The Penguin Lessons

Year 18, Day 3 - 1/3/26 - Movie #5,203

BEFORE: This Movie Year has started with a distinct focus on Argentina, my first three movies were all made and/or set there, this makes sense because as you'd expect, the linking system has grouped the films with Argentinian actors together - so I've learned that the country seems to have its own film industry and corresponding set of actors. Good to know. But one of the two British actors in this film will be my link back to US/UK films and we can proceed from there. 

Alfonsina Carrocio carries over from "Society of the Snow". 

THE PLOT: A disillusioned Englishman goes to work in a school in a divided Argentina in 1976 and finds his life transformed when he rescues an orphaned penguin from the beach. 

AFTER: Before I get really into this, I want to point out that there are TWO penguin-related films on my list. Today's film is about a teacher in Argentina who rescues a penguin and that transforms his life, and the other film ("My Penguin Friend") is about a fisherman in Brazil who rescues a pengiun, and, shocker, that transforms his life. Today's film just happened to come up first in the linking system, and there is NO direct link to the other film, or I would schedule that one tomorrow, for comparative purposes. Today's film has Steve Coogan, who's always a welcome sight here at the Movie Year, and the other film stars Jean Reno, who, well, can go kick rocks. (He knows what he did...)

Seriously, I do like Coogan, though - "Tropic Thunder" was probably the first film I saw him in, back in the day, but I maybe didn't pay TOO much attention to him until he was in "Night at the Museum". Then of course there was "The Trip" and "Philomena" and since then he's been an easy program, if he's in a film, it makes the list. Hell, I even endured "Hamlet 2" and "Joker 2", but it all paid off last year when I finally caught up with him in "The Lost King". (Steve, if I can call you Steve, maybe avoid sequels that don't have "Despicable Me" in the title. Just a thought.)

With the exception of Stan Laurel, he's best at playing these "stuffed shirt" types, upper middle-class people who have some authority (but not too much) and who have to then complain as the world is falling apart around them. It's the "Basil Fawlty" school of comedy (RIP Prunella Scales, BTW) and then once you have the character, you've got to make him the "man in the middle", there are people under him (hotel workers, for example) that he needs to control, and people above him (hotel reviewers, food critics) who he has to kiss up to, and OF COURSE he's going to mess things up while trying to fix everything. That's comedy. 

Obviously I set this chain up weeks ago, I had no idea that I would wake up on January 3 and find out my country has invaded Venezuela. Yes, I realize that Argentina and Venezuela are at opposite ends of a very large continent, but the storyline here might be somewhat applicable to current events. "The Penguin Lessons" is set in Argentina in 1976, after the coup d'etat that removed Isabel Peron from power, and a military junta had been installed, which would remain in power for the next seven years, with the next democratic election held in 1983. During the reign of the military and dictator Jorge Videla, it's estimated that 30,000 young people, opponents of his regime, were made to disappear. Look, I don't know what's been going on in Venezuela (I'll look it up after I post today, I promise) but I have a feeling that history has been sort of repeating itself in a different country. But this is what's been going on in AMERICA too, anyone who's been critical of the President is on an enemies list somewhere, and our glorious leader has been doing everything within his power (and a few things that aren't) to make their lives miserable, or ship them to somewhere else. 

Which makes this film super relevant to current events in both North AND South America. For those who cannot remember what happened under Nixon and Reagan, shame on you, because it's all happening again, and it's worse than ever before. Nixon had Vietnam and Reagan had El Salvador and Nicaragua, and now Trump's got Venezuela, and anyone who had "start a war to distract from the Epstein files" on their 2026 bingo card is one step closer to winning. But let's get back to Argentina, because today's film gives us a ground-level view on what happened right after the military junta filled the power void. 

Tom Michell takes a position as an English teacher (and assistant rugby coach) to a bunch of entitled Argentinian school-boys, they don't want to learn or even listen to him, but Michell, doesn't care, he's getting paid - plus you get the idea that he just wants to disappear from his own life. Personal tragedies and all that - so when a bombing forces the school to shut down for a week, he decides to visit Chile for a week with another teacher to maybe meet a lady or two. (For the love of God, PLEASE don't take a plane over the Andes, it doesn't end well.). Tom and his wingman meet a pair of ladies at a dance club, and while strolling with Carina on the beach, they encounter a penguin who's been beached after an oil spill. To impress Carina, he takes the penguin back to his hotel and they do the good deed of cleaning the oil off the bird in the bathtub. It's a great ice-breaker, but before things go too far, Carina reveals she's married and has to leave, while Tom gets stuck with a penguin who won't leave his side. 

He tries to ignore the penguin, he tries to toss it back to the sea, and finally he has to return to Argentina, and finds himself trying to smuggle the penguin back with him. This puts him in contact with Chilean officials, who gradually transition from "You can't take the penguin, we will arrest you." to "You must take the penguin, or we will arrest you." This is a quite nimble bit of comedy, I'm not saying it's logical but it gets the film where it needs to go.  The penguin needs to be at the school to be a figurative "fish out of water", just as Tom himself is. 

After comedic misguided attempts to hide the penguin in his apartment, the bird ends up being the world's greatest ice-breaker, his maid wants to care for it, his fellow teacher uses it as his therapist and it becomes the thing that grabs his students' attention and forces them to study. And while Tom teaches his students about metaphors, the penguin itself becomes a metaphor - not only for Tom (the other "fish out of water") but also later a metaphor for Sofia, who has been captured by the military police and imprisoned. Tom gets an opportunity to give the penguin to a zoo, but that means it will have to live in quarantine for several weeks, and that cage looks a little too much like a jail cell, and reminds him of Sofia. Sofia reminds him of something else, of course, but that's another story. 

If you crossed "Mr. Popper's Penguins" with "Dead Poets Society" and threw in a bit of "Marley and Me", you might get something like this film. But then, I've probably said too much there, haven't I?  The thing about all pets, even penguins, is that they don't live forever in the human world, and having lost one of our cats at Thanksgiving, the message here kind of hit home. But we have to remember, if we take in a stray animal, they'll probably live longer under our care than they would in the wild, assuming we're protecting them properly. And it's better that we had the time together with them that we did, even if it felt short. When they pass on we are sad, but we should be happy about the fact that we are sad. I know that doesn't make sense, but it should. 

The bottom line is, you've got to "put the penguin in the pool". Well, it's not exactly "carpe diem" but it's what we've got to work with here. 

Directed by Peter Cattaneo (director of "Lucky Break" and "The Rocker")

Also starring Steve Coogan (last seen in "Joker: Folie a Deux"), Julia Fossi, Jonathan Pryce (last seen in "All the Old Knives"), Vivian El Jaber, David Herrero, Bjorn Gustafsson (last seen in "Spy"), Brendan McNamee, Joaquin Lopez, Hugo Fuertes, Miguel Alejandro Serrano, Almar Miranda, Nicanor Fernandez, Gera Maleh, Micaela Breque, Florencia Nocetti, Romina Cocca, Juan M. Barreiro, Osvaldo Ayre, Tomas Pozzi (last seen in "Risen"), Ramiro Blas, Liam Mayne, Ana Carolina Parisi, Josefina Montserrat.

RATING: 7 out of 10 sprats

Society of the Snow

Year 18, Day 2 - 1/2/26 - Movie #5,202

BEFORE: Before I forget, let me talk about what went down on New Year's Eve - I booked a gig working check-in at a prominent chain restaurant in Manhattan, for reference sake let's just call it "PinaColadaBurg". I'm an events guy now, I have five years experience in that position (plus 25 years before that doing random events here and there) so I figured I could make some fast money while the movie theater is still on winter break. And New Year's is the biggest event night of all, I figured there had to be work somewhere, so I found it. I even qualified for a leadership role, mostly because I showed up early for the interview (I've got them all fooled, I tell ya - I clean up good and play the part of "responsible person" very well).  

Then I found out that although the restaurant is a few blocks south of Times Square, it's within the zone that the police block off for the big annual ball drop - if you're a New Yorker like me, you usually watch this on TV and probably have a rule about never, ever going there, because that's for tourists and suckers. Well, I'm not a tourist or a sucker but I found myself scheduled for an event next to the event with the biggest crowd anywhere, and, as I've always assumed, the most chaos possible. 

SO with dollar signs in my eyes, I bundled up in layers and headed for the one place that I swore I would never go, Times Square on New Year's Eve. I knew the location because my comic book shop is right across the street, and I had been invited by the event manager to join her on a walk-through of the space the week before. I figured any knowledge I could gain from seeing the space or talking to the staff would be useful, but all the prep in the world could not have prevented the chaos that ensued. Long entry lines, bitter cold, and confusing ticket structure was the start of it, then there were multiple problems with random people sitting where they weren't supposed to, guests demanding services they were entitled to but hadn't received, and very confusing instructions from the event organizers - like, is re-entry allowed or not allowed? You know, it doesn't matter, because even if it's not allowed, people are very entitled these days and they're just going to do whatever they want. 

The worst thing that happened was that even though the TVs in the restaurant were all tuned to the ball drop, and champagne was handed out to everyone at 11:45, somebody realized that the actual live event was happening just a few blocks away, and it would be really great if they walked outside with their champagne and experienced the majesty of the event live, in person. So suddenly 200 of my guests were walking out of the event with drinks in hand (umm, it's illegal to drink alcohol outside in NYC) and then they expected to walk back in right after midnight (umm, you guys all just left your coats and purses unattended) and this created an instant logistical nightmare for anyone working the door (umm, me). Well, I couldn't hold back a crowd of 200 entitled tourists who were not satisfied with standing in a restaurant and watching the ball drop on TV, but guys, if you want to be like a New Yorker, that's what we do, we watch it on TV even though it's happening just a few blocks away, because come on, we're inside, we've got food, we've got drinks, we're safe and we're getting the best possible view of the event thanks to the magic of television. I'm sorry, but if you choose to go outside into the madness of Times Square with a drink in your hand, I can't be held responsible. I'm just one man in charge of a team of people trying to control the chaos of an event. The good news is that nobody got hurt, I think most everyone had a good time, and next week I'm going to get paid, if this company doesn't disappear overnight and screw me over. 

When it comes to events, I'm now used to being the first one there and the last one to leave, and that was the case on New Year's Eve, I was there until 1 am, at which point I had to walk the bag of supplies back to the main office, a few blocks away, turn in the time sheet for my team, and give my handler some kind of event wrap-up. I didn't get home until 2:30 am, after navigating the piles of trash and puke in Manhattan and then avoiding the party at the roller-skating rink in Bushwick. I caught the re-broadcast of the ball drop on CNN at 3:00 am, which is, again, how a New Yorker should experience the event, and then slept for a solid 8 hours, THEN worked on New Year's Day at the Barclay's Center. This feels a bit like a work schedule that would take down a normal man, but I seem to have recovered OK. 

Francisco Bereny AND Toto Rovito carry over from "The Games Maker". Now, these two films were released 10 years apart, so I think I can assume that the pool of Argentinian actors is just not that large. 

FOLLOW-UP TO: "Alive" (Movie #461)

THE PLOT: The flight of a rugby team crashes on a glacier in the Andes. The few passengers who survive the crash find themselves in one of the world's toughest environments to survive. 

AFTER: First off, I would never compare my recent stressful experience on New Year's Eve to the tragedies and hardships that were endured by the passengers on this Uruguayan airplane that crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972. There's no comparison, their struggles over 71 days in the extreme cold highlights perhaps the worst conditions that anyone ever encountered, and it's a miracle that 29 of the 45 passengers survived the crash, and that 16 people ultimately made it to safety, after 2 people hiked for 10 days to find help in Chile. That being said, I can kind of relate in some small way after spending 6 hours working in a freezing hotel lobby and going 18 hours without eating anything. When I'm in "event mode" I'm just too busy and stressed-out to eat, plus I'm not supposed to eat event food, unless the event is over and I'm sure that all of the guests have eaten their fill before me. So yes, I've recently been cold and hungry and under pressure, but it was all transitory, my inconvenience was nothing at all compared to what the survivors of Flight 571 endured. 

It's cold here in NYC today (again, no comparison) and it's snowed twice already (again, a mere inconvenience) but there are like 30 inches of snow in Buffalo and Syracuse - you know what, those people are probably used to it. They made their choice, I mean, who decides to live in Buffalo, they must be out of their minds. We had snow in NYC the day in mid-December that we left for the cruise, sure, it was a little difficult to get to the Brooklyn port because of snow and traffic, but come on, we knew once we got on the boat things would probably get better, as we were heading for Florida and the Bahamas. Barring any "Carnival poop cruise" situation, things were looking up as we were getting out of the cold for a week. That's really the whole point of "Society in the Snow", we are shown the tragedies and hardships and very difficult decisions that these crash survivors endured, and the only thing we can do in response is be glad that this didn't happen to us, and also be thankful for the things we have and the ways our lives have been improved by our technologies and our current living conditions. If you've got a warm home, access to food and you have someone special to share your days with, really, you're doing all right. Appreciate that through no fault of your own, things could be a LOT worse, you could be marooned on a deserted island with no food or water, or you could be stranded on a mountaintop in the freezing cold and debating the ethics of cannibalism. 

