To paraphrase Charles Dickens, 2016 was the worst of times, and the pretty good of times. It was a year of wonder (Game of Thrones) and disappointment (Walking Dead), amusement (Deadpool) and aggravation (Suicide Squad), delight (a few things) and loss (too many to count). Relive the year that was in entertainment with our most-read posts of the year, and then let us never speak of 2016 again.
Star Trek Actor Anton Yelchin Dies in Freak Car Accident
According to the Associated Press, actor Anton Yelchin has died at the age of 27 in a car accident.
The Killing Joke Movie Is a Disaster, Right Down to Its Comic-Con Panel
The Killing Joke is a 30-year-old Batman graphic novel that goes to ugly places, especially in what it does Batgirl. And when folks expressed anger at Barbara Gordon’s portrayal in a new, controversial scene in the upcoming film adaptation during a DC panel, things got ugly in real life.
United Airlines Kicks Passenger Off Plane Because of Marvel Superhero Hat
A passenger wearing a Black Panther baseball cap has been told to remove the headgear because it — along with a T-shirt with an upside-down American flag — makes the pilot “uncomfortable”.
Lucasfilm Finally Addresses Rogue One‘s Biggest Controversy
Almost two weeks since the release of the latest Star Wars film, Rogue One, but much of the talk surrounding the movie is about characters from 40 years ago. Now, in an interview with The New York Times, several of Rogue One‘s most prominent contributors have given their accounts of the film’s controversial decisions.
You May Never See a Better Video Than Mad Max: Fury Road Without Visual Effects
Thirty seconds into watching this video, my face already hurt from smiling too much.
Great Sci-Fi Movies You May Have Missed in 2016 (But Shouldn’t Have)
It’s the weekend, which probably means you have some down time. What better activity than catching up on some of 2016’s best sci-fi and fantasy films ?
Movie Review: Suicide Squad Is As Messy And Weird As The Characters In It
Suicide Squad is a weird movie, and not just because it’s about a motley crew of supervillains set in the DC universe. The movie itself is also a motley amalgamation — a strange blend of different tones, stories and pacing all mashed into something that has cool individual elements, but never really comes together.
J.K. Rowling’s History of Magic in North America Was a Travesty From Start to Finish
All this week, J.K. Rowling has been publishing History of Magic in North America, one part a day for four days. When it’s been at its best, it’s been sloppy; when its not at its best — which is most of the time — it’s uninformed and under-researched. At its worst, it is downright offensive, and here’s why.
Report: Warner Bros. Turned Suicide Squad Into a Mess in Its Panic Over BvS Criticism
The early reviews are in — and many are lambasting Suicide Squad for being a tonal mess. A new report released by The Hollywood Reporter today claims to have the answer as to how that came about, and it apparently has a lot to do with audiences’ less-than-stellar reaction to Batman v Superman. — and WB’s worried reaction to that.
Game Of Thrones Season 6 Episode 9 Recap: Horrifying, Infuriating And Immensely Satisfying
Hey, ha ha, remember how the last few episodes of Game of Thrones have seemed to be a bit… low-key? Uh, well, now we know the reason why: It was spending all its time (and manpower, and probably a sizable portion of season six’s budget) on creating what is possibly the most incredible battle that has ever been seen on TV.
All the Major Star Wars Cameos and Connections You May Have Missed in Rogue One
Rogue One is billed as a standalone Star Wars movie, but it’s far more entrenched in the story of the saga than many of us had thought. That’s not just in terms of its setting, though — it’s because it’s jam-packed with references and hints to the Star Wars stories that came before it. Here are all the major ones we spotted.
The Walking Dead‘s Season Premiere Wasn’t Worth It
The Walking Dead had a major obstacle to overcome in yesterday’s season seven premiere. After leading up all of season six to the arrival of Negan and the promise of a main character’s death, the show decided to postpone the reveal of who died to season seven. Could the show possibly live up to its own hype and expectations? Short answer: No. How could it?
Carrie Fisher In Intensive Care Following Cardiac Arrest [Updating]
On Friday, Carrie Fisher suffered from a “cardiac episode” while on a United flight from London to Los Angeles, emergency officials said. The 60-year-old actress is in “critical condition,” reports the LA Times.
