Who wrote ‘Blazing Saddles’ and when did it first come out?

The 21st century has seen a slew of Black cowboys as movie heroes, but long before Idris Elba and David Oyelowo were breathing life into dreamy historical gunslingers, there wasn’t much representation out there. The Blacksplotation films of the 1970s were on the rise, stomping out the few gains that groundbreaking Black actors like Sydney Poiter had worked so hard for.

The best comedy is often born out of frustration, and legendary comedian Richard Pryor has been lauded as one of the best comedians of all time for his candid approach to conversations about race.  With the help of Mel Brooks and a crack team of comedic writers, Pryor called out racists the only way he knew how; drop-dead hilarious jokes for the wildly inappropriate comedy, Blazing Saddles.

Who wrote Blazing Saddles?

For those unfamiliar, Blazing Saddles is the quintessential Western comedy. A small town is caught between a rock and a hard place when a corrupt politician, Headley Lamar (Harvey Korman) starts working with the local Railroad to evict the residents and install new ones. Lamat tries to drive out the townsfolk by hiring a Black miner, Bart (Cleavon Little) on his way to the gallows as the new sheriff. Bart partners with The Waco Kid (Gene Wilder) to save the town. But that wasn’t what the film was originally intended to be.

The initial idea came from Andrew Bergman (The Freshmen, It Could Happen to You), which he described as “H. Rap Brown (a prominent member of the Black Panther Party) meets the Old West.” The film was almost made with James Earl Jones as the main character, but it fell through at the last minute. It was then offered to Mel Brooks.

Brooks was fresh off his office flop, The Twelve Chairs, and had a newborn to support. Reluctant to take on someone else’s script but left with little choice, Brooks took the job – as long as he could rewrite the script. He was allowed, and Brooks harkened back to his early days as a writer in sketch comedy. To pull it off, he needed a crack team of comedians. He called Bergman back, tapped Norman Steinberg (Johnny Dangerously), Alan Uger (Family Ties), and most importantly, reached out to Richard Pryor.

Pryor was still in the early years of expanding his career from standup to the screen, but had already established his brand of speaking truth to power, and striking nerves over social commentary about race and the human condition. Brooks wanted Pryor’s candid commentary, and that “anything goes” spirit laced the script.

In the years since, Brooks has talked about the chaotic nature of the process; the comedians shouted outlandish ideas over one another in a desperate bid to make the others laugh. The result was a take-no-prisoners script that poked fun at everyone, liberally used the N-word (though likely less than it would have been used during the 1800s), and mocked the simple farmers, people of the land, and common clay of the West (morons) the most.   

When was Blazing Saddles released?

The Western parody was almost scrapped before its release. Brooks recalled that during the preview presented to the executives at Warner Bros., the studio’s then-head of distribution recommended that they “dump” the film and take a loss. Despite the lackluster response from the studio, the movie premiered on February 7, 1974, at a drive-in movie theatre. Gene Wilder and Clevon Little watched the film from horseback.

The movie was met with mixed reviews. Critics were torn on the quality of the jokes, remarking that it was “middling comedy”, “outrageous and tasteless,” and too stuffed with gags. Others praised the non-stop humor and outlandish jokes, and the film was popular enough to spawn a prospective television series following Black Bart. The pilot was never picked up, but curious fans can find the single episode on the 20th anniversary DVD.

The film won the Writers Guild of America’s award for Best Comedy in 1975, and it was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2006 alongside Rocky, Halloween, and Groundhog Day, just to name a few.

Like a fine wine, Blazing Saddles’ reviews have gotten better with age. It now holds 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has been rereleased several times over the years. Its ‘74 run made just under $28 million at the box office. The 1976 rereleased garnered $10.5 million, and the 1979 snagged a further $8 million.  

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How to watch all ‘Avatar’ movies in order and where to stream them

James Cameron rarely misses.

Personally, he’s not my favorite director, but even I can’t deny his cultural relevance. He’s the talented force behind three of the top five box office earners of all time. I don’t care what you say — or what you think of Titanic or the Avatar franchise — that’s impressive.

