Eric Prime

#170 - Aladdin (2019) (229 points, 6 lists) #169 - The Princess Diaries (230 points, 7 lists) #168 - Spider-Man: Far From Home (233 points, 8 lists) #167 - Prey (234 points, 6 lists) #166 - Thor (237 points, 10 lists) #165 - Shaolin Soccer (240 points, 6 lists) #164 - Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (241 points, 8 lists) #163 - The Santa Clause (243 points, 4 lists) #162 - The Fox and the Hound (244 points, 7 lists) #161 - Cinderella (2015) (253 points, 7 lists)

Oh yeah. Stuff like Elvis and Bob Marley and Bohemian Rhapsody and whatever are for sure nostalgic toy commercials. The way they sell you on the music is no different than when Disney used Part of Your World or A Whole New World in all the trailers and ads for their remakes. I wasn't listing off that movie as an example in particular.

Something kind of interesting when you think about Marvel collapsing has kind of resuscitated all the midbudget genres that it almost killed off. Like obviously there's still a huge chunk of audience gone, but there's still something to be said that a lot of small movies, stuff that seemed like it was on its deathbed in 2019 because people kept saving their money for Marvel and Disney remakes, have now migrated back to movies that were seen as just for streaming. And yeah, the big 11B+ totals aren't a thing yet--probably never will--but people are now actually shelling out for more than nostalgic toy commercials because there isn't one studio gobbling everybody's wallets up. That's exciting. That's nice. We're moving up.

I mean...do you guys want Gunn tackling real-world issues going on in the Middle East? That just sounded like a potential disaster.

You could say families are migrating to it!

#39 The Sixth Sense 1,207 points, 20 lists "I see dead people." Box Office: 672.8M Rotten Tomatoes: 86% Metacritic: 64 Awards: 6 Academy Award nominations Roger Ebert’s Review: "I have to admit I was blind-sided by the ending. The solution to many of the film's puzzlements is right there in plain view, and the movie hasn't cheated, but the very boldness of the storytelling carried me right past the crucial hints and right through to the end of the film, where everything takes on an intriguing new dimension. The film was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, whose previous film, "Wide Awake," was also about a little boy with a supernatural touch; he mourned his dead grandfather, and demanded an explanation from God. I didn't think that one worked. "The Sixth Sense" has a kind of calm, sneaky self-confidence that allows it to take us down a strange path, intriguingly." Legacy: The film that made M. Night Shyamalan an icon. The breakout performance of Hayley Joel Osment. Bruce Willis' highest-grossing film. The second film, after Titanic, to hit $20 million five weekends in a row. #44 in AFI's Top 100 Movie Quotes. #89 in AFI's Top 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition). Features one of the greatest twist endings in movie history. The most successful DVD of 2000. Gave Toni Collette a paycheck. Commentary: So full disclaimer, gonna let it all out here...The Sixth Sense is my favorite film of all time. Not just Disney, but films in general. I guess technically speaking it’s not the most iconic film ever made, nor the film with the most impactful legacy. But for me, everything about this is like a Swiss watch. A perfectly crafted, well-designed, perfectly executed feature film that gives you a phenomenal ghost story and a fantastic insight into the insecurities we all face. Especially those who feel like outsiders and outcasts even within our own family. The premise is a compelling one, providing plenty of chills and frights, but also an emotional crux that makes this endearing to people who typically don’t like scary movies. This is not only executed with some incredible horror set pieces that are unnerving and full of mystery, but backed by a trio of expert performances and characters. Willis does well as the audience surrogate, trying to figure out how to fix Cole’s predicament, while his complicated relationship with his wife, who seemingly wants nothing to do with him anymore, gives us a reason to be invested in his own personal struggles and why he wants to help Cole. Cole meanwhile is portrayed with incredible grace and nuance by the young Hayley Joel Osment. The fear in his eyes is unlike anything you have ever seen and the stress he is put in every situation is palatable. And it’s also through Osment’s kindly, innocent appearance that everything is further sold. Nobody deserves such a burden, and seeing it on somebody so youthful and sweet tugs at the heartstrings and gives the viewer a strong drive. And through it all, the best performance of the film is Toni Collette as Cole’s mother Lynn. This is a woman who simply just wants an understanding. An understanding of her son, an understanding on why he’s acting so strange, and an understanding why her family life is falling apart. All to experience happiness and security that her son will be okay. And it all culminates in one final scene between mother and son that still makes me teary-eyed, especially as somebody whose autism puts me in a tight situation where I can’t fully communicate how I see the world to my own mother. I can really relate to that. And it’s all done in a slick package with tons of twists and turns that keep viewers guessing and invested all throughout the story. Including the one twist that everybody knows about. There is a lot to say about M. Night Shyamalan and his films afterwards. And believe me, I have said my own words on some of his less-than-stellar productions. But I always find them fascinating at the very least. There’s nobody else in Hollywood quite like him, for better or worse. And even in his worst movies, there’s some strong elements that make me glad I saw them. And I’m always going to be at his movies, every single time. Because I feel like I have to do this to the man who made my favorite movie and is a major reason why I am on this forum in the first place.