Warner Bros. Is in Such Denial Over Batman v Superman
Despite the abundance of Batman v Superman‘s negative reviews and the film’s swift, severe drop in box office sales since its debut a week and a half ago (even with an utter lack of competition!), Warner Bros. executives seem adamant in learning absolutely nothing from the movie’s problems.
Game of Thrones Showrunners Confirm There Are Only 15 Episodes Left, Max
The rumours have swirled for a while now. Various people who have worked on the show have dropped hints. But now David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones‘ showrunners, have officially, irrevocably confirmed that we only have 15 episodes of the show left… at most. Probably less.
A Harry Potter Theory That Both Explains Harry’s Tiny Class and Will Ruin Your Day
Ever wonder how there could only be about 18 Gryffindors in Harry’s Hogwarts class and that J.K. Rowling has said there were 1000 students at the school? Well, a fan theory has an answer… a depressing, depressing answer.
Jon Snow Is Different Now, and So Is Game of Thrones
Jon Snow is angry. Cersei is angry. Daenerys is furious, although she’s being regal as hell about it. In fact, it seems like most of the characters on “Oathbreaker” are angry, because they’re fed up with the rules they’re forced to live within. Add to that another immensely satisfying peek into Game of Thrones’ past, courtesy of Bran, and you have another fantastic episode in a season that promises to be full of them.
Captain America Civil War Has a Huge Problem and Agents of SHIELD Has the Answer
We’re less than two months away from getting to see the new Captain America movie which is another major turning point for the live-action Marvel Universe. But one thing is already certain: If Civil War doesn’t acknowledge Agents of SHIELD, this movie’s throwing away an opportunity.
Harrison Ford’s On-Set Injury Rescued The Force Awakens
The day the door of the Millennium Falcon fell on Harrison Ford, shattering his ankle, everyone thought Star Wars: The Force Awakens was doomed. But it turns out, the opposite happened. Co-writer and director J.J. Abrams recently revealed this delay helped him refocus the film’s most important relationship: Finn and Rey.
Turns Out Kylo Ren Was Way More Evil Than We Thought
Kylo Ren has a lot of… anger issues in The Force Awakens. But even then, his path to the Dark Side in the movie was tinged with the hope that he could resolve the conflict within him. But apparently, it seems like Kylo was much further along that path than anyone realised. Spoilers ahead, if you’ve yet to watch The Force Awakens.
Well, Here’s a Deeply Upsetting Rumour About the Next Batman Movie
American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis is sitting at dinner with some movie executives. They say they know some other executives working on Ben Affleck’s upcoming Batman movie. And they tell Ellis something that should chill the heart of not just superhero fans, but fans of movies, period.
What Was X-Men: Apocalypse‘s End Credits Scene All About?
No matter what you thought of X-Men: Apocalypse, odds are you sat through the credits to see if there was some kind of tease. And there was. And it’s a weird one, unless you are well-versed in comic books. So if you didn’t understand the implications, we’re here to help!
The 10 Best (And Five Worst) TV Shows of 2016
Unlike pretty much everything else, science fiction and fantasy had a great 2016. There were so many great shows that we had a lot of contenders for our best list, and only a few for our worst, so we ended up with twice as many TV series to acclaim as disparage. After a fair amount of debate, here’s the best of the best and worst of the meh.
Game Of Thrones Season 6 Episode 10 Recap: Winter Has Finally Come, And Now The Real War Begins
It’s taken six seasons, but Ned Stark has finally been proven right: Winter has come, and with it, the beginning of the end of Game of Thrones. As such, the show needed to start paring down its various storylines and plot threads, which it did last night with brutal efficiency. For those few players that remain, the time for games is over.
Marvel Just Screened Captain America: Civil War, and the Initial Reviews Are Great
Marvel screened Captain America: Civil War for critics, giving us our first look at the next instalment of the MCU. The results? Wildly positive.
