The summer movie season goes into high-gear in July, with the arrival of the seventh “Mission: Impossible” movie followed by the “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” showdown on July 21.
Not that you have to choose one or the other — as Tom Cruise said on Twitter, “I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than the one with Oppenheimer and Barbie.”
August also promises a new take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and introduces a new DC superhero, Blue Beetle.
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This combination of photos shows promotional art for films, top row from left, "Barbie," "Blue Beetle," "Book Club: The Next Chapter," "Every Body," "The Flash," second row from left, "Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3," "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," "The Little Mermaid," "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I," "Oppenheimer," bottom row from left, "Past Lives," "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken," "Talk To Me," "White Men Can't Jump," and "You Hurt My Feelings." (Warner Bros., Warner Bros., Focus Features, Focus Features, Warner Bros., Marvel Studios, LucasFilms, Disney, Paramount, Universal, A24, Universal, A24, 20th Century Studios and A24 via AP)
Here’s a month-by-month guide of this summer’s new movies. Keep scrolling for more info and review links for May and June’s releases.
July 7
“Insidious: The Red Door” (Sony, theaters): Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne are back to scare everyone in the fifth edition.
“Joy Ride” (Lionsgate, theaters): Adele Lim directs this raucous comedy about a friends trip to China to find someone’s birth mother, starring Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu.
“The Lesson” (Bleecker Street, theaters): A young novelist helps an acclaimed author in this thriller with Richard E. Grant.
“Biosphere” (IFC, theaters and VOD): Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown are the last two men on Earth.
“Earth Mama” (A24, theaters): This acclaimed debut from Savannah Leaf focuses on a woman, single and pregnant with two kids in foster care, trying to reclaim her family in the Bay Area.
July 14
“Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part I” (Paramount, theaters, on July 12): Tom Cruise? Death-defying stunts in Venice? The return of Kittridge? What more do you need?
“Theater Camp” (Searchlight, theaters): Musical theater nerds (and comedy fans) will delight in this loving satire of a childhood institution, with Ben Platt and Molly Gordon.
“The Miracle Club” (Sony Pictures Classics, theaters): Lifetime friends (Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Agnes O’Casey) in a small Dublin community in 1967 dream of a trip to Lourdes, a town in France where miracles are supposed to happen. Laura Linney co-stars.
“20 Days in Mariupol” (in theaters in New York): AP’s Mstyslav Chernov directs this documentary, a joint project between The Associated Press and PBS “Frontline,” about the first weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in which Chernov, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko, became the only international journalists operating in the city. Their coverage won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
“Afire” (Janus Films, theaters): This drama from German director Christian Petzold is set at a vacation home by the Baltic Sea where tensions rise between a writer, a photographer and a mysterious guest (Paula Beer) as a wildfire looms.
“They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix): John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx lead this mystery caper.
July 21
“Oppenheimer” (Universal, theaters): Christopher Nolan takes audiences into the mind of the “father of the atomic bomb,” J. Robert Oppenheimer ( Cillian Murphy ) as he and his peers build up to the trinity test at Los Alamos.
“Barbie” (Warner Bros., theaters): Margot Robbie plays the world’s most famous doll (as do many others) opposite Ryan Gosling’s Ken in Greta Gerwig’s comedic look at their perfect world.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"Barbie"
“Stephen Curry: Underrated” (Apple TV+): Peter Nicks directs a documentary about the four-time NBA champion.
“The Beanie Bubble” (in select theaters; on Apple TV+ on July 28): Zach Galifianakis stars as the man behind Beanie Babies in this comedic drama, co-starring Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Snook and Geraldine Viswanathan.
July 28
“Haunted Mansion” (Disney, theaters): A Disney ride comes to life in with the help of Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson and Danny DeVito.
“Talk to Me” (A24, theaters): A group of friends conjure spirits in this horror starring Sophie Wilde and Joe Bird.
“Happiness for Beginners” (Netflix, on July 27): Ellie Kemper is a newly divorced woman looking to shake things up.
