We don’t know entertainment. Sure, we have our TV shows and our movies, but we’re not living up to our potential because one little thing is holding us back: basic human morality.

In ancient Rome, they didn’t share our hang-ups over human rights. At the Colosseum and the Roman games, the Romans acted out every sadistic, twisted thought they could imagine—and turned it into first-rate entertainment.

10 Criminals On Seesaws Slaughtered By Animals

The people who organized the Roman games came up with some strange ideas. The weirdest one was probably a device called the petaurua. This was a gigantic seesaw that could lift people 5 meters (15 ft) into the air. Criminals were brought out naked with their hands tied behind their backs. They were placed on massive seesaws, where they could bounce each other into the sky like kids on a playground.

Then wild animals were released. The animals couldn’t reach the person on the top of the seesaw, so the criminals would desperately try to bounce the guy on the other side to the ground.

The audience placed bets on who would live longest, but nobody got out unscathed. As soon as your seesaw partner fled, you’d crash down to your doom.

9 Wild Animals Popping Out Of The Floor

The animals released into the Colosseum didn’t come neatly out of cages. They would surprise you, popping out of the ground beneath your feet without a moment’s notice.

The Colosseum was littered with trapdoors, powered by a system of 24 lifts. These lifts were designed to carry 270 kilograms (600 lb) of weight because they had to lift massive, wild predators to the surface. Lions, wolves, leopards, and bears were all put into these things, ready to jump out at the condemned people above when they least expected it.

It took eight men to turn the wooden shaft that brought the animals out, and they had to do it perfectly. If things didn’t go as planned, the technicians were thrown into the Colosseum with the criminals.

8 A Naked Emperor Fighting Animals

Emperor Commodus was a big fan of the games. Swept up by his love of the sport—and probably his debilitating mental illness—he would waltz into the arena himself, usually naked, and fight for the amusement of his people. Most of the time, the naked emperor slaughtered exotic animals like lions, ostriches, hippos, elephants, and giraffes in front of a crowd that was required to applaud.

Other times, he would fight people, although he wouldn’t kill them in the arena. He let them surrender. In private, though, Commodus murdered people for practice, getting ready for the games. Disgusted, his people plotted against him. In the bath one day, Commodus met a fitting end—strangled to death naked by his wrestling trainer.

7 Dwarfs Fighting Each Other With Meat Cleavers

While Commodus was in power, it wasn’t just criminals who got sent to their deaths. Cripples and dwarfs were, too.

Commodus once gathered up every dwarf he could find and dragged them off to the Colosseum. There, each one was given a meat cleaver and set loose for the amusement of the crowd, forced to fight until the last man.

Another time, Commodus gathered up people who had lost their feet to disease and had them tied up in a row in the center of the arena. The emperor himself came out and walked down the line, bashing in their heads with a club.

6 Mythical Deaths Played Out On Stage

The myths of ancient Rome would be played out for an audience. These weren’t literary works performed by actors; they were massacres, with criminals playing the roles of the doomed.

One show played out the torture of Prometheus by having a criminal nailed to a cross with his stomach cut open. A bear was then released to finish him off.

Another criminal thought he got off easy. Cast as Orpheus taming the beasts, he was sent in with a lyre and ordered to play it for an arena full of animals. These were tame animals that wouldn’t hurt him—at first.

Watching a man walk around not getting murdered was too boring for the Roman audiences, so they deviated from the source material a bit. Halfway through the show, a starved bear was sent in to kill Orpheus.

5 Animals From Every Corner Of The World

The games were the best place to see animals. The first giraffe ever to set foot in Europe was displayed there. It had been captured by Julius Caesar and was dragged into the arena with a chain around its neck. The crowd was impressed by its exoticness but not so much by the animal.

Of course, this was Rome, so just showing off animals wasn’t enough. Exotic animals—including elephants, rhinoceroses, hippos, and giraffes—were pitted against one another in combat. Other times, hunters would be set loose to slaughter the animals for the amusement of the crowd.

According to one source, Nero managed to get an elephant to walk on a tightrope for the delight of the audience, although we don’t know the technical details of how his people pulled it off.

So many animals from so many places were brought in that it created its own ecosystem. At least 684 unique species of plants have been found there, birthed from the droppings of animals from every corner of the globe.

4 A Free-For-All Animal Slaughter

In AD 281, Emperor Probus had his people plant trees in the Circus Maximus until it looked like a forest. Then he invited the city to the circus for an event that would never be matched.

Instead of being stuck sitting in the bleachers, the people were invited to walk into the arena itself. There, a horde of herbivores was let loose. A thousand ostriches, a thousand stags, and a thousand boars were released into the crowd—along with a scattered slew of whatever animals they had on hand.

The entire audience was allowed to run wild with the animals, free to hunt them any way they chose—and they could take home whatever they killed.

3 Women Murdering Each Other

It wasn’t always just men in the arena—women were sent in, too. One show started with a woman dressed as Venus standing before Emperor Titus and declaring, “It is not enough that warrior Mars serves you in unconquered arms, Caesar. Venus herself serves you, too.”

This was more than just a ceremony; it was a signal to the audience. Today, they wouldn’t just see men beating each other senseless. They would see women kill each other, too.

Titus’s brother, Domitian, was really into the idea. When Domitian took over, he had more women fight than any other emperor. Unlike the men, these women were usually untrained, beating each other or being pitted against dwarfs in savage, desperate battles.

The men loved it. “What sense of shame can be found in a woman wearing a helmet,” one Roman wrote, “who shuns femininity and loves brute force!”

2 A Live Naval Battle

There are about four confirmed times in history when the Colosseum was filled with water to stage a full-scale naval battle. These were incredible technical displays. Crewed by condemned prisoners, full fleets of ships were put inside and would battle for the amusement of the crowds.

The first was staged by Julius Caesar, and it included 4,000 oarsmen and 2,000 fighters aboard full-size ships. It was so popular that people were trampled to death trying to get a good view.

That was just a small show, though. They got bigger and bigger until Claudius set the record by having 100 ships and 19,000 soldiers fight in a massive artificial sea.

His show almost didn’t happen. At first, the prisoners aboard the ships refused to fight. Claudius sent in his imperial guard to demonstrate exactly what would happen to the prisoners if they didn’t die for the entertainment of his audience. Then the show began.

1 A Prisoner Forcing A Lavatory Sponge Down His Throat

The prisoners weren’t too happy about being sent to death for the amusement of the Roman people. For many, going through these horrors was a fate worse than death—and some did everything they could to end their lives before they were forced onstage.

The night before they were to face the arena, one group of 29 Saxon prisoners took turns strangling one another to death, which was believed to be a mercy compared to the horrors of the Roman games. Another prisoner shoved his head between the spokes of a spinning cart wheel to snap his own neck.

The most extreme was a desperate German prisoner. With no other options, he grabbed the lavatory sponge from the communal toilet and thrust it down his throat, choking himself to death.

The Romans just saw it as another great extension of the games. Upon finding out about the suicide, the philosopher Seneca wrote, “What a brave fellow! He surely deserved to be allowed to choose his fate! How bravely he would have wielded a sword!”

There are lots of films that celebrate money. People finding money, making money, even stealing money. Films about losing money are less popular, for obvious reasons. Who wants to think about that, right?

10 Fascinating Economic Collapses Through History

There have been many documentaries about economics. From those serious documentaries with lots of graphs showing downward trajectories and long tracking shots of silent streets, to reality TV shows like The Queen of Versailles, following the building of a mansion by a spendaholic wife and a husband whose business is on the brink of disaster, which makes compulsive viewing. Like a car crash in slow motion.

Great movies about losing money are much rarer. But here are 10 movies that we think are worth a watch.

10 Rollover

Perhaps not one of the greatest movies in the world, after all Kris Kristofferson did win a Razzie for Worst Actor for his role as the president of a bank. Jane Fonda co-stars as the widow of a chemical company owner, whose husband died suddenly after discovering a secret slush fund with the ‘sinister’ account number 21214.

Kristofferson’s bank is doing badly. So badly, in fact, that if he cannot find a single customer with a lot of money to invest, they will go broke. It doesn’t seem to occur to them that they could achieve the same end from a lot of customers investing a small amount, but hey.

In walks Fonda. If only they can get their hands on the secret slush fund, they will both be saved. There’s a lot of guff about finders fees, and other pseudo-financial rubbish that makes us think that maybe the screenwriter wasn’t that clued up on the world of finance.

When the pair traveled to the Sahara Desert in order to negotiate with some Bedouin financial investors, our suspicions were confirmed. Even back in 1981, millionaire sheikhs had phones and held meetings in offices.

The film’s real interest is in gold. The secret slush fund is actually a massive big pile of gold, hoarded against the possibility of financial collapse. When its existence is made public, people around the world begin to riot when they discover their money is now worthless (OK this link is not very clear in the film and most countries’ currencies are not, in fact, tied to gold). But the scenes of the breakdown of civilization are interesting.

The final scenes make it worth the effort. We see Fonda’s chemical factory standing idle, its workers laid off, and Kristofferson’s bank is the same. And this is mirrored around the world as the catastrophe of financial collapse rolls over the world like a sandstorm in the Sahara.

9 Rogue Trader

13 years before the global financial meltdown, 1 single trader gave the financial world a foretaste of what was to come, and, as with all disasters, the story was made into a movie. Rogue Trader starred Ewan McGregor as Nick Leeson, a derivatives trader for one of the world’s oldest banks.

Leeson is the manager of their Singapore arm, where no one actually checked what he was doing.

Or how much he was losing. Which was a lot.

He viewed the stock market as ‘one giant casino’. After an initial winning streak, Leeson began to lose money, and hid the losses in a secret account.

