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‘RRR’ Review: A Hero (or Two) Shall Rise

Scenes of glorious excess make the screen hum with energy in S.S. Rajamouli’s action epic set in British colonial India.

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By Nicolas Rapold

It’s not long in “RRR” before a tiger and a wolf collide midair during a brawl with one of the film’s two musclebound heroes. Scenes of glorious excess make the screen hum with energy in the latest feature from S.S. Rajamouli, the director of the “Baahubali” blockbusters.

Set in 1920s India before independence, “RRR” pairs two of the country’s biggest stars, N.T. Rama Rao Jr. (known as “Jr. NTR”) and Ram Charan, as superfriends from either side of a bloody colonial divide. A goofily gallant Jr. NTR plays Bheem, a warrior from the Gond tribe, while Charan smolders as Ram, a fearsome police officer who is underestimated by his white superiors. (The characters are inspired by two rebel heroes from the era, Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju.)

Bheem journeys to Delhi to rescue a Gond girl enslaved by the British governor and his wife, a couple of sadists. Ram has orders to identify and capture Bheem by going undercover with revolutionaries. Instead, the men unwittingly make fast friends when they save a child stranded on a river that’s on fire. (As one does.)

But their missions get inevitably entangled, and Rajamouli (who collaborated on the story with his screenwriter father, Vijayendra Prasad), stirs in an aw-shucks courtship between Bheem and the governor’s not-racist niece (Olivia Morris).

Rajamouli shoots the film’s action with hallucinogenic fervor, supercharging scenes with a shimmering brand of extended slow-motion and C.G.I. that feels less “generated” than unleashed. Here-to-there plot filler in “RRR” is instantly forgiven with each wild set-piece: Ram furiously tunneling through a hundred-strong mob outside his garrison, or the rumbling dance-off (the “Naatu Naatu” musical number) where Bheem and Ram giddily exhaust the British cads and delight the ladies.

The rousing anticolonialist battle royal concludes with one final fist-pump: an end-credit song celebrating political figures from across India.

RRR Rated PG-13 for violent sequences, some intense language and general mayhem. With subtitles. Running time: 3 hours 7 minutes. In theaters.

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Common sense media reviewers.

Epic blockbuster studies colonialism, has brutal violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The movie does promote the idea that you match vio

Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju are incredi

The film is set in India and the majority of the c

The uprising at the core of the film is very viole

Language used includes "bastard" and "wanker." Der

Characters are seen smoking cigars. At a party, ch

Parents need to know that RRR is a hugely entertaining Indian blockbuster with violent scenes throughout and some racist language. The central theme is that of an uprising, standing up and showing courage in the face of tyrannical rule. Set in 1920s colonial India, Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and Alluri…

Positive Messages

The movie does promote the idea that you match violence with violence. But it also shows the strength in community and teamwork.

Positive Role Models

Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju are incredibly courageous in the face of prejudice and evil. They both realize that teamwork and putting aside their differences will help their cause.

Diverse Representations

The film is set in India and the majority of the cast are native to the country, including the heroes of the piece. The film is very much male-led however, with few female roles of any real note.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

The uprising at the core of the film is very violent. There are brawls and bystanders are hit over the head with rocks and bats. Several brutal deaths. The cracking of bones and bloody faces. Women and children get caught up in the crossfire, being shot and even abducted. There are many explosions and a multitude of weaponry including crossbows, arrows, and cannons. Characters are tortured for information, and are whipped in front of the public as punishment. There are fights between wild animals and humans, the former shot at, the latter mauled. The colonialists beat up helpless Indians, and refuse to use bullets as they are too expensive, killing innocent people using brute force, such as being hit over the head with a branch.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language used includes "bastard" and "wanker." Derogatory language used toward the Indians include them being called "brown buggers," "filth," "rats," and "monkeys."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters are seen smoking cigars. At a party, characters are seen drinking alcohol.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that RRR is a hugely entertaining Indian blockbuster with violent scenes throughout and some racist language. The central theme is that of an uprising, standing up and showing courage in the face of tyrannical rule. Set in 1920s colonial India, Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan Teja) begin as enemies but realize that in order to defeat the British they must join forces. The uprising itself is incredibly violent, but cinematic in its execution. There are fights between humans and wild tigers, with animals being killed and humans mauled. There are also countless deaths -- including innocent women and children -- some of which are brutal and graphic. Characters are also tortured and whipped. There is some use of "bastard" and "wanker," as well as racist language. Characters are referred to as animals and "brown buggers." This Indian production has a diverse cast -- both Telugu and English are spoken -- though it's fair to say the majority of characters, and the heroes of the piece, are men. It has a runtime of over three hours. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Based on 4 parent reviews

BLOODY AMAZING

What's the story.

RRR is a fictitious story about real events, focusing in on the colonialism of India at the hands of the British. Set in the 1920s, when a young girl is abducted, and her mother callously murdered, family member Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) seeks vengeance against the perpetrators, though he is coming up against a brutal, tyrannical regime. What doesn't help, is that fellow countryman Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan Teja) is working for the enemy, and he himself proves an indestructible force.

Is It Any Good?

This Indian action-drama offers viewers about as much fun as you can have with a movie. RRR is pure cinema, at times completely over-the-top and ridiculous, but remaining grounded by its historical context. The credit must go to director S.S. Rajamouli for this ambitious undertaking. He truly is a master of his craft, with some spellbinding sequences -- scenes that you may say out loud in the planning stage, but to actually bring them to life is another matter. He may not have the budget of a major Hollywood production, but it matters little such is the strength in storytelling, and his ability to create such epic set-pieces. RRR combines fantasy with realism in a striking way, and while the film tells an important tale, above anything else, it's just purely, and utterly entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in RRR . How did it make you feel? Did it add to the story? Do some types of media violence have different impact than others?

The movie is set in the 1920s during colonial India. What do you know about this period? Why is it important to look back on the past? What can we learn from it?

Discuss some of the racist language used. What purpose did it serve the story? How did it make you feel hearing these things in the film?

The movie has very little female representation . Did you find this problematic? Why, or why not?

