The horror genre and comedian Rodney Dangerfield have something in common. Neither gets much respect.
Sure, audiences flock to horror movies as much as any genre over the decades. We turn cinematic serial killers like Art the Clown, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees into pop culture icons.
The films rarely get a once-over when it’s time for awards season. This time it’s different. And it’s not just about golden statuettes. Horror kept this year’s box office afloat in 2025, a year that saw a shocking number of commercial duds litter movie houses.
Think Robert De Niro’s “The Alto Knights,” Disney’s “Snow White” and Robert Pattinson’s “Mickey 17” as prime offenders.
Multiple horror movies will be vying for the year’s biggest prize – the Best Picture Oscar. They may come up short to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/is-the-best-picture-race-already-over">“One Battle After Another,”</a> a prestige film that sends the exact message progressive Hollywood craves in President Donald Trump’s second term.
Stop ICE at all costs.
Still, these horror entries matter, and they may scoop up a golden trophy or two before the dust settles.
It starts with director Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” an unconventional vampire movie that doubled as an exposé of early 20th century racism. The film hit theaters in April, with forecasters wondering if its large budget <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ryan-coogler-sinners-box-office-opening-1236193272/">($90 million</a>) might preclude it from making a profit.
Most horror movies are made for a fraction of that amount.
<div id="attachment_1015643" style="width: 399px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1015643" class="size-large wp-image-1015643" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sinners-II-389x576.jpg" alt="Credit: Warner Bros. Domain Entertainment. Proximity Media. All rights reserved. IMDB." width="389" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sinners-II-389x576.jpg 389w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sinners-II-202x300.jpg 202w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sinners-II-768x1138.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sinners-II-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sinners-II.jpg 1382w" sizes=" (max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px" />Credit: Warner Bros.</div>
The film opened big and expanded its audience week after week, wrapping its run with a gaudy $279 million stateside haul. Critics and crowds alike rallied behind it – witness the film’s <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sinners_2025">dueling Rotten Tomatoes’ scores</a> – 97% &#8220;fresh&#8221; from critics, 96% &#8220;fresh&#8221; from general audiences.
Now, it’s <a href="https://www.awardsdaily.com/2025/08/08/2026-oscar-predictions-what-makes-sinners-a-strong-contender/#:~:text=The%20big%20threats%20in%20the,Good%20luck%20attacking%20Sinners%20%E2%80%A6">front and center</a> in the current Oscar race, with experts predicting nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and maybe Best Actor for Michael B Jordan in a dual role.
Coming in a close second is director Craig Zegger’s “Weapons,” a deliriously original film about a town where an entire class of children disappeared overnight, save one.
What happened? Is the class’s teacher (Julia Garner) to blame? The film’s core mystery is told via multiple perspectives, adding layers to the eventual shocks. 
<div id="attachment_1015637" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1015637" class="size-large wp-image-1015637" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/MV5BNTBhNWJjZWItYzY3NS00M2NkLThmOWYtYTlmNzBmN2UxZWFjXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-461x576.jpg" alt="Credit: New Line Cinema. Domain Entertainment. Subconscious. All rights reserved. IMDB." width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/MV5BNTBhNWJjZWItYzY3NS00M2NkLThmOWYtYTlmNzBmN2UxZWFjXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/MV5BNTBhNWJjZWItYzY3NS00M2NkLThmOWYtYTlmNzBmN2UxZWFjXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/MV5BNTBhNWJjZWItYzY3NS00M2NkLThmOWYtYTlmNzBmN2UxZWFjXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/MV5BNTBhNWJjZWItYzY3NS00M2NkLThmOWYtYTlmNzBmN2UxZWFjXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/MV5BNTBhNWJjZWItYzY3NS00M2NkLThmOWYtYTlmNzBmN2UxZWFjXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_.jpg 1638w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" />Credit: New Line Cinema.</div>
Once again, critics and customers hailed the film (<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/weapons">Rotten Tomatoes – 93/85</a>) and the box office sales soared ($151 million). The price tag? <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/weapons-box-office-freakier-friday-opening-1236341131/">A modest $38 million</a>.
The film’s Best Picture chances are less secure than “Sinners,” but creepy co-star Amy Madigan is a lock for a Best Supporting Actress turn for her memorable turn as Aunt Gladys, and Best Screenplay honors are also likely.
And then there’s “Frankenstein.” Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro brought the classic monster story back from the grave via Netflix. His take on the property earned him a Best Picture nomination from the Golden Globes, and Oscar love may shortly follow.
Del Toro’s brand matters to Academy voters, and he treated the pulpy material with a keen idea for the humanity within the reconstructed monster.
Imagine not one or two but three horror films gracing this year’s Best Picture nomination list? The last time horror had such a prestigious close-up was when 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs” swept that year’s Oscars ceremony, netting five statues (including Best Picture).
The year’s box office picture is another, murkier matter. Yes, the numbers are up from 2024, but that’s hardly something to crow about. This year’s domestic box office is <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/12/box-office-u-s-ticket-sales-2025-1236640883/">up 1%</a>, but the industry battle cry “<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/global-summer-box-office-overseas-2025-domestic-1236357631/">survive until 2025</a>” when more populist films were lining up for release didn’t quite transpire.
Don’t blame horror movies.
Not only did “Sinners” and “Weapons” pull their weight (“Frankenstein” barely played in theaters before jumping to Netflix), but other horror hits stunned Hollywood.
The fourth film in the “Conjuring” series, “Last Rites,” made $177 million and a total of $494 million globally. That made it the most profitable film in the saga.
“Final Destination: Bloodlines,” the first film in that lo-fi saga since 2011’s “Final Destination 5,” made $138 million in the U.S. alone and revived the franchise. That film also included an emotional farewell to horror favorite Tony Todd, who knew he was gravely ill when he shot his final scene for the series.
Recent horror hits include “Black Phone 2” (a respectable $77 million US to date), “28 Years Later” ($70 million US) and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” (a $64 million opening weekend).
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How Hollywood Can Bridge Its Disconnect With the American Public w/ Christian Toto" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNIV7dmOYFI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Why is horror having a moment? Start with a new crop of directors who know the genre well, from Coogler and Cregger to Osgood Perkins (“Keeper,” “The Monkey”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”).
Horror films don’t require starry casts and can be made on a shoestring budget. Plus, when they insert the obligatory left-leaning messages, it’s embedded in the scares, not force fed to us in lectures.
Audiences crave the unfettered escapism the genre offers. We’re living in a divided age, but political ideology mostly gets left behind when settling in for a horror film. Jump scares don’t ask audiences how they vote.
And while video games and social media keep cutting into the theatrical pull, there’s nothing like being scared silly in the dark with a group of like-minded strangers. It helps to savor some A-plus films that respect that reality.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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MBJ Sinners poster