The Avatar franchise is clearly Cameron’s future, with another three entries in the film series already slated for release over the next decade. The award-winning director is pouring his heart and soul into the stunningly realized fantasy franchise, and he’s got little time for anything else.

The Avatar franchise, in order

Photo via 20th Century Studios

Only two Avatar movies are currently out, which makes this list pretty straightforward. Avatar: The Way of Water follows Avatar chronologically, which makes any viewing of the entire franchise nice and easy. You’ll want to start with the 2009 original, which sets down the origin story and lays out the core details of the universe, before diving into 2022’s The Way of Water, which serves as the next step in the journey.

Things will turn much more complicated when Avatar 3, 4, and 5 arrive in theaters, particularly as other canon stories, told through different mediums — like 2023’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, a video game — add new characters, lore, and complexities into the mix.

Where to stream Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water

via 20th Century Studios

Both Avatar and The Way of Water are currently available on streaming, so long as you subscribe to the right services. Viewers can take a journey through Pandora via either Disney Plus, where both films are currently streamable, or with a subscription to Max. Its likely that the impending continuations of the franchise will likewise land on these services, making the monthly cost of at least one well worth it for James Cameron fans.

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Will there be a ‘The Grinch 2’ movie?

The Facebook movie poster industrial complex is at it again — and just in time for Christmas! If you’ve been on the famously chaotic social media site this holiday season, you may have seen some posters promoting a sequel to How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

According to reliable sources — including Carrey himself — here’s what we know about plans for a potential sequel so far.

Is a sequel to The Grinch in the works?

Image via Imagine Entertainment/Universal Pictures

So far, there are no official plans for a sequel movie to How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Neither Ron Howard nor Universal Pictures have made any statement regarding an upcoming second Grinch film. The Dr. Seuss children’s novel of the same name, first published in 1957, has no direct sequel story, so there is no source material to work from. Any attempt at using the Grinch character in new material would most likely require permission from Dr. Seuss’ estate.

Given the fact that Seuss died in 1991, as well as the fact that his estate is notoriously picky about the author’s public image and legacy, often plucking books out of publication if they do not meet the tastes of modern readers, a legacy sequel of any sort seems unlikely.

Several subsequent Seuss films — notably The Lorax (2012), the 2018 CGI animation adaptation of The Grinch, and who could forget 2003’s The Cat in the Hat? — have been met with negative critical reviews and lukewarm audience reactions. With this in mind, movie studios are probably not in a rush to attempt to adapt any more Seuss works any time soon.

Could there ever be a Grinch sequel?

Jim Carrey describes himself as “not a crazy sequel guy,” and has almost always avoided joining follow-ups to his most popular films. Any live-action Grinch movie that is produced in the future most likely will not include Carrey, replacing him as the lead, as this was the case in sequels to movies like The Mask, Bruce Almighty, and several others.

Speaking to People, a representative for Carrey said that there “is no truth to Jim reprising his role as the Grinch in a sequel to The Grinch,” although Universal Pictures did not respond to a request for comment – perhaps suggesting a reboot rather than a sequel, or at least a re-casting.

In an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Carrey revealed that had to undergo CIA torture training to cope with the eight hours a day in the makeup chair – completed over 100 times – required to apply the prosthetics for the role. We’re guessing he isn’t up for doing that again any time soon.

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When did the first ‘Chicken Run’ come out and who was in the cast?

If you had been in a coma for about two decades, 2023 might’ve actually been a comforting year to wake up as it’s been full of nostalgia-bait releases. Michael Keaton was back in Batman, Frasier returned to our screens, and a new Chicken Run movie came out.

The first Chicken Run is a beloved childhood favorite for those of a certain age, so the arrival of a long-awaited sequel in the form of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget on Netflix has been welcomed with open arms (or wings). Aardman Animations, purveyors of globally popular yet distinctly British stop-motion entertainment, have never been one to rush sequels — we’re still waiting on another feature-length Wallace and Gromit! — but how long has it been specifically since the original film?