The film is a fictitious account of real events. What other movies have you seen that has taken this approach?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 25, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : May 20, 2022
• Cast : N.T. Rama Rao Jr. , Ram Charan Teja , Alia Bhatt
• Director : S.S. Rajamouli
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Indian/South Asian actors
• Studio : Variance Films
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Friendship , History , Wild Animals
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 187 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Award : Golden Globe
• Last updated : April 7, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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RRR Movie Review : Rajamouli delivers a power-packed entertainer

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RRR - Official Trailer (Telugu)

RRR - Official Trailer (Malayalam)

RRR - Official Trailer (Kannada)

RRR - Official Trailer (Tamil)

RRR - Official Trailer (Hindi)

RRR | Telugu Song - Naatu Naatu (Lyrical)

RRR | Malayalam Song - Karinthol (Lyrical)

RRR | Tamil Song - Naattu Koothu (Lyrical)

RRR | Kannada Song - Halli Naatu (Lyrical)

RRR | Hindi Song - Naacho Naacho (Lyrical)

RRR - Motion Poster

RRR - First Look

RRR - First Glimpse

RRR | Song Promo - Karinthol

RRR | Song Promo - Naattu Koothu

RRR | Song Promo - Halli Naatu

RRR | Hindi Song - Janani

RRR | Hindi Song - Sholay

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Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

vsudharshanreddy 1 167 days ago

Excellent �� movie

Basha Elaganuru 142 188 days ago

Rishitborra 12 432 days ago.

Felt above average but not up to the mark and I still think why Rajamouli took few years to Direct a normal film... Rajamouli's previous projects are even good than these...

sesank 496 days ago

Super movie

Chinmudra Anu 505 days ago

Nonsense movie... really don't understand how the audience put so good review for this movie

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RRR movie review: Jr NTR and Ram Charan are dazzling, Bollywood has a lot to learn from this SS Rajamouli epic

Rrr movie review: ss rajamouli gets so much right in his latest film starring jr ntr and ram charan..

Larger-than-life characters, high-octane action sequences, gravity defying shots that give you an adrenaline rush, world class VFX and sets mounted on a huge canvas-- SS Rajamouli once again serves you the perfect visual spectacle with RRR. Starring Junior NTR and Ram Charan in the lead, the film is a wholesome entertainer and it only gets more grand with every scene. (Also read: RRR release live updates: Ram Charan's fans dress up like his RRR character Alluri Sitarama Raju; ruckus at theatres)

It took Rajamouli five long years since Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) to have his next big screen outing and when you watch RRR, you understand why wait was so long. His penchant for grandeur, perfection and attention to details comes alive in each frame of this multi-starrer. Keeping the emotional core of his story strong, he beautifully adorns it with superlative action, interesting origin stories and a tinge of humour, too. Even the most unrealistic visuals would impress you as the narrative and magnificent screenplay complements them well.

Set in 1920s in Delhi, RRR narrates the story of two individuals — Ramaraju (Ram Charan) and Bheem (Jr NTR) who become close friends without knowing each other's truth or the intention behind their actions for or against the British kingdom. While the fierce, hotblooded and angry young cop Ramaraju is the 'R' in fire, the innocent, calm, charming yet beast-like Bheem is the 'R' in water. Ramaraju works for the British but has faced much humiliation for his skin colour. On the other hand, Bheem, belonging to Gond tribe, has come to Delhi to rescue the young girl called Malli, help captive by the British. What happens when Bheem and Ramaraju's paths cross and they become friends? What happens when the actual truth is unearthed?

It's the camaraderie between Ram Charan and Jr NTR that wins you over. Both have an endearing screen presence and with their unique persona, bring so much more to their respective characters. While Ram Charan flexes his muscles, Jr NTR connects with you in the emotional and vulnerable scenes. Their bonding, chemistry in the song Nacho Nacho is the highlight of the film and gets you grooving in no time.

Sita is played by Alia Bhatt in an extended cameo but feels like she is forcefully fit into the narrative. She doesn't bring much to the table other than a couple of scenes, and a dance sequence with the lead pair in the end credits, where she delivers with dedication. On the other hand, Ajay Devgn is a better-crafted character and holds your attention. Other supporting parts — King Scott (Ray Stevenson) Lady Scott (Alison Doody) are merciless as antagonists. Jennifer (Olivia Morris) is the benevolent Brit who helps Bheem in his purpose. She will remind you of Elizabeth from Lagaan who helped Bhuvan fight against the British rulers.

RRR is not just high on star quotient but also scores big with an overwhelming story. The film keeps you hooked from the word go. No time is wasted in the beginning to build up the plot and it's only as the story unfolds, that we are familiarised with the backstories of characters. The movie's intermission block narrates a story in itself and is such a powerful visual. I quite like how Rajamouli, throughout the film, maintains the reference to fire and water whenever Jr NTR and Ram Charan's characters are shown. The fight sequences in particular are great and filmed in an elaborate way. Some slow motion shots just blow your mind and you want to cheer and applaud, looking at the cinematic marvel. Full credit here to KK Senthil Kumar for such spectacular cinematography. Despite its nearly 3-hour runtime, the film never looks dragged or boring for it has a tight screenplay and crisp editing by A Sreekar Prasad. Background score gives the film depth and adds to the scale of the scenes and characters.

To sum up, RRR is the perfect visual spectacle that you can only enjoy on the big screen and it is sure to leave you spellbound with its magnificent aura and scale. Not to miss, Jr NTR and Ram Charan win will your hearts with convincing performances.

• Ss Rajamouli
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Release Date : March 25,2022

123telugu.com Rating : 3.5/5

Starring: N. T. Rama Rao Jr, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, Samuthirakani, Shriya Saran, Alison Doody, Ray Stevenson, Rajeev Kanakala, Rahul Ramakrishna

Director: S. S. Rajamouli

Producers: D. V. V. Danayya

Music Director: M. M. Keeravani

Cinematography : K. K. Senthil Kumar

Editor: A. Sreekar Prasad

It would not be an exaggeration to say that RRR is the mother of all India films. Be it the scale, director, star cast and release, everything is so huge with this film. After a wait of five long years since it was announced, the Rajamouli period drama starring NTR, Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgan and Ram Charan has finally hit the screens today. Let’s see whether it lived up to its mega hype or not.