While Hollywood’s Big Bets Fail, Horror Just Keeps Delivering

Entertainment

Film

Hollywood

Horror Movies

Michael B Jordan

Movies

The actress who played the villain in the mystery horror thriller “Weapons” said that the gay and drag communities have really connected with her character.
Amy Madigan, who plays the child-snatching witch Aunt Gladys in the film, made the comments during a newly published <a href="https://variety.com/lists/ariana-grande-michael-b-jordan-react-golden-globe-nominations/chase-infiniti/">interview</a> with Variety.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Weapons | Marcus Meets Gladys | Movie Clip | Warner Bros. Entertainment" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FbLRYXXTz0A?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“People actually like Aunt Gladys,” the actress said of the character. “They kind of want to hang out with her. I’m very, very happy and grateful that the gay community and the drag community have really accepted Gladys. The people that I’ve talked to have said, ‘We’re the other. We’re the outsider, and we’re not supposed to fit in, and Gladys does in a weird way.’ And now they have really helped her spread her magic around.”
The Golden Globes just nominated Madigan for best performance by a female actor in a supporting role in any motion picture. In the film, her character uses witchcraft to possess both children and adults, using their life force to keep herself young.
“Weapons” director Zach Cregger discussed some of his motivations for the film, including the character of Aunt Gladys with her bright red hair and garish makeup. 
&#8220;I had written another script many years ago that was kind of the Gladys story,&#8221; Cregger <a href="https://ew.com/weapons-aunt-gladys-origins-revealed-shelved-script-voodoo-book-song-11821481">told</a> Entertainment Weekly in an interview published in October. &#8220;It was told from a child&#8217;s perspective, and this crazy woman picks him up at school and takes him home and has subsumed his parents. It&#8217;s about him trying to figure out how to get out from under her oppression.&#8221; 
He said the character was inspired by a non-fiction book by Wade Davis called &#8220;The Serpent and the Rainbow&#8221; and a song called &#8220;Dancing in the Head&#8221; by the British punk band The Mekons.
There were many reactions on social media about Aunt Gladys being embraced by the LGBT crowd. 
“Uhhh, she&#8217;s a hideous, murderous monster who tortured children,” one reply <a href="https://x.com/shoveitjack/status/1998171762643947526">said</a>. “Come to think of it, yes, it makes sense that the alphabet cult would embrace her.”
“Extraordinary. Once again siding with an unsympathetic and irredeemable villain who preys on children,” another person <a href="https://x.com/lord_of_paradox/status/1998480103337005517">said</a>. 
“The gay and drag community loves a witch who kidnapped and enslaved children, lol, I can’t believe she just straight up said it,” <a href="https://x.com/GPIngersoll/status/1998434480869236820">echoed</a> a third.

Aunt Gladys

‘Weapons’ Actress Brags That Drag Community Loves Her Child Snatching, Witch Character

'Weapons' Actress Brags That Drag Community Loves Her Child Snatching, Spell Casting Character

