For some Halloween fans, movies are all about fun and lightheartedness. They might enjoy a thrilling film, but not one that’s truly terrifying. While horror is often linked to Halloween, there are many non-horror movies that still feel perfectly spooky for October.
Despite initially receiving poor reviews and failing to make a profit at the box office—earning only a 57% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and less than double its $15 million budget—*The Craft* has become a beloved classic. Over the past two decades, especially with the growth of social media, it’s found a dedicated following among millennials and now offers younger viewers a nostalgic look at 1990s pop culture, fashion, and feminist themes.
The 1990s saw a surge of groundbreaking science fiction films, including classics like *Total Recall*, *Jurassic Park*, and *The Matrix*, which all stretched the boundaries of what audiences expected. Among these stood *Contact*, a film Roger Ebert hailed as one of the smartest ever made. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, an Academy Award winner, and starring Jodie Foster, *Contact* went even further, uniquely blending science, faith, and the human quest for purpose.
Keanu Reeves is getting a lot of attention right now for his role in the comedy film, *Good Fortune*. He actually injured himself during filming – something unusual for him, especially considering the demanding physical stunts he does for the *John Wick* movies. Reeves explained to Stephen Colbert that he fractured his kneecap – he described it snapping “like a potato chip” – while quickly exiting a cold plunge pool. While the injury itself wasn’t amusing, the films mentioned certainly are.
Back to the Future, a beloved film celebrating its 40th anniversary with a limited re-release next month, is considered a classic by many, and one scene in particular is incredibly famous. The Gibson ES-345 guitar Marty McFly plays in that scene has been lost since filming. Even Michael J. Fox has talked about his unsuccessful search for it.
The first official continuation of the original *Predator* movie wasn’t another film, but a four-issue comic book series called *Predator: Concrete Jungle* (it’s different from a 2005 video game with the same name!). Written by Mark Verheiden with art by Chris Warner and Ron Randall, the comic was published by Dark Horse Comics between 1989 and 1990. It expanded on the story of the creature – later known as a Yautja – in ways that surprised audiences when it first came out.
The story of *In The Lost Lands* centers on Gray Alys, a powerful and enigmatic witch who poses a challenge to the ruling Church in one of the last remaining civilizations. Alys possessed the ability to grant any wish, and could not deny a request. The narrative kicks off when the Queen seeks a unique favor from Alys, leading her to cross paths with Boyce, a mysterious Hunter. Together, they embark on a journey to the legendary Lost Lands to fulfill the Queen’s desire. While *In The Lost Lands* features a complicated conclusion, the story feels somewhat hurried due to its limited length. Here’s a breakdown of how George R.R. Martin’s original story concluded.
Despite having a great cast, a compelling story, and mostly good reviews, the historical drama *The Last Duel* didn’t do well in theaters. Now, the film has a second opportunity to find an audience, as it becomes available to stream on Hulu starting November 1st.
Starting November 1st, you can watch *A Knight’s Tale* on Hulu. The movie features Heath Ledger as William Thatcher, a commoner who disguises himself as a knight to compete in jousting tournaments and encounters famous people from history, like Geoffrey Chaucer (played by Paul Bettany). The cast also includes James Purefoy (known for *Pennyworth*), Mark Addy, Alan Tudyk (*I, Robot*), and Rufus Sewell (from Netflix’s *The Diplomat*).
I’ve always been a fan of the MonsterVerse movies, but I’ve noticed they often prioritize spectacle over a truly moving story. *Godzilla: King of the Monsters* felt like its human characters were just there while everything was being destroyed, and *Kong: Skull Island* hinted at bigger ideas but never quite landed emotionally. But honestly, *Monarch* feels different. It really grounds the whole franchise by focusing on the people caught up in all the monster action, giving everything more weight. The story centers around Colonel Lee Shaw, played brilliantly by Kurt Russell, and seeing his life unfold is fascinating. What’s even cooler is that Kurt’s real-life son, Wyatt Russell, plays a younger version of Shaw! It’s a neat trick, but it also feels meaningful – a father and son portraying one character across time, which really speaks to the idea of legacy that’s at the heart of the series.