When did the original Chicken Run release?

Photo via Aardman Animations

Chicken Run came out on June 23, 2000 in U.S. theaters, meaning that it’s taken an entire 23 and a half years for Dawn of the Nugget to arrive.

That extreme gap makes a lot more sense, though, when you consider the “quality before quantity” mindset that sets Aardman apart from most production studios. Since Chicken Run marked Aardman’s first feature-length film, the studio has only released a total of nine more, including Dawn of the Nugget. Similarly, only one of these has been a sequel — 2015’s Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon.

Basically, if you’re hoping for Chicken Run 3, get ready to enjoy that around 2050.

Who was in the cast of the original Chicken Run?

Photo via Aardman Animations

Naturally, given the massive span of time that bridges Chicken Run and Chicken Run 2, the casts of both movies look a little different. Dawn of the Nugget stars Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi as Ginger and Rocky, for example, neither of whom feature in the 2000 film.

Instead, Julia Sawalha played Ginger, while Mel Gibson voiced Rocky the first time around. Sawalha is a prolific star on British television screens, probably most known for sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, who was particularly prominent in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Gibson, meanwhile, is in a very different place in his career and public reputation these days to where he was at the turn of the century, to put it lightly. That may have something to do with why neither actor returns for the follow-up, although Sawalha has publicly hit back at the decision to replace her with Newton.

Chicken Run‘s supporting cast, meanwhile, included the likes of Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter), Phil Daniels, and Benjamin Whitrow. All three have been replaced for the sequel by Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, and David Bradley (Argus Filch in Harry Potter), respectively. Four key players from the first are involved in the new film, however. Namely, Jane Horrocks, Lynn “sister of Craig” Ferguson, and Imelda Staunton (Professor Umbridge in Harry Potter). And, most notably, villain Mrs. Tweedy is once again portrayed by Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter).

A lot has changed in 23 years, but two things remain certain. The public never tires of watching chickens made from Play-Doh and about 75% of all British actors have appeared in Harry Potter.

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Who is Skar King? ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ villain, explained

What’s old is new again, time is a flat circle, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire looks set to continue Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse franchise deeper into a world of city-sized cage matches like the post-1954 Godzilla movies of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

You can’t have a monster-of-the-week battle without a monster of the week, and this week’s monster is fresh. He’s new. He’s the monkey-fraggin’ Titan who’s beggin’ for a bitin’. More than any of that, he’s assuredly not just a mashup of words that a hungover screenwriter came up with while staring at a copy of Simba’s Pride on Blu-ray. Ladies and gentlemen, he’s the Skar King, 

Based on the first trailer for Godzilla x Kong, eagle-eyed viewers can glean a few choice facts about this latest kaiju menace. Skar King is a little nasty guy. Whereas Kong is a giant gorilla and Godzilla is a giant shrug, Skar King is a big old orangutan. Unfortunately, this means that he can probably be expected to use very large sticks to pull enormous termites out of the ground, which feels like the last thing that people in the MonsterVerse need.

What’s this Skar King’s deal, anyway?

Image via Warner Bros.

The brief glimpses that we’ve seen of Kong’s latest adversary paint a grim picture for newly-minted friends – and, in a perfect world, soon-to-be-lovers – Godzilla and Kong. Skar King displays the “early days of Planet of the Apes” intelligence necessary to not only remove the spine from a fellow giant monster, but also deem it fashionable enough to wear as a jaunty accessory. This implies either an incredible level of fine dexterity, or the existence of a Big and Really Really Tall Store in the subterranean kingdom that time forgot.

Maybe his most intriguing feature: Skar King is briefly shown to have faintly glowing blue eyes. Whether this is a stylistic choice or a hint that we’ll be seeing dueling atomic breaths in the new movie is yet to be determined, but Godzilla-adjacent nuclear halitosis would certainly go a long way toward explaining how the new antagonist managed to slaughter a whole mess of Kong’s relatives, as seen in the film’s first trailer.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently slated for release April 12, 2024, assuming that release dates for Warner Bros. tentpole pictures are genuine and not just aspirational thinking on the part of the studio. In the meantime, fans of monster mashes are encouraged to check out Toho’s Godzilla Minus One, the reimagining of the iconic kaiju’s origin story that’s currently thrashing box office expectations through the simple art of being completely metal.

