the flash movie review 2023

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One of the most spectacular and frustrating mixed bags of the superhero blockbuster era, "The Flash" is simultaneously thoughtful and clueless, challenging and pandering. It features some of the best digital FX work I've seen and some of the worst. Like its sincere but often hapless hero, it keeps exceeding every expectation we might have for its competence only to instantly face-plant into the nearest wall.

Then it hits the reset button and starts again—which, come to think of it, is what "The Flash" keeps doing over and over again narratively, with time, parallel universes, and the question of whether "canonical" events in the life of a person or a whole dimension can be altered. From start to finish, it suffers the double misfortune of being its own worst enemy, despite real thoughtfulness and an intriguingly unstable cocktail of genres (slapstick comedy, family drama, heavy metal action flick, philosophically driven science fiction adventure); and also arriving on screens right after the release of "Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse," a high watermark for both superhero movies and major studio animated features that explores most of the same concepts as "The Flash" in a more aesthetically innovative way.

Ezra Miller , whose offscreen brushes with the law make some of the film's raunchier comedy land poorly, stars as twentysomething forensic scientist and secret superhero Barry Allen, who feels like the "janitor" of the Justice League and is still grappling with the impact of his mother's murder and his father's wrongful imprisonment for the crime. Here, again, in this very review, we encounter a double bind characteristic of "The Flash": it's poor form to discuss the meatier parts of the movie because you can't do that without describing the plot in detail, and yet at the same time, a lot of it has already been "spoiled," not just on social media and online forums but in the film's own trailers and marketing material (Warner Bros. supplied the photo at the top of this review) and on Wikipedia. If you read all that, you know whether to keep going or put the rest of this piece aside for later.

For those still reading: Remember the ending of the original 1978 "Superman: The Movie," where Christopher Reeve's Superman has to choose between stopping a nuclear missile headed for Miss Tesmacher's home state and preventing his great love Lois Lane from getting killed by an earthquake, tries to do both, loses Lois, then turns back time to resurrect her? Well, that sequence has been expanded into an entire film and merged with the " Back to the Future " series, courtesy of Barry's decision to try to go back in time and change one detail on the day his family was destroyed. Mom ( Maribel Verdú ) sent Dad ( Ron Livingston ) to the local supermarket to fetch a can of tomatoes she needed for a recipe. When little Barry hears a commotion and comes downstairs, he finds Mom on the kitchen floor with a knife jammed into her bloody chest and Dad weeping over her corpse with one hand on the hilt. Barry surmises that he can use his Flash powers to return to that fateful day, add a can of tomatoes to Mom's supermarket basket, and save both parents. Anybody who's seen a time travel movie (or read Ray Bradbury's short story The Sound of Thunder ) knows it's not that simple.

Directed by Andy Muschietti (" Mama ," both " It " movies), from a script by ace genre screenwriter Christina Hodson ("Birds of Prey," " Bumblebee "), "The Flash" deserves credit for taking its ideas and the pain of its characters seriously without devolving into glum, colorless machismo. When Miller enters what he believes is "the past" (it's actually an alternate timeline), he not only encounters another version of himself with an intact, happy family but befriends and mentors the other Barry, discovering along the way how annoying he can be to others.

Muschietti over-directs the pre-time-travel version of Barry, emphasizing his anxiety, clumsiness, and facial tics to the point where he seems like one of those schlemiels that Jerry Lewis used to play. But once the original Barry teams up with the other Barry, Miller keeps the schlemiel energy high for the second Barry while dialing it down for the original. This lets the first Barry mature in increments, part of the traditional arc of a young hero. The film showcases its finest effects in these mirror-image duets. The result is the most convincing instance of a leading man playing opposite himself since Michael Fassbender in " Alien: Covenant ." The shots of both Barrys even have a smidge of handheld shakiness that's visual shorthand for "authenticity." Within a scene or two, you'll likely forget that it's one actor playing the same part and instead focus on what Miller does with both incarnations of the character.

The master narrative of the DCEU defines Superman's city-leveling battle with General Zod in " Man of Steel " as a character- and team-defining canonical event for every interlinked feature film in the series. The aftermath of that contest figured into the plots and dialogue of more than one film, most notably "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice." When it's referenced again in the film's first act, you know Barry and Barry will have to deal with it again in another universe. Sure enough, here comes Zod with his villainous teammates, scarab starships, armored shock troopers, and terraforming World Engine.

The problem is, there's no Justice League to team up against him, and only one superhero: the Caped Crusader. Not Ben Affleck's grizzled, Frank Miller-y Batman, but the one played by Michael Keaton in the 1980s Tim Burton films. Only he's older, more haggard, and even more alienated from the society he monitors. As the time-ripened version of Burton's Batman, essentially Bruce Wayne fused with the long-haired hermit incarnation of Howard Hughes, Keaton gives the movie's subtlest performance. He underplays and reacts in a way that adds freshness to a story that's probably too dependent on recycled situations and makes Miller's jumpy, abrasive tendencies easier to take. He's the acting version of a shock absorber, smoothing the ride without slowing it down.

Barry, Barry, and Bruce become convinced that this universe's Superman is trapped in a Siberian prison run by Russian mercenaries and fly there to bust him out. Turns out he's a she: Kara Zor-El, Kal-El's cousin, aka Supergirl ( Sasha Calle , rocking a modified pixie cut and a killer stare). Superman, we're told, might still be out there somewhere, but his cousin (who was sent to protect him) is a powerful ally who can stand up to Zod. When the modified four-person Justice League substitute confronts Zod's invading army, the movie proves that its obsessive referencing of the "Back to the Future" films was not just a running gag.

The reimagining of Zod's attack is this movie's equivalent of the end of the second "BTTF" movie, where time-traveling adolescent Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox in our world, and in Barry's by Eric Stoltz , the actor Fox replaced!) had to attend the same prom that ended the original "BTTF" while avoiding a potentially time/space disruptive encounter with himself. (This movie's decisions about what to save and what to delete from real world history are weird; I'd love to hear the logic behind erasing a lot of the DCEU superheroes from the second Barry's universe while determining that "Back to the Future," "Footloose," and " Top Gun " and the first Chicago album were immutable occurrences.)

The film's big battle is its least convincing sequence (parts of it look like cutscenes from an early-aughts game). It's too bad, because it's the most thought-provoking: as Batman and the Flashes and Supergirl battle Zod, the two Barrys disagree on whether traveling back and forth along dimensional pathways will solve problems or add new ones. Like most science fiction with even the thinnest veneer of seriousness, "The Flash" connects back to the godmother of science fiction, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus . Shelley warned readers that using science to mimic God or defy nature has bad consequences, and it's better for the story's Prometheus figure to give up his illusions than continue traveling a ruinous path. Is this the sort of film that will heed Shelley's warning, or ignore it to give the hero what he wants and the audience the wish-fulfillment fantasies it craves and that superhero films nearly always endorse? Even the first two Reeve Superman films erred on the side of audience wish-fulfillment; the first film lets him turn back time, while the second has him erase Lois' knowledge of his secret identity with a super-kiss. "The Flash" deserves credit for threading the eye of that needle, giving audiences a somewhat hopeful ending without negating the philosophical and scientific issues it raises elsewhere.

Unfortunately, "The Flash" also has a countervailing tendency that undermines its best self. Even as it cleverly translates Shelley's worries into contemporary comic book terms, it serves up callback after fan-wanking callback to other versions of heroes and villains from film and TV, seemingly with no other purpose than to burnish Warner Bros' properties and make the audience point to the screen and whisper the names of actors, characters, films, TV shows, and comic books that they recognize. Batman, Batman, Batman, Batman, Superman, Superman, Superman, Superman, Flash, Flash, Flash, etc., keep popping up scenes set in the "Chrono-Bowl," a cosmic switching station with a design that alludes to clockwork gears, the concentric rings of chopped-down trees, theater-in-the-round, and a tribunal.

And rather than find an artful, modest way to repurpose library footage from earlier adaptations of DC comics—as, say, "In the Line of Fire" did with footage of a younger Clint Eastwood from " Dirty Harry "—the actors who originally played them, many of whom died long ago, have been scanned (or rebuilt) as vaguely three-dimensional but uncanny grotesques, like Madame Tussaud's wax figures laid over audio-animatronic puppets. Remember the process that "reanimated" Peter Cushing in "Star Wars: Rogue One," and later served up an even more unsettling "young Carrie Fisher " in the climax, paving the way for a nearly expressionless "young Mark Hamill " on "The Mandalorian," and de-aged '70s movie stars for various legacy sequels? It gets trotted out and multiplied ad nauseam here, even though the technology hasn't improved much.

The film's principal cast also gets the zombie CGI treatment in the Chrono-Bowl, to visualize alternate realities. Some of the versions of these real, living actors with SAG cards and regularly updated IMDb pages look faintly demonic. The torsos and hands aren't anatomically credible. One has eyes that point in opposite directions like a gecko. Were the deadlines rushed and the digital effects artists exploited until quality control disappeared— a problem throughout the entertainment industry —or is the technology just not there yet? And even if it ever does "get there," will it ever not seem one (digital) step removed from wrapping a mannequin in corpse-flesh? Doing this sort of thing in a purely animated format moots such concerns. Everything in an animated comics adaptation is a drawing inspired by other drawings, and therefore a representation of a thing that is not meant to seem "real." Not so in live-action. "Hey, that's Actor X!" gives way to, "He looks kinda creepy and unreal," and the spell is broken.

What a mess. And what a shame, because what's good about "The Flash" is very good. The movie puts a lot of thought into what it wants to say and not enough into how it says it. It avidly warns against a thing while at the same time doing a version of that same thing. Barry, driven by a desire to resurrect the dead, grapples with the ethics and advisability of actions that the film constantly performs, in small ways and large, without breaking a sweat.

Opens Friday, June 16th.

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor at Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

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Film credits.

The Flash (2023)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some strong language and partial nudity.

144 minutes

Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash

Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl

Michael Shannon as General Zod

Ron Livingston as Henry Allen

Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen

Kiersey Clemons as Iris West

Antje Traue as Faora-Ul

Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman

Ian Loh as Young Barry Allen

Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Patty Spivot

Rudy Mancuso as Albert Desmond

Andy Muschietti

Writer (story by)

Joby Harold
Christina Hodson

Cinematographer

Henry Braham
Jason Ballantine
Paul Machliss
Benjamin Wallfisch

Latest blog posts

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The Flash Reviews

Michael Keaton is the main reason to see “The Flash” (2023), the 13th film in the DC Extended Universe. Feel free to arrive at the theater under one hour late to see a decent Batman sequel otherwise you will be peeking at your watch

Full Review | May 25, 2024

For 2/3 of The Flash -- and it's too long -- it's kind of fun... in the last sections it becomes slightly video game-ish.

Full Review | Jan 9, 2024

Despite having fun throughout, The Flashisn't flawless, especially in its final act. But Miller as the eponymous superhero is clearly having fun, and so are the other key characters that wouldn't think twice.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 28, 2023

Simply put, this movie is way fun and worth a watch in the theaters, put it on your list of to-do's this weekend.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Nov 13, 2023

Given that seemingly every piece of media is unleashing its perception of whatever the multiverse may be, it’s refreshing that The Flash treats it as more of an existential test.

Full Review | Nov 10, 2023

... fun, generous, and entertaining. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 3, 2023

The Flash may be the most underrated, most underappreciated movie of the year.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 27, 2023

Are multiverses just an excuse for not picking a tone or choosing a story? Our cinema’s flavor of the last few years may just be the child of channel-surfing... The Flash makes you feel simultaneously overserved and underserved.

Full Review | Sep 29, 2023

The Flash creates not just an origin story but lays the foundation for an emotional and layered performance few expect from superhero movies. He can see how things could have been, allowing him to question how he became the man and hero he believes he is.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 23, 2023

The result of literally decades of unsuccessful development, culminating in something that – if not borderline unwatchable – is certainly the most pronounced death throe of Warner Bros’ DC Extended Universe to date.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 | Sep 18, 2023

Color me shocked.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 8, 2023

Overall, The Flash is one of the better DCEU entries, but that’s not saying much for a universe of films often found thin or clunky. Muschietti focuses on the human side of meta-human Barry and that leads to a solid emotional journey.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 7, 2023

Perhaps the main problem with The Flash is there is too much of everything packed into its not short runtime. By the time we get to the final crisis of universes colliding it seems so inevitable that it’s tiring.

Full Review | Sep 6, 2023

With eighty percent of The Flash devoted to other DC heroes and underwhelming visual effects, the result seems like a foregone conclusion.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 | Aug 30, 2023

The Flash has about two-thirds of a decent storyline, utilizing a much better characterization of the beloved superhero than we saw previously in the DC cinematic universe, but sadly the film is let down by a final act that unravels into a muddled mess.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 28, 2023

Ezra Miller’s superhero outing has an affecting storyline, fan service aplenty, and an easy-way-out anticlimax; maybe this is a befitting conclusion to the DCEU storyline.

Full Review | Aug 25, 2023

Ultimately, what you want to know, dear reader, is whether or not the film is worth your time? The best answer I can offer is: sorta.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 25, 2023

The characters are so driven that the film’s most earth-shattering moments don’t come during an epic battle, but in quiet moments of reflection and recognition of one’s responsibility. If you can get beyond multiverse overkill, this one is worth watching.

Full Review | Aug 23, 2023

It's an irregular superhero film that, with a handful of cameos and visual pyrotechnics, gets off to a fast-paced start by showing the origin of a solid Barry Allen played by Miller, but whose flashes fade at considerable speed. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 12, 2023

Setting aside the actor’s numerous legal issues, Miller turns in a masterful pair of performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 9, 2023

Batman aside, 'The Flash' is far from one of the best superhero movies ever made

Warning: Mild spoilers ahead for "The Flash."
The Andy Muschietti-directed superhero movie has been overhyped by early critics.
Michael Keaton's long-awaited return as Batman/Bruce Wayne is the film's best asset.

Early critics heralded "The Flash" as one of the best superhero movies ever made . That couldn't be further from the truth.

There's a scene early in Warner Bros.' latest DC outing where the titular hero (Ezra Miller) saves a group of babies and a nurse from falling to their deaths.

The dragged out, slowed-down scene involves a baby getting closed inside an unplugged microwave to save its life. Then, Miller's Barry Allen/The Flash offers mental health advice to a screaming nurse who's in shock.

It's supposed to elicit laughter. Yet the fact that these scenes made the film's final cut given Miller's legal troubles , " complex mental health issues ," and accusations of grooming children make it difficult to separate the actor from his superhero facade.

It gets better from there, but "The Flash" isn't the spectacle some critics and celebrities promised months ago.

The Andy Muschietti-directed movie, which has been in development as far back as the '80s, loosely follows the popular DC story "Flashpoint," in which the speedster travels back in time to prevent the death of his mother (Maribel Verdú) during his childhood. Unfortunately, changing the past alters the present.

The Flash finds himself trapped in an alternate timeline where the Justice League doesn't exist and Superman villain Zod (Michael Shannon from 2013's "Man of Steel") threatens to once again take over Earth and transform it into a new home for his nearly extinct Kryptonian race.

Barry runs into his past self, a doe-eyed dingbat sans superpowers, and together they need to stop Zod and send the hero home. Help comes in the form of Supergirl (Sasha Calle) and a blast from the past — Michael Keaton's Batman, a cameo that's strategically been used in marketing, likely to take some of the attention off the film's troubled star.

Stuffed with unnecessary cameos seemingly for the sake of it, "The Flash" contains glimpses of fun, but is tonally uneven. It's often in conflict with itself over whether it wants to be a Batman nostalgia fest or about the fastest man alive.

Michael Keaton's Batman is the best thing about 'The Flash'

Let's be real. Despite being called "The Flash," audiences are likely venturing to theaters to see Keaton's reprisal as the Dark Knight. And Keaton doesn't disappoint.

"The Flash" meanders and relies on cringey and juvenile jokes for much of its first hour. (The film lingers on an unfunny gag that will go over young viewers' heads about Eric Stoltz playing Marty McFly in "Back to the Future" in a different timeline for far too long.)

It's not until Keaton shows up to fight two versions of the Flash with a broom on a table in nothing but sweats and one flip flop that the movie livens up.

Every moment with Keaton on screen makes this movie worth watching. The actor gets the film's best fight sequence while effortlessly taking down Russians to Danny Elfman's familiar theme.

Keaton reminds us his Batman can do anything efficiently, including delivering the most straightforward explanation of the multiverse in any comic-book movie to date using nothing more than a bowl of spaghetti.

Every other hero outshines The Flash in this movie.

Miller gets overshadowed in their own film any time a version of Batman shows up (I won't spoil them all here). Affleck's latest and likely last outing as the Caped Crusader delivers an exciting chase scene through Gotham, while Keaton and one other Batman received the majority of the cheers in my early June screening filled with fans and journalists.

The film is riddled with awful CGI

Noticeably wonky CGI makes "The Flash" tough to fully enjoy.

The babies Flash saves near the film's start look nightmarish . Any time the hero enters the Speed Force to try and turn back time, viewers see humans who look strangely animated, as if editors didn't have time to complete the film's effects.

Apparently, it was intended to look " a little weird. " Muschietti and his sister, Barbara, who serves as a film's producer, told io9's Germain Lussier the CGI isn't a mistake . The visuals look the way they do on purpose to showcase those moments from Barry's point of view.

Such an explanation would be fine; however, viewers have seen scenes from Barry's POV in previous DC films where his surroundings look well-defined. This jarring new take doesn't match with what's been introduced in the past.

There's a better adaptation of 'Flashpoint' you can watch on Max.

"The Flash" is very good when it's a Batman movie and mediocre when it's about Barry Allen.

The film fails to answer its biggest question: Who killed Barry's mom? Any fan familiar with The CW's nine-season "Flash" series — a show that debuted after WB's 2014 movie announcement and concluded weeks before its release — knows the culprit as Reverse Flash. Here, the question is ignored despite being at the heart of the film.

A Flash baddie could've naturally tied into the film's main story.

Instead, "The Flash" bizarrely reintroduces Zod, a stale but familiar villain from one of DC's most divisive films, 2013's "Man of Steel," with a cliché goal of overtaking the planet.

In doing so, the studio oddly revisits the Snyderverse era of DC that WB refused to continue . (As a reminder, Henry Cavill reprised his role as Superman in October's "Black Adam" only to be kicked to the curb two months later .)

By the film's end, Barry doesn't learn his lesson about fiddling with the past as his selfish actions result in another (less life-threatening) shift to the multiverse. It feels like a rushed sunset and solution to cleanly reset the DC universe moving forward, likely without Miller.

WB already made a more enjoyable Flashpoint adaptation in 2013 called " Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox ," currently streaming on Max . After you get your Keaton fix, watch that.

"The Flash," also starring Kiersey Clemons and Ron Livingston, is now in theaters.

The Flash Review

Flashback to the future..

The Flash premieres in theaters on June 16, 2023.

Fresh, funny, and fast – The Flash is a good time at the movies. Director Andy Muschietti’s clear love of the character anchors the many refreshingly unique action scenes and twisty time-travel plot, never losing sight of Barry Allen’s powerful emotional journey. Though the story doesn’t necessarily justify its excessive fan service and the third act is a bit unwieldy, that doesn’t stop The Flash from being an earnest and entertaining superhero film – and one of the better efforts from DC in recent memory.

In a loose adaptation of the Flashpoint comic event that feels like a more focused version and worthy update to the 2011 source material, Barry rushes to use his newfound time-travel ability to undo the most traumatic event of his life: the murder of his mother when he was a child. Using Back to the Future-esque time travel rules, The Flash becomes a tale of two Barry Allens, two Batmans, and two versions of DC movie continuities colliding. What follows is a sincere and surprisingly humorous morality play where Barry must reconcile what his selfish, grief-stricken actions have wrought. It’s especially effective in telling a story that includes the Flash’s full origin without actually being a typical origin story movie.

It’s impressive that it still manages to get all of that across, because for a film called The Flash, there sure is a lot of Batman in it. Even though it indulges in unnecessarily long Batman action sequences and numerous overt references to the Tim Burton Batman films, they never overshadow Barry’s story. The two Batmans are contrasted to excellent effect to accent Barry’s plight, with Ben Affleck’s Dark Knight lamenting that scars shouldn’t be undone because they make us who we are, and Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader admitting there is an allure to the idea of being able to undo all that pain. As men orphaned by violence as children they have a lot in common and thus provide Barry with juicy philosophical food for thought. For his part, Affleck seems more at home as Batman and Bruce Wayne than ever with a ( very likely final ) performance that’s all business and sadness with a perfectly measured dash of dry humor.

Keaton, on the other hand, portrays an aged Bruce with an understated performance – too understated, at some points, almost as if he’s reluctant to rattle off his character’s most memorable lines (and some not-so-memorable ones seemingly just for the heck of it) for the nostalgia-hungry crowd. Keaton’s action scenes are the exact opposite, as we watch his Batman fight like never before thanks to modern special effects. On one hand, it’s cool to see him fling Batarangs and glide around like a bat out of Hell, but it’s also overly cartoonish when we all know that Keaton is in his 70s. It's enough to make you question why we'd ever need Batman Beyond when Senior Citizen Batman can kick that much ass. It feels like a missed opportunity to not acknowledge and explore how an older Bruce can still be Batman despite his age, especially because there's precious little substance to his character or motivation to begin with.

The Flash Trailer Images

Unfortunately, the Supergirl we meet in this mashed-up world feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character, and it’s sad to watch as her part in the story veers into cringey cliche territory. That said, actor Sasha Calle shines as much as she can given the thin nature of the role, and manages to make an impression with her disillusioned Kara Zor-El, who holds an understandable grudge against humanity.

All of those characters play major roles, but this is the first time we’ve seen Barry in a movie centered around him, and Muschietti takes care to showcase the hero’s signature powers in true blockbuster fashion. Whereas Zack Snyder rendered super speed in slow motion, Muschietti makes you feel the Gs from the the first time Flash strikes his admittedly dorky sprinting pose and takes off.

At times, there’s an uncomfortable (yet silly) intimacy in how the Flash’s powers are depicted. We quickly see that having that kind of speed isn’t as easy as it looks, and learning how Barry navigates things like friction heat and what happens to your clothes when you phase through solid matter gives you an appreciation for how clever and resourceful he is. The Quicksilver sequence in X-Men: Days of Future Past remains the king of slow-motion speedster sequences, but The Flash offers up a new one that certainly gets credit for its inventiveness. It’s a frankly ridiculous situation, but that doesn’t stop it from having genuine moments of horror among the humorous ones.

While a majority of the visual effects are superb, one in particular is not. Time travel is portrayed using a concept unlike anything we’ve seen before – and credit where it’s due for that originality – but when this “chrono bowl” (yes, that’s what they call it) depicts people, they look like eerie wax dolls with plastic hair, as if the CGI render was shut off halfway through. Given that a handful of important scenes take place there, and they ask for a lot of emotional investment from us, the distracting look ends up robbing certain big moments of their intended impact. Let's just say it didn’t bowl me over.

It’s obvious going in that The Flash deals with time travel, but nothing can quite prepare you for the blast from the past that is returning to the era of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel from 2013. It feels strange revisiting these events 10 years later, yet that ends up working to The Flash’s advantage as Barry begins to notice how things have changed in this timeline. In ways big and small, this story feels like a parting love letter to the Snyderverse, as it plays with the many toys the DCEU has introduced over the years and adds a new layer to that foundational film, and in doing so expands on Barry’s superhero journey in a profound way. Only James Gunn and Peter Safran know what’s in store for the future of the DC Universe, but if this is truly the last in-universe chapter of the Snyderverse as we know it then it’s a fitting swan song because it brings things full circle. (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is technically part of the Snyderverse but comes after what Gunn described as a “reset” of the DC Universe in The Flash .)

Who is your favorite speedster?

All of this leads up to one of the most ambitious and unwieldy third acts we’ve seen in a superhero movie in quite some time. The amount of chaos – both in action and storytelling – that unfolds threatens to overwhelm and confuse, and at times it does, but it ultimately succeeds because it manages to keep Barry’s arc at the heart of it all.

That’s owed to the fact that Barry Allen is the most impressive part of The Flash, and why it all works so well. By having Barry meet his younger self, a version of him who was never traumatized the way he was, it helps us better understand what makes him tick and where his peculiar personality comes from. Barry doesn’t start off as the most likable character, but by the end it’s hard not to root for him. We see the ways in which grief affected his life, from his non-existent social life to the way he defies the system at his forensics job to ensure proper justice is carried out.

Actor Ezra Miller excels in this double role, offering two dramatically different looks at the same character. One of the most affecting scenes of the film is just Barry having a passionate argument with his younger self. Muschietti brings in a delightful, off-beat sense of humor and Miller proves they have the comedic chops to deliver it, taking all-too-familiar superhero story ideas and upending them into laugh-out-loud moments or creative action scenes. Yet the superhero theatrics are all in service of an intimate story about the pain of grief and the strength it takes to find acceptance, and in those moments of vulnerability Miller shines just as bright.

The Flash is an ambitious superhero movie that largely pulls off its tale of two worlds, two Flashes, and two Batmans. The superhero fan service is strong with this one – perhaps too strong at times – but it never fully overshadows Barry Allen’s genuinely tragic and heartfelt story of grief. Though the visual effects aren’t always the best and the third act is a bit overwhelming, strong performances and a refreshing earnestness keep The Flash on track and running circles around many of the recent DC Universe movies. If this is the truly last stop on the Snyderverse express, then it’s a respectable way to go out.

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‘The Flash’ Review: Ezra Miller Is on a Bender of High Anxiety in a Movie That Starts Strong and Grows Overwrought

Miller's the Flash goes back in time to change the future and connects with Michael Keaton's Batman. But the movie, after a smart and playful first half, gives itself over to comic-book bombast.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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In comic-book movies, when it comes to a hero’s superpowers — flying, lifting objects, repelling bullets, the indomitability of a shield or a hammer — the audience is almost always on the outside looking in. But in “ The Flash ,” when the title character throttles forward at the speed of the hot-singe lightning streaks at his back, or floats through the air in slowed-down motion so that a mere second appears to last forever, the movie makes us part of the experience. We know just what he’s going through, which is why the scene gives you a jolt.

Reviewed at Regal Union Square, June 5, 2022. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 144 MIN.

Production: A Warner Bros. Pictures release of a Double Dream/A Disco Factory production. Producers: Barbara Muschietti, Michael Disco. Executive producers: Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman, Marianne Jenkins.
Crew: Director: Anthony Muschietti. Screenplay: Christina Hodson. Camera: Henry Braham. Editors: Jason Ballantine, Paul Machliss. Music: Benjamin Wallfisch.
With: Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons, Jeremy Irons, Antje Traue.

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The Flash strikes a running pose in a still from the film The Flash

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The Flash is a eulogy for every DC movie that never was

DC runs a victory lap in a race against itself

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For a movie about a guy who can move incomprehensibly fast, The Flash sure did arrive late. Originally planned for a 2016 release, according to a 2013 DC movie plan that ultimately proved too ambitious, The Flash arrives a full decade later from a chastened DC that’s getting ready to restart its cinematic universe with James Gunn in charge . In 2023, The Flash now serves as one of the final films in the Snyderverse , a eulogy for the Zack Snyder era of DC — but also, surprisingly, for all DC’s page-to-screen adaptations. The result is messy and strange: It’s a bright, breezy film that is overwhelmed by corporate hagiography, a pat on the back for a bunch of movies that never really worked out.

Given all this, the worst thing a movie called The Flash could do is feel slow. To its credit, the movie’s two-and-a-half-hour run time moves at an impressive clip. This is even more astonishing given that it has one of the most convoluted plots in a recent stretch of superhero films that are absolutely lousy with multiversal exposition. While it lacks the clarity or resonance of, say, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse , Christina Hodson’s script keeps the story squarely focused on its protagonist’s emotional journey and treats the finer points of its metaphysical world-building as flavor, an excuse to do some extremely comic book things.

