News

The rise in the reputation of video game adaptations has been stark and recent, with the likes of The Last of Us helping many see the sub-genre as a worthwhile endeavor. However, ten years ago, this was far from the general consensus, with video game adaptations almost always ending in disaster. A case in point is Warcraft, directed by Duncan Jones, a big-budget adaptation of the beloved World of Warcraft.

Starring Travis Fimmel, best known for his turn as Ragnar Lothbrok in the beloved television series Vikingsand his recent work in Dune: Prophecy, the video game adaptation faced serious critical backlash upon arrival, with Wendy Ide of The Guardian calling it a "derivative, relentlessly dull-witted computer game spin-off." Sporting just 29% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, its audience rating of 76% suggests a different story, as does the movie's recent streaming success, almost a decade since its release.

Officially, as of July...

Duncan Jones finally has something to show for the movie he's been promising since 2018. The Moon and Warcraft director is no stranger to meticulous sci-fi and his newest project, Rogue Trooper, is his most ambitious yet. Empire got the scoop, releasing jaw-dropping first-look images of the film Jones built entirely in the usually video-game-specific Unreal Engine 5.

The animated film will adapt the 2000Ad comic arc of the same name and, if the wild imagery glimpsed in the sneak peek is any indication, Jones' long-awaited return to the smart sci-fi that made his name.

Official Synopsis per Letterboxed:

Rogue is a “Genetic Infantryman”, a genetically-engineered, blue-skinned, manufactured super soldier who, alongside his three comrades, is searching for the Traitor General. His comrades are with him in the form of biochips—onto which a G.I.’s entire personality is downloaded at the time of death for later retrieval—and are named...

After 30 years, if Apollo 13 had you holding your breath and biting your nails when Tom Hanks said, “Houston, we have a problem,” then buckle up, we’ve got a whole galaxy of movies you’ll want to launch into next. These space flicks bring the drama, the danger, and yes, the floating-in-zero-gravity slow-motion shots we all secretly love.

Some are based on real NASA-level heroics, others are full-blown sci-fi rollercoasters with exploding planets and rogue AI, but they all have one thing in common: they’ll keep you stuck to your seat like Velcro in a spaceship.

From astronauts having identity crises to missions gone sideways faster than a rocket launch, these movies pack thrills, emotion, and a lot of “don’t push that button!” moments. So, if Apollo 13 was your jam, these 15 picks are your next mission. No space suit required, just snacks, curiosity, and maybe a stress ball.

Moon and Warcraft director Duncan Jones revealed that he was working on an animated adaptation of popular 2000 Ad sci-fi comic series Rogue Trooper all the way back in 2018, and we finally have a first look at some official promo images courtesy of Empire Magazine.

The stills spotlight Aneurin Barnard (Doctor Who) as the blue-skinned GI (Genetic Infantryman) of the title, along with villains Mr. Brass and Mr. Bland, who will be played by What We Do In The Shadows stars Jemaine Clement and Matt Berry, respectively.

Created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons back in 1981, the comic followed the wartime adventures of Rogue and the minds/personalities of his deceased brothers in arms mounted on his equipment, as they search for the Traitor General who betrayed their regiment to the enemy.

The cast also includes Hayley Atwell, Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Daryl McCormack, Reece Shearsmith, Diane Morgan (Cunk on Earth...

The 2000Ad adaptation Rogue Trooper, from director Duncan Jones, is edging closer. And the director has revealed a first look.

Duncan Jones and lots of other talented people have been squirreling away for several years now on an adaptation of Rogue Trooper, an upcoming animated take on the classic comic book series that like so many other weird and wonderful characters, originated in the pages of 2000Ad.

Production on the film wrapped last year and now we’ve been granted our first look at the project courtesy of several still images which were unveiled to the world by Empire and on Duncan Jones’ social media feed.

The film has been using Epic’s software platform Unreal Engine 5 to bring the comic strip’s trademark visuals to life. Although Unreal is more widely known as a game engine, it recent widely-publicised use in The Mandalorian demonstrates that increasing numbers of filmmakers...

Duncan Jones, the director of science-fiction favorites like Moon and Source Code, is plotting a chart toward new territory with his upcoming animated adaptation of 2000Ad’s Rogue Trooper, starring Aneurin Barnard as the lone soldier from the comic book series created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons.

Jones’ Rogue Trooper is an ambitious project built using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5, a gold-standard content creation tool in video games, film, television, and more. According to Empire‘s exclusive report, Aneurin Barnard stars in Rogue Trooper as “a lone survivor super soldier on a mission for vengeance — accompanied, naturally, by a sentient gun, backpack, and helmet imbued with his dead fellow squaddies’ personalities.”

The British Comics Fandom page for the Rogue Trooper comic says Rogue is “one of the Genetic Infantry or G.I.s, bred to fight in the endless war between the Norts and the Southers on the planet Nu Earth.