Drag Queens

LGBT

The movie business has just suffered the worst Halloween box office in over 30 years, causing many people who think seriously about Hollywood to laugh uproariously while baring their buttocks in the direction of Los Angeles and singing made-up song lyrics that rhyme with “Pharma is a glitch, you sleazy brother duckers!”
The box office tally showed that after releasing around 11 Halloween-themed movies for the October holiday at an overall production cost of about $300 million, industry leaders drew in enough money to buy a jumbo popcorn at the candy counter if the nice old man standing in line behind them gave them an extra nickel out of the goodness of his heart.
But while Hollywood zillionaires have been openly dripping scorn on the values, lifestyles, religion, and patriotism of the American public for the last 30 years, that doesn’t mean Americans are celebrating the industry’s hilariously humiliating fall down a bottomless well of hilarious humiliation. Sure, there have been one-or two-or five-hundred nationwide fortnight-long parties at which burning effigies of Bob Iger are hung from trees while adults and children alike dance in circles beneath them singing made-up lyrics that rhyme with, “Burn, you supercilious niece of split!” But that’s only because they wanted to melt chocolate and marshmallows for their s&#8217;mores, and a burning effigy of Bob Iger strung from a tree happened to be near at hand, as always.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, studio executives are trying to solve the mysteriously puzzling conundrum-like enigma of why their latest films are not causing what used to be the movie-going public to leave their homes, where they’re busy playing darts with the headshots of loudmouth actors.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974735 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-768x128.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1536x256.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now.jpg 1800w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
One studio executive, Chazer Shmendrik of Crapola Pictures, took time out to talk to a reporter while coming home to his third wife from his 14-year-old mistress’s house before stopping off at his dealer on his way to a fundraiser for the Shout Your Abortion Foundation. Shmendrik said, “I just can’t figure out why the folks aren’t showing up for our movies. We’ve given them homosexual propaganda for children, turned all their favorite franchises into socialist rants, denigrated masculinity, banned femininity, barred the depiction of white men as heroes, and cast the president of the United States as everything from a black lesbian to a saintly Islamist. We even made a movie about a 58-year-old girl-boss who laps milk out of a saucer in order to debase herself in front of a 25-year-old man. I mean, we’ve tried everything. What the hell else does this audience want anyway?”
Other executives said the poor Halloween box office was either due to competition from the World Series or the government shutdown, or the fact that Halloween fell on a Friday this year, or maybe just that Americans are sick of giving money to tawdry jerkwads who hate them. 
But even as Hollywood tried to determine where they might have gone wrong, the industry was rocked by another scandal when bombshell actress Lefty Vavoom showed up at an elite gala wearing a shocking full-sleeved blouse and ankle-length skirt that revealed every inch of her modesty and restrained sexual behavior. As paparazzi snaps of the starlet’s outfit appeared on front pages under red-ink shock headlines, feminist critics reacted in rage.
At the New York Times, a former newspaper, feminist columnist Banshee McScreamyface wrote, “At a time when women in the workplace are facing disrespect for simply exercising their right to descend to the lowest levels of self-hating sexual degradation, how can we proclaim our feminist principles if our Hollywood role models strut around in non-see-through blouses that don’t even expose their nipples? I don’t want to seem old-fashioned but we need a return to the good old days when Kanye West’s girlfriends came to parties wearing nothing but a dog collar, proudly proclaiming the legacy of feminism, namely obsessive self-abuse and soulless immiseration.”
Trembling before the feminist blast no one else read, Hollywood moguls immediately signed a pledge to cast more black actors in roles that make no earthly sense, and release another movie in which Nicole Kidman humiliates herself in the nude in time for her sixtieth birthday.
If that doesn’t win back the audience, nothing will. And let’s hope nothing will.
* * *
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fifth installment, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-That-Cameron-Winter-Mysteries/dp/1613166869/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EGZUC370LG46&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y_NI0mDOKeowShheDQTVx5NH-fAeimJoCD56_T0Acpl8C0mup7uJf-nGGSRLEItaaekoDnvS2vWLMa4Zd2UBXQ8Y-g-P502jOWz-Y8IX3ZQsdlO7WMLrg1xIhNoKmjCorSWUR4C2l_RbiZ7apJ1MfPzGOrrEf7AdAXX6xwnJRVP_XqUfWuMuVthTWscaU3P4vgmS86-96n-721enHfX12CFQWTajqFbVnrsDkexfUf4.6_gTH6h1Bb9Pn375QdF_VAVZSayDvjQBBKGXE-MTiFo&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=klavan&amp;qid=1754049918&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C80&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">After That, The Dark,</a> is NOW AVAILABLE. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>
The views expressed in this satirical piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Friends watching scary movie at movie theater