“Sympathy for the Devil” (RLJE Films): Joel Kinnaman is forced to drive a mysterious gunman (Nicolas Cage) in this thriller.
“Kokomo City” (Magnolia): A documentary following four Black transgender sex workers. One of the subjects, Koko Da Doll, was shot and killed in April.
August 4
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (Paramount, theaters): This animated movie puts the teenage back in the equation with a very funny voice cast including Seth Rogen and John Cena as Bebop and Rocksteady.
“Shortcomings” (Sony Pictures Classics, theaters): Randall Park directs this adaptation of Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel about Asian American friends in the Bay Area starring Sherry Cola as Alice, Ally Maki as Miko and Justin H. Min as Ben.
“Meg 2: The Trench” (Warner Bros., theaters): Jason Statham is back fighting sharks.
“Passages” (Mubi): The relationship of a longtime couple (Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw) is thrown when one begins an affair with a woman (Adèle Exarchopoulos).
“A Compassionate Spy” (Magnolia): Steve James’ documentary about the youngest physicist on the Manhattan Project who fed information to the Soviets.
“Dreamin’ Wild” (Roadside Attractions, theaters): Casey Affleck stars in this film about musical duo Donnie and Joe Emerson.
“Problemista” (A24, theaters): Julio Torres plays an aspiring toy designer in this surreal comedy co-starring Tilda Swinton that he also wrote, directed and produced.
August 11
“Gran Turismo” (Sony, theaters): A gamer gets a chance to drive a professional course in this video game adaptation starring David Harbour and Orlando Bloom.
“The Last Voyage of the Demeter” (Universal, theaters): This supernatural horror film draws from a chapter of “Dracula.”
“Heart of Stone” (Netflix): Gal Gadot played an intelligence operative in this action thriller, with Jamie Dornan.
“The Eternal Memory” (MTV Documentary Films): This documentary explores a marriage and Alzheimer’s disease.
“The Pod Generation” (Vertical, theaters): Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor star in this sci-fi comedy about a new path to parenthood.
“Jules” (Bleecker Street, theaters): Ben Kingsley stars in this film about a UFO that crashes in his backyard in rural Pennsylvania.
August 18
“Blue Beetle” (Warner Bros., theaters): Xolo Maridueña plays the DC superhero Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle in this origin story.
“Strays” (Universal, theaters): Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx voice dogs in this not-animated, R-rated comedy.
“birth/rebirth” (IFC, theaters): A woman and a morgue technician bring a little girl back to life in this horror.
“White Bird” (Lionsgate, theaters): Helen Mirren tells her grandson, expelled from school for bullying, a story about herself in Nazi-occupied France.
“Landscape with Invisible Hand” (MGM, theaters): Teens come up with a unique moneymaking scheme in a world taken over by aliens.
August 25
“They Listen” (Sony, theaters): John Cho and Katherine Waterston lead this secretive Blumhouse horror.
“Golda” (Bleecker Street): Helen Mirren stars in this drama about Golda Meir, the Prime Minister of Israel during the Yom Kippur War.
“Bottoms” (MGM, theaters): Two unpopular teenage girls (Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri) start a fight club to impress the cheerleaders they want to lose their virginity to in this parody of the teen sex comedy.
“The Dive” (RLJE Films): In this suspense pic about two sisters out for a dive, one gets hurt and is trapped underwater.
“Scrapper” (Kino Lorber, theaters): A 12-year-old girl (Lola Campbell) is living alone in a London flat until her estranged father (Harris Dickinson) shows up.
“Fremont” (Music Box Films, theaters): A former army translator in Afghanistan (Anaita Wali Zada) relocates to Fremont, California and gets a job at a fortune cookie factory. “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White co-stars.
“The Hill” (Briarcliff Entertainment): This baseball drama starring Dennis Quaid is based on the true story of Rickey Hill.
September 1
“The Equalizer 3” (Sony, theaters): Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall, who is supposed to be retired from the assassin business but things get complicated in Southern Italy.