Here’s How Rogue One Got Its Hands on Unseen Star Wars Footage
Rogue One might be the first standalone film in the Star Wars universe, but that doesn’t mean it’s detached from the original saga. In fact, director Gareth Edwards went to great lengths to ensure continuity between Rogue One and A New Hope, including adding previously unseen Star Wars footage to push one scene even further into the canon.
Every Cool Detail We Spotted in the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Trailer
In case you somehow missed it, the first trailer for the next Star Wars film Rogue One appeared today. The first thing we all noticed was that it is insanely faithful to the original trilogy’s look. But what was less obvious was how the story actually goes. So we went through it frame by frame, to find the hidden clues.
33 Secrets You Probably Never Knew About the Making of Galaxy Quest
Galaxy Quest could have been a forgettable Star Trek spoof — but instead, it’s become a beloved science fiction comedy, which has been voted one of the best Star Trek movies of all time. How did this miracle happen? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about the making of Galaxy Quest.
Suicide Squad Finally Gives Us a Glimpse of Harley Quinn’s Classic Outfit
It’s the jumpsuit that started it all. We’ve been hearing rumours that Harley Quinn’s classic jester outfit had been made for the Suicide Squad film, but we didn’t know whether they actually used it. Well, B-roll footage released at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday has given us the answer, and it’s a resounding “Hell yes!”
The Matrix Fan Theory That Makes Agent Smith the True ‘One’
The Matrix Trilogy is driven by the mystery of whether Neo, the film’s protagonist, is actually the saviour of mankind. But here’s a crazy theory: What if Neo’s arch nemesis, Agent Smith, was actually “The One” this entire time?
We Saw a Glimpse of Thor: Ragnarok, But Learning What Thor Did During Civil War Was Even Better
When comedic director Taika Waititi was hired to make the third Thor film, Thor: Ragnarok, most people didn’t know what to expect. About 7000 of those people now know what to expect as Marvel played a video Waititi directed at Comic-Con, showing Thor and Hulk’s whereabouts during Captain America: Civil War.
All the Secrets Hidden in Game of Thrones‘ Brand New Trailer
With just over a month and a half to go, we finally have it — our first proper look at Game of Thrones‘ sixth season. Without the books to guide us, we don’t really know what’s going to happen (or, we’re not supposed to). But we can still break down a lot of what we can see in this new trailer. Care to join us?
Logan‘s Professor X Looks Older Than Death Itself
Months ago, Patrick Stewart dropped the news that his version of Professor X would be appearing in the third Wolverine film. Now that we know the film is called Logan and it’s set in 2024 (as well as a certain mutant who may be starring in it), director James Mangold revealed what the Professor looks like in the near future. Turns out Charles Xavier has not aged well.
HBO’s Game of Thrones Just Out-Murdered George R.R. Martin
I know, saying HBO’s Game of Thrones has anything on GRRM is bold, if not outright traitorous to some people. But I think there’s a good chance that when the credits rolled on last night’s episode, “The Door,” ol’ George stroked his beard and said, “Damn, I wish I’d thought of that.”
How Disney Fixed a Huge Mistake With Zootopia, Just One Year Before Release
In November 2014, the team behind Disney’s Zootopia had a very bad day. After years of development and production, they realised a huge aspect of their movie didn’t work. There were two main characters, one primary and one secondary — and they had to be flipped for the film to make sense.
19 Times Someone Gets Thrown Into the Vacuum of Space, From Worst to Best
We all know people don’t explode when exposed to space without protection. But science fiction has taken some… liberties with vacuum exposure over the years. Here are 19 scenes of people being exposed to space, ranked from the least realistic to the most.
The Final Badarse Civil War Trailer, Starring Your Spectacular New Spider-Man
It’s here — your next major look at Marvel’s big superheroic dust up, Civil War. You’d think someone would be pleased, but no, Teams Cap and Iron Man are far too busy being glum at the thought of fighting each other for what they believe in. Oh, and a certain friendly neighbourhood arachnid, of course.
16 Great Unsung TV Shows of the Past Few Years That Everybody Should Watch
We’re living in a goddamn Golden Age of television. But there’s also way too much TV to keep track of, and a few shows get the lion’s share of attention. So here’s our list of 16 recent TV shows that haven’t gotten their props. Time to start binge-watching!