Hollywood’s Halloween Horror: Woke Films So Bad They’re Scaring Audiences Away

Andrew Klavan

Humor

Satire

When Hollywood sends a message, chances are it’s from the Left. Or, in the case of Leonardo DiCaprio’s open borders screed “One Battle After Another,” the far, far Left.
The same applies to horror movies.
We’ve seen a wave of “socially conscious” horror in recent years, often with depressing results. Think the 2021 “Candyman” reboot, 2020’s “Antebellum,” and 2022’s “They/Them.” 
Horror has always let storytellers send a message or two between the scares, often doing so without exclamation points. And, given the industry’s leanings, that rarely aligns with conservative world views.
That doesn’t mean the films in question aren’t worth watching. Some message-minded movies remain essential Halloween fare. A few have themes that aren’t as neatly progressive as one expects.
And, as faith-based movies continue to improve and expand their focus, we’re seeing thrillers that touch on heartland values. Really.
<h2>“Nefarious” (2023)</h2>
<div id="attachment_992777" style="width: 380px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/nefarious?row=0&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;rowType=Square+Show+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-992777" class="size-large wp-image-992777" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Nefarious-film-370x576.jpg" alt="Soli Deo Gloria Releasing. Believe Entertainment." width="370" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Nefarious-film-370x576.jpg 370w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Nefarious-film-193x300.jpg 193w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Nefarious-film-768x1194.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Nefarious-film-988x1536.jpg 988w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Nefarious-film.jpg 1317w" sizes=" (max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px" /></a>Soli Deo Gloria Releasing. Believe Entertainment.</div>
This spicy two-hander follows a psychiatrist (Jordan Belfie) trying to gauge a death-row inmate’s state of mind. Sean Patrick Flanery chews up the scenery in the very best ways as a prisoner who claims he didn’t commit the crimes in question.
The Devil made him do it. Literally.
“Nefarious” is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/nefarious?row=0&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;rowType=Square+Show+Carousel">now streaming on The Daily Wire</a>.
Based on the book “A Nefarious Plot,” by Steve Deace and backed by Glenn Beck, this indie Christian film eschews blood and gore tactics for spiritual scares. This smart, faith-based shocker shows the power of performance and dialogue over FX. 
Produced by Soli Deo Gloria and Believe Entertainment, this is a Heartland friendly film, but still not suitable for younger audiences.
<h2>“The Hunt” (2020)</h2>
<div id="attachment_992787" style="width: 374px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8244784/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-992787" class="size-large wp-image-992787" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Hunt-movie-364x576.jpg" alt="Blumhouse Productions.Universal Pictures. " width="364" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Hunt-movie-364x576.jpg 364w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Hunt-movie-189x300.jpg 189w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Hunt-movie-768x1216.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Hunt-movie-970x1536.jpg 970w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Hunt-movie.jpg 1293w" sizes=" (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px" /></a>Blumhouse Productions. Universal Pictures.</div>
It’s the ultimate Culture War movie, but one where the shouting barely reflects what’s seen on screen. A group of privileged liberals kidnap and hunt conservatives for sport. Sound awful? It is, no doubt, and it&#8217;s remarkably bloody.
Enter Betty Gilpin as Crystal, a feisty Republican who leads a rebellion after being kidnapped by the Hunt’s handlers. She’s the ultimate Final Girl, a resourceful gal who can’t help but gain the audience’s admiration.
The third act turns silly, but its political message is surprisingly balanced. Let’s lower the temperature on the cultural conversation before it’s too late. Just five years after its controversial release, it seems we need that lesson even more. And, chances are, today’s media would likely skewer the film for that reason.
<h2>“Get Out” (2017)</h2>
<div id="attachment_992789" style="width: 399px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052448/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-992789" class="size-large wp-image-992789" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Get-Out-movie-389x576.jpg" alt="Monkeypaw Productions. Blumhouse Productions. Universal Pictures." width="389" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Get-Out-movie-389x576.jpg 389w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Get-Out-movie-203x300.jpg 203w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Get-Out-movie-768x1137.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Get-Out-movie-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Get-Out-movie.jpg 1383w" sizes=" (max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px" /></a>Monkeypaw Productions. Blumhouse Productions. Universal Pictures.</div>
Jordan Peele went from half of a goofy Comedy Central pairing to horror auteur with this gem. An interracial couple (Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams) pays her family a visit, hoping to avoid any awkward exchanges. They get just the opposite as the clan endlessly kisses up to Kaluuya’s character.
“I would have voted for Obama for a third term if I could,” brags Bradley Whitford, cast as the young man’s potential father-in-law. Then, slowly, we realize how this progressive family is using black people for nefarious purposes.
The themes are unabashedly progressive, with whites exploiting blacks anew. Peele’s craftsmanship and affinity for horror shine through from the opening sequence. It’s as good as advertised.
The biggest surprise? The film’s ending sets up a tired, evil white cop trope that never happens. Shocking. Truly.
<h2>“Night Of The Living Dead” (1968)</h2>
<div id="attachment_992803" style="width: 385px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063350/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-992803" class="size-full wp-image-992803" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/nld-film.jpg" alt="Image Ten Productions. Continental Distributing." width="375" height="500" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/nld-film.jpg 375w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/nld-film-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes=" (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px" /></a>Image Ten Productions. Continental Distributing.</div>
Director George A. Romero’s zombie classic still has bite, but casting a black actor as its heroic lead (Duane Jones) proved shocking in the turbulent ‘60s. That wasn’t the only reason Jones’ performance left a mark.
The film caps with a group of white hunters, disposing of random zombies stalking the land, accidentally shoot Jones’ character in the head. Romero never hid his progressive bona fides, but he suggested in interviews that the ending’s racial connection was unintentional.
Subconscious or not, the film’s cultural potency is undeniable. So is its fright factor. The black and white original, shot on a tiny budget with no recognizable stars, remains an essential watch each October.
<h2>“Dawn Of The Dead” (1978) </h2>
<div id="attachment_992805" style="width: 380px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077402/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_2"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-992805" class="size-large wp-image-992805" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Dawn-of-the-dead-film-370x576.jpg" alt="Laurel Group Productions. Dawn Associates. United Film Distribution Company." width="370" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Dawn-of-the-dead-film-370x576.jpg 370w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Dawn-of-the-dead-film-193x300.jpg 193w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Dawn-of-the-dead-film.jpg 478w" sizes=" (max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px" /></a>Laurel Group Productions. Dawn Associates. United Film Distribution Company.</div>
Romero, again, uses zombies for more than just brain-munching kills. This time, the undead have swarmed a Pittsburgh-area mall, forcing a small band of humans to scramble for safety.
The horror guru’s visual masterstroke – stumbling, shuffling zombies roaming through an all-American mall, just as they did in their living years. The commentary on consumerism couldn’t be missed this time around, and it didn’t take a lecture or signpost to share it. He said as much <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-george-romeros-progressive-politics-gave-way-to-the-walking-deads-nihilism/">via a 2010 interview</a>:
<blockquote>“If there’s something I’d like to criticize, I can bring the zombies out … I get the financing that way. So I’ve been able to express my political views through those films.” </blockquote>
<h2>“Invasion Of The Body Snatchers” (1956), (1978)</h2>
<div id="attachment_992817" style="width: 381px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077745/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_6_nm_1_in_0_q_Invasion%2520of%2520the%2520body%2520"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-992817" class="size-large wp-image-992817" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Invasion-film-371x576.jpg" alt="SoloFilm Productions. United Artists." width="371" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Invasion-film-371x576.jpg 371w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Invasion-film-193x300.jpg 193w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Invasion-film-768x1193.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Invasion-film.jpg 800w" sizes=" (max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px" /></a>SoloFilm Productions. United Artists.</div>
The 1956 original introduced us to “pod people,” replicated humans who looked like our friends and neighbors but without their humor, personality and heart. And they spread so fast across the culture. Social commentators connected the film to the McCarthy-era anxiety infecting the country at the time. They’re all around us! Beware! You could be one, too!
Others suggested the pod people captured the Communist ethos – worker drones who cast humanity aside for the betterment of The State. Some of the best movies allow for any number of interpretations. Either way, the film endures as a horror classic.
The 1978 remake is even better – chilling, creepy, and capped by an ending that’s both bleak and perfect. Once again, the story spoke to the paranoia of the times – post-Watergate, post-Vietnam – but could address big city fears and other societal ills.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Man silhouette against background of night foggy city