The opening briefly reestablishes Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) as a part-time Justice League member and full-time forensics lab analyst on a personal journey to clear the name of his father, Henry (Ron Livingston), who’s been convicted of murdering Barry’s mother, Nora (Maribel Verdú). The plot kicks into gear when Barry learns that the last big potential break in his dad’s case will not exonerate him. In a moment of anguish, Barry discovers that if he runs fast enough, he can surpass the speed of light and travel through time, observing history in a ring of space-time he calls “the chronobowl.” Ignoring a warning from Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) about the perils of altering history, Barry decides to time travel to prevent his mother’s murder and his father’s imprisonment.

Supergirl stands in front of Barry Allen and his younger self, each in their own Flash costume, on a battlefield surrounded by Kryptonian soldiers in the film The Flash

In spite of this angst-fueled premise, director Andy Muschietti ( It and It: Chapter Two ) smartly infuses the film with a Looney Tunes sensibility, reintroducing Barry with one of the goofiest opening sequences in a superhero film to date, and using the time-travel premise to make The Flash a buddy comedy, pairing Barry with a younger, more obnoxious version of himself from the past.

Most of the film takes place in a new timeline Barry creates, where the decision to save his mother ripples outward to create a version of the DC movie universe with no metahumans, on the brink of its foundational disaster: General Zod (Michael Shannon) arriving as he did in 2013’s Man of Steel , but this time, with no one to stop him. Barry is forced to recreate his superhero origin with his younger self, and to team up with the only known superhero in this timeline: Batman, but the one played by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman and its sequel.

This is where The Flash stops being a movie and instead becomes several other things, some of them outright cynical. There is the blatant nostalgia play in making Keaton’s Bruce Wayne/Batman the film’s biggest supporting character — a role Keaton, to his credit, does not phone in. Yet The Flash doesn’t stop there. Like Barry, the filmmakers run too far, too fast, and too wild, until their film nearly spirals out of their control in a confused tangle of meta-commentary and eulogy, contemplating the history of DC movie adaptations as well as the Snyderverse that began it, and that’s coming to a close shortly. (There’s still a second Aquaman movie and Blue Beetle on the way before Gunn’s universe, labeled the DCU, kicks off.)

In pivoting from time-travel caper into multiversal doomsday epic, Muschietti treats Barry’s emotional arc of acceptance less as the heart of The Flash , and more like its bookends, an experience Barry grows from in the hopes that the audience will also find it worthwhile. But so much of the substance of The Flash isn’t for Barry. It’s for the DC stalwarts who’ll get all the meta nods and in-jokes. The movie is a chronicle of corporate synergy, mashing together the old and new in an attempt to lure DC fans from across generations, with the assumption that meaning will emerge from mere recognition.

What’s so peculiar about The Flash ’s version of the multiverse shenanigans that have now taken place across three Spider-Man films, an entire Marvel animated TV series , and a Doctor Strange sequel is that so much of it leans on its audience knowing what might have been, and still craving it. It’s a film full of wistful what-ifs. What if Michael Keaton stayed on as the definitive movie Batman? How would he fit into the modern landscape? What if the Snyderverse wasn’t coming to an end as the James Gunn era of DC begins to lay its plans? What if The Flash could be free of having to address the controversy surrounding star Ezra Miller , and a bankable franchise could be built on their frankly bighearted and earnest performance?

The Flash is a bright, colorful, imaginative film with enough verve to pop off the screen, even though it’s often nonsensical in its wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff. But as fun as its imagery can be, it also signals the same priorities Muschietti showed in the It movies. So much of The Flash gives way to computer-generated effects, not just for the depiction of super-people fighting to save the world — Sasha Calle puts in a rage-fueled performance as Supergirl, even though the film leaves her with frustratingly little to do — but for its longing glances at alternate possible pasts, as Barry travels through time and space to see what might have been.

In these glances, the audience is shown a computerized guernica of faces and characters they know, or might have known. Yet disconcertingly, almost none of those familiar faces and familiar properties are played by real people. They’re just likenesses. Brands. A reward to the faithful who have actively followed not just the DC stories that came out in theaters, but the ones that almost did. In this, The Flash is the biggest, the ultimate DC comics movie. And it feels so much smaller for it.

The Flash opens in theaters on June 16.

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'The Flash' throws off intermittent sparks

Glen Weldon

Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) is full of running gags. Warner Bros. hide caption

Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) is full of running gags.

In the comics, the character of Barry Allen, aka The Flash, aka The Fastest Man Alive, occupies a specific role.

Whenever there's any kind of confusing and overcomplicated shenanigans going on — the kind that involve parallel dimensions, alternate timelines, irreconcilable paradoxes, etc. — you can generally find ol' Flash at the center of it all. He's the key.

Makes sense: After all, he was the guy who first discovered that alternate Earths exist, replete with alternate versions of our Earth's familiar heroes and villains ( The Flash #123, Sept. 1961). He was also there in the mix when, decades later, DC decided all those alternate realities had grown too confusing and combined all of their multiple Earths into one ( Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12, Apr. 1985-March 1986). In the years since, the publisher has continually relaunched their multiverse and collapsed it, again and again, as if its vast narrative canon were some sort of space-time squeezebox.

The Flash has been there for every expansion and contraction, every cosmic do-over, ever metaphysical mulligan. He signals a cleaning of the slate, a new beginning. He's what biologists call an indicator species, and the precise set of environmental conditions his presence indicates is: Things Are So Screwed Up We Need To Start Over.

So the fact that a live-action The Flash film only arrives in theaters now, even though Warner Bros. Pictures has been trying to make one since the late '80s? And that it comes weighted down with so much baggage, in the form of studio turnover, a ceaseless churn of rewrites and a star surrounded by allegations of abusive behavior and other legal troubles ? And that the state of Warner's superheroic universe is currently so fraught and fractious that it's inspired sweeping regime change, a slate of cancelled projects and promises of a new direction ?

Makes sense. The slate is dirty, it cries out for a dry-eraser.

So does The Flash (the movie) do what the The Flash (the comic book character) famously does?

Yes. Up to a point.

Fast off the starting block

Like most superhero films, The Flash starts off with a drive and focus that inevitably flags over the course of its running (heh) time. This reviewer will confess a weakness for a grounded, hero-rescues-everyday-schmoes-from-danger set piece. I realize that any given superhero film will eventually degenerate into multicolored brawls (or, in the case of mystic superheroes, into actors grimacing at each other across a distance while teams of professionals add Eldritch magicks or laser beams in post).

But show me a character using their powers to whisk a harried restaurant server out of a collapsing building or evacuating a busload of panicking kids off a crumbling bridge and I'm happy. Leave the more esoteric, lore-besotted threats to the very fabric of the multiverse or whatever for another day! Focus on what's in front of you! Save the schmoes!

What if, as is the case in The Flash , the schmoes in question are a passel of CGI babies and a therapy dog hurtling to their deaths? And our hero must figure out a way to pluck them out of the air at super-speed while replenishing his calories such that he's even able to maintain said super-speed? All the better. It's what superhero movies are made for.

On a micro level, screenwriter Christina Hodson's script delivers. Line-by-line, it crackles with nimble jokes, broad winks and clever sight gags. But on a macro level — the level of characterization and character development — things don't so much crackle as fizzle.

The fact that The Flash debuts in theaters so fast on the heels of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is doing the DC film no favors. Leave aside the fact that both movies traffic in multiversal michegoss — that's a surface similarity.

All of the elements that make the Spider-Verse films so memorable and effective — their humor, their heart, their stakes — grow directly out of how real and rounded their characters are depicted. That roundedness and complexity determine the choices they make, and thus drive the plot.

Here, however, it's plot that's paramount, and it kind of forces the characters along for the ride. As a result, there's a flatness to our hero and his allies that precludes us from investing in their fates.

A family plot

The story of The Flash is based on a 2011 comic called Flashpoint (written by Geoff Johns with art by Andy Kubert) in which Barry/The Flash goes back in time to save his mother from the home invasion that killed her. That simple act screws up the DC Universe.

The situation's much the same in The Flash . Barry (Ezra Miller) decides to go back in time to save his mother (Maribel Verdú) from a deadly home invasion. This act brings him into contact with a younger, stoner-bro version of himself (Miller again) as well as a Batman from a different Earth (Michael Keaton, reprising his take on the character from the Tim Burton films) and a super-powered cousin (Sasha Calle) of Superman.

They are forced to band together to save this alternate Earth from an attack by the Kryptonian despot General Zod (Michael Shannon, briefly reprising his dyspeptic take on the character from Zack Snyder's Man of Steel ).

Miller's comic timing is solid, and serves the script's many gags well. But Miller's take on adult Barry is one-note, as is their decision to portray younger Barry as your most irritating college roommate. (That's two notes, I suppose — a simple interval). The movie attempts to frog-march both Barrys through a pair of purely perfunctory, emotional-growth-and-development narrative arcs, but Miller never manages to make either one register onscreen.

Neither does the film accord Calle's Supergirl enough space to become someone we can be bothered to care about; her screen time is given over to Keaton's Batman. It's hard to complain about what Keaton does with that stolen spotlight, but it does reflect the film's willingness to coast on the familiar in favor of putting in the work necessary to create something new.

CG Ay-yi-yi

The film's keystone digital effect, that of both Barrys sharing the screen and interacting with one another, works more seamlessly than it has in any film to date. Credit Miller, sure, but let's also note that the level of technical precision in those scenes — with respect to camera blocking and frame-matching and a slew of other cinematographic factors — are so effortlessly accomplished that you instantly forget you're watching one actor acting against themselves.

When it comes to the film's time-travel CGI, however:

Here's where we are forced to address the (checks notes) "chrono-bowl."

The "chrono-bowl" is an invention of the film, a visual device to depict Barry's time-travel. Basically, he starts running and a series of images begin to rotate around him — scenes and characters from his past. These scenes look as if a Playstation 2 were struggling to render a Caravaggio painting; characters depicted therein regard the viewer from across an uncanny valley that quickly widens into a terrifying canyon. This disquieting effect extends to the glimpses we eventually get of alternate worlds and their alternate heroes.

Now: It's possible, I suppose, to believe this is purely intentional, a stylistic choice on the filmmakers' part. After all, these alternate timelines and universes are comparatively insubstantial, compared to Barry's actual reality, so perhaps it makes sense that The Flash would signal to viewers that they are peopled by men and women who look as if they've just stepped off the Polar Express and Xeroxed themselves 47 times.

That's a generous reading, to be sure. But it's precisely that kind of overgenerous benefit-of-the-doubt that this often funny but ultimately confounding film requires. Barry's constant need to consume calories is the film's go-to gag, and it's no wonder: Like its main hero, The Flash doesn't hide how hungry it is to be seen as worthy, even though it spends much of its time running on empty.

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The Flash First Reviews: Packed with Nostalgia and a Scene-Stealing Michael Keaton

Critics say the latest dc superhero flick is a satisfying time travel movie and a multiverse smorgasbord of nostalgia and cameos, even if it does lose steam towards the end..

TAGGED AS: DC Universe , First Reviews , movies , Superheroes

Here’s what critics are saying about The Flash :

Does it live up to expectations?

“ The Flash may not be the greatest comic book movie ever made, but it comes damn close.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

“ The Flash doesn’t reinvent the superhero genre by any means, but it’s still one of the most consistently entertaining entries in the genre in years.” – Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture

“It’s certainly an above-average entry.” – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“The good barely outweighs the bad here, at least enough for me to give The Flash a marginal recommendation.” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

“One of the most spectacular and frustrating mixed bags of the superhero blockbuster era, The Flash is simultaneously thoughtful and clueless, challenging and pandering.” – Matt Zoller-Seitz, RogerEbert.com

(Photo by ©Warner Bros.)

How does it rank among DC movies?

“One of the best DC Comics movies out there.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

“At its core, The Flash is a film that exudes the aura of the past, channeling its predecessors, Superman ’78 and Batman ’89.” – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel

“One of the best DC Extended Universe films.” – Brandon Zachary, CBR.com

“The Flash is, by far, the best movie to come out of this modern, post-Nolan Warners/DC collaboration.” – David Fear, Rolling Stone

“ The Flash is the first DC movie to somewhat emulate the early films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something DC has been chasing for a very long time.” – Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture

“I would hesitate to even put this film on the same level as others in the increasingly-tired genre that both Marvel and DC have run into the ground.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

“It does not work as a pseudo-finale to the DCEU, which it seemed to have been pigeonholed into becoming pending the upcoming reboot.” – Sheraz Farooqi, CinemaDebate

How is Ezra Miller’s performance?

“Miller excels in their performance as the dual Barry Allen/The Flash.” – Carla Hay, Culture Mix

“Miller, putting a spin of effrontery on every line, is the perfect actor to play this corkscrew superhero.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety

“Miller does an impressive job making the two Barrys into distinct people; the illusion is so convincing that you sometimes forget that a lot of this movie is just one actor talking to themselves.” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

“The troubled star turns out to be the film’s chief asset, bringing humor, heart, and a vulnerability not often seen in big-screen superheroes.” – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“Simply put, better casting you could not imagine. Whatever the well-publicized personal-life troubles the actor has had simply do not matter here; Miller is the real deal and a superhero superstar is born.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

Michael Keaton and Ezra Miller in The Flash (2023)

What about Michael Keaton?

“The highlight is Michael Keaton, who fully embraces a tired and almost stir-crazy Dark Knight to deliver a performance that’s impossible to not appreciate.” – Brandon Zachary, CBR.com

“He very much steals the show at times, proving that he has still got it.” – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

“It’s a performance to go nuts for.” – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel

“Keaton still has that old Batman joie de vivre ; even belatedly, it’s really fun to see him back in another adventure.” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

“Keaton has never been better in the role. It is a terrific reinvention of the character for the actor, and for Batman himself.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

“Keaton gives the movie’s subtlest performance. He underplays and reacts in a way that adds freshness to a story that’s probably too dependent on recycled situations and makes Miller’s jumpy, abrasive tendencies easier to take. He’s the acting version of a shock absorber, smoothing the ride without slowing it down.” – Matt Zoller-Seitz, RogerEbert.com

How is Michael Shannon’s return as the villain?

“He is a scary and powerful villain. Always has been. Likely always will be.” – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

“It is fun to see Shannon taking on more weight as Zod.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

“Shannon is wasted in generic snarling supervillain mode.” – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“The final showdown with Zod does feel a bit redundant.” – Mike Ryan, Uproxx

“Michael Shannon returns as General Zod again in the Man Of Steel timeline, but the real conflict is internal as Barry must resolve the cracks in the timeline and learn to let go of his tortured past.” – Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture

Does anyone else stand out?

“The absolute bright spot for the film is Sasha Calle’s Supergirl.” – Sheraz Farooqi, CinemaDebate

“Sasha Calle is sensational as Kara as she evokes the fierceness of Supergirl and offers an intense persona that gives individuality to her Supergirl while removing comparisons from other iterations.” – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel

How is the action?

“When the action kicks into gear it’s damned impressive.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

“Director Muschietti handles the action with confidence.” – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“Muschietti has a great handle on superhero action. Especially considering the film’s creative uses of the Flash’s abilities, the flow of action could have become difficult to follow — but it remains clear and (more importantly) very fun throughout.” – Brandon Zachary, CBR.com

“Muschietti’s direction is a perfect tonal balancing act that makes the action gripping and appropriately silly when necessary.” – Daniel Howat, Next Best Picture

What about the special effects?

“The effects when Flash is speeding through the city or into battle are an explosion for the senses, capturing the fun and freedom of moving faster than the speed of thought.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

“It features some of the best digital FX work I’ve seen and some of the worst.” – Matt Zoller-Seitz, RogerEbert.com

“The movie’s visual effects fall a little short… It’s a little distracting, but it doesn’t ruin the movie.” – Carla Hay, Culture Mix

“The CGI/VFX is a detriment to the film’s third act.” – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel

“There are a few times where the CGI is downright laughable.” – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

And the script?

“A lot of the jokes, scripted by Christina Hodson (from a story credited to John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, and Joby Harold) are clever, as are the winking homages to the long history of DC movies and other famous cinematic time travel stories like Back to the Future .” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

“Even despite being saddled with the baggage of the DCU’s failures, that the story that works in The Flash manages to shine through the noise is no small feat.” – Justin Clark, Slant Magazine

“The fact that the movie can withstand all of [its] diversions and still maintain a strong emotional core is a testament to the power of the script by Christina Hodson, John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein, and Joby Harold.” – Ben Pearson, Slashfilm

Is the movie too nostalgic for the past?

“While the nostalgia often threatens to marginalize the central plotline, those scenes do yield pathos as the older Barry explains the futility of all that exertion to his teenage self, forcing them both to make the most painful sacrifice in order to set the world right.” – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“It’s surrounded by so much fat, damaged by all the mistakes of DCU films past, which makes all of its appeals to nostalgia come across stilted and awkward.” – Justin Clark, Slant Magazine

Does the movie have any major issues?

“Like far too many superhero movies, The Flash gradually bogs down, devolving into rote mayhem as the protagonists go up against their mighty enemy in a chaotic clash where busy CG excess takes over from human — or humanoid — engagement.” – David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“It gets bogged down… There are so many twists and turns, and such a large cast, that even with two Barrys onscreen in a lot of scenes, the title character(s) and their motivations occasionally get lost.” – Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

“The trouble with The Flash is that as the film moves forward, it exudes less of that Back to the Future playfulness and more of that mythological but arbitrary blockbuster self-importance.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety

“The final battle overpowers you with fan-service nonsense that many casual moviegoers won’t come close to understanding.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

The Flash opens in theaters everywhere on June 16, 2023.

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‘The Flash’: A superhero at war with himself in the multiverse

If you’re sick of the multiverse, ‘The Flash’ won’t help, but star Ezra Miller delivers an intriguing double performance as two versions of the title character

In “The Flash,” the titular superhero and Justice League member who is so fast he can time travel — via something called the Chronobowl, a sort of swirling arena of temporal possibilities that he enters by, er, running really fast — attempts to return to his childhood so he can prevent the murder of his mother (Maribel Verdú). A murder that, as the film begins, his father (Ron Livingston) has been falsely accused of. It will be a simple in-and-out job. Or so Barry Allen, the Flash’s alter ego played by Ezra Miller, believes.

Barry’s world-weary mentor Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), who unlike his protégé appears to have actually seen a couple of time-travel flicks before, cautions Barry that it’s a bad idea. That’s because of the compounding impact of the butterfly effect, which holds that the smallest change made in the past — stepping on the wrong blade of grass, for instance, or causing the errant flap of a butterfly’s wing — can produce unintended consequences in the future. And it is a terrible idea, but not for the reason Bruce thinks.

It’s a bad idea because there is a more urgent need than saving Barry’s mother.

If I had a time machine, I would journey back to an era before Hollywood went completely crazy for the multiverse: before last year’s multi-Oscar-winning metaphysical mash-up “ Everywhere Everything All at Once ” and before 2018’s Oscar-winning animated feature “ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ” (which just received the sequel treatment ); before “ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ,” before “ Spider-Man: No Way Home ,” and before Disney Plus’s alternate-universe-mad Marvel spinoff series “ WandaVision ” and others. I would stop whoever set this misbegotten juggernaut in motion.

It’s not that “The Flash” or some of that other content is bad. The new film has it moments, thanks mainly to Miller, who brings a mesmerizing energy to dual roles: one their character’s relatively calm 30-ish self, the other a manic, teenage version of Barry he accidentally encounters while attempting to return to the present. The disconnect between Barry’s mature and adolescent selves, a running gag, can be amusing. But coming on the heels of the parade of similar content that we’ve been subjected to for the past several years in the world of superhero films and shows, the device cloys. To borrow the assessment of a stranger I happened to be standing next to in the men’s room after a recent press screening, “The Flash” is just the latest example of the out-of-control “multiple-meta-timeline bubble” — and it feels like it’s about to burst.

The strain is apparent. Stranded in the past, having lost his own powers and been saddled with training his tag-along younger doppelgänger — by re-creating the lightning strike that gave him his superhuman speed — Barry embarks on a mission to rectify his mistakes. It’s a mission that leads him to seek out the assistance of Bruce, who in is this particular timeline is played by Batman franchise veteran Michael Keaton — but as a long-haired, bearded recluse who has retired from the world of crime fighting, and who now looks like a graying member of a 1970s headbanger band on its 30th anniversary reunion tour. He’s not an older version of Bruce Wayne, but a completely different person. But how can this be?

As this grizzled Bruce explains to Barry — using a bowl of cooked spaghetti and several uncooked strands as a nonsensical visual aid — changing the past alters not just the future but the past as well, thanks to something called retro-causality. It’s all a bunch of hoo-ha, but it does allow for a vision of the world to coalesce in which several things are out of whack: There is no Justice League; General Zod (Michael Shannon) — the Kryptonian bad guy from 2013’s “Man of Steel” — is once again alive and intent on world domination; and in place of Superman, who never made it to Earth, there is Supergirl. Sasha Calle is a welcome presence in the role, all super-scowl and a knockout punch.

It all culminates in the kind of chaotic, epic battle sequence of which you will by now be well familiar — perhaps even sick of — one made more incoherent by the teenage Barry’s frequent sorties back into the Chronobowl to do or undo something that might set things aright. Expect numerous, gratuitous appearances by various personages from previous DC Comics film and TV content — some released and some never made — for no other reason than fan service.

At the center of all the mayhem is Miller, who has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons: criminal charges, in addition to abuse and assault allegations. It’s an all-too-easy mistake to conflate the performer with the performance. But the troubled actor, ironically, brings to their character (or, rather, characters) an intriguing sense of duality — a split personality — that offers the film’s most accessible and intriguing interpretation of the multiverse: a man at war with himself.

PG-13. At area theaters. Contains sequences of violence and action, some strong language and partial nudity. 144 minutes.

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Action/Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

June 16, 2023
Ezra Miller as Barry Allen; Michael Keaton as Batman; Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl; Ben Affleck as Batman; Michael Shannon as General Zod; Ron Livingston as Henry Allen; Kiersey Clemons as Iris West; Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen; Jeremy Irons as Alfred

Home Release Date

July 18, 2023
Andy Muschietti

Distributor

Warner Bros.

Movie Review

Pain makes us.

Beautiful days come and go, but we remember the storms. Summers on the bike or at the beach blend together, but we remember the broken promises, the fractured friendships. A thousand peaceful nights at home are dwarfed by one night at the hospital.

Our scars stand out on life’s canvas, painted deep and bold. They can define who we are, who we were and what we become. And while we’d love to erase those scars, we can’t.

But Barry Allen? Maybe he can.

Barry bears his share of scars. When he was just a kid, his mother was murdered in the family kitchen, and his father (who was picking up a can of tomatoes at the supermarket) was blamed for it. For decades, Henry Allen has been behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. As Iris (Barry’s old college pal) reminds him, he lost his mother and father on the same day.

But here’s the thing. Barry’s also The Flash. He can go fast —I mean, really fast. And as any armchair Einstein enthusiast knows, if you go really, really, really fast, time itself starts getting a little shaky. Why, in theory, Barry might be able to go back a couple of decades and erase the biggest, most important scar in his life.

Bruce Wayne—aka Batman, Barry’s Justice League compatriot—warns against meddling with time. Yeah, Bruce lost his parents too, but that loss made him the superhero he is. And that superhero’s done quite a lot of good in the world.

Plus, when you set off ripples in the past, you never know what sort of tsunami you might trigger. “You could destroy everything,” Bruce says.

But Barry’s wounds still hurt. The scars still feel deep. And the ripple he aims to create is such a teensy one. He’ll just drop one extra can of tomatoes into his mother’s grocery cart. That can of tomatoes will keep Barry’s dad from running to the store—and, hopefully, keep the killer at bay. One tiny can could save the life of Barry’s mother.

She’ll never even know he was there.

The plan works perfectly—or at least it does until an unfamiliar villain invades Barry’s little time bubble, punches him in the face and sends the plan all akimbo. Before you can say E = mc 2 , Barry meets his mom (alive), dad (not in prison) and most critically, his college-freshman-year self (kind of annoying). And as luck (fate?) would have it, he lands in a timeline on the very day that Barry’s supposed to receive his superpowers.

But this Barry isn’t in position to get those superpowers. Nor is he exactly superhero material. Nope, if Barry (the “real” Barry) hopes to A) remain the Flash, and B) escape this unfamiliar timeline, he’ll have to get Barry (the younger, giggly one) into a lab and concoct the requisite chemical bath/lightning strike that turned Barry (um, the real one?) into The Flash to begin with.

The Flash might’ve successfully erased one set of scars. But it seems that he’s creating new ones by the second.

Positive Elements

To paraphrase a popular saying, the road to problems is paved with good intentions. Barry’s intentions are really good. He wants to save his mom. He wants to save his dad. And regardless of the problems those intentions create, we gotta pat him on the back for being willing to move heaven, Earth and much of the universe in an effort to help his folks.

But Barry’s concerns go beyond his parents. He’s a superhero, after all, and we see him save plenty of people during The Flash . He rescues several infants (and a dog) from messy deaths. He pulls an aging superhero from drunken ignominy. In a flashback, we see him save a child when he was just learning how to use his superpowers.

When he and a younger Barry (we’ll just call the kid “Younger Barry” from here on out) try to rescue another superhero from a Russian prison, they find an apparently helpless young woman there instead. Barry rescues her, too—much to her surprise. And that act of selflessness helps convince this young woman (who just so happens to be Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl) that humanity’s worth saving.

Younger Barry goes through his own transformation—metamorphing from chump to superhero in just a couple of days. That transformation is far from perfect, of course. But he shows a willingness to sacrifice himself for others and put himself through an incredible amount of suffering to safeguard the ones he loves.

And let’s give props to Barry’s parents, too. Both in the unaltered timeline and in the altered one, they show their love for Barry in many different ways. Henry, even in jail, takes his wrongful imprisonment with a dose of philosophical reserve and even optimism. Perhaps it’s easier (he tells Barry) to be in prison, because that way Henry can imagine his wife’s still alive and doing well.

Spiritual Elements

We don’t see any explicit religious imagery in The Flash , but the film clearly toys with some very big, and potentially spiritual, ideas. The biggest and most obvious of the bunch is the push-pull between free will and fate.

Barry tries mightily to change his past, which he knows will change his future. And change, it seems, is possible. But the movie suggests that there are certain events that can’t be changed—no matter how hard we try. That itself may imply that there’s an unseen hand at work—an irresistible force that manipulates certain events according to its will.

So what happens when you try to resist that irresistible force? We’re meddling with the realm of God. The movie doesn’t so blatantly say it like this. But throughout Barry’s quest, there’s this sense that he’s playing with forces that shouldn’t be played with. That’s heightened in a scene that feels cribbed right from 1931’s Frankenstein (another story about playing God), where characters try to harness lightning to try to “resurrect” something gone dormant.

Sexual Content

Younger Barry spends a surprising amount of screen time running around in the buff. We see his exposed rear for several combined seconds. He’s also seen from the side and the front (though his privates are covered in these scenes by, respectively, a tambourine and a frying pan).

Barry also says, “I know sex exists; I just have never experienced it.” We see several coed college roommates, including a woman (clad only in her underwear) and her boyfriend (who shares a bed with her). Another roommate displays a tattoo on his calf while pantless, and we see his white underwear.

When Kara Zor-El is rescued, she’s wearing a hospital-style gown that ties in the back and seems to loosen a bit during a combat sequence (though nothing critical is seen).

