Orion Pictures (USA): 17

Gretel & Hansel (2020) is a dark fantasy horror film based on the German folklore tale Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. The prologue recounts the story of a father seeking help for his deathly ill baby daughter from a witch, who gives the child supernatural abilities. As she grows, she uses her powers to predict events but also reveals her darker side, leading to her father’s death and her abandonment in the woods. The focus then shifts to teenage Gretel and her younger brother Hansel, both hinted to possess their own supernatural abilities. They are sent out by their mother to find work after ...

The Dark Half (1993) is a film based on Stephen King’s 1989 novel of the same name. It was both written and directed by George A. Romero. Thad Beaumont, a writer known for his acclaimed literary works, also has a successful career writing bestselling thrillers under the pseudonym ‘George Stark’. After deciding to retire his pen name, Beaumont symbolically buries ‘Stark’ in a fake grave. However, something strange happens – Stark takes on a physical form and begins terrorizing those close to Beaumont, starting with local photographer ...

Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991) marked Pete Hewitt’s first time directing a feature film. The music of Wyld Stallyns has brought about a utopian future society, but a terrorist named Chuck De Nomolos aims to change that. In the year 2691, he attacks Bill & Ted University and steals a time-traveling phone booth to send evil robot replicas of the duo back in time. His goal? To prevent them from winning the San Dimas Battle of the Bands and altering what he views as a foolish and frivolous society. Despite Rufus’ efforts to stop him, De Nomolos seemingly succeeds and Rufus becomes lost in the ...

Shadows and Fog (1991), an American black-and-white comedy film by Woody Allen, is based on his one-act play Death (1975). Kleinman is awakened by a vigilante mob in search of a serial killer, enlisting his help. His landlady gives him a bag of pepper. Meanwhile, circus performers Irmy and her boyfriend Paul argue about marriage and having children. When Paul leaves for another tent and has sex with fellow artist Marie, Irmy runs away to the city and ends up in a brothel. There, she catches the eye of student Jack who becomes infatuated with her. He offers her increasingly larger sums of money until she finally ...

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) is an American psychological horror thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme and written by Ted Tally, adapted from Thomas Harris’s 1988 novel of the same name. Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee, is tasked with interviewing Hannibal Lecter, a highly-intelligent former psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Her boss Jack Crawford has sent her to gain insights into another psychopathic serial killer named ‘Buffalo ...

Alice (1990), an American fantasy romantic comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen, follows the story of Alice Tate. Alice is an upper-class Manhattan homemaker who indulges in shopping, beauty treatments, and gossip with her friends. After being married to the wealthy Doug for 16 years, their two children are primarily raised by a nanny. One day, she meets Joe Ruffalo, a handsome jazz musician, and feels drawn to him. Despite her Catholic guilt for these emotions, which eventually manifest as a backache, she seeks help from Dr. Yang – an Asian herbalist who hypnotizes her. Under hypnosis, Alice reveals ...

Johnny Be Good (1988) is an American comedy film directed by Bud S. Smith. Johnny Walker, a student at unreal Ashcroft High School, is the number one high school quarterback in the country and is being heavily recruited by numerous colleges. His close friend, Leo Wiggins, encourages him to wait for the perfect deal, while his girlfriend, Georgia, wants him to join her at State University for a solid education. The various universities offer him an array of tempting perks such as beautiful girls, luxury vehicles, cash incentives, free living arrangements, and more. In fact, one college even buys Leo a car and another ...

Monkey Shines (1988) is a science fiction psychological horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. After being struck by a truck and becoming quadriplegic, law student and athlete Allan Mann struggles to adapt to his new life in an SNP-equipped wheelchair. His overbearing mother and unempathetic nurse try their best to help him, but Allan’s friend Geoffrey Fisher comes up with the idea of getting him a Capuchin monkey as a service animal. However, Geoffrey has a hidden agenda as he is under pressure to produce results as a research scientist. He has been experimenting on a monkey in his lab with a serum ...

