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There's so much to love about 1984's "The Terminator" that it's hard to imagine how much of a slog it was to get made. Director James Cameron worked on a tight budget under incredible time pressures and was constantly forced to pivot when things went awry. Still, he produced a sci-fi horror classic that betrays nothing of its troubled production. So much of his directorial debut (we'll gloss over his part in "Piranha II: The Spawning") just worked, but for Cameron, without Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor at the center, there was no movie.

Producer Gale Anne Hurd saved "The Terminator" from a happy ending. Had certain studio executives had their way, the iconic scene that manifested Cameron's nightmarish vision of a Terminator exoskeleton rising from the fire would have been cut in favor of a final shot of Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) and Sarah Connor hugging. Imagine the legacy...

"The Terminator" is one of those unimpeachable sci-fi classics that feels fundamental to the evolution of the genre. As such, it's strange to think of director James Cameron having any specific inspiration, especially considering the impetus for the 1984 movie was as personal as Cameron having a nightmare which included that now famous image of a chrome Terminator exoskeleton emerging from a fire.

Beyond that, "The Terminator" has taken on a sort of mythical aura in the history of cinema. Like Paul McCartney having to verify "Yesterday" didn't already exist before he could accept that he'd written it, the idea for "The Terminator" seems like such a foundational sci-fi concept that it's odd to think there was a time when it didn't exist in the public consciousness. A killer robot is sent back in time to prevent a future war — like all good ideas it's simple without being simplistic and made...

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Secret Level is an adult animated anthology series created by Tim Miller. The Prime Video series consists of fifteen stories set in the worlds of fifteen different video games, including Armored Core, Concord, Crossfire, Dungeons & Dragons, Exodus, Honor of Kings, Mega Man, New World: Aeternum, Pac-Man, Sifu, Spelunky, PlayStation, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. So, if you loved the video game elements, the blend of genres, and compelling characters in Secret Level, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Love, Death & Robots (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Love, Death & Robots is an adult animated anthology series created by Tim Miller. The Netflix series consists of animated short stories in different genres ranging from sci-fi to fantasy and thriller drama to dark comedy. Love, Death & Robots stars Fred Tatasciore, John Dimaggio,...

On Thursday, the American Film Institute made its selection of the top 10 films and TV shows of the 2024 calendar year. The AFI Awards list includes Oscar frontrunners like Neon’s “Anora” and A24’s “The Brutalist,” and hot new small-screen favorites like HBO’s “The Penguin” and FX’s “Shōgun.” Did Your favorite projects make the cut? See the full lists below.

Among the acclaimed movies that were passed over this year are “September 5,” “Gladiator II,” and “The Substance.”

Some of the notable overlooked television programs include “Slow Horses,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and “Ripley.”

Over the past two decades, the AFI list has been a pretty strong indicator of how the Academy Awards category for Best Picture will ultimately look. Last year, only two out of AFI’s top 10 — “May December” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” — failed to make that Oscar lineup. They were ultimately replaced by two...

The Netflix comedy Nobody Wants This and Max’s limited series The Penguin were among this year’s honorees for the 2024 AFI Awards. See the full list below.

The recipients include 10 outstanding television programs deemed “culturally and artistically representative of this year’s most significant achievements in the art of the moving image.” The Kristen Bell comedy and the Colin Farrell drama are freshmen, as are Netflix’s A Man on the Inside starring Ted Danson, FX’s Shōgun and Prime Video’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.

The other shows on AFI’s list are ABC’s Abbott Elementary, FX’s The Bear, Max’s Hacks, Apple TV+’s Shrinking and HBO’s True Detective: Night Country. A special award will also be given to Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, which won six primetime Emmys this year.

AFI Awards selections are made through a jury process where AFI trustees,...

American Film Institute has announced its AFI Awards 2024 honourees in film and television and will present a special award to the Netflix show Baby Reindeer.

The top 10 films of the year according to AFI are: Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, Nickel Boys, A Real Pain, Sing Sing, and Wicked.

The top 10 television shows of the year are: Abbott Elementary, The Bear,Hacks, A Man On The Inside, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Nobody Wants This, The Penguin, Shōgun, Shrinking, and True Detective: Night Country.

Many of the film honourees, which, like the television picks,...

For a film that’s 40 years old, The Terminator still feels like it’s been beamed back from the future. James Cameron’s cyborg classic has been with us for four decades now – spawning one of the biggest franchises of all time, cementing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s metal-boned machine as a cinematic icon, delivering one of the all-time-great sequels, and launching the career of the most successful filmmaker all time. Not bad. And now it looks better than ever, arriving on 4K Ultra-hd in a brand new restoration to mark that anniversary, presented in all its tech-noir glory.

