Well, we’re on to the newest list of the lot! Continuing a tradition I’ve been keen on for years, I’m ranking the new crop of Academy Award winners. For nearly all of the Oscar categories, you’ll see me list the top 25 recipients of that prize. Sometimes, our newest winner will appear. Other times, they’ll be relegated to the Honorable Mention category. Who knows, maybe one or two won’t even make the cut? It’s a list series that I’ll do each and every single year, in the weeks after the ceremony concludes. So, while this is a fun way to think about the Oscars in the aftermath of the latest telecast, it’s also a beginning for another column here on the site. Of course, definitely show us your own lists as well, in the comments section below. We’re definitely keen to know what you think!

Today, Best Original Song is the category that’s in our sights. For my money, the winners here are some of the best, pound for pound, of any category. Now, the nominees themselves these days don’t stack up to where we once were at, but still…the victors are beyond reproach. Just look at one of our most recent winners in No Time to Die‘s song of the same name by Billie Eilish. It’s certainly good, but as it as good as the best Bond titles? No. And where does it even rank on this updated list?. You’ll see where it fell below this time in a moment. This is the category, after all, where people Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen can take home Oscars, so you do get some classics. My selections for the best of the Academy Award bunch below, in my humble opinion, are out and out classics. It’s no secret I loved Barbie, so how highly does What Was I Made For? place here a year later? Where does Naatu Naatu from RRR stack up from the year prior? Plus what of our newest winner in El Mal from Emilia Pérez? Find out now…

Here now are what I consider to be the 25 best winners of the Best Original Song Oscar, to date:

25. Moon River (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
24. Up Where We Belong (An Officer and a Gentleman)
23. You’ll Be in My Heart (Tarzan)
22. City of Stars (La La Land)
21. Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas)
20. Take My Breath Away (Top Gun)
19. The Way We Were (The Way We Were)
18. Remember Me (Coco)
17. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life (Dirty Dancing)
16. When You Wish Upon a Star (Pinocchio)
15. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
14. Theme from Shaft (Shaft)
13. My Heart Will Go On (Titanic)
12. Let it Go (Frozen)
11. Skyfall (Skyfall)
10. The Weary Kind (Crazy Heart)
9. Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid)
8. What Was I Made For? (Barbie)
7. A Whole New World (Aladdin)
6. Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz)
5. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (The Lion King)
4. Streets of Philadelphia (Philadelphia)
3. Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast)
2. Falling Slowly (Once)
1. Shallow (A Star Is Born)

Honorable Mention: I’m Gonna Love Me Again (Rocketman), Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire), Man or Muppet (The Muppets), Naatu Naatu (RRR), No Time to Die (No Time to Die), and Talk to the Animals (Dr. Doolittle)

Stay tuned for another list early next week!

The post The Top 25 Best Original Song Winners So Far (Updated for 2025) appeared first on Awards Radar.

Over the weekend, the Final Destination franchise returned to theaters with Final Destination: Bloodlines. Now, I didn’t have a chance to see it, given that the press screening conflicted with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (reviewed here), but plenty of you did, as it’s making a killing (no pun intended) at the box office. Not only that, but it’s received the best reviews of the series to date, and it’s not even close. That surprising bit of success got me thinking about other franchises that could follow in its footsteps.

Now, there’s no obvious candidate. I initially thought about Urban Legend, which would make some sense, but three weeks ago a reboot was announced, so either I’m on to something or we can’t count it. I Know What You Did Last Summer has a sequel out this year, while 28 Years Later continues its own series. Scream is still in progress, while the monster slashers like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Vorhees are always stuck in some form of production hell, if a new installment isn’t already being hatched.

Depending on what happens with Saw XI, it might actually be the Saw franchise that needs it most. Saw X did do a similar thing, scoring the best reviews of the series, deep into its run. Had it been sitting still a bit longer, I’d have pegged it as the obvious pick. Hell, it still is for us, considering how friendly a space for Saw that Awards Radar is. If nothing else, Saw X did sort of pave the way for Final Destination: Bloodlines to get such a friendly reception.

Do you have a franchise you’d like to see get the Final Destination treatment? If so, let us know. Otherwise, just sit back and wait to see which one can accomplish it. Horror isn’t going anywhere, so dormant series will always be taking another bite at the apple. We’ll just be here waiting to see if they’re worth sinking our teeth into again or not…

Stay tuned for another Sunday Scaries installment next week!