Director Duncan Jones is returning to science fiction with an animated version of Rogue Trooper, based on the cult comic series from 2000 Ad. Known for Moon and Source Code, Jones is now using Unreal Engine 5 to bring this unique world to the big screen in a new way.

The film follows Rogue, a genetically engineered soldier built to survive on a planet full of toxic air and endless war. He’s the only survivor of a deadly mission and is on a path of revenge. Along the way, he’s joined by three AI companions, a gun, a backpack, and a helmet — each carrying the minds of his fallen comrades.

Aneurin Barnard voices Rogue. The cast also includes Hayley Atwell, Jack Lowden, Sean Bean, Daryl McCormack, Reece Shearsmith, Diane Morgan, Asa Butterfield, and Alice Lowe. Jemaine Clement and Matt Berry bring their voices to two strange, comic villains named Mr. Brass and Mr.

Dunkirk actor Aneurin Barnard is returning to the front line for Rogue Trooper, an animated adaptation of the sci-fi comic book classic 2000 Ad, written and directed by Duncan Jones, following a seven-year filmmaking hiatus. A new batch of images from the long-gestating feature offer a first look at Barnard in the titular role as the blue-skinned super soldier, who finds himself the sole survivor of an invasion force, armed with a gun, backpack, and helmet imbued with the personalities of three of his fallen comrades, Gunnar, Bagman, and Helm.

The four new images (shared below), which arrive courtesy of Empire, provide a sneak peek of the upcoming movie. One shows Barnard as the eponymous hero of Rogue Trooper, while another depicts two soldiers fighting for survival on the toxic wasteland. The third image offers a glimpse of a gargantuan war vehicle roaming the war-torn landscape of Nu-Earth, while the final...

Duncan Jones is back, and this time he’s bringing a fan-favorite comic book to life like never before. The director behind Moon, Source Code, Mute, and Warcraft is making Rogue Trooper, a full-length animated film based on the classic British comic from 2000 Ad. And here’s the twist: the whole thing is built using Unreal Engine 5, Epic Games’ powerful game engine that’s helping push movie animation into the future.

The movie stars Aneurin Barnard (Doctor Who) as Rogue, a genetically-engineered super soldier fighting on a toxic, war-torn planet called Nu Earth.

He’s the last survivor of a doomed mission and is hunting down the person who betrayed his squad. But he’s not entirely alone; Rogue carries the minds of his fallen teammates with him, downloaded into his gun, backpack, and helmet. It sounds strange, and it is, but in the best way possible.

Related: 15 Unforgettable Sci-Fi...

From Moon to Source Code, and Warcraft to Mute, Duncan Jones has long since proven himself a leading light as both an intelligent sci-fi filmmaker and a director who knows a thing or two about bringing a unique artistic sensibility to ambitious, large-scale projects. And his latest, a long-gestating animated adaptation of 2000Ad's Rogue Trooper sci-fi comic book series, looks set to prove the apotheosis of Jones' creative journey to date. Built using Epic Games' cutting edge Unreal Engine 5, Rogue Trooper sees Aneurin Barnard (Doctor Who) star as a lone survivor super soldier on a mission for vengeance — accompanied, naturally, by a sentient gun, backpack, and helmet imbued with his dead fellow squaddies' personalities. If it sounds wild on paper, then you ain't seen nothin' yet. Just check out our exclusive first-look images from the movie below;

Lost soldiers traversing barren, toxic wastelands? Check. A great big hulking tank-of-the-future imposing...

The Gasp! Horror Film Festival returns to Cultplex in Manchester from 27 to 29 June, showcasing an ambitious three-day programme of more than 30 premieres, in excess of 50 short films and nine feature presentations, capped by the annual Mystery Queer Classic. Now in its third year, Gasp! expands its remit beyond horror into science fiction, fantasy and thriller, while maintaining its focus on work by filmmakers of colour, women, creators with disabilities and LGBTQ+ voices.

Highlights begin with the UK premiere of Welcome to Praeris, a visually arresting sci-fi thriller from Jérémy Ibraimovski that follows two survivors as they chase a shared dreamscape in a deserted world. It shares the opening night slot with The Lies of Our Confines, an inner-city horror set in the Scottish Highlands. Later on Friday, the festival’s first Short Film Showcase mixes body horror, anime-inspired fairy tales and supernatural dramas in bite-sized form. The night closes with...

Worse-reviewed and less successful films than Warcraft have managed to earn sequels. Directed by Duncan Jones, the epic feature adaptation of the popular video game franchise debuted theatrically in 2016; the movie earned poor reviews, but grossed over $400 million at the worldwide box office. A couple of crucial factors, however, have prevented a sequel from going into production. First, Warcraft tanked miserably at the domestic box office, suggesting a lack of interest, and second, it did exceptionally well in China. The Middle Kingdom is no longer a viable market for Hollywood films, which is unfortunate. But the movie is experiencing something of a resurgence online, which might shift the scales in its favor, espcially with rumors of a Netflix follow-up gaining ground recently.