So yeah, I'm feeling hashtag-blessed - it's a privilege that I got to sleep in today, get up and go get us some breakfast sandwiches, and then spend some time discussing movies with you. After that I've got nowhere to go, nothing to do today, just going to pay some bills, check e-mails, play some phone games and maybe my wife and I will go out to dinner later, because she really hasn't seen much of me over the last two days. That's our deal now, I go out and work a ridiculous, mostly nocturnal schedule and she stays home and works a 9-to-5 (OK, 9-to-3) remotely. Having a meal together or even watching a TV show together is hard to come by and requires some coordination, but it can be possible. 

My theater job first brought me in close proximity to a screening of this film. For a few months straight I worked the Tuesday night film appreciation class, which is mainly an older crowd that pays the school for the privilege to come to the theater once a week, and a professor with connections manages to arrange a first-run or preview screening, often with the director or a screenwriter or a casting director there for a Q&A session after. In December 2023, the class screened "Society of the Snow", with perhaps unanticipated results - again, it's an older crowd that's paying to be there and they very much want to be entertained and informed, usually with a light comedy or drama ("Song Sung Blue" was a recent choice). Some people in the crowd were not prepared for such a stressful action movie about a plane crash, so they got upset. A few people walked out of the screening and left, others sat in the lobby and just wanted to sit in silence for a while, so as the house manager I comforted those people who just couldn't handle it, that's fine, everything is OK, you don't have to go back into the theater if you don't want to.

I get it, even the idea of a plane crash is stressful, to see it on the big screen and feel the vibrations from the speakers, it's a lot. Again, hashtag-blessed that I got to witness this from the comfort of my living room, sitting in a recliner with access to a box of cookies and a glass of soda. And then there are scenes later in the film that were designed to make viewers feel claustrophobia, once the plane wreckage sinks into the snow some people were buried and had to dig themselves out, others weren't able to - so there are graphic depictions of people dying, and this can be tough to take. Scenes with people enduring starvation, wondering when their bodies are going to fail them, and then debating whether it makes more sense to stay put and starve or hike to safety and potentially freeze to death. We can't really fault the screenwriters since this all really took place, again I think the only response is to appreciate what these people went through and be thankful we have what we have and hopefully never have to go through anything like this ourselves. 

OK, that being said, this film is two and a half hours long - I have no right to complain about that, either, because what is two and a half hours out of MY life, compared with spending 71 days on a mountain-top without food or any heat source or any hope of being rescued soon? Oh, sorry, do you not like watching sub-titles? How terrible that must be for YOU that you have to read words on the bottom of the screen while you're watching your movie. Maybe you should just move on, because you're kind of missing the whole point here. Look, I read subtitles during EVERY movie because I'm half-deaf in one ear and it's just easier, OK? But sure, let's talk about YOUR needs as you eat popcorn and candy while watching a movie about people starving to death. 

Look, I don't want to get too much into the details of this film, as you can just read about Flight 571 on Wikipedia, also this is the THIRD filmed version of this story, I watched the terrible Hollywood adaptation, "Alive", way back in 2010 - that's over 15 years ago now. The only thing I want to point out, from a narrative point of view, is that I thought the early church scene was very clever, the Bible reading involved the Last Supper, where Jesus broke bread and told his disciples to eat it, as if they were consuming his own body. That's some really adept fore-shadowing there, considering what happens later on the mountain after the crash survivors run out of crackers and chocolates. Honestly, I got out of Catholicism when I learned that church dogma still officially believes that during every service, the bread (hosts) and wine ACTUALLY turns into the body and blood of Jesus. Sorry, I thought that was just a metaphor, but no, the priests REALLY believe that their congregation is eating Jesus. That's way too heavy for me, man, it's church-sponsored cannibalism and thanks, but no thanks. You guys go on without me, I'm good, I had a big breakfast, man. 

If I'm grateful for anything else today, it's that I was finally able to link to this film, and that it only took me two years. Now, if not for "The Games Maker", I could have just started the year with this film, that would have been another way to go, but I didn't have to. And thankfully, impossibly, somehow there's a path from here back to non-Argentinian, more mainstream movies. Really, with my method of watching movies, this is about as hard as it gets, and you know, all things considered, it's not that bad. Life is good, the chain method works and more often than not, it allows me to watch every movie at what turns out to be the perfect time. #blessed (but not in a religious way, in a humanistic effort-pays-off way).

Directed by J.A. Bayona (director of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" and "A Monster Calls")

Also starring Enzo Vogrincic, Agustin Pardella, Matias Recalt, Esteban Bigliardi, Diego Vegezzi, Fernando Contigiani, Esteban Kukuriczka, Francisco Romero, Rafael Federman, Valentino Alonso, Tomás Wolf, Agustin Della Corte, Felipe Gonzalez Otaño, Andy Pruss, Blas Polidori, Felipe Ramusio, Simon Hempe, Luciano Chatton, Rocco Posca, Paula Baldini, Emanuel Parga, Juan Caruso, Benjamín Segura, Santiago Vaca Narvaja, Federico Aznarez, Agustin Berruti, Alfonsina Carrocio, Jaime James Louta, Juandi Elrea Young, Jerónimo Bosia, Giselle Douaret, Agustin Lain, Julian Bedino, Federico Formento, Laularo Martin Bakir, Tea Alberti, Lucas Mascareña, Maximiliano de la Cruz, Juan José Marco, Mariano Rochman, Esteban Pico, Pablo Tate, Virginia Kauffmann, Francisco Burghi, Daniel Antivilo, Ezequiel Fadel Hinojosa, Gustavo F. Sasco, Carlitos Páez, Tomás Friedmann, Roberto Suarez, Constanza Del Sol Giraudo, Gabriela Quartino Tilve, Sergio Armand'ugón, María Elena Pérez, Julio Lachs, Camila Chieza, Franco Rilla, Ignacio Martinez, Ramiro Rutz, Sandra Américo, Claudia Trecu de Lucia, Susana Groisman, Julieta Marcus, Clara Roibal Camino, Clara Ibarra Vierci, Lorenzo Bigliardi, Carolina Steinhorn, Belen Giannini, Camila Giannotti, Sofia Lara, Verónica Perrotta, Rogello Gracia, Álvaro Armand Ugón, Sara Bessio, Noella Campo, Berch Rupenian

RATING: 6 out of 10 phone numbers of girls in Santiago to contact for a good time

The Games Maker

Year 18, Day 1 - 1/1/26 - Movie #5,201

BEFORE: Happy New Year, and happy new chain. Nobody carries over from "Ordinary Angels" because we're starting with a clean slate. Boy that would be something, right, a multi-year chain? The stuff of legends... No, we're flipping the calendar over - and let me just tell you that the calendar industry is a giant scam, I have not paid like $15 for a calendar in years, we all have calendars FREE now, thanks to our phones and the internet, so I expect the calendar industry will collapse, any day now. What we do now is just print out a blank month from the web and tape it over the corresponding month on the calendar from 2024, and we'll never have to buy a new one again. Sure, eventually we may get tired of the same cat photos, but there are 12 different ones, and do we ever remember what last January's calendar art was? I'm in my late 50's now, so no, I barely remember anything - so it's a surprise to see that cat photo from a year ago, so it's really the same as having a brand new calendar. 

Anyway, I explained in the 2025 wrap-up post why I picked THIS film to kick off 2026 - it only links to ONE other film on my list, which is kind of astounding. Then again, it's a 2014 film from Argentina with only a few Hollywood actors in it, so I wouldn't expect it to connect to much. Plus, I already KNOW how I can link back to more mainstream fare in just a few days, so I've been in this situation before, just look at the films that I've watched at the start of the last few years. Last year it was "Anatomy of a Fall", a French film, which I followed with "The Zone of Interest", a German film, and I didn't see an American actor until Day 3. The year before that, I started with "The Worst Person in the World", a Norwegian film, and I linked back to U.S. movies with "Bergman Island". "Narrowsburg", "Nomadland", "Parasite", these were other January 1 films that I might NEVER have been able to get to if I didn't program them at the start of the year. 

So that's the plan, start here, knock off another foreign film tomorrow with no Hollywood actors, and by Day 3 I'll be back on English-speaking movies as the linking Gods intended. Crossing off a couple tough ones feels very satisfying, and I did a LOT of that last year. I want to keep that up, already I see a way in January to knock off a film called "Walt Before Mickey", which has been on my list for absolutely forever - if it comes down to a choice between that film and "Now You See Me, Now You Don't", well, I know what I'm going to have to do. I can probably link back to the mainstream film in the future, but the small indie film, not so much. All movies are created equal, but some are more equal than others and maybe I have to seek out the weird and lesser-seen ones. 

So here's the linking plan for January, as always this will be subject to change - from here Francisco Bereny AND Toto Rovito will carry over to tomorrow's film, and then Alfonsina Carrocio, Jonathan Pryce, Pierce Brosnan (3 films), Cate Blanchett (3), Jamie Lee Curtis (4), Dave Bautista (3), Kevin Durand, Owen Teague (3), Carla Gugino, Idris Elba (4), Gabrielle Union, Bill Murray (3), Daniel Steiner, Sean Bean, Tom Burke, Patsy Ferran, Tim Key, and Jesse Eisenberg (4, possibly 5). That should take me right up to the start of February, which of course is romance/relationship month - that's when I'm going to really knock off some films that have been hanging around on the list for far too long. 

Usually at the start of the year I make a dedication to someone the movie industry lost over the last year, someone whose work I appreciated, and man, there was no shortage of choices this time around, like Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer and David Lynch?  Even the next tier down is star-studded, with Terence Stamp, Dame Joan Plowright, Brigitte Bardot and documentary star villain Dick Cheney. But with the Spinal Tap sequel just begging me to program it somehow, how could I not dedicate the coming movie year to Rob Reiner, director of so many great films like "Misery" and the New Year's Eve classic "When Harry Met Sally"? So this year's in your honor, Mr. Reiner.

THE PLOT: Young Ivan Drago's newfound love of board games catapults him into the competitive world of game invention, and pits him against the inventor Morodian, who has long desired to destroy the city of Zyl, founded by Ivan's grandfather. To save his family and defeat Morodian, Ivan must come to know what it is to be a true Games Maker. 

AFTER: I had a long, complex dream the other day about quitting my job (which I did last year), leaving the office, getting lost in the hallways, finding myself on a bus, taking the bus one stop to Brooklyn, walking to the Barclay's Center, not recognizing the buildings, always thinking that if I take the next right turn I'm going to recognize the shops on the street and be where I need to be. Meanwhile I knew that I was going to show up late, I wasn't wearing the right shoes (at one point I wasn't wearing any shoes at all, but then they came back) and I was in some deep trouble. At some point the failing logic of the dream collapsed, after just one too many things doesn't make any sense, and that's when I tend to realize that I'm dreaming, then I woke up. It would be great if I could somehow keep dreaming and control the dream, I could make anything happen or at least turn failure into success, but that's just not how these things work. 

This movie is like that fever dream - it's OK, a lot of movies are like that. "The Wizard of Oz" is just a long fever dream that Dorothy has while she's unconscious, and her brain really did a number on her, she has to travel down that yellow brick road and meet all kinds of crazy characters, Munchkins and a Tin Man and flying monkeys, and her task is ever-changing and ambiguous, the Wizard wants her to kill the Wicked Witch, but of course a good person would never ask you to kill someone IRL, not even an evil witch. Then when she finally accidentally does that there's no resolution, the goal is still not achieved, because it's not time to wake up or roll the credits yet. So there's MORE, and when the writers couldn't think of more tasks, they just make the Wizard fly off in a balloon for no reason. If you really try to watch "The Wizard of Oz" as a coherent narrative you're wasting your time, because the story zigs and zags all over the place and then of course, never really adds up to anything, because it was all a dream, it was never going to do anything but kill time. 