The film is set in the 1920s when British rule was at its peak in India. A small girl from a tribal village in Telangana is taken away as a slave by the British officers. In comes the mighty Bheem(NTR) who belongs to the same tribe and takes on the responsibility of bringing the girl back. But he has to go through a mighty British cop Ram(Ram Charan) who is on his own goal against the British. What will Bheem do now? How will he face Ram? What is Ram’s personal goal? Will Bheem and Ram patch up for a common cause? To know the answers, you need to watch the film on the big screens.

Plus Points:

Rajamouli has made sure that RRR is bigger and grand in every aspect. One cannot stop but praise him for the way he has thought of something so different and executed it in a stunning manner. RRR is filled with so many goosebump filled moments that it is hard to put them all here.

The manner in which he introduces the key characters of the film is itself a spectacle. Be it the tiger chase sequence of NTR or the crowd bashing entry of Ram Charan, Rajamouli gives thigh slapping moments to all the fans. He builds up the characters in such a way that you get connected to their stories right away and get indulged into the story telling. After a while, it is only characters that talk.

It has been three and half years since we have seen NTR on screen. But the Nandamuri hero makes up for the lost time and is mind blowing as Bheem. The innocence, screen presence, and crazy action avatar in the film is showcased in the best way possible by the star hero. NTR will move you to tears with his emotional performance in all the patriotic and friendship based scenes. Probably, one can say that RRR is NTR’s best performance to date.

Ram Charan gets a very good role which has so many variations to showcase. If Rangasthalam showed what Ram Charan was capable of, RRR will showcase Charan’s magnanimity as an actor. The way he holds all the intense emotions and emotes with his eyes is spellbinding. The manner in which his character makes key transformations is brought out so well by Charan.

One of the biggest assets of the film is the comradary between Charan and NTR. So much was said about it in the promotions and it reaches all the expectations. The bromance between the two stars is so good to see on screen and will be loved by the audience. The interval bang where the two heroes go at each other is a sight that cannot be taken your eyes off. RRR banks heavily on their chemistry and is a treat to watch the stars in one frame.

Alia Bhatt makes a good Telugu debut and suits the role to perfection. Last but not the least, megastar Ajay Devgan is used as a special surprise in the film and the star hero does his best to create an impact. Shreya also gets a small but impactful role and she does well.

The factor that draws you in RRR is the unique storyline of how two heroes who play Alluri and Bheem meet at a point and how they revolt against the British. Even though Rajamouli has told that it is a fictional story, the manner in which he executes it looks so real. More than anything, the underlying emotions of every character and the impact they create on the audience is just on another level and is the driving force of RRR.

Minus Points:

Though it is not a drawback, the film’s main story takes off a bit late. As too much time is taken away for character introductions, the story gets sidelined and things start getting intense only before the pre-interval block.

The second half starts on a dull note and the pace slows down with the episode of Ajay Devgan which is strictly average. Things get back in the groove only during the last half an hour and make up an exciting finish. In a way, both Ajay Devgan and Alia Bhatt are only roped for the Hindi market and do not have much to do in the film.

Right from the beginning, the audience were told that RRR is the story of Alluri Seeta Rama Raju and Komaram Bheem. But that is not the case as the film does not dwell about those freedom fighters and only has their names as reference. So, all those who think Rajamouli will showcase their struggle against the British will be disappointed a bit.

Technical Aspects:

Production values by DVV Danayya are top notch and all the money spent is clearly visible in every scene which is quite grand. Music by Keeravani is very good but the BGM will surely evoke goosebumps in so many scenes. The camerawork by Senthil Kumar is top notch as the bygone era is showcased in a spectacular manner.

RRR mainly clicks because of the solid production design by Sabu Cyril. The British empire setup, props used and the sets laid will surely give a larger than life effect. Costumes done by Rama Rajamouli are authentic and especially those done for Alia Bhatt are amazing. Songs are choreographed in a solid manner and especially the Naatu Naatu song is composed so well without losing the emotion. Editing is top notch and three hours of runtime will not feel lengthy at all.

Coming to the director Rajamouli, he has made one of the most intense and emotional films in Telugu. Hats off to him for thinking something out of the box and placing it amidst two big stars and showcasing some never before star aura on screen. Rajamouli is known to elevate emotions and the way he does it with the characters of Bheem and Alluri is just superb.

What’s special in RRR is that every star and character has a proper storyline and is given equal importance in the narration. Rajamouli narrates the film in a way that there is no dull moment on screen whatsoever. With RRR, he has once again proved that he is a master of story telling and can showcase the emotions in the most grand way possible.

Also, the manner in which Rajamouli draws performances from Charan and NTR is solid. He gives so many high moments for the fans and general audience to cherish. Once again, he has made Telugu cinema proud. The icing on the cake is the patriotic storyline and amazing action blocks.

On the whole, RRR is an action packed period drama that has career best performances by Ram Charan and NTR. They will stun you with their screen presence and bromance which is the biggest highlight of the film. Adding to this, the patriotic drama that is showcased makes RRR quite intense. Rajamouli once again proves that he is a master at showcasing emotions. The way he designed, adapted, and executed the period drama is stunning. The box office numbers in Telugu will speak for itself and barring a slightly slow pace in the second half and dull episode of Ajay Devgan, RRR has everything to become a blockbuster at the box office and is a film that should be watched only on the big screen.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

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A Wild Indian Blockbuster Is Ravishing Movie Fans, but They’re Missing Its Troubling Subtext

It wasn’t inevitable that the histrionic Indian epic RRR would be the mammoth global success it’s now become. The three-hour, special effects–heavy cinematic event is the most expensive feature in Indian history (no small feat), and its filming and release schedules were bogged down in yearslong delays due to a pandemic that’s deeply ravaged much of India . But the wait, and the work, was more than worth it: RRR is not only a record-setting box-office smash within India but all around the world, garnering more excited chatter and coverage than I’ve seen for almost any 21 st -century Indian flick. After a widely distributed release in late March , the movie’s Hindi-language dub hit Netflix on May 22, becoming the most-watched non-English movie on the platform by June . RRR has broken through in a way unusual for its length, language, and country of origin. Film critics everywhere adore it, as do NFL players and filmgoers crowding sold-out screenings. Rolling Stone deemed it “ the best and most revolutionary blockbuster ” of the year; sociologist and author Nancy Wang Yuen calls it “ three hours of anti-colonialist AWESOMENESS .”