According to FlixPatrol, Warcraft was among the 10 most-watched movies on Max on June 11, securing the number nine spot ahead of Wicked. The fantasy epic scored 82 points on June...

10 Time Loop Films To Watch On Ott If Bhool Chuk Maaf Failed To Impress! ( Photo Credit – Amazon Prime Video; SonyLiv )

If Bhool Chuk Maaf didn’t hit the mark for you, don’t worry, and read on. We’ve got you covered if you’re into high-concept, mind-bending stories with characters stuck in strange loops. These ten time-loop films on Ott (collated in no particular order) bring all the twists and turns that are the hallmark of a well-made time-loop sci-fi. So, fasten your seatbelts and get set for these gripping and enjoyable time-loop films on Ott.

10. Maanaadu Streaming On: SonyLIV Rt Score: Not Available Director: Venkat Prabhu

Plot: The film’s underlying plot follows an Nri, Abdul Khaaliq (played by Silambarasan), who gets stuck in a time loop and learns about a high-stakes political conspiracy on the day of the Chief Minister’s public conference.

9. Arq Streaming On: Netflix...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

In terms of earnings, video games are the most significant source of entertainment worldwide, with millions and millions of fans. Which is a solid reason for Hollywood to think that if they make them into films, they will attract the same kind of audience and even though in the beginning it seemed like that they will never be able to make a good film based on video games but now it seems like they are getting the hang of things. We have compiled a list containing the names of the highest-grossing films based on video games, but just because they are in this and have earned a lot of money, doesn’t mean that all of them are good.

10. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time ($336.4 Million) Credit – Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time...

Avatar & Moon Rotten Tomatoes Scores Compared (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

A brilliant yet largely forgotten sci-fi film was released in cinemas six months before James Cameron’s epic blockbuster Avatar hit theatres in December 2009. That film received rave reviews from critics and sci-fi fans across the globe. Its Rotten Tomatoes score surpassed even that of Avatar. Any idea which film we are talking about? That film was Moon, which was Duncan Jones’ directorial debut.

Moon Vs Avatar – Rotten Tomatoes Scores

James Cameron’s visually stunning film Avatar received an 81% critics’ score on the reviews aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. On the other hand, Duncan Jones’ Moon is ahead of Avatar and holds a brilliant Rt critics’ score of 90%. Even the audience score of Avatar is 82%, while Moon has a higher Rt audience score of 89%. Duncan Jones bagged a BAFTA Award for Moon for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.

Check what an award-winning sci-fi director once said about Avatar ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

James Cameron’s visually stunning epic sci-fi blockbuster ‘Avatar’ received tremendous praise from fans and critics across the globe after its theatrical release in 2009. Avatar and its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, are among the top five highest-grossing movies of all time globally.

Eminent filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Edgar Wright have expressed their admiration for the film in the past.

This Award-Winning Director Wasn’t Very Happy With Avatar

However, some viewers opined that Avatar was not the best film directed by James Cameron. For instance, the immensely talented British filmmaker Duncan Jones once said (as reported by SlashFilm) that Avatar wasn’t in his top three James Cameron films.

Trending 5 Best George Clooney Movies That You Must Watch On His Birthday

Marvel’s Thunderbolts* Cracks Letterboxd Top 50 — But Has It Surpassed Sinners?

He also questioned,...

The long-awaitedMagic: The Gatheringmovie might finally make it to the big screen as a popular emerging director is now in talks to helm the project. Launched in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is considered one of the first major tabletop card games. It is certainly one of the most influential, having become a global phenomenon and generating $1 billion in global revenue. The card game, which now includes special crossover cards and packs ranging from Lord of the Rings to Doctor Who to Spongebob Squarepants, has long had a movie in development, and the project is finally picking up steam.

Deadlinereports that director Matt Johnson is Legendary Pictures and Hasbro Entertainment's top choice to direct Magic: The Gathering. No official deal has been made yet, with the studio currently in early talks with the emerging filmmaker. No screenwriter is attached, and we have no idea of what exactly the Magic: The Gathering...

In a world increasingly fascinated by existential science fiction, Mickey 17 offers a refreshing yet unsettling look at identity, mortality, and the ethics of cloning. Directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson, the film dives deep into what it means to be human when your existence is disposable. If you’ve just watched it and found yourself craving more cerebral, emotionally complex sci-fi, you’re not alone. This list of movies like Mickey 17 explores similarly mind-bending themes—from isolation and artificial intelligence to the haunting fragility of memory and consciousness—each film provides a unique reflection on life beyond the ordinary.