While time (and technology) has moved on, The Terminator still glides like a piece of well-oiled machinery – propulsive in Cameron’s extraordinarily-skilled hand, groundbreaking in is effects and ambition, a bruising and thrilling ride from the moment Arnie’s killing machine first appears. Schwarzenegger’s performance is so totemic, the role now so inextricably linked with his image,...

In 1984, no one could have guessed that an independently made movie about an unstoppable cyborg assassin would become a hit, launch a still-growing franchise and, arguably, predict the future of artificial intelligence.

Producer Gale Anne Hurd and co-writer/director James Cameron realized they had a hit on their hands when it topped the box office the first weekend, because as Hurd recalled, “Orion told us it was a down-and-dirty exploitation film, that word of mouth would be so bad that we wouldn’t be in theaters after the second weekend.” How wrong they were.

Looking back 40 years later on “The Terminator,” Hurd marveled how the discussion around AI has moved from being considered “science fiction and fantasy,” to front page news and how the movie helped usher in the age of female action stars.

“The Terminator” is about the dangers of AI dominance at a time when it wasn’t very high-tech,...

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Great storytelling can come from anywhere and anybody who says that animation is only for children, are in my opinion a bit stupid. The time when animated shows were only created for children’s entertainment is long gone and today we have great storytelling in animated form in both movies and TV shows. So, we thought of compiling a list of the best adult animated shows you can watch on Netflix right.

Terminator Zero Credit – Netflix

Terminator Zero is a sci-fi action drama anime series created by Mattson Tomlin. Based on the Terminator films by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd, the Netflix series is set in the Terminator Universe in 1977 Tokyo and it follows Malcolm Lee, who is developing an AI system that could fight against Skynet but the day before the Judgement Day, Lee and his...

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2024 is half over and we have seen some brilliant and some not-so-brilliant TV shows by streaming services and cable networks. However, the sci-fi fantasy genre TV shows are proving to be the biggest ones this year with the release of shows like Fallout and 3 Body Problem. The sci-fi fans are having a great year and if TV shows weren’t enough we also got Dune: Part Two this year which is the most successful film 2024 so far. So, let’s check out the best new and returning sci-fi fantasy shows that came out this year.

Sunny (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+

Sunny is a dark comedy sci-fi mystery thriller drama series created by Katie Robbins. Based on the 2018 novel The Dark Manual by Colin O’Sullivan, the Apple TV+ series follows Suzie, an American woman living...

The Fithian Group, launched last fall by longtime NATO chief John Fithian, has developed a data-driven, digital theatrical distribution marketplace it hopes will revolutionize how independent filmmakers and rights-holders book and release movies in theaters.

An early version of the platform, called Attend, rolls out Stateside in the first quarter of 2025. The U.S. and Australia will be initial markets.

Dozens of filmmakers and producers from Sean Baker to Steven Soderbergh Patty Jenkins and Ted Hope are supporting the concept, signing on to an Attend statement “that modern, democratic, data-driven marketplace providing an efficient and effective way to distribute all genres of film directly to theatres and audiences is a vital need for our industry and art form.”

Powered by entertainment tech firm Vista Group, the marketplace allows filmmakers to upload details and materials for their films directly onto the platform. Exhibitors can search the database, and Attend recommends movies.

Citing a need to boost the supply line to the challenged exhibition sector, a trio of former top lobbyists has announced a data-driven, digital theatrical distribution marketplace designed to transform how independent filmmakers and rights-holders book and release theatrical films.

The Fithian Group –which waslaunchedin November 2023 by former National Association of Theatre Owners executives John Fithian, Patrick Corcoran, and Jackie Brenneman – said the upcomingAttend platform is designed to allow filmmakers to connect their films directly to theatre owners and help with the logistics of booking.

It comes at a time when the number of theatrical releases has beenshrinking, exacerbated by...

Citing a need to boost the supply line to the challenged exhibition sector, a trio of former top lobbyists has announced a data-driven, digital theatrical distribution marketplace designed to transform how independent filmmakers and rights-holders book and release theatrical films.

The Fithian Group –which waslaunchedin November 2023 by former National Association of Theatre Owners executives John Fithian, Patrick Corcoran, and Jackie Brenneman – said the upcomingAttend platform is designed to allow filmmakers to connect their films directly to theatre owners and help with the losgistis of booking.

It comes at a time when the number of theatrical releases has beenshrinking, exacerbated by...