The post Sunday Scaries: Which Horror Franchise (Like ‘Final Destination’) Should Be the Next to Return? appeared first on Awards Radar.

The Cannes Film Festival is underway in France right now, which is very exciting. Last year, Sean Baker‘s Anora made its debut and took the Palme d’Or, on the way to Oscar dominance, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. As we get set to consider the 2025 films that are playing, we wanted to look back once more on 2024. So, for this weekend’s Awards Radar Community Question, last year’s Cannes lineup is on our minds. The question? Which of the movies from last year’s Cannes was your favorite?

Among the In Competition titles, we obviously have the aforementioned Anora, alongside All We Imagine as Light, The Apprentice, Bird, Emilia Pérez, Kinds of Kindness, Megalopolis, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, The Shrouds, and The Substance, just to name some higher profile ones. Some of these films were among the most beloved of last year. In the Un Certain Regard section, Flow played, which is another very lovable option. These movies run the gamut of cinema, so there’s really something for everyone here. Whatever you gravitated towards (or didn’t, in some cases), don’t be shy about telling us.

Out of Competition, the likes of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, Rumours, and The Surfer played, so if any of those strike your fancy, be sure to tell us. There’s always at least one big mainstream blockbuster at Cannes, with this year’s option being Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Last year, it was Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. If you loved that flick, definitely say so.

The choice is now yours! Which Cannes titles from last year were your favorites? Was there one above all of the others? If so, let us know. The festival is currently going on and new movies are debuting, but one last time, we can look back to last year. Whether it’s Anora or something else, be sure to tell us all about it…

What was your favorite title to play at the Cannes Film Festival last year? Let us know!

The post Awards Radar Community: What Was Your Favorite Title to Play at Last Year’s Cannes Film Festival? appeared first on Awards Radar.

This time around, I’m taking a fourth crack at a Best Sound ranking. In years past, I used to avoid doing Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing just because there was so much in the way of crossover. More recently, the move to Best Sound initially gave me a new excuse. Recently however, in an effort to stretch out this series, since I know it’s enjoyed by you all, I started giving it another shot, with today the latest! Where does our most recent winner in Dune: Part Two fall amongst my picks? How about last year’s winner in The Zone of Interest or the year before’s winner in Top Gun: Maverick? Find out below…

Here now are what I consider to be the 25 best winners of the Oscar for Best Sound, to date:

25. Lawrence of Arabia
24. Aliens
23. Back to the Future
22. 1917
21. Gravity
20. Inception
19. The Hurt Locker
18. The Matrix
17. West Side Story
16. Black Hawk Down
15. Mad Max: Fury Road
14. Dunkirk
13. The Zone of Interest
12. The Dark Knight
11. Saving Private Ryan
10. Dune: Part Two
9. Jaws
8. Sound of Metal
7. Star Wars
6. Dune
5. Whiplash
4. The Empire Strikes Back
3. Top Gun: Maverick
2. Ford v Ferrari
1. Jurassic Park

Honorable Mentions: Apollo 13, Arrival, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, U-571, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Stay tuned for the next category early on next week!

The post The Top 25 Best Sound Winners So Far (Updated for 2025) appeared first on Awards Radar.

Earlier this week, the Golden Globes really surprised us with an announcement, didn’t they? Starting next year, the Golden Globe Awards will now feature a Best Podcast category. Myles and I got into it during the most recent episode of the Awards Radar Podcast here (now apparently Globe eligible, I might add). However, we wanted to hear from you all as well. So, an Awards Radar Community Question was formed. In short, what do you think of the new Globe category?

If you’re into this idea, and by all means, feel free to take that side, we’re just curious to know why. Maybe it’s just the silliness of it all? Perhaps you’re a real big podcast fan in general? If so, this could be a big moment for the medium. Whatever the reason, just tell us about it.

On the other hand, if you think the idea stinks, first of all, you aren’t going to be alone, but also…just elaborate on why? There’s plenty of reasons, of course, so it’s just a matter of picking one. Hell, we’re basically right there with you, if somewhat amused by it as well.