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Every way ‘Deadpool 3’ is confirmed to crossover with the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and the MCU

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Deadpool 3.

It’s lucky Wade Wilson has a healing factor because he’s about to seriously strain something carrying the entire MCU on his back.

Deadpool 3 is officially the only Marvel Studios movie releasing in 2024, which means the pressure on the already much-anticipated threequel to be everything we want it to be has hit astronomical levels. Not only does Shawn Levy’s film have to introduce Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with the Mouth into the MCU, it’s also bringing back Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and potentially half the X-Men universe too. And Taylor Swift.

Typically, Marvel fans expect the latest MCU film with even a dash of multiversal flavoring to include everything but the kitchen sink from Avengers Tower. And yet, just this once, it looks like Deadpool 3 might fully deliver on all the crossover connections, Easter eggs, and Multiverse Saga shenanigans we’ve been waiting for. Here’s every way DP3 is confirmed to crossover with the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and the wider MCU to date.

Hugh Jackman and the Deadpool gang

Photo via Marvel Studios

This one goes without saying but, hey, let’s say it anyway. Yes, the most notable way Deadpool 3 crosses over with Fox’s universe is in bringing back Hugh Jackman’s Logan. Complete with classic yellow and blue uniform. What’s more, much of the supporting cast from the first two DP movies are back as well, including Morena Baccarin, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Stefan Kapičić, Shioli Kutsuna, and even Rob Delaney as Peter.

Say hi to Sabretooth

Photo via 20th Century Fox

OK, now we’re digging a little deeper. With filming resuming in the U.K. following the conclusion of the actors’ strike, set photos from DP3 have confirmed that none other than Sabretooth will feature, with images depicting Deadpool and Wolvie battling the beastly bad guy. Surprisingly, it’s not the Liev Schreiber incarnation who’s back but the OG Tyler Mane version from 2000’s X-Men. Although whether it just resembles him or Mane is reprising his role is unclear at this time. Either way, it doesn’t look like Sabretooth is the one who wins this fight…

Do you know what happens to a toad when it crosses the multiverse?

Screenshot via 20th Century Fox

The answer? The same thing that happens to everything else. You got it, joining Sabretooth in the unlikely trend for Magneto’s lackies from the first X-Men film to make Deadpool 3 comebacks is Toad. Once again, set photos have revealed his role in the threequel, and like Sabretooth, the design for Toad matches his appearance in 2000 rather than the recast/reimagined character from 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. It’s hard to say if Ray Park (who also famously played Darth Maul in Star Wars) is back in the part. Fingers crossed we get a Toad/Storm rematch!

Get your Fantastic Four crumbs here

Screenshot via 20th Century Fox

Curiously, rumors are thin on the ground about any of the legacy Fantastic Four cast-members appearing in DP3 — not even Reynolds’ old pal Chris Evans! — but we can say that the film will tip its hat to Marvel’s First Family all the same. In a bizarre mish-mash of IPs, Toad is captured on the DP3 set driving the Fantasticar, the FF’s answer to the Batmobile. It’s not the sleek 2007 model from Rise of the Silver Surfer, though, but a recreation of the classic boxy 1960s version from the comics. Once again, believe me when I say this one is for the fans.

Moon Knight’s cupcake van lives again

Image via Marvel Studios

Did the Fantasticar whet your appetite for more obscure Marvel vehicles to feature in Deadpool 3? Well, then, you’re in luck as further set photos confirm that a modified, souped-up version of the cupcake van Oscar Isaac drives in the quirky chase sequence from Moon Knight‘s first episode is making a surprise comeback. Moon Knight’s having something of a subtle resurgence in the MCU of late, what with that Loki season 2 Easter egg.