Citing a need to address challenges to exhibition and boost the supply line to theatres, The Fithian Group has announced a data-driven, digital theatrical distribution marketplace that it says could revolutionise how independent filmmakers and rights-holders book and release theatrical films.

Called Attend, the platform is designed to allow filmmakers to connect their films directly to theatre owners at a time when the number of theatrical releases has beenshrinking, exacerbated by a shift in supply to streaming, and the enduring impact of the Hollywood strikes andpandemic.

The Fithian Group– which waslaunchedin November 2023 by former National Association of Theatre Owners executives John Fithian,...

Michael Keaton, Paul Feig and David Letterman are among the Hollywood figures paying tribute to Teri Garr after she died on Tuesday at 79.

The Oscar-nominated actress was known for films like Tootsie and Young Frankenstein, among many others, before her career was derailed by multiple sclerosis, which she revealed she was diagnosed during an appearance on Larry King’s CNN show in October 2002. She appeared onscreen for the last time in 2011.

Garr died at home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends,” her publicist, Heidi Schaffer, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Mel Brooks, who gave Garr her breakthrough role alongside Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein, paid tribute to the actress. “So very sorry to hear about Teri Garr’s passing,” he wrote on X. “She was so talented and so funny. Her humor and lively spirit made the Young Frankenstein set a pleasure to work on. Her ‘German’ accent had us all in stitches!

David Letterman is calling Teri Garr, who died Tuesday, one of his “all time favorite guests,” while Garr’s Mr. Mom costar Michael Keaton laments “a day I feared and knew was coming.” And Richard Dreyfuss, who costarred with Garr in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, remembers her as “vibrant, playful and so funny.”

The late, great Teri Garr, who brightened everything from sitcoms, variety shows, talk shows, some of the funniest movies ever made and even the occasional drama is being remembered by co-stars and colleagues today for the light she was.

“I adored Teri,” tweeted Dreyfuss. “She was vibrant, playful and so funny. Her essence created an ease in every scene we did together.

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

James Cameron is the unquestioned king of the box office. "Avatar" is, by a considerable margin, the highest-grossing movie of all time and, before all's said and done, it could be the only movie in history to touch $3 billion worldwide. Cameron also owns two of the other spots in the top four globally with "Avatar: The Way of Water" and "Titanic." He's been doing it on the biggest scale for a long, long time. But it certainly didn't start out that way. Early on, the blockbuster maestro was simply looking for a way to meaningfully break into Hollywood.

"My contemporaries were all doing slasher-horror movies. John Carpenter was the guy I idolized the most," Cameron once admitted (per Den of Geek). "He...

James Cameron Sold the Rights for Just $1 to Direct It (Photo Credit – Koimoi)

Long before Titanic had us reaching for tissues and Avatar changed the game, James Cameron wasn’t what he is now. In the early ’80s, he was a scrappy Canadian filmmaker with a bonkers idea about time-traveling killer robots. Spoiler alert: that idea turned into The Terminator. But the real kicker? Cameron had to sell the rights for just one dollar to make it happen. One. Buck.

James Cameron: A Dollar for a Dream

So why would anyone sell the rights to a movie for the price of a gas station coffee? Because Cameron bet on himself. He wanted to direct so severely that he made a deal with producer Gale Anne Hurd: the rights to The Terminator in exchange for his shot behind the camera. At the time, his directing resume was… questionable. The only...

Love in Hollywood has often been found to be as tough as acting. While some turn out to be lucky enough to find their soulmates through onscreen chemistry that continues offscreen to result in a lifetime bond, others simply seem to hit it off in the beginning but fail to keep the spark alive.

Of course, a lot of onscreen chemistries have even led to marriages in Hollywood, with some of them lasting for decades while others couldn’t even make it up to a few years. Meanwhile, there is one other category of celebs as well: Those who just seem to find love again and again, considering just how many times and people they have decided to tie the knot with.

While not many names come under this last category, there are still some significant additions. From big names like Nicolas Cage, Pamela Anderson, Rita Hayworth, and even Martin Scorsese,...

It’s been four decades since The Terminator first blasted onto the big screen – seemingly from the future – and propelled writer-director James Cameron to the big time. Now, for its landmark anniversary, Empire celebrates cinema’s greatest cyborg in the November 2024 issue, featuring a major new candid Cameron interview, and much more.

The issue doesn’t hit shelves until Thursday 26 September – order online here – but in the meantime here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.