And no one noticed. Until the bank was down £830 million and the bank went bust, almost bringing down the London Stock Exchange with it. The story was gold dust, but the movie was not so well received, and, like its subject, lost a lot of money.

8 Boiler Room

“Anyone who tells you money is the root of all evil doesn’t have any”. So says Ben Affleck, who runs his own brokerage firm, JT Marlin. Really?

Giovanni Ribisi is the inexperienced new trader sucked in by the promise of easy money.

The brokers are all young and ambitious. They can all quote lines from Wall St, and see Gordon Gekko as a role model. After some time selling shares, and enjoying the spoils, Ribisi begins to feel that something is not quite right at JT Marlin. Apart from the name.

The firm employs sharp practices to inflate demand for penny stocks. They even create fake companies and sell shares in them too at inflated prices.

Ribisi finally realizes that real people are being hurt by their scams when he persuades one of them to invest his meager savings in stocks which then tank. He begins to work with the FBI to bring Affleck and his company down, copying all their files, and in a small act of atonement, he persuades his boss to repay the investor who Ribisi had conned.

The film showed just how exciting the world of finance can be when everyone is making money.

And why, when there is so little control over what they do, some people don’t know where to draw the line.

This film is the original “Wolf of Wall Street” with both movies being loosely based on the life of Jordan Belfort.

7 Margin Call

Margin Call tries to put a human face to Wall St. It’s probably fair to say the final film doesn’t quite meet the brief. It follows a fictional firm over the course of a single day, and shows how their actions in dumping their stock precipitated the crash.

Stanley Tucci, a risk management guy, is made redundant and passes on his concerns about the impending financial crisis on his way out the door. Jeremy Irons plays the CEO of the bank, who decides to cut and run.

At the emergency board meeting, Irons says, “There are 3 ways to make a living in this business. Be first, be smarter or cheat.” Being bankers, not criminals, they decide to go with option 1. Irons orders his staff to sell off their shares, thus precipitating the stock market crash.

Kevin Spacey, as the COO, makes a big speech to his brokers that is just a little hard to swallow. He says he is ‘very proud’ of the work of his brokers, who have “dedicated a portion of their lives” to making themselves lots of money. Or, as Spacey put it ,“our talents have been used for the greater good”

In fairness, his trader’s did look devastated at the thought of the impending worldwide financial collapse, at least until he promised them a million-dollar bonus if they managed to off-load their worthless shares onto unsuspecting schmucks before the markets caught on.

Heroes, all of them.

Stanley Tucci heroically returns for the final day’s trading, in order to say, ‘I told you so’ and negotiate hard over his severance package. Kevin Spacey is disgusted with the behavior of his firm, and devastated by the effects of Corporate Greed, but, in a touching moment of genuine pathos, he is eventually persuaded to stay in his very well-paid job, because, ‘I need the money’.

That’s OK then

6 99 Homes

Most movies about the financial crash are centered on Wall St, and the money makers, which is understandable. 99 Homes looked at the situation from the other end – all those people whose homes were repossessed when the housing bubble burst.

While the Wall St films were all frenetic energy, champagne and billion-dollar deals, 99 Homes looks at what desperate people will do to put food on the table and keep a roof over the heads of their kids. Andrew Garfield stars as a first-time buyer who loses his home after he is made redundant.

The real-estate developer who evicted him, played with chilling coldness by Michael Shannon, offers Garfield a job evicting 99 other people from their homes.

And Garfield sold his soul to the devil, and evicted his neighbors, until one of the neighbors fought back.

99 Homes is not a feel-good movie, but does put a human face to the sub-prime mortgage scandal.

10 Famous Props And The Actors Who Stole Them

5 Too Big to Fail

What would government do when banks fail? This was the premise of Too Big to Fail, the story of the US Treasury’s response to the financial collapse of 2008.

Starring William Hurt as the Treasury Secretary and Paul Giamatti as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve trying to save the world in a Gucci suit.

(Spoiler: They failed)

If Hurt and Giamatti are the superheroes, who are the villains? Well, there’s James Woods, who plays the CEO of Lehman Brothers, Richard Fuld, who refused to acknowledge the end of the world was nigh, and kept right on hustling until the collapse. In one excruciating scene, the Lehman brothers staff maneuver to keep Fuld away from the negotiating table as they work with a Korean consortium to fund a buyout, only for Fuld to crash the meeting and try to drive up the price.

The Korean’s walked, and Lehman’s folded.

The film had a good go at making the difficult subject of finance interesting. It’s not easy to inject drama into what is, essentially, an endless round of meetings, and there are an awful lot of shots of men in suits striding purposefully down corridors, but the film does manage to convey the seriousness of the financial situation, even if it doesn’t quite manage to explain how we got there.

The film’s end carries a note of warning, when William Hurt points out that the billions of dollars in bail out funds is simply being handed to the same people who caused the crash, without any restrictions on how they will use it. Which is disturbing.

Even more disturbing, the film said, is that as a result of mergers following the crash, the top 10 financial institutions in America now hold 77% of US banking assets, making them, once again, too big to fail.

And don’t even get me started on the massive bailout bill that just got passed by Congress and the Senate under the cover of saving us from the Coronavirus.

4 Wall St (1 and 2)

Gordon Gekko made finance sexy in Wall St. The Oliver Stone film captured the 1980’s zeitgeist of ‘Greed is Good’. Starring Michael Douglas as seasoned financier, Gekko, and Charlie Sheen as Bud Fox, a newly qualified stockbroker not yet wise in the ways of the stock exchange, the film examines the way Wall St often blurred lines and traded off inside information in order to line their own pockets.

In a ridiculously naïve move, Bud persuades Gekko to buy an airline, and hopes that the famed destroyer of companies will expand this company, and make Bud its new CEO.

Gekko breaks it up and sells it for parts. Which is kind of awkward for Bud, given that his dad works there.

Although both Gekko and Bud are arrested for insider trading at the end of the film, the enduring message of the film was, indeed, that Greed is Good, and many stockbrokers subsequently credited the film as the reason they went into finance.

Oliver Stone took another look at Wall St almost 25 years later, and focused on the stock market crash. Gekko, now released from prison, is making a living by warning of an impending economic disaster. He is a changed man.

And Shia LeBeouf is the newbie stockbroker. You can see where this is going, can’t you?

The sequel didn’t capture the spirit of Wall St in the crash quite so well as it had done during the champagne and cocaine years, perhaps because a repentant
Gordon Gekko just didn’t play well, but no list of films about Wall St would be complete without Wall St, so we’ve included the sequel, just so we can include the original.

3 The Damned

La Caduta Degli Dei (The Fall of the Gods), also released under the title The Damned, was a pretty strange 1969 Italian-German made movie, in English, about a rich industrialist family who start doing business with the Nazis, despite their opposition to the Nazi ideology. After a murder and an arrest, the family business is passed to relatives with even fewer scruples.

The film demonstrates the incestuous relationship between business and politics, as well as quite a few other types of incestuous relationships, and how control over one can affect the other.

It also shows how narrow is the void between success and disaster. In only a few months the family go from lavish, not to say excessive, living, to losing their home, business and even their lives.

Better than no other, this film depicts the transition from life under a failed bankrupt Weimar Republic to the powerful Nazi state. Director Luchino Visconti illustrates this masterfully through the central character, Martin, who starts out dressed in drag performing burlesque, and ends in a full Nazi uniform giving the Heil Hitler salute.

If you ask yourself where our current society sits on the scale of Weimar to Nazidom, the answer may frighten you.

2 The Big Short

Hands down the best film about the financial collapse, The Big Short concentrated not so much on what was done to try to prevent the collapse, but how we got there. It manages to explain complicated, and rather dull, financial concepts in ingenious ways. Such as Margot Robbie sipping champagne in a bubble bath, while explaining what a sub-prime mortgage is. “Basically, whenever you hear ‘sub-prime’, think ‘shit’.”

There are a lot of bad guys in this movie, but very few good guys. Steve Carrell plays Mark Baum, a fictional character based on Steve Eisman, the man who shorted Collateralized Debt Obligations (see Selina Gomez at the blackjack table for explanation) or Michael Burry, played by Christian Bale, who recognized early on that the market was unsustainable, and bought Credit Default Swaps as a result.

But they both profited from the collapse, so hard to picture them as actual superheroes.

The movie is pretty entertaining, for a finance movie, and has cameo appearances by the dozen, including Brad Pitt as a bearded trader-guru passing on his ancient financial wisdom to the young bloods. It won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay, and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor, for Christian Bale.

Which is not bad for a film about mortgages.

1 The Grapes of Wrath

Long before the 2008 banking collapse, there was the Great Depression. John Steinbeck wrote the defining novel of the era, The Grapes of Wrath, which was made into a film by John Ford in 1940. The film was rather less bleak than the novel, and tried to end on a note of hope, when Ma Joad says, “We’re the people that live. They can’t wipe us out, they can’t lick us. We’ll go on forever, Pa, cos we’re the people.” Which has a flavor of Gone With the Wind about it.

I swear, I’ll never be hungry again.

Despite its rather upbeat ending, the film, which starred Henry Fonda as Tom Joad, is still considered not only one of the best films about economic depression, but one of the best films ever.

In a brilliantly concise explanation, one ‘labor agitator’ explains why bosses encouraged mass migration to join the California labor force. ‘Maybe he needs 1000 men, so he gets 5000 there, and he’ll pay 15 cents an hour and you guys will have to take it because you’re hungry.’

The film won Best Director Oscar for John Ford, and was nominated for 6 more.