Moon (2009)

Moon is a quiet, haunting film that deals with isolation in a deeply personal way. Set on a lunar base, the story follows Sam Bell, an astronaut nearing the end of his three-year stint mining helium-3. Sam’s only companion is a robot named Gerty, and the...

Apple TV+ has delivered yet another high-octane, mind-bending experience with The Gorge, a film that blends action, romance, and sci-fi elements into a thrilling cinematic ride. Directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, the film follows two elite operatives who share an intense, fate-driven connection despite the chaos surrounding them. Mixing time loops, intense combat sequences, and a love story that defies logic, The Gorge is a gripping tale of second chances, destiny, and survival. If you loved this adrenaline-fueled romance, here are eight films like The Gorge that explore similar themes in their unique ways.

The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009) – Robert Schwentke

Df-07316

Eric Bana as Henry and Rachel McAdams as Clare in New Line Cinema’s

romantic drama “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Like The Gorge, The Time Traveler’s Wife plays with time, love, and fate. The film tells the story of Henry,...

World of Warcraft had taken the world by storm when it was first released in 2004. This game made by Blizzard Entertainment, became so popular after its release that players of the title are still active. After the massive success of World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures decided to work together for a Warcraft movie which was announced in 2006.

One of the best MMORPGs during the 2000s | Image Credits: Blizzard Entertainment

After 10 years of development, Warcraft finally hit the movies in 2016. The film was directed by Duncan Jones, who co-wrote the screenplay with Charles Leavitt. Although the movie was critically acclaimed internationally, it struggled to gain appreciation in the United States. Let’s explore why.

Warcraft was critically acclaimed outside of the US Warcraft was the highest-grossing video game adaptation in 2016 | Image Credits: Legendary Pictures

Warcraft grossed over $439 million worldwide with a production budget of just $160 million, becoming the...

Hollywood and video games have a love-hate relationship, mostly leaning toward the latter. For every decent adaptation, there are a dozen misfires that make fans shake their heads in disappointment.

Yet, Warcraft stands out as a rare gem in this chaotic landscape. Directed by Duncan Jones, the film managed to capture the grandeur of Blizzard’s legendary fantasy universe while remaining accessible to newcomers. However, this cinematic adventure almost took a wildly different, and much worse, direction.

A still from Warcraft | Credits: Universal Pictures

Early in its development, there were plans to make the human characters the sole heroes while portraying every other race as villains. Duncan Jones, a true Warcraft fan, wasn’t having any of that. His resistance to this oversimplification is the reason Warcraft became one of the most faithful, visually stunning, and unexpectedly good video game movies to date.

The battle over Duncan Jones’ Warcraft’s...

Utopia has secured worldwide rights to Pedro Kos’ psychological thriller In Our Blood and will commence talks with buyers at the EFM in Berlin next week.

Brittany O’Grady from The White Lotus and It’s What’s Inside stars as filmmaker Emily Wyland who reconnects with her estranged mother tocollaborate on a documentary.

When her mother mysteriously disappears, Emily and her cinematographer Danny embark on a search, uncovering haunting remnants of her past struggles with addiction. E.J. Bonilla, Alanna Ubach, Krisha Fairchild, Steven Klein, Bianca Comparato, and Leo Marks round out the cast.

Mallory Westfall, known for her work in the genre...

Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for "Star Trek: Section 31."

The debut of "Section 31" marks the moment when "Star Trek" has officially gone where it never has before -- the small screen. Wait, that didn't come out quite right. Obviously, every Trekkie knows that the sci-fi franchise has its roots in television, but there's something to be said for how this particular release changes the game for the first time in over 50 years. In an unprecedented move, a "Trek" film is going directly to streaming. Whether this opens up a whole new universe of possibilities for future projects or simply represents an unusual one-off situation remains to be seen. But, in many ways, "Section 31" is putting a whole new twist on this established property ... and that certainly applies to the cast as well.

Compared to the traditional and downright respectable "Trek" titles up to this point, "Section 31" splashes a...

Video game adaptations are an up-and-coming trend in the television and film industry. Despite the initial struggles that came with early adaptations, the genre has settled down and found success with recent movies making millions worldwide. Some have even transcended from being just game adaptations to being their own thing.

Ryan Reynolds’ performance was charming as always. | Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Behind the success of these movies are some of the biggest actors and actresses who play iconic video game characters for the big screen. Looking at the top 10 most-grossing video game adaptations of all time, it seems like a fierce battle between big names like Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, Tom Holland, and more. There’s an undisputed king at number 1 though.

10. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) This was the start of something new. | Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

The original Sonic the Hedgehog overcame an early backlash over its character design to become a surprise hit.

