highest grossing film franchise all time Archives

A Washed-Up Johnny Cage is the Hero I Didn’t Know I Needed

Leading up to Mortal Kombat (2021), I didn’t know what to expect in terms of yet another big-screen version of one of my favorite arcade games. Having carefully studied the previously released adaptations, I already knew what I DIDN’T like,… Continue Reading →

The 2026 #HauntLife Midyear Awards: The Good, the Bad and the Backrooms

Last year, I introduced the #HauntLife Midyear Movie Missteps Awards, a completely unnecessary ceremony honoring the movies that confused, disappointed or irritated me during the first half of 2025. It was both petty and therapeutic in a way. It was… Continue Reading →

August 9, 2026

Even Heroes Need Saving in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

A few nights ago, my wife and I were talking about how easy it is to lose touch with old friends. It usually does not happen because of an argument or some dramatic falling out. During my first marriage, I… Continue Reading →

August 4, 2026

30 Years Later, Toy Story Still Has Magic

Woody and Buzz watch as Bonnie and her mom look at her new Lilypad tablet in Toy Story 5

In 1995, I was 17 years old and working at a video store. While most people remember Toy Story for introducing them to Woody and Buzz, what I remember most is the feeling that I was watching the future where… Continue Reading →

June 22, 2026

Simple Star Wars Works with The Mandalorian and Grogu

I remember when Grogu first showed up in The Mandalorian and my immediate reaction was basically, “Oh look, here comes Disney’s newest marketing scheme.” It felt obvious to me, at the time. You’ve got this tiny green baby alien with… Continue Reading →

May 26, 2026

Mortal Kombat in the 21st Century

If the mere mention of Mortal Kombat doesn’t immediately bring back fond flashbacks to the days of coin-op arcades, Mortal Monday of 1993 or the Immortal’s “Techno Syndrome (Mortal Kombat) Song,” well… you’re not me. As someone who lived through… Continue Reading →

May 20, 2026

Disney Finally Deems Darth Maul in Demand

What’s the common thread between Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Darth Maul? For decades, my biggest complaint of the Maker, himself, George Lucas, was that he could seemingly create such cool character descriptions of Star Wars antagonists with ease, but… Continue Reading →

April 5, 2026

Derry Welcomes IT’s Comparison to Stephen King’s Hometown

These days, it’s become incredibly difficult to separate the wheat (pop-culture gold) from the chaff (its divisive creator) because they’re eternally connected. Say what you will about his many hit-or-miss adaptations, Stephen King probably feels bulletproof, cranking out book after… Continue Reading →

November 4, 2025

Marvel Zombies Finally Rise Up!

Marvel Zombies definitely have a voracious appetite. Established at the end of 2005, the killer hunger of this undead menace has raged through more than 30 releases through almost 20 years via Marvel Comics. And now, just in time for… Continue Reading →

September 24, 2025

The #HauntLife 2025 Midyear Movie Missteps Awards

Every year delivers a few cinematic masterpieces, a handful of surprises, and then… well, then there are the others. These are the movies that made us check our watches, doubt our life choices or wonder if everyone else saw a… Continue Reading →

July 14, 2025

Geek Culture, Zombies... and Other Monsters

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