10 Movies You Had No Idea Were Filmed In The Wrong Locations

The quarantine currently in force across much of the world is something we have not experienced before and watching a LOT of television and movies is the way many of us are coping with it.

There are some movies that are better picks than others when you are trapped in your house though and this list is made up of ones you should not be looking up on Netflix until the virus and quarantine are in the past.

Top 10 Disturbing Movies You’ve Never Heard Of

10 12 Angry Men

Watching a bunch of people scream at each other about social issues while stuck in a room will feel a bit too much like lockdown with the family for many of us. 12 Angry Men is set in the jury room after a criminal trial and stars Henry Fonda as Juror No. 8. He is the only member of the jury who is not totally sure of the guilt of the man on trial and during the course of the movie he gradually tries to get the others to see the holes in the prosecution case.

It is actually a brilliant movie, with direction from Sidney Lumet that really ramps up the feeling of claustrophobic frustration, even though he had never directed a feature film before. Despite that though, the endless scenes of men sweating in a stuffy room while having one argument after another about society and justice means it will not be the best choice when you are in lockdown with other people and you are all starting to drive each other crazy. Maybe you see yourself as Henry Fonda, showing everyone else how you are right about everything, but your remake might end with them killing you and burying you under the floorboards.^[1]

9 Cube

A sci-fi movie might seem like the ideal way to escape from the boring reality of the lockdown, but Cube is definitely not the sci-fi film you want for that. This 1997 Canadian movie is about a group of people who find themselves trapped inside a giant cube made up of different rooms, some of which have lethal traps in them. It was directed by Vincenzo Natali and in the years since it was originally released it has become a cult favorite thanks to its surreal storyline and the feeling of extreme confinement that it manages to capture.

While that would normally make it a pretty decent movie to watch, it is exactly the thing that means most of us will not fancy the thought of it when the only journeys we are able to make are between the different rooms in our homes. Of course, watching it might make us feel grateful that we can go to the bathroom without worrying that it might have some kind of trap in there that can kill us. Then again, that might actually liven up the lockdown at this point.^[2]

8 Phone Booth

Phone Booth is surely the least exciting movie title ever and spawned the less successful sequels Traffic Cone and Mailbox. However, despite sounding about as fun as filling out an IRS return, this 2002 movie is actually a thriller that will have you discovering butt muscles you never knew you had as you try to stay on the edge of your seat.

It stars Colin Farrell as obnoxious publicist Stuart Sheppard who answers a ringing public phone on a New York street one day, only for the voice on the other end of the line to tell him that he will be executed by a sniper if he hangs up. If you sat through Alexander that might sound like a fitting punishment for Farrell, and his character in the movie is one that most of us will enjoy seeing suffer too – at least to begin with. He has been cheating on his wife with another woman and the mystery man on the phone tells him he will be shot unless he confesses to both women. Directed by Joel Schumacher, Phone Booth is a nail-biting effort that stays focused almost entirely on Farrell trapped in that tiny booth negotiating for his life. It is not something you want to watch with your partner during lockdown though – especially if you are keeping a guilty secret from them.^[3]

7 127 Hours

This 2010 film tells the true story of Aron Ralston, who got trapped while climbing a canyon in Utah. Played in the movie by James Franco, he ends up caught in the narrow space between two canyon walls after a boulder falls on his arm. The title of the movie is the amount of time that Ralston was stuck in this hellish situation with no hope of rescue and the movie really makes you go through that trauma with him, although it is actually a tribute to the human capacity for survival against the odds. The way it shows endurance in the face of a seemingly lost cause is the reason why the film was such a hit at the time and why the performance by Franco earned so much praise from film critics and audiences. It still makes for a tough watch when you are stuck at home with no idea when that will end though.

The space that Ralston is confined within is so narrow that this movie would give you claustrophobia at any time, but in the current situation it could lead to nightmares. On the other hand, it shows Ralston cutting off parts of his own body and drinking his own urine to survive until he is rescued, which means we can use it as a guide for how to make it through the upcoming Great Depression 2 when we cannot afford to buy food or drink.^[4]

6 Morning Departure

The 1950 UK submarine movie Morning Departure is well worth checking out – at any time other than now. An unusual thing about it is that it is not a Second World War film, but is instead set after the war. It tells the story of an everyday submarine exercise that goes horribly wrong when the sub hits a magnetic mine that causes it to sink.

The majority of the movie shows the survivors coming to terms with the fact that they might run out of oxygen before being rescued. Things take a turn for the better when the rescue crew are able to start getting the men out, but eventually it becomes clear that not all of them will be saved. The director Roy Ward Baker wrings the tension and drama out of this, but that plus the downbeat ending makes it one of the worst films you could pick to watch in the current crisis. You will be made to feel totally inferior by the manly stoicism that most of the crew react to the situation with, while the meltdown that Richard Attenborough’s character goes through will remind you of every annoying celebrity posting videos of their breakdowns on Instagram.^[5]

10 Claustrophobic Tales Of People Trapped Underground That Will Leave You Breathless

5 The Descent

Imagine being trapped in a confined space that is also filled with weird creatures that want to violently kill you. Okay, that may just sound like lockdown with your family again, but actually it is the plot of the 2005 horror film The Descent. This film focuses on six women who find themselves stuck inside a cave that is home to strange and predatory creatures after a hiking trip goes wrong.

At first the movie concentrates on the arguments between the women about who is to blame for the situation and what they are going to do when they run out of supplies of food and water, before gradually revealing the full horror of their situation. This is made even more dramatic by the fact that much of the action takes place in almost total darkness – making it all the more shocking when the creatures suddenly and randomly lunge out of the black to attack their victims. The Descent was written and directed by Neil Marshall and is a really good horror movie to watch in normal circumstances, but in the current quarantine it will have you running out into the streets to take your chances with Covid-19.^[6]

4 Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon is one of the classics of 1970s Hollywood that showcases Al Pacino at his best – but wait until the lockdown is over to watch it for the first time. The plot of this 1975 film has nothing to with pooches, but the odd title comes from the phrase “dog days of summer” meaning ones that are so hot that they make you want to sleep like a dog. The movie is actually based on a true story and focuses on two hopeless bank robbers from Brooklyn called Sonny and Sal who end up locked inside the building with the bank staff as hostages after the robbery goes badly wrong. Most of the film is about the stand-off between them and the cops outside the building as nerves and temperatures get ever more frazzled in the summer heat.

The film is more than just a standard hostage movie though, as the reason Sonny wants the money is so that he can pay for his transgender partner to have a sex change operation. This and the bonds that develop between the robbers and their hostages make it a human interest drama as well as a thriller, but watching desperate people trapped together in a confined space in the middle of a boiling hot day makes for pretty uneasy viewing in the current situation.^[7]

3 Buried

What could be better to watch when we do not know if we will ever see the sunlight again than a movie about someone being buried alive? That is pretty much the entire plot of this 2010 movie that stars Ryan Reynolds in his pre-Deadpool days. Reynolds plays Paul Conroy, a civilian in Iraq, who wakes up at the start of the movie to find that he has been kidnapped and buried underground in a coffin. All he has been left are his mobile phone and lighter and the movie follows his frantic attempts to contact US authorities so that they can try to find him before he runs out of air.

Again, a lot of the action happens in near darkness as the flame from his lighter is the only escape that Conroy has from this, and director Rodrigo Cortes manages to make us viewers share his terror and panic. Some critics argue that Buried is meant to be a comment on the US and UK-led invasion of Iraq, but most people watching it are likely to see it as a gripping and painful psychological thriller. It might be the best performance that Reynolds has ever given, as he veers from frustration with the authorities to pleading with his tormentors and – finally – an emotionally devastating call to his family.^[8]

2 10 Cloverfield Lane

This 2016 movie about three people hiding together in an underground bunker is another film that might feel just a bit too close to the bone while we are all cowering in our homes for fear of the virus. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Michelle, who crashes her car and wakes up to find that she has been taken to a bunker by a man called Howard, played by John Goodman. He tells her that she cannot leave because there has been an alien chemical attack that has left the air outside the bunker contaminated.

From this point on, the movie takes place almost totally within that underground space as she encounters other people living in the bunker and gradually comes to suspect that Howard is not everything he appears to be. The movie was praised on its release for focusing on character and story rather than effects and it is a smart piece of horror, but unless you are lucky enough to be quarantined with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, watching it will not make you feel better at the moment.^[9]

1 Rear Window

Perhaps the ultimate in claustrophobic thrills, this Hitchcock masterpiece from 1954 stars James Stewart as LB Jefferies, a photographer confined to a wheelchair in his small flat thanks to a broken leg. His boredom leads him to start spying on the lives of his neighbors with a telescope and that is one good reason not to watch it right now, as it might give you ideas that end with you being arrested as a peeping tom. Jefferies becomes convinced that the salesman Lars Thorwald who lives in a flat across the yard from his has murdered his wife and he gets his fashion model girlfriend Lisa Fremont – played by Grace Kelly – to help him investigate.

One of the most famous scenes in the movie sees Lisa go to the murderer’s flat to look for evidence while Jefferies watches, only for him to spot Thorwald returning. He is unable to do anything to help Lisa escape and the movie makes us feel that total helplessness thanks to great direction and acting from Hitchcock and Stewart. Rear Window is a movie every film fan should see at least once, but the best time to do so is when you can get up and go out afterwards.^[10]

Top 10 Creepy Scenes In Movies

About The Author: I am a freelance writer from Dundee who also makes short films under the name Wardlaw Films.

There are a lot of women centric tv shows out there. Several of these shows are unabashedly, explicitly about women, their lives, their wants and desires. Today viewers are becoming more and more sensitive on how women are presented on-screen and these engaging stories are full of feminist ideas. Ready or not, here are the 10 greatest women centric TV shows you need to watch.

