, David Robinson, Michael Wilmington, Tim Brayton, Kiko Vega, Nestor Hidalgo, Tom Long, Roger Hurlburt, Gremlins, Gizmo, New York City, skyscraper, impish legion, reptilian pals, Billy Peltzer, Kate Beringer, Daniel Clamp, Doctor Catheter, Grandpa Fred, Forster, box office, Warner Bros., surround sound, stereo, magical collectibles store, satire, looney, gags, plot, sequel, Mel Brooks, spider Gremlin, Rick Baker, Lincoln’s Birthday story, Christmas story, horror movies, Netflix series, TV shows, MCU movies, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $41,482,207
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $95,632,639
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,038
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,428,859
US/Canada gross: $41,482,207
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $95,632,639
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 772
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,702,804
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,368,741
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 600
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $50,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $115,269,468
Production budget ranking: 329
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $62,072,609
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$81,709,438
ROI to date (est.): -46%
ROI ranking: 1,664
Phoebe Cates – Kate Beringer
John Glover – Daniel Clamp
Robert Prosky – Grandpa Fred
Robert Picardo – Forster
Christopher Lee – Doctor Catheter
Director – Joe Dante
Producer – Michael Finnell
Writer – Charles S. Haas
Director(s)
Joe Dante
Writer(s)
Charles S. Haas
Producer(s)
Michael Finnell
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (19)
‘Gremlins 2” is sloppy and inconsistent, just as it needs to be — its bumptious, adolescent humor would wilt away if it were subjected to craftsmanship and mature reflection.
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
What lends it novelty and makes it such wicked fun is the change of locale from a Capra-esque small town to rude, hectic New York City.
June 23, 2020
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Gremlins 2 The New Batch has so much comic energy that we overlook its lack of anything worth calling a plot.
June 23, 2020
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A busy but boring sequel that spends most of its energy piling topical parody on top of product plug on top of gooey horror special effect.
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 2/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a rarity: a sequel (again directed by Joe Dante) better than the original.
June 23, 2020
David Robinson
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s an infernally funny mass entertainment: the Dream Machine snapping at its own tail.
June 22, 2020
Michael Wilmington
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The story is essentially a duplication of the original film.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Many filmmakers throughout the years have tried to figure out how to make a live-action cartoon; Joe Dante, with this film, is the only man that got it 100% right.
August 18, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
An acidic look at U.S. culture. [Full Review in Spanish]
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kiko Vega
Espinof
A magnificent and unapologetically fun film. [Full Review in Spanish]
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Nestor Hidalgo
Sensacine
It’s… a lot of fun considering the fact it is also based on the antics of a bunch of mean little puppets.
June 23, 2020
Tom Long
Santa Cruz Sentinel
The antics of the Gremlins in this sequel are truly amazing, from their sudden appearances and jump-out tactics, to nasty, premeditated shenanigans and hand-to-hand confrontations with humans.
June 23, 2020
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel…
Plot
Having moved to New York City after the Kingston Falls complete pandemonium in Gremlins (1984), the young couple of Billy and Kate now works for the money-grubbing tech-mogul, Daniel Clamp, in his colossal Clamp Tower high-rise. But, before long, Gizmo, the orphaned Mogwai, falls prey to the evil scientist, Doctor Catheter, and once more, a splash of water spawns hordes of the mischievous Gremlins that immediately start doing what they do best: wreaking havoc. Is there an escape from the onslaught of the new batch?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no specific goofy or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels summary, but one of the cast members is Christopher Lee, who plays Doctor Catheter.
Joe-Dante.jpg
70%
The Running Man (1987)
70%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 3 nominations
The Running Man is winking sci-fi satire with ridiculous clothes and workmanlike direction
The Running Man” may not be the most faithful adaptation of the book, but it’s definitely a faithful representation of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ability to kick butt and deliver one-liners. Sure, it’s a brainless thrill ride, but who needs brains when you have explosions and a game show host played by Richard Dawson? It’s like “The Hunger Games” meets “Family Feud” and it’s a blast to watch. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the non-stop action.
