Science fiction has forever been where we cast our greatest hopes—and darkest nightmares. Since Georges Méliès launched a rocket into the eye of the moon in 1902, the genre has allowed us to envision where we’re going and what we’ll be.

Sci-fi movies over the past two decades have become even more ambitious, delivering everything from polished futures to dark dystopias. But among all the hype and blockbuster din, one movie has been quietly standing the test of time as the genre’s greatest triumph: Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men.

Children of Men came out in 2006, but it did not immediately generate buzz at the box office. Universal Pictures was unable to sell it, and it only managed to break even on its $76 million budget, grossing $69 million worldwide.

But as is the case with most masterpieces, its true strength was discovered years later. Now, Children of Men is generally accepted as a contemporary classic, leading IndieWire’s best 21st-century science fiction film list, even ahead of masterpiece-praised films like Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina, and Tenet.

What distinguishes Children of Men isn’t explosive effects or franchise success. It’s the crushing weight and sense of urgency. In a decaying 2027, the film is set in a future where mass infertility has brought humanity to the edge of extinction.

The government has fallen, society is broken, and London is a city terrorized by fear, militarism, and despair. In the process, Clive Owen portrays an alienated bureaucrat who is assigned to guard the first pregnant woman in almost twenty years—one tenuous icon of life in a world that has lost faith in it.

Cuarón, a director already celebrated by Y Tu Mamá También and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, added a sense of desperation to Children of Men that is more pressing than ever before. Working with him for the fifth time is cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, who contributes to capturing that sense of desperation in stunning long takes that throw audiences directly into incendiary city streets and intense combat areas. The result is experiential, visceral, and unforgettable.

But aside from its technical proficiency, Children of Men is memorable due to the themes it dares to tackle—migration, collapse of the system, authoritarianism, and the gradual loss of hope. Almost two decades after the movie was released, it no longer appears as much of a dystopian fantasy but rather a bleak assessment of the world in which we now live. From refugee camps and patriotic propaganda to ecological disaster and mass surveillance, its presentation of societal breakdown is unnervingly close to home.

And yet, beneath it all, Children of Men is not a despairing story. It’s a story of resilience—of the tenuous, flickering spark of hope that exists even in darkest corners. That emotional resonance is what lifts the film above grim prophecy. It’s why the narrative continues to haunt audiences, long after the blackness closes over the final scene.

In so many respects, Children of Men is the ideal model for what science fiction can deliver at its best. For decades, the genre had been written off as escapist or cult, but movies like this demonstrate how it can engage with the most fundamental concerns of our era. It’s not about envisioning the future—it’s about making us better understand the present.

As we move through a world of chaos and uncertainty, Children of Men is more timely than ever. It’s not a movie that required a franchise or a billion-dollar budget to leave a lasting impression. All it required was a worthy tale—and the guts to tell it without apologies.

What would our beloved animated classics be like without their villainous antagonists? These bad guys aren’t merely obstacles for the heroes—they’re frequently the emotional anchors of the tale, adding tension, depth, and indelible panache. Tragic, frightening, or simply theatrically evil, animated villains tend to upstage the heroes and linger in our minds far beyond the final credits. The following are ten of the most iconic villains in animated film history, and what makes each of them so iconic.

Jenner – The Secret of NIMH

The first film from Don Bluth, this is a hauntingly good, emotionally rewarding experience, and Jenner is one of its most shadowy characters. Voiced by Paul Shenar, Jenner is a rat with an insatiable lust for power who resists any attempt to move beyond a life of subservience, no matter if it involves resorting to murder. His refinement and brutal competitiveness render him a terrifying figure, representing the fear of advancement and the savagery that can lurk behind the intellect. Although he appears on screen briefly, Jenner is left with a lasting impression courtesy of the intense pace of the film and the unexpected maturity of its themes.

Phantasm – Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Batman’s rogues gallery is populated with iconic villains, but Phantasm introduces a noir twist that’s never been seen before. Voiced by Stacy Keach, this masked villain stalks Gotham’s underworld with haunting precision. The ghost-like appearance and grim reaper-esque mask immediately summon fear, but it’s what’s hiding behind the mask that gives Phantasm emotional depth. The tragic history of the character makes Phantasm more than an enemy to Batman, a reflection of his suffering and decisions.