The time to chime in is now! Where do you stand on this new Golden Globe category? Whichever side of the coin you fall on, all you have to do is make your voice heard. We’re all ears here…

What do you think of the Golden Globes adding a Best Podcast category? Let us know!

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Today, I’m once again looking at the Best Documentary Feature category. Non-fiction cinema is its own beast, and one look at the winners in this field reveal some all-time classics. At the same time, anyone who pays attention to how the Best Documentary races have gone in recent years will know that the best films are rarely even nominated by Oscar. So, the Academy Awards do more recently pull from a reduced field. Still, there’s tons of movies I was able to pull from. For me, Michael Moore‘s Bowling for Columbine is still the best of the bunch, but there’s no shortage of quality here. Where does the most recent winner in No Other Land debut, ranking-wise? Does 20 Days in Mariupol, Navalny, or Summer of Soul remain on the list after winning in the past three years? Find out below…

Here now are what I consider to be the 25 best winners of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar, to date:

25. No Other Land
24. Woodstock
23. Undefeated
22. Inside Job
21. 20 Feet from Stardom
20. Searching for Sugar Man
19. The Last Days
18. In the Shadow of the Stars
17. American Dream
16. Anne Frank Remembered
15. Born into Brothels
14. Citizenfour
13. Free Solo
12. Taxi to the Dark Side
11. Harlan County, USA
10. One Day in September
9. Man on Wire
8. The Fog of War
7. March of the Penguins
6. OJ: Made in America
5. When We Were Kings
4. The Times of Harvey Milk
3. An Inconvenient Truth
2. The Cove
1. Bowling for Columbine

Honorable Mention: 20 Days in Mariupol, American Factory, Icarus, Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport, Navalny, and Summer of Soul

Stay tuned for another category early next week!

The post The Top 25 Best Documentary Feature Winners So Far (Updated for 2025) appeared first on Awards Radar.

Folks, for the first list, click here, while the second one is here, the third one is here, the fourth one is here, the fifth one is here, the sixth one is here, the seventh one is here, the eighth one is here, and the most recent one is here. Now, in conjunction with Thunderbolts* hitting theaters (on a wave of positive reviews, no less), here now is my 100% current ranking of the films that make up the MCU:

36. Thor: The Dark World – So, if this is the worst that Marvel can do, we’re in a good place. Thoroughly acceptable but without much of a spark, this sequel has Thor pretty much doing the same thing as in the first one. The enjoyably larger role for Loki saves it from turning into a slog, as does the slight re-evaluation Avengers: Endgame gives it. Again, if this is the bottom of the barrel, things are just fine over at the Marvel offices.

35. Captain America: Brave New World – I really wish this one were better, as I’m normally an easy mark for Marvel. This here is part of what I said in my review earlier on in the week: “Captain America: Brave New World exists mostly to put a cap on loose ends left from Eternals and even The Incredible Hulk. If that has you scratching your head, well, you’re not alone. If this was the second season of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with some more focus on the political thriller aspects, Marvel might have been on to something. As a less than two hour flick, meant to be a blockbuster? It falls short of the mark.”

34. The Incredible Hulk – More a byproduct of not knowing how to use Hulk properly than anything else, this outing shows Marvel as a studio still finding their footing in the world. The fact that it’s more or less not referred to at all in the canon of the MCU should be telling, though it’s not unenjoyable at all. Still, this and the titles above are the clear weak links to date.

33. Iron Man 2 – The downside of overt world building. The one film in the series that got too concerned with setting up The Avengers, there’s plenty to like here with Tony Stark/Iron Man just as fun as always. At the same time though, it’s a bare bones plot where the sequel building is unfortunately the prime focus. It’s middle of the road for Marvel in just about every way (though by proxy fairly low on this list), and definitely should have been better.

32. Thor – Okay now. From here on out, the titles move to the good/very good/great range, with the God of Thunder perhaps just suffering from being their least interesting character. There’s nothing wrong with this movie, and the Hawkeye cameo is pretty cool, but it’s on the forgettable side, that’s for sure. The character is still at his best when not going solo and partnered with other heroes, if you ask me.