Scary For The Right Reasons. Six Political Horror Movies.

Film Reviews

Glenn Beck

Horror

Politics

Gone are the days of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">It’s a Wonderful Life</a>” wholesomeness for Christmas Day in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">Hollywood</a> community. 
This year’s theatrical releases for December 25 include a film being touted for its explicit sexual content and a gothic horror <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">film</a> remake about a vampire who becomes obsessed with a young woman and takes over her sleep, giving her graphic nightmares.
First up, “Babygirl” starring Nicole Kidman has been generating buzz ever since it was first released following the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The movie’s <a href="https://www.babygirlfilm.com/synopsis/">description</a> says, “A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern.”
Kidman, 57, has talked at length about filming the erotic movie. She said the sheer number of sex scenes became overwhelming. “There was an enormous amount of sharing and trust and then frustration. It’s like, ‘Don’t touch me,’” she said, per <a href="https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/nicole-kidman-babygirl-interview-harris-dickinson-antonio-banderas-b2634689.html">The Independent</a>. 
“There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more. Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life! I’m over it.’ It was so present all the time for me that it was almost like a burnout,” Kidman added.
The actress <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/nicole-kidman-erotic-thriller-babygirl-freeing-didnt-feel-exploited-1236124981/">said</a> “Babygirl” is &#8220;obviously about sex, it’s about desire, it’s about your inner thoughts, it’s about secrets, it’s about marriage, it’s about truth, power, consent&#8221; while speaking at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
“This is one woman’s story and this is, I hope, a very liberating story. It’s told by a woman, through her gaze — Halina [Reijn] wrote it and she directed it — and that’s to me what made it so unique because suddenly I was going to be in the hands of a woman with this material. It was very dear to our shared instincts and very freeing.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Babygirl | Official Trailer 2 HD | A24" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9XXoNB0lVGo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Another movie having a Christmas Day release is “Nosferatu,” a horror film starring Johnny Depp’s 25-year-old daughter Lily-Rose Depp. 
The movie, written and directed by Robert Eggers, is a remake of the 1922 silent film by the same name and both are based on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” novel from 1897.
The description calls it, “A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.”
Depp described how she prepared for the leading female role, telling <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/lily-rose-depp-nosferatu-demonic-sexual-awakening-bible-1235075698/">IndieWire</a> that Eggers encouraged her to read the short story “Péhor” by French author Remy de Gourmont to understand the character.
The actress said de Gourmont’s occult writing was like a “Bible” for her.
“Rob is incredibly well-researched, famously, and so he sent me a lot of references, a lot of movies that had inspired him for the role. He also gave me this text to read, which is called ‘Péhor’, and it’s kind of like a story about a young religious girl who has a sexual awakening love story with a demon,” Depp told the outlet. 
“So, of course, that was quite pertinent for me. I used that kind of like a Bible and found myself reading it again and again as we were shooting.”
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There are other, less provocative offerings at the movie theater during the Christmas holiday for families hoping for some leisure time, including Disney’s newly released “Mufasa” and Paramount&#8217;s action-adventure comedy “Sonic 3.” 
But it’s all too telling that sex and horror movies are being released on one of the most important Christian holidays of the year.

Nosferatu

Hollywood’s Christmas Day Releases: Glorified Porn And A ‘Sexy Vampire’ Horror Film

Hollywood's Christmas Day Releases: Glorified Porn And A 'Sexy Vampire' Horror Film