ALREADY IN THEATERS AND STREAMING
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (Disney/Marvel): Nine years after the non-comic obsessed world was introduced to Peter Quill, Rocket, Groot and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the misfits are closing out the trilogy and saying goodbye to director James Gunn, who is now leading rival DC. ( AP’s review.)
“What’s Love Got to Do with It?” (Shout! Studios): Lily James plays a documentary filmmaker whose next project follows her neighbor (Shazad Latif) on his road to an arranged marriage in this charming romantic comedy.
“Book Club: The Next Chapter” (Focus Features): Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen travel to Italy to celebrate an engagement.
“The Mother,” ( Netflix ): Jennifer Lopez is an assassin and a mother in this action pic timed to Mother’s Day. (AP’s review here.)
“Love Again” (Sony): Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays a woman mourning the death of her boyfriend who texts his old number not knowing it belongs to someone new (Sam Heughan). Celine Dion (and her music) co-star in this romantic drama.
“STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie” ( AppleTV+ ): Davis Guggenheim helps Michael J. Fox tell his story, from his rise in Hollywood to his Parkinson’s diagnosis and beyond.
“Monica” (IFC): A transgender woman, estranged from her family, goes home to visit her dying mother in this film starring Tracee Lysette and Patricia Clarkson.
“The Starling Girl” (Bleecker Street): Eliza Scanlen plays a 17-year-old girl living in a fundamentalist Christian community in Kentucky whose life changes with the arrival of Lewis Pullman’s charismatic youth pastor.
“Fool’s Paradise” (Roadside Attractions): Charlie Day writes, directs and plays dual roles in this comedic Hollywood satire.
“Hypnotic” (Ketchup Entertainment): Ben Affleck plays a detective whose daughter goes missing in this Robert Rodriguez movie.
“It Ain’t Over” (Sony Pictures Classics): A documentary about Lawrence Peter ‘Yogi’ Berra.
“Blackberry” (IFC): Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton star in this movie about the rise of the Blackberry. ( AP’s review.)
“Fast X” (Universal): In the tenth installment of the Fast franchise, Jason Momoa joins as the vengeful son of a slain drug lord intent to take out Vin Diesel’s Dom. ( AP’s review.)
“White Men Can’t Jump” (20th Century Studios, streaming on Hulu): Sinqua Walls and Jack Harlow co-star in this remake of the 1992 film, co-written by Kenya Barris and featuring the late Lance Reddick. ( AP’s review.)
“Master Gardener” (Magnolia): Joel Edgerton is a horticulturist in this Paul Schrader drama, co-starring Sigourney Weaver as a wealthy dowager. ( AP’s review.)
“Sanctuary” (Neon): A dark comedy about a dominatrix (Margaret Qualley) and her wealth client (Christopher Abbott).
“The Little Mermaid” (Disney): Halle Bailey plays Ariel in this technically ambitious live-action remake of a recent Disney classic directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) and co-starring Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. ( AP’s review.)
“You Hurt My Feelings” (A24): Nicole Holofcener takes a nuanced and funny look at a white lie that unsettles the marriage between a New York City writer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and a therapist (Tobias Menzies). ( AP’s review.)
“About My Father” (Lionsgate): Stand-up comic Sebastian Maniscalco co-wrote this culture clash movie in which he takes his Italian-American father (Robert De Niro) on a vacation with his wife’s WASPy family. ( AP’s review.)
“Victim/Suspect” ( Netflix ): This documentary explores how law enforcement sometimes indicts victims of sexual assault instead of helping.
“The Machine” (Sony): Stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer brings Mark Hamill into the fray for this action-comedy.
“Kandahar” (Open Road Films): Gerard Butler plays an undercover CIA operative in hostile territory in Afghanistan.
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony): Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is back, but with things not going so well in Brooklyn, he opts to visit the multiverse with his old pal Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), where he encounters the Spider-Society. ( AP’s review.)