31. Eternals – This is a bit from my recent review here on the site: “The Marvel Cinematic Universe can often be accused of giving off a repetitious feel. Those who don’t dig on the MCU claim that the films do the same things over and over again. Even someone like yours truly, who almost exclusively enjoys the movies, sees some of their argument. Marvel has a formula, one they don’t really waver from. Now, with Eternals, they’ve given Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao the most free rein of anyone so far playing in their sandbox. For a while now, speculation ran while that Zhao had used that cache to make a flick unlike anything else we’ve seen from the entertainment giant before. Well, that’s true, but not necessarily in the manner we were hoping for. Over a week after having seen Eternals, I still can’t quite figure out if I liked it or not.”

30. Iron Man 3 – Making this the Tony Stark show as opposed to watching him just use the suit for two hours was a top notch decision. Besides just showcasing Robert Downey, Jr. in a big way, it mixes up the formula, which was needed. If this is how the Iron Man solo films wrapped up, and it likely is, they went out on a solid note.

29. Black Widow – Here is what I said in my recent review (here) on the site: “Black Widow is here, in all of its blockbuster glory. The Marvel adventure is a lot of fun and very well done, but there admittedly is a sense that this is coming a bit late in the game. The narrative is a solid one for Romanoff, but it works more as a filling in of the character, as opposed to the tribute it might have been at this point. Had it come out in Phase One or Phase Two, it would have been thrilling. Now, it’s very good, but lacks just a little something to make it great.”

28. Avengers: Age of Ultron – As much as this is certainly good summer blockbuster entertainment, I found myself hoping for a little bit more. Considering what was still to come, being slightly disappointed by it wasn’t an overreaction. Part of that might just be that we’ve now seen the group together already, so some of the magic is gone. Still, this is more than effective and well worth seeing.

27. The Marvels – I really don’t get the hate that some have given to this particular sequel. This is what I had to say here about the latest MCU outing: “I consistently enjoy a new outing within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the same time, the more recent efforts, especially as they navigate the Multiverse and their latest buildup, has been a bit of a bumpy ride. In some ways, I miss the simplicity of the first few phases of the MCU. Well, The Marvels is here to be a bit of a throwback. In terms of how self-contained it mostly is, it’s similar to a middle of the road Phase One or Phase Two release. It ends up being a mid-tier Marvel outing, but that does mean that it’s a substantial amount of fun at its best. The Marvels is much lighter on its feet than Captain Marvel, leaning into some very overtly comedic elements. One of the shortest MCU outings, it’s definitely a bit thinner than others, only really tying into the broader story with a very big swing of a credits sequence. Other than that, it’s just an adventure, almost like a Star Trek episode (or Star Trek Beyond, which did that pretty well, too). You’re not going to be blown away, but you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by the good time this offers up.”

26. Captain America: The First Avenger – Admittedly a bit cheesy at times, but intentionally so, this is the most throwback of any Marvel outing to date. The ending is very solid, but up until then it’s basically an unexceptional World War II tale. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good, but it’s put to shame by its sequel (now its two sequels, until the next one), as you’ll be seeing below within this particular list.

25. Ant-Man – One of the sillier Marvel outings to date and a riskier one too, this probably shouldn’t have worked, or at least not as well as it did. The original combination of Paul Rudd working with Edgar Wright had many pumped up, but Wright obviously left the project, ultimately leaving it in the hands of Peyton Reed. At times Reed lets things get a little generic, but the script is still partially credited to Wright and it shows. His clearly influenced moments are by far the best, but it’s a fun flick throughout. It’s at its best when the ridiculousness of the idea isn’t being shied away from. Plus, it’s just enjoyable to watch MCU fight scenes done on a totally different scale.

24. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – While there are diminishing returns from the first one, it’s still a massively entertaining adventure. It does way more right than it does wrong, including finding an interesting way to have one of Marvel’s more creative villains. The charm is in full effect, and while it does the least to advance Phase Three of the MCU towards its conclusion, it remains a welcome change of pace.

23. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – The tiniest hero in the MCU gets his biggest adventure yet. From my recent review (here) of the Phase Five starter: “The Marvel Cinematic Universe is ever expanding, and with the start of Phase Five, it’s gotten both bigger and smaller. Yes, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the largest scale installment of the character’s now trilogy, but it’s done so by getting so small, it enters the Quantum Realm. Starting this MCU section off with Ant-Man is an interesting choice, and while it doesn’t always pay off, more here works than doesn’t. It’s not Marvel’s upper echelon, but it’s an entertaining science fiction adventure, even if it’s a bit of a bumpy ride.”