Superhero outfits can feel particularly formfitting in The Flash . When Younger Barry puts the uniform on, he complains about it being tight, particularly in the crotch (using much more crass language). When he makes his own suit, he brags about how comfy it is around the groin. Supergirl’s suit also hugs and extenuates its wearer’s curves. Other outfits reveal some skin. A prison is compared to a scrotum.

Barry has had a longtime crush on Iris. Barry’s mom and dad embrace each other affectionately.

Violent Content

Barry’s whole character arc is dependent on an act of violence—his mother’s murder. We see part of that in flashback: She’s cradled in Henry’s arms with a knife sticking out of her abdomen, obviously bleeding badly. Henry holds the knife handle in his hand and tells Barry to call 911.

Things get significantly more violent from there.

The movie’s primary villain is the Kryptonian named Zod, who was also the big-bad from 2013’s Man of Steel . He’s out to terraform Earth into another Krypton (which, in case you didn’t know, blew up some time before), which will in turn kill all the things currently living there. We see that terraforming process cause significant havoc, with people in cities being sucked to their doom by Kryptonian devices. Barry tells us that in his native timeline, Superman stopped Zod, but only after the death of thousands. In Younger Barry’s timeline, Zod’s on the rampage “again,” with his aim to literally kill billions.

We see several versions of a battle between Zod and the movie’s heroes. People die via blades, skewers, laser blasts and explosions. A character suffers some pretty bad injuries from Kryptonian weapons, then uses those weapons (embedded in his body) against his attackers. Kryptonians are much, much harder to kill, but that doesn’t stop our heroes from trying. Fists and gadgets and energy blasts all make an appearance.

Elsewhere, Batman and the Barrys battle a bevy of Russian soldiers and guards. A Barry gets shot in the leg (we see some blood, and it’s clearly a super-painful injury). Countless other bullets are fired and might’ve found their mark without Batman’s bullet-proof cape and some nifty speed work. Batarangs and other gadgets render several combatants unconscious. Some Russians are hurled into other area codes.

In one of the film’s more realistic and wince-inducing scenes, we see Bruce Wayne stitching up a nasty, bloody gash in his bicep.

Characters are struck by lightning—an act they want to happen, but it’s still incredibly painful and life-threatening. Two characters are nearly knocked unconscious during one such strike, and one loses a tooth. (He uses super glue to glue it back into place.) Another series of strikes leaves a character’s skin charred and smoking.

An elderly man attacks the Barrys, using some impressive skills. Mops and pans and pieces of furniture are utilized during the melee.

Several people (and a dog) plunge from the window of a collapsing building, requiring quick action by a superhero. (All are saved.) A vehicle chase involves several weapons being fired, a few crashing cars and some seriously unsafe driving. A biohazard poses a massive threat to Gotham City. We hear that someone killed a baby.

Crude or Profane Language

One extremely unnecessary f-word (along with one euphemism) and more than 15 s-words. We also hear sporadic uses of “a–,” “d-ck,” “h—” and “crap.” God’s name is misused about a dozen times, and Jesus’ name is abused once.

Drug and Alcohol Content

Superheroes (plural) seem to have issues with alcohol. The most prominent is a grizzled Bruce Wayne/Batman. When the Barrys enter Wayne Manor, they discover a great many empty liquor bottles within. And when they meet the man himself, he seems a bit tipsy (though that doesn’t seem to impair his fighting skills). Another supe, clearly drunk, falls down and almost passes out in the street. That hero is willing to pawn valuable jewelry for another beer.

We see people drink wine and beer (and some of Barry’s roommates seem pretty hung over). We may hear a character make a passing reference to a drug trip.

Other Negative Elements

After The Flash pulls a character abruptly from a hail of bullets, the character vomits heavily and grotesquely. Both Barrys steal surprisingly frequently—including clothes, food, pans and beer.

The Flash may be fast, but his namesake movie took its own sweet time hitting the theaters.

The film was originally set to be released way back in 2018, believe it or not, with Ezra Miller starring as the title character. But personnel changes (including four different directors), script disagreements and Miller’s incredibly disturbing legal troubles—not to mention a little thing called COVID—delayed the film’s creation and release. Many wondered whether it’d ever see the inside of a movie theater at all.

Here’s the good news: The Flash , as a movie , is pretty good.

It’s not great . Wonder Woman still sets the bar for this incarnation of the DC Universe for me. Here, the messages are mixed, the villain in The Flash seems almost an afterthought and some elements feel a little gimmicky. But it’s pretty fun, quite clever and features the return of Michael Keaton as Batman—which, for this Bat-fan, is quite the treat in itself. Miller remains a charismatic presence on screen, and the movie does a dexterous job of moving from lighthearted hilarity to dealing with loss and grief and the pain of letting go.

But it’s also one of DC’s most problematic films, too.

The Flash doesn’t plunge into R-rated territory with abandon, as 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League did. But it flirts with near R-rated content, from its extended nude scene to its use of the f-word. It’s plenty violent as well. And despite the movie’s frequent levity, certain scenes can feel dark, oppressive and even a little hopeless. This film can seem grim —perhaps a shock for some, given that the Flash was such welcome comic relief in the original 2017 Justice League.

As the movie goes on, The Flash’ s superficial levity can rub against its increasingly bleak undercurrent. It can feel, at times , like an outgrowth of another DC character—the Joker, with its painted-on smile and darkness underneath.

The Flash is better than you’d think, and better than perhaps it has a right to be. But that doesn’t mean you should take the family out to see it in a flash.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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The Flash review: a spectacular superhero face-plant

Barry Allen runs through the Speed Force in The Flash.

“Director Andy Muschietti's The Flash doesn't just trip and fall; it lands flat on its face.”

Michael Keaton and Sasha Calle's scene-stealing performances
Horrible VFX throughout
An overstuffed, Easter egg-reliant plot
A pandering, soulless third-act climax

The Flash was, by all accounts, an extremely taxing labor of love for those involved, including director Andy Muschietti. No pleasure can be derived then from reporting that the film is, through and through, an unmitigated disaster. An overstuffed 144-minute wannabe epic that packs in more cameos, Easter eggs, and DC tie-ins than it knows what to do with, The Flash is a hollow exercise in fanboy wish fulfillment. Over the course of its runtime, the film repeatedly raises a handful of legitimately interesting ideas only to abandon them in favor of zero-calorie, nostalgia-bait moments that seem solely designed to make comic book fans scream with excitement in the theater.

No film has ever made Martin Scorsese’s characterization of superhero movies as “theme parks” seem more valid. The Flash wholeheartedly embraces all of the worst trends that currently dominate the superhero genre, including the kind of mind-numbingly bad visual effects that feel like they could only have been made by overworked and underpaid artists who weren’t given enough time to actually do their jobs. Even more distressingly, the film moves its genre closer to a form of empty spectacle that prioritizes brand logos and spandex suits over the flesh-and-blood human beings that actually bring life to the superhero genre’s characters and worlds.

Heavily inspired by the iconic Flashpoint comic book arc, The Flash picks up with its eponymous hero, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), sometime after the events of Justice League . In its opening sequence, which follows Barry as he saves an entire room of babies from the wreckage of a crumbling hospital, The Flash establishes its hero’s place as his superhero team’s go-to “janitor.” Unsurprisingly, it isn’t long before Barry has made a colossal mess of his own.

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After discovering that he has the ability to travel through time, Barry decides to go back into the past and prevent the death of his mother, Nora (Maribel Verdú), which not only permanently robbed him of one parent, but also wrongly sent his father, Henry (Ron Livingston), to prison. In doing so, Barry creates a new reality, one in which an alternate version of himself got to grow up without knowing what it was like to ostensibly lose both of his parents. While he doesn’t realize it at first, Barry’s actions have a number of other ripple effects.

Throughout The Flash ’s second act, Barry discovers that his time-traveling decisions have resulted in Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne being replaced by Michael Keaton’s, Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry (aka Aquaman) never being born, and Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Sasha Calle) arriving on Earth instead of her cousin, Kal-El (Henry Cavill). These changes give The Flash a chance to experiment with the DCEU’s existing canon, honor some of Warner Bros.’ past titles, and even incorporate plot elements and characters from Man of Steel . Michael Shannon, notably, reprises his role as General Zod, whose 2013 invasion of Earth emerges as a potentially even more catastrophic event in Barry’s new timeline than it was in Man of Steel .

The Flash ’s script, which was penned by Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson, zooms through all of its various multiversal twists at such an admirably fast pace that the film is never slowed down too much by any of its game-changing revelations. Hodson, for her part, brings the same zany, slightly manic sense of humor to The Flash that she did to Birds of Prey , though, Muschietti and Ezra Miller don’t prove to be quite as adept at handling it as Cathy Yan and Margot Robbie. Not even The Flash ’s brightest moments of wit and fun are able to make up for its many missteps, either.

There are multiple moments throughout the film in which characters are rendered with the kind of unconvincing CGI that makes them look more like globs of poorly molded Play-Doh than living, breathing human beings. In case its repeated references to the director’s Back to the Future movies weren’t enough, the film often unintentionally occupies the same unnerving, uncanny valley space as many of Robert Zemeckis’ live-action-animation hybrids (see: The Polar Express , A Christmas Carol ). Its consistently lacking visual effects make many of the film’s action sequences legitimately hard to watch and cover The Flash in a layer of visual cheapness that doesn’t reflect its reported $200 million budget.

The lackluster nature of The Flash ’s visual execution robs its better moments of the weight they might have otherwise had. Many of Barry’s emotional breakthroughs regarding his relationship with his mother and the immutability of the past, for instance, are hampered by the fact that they often take place in unconvincingly realized CGI environments. Muschietti, meanwhile, brings the same disconcertingly flippant, unearned comedic tone to much of The Flash ’s violence and chaos that he did in 2019’s It: Chapter 2 , which only makes it all the more difficult to actually get invested in its arena-sized superhero set pieces.

On-screen, their real-life actions over the past few years make it inevitably impossible to get lost in Miller’s dueling lead performances in The Flash . That’s a shame, especially considering that The Flash ’s most impressive VFX lie in how seamlessly it manages to make you believe that there are two versions of Miller’s Barry sharing the same physical space throughout most of its second and third acts. Miller’s performances ultimately reflect the unevenness of The Flash , alternately coming across as gratingly over-the-top and emotionally authentic to their character. As a result, the actors who leave the biggest impressions in The Flash are Calle and Keaton.

Calle isn’t given as much to do in the film as she should have been, but her Supergirl makes for a formidable counter to Shannon’s Zod and both versions of Miller’s Barry. While his role in The Flash is a fairly straightforward example of stunt casting, Keaton nonetheless turns in a surprisingly nuanced, understated performance as an updated version of his Bruce Wayne, who has only grown more introspective and interior in the years since viewers last saw him. The overexuberance of The Flash ’s plot and its star’s lead performances only make Keaton’s purposefully unshowy turn stand out even more.

Unfortunately, both Keaton and Calle are eventually discarded in The Flash ’s third act when the film makes a handful of decisions that are not only shameless instances of fan service, but also morally and creatively abhorrent. In its intended ending, The Flash ditches whatever humanity was present in its story in order to deliver a series of ghoulish moments that feel more like the signs of a forthcoming creative apocalypse than they do celebrations of DC’s cinematic history. After so many years of waiting, it’s a shame that The Flash ultimately goes where it does. Whether it was brought down by its own creative team’s decisions or orders from certain studio executives is unclear. What isn’t is just how violently The Flash cuts itself off at the knees. It isn’t so much a victory lap for the DCEU as it is a massive, multiversal face-plant.

The Flash is now playing in theaters. For more Flash content, check out is the Flash movie streaming? , does The Flash have a post-credits scene? , 10 interesting facts about The Flash movie , and the 5 Flash villains you need to know .

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San Diego Comic-Con 2023 was a quieter affair than usual. Because studios refuse to pay their actors and writers what they deserve, the ongoing SAG/AFTRA and WGA strikes continue, halting most ongoing productions and preventing talent from promoting their current or upcoming projects. Still, Comic-Con weathered the storm by pivoting back to its original raison d'etre: comic books. That's not to say a few movies and shows didn't make the cut, although the focus was firmly away from Hollywood and back into print.

Comic-Con was once the pinnacle of pop culture; alas, it has lost some of its luster, especially after the pandemic and amidst an increasingly erratic entertainment industry. The 2023 iteration didn't do much to return it to its once mighty place, but it provided enough interesting announcements to keep it in the conversation, at least until next year. And although only a handful of intriguing announcements came out of Comic-Con 2023, they are exciting enough to keep fans invested in the long-running and revered convention. Watchmen

The Flash actor Ezra Miller has been at the center of many shocking controversies in the past few years. Even though they have spent the last year seeking treatment for their mental health issues, many fans are still pushing for someone else to play the Fastest Man Alive going forward.

Given that James Gunn is going to reboot the DC Universe following The Flash, now seems like the perfect time to seamlessly introduce a new actor as the Scarlet Speedster. If the studio does decide to let Miller go, these five actors should be considered to play the new Flash. George MacKay

The Flash is now out in movie theaters, but much of the interest surrounding the DC film is for the return of Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight. The actor's turn as Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 film has grown to legendary status within pop culture fandom over the past few decades. Now, Keaton's Batman has a chance to tangle with other DC characters outside of his domain in Gotham City for the first time.

At the core of this explosive and thrilling adventure is a thematic concoction of grief, regret, and the consequences of living in the past. Barry Allen has been gifted with a marvelous ability, one that has enabled him to save the world from Steppenwolf alongside the Justice League. But unlike the colorful cut-outs of superheroes that emerged in the middle of the 20th Century, Barry as the Flash is shown to be far more human than a typical champion among humankind. His grief leads him to use his power in an act of self-service as he travels back in time to save his mom from certain death when he was still a young boy -- a choice many of us would never really blame him for. Still, the consequences of an altered timeline and, subsequently, reality are egregious. There's plenty of influence that went into the making of this film from the lore contained within the pages of DC comics. If you can't get enough of The Flash after the credits roll, then we've got some recommended reading in mind for you. Flashpoint (2011)

The Flash (I) (2023)

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Intense, long superhero adventure explores loss, teamwork.

The Flash Movie Poster: Close-up of a man in a red helmet, with "The Flash" written across his chest

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The biggest messages are about importance of team-

Barry and Batman (in any timeline) are selfless an

Most main characters are White (Ezra Miller, Ben A

Several different forms of violence, including the

While holding the Lasso of Truth, Barry says he un

One prominently featured (but humorously deployed)

On screen: Mercedes, BMW, iPhone, Apple, Mac, Puma

Adults drink occasionally (wine or beer). A charac

Positive Messages

The biggest messages are about importance of team-building and working with others for the greater good, plus recognizing when you must let go/sacrifice a personal desire for the sake of the common good. Barry is shown (both by his younger self and the alternate Batman) how to come to terms with the fixed moments in time that he can't change and why the totality of people's childhoods and pasts, including their pain and trauma, inform who they become. The power of rescuing those who are defenseless/innocent, regardless of their background (or even whether they're human), is also a message. Themes of courage, self-control, perseverance, and teamwork.

Positive Role Models

Barry and Batman (in any timeline) are selfless and brave, but they also have to learn to communicate, to work together to highlight each other's strengths, to defer to one another depending on circumstances. Kara Zor-El is a strong role model who's willing to fight for humanity after being saved by Barry and Batman. Both Barrys have to come to terms with their limitations and how their superpower has the ability to save -- but also to destroy.

Diverse Representations

Most main characters are White (Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, etc.), and most are men. Lead actor Miller is nonbinary and plays a male character. Two female superheroes: Wonder Woman (Israeli actor Gal Gadot, briefly seen), and, more prominently, Supergirl/Kara Zor-El (Sasha Calle, who is of Colombian descent). Barry's mother is a White Spanish-speaking woman (her nationality is unnamed, but actress Maribel Verdú is from Spain). Barry's love interest is Iris West (Kiersey Clemons), a Black reporter with a small but important supporting role.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Several different forms of violence, including the disturbing recollection of Barry's childhood trauma: his mother's death from a fatal stab wound, his innocent father going to prison for it. Batman and The Flash engage armed thieves in a tank in a street pursuit that leads to explosions, injuries, and presumed deaths (fairly high body count). At one point, The Flash has to save several newborn babies and their nurse, who've fallen from a high-rise hospital that's crumbling into a sinkhole. Although they all survive (as does a therapy dog that also fell), it's a tense scene. A mysterious villain throws Barry out of his known timeline into an alternate universe, wreaking havoc on the timelines and forcing Barry to relive Zod's invasion of Earth. Barry, Barry, and Batman use their combined forces to rescue a Kryptonian being who's tortured and starved by the Russians, leading to a huge shoot-out and multiple injuries/deaths. Other large-scale violent scenes similarly involve a battle between the Justice League forces and evil aliens (Zod's lackeys). (Potential spoiler alert !) Heartbreaking scenes involving Barry and his alternate Barry and Barry and his mother at the end of the movie.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

While holding the Lasso of Truth, Barry says he understands what sex is but has never had it. He's interested in Iris, but they don't do more than briefly have a beer together. The alternate-timeline Barry has an obvious crush on Kara. Wonder Woman and Batman stare at each other lingeringly. Nonsexual partial nudity in a sequence when the second Barry realizes that using superspeed can leave him naked. His entire torso, legs, sides, and butt are visible. He covers up his genitals with cookware, hands, etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

One prominently featured (but humorously deployed) "Who the f--k is this?"; frequent use of "s--t," plus "d--k," "bats--t," "big scrotum," and more.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

On screen: Mercedes, BMW, iPhone, Apple, Mac, Puma shoes, Twinkies, Kikkoman soy sauce. Off-camera merchandising includes apparel, games, toys, etc.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults drink occasionally (wine or beer). A character does a shot of unspecified liquor at a bar.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Flash is part of the DC Extended Universe and is based loosely on the comic Flashpoint , when Barry Allen/The Flash ( Ezra Miller ) travels into the past of an alternate timeline to prevent his mother's death. That decision wreaks timeline havoc, so Barry must work with his alternate younger self, as well as other members of the Justice League who exist in that timeline, to fix it. Expect lots of comic book-style action violence, including explosions, military-grade weapons, lethal alien technology, and, of course, Bruce Wayne/Batman's cache of high-tech vehicles, weapons, and gadgets. The body count is fairly high. The movie also explores mature themes about how trauma and the past shape people and shouldn't be tampered with. Language is occasionally strong, with "s--t" used the most frequently, plus "d--k" and one humorously deployed "f--k." There's not much romance, though it's clear Barry is interested in Iris West (Kiersey Clemons), and two other characters briefly make eyes at each other. Nonsexual partial nudity includes a funny sequence in which the second, younger Barry realizes that using superspeed will cause his clothes to fall off, leaving him naked in public spaces. He uses his hands and other available accessories to cover his genitals while his torso, side, and buttocks are visible. Characters drink occasionally. The movie's biggest messages are about the importance of team-building and working with others for the greater good, as well as recognizing when you must let go/sacrifice a personal desire for the sake of that good. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

Parents say (15)
Kids say (16)

Based on 15 parent reviews

Traumatizing says a 9 year old

Best dc movie i've watched in my opinion, what's the story.

THE FLASH begins with The Flash/Barry Allen ( Ezra Miller ) helping Batman/Bruce Wayne ( Ben Affleck ) with a catastrophic situation at a hospital and feeling like the "janitor of the Justice League." Eventually, Barry has an epiphany: He should use his superspeed to revisit the past and stop his beloved mother's death. But when he does that and then returns to the future, he ends up in an alternate timeline where another, much less awkward and more laid-back version of him exists and is still 18. While in this alternate timeline, the original Barry realizes that a familiar villain poses a threat to the other Barry's world, so he trains the younger Barry and then sets out to convince that timeline's Batman (a considerably older and retired version played by Michael Keaton ), to join their cause. Together, the three attempt to find Superman but run into even more complications.

Is It Any Good?

This time-traveling, nostalgia-filled adaptation of Flashpoint is entertaining and benefits from Keaton's standout supporting performance. The two Barrys are amusing to watch, particularly because the original Barry is fairly socially awkward, while the younger Barry is somewhat spoiled and easygoing (having not been burdened by his mother's death and father's subsequent false imprisonment). The two develop a surprising chemistry as they try to track down Batman and Superman and do something that seems impossible. Three memorable female cast members also offer impactful supporting performances: Kiersey Clemons as Iris West; Maribel Verdu as Barry's mother, Nora Allen; and newcomer Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El (aka Supergirl). But this is definitely the story of the two Barrys -- and, later, their camaraderie with Batman.

Andy Muschietti directs, based on Christina Hudson's script, which ramps up the pop-culture references and nostalgic bits. There are several jokes about how the original Barry's time travel has created a world in which all of the Brat Pack actors swapped signature movie roles. Keaton's appearance is also nostalgic, of course, and there are a host of Easter eggs and cameos that will make audiences either applaud, laugh, or roll their eyes, depending on how they feel about the sentimentality of the sequence. While Miller's two roles complement each other, it's difficult to talk about the actor without acknowledging the many accusations and criminal allegations that have been made against them. The DC Extended Universe is reportedly not going to recast the role, even though all the time travel makes the Flash an easy character to consider for that strategy. And a few of the scenes are a bit cringey to watch given the nature of the charges against Miller, but ultimately they're largely outshined by the movie's crowd-pleasing elements.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the popularity of superhero movies like The Flash . Why do you think these larger-than-life comic book characters so often enthrall viewers?

Discuss the prevalence of superhero movies featuring multiverses and alternate timelines. What are the advantages and limitations of time paradoxes?

Do you consider Barry or any of the other Justice League members to be role models ? How do they demonstrate character strengths like teamwork and courage ? What do they learn over the course of the movie?

Do you prefer individual superhero stories or team-based adventures? What are the pros and cons of an ensemble movie?

Has the news about star Ezra Miller's arrests, allegations, and mental health impacted your thoughts about this movie? When and why should an actor, filmmaker, or artist's personal life affect the audience's treatment of their art?

Movie Details

In theaters : June 16, 2023
On DVD or streaming : November 14, 2023
Cast : Ezra Miller , Sasha Calle , Michael Shannon
Director : Andy Muschietti
Inclusion Information : Non-Binary actors, Queer actors, Female actors, Latino actors, Female writers, Asian writers
Studio : Warner Bros.
Genre : Action/Adventure
Topics : Superheroes , Friendship
Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
Run time : 144 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : sequences of violence and action, some strong language and partial nudity
Last updated : May 15, 2024

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The Flash (2023) Review

A paradoxical punch of star power.

With DC’s extended universe being mostly fractured and disjointed due to years of playing catch up, directorial differences, reboots and other behind-the-scenes shenanigans, it is fitting that The Flash (2023) with Andy Muschietti at the helm, adapts arguably one of the Flash’s greatest stories for the speedster’s return to the silver screen. Of course, I’m referring to the Flashpoint Paradox , which has already been adapted into an excellent animated film with 2013’s Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.

The Flash (2023) loosely follows the events of that comic and movie while making sure to put its own spin on things. Taking place sometime after the events of the Justice League (2017) , The Flash opens with a somewhat disillusioned Barry Allen ( Ezra Miller ) as he is seen juggling between his duties as the titular hero and his day job as a forensic investigator.

After a rather fun scene during the first 30 minutes of the film, in which the audience gets to witness The Flash doing his thing in an elaborate slow-motion sequence set against the harrowing backdrop of a crumbling hospital. The Flash shows off its use of time-freezing prowess in a manner similar to some of the scenes featured in Wonder Woman (2017) while contextually actually making sense and aligning with the character’s skill set.

From here, we get some time to learn more about Barry’s past, as the character is seen talking to his father (Ron Livingston) on the phone, who is currently incarcerated for allegedly killing his wife and Barry’s mother (Maribel Verdú). Naturally, this sets up the film’s impetus as Barry soon after decides to go back into his own past in the hopes of saving his mom in a way that doesn’t ripple out of control.

Despite heeding Bruce’s words (Ben Affleck) and carefully altering past events, things go awry. Barry finds himself in an alternate timeline where he must contend with and teach a younger version of himself the ropes of being the Flash, while simultaneously facing the looming threat of Zod in a world without Superman (or most of the other Justice League, for that matter).

“… The Flash delivers a fun movie that should keep audiences entertained despite your familiarity with the titular hero.”

With recent Marvel movies fully embracing the craziness of alternate realities and universes, DC doesn’t let this opportunity slip by and uses Barry’s powers as the Flash to pay homage to not only Michael Keaton’s Batman, who replaces Affleck for most of the remainder of the film, but also DC’s past as a whole, including a few surprises I won’t get into, which at times, unfortunately, does feel a little forced but ultimately does more good than harm as far as the bigger picture is concerned.

If there is one thing The Flash (2023) does exceedingly well, it is its ability to not only do the Flashpoint Paradox story in a fun and exciting way that makes sense for the DCEU but do it in a way that catches the audience up to speed who may not entirely be familiar with Barry or The Flash .

Similarly, The Flash (2023) does a good job of balancing its humour with some of its more sombre moments without anything ever feeling cringe-inducing or melodramatic. This point is particularly true with scenes that feature both past and present Barry Allen on screen, with Ezra Miller doing his best Ted impression for the younger Flash, ala 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure , that somehow manages not to overstay its welcome.

Sasha Calle as SuperGirl is an interesting choice for the character that I wasn’t sure of before watching the movie, but now I can safely say that her performance feels like a breath of fresh air for the character and fits with the slightly off-kilter atmosphere The Flash (2023) tries to portray in its deep dive into alternate realities.

One area that The Flash (2023) sadly flounders is its use of CGI, which sometimes can be distractingly bad, mainly when characters are in the full frame against computer-generated backgrounds, taking away from the immersion. Ultimately, however, The Flash delivers a fun movie that should keep audiences entertained despite your familiarity with the titular hero.

Final Thoughts

Zubi’s been gaming since the 16-bit era but really fell in love with it after discovering the RPG genre. Outside of RPGs he also enjoys everything from platformers to VR vomit enducers, just as long as the visuals catch his eye. When not writing about games, Zubi enjoys drawing and buying games he will never get around to playing

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Movie Review – The Flash (2023)

June 14, 2023 by Robert Kojder

The Flash , 2023.

Directed by Andy Muschietti. Starring Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons, Antje Traue, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Ian Loh, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rudy Mancuso, Luke Brandon Field, Gal Gadot, and Jeremy Irons.

Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without superheroes, forcing him to race for his life to save the future.

Warner Bros. canceled and destroyed Batgirl because the film’s quality supposedly wasn’t up to standards, but the executives have the nerve to finish off this version of the DCEU by releasing hot messes like Black Adam and now the slightly less terrible The Flash . To clarify, that doesn’t mean I feel that this film should have been shelved due to star Ezra Miller’s highly problematic real-life behavior, which they have sought mental help to correct. No, it should have been canned because it doesn’t add anything useful to a dead cinematic universe. This time-traveling, multi-verse hopping tale is meant to reset the DCEU, but the reset button is apparently broken beyond repair. Beyond that, its only purpose is to profit from anyone who will gobble up the embarrassing nostalgia-pandering.

There was no way a blockbuster featuring the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman was getting banished into nonexistence, regardless of how lousy the movie turned out. That part is understood. However, while watching The Flash , what little here that does work comes from Ezra Miller working overtime in dual roles to elicit an emotional response, playing polar opposite versions of Barry Allen/the titular time-manipulating superhero. He messes around with the Speed Force, rewinding time to his childhood in an attempt to prevent his mother from being murdered. Everything else is white noise fan service that doesn’t register as anything beyond pointless action devoid of character-driven stakes, filled with horrendous CGI (an early scene sees The Flash slowing down time and saving CGI babies falling from towering heights outside the windows of a collapsed building, and while it’s a clever idea, it is scarring in execution).