Grigori Rasputin – Anastasia

Christopher Lloyd dives headfirst into his wonderfully over-the-top voiceover of Rasputin, transforming the legendary Russian mystic into a monstrous, zombie-like villain driven by dark magic and a thirst for revenge. The animation goes full-on surrealist and ghoulhouse, and Lloyd’s acting veers wildly from menacing to ridiculous, giving us a bad guy who’s as fun to watch as he is frightening. Throw in a bat sidekick and a couple of ghoulish musical numbers, and Rasputin is a madcap gem of this animated epic.

Professor Ratigan – The Great Mouse Detective

Vincent Price’s Ratigan is a love letter to showy villainy. Half-dandyized crime lord, half-fuming beast, Ratigan is proud of his evilness—and Price’s peerless voice acting imbues him with an irresistible grandeur. As a rodent equivalent of Moriarty, Ratigan exudes intellect, ego, and a barely contained brutality, and so he ranks among Disney’s most charming and nuanced villains.

Grimmel the Grisly – How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Played by F. Murray Abraham, Grimmel is a cold-blooded, calculating dragon hunter who all but wipes out the Night Fury breed. He’s the ideal antagonist to Hiccup: where Hiccup views dragons as friends, Grimmel views them as quarry. His tranquility and strategic mind make him a terrifying villain, and Abraham’s acting adds an unnerving calmness to each menace. Grimmel doesn’t only test Hiccup physically—he invades the ideals Hiccup has defended.

King Haggard – The Last Unicorn

Christopher Lee imbues King Haggard with Shakespearean gravitas, a melancholy monarch beset with the desire to amass the remaining unicorns merely to experience something. Few fairy tale bad guys are motivated by anything other than greed or revenge, but Haggard is compelled instead by an empty melancholy that approaches existential horror. His misery is as terrifying as his brutality, and Lee’s fidelity to the material lends this peculiarly off-putting villain a tragic majesty.

The Beldam – Coraline

Teri Hatcher’s creepy portrayal of the Beldam, or Other Mother, earns her a place among the scariest villainesses in contemporary animation. Tempting children with love and comfort at the horrible price of entering a grotesque alternate reality, the Beldam is the epitome of psychological terror. The transition from fretful homemaker to razor-jointed, needle-fingered terror is one for the nightmares. It is Beldam’s manipulation of the mind that makes her so frightening, as she exploits the emotional weaknesses of her victims.

Titan – Megamind

Jonah Hill’s Titan is the dark spin on the superhero origin story. As a rejected “nice guy,” Hal Stewart evolves into a lethal supervillain when he acquires huge power—and demonstrates that he is wildly ill-equipped to handle it. His arrogance and slide into anarchy are both chilling and, sometimes, darkly humorous. Titan’s journey is an allegory for power without principle, and Hill brings every shred of his small-time, apoplectic anger to it.

Shere Khan – The Jungle Book

With less screen time than almost anyone else, Shere Khan has a disproportionate influence. Played by the voice of George Sanders, this tiger oozes refinement and menace, inspiring fear with a mere calm word or a twitch of the tail. He is more than a thug—he’s a predator with elegance and intent, fueled by a fierce loathing of man. The presence of Shere Khan casts a dark shadow over the movie, and when he does appear, he fulfills every sinister suggestion.

Captain Hook – Peter Pan

Hans Conried’s Captain Hook is the definitive animated pirate—menacing and risibly theatrical. Hook is fixated on revenge against Peter Pan and cowering in fear of the crocodile that doggedly pursues him. He hovers between menace and farce. His unsettling combination of danger and comedy keeps him in viewing rotation forever. He is a bad guy, but he is also the life of the party.

These villains aren’t foils to the heroes in the classical sense—they’re fully realized characters in and of themselves. With brash animation, great voice acting, and deep storytelling, they become the living, beating pulse of the movies they inhabit. Whether tragic, frightening, or simply too much fun to despise, they remind us that a good story requires a good villain—and these ten deliver in spectacular ways.

There’s something special about getting to experience a favorite movie franchise back on the big screen. Whether superheroes are saving the day, magic is happening, or high-octane car chases are taking place, franchises have a knack for bringing us back for more. They create cinematic universes that can take years—sometimes decades—spanning and cross generations of fans.

1. Marvel Cinematic Universe

No surprises here—the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the undisputed heavyweight champ of the box office. With 35 movies that have been released and eight in development, the MCU has made over $31.4 billion at the global box office. Alone, the Avengers movies have garnered a whopping $7.7 billion in four installments, with Avengers: Endgame comfortably holding the record as the second highest-grossing movie ever at $2.79 billion. Disney’s purchase of Marvel in 2009 was a risk that ultimately paid off in amazing fashion, particularly as the studio was able to recapture rights to most of its beloved characters and make them box office gold.