Indian films don’t often get this kind of ubiquity, but RRR ’s breakout success is even more impressive than that fact conveys. Bollywood—the astonishingly prolific Hindi-language film industry that mainly reflects a North Indian sensibility—is the lens through which foreign filmgoers tend to consider Indian cinema, with the exceptions of Criterion-approved Bengali-language directors like Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak . RRR is of neither mold: The movie was filmed in Telugu, a language spoken primarily in South Indian states whose cultural contributions often get dwarfed by Mumbai’s. It used to be that successful Telugu directors like Ram Gopal Varma would transition to Bollywood for nationwide fame, after establishing themselves on the regional scene, yet in recent years, as Bollywood has found itself battling an increasingly censorious government and struggling with big-budget flops , Tollywood (Telugu cinema) and Kollywood (Tamil cinema) have increased their share of the market. RRR ’s director, S.S. Rajamouli, has played no small part in this cultural shift, having found blockbuster success over the past decade with Eega and the two Baahubali films, the latter of which are among the most expensive and highest-grossing Indian movies ever made. (They’re also on Netflix.) With RRR , Rajamouli breaks both the bank and his own records, and fuels a whole new phenomenon.

The movie, a quasi-historical exploration of early-century British-ruled India, bases its two lead characters on real freedom fighters (while making sure to emphasize that everything on screen is fiction): Alluri Sitarama Raju, an Indigenous youngster who led an armed uprising against the British and was executed for it, and Komaran Bheem, a member of the Gond tribes who fought against both the British Raj and the post-Mughal Nizams who ruled his home state of Hyderabad. The movie reimagines their struggles and journeys even as it keeps their names: Raju (Ram Charan) is a member of British law enforcement, and Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) is motivated here not by environmental degradation but by the forced purchase of a Gondi girl, Malli (Twinkle Sharma), by a British colonial governor’s family.

That cause leads the protagonists to cross paths, albeit not in the way they expect: Raju, referred to more commonly as Ram (this is important later), is dispatched to Delhi to make sure no Gonds come to take Malli back; Bheem, meanwhile, arrives in the city with a small posse to do just that, disguised as a Muslim in traditional garb. The two come together to save a little boy who’s trapped near a bridge that collapses after a train catches fire and explodes, rescuing him with their superstrength and dexterity. The city celebrates them as heroes, and the two become fast friends without realizing they’re meant to be at loggerheads. (In case you aren’t able to follow the plot, the extremely on-the-nose song lyrics can help you out.) Bheem eventually confesses his true identity to Ram and goes off to save Malli—only to be detained and sentenced to torture and execution by none other than Ram himself. It’s then we find out that Ram is no loyalist, but actually a savvy player of the long game: When he was a child, British soldiers overran his village and slaughtered his family, and his father (portrayed by veteran actor Ajay Devgn) made him promise to get inside of the Raj and ship British arms to the Indian people to arm them for revolution. Bheem’s predicament accelerates the conundrum Ram faces: to keep up this loyalist façade or to break his cover and save his friend.

On an aesthetic level, RRR (short for Roudram Ranam Rudhiram , Telugu for Rise Roar Revolt ) is indeed a helluva fun ride. Pretty much every trope you’ve heard about fluorescent dishoom-dishoom action-packed Indian film is present and dialed up to 110. The superstrong man who can fight off crowds of hundreds of armed assailants, the impossible acrobatics, the inspiring battles against cruel imperialists, and lions and tigers and deer, oh my! (The film notes at the beginning that the animals, who do not hesitate to brutalize anyone in their path, are all CGI.) It’s difficult to convey the scope of action and drama in writing, because RRR is maximum cinema, the kind of in-your-face, colorful, fiery, loud, awe-inspiring experience you really can only get from the movies.

Still, for a student of the Indian canon, the rapturous response to RRR might seem a bit overblown. There’s more action and special effects, sure, but it’s hard to see how RRR deviates from the similarly outrageous blockbusters that came before it. Rajamouli makes explicit references to the iconic 1975 superhit Sholay , a brazen spaghetti Western rip-off that provided the definitive template for the two-friends-against-the-baddies romantic-comedy-musical-and-hypermasculine-bromance-slash-action-epic genre RRR embodies. The ultrapatriotic tone also reminded me of predecessors like Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), directed by and starring the much-decorated Manoj Kumar, who made Indian supremacy over the West a running theme of his work . For actual supermen, one need look no further than the bombastic tale of Mr. India , from 1987. Plus, the lengthy, high-stakes struggle between noble villagers against the punitive colonizers was previously embodied in 2001’s Lagaan , the last Indian film to get an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. And depictions of the more violent revolutionaries of India’s independence fight, who had as much of an impact as Gandhi if not more , can be found in other modern tributes like The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Rang De Basanti . This is not to downplay RRR ’s visual mastery, or to try to marginalize the notable breakthrough of a Telugu movie (I realize I am copping to my own biases by listing Hindi movies in this paragraph), but to state that it’s hard to nail down a specific reason why RRR has spread as a pan-Indian exemplar in a way those other movies didn’t. Even its absurdity—animals being thrown into humans, loud and exaggerated dance sequences, and vehicles exploding in all sorts of weird ways—isn’t especially novel.

In fact, RRR ’s massive fame is more cause for concern than celebration. If we’re going to champion the film in part for its anti-colonial stance , we should likewise take stock of its uglier but no less important subtexts.