The story is right there for director Andy Muschietti and screenwriter Christina Hodson (Joby Harold also receives a screen story credit): a piece about tormented boys who went on to become superheroes, juxtaposed and imparting wisdom on one another. Michael Keaton can’t do much fighting anymore, but he can still put on the suit and act. The filmmakers don’t care about that side of him; he is thrust into the chaotic CGI mess, sticking out like a sore thumb, entirely misused. Perhaps it would be less jarring if the screenplay actually gave a damn about doing something with Bruce Wayne/Batman as a character. Instead, he startlingly knows a wealth of knowledge about multiverse rules, coming across as a plot device for the two Barrys to accomplish their goals.

Each Barry is played by Ezra Miller, as the version we know from Justice League is not only still looking for a way to prove his father’s (Ron Livingston) innocence in a court of law. The man was found guilty of murdering Barry’s mom, and the evidence absolving him isn’t clear enough. Deeply missing his mother, Barry ignores his universe’s Batman’s (Ben Affleck) insistence upon not messing with timelines and alternate universes, traveling back under the impression that if he changes that fateful day without directly interacting with his mom, all will be fine. These early scenes are easily the strongest in the movie, with director Andy Muschietti smartly weaving Barry’s superspeed abilities into moving dialogue exchanges. Before his imprisoned father hangs up the phone, he warps outside his childhood home for thoughtful, emotional gravitas.

Naturally, there are now two of him, with Justice League Barry encountering a version of himself that still has his mom and didn’t become a superhero, but rather a dimwitted slacker who, at times, is dumber than both Beavis and Butthead, also equipped with a grating laugh. This Barry is meant to be annoying and clueless, but one can’t help feeling that the filmmakers occasionally take it too far, to a point where the character and movie themselves become irritating. There is a fascinating dynamic here, somewhat asking what would happen if the most irresponsible version of someone became a superhero (they end up swapping powers while trying to fix the universe), which turns out to be something else the narrative never finds a way to tap into meaningfully. However, their interactions are admittedly funny sometimes.

Meanwhile, there is the invasion of Man of Steel ‘s General Zod (Michael Shannon, who clearly couldn’t give the tiniest shit about being here, and no one can blame him), now in a universe with no Superman or Justice League to defend them against the alien threat. But it does have Michael Keaton’s Batman, hence the teaming up. There also appears to be a Superman captured and locked away in Russia, of all places, that the two Barrys and Batman set off to rescue, desperately hoping she will protect the world. This turns out to be Supergirl, played by Sasha Calle, who owns the role and rises above the dodgy special effects during her flashy fight scenes. Unfortunately, she is another dull character outside of that.

Man of Steel has a thrilling, all-timer showdown, so the proposition of redoing that with Supergirl is tantalizing but doesn’t work here, considering the lame build-up. When Henry Cavill’s Superman destroyed Zod’s terraforming device, Michael Shannon acted, delivering a terrifying facial expression of a being with nothing left to lose, kickstarting the one-on-one carnage. The epicness of that fight was palpable. Here, the final battle is an assemblage of CGI carnage with no emotional stakes for anyone besides the two Barrys. But by then, The Flash has gone and tried to cram in and do so much, simultaneously not doing enough, that even that is not as impactful as it should be.

Then there is The Flash ‘s central theme, which couldn’t have been rehashed at a worse time in the cinematic landscape. Whereas Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse tackles origin stories and trauma from refreshing angles, the narrative here goes along with genre clichés that have made these stories tiresome. Ezra Miller is the only decent aspect The Flash has going for it, and I shudder to think how awful the movie would be without them. They are stuck with the impossible task of finding and conveying substance within nostalgia bait that fails every other character and the bigger-picture narrative.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd , or email me at [email protected]

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'The Flash' gets lost in the multiverse — but at least Michael Keaton's Batman exists there

“I’m Batman.”

Michael Keaton uttering that iconic line is one of the best things about “The Flash.”

It’s also one of the worst — or at least signals one of the film’s biggest weaknesses.

This is not because it isn’t a great moment. It is. Keaton’s Batman introducing himself to a criminal in Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman” established him as the best ever in the role.

His reprising it here was a fitting and powerful callback.

Everyone knows the line is coming — it was in a Super Bowl commercial earlier this year. And when it happens in the film, Keaton delivers. (The audience at the screening I attended cheered. Maybe, ahem, so did I.)

Are these the 100 greatest movies ever? See if you agree with this Arizona author's picks

One problem is that the movie is 'The Flash,' not 'Batman'

The problem is the movie isn’t called “Batman.” And the Keaton callback is just one of a laundry list of them. So many, in fact, that they overwhelm the narrative. You pay a lot more attention to the cool stuff than the plot development.

The callbacks and self-referential elements are part and parcel of any superhero franchise involving the multiverse — which is basically all of them now. The notion of several universes existing at one time can be intriguing, as it is in “ Everything Everywhere All at Once .” Or it can be a storytelling shortcut, like when Marvel killed off half its heroes and brought them back because, well, because.

Here it falls somewhere in-between.

What is the plot of 'The Flash?'

When the film begins, Barry Allen, also known as the Flash when he’s suited up, is tired.

(Note: Ezra Miller, who plays Barry/Flash, has legal problems that are well documented, relating to disturbing accusations. Whether they should be in the film or whether you should support the film because they are in it is up to you. For what it’s worth, they are outstanding. But that forgives nothing.)

He’s tired because his blood sugar is dipping and he’s tired of being the glorified janitor of the Justice League — and he usually ends up cleaning Batman’s messes, he complains to Alfred (Jeremy Irons), Bruce Wayne’s trusty butler.

Batman — played by Ben Affleck in this universe — is saving the world, so the Flash has to save a hospital. It’s a funny scene, wholly implausible, which seems like an odd complaint in a movie involving several universes. Still, it’s more like a CGI display than anything else.

Once that’s done, Barry prepares for his dad’s hearing the next day. His father (Ron Livingston), you may recall, was convicted of murdering Barry’s mom (Maribel Verdú). When his father had to go to the store to get a can of tomatoes, the murder happened. Barry has been fighting for his innocence ever since.

What if, Barry thinks aloud, he can run faster than the speed of light and thus go back in time and change things? Bruce warns him against it — the Butterfly effect and all that — but Barry believes if he just puts the can of tomatoes in his mom’s shopping cart, all will be well.

Has he ever seen a science-fiction movie?

A crime inspired Tammy Leitner's book: Surviving trauma became its message

I'm sick of multiverse do-overs, of which, 'The Flash' has many

It goes well at first. But it turns out Barry hasn’t gone back — he’s gone to a different dimension. And soon the Barry who lives there comes home to join his parents for dinner, at the table where the Barry we know is sitting.

Meanwhile, General Zod (Michael Shannon, woefully underused) is threatening Earth, as he did in a previous film. That resulted in thousands of deaths, which haunt Batman. But in this world, Superman and Wonder Woman and the rest aren’t around. Batman is, however, but he’s been missing from the public eye for a while. So the two Barrys set out to find him, to prevent a similar disaster from happening in this world.

They do, of course, and in this world he’s Keaton. They then travel together to Russia where they think Superman is being held; instead, it’s Supergirl (Sasha Calle). They stand against Zod in one of those mind-numbing battle sequences seemingly required of the genre.

Only this one has do-overs, thanks to the multiverse. But is that a good idea? I repeat: have you ever seen a science-fiction movie?

Logic devolves, cameos abound — there are two that are truly inspired, one of which involves legendary recasting — and lessons are learned.

The cameos are the best thing about 'The Flash'

Director Andy Muschietti (the “It” movies) juggles a lot of balls and a lot of intellectual property.

Miller has really good chemistry with, well, Miller. Calle’s role is somewhat thankless. Keaton is, of course, the big draw for anyone old enough to remember Burton’s “Batman.” The action is hit or miss, and the humor lands in a lot of scenes.

But there is so much, and not all of it drives the story. Instead, as you’re laughing and nodding in approval at a genuinely excellent casting in-joke you stop and think, wait, what’s going on here again? What is the crisis they’re trying to solve? Oh right, save parents, save the world, that’s it.

Maybe it’s more streamlined in a different universe. That’s the version I’d like to see.

'The Flash' 3.5 stars

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: Andy Muschietti.

Cast: Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle.

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some strong language and partial nudity.

How to watch: In theaters Friday, June 16.

Reach Goodykoontz at [email protected] . Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm . Twitter: @goodyk .

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The Flash (2023) Movie Review – A bloated, tonally conflicted and narratively woeful mess

A bloated, tonally conflicted and narratively woeful mess

The Flash was announced 10 years ago and a lot has changed since then. This film has been in production hell for a long time, sporting a revolving door of directors (along with even more that rejected taking the reigns), numerous script re-writes, release dates pushed back and ballooning budgets hitting upwards of over $300 million. And that’s before James Gunn’s announcement that all DC material right now mean nothing as it’s all being rebooted. Phew!

So with all that in mind, is The Flash worth the wait? Does it deliver what some are calling “the greatest superhero movie of all time”? Well… not really. The film isn’t outright terrible like something akin to Catwoman, but when your CW show tackling your titular character’s origin story does so with more panache and emotion, not to mention better CGI on a much tighter budget, then you’re in trouble. Oh, and Grant Gustin is a much better fit for Barry Allen too.

The story very, very loosely adapts the Flashpoint story from The Flash comics, but ultimately it uses nostalgia as bait to hide a lot of the flaws with this film – and there are a lot. Before we reach the atrocious CGI (which is, according to the Director, a “deliberate choice”) it’s worth exploring the story itself.

After an early action sequence, that includes Barry Allen saving a hospital and a whole bunch of CGI babies, he discovers that he can actually turn back time by running at super speed. Still haunted by the death of his mother, which his father was framed for with little evidence to exonerate him, Barry decides to turn back time and save his mum and stop her from being killed, inevitably saving his father in the process from his fate.

As a result of all this, Allen’s attempts end in disaster, as he creates a world without super heroes. The only trouble is, Zod is about to touch down on Earth, ready to cause absolute chaos. With time of the essence, Barry Allen heads back home and runs into his younger, more annoying self, and together they set out to save the future and right the wrongs inflicted by the older Allen.

The first hour or so moves at a snail pace, and if you thought one Ezra Miller was annoying, wait until you see two on screen. The pair are insufferably grating and the attempts at injecting Marvel-esque low-brow humour just does not work. It’s something that feels at odds with the narrative, which is largely serious and tackles yet another multiversal threat.

This ultimately stems back to the script itself, which is a tonal mess. There are moments here that are genuinely sentimental and very serious, but then they’re undercut with numerous crotch jokes or little physical gags to try and lighten the mood. Michael Keaton’s Batman does go some way to salvage the film, but he’s still a side character to Ezra’s two Flashes, who only really hit the right emotional buttons during the end of the movie during a pivotal moment in time.

But even beyond the narrative woes, the CGI in this film is bad. Like, really bad. Some people exaggerate when they say this but honestly, some of the scenes felt like rejected moments from The Scorpion King. The physics for a lot of these sequences are completely off-kilter too, with the rubbery feel of this being completely fake and springy, rather than the grounded, gritty feel of something like Man of Steel. Given the budget this film plays with, it feels absolutely inexcusable.

Those going into this expecting a lot of cameos will probably enjoy what’s here but unlike something akin to No Way Home, where each character compliments the narrative or does something to help our protagonists, The Flash cheapens everything by having different people just staring off into the distance in silence. It’s basically the “flashback store” in Multiverse of Madness all over again.

While this isn’t the worst superhero film ever created (Catwoman has re-entered the chat), it’s not a particularly good one either. In fact, it’s below average at best. It’s a bloated, tonally conflicted and narratively woeful mess that’s as much a disaster on-screen as it is behind the scenes. Skip this one.

Feel free to check out more of our movie reviews here!

Verdict - 4/10 4/10

4 thoughts on “The Flash (2023) Movie Review – A bloated, tonally conflicted and narratively woeful mess”

I don’t know about you, but I am a Marvel fan and I loved this one! My son definitely enjoyed the quirky moments of Barry Allen. Yes he was a bit too irreverent, but hey, that’s the character. Yes, this review is below the belt in my own opinion. Good points on some aspects of the movie, but definitely boarding on hating on the movie in general. IMO. thanks!

people like Scorp and AJ obviously dont know what a good movie is, and probibly think Catwoman is better than Wonderwoman because they like their movies stupid and with no logic or reason or nuance, which .perhaps explains their useless reviews as triggered Fanboys. This movie IS crap and IS garbage, from the annoying lead actor, the boring story, and atrocious CGI. As the reviewer said, ignore oh and ignore the fanboys as well, they don’t know good cinema even if it hit them on their acne-peppered faces.

There is nothing wrong with this movie at all….your obviously a dc hater lol … I really think the critics need to start getting reviewed .. most of them are just sarcastic fools trying to out do each other … it’s just a bunch of rambled sarcasm nonsense with no intellectual input … just like your review Garbage …

Your review sucks but that’s YOUR opinion. It’s certainly better than the latest Marvel films and I’ve always looked down on DC. The Flash is actually better than Zach Snyder’s Justice League.

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Den of Geek

The Flash Spoilers: Ending, Deaths, Cameos, and the DCU’s Future

The Flash has some of the biggest fan service in the superhero movie genre, yet the ending reaches for something deeper.

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Michael Keaton and Ezra Miller in The Flash

This article contains major spoilers for The Flash .

Ever since Ezra Miller’s The Flash was briefly retitled Flashpoint in the late 2010s, there has been a lot of expectation (and desperation?) from Warner Bros. Pictures. Could this mark a fresh start—a chance for Miller’s speedster to travel back to the past and, in so doing, accidentally reset the DC Extended Universe into something a little more pleasing for fans and studio executives alike?

That calculus has of course changed multiple times over the years, and in the interim, The Flash began to look less like a clean slate than it did a last hurrah. Instead of a pivot, the film could very well be a wake, a eulogy, and a fond farewell to 10 years of erratic DCEU storytelling. Going in, you might even think the movie will be nothing but a fan service smorgasbord, with Michael Keaton ’s Batman as the main course.

To be sure, the ending of The Flash is stuffed with easter eggs , winks, nods, and asides. Nonetheless, director Andy Muschietti reaches for something a little meatier and more emotional than you might expect. Does it work? It’s debatable, but here is what the movie’s biggest swings at the end are supposed to mean—as well as where it and its many cameos leave the DC Universe going forward.

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The Flash Ending and Deaths

In terms of science fiction storytelling, the grand finale to The Flash is both the most ambitious sequence of the film and the most uneven. Before the third act, Muschietti’s film had settled into a nice rhythm that plays a lot like a Back to the Future sequel. The film isn’t coy about this either, with Miller’s older Barry telling his younger, teenage self (also Miller) that their interaction is like something out of Back to the Future Part II (1989). This bit of self-awareness is also smartly used as the first sign that Barry changed more than his personal history. For as he soon learns, he now lives in a world where Eric Stoltz played Marty McFly!

As anyone who’s ever read time travel fiction knows, you cannot change the past without it having a butterfly effect. And The Flash further escalates this idea by suggesting that time is not linear. So by changing one moment in the past, it has affected everything in both directions. Hence Michael Keaton now being Batman even though his age does not match the Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) whom Barry the Older remembers.

Keaton’s Batman explains all this in his first scene, taking on a bit of a Doc Brown role. From there the movie generally grooves pretty well with the Barrys and Bruce figuring out how much things have changed… and realizing they need to assemble a team to fight General Zod (Michael Shannon) after the supervillain of Man of Steel (2013) arrives to terraform the earth like he did in the first DCEU film.

Thus the middle of the movie is both BTTF II and building a low-rent version of the Justice League, with two Flashes, a baby boomer Batman (did you hear those jams he was playing in the mansion when Barry showed up?) and Kara Zor-El (Saha Calle), the cousin of an absent Man of Steel in the new timeline. Thus at a glance, the ending of the movie looks like it’s going to be a standard heroes vs. villains showdown.

Yet that’s not how it plays out. In fact, things start going sideways when we learn about the movie’s first and only major deaths : Batman and Supergirl.

Again and again, they die. The first time it occurs, it looks like Zod got a lucky cheap shot on Kara, stabbing her in the belly after she thought she’d beaten him. Meanwhile Keaton’s Batman dies in a fiery explosion in the Batplane. So the two Barrys attempt to fix the mess the same way that Barry the Older created the larger mess in the first place; they reverse time using the Speed Force.

Even so, the good guys die again. Supergirl has her throat slit by Zod, and Batman has a Kryptonian giant smash his organs in. It’s at this point that things click for Barry the Older. Some things in time are immutable—or “canon events” as Spider-Man: Across the Universe more elegantly explained several weeks ago. Just as there apparently will always be a Bruce Wayne/Batman (though his age and appearance might change) in the multiverse, for whatever narrative reason, Zod is destined to win against Justice League 2.0 and conquer the Earth.

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Now we’d suggest there is a glaring plot hole in this, what with Superman (Henry Cavill) defeating this version of Zod and this exact same invasion all by himself in 2013. Ergo, this is not a canon event. But for the purposes of The Flash , it is perceived as one, with Barry the Older realizing things cannot be changed while Barry the Younger refuses to accept reality and continues to travel into the past, weakening the multiverse more and more each time as he fails to save Kara, Bruce, and the world.

To be fair to Young Barry, he’s the only Barry who grew up with a mother. To accept that this fight is unwinnable means he must accept her dying. His fear of letting go after apparently years (decades?) of trying to win the fight transforms him into the Dark Flash. As it turns out, the Dark Flash was an alternate, younger version of Barry all along. As Barry the Younger admits (although now with gray hair), he is a time paradox because he pushed Barry the Older out of the Speed Force at the start of the movie, which crash landed older Barry in 2013. There, the original Barry mentored his younger self into inadvertently becoming the Dark Flash. And after Barry the Younger takes a stab wound for Barry the Older, which was inflicted by his own even older variant self, both die leaving the original Barry alone. Confused, yet?

Honestly, this feels more like a late in the game rewrite than a cathartic conclusion to the sci-fi conundrum. Based purely on my own speculation, I wonder if the Dark Flash was someone different at another point, but it was rewritten to be Barry all along. Whatever the case may be, the explanation in the final film is a muddle, but it does at least set up an emotionally satisfying grace note to the climax.

Rather than fight Zod or his younger/older self, the original Barry goes back to the early 2000s and undoes the change that triggered this whole headache. He puts the can of crushed tomatoes back on the shelf so his mother still asks her husband to get them, and she is thus left alone to be murdered by an unknown assailant (a dangling plot thread that also suggests this was a rewrite).

It’s messy, but seeing Barry be forced to say goodbye to his mother and accept some things cannot be changed—our scars make us who we are, as Batman is wont to say—is fairly moving. And a lot of it is a credit to Miller, who conveys the heartbreak of having to lose his mother all over again, saying goodbye to her as a stranger at the grocery store.

Yet… does he really learn his lesson? Because while he reverts the timeline back to her death, he also makes one other small change which unlocks the mother of all cameos!

The Flash’s Many Cameos: George Clooney, Christopher Reeve, Nicolas Cage, and More

Despite being largely marketed around Keaton’s grand return as the Dark Knight, The Flash is surprisingly light on fan-servicing cameos during its first two-thirds. The one exception is that in the film’s opening action sequence, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman shows up at the last minute to help Affleck’s Batman and the Flash. But that’s mostly charming because she would be on speed dial for Batman, and if this is the end for the DCEU, it’s a nicer final film for Gadot to appear in than the dull-as-dishwater Shazam! Fury of the Gods . Less effective is her getting Barry to admit he’s still a virgin after he touches the Lasso of Truth.

Still, that’s it for cameos until the climax in the “chronobowl” Speed Force graphic. For it is there, in the moment Barry the Older realizes Zod winning is a fixed point in time, that he begins noticing other worlds within the multiverse colliding… which is an excuse for a cornucopia of cameos. The best one is Nicolas Cage finally getting to don his luscious long locks and play a rubbery-looking 1990s Superman from the Tim Burton film that never got made. Better still, in his timeline he’s seen fighting a giant spider, which was on the wish-list for producer Jon Peters.

More grotesque is Barry also seeing several other versions of Superman and even Supergirl. The first alternate timeline/world he sees is one where George Reeves is still a black and white Superman from the old television series that began in 1951. In another world, Barry sees no less than the great Christopher Reeve as Superman while Helen Slater stands next to him, frozen in time from 1984’s Supergirl movie.

The problem with these cameos is two of them are incredibly tasteless—with both Reeves and Reeve’s tragic lives and deaths becoming fodder for corporate IP raiding—as well as visually creepy. The CGI used to bring back the dead, and even Slater’s Supergirl, looks like unconvincing waxworks.

It’s also unfortunate, because the best cameo of the movie is so much more satisfying in the film’s closing moments. Because it’s then, after Barry has righted his timeline, that we learn he still smudged one aspect of the past by moving a can of tomato sauce to the top shelf to prove his father was at the grocery store while his mother was being murdered. This apparently still had profound consequences, because after his father is exonerated in court, Barry receives a phone call from an old friend—Bruce Wayne is proud of him and is coming to celebrate in the same Lamborghini we saw Affleck’s Bruce driving at the top of the movie.

… Only when he steps out, it’s not Ben Affleck at all. Instead George Clooney’s classic smiling face is back!!! He’s a little older, with a graying beard to match the hair, but he still looks as good as he did in 1997’s Batman & Robin .

“Who the fuck are you?” Barry says. Clooney flashes the grin again before asking, “Barry, what is wrong with you?” He’s Batman.

Less fun is a tacked on final post-credit scene where Jason Momoa shows up as a very drunk Arthur Curry. We suppose it’s meant to remind you that A quaman: The Last Kingdom is still coming in December.

Is This Ending (and George Clooney) the New DC Universe Canon?

As previously mentioned, The Flash was originally meant to be a pivot point for the DCEU, a chance to change tracks after many fans and most WB executives were underwhelmed by the so-called Snyderverse. Those plans have changed, but new DC Studios co-head James Gunn left the door open to this being canon for the rechristened DC Universe going forward when he said earlier this year ,“[ The Flash ] is a fantastic movie that I really loved that resets the entire DC Universe.”

So could this mean the ending of The Flash has reset the DCEU into Gunn’s DC Universe… and that means Clooney is Batman now? Could we even get yet another Clooney and Robin movie with Gunn’s announced The Brave and the Bold reboot of the Batman franchise?!

It’s a funny idea, but we find it highly unlikely. And if you even parse out Gunn’s earlier quote, he simply said The Flash resets “the DC Universe.” He did not say it sets up his DC Universe. Rather it could have reset the DCEU, a concept that is still over (at least it will be after this December’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , which also gets a shout out in a tacked on post-credits scene).

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Additionally, there’ve been rumors in the gossip mill that suggest the curtain is coming down on everything we’ve watched for the last 10 years. The Wrap ’s Umberto Gonzalez, for instance, seemed to confirm a rumor spread by YouTuber Grace Randolph that the last scene of the movie was reshot in 2023 at Gunn’s request, taking out both Calle and Keaton who were supposed to appear in the final sequence.

This would make sense because when Calle and Keaton were both cast, the latter appeared poised to become the DCEU Batman going forward, even filming scenes in Batgirl before it was scrapped for a WB write-off. Set photos from 2021 also seem to confirm a different ending was shot with Keaton as Bruce Wayne. Calle was also supposed to get a Supergirl movie, but word about that project went quiet before Gunn announced earlier this year that he was developing his own Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow . Shortly after announcing the project, Gunn and Peter Safran dodged questions about if Calle might appear in it.

A more likely scenario is that everything we know about the DCEU is coming to an end, and Gunn’s apparent request that the ending be changed was a way to find a fun resolution to a movie that is the end of the road for these versions of these characters instead of a new beginning.

Another way to look at it, though, is if the timeline Barry the Older spends most of his time in during The Flash is an alternate reality created by him saving his mother’s life, then he is now trapped in yet another alternate reality because he still moved that camera to exonerate his father. He made things slightly less timey-wimey, which opened the door for Gunn’s DC Universe… but Miller’s version of the Flash doesn’t get to live there. Of course, Miller could always run back in time and change things again.

However, given Miller’s real-life controversies , and Gunn’s apparent desire to turn the page, we have our doubts that will be the case. This is a shame for at least Calle (whose Supergirl might be consigned to the same ash heap David Zaslav banished Leslie Grace’s Batgirl). But another way to look at it, in-universe, is Barry won his dad’s freedom and had to trade out Affleck for Clooney in the process. That’s probably a fair price to him, and now what remains of the DCEU exists in a world where George Clooney’s Batman is hanging out with Ezra Miller and Henry Cavill. It seems pretty just. The end.

David Crow | @DCrowsNest

David Crow is the movies editor at Den of Geek. He has long been proud of his geek credentials. Raised on cinema classics that ranged from…

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Why The Flash has been a box-office flop

It's not just because of the new universe.

preview for The Flash's Andy Muschietti says movie wasn't changed by new DC universe

After a softer-than-expected debut at the US box office, there was a chance that The Flash could rebound without any major new openers to rival it. However, it went on to do exactly the opposite and record the worst-ever week-on-week drop for a DC movie .

It's only in its second week of release, but the movie already looks to be on its way out with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse proving to be a bigger draw worldwide, despite the fact it's been out for four weeks.

So where did it all go wrong for The Flash ?

Let's start with the numbers. After its second weekend, The Flash has grossed $210.9 million worldwide, with $87.6 million coming from the US box office and $123.3 million from overseas territories.

It's worth noting that, although these numbers aren't great, The Flash has already overtaken the global haul of Shazam! Fury of the Gods ($133.8 million), as well as the final results for Birds of Prey ($201 million), Wonder Woman 1984 ($166.4 million) and The Suicide Squad ($167 million).

So, in other words, it could be worse. It's still not something to be celebrated though as after its huge drop, The Flash faces a challenge to match Black Adam 's $391.2 million worldwide tally.

With both movies said to have a production budget of around $200 million (not counting marketing costs), that was a result deemed bad enough for Black Adam to not go forward with a planned sequel , a fate sure to befall The Flash as well.

The Flash 2 always seemed an unlikely prospect anyway, given that a new DC universe will start in July 2025 with Superman: Legacy . It's the incoming arrival of this potential reset that has been used as a reason for DC's recent struggles: why would people go and see movies that don't matter?

However, that's likely too simple a reason. The likes of The Batman ($766 million) and Joker ($1.07 billion) weren't affected by their lack of connection to what's to come in DC's future. It's possible that the general blockbuster audience wouldn't even be aware that The Flash might not even matter, canon-wise, going forward.

There are a number of other factors that feel more likely to have had an impact on The Flash 's underperformance at the box office, starting with Ezra Miller.

We're not necessarily talking about the controversies surrounding the actor , although that likely did lead to some fans boycotting the movie. Instead, it's the fact that they're just not an established box-office draw and as much as Warner Bros tried to focus on the return of Michael Keaton's Batman , it's still a Flash movie at the end of the day.

Perhaps this approach could have worked if Keaton did more press for the movie, but in the absence of Miller and Keaton from the press tour, it was left to director Andy Muschietti , producer Barbara Muschietti and Supergirl actor Sasha Calle to do the majority of the pre-release interviews.

As good as Sasha Calle is in the movie with what little she's given, she also isn't a big draw for a wider audience who, more likely, were wondering where Henry Cavill was . For a comic book movie to break out beyond the core fanbase, you need the promotional tour with the big names, and The Flash just didn't have it.

Perhaps aware of the challenges of the promotional tour, Warner Bros leaned hard into building the hype for the movie, even going as far as screening a "non-final" version at CinemaCon two months ahead of release.

It appeared to be a strategy that was working as it led to a lot of early buzz for The Flash , but perhaps it came too early. When reviews finally came out on June 6, the response was decidedly more mixed . The movie currently has a 65% Rotten Tomatoes rating which isn't bad, but it isn't the kind of reaction that makes for a must-see movie.