Christmas

Movie Theaters

Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss was on-hand for a special screening of his 1975 movie &#8220;Jaws&#8221; at the Cabot Theater in Beverly, Massachusetts — but when he appeared onstage to participate in a Q &amp; A session with the audience, things apparently went sideways.
Dreyfuss, according to audience members and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXQni965-uc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> circulating on social media, made his grand entrance wearing a dress over his clothes, shuffling and shaking his hips to Taylor Swift&#8217;s &#8220;Love Story.&#8221; After a minute, two staffers rushed onto the stage and helped him to remove the dress — but he continued to play up the dance moves until he had replaced the dress with a blazer.
According to <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/richard-dreyfuss-jaws-offensive-rant.html?utm_medium=s1&amp;utm_source=tw&amp;utm_campaign=vulture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several reports</a>, Dreyfuss then made a series of &#8220;misogynistic&#8221; and &#8220;transphobic&#8221; comments, allegedly complaining about the #MeToo movement and taking a swing at singer Barbra Streisand, suggesting that women &#8220;shouldn&#8217;t have that much power.&#8221;
He went on to criticize the transgender movement, saying that parents who allowed their children to self-determine their genders were not good parents. Attendee Diane Wolfe told The Boston Globe that Dreyfuss said &#8220;the parents of trans youth, allowing them to transition, was bad parenting and that someday those kids might change their minds.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Richard Dreyfuss generates scandal by saying something sensible and correct that all sane people know to be true but that everyone has been propagandized into regarding as wrongthink <a href="https://t.co/ju5zauEEhM">https://t.co/ju5zauEEhM</a>
— Wesley Yang (@wesyang) <a href="https://twitter.com/wesyang/status/1795253585825136806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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At the end of the session, Dreyfuss referenced the book he published last year on the lack of civics education in schools.
&#8220;It’s about the fact that 50 years ago, without telling anybody, they took civics out of the curriculum of all public schools in America, which means we have no knowledge of who the hell we are,&#8221; Dreyfuss said. &#8220;And if we don’t get it back soon, we’re all going to die. Make sure your kids are not the last generation of Americans. And you know exactly what I’m talking about.&#8221;
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WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Richard Dreyfuss - End of Q&amp;A Cabot Theater Beverly Mass" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfV0U1bb8fg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&nbsp;
Cabot executive director J. Casey Soward issued a statement amid the backlash:
<blockquote>We are aware of, and share serious concerns, following the recent event with Richard Dreyfuss prior to a screening of the film Jaws at The Cabot. The views expressed by Mr. Dreyfuss do not reflect the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold as an organization.
We deeply regret the distress that this has caused to many of our patrons. We regret that an event that was meant to be a conversation to celebrate an iconic movie instead became a platform for political views. We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for the discomfort it caused to many patrons.
We are in active dialogue with our patrons about their experience and are committed to learning from this event how to better enact our mission of entertaining, educating and inspiring our community</blockquote>

FAN EXPO Denver

‘Jaws’ Actor Says Kids Shouldn’t Change Genders, Theater Issues Apology

'Jaws' Actor Says Kids Shouldn't Change Genders, Theater Issues Apology

Transgender

Woke Culture

One of the stars from the 1999 horror film “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/horror-movies">The Blair Witch Project</a>” is speaking out against Lionsgate after the studio announced a forthcoming <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">reboot</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">Actor</a> Joshua Leonard said he felt “frustration” upon hearing the news because of how he felt the studio treated him after the original film’s release. Leonard detailed some of his complaints in a lengthy Instagram post.
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&#8220;The WEIRD PART is that I didn&#8217;t know anything about it until a friend sent me a &#8216;congrats&#8217; screenshot yesterday,&#8221; he wrote of the reboot announcement, which was shared at CinemaCon on April 10. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been thinking a lot about this time, after seeing my BWP collaborators recently and sharing memories… sweet AND f***ed-up ones.&#8221;
Leonard also alleged in the post that he and his co-stars were paid much less than $4 million, which is what an anonymous &#8220;Hollywood insider&#8221; said they received. &#8220;We made [$300,000]… and NEVER saw another dime,&#8221; the actor insisted.
“The Blair Witch Project” is a fictional story about three student filmmakers who hike into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland, to make a documentary about a local figure known as “The Blair Witch.” The students all disappear, but their footage is found a year later.
The movie was shot in Maryland over eight days and cost around $60,000 to make, per <a href="https://ew.com/original-blair-witch-star-blasts-25-years-of-disrespect-reboot-8633963">Entertainment Weekly</a>.
It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1999 and was purchased for $1.1 million by Artisan Entertainment, which was acquired by Lionsgate in 2003. “BWP” earned close to $250 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful independent films of all time. 
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Leonard also claimed that because the actors used their real names in the movie, &#8220;the studio claimed copyright. We had to take them to federal court to win OUR NAMES back.&#8221;
He said, &#8220;There were many factors that made BWP a success: timing, marketing, etc. But there was also the FACT that us weirdos got together, with virtually no resources, AND MADE A FILM THAT WORKED! Can we just go on record and say that the film itself is a huge part of why we&#8217;re still talking about it 25 years later?”
Leonard concluded, “I&#8217;m so proud of our little punk-rock movie, and I LOVE the fans who keep the flames burning. But at this point, it&#8217;s 25 years of disrespect from the folks who&#8217;ve pocketed the lion&#8217;s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and that feels both icky and classless.&#8221;

Blair Witch Project

Original ‘Blair Witch Project’ Actor Blasts Lionsgate Amid Remake Announcement: ’25 Years Of Disrespect’

Original 'Blair Witch Project' Actor Blasts Lionsgate Amid Remake Announcement: '25 Years Of Disrespect'

U.S.

Director <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tim-burton">Tim Burton</a> will team up with best-selling “Gone Girl” author Gillian Flynn to remake the 1958 sci-fi horror <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">film</a> “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman.”
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">project</a> will be released with Warner Bros. Studios, according to a report from <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/tim-burton-gillian-flynn-remake-attack-fifty-foot-woman-1235894570/">Variety</a>. The outlet noted how Burton will serve as the film’s director while Flynn is responsible for crafting the script. 
In the original movie, a woman grows to gigantic proportions after an encounter with an alien, and she uses her new size to get revenge on her unfaithful husband.
The original 1958 “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman” featured Allison Hayes, William Hudson, and Yvette Vickers in leading roles. It had a production of $88,000, the outlet noted. The original film currently has a 71% critic score and 21% audience rating on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1001323-attack_of_the_50_foot_woman">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.
It’s also not immediately apparent what changes will be incorporated into the remake. The movie was remade in 1993 by HBO with Christopher Guest serving as director. There were also several failed or abandoned remakes prior to that, and a few spinoffs, including a parody called “Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold” (1995) and a 3D film called “Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader” in 2012.
Flynn is no stranger to Hollywood. The 52-year-old author wrote and produced the HBO limited series adaptation of another one of her books, “Sharp Objects,” which earned her an Emmy nomination and the Writers Guild of America Award. Flynn was also co-writer on the screenplay for “Widows” (2018) and wrote the screenplay for David Fincher’s 2014 thriller “Gone Girl,” which was based on her book.
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Burton, 65, is a Hollywood mainstay known for his gothic horror and fantasy films. He rose to fame with projects such as “Beetlejuice” (1988) and “Edward Scissorhands” (1990). He has directed a host of other films, including “Batman” (1989), “Batman Returns” (1992), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Frankenweenie” (2012), “Mars Attacks!” (1996), “Planet of the Apes” (2001), “Sleepy Hollow” (1999), “Big Fish” (2003), “Alice in Wonderland” (2010), “Dark Shadows” (2012), “Dumbo” (2019), plus the musicals “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005) and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007).
The director is currently working on the “Beetlejuice” sequel.

Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman

Tim Burton Will Team Up With ‘Gone Girl’ Author For Remake Of Classic ’50s Sci-Fi Movie

Tim Burton Will Team Up With 'Gone Girl' Author For Remake Of Classic '50s Sci-Fi Movie

Tim Burton

Warner Bros

It’s been many years since the famed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">filmmakers</a>, the Coen brothers, teamed up for a movie. 
Joel and Ethan Coen haven’t <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">collaborated</a> on a new project since the American Western anthology film, “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” in 2018. Now they’re getting together once again for what Ethan confirmed would be a “very bloody” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/horror-movies">horror movie</a> that’s also humorous.
The brothers have been working separately lately, with Joel putting out an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” starring Denzel Washington in 2021. Ethan will soon release the comedy “Drive-Away Dolls,” which was co-written with his wife Tricia Cooke and stars Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Beanie Feldstein.
At a “Drive-Away Dolls Q&amp;A” event in Tromsø, Norway, Ethan shared that he and Joel had written a new script together and would also direct it together. 
“It’s a pure horror film, and it gets very bloody,” Ethan said. “If you like ‘Blood Simple,’ I think you&#8217;ll enjoy it,” he added, referencing the brothers’ first film, a violent neo-noir which premiered in 1984.
He also called the script for the new project “horribly funny.”
Ethan had previously talked about his decision to make films separately from his brother after years of them being thought of as a single entity in Hollywood, per <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/coen-brothers-horror-film-2024-b2486964.html">The Independent</a>. 
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“You start out when you’re a kid and you want to make a movie. Everything’s enthusiasm and gung-ho, let’s go make a movie. And the first movie is just loads of fun,” he said in 2022 while promoting “Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind,” which he also made with Cooke.
“And then the second movie is loads of fun, almost as much fun as the first. And after 30 years, not that it’s no fun, but it’s more of a job than it had been. Joel kind of felt the same way but not to the extent that I did.”
He continued, “It’s an inevitable by-product of aging. And the last two movies we made, me and Joel together, were really difficult in terms of production. I mean, really difficult. So if you don’t have to do it, you go at a certain point: Why am I doing this?”

Coen Brothers

Coen Brothers To Reunite For ‘Very Bloody’ Horror Film

Coen Brothers To Reunite For 'Very Bloody' Horror Film

Celebrities

A new horror movie featuring the “Steamboat Willie” version of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mickey-mouse">Mickey Mouse</a> is currently in the works, per a Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/steamboat-willie-horror-film-mickey-mouse-public-domain-copyright-1235849861/">report</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/disney">Disney&#8217;s</a> copyright to “Steamboat Willie” expired Monday, along with its right to the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, though the company still holds <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/copyright">copyrights</a> for more modern versions of these iconic characters. &#8220;Steamboat Willie&#8221; is an animated short from 1928 that is widely considered the debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters, however, Mickey doesn&#8217;t look the same as the modern versions of the cartoon. <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/01/1221606624/mickey-mouse-public-domain-disney">According</a> to NPR, &#8220;he&#8217;s more rascally and rough.&#8221;
Independent filmmaker Steven LaMorte released a statement announcing his intentions to capitalize on this new development by making Mickey the main character in a horror flick.
“Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror,” LaMorte said in a press release, per the outlet. “It’s a project I’ve been dreaming of, and I can’t wait to unleash this twisted take on this beloved character to the world.”
LaMorte also directed “The Mean One” (2022) a horror film starring the Dr. Seuss character The Grinch. The movie grossed $1 million in theaters.
“It all comes from our love of these characters,” he said in an interview. “Filmmakers — we’re all kids in the sandbox. We love taking them and playing with them in different ways. It’s not a desire to ruin these characters or make a quick buck, but to love them and honor them and show them in a new light.”
“We are doing our due diligence to make sure there’s no question or confusion of what we’re up to,” LaMorte added. “This is our version of a public domain character. It’s a scary thrill ride with heart and humor, based on this character that everybody knows.” He also said that the film&#8217;s producers are working with a legal team to ensure the film version of Mickey is compliant.
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Disney said in a statement last month the company would be diligent about protecting the copyright-protected version of Mickey Mouse. 
“We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters,” the company said. 
This development is similar to what happened when the children’s storybook characters Winnie the Pooh and Piglet became public domain property last year. The horror film “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey&#8221; featuring Pooh and Piglet as deranged serial killers was released last January to mixed reviews.
The “Winnie the Pooh” character Tigger also entered the public domain on January 1, 2024.