This film is a lot like "The Wizard of Oz" in that regard, it takes place in a number of different locations but also moves from here to there quite randomly, as soon as it sets up young Ivan Drago in one situation, it starts working on making his life collapse in on itself so he's forced to go somewhere else, and then repeat as necessary until we've taken up 110 minutes of screen time. And unfortunately you're never going to get those 110 minutes BACK, even though you might wish you could. First he's a young school boy with a loving set of parents, but the only problem is that his mind keeps thinking up strategies for new board games, and his father has no interest at all in such things, in fact he forbids Ivan to make games. (Who hurt him?) But through a comic book Ivan learns of a company that has a competition to create games, and he submits one after another. And with each new game he submits, he rises further in the mail-in competition, until he learns that he has won the grand prize, which arrives in the mail in the form of a non-temporary tattoo, and Ivan's father becomes furious about this. 

Everything changes when Ivan's parents are killed or lost in a balloon race (could happen) and he is sent to a strict boarding school (which is slowly sinking into a swamp), even though he apparently has a grandfather somewhere else who Ivan's father was estranged from. At this school he is bullied by students and tormented by his teachers, but also he notices kid playing games that are based on his contest entries - so clearly that company wasn't on the up-and-up, but what else could be going on here? He meets an "invisible" girl who lives in the walls of the boys-only school, and she introduces him to a jigsaw puzzle that contains a secret message, which tells him to tune in to a particular TV station at 2 am (he has to steal a TV set from a classroom) and when he does, he gets a broadcast message from his mysterious grandfather, who lives in the land of Zyl, the capital of making board games. 

To get there, Ivan has to arrange a scavenger hunt for the other students, which makes them run all over the school as they solve the clues and this makes the whole school sink completely into the swamp, so classes are cancelled, obviously, and Ivan hops on a train to Zyl, which is only weird because nobody goes there any more. But the train conductor gives him another comic book, which tells the tale of a married couple lost in a balloon race, and how they maybe survived - so Ivan becomes convinced that his parents are alive somewhere. I mean, would a comic book lie? But the comic book also has an ad for that game-making company, the one that awarded Ivan that prize but also stole his ideas, and also just happens to be located in the land of Zyl. When Ivan meets his grandfather (who teaches him more about strategy games), he learns that the head of the game company, Morodian, was the same age as his father, in fact they were childhood friends, and Morodian might be responsible for the disappearance of his parents. 

Morodian has in fact been tracking Ivan his whole life, and set up the whole game-making competition to develop a love of gaming within Ivan, knowing this would put him at odds with his father, I suppose. Well, we all come to hate what our parents stand for at some point, this is really just the other side of that, where we all throw ourselves into a career that our parents will despise, or never really understand at the very least. So Ivan does the only thing he can think of that will solve the mystery of his life, he ditches his grandfather and goes to work for Morodian. We've all been there, right? We sign on to work for the top dog in our chosen field, and then after 30 years of service and minor successes we're enormously stressed out and change careers to save what little remains of our mental health? Just me? Ivan works as Morodian's dream scribe, which means he has to take notes while Morodian talks in his sleep, just in case he blurts out any new great ideas for board games. 

Ivan does have access to the secret parts of the company, though, and with the help of Fake Ivan (another weird but helpful character) he does confirm that his parents are alive and being held hostage, and his penchant for strategy does come in handy when it's time to escape the flying monkeys - sorry, the three-bodied watchmen - in the most outlandish and impossible way. And like "The Wizard of Oz", you know the end of the film is drawing near when someone flies of in a hot-air balloon.  

I wish this film had been more coherent - really, it's all over the place, firing in all directions at once and then wiping the narrative slate clean every so often. So no coherent six-act structure here BUT it does star the young boy who would play Bruce Wayne on "Gotham" not long after this. I guess playing an "orphan" here and learning strategy was good training to play the future Batman. I also wish they could have gotten more into the mechanics of some of the fictional games here, but really, the story works (?) without that, so it doesn't really matter. 

Directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini

Also starring David Mazouz, Edward Asner (last seen in "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"), Joseph Fiennes (last seen in "The Mother"), Tom Cavanagh (last seen in "Two Weeks"), Valentina Lodovini, Megan Charpentier (last seen in "Jennifer's Body"), Robert Verlaque, Alejandro Awada, Vando Villamil, Maiamar Abrodos, Corina Romero, Sean Mathieson, Nicolas Torcanowsky, Yola Mtilwa, Ivan Masliah, Paula Kohan, Lucas Schweimler Ricca, Juan Cruz Rolla Knight, Francisco Bereny, Julian Zuker, Toto Rovito, Feliz Volker, Maxi Kim, Daniel Dessal, Raymond E. Lee, Ernesto Juan Reid, Gerardo Scherman, Martin Blake, Julieta Halac, Mariano Caligaris, Juan Nesis and the voices of John Emmet Tracy, Mike Clarke.

RATING: 5 out of 10 cardboard cut-outs of people that make the town look less abandoned. 

Year 17 Wrap-Up / Year 18 Preview

Year 17, Day 363 - 12/29/25

Well, it's three days after Christmas, but also three days until New Year's as I write this, so we're right in the middle of the holidays, the perfect time to break down the year that is about to end and take a quick peek at the year to come. The Ghost of Movie Year future is not somebody you want to mess with, especially if you haven't paid the cable bill. Actually this year we cancelled some of the streaming services we were paying for because they're covered THROUGH our cable bill, so supposedly we're saving money each month over last year, the only catch is that we have to watch ads during movies on Hulu. You know what, I'll take it. We're only paying for Netflix and AmazonPrime now, every other service is either free, free with ads or covered by our cable company. Not a bad deal, I can afford to keep this blog going for AT LEAST another six months. JK. 

How do you measure a year? This was the terrible year I changed careers, and I'm still having literal nightmares about the old job, so I think that just maybe I got off of the sinking ship before it went down - this is a good thing overall. Despite my dwindling savings account and my night terrors, I'm a much more optimistic person now that I'm not wracking my brain every night trying to think of ways to keep the company afloat - it's not my problem any more. I even watched two films that had my old boss interviewed in them during my Doc Block, and managed to survive the resulting PTSD. If you also tuned in for the doc "Animation Outlaws" maybe you'll have an idea how hard it is to last in the world of independent animation, and I lasted 31 years, so there. Nobody can never take that away from me, or the work I did for the film "My Love Affair with Marriage", another film I watched this year. But let's focus on the other 299 films I watched this year that I did NOT have a hand in making. 

First, the format stats for 2025: 

145 Movies watched on cable (saved to DVD)

10 Movies watched on cable (not saved) (so just under 50% still coming from cable)

56 watched on Netflix

5 watched on iTunes
27 watched on Amazon Prime

19 watched on Hulu

7 watched on Disney+

2 watched on Paramount +

9 watched on Tubi:

3 watched in theaters ("Thunderbolts", "Superman" and "Fantastic Four: First Steps")

1 watched on Apple + TV (yep, during another "free trial period")
6 watched on Peacock (sometimes, it's the only way...)

3 watched on Roku TV

1 watched on commercial DVD (I had to order "Strange Days" by mail)

6 watched on random sites (my pirate site got shut down in April, though)
300 TOTAL

Yes, this was also the year where I finally traded in my old wonky DVR for a new one - this is because it crashed and died, and I lost like 47 movies in the process. Since then I've been able to recover (or at least watch) many of the missing films with the help of the new DVR, so right now there are only 21 of those lost 47 that are still lost. With proper funding I can perhaps get all of them back someday and added to the collection. But the new DVR turned out to be a real godsend, it allowed me to record MORE movies from MORE channels to DVD, now I know I'll never have all the movies I've ever seen on physical DVDs, but knowing that doesn't stop me from trying. I have a backlog of movies from the last seven years that either aired only on streaming services or aired on channels that didn't allow me to record - the struggle continues. 

But let's take a minute now to recognize the actors and also famous non-actors who appeared in the MOST films this year. Remember that the people who rise to the top of this list tend to be talk-show hosts and U.S. presidents, people who tend to appear in a lot of documentaries - now I watched at least 50 docs this year, so that in itself is going to skew these results. Because he hosted a talk show for SO long, because he had SO many famous people on his show, and because footage of him appeared in SO many docs AND a few bio-pics, this year's winner, with 14 appearances, is the late, great: 

Johnny Carson - "Priscilla", "The Last Movie Star", "Nyad", "Faye", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Valerie", "Brats", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Groucho & Cavett", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print", "Rather", "Saturday Night"

Tied for second place, with 13 appearances:

John F. Kennedy - "Fly Me to the Moon", "Nyad", "A Complete Unknown", "Faye", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Join or Die", "I Am MLK Jr.", "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?", "Beatles '64", "Killing John Lennon", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", 

"Rather", "Apollo 18"

John Lennon - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Elton John: Never Too Late", "If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd", "Beatles '64", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Killing John Lennon", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print", "Here"

Third place, with 12 appearances:

Eddie Murphy - "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Boomerang", "Mr. Church", "A Thousand Words", "Imagine That", "Daddy Day Care", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Claydream", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

11 appearances:

Ronald Reagan - "Lou", "The Apprentice", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Inside Job", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print",  "Rather"

10 appearances: 

Sally Field - "Say It Isn't So", "Spoiler Alert", "Places in the Heart", "Murphy's Romance", "Kiss Me Goodbye", "The End", "Stay Hungry", "Not Without My Daughter", "Norma Rae", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad"

Martin Luther King - "The Secret Life of Bees", "Faye", "Join or Die", "I Am MLK Jr.", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather", "Nickel Boys"

Liam Neeson - "Retribution", "Ordinary Love", "Made in Italy", "Shining Through", "Honest Thief", "Blacklight", "In the Land of Saints and Sinners", "Marlowe", "Memory", "Music by John Williams"

Richard Nixon - "Fly Me to the Moon", "The Apprentice", "Faye", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Join or Die", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?", "Killing John Lennon", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather"

Conan O'Brien - "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Brats", "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Martha", "Rather", "Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain"

Elvis Presley - "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Beatles '64", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Killing John Lennon", "God Is the Bigger Elvis", "Casa Bonita, Mi Amor!", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

9 appearances: 

Gralen Bryant Banks - "Brothers", "The Burial", "The Lovebirds", "Five Nights at Freddy's", "Hit Man", "Queen & Slim", "Nickel Boys", "Haunted Mansion (2023)", "Sinners"

Samuel L. Jackson - "Basic", "The Garfield Movie", "Coach Carter", "Rules of Engagement", "Hard Eight", "The Piano Lesson", "No Good Deed" (2002), "Deep Blue Sea", "Eve's Bayou"

8 appearances: 

Bill Clinton - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Inside Job", "Join or Die", "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather"

Walter Cronkite - "Fly Me to the Moon", "A Complete Unknown", "I Am MLK Jr.", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather", "Music by John Williams"

Merv Griffin - "Faye", "Valerie", "Brats", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Groucho & Cavett", "My Mom Jayne", "Martha"

David Letterman - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Valerie", "Brats", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha"

Paul McCartney - "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Beatles '64", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Killing John Lennon", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Here"

Barack Obama - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise", "Inside Job", "Join or Die", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Music by John Williams", "Mile 22"

Ringo Starr - "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Beatles '64", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Killing John Lennon", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Here"

7 appearances: 

Dick Cavett - "Faye", "Brats", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Groucho & Cavett", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Hillary Clinton - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Inside Job", "Join or Die", "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha"

George Harrison - "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Beatles '64", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Killing John Lennon", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Here"

Michael Jackson - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Claydream", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Allison Janney - "The Creator", "Sun Dogs", "Lou", "To Leslie", "The DUFF", "How to Deal", "A Thousand Words"

Jay Leno - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Brats", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "A Disturbance in the Force", "I Am Sam Kinison", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Martha"

Frank Sinatra - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Brats", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Groucho & Cavett", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Dinah Shore - "Faye", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Groucho & Cavett", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print", "Rather"

Channing Tatum - "Fly Me to the Moon", "Dear John", "Coach Carter", "Stop-Loss", "Havoc" (2005), "10 Years", "Blink Twice"

Robin Williams - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "I Am Sam Kinison", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Martha", "Music by John Williams"

Oprah Winfrey - "Nyad", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha", "The Six Triple Eight"

6 appearances: 

Jimmy Carter - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Join or Die", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather", "The Iron Claw"

Joe Chrest - "Fly Me to the Moon", "Love, Wedding, Marriage", "The Lovebirds", "Runaway Jury", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "The Secret Life of Bees"

Whoopi Goldberg - "Till", "Ezra", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha"

Heather Graham - "Hope Springs" (2003), "Say It Isn't So", "Desperados", "Love, Guaranteed", "About Cherry", "Boogie Woogie"

Lyndon Johnson - "Fly Me to the Moon", "The Secret Life of Bees", "Join or Die", "I Am MLK Jr.", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Rather"

John Malkovich - "Places in the Heart", "Cut Bank", "Bullet Head", "Of Mice and Men" (1992), "The Survivalist", "Mile 22"

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Join or Die", "I Am MLK Jr.", "Beatles '64", "Killing John Lennon"

Charlie Rose - "The Lost King", "Brats", "Claydream", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Martha", "Rather"

Ed Sullivan - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Beatles '64", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Here"

John Travolta - "From Paris with Love", "Gotti", "Basic", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

5 appearances: 

Muhammad Ali - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "I Am MLK Jr.", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Beatles '64", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

David Bowie - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Luther: Never Too Much", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

James Caan - "The Yards", "Kiss Me Goodbye", "Queen Bees", "Faye", "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?"