When it comes to adapting popular video games for both the big and small screens, the results can be hit or miss. These days, things seem to be better than ever thanks to shows like The Last of Us and Twisted Metal, but movies like Borderlands remind us that Hollywood doesn't always get it right. Such was the case with the 2016 film Warcraft, which divided fans and critics upon its release, but now, nine years later, is a streaming hit.

Over on Max, Warcraft sits at number seven on the list of Top 10 movies at the time of this writing, sandwiched between Ben Affleck's The Accountant at number six, and the Robin Williams classic Mrs. Doubtfire at number eight. Directed by Duncan Jones, Warcraft is based on the franchise of hit video games created by Blizzard Entertainment, and stars Travis Fimmel (Vikings) and Toby Kebbell (Kong: Skull Island) as...

Back in 2016, Duncan Jones, the director of sci-fi films Moon and Source Code, set out to end the curse that had plagued film adaptations of video game franchises with the fantasy epic Warcraft. Historically, video game movies were either completely unexceptional or exceptional in how poorly they adapted their source material. In recent years, there have been more successful attempts, but many have still missed the mark, like the recent Borderlands, or Paramount’s Halo series, which was recently canceled. The failures are steadily beginning to seem the exception rather than the rule, however, with films like Sonic The Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros. Movie being well-received and financially successful, and HBO’s The Last of Us and Amazon’s Fallout both collecting Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Warcraft, however, was entering a market that was even more skeptical of video game adaptations.

All the separate pieces of Moon, the 2009 Duncan Jones film, feel relatively simple alone, but are combined into something very special. It fits into one of the best kinds of science fiction: a story about people as well as society that just happens to be set on the moon. It feels like a mid-twentieth-century short story that you read somewhere in high school and can’t quite remember the name of, but you've never forgotten the way reading it felt. Sam Rockwell portrays the film’s protagonist (also named Sam), an employee of the corporation Lunar Industries that operates on Earth’s moon, mining a fuel resource to send back to humanity’s home. As Sam nears the end of his three-year contract with the company, he begins experiencing strange hallucinations, and, through a series of events, encounters his doppelgänger. With only a budget of $5 million, smart direction, fantastic production design,...

Mikael Håfström’s “Slingshot” (2024) is an allegorical sci-fi tale set in the space. After Duncan Jones’s “Moon” and Morten Tyldum’s “Passengers,” it is another film about a man struggling with his darkest thoughts while in space. Starring Casey Affleck in the central role, it centers around an astronaut who begins to lose his grip over reality during his mission toward Saturn’s moon. The screenplay, written by R. Scott Adams Nathan Parker, deals with his emotional turmoil through the framework of a psychological thriller. Besides Affleck, the film also stars Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham, and Tomer Capone in important roles.

Spoilers Ahead

Slingshot (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Directed by Mikael Håfström, “Slingshot” follows an astronaut gradually losing his sanity as he questions the point of his mission toward Saturn’s moon. Suspended in space, he tries to gain control over his senses to get past his anguish.

What...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This January, Peacock is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the intense biographical thriller series Lockerbie: A Search For Truth to the return of the hit British reality series The Traitors. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Peacock this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the seven best films that are coming to Peacock in January 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Alien (January 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93% Credit – 20th Century Fox

Alien is a sci-fi horror thriller film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Dan O’Bannon. The 1979 film follows the crew of a spacecraft that intercepts a distress signal from a planet. They soon set out to investigate, but they are attacked by an alien entity that invades their ship.

Dune: Prophecy is an ensemble series with actors from various backgrounds. Telling the story of the creation of the Bene Gesserit, the show features a leading cast including Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Travis Fimmel, and Jodhi May. The Dune franchise show got decent reviews overall, and recently wrapped up its tenure on Max. Earlier this week, Dune: Prophecy season 2 was officially confirmed, allowing the creators to continue the space-set story.

The primary cast members in the show are women, but Australian-born cast member Fimmel is one with an interesting career history. He has been on TV before, perhaps most notably playing Ragnar Lothbrok in the TV series Vikings. In addition to Vikings, Fimmel's career has included playing the titular jungle-dweller in the 2003 TV series adaptation of Tarzan, as well as a role in the series The Beast. Now, one of Fimmel's key...

An affordable streaming service with plenty of options for their subscribers to choose from, Peacock is definitely worth paying for. Next month, the platform will add a slew of films to its already extensive catalog, and viewers won’t want to overlook them. From horror films to comedies, audiences are bound to find something worthy of a movie night.

While some of the films scheduled to hit the platform next month will certainly warrant plenty of tears, others will only garner laughs. However, no matter what viewers are in the mood to watch, Peacock has them covered. Given the various genres set to arrive in January, viewers will likely find something they’ll enjoy.

'Kick-Ass' Stream on January 1

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, Kick-Ass is a superhero black comedy based on the Marvel comic of the same name. The film follows an ordinary teenager, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), who decides to...