Ahead of release, there was also a series of free fan screenings across the US intended to build more positive reactions.

It's possible this strategy backfired too as A) the fans who would have paid to see opening weekend had already seen it and B) key moments, including a major Batman cameo , leaked online. If you've seen the big moments, it's less likely you'd go to see The Flash at cinemas if you were already on the fence about it.

Some might also point to superhero fatigue as a final main factor in The Flash flopping at the box office. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 ($826 million) and Across the Spider-Verse ($560 million) have shown that's not really a thing as long as the movie is good enough, but there is something to be said about timing.

The Flash has been in the works in various forms for several years and in that time, its once-unique multiverse story had been beaten to the screen by two Spider-Man movies ( No Way Home and Across the Spider-Verse ), among others. A multiverse story might once have been a strong selling point, but in June 2023, it was par for the course.

Overall, The Flash 's poor box office performance probably can't be attributed to one sole factor, and more down to a perfect storm of pre-release issues, each one building to a general sense of apathy towards the movie.

Perhaps in another universe, The Flash was a billion-dollar success, but in this universe, it never stood a chance.

The Flash is out now in cinemas.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) [DVD] [2020]

Wonder Woman 1984 [DVD] [2020]

Zack Snyder's Justice League [DVD] [2021]

Joker [DVD] [2019]

Shazam! DVD [2019]

Aquaman [Blu-ray] [2018]

DC 5 Film Collection [DVD] [2018]

Wonder Woman [Blu-ray + Digital Download] [2017] [Region Free]

Justice League [4k Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Download] [2017]

The Dark Knight Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2013] [Region Free]

The Superman 5 Film Collection 1978-2006 [Blu-ray] [1978] [Region Free]

Superman Animated Movie Collection [DVD] [2013]

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Ultimate Edition

Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies , attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy , initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.

.css-15yqwdi:before{top:0;width:100%;height:0.25rem;content:'';position:absolute;background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#51B3E0,#51B3E0 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 5rem,#E5E54F 5rem,#E5E54F 7.5rem,black 7.5rem,black);} The Flash Movie

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Dc summer movie dud coming to netflix in late june.

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Ezra Miller in "The Flash."

The Flash —the Ezra Miller DC superhero movie bust from 2023—is coming to Netflix in June.

Miller stars in the movie as Barry Allen—aka The Flash—in the film, which was released in theaters June 16, 2023, in 4,234 theaters. According to box office tracker The Numbers , The Flash earned $108.167 million domestically and $158.382 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $266.5 million.

The Flash , per The Numbers , had a production budget of $200 million, although Screen Rant pegged the amount to make the movie at $220 million.

Either way, since the production budget didn’t include marketing costs and other expenses, Screen Rant —at least of June 2023—estimated that The Flash would need to make $400 million to $450 million to break even.

No matter the case, The Flash is among the movies coming to Netflix in June for DC superhero fans to stream beginning June 25.

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As films like Matt Damon’s box office bust The Great Wall or Jenna Ortega’s movie flop Miller’s Girl has proven, Netflix has proven to be a reliable streaming platform for underperforming films to find a new audience.

What Is ‘The Flash’ About?

The Flash follows Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) as he tests the limits of his speed force capabilities by going back in time to prevent the murder of his mother (Maribel Verdú) and exonerate his father (Ron Livingston)—who was wrongfully accused and convicted of the crime.

The Flash also finds Barry in the midst of the multiverse of DC superheroes, where he encounters different versions of Batman—including Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader from Tim Burton’s films—as well as Supergirl (Sasha Calle) and Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel nemesis General Zod (Michael Shannon).

Assorted CG-created versions of previous DC superheroes also turn up in The Flash , including Helen Slater’s Supergirl, the Cavill and Christopher Reeve versions of Superman, as well as Nicolas Cage’s Man of Steel from Burton’s canceled Superman Lives movie.

The Flash had a decent reception with Rotten Tomatoes critics with a 63% percent “fresh” rating based on 388 reviews. RT users also deemed The Flash “fresh” with an 83% Audience Score based on 5,000-plus verified ratings.

Viewers who don’t subscribe to Netflix can stream The Flash elsewhere—at least until June 25—on such major streaming platforms as Max and Prime Video.

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‘The Flash’ Fumbles Out of the Gate in Global Box Office Debut

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‘The Watchers’ Global Box Office Continues Hovering at Worryingly Low Levels

‘the lord of the rings’ trilogy continues blazing a trail in domestic box office re-release, kit harington shows off the real 'beast within' in new horror film.

Normally, when a studio starts screening a movie well before release day in a bid to generate positive buzz, it's because the product is excellent. But nobody could’ve expected audiences across the globe to react to Warner Bros’ The Flash with a collective shrug. The big-budget superhero spectacle debuted well below expectations at the domestic box office, where it generated only $55 million across three days, and it didn’t fare all that better globally either.

The movie made $75 million from 79 overseas markets, for a global debut of $139 million. The studio is including domestic estimates for the extended four-day weekend, which is currently pegged at $64 million. By comparison, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice made $422 million in its worldwide debut, and last year’s Black Adam generated $140 million in its global debut . But we now know how that movie tanked shortly afterward , concluding its theatrical run with under $400 million worldwide. The Flash cost a reported $200 million to produce (minus the reported $100 million spent on marketing), which means that it needs to make around $600 million worldwide to break even.

But what makes this situation even more disappointing is that Warner Bros. has stood by this movie through major behind-the-scenes drama , from a changing leadership to multiple script rewrites and a revolving door of directors, not to mention the bad press that star Ezra Miller ’s personal troubles brought to the project. Miller wasn’t made available for media interactions in the weeks leading up to release, but they made an appearance at the red carpet premiere. This could be one of the many reasons for the movie’s disappointing debut.

Ezra Miller portrays The Flash in The Flash.

RELATED: ‘The Flash’ Ending Explained: Does Barry Allen Fix the Multiverses?

But one can only speculate. It’s not that the DC Extended Universe was doing gangbusters otherwise. The franchise has been in trouble for a while, with its last two releases both bombing badly. But there was a sense that The Flash would turn the franchise’s fortunes around, just in time for a hard reboot under the stewardship of new CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran . Gunn has been touting The Flash as one of the best superhero movies of all time, and the studio also managed to score endorsements from the likes of Stephen King and Tom Cruise . The buzz was genuinely positive, and it seemed like people really wanted the movie to succeed.

The Flash Isn't Quite the Greatest Superhero Movie of All Time That We'd Been Promised

But the court of public opinion hasn’t been as kind. The Flash could only manage a disappointing B CinemaScore from opening day audiences, and it’s currently sitting at 67% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes . Collider’s Ross Bonaime wrote that the movie wasn't able to deliver a "story that holds together on a narrative level” in his review .

Like the recent Spider-Man: No Way Home , Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — all hits, by the way — The Flash is also a multiverse-hopping adventure. In a bid to save his mother from dying, Barry Allen goes back in time and runs into an alternate version of himself, which has dire consequences. The movie also features the return of Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck ’s versions of Batman, which sounds like a winning proposition on paper, but as it turns out, even this wasn’t enough to attract fans to theaters. Directed by Andy Muschietti , The Flash also stars Sasha Calle , Michael Shannon , Ron Livingston , Kiersey Clemons, and others. You can watch our interview with Calle here, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

The Flash (2023)

Where to Watch Every Air Bud Movie Ever: A Streaming Guide

This might surprise you, but there are actually 14 movies in the Air Bud franchise, from sports films to superpowered puppies, treasure-hunting hounds… and even one where the iconic golden retrievers go to space! Check out our guide below to find out where you can watch every Air Bud movie online using streaming services like Disney+ , Netflix , Prime Video and so much more.

In 1997, the world was introduced to Buddy, the basketball-playing golden retriever in the film Air Bud . In the movie, Buddy escapes his abusive owner and finds a kid practicing basketball by himself. The two hit it off and it’s revealed that Buddy has a knack for shooting hoops, eventually leading him to join the school’s basketball team. The film wasn’t necessarily a box office hit, grossing just over $27 million…but compared to its small budget of $3 million, it turned a solid profit.

From there, we got another cinematic sequel, Air Bud: Golden Receiver , which follows Buddy joining the high school football team. The film was ultimately a box office dud, making Golden Receiver the only other theatrically-released Air Bud movie. But Air Bud was very successful throughout the following years thanks to the home rental market, and the franchise got numerous straight-to-video sequels like Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (baseball), and Air Bud: Spikes Back (volleyball).

In 2006, a new spin-off film series was launched called Air Buddies. Designed for younger kids, the films follow a group of puppies who go on various adventures. And if you thought it was wild watching Buddy play basketball and other sports, you won’t believe the hijinks these pups get into. From the ghost-hunting Spooky Buddies to the space-traversing Space Buddies , and even their own superhero take with Super Buddies , the Air Buddies series is totally bonkers, but also a great time for kids.

The franchise received another spin-off with two Santa Paws films. Filled with a new set of pooches, the first film follows Paws, a dog who helps Santa bring Christmas cheer to the world, and the sequel centers around Paws’ puppies, who must learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Here’s the Air Bud Movies in Release Order

Original air bud series.

Air Bud (1997)

Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998)

Air Bud: World Pup (2000)

Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002)

Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003)

Air Buddies Series

Air Buddies (2006)

Snow Buddies (2008)

Space Buddies (2009)

Santa Buddies (2009)

Spooky Buddies (2011)

Treasure Buddies (2012)

Super Buddies (2013)

Santa Paws Movies

The Search for Santa Paws (2010)

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups (2012)

Where can I watch all the Air Bud movies online?

Check out our guide below to find out where you can watch every Air Bud movie online and in the United States, including the Air Buddies and Santa Paws spin-offs!

Where To Watch Every Death Note TV Show and Movie in Order

Death Note is the latest manga/anime to receive a Netflix live-action TV show adaptation. The new series will be produced by the Duffer Brothers’ production company Upside Down Pictures. Since the series is still in early development and lacks a release date, now is the perfect time to catch up on the franchise. This guide will explain how to watch every Death Note TV show and movie in order and online before the new series releases using popular streaming services like Netflix , Prime Video and more!

The franchise began in 2006 with Death Note , an anime series based on the manga of the same name. The show follows Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name he writes inside it. Under the eye of the notebook’s previous owner, the Shinigami Ryuk, Light decides to use the notebook to rid the world of all criminals. However, his naive pursuit of justice soon catches the attention of the police, including world-renowned detective L.

Death Note quickly captivated audiences with its haunting tale and morally ambiguous conflict. As a result, director Shusuke Kaneko wasted no time in helming the first live-action Death Note movie, followed by the sequel Death Note: The Last Name . The films received a positive reception and offered an alternate ending to the anime. Following the live-action movies, the franchise began moving towards original stories with the web series Death Note: New Generation and spin-off film Death Note: Light Up the New World , which follows a cyberterrorist who seeks to continue Light’s legacy.

The web series and spinoff received mixed reviews and, to date, are the only projects to tackle original stories. However, each manga adaptation has managed to set itself apart from the other. For example, the 2015 live-action Death Note series added a few unique twists and leaned more towards drama elements rather than horror. Meanwhile, Netflix’s 2017 film adaption, Death Note , put an American spin on the tale by setting it within Seattle and signing Nat Wolff, LaKeith Stanfield, and Willem Dafoe as the lead cast.

Unfortunately, the Netflix movie received poor reviews from viewers who felt that the adaptation had missed the themes and purpose of the original story. Despite the tepid reception to its film, Netflix decided to go ahead with a TV adaptation of Death Note, with promises to take into account the fan criticism of the movie and find a better direction for the show.

Given Netflix's recent success with live-action adaptations like One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender , the upcoming Death Note series has potential.

Where to watch every Death Note TV show and movie online

For those interested in delving into the franchise before the new series, there is only one watch order, as the chronological and release date orders are the same. Here is how to watch every Death Note TV show and movie in the United States!

Where To Watch Every Star Trek TV Show and Movie in Order

Paramount has ushered in a new era of Star Trek. Following the conclusion of Star Trek: Discovery , the studio ordered multiple new series and began developing the TV movie Star Trek: Chapter 31 , which will star Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh. Given its revitalization, now is the perfect time to delve into the franchise. This guide will demonstrate where and how to watch every Star Trek movie and TV show in order.

The Star Trek franchise began in 1966 with the premiere of Star Trek , also known as Star Trek: The Original Series. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the sci-fi series follows Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) as they guide the Enterprise on a mission of intergalactic space exploration. While the show received poor ratings during its three-season run, broadcast syndication and reruns breathed new life into the franchise, garnering it a cult following after its 1969 cancelation.

Following the show’s re-evaluation, Roddenberry convinced Paramount to continue the original series on the big screen with Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Although it wasn’t a huge box-office hit, it did well enough to earn five more sequels, for which Roddenberry was a consultant.

As Star Trek: The Original Series remained one of the most popular syndicated TV shows years after its release, Paramount and Gene Roddenberry began working on another live-action series: Star Trek: The Next Generation . The series takes place aboard a new Enterprise one century after the events of the original series, with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) at the helm. Along with his crew, Captain Picard carries on his predecessors' mission of exploring new worlds.

Star Trek: The Next Generation also continued on the big screen after its conclusion, receiving four feature films. While films like Star Trek: First Contact were well-received, Star Trek: Nemesis was a critical and financial failure. The failure of Star Trek: Nemesis was followed by another blow as the prequel series Star Trek: Enterprise was canceled amid low ratings.

Paramount switched directions on the big screen and released what many consider a “reboot” trilogy. However, the films aren’t an official reboot as they merely explore an alternate timeline known as the Kelvin Timeline and see Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto take over as Captain Kirk and Spock, respectively.

While the Kelvin Timeline film series played out, Star Trek went on a hiatus on the small screen. After a 12-year break, Paramount revived the franchise, aiming to create Star Trek shows specifically for its streaming service, CBS All Access (now Paramount+). In 2017, it released Star Trek: Discovery, followed by a new round of shows, including Star Trek: Picard , which continued Captain Picard’s story after Star Trek: The Next Generation.

There are no signs of the franchise slowing down, with the first TV movie, Star Trek: Chapter 31, on the way and Paramount showing interest in further Star Trek TV films, theatrical films, and shows.

How to watch the Star Trek franchise in order

Viewers can watch the Star Trek franchise either by release date order or chronologically. Those hoping to watch chronologically should know that the Kelvin Timeline trilogy takes place outside of the timeline of the other shows and movies, so they can technically be watched at any point. Star Trek: Short Treks also does not fit in the chronological order as it is an anthology series. Additionally, viewers may have to jump between shows occasionally due to time jumps in series like Star Trek: Discovery.

See below for the chronological order of every Star Trek show and movie:

Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1 - 2

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Animated Series

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: Generations

Star Trek: First Contact

Star Trek: Insurrection

Star Trek: Nemesis

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: Picard

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 3 - 5

Viewers can also watch the Star Trek franchise by the release date order detailed below. Read on to find out where to stream every Star Trek movie and TV show in the United States!

Where to Watch Every A Quiet Place Movie in Order

Are you a fan of A Quiet Place and its sequels? Check out our guide below to discover where you can watch every movie in the franchise, including A Quiet Place: Day One – and learn more about the upcoming A Quiet Place Part III. We will let you know all the information you need to stream all A Quiet Place movies online using services like Netflix , Paramount+ , Prime Video and more!

Just like Jordan Peele , John Krasinski made the leap from comedy to horror. Before 2018, the actor was best known for starring in the sitcom The Office. But that all changed when Krasinski starred in, directed, and helped write the screenplay for A Quiet Place . The movie follows the Abbott family who try to navigate life in a crumbling society. After a race of blind aliens with incredible hearing invade Earth, much of humanity is killed off and the remaining groups must fight for survival.

It was terrifying, suspenseful, and blended traditional horror elements with a post-apocalyptic storyline. That combination was massively successful, and critics and audiences loved it. Holding an impressive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing almost $341 million at the box office, the movie was an undeniable hit.

As is tradition, every successful horror film is followed by a sequel and in 2020, A Quiet Place Part II was released. The movie picks up after the first film and continues following the remaining members of the Abbott family as they’re forced to find refuge in a new home. But as they explore, they realize the aliens aren’t the only dangers to contend with.

Then, in 2024 the franchise got a prequel with A Quiet Place: Day One . The film is set right when the alien invasion begins and follows a group of New Yorkers (including Lupita Nyong’o, Djimon Hounsou, and Stranger Things ’ Joseph Quinn) who must survive a city that’s been thrust into chaos.

Fans can expect even more from A Quiet Place as well. Krasinski announced that a third Quiet Place movie is in the works and is set for a 2025 release date. Whereas Day One is a prequel, Part III will pick back up with the Abbott family and continue the main storyline.

How to watch A Quiet Place in release date order

A Quiet Place (2018)

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

A Quiet Place Part III (2025)

How to watch A Quiet Place in chronological order

A Quiet Place: Day One

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place Part II

A Quiet Place Part III

Where can I watch all A Quiet Place movies online?

From streaming to digital rentals and more, check out our guide below to find out where you can watch A Quiet Place and its sequels online in the United States!

How To Watch All CSI TV Shows in Order (And Where To Watch Them)

The CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) franchise has been delighting viewers with the forensic side of crime for the past 24 years, and it’s still growing. In late June, The Real CSI: Miami is set to debut on CBS, marking the sixth installment in the CSI universe.

As viewers wait for the next series to arrive, now is the perfect time to catch up on the franchise. This guide will explain where and how to watch every CSI TV show in order using popular streaming services like Netflix , Prime Video , Paramount+ and more!

The CSI franchise kicked off in 2000 with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation . It follows the day-to-day lives of the Las Vegas Police Department’s crime scene investigators as they utilize physical evidence to solve crimes. The series boasted a memorable cast, including William Peterson, Catherine Willows, and Laurence Fishburne. Meanwhile, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was among the first crime shows to focus on criminalists, forensic entomologists, and blood-spatter specialists instead of the typical rugged cops or brilliant detectives, and it quickly became one of CBS’ most popular series of all time.

Soon, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation earned its first direct spinoff, CSI: Miami . The show featured an all-new cast of characters in a different city but utilized the same formula popularized by the original series and followed the Miami-Dade Police Department crime scene investigation team. The spinoff managed to stand on its own as it focused more on the detective side of crime and arguably boasted the best cinematography in the franchise. It wasn’t long before CSI’s first spinoff received its own spinoff with CSI: NY , which garnered attention for the unique crimes and mature subjects it explored.

Unfortunately, CSI’s streak of successful spinoffs faltered with CSI: Cyber . The show had potential as it was the first to delve into the growing world of cybercrime and boasted an Oscar-winning lead star, Patricia Arquette. However, viewers were sorely disappointed by the poor depiction of cybercrime in the show and the sharp decrease in the quality. After the short-lived CSI: Cyber, the franchise returned to its roots, reviving the original series with CSI: Vegas . The show found a nice balance of newness and nostalgia but demonstrated declining interest in the franchise as it became one of CBS’s least-watched shows.

Undeterred by the cancelation of CSI: Cyber and CSI: Vegas, the CSI franchise forged ahead with The Real CSI: Miami. It will be vastly different from the previous spinoffs as it’s an unscripted docuseries focused on real-life cases and how forensic science aided the victims and their families in receiving justice. In a way, it brings the franchise full circle by tackling the original show’s goal of shining a light on the work of forensic scientists.

How to watch the CSI franchise in order

Viewers can watch the CSI franchise in either release date or chronological order. Chronological order will require switching between series, but it will ensure a better understanding of how the shows fit into the CSI universe and connect to one another.

Here is how to watch the CSI franchise in chronological order:

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Seasons 1 - 2

CSI: Miami Season 1

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 3

CSI: Miami Season 2

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 4

CSI: Miami Season 3

CSI: NY Season 1

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 5

CSI: Miami Season 4

CSI: NY Season 2

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 6

CSI: Miami Season 5

CSI: NY Season 3

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 7

CSI: Miami Season 6

CSI: NY Season 4

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 8

CSI: Miami Season 7

CSI: NY Season 5

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 9

CSI: Miami Season 8

CSI: NY Season 6

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 10

CSI: Miami Season 9

CSI: NY Season 7

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 11

CSI: Miami Season 10

CSI: NY Season 8

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 12

CSI: NY Season 9

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Seasons 13 - 15

CSI: Cyber Seasons 1 - 2

CSI: Vegas Seasons 1 - 3

Where to watch all CSI TV shows online

Another option is watching every CSI TV show in release order. Check out the list below that provides information on where to stream every CSI TV show online and in order!

Where to Watch Every Drag Race TV Show Online - Including International Editions

Can’t get enough of RuPaul’s Drag Race? Check out our guide below to learn more about the groundbreaking franchise and discover where you can stream every Drag Race TV show online from around the world using services like Paramount+, Netflix , Hulu and more!

In 2009, RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered on the small LGBTQ channel Logo. Because it premiered on a small network that many households didn’t have, season 1 is often called “The Lost Season”. But the drama and competition were enough to get people talking, and it launched the careers of queens like BeBe Zahara Benet, Ongina, and Tammie Brown. During seasons 2 and 3, the show’s popularity continued to slowly grow as viewers began telling their friends about Drag Race’s shady queens and opulent outfits.

But season 4 is when the show really took off. Stacked with a fantastic cast that included Latrice Royale, Chad Michaels, Sharon Needles, and fan-favorite Willam, the season began attracting big viewership, giving Logo some of its highest numbers ever. From there, the rest is history and Drag Race blossomed into the massive franchise it is today, dominating TV ratings in countries around the world.

Since its early days, Drag Race has been loaded with iconic moments, like season 6’s finale trifecta of Bianca Del Rio, Adore Delano, and Courtney Act; season 7 introducing the world to Trixie Mattel and Katya; Sasha Velour’s wig reveal in season 9; and Maddy Morphosis becoming the first straight drag contestant in season 14.

On top of that, the show is also known for its All Stars seasons, where past winners and fan favorites get another chance to compete. The All Stars seasons have produced tons of their own iconic moments throughout the years too, like “Read U Wrote U” in season 2, DeLa’s shocking self-elimination in season 3, and Jinkx Monsoon’s hilarious portrayal of Judy Garland in season 7.

Thanks to the franchise’s raging success, viewers around the globe can now watch Drag Race, with seasons taking place everywhere from the UK to Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, and Australia. Drag Race’s UK edition has even gotten so popular it’s received its own spin-off TV show, UK vs. The World , where UK contestants compete against queens from around the globe.

Here’s the complete list of every RuPaul’s Drag Race TV show, its spin-offs, international editions, and more.

American RuPaul’s Drag Race TV shows

RuPaul’s Drag Race

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars

RuPaul’s Drag U

RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race

RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked

International Editions of RuPaul’s Drag Race

Drag Race Down Under

Drag Race Belgique

Drag Race Brasil

Canada’s Drag Race

The Switch Drag Race

Drag Race France

Drag Race Germany

Drag Race Italia

Drag Race Mexico

Drag Race Holland

Drag Race Philippines

Drag Race Espana

Drag Race Sverige

Drag Race Thailand

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs. the World

Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World

Drag Race Espana All Stars

Where Can I Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Online?

Want to find out where to watch every season of Drag Race and its various spin-offs, companion TV shows, and international editions? Use our guide below to discover where every RuPaul’s Drag Race TV show is streaming online!

Every David Lynch Movie, Ranked (and Where To Watch Them)

Although it has been nearly two decades since David Lynch’s last feature film, many viewers remain hopeful that the legendary filmmaker will one day direct another movie. Given the experimental, mystifying, absurd, and surreal nature of many of his works, he is often considered one of Hollywood's most intriguing and important contemporary directors. Although it’s unknown if he will ever direct another feature film, there are plenty of existing Lynch masterpieces to delve into. This guide will rank all of David Lynch’s feature films as well as reveal where to watch them using popular streaming services like Netflix , Prime Video , Max and more!

One of David Lynch’s most notable films is the one that kickstarted his career: Eraserhead . The low-budget surrealist body horror movie follows Henry Spencer (Jack Nance), a young man who finds himself raising a baby with deformities. Its experimental nature, sexual undertones, and body horror initially horrified and disturbed viewers. However, the film picked up popularity as a midnight film and is now considered a masterpiece, given its surrealist nature, highlighting of human anxiety, and the numerous ways it can be interpreted.

Lynch’s next movie, The Elephant Man , was less experimental and, thus, less divisive than his feature film debut. Starring John Hurt and Sir Anthony Hopkins, the film is inspired by the true story of Joseph Merrick, a man with deformities who lived in London in the late 19th century. It received high critical acclaim for its beautiful black-and-white cinematography and heartbreaking, moving exploration of humanity.

Although his biographical film The Elephant Man was a hit, David Lynch returned to his surrealist and experimental films many times in his career. Blue Velvet and Inland Empire are among his best works in these areas. Blue Velvet achieved cult status and is considered one of the best mystery movies ever for spinning a dark, ambiguous tale from a severed ear. Although Inland Empire earned less fanfare than most Lynch movies, the Laura Dern -led psychological thriller is notable for being one of his most abstract, surreal, and dream-like films yet.

David Lynch has also proven his versatility as a filmmaker, surprising viewers with his family-friendly The Straight Story , a hyperrealistic but beautifully crafted movie that couldn’t be further from surrealism. Meanwhile, even his less successful films, including his take on the Dune franchise and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me , have stirred lively debates among viewers and earned re-evaluations.

Where can I watch the best David Lynch movies online?

For those interested in exploring David Lynch’s filmography further, we have ranked all of his feature films from best to worst based on their critical reception, groundbreaking nature, and legacy. Read on to find out where to stream every title in the United States!

Where To Watch Every Film in The Conjuring Universe in Order

The Conjuring Universe is the most successful horror franchise of all time, and its story isn’t over yet. Creator James Wan has confirmed the main series will soon conclude with The Conjuring: Last Rites , although the franchise will continue to live on in the form of a spinoff TV series and potential spinoff movies. For those who want to delve into the franchise before the next movie premieres, this guide will explain where and how to watch The Conjuring Universe in order using streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Max and more.

In 2013, the franchise began with The Conjuring . Every movie in the franchise is inspired by the purportedly true haunting cases documented by real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The first movie sees Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson) investigate the Perron family, who believe their new farmhouse in Rhode Island may be haunted. It proved a major success at the box office and earned high praise from critics for the performances of Farmiga and Wilson, the jump scares, and the tense atmosphere crafted by director Wan.

The first film’s success soon led to The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It , with Farmiga and Wilson reprising their roles as Ed and Lorraine. The Conjuring 2 adapts the Enfield poltergeist case, while the third movie tackles the Arne Cheyenne Johnson murder investigation, which marked the first murder trial in U.S. history where a defendant claimed innocence due to demonic possession.

Both movies were successful commercially, though the third film’s departure from its haunted house formula drew mixed reviews. Since viewers couldn’t get enough of the Warrens' terrifying and allegedly true cases, the franchise soon created the Annabelle and The Nun film series. Annabelle fashions a horror story from an allegedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll found in the Warrens’ Occult Museum. Meanwhile, The Nun and its sequel, The Nun II , were loosely inspired by the Warrens’ reports of meeting a ghostly nun.

All of the Annabelle and Nun movies were commercial hits, demonstrating the enduring appeal of The Conjuring Universe with its blend of alleged truth and fiction and return to classic horror with haunted houses, dolls, and jump scares. Meanwhile, the end of The Nun II features a cameo from Farmiga and Wilson, teasing the movie’s connection to The Conjuring: Last Rites.

How to watch The Conjuring Universe in order

Viewers can watch The Conjuring Universe in either release date or chronological order. Chronological order may be preferable because it ensures viewers have context for certain cases mentioned in The Conjuring movies. However, chronological order can be complex, given that films like Annabelle: Creation occur across multiple years.