The Terminator At 40

For 40 years now, The Terminator has been unstoppable. Empire celebrates cinema's ultimate cyborg in a huge new James Cameron interview – talking the franchise’s ongoing legacy; Cameron’s most prominent thematic preoccupations; his changing relationship with the original film; and what the Terminator’s future holds.

Plus, producer Gale Anne Hurd writes exclusively for Empire, remembering the casting of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and how he boosted The Terminator to iconic status.

Paddington In Peru...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

The Terminator Steelbook 4K Uhd from Warner Bros.

The Terminator will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a SteelBook 4K Uhd + Digital release on November 5 via Warner Bros. The film has been restored in 4K with Dolby Vision/Hdr and Dolby Atmos audio.

James Cameron directs the 1984 sci-fi action classic from a script he co-wrote with Gale Anne Hurd. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, and Paul Winfield star.

Special features include: Creating The Terminator: Visual Effects and Music; The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing; Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of The Terminator; and deleted scenes.

Aaahh!! Real Monsters Figures from Mondo

’90s Nicktoons staple Aaahh!! Real Monsters turns 30 this year, and Mondo is...

40 years ago, cinema’s ultimate cyborg teleported into the Hollywood landscape in a lightning strike. It couldn’t be bargained with. It couldn’t be reasoned with. It didn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear – and for four decades, it absolutely has not stopped. Yes, 2024 marks 40 years of The Terminator – James Cameron’s time-twisting sci-fi horror, which gave Arnold Schwarzenegger his most iconic role, launched the career of the most successful filmmaker of all time, and spawned one of the greatest sequels ever made. Hasta la vista, baby.

The new issue of Empire marks the momentous anniversary of The Terminator with a major, world-exclusive new James Cameron interview – speaking to the legendary director about the making of his debut feature proper; the ongoing legacy of The Terminator and its many sequels; the thematic preoccupations that have reverberated throughout his career; his changing relationship with the original film; and what...

While James Cameron is a filmmaker with a passion for new technology, an eye for detail and a champion for film experience, the 4K remasters of his past films have drawn controversy over the methods and results of the transfers. As Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, The Abyss and True Lies finally get 4K releases, many have complained about the use of AI and digital smoothing methods that may have compromised the integrity of the picture. The next film of his to have a big Ultra High-Def release is his breakout hit — 1984’s The Terminator.

Earlier this year, the film celebrated its 40th anniversary and saw a limited screening in theaters, which we saw. Now, Blu-ray.com has revealed what the specs for the physical release 4K will entail. The release is due to arrive at retailers on November 5. And Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will additionally be releasing a special...

When writer/director James Cameron and producer Gale Anne Hurd came up with "The Terminator" back in the early 1980s, they couldn't have possibly predicted that their dystopian sci-fi future, where an artificial neural network-based conscious group mind and artificial general superintelligence system called Skynet would one day determine humans to be a threat and attempt to wipe them out, would one day feel within the realm of possibility. The questions constantly looming over the characters in the "Terminator" universe are ones of absolutes: Can humanity be saved from the threat of Skynet, and more importantly, are we deserving of such salvation?

According to "Terminator Zero" showrunner and writer Mattson Tomlin, this is at the heart of his new anime series for Netflix. As he told Tudum, "I'm not a nihilist — I'm a humanist, and I love people, and I think that there's a reason that we're on this planet.

Marvel has gained great popularity since their first avengers film (‘The Avengers’), winning loyal fans all over the world by establishing seamlessly integrating characters, plot lines, and events across MCU movies and TV shows. They found a clever way to keep their audience engaged and it has worked. Perhaps the only downside is that the timeline for all the plot lines and events can get a bit lost between each film or show released. So, here is a full guide to the Marvel universe and how to watch every 34 films in order. 1) ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ (2011) ‘Captain America: The First Avender’ stars Chris Evans as Captain America (Steve Rogers) and it deals with themes such as teamwork, standing up for what you believe in, loyalty and friendship. Length: 124 minutes Release date: July 22, 2011 Cast: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones Cinematography: Shelly Johnson | Editor: Robert Dalva, Jeffrey Ford...

In recent months, James Cameron, who’s undertaken a major effort to restore many of his classics in 4K, has come under fire from fans for the way these movies now look. One of the common complaints is that the transfers, which were done in conjunction with Peter Jackson’s Park Row Post, may (or may not) have used AI technology to somewhat change how the movies look. One of the biggest complaints is that the movies look too pristine, with all grain structure being scrubbed. Noted film preservationist Robert Harris, in an email to us, called the transfers “revisualizations” rather than restorations, although he generally seemed to appreciate what Cameron was going for (read more about his comments here).