Let’s start with the religious iconography. This is hardcore Hinduism through and through, an apt representation for a country that’s employed authoritarian tactics to empower violent Hindu nationalism and transition to a de facto ethnocratic state . After Ram openly defies his colonial employers in order to save Bheem’s life, he’s seen assuming a wardrobe that invokes his namesake Rama, the hero of the ancient Hindi myth Ramayana who is a reincarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Vishnu. (Ram of RRR also uses a bow and an arrow that a background song states is as “strong as Shiva’s,” referring to another prominent deity.) The lead-up to this apotheosis isn’t subtle—Ram’s girlfriend in RRR is named Sita, the same as Rama’s kidnapped beloved in Ramayana —but when he assumes this final form, it’s even more overt: the bow and flaming arrow, the ancient chest-baring garb, the warrior stance, the godly strength.

There’s nothing wrong with a film alluding to the Ramayana , a riveting tale with many beloved adaptations; it’s more a matter of how Ram’s semi-divinity clashes with the depiction of Bheem and his fellow Gonds. In general, India’s treatment of its Adivasis —native tribe members—has been less than generous , but as Gond journalist Akash Poyam wrote in the Caravan , even RRR ’s Gond hero is not the milestone for Indigenous representation he might seem. Bheem is not a physically weaker hero than Ram, but once Ram’s real purpose is revealed, Bheem is immediately made to seem inferior—spiritually, patriotically, societally. In a baffling monologue, Bheem decries the fact that, in contrast with Ram’s long game, he fought the British mostly to rescue Malli, ironically confirming a sneering British officer’s comment that the Gond “tribals” are driven by the protection of their own. The stereotypes proliferate as the Gonds are seen having a unique control over wild animals like tigers and snakes, reducing a rich community to a group of primitive animal whisperers (one of them does a bird call near the beginning, naturally). And when Ram becomes Rama—a pointed transformation, considering that Ram is clearly of a higher caste than Bheem—the Gond leader reduces himself to the level of student, begging in the movie’s last line to learn from him.

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Some critics have praised RRR for showing a high-caste Hindu forming a tight bond with someone he perceives to be Muslim, but this is belied by the fact that actual Muslim characters are seen nowhere in the film. (When Bheem confesses his true mission to Ram, his first words are, “I am not a Muslim.”) The Rama iconography later in the film, added to Bheem’s submissiveness, makes this narrative choice seem more pointed: Commemoration of the Ramayana has been one of the bloodiest flashpoints for Islamophobic violence in India, with Hindu nationalists having destroyed a Mughal-era mosque that was supposedly located at Rama’s birthplace. The Rama temple now constructed in its place is a symbol for the belief that India should be a holy land for Hindus; it’s even been put on billboards in Times Square . It’s likewise worth noting that the Vande Mataram custom flag that appears in essential scenes like the boy’s rescue—protecting Bheem from the train’s flames, for one—was in part designed by Veer Savarkar , the father of Hindu nationalism.

Plus, one wouldn’t know from watching RRR that Muslim leaders were some of India’s most storied freedom fighters—not even from the gallery of famed independence icons at the end of the movie, with no Saifuddin Kitchlew , no Zakir Husain , no Asaf Ali . Some stink has already been raised about the fact that the song also excludes Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, the former of whom has become a pariah for India’s right wingers , the latter of whose assassin is now praised by many Hindu nationalists . (For a recent Indian film that does pay homage to the era’s Muslim activists, I recommend 2018’s Manto , also on Netflix.)

Obviously, one film cannot encompass everything, and as the filmmakers have themselves noted, RRR is sheer fantasy. I cannot fault viewers for enjoying RRR so much, whether they ironically lap up the superhuman stunts or get swept up in the thrilling anti-imperial action. I’m concerned more about the timing of it all, the global presence, the recipe for viral success that other filmmakers will be eyeing. It’s an ingenious form of soft-power propaganda, one that can be interpreted as positively asserting an otherwise-marginalized ideology. Other notable Indian films—the aforementioned Purab Aur Pachhim , LOC: Kargil , Gadar: Ek Prem Katha , and many, many more—have raised fiery nationalism to nowhere near the same viewership. RRR seems to have figured out an apt formula.

Already, it’s far from the only recent historical-fiction Indian blockbuster to soft-peddle nationalist ideology. This year alone, The Kashmir Files , praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, garnered controversy for giving Hindu nationalists more Islamophobic ammo through the use of alternative history. The Marathi period film Pawankhind whips up furor against the historic Muslim-led Mughal Empire , a sore spot for Hindutva acolytes. Even Rajamouli’s previous hits, like Baahubali , have been uplifted as “ the answer to all anti-Hindu Bollywood crooks .” You don’t have to take my word for it. You can read the words of Hindu nationalists themselves, in provocative headlines like this one: “ If The Kashmir Files Gave Liberals the Wounds, RRR Is the One Rubbing the Salt .”

In another context, I’d be excited about an adventurous Telugu-language film finally getting a wide-scale audience and bringing South Indian cinema to more of the world. But with RRR , I feel uneasy. I can’t say you shouldn’t experience this dazzling roller coaster of a movie, but I will say that you should keep your eyes open while doing so.

‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Review: Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Make the Franchise’s Fourth Entry Tastier Than It Has Any Right to Be

The two stars are in top form, and so past being too old for this shit that it almost seems young again.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

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If there are five ages of man, maybe there are four ages of “Bad Boys.” There’s the early age — the original “Bad Boys” came out in 1995 — of youthful effrontery: zappy, flashy, mouthy, decadent. There’s the age when the heroes start to say, “We’re too old for this shit!” There’s the age when they’re too old to even be saying that.

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The two go through the paces of a conspiracy thriller, centering on corrupt cops and cartels, that plays like an exercise in ultraviolence jacked, at moments, to video-game intensity. But that’s all very standard.

A few scenes later, at Mike’s wedding to Christine (Melanie Liburd), Marcus makes a suitably embarrassing best-man speech and then, on the dance floor, suffers a heart attack. It looks like he’s a goner, signified by a trippy sequence in which he communes with the partners’ late beloved boss, Capt. Howard (Joe Pantoliano), on a stretch of beach that looks like heaven. But Howard says, “It’s not your time.” Marcus recovers, with a new lease on life that tells him to leave his creeping caution behind. He now thinks he’s invincible, and that his job is to heal everyone else’s mystic torment.