“The Boogeyman” (20th Century Studios): “It’s the thing that comes for your kids when you’re not paying attention,” David Dastmalchian explains to Chris Messina in this Stephen King adaptation.
“Past Lives” (A24): Already being hailed as one of the best of the year after its Sundance debut, Celine Song’s directorial debut is a decades and continent-spanning romance about two friends separated in childhood who meet 20 years later in New York. ( AP’s review.)
“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (Paramount): Steven Caple Jr directs the seventh Transformers movie, starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback. ( AP’s review.)
“Flamin’ Hot” ( Hulu, Disney+): Eva Longoria directs this story about Richard Montañez, a janitor at Frito-Lay who came up with the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. ( AP’s review.)
“Blue Jean” (Magnolia): It’s 1988 in England and hostilities are mounting towards the LGBTQ community in Georgia Oakley’s BAFTA-nominated directorial debut about a gym teacher (Rosy McEwan) and the arrival of a new student. ( AP’s review.)
“Daliland” (Magnolia): Mary Harron directs Ben Kingsley as Salvador Dalí.
“The Flash” (Warner Bros.): Batmans past Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton assemble for this standalone Flash movie directed by Andy Muschietti and starring Ezra Miller as the titular superhero. ( AP’s review.)
“Elemental” (Pixar): In Element City, residents include Air, Earth, Water and Fire in the new Pixar original, featuring the voices of Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie and Catherine O’Hara. ( AP’s review.)
“Extraction 2” ( Netflix ): Chris Hemsworth’s mercenary Tyler Rake is back for another dangerous mission. ( AP’s review.)
“Asteroid City” (Focus Features): Wes Anderson assembles Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Schwartzman and Jeffrey Wright for a stargazer convention in the mid-century American desert. ( AP’s review.)
“The Blackening” (Lionsgate): This scary movie satire sends a group of Black friends including Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg and X Mayo to a cabin in the woods.
“No Hard Feelings” (Sony): Jennifer Lawrence leads a raunchy comedy about a woman hired by a shy teen’s parents to help him get out of his shell before Princeton. ( AP’s review.)
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This image released by Lucasfilm shows Ethann Isidore, from left, Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge in a scene from "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." (Lucasfilm Ltd. via AP)
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (Lucasfilm): Harrison Ford puts his iconic fedora back on for a fifth outing as Indy in this new adventure directed by James Mangold and co-starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge. ( AP’s review.)
“Every Body” (Focus Features): Oscar-nominated documentarian Julie Cohen turns her lens on three intersex individuals in her latest film. ( AP’s review.)
“Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” (Universal): Lana Condor (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) lends her voice to this animated action-comedy about a shy teenager trying to survive high school as a part-Kraken. (AP’s review.)
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
The 1960s was a banner decade for movies. From Western films and Disney animated movies to blockbuster musicals and the now-classic horror genre, the '60s were the advent of some of the most iconic films of the 20th century.
This pivotal decade in cinema launched the careers of stars like Audrey Hepburn, Sean Connery, Barbra Streisand, and Julie Andrews. Hollywood was rife with drama on and off screen, and the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. Inspiration for a diverse range of stories and themes flourished. But many of these famous films have their own stories behind the scenes—sometimes even more interesting than what played out on screen.
For example, did you know that the first cinematic James Bond actor ended up hating the character? Do you know the reason why "never work with children or animals" is such a popular adage in the industry? How about the way that cars were "auditioned" for "The Love Bug?"
To offer a few answers to those questions and more, Stacker compiled a list containing 25 factoids from the top movies of the 1960s. These fun facts come from articles and interviews of the creative teams that brought them to life, as well as from sources like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Smithsonian, and IMDb.
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
The 1960s was a banner decade for movies. From Western films and Disney animated movies to blockbuster musicals and the now-classic horror genre, the '60s were the advent of some of the most iconic films of the 20th century.
This pivotal decade in cinema launched the careers of stars like Audrey Hepburn, Sean Connery, Barbra Streisand, and Julie Andrews. Hollywood was rife with drama on and off screen, and the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. Inspiration for a diverse range of stories and themes flourished. But many of these famous films have their own stories behind the scenes—sometimes even more interesting than what played out on screen.