Production Company(ies)
Dreamworks Pictures, Kemp Company, Splendid Pictures,
Distributor
TriStar Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Belmont Tunnel – 1304 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1987
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 41m
-
Language(s):English, Italian, Japanese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 1987 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 7, 1997
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, Richard Dawson, Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura, directed by Paul Michael Glaser, written by Steven E de Souza, action, R rating, box office gross $38.0M, reviewed by Adam Nayman, James Berardinelli, Variety Staff, Ian Nathan, Geoff Andrew, Vincent Canby, Rene Jordan, Roger Hurlburt, David Nusair, Mike Massie, Sergio Benítez, Mattie Lucas, satire, science fiction, dystopian future, game show, prisoners, totalitarian state, social commentary, Stephen King novel, gladiators, mortal combat, retro style, Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle, 80’s action flick, entertainment, popcorn film, ass kicking, wisecrack remarks, ridiculous clothes, workmanlike direction, totalitarianism, scapegoat, twisted host, Damon Killian, William Laughlin, Fireball, Captain Freedom, Amber Mendez, reviewed by Fresh Kernels
Worldwide gross: $38,122,105
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $101,756,852
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,009
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 11,096,712
US/Canada gross: $38,122,105
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $101,756,852
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 741
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,117,465
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,667,421
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 612
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $27,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $72,069,341
Production budget ranking: 584
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $38,809,340
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$9,121,830
ROI to date (est.): -8%
ROI ranking: 1,439
Maria Conchita Alonso – Amber Mendez
Richard Dawson – Damon Killian
Yaphet Kotto – William Laughlin
Jim Brown – Fireball
Jesse Ventura – Captain Freedom
Director(s)
Paul Michael Glaser
Writer(s)
Steven E. de Souza
Producer(s)
Tim Zinnemann, George Linder
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (15)
However far away from the book’s original vision the movie may stray, it ends up right in Arnold’s wheelhouse, letting him dispatch a series of worthy rivals with aplomb.
September 5, 2019
Adam Nayman
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
The years have been as unkind to it as they have been to its star’s career.
March 4, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
Schwarzenegger sadistically dispatches the baddies, enunciating typical wisecrack remarks (many repeated from his previous films), but it’s all too easy.
April 30, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
A brainless, breathless thrill.
April 30, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Pretty warmed-over stuff, this future world of the terminal TV game shows, and director Glaser fails to muster much pace and punch.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s not quite Network, but then it also doesn’t take itself too seriously.
August 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Vincent Canby
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A whirlpool of senseless action, but immensely entertaining. [Full review in Spanish]
June 21, 2022
Rene Jordan
El Nuevo Herald (Miami)
The Running Man is an energetic film that succeeds better as bloody adventure than it does as social commentary.
August 19, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
…an appealingly broad premise that’s employed to erratic yet mostly watchable effect by Glaser…
August 15, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Slam-bang bravado, non-stop adventure, and overall modest fun, based loosely on a science-fiction story by Richard Bachman (a.k.a. Stephen King).
September 7, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
With little or nothing to extract from the performances, with a production design that screams “I’m from the eighties !!” at the slightest opportunity, and lack of ingenuity. [Full Review in Spanish]
April 11, 2020
Sergio Benítez
Espinof
It’s a remarkably prescient media satire, presaging the reality TV craze by almost 15 years and even went so far as to cast Family Feud’s Richard Dawson as the show’s egomaniacal host.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
In the year 2019, the world economy has collapsed. The great freedoms of the United States are no longer, as the once great nation has sealed off its borders and become a militarized police state, censoring all film, art, literature, and communications. Even so, a small resistance force led by two revolutionaries manages to fight the oppression. With full control over the media, the government attempts to quell the nation’s yearning for freedom by broadcasting a number of game shows on which convicted criminals fight for their lives. The most popular and sadistic of these programs is “The Running Man,” hosted by Damon Killian. When a peaceful protest of starving citizens gathers in Bakersfield, California, a police officer named Ben Richards is ordered to fire on the crowd, which he refuses to do. Subdued by the other officers, the attack is carried out, and Richards is framed for the murder of almost a hundred unarmed civilians. Following a daring jail break months later, Richards is captured once again and forced to appear on “The Running Man” with three other convicts. With their help, he fights his way through a cadre of sadistic gladiators hunting them down through the ruins of a Los Angeles earthquake, but promising Killian that he’ll return to settle the score when the show’s host double-crosses him. In the meantime, the contestants must search through the ruins for the resistance in the hopes of finally broadcasting the truth about the government.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for The Running Man.
Paul-Michael-Glaser.jpg
70%
Rocky IV (1985)
70%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 9 wins & 5 nominations
Rocky IV inflates the action to absurd heights, but it ultimately rings hollow thanks to a story that hits the same basic beats as the first three entries in the franchise
Rocky IV is a movie that’s so bad, it’s good. It’s like a cheesy ’80s music video with boxing gloves. The training montages are endless, the villains are cartoonishly evil, and the robot butler is just plain weird. But somehow, it all comes together to create a movie that’s entertaining in its own ridiculous way. Plus, who can resist the classic Rocky theme song? It’s a movie that’s perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon when you just want to turn off your brain and enjoy some mindless fun.