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse Horror Film Announced As ‘Steamboat Willie’ Enters Public Domain

Mickey Mouse Horror Film Announced As 'Steamboat Willie' Enters Public Domain

copyright

Disney

Actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/celebrities">Linda Blair</a> said she was surprised by the success of her most famous <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">movie</a>, “The Exorcist,” which debuted in theaters 50 years ago on December 26, 1973.
The star was just 14 years old when she was cast in the lead part of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">horror film</a> about a young girl who becomes possessed by a demon. She spoke with <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/exorcist-star-linda-blair-no-idea-movie-would-be-cult-classic">Fox News Digital</a> about her experience filming the movie and how she reacted to the unexpected attention the film received around the world.
&#8220;For me, it was so not Hollywood. I had no idea,&#8221; Blair told the outlet. &#8220;Mom and I just thought, ‘Oh, you know, your project, if it gets a little airing, the commercial runs,’ and that wasn&#8217;t the case. The case was it became an international controversial sensation around the world.&#8221;
Blair said the movie studio sent her on tour in part to prove that she was just acting and not actually possessed.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a very intense movie. My hope is that people would realize it&#8217;s about good and evil, and that is playing out right now on the planet with the war in Israel, and we can do better. We can absolutely do better,&#8221; she continued.
The 64-year-old star also talked about the conditions on the movie set.
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&#8220;The temperature, which people forget because we didn&#8217;t have all of the incredible magic that we now have with filmmaking,&#8221; Blair revealed to Fox News. &#8220;So it was 17 below in the morning, and then it was zero when we were filming and very uncomfortable and the makeup was such cutting edge, like pieces are glued on my face and the contacts were very uncomfortable.&#8221;
She also discussed how it was uncomfortable to say swear words which were in the script for her character.
&#8220;[Director] Billy Friedkin rewrote a lot of the script, my dialogue, and would tell me in secret the night before. I&#8217;d say, &#8216;Well, I can&#8217;t say that,&#8217; and he&#8217;d say, ‘No, no, you can.’ So he&#8217;s the culprit behind all that nasty language and I had to do it,&#8221; Blair said. &#8220;That was hard for me because I wasn&#8217;t raised to be like that.&#8221;
Overall, the actress’s feelings about the movie are positive. 
&#8220;Of course, anybody can reflect back on things that are painful to them and uncomfortable memories, but you have to try to compartmentalize and move forward,&#8221; Blair said. 
“The Exorcist” had mixed reviews but still managed to nab $193 million during its theatrical run. It was the first horror film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. It was nominated for a total of 10 Academy Awards, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.

The Exorcist

Linda Blair Says She Had ‘No Idea’ That ‘The Exorcist’ Would Be So Popular

Linda Blair Says She Had 'No Idea' That 'The Exorcist' Would Be So Popular

Parents of students in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> charter <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/public-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener">school</a> are upset that their fourth graders were shown a&#8221;Winnie the Pooh&#8221;-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/watch/movies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">horror movie</a> in class and that the teacher allegedly refused to turn it off even as the students were begging him to.
Michelle Diaz said her twins were deeply affected by seeing the horror film “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” at their school, The Academy of Innovative Education in Miami Springs. She said their math teacher put on the movie during class time. 
The film is unrated and contains graphic depictions of violence, murder, torture, nudity, and profanity. 
Diaz said the students’ pleas for the teacher to turn it off went unanswered. “He didn&#8217;t stop the movie, even though there were kids saying, ‘Hey, stop the movie, we don&#8217;t want to watch this,’” the mom told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/parents-horrified-after-teacher-shows-inappropriate-movie-at-local-school/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a> of the incident. 
While she says some students picked the movie, she didn’t see that as a valid reason for showing it in school. “It&#8217;s not for them to decide what they want to. It&#8217;s up to the professor to look at the content,” Diaz told the outlet.
“Blood and Honey” is a British indie film and features the children&#8217;s book characters Pooh and Piglet going on a murderous rampage, which includes smashing a victim&#8217;s head with a sledgehammer, decapitating a person, and feeding a woman into a woodchipper, among other horrific scenes.
The school issued a statement regarding the incident, saying some students had met with a counselor after viewing a portion of the film. 
&#8220;The Academy for Innovative Education has become aware that a segment of a horror movie was shown to fourth graders, Monday, October 2, 2023, that was not suitable for the age group,&#8221; the statement said.
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“Our administration promptly addressed this issue directly with the teacher and has taken appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of students.”
Head of School Vera Hirsh told <a href="https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/winnie-the-pooh-horror-movie-shown-to-children-in-florida-school-18006345?fbclid=IwAR1vrGPBJie2G5d2U---jgCVFo5aJKHzLTq_t5gOKeb2aKtDJsNk05ZboIg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miami New Times</a> that “as soon as the teacher realized what was being shown, the movie was turned off.”
She also said only twenty to thirty minutes of the film was seen and that, “Most of the film&#8217;s grisly murder scenes take place later in the movie.”
Hirsch said the incident had been “thoroughly addressed with teachers, students, and parents” and that the students who saw the horror movie were “in school and doing fine.”
This incident is reminiscent of a Tennessee teacher who was <a href="https://ew.com/article/2016/04/29/human-centipede-2-high-school/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended in 2016</a> for showing his high school class the graphic and violent horror film “Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence” during class.

Kid TV

Florida Parents Furious Their Fourth Graders Were Shown ‘Winnie The Pooh’ Horror Film In School

Florida Parents Furious Their Fourth Graders Were Shown 'Winnie The Pooh' Horror Film In School

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