2. Star Wars

Years ago, Star Wars opened the door to what would be one of the film industry’s longest-lasting legacies. With 12 movies out and two in the works, the series has raked in $10.32 billion at the global box office. The Force Awakens (2015) takes the top spot, netting more than $2 billion and securing its place as the fifth-highest-grossing film in history. Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 has already paid itself numerous times over, particularly when merchandise, streaming, and theme park profits are factored in.

3. Harry Potter (Wizarding World)

The Wizarding World, encompassing the main Harry Potter movies and spin-off Fantastic Beasts movies, has bewitched its way to $9.6 billion at the global box office. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was the highest-grossing box office hit of the series, taking more than $1.3 billion. From theme parks through to Broadway shows and new video games, the magic keeps on growing in and out of theaters.

4. Spider-Man

Spider-Man’s path at the box office is one of the most peculiar. Taking the Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland movies, plus the Spider-Verse animated installments, this web-slinger franchise raked in $8.9 billion at the global box office. No Way Home was the undisputed leader, hauling in almost $2 billion. As Sony and Disney keep producing (and sometimes arguing) over rights, Spidey’s future in film continues to be one of the most monitored in Hollywood.

5. James Bond

The name is Bond—box office Bond. With 27 movies in its collection since 1963, the James Bond franchise has grossed $7.9 billion worldwide. Skyfall (2012) was the franchise’s highest-grossing grosser at $1.1 billion. In 2025, Amazon’s purchase of MGM ushered in a new era for the debonair superspy with new tales and new directions for 007.

6. The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy realm remains a huge attraction. When you tally the original Lord of the Rings trilogy with the subsequent Hobbit films, the franchise has drawn in $5.89 billion globally. The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey each went over the billion-dollar threshold. Peter Jackson’s epic scope redefined what fantasy might be on the big screen.

7. Fast & Furious

From a street-racing epic in 2001 to an action extravaganza that takes us all around the world. With $5.14 billion in worldwide box office, the Fast & Furious franchise just keeps on pushing the boundaries of physics and box office returns. From family soap operas to blowing-up submarines, each installment attempts to outdo the previous one, and the fans keep riding along.

8. Jurassic Park

Thirty years on from the initial Jurassic Park to redefine blockbuster cinema, dinosaurs continue to draw enormous audiences. Adding the more recent Jurassic World films, the franchise has collectively made $4.98 billion worldwide. The original 1993 remains cult-classic, but the reinvigorated series has howled its way to enormous profits and much spectacle. 

9. X-Men

Before the MCU’s takeover, the X-Men franchise spearheaded the contemporary superhero craze. Throughout 14 movies, including Deadpool and Logan, the franchise has made $5.8 billion. The R-rated Deadpool movies were particularly dominant box office, each making more than $780 million. With X-Men entering the MCU, the future looks mutant once more.

The MonsterVerse (including Godzilla and Kong) continues to grow, as do individual Batman films—most notably Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy—some of the most popular and lucrative in the superhero genre.

Franchise movies are not merely a collection of sequels—they’re pop culture landmarks that get our imaginations going for generations. They’re not merely about opening weekend profits—they’re about the stories that linger, the characters we come to know and love, and the thrill of what’s yet to come.

There’s something inherently satisfying in a good mini-series. You have the complexity of a film and the space to breathe of a longer series, without dedicating yourself to high-end bingeing. And of all places, HBO Max stands alone with its mini-series. If you like intense crime fiction, big dramatics based on true events, or quirky animated escapades, these 10 examples demonstrate just how compelling the genre can be.

1. Watchmen

Damon Lindelof’s brash reinterpretation of the classic graphic novel not only retreads old territory—it drives the story into new and exciting directions. Decades removed from its original, Watchmen focuses on Sister Night (Regina King), a masked private investigator in Tulsa dealing with a complex web of racism, legacy, and masked vigilantism. With an all-star cast that includes Jean Smart, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons, and Hong Chau, the show blends action, science fiction, and unflinching social issues with breathtaking accuracy. It dominated 11 Emmy Awards, and rightfully so.