The 10 Greatest Women Centric TV Shows Ever

10. Lost Girl

Premiered on 2010.

Lost Girl is a supernatural drama from Canada. Highly popular and critically acclaimed, Lost Girl follows our bisexual protagonist Bo Dennis who learns that she can feed on the sexual energy of humans. After the discovery Bo embarks on a search of her origin, on her way helping those who need her help. Interestingly Bo’s sexuality plays a significant role in the show’s narrative device.

8. Once Upon A Time

Premiered on 2011.

Created by the writers of Lost and Tron: Legacy, OUAT is quiet a unique American television series. It’s a fairy tale drama where modern-life and legend collide. Set in a  seaside town of Storybrooke where resident are living unaware that they are characters from fairy tales stories doomed into this real-world by the curse of the Evil Queen.

9. Buffy The Vampire Slayer  (1997-2003)

This American television series has got a huge fandom with cult-following. Pretty evident by the name, our bad-ass lady, Buffy Summers is a vampire slayer. Bagging a number of titles like  Time magazine’s “100 Best TV Shows of All-Time”,  Empire ’​s “50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time” et al and awards such as Emmys and Golden Globe nominations, Buffy has influenced the direction of numerous other television series.

7. The 100

Premiered on 2014.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this American drama flourishes on an excitingly suspenseful atmosphere. 97 years after the Nuclear War that wiped off almost all life on Earth, a bunch of juvenile criminals are sent to find out exactly how habitable the Earth has become. But when you set a hundred teenagers free to do whatever the hell they want, what follows next is chaos.

Regarded as one of the “coolest and most daring series on TV”, The 100 has the first post-apocalyptic and The Cartoon Network Television Network’s first bisexual lead in a show.

6. Carmilla

Premiered on 2014.

Carmilla is a web series from Canada based on the novella of the same name by Sheridan Le Fanu.  Staring the very talented Natasha Negovanlis and Elise Bauman, the story is set at the fictional Silas University in Styria, Austria. We follow Laura, a freshman student enthusiastic journalism student trying to investigate the disappearance of her roommate and other university girls while also dealing with her new, dark, brooding and mysterious roommate, Carmilla.

The series follows a multi-platform storytelling method and is available on YouTube for free where the first season has got over 21 million views. Carmilla has been raved for its almost all-female cast and amazing representation of LGBT characters.

5. Outlander

Premiered on 2014.

British-American drama series is based on the brilliant novels of the same name by Diana Gabaldon. The story revolves around a married World War II nurse Claire Randall (played by the incredible Caitriona Balfe) who falls through time and finds herself in the Scottish highlands in 1743.

Outlander was voted as the Favorite Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show in People’s Choice Award and the  Critics’ Choice Television Award for Most Exciting New Series.

4. Agent Carter

Premiered on 2015.

Agent Carter follows the character Peggy Carter, an SSR agent who in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) features beside Captain America. Hayley Atwell plays the brilliant agent who after serving in the World War II faces sexism when working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (S.S.R.) while trying to save the world from evil forces.

The show is a real gem. A stylish drama with a winning combination of cheeky-fun, sophisticated actions and burst of excitement.

3. Orange is the New Black

Premiered on 2013.

An American comedy-drama OINB is based on the memoir of Piper Kerman – Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison published in 2010.

The first series focuses on Piper Chapman who in her mid-thirties is sentenced to prison for her association with a drug runner 10 years ago. In the two following seasons, the show’s primary focus expands from Piper to over other prison-mates in the women’s federal prison as they try to make their way through the system, relishing their past lives and adjusting to their lives behind bars. In 2014, OINB was named the most watched show on Netflix and has won a slew of awards and nominations since.

2. The Legend of Korra

Premiered on 2012.

A follow-up series to ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’, Korra is created by the brilliant animation directors, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. Set in 70 years after the events of ‘The Last Airbender’, the show follows the next Avatar, ‘Avatar Korra’ and her quest to bring balance in a time of political and spiritual unrest in a modernizing world.

This American animated television series has been highly praised for its production quality, for addressing socio-political issues like terrorism, fascism, anarchy and unrest. The Legend of Korra has also been critically and commercially acclaimed for its positive representation of races, gender, ageism and sexual orientation.

1. Orphan Black

Premiered on 2013.

It’s a Canadian sci-fi television series starring Tatiana Maslany in lead role. Everything about Orphan Black is a potential spoiler. But without ruining the fun, let’s just know that the show follows a street-wise woman Sarah Manning with a troubled past. One day she witnesses a suicide of another woman who looks just like her. Sarah decides to assume the identity of that woman for monetary benefits, unknown to the epic mess she was getting into.

Raved by both fans and critics, Orphan Black is an edge-of-the-seat thriller that has feminist subtext interwoven into the plot. After 2014 Emmy snub, Maslany has been nominated for this year (2015) Emmy Award for Lead Actress in a Drama. My fingers are crossed.

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Admit it, movies make life beautiful! But it also strongly depends on what kind of movies you watch. Movies can ruin your life too, if they are the wrong kind! Some movies leave an imprint on your mind forever and kind of stick along. Whenever you find your favorite movie being played on the television while scrolling through channels, you start watching it even if you had a hundred times before.

Why? Because that movie reminds you of the good stretch you had watching it the previous time- it kind of carries you away! Here are 10 of some hundreds of movies you need to watch if you’re having a bad day. Trust me, they Will do justice to your mood as they do to mine!

10- Hot Rod

Starring Andy Samberg and Isla Fisher, the First look to this movie could make you think what a cheesy flick, with the goofy teenage wannabees and their lame stunts going wrong. But as you proceed, it will clobber your inner critic until you get to love it.

You will learn to love all the weirdness of the wannabe stunt man with a mission who plays the lead and his bonding with the people around him with an utter sprinkle of stupidity. If you are looking for good-looking macho boys doing cool stuff, this movie could disappoint you! The boys in the movie teach that perfection is not needed in doing something cool.

See also; Top 10 Highest Grossing Hollywood Movies.

9- We Bought a Zoo

Based on a True Story, it is a Perfect Family movie starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson in the lead. The story is all about Bonding, Love, Loss and Zoo Animals! If you are an animal lover, this movie is a huge go- and even if you are not, at least give it a try and it won’t disappoint you.

It will convince you that all things come at a right time and its never late to change what you can’t accept either accept what you can’t change. If the movie has to be defined in one word; Heartwarming!

See also; Top 10 Most Watched Movies of All Time.

8- Let’s be Cops

Now this movie might be PG rated but it’s a must watch. It’s about what best pals make you do- they make you impersonate a cop and it doesn’t even feel wrong- at least for a time being! This movie will give you goosebumps and chuckles, all at the same time.

Sometimes doing something wrong takes you to the right way where you stick forever, content and satisfied. Committing a felony rarely gets you somewhere safe but this movie had its own hilariously scary ways.

See Also; Top 10 Best Romantic Comedies Ever Made!

7- Little Miss Sunshine

A delightful and surprisingly moving movie with a great work form the entire cast which includes Greg Kinnear, Abigail Breslin and Steve Carell. Ever had an adventure travelling with the family?

Try this movie where the Hoover family will take you along their dysfunctional heights of quirks and epic problems which they face during the family road trip in a VW bus on their way to the pageant their daughter hopes to reach safe and sound!

6- The Internship

This movie handles the term Generation Gap in the best way. Starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn where the duo enter world of youngsters where they scatter some of their own old school magic while savoring some new school experience at their life as Interns at Google.

5- The Proposal

Being a fan of Ryan Reynolds made me watch this movie like a dozen times! It’s a predictable romantic comedy which gets alive by Reynold’s and Bullock’s performance.

The best thing about it was how a person doesn’t know what he wants until a couple of strangers make him realize who he is and what he actually wants from life. Don’t get it? Just go ahead and watch this movie. You are so going to love it.

4- Love Actually

Nine intertwined stories which explain the meaning of love, and it’s not just the love seen in the romantic movies or read about in Shakespearean love stories.

It is about the love of an actor for his manager, a sister’s love for her brother, a friend’s love for his best friend, a mother’s love for her children, a stepfather’s love for his stepson and all other many kinds of love being dealt by several reprising actors including Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Andrew Lincoln, Colin Firth . Its an R rated movie with a nice soundtrack.

See also; 10 Romantic Movies Featuring Holidays.

3- Blended

Starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in the main roles, this movie is a total joy! Though it’s a predictable comedy where the side roles are funnier than the leads, it’s a sweet movie which will change your mood with all the holiday ecstasy it provides. This movie genuinely portrays all the blending concepts and what it takes to really be there and blend in. I really wish for a sequel to this movie!

2- Storks

This movie is one adorable animated movie with a catchy storyline and a touching soundtrack. The storyline, the characters, their facial expressions- everything is just perfect. It’s a kids’ movie but it’s also somewhat about parenthood (I cried during the climax). Basically, it’s fueled by a series of powerful thought provoking messages for everyone in the audience no matter what age. Once you watch it, it really stays with you for a while!

See Also; 10 Must Watch Hollywood Movies Before You Get Old.

1- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Trilogy)

Every movie in this list is a favorite and unique in its own way so putting one of them at number one was a tough call. Since it’s a Trilogy (the fourth part coming out soon!) and an adaptation to a book then why not! If you have a stomach for juvenile jokes, sibling torture and middle school anxiety wittily executed, then this is a delicious series to stick to.

