Warner Bros. (USA): 304

Happy Feet (2006), an animated comedy directed, produced and written by George Miller, tells the story of emperor penguins and their unique ‘heartsongs’ used to attract a mate. When Norma Jean falls for Memphis, they become mates and lay an egg which Memphis cares for while Norma Jean goes to fish with the other females. During the harsh winter, Memphis accidentally drops the egg but thankfully it hatches into Mumble, who is unable to sing but can tap dance. Despite this difference, Mumble is captivated by Gloria, known as the most talented penguin in her age group. One day, Mumble encounters hostile skua ...

Poseidon (2006), directed and co-produced by Wolfgang Petersen, is a gripping American action disaster film. This thrilling adaptation of Paul Gallico’s 1969 novel, The Poseidon Adventure, is loosely based on the 1972 version. The lavish RMS Poseidon is embarking on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Among the passengers are former New York City Mayor and firefighter Robert Ramsey, traveling with his daughter Jennifer and her boyfriend Christian Sanders who are soon to be engaged. Also on board are former Navy submariner turned professional gambler Dylan ...

The Prestige (2006) is a psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan. This film is based on a novel by Christopher Priest that was published in 1995. Set in 1890s London, it follows two shills for a magician named Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, who are both mentored by John Cutter, an engineer responsible for designing stage magic tricks. During one performance involving a water tank, Angier’s wife Julia tragically drowns while attempting to escape. In ...

The American crime thriller film, The Departed (2006), was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan. It is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, and also draws inspiration from the Boston Winter Hill Gang. In 1980s Boston, Irish Mob leader Frank Costello takes a liking to a young Colin Sullivan. After many years, Sullivan becomes a spy for the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and joins their Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Meanwhile, another recruit at the police academy named Billy Costigan is asked by Captain Queenan and ...

Rumor Has It (2005) is an American romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner. In 1997, Sarah Huttinger, a writer for The New York Times, returns to her hometown of Pasadena, California for her sister Annie’s wedding with her fiancé Jeff Daly. While in town, Sarah confides in her grandmother Katharine Richelieu about her doubts regarding marriage. To Sarah’s surprise, Katharine reveals that Sarah’s mother Jocelyn also had cold feet and ran off to Cabo San Lucas a week before her own wedding. Seeking more information, Sarah seeks out her mother’s old friend Aunt Mitsy who confirms that Jocelyn spent ...

The American superhero horror film, Constantine (2005), marked Francis Lawrence’s directorial debut. In Mexico, a scavenger discovers the tip of the spear that pierced Jesus Christ in a ruined church, but becomes possessed after taking it to Los Angeles. John Constantine, a cynical occult expert, helps exorcise a demon from a young girl and learns about a treaty between Heaven and Hell that should prevent this type of possession. With terminal lung cancer, Constantine seeks an extension to his life by working with the half-breed angel, Gabriel, to deport Hell’s forces. However, Gabriel reminds him that ...

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), an American neo-noir black comedy crime film written and directed by Shane Black, follows the story of Harry Lockhart. After showing remorse in an audition for a botched burglary, Harry unexpectedly lands a screen test in New York City. Mistaken for method acting by casting director Dabney Shaw, he is then sent to Los Angeles for another screen test. At a party in LA, Harry reunites with his childhood crush Harmony Lane and meets ‘Gay’ Perry van Shrike, a private investigator hired to help him prepare for his screen test. Meanwhile, party host Harlan Dexter has recently settled a ...

Syriana (2005), an American political thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, is loosely based on Robert Baer’s 2003 memoir See No Evil. The movie was filmed in over 200 locations across five continents, including the Middle East, Washington D.C., and Africa. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Gaghan revealed that the film draws from his personal experiences meeting and interviewing powerful figures such as oil owners, media moguls, lobbyists, ...

Corpse Bride (2005) is a stop-motion animated musical fantasy film directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by John August, Caroline Thompson, and Pamela Pettler. It is based on characters created by Burton and Carlos Grangel. Set in an unnamed Victorian era town, the story follows the arranged marriage preparations of Victor Van Dort, son of nouveau riche fish merchants, and ...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) is a whimsical musical movie, directed by Tim Burton and written by John August. It is based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel of the same name from 1964. The story follows Charlie Bucket, a kind and affectionate young boy living in poverty with his family near the famous Wonka Factory. Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of the company, has closed his factory to outsiders for years due to issues with industrial espionage. As a result, all of his employees, including Charlie’s ...