2. Angels in America

Mike Nichols adapted this widely affecting version of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which took place during the AIDS epidemic of 1980s America. Featuring tour-de-force performances by Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, and Jeffrey Wright, Angels in America combines surrealism with historical realism. It’s a blazingly alive portrait of mourning, identity, and survival—and one of the most awarded HBO shows ever, receiving 11 Emmys.

3. Mare of Easttown

Kate Winslet delivers one of her best performances as Mare Sheehan, a small-town detective attempting to crack a murder mystery amidst personal grief and local secrets. Tough and earthy, Mare of Easttown pairs a smart mystery with a profoundly human tale. The ensemble cast—led by Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, and Evan Peters—delivers throughout. It’s a haunting, emotionally complex crime drama that was a cultural phenomenon.

4. The Lady and the Dale

This offbeat documentary recounts the bizarre, fascinating tale of Elizabeth Carmichael, a trans entrepreneur who became famous (and infamous) in the 1970s due to her visionary three-wheeled automobile. Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker direct The Lady and the Dale, a feature that combines archival images, animation, and first-person testimony to explore themes of deceit, media hype, and trans identity in a manner that’s both considered and enjoyable.

5. From the Earth to the Moon

Directed by Tom Hanks, this 12-part docudrama chronicles the Apollo missions of NASA with both technical authenticity and emotional truth. Covering years of space travel, the series lends each episode a distinct tone and theme, training the astronauts in the unseen engineers. An obvious love note to discovery and determination, From the Earth to the Moon is still one of the most ambitious and motivational space tales ever to be written for the screen.

6. Elizabeth I

Helen Mirren shines in this intimate and personal drama about one of history’s most complicated monarchs. Covering the last few decades of Queen Elizabeth’s rule, the two-parter explores her personal and political setbacks, from tense alliances to heartbreak. Jeremy Irons and Hugh Dancy join the cast in this rich, emotionally intense drama that won nine Emmys.

7. True Detective (Season 1)

Though subsequent seasons made True Detective an anthology series, the first season is a mini-series classic. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson deliver career-highlighting performances as two detectives solving a decades-old case in Louisiana. With deep philosophical ideas, immortal dialogue, and eerie direction by Cary Joji Fukunaga, it’s a Southern Gothic crime story that set the standard for TV narrative.

8. Miracle Workers

The initial season of this anthology series, based on Simon Rich’s book, is a rambunctious and irreverent exploration of divine intervention. Daniel Radcliffe and Geraldine Viswanathan star as low-ranking angels attempting to redeem Earth by performing a miracle, while Steve Buscemi stars as a flippant, slovenly interpretation of God. It’s a witty blend of absurd humor and unexpectedly touching storytelling—one that ultimately branched off into more eccentric anthology seasons.

9. I May Destroy You

Michaela Coel created, directed, and acted in this unflinching examination of trauma, recovery, and identity. Set in London, the series traces Arabella, a young author, as she reconstructs the story of what occurred on a night she can’t remember. Intensely intimate and unapologetically candid, I May Destroy You is a combination of humor and tragedy that subverts conventional narrative structures—and it well deserved Coel’s critical plaudits, BAFTAs, and Emmys.

10. Over the Garden Wall

This animated miniseries is brief, bizarre, and completely magical. It tracks half-brothers Wirt and Greg as they travel through a magical forest of bizarre beasts, wayward spirits, and dark fairy tale atmospheres. With a voice cast featuring Elijah Wood, Christopher Lloyd, and John Cleese, Over the Garden Wall is a lovely mix of spooky storytelling and ageless charm. Ideal for viewers of old-school animation and ghost stories with souls.

HBO Max has carved out a reputation for producing some of the most memorable mini-series in modern television. These 10 selections span genres, eras, and emotional tones, but all share one thing in common: they’re powerful, compact, and entirely worth your time. Whether you’re in the mood for cosmic comedy or character-driven drama, there’s a mini-series on this list that’ll leave a lasting impression.

Star Wars is a galaxy that never stops expanding. Just when it feels like every corner has been explored—from Jedi temples to underworld cantinas—another hidden story or forgotten legend emerges. Anthology series like Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire have shown there’s a strong appetite for bite-sized, lore-rich storytelling. With so much of the Star Wars universe yet to be explored, here are ten anthology ideas that might lead us even further into the Force, the factions, and the characters who defined this legendary galaxy.