The characters seem like they’re somehow originally related and you will picture yourself in either one of their situation therein. It’s a plenty of fun for the audience. And it’s not just a one-time watch, you would definitely want to watch it again because its light like a feather, a feather which will also tickle you in the tummy!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab some snacks and watch your favourite movies because they are supposed to make you feel lighter.

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31 October might seem like the perfect time to watch Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street. Perhaps a slasher film like Haunt or Prom Night will suffice to make the evening a little spookier, especially if it happens to be dark and stormy outside. However, if you want a Halloween night with a difference, you should consider lining up one or more of the movies on this list. Not only are they underrated, they are chockful of thrills, chills and scares, just the way the scariest night of the year should be.
(Potential spoilers ahead)

The Compendium Of 113 Halloween Horrors

10 Session 9

There is something inherently creepy about a mental hospital. And even more so when it is an abandoned one. Session 9 ramps up the terror as tension rises between the employees of an asbestos cleaning crew after they were hired to clear out an abandoned asylum with a terrifying past.

The hospital scenes were filmed at the real-life Danvers State Mental Hospital in Massachusetts, which housed up to 4,000 patients and where doctors engaged in techniques such as lobotomization and repressed memory therapy. The building was soon overcrowded enough for some patients to be moved to the subterranean tunnels.^[1]

There is a scene of extreme nyctophobia (fear of the dark), that is incredibly unsettling as well as creepy recordings of a patient suffering from multiple personality disorder. All in all, Session 9 is a great option for a Halloween movie fest.

9 Goodnight Mommy

There are gory, over-the-top horrors and then there are psychological horrors that creep under your skin and stay with you for a good long time after you’ve watched it. Before Hereditary and The Babadook spooked the pants off people came the not-often mentioned Austrian horror film, Goodnight Mommy.

Imagine coming home to your twin boys and they don’t recognize you. And imagine this happening after you had reconstructive surgery and your face is wrapped in bandages. Additionally you’re not as loving, caring, and interested in your boys’ beetle catching activities as you used to be, and they soon suspect that you’re not their mother at all.

This is the core of Goodnight Mommy with the story ticking over at a steady pace while an uneasy tension builds after twin boys tie up their mother when they become convinced that she’s an imposter with a bandaged face. While she is tied up, they start torturing her for answers…^[2]

Throw in a killer twist and there you go, another great movie to watch on the creepiest night of the year.

8 Grave Encounters

Who hasn’t dreamed of being part of a ghost hunting team that descents on creepy buildings in the dead of night in search of beings from the other side, and finally getting indisputable proof of the paranormal? After watching Grave Encounters, I suspect most would let go of this fantasy in a heartbeat.

In this Canadian found footage horror, the crew of a paranormal reality TV show work up the courage to lock themselves in a rumored-to-be haunted psychiatric hospital in order to film the next episode. Little do they know what awaits them in the dark and that that specific episode would end up being their last.

Sure, the characters subtly mock their real-life counterparts, but there are sufficient scares to keep you hooked. Do you dare enter the abandoned Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital this Halloween?^[3]

7 Dark Skies

Dimension Films has produced some gems over the years, one of which is the underappreciated Dark Skies featuring Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton. Fans of The Fourth Kind will delight in this low-key sci-fi horror that had viewers taking to Twitter to let people know how terrified they were while watching it.^[4]

There are weird missing food incidents, bird incidents and worst of all a young boy who starts dreaming about a terrifying being. The rest of the boy’s family start experiencing seizures, unexplained bruises and periods of stupor, causing the rest of the neighborhood to start looking at them askance. The ending also makes for one of the most riveting horror movie twists in recent history.

If you’re a sci-fi horror fan, this one might be right up your alley.

6 Pet

Pet is a slow burn horror about a loner who falls in love and eventually becomes obsessed with a beautiful waitress. Seth spends his days as an employee in an animal shelter and as his obsession with the waitress, Holly, grows. It seems almost inevitable that he would take out his frustration at failing to win her over on the defenceless animals. However, he remains relatively kind to them while putting a devious plan into motion.

After her kidnaps her and locks her in a cage below the animal shelter, Seth and Holly begin a power struggle that is not only memorable but leads to a most unpredictable twist. Just as you think you know what’s coming, the film takes a different direction.

As with most horror films, this particular one is not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a horror with a difference, this might just be the movie for you.^[5]

Top 10 Brutal Unsolved Halloween Murders

5 The Loved Ones

Her name was Lola but she was definitely not a showgirl. She was, however, insane. In The Loved Ones, Robin McLeavy makes a terrifying impression as a loner, Lola, who is turned down by her crush when she asks him to accompany her to prom. From here onwards, the movie is dominated by fear and sheer terror as her crush, Brent, is drugged and kidnapped, waking up tied to a chair at Lola’s dinner table. Lola and her father are waiting at the table and the house is decorated as though a prom would be starting any minute.

The best part of the film is McLeavy’s performance. She puts the meaning of menace into each of her scenes and the overall horror roller coaster ride that the film forces you on is enough to make even the hardiest horror fan a little queasy.^[6] If ever there was an anti-prom movie, this would be it.

4 Hush

Slasher films are either good, or terrible (here’s looking at you, Scream 4). And then once in a while a movie comes along that stays with you for a long time because of the excellent storytelling, acting and overall portrayal of true terror. Hush is a prime example of this. It follows the story of a deaf woman being stalked by a killer in her own home.

It is 82 minutes of simmering tension and terror without any unnecessary jump scares or loud music cues to alert you that something scary is about to happen. There is a clever nod to Stephen King and the ensuing cat-and-mouse game that follows (more cat than mouse for a while there) is a fascinating way of telling a home invasion story that never falls flat. There are quite a few surprises in this film that make it a worthwhile inclusion for any Halloween movie marathon.^[7]

3 It Comes At Night

A forest becomes a refuge for a family who is trying to outrun a contagious disease that has spread across the world. This is the core story of the post-apocalyptic horror It Comes At Night, taken from writer-director Trey Edward Shults’ real life experience with his dad’s death after a life of addiction.

The movie has both a shocking intro and ending, but the middle part fluctuates between family drama, violence, coming-of-age and the all-encompassing knowledge that sometimes humans are the biggest monsters out there. There are no ghosts, zombies or werewolves lurking in the dark, but there are humans who are just ‘slightly off’ and add to the terror of the biggest pandemic the world has ever seen.

Seeing as how the Covid-19 pandemic still has a strangle hold on the world, this movie won’t serve to take your mind off things per se, but it definitely is one of the best and most underrated horror movies of recent times.^[8]

2 One Hour Photo

Robin Williams was well-known and well-loved for his comedic roles in movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, and Fathers’ Day. When the 2002 film, One Hour Photo was released, fans saw a whole new side of Williams as he portrayed the role of Sy Parrish, a lonely technician, who becomes obsessed with a family.

In the movie, Williams is the opposite of his usual kooky self. His character is compelling and intense as he stalks the family and tries to become a part of their lives. When his illusion of what he deems to be the perfect family is shattered after an affair is revealed, his character becomes even more deranged.

This movie, too, is not going to be to everyone’s taste and is fairly disturbing in its subject matter, especially so for those who are used to seeing Williams in a light-hearted role.^[9]

1 A Dark Song

A mother’s grief can be an all-consuming fire, leading her to do the unexpected and even macabre. This is the message from A Dark Song, the movie that portrays a mother who wants to engage in a gruelling rite that lasts for months to be able to summon her guardian angel. Upon doing so, she wants to use the wish the angel grants her to be able to speak to her deceased 7-year-old son.

The rite comprises of ‘exercises’ in which the mother, Sophia, must face off against angels and demons. The irritable occultist helping her eventually accuses her of not being honest about her true motives for conjuring up her guardian angel, after which he tries to ‘re-birth’ her.
This Irish-British independent movie is dark, true to its title, and makes heavy use of occultic themes throughout. A true contender for one of the best horror movies of the 2010s and a great choice for Halloween night.^[10]

10 Non-Horror Movies That Will Scare You Silly This Halloween

Professional wrestling has long been a source of entertainment, athleticism, and glamour, with WWE Divas capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. These divas have a lot to offer, from their beauty and their amazing skills in the ring. You will be amazed by each of these top 10 hottest WWE divas that make the list.

What are the hottest WWE divas? These women are some of the most beautiful professionals in professional wrestling. They’re known for having great bodies that have curves, making them extremely popular among fans from all walks of life.

WWE Divas are some of the most beautiful and talented women in the world. They have performed in front of millions of fans around the world, and their impact on the industry has been undeniable. s we embark on the journey through 2024, let’s take a look at the top 10 hottest WWE Divas to watch, combining talent, charisma, and undeniable beauty.

Top 10 Hottest WWE Divas to Watch in 2024

1. Alexa Bliss

• Full Name: Alexis Cabrera
• Birth Name: Alexis Kaufman
• Date of Birth: August 9, 1991
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’1″ (155 cm)
• Known as: “Five Feet of Fury”
• Titles: Multiple-time WWE Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion

Alexa Bliss, a pint-sized powerhouse, tops our list as the reigning queen of the WWE. Her in-ring prowess, combined with a magnetic personality, makes her a must-watch performer.

See also: Top 20 Hottest Female Athletes in the World 2024

2. Liv Morgan

• Full Name: Gionna Daddio
• Date of Birth: June 8, 1994
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’4″ (163 cm)
• Known as: “Liv Forever”
• Titles: WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion

Liv Morgan has been turning heads with her unique blend of charisma and athleticism. As one of the youngest talents on the roster, her journey promises excitement and unpredictability.

