Paramount Pictures (USA): 203

Babel (2006), a psychological drama, was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. This multi-narrative film features an ensemble cast and interweaves stories set in Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. It is an international co-production between companies from the US, Mexico, and France, completing Arriaga and Iñárritu’s Death Trilogy that also includes Amores perros (2000) and 21 Grams (2003). The ...

Æon Flux (2005), an American science fiction action film, is based on the animated TV series of the same name created by Peter Chung. In 2011, a deadly pathogenic virus wiped out 99% of humanity, forcing the survivors to scatter and regroup across Earth. Eventually, five million humans settled in Bregna, a walled futuristic city ruled by scientists. Though Bregna may seem like an idyllic place compared to the destroyed Earth, people still go missing and suffer from nightmares. Æon Flux is a skilled warrior and part of the Monicans, an underground rebel group led by the Handler that uses telepathy technology to ...

War of the Worlds (2005), an American science fiction action-thriller, was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. Based on H. G. Wells’ famous 1898 novel of the same name, the film opens with a narrator describing the threat of extraterrestrial beings who are envious of humanity’s dominance over Earth. The story follows Ray Ferrier, a divorced longshoreman working as a crane operator in Brooklyn, New York. He is estranged from ...

The science fiction action-adventure film, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), marked Kerry Conran’s directorial debut. Set in a technologically advanced 1939, the zeppelin Hindenburg III docks atop the Empire State Building. On board is Dr. Jorge Vargas, who arranges for a package containing two vials to be delivered to another scientist, Dr. Walter Jennings. However, after delivering the package, Dr. Vargas disappears. Meanwhile, reporter Polly Perkins from The Chronicle is investigating the disappearances of not only Dr. Vargas but also five other renowned scientists. A mysterious message leads her to ...

Richard Condon’s 1959 novel, The Manchurian Candidate (2004), is a political thriller that tells the story of a prominent U.S. political family and their son’s involvement in a Communist conspiracy. The novel has been adapted into two feature films with the same title, released in 1962 and 2004 respectively. In the story, Major Bennett Marco and his infantry platoon are captured during the Korean War in 1952 by an elite Soviet commando unit. They are eventually brainwashed into believing that Sergeant Raymond Shaw saved their lives in combat, leading to him receiving the Medal of Honor. Years later, Marco, ...

The American live-action/animated adventure comedy film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), is based on the popular animated television series of the same name. In Bikini Bottom, our beloved protagonist SpongeBob SquarePants eagerly anticipates his promotion to manager at the new Krusty Krab 2, located next to the original restaurant. However, much to his disappointment, his co-worker Squidward Tentacles is given the title instead. Mr. Krabs explains that Squidward is more mature and better suited for the role, leaving SpongeBob feeling upset and discouraged. Meanwhile, Plankton’s numerous failed attempts to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula and conquer ...

Collateral (2004) is an American neo-noir action thriller film directed and produced by Michael Mann from a script by Stuart Beattie. Max Durocher, a Los Angeles cab driver, dreams of starting his own limousine business. During one of his evening shifts, he picks up federal prosecutor Annie Farrell, who works for the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. The two strike up a conversation and Annie hands Max her business card. Shortly after, Max picks up another fare – Vincent – who claims to be in town for just one night to finalize a real ...

Paycheck (2003) is a science fiction action film directed by John Woo. Written by Dean Georgaris, it is adapted from Philip K. Dick’s short story of the same name. Set in the near future, the story follows Michael Jennings, a talented reverse engineer who improves upon his clients’ technology by analyzing their competitors’. To ensure confidentiality, Jennings undergoes memory wipes with the help of his friend Shorty. One day, he is contacted by his old college roommate James Rethrick, who offers him a ...

The historical science fiction adventure film, Timeline (2003), directed by Richard Donner, follows Professor Edward Johnston and his team as they lead an archaeological study of Castlegard village in Dordogne, France. The village was where Lady Claire, sister to Arnaut de Cervole, was executed in 1357. Her death played a crucial role in France’s victory over the English in the Hundred Years War. Alongside Johnston are Scottish archaeologist André Marek, students Kate Erickson, Josh Stern, François Dontelle, and his son Chris. During their excavation of a nearby monastery, they come across a sarcophagus containing ...

Directed by Jon Amiel, The Core (2003) is an American science fiction disaster film. A series of diverse incidents involving the Earth’s magnetic field prompts geophysicist Dr. Josh Keyes and his colleagues, Dr. Serge Leveque and Dr. Conrad Zimsky, to conclude that the rotation of the Earth’s molten core has ceased. If not reactivated, this would result in the collapse of the field within months, leaving the surface vulnerable to harmful solar radiation exposure. To address this crisis, the U.S. government initiates a covert project to construct a vessel capable of drilling into the core and deploying ...