Report: Director Tim Miller Quits Deadpool 2 Over Issues With Ryan Reynolds
Deadline is reporting that Deadpool director Tim Miller is leaving the sequel over a series of creative differences with star Ryan Reynolds. Variety confirmed the news with its own source. Miller hadn’t signed a formal deal for the next film in Fox’s franchise, based on the Marvel comic, but he was reportedly working on the script and getting things moving for the planned 2018 release.
Suicide Squad Sets Box Office Record Because We Don’t Deserve Better Movies
Here’s something twisted that will absolutely blow your goddamn mind: Suicide Squad, a very bad movie, set an August box office record on its opening weekend, raking in a hot $US135.1 million in North American ticket sales, which is more than Guardians of the Galaxy, an actually good movie, brought in on its opening weekend in 2014.
The First Wonder Woman Trailer Is Even Better Than We Could Have Imagined
She’s finally here. After years of false starts, a live-action Wonder Woman movie is coming next winter. Warner Bros. just revealed the first trailer at San Diego Comic-Con to the uproarious excitement of the Hall H crowd, and it. is. perfect.
Mad Max Won All the Oscars, Except the Ones It Really Deserved
There was a brief moment during the Oscars where it looked like Mad Max: Fury Road might be on the way to getting the recognition it deserved as a truly groundbreaking, visually stunning film. Spoiler alert: It didn’t.
Game Of Thrones Season 6 Episode 6 Recap: Some Of The Players Are Getting Desperate
After last week’s harrowing episode, you can’t blame “Blood of My Blood” for wanting — needing, even — to take a step back. The flip side is that “Blood of My Blood” is a bit of a letdown.
Surpassing the Books May Be the Greatest Thing That Ever Happened to Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is clearly done taking its time. The amount of plot that happened in last night’s episode, “Home”, is staggering; it moved as fast as an old man being tossed from a bridge, and it hit as hard as Cersei’s zombie-knightmare Ser Robert Strong. It was almost too much, and that was before another final moment that I will be circumspect and merely call “gratifying”.
Steven Universe Artist Quits Twitter Over Fan Harassment
Steven Universe storyboard artist Lauren Zuke has left Twitter and deleted her account after days of harassment from an aggressive subsection of Steven Universe fans.
Carrie Fisher Had Already Completed Her Work on Star Wars: Episode VIII
The sad reality of any celebrity passing is that we have to ask how their death will impact any ongoing work in the future. In the case of Carrie Fisher, that means the continuing Star Wars saga, Episodes VIII and IX.
The Biggest Winners and Baddest Losers of San Diego Comic-Con 2016
Another Comic-Con has come to a close, after four days of bright lights, big news and sublime cosplay. There were some amazing moments — and some that flopped, and flopped hard. Here’s our list of the biggest winners of San Diego Comic-Con 2016, and its biggest losers, too.
The New Ghostbusters Trailer Is Here, and Everything Looks Perfect
After decades of waiting for a new Ghostbusters movie, here’s your first footage from one. To celebrate the launch of this awesome trailer, we talked with director Paul Feig, producer Ivan Reitman and writer Katie Dippold, and they told us why this trailer reintroduces so many of the things we love.
Heath Ledger ‘Completely Ruined’ Christian Bale’s Plans For Batman
While out on publicity for his latest movie, The Knight of Cups, Christian Bale has expressed some second thoughts about his portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
Angry Birds Is Over
The biggest comedic moment in The Angry Birds Movie happens when two characters find out the giant lake they have been swimming in is a massive pool of Mighty Eagle’s urine. They were spitting the water in each other’s mouths before that. Surely, The Angry Birds Movie only exists because of deep-seated insecurity.
The First Teaser for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Is Here and It’s Fantastic (Obviously)
Did you think that all we were getting out of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 today was a shiny new poster? Well, you’d be wrong. And now it’s time to get hooked on a feeling all over again.