That sounds like a cliché (and is), but Lawrence invests Marcus’s born-again personality with a cockeyed sincerity that makes it urgent and uproarious. He’s the perfect foil for Mike, who Smith embodies with an ageless stoic finesse, a hotheaded cool so debonair it’s almost uncanny. These two actors, with nothing matching but their goatees, have a spiky bromantic chemistry. They don’t just ping off one another’s lines — they lock and load each other.

I went into the movie wondering how the Slap would impinge on Smith’s ability to be his airless and jocular Will Smith self, but he acts with supreme confidence and timing. And the film doesn’t sidestep his awkward moment of infamy. It makes direct reference to it. In the climax, Smith gets repeatedly slapped by his partner, who keeps calling him bad boy , and the scene acts as a kind of pop exorcism. It’s “punishing” Smith, making cruel fun of his transgression, and just maybe, in the process, allowing him to crawl out from under the image of it.

The plot is strictly standard issue. A press conference reveals that the late Capt. Howard is being smeared for corruption. Was he in cahoots with the cartels? We know the answer is no. But somebody was, and it’s up to Mike and Marcus to figure out who, even though the film doesn’t keep it a secret. (It’s a military baddie who assassinates people like he was swatting mosquitoes.) Mike and Marcus end up on the run along with Armando (Jacob Scipio), the underworld cold case who was revealed, in the previous film, to be Mike’s son.

“Ride or Die,” in its flippant way, is a movie about “family,” and that works because the film’s co-directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (returning from “Bad Boys for Life”), are experts at fashioning and executing hair-trigger situations that hinge on the transformation of loyalty into action. There’s a hypnotic shootout aboard a military helicopter, a crowd-pleasing encounter at an NRA encampment, a rollicking finale at a Florida theme park abandoned by everyone but its crocodiles, as well as attitude-drenched cameos from Tiffany Haddish, DJ Khaled, and Michael Bay. Mostly, though, there are Smith and Lawrence, making yesterday’s overcooked street-smart popcorn seem tastier today than it has any right to be.

Reviewed at Regal Union Square, New York, June 3, 2024. MPA Rating: R. Running time: 115 MIN.

• Production: A Sony Pictures Releasing release of a Columbia Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Westbrook Studios, 2.0 Entertainment production. Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Smith, Chad Oman, Doug Belgrad. Executive producers: Chris Bremner, Martin Lawrence, James Lassiter, Jon Mone, Mike Stenson, Barry H. Waldman.
• Crew: Directors: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah. Screenplay: Chris Bremner, Will Beall. Camera: Robrecht Heyvaert. Editors: Asaf Eisenberg, Dan Lebental. Music: Lorne Balfe.
• With: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Tasha Smith, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Eric Dane, Joe Pantoliano, Tiffany Haddish, Ioan Gruffud, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd.

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Deadpool & Wolverine Officially Rated R, Making MCU History

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It's official: Deadpool & Wolverine has been rated R. This is no surprise, given that the rating had been promised by Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige.

Officially, Deadpool & Wolverine is rated R for "strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references." While Deadpool and Deadpool 2 were both R-rated, Deadpool & Wolverine is the first to be given the rating for "gore," suggesting this new film will be much bloodier than the others. The rating comes in ahead of the movie's release in theaters in July.

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This makes history as Deadpool & Wolverine is the first film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to be rated R. It was expected, however, as Feige has addressed the mature rating for the film on multiple occasions. At CinemaCon in April, he said that the movie is "f***ing awesome" and reaffirmed, "It's R-rated." Director Shawn Levy has also teased that the film earns its R-rating, and he shared how Feige and Co. at Marvel Studios had never given the team any restrictions on how far they could push the envelope.

"We were clear from the get-go ," Levy told Fandango. "We said, 'Well, the three of us [Levy, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman] are going to do this and we've got to be truthful to the tone of a Deadpool movie.' That means we're not softening the edges. We're going to be audacious and funny and edgy, the way I know I, as a fan, want from Logan and from Wade Wilson."

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The director continued, "I have to say, every time Ryan, Hugh, and I went in expecting pushback, we got support from Kevin, from everyone at Disney. They have trusted us and allowed us to do the version of Deadpool & Wolverine that we feel is best."

Deadpool and Wolverine Unite for the Ultimate MCU Team-Up Movie

It seems clear that there will not be a lack of violence in Deadpool & Wolverine , so this probably won't be a movie to watch for the squeamish. The film follows Deadpool and Logan becoming unlikely allies as they're faced with a multiversal threat in the form of Cassandra Nova, played by Emma Corrin. Because of the multiverse aspect, it is expected that there will be many major cameos in the film, with pop star Taylor Swift among the most heavily rumored .

Deadpool & Wolverine will be released in theaters on July 26, 2024.

Source: FilmRatings.com

Deadpool & Wolverine

Wolverine joins the "merc with a mouth" in the third installment of the Deadpool film franchise.

'Atlas' review: Jennifer Lopez befriends an AI in her scrappy new Netflix space movie

Just when you think you’ve seen everything, here comes a movie where Jennifer Lopez tries to out-sass a computer program.

Jenny from the Block is in her Iron Man era with “Atlas” (★★½ out of four; rated PG-13; streaming now on Netflix ), a sci-fi action thriller directed by Brad Peyton ( “San Andreas” ) that pairs two hot commodities: a pop-culture superstar and artificial intelligence.

The movie shares aspects with a bevy of films like “Blade Runner,” “The Terminator,” "The Iron Giant" and “Pacific Rim,” and it’s best to not think too hard about the science involved. Yet there’s a scrappiness to “Atlas” that pairs well with a human/machine bonding narrative and a fish-out-of-water Lopez trying to figure out how to work a super cool, high-tech armored suit and not die spectacularly.