Fans, however, have been divided, as seen in the reaction to a story we posted a few months back on the 4K transfer of True Lies, which is the one that is the most controversial.

Editor’s Note: T.J. Newman is the New York Times bestselling author of Falling, and Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421. Both were named Best Books of the Year by Amazon and each is moving forward as a movie at Universal and Warner Bros, respectively. Her new novel Worst Case Scenario is on sale now. Perhaps not surprisingly given her first novel was scribbled on cocktail napkins while she served as a flight attendant, Newman’s female empowerment column has as much a dream-big feel as her first column for Deadline, “An Open Letter to Dreamers.“

Six years ago, Fandango surveyed 3,000 women moviegoers ages 18–54 to find out what kinds of movies they like to watch. Turns out, action movies were their favorite genre. Over two-and-a-half times more than rom-coms. Women moviegoers want exactly what men want: the fun, big, loud, action-packed summer blockbuster.

I went to see Top Gun: Maverick and when the movie was over,...

JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray has made it clear that he’s a big fan of the 1994 sci-fi action film No Escape, so when he had the chance to speak with legendary producer Gale Anne Hurd recently, he couldn’t let the opportunity to talk to her about the movie go by – and as it turns out, by mentioning No Escape, he opened the door to also discussing how director Martin Campbell got the job to direct the James Bond film GoldenEye, the 1991 made-for-hbo horror noir Cast a Deadly Spell, and the possibility of a Cast a Deadly Spell TV series!

When Bumbray told Hurd that he’s a big fan of No Escape, she confirmed that she loves the movie as well and said, “It was actually my second collaboration with (director) Martin Campbell; the first one was an HBO movie called Cast a Deadly Spell. … I’ve just worked with some amazing people.

Fede Álvarez’s highly anticipated Alien: Romulus just had its world premiere in Los Angeles and its early reviews deem it as a film worthy of being in a franchise started by Ridley Scott’s Alien, followed by James Cameron’s widely-regarded sequel, Aliens. Set between the events of the first film released in 1979 and Cameron’s 1986 release sequel, Romulus is a nostalgic jog back to memory lane.

Still from Alien: Romulus | Credit: 20th Century Studios

As we celebrate the movie’s early reactions and look forward to its worldwide release, here is an interesting tidbit about Cameron’s Oscar-nominated flick, and fans of former DC helmer Zack Snyder will surely laugh about it.

Zack Snyder Fans Will Roar After Learning Why James Cameron Cut a Pivotal Scene from Aliens

Newt and Ripley in Aliens | Credit: 20th Century Studios

James Cameron is a visionary when it comes to filmmaking and his 1986 film,...

The American Film Institute has opened applications for its celebrated AFI Dww+ program for participants interested in joining the class of 2025-2026. The year-long directing workshop educates underrepresented narrative filmmakers, taking them through the complete production cycle of a short film — and with hands-on guidance from leading industry experts. Notable past participants include Best Picture-winning “Coda” filmmaker Sian Heder, DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter, and “A Black Lady Sketch Show” director and executive producer Dime Davis.

Applications open today, August 12, and will close September 13. More info on deadlines and requirements to apply is available via the American Film Institute’s website. See the Dww+ Class of 2024-2025 here.

The program, first launched in 1974 as the Directing Workshop for Women, will also celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall. With early participants including Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Lee Grant, Jessie Maple, and Cicely Tyson, the workshop has trained more than 350 filmmakers.

Netflix recently suffered a major security breach and for a couple of days now some of Netflix’s most anticipated upcoming shows and movies have been leaked online. The real fans of the shows are disheartened to see their favorite shows come out like this and while Netflix is working as hard as it can to take down the leaks and catch the culprit, many leaked episodes have surfaced on piracy sites. So, we made a list of every anime, TV series, and movie that got leaked during the Netflix data breach.

Note: This article’s only intention is to report on the leaks and that’s why we won’t be mentioning where you can find the leaks. We urge the fans to wait and see their favorite Netflix shows and movies when they are released officially so that they can properly support the creators and the companies that are making them.

Ridley Scott's "Alien" comes very close to perfection. The 1979 space horror uses reined-in suspense to set up its terrifying premise, and once the Facehugger graces our screens, the anxiety is ramped up and sustained until the last minute. The astonishing kernel of realism that "Alien" embraces might have been tough to replicate, but James Cameron cooked up the massively satisfying "Aliens," a worthy sequel that raises the stakes to the extreme. Cameron's sequel did not need to recapture the singular aura of the original as it went for a completely different vibe: huge set-pieces, exaggerated, cool-as-heck fight sequences, and a dramatic emotional thread that ties the spectacle together. The return of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) feels momentous, as we get to witness more of her no-nonsense badassery intertwined with measured vulnerability.