Dune: Prophecy star Travis Fimmel's highly underrated video-game adaptation will soon arrive on the same streaming platform as his Dune universe project. 2016's Warcraft will hit Max on January 1.

Directed by Duncan Jones, who co-wrote the script with Charles Leavitt, the action-fantasy movie follows Fimmel's Anduin Lothar of Stormwind and Durotan of the Frostwolf clan, a renegade orc portrayed by Toby Kebell. The two heroes are set on opposite sides of a growing war, as the warlock Gul'dan (Daniel Wu) leads the Horde to invade Azeroth using a magic portal. Humans and dissenting orcs must work together to confront the true evil that threatens them all. Warcraft's cast also includes Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Ben Schnetzer, Robert Kazinsky, Clancy Brown, and Terry Notary. Screen legend Glenn Close makes an uncredited appearance as the ancient mage Alodi.

Related It Will Be a Frustrating New Year's Day...

Travis Fimmel may be one of the best parts of Dune: Prophecy. Not only does his character Desmond Hart provide a unique challenge for the Bene Gesserit, but Dune: Prophecy continues a trend of Fimmel being a scene-stealer in whatever project he joins. It happened with Vikings, the series that launched him into the mainstream. It happened with Warcraft; even though Duncan Jones's ambitious adaptation didn't score a sequel, Fimmel's knight Lothar remains one of the most fleshed-out characters in the entire film. And it happened with Tarzan, the modern-day update of Edgar Rice Burroughs' jungle-dwelling hero.

A trickle is becoming a flood for Bluesky, the social media company that has seen spectacular growth since the presidential election. On Tuesday, the microblogging platform hit 20 million users, after averaging 1 million new users per day over the past five days.

According to a Nov. 13 post by Bluesky CEO Jay Graber, the site had 6 million users in late August, nearly 11 million in late October and hit 15 million users on Nov. 15. It added another 5 million users in just five days, with the explosive growth seen since Nov. 5, the day of the election, accelerating.

Bluesky has been one of the main beneficiaries of millions of users leaving Elon Musk’s X, as the site formerly known as Twitter descends into a mess of bots, extreme content, crypto scams, ads, pornography, racism, transphobia and misinformation.

Hollywood has been quick to adopt Bluesky, particularly with the entertainment industry’s aversion to the political views of Musk,...

Call it a blue wave. A host of actors, directors, musicians, journalists and other prominent people are dumping X (formerly Twitter) and flocking to social media platform Bluesky.

In the past week, an increasing number of bold-faced names have announced that they plan to post less on X, or leave the platform altogether, citing myriad issues with the social media company, including far right content, hate speech, transphobia, racism, harassment, pornography, crypto scams, bots and the political views of owner Elon Musk, the billionaire oligarch who is a vocal supporter and financial backer of Donald Trump.

Musk’s ownership of X and his updates to content moderation on the platform have been pushing brands and media groups closer and closer to the exit. This week, The Guardian media group announced that it will stop posting on X, describing the site as a “toxic media platform.” On Nov. 4, the Berlin Film...

When an audience hears that a film falls within the genre of science fiction, they likely picture something along the lines of Star Wars; that is, a film packed from beginning to end with futuristic technology, intergalactic adventures, and otherworldly characters. In reality, none of these are requirements of the genre. While theorists have argued about specific definitions for decades, science fiction can really include anything that explores how life as we know it can be changed, typically for reasons related to new technological/scientific innovations.

Because of this, there are actually many sci-fi movies that don't rely on visual effects to convey the changes that have been made within society. Oftentimes, an insightful script is all one needs in order to convey a thought-provoking science fiction story. Of course, this is not meant to detract from the greatness of sci-fi marvels like Alien or Arrival. Over the years, filmmakers...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Tiffany Pollard's confusion over which David had died created an iconic TV moment on Celebrity Big Brother. David Gest's extensive eye surgery led houseguests to mistakenly believe he had died in his sleep. The aftermath of the incident led to a museum exhibition and Tiffany Pollard selling 'David is Dead' t-shirts.

In 2016, season 17 of Celebrity Big Brother gave the world one of the most iconic reality TV moments in Big Brother history.

Celebrity Big Brother Season 17 was eventually won by Geordie Shore star Scotty T, but the series featured a stellar line-up, that included British reality TV heavyweights, including Gemma Collins, Stephanie Davis, Jeremy McConnell, Megan McKenna, Christopher Maloney, and Darren Day.

This season of Celebrity Big Brother is remembered for the standout moment involving David Gest, Angie Bowie, Tiffany 'New York' Pollard, and the late David Bowie.

Although many...

Fantasy movies, like many other works of speculative fiction in film, are judged more harshly by critics and audiences alike. Whether this is because of their campy elements or lackluster special effects, many aspects of fantasy stories are difficult to translate to the screen and easier to mess up. However, technical facets of a movie aren't the only parts that are important, as the script, acting, and humor can all add much to the film. As time progresses and the trends of fantasy change, many older movies have been reassessed to be better than their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

It ultimately doesn't matter how a film is reviewed when it comes to personal opinion.