Nicolas Cage - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Brats", "Mom and Dad", "Dream Scenario", "Renfield"

Ray Charles - "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Music by John Williams"

Cher - "A Disturbance in the Force", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Music by John Williams"

Dick Clark - "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Luther: Never Too Much"

Katie Couric - "Dark Waters", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha"

Sammy Davis Jr. - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Brats", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary"

Robert De Niro - "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Ezra", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"

Robert Downey Jr. - "Game 6", "A Scanner Darkly", "Brats", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

Bob Dylan - "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise", "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "The Beatles: In the Life"

Tina Fey - "Will & Harper", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Maggie Moore(s)", "Mean Girls" (2024)

Gene Hackman - "Runaway Jury", "Faye", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Valerie", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story"

Tom Hardy - "The Bikeriders", "The Drop", "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga", "Venom: The Last Dance", "Havoc" (2025)

David Hartman - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Brats", "My Mom Jayne", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Bob Hope - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Beatles '64", "A Disturbance in the Force", "My Mom Jayne"

Nicholas Hoult - "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga", "The Garfield Movie", "Superman" (2025), "Nosferatu" (2024), "Renfield"

Ralph Ineson - "The Creator", "The Pope's Exorcist", "The First Omen", "The Fantastic Four: First Steps", "Nosferatu" (2024)

Peter Jennings - "Dark Waters", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha", "Rather"

Little Richard - "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Elton John: Never Too Late", "Beatles '64", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Bette Midler - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Yoko Ono - "Elton John: Never Too Late", "Beatles '64", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Killing John Lennon", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Jane Pauley - "Brats", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Claydream", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Jesse Plemons - "Civil War", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Kinds of Kindness", "Varsity Blues", "The Discovery"

Dan Rather - "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Martha", "Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse", "Rather"

Robert Redford - "Faye", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Brats", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print", "The Discovery"

Burt Reynolds - "Citizen Ruth", "The Last Movie Star", "Stroker Ace", "The End", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Julia Roberts - "Love, Wedding, Marriage", "Ticket to Paradise", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames"

Amanda Seyfried - "Dear John", "Letters to Juliet", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Boogie Woogie", "Love the Coopers"

Bruce Springsteen - "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Billy Joel: The 100th: Live at Madison Square Garden"

Christopher Walken - "Dune: Part Two", "Gigli", "One More Time", "Fade to Black", "At Close Range"

Brian Williams - "Trial By Fire", "Nyad", "Inside Job", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Martha" 

Stevie Wonder - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Robin Wright - "What If", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Here", "Damsel", "Land"

4 appearances: 

Fred Armisen - "Will & Harper", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Claydream", "Dear Mr. Watterson"

Lucille Ball - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Jeff Bridges - "Kiss Me Goodbye", "Stay Hungry", "Valerie", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall"

Adrien Brody - "Backtrack", "Manhattan Night", "The Brutalist", "Bullet Head"

Tom Brokaw - "Gotti", "Inside Job", "Martha", "Rather"

Carol Burnett - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "A Disturbance in the Force""Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

George H.W. Bush - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Join or Die", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather"

Craig Castaldo / Radio Man - "Game 6", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Nonnas", "No Pay, Nudity"

Timothée Chalamet - "Dune: Part Two", "Men, Women & Children", "A Complete Unknown", "Love the Coopers"

Joel Courtney - "Players", "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Russell Crowe - "Gladiator II", "Unhinged", "Kraven the Hunter", "The Pope's Exorcist"

Tom Cruise - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Brats", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Music by John Williams"

Alan Cumming - "Marlowe", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Boogie Woogie"

Willem Dafoe - "Saturday Night", "Poor Things", "Kinds of Kindness", "Nosferatu" (2024)

Laura Dern - "Trial By Fire", "Citizen Ruth", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Music by John Williams"

Walt Disney - "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Claydream", "Dear Mr. Watterson", "The Electric State"

Dagmara Dominczyk - "Priscilla", "The Assistant", "Bottoms", "My Love Affair with Marriage"

Donna Duplantier - "The Burial", "Pain Hustlers", "Hit Man", "Unhinged"

Jacob Elordi - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3", "Priscilla"

Giancarlo Esposito - "The Show", "Night on Earth", "Captain America: Brave New World", "The Electric State"

Harrison Ford - "Captain America: Brave New World", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Music by John Williams"

Kyle Gallner - "A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)", "Strange Darling", "Smile", "Smile 2"

Bryant Gumbel - "Brats", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Martha"

Luis Guzman - "Runaway Jury", "Havoc" (2025), "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F"

Tiffany Haddish - "Bad Boys: Ride or Die", "Landscape with Invisible Hand", "Easter Sunday", "Haunted Mansion (2023)"

Mark Hamill - "The Wild Robot", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Music by John Williams"

Tom Hanks - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Music by John Williams". "Here"

Paul Walter Hauser - "Queenpins", "Inside Out 2", "Old Dads", "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

Ron Howard - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "The Beatles: In the Life", "Music by John Williams"

Mick Jagger - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Luther: Never Too Much"

Elton John - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Elton John: Never Too Late", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"

Tommy Lee Jones - "The Burial", "Mechanic: Resurrection", "Rules of Engagement", "Faye"

Joey King - "Despicable Me 4", "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Jo Koy - "Easter Sunday", "The Tiger's Apprentice", "The Monkey King", "Haunted Mansion (2023)"

Kris Kristofferson - "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Anthony Mackie - "10 Years", "Captain America: Brave New World", "The Electric State", "Love the Coopers"

John Magaro - "Big George Foreman", "September 5", "18 1/2", "The Life Before Her Eyes"

Sunita Mani - "You Hurt My Feelings", "Save Yourselves!", "Death of a Unicorn", "Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain"

Dean Martin - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Brats", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Groucho & Cavett" 

Steve Martin - "I Am Sam Kinison", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Love the Coopers"

Kate McKinnon - "Nyad", "Martha", "Balls Out", "A Minecraft Movie"

Joshua Mikel - "Brothers", "Trial By Fire", "Thunderbolts", "Renfield"

Catherine O'Hara - "Elemental", "Pain Hustlers", "Game 6", "The Wild Robot"

Michael Papajohn - "Unhinged", "Hangman", "Big George Foreman", "The Iron Claw"

Oliver Platt - "Letters to Juliet", "Hope Springs" (2003), "Cut Bank", "One More Time"

Nancy Reagan - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather"

Harry Reasoner - "Groucho & Cavett", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print", "Rather"

Christopher Reeve - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Valerie", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Music by John Williams"

Molly Ringwald - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3", "Brats"

Diana Ross - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Winona Ryder - "Night on Earth", "A Scanner Darkly", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Haunted Mansion (2023)"

Susan Sarandon - "Nonnas", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Music by John Williams", "The Six Triple Eight"

Arnold Schwarzenegger - "Stay Hungry", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Gene Shalit - "Faye", "Brats", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

J.K. Simmons - "Men, Women & Children", "Saturday Night", "The Union", "The Accountant 2"

Stellan Skarsgard - "Dune: Part Two", "No Good Deed" (2002), "Deep Blue Sea", "Boogie Woogie"

Amy Smart - "Crank", "Crank: High Voltage", "Varsity Blues", "Bigger than the Sky"

Sebastian Stan - "Captain America: Brave New World", "Thunderbolts", "A Different Man", "The Apprentice"

Jason Statham - "Mechanic: Resurrection", "Crank", "Crank: High Voltage", "Transporter 3"

Ben Stiller - "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Happy Gilmore 2", "Dear Santa", "Nutcrackers"

Charlize Theron - "The Yards", "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga", "Faye", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad"

Donald Trump - "Join or Die", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather", "Mile 22"

Denzel Washington - "Gladiator II", "The Equalizer 3", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Luther: Never Too Much"

Mark Wahlberg - "The Yards", "Faye", "Mile 22", "The Union"

Max Weinberg - "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

Bowen Yang - "The Garfield Movie", "The Tiger's Apprentice", "The Monkey King", "Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain"

Now, the list of people with 3 appearances, and I know this doesn't really sound like a big deal, because this includes nearly everyone from the "Kissing Booth" movies, also really everyone who was in Bruce Springsteen's band - this year, that's really all it took, but let's list them anyway:

Riz Ahmed - "Sound of Metal", "Encounter", "Nimona"

Jessica Alba - "Mechanic: Resurrection", "Awake", "The Eye"

Michelle Allen - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Woody Allen - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Groucho & Cavett", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Mamoudou Athie - "The Burial", "Elemental", "Kinds of Kindness"

Kevin Bacon - "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Brats", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad"

Dylan Baker - "How to Deal", "The Benefactor", "Dream Scenario"

Jennifer Beals - "Runaway Jury", "Luckiest Girl Alive", "Manhattan Night"

Warren Beatty - "Faye", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "God Is the Bigger Elvis"

Beck Bennett - '"Superman" (2025), "Balls Out", "Nimona"

Chuck Berry - "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "The Beatles: In the Life"

Daniel Betts - "Here", "Alien: Romulus", "September 5"

Joe Biden - "Inside Job", "Join or Die", "Elton John: Never Too Late"

Roy Bittan - "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

Dee Bradley Baker - "The Wild Robot", "The Monkey King", "Spellbound"

Bianca Bosch - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Lorraine Bracco - "Nonnas ", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "The Union"

Marlon Brando - "The Bikeriders", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "God Is the Bigger Elvis"

Nicholas Braun - "Saturday Night", "Get a Job", "Dream Scenario"

Josh Brener - "Old Dads", "Saturday Night", "Carry-On"

Jackson Browne - "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary"

Ellen Burstyn - "The Yards", "Queen Bees", "Faye"

George W. Bush - "Inside Job", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather"

Austin Butler - "The Bikeriders", "Dune: Part Two", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad"

Bobby Cannavale - "Incoming", "Old Dads", "Ezra"

Jose Pablo Cantillo - "Ambulance", "Crank", "Crank: High Voltage"

Michael Caine - "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", "Faye", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story"

Bryant Carroll - "Hit Man", "Maggie Moore(s)", "Nutcrackers"

Diahann Carroll - "Eve's Bayou", "Valerie", "A Disturbance in the Force"

Johnny Cash - "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind"

Fidel Castro - "Nyad", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather"

Chevy Chase - "The Last Movie Star", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Erica Cho - "Spoiler Alert", "The Benefactor", "Nyad"

Clarence Clemons - "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

Glenn Close - "Brothers", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad"

Andy Cohen - "Luther: Never Too Much", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Rather"

Frances Conroy - "Joker: Folie à Deux", "Nimona", "No Pay, Nudity"

Steve Coogan - "Despicable Me 4", "The Lost King", "Joker: Folie à Deux"

David Corenswet - "Superman" (2025), "Affairs of State", "Twisters"

Howard Cosell - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "A Disturbance in the Force", "September 5"

Jane Curtin - "Queen Bees", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Danielle Deadwyler - "The Piano Lesson", "Till", "Carry-On"

Ellen DeGeneres - "Nyad", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Johnny Depp - "Faye", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Matt Dillon - "Proxima", "American Dreamer", "Brats"

Peter Dinklage - "American Dreamer", "Brothers", "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes"

Phil Donahue - "Brats", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Richard Donner - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Valerie", "Music by John Williams"

Jason Douglas (VIII) - "Men, Women & Children", "A Scanner Darkly", "Trial By Fire"

Hugh Downs - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Claydream", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Faye Dunaway - "The Yards", "Faye", "Valerie"

Todd Allen Durkin - "Fly Me to the Moon", "Trial By Fire", "Captain America: Brave New World"

Joshua Eady - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Roger Ebert - "Faye", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Ayo Edebiri - "Inside Out 2", "Bottoms", "Omni Loop"

Peter Falk - "What If", "Faye", "Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames"

Jimmy Fallon - "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Martha", "Rather"

Dakota Fanning - "The Secret Life of Bees", "The Equalizer 3", "The Benefactor"

Lucy Faust - "Nickel Boys", "Unhinged", "Renfield"