Quick, to the Red Skull Mobile!

Image via Marvel Studios

Another bizarre Marvel car? You bet! Clearly, Deadpool 3 will be partially set in a Mad Max-like world where characters drive around in vehicles stolen from across reality. In addition to the Fantasticar and the Moon Knight van, what looks very much like Red Skull’s HYDRA coupe from Captain America: The First Avenger has also been glimpsed on the set. Probably don’t expect the scarlet Nazi himself to show up, but then who knows where he ended up after Avengers: Endgame.

Just a Minuteman

Image via Marvel Studios

Basically, from what we can ascertain, Deadpool 3 sees Wade and Logan end up in some desert-like terrain that is home to the detritus of the Marvel multiverse. If this sounds like The Void from Loki lore, that’s because this is probably exactly what it is. More set pics have showcased a glimpse at a TVA minuteman, which is just the latest sign that the Time Variance Authority will have a key role in the movie. Whether Tom Hiddleston or Owen Wilson will turn up, though, remains to be seen.

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Will ‘GTA 6’ be available on PC?

In case you thought GTA 6 was some kind of gaming myth, Rockstar decided to prove everyone wrong with the first glimpse at the upcoming game.

Grand Theft Auto is a prolific series in the gaming community, with multiple entries spanning generation after generation of console. The release of GTA 5 still holds the record of 2nd-best-selling game of all time, with over $8 billion generated in revenue from the game over the past 10 years. But considering that game was first released during the PS3/Xbox 360 generation, it’s no surprise people are ready to move onto GTA 6.

On December 4, 2023, Rockstar dropped a teaser trailer for GTA 6, which already has fans comparing the new game to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Featuring a new set of lead characters, the game is set for release in 2025 at some point. However, fans got an early look at the game through a leak back in September 2022, showing unfinished test footage of the upcoming release.

As of right now, details about the game are minimal. But if you’re someone whose enjoyed modding your PC copy of GTA 5 to death, you’re not going to like this news. Rockstar has confirmed that the game will be rolling out on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2025. Note the lack of a PC port in the announcement.

This isn’t completely surprising, considering GTA 5 took a year and a half to launch of PC after launching on Playstation and Xbox. If the timing would be the same, PC gamers could enjoy GTA 6 on their setups sometime late 2026 or early 2027. However, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition did get a same-day release across PC, Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, so we may get information later on indicating the same thing. We’ll keep you updated as more information regarding the game releases.

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What was the budget for ‘Saltburn?’

Few films have garnered quite as much buzz in 2023 as Saltburn, the psycho-sexual thriller from Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell. From a scene-stealing performance by Rosamund Pike to a particularly eyebrow-raising moment involving Barry Keoghan and a bathtub, Saltburn has sent the Twittersphere (X-osphere doesn’t have quite the same ring) alight, not least because of its Instagram-ready cinematography. 

Indeed, almost every scene in Saltburn oozes wealth, which is no-doubt intentional given its take on an eat-the-rich fairytale. The film follows an Oxford University freshman (Keoghan) as he becomes enamoured with a popular student (Jacob Elordi) and later weasels his way into a million-dollar luxury family estate.

While that premise alone is enough to make this writer feel poor, was the budget for Saltburn equally eye-watering?

What was the budget for Saltburn?

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

While the official production budget for Saltburn is not yet known, estimates suggest that the film cost somewhere between $10 to $38 million to make. For context, Fennell’s debut feature film, Promising Young Woman, had a budget of around $10 million, and went on to make $18.9 million at the worldwide box office. 

Some pundits suggest that $8 million of Saltburn’s budget was spent on its starry cast, which includes Academy Award nominees Richard E. Grant, Keoghan and Pike, as well as a cameo from Carey Mulligan. Showbiz Galore lists Keoghan’s salary for Saltburn at $400,000, while his co-lead, Elordi, reportedly earned $320,000. 

The filming locations might’ve proved equally expensive, with much of Saltburn shot at Northamptonshire’s Drayton House, a Grade I listed country house built in the 1300s which has never been used for a film before. 