While some movies have a higher critic score than the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, this doesn't necessarily mean the film will stand the test of time. Filmmaking, like all art, is subjective, and one movie that...

“Who is that actor?” It’s probably everyone’s reaction to their first experience of Britain’s Matt Berry. With his booming delivery, and an uncanny ability to draw out every last vowel and consonant from even the dullest of words, Berry has been a cult comic actor in the U.K. for 20 years now. He broke out there in 2012 with Toast of London, a surreal sitcom in which he appeared as the bitter, buffoonish, self-serious thespian Steven Toast. But in 2019, the FX show What We Do in the Shadows took his homegrown appeal overseas, as the shape-shifting 300-year-old vampire Laszlo in the mock-doc comedy show inspired by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s word-of-mouth movie hit from 2014.

Hardcore fans will remember him as Dr. Sanchez from Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place, a horror parody devised by Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade that premiered to little fanfare in 2004 but has since gathered a devout following,...

Hugh Jackman is all set to regale audiences as he reprises his iconic Marvel role in Deadpool and Wolverine. The film, which releases on July 26th, 2024, will see Jackman share screen space once again with good friend and colleague Ryan Reynolds. Apart from harboring high hopes for the film, fans are equally excited to see the two actors share great chemistry on screen.

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool and Wolverine (image credit: Marvel)

Ahead of the release, Reynolds and Jackman have been entertaining fans with their humorous banter in various public outings as part of the promotions of the film. In their latest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Reynolds hilariously pulled Jackman’s leg by embarrassing him with a cringeworthy clip of his role in a 90s television show. The Marvel star sportingly played along by comparing his performance to that of Daniel Day-Lewis.

Hugh Jackman Cannot Live...

Quick Links Warcraft Brought the World of Azeroth to Life Warcraft Honored the Games That Inspired It The Warcraft Franchise Still Has Untapped Potential Duncan Jones' Warcraft was a critical and commercial failure, but the film had many strengths. The CGI used to create Warcraft's orcs looks incredible to this day. There will probably not be a direct sequel to Warcraft, but a new film or series could explore the expansive lore of Azeroth.

In 2016, Duncan Jones directed Warcraft, a film adaptation of the popular series of video games created by Blizzard Entertainment. It told the story of the First War between orcs from the land of Draenor and humans from the land of Azeroth. The use of an evil magic called fel had reduced Draenor to a wasteland, so the orcs constructed the Dark Portal to Azeroth with hopes of conquering it and making it their new home.

The Warcraft movie, based on the popular video game series, has landed on Netflix's Top 10 chart in the US. Despite initial negative reviews and box office disappointment, Warcraft has found success on Netflix. Warcraft's performance highlights the evolving landscape of video game adaptations in film and television.

Warcraft has landed on Netflix's Top 10 chart in the United States. Based on Blizzard's video game series of the same name, the 2016 action fantasy film follows heroes on opposing sides of a war, as a horde of Orcs invades the planet Azeroth using a magic portal. The video game adaptation was directed by Duncan Jones, who co-wrote the script with Charles Leavitt, and a Warcraft cast that includes Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell, Ben Schnetzer, Robert Kazinsky, and Daniel Wu.

Now, eight years after its release, the video game adaptation is a hit on Netflix. For...

Warcraft movie differs from game lore: from Stormwind's fate to the formation of the Alliance. Characters like Durotan weren't in the original game, but were important in the movie. Changes in the film, like Gul'dan as main villain and Lothar's role, deviate from Warcraft: Orcs & Humans.

2016's Warcraft movie is based on the classic Blizzard strategy game, but it takes creative liberties with its narrative. The Warcraft franchise is known best by the Mmorpg World of Warcraft, one of the biggest and most popular games of all time, with an enormous, enduring, international fan base. However, the 2016 movie is based on the original 1994 real-time strategy game Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, which kicked off the multimedia franchise. From Warcraft's ensemble character cast to its timeline of events, there are many aspects that differ from Blizzard's lore canon.

Warcraft lore can be tough to catch up on, as the company has...

One of Netflix's tactics to keep audiences engaged is finding forgotten films and presenting them to modern viewers. So often the streamer asks us all the question, "Are you sure you didn't like this when it first came out?," and apparently our collective response is frequently "No, actually, it's kinda good." This happened earlier this year with forgotten action movie "The Bricklayer" and prior to that Netflix breathed new life into Keanu Reeves' 2008 crime-thriller "Street Kings." In the latter's case, it was a worthy resurgence for a decent little effort from director David Ayer that slipped under the radar when it first released. But in the case of, say, "The Snowman," which resurfaced in Netflix in 2023 after a dismal theatrical debut back in 2017, we started to get the idea that Netflix viewers will watch pretty much anything.