Production Company(ies)
Shinchosha Company, Studio Ghibli,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violent sports action and brief strong language (director’s cut)
Year of Release
1985
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Russian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 8, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Brigitte Nielsen, Tony Burton, Dolph Lundgren, directed by Sylvester Stallone, written by Sylvester Stallone, produced by Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler, drama, PG, box office gross $125.4M, reviewed by Paul Attanasio, Jason Bailey, Richard Schickel, Gene Siskel, Sheila Benson, Jay Boyar, Jeffrey M Anderson, Fico Cangiano, Matt Brunson, Zaki Hasan, Brian Grubb, Brian Costello, Rocky, boxing, training, underdog, Cold War, Russia, revenge, exhibition match, intense match, Christmas Day fight, hulking Russian newcomer, Apollo Creed, mercilessly beaten to death, payback, different training methods, soundtrack-blasting Product, mid-’80s studio filmmaking, soulless, flag-waving, absurd heights, same basic beats, franchise, quintessential artifact, self-abuse, clips from earlier Rocky pictures, primitive suspense, crude capacity to release underdog emotions, credible villains, heroic character, grim and witless storytelling, chemical trace, ludicrous elements, Paulie’s robot, Brigitte Nielsen, even less expressive than the robot, about a thousand music-video-styled montages, Lundgren’s delivery of Drago’s deadly dialogue
Worldwide gross: $300,473,716
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $848,686,468
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 132
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 92,550,324
US/Canada gross: $127,873,716
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $361,178,654
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 145
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,991,537
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $56,465,994
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 198
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $30,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $84,734,846
Production budget ranking: 494
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $45,629,715
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $718,321,907
ROI to date (est.): 551%
ROI ranking: 233
Talia Shire – Adrian
Burt Young – Paulie
Carl Weathers – Apollo Creed
Brigitte Nielsen – Ludmilla
Tony Burton – Duke
Director(s)
Sylvester Stallone
Writer(s)
Sylvester Stallone
Producer(s)
Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (31)
Say what you like about the original Rocky, at least it was about something — a sweet pug up against the system, and in love with a dowd. Rocky IV appears to be an epic about Sylvester Stallone’s penchant for self-abuse.
December 3, 2018
Paul Attanasio
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
‘Rocky IV’ still stands, not as a highlight of the series (certainly not that) but as a quintessential artifact of mid-’80s studio filmmaking: soulless, flag-waving, soundtrack-blasting Product.
April 30, 2016
Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
Padded with clips from earlier Rocky pictures, adding nothing to his mythic, let alone human dimensions, it lacks even the primitive suspense and crude capacity to release underdog emotions that permitted its predecessors to conquer one’s better judgment.
May 13, 2015
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
[Stallone] creates credible villains worthy of his heroic character.
May 13, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
This is grim and witless storytelling, and what makes it so depressing is that it hasn’t improved by so much as a chemical trace since the days of the first Rocky.
May 13, 2015
Sheila Benson
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The new film’s narrative is stripped down to essentials, which gives it an emblematic quality.
May 13, 2015
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Moves straight into the 1980s, with a slicker look and many training montages as well as a few flat-out music videos.
March 28, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Bombastic, exaggerated and one-third musical montage, this Rocky sequel is definitely not a good. [Full review in Spanish]
December 17, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Fico Cangiano
CineXpress Podcast
There are simply too many ludicrous elements to ignore: Paulie’s robot; Brigitte Nielsen, even less expressive than the robot; about a thousand music-video-styled montages; Lundgren’s delivery of Drago’s deadly dialogue; etc.
July 14, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
It’s a bad movie, no doubt, but at the same time, and somewhat paradoxically, it’s also a great movie. Figure that one out.
February 4, 2019
Zaki Hasan
Zaki’s Corner
It’s ridiculous in a lot of ways… But hot d—- is this ever a fun, rewatchable movie.
December 6, 2018
Brian Grubb
Uproxx
Dated Cold War-themed boxing sequel has violence.
May 8, 2018 | Rating: 2/5
Brian Costello
Common Sense Media…
Plot
Rocky Balboa accompanies his friend Apollo Creed to the ring in a boxing match against a Russian Boxer named Ivan Drago. Drago is too strong for Creed, and unfortunately kills him in his match. Balboa blames himself for Creed’s death and is determined to defeat Drago in a boxing match. He gains the help of Creed’s former manager, Duke and travels to U.S.S.R. to take on Drago.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The critic reviews for Rocky IV are mixed, with some calling it a soulless, flag-waving product and others finding it fun and rewatchable despite its ridiculous elements.