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) is a romantic comedy film helmed by director Donald Petrie. Andie Anderson, writer for women’s magazine Composure, is known for her expertise on ‘How to’ articles. Despite her position, Andie longs to tackle more serious topics. After watching her friend Michelle go through another breakup and blaming her lack of attractiveness, Andie argues that Michelle’s needy and emotionally overwhelming behavior with men is the real issue. This inspires her to write an article titled ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’, where she will put her theory to the test by ...

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), an action adventure film directed by Jan de Bont and based on the popular video game series, takes place on Santorini island in Greece. A powerful earthquake reveals the Luna Temple, originally constructed by Alexander the Great to house his most treasured possessions. One of these treasures is a luminous orb adorned with a cryptic pattern. While treasure-hunting archaeologist Lara Croft and her team uncover this orb, they are ambushed by Chen and Xien Lo, leaders of the Chinese crime syndicate Shay Ling. Despite their efforts, Lara manages to evade capture with an ...

The Italian Job (2003), directed by F. Gary Gray, is an American heist action film with an original story inspired by its 1969 British counterpart. The plot centers around a group of thieves planning to steal stolen gold from their former associate. However, despite the shared title, this film deviates significantly from its source material in terms of plot and characters. The team, led by safecracker John Bridger, sets their sights on stealing $35 million worth of gold bullion in Venice from a group of Italian gangsters who had previously taken it. Comprising the team are professional fixer Charlie Croker, computer ...

Changing Lanes (2002) is an American drama thriller film directed by Roger Michell, featuring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson as the main characters. In New York City, two men find themselves in a rush to get to court for very different reasons. One is a recovering alcoholic named Doyle Gipson, who is fighting for joint custody of his sons after attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to maintain sobriety. The other is Gavin Banek, a successful Wall Street attorney, who needs to file an important document before ...

Orange County (2002) is an American comedy featuring Colin Hanks and Jack Black. The film follows Shaun Brumder, a teenager who is bright but lacks interest in academics. He embraces the laid-back lifestyle of Southern California, spending his time surfing, partying, and drinking in the affluent town of Orange County. However, after the tragic death of his best friend Lonny in a surfing accident, Shaun reevaluates his priorities. A chance encounter with Marcus Skinner’s novel sparks his passion for writing and he sets his sights on attending Stanford University to ...

The Sum of All Fears (2002) is a gripping American spy thriller helmed by Phil Alden Robinson. Based on Tom Clancy’s novel of the same name, the film follows a complex plot involving a lost nuclear bomb and international political tensions. It all begins with an Israeli warplane being shot down during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Decades later, a Syrian scrap collector comes across the unexploded bomb buried in the Golan Heights. He sells it to a South African arms trafficker, who recognizes its significance and passes it on to neo-nazi group leader Richard Dressler. ...

Star Trek X: Nemesis (2002) is a science fiction film directed by Stuart Baird. This installment marks the tenth film in the Star Trek franchise and features the beloved cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. On Romulus, members of the Romulan Senate discuss potential peace terms with Shinzon, leader of the Reman rebels. The Remans, a slave race from the nearby planet Remus, are often used as laborers and soldiers by the Romulan Empire. While some military members show support for Shinzon’s proposal, the Praetor and Senate are firmly against forming an alliance. However, their opposition leads ...

Hardball (2001) is an American sports drama/comedy film directed by Brian Robbins. Conor O’Neill, a gambler, finds himself in debt with two bookies after secretly betting $6,000 on his late father’s account. A corporate friend suggests that he coach a team of troubled African-American fifth graders from Chicago’s ABLA housing projects for ten weeks in exchange for a weekly payment of $500. Focused on getting his paycheck, Conor arrives at the baseball field to meet an eclectic group of players, including Andre Ray Peetes, a witty captain who forms a strong bond with Conor; Kofi Evans, a hot-tempered ...

The American science fiction psychological thriller film, Vanilla Sky (2001), was both directed and written by Cameron Crowe. It is a remake of the Spanish film Open Your Eyes, released in 1997 by Alejandro Amenábar. The movie centers around David Aames, who inherited his father’s successful publishing company. After being imprisoned, David shares his life story with Dr. Curtis McCabe, a court psychologist, while wearing a prosthetic mask. Through flashbacks, we see how David passed off the responsibilities of his company to his father’s colleagues ...

Lee Tamahori directed the American neo-noir psychological thriller film, Along Came a Spider (2001). This movie is the second part of the Alex Cross series. After Detective Dr. Alex Cross of Washington DC, a forensic psychologist and writer, loses control of a sting operation and his partner Tracie Fisher dies, he decides to retire from the police force. However, his break from work is short-lived as Gary Soneji, a computer science teacher, kidnaps Megan Rose, the daughter of a US senator from her private school. The breach in security that allowed Soneji to take the girl is blamed on US Secret Service Special ...