Danny Federici - "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

Will Ferrell - "Will & Harper", "Despicable Me 4", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary"

Ralph Fiennes - "Conclave", "Strange Days", "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More"

Jane Fonda - "Faye", "Martha", "Here"

Bob Fosse - "Valerie", "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story"

Michael J. Fox - "Brats", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Jamie Foxx - "The Burial", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Martha"

James Gandolfini - "The Drop", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary"

Jorge Garcia - "Get a Job", "Cooties", "The Munsters"

Judy Garland - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Greg Germann - "57 Seconds", "Bigger than the Sky", "Get a Job"

Danny Glover - "American Dreamer", "Places in the Heart", "Monster Trucks"

Karl Glusman - "Reptile", "Civil War", "The Bikeriders"

Jeff Goldblum - "Deep Cover", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

John Goodman - "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain", "Love the Coopers"

Mark J. Goodman - "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Joseph Gordon-Levitt - "Stop-Loss", "Havoc" (2005), "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F"

Ari Graynor - "Game 6", "10 Years", "Nutcrackers"

Seth Green - "Animation Outlaws", "Dear Mr. Watterson", "A Disturbance in the Force"

Joel Grey - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"

Melanie Griffith - "Shining Through", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Martha"

Arsenio Hall - "Brats", "Join or Die", "Luther: Never Too Much"

Jon Hamm - "Maggie Moore(s)", "Mean Girls" (2024), "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie"

David Harbour - "Thunderbolts", "Awake", "Violent Night"

Mike Harkins - "The Burial", "Nickel Boys", "Renfield"

Woody Harrelson - "Fly Me to the Moon", "A Scanner Darkly", "The Electric State"

Sally Hawkins - "The Lost King", "Maudie", "A Brilliant Young Mind"

Goldie Hawn - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Music by John Williams"

James Healy Jr. - "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Trial By Fire", "Omni Loop"

Fred Hechinger - "Gladiator II", "Nickel Boys", "Kraven the Hunter"

Sherman Hemsley - "Landscape with Invisible Hand", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Evan Hengst - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Katherine Hepburn - "Faye", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Roderick Hill - "Poor Things", "The Munsters", "Kraven the Hunter"

Marin Hinkle - "Players", "Imagine That", "The Electric State"

Abbie Hoffman - "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?"

Dustin Hoffman - "Runaway Jury", "Valerie", "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!"

Stephanie Hsu - "The Wild Robot", "The Monkey King", "The Fall Guy"

Sandra Hüller - "Anatomy of a Fall", "The Zone of Interest", "Proxima"

Adam Hurtig - "Violent Night", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", "Ordinary Angels"

Danny Huston - "Marlowe", "Fade to Black", "Boogie Woogie"

Josh Hutcherson - "Five Nights at Freddy's", "57 Seconds", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island"

Stephen Jennings - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Bruce Jenner / Caitlyn Jenner - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Valerie",   "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"

David Johansen - "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd"

Grace Jones - "Boomerang", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Andy Kaufman - "Nyad", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Lloyd Kaufman - "Crank: High Voltage", "Superman" (2025), "18 1/2"

Ted Kennedy - "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Beatles '64", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Billie Jean King - "Elton John: Never Too Late", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything",  "Martha"

Ben Kingsley - "Rules of Engagement", "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More", "Music by John Williams"

Sam Kinison - "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "I Am Sam Kinison", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Louisa Krause - "Dark Waters", "Superman" (2025), "Maggie Moore(s)"

Judd Krok - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Byron Langley - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Robert Larriviere - "The Lovebirds", "Big George Foreman", "Carry-On"

Jerry Lewis - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"

Jerry Lee Lewis - "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Elton John: Never Too Late"

John Lithgow - "Spellbound", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Conclave"

Christopher Lloyd - "Queen Bees", "Love, Wedding, Marriage", "Brats"

Kurt Loder - "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", "The Electric State"

Nick Loren - "From Paris with Love", "Gotti", "Basic"

George Lucas - "Join or Die", "A Disturbance in the Force", "Music by John Williams"

Nathan Lynn - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Zandile Madiiwa - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Sam Malone - "The Burial", "Nickel Boys", "Sinners"

Rooney Mara - "A Ghost Story", "The Discovery", "A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)"

Marc Maron - "To Leslie", "I Am Sam Kinison", "Get a Job"

Groucho Marx - "Groucho & Cavett", "My Mom Jayne", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

T.C. Matherne - "The Lovebirds", "Big George Foreman", "Renfield"

Jack McBrayer - "Queenpins", "A Thousand Words", "Cooties"

Christopher McDonald - "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Happy Gilmore 2", "Awake"

Scoot McNairy - "A Complete Unknown", "Luckiest Girl Alive", "Nightbitch"

Tim Meadows - "Will & Harper", "Mean Girls" (2024), "Dream Scenario"

Liza Minnelli - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Brats"

Emily Mitchell - "Priscilla", "The Apprentice", "Ordinary Angels"

Joni Mitchell - "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary"

Ja'Quan Monroe-Henderson - "Nickel Boys", "Kinds of Kindness", "Sinners"

Robert Morgan - "The Accountant 2", "The Boys in the Boat", "Encounter"

Cullen Moss - "Safe Haven", "Dear John", "The Secret Life of Bees"

Kevin Nealon - "Daddy Day Care", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Happy Gilmore 2"

Trevor Newlin - "Superman" (2025), "Smile 2", "Alien: Romulus"

Paul Newman - "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha"

Jack Nicholson - "Faye", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd"

Alessandro Nivola - "The Brutalist", "The Eye", "Kraven the Hunter"

Dean Norris - "Men, Women & Children", "Carry-On", "The Six Triple Eight"

D.A. Obahor - "57 Seconds", "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Queen & Slim"

Rosie O'Donnell - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Bill O'Reilly - "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha", "Rather"

Al Pacino - "Gigli", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Hangman"

Josh Pais - "Spoiler Alert", "That Awkward Moment", "You Hurt My Feelings"

Dolly Parton - "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Pedro Pascal - "Gladiator II", "The Wild Robot", "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

Dev Patel - "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More", "About Cherry", "I Lost My Body"

Edi Patterson - "A Thousand Words", "Nutcrackers", "Violent Night"

Guy Pearce - "Memory", "Rules of Engagement", "The Brutalist"

Nasim Pedrad - "Desperados", "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Cooties"

Hilton Pelser - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Cassandra Peterson - "Stroker Ace", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "The Munsters"

Joaquin Phoenix - "Joker: Folie à Deux", "The Yards", "Faye"

Vince Pisani - "Civil War", "The Burial", "The Electric State"

Amy Poehler - "Inside Out 2", "Will & Harper", "Dear Mr. Watterson"

Mike Pniewski - "Reptile", "Safe Haven", "Runaway Jury"

Chris Pratt - "The Garfield Movie", "10 Years", "The Electric State"

Kelly Preston - "From Paris with Love", "Gotti", "Citizen Ruth"

Richard Pryor - "A Disturbance in the Force", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Margaret Qualley - "Poor Things", "Kinds of Kindness", "Happy Gilmore 2"

Gilda Radner - "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

Chita Rivera - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

Joan Rivers - "Luther: Never Too Much", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Stephen Root - "To Leslie", "Queenpins", "Imagine That"

Terence Rosemore - "Superman" (2025), "Nickel Boys", "Haunted Mansion (2023)"

Trent Rowe - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Rupaul - "Spoiler Alert", "Faye", "Nimona"

Paul Rust - "Queenpins", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Saturday Night"

Diane Sawyer - "Nyad", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Paul Scheer - "A Disturbance in the Force", "Twisters", "Family Switch"

Roy Scheider - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print", "Music by John Williams"

Martin Scorsese - "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Beatles '64"

Peter Sellers - "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?", "Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames"

Sanda Shandu - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Alia Shawkat - "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Blink Twice", "I Lost My Body"

Brooke Shields - "Brats", "I Am Sam Kinison", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Frances Sholto-Douglas - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Maria Shriver - "Luther: Never Too Much", "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything"

Sturgill Simpson - "The Creator", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Queen & Slim"

Billy Slaughter - "The Burial", "Nickel Boys", "Big George Foreman"

Roger Guenveur Smith - "Till", "Deep Cover", "Eve's Bayou"

Jurnee Smollett - "Lou", "The Burial", "Eve's Bayou"

Snoop Dogg - "The Garfield Movie", "Luther: Never Too Much", "Martha"

Tom Snyder - "Faye", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "Beatles '64"

Cailee Spaeny - "Civil War", "Priscilla", "Alien: Romulus"

Steven Spielberg - "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "Dear Mr. Watterson", "Music by John Williams"

Gloria Steinem - "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print", "Martha"

Howard Stern - "Billy Joel: The 100th: Live at Madison Square Garden", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

James Stewart - "Shining Through", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "Love the Coopers"

Carol Sutton - "Love, Wedding, Marriage", "Eve's Bayou", "Runaway Jury"

Stephanie Sy - "Violent Night", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", "Ordinary Angels"

Gary Tallent - "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

Jake Tapper - "Memory", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Superman" (2025)

Aaron Taylor-Johnson - "The Fall Guy", "Kraven the Hunter", "Nosferatu" (2024)

Owen Teague - "To Leslie", "Reptile", "You Hurt My Feelings"

Justin Timberlake - "Reptile", "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Stanley Tucci - "Conclave", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad", "The Electric State"

Alan Tudyk - "The Electric State", "Moana 2", "Superman" (2025)

Deneen Tyler - "Runaway Jury", "Big George Foreman", "Sinners"

Steven Van Zandt - "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple"

Ben Vereen - "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Personality Crisis: One Night Only"

Morné Visser - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Barbara Walters - "Dark Waters", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Martha" 

Andy Warhol - "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Pee-Wee as Himself"

Kerry Washington - "The United States of Leland", "A Thousand Words", "The Six Triple Eight"

Sharon Washington - "Joker: Folie a Deux", "The Life Before Her Eyes", "Sing Sing"

Damon Wayans Jr. - "Love, Guaranteed", "Long Weekend", "Players"

John Wayne - "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Music by John Williams"

Jeremy Wheeler - "The Brutalist", "Poor Things", "The Munsters"

Carson White - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Kristen Wiig - "Will & Harper", "Despicable Me 4", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story"

Chloe Williams - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Christopher Winchester - "The Burial", "Renfield", "Haunted Mansion (2023)"

Laurent Winkler - "The Brutalist", "Poor Things", "The Munsters"

Natalie Wood - "Landscape with Invisible Hand", "Faye", "Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames"

Bokeem Woodbine - "Old Dads", "Queen & Slim", "Mom and Dad"

Meganne Young - "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3"

Whew, just keeping track of all of that was a huge job. Now let me hand out some of my awards and then we can preview what's coming up in 2026.

BEST ROMANCE (Ensemble):

WINNERS (3-way tie): "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3", "10 Years", "Old Dads" 

RUNNERS-UP: "Players", "Here", "How to Deal", "Men, Women & Children", "Boogie Woogie", "Love the Coopers"

LOSERS: "Love, Wedding, Marriage", "That Awkward Moment", "Bachelorette" 

BEST ROMANCE (While parenting, co-parenting or being pregnant)

WINNERS (6-way tie):"The Lost King", "Safe Haven", "Murphy's Romance", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3", "You Hurt My Feelings", "The Present"

RUNNERS-UP: "Made in Italy", "Norma Rae", "How to Deal", "The Benefactor"

BEST ROMANCE (Seniors, Widows, Divorced People)

WINNER: "Nonnas" 

RUNNERS-UP: "Places in the Heart", "Murphy's Romance", "Queen Bees", "Ticket to Paradise", "Ordinary Love", "Old Dads", "You Hurt My Feelings", "Letters to Juliet", "Kiss Me Goodbye", "Made in Italy"

LOSERS: "How to Deal", "No Pay, Nudity"

BEST DESTINATION WEDDING: 

WINNERS: "Ticket to Paradise", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" (Greece)

RUNNERS-UP: "Letters to Juliet" (Italy), "Maudie" (Nova Scotia) 

BEST MOVIES WHERE THE WEDDING DIDN'T HAPPEN (or ALMOST DIDN'T)

WINNERS: "Queen Bees", "Ticket to Paradise", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3", "What If"

RUNNERS-UP: "Letters to Juliet", "Kiss Me Goodbye", "Hope Springs", "How to Deal", "Balls Out"

LOSERS: "Bachelorette", "Say It Isn't So"

BEST ROMANCE (Love Triangles or Quadrangles)

WINNERS: "A Complete Unknown", "Dune: Part Two" 

