Actor Giancarlo Esposito (1958)

MaXXXine (2024), the latest addition to Ti West’s X film series, is an American slasher movie set in 1985 Los Angeles during the infamous Night Stalker murders. Maxine Minx, famous for her work in adult films, auditions for the lead role in The Puritan II and lands it despite her unconventional background. Following the audition, she mentions it to her friends Leon and Amber James, who invites her to a party in the Hollywood Hills. However, Maxine declines as she heads to her second job at a live peep show. While working, she encounters a mysterious leather-clad figure who seems disturbed by her ...

The Mandalorian (2019–2024), a space Western series created by Jon Favreau for Disney+, is the first live-action show in the Star Wars franchise, set five years after Return of the Jedi (1983). Starring Pedro Pascal as the title character, a lone bounty hunter who protects Grogu, a Force-sensitive child, from Moff Gideon and his remaining Imperial forces. George Lucas had previously planned for a live-action Star Wars series in 2009, but it was deemed too costly. When he sold Lucasfilm to Disney ...

The American dystopian science fiction film, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), was directed by Wes Ball and written by T.S. Nowlin, based on James Dashner’s 2011 novel of the same name. The remaining free ‘Gladers’ – Thomas, Newt, and Frypan – team up with the Right Arm resistance in an attempt to rescue other Immunes from WCKD’s train. Their mission takes a dangerous turn when they realize their friend Minho, who was captured by WCKD, is on a separate carriage headed to the ...

The American adventure drama film, The Jungle Book (2016), was directed and produced by Jon Favreau with a screenplay by Justin Marks. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it is a live-action/CGI remake of the 1967 animated feature film of the same name, based on Rudyard Kipling’s works. Mowgli, a ‘man cub’, was adopted by the wolf Raksha and her pack in an Indian jungle as a baby, under the care of Bagheera, the black panther. As he grows up, Bagheera trains him to learn the ways of the wolves, but Mowgli ...

Money Monster (2016), an American thriller directed by Jodie Foster and written by Jamie Linden, Alan Di Fiore, and Jim Kouf from a story by Di Fiore and Kouf, features Lee Gates, an ostentatious financial expert who hosts the show Money Monster. The day before the show, IBIS Clear Capital’s stock suddenly plummeted, causing investors to lose $800 million due to a trading ...

The film Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) is an American dystopian science fiction based on James Dashner’s novel of the same name. A hesitant Thomas is left by his mother with scientist Ava Paige and soldiers from the organization WCKD. Along with other children, he is placed in a mobile maze in the Glade for scientific testing. Years later, after being rescued from the maze, Thomas and the other survivors are brought to a facility led by Mr. Janson. He claims that the facility offers protection from the Flare virus and ‘Cranks’, and supplies them with necessary resources. Under Janson’s ...

Better Call Saul (2015–2022) is a show that branches off from Breaking Bad, a popular crime drama series that aired from 2008 to 2013. It follows the story of Jimmy McGill, an ex-con artist striving to make a name for himself as a public defender. The show captures his gradual transition into his eventual Breaking Bad persona of Saul Goodman, the ostentatious criminal lawyer who has ties to the drug cartel. Most of the events take place six years prior to those in Breaking Bad, from around 2002 to 2008. Jimmy’s brother Chuck McGill serves as his inspiration to leave his past as ‘Slippin’ Jimmy’ behind when he lived in ...

Son of Batman (2014) is an animated superhero film that belongs to the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series and the DC Animated Movie Universe. Based on Batman and Son by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert from 2006, the story follows Damian Wayne, son of Talia and Batman, as he is trained by his grandfather Ra’s al Ghul to take over the League of Assassins. However, their plans are disrupted when Slade Wilson and his team attack the League’s headquarters, resulting in Ra’s’ defeat and death. In order to keep Damian ...

In Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014), an animated superhero film, Batman saves the Riddler from assassination by Amanda Waller, director of A.R.G.U.S. He then delivers Riddler back to Arkham Asylum. In response, Waller captures several criminals including Black Spider and Captain Boomerang and enlists them in the Suicide Squad. They are tasked with breaking into Arkham and retrieving a thumbdrive hidden in Riddler’s cane containing sensitive information about the squad. To ensure their compliance, Waller implants nano-bombs in their necks. After KGBeast tries to leave and is killed by Waller, the remaining members are sent to Gotham City to receive equipment from ...

Alex Cross (2012), the American action thriller directed by Rob Cohen, stars Tyler Perry as the lead and Matthew Fox as his antagonist, Picasso. The screenplay was written by Marc Moss and Kerry Williamson, and it is based on James Patterson’s 2006 novel Cross. Serving as the third installment in the Alex Cross film series, this movie was seen as a reboot ...

Breaking Bad (2008–2013), an American neo-Western crime drama TV series, was created and produced by Vince Gilligan and aired on AMC from January 20, 2008 to September 29, 2013. It ran for five seasons and had a total of 62 episodes. Filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the show follows the story of Walter White. He is a high school chemistry teacher who is dealing with stage-three lung cancer and feeling underpaid, overqualified, and dispirited. To secure his family’s financial future before he dies, White turns to a life of crime. His former student Jesse Pinkman becomes his partner as they produce and distribute ...

The crime thriller film, The Usual Suspects (1995), directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie, follows a group of criminals. One of them, Dean Keaton, is found dying on a ship in San Pedro Bay after a confrontation with a mysterious figure known as ‘Keyser’. The ship is set on fire, leaving only two survivors: Arkosh Kovash, a Hungarian mobster with severe burns, and Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint, a con artist with physical disabilities. U.S. Customs agent Dave Kujan flies from New York City to Los Angeles to interrogate Verbal while FBI ...

Malcolm X (1992) tells the story of an African-American activist and is directed and co-written by Spike Lee. Born in rural Michigan, Malcolm Little is raised by his Grenadian mother and African-American father in a strong household. Tragically, their home is destroyed and Malcolm’s father, a passionate advocate for black rights, is killed by the Black Legion. Despite this injustice, his death is recorded as a suicide and the family receives no compensation. With his mother’s mental health deteriorating, Malcolm and his siblings are placed in protective care. Despite facing numerous challenges, Malcolm ...

Mo’ Better Blues (1990) is an American musical comedy-drama film featuring a talented cast including Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Spike Lee. In the film, set in Brooklyn in 1969, four young boys invite Bleek Gilliam to play baseball with them outside his home, but Bleek’s mother interrupts with a reminder of his trumpet lesson. This leads to a heated family argument as Bleek’s father expresses concerns over his son’s interests. Despite this, Bleek continues to pursue his passion for music ...