For this article, we have listed the movies chronologically based on the most prominent year featured in each film. For example, although Annabelle: Creation starts in 1943, the majority of the movie takes place in 1955, resulting in the film coming after The Nun, which takes place in 1952. Here is the chronological order:

Annabelle: Creation

Annabelle Comes Home

The Conjuring

The Conjuring 2

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Alternatively, one can also stream The Conjuring films in the release date order detailed below. Read on to find out where to watch every entry in this franchise online in the United States.

Every Neon Genesis Evangelion TV Show and Movie in Order (And Where To Watch Them)

Since its release in 1995, Neon Genesis Evangelion has remained one of the most popular anime series of all time. It has grown into a sprawling media franchise that includes many films, books, manga series, and even amusement park attractions. Creator Hideaki Anno has also remained open to the idea of future TV shows and anime films under a new filmmaker. For those interested in delving into the franchise, this guide will demonstrate where to watch every Neon Genesis Evangelion film and TV show in order using streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Crunchyroll and more!

The franchise started in 1994 with a manga series of the same name to advertise the upcoming TV show. By 1995, Neon Genesis Evangelion arrived and told the story of Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy recruited by his estranged father, Gendo Ikari, to pilot Evangelion bio-machines and fight mysterious beings known as Angels. The show went far beyond the typical mecha anime and impressed viewers with its religious motifs and philosophical themes. It has since been hailed as one of the most outstanding anime series of all time.

However, its somewhat ambiguous ending received mixed reviews from viewers. As a result, Anno decided to make two films, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion , to provide an alternate ending to the anime series. Following the critical acclaim of The End of Evangelion, Anno decided he wasn’t done with the franchise yet and became chief director of the Rebuild of Evangelion film series.

Similar to the previous two films, the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy served as yet another alternate telling of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone and Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance essentially reshot episodes 1 - 23 of the anime with minor changes, while Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo diverged into a new story, and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time offered a new ending.

There is also an original net animation (ONA) series called Petit Eva: Evangelion@School , which parodies the original series, and the short film Evangelion: Another Impact—Confidential . Also, be aware of the numerous unification films, such as Revival of Evangelion, which, despite its new title, is simply a double feature of Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion.

Where can I watch Neon Genesis Evangelion online?

Given the many remakes and alternate endings, the only way to watch the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise is by the release date order below. Read on to find out where you can stream every entry in this popular franchise!

Where to Watch Every Entry in the PAW Patrol Franchise

In 2013, as superhero mania began to dominate Hollywood, another group of heroes emerged: the PAW Patrol. Led by the young boy Ryder, the team consisted of some unexpected members…puppies. There was Chase the police German Shepherd; Marshall, the firefighting dalmatian; and Skye, the piloting cockapoo, among others. But this kids’ show ended up taking the world by storm, eventually becoming a massive franchise. Use our guide below to find out where you can watch every entry in the PAW Patrol franchise in order using popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+ and more!

The entire franchise began in 2013 with the original PAW Patrol series. The show is still airing, currently on its 10th season. So far, PAW Patrol has amassed over 250 episodes, and with its enduring popularity, season 11 is on the way. In each episode, the PAW Patrol must save someone and usually fight off some kind of “bad guy”. But being a kids show (mostly for very young kids) the series is often free of violence, with the action being more wholesome.

Starting in 2016, PAW Patrol began producing hour-long films. In North America, they were released as TV movies, but in other parts of the world, they actually went to theaters, sometimes grossing millions of dollars. Some of the most popular movie specials were Ready, Race, Rescue! and Jet to the Rescue .

But in 2021, PAW Patrol finally got their first official, big-screen debut with Paw Patrol: The Movie . In the film, the PAW Patrol discovers their arch-nemesis Mayor Humdinger has just been elected to lead the nearby Adventure City. Sensing the coming mischief, the team heads out to save the city. Once again, the conflict and action are all super family-friendly, with one of the disasters being that the mayor has constructed a roller coaster-style loop for the city’s subway (which to me sounds like a lot of fun).

In 2023, PAW Patrol returned with another major film, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie . In the film, a strange meteor crashes into Earth. Inside are several crystals, each giving the pups superpowers. But with their new abilities, the pups must face their biggest foe yet. The movie was a massive hit, grossing more than $202 million at the worldwide box office. That same year PAW Patrol also received the spinoff series Rubble & Crew , which has also been renewed for a new season.

PAW Patrol franchise in release order:

PAW Patrol (2013-Present)
PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups (2018)
Ready, Race, Rescue! (2019)
Jet to the Rescue (2020)
PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021)
Rubble & Crew (2023-Present)
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023)

Where can I watch PAW Patrol online?

A third PAW Patrol movie is in the works and according to Variety, it’s set to hit theaters sometime in 2026. Until then, check out our guide below to find out where to watch the entire PAW Patrol franchise in order.

Every James Cameron Movie Ranked (and Where to Watch Them)

If you look at the five highest-grossing movies of all time, three of them have been directed by James Cameron. He knows how to strike the perfect balance between action, emotion, strong characters, and visual spectacle, creating an entire filmography of must-watch films. But what are Cameron’s best movies? Check out our guide below to find out where to watch every James Cameron movie (and discover which are his best).

There aren’t really any “bad” James Cameron movies. The director has somehow managed to create hit after hit, giving audiences four decades of masterpieces. But if someone had to choose, Cameron’s first film Piranha II: The Spawning could be considered his “worst”. The movie was a sequel to the schlocky 1978 horror hit Piranha , which was all about… killer piranhas. This time around, the piranhas are even more deadly and they can fly! Somehow, the movie is so bombastic and ridiculous that it’s actually hard to consider it a bad movie. It’s so insane that it becomes laugh-out-loud funny and is great to watch with friends.

On the other end of the Cameron spectrum, we have his best movies. Taking the #1 spot as the best James Cameron movie ever is Aliens . This sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror classic follows Ellen Ripley as she discovers that terraformers have attempted to colonize LV-426 – the same moon the xenomorph came from. Obviously, things don’t go well for the terraformers and it’s up to Ripley and her team to save them. Aliens swaps out some of the suspense from the original for more action and adventure, creating a unique action-horror movie that works flawlessly. Aliens isn’t just a great sequel, it also complements the original perfectly by shifting genres, making both films equally amazing for completely different reasons.

And of course, we can’t talk about James Cameron without talking about Titanic . The film takes the #2 spot on our list. For over a decade it was the highest-grossing movie ever and it was the first film to make over $1 billion at the box office. Staying true to Cameron’s genre-blending style, Titanic was loaded with romance, drama, and action. The movie tells a romantic love story between two passengers, Jack and Rose. But as the ship begins to sink, Titanic’s vibe completely changes, becoming a hardcore disaster film. Viewers who aren’t into romantic dramas will still be captivated by the unbelievably true disaster the doomed ocean liner experienced in the middle of the Atlantic.

Also ranking high on the list is Cameron’s often-overlooked hit The Abyss . Released in 1989 (just a few months before the Cold War ended), the movie imagines a near-future where Americans and Soviets are racing to retrieve a sunken submarine. Making everything worse is a looming hurricane that’s barreling toward both nations’ fleets. When America finally gets a dive team into the ocean, they begin experiencing strange phenomena and seeing unknown lifeforms. With claustrophobic conditions, a massive storm, and the excitement of unknown aliens, The Abyss is a fantastically captivating movie. It even won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 1990 ceremony.

Here’s the full ranking of James Cameron’s films:

Aliens

T2: Judgement Day

Avatar: The Way of Water

The Terminator

Avatar

Piranha II: The Spawning

Where can I watch James Cameron movies online?

Cameron fans have a lot to look forward to since the filmmaker currently has two more Avatar sequels in development, with the next one expected to hit theaters in late 2025. Until then, check out our guide below to find out where you can stream all of James Cameron’s movies on popular platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Max, and more.

Every Deadpool Movie In Order (and Where to Watch Them)

The Deadpool movie series is set to expand with the release of Deadpool & Wolverine , featuring a crossover between Hugh Jackman’s Logan (a.k.a. Wolverine) and Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson (a.k.a. Deadpool) and marking Deadpool's first official entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ).

For those interested in catching up with all of the Deadpool movies, this guide shows you how and where to watch every movie in order. We'll also show you if you can watch them legally for free online.

Deadpool’s live-action career on the big screen had a shaky start with X-Men Origins: Wolverine . In the movie, he is introduced as Wilson, a katana-wielding mercenary who joins William Stryker’s (Danny Huston) Team X, along with Wolverine. However, Wilson becomes a victim of Stryker’s experiments and is transformed into Weapon XI. While Weapon XI had Deadpool’s incredible healing factor, he did not have his characteristic red suit. What’s even stranger is that he had his mouth sewn shut and was silent, even though he’s often referred to as the Merc with a Mouth. As a result, many criticized the movie’s non-traditional depiction of Deadpool.

Fortunately, when the timeline was reset in X-Men: Days of Future Past , it allowed 20th Century Fox to introduce an alternate version of the character in Deadpool . Reynolds reprised his role as Wilson, but viewers finally got a comic book-accurate version of the Merc with a Mouth. The R-rated movie captures Deadpool in all his vulgar, foul-mouthed glory, telling the tragic, bloody, and surprisingly humorous story of a man whose experimental cancer treatment leaves him mutilated and with an unparalleled healing factor.

It wasn’t long before Reynolds reprised his role as Deadpool in the short film Deadpool: No Good Deed to tease Deadpool 2 . The short film was played before Logan in some theaters, given that Deadpool has always tried to steal Wolverine’s glory. It was soon followed by the release of Deadpool 2, which introduced Josh Brolin’s Cable as he, Deadpool, and X-Force go on a zany time-traveling adventure to save humanity.

During the holidays, 20th Century Fox also released a PG-13 version of Deadpool 2, Once Upon a Deadpool , to allow a broader audience to see the film. After that, Deadpool’s fate was left uncertain as Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. Fortunately, the studio opted to bring Deadpool into the MCU, with Reynolds teasing the decision in the promotional short film Deadpool and Korg React. Disney celebrated its acquisition of the franchise by making Deadpool and Deadpool 2 the first R-rated movies available to stream on Disney+ and giving the greenlight to Deadpool & Wolverine.

Where can I watch Deadpool movies online?

There is only one order to watch the Deadpool films, as each movie was released in chronological order. Here you can find out where to stream every Deadpool movie in order, including every offer available to viewers in the United States.

Every Hannibal Lecter Movie and Series in Chronological Order (and Where to Watch Them)

Want to find out where you can watch every Hannibal Lecter movie (and series) in chronological order? Find out what order the series should be watched in, and find out where to watch each entry using our guide below.

In 1991, The Silence of the Lambs premiered and chilled audiences to their core. The film follows young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she works to stop a killer known as Buffalo Bill, who kidnaps women and skins them. To ensure her success, she seeks the help of renowned forensic psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter. The problem is that Lecter is a serial killer himself and has his own nefarious intentions. Trapped between two killers, Starling must walk a tightrope to save Buffalo Bill’s victims, while also keeping herself alive.

But The Silence of the Lambs isn’t the original Hannibal Lecter story. The movie was actually adapted from a sequel novel written in 1988. The original Hannibal book came out in 1981 and was titled Red Dragon. The Silence of the Lambs also wasn’t the first Hannibal movie. It was actually 1986’s Manhunter that first brought the infamous cannibal to the big screen (though he was played by Brian Cox instead of Anthony Hopkins). The movie is based on the original Red Dragon novel and centers on a detective who is almost murdered by Lecter. But once a new serial killer called the Tooth Fairy begins murdering families, he’s forced to seek Lecter’s help to save lives. In 2002, another film adaptation of Red Dragon arrived, this time having Hopkins reprise his now-iconic role as Lecter.

In 2006 a prequel novel was released titled Hannibal Rising, which then became the earliest entry in the series chronologically. The following year, a film adaptation premiered, this time with Gaspard Ulliel portraying the younger Hannibal Lecter. The film shows how Lecter’s tortured childhood during World War II caused him to become desensitized to murder while also leaving him with long-lasting, unresolved trauma, thus explaining his descent into murder and cannibalism.

The final entry in the Hannibal series is 2001’s Hannibal . Based on the 1999 novel of the same name, the film takes place a decade after The Silence of the Lambs, and Clarice Starling is now played by Julianne Moore. The movie is far more outlandish than the previous entries and shows a strange bond develop between Starling and Lecter. The movie is also filled with way more gore than the previous films, including wild hog mutilations, eating human brains, and more. Still, Hannibal was a huge success at the box office.

Here’s how to watch the Hannibal Lecter movies both in order of release and chronologically.

By Order of Release:

Manhunter (1986)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Hannibal (2001)

Red Dragon (2002)

Hannibal Rising (2007)

By Chronological Order:

Hannibal Rising

The Silence of the Lambs

Fans of the franchise should also check out the highly acclaimed series Hannibal . While it doesn’t fit perfectly into the timeline, it’s still a fantastic series that’s developed a devout cult following thanks to its complex characters and excellent suspense. Another series, Clarice , premiered in 2021. Unlike Hannibal, it is very much rooted within the official timeline, taking place shortly after the events of The Silence of the Lambs.

Find out where to watch every Hannibal movie and series using our streaming guide below.

From The Matrix to Her: Where To Watch the 25 Best Films About AI, Ranked

Humanity has always been interested in the concept of artificial intelligence (AI), which is why the film industry has been tackling it since the first AI movie, Metropolis , in 1927. For decades, filmmakers have hypothesized and even warned about what a world with near-sentient, intelligent machines would look like. Now that real-life technology, such as GPT-4o, is genuinely starting to resemble the AI seen in movies like Her , interest in these movies is only increasing.

For those interested in AI from a filmmaker’s perspective, this guide will explain where to watch the 25 best movies about AI.

Some of the best AI movies are also some of the best sci-fi movies ever made, including The Matrix , 2001: A Space Odyssey , and Blade Runner . The Matrix sees Neo ( Keanu Reeves ), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburn), and Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss) seek the truth about the reality they live in. It warned of unchecked technological advancement, probing a dark world where AI enslaves humanity, trapping them in a virtual reality.

The idea of a dystopian world where AI takes over humanity has been explored in countless films, including The Creator , Ex Machina , Westworld , and I Am Mother . In fact, even back in the 1970s, films like Colossus: The Forbin Project were already exploring malevolent intelligent machines, highlighting the long-standing anxiety over advanced technology.

Some movies, like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, explore AI exerting control in a smaller capacity. However, Kubrick’s film is one of the most chilling, given that the AI, depicted as a simple red light, resembles modern voice recognition technology like Siri and Alexa.

Then, movies like Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner delve into other issues with AI, primarily the difficult question of what draws the line between humans and technology. As Rick Deckard ( Harrison Ford ) falls for a lifelike “Replicant,” it begs the question of what it will mean to be human once technology and humans become indistinguishable.

There are additional movies like Blade Runner where AI isn’t necessarily evil.

In films like Star Wars and Iron Man , AI machines like C-3PO and J.A.R.V.I.S. are friendly droids and AI assistants who help save the world. In the Joaquin Phoenix -led Her and Sam Rockwell-led Moon , the movies explore the concept of AI as a coping mechanism for human loneliness. Pixar’s 2008 animated hit WALL-E even delves into how AI may take charge simply because of sheer human laziness.

Where to watch the best movies about AI online

Whether it’s exploring dystopian worlds with evil AI, probing the concept of what it means to be human, delving into human-machine relationships, or exploring the potential of advanced technology, countless great movies have been made about AI.

Here is where to watch the 25 best AI movies ranked by quality, popularity, and how sophisticated their commentary on AI is.

100 Best Action Comedy Series of All Time – A Streaming Guide

Action comedy is one of the world's most popular TV genres, delivering heart-pounding action scenes and hilarious moments in equal measure. To help you find the best action comedy TV shows of all time, we've made a streaming guide with 100 must-see TV series to add to your watchlist. You can also use this guide to find out where you can watch them on streaming services such as Netflix , Prime Video , Max , Disney+ and more.

In addition to featuring hilarious gags and heart-racing action sequences, the best action comedy series have some of TV's most beloved characters. You can watch many action comedy series with iconic characters such as the sinster 'superhero' Homelander ( The Boys ), the lovable yet immensely powerful Aang ( Avatar: The Last Airbender ) and the ever-determined Lucy MacLean ( Fallout ).

While there are plenty of amazing live action TV series to enjoy, some of the best action comedy series are animated. Some of the very best TV series to animate action comedy adventures include the spy-spoof Archer , the TV-MA DC Comics adaptation of Harley Quinn , and the intergalactic explorations of Rick and Morty .

If you are specifically looking for top-rated action comedy series that are suitable for kids, check out The Powerpuff Girls , Teen Titans and Knuckles . You can also use JustWatch to filter by age rating to ensure you only see the kid-friendly titles on this list.

Where can I watch the best action comedy series?

Check out this JustWatch streaming guide, which features the best 100 action comedy series of all time and where to watch them on popular streaming services. This includes the latest streaming information for anybody streaming in the United States.

100 Best Superhero Series of All Time – A Streaming Guide

From animated classics like Justice League and X-Men to modern hits like The Umbrella Academy and Peacemaker , superheroes have been saving the day on the small screen for decades. To help you find the greatest superhero series to add to your watchlist, here's a steaming guide to the 100 of the best superhero series of all time. You can also use this guide to find out where you can watch them on popular streaming platforms like Netflix , Prime Video , Max and Disney+ .

There have been several Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) superhero series that have graced our screens over the years, including popular series such as Agent Carter and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. As the universe grew in popularity throughout the 2010s, so did the number of TV shows to enjoy. This was accelerated by the launch of Disney+, which saw WandaVision become the first Marvel TV show to directly impacted the course of upcoming MCU movies. Other Disney+ MCU shows include The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , Loki and Ms. Marvel .

DC Comics also has a rich television history, with many adaptations of the company's most popular heroes in live action TV shows and animated cartoons. In addition to the many Batman and Superman produced over the years, the CW's Arrowverse kickstarted in 2012 with Arrow and continued until 2023. The interconnected titles featured in the Arrowverse included The Flash , Supergirl , Legends of Tomorrow , Black Lightning and Batwoman . With other titles like Superman & Lois , Doom Patrol , Peacemaker , Watchmen and Constantine , fans have a flurry of choice from either universe to binge-watch.

From 2015-2019, Netflix was home to more adult-oriented superhero series such as Marvel’s Daredevil , one of the most beloved superhero series of all time. Jessica Jones , Luke Cage , Iron Fist , The Defenders and The Punisher rounded out Netflix's collection of Marvel superhero series.

When looking for the best superhero series of all time, fans can also consider non-Marvel/DC shows such as Prime Video’s The Boys – an extremely successful TV series that combined superheroes, action, comedy and R-rated content. There are also many animated TV shows adored by fans of every age, such as Batman: The Animated Series , Spider-Man , Harley Quinn , Invincible and Young Justice .

Where can I watch the best superhero series?

Check out our complete list of the best 100 superhero series of all time below. Discover where to watch them on streaming services available in the United States.

100 Best Sitcoms of All Time – A Streaming Guide

Sitcoms have been a mainstay in television for generations. Beginning with the first ever TV sitcom, Mary Kay and Johnny , leading up to modern classics like The Office and Parks and Recreation , there will always be at least one title every TV watcher can proudly proclaim to be the greatest sitcom of all time. In this streaming guide, you'll find the best TV sitcoms and where to watch them on popular streaming services like Netflix , Prime Video , Max and Disney+ . We'll also let you know if there are any options to stream a sitcom online for free.

When discussing timeless sitcoms, one standout remains a fixture in television history: the iconic I Love Lucy . which aired from 1951 until 1957. Its enduring legacy, spearheaded by the performance of the titular Lucille Ball, continues to inspire serialized comedy and modern day sitcoms.

Throughout the 1950s and '60s, families eagerly awaited the latest episode of hit sitcoms like Leave It to Beaver , The Honeymooners and Gilligan’s Island . By the 1970s, TV shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show , M*A*S*H , The Jeffersons and Happy Days featured memorable casts that kept viewers entertained season after season.

In the 1980s and ‘90s, there are several examples of sitcoms that showcase the daily challenges of American families and their familial bonds. Some of the best examples include Family Ties , Diff'rent Strokes , The Cosby Show , Full House , The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , Cheers , The Golden Girls , Seinfeld , Friends and Frasier . The 2000s saw an increase in popular workplace comedies, utilizing mockumentary-style filmmaking and uncomfortable cringe comedy. TV shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation are considered sitcom masterpieces, depicting hysterically awkward situations and occasionally warring (yet endearing) coworkers. Other great shows with a similar comedic style include Abbott Elementary , Modern Family and Arrested Development . For more adult comedy, sitcoms such as Curb Your Enthusiasm , Peep Show and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia never fail to deliver gut-busting laughs with their unique approaches to the sitcom genre.

Where can I watch the best sitcoms?

If you're looking for the best sitcom movies to add to your watchlist, you'll find plenty of amazing shows with this streaming guide. Here are the best 100 sitcoms of all time and where to watch them on streaming services in the United States.

100 Best Dark Fantasy Movies of All Time – A Streaming Guide

If you like your fantasy movies to be twisted, gruesome and ghastly – with stories of the dark arts and terrifying creatures – this guide to the 100 best dark fantasy movies of all time is perfect for you. In addition to a ranking of the top titles, we’ll show you where you can watch every movie on this list today on streaming services in the United States. We’ll also let you know if you can watch any of these iconic dark fantasy movies legally for free online.

The dark fantasy genre combines fantastical stories with themes of horror. Some of the most recognizable directors known for putting dark fantasy stories on the big screen include Guillermo del Toro ( Pan’s Labyrinth , Hellboy , The Shape of Water ), Tim Burton ( Coraline , Sleepy Hollow , Edward Scissorhands ) and Jim Henson ( The Dark Crystal , Labyrinth ).

Despite their themes of horror, there are plenty of dark fantasy movies that can be enjoyed by the whole family. A few examples include the animated adventure Don Bluth’s The Secret of NIMH , Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal , and George Lucas/Ron Howard’s Willow . Families with older children may also enjoy slightly darker adventures such as Roald Dahl’s The Witches , The Addams Family and Spirited Away .

If you’re interested in exploring some of the best dark fantasy movies produced outside of the United States, must-see titles include Onibaba (Japan), The City of Lost Children (France), Viy (Soviet Union) and In Fabric (United Kingdom). You can also enjoy dark fantasy anime movies such as Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust , Wicked City , Berserk: The Golden Age Arc trilogy and Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train .

Where can I watch the best dark fantasy movies?

Below you’ll find the latest streaming information for the 100 best dark fantasy movies. You can filter your results by release year, price, IMDb rating, age rating and run time.

100 Best Crime Detective Movies of All Time – A Streaming Guide

The crime detective genre puts thrilling criminal investigations on the big screen. These movies follow a detective – who could be a hired private investigator, a member of law enforcement, or a complete amateur – as they attempt to uncover the mysteries of a crime. The genre includes plenty of incredible noir ( The Lady from Shanghai , The Maltese Falcon ) and neo-noir ( Memories of Murder , Brick ) movies, as well as light-hearted parodies ( The Pink Panther ) and action comedies ( Rush Hour ). Whether you’re looking for cinema’s bleakest noir movies or something for the whole family, you’ll find something for you with our list of the 100 best crime detective movies of all time.

Many of the best crime detective movies are adaptations of famous novels. Among the most famous detectives successfully adapted for the big screen include Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe ( The Big Sleep , Farewell, My Lovely , The Long Goodbye ), Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes ( The Hound of the Baskervilles , The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ) and Agatha Christie's Poirot ( Murder on the Orient Express , Death on the Nile ). These characters have inspired many other movies on this top 100 list, so their movies are a great starting point for anybody who is new to the genre.

There are also plenty of options if you’re looking for unconventional detective crime stories that also belong to another genre. Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner: The Final Cut is a neo-noir science fiction movie starring Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, who is tasked with hunting down a group of criminal replicants (androids). Another example is Matt Reeve’s The Batman , a superhero movie which tells the story of Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattison) as he searches for a dangerous criminal in Gotham City.

Where can I watch the best crime detective movies?

Below you can find our complete list of the 100 best crime detective movies of all time. We’ll show you where you can watch every movie online on popular streaming services in the United States. We’ll also let you know if you can watch any of these movies online for free, or if they are available to watch for free with ads.

100 Best Rom-Com Movies of All Time – A Streaming Guide

Romantic comedies have provided audiences with love, laughter and heartbreak on the big screen for over a hundred years. Whether you’re looking for modern rom-coms such as Anyone But You and No Hard Feelings , or timeless classics like as Some Like it Hot and The Philadelphia Story , we’ve got you covered with this guide to the 100 best rom-coms of all time. We’ll show you where to watch every movie on this list, including the latest offers from streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. We’ll also show you if there are options to watch great rom-coms for free online.

Romantic comedies explore the subject of love in a humorous way. While there are iconic rom-coms from every decade since the silent era, the genre reached the peak of its box office powers in the 1990s. The wit and charm of writers such as Nora Ephron ( When Harry Met Sally , You’ve Got Mail ) and Richard Curtis ( Four Weddings and a Funeral , Notting Hill ) led to a slew of hit movies that are still synonymous with the genre today. Going back further, the works of Ernst Lubitsch ( Ninotschka , Trouble in Paradise ), Billy Wilder ( The Apartment , The Seven Year Itch ) and Howard Hawks ( Bringing Up Baby , His Girl Friday ) have undeniably stood the test of time. All three directors have multiple movies in our top 100, and their work inspired many of the tropes audiences now expect from a great rom-com movie.

If you prefer unconventional love stories, there are still plenty of rom-coms to enjoy – including the video game inspired Scott Pilgrim vs the World , the ABBA-inspired musical Mamma Mia! , or the time-traveling romance About Time . There are also many must-see rom-coms produced outside of the United States; Hit movies such as Amélie (France), Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Italy) and Eat Drink Man Woman (Taiwan) are all among the best rom-coms of all time.

Where can I watch the best rom-com movies?

No matter what you’re looking for in your next rom-com movie night, you’ll find something for your watchlist with our best 100 rom-coms of all time. Here’s the complete list and where to watch them on streaming services in the United States.

15 of the Best Steven Spielberg Movies (and Where to Watch Them)

Steven Spielberg is one of (if not the) best directors in Hollywood history. He’s been nominated for a lofty 22 Oscars and has won three. On top of that, he’s directed some of the biggest blockbusters ever that have grossed billions upon billions of dollars and become cultural landmarks that have shaped not just entertainment, but our daily lives. So, what are the filmmaker’s best movies? Use our guide below to discover the best Steven Spielberg movies and where to stream them.

You can’t talk about Spielberg without talking about Jaws . Centered around a New England town that’s battling a man-eating shark, Jaws is so terrifying that many horror fans even consider it a horror movie. The shark animatronic was a modern marvel at the time and some scenes still look downright terrifying to this day. But what makes the movie even more impressive is that it was Spielberg’s first major film. He was just 26 years old when he directed the feature. The movie was so powerful that it actually fueled society’s paranoia about sharks and led to a massive increase in the killings of great whites . Spielberg regrets the impact his film had on wildlife, but creating such an evocative story is impressive nonetheless.

Spielberg is also credited with reinvigorating society’s interest in dinosaurs thanks to Jurassic Park . The movie centers around an island theme park where resurrected dinosaurs are the main attraction. Naturally, it all goes to hell and the dinos break out of their cages, causing absolute chaos. With great actors, a great story, and great special and practical effects, Jurassic Park continues to be a beloved movie that fans watch over and over again. A new film in the franchise is also currently in the pre-production stage, so more dino chaos is on the way!

