Village Roadshow Pictures (USA): 61

Directed by Paul King, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby based on a story by King, Wonka (2023) is a musical fantasy film. It delves into the early life of Willy Wonka, the beloved character from Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As an aspiring magician, inventor, and chocolatier, Wonka arrives in Europe to set up shop at Galéries Gourmet. However, facing financial struggles, he is persuaded to stay at Mrs. ...

The Matrix Resurrections (2021), an American sci-fi action film, marks Lana Wachowski’s solo directorial debut in the franchise, without her sister Lilly. Bugs, a young woman, discovers that the Matrix is stuck in a loop of old code. She sets out to free Morpheus from the simulation with the help of a program that embodies him. The creator of the video game series The Matrix, Thomas Anderson, based it on his hazy memories as Neo. He frequently meets Tiffany (a character inspired by his past encounters with Trinity) at a coffee shop. To develop game characters, ...

Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker (2019) is an American psychological thriller film with a screenplay co-written by Scott Silver. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the loosely based DC Comics story follows Arthur Fleck, an aspiring stand-up comedian and clown living in Gotham City during the early 1980s recession with his mother Penny. Despite suffering from a neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable laughing fits, Arthur relies on social services for medication. Randall, his co-worker, gives him a revolver after he is ...

The 15:17 to Paris (2018) is an American biographical drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Dorothy Blyskal. Based on the 2016 autobiography The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes, the film centers around Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos during their time at a suburban Christian middle school. Despite being disciplined frequently for their shared interest in guns, they form a friendship with Anthony Sadler, who also tends to get in trouble at school. Raised by single mothers, Spencer and Alek are often ...

Ocean’s 8 (2018) is an American heist comedy film directed and written by Gary Ross and co-written by Olivia Milch. Recently released from prison, master schemer Debbie Ocean, who happens to be the younger sister of Danny Ocean, enlists her former partner in crime Lou to help her pull off a new heist. They assemble a team consisting of once-successful fashion designer Rose Weil, who is now in debt to the IRS; jewelry maker Amita, seeking more independence from her controlling mother; tech expert Nine Ball; street-smart pickpocket Constance; and suburban housewife ...

Based on the novel by Ernest Cline, Ready Player One (2018) is a sci-fi film set in a future where people use the OASIS, a virtual reality universe created by James Halliday and Ogden Morrow of Gregarious Games, to escape their bleak reality. When Halliday passes away, his avatar Anorak leaves a message announcing a contest: whoever finds the golden Easter egg hidden behind a locked gate within the OASIS will gain ownership of the entire game. This attracts many players known as ‘Gunters’ as well as Nolan Sorrento, CEO of Innovative Online Industries (IOI), who wants to take control of the OASIS for himself ...

Going in Style (2017) is an American remake of the 1979 comedy film of the same name. Joe, Willie, and Albert are senior citizens and lifelong friends residing in New York City. During an unpleasant bank visit, Joe witnesses a robbery by three masked individuals. The leader of the group has a Mongol warrior tattoo on his neck, which could potentially be helpful for identifying him to the police. This man shows compassion towards Joe after learning about his financial struggles caused by the bank. The robbers make off with over $1.6 million. Unfortunately, when their company is taken over, their pensions are affected by the restructuring process. Joe is hit the hardest ...

Guy Ritchie directed the epic fantasy action-adventure film, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017). Co-written by Joby Harold and Lionel Wigram from a story by Harold and David Dobkin, the film draws inspiration from Arthurian legends. During the story, Mordred, an iron-fisted warlock, leads his armies in a siege on Camelot with the goal of establishing magic-wielding magicians as dominant over humans. Uther ...

The Magnificent Seven (2016), directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Wenk, is a modern retelling of the acclaimed 1960 film with the same title. Inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, Fuqua brings his unique vision to this classic story. The town of Rose Creek is under the ruthless control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue, and the desperate townspeople turn to seven outlaws, ...

Directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Todd Komarnicki, Sully (2016) is an American biographical drama film based on the 2009 autobiography Highest Duty by Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles. The movie follows the events of January 15, 2009, when Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles took off in US Airways Flight 1549 from LaGuardia Airport. Shortly after takeoff, their Airbus A320 collided with a ...