For example, did you know that the first cinematic James Bond actor ended up hating the character? Do you know the reason why "never work with children or animals" is such a popular adage in the industry? How about the way that cars were "auditioned" for "The Love Bug?"
To offer a few answers to those questions and more, Stacker compiled a list containing 25 factoids from the top movies of the 1960s. These fun facts come from articles and interviews of the creative teams that brought them to life, as well as from sources like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Smithsonian, and IMDb.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
Paramount Pictures // Getty Images
The part for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" protagonist Holly Golightly was originally intended for Marilyn Monroe. Author Truman Capote, who had written the novel of the same name, had sold the film rights to Paramount Studios and envisioned Monroe as Holly. She turned down the role, as she was advised by her acting coach that the character's party-girl persona would be bad for her image.
Ultimately, Audrey Hepburn took on the iconic role. When Hepburn was cast instead of Monroe, Capote said: "Paramount double-crossed me in every way and cast Audrey."
Paramount Pictures // Getty Images
The part for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" protagonist Holly Golightly was originally intended for Marilyn Monroe. Author Truman Capote, who had written the novel of the same name, had sold the film rights to Paramount Studios and envisioned Monroe as Holly. She turned down the role, as she was advised by her acting coach that the character's party-girl persona would be bad for her image.
Ultimately, Audrey Hepburn took on the iconic role. When Hepburn was cast instead of Monroe, Capote said: "Paramount double-crossed me in every way and cast Audrey."
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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Casting for Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962) was competitive, but actor Gregory Peck ultimately got the role because he reminded author Harper Lee of her own father, after whom she had modeled the character. Lee regularly visited the film's set and gave Peck a watch that was used as a prop and belonged to her father after the film wrapped.
Universal Studios // Getty Images
Casting for Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962) was competitive, but actor Gregory Peck ultimately got the role because he reminded author Harper Lee of her own father, after whom she had modeled the character. Lee regularly visited the film's set and gave Peck a watch that was used as a prop and belonged to her father after the film wrapped.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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Walt Disney himself approached Julie Andrews backstage while she was performing "Camelot" on Broadway and asked if she would be interested in the title role of "Mary Poppins." She confessed that she was three months pregnant, which could have interfered with the shoot—but Disney said he was willing to wait to start filming after the birth of her child.
Mirrorpix // Getty Images
Walt Disney himself approached Julie Andrews backstage while she was performing "Camelot" on Broadway and asked if she would be interested in the title role of "Mary Poppins." She confessed that she was three months pregnant, which could have interfered with the shoot—but Disney said he was willing to wait to start filming after the birth of her child.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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What would Shakespeare's works be without their iconic lines of dialogue? According to Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet, the 1968 film adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" was filmed using Arriflex cameras, which were very loud. The film's dialogue later had to be recorded separately and synced with the rest of the film.
Bettmann // Getty Images
What would Shakespeare's works be without their iconic lines of dialogue? According to Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet, the 1968 film adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" was filmed using Arriflex cameras, which were very loud. The film's dialogue later had to be recorded separately and synced with the rest of the film.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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For the horror film "Rosemary's Baby," director Roman Polanski instructed actor Mia Farrow to walk into traffic to film a scene. Polanski operated a hand-held camera, as no one else on set was willing to risk the dangerous stunt. To convince Farrow, Polanski reportedly told her, "Nobody will hit a pregnant woman," and Farrow went through with the stunt without incident.
Bettmann // Getty Images
For the horror film "Rosemary's Baby," director Roman Polanski instructed actor Mia Farrow to walk into traffic to film a scene. Polanski operated a hand-held camera, as no one else on set was willing to risk the dangerous stunt. To convince Farrow, Polanski reportedly told her, "Nobody will hit a pregnant woman," and Farrow went through with the stunt without incident.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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As surreal as the events in "The Birds" (1963) may be, they were inspired by real events. Director Alfred Hitchcock heard of a 1961 event where a mass bird attack occurred in Capitola, California. According to a report, seabirds were "dive-bombing" house windows and cars, even vomiting onto residents' lawns. To simulate this effect, the majority of the birds seen in the film are real, including trained crows and ravens, sea gulls, and sparrows.