RUNNERS-UP: "Places in the Heart", "What If", "Letters to Juliet", "Spoiler Alert", "Kiss Me Goodbye", "The DUFF", "Players", "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "Bigger than the Sky"

LOSERS: "Alright Now", "Hope Springs", "The Kissing Booth 3", "Stay Hungry", "Boomerang", "Balls Out", "That Awkward Moment", "Affairs of State", "Say It Isn't So", "Desperados"

BEST ROMANCE WHERE A COUPLE SEPARATES (and then a nutty or psychotic ex wants to get back together):

WINNERS: "Safe Haven", "Murphy's Romance", "Dream Scenario"

RUNNERS-UP: "Spoiler Alert", "Nightbitch", "Alright Now", "Hope Springs", "The Kissing Booth 2", "The Kissing Booth 3", "Stay Hungry"

LOSERS: "Love, Wedding, Marriage", "That Awkward Moment", "Say It Isn't So", "Gigli", "Desperados"

BEST ROMANCE (Interracial)

WINNERS: "Ticket to Paradise", "The Lovebirds", "A Brilliant Young Mind", "Love, Guaranteed"

RUNNERS-UP: "Players", "Bottoms", "The Secret Life of Bees", "Elemental", "57 Seconds"

LOSER: "Desperados"

BEST LGBTQ+ FILM: 

WINNERS: "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Will & Harper"

RUNNERS-UP: "Anatomy of a Fall", "Nyad", "The Apprentice", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie", "Nimona", "Spoiler Alert", "Bottoms", "Elton John: Never Too Late, "Luther: Never Too Much", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"

LOSERS: "About Cherry", "Gigli", "Desperados"

BEST (February) ROMANCE (It's Complicated):

WINNERS: "Safe Haven", "Murphy's Romance", "The Lovebirds", "Love, Guaranteed", "Long Weekend"

RUNNERS-UP: "Kiss Me Goodbye", "Maudie", "Then Came You", "Players"

LOSERS: "Angel Eyes", "Gigli"

BEST (Non-February) ROMANCE (It's Complicated):

WINNERS: "The Fall Guy", "A Complete Unknown", "Poor Things", "Honest Thief", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "The Union"

RUNNERS-UP: "Fly Me to the Moon", "Game 6", "Priscilla", "Transporter 3", "A Different Man", "Hit Man", "Big George Foreman", "The Brutalist", "To Leslie", "Here", "Nightbitch", "Manhattan Night", "Bigger than the Sky"

LOSERS: "Joker: Folie à Deux", "Shining Through", "Boomerang", "Balls Out", "I Lost My Body", "Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain", "Love the Coopers", "Affairs of State", "Get a Job"

BEST ROMANCE (High school or College edition):

WINNERS: "Dear John", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3", "A Brilliant Young Mind", "What If", "Coach Carter", "The Boys in the Boat" 6

RUNNERS-UP: "The DUFF", "The Kissing Booth", "The Kissing Booth 2", "Bottoms", "Varsity Blues", "Family Switch"

LOSERS: "Alright Now", "Men, Women & Children", "How to Deal", "The Kissing Booth 3", "Mean Girls" (2024), "Balls Out", "Monster Trucks"

BEST (NON-ROMANCE, NON-HORROR) MOVIE ABOUT GRADE SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, OR COLLEGE:

WINNER: "Inside Out 2"

RUNNERS-UP: "American Dreamer", "Coach Carter", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", "Despicable Me 4", "Imagine That", "Luckiest Girl Alive"

LOSERS: "Havoc" (2005), "Daddy Day Care", "Dear Santa", "The Life Before Her Eyes"

BEST SPORTS OR NON-LETHAL COMPETITION FILM:

WINNER:"Inside Out 2" (hockey), 

RUNNERS-UP: "Game 6" (baseball), "A Brilliant Young Mind" (math olympiad), "Coach Carter" (high-school basketball), "Nyad" (long distance open swimming), "Big George Foreman" (boxing). "The Boys in the Boat" (rowing), "Happy Gilmore 2" (golf), "Bottoms"  (girls fight club), "The Iron Claw" (wrestling), "Varsity Blues" (high-school football), "You Gotta Believe" (Little League baseball), "Family Switch" (soccer)

LOSERS: "The Kissing Booth 3" (go-karting), "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More" (blackjack), "Stay Hungry" (body-building), "Nickel Boys" (boxing), "Balls Out" (college flag football), "Stroker Ace" (NASCAR racing)

BEST SPORTS FILM WHERE A DISGRACED COACH OR FORMER ATHLETE HAS TO MENTOR AN INEPT OR CLUELESS ATHLETE OR TEAM: 

WINNERS: "Coach Carter", "Big George Foreman", "The Boys in the Boat"

RUNNERS-UP: "Bottoms", "Varsity Blues", "You Gotta Believe"

LOSER: "Balls Out"

BEST LETHAL COMPETITION FILM:

WINNER: "Gladiator II"

RUNNERS-UP: "Strange Darling", "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes"

LOSER: "The Show"

BEST FILM ABOUT SPIES, ASSASSINS, HIT-MEN OR MERCENARIES:

WINNERS: "Mechanic: Resurrection", "Bad Boys: Ride or Die", "Carry-On", "The Union" 

RUNNERS-UP: "Lou", "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare", "In the Land of Saints and Sinners", "Crank", "Transporter 3", "The Equalizer 3", "Hit Man", "Violent Night", "Despicable Me 4", "Blacklight", "Memory", "Crank: High Voltage", "The Accountant 2", "Kraven the Hunter", "September 5"

LOSERS: "Shining Through", "From Paris with Love", "Mile 22"

BEST (NON-HORROR) FILM ABOUT KILLERS, SERIAL KILLERS, VIGILANTES OR BOUNTY HUNTERS:

WINNERS: "The Fall Guy", "Killers of the Flower Moon"

RUNNERS-UP: "Backtrack", "Of Mice and Men" (1992), "Strange Darling", "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes", "The Yards", "Luckiest Girl Alive", "The Good Nurse", "Maggie Moore(s)"

LOSERS: "Joker: Folie à Deux", "Strange Days", "Hangman", "The United States of Leland", "Unhinged", "The Life Before Her Eyes", "Killing John Lennon"

BEST MOVIE ABOUT BANK ROBBERS, SMUGGLERS, THIEVES OR CON ARTISTS:

WINNER: "Honest Thief"

RUNNERS-UP: "Queenpins", "The Apprentice", "Violent Night", "Brothers", "At Close Range", "Biggest Heist Ever"

LOSERS: "The Drop", "Retribution", "Marlowe", "No Good Deed" (2002), "Paper Soldiers", "Cut Bank", "Ambulance"

BEST MOVIE ABOUT KIDNAPPERS, MOBSTERS OR DIRTY COPS: 

WINNER: "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" 

RUNNERS-UP: "Reptile", "The Lovebirds", "Transporter 3", "The Equalizer 3", "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Hit Man", "Queen & Slim", "Deep Cover", "End of the Road", "Havoc" (2025), "Blink Twice", "Encounter"

LOSERS: "The Drop", "Gotti", "Gigli", "A Scanner Darkly"

BEST MOVIE ABOUT PRISON or EX-CONVICTS:

WINNERS: "Mechanic: Resurrection", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Gladiator II"

RUNNERS-UP: "Queenpins", "Captain America: Brave New World", "A Different Man", "Brothers", "Despicable Me 4", "The Yards", "Trial By Fire", "Norma Rae", "At Close Range", "The Good Nurse", "Kraven the Hunter", "Sing Sing", "Encounter", "Martha"

LOSERS: "Joker: Folie à Deux", "Basic", "Paper Soldiers", "Citizen Ruth", "Havoc" (2005), "Nickel Boys", "Hangman", "Gotti", "The United States of Leland"

BEST FILM ABOUT A TRIAL OR LEGAL ACTION: 

WINNERS: "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Killers of the Flower Moon", "Thunderbolts"

RUNNERS-UP: "Anatomy of a Fall", "The Apprentice", "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise", "Claydream", "Hit Man", "Dark Waters", "Love, Guaranteed", "Rules of Engagement", "Runaway Jury", "Trial By Fire", "Martha", "Biggest Heist Ever", "18 1/2"

LOSERS: "Joker: Folie à Deux", "The Burial", "Pain Hustlers", "Till", "Citizen Ruth", "Gotti"

BEST BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVIE (not watched in February):

WINNER: "Queen & Slim"

RUNNERS-UP: "The Secret Life of Bees", "I Am MLK Jr.", "The Six Triple Eight", "Sing Sing", "The Piano Lesson", "Till", "Nickel Boys"

BEST MURDER MYSTERY:

WINNER: "The Fall Guy"

RUNNERS-UP: "Anatomy of a Fall", "Reptile", "The Lovebirds", "Fade to Black", "Nimona", "End of the Road", "The Good Nurse", "Maggie Moore(s)", "Manhattan Night" 

LOSERS: "Marlowe", "Strange Days", "The United States of Leland", "Cut Bank", "Hangman", "Paradox"

BEST MOVIE ABOUT NAZIS/WWII: 

WINNERS: "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare", "Fade to Black", "Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse", "The Boys in the Boat"

RUNNERS-UP: "The Zone of Interest", "The Six Triple Eight", "The Pope's Exorcist"

LOSER: "Shining Through"

BEST MOVIE WITH GRATUITOUS MENTIONS OF 9/11:

WINNERS: "Dear John", "Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse"

RUNNERS-UP: "Stop-Loss", "You Gotta Believe"

LOSERS: "Sun Dogs", "Men, Women & Children"

BEST MOVIE WITH TERRORISTS OR A SIEGE OR HOSTAGE CRISIS:

WINNERS: "Carry-On", "The Union", "Cooties" 7

RUNNERS-UP: "6 Days", "Violent Night", "The Accountant 2", "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim", "Blink Twice", "September 5", "Encounter"

LOSERS: "The Survivalist", "Mile 22", "The Life Before Her Eyes"

BEST MOVIE WITH CULTS OR RELIGIOUS LEADERS: 

WINNER: "Conclave"

RUNNERS-UP: "God Is the Bigger Elvis", "The Pope's Exorcist", "The Discovery"

LOSERS: "Citizen Ruth", "The Survivalist", "Kinds of Kindness", "The First Omen", "Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain"

BEST WESTERN:

(category cancelled because no qualifying entries this year)

BEST FILM ABOUT BEING JEWISH:

WINNERS: "Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse", "The Brutalist"

RUNNER-UP: "September 5"

LOSERS: "Shining Through", "Love, Wedding, Marriage" 

BEST FILM ABOUT BEING GREEK:

WINNER: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3"

BEST FILM ABOUT BEING ITALIAN:

WINNERS: "Gladiator II", "Nonnas"

RUNNERS-UP: "Conclave", "The Equalizer 3", "Fade to Black", "Letters to Juliet", "The Kissing Booth 2", "Made in Italy", "Night on Earth", "The Pope's Exorcist"

LOSERS: "The Kissing Booth 3", "The First Omen"

BEST FILM ABOUT SPACE TRAVEL:

WINNERS: "Dune: Part Two", "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

RUNNERS-UP: "Proxima", "Fly Me to the Moon", "Apollo 18"

LOSER: "Alien: Romulus" 4

BEST FILM ABOUT TIME TRAVEL:

WINNER: "Omni Loop"

RUNNERS-UP: "Long Weekend", "The Present", "A Ghost Story"

LOSERS: "57 Seconds", "The Butterfly Effect 2", "Paradox"

BEST ALIEN INVASION or APOCALYPSE FILM:

WINNER: "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

RUNNERS-UP: "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga", "Landscape with Invisible Hand", "Venom: The Last Dance", "Apollo 18", "Save Yourselves!", "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes", "Civil War", "Mountainhead"

LOSERS: "The Survivalist", "The First Omen", "Alien: Romulus"

BEST SCI-FI FILM (Non-superhero, non-time-travel):

WINNERS: "Dune: Part Two", "The Wild Robot" 

RUNNERS-UP: "The Creator", "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga", "Apollo 18", "The Discovery"

LOSERS: "Strange Days", "The Electric State", "Alien: Romulus", "Deep Blue Sea", "Monster Trucks", "A Minecraft Movie"

BEST CLONE/DOPPELGANGER/LOOK-ALIKE FILM (includes all instances of one actor playing twins or multiple roles):

WINNERS: "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Sinners" (Michael B. Jordan) 7

RUNNERS-UP: "The Creator", "The Lost King", "Ezra" (Guillermo x 2), "Bigger than the Sky" (Patty Duke, I see what you did there), "Crank: High Voltage", "At Close Range" (David Strathairn), "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Kraven the Hunter"

LOSERS: "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More", "The Electric State", "Paradox", "The Brutalist" (Raffey Cassidy as a mother/daughter), "Kinds of Kindness", "The Munsters"