#40 Soul 1,170 points, 25 lists "Don't worry, they're fine. You can't crush a soul here. That's what life on Earth is for." Box Office: 122.2M Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Metacritic: 83 Awards: 2 Academy Awards and 1 nomination, 7 Annie Awards and 3 nominations, 2 BAFTA Awards and 1 nomination, 2 Golden Globe Awards, 1 Grammy Award and 2 nominations, 4 NAACP Image Awards and 5 nominations Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A Legacy: The first of the Pixar Plus Trilogy. One of the highest-viewed movies on streaming in 2020. Features Pixar's first Black lead. Gave Jon Batiste an Oscar. Considered one of the top 10 films of 2020 by the National Board of Review and American Film Institute. Gave Phylicia Rashad a paycheck. Commentary: As the initial film in the Pixar Plus Trilogy, many were outraged that Soul would be placed as a streaming release. Yet in 2020, a year full of hardships, anguish, and terror, having this drop on Christmas Day, for the world to enjoy in the comfort of their home, was the perfect remedy. A film that is here to remind us about what really matters in life. This contemplative, existential feature from Monsters Inc. director Pete Docter focuses on a man who dealt with tons of rejection, tons of failure, and seems to die at a low point. Yet as we follow the man’s journey, the man is named Joe, it’s here we discover that, at the end of the day, how our lives end up isn’t what matters. Because yes indeed, this Disney film ironically tells us that life isn’t a fairytale. We don’t get some miraculous happily ever after that ends our story. We are often asked to repeat the mundane, give up on things we want, and adapt in a world that isn’t fair. And that’s okay. What’s important about life is what you do with it and how you give back to the people you love. Your happiness isn’t dependent on some sort of goal or stacking yourself up to something greater than yourself. It’s about enjoying what’s around you. Whether it be the friends in your life, the music you love, or the simple joys that come from just enjoying food or reading or watching others or just...sitting. As long as you make the most out of your life and enjoy what the world offers you, big or small, you can live a satisfying one. Even if it’s boring to most. This movie hasn’t quite resonated with the kids nor have the same longevity on Disney+ like the more kid-centric Luca or Turning Red, and that’s more than fine. Because while the message might not seem important to some, it is more than important for others. And it was something that definitely hit a lot of BOT members hard, as this was far and away the most popular of the Pixar Plus Trilogy. And perhaps, as these kids get older, they find more to love and admire in this complex, yet powerful storytelling.

#41 Black Panther 1,141 points, 23 lists "Hey Auntie." Box Office: 1.349B Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Metacritic: 88 Awards: 3 Academy Awards and 4 nominations, 2 BET Awards and 7 nominations, 1 BAFTA Award, 3 Golden Globe Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards and 6 nominations, 10 NAACP Image Awards and 6 nominations Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A Legacy: Boasts the biggest February opening and the then-fifth-biggest opening weekend of all time. The ninth-biggest film of all time on its release. Boosted Black Panther into the A-list of superheroes overnight. Praised as an iconic piece of Black representation in cinema. Named one of the best films of 2018 by the National Board of Review and American Film Institute. The first superhero movie nominated for Best Picture. The first MCU movie to win an Oscar. Solidifed Chadwick Boseman as a movie star. Recieved a sequel and forthcoming television series. Gave Sterling K. Brown a paycheck. Commentary: I’ve told this story several times on BOT, but I will continue to share this story again. When I first saw Black Panther in the theater, it was one of those amazing, seminal moviegoing experiences that changes your life. A giant crowd all abuzz and hype for an epic atrofuturist adventure full of political intrigue, stylish espionage, powerful representation, and superhero goodness? It was a project that seemed to promise so much and had no way to offer all its potential. And yet it did. Really did. And to this day, it still serves as one of my favorite blockbusters ever and one of my favorite movies ever. It’s the kind of perfect package that you wish Hollywood would give, but only seldom achieves. It’s a movie that’s action-packed, hilarious, and full of epic, crowdpleasing moments, with incredible production design, stunning costumes, and an all-star cast who all bring their A-game. All the while, tackling issues of representation, the African diaspora, colonialism, class divisions, fatherhood, rebellion, anti-monarchy, and isolationism vs. globalism. All of this is explored in-depth in a way that’s understandable for a child audience, while never feeling patronizing or simplistic for older audiences. That takes serious talent to pull off. And yeah, with this great cast and great drama comes an incredible array of characters. The wize Zuri, the kind Ramonda, the playful Shuri, the level-headed Nakia, the brash M’Baku, the determined W’Kabi, the fierce Okoye, the vengeful Killmonger. And yes, there is of course the incredible Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. An incredible hero, a perfect package of kind, noble, brave, quick-witted, and even a touch dorky. The perfect blank slate for the audience, asked to listen to so many characters with different ideas and viewpoints, allowing us all to enjoy what director Ryan Coogler has achieved and what he has tried to say. I just wish we could have seen Chadwick just a little bit longer. The film was a phenomenon unlike any other, even outgrossing the star-studded Infinity War at the domestic box office. It elevated Black Panther as one of Marvel’s most iconic and beloved heroes almost overnight, and with Wakanda Forever also being a huge success, the characters and world of Wakanda will endure as one of the greatest places in blockbuster cinema history, with plenty of amazing adventures to come. Thank you Chadwick. We all miss you.

