Avatar (2009) is well-known as the highest-grossing movie of all time, having earned almost $3 billion at the box office. But gross revenue and profitability are two different things. To get profit, you also have to consider the production budget and how much it cost to create the film in the first place. For Avatar , James Cameron spent $237 million. That still leaves a lot of profit on the table, of course, but it puts things more into perspective....

Who doesn’t love a great redemption story? In the realm of anime, redemption stories are common and—when done well—elevate and add complexity to their narratives about broken or wicked people. Indeed, there’s no feeling in anime like watching a beloved villain turn a new leaf and start heading down a new path toward redemption. We love to watch characters who start off bad, realize the errors of their ways, and make up for it by the conclusion....

Cartoons have long been associated with kids, ever since the days of Steamboat Willie in 1928 to the Disney princesses of the mid-20th century. Yet, there’s been a recent boom in adult cartoons. In the 90s, animated television started experimenting and branching out, hoping to target older audiences. We started seeing subjects and situations that were previously taboo: mental illness, substance addiction, sex and relationships, parenting. Between Adult Swim, FX, Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms, adult cartoons have become more widely accessible, with options for everyone from stoner audiences to those who just want an easy-to-watch, post-work TV binge with mature themes....

More than any other medium, cinema has the unique ability to bend time and space in ways that make us experience the creator’s vision. Whether it’s the strange depiction of other dimensions in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar or the zigzagging through decades in the Back to the Future trilogy, films aren’t tied down by scientific rules—and that’s most apparent when a film incorporates dream logic. Throughout cinema history, there have been all kinds of movies that seem to be realistic at first, but not all is what they first seem....

What is the neo-noir movie genre? Well, to understand that, we first need to understand what classic film noir is. Classic film noir movies comprise a genre of film that was at its peak roughly between 1945 and 1960. These movies often shared thematic elements, but the most defining characteristics of film noir included a dark, fatalistic mood and a visual style that emphasized low-key lighting and unbalanced compositions. Because of this, some claim that “noir” isn’t really a movie genre but more of a style or aesthetic....

Have you ever watched a movie that was so good that you just had to recommend it to everyone? But when they ask you what the movie is about, you’re at a loss for words? “Um… It’s about this guy and girl who… well, they just go around and do stuff and talk about stuff… Trust me, it’s good. You’ll know what I mean after you see it!” You, probably...

Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? From swashbuckling pirate adventures to gritty war dramas, these films are all about the long and risky journeys people take to find riches. Here are our picks for the best treasure hunting adventure movies worth watching! They’re perfect for when you’re looking for a little cinematic escapism—whether by sea, jungle, or desert. Related: The Best Movies About Amusement Parks and Theme Parks 15. Uncharted (2022) Directed by Ruben Fleischer...

Movies are usually more exciting than their soundtracks—but sometimes the songs featured in a popular movie add a whole lot to the experience, enhancing everything that unfolds on screen. And on rare occasions, the soundtrack of a movie can even exceed the quality of the movie itself. For that to happen, the composer needs to be of legendary skill—or, in the case of a soundtrack featuring actual pop songs, those songs need to be timeless yet fresh....

There are many powers and abilities featured in anime. Some characters can control fire or breathe it out like a dragon, while others can create weapons of ice, and others are simply superhuman in strength. A lot of these powers and abilities are common across anime. But then you also have less common ones—like those who can defy the laws of time or even bend time to their will. Anime characters who can control time are unique needles in a haystack....

John Cleese has always been a sensational character. After studying law at Cambridge University, Cleese decided that he was more interested in farcical lawlessness—so he pursued a career on stage. For all of us watching at home, it was the best decision he ever made. As screenwriter and producer, Cleese wore many hats, but everyone will remember him for his sketch comedy performances. Cleese was capable of maintaining a deadpan expression in the most ridiculous of performances....

Writing is one of the oldest mediums for the expression and recording of ideas, feelings, and lived experiences. Cinema is first and foremost a visual art, but it will always have an inherent connection to writing and literature—that makes it the perfect art form for reflecting on the act of writing. There have been so many great films featuring the subject of writing. They look at writing as a beautiful process, they examine the mystical quality of putting pen to paper, they explore the highs, lows, glory, and madness that can come with being someone who writes....

Sports games can be great fun, whether you like the real-life version of the sport featured in the game or not. This was especially true for games in the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. As hardware got more powerful, sports games got more complex and more closely resembled the sports they featured. This may be great for hardcore sports fans, but not for casual players. Fortunately, not every sports game is quite so daunting!...

Britain is the land of theater, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and Daniel Day-Lewis—a country that has promoted artistic expression and endless talent from shore to shore over centuries. From the stage to the screen, the UK has cultivated numerous fine actors—from the era of silent movies right through to the modern age—and many of them stand amongst world-class icons. Britain’s actors have moved with the times and pushed boundaries through their roles, thus keeping alive the strong connection the country shares with the performance arts....

Do you love Quentin Tarantino movies? Do you love them so much that you couldn’t possibly choose which ones are the best? Are they all the best? Don’t despair, your sleepless nights of mental toil are over! We’ve undertaken the daunting task of ranking every Quentin Tarantino movie so that you don’t have to. Can you guess which Tarantino movie sits at the top? Related: Famous Movie Directors and Their Cinematic Styles, Explained...