One of the most significant emotional threads that ground "Aliens" is Newt (Rebecca Jorden), the sole survivor from...

Earlier this year, we heard that Ian Nathan, author of Alien Vault, Terminator Vault, Stephen King at the Movies, The Legend of Mad Max, and books about filmmakers James Cameron, Ridley Scott, David Lynch, Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, the Coen brothers, the Coppolas, Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino, and Clint Eastwood, is teaming up with Creatorvc, the production company behind documentaries like the In Search of Darkness trilogy, In Search of Tomorrow, and First Person Shooter to bring us a documentary called Aliens Expanded, a 4-hour examination of writer/director James Cameron’s 1986 classic Aliens. Digital copies of that documentary can be ordered at This Link – and now it has been announced that Nathan and Creatorvc are continuing their working relationship with The Thing Expanded, a documentary that aims to be the ultimate companion to John Carpenter’s The Thing!

Copies of The Thing Expanded are available for pre-order through TheThingExpanded.

In December 2023, the first part of Zack Snyder's sci-fi epic "Rebel Moon" was released on Netflix to cold reviews and audience indifference. The story of "Rebel Moon" followed a rebel named Kora who knew that an evil Empire was traveling to her home world -- the titular rebel moon -- to steal all their grain and force the natives to starvation. Kora trekked out into the galaxy to collect whatever ragtag warriors she could find, hoping to hire them as her homeworld's scant defenders. 

The story, of course, was adapted directly from Akira Kurosawa's 1954 classic "Seven Samurai," and no review of Snyder's film was complete without direct comparison's to the master's work. Even the plot point of stolen grain is common between the two films. 

More cinematically well-versed critics likely also made a comparison to "Battle Beyond the Stars," a 1980 sci-fi "Seven Samurai" riff directed by Jimmy T. Murakami...

James Cameron's The Terminator celebrates its 40th anniversary with a 4K restoration. At a recent 4K screening in Los Angeles, producer and co-writer of the action movie, Gale Anne Hurd sat down for a Q&a afterward. She revealed the iconic movie was an independent venture, heavily influenced by their mentor, Roger Corman. Everyone around them believed the movie would fail, so it surprised everyone when it debuted at #1 with a $4 million opening weekend in 1986.

It's astonishing to think that James Cameron, the mastermind behind FX-laden mega-blockbusters like "Titanic" and "Avatar," once made movies on the cheap. When Cameron made "The Terminator" back in 1984, he was able to assemble relatively low-rent effects to produce some pretty incredible visuals. In one scene, for instance, after actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was briefly on fire, Cameron needed his jacket to realistically smolder. Cameron didn't want to burn Schwarzenegger with anything pyrotechnic, so he threw some (inexpensive) acid onto Arnold's jacket. The dissolving material looked like smoke.

"Terminator" fans might also know the story of how Cameron needed a shot of the killer robot's glowing mechanical eyeball flickering out at the film's conclusion. The achieve the shot, Cameron bought a small red lightbulb at an electronics store, crushed it in between two pieces of styrofoam that he painted silver, and blew cigarette smoke into the frame. He filmed the scene in his garage.

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The threat of artificial intelligence has evolved from a radical science-fiction fantasy into a very real concern that continues to change the world with each passing day. Technology and entire industries are being redefined by mankind’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence. The prospect of a technological singularity and an A.I.-driven robot apocalypse may have seemed like cinematic make-believe back when James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd’s The Terminator was released in 1984. However, four decades later, techno-armageddon feels more plausible than ever, and it’s the perfect time to revisit a franchise that’s as totemic as Terminator.

There have been Terminator comics, video games, and even a series of novels, but it has proven to be a challenge to properly cultivate the right cyberpunk dystopian energy that’s become synonymous with the franchise. Acclaimed animation studio, Production I.G, in association with Skydance Television and Netflix Animation,...

The episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? covering Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was Written by Mike Holtz, Narrated by Shawn Knippelberg, Edited by Joseph Wilson, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

Following the world-dominating success of Terminator 2 in 1991…we all knew what was coming. As Matthew Lillard’s Stu from Scream would say, “Let’s face it, baby….these days….You Gotta Have A Sequel!”. But stop me if you’ve heard this one before, and a trigger warning alert for Friday the 13th fans…..before anything could be done, a tricky rights situation had to be sorted out. In this particular situation, the Terminator film rights belonged 50% to Carolco Pictures and 50% to James Cameron’s ex-wife Gale Anne Hurd. Rights she accrued in part when Cameron sold her his half of the Terminator estate for merely a...