It’s also worth noting that Saltburn enlisted a range of high-profile collaborators who likewise brought its budget into the millions. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren, who elsewhere won an Academy Award for his work on La La Land, was involved in the project, and so too was Bridgerton Emmy-nominee and costume designer Sophie Canale.   

If we’re looking towards the lower end of Saltburn’s reported budget, the film is on track to recuperate its costs, with Deadline reporting that it earned $6.23 million at the domestic box office since its November premiere and $9.4 million internationally, for a combined total of over $15 million. In any case, we may have to wait some time until official details around Saltburn’s budget and box office success are revealed. 

Saltburn is currently showing in theatres, and will be available to stream on Prime Video on December 22.        

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Is the ‘FernGully: The Last Rainforest’ live-action movie releasing Christmas 2024? The rumors, explained

When it comes to adapting animated adventures, which studio does it better than Disney? Although come to think of it, there aren’t many others out there doing that in the first place. Disney might be the only one who can.

From The Lion King to The Little Mermaid, the House of Mouse knows a thing or two about bringing some of its most beloved films into… a whole new world. (Sorry, it was right in front of me.) So, when I caught a TikTok supposing that FernGully: The Last Rainforest was being transformed into a live-action movie, I didn’t think twice. After a little digging, though, I should have.

Where did the FernGully remake rumors come from?

@blasted_bill

live action Ferngully

♬ original sound – Blasted Bill

Well, this is fake. Actually, it’s faker than fake, it’s TikTok fake — which is so much worse. Sorry, folks. FernGully is not coming to theaters any time soon and certainly isn’t going to be around Christmas of 2024 no matter how hard you wish for it.

The TikTok has a user showing a fan-made poster and walking through the “confirmed” casting. According to him, Hugh Jackman and Jim Carrey were cast in this remake. He talked about the details as fact, although they are anything but.

Why isn’t a live-action FernGully being made?

I’ll break it down for all you film buffs. Even if it wanted to, which it might, Disney couldn’t make a live-action FernGully. The company doesn’t own the rights. Shout! Studios does. Originally distributed by Fox, FernGully was never a Disney flick to begin with. Now it’s true that these days, Disney owns Fox outright, but that doesn’t change the fact that it doesn’t own FernGully.

Rumors, dear people, rumors. That’s all this is. Now, I’ll admit that the artistry behind the fake poster is pretty good — it fooled me for a second, but sadly, none of this is real. For those of you out there who don’t care, or don’t know what FernGully: The Last Rainforest is in the first place — a quick history lesson.

What is FernGully about, and why is it still talked about?

FernGully: The Last Rainforest is a 1992 animated classic that goes a little something like this: When a logging company begins to cut down a magical Australian forest named FernGully, a fairy named Crysta accidentally shrinks down a human boy named Zak. Zak starts to see all the damage that the logging company causes and helps Crysta stop the environmental horrors and pollution.

Ever seen James Cameron’s Avatar? Dances with Wolves? It’s like that. As classic a tale as there ever has been, the old switching sides story is one of Hollywood’s most used tropes — and for good reason. We love it. Watching a character come around to the ways of another “tribe,” only to fight for the group he was against at the start is as heartwarming as it is inspiring.

Still, none of that matters. FernGully: The Last Rainforest isn’t being made into a live-action movie. Now that you know that fact, go forth and conquer, my friends.

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5 reasons why ‘Home Alone 3’ is far from the worst film in the franchise

The joy-filled Yuletide season is finally upon us, and you already know exactly what that entails — it’s time to rewatch Home Alone for the umpteenth time. Granted, the first two Home Alone movies are certified classics — and yes, the second movie is superior — but I think most of us can agree that Home Alone 3 definitely doesn’t get the love it so rightfully deserves.

Released back in 1997, the holiday film was the first film in the ever-entertaining franchise to not feature Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister. As a result, no-nonsense critics and die-hards were extremely dismissive of the third entry, and have since insisted that the third installment is the worst. If that’s the case, then they’ve obviously never seen the last two entries, but I digress.