Now, the streaming juggernaut is once again offering a forgotten film somewhat of a reprieve.

Quick Links Warcraft Bombed at the Box Office and With Critics Warcraft Did Very Well Overseas (But It's Complicated) No Sequel In Sight

During the mid-2000s and into the early 2010s, it felt like no video game in the world was bigger than the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (Mmorpg) World of Warcraft. The series that began in 1994 with Warcraft: Orcs and Humans had been going strong for a decade but exploded into popularity with the online game, where it would be referenced and parodied in popular mainstream programs like South Park and How I Met Your Mother. By 2014, there were over one million registered players, so it only made sense for a big-budget feature film set within the world to arrive, and 2016's Warcraft looked to be the next big franchise.

In 2016, the idea of a video game movie still evoked negative connotations of films like Doom, Street Fighter,...

Warcraft is based on the video game series of the same name and follows a war between humans and orcs. Fantasy movies like Willow and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves are perfect for those who enjoyed Warcraft. High-grossing film series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings also have similar themes to Warcraft.

As the title suggests, Warcraft depicts two opposing sides of an impending war set in a fantasy world, and if one enjoys the movie and seeks more, several other films have similar themes, genres, characters, and everything in between. The 2016 action fantasy film, directed by Duncan Jones and written by Jones and Charles Leavitt, is based on the popular video game series of the same name. Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft was launched in 1994, and since then, all the games in the series have taken place in and around the world of Azeroth, featuring humans and orcs.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves underperformed at the box office despite a big-name cast, a $150 million budget, and positive reviews. Warcraft, a comparably budgeted action fantasy film based on a popular RPG, earned $439 million worldwide, highlighting the missed opportunity for Dungeons & Dragons. D&d's release period was challenging, competing with highly anticipated films and relying on word of mouth in an unpredictable cinematic climate.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' dismal box office performance looks even more unfortunate when compared to the $439 million action fantasy film currently taking Netflix by storm. When it came time to prove itself in theaters early last year, Dungeons & Dragons surprisingly fell flat despite being cut out for success. In addition to Dungeons & Dragons' big-name cast, including lead star Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Reg-Jean Page, and Hugh Grant, the movie had a whopping $150 million budget to capitalize on and a fantasy adventure premise suited for the big screen.

A video game adaptation that may have been released a bit ahead of its time is back to streaming on Netflix. As of July 1, Warcraft was made available to watch again on the popular streaming platform.

Warcraft fell short of reaching its box office expectations, given its high budget, and it was not seen as a big financial success. The critics were also unkind to the movie, giving the video game adaptation a Rotten Tomatoes score of 29%. However, filmgoers enjoyed the movie much more than the critics, as it holds a much higher audience score of 76%. Warcraft has also developed a cult following in the years since its release in 2016, seen by many as one of the more underrated video game films.

Related Is a Warcraft Sequel Ever Going to Happen?

Despite hints and rumors of its release, a sequel to the 2016 Warcraft movie has yet to be confirmed. Here's what we know so far.

Warcraft, the 2016 film adaptation of Blizzard Entertainment’s popular video game franchise, has found renewed interest as it climbs the Netflix charts in the United States. This resurgence comes amidst swirling rumors about a potential sequel, Warcraft 2, possibly heading to the streaming giant.

The original Warcraft film, directed by Duncan Jones, stands as the third highest-grossing video game movie adaptation of all time. Despite mixed critical reception, with a 28% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film garnered a dedicated fanbase and achieved significant commercial success, grossing over $439 million globally.

Recent fan-made trailers have fueled speculation about a Warcraft sequel. Two trailers, “Warcraft 2: The Lich King” and “Warcraft 2: The Final Chapter,” created by Foxstar Media in September 2023 and June 2024 respectively, have sparked excitement among fans. These high-quality productions blend footage from the original movie with cinematic elements from the World of Warcraft game, presenting a tantalizing vision of what a sequel could look like.

"Warcraft" is a 2016 fantasy action film directed by Duncan Jones and starring Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, and Ben Schnetzer. The film is set in the world of Azeroth and follows the conflict between the human kingdom of Stormwind and the orc Horde. Here are the main cast members and their notable roles: Travis Fimmel as Anduin Lothar: A military commander for Stormwind's human kingdom. Fimmel is a Swedish actor best known for his role as Ragnar Lothbrok in the History Channel series "Vikings." Paula Patton as Garona: A half-orc woman caught between the human and orc protagonists. Patton is an American actress who made her feature film debut in the comedy "Hitch" and has starred in movies like "Dj Vu" and "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol."

2016's Warcraft movie filled its cast of iconic video game characters with a talented mix of live-action and voice actors. The film is based...