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But “Atlas” doesn’t have the best start, beginning with the mother of exposition dumps: In the future, AI has evolved to a dangerous degree and a robotic terrorist named Harlan (a charmless Simu Liu) has turned genocidal, wanting to wipe out most of mankind. He’s defeated and retreats into space, vowing to return, and in the ensuing 28 years, counterterrorism analyst Atlas Shepherd – whose mother invented Harlan and made him part of their family before he went bad – has been trying to find him.

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She’s distrustful of Al and also most humans: The antisocial Atlas’ only true love is coffee but she’s also crazy smart, and she figures out the galaxy where Harlan’s hiding. Atlas forces herself on a military space mission run by a no-nonsense colonel (Sterling K. Brown) to track down Harlan, but amid a sneak attack by cyborg bad guys, Atlas has to hop in a mech suit to survive. The caveat: to run the thing, she has to create a neural link with an onboard AI named Smith (voiced by Gregory James Cohan).

Streaming preview: 15 new movies you'll want to watch this summer, from 'Atlas' to 'Beverly Hills Cop 4'

Obviously, there’s a climactic throwdown with Harlan – you don’t need ChatGPT to figure out the predictable plot – and there are plenty of action scenes with spotty visual effects. But “Atlas” cooks most when it’s just Atlas and Smith, sniping and snarking at each other: He fixes her broken leg, her cursing expands his vocabulary, and slowly they figure out a way to coexist and become a formidable fighting unit. 

Lopez does well with the buddy comedy vibe as well as her whole "Atlas" character arc. The fact that she starts as a misanthropic hot mess – even her hair is unruly, though still movie star-ready – makes her an appealing character, one you root for as she becomes besties with a computer and finds herself in mortal danger every five minutes.

While “Atlas” doesn’t top the J. Lo movie canon – that’s rarefied air for the likes of “Out of Sight” and “Hustlers” – it’s certainly more interesting than a lot of her rom-com output . Her action-oriented vehicles such as this and the assassin thriller “The Mother,” plus B-movie “Anaconda” and sci-fi film “The Cell” back in the day, show a willing gameness to venture outside her A-list box.

It also helps when she finds the right dance partner – in this case, a wily AI. And in “Atlas,” that unlikely friendship forgives the bigger glitches.

Looking for reliable options to stream "Atlas" on Netflix? Check out USA TODAY Home Internet for  broadband service plans  in your area.

The 10 Highest-Grossing R-Rated Movies of All Time

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All movies that hit the silver screen have at least two goals in common: to delight audiences with a good story and to make a profit. Naturally, not all releases are lucky enough to achieve these ambitious goals, and while some manage to enjoy moderate success, others fail miserably, turning into box office bombs .

For R-rated movies, achieving critical and commercial success — particularly the latter — is even more difficult, precisely because the mature material inherently alienates a huge movie-watching demographic.

Historically, in fact, R-rated films have had a harder time becoming high-grossing blockbusters, especially since much of the audience attending theaters is made up of families with children. That said, some movies have enjoyed worldwide success over the years. Here are the 10 highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time.

10 The Hangover Part II — $586.7 Million

The hangover part ii.

The Hangover Part II hit the silver screen in 2011, two years after the original film took the world by storm. In this movie, directed by Todd Phillips, Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug travel to Thailand because, this time, it is Stu who is getting married. And, as much as this man wants to avoid wild celebrations, the group once again wakes up with a massive hangover and a problem: the groom's brother-in-law is missing.

A Much-Anticipated Sequel

The Hangover 's success in 2009 was so great that audiences were eager for new adventures featuring this zany group of friends. That is why this sequel was so well received by moviegoers. And, even though it earned mixed reviews from critics, who deemed it inferior to the original, The Hangover Part II managed to endear itself to audiences, becoming many people's favorite installment in the trilogy. It grossed almost $600 million at the box office. Rent on AppleTV

9 The Passion of the Christ — $612 Million

The passion of the christ.

In 2004, Mel Gibson directed The Passion of the Christ , a biblical movie that grew to become the highest-grossing Christian film ever made, grossing $612 million at the box office. It stars Jim Caviezel and follows the hours leading up to Jesus' death, based on the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It also incorporates several major moments in Christ's life.

Religious Themes and a Major Controversy

The Passion of the Christ attracted a huge number of religious moviegoers to theaters, and, to this day, many still regard it as the best Christian film ever made. However, there is another factor that contributed greatly to making Gibson's film a hit: its polarizing reception. While some critics regarded it as a masterpiece, others described it as violent and emotionally draining, and such polarization did nothing but further arouse the public's interest. Stream on Prime Video

8 Logan — $619 Million

Logan hit theaters in 2017, and utterly revolutionized superhero movies. This James Mangold film is the final installment of the Wolverine trilogy, and the last time Hugh Jackman has played this popular character to date. Set in the near future, the film follows a seasoned Wolverine who, while caring for an ailing Professor X, embarks on a mission to protect a young mutant girl from the criminal plans of the Reavers.

An Interesting Twist on Superhero Movies

The film brought closure to a hugely successful trilogy in the best possible way, featuring a story both exciting and insightful that turned the superhero movie genre on its head and appealed to an even wider audience. Logan garnered great acclaim for its plot, screenplay and cast performances, and became the best reviewed film in the X-Men franchise, raking in $619 million at the worldwide box office. Stream on Disney+

7 Detective Chinatown 3 — $686.2 Million

Detective chinatown 3.

A major crime occurs in Tokyo when detectives Tang Ren and Qin Feng are invited to investigate the crime. A battle between the strongest detectives in Asia is about to break out with bursts of laughter.

2021 marked the premiere of Detective Chinatown 3 , a Chinese mystery comedy film by Chen Sicheng which, so far, is the latest installment in this film series starring Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran. In it, detectives Tang Ren and Qin Feng are invited to investigate a murder in Tokyo, which will also involve Asia's most prestigious investigators.