BEST FANTASY FILM:

WINNER: "Inside Out 2"

RUNNERS-UP: "Spellbound", "Moana 2", "Dream Scenario", "Nimona", "Violent Night", "The Monkey King", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim", "Death of a Unicorn", "Family Switch"

LOSERS: "Elemental", "The Tiger's Apprentice", "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More", "A Thousand Words", "Damsel", "Dear Santa", "A Minecraft Movie"

BEST SUPERHERO OR COMIC BOOK FILM (includes GRAPHIC NOVELS):

WINNERS: "Thunderbolts", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story", "Superman" (2025), "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

RUNNERS-UP: "Venom: The Last Dance", "Captain America: Brave New World", "Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse", "Nimona", "Despicable Me 4", "Kraven the Hunter"

LOSERS: "Here", "Joker: Folie à Deux", "The Garfield Movie", "Dear Mr. Watterson", "The Electric State"

BEST ANIMATED FILM:

WINNERS: "Inside Out 2", "My Love Affair with Marriage", "The Wild Robot"

RUNNERS-UP: "The Monkey King", "Spellbound", "Moana 2", "Nimona", "Despicable Me 4", "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim"

LOSERS: "Elemental", "The Garfield Movie", "The Tiger's Apprentice", "I Lost My Body", "A Scanner Darkly"

BEST PARTIALLY ANIMATED FILM:

WINNERS: "Pee-Wee as Himself", "Poor Things"

RUNNERS-UP: "Landscape with Invisible Hand", "Nyad", "Claydream", "Join or Die", "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise", "Elton John: Never Too Late", "Animation Outlaws", "I Am Sam Kinison", "Martha", "Death of a Unicorn"

LOSERS: "Joker: Folie à Deux", "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More", "Damsel", "The Electric State", "Deep Blue Sea", "Monster Trucks", "A Minecraft Movie"

BEST ANIMATED FILM ABOUT CHINESE OR PACIFIC ISLANDER CULTURE OR GODS:

WINNERS: "The Monkey King", "Moana 2"

RUNNERS-UP: "Elemental", "The Tiger's Apprentice" 4

BEST ANIMATED FILM ABOUT WHAT GOES ON INSIDE A YOUNG WOMAN'S BRAIN OR BODY:

WINNERS: "Inside Out 2", "My Love Affair With Marriage", "Nimona"

RUNNERS-UP: "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise", "Elemental"

BEST BIO-PIC ABOUT SINGERS, MUSICIANS OR CONDUCTORS (Non-fictional):

WINNER: "A Complete Unknown"

RUNNER-UP: "Priscilla"

BEST BIO-PIC ABOUT ATHLETES: 

WINNERS: "Nyad", "Big George Foreman", "The Boys in the Boat"

RUNNER-UP: "The Iron Claw"

BEST DOCUMENTARY ABOUT SINGERS, DANCERS, MUSICIANS OR ARTISTS:

WINNERS: "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary", "Music by John Williams"

RUNNERS-UP: "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black", "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?", "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise", "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall", "Elton John: Never Too Late", "If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd", "Beatles '64", "Luther: Never Too Much"

LOSERS: "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind", "The Beatles: In the Life"

BEST ROCK CONCERT FILM:

WINNERS: "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band", "Billy Joel: The 100th: Live at Madison Square Garden"

RUNNERS-UP: "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band", "What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?", "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall"

BEST DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ATHLETES: 

WINNER: "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes"

BEST DOCUMENTARY ABOUT POLITICIANS OR REPORTERS: 

WINNERS: "Inside Job", "Rather"

RUNNERS-UP: "Join or Die", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print"

BEST DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ACTORS OR AUTHORS OR FILM-MAKERS

WINNERS: "Will & Harper", "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story"

RUNNERS-UP: "Faye", "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story", "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", "My Mom Jayne", "Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames", "Valerie", "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", "Brats", "God Is the Bigger Elvis", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"

LOSERS: "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!", "Groucho & Cavett", "Tom Hanks: The Nomad"

BEST DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ANIMATORS OR CARTOONISTS:

WINNERS: "Casa Bonita Mi Amor!", "Claydream", "Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse"

RUNNER-UP: "Animation Outlaws"

LOSER: "Dear Mr. Watterson"

BEST DOCUMENTARY ABOUT STAND-UP COMICS: 

WINNER: "Pee-Wee as Himself"

RUNNERS-UP: "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "I Am Sam Kinison"

BEST MOVIE ABOUT MAKING 1970 TV SHOWS OR PUBLIC RADIO: 

WINNER: "A Disturbance in the Force"

RUNNERS-UP: "Saturday Night", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything", "September 5"

LOSER: "Groucho & Cavett"

BEST FILM WITH SALLY FIELD TAKING OVER A FARM OR RANCH OR WORKING IN A MILL IN A SMALL TOWN  WHILE BEING A SINGLE PARENT AND ALSO THERE IS A LOVE TRIANGLE:

WINNERS: "Places in the Heart", "Murphy's Romance"

RUNNER-UP: "Norma Rae"

BEST FILM WITH LIAM NEESON HAVING A DEAD OR DYING WIFE: 

WINNERS: "Ordinary Love", "In the Land of Saints and Sinners"

RUNNER-UP: "Made in Italy"

LOSER: "Shining Through"

BEST FILM WITH EDDIE MURPHY LEARNING HOW TO PARENT AND ALSO THERE ARE PROBLEMS AT WORK:

WINNER: "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F"

RUNNERS-UP: "Imagine That", "A Thousand Words", "Daddy Day Care"

BEST FILM WHERE THINGS DON'T END WELL FOR JOHN MALKOVICH'S CHARACTER: 

WINNERS: "Bullet Head", "Of Mice and Men" (1992)

RUNNER-UP: "The Survivalist"

LOSER: "Mile 22"

BEST FILM BASED ON A BOOK:

WINNERS: "A Complete Unknown" (based on "Dylan Goes Electric!"), "Poor Things", "Dune: Part Two", "The Wild Robot", "Killers of the Flower Moon" 

RUNNERS-UP: "The Lost King" (based on "The King's Grave: The Search for Richard III"), "Safe Haven", "Dear John", "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" (based on "Churchill's Secret Warriors"), "Murphy's Romance", "Priscilla" (based on "Elvis and Me"), "Landscape with Invisible Hand", "Conclave", "Nyad"  (based on "Find a Way"), "Fade to Black" (based on "Dissolvena al nero"), "Of Mice and Men" (1992), "The Boys in the Boat", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

LOSERS: (too many to list here)

BEST FILM BASED ON A NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE ARTICLE:

WINNER: "Hit Man" (Texas Monthly, 2001)

RUNNERS-UP: "Dark Waters". (New York Times Magazine, 2016), "Trial By Fire". (The New Yorker, 2009), "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" (Ms. magazine), "The Six Triple Eight" (WWII History magazine, 2019)

LOSER: "The Burial" (The New Yorker, 1999) 

BEST FILM BASED ON A PLAY or PERFORMANCE ART or PUBLIC RADIO SEGMENT:

WINNER: "Pee-Wee as Himself"

RUNNERS-UP: "American Dreamer", "What If" (based on the play "Toothpaste and Cigars"), "Old Dads", "Easter Sunday", "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution", "I Am Sam Kinison", "Sing Sing"

LOSERS: "The Piano Lesson", "Bachelorette"

BEST FILM BASED ON A TOY OR GAME OR VIDEO-GAME OR VIDEO-GAME STOCK:

WINNER: "Five Nights at Freddy's"

RUNNER-UP: "Hangman"

LOSER: "A Minecraft Movie"

BEST FILM ABOUT HOW THE INTERNET HAS RUINED OUR LIVES: 

WINNERS: "Old Dads", "Save Yourselves!"

RUNNERS-UP: "The DUFF", "Biggest Heist Ever"

LOSERS: "Men, Women and Children", "Desperados"

BEST MOVIE WITH A.I. TAKING OVER: 

WINNER: "The Wild Robot"

RUNNERS-UP: "The Creator", "Mountainhead"

LOSER: "The Electric State"

BEST ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT STORIES:

WINNERS: "Night on Earth", "Here"

RUNNERS-UP: "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More", "Kinds of Kindness" 4

BEST PREQUEL:  

WINNER: "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga"

RUNNERS-UP: "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes", "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim", "Kraven the Hunter"

LOSER: "The First Omen"

BEST SEQUEL:   

WINNERS: "Inside Out 2", "Dune: Part Two", "Mechanic: Resurrection", "Gladiator II", "Bad Boys: Ride or Die", "Thunderbolts", "Twisters"

RUNNERS-UP: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3", "Transporter 3", "The Equalizer 3", "Venom: The Last Dance", "Captain America: Brave New World", "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Moana 2", "Happy Gilmore 2", "Smile 2", "Despicable Me 4", "The Kissing Booth 2", "Crank: High Voltage", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", "The Accountant 2"

LOSERS: "Joker: Folie a Deux", "The Kissing Booth 3", "The Butterfly Effect 2", "Alien: Romulus" 

BEST REMAKE OR REBOOT:  

WINNERS: "The Fall Guy", "Dune: Part Two", "The Fantastic Four: First Steps", "Superman" (2025)

RUNNERS-UP: "Renfield", "Kiss Me Goodbye" (based on "Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands"), "Memory" (remake of Belgian film "The Alzheimer Case"), "Of Mice and Men" (1992), "The Eye" (remake of Hong Kong film), "Haunted Mansion (2023)"

LOSERS: "Retribution" (based on Spanish film "El desconocido"), "The Garfield Movie", "Mean Girls" (2024), "The Fog" (2005), "Nosferatu" (2024), "A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)", "Ambulance" (remake of a Danish film from 2005), "The Munsters" 3

BEST MOTHER'S DAY MOVIE:

WINNERS (4-way tie): "Not Without My Daughter", "Norma Rae", "End of the Road", "The Secret Life of Bees"

BEST FATHER'S DAY MOVIE:

WINNERS: "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F", "Old Dads", "Ezra"

RUNNERS-UP: "Imagine That", "A Thousand Words", "Daddy Day Care"

BEST MOVIE ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES:

WINNER: "Nonnas" 

RUNNERS-UP: "American Dreamer", "Queen Bees", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3", "The Equalizer 3", "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie", "Happy Gilmore 2", "Ordinary Angels", "Maudie", "Made in Italy", "Here"

LOSER: "The Munsters"

BEST (?) MOVIE ABOUT WHITE RAPPERS: 

WINNERS: "10 Years", "Old Dads", "Claydream"

RUNNER-UP "Biggest Heist Ever"

LOSER: "Havoc" (2005) 

BEST KARAOKE OR OPEN-MIKE OR ANIMATRONIC SINGING SCENE:  ?