#180 - Nightmare Alley (217 points, 5 lists) #179 - Sky High (219 points, 7 lists) #178 - 10 Things I Hate About You (220 points, 4 lists) #177 - Muppet Treasure Island (222 points, 5 lists) #176 - Sister Act (223 points, 5 lists) #175 - Air Force One (224 points, 4 lists) #174 - The Village (225 points, 5 lists, avg. ranking #56) #173 - Father of the Bride (225 points, 5 lists, avg. ranking #47) #172 - Ant-Man (227 points, 7 lists) #171 - The Piano (228 points, 4 lists)

Just noticed that Wonka's about to beat Quantumania DOM in a couple weeks, unless Dune causes major theater drops. That's hilarious.

You win my love and affection. That’s the greatest prize of all

Quorum Updates Arthur the King T-29: 30.3% Immaculate T-36: 22.06% Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire T-43: 37.43% Twisters T-155: 45.84% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice T-204: 42.8% Joker: Folie a Deux T-232: 40.35% Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Hashira Training T-8: 22.56% Awareness Final Awareness: 15% chance of 10M Low Awareness: 13% chance of 10M Drive-Away Dolls T-8: 16.29% Awareness Final Awareness: 0% chance of 10M Low Awareness: 0% chance of 10M Ordinary Angels T-8: 27.14% Awareness Final Awareness: 15% chance of 10M Low Awareness: 13% chance of 10M Civil War T-57: 24.24% Awareness T-60 Awareness: 60% chance of 10M, 32% chance of 20M Low Awareness: 33% chance of 10M, 11% chance of 20M

Y'all this was my game 😭

Well at least I know I can come into this Ridley movie knowing it will be bad lol

Share with me all the tweets that praise Timothee, okay?