Producers Made the Wisest Move

There are many things that helped Detective Chinatown 3 become the highest-grossing non-American R-rated film ever, one of the most important being the overwhelming support of fans, who were eager to see more of their favorite characters' adventures. But, apart from that, producers decided to release the film on Chinese New Year , one year later than originally scheduled and still in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions, when going to the movies was among the most popular activities. By being patient and capitalizing on a hugely lucrative time of year, they managed to turn the film into a record-breaking hit, grossing just over $686 million. Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase

6 It — $700.3 Million

In 2017, It , the adaptation of one of Stephen King's best-selling novels, hit the silver screen. This production, helmed by Andy Muschietti, features Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, and follows a bunch of kids from Derry, Maine as they battle an evil entity that emerges from its hiding place every 27 years to prey on the town's children, assuming the form of their worst fears.

A Brilliant and Modern Stephen King Movie Adaptation

It reunited audiences with the villainous dancing clown after many, many years, in a much darker take than the one starring Tim Curry back in the 1990s. For these reasons, people eagerly crowded movie theaters back in 2017. Thanks to its script, direction and cast performances, It achieved critical and commercial acclaim, earning just over $700 million at the worldwide box office. As of today, it is still regarded as one of the best adaptations of Stephen King's novels. Rent on AppleTV

Related: What Was the First R-Rated Animated Movie?

5 The Matrix Reloaded — $741.8 Million

The matrix reloaded.

2003's The Matrix Reloaded hit theaters four years after the release of the original film, becoming, by far, the highest-grossing installment of the entire film series, with box office earnings of $741.8 million. This film, also directed by the Wachowskis, once again features Keanu Reeves , Carrie-Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne as Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus, respectively, and delivers a new chapter in their fight against the machines to save mankind from extinction.

A Long-Awaited, Record-Breaking Sequel

This case is quite similar to The Hangover Part II : the original film became an instant hit, and that sparked an even greater public interest in its sequel. Even though the movie failed to rank as highly as its predecessor, it was still praised for its action sequences and the development of the already well-known characters, becoming the highest-grossing film at the time until it was surpassed in 2016. Stream on Hulu

4 Deadpool — $782.6 Million

Deadpool hit theaters in 2016 to break The Matrix Reloaded 's box office record and treated audiences to a superhero story like no other. In this movie, which marked Tim Miller's directorial debut, Ryan Reynolds plays Wade Wilson, a mercenary suffering from cancer who, after being subjected to a ruthless scientific experiment, acquires mutant powers and sets out on a mission to punish those who made him suffer.

Everyone's Favorite Anti-Hero

Deadpool was as revolutionary to superhero movies as Logan , albeit in a completely opposite way. The film was praised for stepping away from the genre's typical formula, while preserving the core of the comics, as well as for Reynolds' performance, who seems to have been born to play the role. A testament to its popularity with audiences, Deadpool grossed $782.6 million. Stream on Disney+

Related: The Split: The First R-Rated Movie Ever Made

3 Deadpool 2 — $785.8 Million

It's very rare for a sequel to be as successful as the original film, let alone outdo it. In 2018, Deadpool 2 achieved just that, and snatched its predecessor's spot as the highest-grossing R-rated film ever at the time. In this movie, directed by David Leitch, the audience once again meets their favorite anti-hero, who now forms a special force to protect a teenage mutant from a powerful enemy.

A Formula Bound for Success

Deadpool 2 built on all the elements that made the original production a hit, and enhanced them even further. The film was hailed for its irreverent humor, its action scenes, and the performance of the entire cast, especially Reynolds in the title role. Grossing $785.8 million, the massive success of this production spurred the development of a new sequel, due in 2024 . Stream on Disney+

2 Oppenheimer — $954.3 Million

Oppenheimer.

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Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer was released just a few months ago, so it's really impressive that it has already made it so high on the list of top-grossing R-rated films. It stars Cillian Murphy and follows the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, whose work on the Manhattan Project during World War II made him the father of the atomic bomb.

The Barbenheimer Phenomenon

Oppenheimer was, along with Greta Gerwig's Barbie , the most anticipated movie of 2023, which is why, upon its release, millions of moviegoers worldwide rushed to the theaters so as not to be left out of this phenomenon. Naturally, this production lived up to expectations, earning great acclaim for its cast performances, screenplay, and visual effects, among many other things. Currently, it sits at $954.3 million at the worldwide box office, but as awards season unfolds, and Oppenheimer cleans up, expect more people to rush to theaters (perhaps for a second or third time) to watch Nolan's film. Rent on AppleTV

1 Joker — $1.074 Billion

Joker (2019).

Topping the list of the highest-grossing R-rated films in history is Joker , the only movie of the bunch to surpass the billion-dollar mark at the box office. Todd Phillips' psychological thriller that chronicles the transformation of aspiring comedian Arthur into one of Gotham City's most iconic villains landed Joaquin Phoenix one of his most complex and popular characters, and earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor and many other accolades.

A Hit That Split the Crowd

Back in 2019, Joker had audiences buzzing with anticipation: everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the tale of one of cinema's most iconic villains. Thus, venues overflowed with fans, and the film became a worldwide sensation. Despite turning into a box-office hit, however, Joker polarized critics, and while many praised Phoenix's performance in the lead role, others harshly criticized the film's portrayal of mental illness and violence, as well as the work of its director. Nevertheless, the film proved to be successful enough that a sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux , was produced, and will hit theaters in 2024. Stream on Max

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Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west. Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west. Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west.

• Kevin Costner
• Jena Malone
• 6 User reviews
• 21 Critic reviews
• 51 Metascore

• Hayes Ellison

• Frances Kittredge

• Diamond Kittredge

• Owen Kittredge

• Sgt. Major Riordan

• First Lt. Trent Gephardt

• Walter Childs

• Caleb Sykes

• Roland Bailey

• Colonel Houghton

• Hugh Proctor

• Matthew Van Weyden

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• May 22, 2024

The 2024 Festival Films You Need to Know

• When will Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 be released? Powered by Alexa
• June 28, 2024 (United States)
• United States
• Horizon: An American Saga
• New Line Cinema
• Territory Pictures Entertainment
• Warner Bros.
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $100,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 3 hours 1 minute
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos

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