Game Of Thrones Season 6 Episode 8 Recap: When It Isn’t Shocking, It’s Actually Kind Of Shocking
Game of Thrones is a show where audiences always need to expect the unexpected. But sometimes, when you’re expecting something crazy to happen, that means the show will surprise you by not doing anything crazy at all. And that’s what the latest episode was: Not crazy in the slightest. Of course, “not crazy” on Game of Thrones still means two people get brutally decapitated, minimum.
An Important Game of Thrones Character Is Coming Back and It’s Not Who You Think
Two episodes in and it’s already been a good year for the good guys on Game of Thrones. Sansa finally met up with Brienne. Tyrion made some dragon friends. Other important thing happened. Now, Arya Stark has confirmed some more good news.
Movie Review: Arrival Is a Sci-Fi Masterpiece You Won’t Stop Thinking About
Arrival is the kind of science fiction film we dream of. It’s got big stars, a bigger concept, and the longer it goes, the more it demands of its audience. The pacing is methodical, the story captivating, and filmmaking beautiful. You rarely have a clue where it’s going — but once it gets there, you won’t be able to get it out of your head.
A Brief History of Suicide Squad Being the Worst Place to Work, Ever (Part Two)
Back in June, I wrote about the weird, horrible things that had happened during the filming of Suicide Squad, mostly due to star Jared Leto and director David Ayer being weirdos. I was certain that I had chronicled all of the madness that was inflicted upon the cast. But I was wrong. So, so wrong.
The World Reacts to Carrie Fisher’s Death
Today’s news about the passing of Hollywood legend Carrie Fisher left everyone in a state of shock.
George Lucas’ Wild Theory About the Narrator of Star Wars Makes So Much Sense
We all know who the main characters of George Lucas’ six Star Wars films are: Anakin Skywalker, his son and daughter, and their friends. But who’s the narrator? Turns out Lucas had a crazy theory that makes total sense.
We’re Hooked on the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Trailer
Marvel’s released the latest teaser trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and it has so much Baby Groot, it’s almost too cute to handle.
Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence’s New Sci-Fi Film Looks Absolutely Amazing
When a studio decides to release a sci-fi movie during Christmas, they think it has both commercial and awards potential. Both certainly seem possible for Passengers, starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. Sony Pictures debuted the first footage from the film at CinemaCon, and it looks amazing.
There Was a Secret Book Character Hidden in Last Week’s Game of Thrones
Actually, he was hidden in plain sight. But his appearance could signify another major element of the books finally making its way to the show.
If These Are the Four Houses of America’s Hogwarts, They Are Completely Insane
I just want to love you, Harry Potter universe. So, in my mind, I have to believe this story about the four houses of Ilvermorny, the American wizarding school we’ll be seeing soon in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them spin-off movies, isn’t true. Because, if it is, wow did America screw up its magic school.
Superhero Movies, Ranked
Thus far, 2016 is the year of the superhero. Deadpool and Batman v. Superman both shattered the box office, proving that audiences can’t get enough of costumes and powers. But what’s the best superhero movie of all time? And what’s the worst? Here’s our ranking of all 109 superhero movies to date.
JJ Abrams Finally Explains Why Leia Snubbed Chewie at the End of The Force Awakens
Are we still putting up spoiler warnings for The Force Awakens? I don’t think we should have to, but out of an abundance of caution, let me say this: There are spoilers for that film below this paragraph. Click at your own risk.
What the Hell Is The Walking Dead Even Doing?
Actually, I know what they’re doing, I just have no idea why they’re doing it. I don’t know who, when planning the aftermath of WhoDoesNeganKillGate, decided to spend a quarter of season seven dividing the main characters into four almost wholly separate groups, forget about telling a story for an interminable amount of set-up and then still go, “You know which character deserves an entire episode to herself? Tara.”
This Live-Action Futurama Fan Film Is Both Incredibly Impressive and Creepy
Let’s begin with some much-deserved kudos: Fan-o-rama, this fan-made Futurama flick, is just mind-boggling in its accuracy. The newly released trailer does its level best to capture the unusual characters, locations and pastel palette of Matt Groening’s beloved show. Even the show’s character designs have been brought to life… and that’s the problem.