Bettmann // Getty Images
As surreal as the events in "The Birds" (1963) may be, they were inspired by real events. Director Alfred Hitchcock heard of a 1961 event where a mass bird attack occurred in Capitola, California. According to a report, seabirds were "dive-bombing" house windows and cars, even vomiting onto residents' lawns. To simulate this effect, the majority of the birds seen in the film are real, including trained crows and ravens, sea gulls, and sparrows.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
Many millennials grew up with "The Parent Trap" starring Lindsay Lohan as two twins separated at birth, scheming to get their estranged parents back together, but it's actually a remake of a 1961 film starring Hayley Mills.
The film's original screenplay employed only a few trick photography shots of Mills in scenes with herself, but when Walt Disney saw how convincing the processed shots were, he requested that the script include more of these shots, eschewing the original plan of using a body double. In scenes where a body double is used, the actor playing the second twin is Susan Henning, who went uncredited.
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
Many millennials grew up with "The Parent Trap" starring Lindsay Lohan as two twins separated at birth, scheming to get their estranged parents back together, but it's actually a remake of a 1961 film starring Hayley Mills.
The film's original screenplay employed only a few trick photography shots of Mills in scenes with herself, but when Walt Disney saw how convincing the processed shots were, he requested that the script include more of these shots, eschewing the original plan of using a body double. In scenes where a body double is used, the actor playing the second twin is Susan Henning, who went uncredited.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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In 1961's "West Side Story," actor Natalie Wood prerecorded all her songs, and the production team made the call on whether or not to use those recordings in the film. The filmmakers ultimately used singer Marni Nixon's voice instead, who was also the "ghost singer" for "The King and I" and "My Fair Lady." Nixon said Wood was reportedly not informed that her singing would not appear in the movie, much to Wood's dismay.
Donaldson Collection // Getty Images
In 1961's "West Side Story," actor Natalie Wood prerecorded all her songs, and the production team made the call on whether or not to use those recordings in the film. The filmmakers ultimately used singer Marni Nixon's voice instead, who was also the "ghost singer" for "The King and I" and "My Fair Lady." Nixon said Wood was reportedly not informed that her singing would not appear in the movie, much to Wood's dismay.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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"The Jungle Book" features a cast of kooky animal characters, including four vultures who ally with Mowgli, the human child protagonist of the story. These characters were originally planned to be voiced by the Beatles and were designed to resemble the band members. They ultimately turned down the roles, and their planned song was rewritten as a barbershop quartet song. The Liverpool accents, however, remained.
United Archives // Getty Images
"The Jungle Book" features a cast of kooky animal characters, including four vultures who ally with Mowgli, the human child protagonist of the story. These characters were originally planned to be voiced by the Beatles and were designed to resemble the band members. They ultimately turned down the roles, and their planned song was rewritten as a barbershop quartet song. The Liverpool accents, however, remained.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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"Lawrence of Arabia" included many real soldiers as extras, which inadvertently led to something else entirely. King Hussein of Jordan offered a brigade of his Arab Legion to the film and often visited the sets during filming. As a result of his visits, he fell in love with Antoinette Gardiner, a British secretary working on the film, and they married in 1961—a year before the film was released, styling her as Princess Muna al-Hussein.
Keystone-France // Getty Images
"Lawrence of Arabia" included many real soldiers as extras, which inadvertently led to something else entirely. King Hussein of Jordan offered a brigade of his Arab Legion to the film and often visited the sets during filming. As a result of his visits, he fell in love with Antoinette Gardiner, a British secretary working on the film, and they married in 1961—a year before the film was released, styling her as Princess Muna al-Hussein.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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The iconic heart-shaped red sunglasses shown on the movie poster and other publicity materials for Stanley Kubrick's controversial adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" never actually make an appearance in the film. The character of Dolores Haze—nicknamed Lolita and played by Sue Lyon—wears cat-eye sunglasses. Despite this, heart-shaped sunglasses have become synonymous with the trope of a coquettish young girl.