Sylvester-Stallone.jpg
70%
Logan’s Run (1976)
70%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Logan’s Run, a film that has been both praised and criticized for its execution, is a prime example of Hollywood’s tendency to reduce science fiction to its most basic and feeble stereotypes. While some may find the film to be a vast, silly extravaganza that delivers a certain amount of fun, others may find it to be seriously repetitive and aggressively tedious. Despite its poorly developed plot specifics, Logan’s Run still manages to captivate audiences as a camp curio with its odd but undeniable staying power. However, it’s sorely lacking in direction, writing, and most of the acting, leaving viewers to wonder where Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone is when we need it most. In the end, Logan’s Run allows the viewer’s imagination to run free in a whole new world, but it’s ultimately a missed opportunity to create a truly exceptional science fiction film.
Logan’s Run is a sci-fi movie that’s been around for a while, and it seems like critics can’t quite agree on whether it’s good or bad. Some say it’s a silly extravaganza that’s fun once you stop taking it seriously, while others call it numbing and tedious. Personally, I think it’s a bit of both. The special effects are definitely bungled, but there are some handsome sets that make it worth watching. Plus, it’s always fun to see what people in the past thought the future would look like. Overall, I’d say it’s a campy classic that’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for some kitschy sci-fi.
Production Company(ies)
Genre Films, Silver Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor
United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
1976
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 58m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 1976 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 29, 2008
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett, Peter Ustinov, directed by Michael Anderson, written by William F Nolan, sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Dave Kehr, Geoff Andrew, Roger Ebert, Eddie Harrison, Michael Anderson, PG rating, Saul David, United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Stereo, Surround, 35mm, Scope (2.35:1), 8mm, 70mm, dystopian society, rebellion, futuristic, hidden sanctuary, law enforcement officer, runners, reincarnation, hedonistic lifestyle, idyllic, protective confines, domed city, revolution, sci-fi adventure, undercooked plot, campy elements, rousing ideas, Michael York as Logan 5, Jenny Agutter as Jessica 6, Richard Jordan as Francis 7, Roscoe Lee Browne as Box, Farrah Fawcett as Holly, Peter Ustinov as Ballard: The Old Man
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jenny Agutter – Jessica 6
Richard Jordan – Francis 7, Sandman
Roscoe Lee Browne – Box
Farrah Fawcett – Holly
Peter Ustinov – Ballard: The Old Man
Director – Michael Anderson
Producer – Saul David
Writer – William F. Nolan
Director(s)
Michael Anderson
Writer(s)
William F. Nolan
Producer(s)
Saul David
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (34) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (13)
A numbing combination of sloppy writing, vulgar art direction, high school acting, and bungled special effects.
June 4, 2007
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Fundamentally, this is just further proof of Hollywood’s untiring ability to reduce all science fiction to its most feeble stereotypes.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Logan’s Run is a vast, silly extravaganza that delivers a certain amount of fun, once it stops taking itself seriously.
October 23, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
…interesting to hardcore sci-fi fans and cultural historians, Logan’s Run is all dressed-up with nowhere to go…
August 24, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
Logan’s Run allows the viewer’s imagination to run free in a whole new world. And imagination is what science fiction is all about.
May 26, 2020
David A. Nardozzi
Philadelphia Gay News
…seriously repetitive and aggressively tedious…
March 29, 2020 | Rating: 1.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Kitschy sci-fi classic has some sexual content.
January 17, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Brian Costello
Common Sense Media
Where is Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone when we need it most?
October 31, 2019
Jacoba Atlas
Los Angeles Free Press
It’s a good idea. But what the movie required to set it off and make it unusual is style and this, despite a few handsome sets, is sorely lacking In the direction, writing and most of the acting.
October 23, 2019
Bernard Drew
Gannett News Service
Michael Anderson… has insisted in mixing action with spectacle, but misses the mark. The “message” of the film doesn’t go beyond its distinguished predecessors. [Full Review in Spanish]
July 25, 2019
Jesús Fernández Santos
El Pais (Spain)
… I found myself reflecting that sf writers can get away with a lot on the printed page that moviemakers just can’t.
March 10, 2012
Richard T. Jameson
Parallax View
Despite its grabber of a premise, Logan’s Run flaunts poorly developed plot specifics; as such, it’s terminally silly. Nevertheless, as a camp curio, it still has an odd but undeniable staying power. [Blu-ray]
February 16, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews…
Plot
In a hedonistic society where people are reincarnated at age 30, law enforcement officer Logan goes undercover to find a hidden sanctuary for “runners” who know the dark truth and ends up joining forces with runner Jessica to start a revolution in Logan’s Run.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Farrah Fawcett appears in Logan’s Run in a small role as Holly.
Michael-Anderson.jpg