Alright, sweethearts, you heard the man and you know the drill. There have been plenty of documentaries about Aliens before, as anyone who has owned the beloved 1986 sci-fi sequel from James Cameron on its various formats can attest (some hardcore fans still insist the 1992 LaserDisc Special Edition release has never been bettered). But there has never been any documentary quite as extensive, expansive or exhaustive as Aliens Expanded, a title that lives heartily up to its name due to a near-five-hour runtime — not quite as long as an unusually long hypersleep, but not far off. It comes from writer-director Ian Nathan, who has literally written the book on the film.

As with 2019’s Memory: The Origins Of Alien, about Ridley Scott’s original film (also featuring contributions from Nathan), this aims to be the definitive take on a definitive genre classic. With a runtime like that, it is fair to...

More moviegoers want to enjoy independent cinemas, contrary to reports.

Among the closure of local theaters like Hugh Grant recently lamented, the National Audience Survey, conducted by Art House Convergence, found that independent exhibitors are still in high demand. More than 32,000 people, ranging in age from 15 to 98 years old, from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, confirmed that there is a need for indie theaters.

Forty-six cinemas across the country participated in the survey, which illustrated that audiences go to art house cinemas for more films outside the mainstream (84 percent), interesting programming and events (73 percent), “more films I like” (66 percent), and more of a sense of community (60 percent.)

“While we’re constantly met with clickbait analysis about the perilous state of theatrical exhibition from Hollywood’s perspective, it was remarkable to hear from the audiences of independent cinemas across the U.S. for the results of our 2024 National Audience Survey,...

After the triumph of James Cameron’s The Terminator, both at the box office and with critics, it was time to start working on a sequel that would go on to become an even bigger success. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the coolest action flicks of all time that went on to redefine the sci-fi genre thanks to its gripping storyline, groundbreaking special effects, and jaw-dropping action sequences.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator (1984) | Hemdale Film Corporation

Of course, James Cameron returned to direct the sequel, but his involvement with the film did not come easy. The renowned filmmaker found himself in the middle of dispute with Hemdale Film Corporation, who had half the rights to The Terminator. On the other hand, his ex-wife had the other half. This is where Arnold Schwarzenegger, the hero of the film, swooped in to save the day.

How James Cameron Got to...

James Cameron has given breathtaking projects that continue to impress audiences even today. He’s known for his pioneering work in science fiction and action genres, gaining significant acclaim with his 1984 film The Terminator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie’s success cemented his place as a formidable director, who made a loud comeback with its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Tri-Star Pictures

Given the cinematic masterpiece he served to the world, it would be surprising for many that the director faced the daunting challenge of completing it with an impossible deadline imposed by the studio.

James Cameron’s Terminator 2 Had a Serious Deadline!

With the success of The Terminator (1984), Arnold Schwarzenegger attained an A-list star status whereas film director James Cameron got an instant boost in his career. The film presented a unique blend of sci-fi and action, which garnered a significant fanbase and great box-office returns.

Billy Ray called him “a prince.” Kiefer Sutherland said his dad was “never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly.” Horror filmmaker Joe Russo simply wrote, “Rip to the Goat.”

Hollywood is sounding off on the death of Donald Sutherland, the 2017 recipient of an Honorary Oscar who died Thursday in Miami at 88. Stars such as Michael Douglass and Rachel Zegler have responded to the news as well.

Sutherland played key parts in films like Ordinary People (1980), Pride & Prejudice (2005) and The Hunger Games quartet of films based on the books by Suzanne Collins. He was also a staple of Robert Altman’s Mash in the role of Hawkeye Pierce.

“I never had the honor of knowing him personally, but it was the honor of a lifetime to follow in his footsteps,” Tom Blyth, who portrayed a younger version of Sutherland’s Hunger Games character in a prequel film, wrote on Instagram.

The official Twitter account of Netflix announced on May 15, 2024, that the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Terminator, titled Terminator Zero, will release on Aug 29, 2024.

All the episodes of the anime will be dropped at once exclusively on Netflix at 3 a.m. Et/12 a.m. Pt.

Accompanying the announcement are the preview images of the anime, offering a glimpse into what to anticipate.