3. Mandy Rose

• Full Name: Amanda Rose Saccomanno
• Date of Birth: July 18, 1991
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’4″ (163 cm)
• Known as: “The Golden Goddess”
• Titles: NXT Women’s Championship

Mandy Rose’s stunning looks combined with a growing skill set make her a rising star in the WWE women’s division. Keep an eye on her as she continues to climb the ranks.

4. Ronda Rousey

• Full Name: Ronda Jean Rousey
• Date of Birth: February 1, 1987
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’7″ (170 cm)
• Known as: “Rowdy”
• Titles: WWE Raw Women’s Champion

The former UFC champion transitioned seamlessly into the world of WWE. Ronda Rousey’s undeniable star power and combat sports background make her a formidable force in the ring. Rowdy Rousey is undoubtedly one of the hottest WWE divas to watch in 2024.

See also: 10 Hottest Female MMA Fighters of All Time

5. Sasha Banks

• Full Name: Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado
• Date of Birth: January 26, 1992
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’5″ (165 cm)
• Known as: “The Boss”
• Titles: Multiple-time WWE Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion

Sasha Banks has been a trailblazer, pushing the boundaries for women in WWE. Her stellar performances and captivating character make her a constant fan favorite.

6. Carmella

• Full Name: Leah Van Dale
• Date of Birth: October 23, 1987
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’5″ (165 cm)
• Known as: “The Princess of Staten Island”
• Titles: WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion, WWE 24/7 Champion

Carmella’s infectious personality and in-ring skills have solidified her as a key player in the women’s division. Whether she’s dancing or dominating, Carmella demands attention.

See also: 10 Most Beautiful Women in Sports

7. Cora Jade

• Full Name: Brianna Coda
• Date of Birth: September 23, 2001
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’2″ (157 cm)
• Known as: “Jade”
• Titles: None

The youngest on our list, Cora Jade, brings a fresh energy to the ring. Her daredevil style and fearlessness make her a rising star with a bright future.

8. Aliyah

• Full name: Nhooph Al-Areebi
• Date of Birth: November 23, 1994
• Nationality: Canadian
• Height: 5’5″ (165 cm)
• Known as: “The Cat’s Meow”
• Titles:
  • World Women’s Wrestling Championship
  • World Queens of Chaos Championship
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions
  • PWA Women’s Championship

Aliyah’s unique persona and in-ring ability make her stand out among her peers. As she continues to evolve, Aliyah is poised to make her mark in the WWE. No doubt she is one of the hottest WWE divas to watch in 2024.

See also: Top 10 Desirable Women in Sports

9. Becky Lynch

• Original Name: Rebecca Quin
• Date of Birth: January 30, 1987
• Nationality: Irish
• Height: 5’6″ (168 cm)
• Known as: “The Man”
• Titles: WWE Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion

Becky Lynch’s journey from underdog to “The Man” has been nothing short of legendary. With a fiery spirit and undeniable talent, she remains a top-tier performer.

10. Zelina Vega

• Original Name: Thea Megan Trinidad Büdgen
• Date of Birth: December 27, 1990
• Nationality: American
• Height: 5’1″ (155 cm)
• Known as: “La Muñeca”
• Titles: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Zelina Vega’s combination of charisma and in-ring skills make her a dynamic presence. As she navigates her way through the WWE, expect Vega to make waves in 2024.

As we anticipate the thrilling matches and captivating storylines that await us in 2024, these 10 WWE Divas are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats with their talent, charisma, and undeniable allure.

Which WWE Diva is the Most Beautiful?

One of the most popular questions on the internet is which WWE Diva is the most beautiful. There are a lot of great contenders for this title, but there is only one who can truly claim to be the most beautiful WWE Diva. Who is she?

Alexa Bliss is definitely one of the hottest WWE Divas. Her striking features and body make her a favourite among fans. She has an amazing figure.

Another great contender for the title of most beautiful WWE Diva is Becky Lynch. Her curves are mesmerizing and her beauty is undeniable. She has a perfect face that can captivate anyone who sees it. Her personality is also top-notch, making her one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster.

So which WWE Diva do you think deserves to be named the most beautiful?

Related Posts

The experimental film genre goes back as far as film history takes us. One of the first experimental films was done by Thomas Edison’s assistant, William Dickson, on the kinetoscope called “Monkeyshines No. 1” around 1889 or 1890. In fact, you could say all early silent cinema was experimental as the filmmakers were literally figuring out how to use the camera and editing to tell a story or use it to express or explore dreamlike visual art.

Out of experimental film came many new offshoots of the genre. One of the more prominent ones was avant-garde, which usually has no conventional point to them and focuses on exploring innovative and creative issues such as time, fantasy, dreams, or perception. The German silent film classic, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is one of the more famous early examples of dreams or perception.

Today, the genre has given birth to other offshoots, such as cinematic poetry and the cinematic diary, akin to the works of the late great Jonas Mekas. Even the experimental documentary has been around longer than viewers realize; the city symphony films are an early example or, more recently, Guy Maddin’s “My Winnipeg.”

Pulling from experimental film history and more recent works, here are ten experimental films you should watch.

Related: 10 Sci-Fi Short Films That Will Give You The Creeps

10 “Un Chien Andileu” (1929)

This is many film students’ introduction to experimental film. The French title translates to “An Andalusian Dog” and has nothing to do with the film itself. Crafted by Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali, this silent surrealist journey uses dream logic to construct a non-narrative that is very Freudian in its design and meant to be shocking.

The film’s concept is actually a mix of two dreams that both the creators had—Dali’s hand covered in ants and Bunuel cutting an eye with a blade. When watched, the film invokes unease in that you are trying to make sense of a dream and can’t. Our brains try to find something relatable in the film and sometimes can’t. When we do feel some sort of connection, it’s a completely different interpretation, which is what the filmmakers wanted. They wanted to leave you thinking and trying to make sense of it. They know you can’t exactly be just like a piece of surreal art; it’s always up for debate without any true solution.

This is what makes “Un Chien Andileu” a must see for anyone interested in experimental film. ^[1]

9 “The Life and Death of 9413: A Hollywood Extra” (1928)

This film is a silent-film hidden gem. The film was made for $97 in 1928, and in American avant-garde cinema is considered one of the early pillars in the genre.

It centers on an actor who makes his way to Hollywood hoping to hit the big time, only to be dehumanized by studios, landing the role of a simple extra. They even write 9413 on his head, making him just a number in their system.

What makes the film so unique is how they leaned into their budget with a lack of resources and visually gave Hollywood this surreal emptiness, something that people from the outside had not seen before depicted. The use of German expressionist lighting, superimposition, twisting shapes, and disorienting angles really makes the film memorable as it visually shows the actor’s descent into madness and death caused by the demeaning dark side of Hollywood.^[2]

8 “Manhatta” (1921)

This film is considered to be the true first American avant-garde film by many. “Manhatta” was a collaboration between painter Charles Sheeler and photographer Paul Strand. The non-narrative documentary is a visual poem that is simply exploring two things. First, it provided an abstract view of the city through carefully set up visual compositions. The second one is actually how the camera is used. This is done by experimenting with photography, film, minimalistic camera movement, and incidental motion in each film frame by exploring their relationships with each other.

Being a silent-era film, it does use intertitles, but unlike most films, it uses a Walt Whitman poem instead of dialogue or scene explanations.^[3]

7 “From Afar” (2020)

An absolutely beautiful short film that will only take two minutes of your time. This is part of the cinematic poetry genre I mentioned earlier. Its simplicity and use of editing make it an experience that lingers.

Much like “The Life and Death of 9413: A Hollywood Extra,” filmmaker and poet Andrei Purcarea uses what he has to his advantage to visually push the poem along. Many of the shots don’t have anything to do with what’s being said exactly when you watch, but at the same time, you get this feeling of understanding.

However, unlike “The Life and Death of 9413,” this film doesn’t have fast cuts or superimpositions. In fact, the editing and pacing are more akin to “Manhatta,” visually telling us a story to go along with the poem. Is this whole film really about a ship, or is it more about something in life that represents a ship we missed and can’t see anymore? What did the characters miss? Who did they miss? The use of the lone red chair and the mirror on this beach looking out at sea…very existential. Very experimental. Very moving.^[4]

6 “Catharsis” (2018)

This short film beautifully uses the experimental style to invoke emotion as we journey into the subject’s mind. It is a surreal reminder that we may not know what someone is going through, even if they seem calm on the outside. This film by Naleeka Dennis follows Marsha as she struggles to cope with the loss of her beloved by attempting to live in a fantasy world. But she must eventually deal with her grief.

The ending shot especially hammers this home as the world seems very eerie around her now. It was the same before we dove into her mind, but knowing what she is dealing with really changes your perspective.^[5]

5 “Until There Was Nothing” (2020)

This wonderful short was released last year and really takes on a fantastic premise—standing on Earth in its final moments as it enters a black hole. Created by Paul Trillo, the images at first seem beautiful but suddenly change as they stretch toward the sky. While it may seem like a bleak film at first, Trillo notes, “Someday this will pass and there will be nothing left… That’s not something to fear ‘because we come from nothing’ as Alan Watts puts it… and from nothing comes something new.”

The surreal visuals caused by intense gravitational forces with the use of philosopher Alan Watt’s talking about the meaning of nothingness really gives the film a much deeper feel.^[6]

4 “Stellar” (1993)

Stan Brakhage is the perfect mix of artist and filmmaker. With 380 films to his credit, it’s hard to choose which one to even pick. Brakhage’s work is unique and can be best described as live paintings. Meaning that he would paint or scratch or do something on each frame and then project it. The results were really mind-blowing. “Stellar” stands out to me as it feels like something that could’ve been used in early sci-fi films like 2001: A Space Odyssey or TV shows like the original Star Trek.