Ghostbusters (2016) is an American supernatural comedy film directed by Paul Feig, who co-wrote it with Katie Dippold. Due to the original cast’s refusal and the passing of Harold Ramis in 2014, Sony Pictures decided to reboot the series. Some familiar faces from the first film and their relatives make brief appearances in new roles, while Ramis is honored in the closing credits. Paranormal researcher Abby Yates and physicist Erin Gilbert team up to prove the existence of ghosts in modern society. When strange ...

Collateral Beauty (2016) is an American fantasy drama film directed by David Frankel and written by Allan Loeb. The story follows Howard Inlet, a successful advertising executive who tragically loses his young daughter. This devastating event takes a toll on Howard’s mental state as he sinks into a deep depression. His behavior becomes concerning to his estranged friends and business partners, Whit Yardsham, Claire Wilson, and Simon Scott, who worry about both Howard’s well-being and the future of their company. His actions have caused them to lose important ...

Passengers (2016) is an American science-fiction romance film directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Jon Spaihts. The spaceship Avalon, carrying 5,000 colonists and 258 crew members in hibernation pods, embarks on a 120-year voyage from Earth to the planet Homestead II as part of a mass exodus due to environmental destruction. However, after only three decades, an asteroid collision causes damage to the ship’s defenses and results in mechanical engineer Jim Preston awakening ninety years too soon. Alone except for the android bartender Arthur, Jim becomes ...

In the Australian post-apocalyptic action film Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), written, produced, and directed by George Miller, Max Rockatansky finds himself haunted by memories of those he failed to protect. Captured by warlord Immortan Joe’s army, Max becomes a ‘blood bag’ for Nux, a sick War Boy. At the same time, Imperator Furiosa, one of Joe’s lieutenants, is sent on a mission to trade with two of Joe’s allies using the heavily protected ‘War Rig’. However, when Joe discovers that his five wives have escaped in the Rig, he mobilizes his forces from Gas Town and the Bullet Farm ...

Concussion (2015), an American biographical sports drama film written and directed by Peter Landesman, is based on the exposé Game Brain by Jeanne Marie Laskas, originally published in 2009 by GQ magazine. The story follows retired Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who is found dead in his pickup truck in 2002. Prior to his death, fellow former football player Justin Strzelczyk confides in Webster about suffering from memory loss and exhibiting unusual behavior towards his family. During their conversation, Webster responds by reciting a line ...

The historical adventure-drama film In the Heart of the Sea (2015), directed and produced by Ron Howard and written by Charles Leavitt, is based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s non-fiction book The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. This true story follows the sinking of the American whaling ship in 1820, which served as inspiration for Herman Melville’s famous novel Moby-Dick. In 1850, Melville seeks out Thomas Nickerson, the last surviving member of the ...

In the disaster film, San Andreas (2015), directed by Brad Peyton and written by Carlton Cuse, we follow the journey of Caltech seismologist Dr. Lawrence Hayes. Along with his colleague, Dr. Kim Park, he is conducting tests at Hoover Dam using a new earthquake prediction model. However, their plans are disrupted when an unknown fault suddenly ruptures nearby, causing a catastrophic 7.1-magnitude earthquake that destroys the dam. Despite Park’s heroic sacrifice to save a young girl, he is swept away by the ensuing flood. As Hayes investigates further, he discovers ...

The Equalizer (2014) is an American action-thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Richard Wenk. Robert McCall, a former U.S. Marine and DIA / DCS officer, now leads a quiet life in Boston, working at a hardware store and helping his colleague Ralphie train to become a security guard. Often unable to sleep, Robert spends late nights reading at an all-night diner, where he has befriended teenager Teri. They often discuss the books Robert has been reading and his goal of reading 100 books, which was also his late wife’s goal. One night, Teri reveals her real ...

American Sniper (2014) is a biographical war drama film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood. It was written and executive-produced by Jason Hall, based on the memoir American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History (2012) by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. Growing up in Texas, Chris is taught how to shoot a rifle and hunt deer by his father. As an adult, he ...

The American legal drama film, The Judge (2014), was directed by David Dobkin. Hank Palmer, a successful lawyer in Chicago, was granted a continuance for his case when he received news of his mother’s passing. Before heading back to his hometown in Indiana for the funeral, he had a heated argument with his wife, Lisa, whom he is currently divorcing. Upon arriving in Carlinville, Hank is reunited with his older brother Glen, who owns a tire shop, and his younger brother, Dale. Hank’s father is the Judge Joseph Palmer of Carlinville’s criminal court but Hank simply refers to him as ‘Judge’. ...