The Big Screen
What Makes a Film Successful in 2014?
Domestic box office earnings are no longer a reliable metric.
Christopher Nolan Is a Bad Editor
The director is so busy preserving all of his scenes that he cuts out crucial, character-building moments.
The Psychology of a Horror Movie Fan
Scientists have tried to figure out the appeal of axe murderers and creepy dolls, but it mostly remains a spooky mystery.
How to Make Money in Hollywood: Don't Be a Woman Over 34
For male movie stars, earnings steadily rise until age 51, when things level off. For women, the peak comes 17 years earlier, and it's followed by a sudden drop.
What Hollywood Needs Is Fewer Strong Male Characters
The work of genocide researcher Adam Jones suggests that the perception of strength justifies violence against men.
The Man Who's Trying to Save the History of American Movies
Exploding movie theaters, things being dumped into the Pacific, byzantine corporate bureaucracy—all part of Eddie Muller's efforts to preserve the film noir era.
The Secret Victorian Life of ‘Obvious Child’
What’s been described as an “abortion rom-com” has a lot in common with Jane Eyre, Middlemarch, and other Victorian novels that showcase how female friendship can develop the heroine’s positive qualities.
'Planet of the Apes' Makes a Great Argument for Sex
We could all learn a thing or two from our close cousin, the bonobo.
Are All Movie Heroes the Same Person?
Joseph Campbell's theory of the Monomyth suggests that all mythical and legendary tales told throughout human history share a common structure.
Seduced by Gore Vidal
The complicated pleasures of Nicholas Wrathall's hagiographic new documentary.
The Future of the Telephone Hotline
A new documentary looks at the history of anonymous hotlines, what place they occupy in America today, and where they might fit in going forward.
'Godzilla' Might Be This Year's Most Realistic Movie
Sixteen years after a failed American iteration, Godzilla is back, and it's one of the most anticipated movies of the year. There's no superhero, it's not a sequel, and it's not part of a franchise, so what makes a movie about a monster destroying a city so resonant in 2014?
The Horrible Philosophy Behind the Star of Alien
The famed Swiss artist passed away earlier this week, but he leaves behind an alien creature more terrifying than any other.
How Becoming an Adult Makes It Hard to Be a Sibling
The new documentary from Tim Beringer, kid brother of Matt Beringer of The National, highlights the difficulties faced by all siblings as they get older.
Finally, a Martial Arts Movie That's More Than 1 Invincible Asian Guy
How a Welsh director made the next great Eastern action film.
How the No-Kids Paparazzi Policy Could Change Celebrity Gossip
New rules at People and other leading gossip outlets could be the first step back to a classic Hollywood system, where celebrities have complete control over their image. The problem? Tabloids, by mapping our anxieties onto celebrity bodies and making the unspeakable speakable, serve an important purpose.
The Last Picture Show: We're Losing a Unique, Communal Experience
As the screens we watch our movies on get smaller and smaller, we're losing a unique, communal experience.
The End of the 555 Phone Number
What began as a creation of Ma Bell and then became a Hollywood staple is now quickly disappearing—as it should.
Masochism at the Movies: Historical Horrors With Hitchcock and McQueen
Brutalism on screen—and its moral repercussions.
There’s Nothing Subversive or Anti-Business About ‘The Lego Movie’
More than just a set of plastic bricks, Lego has positioned itself as the perfect toy brand by working to inspire nostalgia, creativity, and wonder. And the hottest film of the year to-date is a celebration of that.
'Blackfish' and the Weird Path to Popularity
The documentary debuted a year ago, but no one started talking about it until late October. Except, how many people are actually talking about it?
How to Win an Oscar Nomination
Sociologists at the University of California-Los Angeles have come up with statistical predictors for getting the nod.
The Dumb Debate Over Cell Phones in Movie Theaters
Everyone's solution: find somewhere else.
Why the Oscars Should Be Segregated by Gender
Awards shows are great for women in Hollywood, but they can still do much more.