#42 The Avengers 1,133 points, 18 lists "Puny god." Box Office: 1.519B Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Metacritic: 69 Awards: 1 Academy Award nomination, 1 Annie Award and 1 nomination, 1 BAFTA Award nomination, 5 Empire Award nominations, 3 MTV Movie Awards and 3 nominations Roger Ebert’s Review: ""Comic-Con nerds will have multiple orgasms," predicts critic David Edelstein in New York magazine, confirming something I had vaguely suspected about them. If he is correct, it's time for desperately needed movies to re-educate nerds in the joys of sex. "The Avengers" is done well by Joss Whedon, with style and energy. It provides its fans with exactly what they desire. Whether it is exactly what they deserve is arguable." Legacy: Had the highest opening weekend in box office history. Solidified the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a successful experiment. Mark Ruffalo's debut as Bruce Banner. The first Marvel movie to reach $1 billion at the box office. Made the Marvel heroes household names and boosted the box office numbers for Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. Earned three sequels, with two more on the way. Is the main reason we have four more phases of Marvel with more phases to come. The finest example of a shared universe. Boosted shawarma sales exponentially. Has the greatest Marvel post-credits scene of all time. Turned Kevin Feige into Papa Feige. Gave Cobie Smolders a paycheck. Commentary: Man, remember the good ol’ days when the idea of combining six heroes from separate movie franchises into one movie was the most mindblowing idea ever? How we all thought audiences could never handle these many characters in one frame? That there was no way to set up all these heroes in a way that was easy to follow for newcomers, yet still continued story arcs set up in random, unrelated movies? We really had no idea how quaint things actually were back then, huh? But yeah. Anyways. Avengers. The first one. Man, what a great freaking blockbuster. A perfect example of how to make one that’s effective, action-packed, crowdpleasing, yet still engrossing to those who aren’t into flash and pomp and circumstance. It’s a pretty simple story when you get down to it. A bunch of heroes with wacky personalities stop this one bad dude from taking over the world. But what we got was full of laughs, full of personality, full of creativity, and full of great character moments. Say what you will about Joss Whedon, believe me I have, but his understanding on how to work with ensemble casts is taken full advantage of here. All the heroes are given their moment to shine. Whether it be in their clashing personalities, their story arcs, or just having awesome lines or fighting sequences. My favorite parts are your favorite parts. I love Tony acting casual towards Loki, I love Thor’s drama over fighting his brother, I love Hulk smashing Loki to the ground, I love Cap’s transformation from outsider to leader, I love Natasha’s opening scene. It’s so packed with exciting moments, awesome sequences, and great beats that solidified these characters as cinematic icons and made this crazy MCU idea worth it. And yeah, after this film, we had tons of beautiful and amazing MCU goodness, with even more awesome characters joining the fray in future Avengers movies. But it’s times like these where you have to remember where it all started. And what started was still, frankly, incredible.

#43 Scream 1,059 points, 20 lists "No, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel!" Box Office: 173M Rotten Tomatoes: 81% Metacritic: 65 Awards: 3 Saturn Awards and 3 nominations, 1 MTV Movie Award and 1 nomination Roger Ebert’s Review: "What did I think about this movie? As a film critic, I liked it. I liked the in-jokes and the self-aware characters. At the same time, I was aware of the incredible level of gore in this film. It is *really* violent. Is the violence defused by the ironic way the film uses it and comments on it? For me, it was. For some viewers, it will not be, and they will be horrified. Which category do you fall in? Here's an easy test: When I mentioned Fangoria, did you know what I was talking about?" Legacy: The film that saved horror forever. Bolstered the career of actors like Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lilliard, Rose McGowan, etc. Made Kevin Williamson a hot item, later resulting in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson's Creek. Ghostface became an icon of slasher cinema. Caller ID was increased by 300% after the film's release. Criticized for making the youths violent post-Columbine. Created a gigantic franchise with several sequels, almost all of which became box office juggernauts. Gave Henry Winkler a paycheck. Commentary: In 1996, horror movies were in a huge rut. Critics turned their noses up a them, while audiences stayed away. The constant supply of Friday the 13th movies, Halloween movies, and Elm Street movies have gotten stale and tired. They were all the same, there were no surprises, they fell into the same boring ol’ cliches and tropes. They just weren’t scary. And even horror diehards grew tired of these films. But at the genre’s lowest point, both creatively and commercially, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson gave us the shot in the arm the genre needed. And it was glorious. In many ways the Deadpool of the 90s, Scream lampooned and satirized all the tropes and conventions slashers were being criticized for, resulting in a film that was on the same level as its audience. These characters knew what would happen if they followed what other movie characters did, so they aren’t going to do it. This not only meant the film was very witty and funny and satirical, but also meant the dangers were all the more terrifying and real. Add on some great characters portrayed by Hollywood’s then youngest and brightest rising stars, and it really was no wonder why it became a WOM sensation. This film was full of so much personality and creativity and charm that it singlehandedly made horror cool and interesting to a new generation of moviegoers. Slashers like Chucky and Halloween returned to box office highs, other teen-centric horror hits like I Know What You Did Last Summer became popular, The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project were leggy sensations. It was this film that made the genre grow up, act more sophisticated, and stop falling into the same boring tropes that made audiences disinterested in the whole genre. And sure enough, between Blumhouse, Platinum Dunes, James Wan, A24, and so on, horror is the most reliable genre in today’s complicated and confusing moviegoing market. Scream itself would also benefit with tons of sequels. And speaking of, just as a reminder, please donate to the people of Gaza and the nation of Palestine. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. https://irusa.org/middle-east/palestine/