Screen Archives // Getty Images
The iconic heart-shaped red sunglasses shown on the movie poster and other publicity materials for Stanley Kubrick's controversial adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" never actually make an appearance in the film. The character of Dolores Haze—nicknamed Lolita and played by Sue Lyon—wears cat-eye sunglasses. Despite this, heart-shaped sunglasses have become synonymous with the trope of a coquettish young girl.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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James Bond was introduced to general movie audiences in 1962 with "Dr. No," and half a dozen total Bond films premiered throughout the decade. Although Sean Connery originated the titular character and played the role in six official films, Connery said he grew tired of Bond by the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever." "I have always hated that damned James Bond," Connery reportedly said. "I'd like to kill him."
Sunset Boulevard // Getty Images
James Bond was introduced to general movie audiences in 1962 with "Dr. No," and half a dozen total Bond films premiered throughout the decade. Although Sean Connery originated the titular character and played the role in six official films, Connery said he grew tired of Bond by the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever." "I have always hated that damned James Bond," Connery reportedly said. "I'd like to kill him."
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" broke boundaries for a variety of reasons, but one of them may be unexpected. The thriller was the first American movie to feature a toilet on screen—and to even show it flushing. Censors tried to cut the scene, somewhat taboo at the time, but the shot was kept in as it was integral to the plot.
Haynes Archive/Popperfoto // Getty Images
Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" broke boundaries for a variety of reasons, but one of them may be unexpected. The thriller was the first American movie to feature a toilet on screen—and to even show it flushing. Censors tried to cut the scene, somewhat taboo at the time, but the shot was kept in as it was integral to the plot.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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The comedy trio known as the Three Stooges created nearly 200 movies together, 11 of which premiered in the 1960s. Their signature insult—jabbing at someone's eyes—was born from a real incident between the three. During a card game, Shemp was convinced that Larry was cheating, so he jumped up and poked him in the eyes. Moe decided to incorporate the move as slapstick into their act.
Hulton Archive // Getty Images
The comedy trio known as the Three Stooges created nearly 200 movies together, 11 of which premiered in the 1960s. Their signature insult—jabbing at someone's eyes—was born from a real incident between the three. During a card game, Shemp was convinced that Larry was cheating, so he jumped up and poked him in the eyes. Moe decided to incorporate the move as slapstick into their act.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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Before stars like Beyoncé created visual albums to express their music through multimedia, there was "Yellow Submarine." The animated cult classic by the Beatles was colorful, experimental, and quintessential '60s in its style. However, the band members did not voice their own characters, except during musical numbers, supposedly due to their unavailability.
John Clive plays John Lennon, Geoffrey Hughes plays Paul McCartney, Peter Batten (who went uncredited) plays George Harrison, and Paul Angelis plays Ringo Starr.
United Archives // Getty Images
Before stars like Beyoncé created visual albums to express their music through multimedia, there was "Yellow Submarine." The animated cult classic by the Beatles was colorful, experimental, and quintessential '60s in its style. However, the band members did not voice their own characters, except during musical numbers, supposedly due to their unavailability.
John Clive plays John Lennon, Geoffrey Hughes plays Paul McCartney, Peter Batten (who went uncredited) plays George Harrison, and Paul Angelis plays Ringo Starr.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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"Cleopatra" (1963) was one of the most expensive movies ever made; its $44 million budget is equivalent to more than $400 million today. Of that $44 million, the production included the construction of 79 sets and 26,000 costumes. Elizabeth Taylor's 65 costumes totaled $194,800—the highest-ever budget for a single screen actress. One costume was a dress made from 24-carat gold cloth.