Terminator Zero is directed by Masashi Kudo, with Mattson Tomlin serving as the showrunner, executive producer, and writer.

Production Ig is the animation studio of the anime.

The plot of Terminator anime is described as:

“In August 1997, a computer scientist named Malcom Lee is working furiously from his lab in Tokyo to launch an AI program he believes will save the world. As the course of the future changes from the past, an unrelenting assassin is send back in time to murder Malcom and his three children in...

Roger Corman, the legendary B-movie filmmaker who directed, produced, and starred in upwards of 500 films over the course of a staggering eight decade-spanning career, has died. He passed away aged 98 this past Thursday at his home in Santa Monica, California.

In a statement posted on Roger’s Instagram to announce his passing, Corman’s wife Julie and daughters Mary and Catherine shared the following: “It is with profound sadness, and boundless gratitude for his extraordinary life, that we remember our beloved husband and father, Roger Corman. He passed away on May 9th, at home in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Julie and his daughters Catherine and Mary. He was generous, open-hearted and kind to all those who knew him. A devoted and selfless father, he was deeply loved by his daughters. His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age.

Hollywood spent the weekend paying tribute to Roger Corman, the independent filmmaking legend who died last Thursday at age 98.

Corman, known during his time as the “King of the B’s,” was a beloved producer and director who helped boost careers for names such as Jack Nicholson, Ron Howard, Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Gale Anne Hurd and James Cameron.

“He was generous, open-hearted and kind to all those who knew him,” Corman’s family said in a statement. “When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that.’”

In response to news of Corman’s death, many who knew and worked with the filmmaker paid tribute to him online. “A great movie maker and mentor,” Howard wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “When I was 23 he gave me my 1st shot at directing. He launched many careers & quietly lead our industry in important ways.

The Hollywood filmmaking community remembered Roger Corman today as a man who had a “can-do” attitude about making movies. Along the way, he touched many lives, blazing a path for newcomers to enter the business and others to keep the lights on through his relentless drive to produce films.

Amid that hustle, he was remembered as a kind man who had a passion for what he did.

Here are some of the reactions:

Robert De Niro:

“ I’m sorry to hear of the passing of Roger. He started many of us over the years. He was a legend. May he rest in peace.”

Roger Corman was my very first boss, my lifetime mentor and my hero. Roger was one of the greatest visionaries in the history of cinema. I am absolutely devastated by his loss and send my love and deepest condolences to the Corman family. #Rip #RogerCorman pic.

Roger Corman, the B-movie legend who helped launch the careers of Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, and Francis Ford Coppola, among many others, has passed away at the age of 98. His family told Variety that he died on Thursday, May 9, at his home in Santa Monica, surrounded by his loved ones. The family also released this statement:

"His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, 'I was a filmmaker, just that.'"

It's no exaggeration to say that Hollywood wouldn't be the same without Roger Corman. In a career that spanned half a century and hundreds of films, he directed and/or produced B-movie hits and cult classics like "House of Usher," "The Little Shop of Horrors," "Death Race 2000," and "Attack of the Crab Monsters" (not to mention a famously unreleased "Fantastic Four" movie...

Roger Corman, the fabled “King of the B’s” producer and director who churned out low-budget genre films with breakneck speed and provided career boosts to young, untested talents like Jack Nicholson, Ron Howard, Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Gale Anne Hurd and James Cameron, has died. He was 98.

The filmmaker, who received an honorary Oscar in 2009 at the Governors Awards, died Thursday at his home in Santa Monica, his family told The Hollywood Reporter.

“He was generous, open-hearted and kind to all those who knew him,” they said in a statement. “When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that.’”

Corman perhaps is best known for such horror fare as The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) and his series of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations starring Vincent Price, but he became celebrated for drugs-and-biker sagas like The Wild Angels...

Roger Corman, the maverick producer of B-movies and iconoclastic subjects whose innovative low-budget enterprises launched the careers of numerous major filmmakers, died on Thursday at his home in Santa Monica. He was 98.

Corman’s career encompassed seven decades and more than 500 producing credits, including early work that launched the careers of major Hollywood figures such as Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Peter Fonda, Frances Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Peter Bogdanovich, Gale Anne Hurd, John Sayles, Ron Howard and Jonathan Demme. Yet Corman resented the commercial studio system, and as both producer and as a director himself, he pursued his cheap, no-frills filmmaking style at all costs, while using lowbrow genre tropes as a Trojan horse for socially conscious themes.

Over the years, Corman’s name has been most closely associated with the zany escapist enterprises often referred to as exploitation films, a term he abhorred. With producing credits such...