On top of his blockbuster hits, Spielberg is also known for his award-winning masterpieces (many of which also became blockbuster hits). His first Oscar nomination came in 1978 for Close Encounters of the Third Kind . The film shows what humanity’s first encounter with extraterrestrials might be like, and it’s filled with a great sense of wonder… and suspense. That combination makes Close Encounters a unique entry in the alien genre because it isn’t about the horror of an alien takeover, but instead focuses on the mix of fear, curiosity, and excitement that people would likely have.

Spielberg’s most lauded film though is 1994’s Schindler’s List . The film tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a man who saved over a thousand Jewish people during the holocaust by bribing Nazi leaders to assure their safety. The movie was met with universal praise and received 12 Oscar nominations. Schindler’s List went on to win seven awards, including Best Picture and Best Director - both for Spielberg since he directed and produced the film.

Where to watch the best Steven Spielberg movies

While almost every Steven Spielberg movie is fantastic in its own right, here are 15 you absolutely need to watch, from E.T. to Indiana Jones , and more. Find out where to watch Steven Spielberg’s best movies using our guide below.

Where To Watch Francis Ford Coppola’s 15 Best Movies, Ranked

After a 13-year hiatus from directing, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has returned with a new film, Megalopolis , which is already causing a stir following its Cannes premiere . A prominent figure in the New Hollywood film movement, Coppola is often hailed as one of the greatest directors of all time for his cinematic masterpieces with larger-than-life characters and rich stories. For those interested in delving into his work before Megalopolis, this guide will demonstrate where to watch his 15 best films.

Even those unfamiliar with Coppola will likely have heard of his best film, The Godfather , which is often hailed as one of the greatest movies ever made. The Godfather is credited with revolutionizing the gangster genre as it humanized the Corleones and their love of family. Additionally, the storytelling is rich, the criminals larger-than-life, and the performances of Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as Michael Corleone blew audiences away.

While the sequel, The Godfather II , couldn’t match the original's groundbreaking nature and historical significance, it is easily one of the greatest movie sequels ever made. The film arguably adds more depth and an even darker tone as it continues to delve into Michael’s deterioration intercut with masterfully crafted flashbacks of Vito’s ( Robert de Niro ) life.

Another movie that almost eclipsed The Godfather in quality and impact is Apocalypse Now . It is based on Joseph Conrad’s thought-provoking novel Heart of Darkness but switches the setting to the Vietnam War. Featuring the talents of Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, and Laurence Fishburne, Apocalypse Now is one of the most haunting, mesmerizing, and unforgettable war epics of all time.

Although often overshadowed by The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, The Conversation also warrants special mention in discussions of Coppola’s greatest works. The movie follows surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), who faces an intense moral dilemma when he realizes the couple he has been tailing may be at the center of a murder plot. It’s a simple plot, but the layers to the story are numerous as viewers delve deep into the nightmarish sense of paranoia and probe questions of morals and power.

In addition to four of the greatest movies of all time, Coppola has made many more well-received hits ranging from the zany and amusing You’re a Big Boy Now to the experimental road trip drama The Rain People to the horror vampire film Bram Stoker’s Dracula .

If you’re looking for more of Coppola’s greatest works, see below for where to watch his 15 best films ranked by their quality, popularity, and historical significance.

Where To Watch Every Star Wars Live-Action and Animated TV Show in Order

The Star Wars franchise expanded in 2024 with the live-action TV series The Acolyte . Set 100 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace , The Acolyte marks one of the shows to take advantage of the vast galaxy and timeline the franchise has to work with. For those interested in further exploring Star Wars’ TV show collection, this guide will demonstrate how and where to watch all the live-action and animated Star Wars TV shows in order.

While most are familiar with the Disney+ Star Wars shows, the franchise moved to the small screen long before Disney’s acquisition. By 1985, sister animated series Ewoks and Star Wars: Droids arrived on ABC and followed the adventures of the Ewoks, R2-D2, and C-3PO. However, it would be over two decades until the next TV show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars , arrived.

Fortunately, by 2003, George Lucas had established Lucasfilm Animation, which rang in a new era of Star Wars TV shows. Star Wars: The Clone Wars follows Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano between the events of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith . It went on to earn high critical acclaim for its groundbreaking visuals, voice performances, and story. Star Wars: The Clone Wars later received an equally well-received spinoff series, Star Wars: The Bad Batch .

Another prominent animated series is Star Wars Rebels , which follows Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren, and the rest of the Ghost Crew as they retaliate against the Galactic Empire’s oppressive rule following Order 66.

In 2019, the first live-action Star Wars series arrived with The Mandalorian . Set after the Galactic Empire's fall, The Mandalorian won fans over with its tale of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), a bounty hunter entrusted with protecting a Force-sensitive youngling, Grogu, from the remnants of the Empire. The series also brought back Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) from the Star Wars movies and transitioned Ahsoka to live-action, portrayed by Rosario Dawson . Out of The Mandalorian’s success came the spinoff series The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka .

The franchise has explored additional periods through its shows, too, such as the Rebellion with Star Wars: Andor or post-Order 66 in Obi-Wan Kenobi .

How to watch all the Star Wars TV shows in order

Unlike Marvel or DC, Star Wars TV shows aren’t divided into different universes. Almost all the shows are largely considered canon except the early Ewoks and Droids series and the anthology series Star Wars: Visions . Meanwhile, every series fits somewhere within the overall Star Wars timeline, making it possible to watch them in chronological order. Star Wars: Visions is the only show that doesn’t fit in the chronological order since it spans multiple timelines.

Otherwise, here are all the Star Wars TV shows chronologically:

Young Jedi Adventures

The Acolyte

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Star Wars: Droids

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars: Andor

The Mandalorian

The Book of Boba Fett

Star Wars Resistance

Where to watch all the Star Wars TV Shows online

There are a few problems with watching in chronological order: many TV shows take place over multiple years, they are difficult to place because they are anthologies, or, in the case of The Mandalorian season 3 and Ahsoka season 1, sometimes run concurrently with one another. Hence, another approach is simply to watch all the Star Wars TV shows by the release date order which is provided below:

Furiosa and 10 Other George Miller Movies You Need to Watch (and Where to Stream Them)

George Miller easily has one of the most unique directorial careers in Hollywood history. On one hand, he’s known for directing all the Mad Max movies , making him one of the most prolific action directors ever. But did you know that he’s also directed quite a few successful family films as well? Remember watching Happy Feet … that movie about the singing penguins? Yep, that’s George Miller too.

So, check out our guide below to find out where you can watch all of George Miller’s best movies, from action hits to kid’s favorites and more.

Miller is best known for creating, writing, and directing Mad Max . The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic Australia where the overconsumption of fossil fuels has created so much pollution that ecocide has virtually destroyed all plant life on Earth, forcing humans to battle for the few precious resources that are left. Unlike many franchises, where the directors are constantly swapped out, Miller has had full control of Mad Max since the beginning and has stayed on as director for every film in the franchise, including Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga . He’ll also be directing the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road sequel, Mad Max: The Wasteland.

In 1998, Miller went in a completely different direction when he wrote and directed the children’s classic Babe: Pig in the City , which was a sequel to 1995’s Babe (a movie that he wrote). This time around, Babe finds himself lost in the big city and eventually goes on a whirlwind adventure with the help of some of his animal pals.

Miller’s newfound reputation as a family film director grew even bigger in 2006 when he released the hit film Happy Feet. The movie was a jukebox musical following the life of penguins… who happen to absolutely love singing and dancing. The movie had a huge cast of A-List talent like Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, and Hugh Jackman , and featured songs like ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ by Elvis and ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen. The movie became a huge hit, grossing more than $384 million at the box office. In 2011, Miller returned to write, produce, and direct its sequel, Happy Feet Two .

One often-overlooked project of Miller’s was his involvement in 1983’s Twilight Zone: The Movie . The film was an anthology feature with different directors creating vignettes, similar to the TV show. For the film, Miller remade the iconic 1963 episode ‘Nightmare at 20,000 ft.’ where William Shatner played an airplane passenger who sees a gremlin on the wing of the plane. In Miller’s remake, John Lithgow takes over Shatner’s role and thanks to newer practical effects, the gremlin looks much more realistic and terrifying.

Looking for more of George Miller’s best movies? Use our guide below to find out where you can watch all of his best films.

How to Watch Every Movie at Cannes Film Festival 2024

The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival takes place from May 15, 2024 until May 25 2024. In addition to screening many of 2024's best movies, this is also where production companies can strike distribution deals for upcoming theatrical and streaming releases. In this guide, we'll show you where you can watch every feature-length movie and short film at Cannes Film Festival 2024. While it may be some time before these movies are available to the public, this guide is regularly updated so you'll be the first to know when a movie is available on streaming services such as Prime Video , Netflix , Criterion , Apple TV+ and many more.

Which movies are screening at Cannes 2024?

In competition, this year’s lineup includes the latest movies from renowned directors such as Francis Ford Coppola ( Megalopolis ), Andrea Arnold (Bird), Yorgos Lanthimos ( Kinds of Kindness ), David Cronenberg ( The Shrouds ) and Paolo Sorrentino ( Parthenope ). The festival opener is Quentin Dupieux’s Second Act, while movies screening out of competition include George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Kevin Costner’s Horizon, an American Saga .

Who is on the jury at Cannes 2024?

Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig presides over the 2024 Cannes film festival jury as president. Last year, the director’s Barbie became a worldwide hit, grossing more than $1.4 billion at the box office. Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan is President of the Un Certain Regard jury. The director has previously won several awards at Cannes, including the Jury Prize for Mommy in 2014 and the Grand Prix (the second most prestigious Cannes award after the Palme D’or) for It's Only the End of the World in 2016. At the time of writing, the full list of judges has not been released. Check out the full lineup for the Cannes Film Festival 2024 here:

The Second Act - Quentin Dupieux

Competition

All We Imagine as Light - Payal Kapadia

Anora - Sean Baker

Bird - Andrea Arnold

Caught by the Tides (Feng Liu Yi Dai) - Jia Zhang-Ke

Emilia Perez - Jacques Audiard

Grand Tour - Miguel Gomes

Kinds of Kindness - Yorgos Lanthimos

L’Amour Ouf - Gilles Lellouche

Limonov: The Ballad - Kirill Serebrennikov

Marcello Mio - Christophe Honore

Megalopolis - Francis Ford Coppola

Motel Destino - Karim Ainouz

Oh Canada - Paul Schrader

Parthenope - Paolo Sorrentino

The Apprentice - Ali Abbasi

The Girl With the Needle - Magnus von Horn

The Shrouds - David Cronenberg

The Substance - Coralie Fargeat

Wild Diamond (Diamant Brut) - Agathe Riedinger

Un Certain Regard

Armand - Halfdan Ullman Tondel

Black Dog (Gou Zhen) - Guan Hu

The Damned” (Les Damnes) - Roberto Minervini

L’Histoire de Souleymane - Boris Lojkine

Le Royaume - Julien Colonna

My Sunshine (Boku No Ohisama) - Hiroshi Okuyama

Norah - Tawfik Alzaidi

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl - Rungano Nyoni

Santosh - Sandhya Suri

September Says - Ariane Labed

The Shameless - Konstantin Bojanov

Viet and Nam - Truong Minh Quy

The Village Next to Paradise - Mo Harawe

Vingt Dieux! - Louise Courvoisier

Who Let the Dog Bite? (Le Proces du Chien) - Laetitia Dosch

Cannes Premiere

C’est Pas Moi - Leos Carax

En Fanfare (The Matching Bang) - Emmanuel Courcol

Everybody Loves Touda - Nabil Ayouch

Le Roman de Jim - Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu

Misericorde - Alain Guiraudie

Rendez-Vous Avec Pol Pot - Rithy Panh

Out of Competition

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga - George Miller

Horizon, an American Saga - Kevin Costner

Rumours - Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, Guy Maddin

She’s Has No Name - Chan Peter Ho-Sun

Midnight Screenings

I, the Executioner - Seung Wan Ryoo

The Balconettes (Les Femmes au Balcon) - Noemie Merlant

The Surfer - Lorcan Finnegan

Twilight of the Warrior Walled In - Soi Cheang

Special Screenings

Apprendre - Claire Simon

The Beauty of Gaza (La Belle de Gaza) - Yolande Zauberman

Ernest Cole, Lost and Found - Raoul Peck

L’Invasion - Sergei Loznitsa

Le Fil - Daniel Auteuil

Where can I watch Cannes film festival 2024 movies?

While many of the movies showing at Cannes film festival 2024 won’t be available to watch in theaters or streaming online until after the festival has ended, we’ve already got you covered with a streaming guide. This includes the latest streaming details for every movie in all categories (in competition, out of competition, the opening act, Un Certain Regard, Cannes premieres, midnight screenings and special screenings).

Where To Watch Every Naruto Movie and TV Show in Order

Naruto is one of the longest-running and most popular anime of all time. Based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga of the same name, the series has captivated audiences with its story of one young ninja’s dream to become the Hokage of his village. However, with a two-part anime series, a spinoff series, and 11 anime movies , the Naruto franchise can be daunting to dive into. Hence, this guide will demonstrate where and how to watch every Naruto show and film in order.

The TV series kicked off in 2002 with Naruto , which follows Naruto Uzumaki, an orphaned boy who is ostracized by his village for having the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed in his body. Eager for acceptance, Uzumaki works to prove his skill as a ninja, eventually joining Kakashi Hatake’s Team 7 with Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno to complete missions and protect the village.

After Naruto concluded in 2007 with 220 episodes, Naruto Shippūden was released that same year. Naruto Shippūden is considered Part 2 of the anime series, serving as a direct sequel to the original series and following Uzumaki during his teenage years. The series begins with a two-year time skip, during which Uzumaki was training with ninjutsu master Jiraiya. Upon returning, he resumes his ninja missions with Team 7 and seeks to bring Sasuke home after the boy leaves, seeking revenge on his brother.

Interspersed throughout both series are 11 films; three premiered during Naruto’s run, while the latter eight premiered during Naruto Shippūden. Of all the films, only the 2014 movie, The Last: Naruto the Movie , is a canon in the series. The 2014 film, along with Boruto: Naruto The Movie , is among the most well-received films, as it largely leads into the Naruto spinoff series. Naruto The Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow and Road to Ninja: The Naruto Movie are also often heralded as fan favorites.

As mentioned above, the Naruto series received a spinoff series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations , which focuses on the eponymous son of Naruto. The series’ first part concluded last year, while the second part, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, is still awaiting a release date as the manga tries to get ahead of the show.

How to watch the Naruto franchise in chronological and release date order

Although the movies aren’t canon, they are meant to accompany the series and sometimes reference events from their complementary episodes. For those who don’t mind jumping between the shows and movies, the chronological order of the Naruto franchise is as follows:

Naruto Episodes 1 - 101

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Naruto Episodes 101 - 160

Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel

Naruto Episodes 161 - 196

Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Naruto Episodes 197 - 220

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 1 - 32

Naruto Shippūden the Movie

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 33 - 71

Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Bonds

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 72 - 126

Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 127 - 143

Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Lost Tower

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 144 - 196

Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Blood Prison

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 197 - 251

Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 252 - 493

The Last: Naruto the Movie

Naruto Shippūden Episodes 494 - 500

Boruto: Naruto the Movie

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episodes 1 - 293

However, since the movies aren’t canon to the series, another option is to watch each series in full, followed by their respective films in release date order, as seen below.

Furiosa: 10 Best Anya Taylor-Joy Movies and TV Shows (and Where to Stream Them)

In 2021, Anya Taylor-Joy arrived at the Golden Globes with two nominations: One for her film Emma and the other for her hit miniseries The Queen’s Gambit . Later that night she won the Globe for The Queen’s Gambit. That same year she also received a SAG award and an Emmy nomination. Since then, Taylor-Joy has become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. But did you know she’s been starring in fantastic movies and TV series for almost a decade?

Check out our guide below to discover Anya Taylor-Joy’s best movies and TV shows so far and where to stream them online right now. We'll let you know which of her performances can be enjoyed on streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. We'll also show you if there are any Anya Taylor-Joy movies to watch online for free.

Anya Taylor-Joy had her first big breakout role in 2015’s The VVitch . The movie centers around a family in the 1600s who have been banished from a Puritan village. Now forced to live in a remote homestead, the family battles with famine and starvation, pushing them to madness. Making everything even more dire… there might be a witch secretly watching the family, relishing in their downfall. The movie was a hit and cemented the young studio A24 as a real power player in Hollywood.

No list of Taylor-Joy’s best roles would be complete without The Queen’s Gambit , which served as her most notable role to date, launching her onto Hollywood’s A-List. In the acclaimed miniseries, she plays a young orphan who becomes a chess prodigy. But she also battles with depression and drug addiction. As her chess fame grows, so do her problems. The series won a boatload of awards, including Best Limited Series at the Emmys.

A role that many fans often forget about is Taylor-Joy’s turn as Casey Cooke in M. Night Shyamalan ’s hit film Split , and its sequel Glass . In Split, Taylor-Joy is kidnapped by a man suffering from multiple-personality disorder. Some of his personalities seek to harm, while others want to help. She returns for the sequel Glass, which also brought back Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson from Unbreakable, bringing all three superhumans together and concluding the Unbreakable trilogy.

In 2023, Taylor-Joy also had a prominent voice role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie , where she portrayed the iconic Princess Peach. The movie brought tons of famous Nintendo characters to life, like Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, and more. It was also a massive blockbuster hit, grossing $1.3 billion at the box office. Nintendo has also announced that the cast will return for a sequel in 2026, so Mario fans have a lot to look forward to.

Where can I watch Anya Taylor-Joy movies and TV shows online?

Looking for more of Anya Taylor-Joy’s best roles after watching Furiosa ? Then check out our streaming guide below to find out where you can watch her best movies and TV shows. This includes all the latest streaming details for viewers in the United States.

Where To Watch the 10 Best Michael Bay Movies, Ranked

From Bad Boys to Transformers , Michael Bay is the director behind some of the most well-known action franchises and film series. While critics often erroneously reduce his work to little more than explosions and formulaic action heroes, Bay’s craftsmanship and technical filmmaking skills are paralleled by few in the industry. All of his films have a distinct style and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of every aspect of filmmaking, from set scenery to camera speed and angles.

For those interested in the films that best illustrate Bay’s skill as a director, this guide will explore his 10 best movies and where to watch them.

In recent years, Bay has shifted more to producing. He is the producer behind two of the year's most-anticipated movies: A Quiet Place: Day One and Transformers One . For the purposes of this article, though, we’ll be focusing on the films that gained him prominence as a director.

One of Michael Bay’s most enduring films is the one that started his career: Bad Boys . The 1995 buddy cop comedy starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence earned praise for its frantic pace, the dynamic between Smith and Lawrence, the extended action sequences, and the hilarious tale of two reckless detectives searching for missing narcotics. It was a substantial enough commercial success to earn three sequels, although Bay only returned to direct Bad Boys II , which further ramped up the action, dark humor, and stunning visual effects.

After his directorial debut, Bay followed up with arguably the best film of his career, The Rock . Boasting a stacked cast including Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery, the film tells the thrilling story of an Alcatraz break-in. It boasts some of the most extravagant action sequences of any Bay movie and runs at a pace that keeps the adrenaline pumping for every minute of its runtime.

Meanwhile, Pain & Gain and 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi are notable as Bay’s most mature and sophisticated movies. Pain & Gain, starring Mark Wahlberg , Anthony Mackie, and Dwayne Johnson , sees Bay expertly craft his filmmaking to convey the satirical and dark tone of the story, while 13 Hours thrillingly and heartbreakingly captures the 2012 Benghazi attacks.

Bay’s penchant for groundbreaking visual effects and larger-than-life action plots was also well-suited for the exhilarating and visually stunning Transformers. At the same time, his love of breakneck pacing elevated the Jake Gyllenhaal -led Ambulance to one unforgettable car chase thriller.

If you’re looking for more unforgettable action thrillers in Bay’s signature filmmaking style, read on for his ten best movies, ranked from the best.

Where to Watch Every Bad Boys Movies in Order

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence returned to their iconic roles as Mike and Marcus in 2024's Bad Boys: Ride or Die . It marked the fourth film in the franchise and latest entry in the series since the finale of the spin-off show LA’s Finest in late 2020. If you want to find out where to watch every Bad Boys movie, check out our list below which provides information on where to stream the movies on platforms like Netflix , Max , Prime Video and more!

The first Bad Boys movie premiered in 1995, and on top of being a blockbuster hit for Smith and Lawrence, it also served as the breakout role for actress Téa Leoni. In the film, Smith and Lawrence play two police detectives in Miami who are trying to find a massive cache of heroin that’s been stolen from the department’s evidence locker. Things get even more complicated when they’re forced to provide protection for a woman who witnessed a mob hit. The movie grossed almost $66 million in North America alone, making it a bona fide hit.

Thanks to the home rental market, the film continued to be popular, and in 2003 it received a sequel: Bad Boys 2 . This time around, Smith and Lawrence were joined by more famous faces like Gabrielle Union and Michael Shannon. In the film, Mike and Marcus are investigating a drug trafficking ring and Mike is secretly seeing Marcus’ younger sister Syd (Union). But neither of the guys know that Syd is actually an undercover agent for the DEA. The dynamic between the three stars really helped keep the sequel feeling fresh and the movie became a smash hit, grossing more than $273 million at the box office.

The franchise then went dormant for almost 20 years, returning in 2019 with the spin-off series LA’s Finest . In the show, Union reprises her role as Syd and is joined by Jessica Alba who plays her partner at the LAPD. Sadly, the show premiered as a Spectrum Original back when the cable company was attempting to create original content. With hardly anyone knowing about the service or what Spectrum was, the show suffered from poor viewership. Just three years later, Spectrum announced it wouldn’t produce more shows after its handful of original series all performed poorly. The good news is that LA’s Finest has been given a second life on other streaming services.

In 2020, Bad Boys finally returned for a third film with Bad Boys for Life . Mike and Marcus return and encounter a vengeful enemy from their past who is hellbent on avenging his father (who was sent to prison after being caught by the duo). Released in January 2020, Bad Boys for Life was one of the only major blockbusters to be released in 2020 before the COVID pandemic shut down theaters around the world. The movie continued performing well in cinemas even through the weekend of March 7-8, just a few days before lockdown began. Still, despite COVID, Bad Boys for Life remains the highest-grossing film in the franchise, earning an impressive $426 million.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die found Miami's Finest turning into Miami's Most Wanted as the duo are on the run from the law after being accused of murdering their old Police Chief.

Where to watch all the Bad Boys movies online

The hilarious Bad Boys have been a beloved buddy cop duo for decades. Find out where you can stream the entire Bad Boys franchise in the United States using our guide below!

Where to Watch Guillermo del Toro’s Best Movies and TV Shows

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is known for many things – he’s noted for his unique style that often takes inspiration from dark fairytales. He’s also an integral figure in the horror genre thanks to his numerous horror films (plus, he often cites classic horror movies as his inspirations), and in more recent years, he’s become known as an award-winning director who isn’t just popular with genre fans, but who can hold his own against the Hollywood greats.

If you want to watch del Toro’s best movies and TV shows, use our guide below to find out where they are streaming.

Guillermo del Toro’s trademark film is easily Pan’s Labyrinth . While it wasn’t del Toro’s first movie, it was the first to earn him international acclaim. In the film, a young girl escapes her domineering stepfather by entering into a fairytale world…but not everything about the realm is good. She encounters both light and dark, good and bad, and friends and enemies. The movie was lauded for its gorgeous visuals and raw, emotional story. At the 79th Oscars, Pan’s Labyrinth received six nominations and won three awards, including for Best Cinematography.

But long before Pan’s Labyrinth, one of del Toro’s earliest hits was the sci-fi horror film Mimic . The movie takes place in New York City, where a deadly disease spread by cockroaches is killing hundreds of children. To stop the spread, scientists bioengineer a new bug that secretes a toxin that kills off the cockroaches. But some years later, the new bugs have continued to evolve and are now hunting humans. Though a moderate success in theaters, Mimic became a huge hit in the rental market and is now a cult classic among horror fans.

More recently, the film that most fans know del Toro for is The Shape of Water . At the 90th Oscars, the movie was nominated for a whopping 13 awards and won two major categories: Best Director for del Toro and Best Picture. The film centers around a lonely employee of a secret government facility during the Cold War. One day she discovers that the compound is hiding a dark secret… a mysterious sea creature that’s being kept trapped in a tank. Heavily inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon, the movie took horror elements and blended them with a love story.

del Toro also used his love of monsters to create another hit movie: Pacific Rim . Heavily inspired by Godzilla and other Japanese monster movies, the film sees humanity fight off towering monsters known as kaijus using giant mechs called jaegers. Stylistically, it’s pretty different from most of del Toro’s films, but it very much plays into the filmmaker’s love of classic monster movies. For fans of the MonsterVerse , Pacific Rim is a must-watch.

Looking for more great del Toro movies? Check out our guide below to find out where you can watch more of his best films (and even some hit TV shows).

Where To Watch Every DC Animated Movie in Order

Most viewers are familiar with the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). However, if one wants to dive even deeper into the world of DC Comics, consider exploring the enormous collection of DC animated movies. Animated film adaptations of DC Comics have been produced since 1993, with multiple cinematic universes and continuities being developed over the years. Delving into the vast collection may be daunting to newcomers, but this guide will break down where to watch every DC animated movie in order.

The oldest shared universe is the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), which kicked off in 1992 with the TV show Batman: The Animated Series . The series soon inspired the theatrical film Batman: Mask of Phantasm in 1993, with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Bruce Wayne (a.k.a. Batman ) and The Joker, respectively. Ultimately, the DCAU continuity would consist of eight films, including the critically acclaimed Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker .

While the DCAU was the first continuity, another major universe that has sprung up is the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU). It is one of the largest continuities, consisting of 17 movies, beginning with Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox . The film is a unique crossover film that sees the return of voice actors like Conroy’s Batman and Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern while introducing some new voice actors, including Michael B. Jordan as Victor Stone.

All 17 movies in the DCAMU are loosely based on the New 52 storylines from the comics, which explore the rebooted DC timeline following Flashpoint. It heavily focuses on the Justice League, Batman, and Batman’s son, Damian. Some of its most well-received films include Batman vs. Robin , Batman: Bad Blood , The Death of Superman , and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War .

Another large universe is Origins, a group of movies that aren’t necessarily interconnected but are lumped together because, as the title suggests, they focus on DC heroes’ origin stories. Origins comprises 14 movies, including Batman: Year One and Wonder Woman (2009). Then, there are many standalone films that don’t belong to any specific universe but are based on DC Comics. These movies can be pretty fun, such as Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Batman vs. Dracula , since they’re not confined to any one continuity. Like Origins, these largely non-related standalone films are grouped into their own universe: Animated Elseworlds.

There are also two smaller universes known as the Tomorrowverse and Arkhamverse. Tomorrowverse is the successor to the DCAMU, while the Arhamverse consists of one movie and the Batman: Arkham video game series.

How to watch the DC Animated Movies in Order

You can either watch DC animated movies by universe or by release date. Given the multiple continuities, watching by universe is the closest one can get to chronological order. Meanwhile, there’s no set order to watch the universes in. However, it’s largely agreed upon Origins is the best to start with since it introduces so many DC heroes. Afterward, we recommend going with the more recent DCAMU before moving on to the three smaller universes and concluding with the standalone movies in Elseworlds.

Find out how to view the movies by universe below, followed by how to stream them in release date order.