22. Doctor Strange – Easily the weirdest outing in the MCU to date, this is also definitely the most visual as well. Benedict Cumberbatch makes a great superhero and Tilda Swinton is a scene stealer, even if the casting is problematic. The odd look of the film is really what’s best here, but it’s also one of Marvel’s more effective origin stories as well. It’s all just a fun mix, giving you something a bit different. Even more so than usual, I’ll be eager for another adventure with this hero when he enters the Multiverse of Madness.

21. Ant-Man and the Wasp – What a pleasant surprise, this one was. Everything you like about the first installment is still in effect here, only better. This is also one of the most female centric MCU outings yet. Rudd’s comedic portrayal of a hero is totally on point too. With smaller goals than in probably any other outing for the company, there’s more opportunities for fun. The result is a blast in just about every way. Ant-Man is now a character I’m even more eager to see more from in his impending third flick.

20. Captain Marvel – One look at this and you knew that Carol Danvers was set to mess Thanos up. Brie Larson is an inspiration here. It’s rare to want to stand up and cheer in a superhero movie, where your protagonist is literally superhuman, but she brings that out in you. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck lean in to the science fiction aspects of the flick way more than expected, resulting in something rather odd at times. A re-watch could actually shoot it up into the top ten, that’s how impressed I initially was with this MCU outing.

19. Thunderbolts* – This here is from my review of the movie earlier in the week: “The Marvel Cinematic Universe needed this. The MCU has never been seen as less important or essential to film culture than currently, with a lot of that being self-inflicted wounds. Their upcoming Fantastic Four movie is somewhat make or break for Marvel, so the initial thought might be to dismiss Thunderbolts* as an also-ran. That would be a mistake, since this flick is one of Marvel’s more successful efforts or late. Thunderbolts* comes at a crucial time for the MCU. As such, having a rock-solid film, one that does much more right than it does wrong, and points the needle towards a Marvel future that audiences are actually curious about, is truly a clutch maneuver. Plus, it’s just on its own a fun antihero adventure, one that mixes action, comedy, and even some emotional exploration.”

18. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – This here is some of what I said earlier in the week when I reviewed the movie: “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is probably as close as Marvel will ever get to making a horror movie, courtesy of Raimi. There’s a few jump scares, some disturbing imagery, and even a bit of gnarly gore. Essentially, it’s starter horror, filtered through the MCU and this particular world of sorcery. Not everything works, but there’s a relentless feel that Raimi and company keep you invested with. Plus, the film actually does a really good job of leaving you wanting more.”

17. Thor: Love and Thunder – This small sample here is part of what I said earlier in the week about this one, when I reviewed it : “Thor: Love and Thunder continues to show how Waititi’s interpretation of Thor makes all of the difference. He sees the heart and the humor in the God of Thunder, making him, perhaps surprisingly, given where he began, Marvel’s most consistently funny character. The dour nature of the character in Thor and Thor: The Dark World is gone. If some of the magic from Thor: Ragnarok isn’t here, it’s only due to that having the element of surprise on its side.”

16. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Here is a bit of what I said back a few months when the film first came out: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has equal amounts of action, heart, and humor. The result is as satisfying an outing as Marvel has had in some time. By moving out of their comfort zone, they’ve found an almost universally appealing tale to tell. Shang-Chi will certainly be one of their prime characters moving forward, and with good reason, too. He’s a winner.”

15. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – An out of nowhere spy thriller that could have almost come out in the 1970’s and been about the Cold War, this was one of the MCU’s most pleasant surprises. It’s no shock that the filmmakers here were then given the keys to the Marvel kingdom from here on out, taking over the massive Avengers sequels. The Winter Soldier has only gotten better as time has passed too, making this an underrated gem in the universe for many.

14. Deadpool & Wolverine – From my review here on the site a few days ago: “Marvel has been trying to recapture the magic lately. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken some hits recently, leading to changes in how the films will be coming out, as well as potentially what they will be about. So, there’s been a lot riding on Deadpool & Wolverine this year, as a chance for the MCU to, if not start fresh, but to get back on track. The introduction of Deadpool into the Marvel world was always going to be a different look for the franchise. Well, I’m here to tell you that not just is this a really fun Deadpool sequel, by adding in Wolverine, we have a full on Fox tribute. Lo and behold, it works even better than I was expecting/hoping for.”

13. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – There’s so much emotion in this conclusion of the James Gunn helmed trilogy, on top of the action and humor, that this nearly cracked the top ten for me. This is some of what I said from my rave review here on the site: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is one last ride with a team you’ve grown to love. Moreover, Gunn has made this Rocket’s story, which invests you in a CGI raccoon more than you’d ever expect. To that end, it’s worth noting that there are several harrowing scenes involving animal endangerment, albeit of the computer generated variety. It’s not done in a manner that’s offensive, but if you’re an animal lover, it’s going to be intense. That’s more evidence of how Gunn gets you to identify with his characters. The agony and the ecstasy, the heartbreak and laughter, it’s all here, just sandwiched within a sci-fi sequel in the MCU.”

12. Thor: Ragnarok – Simply put, this movie is utterly hilarious. It already seemed like a winner considering how it was teaming up Thor with Hulk, but the fact that filmmaker Taika Waititi fuels this with laughter is a stroke of comedic genius. Letting Jeff Goldblum go to town as well results in some great moments, including one of the funniest post credits scenes in the MCU yet. The whole tone just works. When it becomes more of an action outing, it’s a bit more generic, though still livelier than previous Thor flicks. The movie is supremely entertaining, cracking Marvel’s top ten.

11. Guardians of the Galaxy – One of the biggest gambles Marvel has made since actually setting forth with the MCU concept, this turned out to be one of their biggest and most purely entertaining success stories. Taking their universe and truly making it universal, this space opera of sorts is as much Star Wars as a miniature version of The Avengers. It’s just so much fun, and has stayed that way on subsequent viewings.

10. The Avengers – It was all leading up to this one, so it was a joy to see just how well the meeting of Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor ultimately was. Probably the biggest superhero movie ever (at that point), it was lighter than the Batman franchise it was opening up the same year as, and while not quite as amazing, still more than blew audiences away. It may not 100% hold up to the euphoria we had when first seeing it, but it’s still definitely an iconic moment in Marvel history, and overall just a great time.

9. Captain America: Civil War – This is only a tiny step down from the top spot here, which makes it the best Marvel outing since the end of Phase One. In fact, it might be the best of the lot after a revisit or two. At the very least, it’s right on the level of the first Avengers film, which I’m currently slotting a minuscule bit below this one. This builds on Captain America: The Winter Solider in all the best ways. The main set piece battle is outstanding, but the story is just perhaps the best that the MCU has had to date, including finally having a villain that’s not easily dismissed, which has been something Marvel has occasionally struggled with.

8. Spider-Man: Far From Home – Not only is Spider-Man: Far From Home another great Spidey adventure, one that ties into the past and future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s also another tremendous high school story. Tom Holland is the best Peter Parker and the best Spider-Man yet, Jake Gyllenhaal is tremendously fun, Zendaya continues to be an absolute spark plug, and the entire product is just a tremendous amount of fun. Plus, this movie has two of the best post credits sequences for the MCU yet, both of which are actually pretty important, plot wise. One actually works as a final scene for the adventure audiences just watched, which is a really bold move. It’s not spoiling anything to say that it really does change what you saw before. That’s the mark of a rock solid feature, that even the final moments can add to the enjoyment. Jon Watts and company really set the stage for Phase Four of the universe in a compelling and surprising manner.

7. Avengers: Infinity War – A spectacle unlike anything we’ve ever seen, with a bold cliffhanger ending to boot, this is something truly special. Assembling nearly the entire MCU lineup in a deeply satisfying way, the film is also unafraid to have a body count. The stakes are high, the humor is on point, and the action sizzles. If not for how amazing the conclusion is, this would be even more of a high point…

6. Iron Man – It’s hard to beat the one that started it all, and up until now, nothing had. RDJ is just perfection as the title character, setting up everything that has come since. If he hadn’t been at the top of his game, none of this would have turned out the same. For that alone, it’s worth heavy praise, but this is also a nearly perfect superhero film, helping to set the tone for what would come next. It stood tall among the MCU titles so far, though admittedly a few of the recent titles have closed in on it, but it took a certain webslinger and just recently a King to finally top it.