The last few frames are particularly surprising as a strange picture appears amongst the starry images. Like all art, “Stellar” is whatever you perceive it to be. For me, its a journey through space and the birth of the universes, with the first creature in the universe coming into being at the end. See how you interpret it.^[7]

3 “Night Mayor” (2009)

A fantastic gem of a film. Guy Maddin’s visuals harken back to early silent film while giving a touch of modernity by filming on newer formats that even include VHS. Yet it’s his use of lighting, old-school tricks, and editing that really helps give this film its surreal aspect. Like we are watching a dream.

“Night Mayor” is a visual journey into the mind of a Bosnian immigrant, Nihad Ademi, who thinks he has discovered a way to harness the power of the Aurora Borealis in order to broadcast imagery from coast to coast.^[8]

An absolute must-see short film!

2 “Light Is Calling” (2004)

Bill Morrison is an amazing filmmaker. He is unique in that he helps bring forgotten or close to decaying films back to life as experimental cinema. I highly suggest his film Decasia (2002) and Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016).

“Light Is Calling” is a short he did in 2004 in which he takes decaying nitrate film from 1926 titled “The Bells” and gives it new life.

After having the film optically reprinted, it is edited into a new format to go along with a 7-minute composition by Michael Gordon. IMDb describes the film best as a “meditation on the fleeting nature of life and love, as seen through the roiling emulsion of film.”^[9]

A magnificent decaying dream.

1 “Meshes of the Afternoon” (1943)

Maya Deren was a jack of all trades. She was a dancer, choreographer, film theorist, poet, photographer, avant-garde promoter, and experimental filmmaker.

Deren believed that film should be an experience. “Meshes of the Afternoon” is definitely that—and a very important experimental piece. The film is considered one of the most influential experimental films in the history of American cinema.

The film is essentially a dream. Using dreamlike logic to create a unique experience for the viewer, it follows a female character who falls asleep after returning home. Her vivid dreams draw us in as her darker inner desires play out before our eyes. It’s actually hard to distinguish reality from the dream, but that is the point. She involves you mentally.^[10]

A very influential piece on many filmmakers, including the works of David Lynch.

Presenting the list of 10 must watch animated movies of all time. Everyone should see these animated films at least once in lifetime.

Top 10 must watch animated movies:

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Walt Disney Pictures.

Produced by Walt Disney Productions in 1937, it is an American animated musical fantasy film. The film was ranked among the 100 greatest American films, and also named as the greatest American animated film of all time. Also one of the 10 must watch animated movies.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Snow White is a princess of great beauty, which makes her stepmother jealous. She asks her magic mirror daily to tell her that she is the most beautiful. But one day, the mirror says that the most beautiful woman in the kingdom is Snow White. The queen then decides to kill her but the guard charged with this task does not find the courage and abandons Snow White in the forest. Lost, exhausted, she fails in a house where seven Dwarfs live.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Certainly, and contrary to a widespread idea, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is not the first animated feature film in the history of cinema. Nevertheless (nothing to do!). It is the film that immediately comes to mind when talking about the beginnings of the cartoon on the big screen; That offered Walt Disney his status of master; Always who knew how to reach the general public first, and this since the end of the 30’s.

How not to be amazed, while we are still in 1937 and the animation is always synonymous with nice cartoons in black and white, in front of the fireworks of colors, songs and characters as real life? Nearly 80 years later, we still have not managed to forget the chorus of the seven Dwarfs, the eyes of the witch and the fluidity of the movements of the young princess.

9. The King and the Mockingbird (1980)

Studio Canal.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

King Charles V and Three make Eight and Eight make Sixteen reign as a tyrant over the kingdom of Takicardie. Only a playful and talkative Bird, who has built his nest at the top of the gigantic palace, near his Majesty’s secret apartments, dares to taunt him. The King is in love with a charming and modest Berger whom he wants to marry under duress. But this one likes a little chimney sweep. Both flee to escape the King and, refugees at the top of the highest tower of the palace, save a small reckless bird caught at one of the traps of the Tyrant. The grateful Father Bird promises in return to help them.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

If you only have to choose one French animated film to see during your life, opt for it without hesitation. It’s one of the best and 10 must watch animated movies.

Firstly because it is the first construction in the Hexagon; Then because it is unlike any other. Probably thanks to the combined talents of Paul Grimault, considered the French Walt Disney, and Jacques Pervert, scriptwriter of the film.

Equipped with a poetry worthy of a fable of La Fontaine. The King and the bird makes children dream while stirring social and philosophical issues in which their parents will recognize, sometimes approaching a novel of anticipation or even science fiction.

DID YOU KNOW?

It will take 30 long years for The King and the Bird to finally be presented to the public in its final version. Started in 1946 by Grimault and Pervert, the film saw its production interrupted, and released without the knowledge of its authors in 1953, under the title La Berger and the Chimney sweep. Renounced by its director, this first version of the film will be reworked years later. Paul Grimault will end up with a new version in 1979, called “The King and the Bird”.

8. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Kazé Animation

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Japan, summer 1945. After the bombing of Kobe, Seita, a fourteen-year-old teenager and his four-year-old sister Setsuko, orphans, will move to their aunt’s home a few dozen kilometers from their home. This makes them understand that they are an embarrassment for the family and must deserve their daily rice. Seita decides to leave with her little sister. They take refuge in a disused bunker in the countryside and live happy days illuminated by the presence of thousands of fireflies. But soon the food begins to be sorely missed.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Hard to stop his choice on a single feature film when attacking the studio Ghibli. Of course, Le Voyage de Chihiro and Princess Mononoké are founding films and (they too) participated in writing the history of animation through the poetry deployed by Hayao Miyazaki.

But too bad! We had to decide, and it was on the co-founder of the famous Japanese studio, Isao Takahata, that we decided to stop our choice. Considered by many to be the most powerful work produced by Ghibli, his Tomb of the Fireflies is in any case the most moving, no doubt about it!

More magical creatures and legendary dragons here. The feature film bravely stands in the sad reality of Japan in 1945. To the atrocities of war, Takahata responds with a rare delicacy, and the violence suffered by his country, he opposes a shocking sweetness.

To see urgently, therefore! But not without your pack of tissues!

DID YOU KNOW ?

The Firefly Tomb was released in Japan in 1988 along with another film from Ghibli Studio, My Neighbor Totoro, signed by master Hayao Miyazaki, which received a much more enthusiastic welcome. Commercially, although uniquely recognized since as an absolute masterpiece, The Tomb of Fireflies was indeed considered a semi-failure, with only 800,000 entries. If the advertising campaign around the film was designed for both children and their parents, Isao Takahata’s work was considered far too dark, not to say absolute darkness, what the film is otherwise ; to the point of seeing the audience turn away.

7. Toy Story 3 (2010)

Disney – PIXAR

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Andy is about to leave for college. Abandoned, the famous band of toys is found … at the nursery! Raging toddlers and their little fingers able to tear everything off are a real threat to our friends! It is urgent to build a plan to escape them as quickly as possible.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

15 years after having revolutionized the world of animation by giving birth to the first feature film entirely made of computer-generated images, John Lasseter and his team of magicians decide to open their toy box for the third time.

Pass after the first two games of Toy Story and their undeniable qualities is really challenging. The level of requirement is colossal. But as often in Pixar, the miracle happens …

After 10 years of absence, Woody and Buzz are back, and they have lost none of their irresistible humor. The emotion is also more than ever at the rendezvous, and especially in the final sequence of the film, which concludes the trilogy of a sumptuous way.

Again, plan the handkerchiefs….. This is one of the 10 must watch animated movies.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who lend their voices to Woody and Buzz respectively in the original version, insisted on dubbing the film together, which they did not do for the first two episodes, and that is elsewhere quite rare in animation in general.

6. Wallace and Gromit: The Mystery of the Garbage Rabbit (2005)

DreamWorks Animation SKG

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

An intense “vegetarian fever” reigns in the small town of Wallace and Gromit, and the ingenious duo took advantage of this craze by inventing a human and ecological anti-harmful product, which saves the lives of rabbits. The trick is simply to capture, by hand, a maximum of these rodents and put them in cages. A few days before the Great Annual Vegetable Contest, Wallace and Gromit’s business has never been so successful, and everything would be best in the best of all worlds, if a giant waswolf did not suddenly come to attack the sacro -saints vegetable gardens of the city. To cope with this unprecedented danger, the contest organizer, Lady Tottington, turns to our two “specialists” and asks them to apprehend the monster.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

At Aardman, animation is an art that is cultivated with patience, just as we take care of a garden. Thus, perhaps it is not a coincidence that the Mystery of the rabbit-garou speaks of vegetable culture, so much the authors have sprinkled perseverance and meticulousness.

Stop motion (or frame-by-frame animation) requires goldsmith precision, and sometimes up to a full day’s work for a second of a movie. The mass of work is monumental, but the harvested fruits are too.

After the awesome Chicken Run, the second feature film of the British studios is a real nugget with British humor devastating and that gives off a real feeling of authenticity: each of the sets that we see on the screen exists for real, each object has been fashioned by hand, modeled at the cost of long efforts, and the result necessarily suffers.

The icing on the cake, it’s his two mascots, the endearing Wallace and Gromit, that the Aardman studios are reserving this time the place of honor, thus offering them their very first feature film.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Each figurine used in the film consists of a metal skeleton covered with a special modeling clay (the Aard-mix), more resistant than the current modeling clay. Unlike the Chicken Run figurines, whose texture was perfectly smooth, those of the Mystery of the Were Bunny retain some imperfections to reinforce the craftsmanship that is the charm of Wallace and Gromit’s films. The sixth among 10 must watch animated movies.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Walt Disney France

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Jack Skellington, Pumpkin King and Halloween City Guide, is bored: For centuries, he’s tired of preparing the same Halloween party that comes back every year, and he dreams of change. It is then that he has the idea to seize the Christmas party …

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

In terms of stop motion, impossible not to mention the American Henry Selick and his famous tale as magical as Gothic, taken from a poem written by Tim Burton.