The Island (2005) is an American science fiction thriller film, directed and co-produced by Michael Bay based on a story by Tredwell-Owen. On July 19, 2019, residents of a secluded compound, including Lincoln Six Echo and Jordan Two Delta, are governed by strict rules as they believe the outside world is no longer habitable except for one pathogen-free island. In this dystopian setting, a lottery determines who gets to leave the compound and live on the island each week. However, Lincoln begins experiencing dreams that he knows are not his own memories. When Dr. Merrick, ...

North Country (2005), directed by Niki Caro, is an American drama film. In 1989, Josey Aimes flees her abusive husband and returns to her hometown in northern Minnesota with her children Sammy and Karen. She moves in with her parents, Alice and Hank, where tensions rise due to Hank’s beliefs that Josey is promiscuous and disapproves of her having Sammy as a teenager. While working at a hair salon, Josey reconnects with an old acquaintance named Glory Dodge, who suggests she apply for a job at the local iron mine. Despite Hank’s disapproval of women working there, Josey takes the job due to its higher pay. ...

House of Wax (2005), a slasher film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, follows the story of Carly Jones, her brother Nick, her boyfriend Wade Felton, and their friends as they camp in a wooded area on their way to a football game. A stranger in a pickup truck briefly interacts with them before leaving after Nick smashes one of his headlights. The next day, Wade discovers his car’s fan belt has been cut and Lester offers to take Carly and Wade to the nearby town of Ambrose while the others continue to the game. In Ambrose, a ghost town, the couple meets Bo Sinclair who offers to sell them a fan belt and give them a ...

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Batman Begins (2005) is a superhero film co-written by Nolan and David S. Goyer. After an incident involving bats in his childhood, Bruce Wayne develops a fear of them. Years later, at the opera with his parents, he becomes unsettled by performers dressed as bats and asks to leave. Tragically, they are killed in front of him by Joe Chill, a mugger. Bruce is then taken in and cared for by Alfred Pennyworth, the family’s loyal butler. As an adult, when Chill is released from prison after ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), directed by Mike Newell from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling. In the film, Harry has a nightmare in which a Muggle caretaker is murdered for overhearing a plot involving Lord Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, and an unidentified man. The next day, Harry joins the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, Cedric Diggory, and his father Amos at the Quidditch World Cup. However, their evening is disrupted when Death Eaters ...

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) is a comedy-adventure fantasy film in the American market that was inspired by the beloved animated series, Scooby-Doo. At the start of the film, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo are all thrilled to be attending the grand opening of an exhibition at the Coolsonian Criminology Museum. The exhibit showcases all their successful past cases, complete with authentic monster costumes on display. The festivities take an unexpected turn when a mysterious figure known as ‘The Evil Masked Figure’ appears and uses the Pterodactyl Ghost to steal two of the costumes. As if that weren’t enough, Heather ...

The film adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved children’s book, The Polar Express (2004), was directed by Robert Zemeckis and co-written by William Broyles Jr. On Christmas Eve, a passenger train called the Polar Express stops outside a young boy’s house. Feeling doubtful about Santa Claus, the boy boards the train after being invited by the conductor. He meets two other children on board – a spirited girl and a know-it-all boy. The conductor then stops to pick up another boy named Billy, who ...

Clint Eastwood directs, co-produces, scores, and stars in the American sports drama Million Dollar Baby (2004). Written by Paul Haggis and based on stories from F.X. Toole’s Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner, this film follows the journey of Margaret ‘Maggie’ Fitzgerald, a waitress from the Ozarks who seeks out the guidance of Frankie Dunn, a cantankerous Irish-American trainer at his rundown boxing gym in Los Angeles. Despite initially refusing to train her due to both her gender and ...

Troy (2004) is an epic historical war film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff. Set in 1250 BC, the film tells the story of King Agamemnon’s quest to unite the Greek kingdoms. The heroic warrior Achilles fights for Agamemnon, despite his disdain for the king’s tyrannical ways. Meanwhile, Prince Hector of Troy and his brother Paris are negotiating a peace treaty with Menelaus, King of Sparta. However, Paris begins an affair with Menelaus’ wife, Queen Helen, and smuggles her aboard his ship as they return home. Hector reluctantly ...

The epic historical drama film Alexander (2004) is based on the life of the ancient Macedonian general and king, Alexander the Great. Narrated by Ptolemy I Soter, basileus and pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, the story follows Alexander’s journey starting from his childhood with his mother Olympias and mentor Aristotle. As he grows up, Alexander becomes interested in love, honor, music, exploration, poetry and military combat. However, his relationship with his father Philip II of Macedon takes a negative turn when Philip marries Eurydice, niece of Attalus who Alexander has disowned. This conflict leads to Alexander’s banishment from the palace. After Philip is ...