Batman: Year One
Batman: Gotham Knight
Wonder Woman (2009)
Green Lantern: First Flight
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
All-Star Superman
DC Showcase: Superman / Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
Superman / Batman: Public Enemies
Superman / Batman: Apocalypse
Superman: Unbound
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman: Death in the Family
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
Justice League: Doom
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Justice League: War
Son of Batman
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
Batman vs. Robin
Batman: Bad Blood
Justice League vs. Teen Titans
Justice League Dark
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
The Death of Superman
Constantine: City of Demons
Reign of the Supermen
Batman: Hush
Wonder Woman: Bloodlines
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
Constantine: House of Mystery
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
The Batman / Superman Movie: World’s Finest
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
Superman: Brainiac Attacks
Batman and Harley Quinn
Justice League vs. The Fatal Five

The Tomorrowverse

Superman: Man of Tomorrow
Justice Society: World War II
Batman: The Long Halloween Part One
Batman: The Long Halloween Part Two
Green Lantern: Beware My Power
Legion of Super-Heroes
Justice League: Warworld
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two

The Arkhamverse

Batman: Assault on Arkham

Animated Elseworlds

The Batman vs. Dracula
Superman: Doomsday
Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo
Justice League: The New Frontier
Superman vs. The Elite
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2
Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
Batman vs Two-Face
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
Batman Ninja
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans
Superman: Red Son
Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons: The Movie
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Catwoman: Hunted
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham

Where To Watch the Men in Black Movies in Order

Men in Black is over 25 years old yet still remains a sci-fi cult classic. The ‘90s movie kicked off a film series as well as a contemporary spinoff. For those interested in the memorable franchise, which still has the potential to expand, this guide will demonstrate where and how to stream the Men in Black franchise in order.

The franchise began as a comic book series from Aircel Comics, which is now owned by Marvel Comics . The comics were inspired by the Men in Black (MIB) conspiracy theory, which posits that secret government agents use tactics like memory-wiping to prevent knowledge of UFOs or other extraterrestrial occurrences from reaching the public. In 1997, director Barry Sonnenfeld and writer Ed Solomon put a comedic spin on the MIB theory.

Men in Black sees Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones take on the roles of Agent J and Agent K, respectively, as they navigate the extraterrestrial-investigating titular organization and form a close bond while saving the world. The movie was a major critical and commercial hit, with its witty script, palpable chemistry between Smith and Lee, and stunning blend of practical effects and CG elements.

By 2002, Men in Black II arrived on the big screen, with Smith and Jones reprising their iconic roles. Rosario Dawson , Johnny Knoxville, Rip Torn, and Michael Jackson also appeared in the film. Once again, it was a significant box office hit, though it suffered from mixed critical reviews for veering too close to the original story.

Fortunately, Men in Black 3 got the series back on track by introducing a time-traveling element. Agent J travels back in time to save Agent K’s life. In the process, he meets the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) from the 1960s. Although it was a well-made, refreshing, and humorous sci-fi movie, it didn’t quite eclipse the original. Still, the moderate critical and box office success should’ve been enough to move forward with Men in Black 4.

Instead, the franchise was rebooted in 2019 with the spinoff Men in Black: International . The film did not feature Smith or Jones; instead, it introduced two new agents, Agent H ( Chris Hemsworth ) and Agent M (Tessa Thompson), as they investigated a mole in the agency. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the same without Smith and Jones, with many feeling the spinoff and reboot weren’t necessary, resulting in mostly negative reviews.

So far, no news has arisen of further movies in the franchise, although its success and enduring legacy mean the door is never wholly closed on Men in Black 4.

For those interested in diving into the memorable sci-fi series, here’s how to watch the Men in Black franchise in release date order, including the animated series (although it's not canon to the movies).

The Best Luca Guadagnino Movies to Watch After Challengers (And Where to Stream Them)

Challengers has become one of the hottest movies of the spring thanks to a great performance from Zendaya and the bubbling queer sexual tension that director Luca Guadagnino is so famous for. If you loved the pulpy, exciting melodrama of Challengers , check out our guide below to find out where you can watch more of Guadagnino’s best movies and TV shows.

Luca Guadagnino began his career in Italy and has directed everything from commercials to music videos, documentaries, short films, and feature-length movies. His first major hit around the globe was 2009’s I Am Love . An official selection at the Sundance, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto film festivals, the movie centers around a woman (Tilda Swinton) who begins a new life in Italy and marries into a wealthy family. But soon, she begins having an affair with one of her son’s friends. Filled with sexual tension, lies, and lust, the movie is salacious and captivating.

Arguably the most famous Guadagnino film is Call Me By Your Name . In the film, a 24-year-old (Armie Hammer) arrives in Italy to help a professor with a project during the early ‘80s. Soon, he begins to fall in love with the professor’s 17-year-old son ( Timothée Chalamet ). The film received praise for its sexual tension and emotional exploration of what life was like for closeted men who fall in love. Call Me By Your Name received ample amounts of praise and was even nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Chalamet would team up with the director again a few years later for Bones and All .

Guadagnino also directed the 2018 remake of Suspiria , a film about a reclusive German dance school that’s actually run by a coven of bloodthirsty witches. Despite being a horror movie, Suspiria was praised for its cinematography and gorgeous visuals. It also had an all-star cast that included Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, and Dakota Johnson .

Discover where to stream more of Luca Guadagnino’s best movies (and even his HBO miniseries We Are Who We Are ) using our guide below.

9 Best Tennis Movies to Watch After Challengers (and Where to Stream Them)

Maybe it’s because it stars Zendaya , or perhaps it’s the now-infamous ménage à trois scene, but Challengers has stolen the spotlight as one of the buzziest movies of the spring. If you liked it, check out our guide below to discover more great tennis movies you can watch right now. From a biopic starring Emma Stone to a Kirsten Dunst rom-com, and more.

What are some of the best tennis movies?

If you want to watch a great tennis movie, one of the most notable is 2017’s Battle of the Sexes . The film tells the true story of when Billie Jean King played a match against tennis legend Bobby Riggs. King ended up beating Riggs, which became a monumental event in the tennis world, proving that women could hold their own against the men and should be taken seriously in the sport. Emma Stone played King and Steve Carrell portrayed Riggs. In 2001, a made-for-TV movie called When Billie Beat Bobby covered the same event, this time with Holly Hunter portraying King. The movie was well-received and Hunter even earned an Emmy nomination for her role.

Another high-profile tennis biopic is 2021’s King Richard , which starred Will Smith as Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena. The movie follows the Williams sisters as they grow up under the watchful eye of their dad who is determined to turn them into tennis pros, no matter how hard it might be. The film was nominated for six Oscars, with Smith winning for Best Actor. However, that same night Smith had the infamous “Oscars slap” incident and was promptly banned from the Academy Awards for a decade.

For a more romanticized tennis film, check out 2004’s Wimbledon . The movie stars Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany as two tennis players at Wimbledon. Bettany is a fading star, while Dunst is a rising tennis competitor. The two meet, sparks fly, drama is had, and the duo must navigate how to win their matches despite all the distractions of their relationship. The movie was loaded with other stars too, like Sam Neill and Jon Favreau.

Another movie set in Wimbledon is 7 Days in Hell . The film is based on the unbelievably true story of the longest match in tennis history. Played in 2010 between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, a series of constant ties forced the game to be played for more than 11 hours over three days. The movie starred Andy Samberg and Kit Harington as two fictitious tennis players (who are based on Isner and Mahut) who get locked into a neverending tennis match.

Where can I watch the best tennis movies streaming online?

There are tons more excellent tennis movies and series out there, including documentaries. If you want to watch more great tennis action, check out our guide below to find out where you can stream them all. We'll also show you where you can watch the best tennis movies online for free.

The 10 Best Jason Momoa Films, Ranked (And Where To Watch Them)

Jason Momoa has quickly become one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood, boasting roles in numerous high-profile franchises, including Dune , the DCEU , Game of Thrones , and Fast & Furious. He will also star in the Minecraft movie next year alongside Jack Black . For viewers who wish to acquaint themselves with Momoa’s work before his next projects arrive, this guide will rank his ten best movies and detail where to watch them.

Momoa’s first major film role was as the titular character in Conan the Barbarian (2011), a reimagining of the film of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger . While Momoa’s acting was praised, the movie itself was a critical and commercial failure. Fortunately, Conan the Barbarian didn’t derail his career.

He bounced back with the underrated Bullet to the Head in 2012, where he proved his skill as an action star alongside Sylvester Stallone . However, it wasn’t until 2018 that he had his breakthrough with Aquaman .

Aquaman became the DCEU’s highest-grossing film to date, surpassing $1 billion at the box office. Momoa received high praise for embodying the half-human, half-Atlantean superhero Arthur Curry. He reprised his role as Curry in Zack Snyder’s Justice League , as well as Aquaman’s sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , which failed to match the success of its predecessor.

Momoa also starred in Braven in 2018, elevating the film beyond a typical action-thriller with his emotional and fierce performance as a man desperate to save his family.

By 2021, Momoa had joined another major franchise when he appeared in Denis Villeneuve ’s critically acclaimed Dune . He held his own alongside A-list actors like Timothée Chalamet and Oscar Isaac while portraying Duncan Idaho, one of Paul Atreides’ most beloved mentors.

The following year, he debuted in the Fast & Furious series as Dante Reyes in Fast X . Despite the film receiving mixed reviews, Momoa’s unhinged villain role received unanimous praise, marking one of his career-best performances.

Ranking his movies is a bit difficult as some of his best performances were in movies that weren’t very well-received by critics. Hence, this list considers both the quality and significance of his role in each film, as well as the film's overall quality.

Here are Jason Momoa’s ten best performances, ranked from the best, and where to stream them online.

Where To Watch Every Marvel TV Show in Order

Marvel has recently been expanding its small screen presence through several Disney+ original series, which are canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe . More Marvel TV series are on the way, including some, like Daredevil: Born Again , that tie into Marvel’s pre-Disney+ era. For those looking to catch up on every Marvel-based TV show, this guide will demonstrate where and how to watch all the series in order.

The Marvel shows canon to the MCU began with the Disney+ series WandaVision in 2021. However, there were several important Marvel series before 2021 — they just weren’t produced by Marvel Studios. Marvel’s live-action TV presence started with ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2013, which ran for seven seasons and achieved high critical acclaim. Although not considered canon to the MCU, it does center on Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who first appeared in Iron Man . MCU star Samuel L. Jackson also appears as Nick Fury in the series.

The success of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. led ABC to greenlight Agent Carter , another non-canon spinoff focused on the MCU character Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Despite receiving stellar reviews, Agent Carter was canceled after two seasons. Meanwhile, the third ABC series, Inhumans , also faced speedy cancellation after being critically panned.

Netflix also invested in several Marvel series from 2015 to 2019. The streamer created what is known as the Defenders saga, consisting of six interconnected series. Of the series, the most critically acclaimed were Daredevil and Jessica Jones . Charlie Cox’s performance as Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s performance as Kingpin were so beloved that Marvel decided to integrate the characters into the MCU, despite the Defenders series technically not being canon. Cox and D’Onofrio will soon star in the Daredevil reboot Daredevil: Born Again. Hulu, FX, Fox, and Freeform have also briefly dabbled in Marvel series, with shows like Runaways and Cloak & Dagger .

By 2021, the MCU decided to move to the small screen with the Emmy-winning WandaVision, which saw Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprise their roles as the Scarlet Witch and Vision, respectively. In total, the MCU has released ten original Disney+ series. Of those series, What If…? and the Tom Hiddleston -led Loki were popular enough to warrant season 2 renewals. Future series include Agatha , Ironheart , and Eyes of Wakanda.

It’s impossible to watch every Marvel series in chronological order, given that not all of them occur in the same universe. Hence, the best way to watch is in the order of release date. See below for where to watch every live-action or MCU canon Marvel TV show (and TV special) in release date order.

Where To Watch Every Movie in the After Series in Order

The After film series is set to expand soon, with a prequel and fifth sequel reportedly in development. Based on the book series of the same name by Anna Todd, the movies have garnered attention for dramatically capturing a complicated modern college romance. For those interested in catching up on the series before the prequel, Before, releases, this guide will demonstrate where and how to watch every After movie in order.

After premiered in 2019 and featured Josephine Langford in the lead role of Tessa Young. Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Ralph Fiennes's nephew, starred opposite Langford as Hardin Scott. Fiennes Tiffin had previously portrayed young Tom Riddle in the Harry Potter film series . After follows Tessa, an innocent freshman college student who finds her life upended by Hardin, the manipulative and selfish “bad boy” she finds herself inexplicably falling for.

The movie received mixed reviews, as it drew criticism for being a rather generic romance but was praised for its drama and beautiful cinematography. It was also a hit at the box office, earning nearly $70 million worldwide on a budget of just $14 million.

Hence, a sequel, After We Collided , soon arrived. Langford and Fiennes Tiffin reprise their roles as the young lovers who re-enter a tumultuous relationship after regretting their breakup. It received slightly more negative reviews than the first. Still, it was a comparable commercial success to the original, resulting in three more sequels: After We Fell , After Ever Happy , and After Everything .

However, critical and commercial reception continued to fall, with After We Fell and After Ever Happy receiving a score of 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and box office earnings dropping to around $20 million. Still, After Everything was greenlit. It was the first movie to boast an original story outside of Todd’s books and was advertised as the final film in the series. Although it received a limited theatrical release, it made $10 million at the box office and received relatively favorable audience reviews.

Soon, After Everything director Castille Landon confirmed the movie wasn’t the last chapter in the series, as a prequel was in development. Additionally, another untitled sequel is in development, inspired by the epilogue of the After Ever Happy book, which will focus on Hardin’s and Tessa’s children. It is believed the prequel and sequel will be the first movies without Langford or Fiennes Tiffin.

For those interested in catching up with the series before the prequel and sequel, here is where to watch the After movies in release date order.

Where To Watch Every Pixar Animation Studios Movie in Order

Pixar Animation Studios is one of the most influential and successful animation studios of all time, having made unparalleled contributions to the film industry in computer animation. The studio has produced 28 feature films including the latest with 2024's highly anticipated sequel, Inside Out 2 .

Read on to discover where to stream every Pixar Animation Studios movie online!

Pixar began as a part of Lucasfilm’s Computer Division. Under Lucasfilm, it created the first wholly computer-animated sequence in a feature film by designing a scene where a planet transforms in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . By 1986, Steve Jobs bought the Computer Division and formed it into the independent company Pixar, which quickly began collaborating with Disney.

Out of Pixar and Disney’s collaboration, the very first computer-animated feature film, Toy Story , was born. The computer-animated movie was released in 1995 and explored a world where toys like Woody ( Tom Hanks ) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) come to life. It was like nothing viewers had ever seen before and quickly became the most important film of its kind, setting a precedent for further computer-animated features.

Since then, Pixar has stayed on top of the computer animation field, with every movie boasting cutting-edge technology, innovation, and creativity. Nearly every Pixar movie has achieved high critical acclaim, but a few stand out especially. Finding Nemo took home the studio's first Best Animated Feature win at the Oscars, while The Incredibles was the first wholly animated movie to earn the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

Cars became a profitable trilogy and introduced Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), one of the most iconic and recognizable Pixar characters. Meanwhile, the emotional and adventurous Up became the first Pixar movie and second animated movie in history to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Toy Story 3 soon became the third animated movie to earn a Best Picture nomination and broke $1 billion at the box office.

Its movies have only become more sophisticated, with movies like Inside Out , Coco , Soul , and Turning Red seeking to celebrate girlhood and other cultures and exploring concepts like grief and mortality. Inside Out 2 explores emotions during puberty and raises awareness for struggles with anxiety in adolescence.

Where can I watch all Pixar movies online?

For those looking to watch all of Pixar’s movies online, here is how to stream them in release date order from oldest to newest.

Where to Watch the Entire Sonic Cinematic Universe in Order

Sonic is the ultimate hero and the undefeated underdog. He single-handedly saved SEGA in the '90s, and when the first trailer for his live-action 2020 film debuted, it became the center of jokes and memes thanks to Sonic’s terrifyingly real animation. But after the movie received tons of praise from audiences and grossed more than $319 million at the box office, one thing became clear: Sonic is no joke. Check out our guide to find out where you can watch every movie and show in the Sonic Cinematic Universe in order. We'll also show you if there are options to watch Sonic movies legally for free in the United States.

What is the Sonic Cinematic Universe?

A lot of fans are probably wondering what exactly the “Sonic cinematic universe” is. It’s all the films, shows, and shorts that take place in the new live-action era of Sonic. Believe it or not, Sonic has actually had quite a few shows throughout his three decades – like Sonic the Hedgehog (1993), Sonic Underground (1999), and Sonic X (2003). So it’s important to differentiate that the new franchise doesn’t include those older entries.

So, where does the Sonic Cinematic Universe start? That would be with 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog , where Sonic uses a golden ring to transport himself to Earth. But once Dr. Robotnik discovers his location, Sonic is forced to escape with the help of his new friend (played excellently by James Marsden).

Thanks to the movie’s success, it was followed by Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 2022. This time around, Dr. Robotnik is back for revenge and audiences get to see more iconic Sonic characters brought to life like Knuckles and Tails. The mid-credits scene also introduces the villainous Shadow, who is going to play a large role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 later in 2024…and be voiced by none other than Keanu Reeves.

There’s also the spin-off series Knuckles , which premiered in April 2024. The show centers around Knuckles, who helps the dimwitted town sheriff by teaching him the ways of the echidna warriors. The show features a fantastic cast that includes Hollywood veterans like Christopher Lloyd and Stockard Channing, as well as both Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz reprising their roles from the film series. In the franchise’s timeline, Knuckles fills the gap between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3.

There’s also a non-canonical short film Sonic Drone Home which is technically part of the new Sonic Cinematic Universe as well. The short was released as part of the special features on the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Blu-Ray and follows Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they encounter a (somewhat evil) scrapyard robot who loves poetry. Luckily, the short has been uploaded to YouTube for anyone who wants to watch it.

How can I watch the Sonic Cinematic Universe online?

You can find out where to watch every entry in the Sonic Cinematic Universe using our guide below. This includes every official entry into the live action Sonic movie series in release order, and every streaming option currently available to viewers in the United States.

Where to Watch the Entire Hotel Transylvania Series In Order

In 2012, Hotel Transylvania became an unexpected hit film. Released at the end of September (one of the worst months for cinemas), the movie ended up grossing over $358 million globally. Since then, three more films and a TV series have been released in the franchise. Check out our guide below to find out where to watch the entire Hotel Transylvania franchise in order.

The original Hotel Transylvania film starred a huge array of Saturday Night Live alums, like Adam Sandler , Andy Samberg, and Molly Shannon, along with other big names like Selena Gomez. The movie centers around a monsters-only hotel in Transylvania run by the vampire (and overprotective single-father), Count Dracula. But everything changes when Johnny, a human, checks into the hotel, unaware of who inhabits it. Things go even more awry when he starts to fall in love with Dracula’s daughter.

Then, in 2015 the sequel Hotel Transylvania 2 began by showing that Johnny and Dracula’s daughter Mavis got married and had a baby. But, questions arise about whether the baby will be a vampire or a human. The entire original cast returned for the sequel, and more comedic actors joined in on the fun too, like Mel Brooks, Nick Offerman, and Megan Mullally. The movie became an even bigger hit than the original, grossing more than $474 million globally.

From 2017-2020, there was also Hotel Transylvania: The Series . The show is actually a prequel to the first movie and follows a younger Mavis who has adventures throughout the hotel with her friends. The animated series had a different voice cast from the films and ran for 52 episodes. For hardcore fans of the franchise it’s a fun addition to watch, but seeing the show isn’t necessary to enjoy the films.

In Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation , the gang desperately needs a vacation, so they book a cruise. Little do they know, the infamous vampire hunter Van Helsing is onboard along with his great-granddaughter Ericka. But, despite the Van Helsings' desire to kill Dracula… Ericka finds herself falling in love. Once again, the entire main cast reprised their roles, this time joined by newcomers like Chrissy Teigen and Kathryn Hahn.

The fourth film, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania , was released as an Amazon Prime exclusive in 2022. True to the movie’s title, this time around all the humans become monsters and vice versa. The only way for Johnny and Dracula to turn back to their old selves is to finally love each other and see each other as family.

Currently, there’s no news about a potential fifth film (though there are a bunch of fake fan-made trailers on YouTube). Hopefully fans will get a fifth installment, but until then, check out our guide below to find out where you can stream all four Hotel Transylvania movies and the prequel series.

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The Flash (2023) Movie Review
The Flash Movie (2023) Review, Wiki, Cast & More
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The Flash (2023) Movie Review
The Flash (2023)
Flash Movie 2023 Review

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COMMENTS

The Flash movie review & film summary (2023)
One of the most spectacular and frustrating mixed bags of the superhero blockbuster era, "The Flash" is simultaneously thoughtful and clueless, challenging and pandering. It features some of the best digital FX work I've seen and some of the worst. Like its sincere but often hapless hero, it keeps exceeding every expectation we might have for ...
The Flash (2023)
Jun 28, 2023 Full Review Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views Michael Keaton is the main reason to see "The Flash" (2023), the 13th film in the DC Extended Universe.
The Flash
Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 8, 2023. Jeffrey Peterson Naija Nerds. Overall, The Flash is one of the better DCEU entries, but that's not saying much for a universe of films often ...
'the Flash' Review: Michael Keaton Is Superb, but It's Better As a
Warning: Mild spoilers ahead for "The Flash." The Andy Muschietti-directed superhero movie has been overhyped by early critics. Michael Keaton's long-awaited return as Batman/Bruce Wayne is the ...
'The Flash' Review: Electric Company
The Flash, the latest DC Comics superhero to get his very own big show, isn't the outfit's usual brooding heavyweight. He's neither an old-style god nor new (a.k.a. a billionaire), but an ...
The Flash (2023)
The Flash: Directed by Andy Muschietti. With Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon. Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.
The Flash
Well, that was appropriately fast. The movie doesn't come out until mid-June, but The Flash has already screened for critics — in a slightly unfinished form, that is. Select press attended an early showing of a near-complete cut of the DC movie at CinemaCon, and the first reactions are very positive.
The Flash Review
Hear our thoughts on The Flash with this spoiler-free review of the DC superhero film. ... All Reviews Editor's Choice Game Reviews Movie Reviews TV Show Reviews ... Updated: Jun 6, 2023 7:23 pm. ...
'The Flash' Review: Ezra Miller on a Bender of High Anxiety
The Flash. 'The Flash' Review: Ezra Miller Is on a Bender of High Anxiety in a Movie That Starts Strong and Grows Overwrought. Reviewed at Regal Union Square, June 5, 2022. MPAA Rating: PG-13 ...
The Flash review: a eulogy for DC's Snyderverse, and beyond
In 2023, The Flash now serves as one of the final films in the Snyderverse, a eulogy for the Zack Snyder era of DC — but also, surprisingly, for all DC's page-to-screen adaptations. The result ...
'The Flash' races into the multiverse in a movie that clicks on all
Published 9:22 AM EDT, Fri June 9, 2023. Link Copied! Ezra Miller stars in the DC movie "The Flash." Warner Bros. Pictures & DC Comics. CNN —. Marvel's various forays into the multiverse have ...
Review: 'The Flash' keeps the jokes coming fast, but slow-walks its
Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) is full of running gags. In the comics, the character of Barry Allen, aka The Flash, aka The Fastest Man Alive, occupies a specific role. Whenever there's any ...
The Flash First Reviews: Packed with Nostalgia and a Scene-Stealing
The Flash Final Trailer (2023) Watch on. While it has seemed slow to arrive, The Flash is quick to get audiences going, according to the first reviews of the new DC comic book movie. Starring Ezra Miller as the titular superhero, previously seen as an eager team player in the DCEU movie Justice League, The Flash is also a time-travel movie and ...
'The Flash': A superhero at war with himself in the multiverse
June 12, 2023 at 3:54 p.m. EDT. Ezra Miller in "The Flash." (Warner Bros. Pictures) ( 2.5 stars) In "The Flash," the titular superhero and Justice League member who is so fast he can time ...
The Flash
The Flash, as a movie, is pretty good. But it's one of DC's most problematic films, too. ... 2023 Director. Andy Muschietti ... Warner Bros. Reviewer. Paul Asay. Movie Review. Pain makes us. Beautiful days come and go, but we remember the storms. Summers on the bike or at the beach blend together, but we remember the broken promises, the ...
The Flash review: a spectacular superhero face-plant
The Flash review: a spectacular superhero face-plant ... 10 interesting facts about The Flash movie, and the 5 Flash villains you need to know. ... San Diego Comic-Con 2023 was a quieter affair ...
The Flash (2023)
Needless to say, the film is worth watching for them. Sasha Calle's Supergirl has very little to do and she tries to make most of what is offered to her. The visuals during the time travel and the reveal of multiverse was well done. The humor ensures to lighten the tone while keeping the mother-son sentiment intact.
The Flash Movie Review
What you will—and won't—find in this movie. Positive Messages. The biggest messages are about importance of team-. Positive Role Models. Barry and Batman (in any timeline) are selfless an. Diverse Representations. Most main characters are White (Ezra Miller, Ben A. Violence & Scariness.
The Flash (2023) Review
Cast: Sasha Calle, Ben Affleck, Ezra Miller. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Review Score: 7. With DC's extended universe being mostly fractured and disjointed due to years of playing catch up, directorial ...
The Flash (2023)
The Flash, 2023. Directed by Andy Muschietti. Starring Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons, Antje Traue ...
'The Flash' movie review: Michael Keaton stands out in the multiverse
Ezra Miller is good in a dual role and Michael Keaton shines as the old-school Batman in 'The Flash'. Cameos abound, but plot is lost in multiverse.
The Flash (2023) Movie Reviews
Get Deadpool's Premium Package Including the Official Best Friends Necklaces! Buy a ticket to Inside Out 2 Win a Pixar Fest trip for 4 at Pixar Place Hotel. Get any select horror titles for $5 each When you buy a ticket to Tarot. The Flash (2023) Fan Reviews and Ratings. Powered by Rotten Tomatoes Rate Movie.
The Flash (2023) Movie Review
A bloated, tonally conflicted and narratively woeful mess. The Flash was announced 10 years ago and a lot has changed since then. This film has been in production hell for a long time, sporting a revolving door of directors (along with even more that rejected taking the reigns), numerous script re-writes, release dates pushed back and ballooning budgets hitting upwards of over $300 million.
The Flash Spoilers: Ending, Deaths, Cameos, and the DCU's Future
The Flash has some of the biggest fan service in the superhero movie genre, yet the ending reaches for something deeper. By David Crow | June 15, 2023 | Share on Facebook (opens in a new tab)
The Flash box office explained
The Flash Movie. Why The Flash has been a box-office flop ... When reviews finally came out on June 6, the response was decidedly more mixed. ... but in June 2023, it was par for the course ...
DC Summer Movie Dud Coming To Netflix In Late June
The Flash—the Ezra Miller DC superhero movie bust from 2023—is coming to Netflix in June. Miller stars in the movie as Barry Allen—aka The Flash—in the film, which was released in theaters ...
'The Flash' Global Box Office Debut Fumbles in Opening Weekend
The Flash (2023) By Rahul Malhotra. ... really wanted the movie to succeed. The Flash Isn't Quite the Greatest Superhero ... a "story that holds together on a narrative level" in his review.
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In 2023, Taylor-Joy also had a prominent voice role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where she portrayed the iconic Princess Peach. The movie brought tons of famous Nintendo characters to life, like Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, and more. It was also a massive blockbuster hit, grossing $1.3 billion at the box office.
The Flash (2023) Movie Reviews
The Flash (2023) Critic Reviews and Ratings Powered by Rotten Tomatoes Rate Movie. Close Audience Score ... Insidious, Insidious: Chapter 2, Insidious: Chapter 3, Insidious: The Last Key, Insidious: The Red Door, Thanksgiving (2023), The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Escape Room (2019), Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, Evil Dead (2013), The Evil ...
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