WINNERS: "The Fall Guy", "A Complete Unknown"

RUNNERS-UP: "10 Years", "A Different Man", "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie", "Five Nights at Freddy's"

LOSER: "One More Time"

BEST HORROR MOVIE: (creatures or monsters)

WINNERS: "Nimona", "Moana 2"

RUNNERS-UP: "Apollo 18","Death of a Unicorn", "Damsel", "Alien: Romulus"

LOSER: "Monster Trucks"

BEST HORROR MOVIE (Witch, Ghost, Zombie or Demon):

WINNERS: "Cooties", "Smile"

RUNNERS-UP: "Backtrack", "Smile 2", "The Eye", "The Pope's Exorcist", "Haunted Mansion (2023)", "A Ghost Story"

LOSERS: "The Fog" (2005), "The First Omen", "A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)", "Dear Santa"

BEST HORROR MOVIE (killers or serial killer):

WINNER: "Strange Darling"

RUNNERS-UP: "Trap", "Blink Twice"

LOSER: "Mom and Dad"

BEST HORROR MOVIE (body horror)

WINNERS: "Poor Things", "Cooties", "Smile"

RUNNERS-UP: "Smile 2", "Nightbitch", "Awake" 

LOSERS: "The First Omen", "I Lost My Body"

BEST RIFF ON "FRANKENSTEIN" OR "DRACULA":

WINNERS: "Poor Things", "Sinners"

RUNNER-UP: "Renfield"

LOSERS: "Nosferatu" (2024), "The Munsters"

BEST HORROR MOVIE NOT WATCHED IN OCTOBER: 

WINNER: "Backtrack"

RUNNERS-UP: "Five Nights at Freddy's", "Apollo 18", "Nightbitch"

LOSERS: "Damsel", "Alien: Romulus", "Dear Santa", "Monster Trucks"

BEST THANKSGIVING MOVIE: 

(category cancelled because no qualifying entries this year)

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE:

WINNER: "Carry-On" (if "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie, so is this)

RUNNERS-UP: "Violent Night", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", "Ordinary Angels", "Family Switch", "Nutcrackers"

LOSERS: "Love the Coopers", "Dear Santa"

BEST FILM ABOUT AUTISM OR PEOPLE ON THE SPECTRUM: 

WINNERS: "Dear John", "A Brilliant Young Mind", "Ezra", "Of Mice and Men" (1992), "The Present" 

RUNNERS-UP: "The Secret Life of Bees", "The Accountant 2", "Sun Dogs"

LOSERS: "The United States of Leland", "Gigli"

BEST FILM ABOUT ALCOHOLISM OR DRUG ADDICTION OR INTERNET ADDICTION: 

WINNERS: "Priscilla", "Fade to Black", "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie", "The Brutalist", "Happy Gilmore 2", "Sound of Metal", "Save Yourselves!", "Ordinary Angels"

RUNNERS-UP: "To Leslie", "Deep Cover", "Pain Hustlers", "Men, Women & Children", "Marlowe", "Eve's Bayou", "Strange Days", "About Cherry", "Citizen Ruth", "The Benefactor", "Havoc" (2005)

LOSERS: "Bachelorette", "The United States of Leland", "Get a Job", "A Scanner Darkly"

BEST FILM ABOUT LIVING IN A LIGHTHOUSE OR BEACH HOUSE OR LAKE HOUSE OR BEING STUCK ON A SMALL ISLAND: 

WINNERS: "Mechanic: Resurrection", "The Wild Robot"

RUNNERS-UP: "The Creator", "Lou", "Safe Haven", "Ticket to Paradise", "Moana 2", "Made in Italy", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", "Blink Twice"

LOSERS: "One More Time", "The Fog" (2005)

BEST FILM ABOUT SAVING ENDANGERED TURTLES OR LIZARDS OR INJURED OR CAPTIVE BIRDS OR STRAY OR LOST DOGS OR CATS: 

WINNER: "The Wild Robot"

RUNNERS-UP: "Conclave", "Venom: The Last Dance", "Bullet Head", "The Accountant 2"

LOSERS: "The Drop", "The Garfield Movie", "Say It Isn't So"

BEST OBVIOUS STAND-IN for DONALD TRUMP:

WINNERS: Christopher Walken as the Emperor in "Dune: Part Two"

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in "Superman" (2025)

RUNNERS-UP: Lachy Hulme as Immortan Joe in "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga"

Harrison Ford as President Ross in "Captain America: Brave New World"

Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in "The Apprentice"

Frances Conroy as The Director in "Nimona"

Nick Offerman as the President in "Civil War"

Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes"  

LOSER: Bill Skarsgard as Nosferatu in "Nosferatu" (2024) 

BEST MOVIE WITHIN A MOVIE or TV SHOW/PLAY WITHIN A MOVIE ? 

WINNERS: "The Fall Guy", "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

RUNNERS-UP: "Game 6", "A Different Man", "Fade to Black", "Saturday Night", "Bigger than the Sky" ("Cyrano"), "Sing Sing", "Nutcrackers" (an adapted version of the "Nutcracker" ballet)

LOSERS: "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More", "About Cherry", "No Pay, Nudity" ("King Lear"), "The Show"

BEST STAR WARS-CENTRIC MOVIE:

WINNERS (tie): "A Disturbance in the Force", "Music by John Williams"

BEST REVOLUTION MOVIE:

WINNERS (tie): "Outstanding;  A Comedy Revolution", "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" 5

BEST KING, QUEEN, ACE OR JOKER MOVIE:

WINNERS: "Queenpins", "The Lost King", "Queen Bees", "The Monkey King", "Queen & Slim"

RUNNER-UP: "Joker: Folie à Deux"

LOSER: "Stroker Ace" 

BEST SUN, MOON OR STARS MOVIE:

WINNER: "Killers of the Flower Moon"

RUNNERS-UP: "Fly Me to the Moon", "The Last Movie Star", "Easter Sunday"

LOSER: "Sun Dogs" 4

BEST EARTH, AIR, FIRE OR WATER MOVIE:

WINNERS: (tie) "Night on Earth", "Trial By Fire", "Dark Waters", "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall"

BEST SPRING, SUMMER, FALL OR WINTER MOVIE:

WINNER: "The Fall Guy"

RUNNERS-UP: "Hope Springs", "Anatomy of a Fall"

MOVIES WITH THE MOST CAST MEMBERS FROM "SNL":

"Pee-Wee as Himself" (20 - Laraine Newman, Dan Aykroyd, Dana Carvey, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Joan Cusack, Robert Downey Jr., Nora Dunn, Gilbert Gottfried, Anthony Michael Hall, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Victoria Jackson, Jon Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Kevin Nealon, Gilda Radner, Danitra Vance)

"Will & Harper" (16 - Will Ferrell, Fred Armisen, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colin Jost, Tim Meadows, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Molly Shannon, Kristen Wiig, Dana Carvey, Rachel Dratch, Darrell Hammond, Chris Kattan, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph)

"Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary" (7 - Fred Armisen, Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Bill Hader)

"Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything" (6 - Eddie Murphy, Gilda Radner, Ana Gasteyer, Tracy Morgan, Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon)

"Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" (5 - Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner)

"Happy Gilmore 2" (5 - Adam Sandler, Kevin Nealon, Marcello Hernandez, Jon Lovitz, Rob Schneider)

"Martha" (4 - Pete Davidson, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Seth Meyers)

"Inside Out 2" (3 - Amy Poehler, James Austin Johnson, Bobby Moynihan)

"Despicable Me 4" (3 - Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Laraine Newman)

"Daddy Day Care" (3 - Eddie Murphy, Kevin Nealon, Siobhan Fallon Hogan)

"Rather" (3 - Jimmy Fallon, Brian Doyle-Murray, Joe Piscopo)

"Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain" (3 - Bowen Yang, Ben Marshall, Chloe Troat)

"Balls Out" (3 - Kate McKinnon, Beck Bennett, Jay Pharoah)

15 LONGEST MOVIES:

1. "The Brutalist" 3 hr. 35 min. 

2. "Killers of the Flower Moon". 3 hr. 26 min.

3. "Pee-Wee as Himself" 3 hr. 22 min.

4. "Dune: Part Two". 2 hr. 46 min. 

5. "Kinds of Kindness" 2 hr. 44 min. 

6. "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes". 2 hr. 37 min.

7. "Anatomy of a Fall" 2 hr. 31 min.

8. "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga". 2 hr. 28 min. 

9. "Gladiator II".  2 hr. 28 min. 

10. "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple" 2 hr. 27 min.

11. "Strange Days". 2 hr. 25 min.

12. "Poor Things" 2 hr. 21 min.

13. "Nickel Boys" 2 hr. 20 min.

14. "Sinners" 2 hr. 18 min.

15. "Coach Carter"   2 hr. 16 min.

21 SHORTEST MOVIES:

1. "Valerie" 36 min. 

2. "God Is the Bigger Elvis" 37 min. 

3. "Tom Hanks: The Nomad" 47 min.

4. "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise"  55 min.

5. "Killing John Lennon" 56 min.

6. "Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black" 59 min.

7. "The Beatles: In the Life" 60 min.

8. "Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!"  62 min.

9. "Animation Outlaws" 67 min. 

10. "Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind" 73 min. 

11. "I Lost My Body" 81 min.

12. "Groucho & Cavett"  83 min.

13. "Get a Job" 83 min.

14. "Mom and Dad" 83 min. 

15. "The Tiger's Apprentice" 84 min.

16. "Awake" 84 min.

17. "Havoc" (2005) 85 min.

18. "Biggest Heist Ever" 85 min.

19. "The Lovebirds" 86 min.

20. "Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall" 86 min.

21. "Apollo 18" 86 min.

MOVIES WITH THE SHORTEST TITLES: 

3 letters: "Lou"

4 letters: "Ezra", "Faye", "Here", "Land", "Nyad", "Trap", "Till", 

5 letters: "Awake""Basic", "Brats", "Crank", "Game 6", "Gigli", "Gotti", "Havoc" (2025), "Havoc" (2005), "Smile", "6 Days", "18 1/2"

6 letters: "Damsel", "The End", "The Eye", "The Fog" (2005), "Hit Man", "Martha", "Maudie", "Memory", "Mile 22", "Moana 2", "Nimona", "Nonnas", "Rather", "Smile 2", "What If"

MOVIES WITH THE LONGEST TITLES:

"Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall" (60 chars.)

"The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts - Springsteen E Street Band" (54 chars.)

"Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain" (45 chars.)

"Billy Joel: The 100th: Live at Madison Square Garden" (44 chars.)

"If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd" (44 chars.)

"Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band" (43 chars.)

"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" (42 chars.)

"The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More" (41 chars.)

"Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon" (40 chars.)

"What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?" (39 chars.)

"Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story" (38 chars)

"Remastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black" (37 chars)

"The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" (37 chars)

"Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" (34 chars)

"The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" (33 chars)

"Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames" (33 chars)

"Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything" (31 chars)

"Personality Crisis: One Night Only" (30 chars)

"Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse" (30 chars)

"Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution" (29 chars)

MOVIES WITH THE LARGEST CASTS:

"Happy Gilmore 2" (288 people)

"Killers of the Flower Moon". (265 people)

"Mean Girls" (2024) (174 people)

"Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple" (169 people)

"Pee-Wee as Himself" (151 people)

"Men, Women & Children". (145 people)

"Gotti". (143 people)

"Coach Carter" (141 people)

"Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary" (135 people)

"Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything" (134+ people)

15 OLDEST MOVIES:

"Stay Hungry" (April, 23, 1976)

"The End" (1978)

"Norma Rae" (March 2, 1979)

"Kiss Me Goodbye" (1982)

"Stroker Ace" (July 1, 1983)

"Places in the Heart" (1984)

"Murphy's Romance" (1985)

"At Close Range"  (April 18, 1986)

"Not Without My Daughter" (January 11, 1991)

"Shining Through" (January 31, 1992)

"Deep Cover" (April 15, 1992)

"Night on Earth" (May 1, 1992)

"Boomerang" (July 1, 1992)

"Of Mice and Men" (October 2, 1992)

"Strange Days" (October 7, 1995)

20 NEWEST MOVIES: (check this again at end of year)

"Happy Gilmore 2" July 25, 2025 / "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" July 25, 2025

"Superman" (2025) July 11, 2025

"Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" July 2, 2025

"My Mom Jayne" June 27, 2025

"Trainwreck: Poop Cruise" June 24, 2025

"Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything" June 23, 2025

"Mountainhead" May 31, 2025

"Pee-Wee as Himself" May 23, 2025

"Nonnas" May 9, 2025

"Thunderbolts" May 2, 2025

"Havoc" (2025) April 25, 2025

"The Accountant 2" April 25, 2025

"Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story" April 19, 2025

"Sinners" April 18, 2025

"A Minecraft Movie" April 4, 2025

"Death of a Unicorn" March 28, 2025

"September 5" February 25, 2025

"Captain America: Brave New World" February 11, 2025

"A Complete Unknown" December 25, 2024

Well, there were about 20 other categories I was tracking - like "Best Car Chase" and "Best Film Set or Made in Australia", but I think I'm going to cut myself off. I can always come back and add those categories later, right? But come to think of it, who has that kind of time?  Let me just preview January's line-up a bit and then quit for the night, because when I started writing this post there were THREE days until New Year's Eve, and now there's only one. And I'm working an event tomorrow near Times Square, which might go well, or perhaps I've made a terrible mistake - I guess we'll find out. 

Since I'll be busy both New Year's Eve AND New Year's Day, I may watch the first film from Movie Year 18 in advance, and post on Friday January 2 as I recover. What film will it be? Well, it's a film on my list that links to only ONE other film on my list, what I call a "one-linkable", as opposed to an "un-linkable". A film like that can ONLY be watched as the first or last film of the year if I don't want to break the chain - a new chain starts on January 1, after all. Some upcoming highlights for January include "The Naked Gun", "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes", "Mickey 17", "Borderlands" and "The Phoenician Scheme", in some order. Plus some films that I've been trying to get to for some time - "Society of the Snow", "Daddy's Little Girls" and "Roger Dodger" (my 3rd attempt at LEAST for that one, maybe 4th). Hey, if I managed to work in "Norma Rae", "Gigli", "Deep Blue Sea", "Eve's Bayou", "Stroker Ace" and "Strange Days" in 2025, let's keep going, what other films have been on my list for YEARS that I can link to next?

Have a safe and happy New Year's, if you drink, don't drive and if you drive, don't drink, and I'll see you right back here on Friday for the start of Movie Year 18.