#44 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 1,036 points, 20 lists "I got a jar of dirt, I got a jar of dirt, and guess what's inside it!" Box Office: 1.066B Rotten Tomatoes: 53% Metacritic: 53 Awards: 1 Academy Award and 3 nominations, 1 BAFTA Award and 4 nominations, 4 Empire Award nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award nomination, 1 Grammy Award nomination, 2 MTV Movie Awards and 2 nominations Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A Its Legacy: The third-highest grossing film of all time. Solidified Pirates of the Caribbean as one of Disney's most profitable franchises. Caused the Pirates of the Caribbean ride to change significantly. The highest-selling DVD of 2006. The first film to use the 2006-2022 Disney Studios logo. Boasts groundbreaking VFX technology. The highest-grossing Disney film until Toy Story 3. Gave Geoffrey Rush a paycheck. Commentary: Coming fresh off of what was once thought to be Disney’s biggest flop, Dead Man’s Chest was positioned to be Disney’s golden boy. They had their own Matrix/Harry Potter to call their own, and were willing to put everything into it. A gigantic budget, groundbreaking VFX, and was shot concurrently with the third movie, At World’s End, a tactic that showed confidence that this was going to be a big deal franchise. And it all depended on Dead Man’s Chest sticking the landing. Which...it kind of did? Reviews were very mixed at the time, and there’s still plenty who don’t care for how this sequel, and all the other ones, fared out. However, it didn’t matter. It broke box office records, the third-highest grossing film of all time in fact. And despite its flaws, there was a lot to like and admire here. And 18 years later, it’s one of those blockbusters that really stands out in the current era of CGI sludge and shared universes. The old cast is back and do their fun schticks, but one of the coolest introductions was the one and only Davy Jones. Bill Nighy is dripping in bravado and camp in this performance, while also being drenched in some of the best performance capture work ever seen in the movies. The tentacles move around his face effortlessly, and the textures used on him make him look believable and tactile, as if he really was in the world the pirates inhabited. It’s the kind of impressive VFX tech that only very, very, very few characters since then have matched in the almost two decades since its release. Meanwhile, we also have some incredible action, as director Gore Verbinski used his $225 million budget to his fullest advantage. An epic fight against a Kraken, Jack Sparrow running away from evil cannibals, a giant swordfight on a water wheel? This is the kind of stuff that seemed impossible to pull off in a live-action blockbuster, but Verbinski did it. And we are all better off for it, as it results in some of the most incredible action to ever hit modern-day blockbuster cinema. So yeah, Dead Man’s Chest has a lot going for it. Enough to make this list at least. But how does it stack up with the other films? Well, guess we’ll save that for later.

#190 - Cruella (191 points, 7 lists) #189 - Bolt (193 points, 5 lists) #188 - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (195 points, 6 lists) #187 - The Talented Mr. Ripley (198 points, 3 lists) #186 - Treasure Planet (199 points, 10 lists) #185 - Saving Mr. Banks (201 points, 4 lists)] #184 - Oliver and Company (202 points, 5 lists) #183 - The Rescue (205 points, 4 lists) #182 - The Aviator (217 points, 7 lists, avg. ranking #63) #181 - The Rescuers (217, 7 lists, avg. ranking #55)

MJ The Musical is currently a smash success on Broadway, and they don't bring up his allegations at all. You still have an easy and strong story about a kid dealing with abuse and rising above it, working with Motown, making Thriller with Quincy, etc. and the story ends right when he goes into his Dangerous World Tour. That's a pretty solid framework for a story that can ignore the more controversial aspects of him. Whether that's a good thing to do or not is up to you, but it wasn't impossible.

I mean, Disney could have hired me, but I was too busy.

Or, I dunno, critics just thought the movie was bad.

Oh, I won't argue in Whitney's case, that her movie should have done way better than it actually did and that Sony fumbled the bag big time when it came to advertising and promoting the film as the event it should have been. But maybe this is my white boy background talking, and I'm more of a huge Whitney fan anyways, but it always felt like she was a bigger deal than Marley? Like The Bodyguard soundtrack is still one of the most successful music albums in history. Her numbers haven't been matched until Adele and Taylor Swift. Her death was an event on par with the death of Michael Jackson. The planned Whitney tribute was cited as one of, if not the biggest reason the Grammy Awards that year saw a ratings high the ceremony has never achieved since. Like it always felt like she was a bigger deal than Bob Marley to me, and that her movie would have a 14M OD. Guess I was wrong. But I guess in hindsight, it also helps that Ziggy Marley has been an active part of the music business for decades and has kept his name alive for so many. There's a reason why the bigger biopics typically have the subject, or powerful people associated to the subject, alive to promote the movie project (BoRhap w/ Brian May and Adam Lambert, Elvis w/ Priscilla Presley, Rocketman, Compton).