5. Black Panther – In time, this could easily become Marvel’s best. In fact, it probably is, but I still want to sit on it for a bit, especially now that I can compare it to its sequel. Black Panther stands out for many reasons, notably for both being their most auteur driven work (kudos to Ryan Coogler) and for giving the MCU perhaps their best villain ever (bravo Michael B. Jordan). Aside from some slight repetition and occasionally generic action, this is damn near perfect work. Everyone involved should be very proud. Now, the first Marvel film to win an Academy Award, the Oscar love has helped cement it as a cultural touchstone.

4. Spider-Man: No Way Home – You can find more in my review here, but this is some of what I had to say: “Spider-Man: No Way Home continues the strong run for Spidey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While not quite as utterly delightful as Spider-Man: Homecoming, it matches and often exceeds the already strong Spider-Man: Far From Home. A ton happens, with lasting impact for the MCU. While not as overtly optimistic as the prior installments, this hero’s optimism is necessary for the tests on display here. Truly, his entire life has been building up to this. An epic and high stakes Marvel adventure for the character, it’s darker and more serious than the previous two, but also big emotions and several moments that will make your jaw drop.”

3. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Obviously fresh in my mind, I just reviewed the film here, but this is some of what I said. Spoiler alert if you haven’t read the review, but I loved it. Why? Behold: “In a lot of ways, the first Black Panther was lightning in a bottle. Capturing the zeitgeist like it did is a rare achievement, made even more so by how it brought together mass entertainment and prestige Oscar attention. It felt like a once in a generation achievement for Marvel Studios, which has never matched that kind of Academy Award recognition. So, you’d be forgiven for going into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with a certain amount of checked expectations. After all, it was made in the shadow of the unexpected death of lead Chadwick Boseman, requiring a major re-write. Well, I’m happy to report that all of your fears are for naught. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may not get as many nominations at the Oscars, but in many ways, the film is an improvement over the first one. Wakanda Forever, indeed.”

2. Spider-Man: Homecoming – This MCU outing was the best yet for a short while, to me. As much a high school comedy as an action epic, this is another nearly perfect superhero film. By combining their sensibilities with Spidey’s, it makes for something really different. Traditionalists might be split on how Peter Parker and Spider-Man are portrayed here, but I loved this take. Tom Holland is phenomenal too, blowing both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire (and they were each terrific in their own right) out of the water. Integrating Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and even a bit of Iron Man into things fits the character into the MCU, but this is a much lower fi character, even with a Stark enhanced suit (which provides a ton of comic relief as he learns how to use it). It all just works.

1. Avengers: Endgame – No surprise, but Endgame stands tall. This is the best Marvel has ever done. Truly. Avengers: Endgame brings the Marvel Cinematic Universe in its initial form to a worthy conclusion, eliciting more emotion than any superhero movie yet. I laughed, I cried, and I was filled to the brim with joy. This is a triumph for anyone who has invested a decade and over 20 films worth of material into one giant story. Over three hours long but paced perfectly, you won’t want it to end. Somehow, Marvel, Kevin Feige, and the creative forces have exceeded expectations. It’s a stunning achievement, without question.

What is your current ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know!

The post An Updated Ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe As ‘Thunderbolts*’ Arrives in Theaters appeared first on Awards Radar.

So, Best Visual Effects is the field that’s up to bat today, our first technical category for 2025, too. This category is a bit of an Oscar outlier, considering a lot of the films that win aren’t Best Picture contenders. There are exceptions, including 1917, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Dunkirk, First Man, Forrest Gump, Gladiator, Gravity, Inception, Life of Pi, and Titanic, to be sure (plus two of our most recent winners in the Dune films). However, you’ll just as soon see Academy Award winners here who barely show up in other categories. It’s part of what makes Visual Effects a fun field, but perhaps one slightly lacking in prestige. For my money, Jurassic Park is the tops in this category, but your mileage may vary. Where does the most recent Visual Effects victor fall here in Dune: Part Two? What about last year’s winner in Godzilla Minus One or the prior one in Avatar: The Way of Water? Does the first Dune even crack the list still? Find out where the Dune sequel ranks below, along with all of the rest…

Here are what I consider to be the 25 best winners of the Best Visual Effects Oscar, to date:

25. Life of Pi
24. First Man
23. Inception
22. Blade Runner 2049
21. Alien
20. Aliens
19. Superman
18. The Empire Strikes Back
17. Interstellar
16. The Abyss
15. Dune
14. Dune: Part Two
13. What Dreams May Come
12. Gravity
11. Forrest Gump
10. The Matrix
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
8. Avatar: The Way of Water
7. Star Wars
6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
4. Titanic
3. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2. Avatar
1. Jurassic Park

Honorable Mention: 1917, Ex Machina, Godzilla Minus One, Independence Day, King Kong (2005), and Spider-Man 2

Stay tuned for another category early next week!

The post The Top 25 Best Visual Effects Winners So Far (Updated for 2025) appeared first on Awards Radar.

The Last of Us is not just one of the best shows on television, but one that can often be legitimately scary at times. So, with the show well into its second season now, it seemed like a good time to ask about that. As such, we’re combining the Awards Radar Community Question for this weekend with Sunday Scaries. The query? Which episode of the show has been the most terrifying so far?

Now, the best episode is almost certainly episode three of the first season. As for other ones that would qualify as scary, the prologues in episode one and two are both deeply chilling, with the latter also showing off clickers really for the first time. Episode seven has some scary moments, while in episode eight, the fight with David could rank. So, you have choices.

If it’s this season, this past episode probably is what’s going to do it. The emotional power of it all is just so gut wrenching. Going forward, there’s eventually going to be the “rat king” element that’s going to potentially terrify, so keep an eye out for that. However, maybe the episode tonight is what does it for you? If so, let us know as well!

The choice is now yours. Which episode of The Last of Us so far has been the scariest or most terrifying? Whatever your pick and your rationale is, we’re keen to find out. So, don’t be shy and chime in now…

Stay tuned for another Sunday Scaries installment next week!

The post Awards Radar Community / Sunday Scaries: What Has Been the Most Terrifying Episode of ‘The Last of Us’ So Far? appeared first on Awards Radar.

As always, I’m making Best Original Screenplay an early ranking. This category has often been very good to film fans, with some real creative cinema emerging victorious. Last year saw Anatomy of a Fall win for Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, with recent winners also including Everything Everywhere All At Once, Belfast, Promising Young Woman, Parasite, Get Out, her, Manchester by the Sea, and Spotlight. This year, it was Sean Baker taking home the gold for Anora. Those of you who pay attention know that I’m often a huge fan of the Original Screenplay winners. In fact, some of the recent ones come in pretty highly here. Read on to find out just where Anora wound up placing, but spoiler alert, it comes in pretty high…

Here now are what I consider to be the 25 best winners of the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, to date:

25. Little Miss Sunshine (Michael Arndt)

24. The Hurt Locker (Mark Boal)

23. Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet and Arthur Harari)

22. Dog Day Afternoon (Frank Pierson)

21. Spotlight (Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer)

20. Juno (Diablo Cody)

19. Hannah and her Sisters (Woody Allen)

18. Chinatown (Robert Towne)

17. Everything Everywhere All At Once (The Daniels)

16. On the Waterfront (Budd Schulberg)

15. Manchester by the Sea (Kenneth Lonergan)

14. The Apartment (I. A. L. Diamond and Billy Wilder)

13. Anora (Sean Baker)

12. Network (Paddy Chayefsky)

11. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola)

10. Parasite (Bong Joon Ho and Jin Won Han)

9. Good Will Hunting (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon)

8. Citizen Kane (Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles)

7. Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)

6. Annie Hall (Woody Allen)

5. her (Spike Jonze)

4. The Producers (Mel Brooks)

3. Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe)

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Pierre Bismuth, Michel Gondry, and Charlie Kaufman)

1. Pulp Fiction (Roger Avary and Quentin Tarantino)

Honorable Mention: Belfast (Kenneth Branagh), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (William Goldman), The Candidate (Jeremy Larner), Dead Poets Society (Tom Schulman), Get Out (Jordan Peele), and Pillow Talk (Clarence Greene, Maurice Richlin, Russell Rouse, and Stanley Shapiro)

Stay tuned for another category later on this week or early next week!

The post The Top 25 Best Original Screenplay Winners So Far (Updated for 2025) appeared first on Awards Radar.