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
"Cleopatra" (1963) was one of the most expensive movies ever made; its $44 million budget is equivalent to more than $400 million today. Of that $44 million, the production included the construction of 79 sets and 26,000 costumes. Elizabeth Taylor's 65 costumes totaled $194,800—the highest-ever budget for a single screen actress. One costume was a dress made from 24-carat gold cloth.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" features a series of bike stunts—nearly all performed by Paul Newman. The original stunt actor was unable to stay upright on the bike, so Newman gamely shot them instead.
Co-star Robert Redford also wanted to do all of his own stunts, but Newman objected out of concern for his safety. In response to the scene where Sundance jumps onto the roof of a moving train and runs along the tops of it, Newman allegedly said, "I don't want any heroics around here. I don't want to lose a co-star."
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" features a series of bike stunts—nearly all performed by Paul Newman. The original stunt actor was unable to stay upright on the bike, so Newman gamely shot them instead.
Co-star Robert Redford also wanted to do all of his own stunts, but Newman objected out of concern for his safety. In response to the scene where Sundance jumps onto the roof of a moving train and runs along the tops of it, Newman allegedly said, "I don't want any heroics around here. I don't want to lose a co-star."
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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"Doctor Dolittle" (1967) used more than 1,200 live animals during filming, leading to a variety of spoofs and goofs. A parrot named Polynesia learned to yell "cut!"—which greatly confused actor Rex Harrison, who was performing a musical number as the eponymous character, and created a humorous misunderstanding on set.
Bettmann // Getty Images
"Doctor Dolittle" (1967) used more than 1,200 live animals during filming, leading to a variety of spoofs and goofs. A parrot named Polynesia learned to yell "cut!"—which greatly confused actor Rex Harrison, who was performing a musical number as the eponymous character, and created a humorous misunderstanding on set.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
Keith Hamshere // Getty Images
The film adaptation of "2001: A Space Odyssey" was an ambitious movie to write, produce, and shoot, and director Stanley Kubrick wanted as much scientific accuracy as possible. Those who served as consultants included experts from NASA and IBM, science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov, and Carl Sagan.
However, Sagan and Kubrick's relationship was reportedly short-lived. Kubrick, Sagan, and the original "2001" novel author Arthur C. Clarke met for dinner to discuss Sagan's cosmology expertise—and it did not go well. Kubrick allegedly told Clarke to "get rid of" Sagan, claiming he didn't want to see him again.
Keith Hamshere // Getty Images
The film adaptation of "2001: A Space Odyssey" was an ambitious movie to write, produce, and shoot, and director Stanley Kubrick wanted as much scientific accuracy as possible. Those who served as consultants included experts from NASA and IBM, science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov, and Carl Sagan.
However, Sagan and Kubrick's relationship was reportedly short-lived. Kubrick, Sagan, and the original "2001" novel author Arthur C. Clarke met for dinner to discuss Sagan's cosmology expertise—and it did not go well. Kubrick allegedly told Clarke to "get rid of" Sagan, claiming he didn't want to see him again.
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What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated ‘Superman,’ ‘Biosphere’ and ‘Wham!’
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During the preproduction of "The Love Bug" (1968), a casting call was held for the car that would eventually "play" Herbie. Several small cars were set up by the studio's commissary and employees were encouraged to interact with them as they went by. Everybody patted the Volkswagen.
"They didn't pat the other cars, which was indicative. The VW had a personality of its own that reached out and embraced people. Thus, we found our star,"Â producer and writer Bill Walsh said.
Story editing by Chris Compendio. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.
Keystone // Getty Images
During the preproduction of "The Love Bug" (1968), a casting call was held for the car that would eventually "play" Herbie. Several small cars were set up by the studio's commissary and employees were encouraged to interact with them as they went by. Everybody patted the Volkswagen.
"They didn't pat the other cars, which was indicative. The VW had a personality of its own that reached out and embraced people. Thus, we found our star,"Â producer and writer Bill Walsh said.
Story editing by Chris Compendio. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.