So, let’s partake in this discussion once and for all, ya filthy animals, and explore why Home Alone 3 is far from the worst film in the franchise. Although, with Home Sweet Home Alone literally right there, I shouldn’t even really need to explain why this isn’t the worst. Sorry, Disney Plus, but the truth must be heard.

1. The booby traps are ridiculously campy and fun

Image via 20th Century Fox

Look, I’m not saying the ever-popular booby traps in the first two Home Alone movies aren’t fantastic, but the traps in the third movie are wildly entertaining. For one, Alex steps up a catapult-esque trap that rotates floor planks, which takes out two of the burglars at once. To add, Alex crafts another trap that features ultra-sticky adhesive that eventually triggers one of the burglars to get caught in a mousetrap. 

Simply put, Kevin’s traps were nearly deadly — honestly, how did Harry and Marv not have a concussion from those paint buckets? Alex’s traps were a bit more playful, campy, and creative, although he did manage to electrocute one of the burglars. So perhaps both boys had a thing for causing total havoc.

2. It has a pair of “talkative” animals

Image via 20th Century Fox

You know what the third movie has that the rest just simply don’t? That’s a pair of “talkative” animals. I mean, Alex’s parrot does occasionally speak and repeat words, but his rat Doris is silent. Well, the rat can probably communicate with Alex on a personal level, but we’ll never hear it for ourselves.

Regardless of any animal dialogue, both pets do participate in helping Alex protect his house against the microchip-hunting criminals. It’s hard to discount just how adorable pets are — especially those who help you craft specific booby traps to keep burglars away — so the third movie is fantastic even if it’s just for this reason alone.

3. Kevin’s replacement is just as intuitive and downright likable

Image via 20th Century Fox

If I’m being honest here, Kevin is a spoiled brat who doesn’t appreciate his family — even when they’re taking him on a literal trip to Paris! I mean, I get it, he’s only 10 years old, but his dismissive attitude and snarkiness is enough to make any family go insane and want to punish him by sending him to his room constantly. As for Alex, however, he’s actually super appreciative of his family and is extremely nice to his mom when she looks after him for being sick — thus the reason he ends up staying “home alone” — by missing school.

Not only that, but Alex actually attempts to call the police several times when he notices criminal activity happening in his neighborhood. And the RC car he uses to help with his traps? That’s genius-level thinking right there. And I’m not saying Kevin isn’t likable and his traps aren’t brilliant, but Alex is just as decent of a replacement, even if most people don’t recognize it.

4. It doesn’t take itself too seriously (and it works)

Image via 20th Century Fox

Unlike the first two Home Alone movies — which I do adore — the third entry doesn’t take itself too seriously. I mean, think about it, the villains are super-secret terrorist criminals. That doesn’t seem like a movie that takes itself too seriously when you remember it’s aimed at kids. While the first two films revolve around the family actually forgetting Kevin, the third is just a kid home sick from school while a team of criminals search around the neighborhood for a dangerous microchip.

The fourth Home Alone film attempts to head back to basics and focus on Kevin McCallister — not played by Culkin — and that movie fell flat on its face. And the fifth and sixth movies? Oh, please, don’t even get me started. Do I think Home Alone 3 is better than the first two? No, of course not. But is it the worst out of the bunch? Absolutely not, ya filthy animals.

5. It has Scarlett Johansson in it

Image via 20th Century Fox

Long before she was an MCU superstar, Johansson portrayed the older sister of Alex in Home Alone 3. Heavily considered as one of the brightest and most beloved celebrities out there, any movie featuring Johansson is a win in our book. Alex is a bit overshadowed by his older siblings, and they seem to softly pick on him just as older siblings typically do. 

But while Johansson might only have a supporting role in the movie, it’s clear from her delivery and timing that she was undoubtedly a Hollywood star in the making. Too bad she wasn’t Black Widow yet, or Alex would have battled those villains without breaking a sweat.

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