With a unique atmosphere that has inspired much popular culture, Mr. Jack’s Strange Christmas is the first full-length feature film produced entirely.

But if the final result is so striking, it is largely to the musical score of Danny Elfman that we must. It is also the composer himself who gives his voice to Jack the Scarecrow when he sings in the film.

DID YOU KNOW ?

As Tim Burton walked past the window of a store, he had the idea of writing the poem that inspired Mr. Jack’s Strange Christmas, and especially seeing the staff exchange Halloween characters for those Christmas, combining the two worlds for a moment.

4. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Pathe

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

In a futuristic Japan governed by the Internet, Major Motoko Kusunagi, an ultra-sophisticated cyborg woman, is haunted by ontological questions. In spite of herself, she belongs to a muscular cyber-police with virtually unlimited means to fight against computer crime.

The day her section finds the trace of the ‘Puppet Master’, a mysterious and legendary hacker whose identity remains totally unknown, the young woman is about to penetrate the body of it and analyze the ghost ( an indefinable element of consciousness, related to the soul) in the hope of finding the answers to its own existential questions …

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Japanese animation is not limited to Ghibli studio films, far from it!

Considered by James Cameron as “the first adult animated film to achieve this level of excellence,” Ghost in the Shell mixes an incredible animation technique with an ultra-immersive futuristic universe.

This feature film, adapted from the manga of the same name and directed by Mamoru Oshii, deals mainly with profound themes that are more relevant than ever, namely the relationship between man and machine, and the notion of transhumanism.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Ghost in the Shell was one of the major inspirations of the Wachowski brothers as they performed Matrix. Besides the fact that the two films share similar themes, there are several similar sequences. Anyway it’s 4th among 10 must watch animated movies.

3. Up there (2009)

Disney / Pixar

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

A 78-year-old balloon salesman, Carl Fredricksen, finally realizes the dream of his life. His desire to live a great adventure pushes him to tie thousands of balloons to his home to fly to the wilds of South America. But he sees too late the presence of a package in the form of his worst nightmare: Russell, a young explorer 8 years a little too optimistic, will accompany him on his journey.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

“For every burst of laughter, you need a tear,” said Walt Disney.

In 2009, Pixar Studios decided to start with the tear by offering their audience a literally overwhelming intro scene. Carl and Ellie’s married life has the immediate effect of quietening the last noises of the room and forcing some viewers to discreetly wipe the glasses of their 3D glasses.

Sobbing sobs follow the laughter, which gives way to tears when Carl Fredricksen’s journey ends. Pixar Studios’ artists are alchemists who distil emotion with as much virtuosity as they handle animation.

Up there is further proof. It’s certainly not the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars that will say the opposite.

DID YOU KNOW ?

One of the first people to discover up there in the world is a 10-year-old girl. At risk of cancer, the girl wanted to see the film at all costs before she died. The filmmakers sent him without hesitation a copy of the DVD before its theatrical release.

2. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Walt Disney Pictures

Second in our list of 10 must watch animated movies of all time.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Belle is a sensitive and imaginative girl, who spends her days immersed in reading and who stubbornly repels the advances of Gaston, a muscular and vain belligerent. Only Maurice, his father, a wacky inventor, counts in his life. One day when the latter is lost in the forest, he must take refuge in a castle to escape a pack of wolves. Irritated by his intrusion, the master of the place, a gigantic and terrifying Beast, throws him into a dungeon. To save her father, Belle agrees to be held prisoner in her place …

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

After a long period of skinny cows in the 80’s, Disney studios are back in the early 90s, and prepare to live one of the most beautiful golden ages in their history.

The magic recipe? A return to fairy tales; A breathtaking animation, and songs that the public can continue to sing long after watching the film.

After the success of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast applies the formula to perfection. This project, which Walt Disney himself had given up on, is transformed into a true masterpiece. This “eternal story” is probably one of the most beautiful romances ever told by Disney Studios. And in any case becomes the first animated feature film to be selected at the Oscars in the Best Film category.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Broadway star Angela Lansbury, who lends her voice to Mrs. Samovar in the film. Thought her character was not in the best position to sing the famous song “Eternal History”. At the request of the directors, the actress still recorded a single test. So convincing test that it was finally used in the film.

1. The Lion King (1994)

Walt Disney Pictures

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

The lion Mufasa, king of animals, and his wife Sarabi give birth to Simba, a future heir. But Scar, Mufasa’s brother, seeing his chances of gaining access to the throne decreases, encourages the cub to venture into an elephant cemetery located beyond the borders of the kingdom. The film is one of the 10 must watch animated movies.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Another nugget of the 90s at Disney; The Lion King has become a standard bearer, imposing itself for a long time as the greatest success of the studios until being dethroned by a certain Snow Queen.

Originally thought of as a “small” transitional project while waiting for Pocahontas, this surprise hit surprised everyone as it came out, unleashing crowds and marking the collective unconscious with its indelible claw.

True symbol of a generation, the film has carved the lion’s share with an introduction to fall to the ground. Unforgettable songs and mythical characters.… Not to mention the death of Mufasa, which we still have not handed.

DID YOU KNOW ?

The spectacular wildebeest sequence sweeping down the runway took the film crew three years to complete, as well as the development of a brand new computer program capable of running hundreds of characters simultaneously without them entering, collision. With a total duration of 6 minutes, the scene, technically irreproachable. Also marks the arrival of the CGI within the traditional animation. Like the introductory credits of Bernard and Bianca in the country of kangaroos or the ball scene in Beauty and the Beast. This is one of the first sequences to use digital processes to animate his characters.

Cinema is mirror to life! It depicts human life on silver screen just the way it is, in a way that people can relate to. Whether it is a war movie or a romantic movie, action movie or family drama, as long as people can connect, the film works. In this post we are going to list 10 such must watch Hollywood movies but before that let’s talk about what movies are and how they are made.

Any good film is a journey where the audience gets to take something back home – a ray of hope, a lesson or information. There’s a reason why the directors are called “captain of the ship”. They are the show runners. Script writers develop a story and it’s the job of the director to carve something out of that piece of paper and make it real.

Cinema actually has its root in stage play or theater. Most eminent English writer Shakespeare once rightfully said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their existence and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven stages”. Shakespeare’s most famous play is Romeo-Juliet famous which revolves around a romantic love story, continues to be one of the most famous and favorite love stories of all time.

Films play an important role in the lives of many people. They are often responsible in shaping the minds of the masses. Some movies are mark departures from traditional movies. Here we bring you a list of such unique must watch Hollywood movies that you need to see before getting old. These Hollywood films give food for thought to young movie fans worldwide. Here we go:

10. Mrs and Mrs Smith (2005)

This is one of the most watch Hollywood movies. Starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the film depicts the lives of two spies who marry each other without knowing that they are spies working for the rival spy network. The film has got a couple of great stunts and an electrifying chemistry between the leads.

9. The Man from Earth (2007)

The entire film is set in and around Oldman’s house during his farewell party and is composed almost entirely of dialogue. The plot advances through intellectual arguments between Oldman and his fellow faculty members and the conversation stretches from the beginning of time to the present date. This film is a must watch just to see how that conversation goes.

8. Gangs of New York (2002)

Directed by Martin Scorsese this is one of the best movies Leonardo Di Caprio. A historical drama that takes place in 1863 and depicts the birth of the New York city and the gangs that attempted to rule the city. The film is historically very informative and incredibly adventurous too.

7. Wendy and Lucy (2008)

Kelly Reichhardt creates films that start with a very simple premise, like this one. Over the summer, a series of unfortunate happening triggers financial crisis for a young woman and she soon finds her life falling apart. It takes you deep into the human experience. The film is a low budget one and is a must watch among Hollywood movies.

6. The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s simply the best. There can be no argument that he’s one of the best director’s Hollywood‘s got. You would love The Dark Knight even if you are the kind of person who couldn’t stand comic reading nerds in high school. This movie totally changed the world of superhero movies.

5. Fight Club (1999)

An insomniac office worker, looking for a way to change his life, crosses paths with a devil-may-care soap maker, forming an underground fight club that evolves into something much, much more.The lead cast is teeming with talent. And the story and screenplay speak for themselves. This is one of those movies which started out and are now considered among cult classics.

4. Predestination (2014)

The film is a science fiction mystery thriller. The life of a time-traveling Temporal Agent. On his final assignment, he must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time. The movie is actually based upon a short story named All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein. Honestly, the short story too, is worth a read.

3. V for Vendetta (2005)

The film revolves around an alternate universe where Germany, under Hitler’s command had won the World War and the world as we know it now is pretty different to the world where Hitler won. V for Vendetta is based on that world. In a future British tyranny, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of “V”, plots to overthrow the government with the help of a young woman. The movie is among the must watch Hollywood movies and is bursting with philosophies and memorable dialogue.

2. Inception (2010)

A thief, who steals corporate secrets through by using a dream-sharing technology, is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a CEO. An unusual heist movie with some sci-fi touch. Its often counted among the must watched movie for Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is full of adventure and is meant to enthrall all the audiences. You don’t need to be a fan of Leonardo to catch this one. The story connects very easily.

1. Into the Wild (2007)

Live free. Free of all worldly shackles. After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Some other Must See Hollywood Movies