No Way Out is (1987) an American neo-noir action thriller film directed by Roger Donaldson. In a house near the Pentagon, Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell of the Office of Naval Intelligence undergoes questioning about his connection with Secretary of Defense David Brice. Six months prior, Farrell attends an inaugural ball at the invitation of his college friend Scott Pritchard. There, he meets Secretary Brice and develops an affair with Susan Atwell. Shortly after, he departs for the Philippines. Upon returning, Brice recruits Farrell to gather information for him within the CIA. As he settles into his new role in ...

Radio Days (1987), an American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, nostalgically looks back at the golden age of radio in the late 1930s and 1940s. Set in Rockaway Beach, New York, it follows a working-class family, with fictional narrator Joe (voiced by Allen himself) recounting their adventures. Among these is how two burglars stumbled upon a radio show while robbing a home. For Joe, old radio songs evoke childhood memories of his time living with his modest Jewish-American family in Rockaway Beach during the late 1930s and early 1940s. His mother was ...

Back to School (1986) is an American comedy film directed by Alan Metter. The protagonist, Thornton Meloni, is an Italian-American whose dream is to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a tailor. However, after receiving a poor report card from school one day, his father warns him about the importance of education: ‘A man with no education has nothing’. Over the years, Thornton changes his last name to ‘Melon’ and becomes a successful businessman, opening a chain of plus-size clothing stores and investing in various other ventures. Through photos, we see his journey of acquiring ...

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), an American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, follows three interconnected stories over the course of two eventful years. The backdrop for these tales is a series of Thanksgiving gatherings hosted by Hannah and her husband, Elliot, at The Langham. As the central figure in the narrative, Hannah’s presence ties together most events in the film. However, Elliot strays from their stable marriage when he becomes infatuated with Lee, one of Hannah’s sisters. His reasons for doing so are rooted in his dissatisfaction with his wife’s independence and ...

The American fantasy romantic comedy film, The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), was written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in 1935 during the Great Depression, Cecilia, a waitress from New Jersey, faces challenges in her job and marriage to her unfaithful husband Monk. Despite her struggle to leave him, she finds solace by watching the same movie repeatedly at the theater. Her focus shifts towards Tom Baxter, an archaeologist character in the film who falls for a Copacabana singer. As Baxter notices Cecilia’s gaze on him, he becomes smitten with her and breaks out of the screen to be with her. This unexpected turn ...

Broadway Danny Rose (1984) is an American black-and-white comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. The story centers on Danny Rose, a hardworking talent agent who represents a variety of unconventional and overlooked entertainers. During a lunch at New York’s Carnegie Deli, fellow comedians reminisce about Danny’s dedicated approach to his clients, including the struggling lounge singer Lou Canova. Despite his willingness to take on challenging acts, Danny always goes above and beyond to meet their personal and professional needs. However, as soon as any of his acts achieve success, they inevitably ...

The American satirical mockumentary comedy film, Zelig (1983), was written and directed by Woody Allen, who also stars in the movie. It is set in the 1920s and 1930s and follows the story of Leonard Zelig, a seemingly ordinary man with a remarkable ability to adapt his behavior and mannerisms to those around him. F. Scott Fitzgerald first notices this at a party where Zelig effortlessly blends in with the affluent guests, speaking with a refined Boston accent and sharing their conservative views. However, upon interacting with the kitchen staff, he adopts a coarser tone and reveals more liberal leanings. This unique ...

A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy (1982) is an American science fiction film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set during the transition from the 19th to 20th century, the movie follows Andrew and Adrian, a couple who spend every summer at their cottage in the New York woods. While Andrew is a Wall Street investment advisor with a knack for inventing novelty items, Adrian has been struggling with a mental block that has caused them to go six months without intimacy. Seeking some excitement, they invite two couples to stay with them for a weekend. Among them is Andrew’s close friend Maxwell, a promiscuous ...

Time After Time (1979) is an American sci-fi movie written and directed by Nicholas Meyer. Set in 1893 London, it follows H.G. Wells as he showcases his time machine to skeptical guests at a dinner party. He explains its inner workings, including a ‘non-return key’ that locks the traveler’s destination and a ‘vaporizing equalizer’ that maintains equilibrium between the traveler and the machine. Suddenly, police constables interrupt the event, searching for notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper. Upon finding blood-stained gloves belonging to ...