1. Tales of the Sith

The Sith are always core to Star Wars, but so much of their dark, complicated history is also behind the scenes. A series exploring the origin of Darth Bane and his Rule of Two, or the tragic experiments of Darth Plagueis, would enrich the mythology of the Sith. These tales aren’t necessarily about evil—about obsession, betrayal, and the corrupting desire for power. It’s time to lift the curtain.

2. Rebellion Stories

We are familiar with the general outlines: the Death Star was destroyed, and the Empire was overthrown. But what was the actual start of the Rebellion? An anthology might follow its origins back through shadowy meetings between the likes of Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Padmé Amidala. The political and emotional cost of creating a resistance movement in secret would provide rich territory for drama and character development.

3. High Republic Stories

The High Republic period shows the Jedi at their best—protectors of peace in a galaxy that hasn’t yet been engulfed by war. Although The Acolyte gives us a glimpse of this era, an anthology might fill in more of this golden age: dashing Jedi Masters, distant adventures, and a Republic that still holds to its ideals. It’s a blank slate waiting for stories.

4. First Order Stories

We know much less about the intervening decades between the collapse of the Empire and the rise of the First Order. How did the remnants of a broken regime rebuild in secret? What was the role of characters such as Snoke and Brendol Hux? An anthology here could fill the narrative gaps between original and sequel trilogies, lending much-needed heft to the First Order’s creation.

5. Legends of the Last Order

Palpatine’s sudden reappearance in The Rise of Skywalker left a lot of fans confused. How did he accumulate a huge armada in secret? Who were his loyal followers, and what was the extent of Exegol’s activities? A limited series could make one of the saga’s most convoluted plot points into something good and coherent.

6. Legends of the Mandalorians

Mandalorians have become a staple of contemporary Star Wars, due to their famous armor and rich cultural heritage. A show following ancient conflicts with the Jedi, internal warfare, or the creation of the Darksaber through Tarre Vizsla would build their lore and demonstrate how closely Mandalorian history is tied into the rest of the galaxy.

7. Bounty Hunter Tales

From Boba Fett to Cad Bane, bounty hunters are Star Wars’ most iconic and deadly loners. An anthology would delve into the seedy existence—pursuing prey, existing in moral ambiguity, and staying alive in the lawless corners of the Outer Rim. Every episode could be a new hunter, with a new take on the underworld of the galaxy.

8. Tales of the Resistance

The Resistance might take a page from the Rebellion’s book, but it’s a different animal entirely—one that springs forth from disillusionment with a flat-lined New Republic. Delving deeper into General Leia Organa’s decision to splinter, recruiting pilots like Poe Dameron, and the initial threats of the First Order might provide the sequel era with more emotional traction and background.

9. Stories of the Grey Jedi

Not all Force users fall into neatly delineated categories of Jedi or Sith. Some tread the middle path, taking from both light and dark but neither being beholden to one or the other doctrine. Whether officially canon or not, these so-called Grey Jedi would provide an intriguing exploration of balance, free will, and what it means to use the Force.

10. Tales of the Whills

Perhaps the most enigmatic and legendary part of Star Wars lore, the Whills are connected to the very fabric of the Force. A franchise detailing the Guardians of the Whills—such as Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus—and their role within the galaxy’s spiritual center would involve topics of fate, faith, and the unseen forces that hold everything together.

A Galaxy Full of Stories Still Untold

What keeps Star Wars going isn’t all the lightsaber battles or space combat—it’s the feeling that every character, planet, and artifact in the galaxy has a story to tell. Anthology shows are the ideal method to dive into these hidden histories without the burden of a complete saga. Whether it’s ancient Sith Lords, renegade bounty hunters, or lost Force traditions, the galaxy far, far away continues to have so much more to say.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a vast, interconnected network of heroes, villains, and the rest in between—more than 700 characters strong and growing. With that number of capes, cowls, and sidekicks floating about, not everyone can be a T’Challa or a Wanda Maximoff. Some are just meant to be the punchline, the cringe in the audience, or the villain you wish would just remain snapped. Here are ten of the absolute worst characters to ever make it into the MCU, ranked with all the love and all the snark they deserve.

1. Malekith (Thor: The Dark World)

The MCU’s dark elves might have been threatening, but Malekith is the archetype for untapped potential. With a villain this uninspired, it’s no surprise that fans hardly recall the storyline of Thor’s second film. Even Christopher Eccleston couldn’t salvage this one from being a cosmic yawn.

2. Iron Fist (Danny Rand, Marvel’s Iron Fist)

Danny Rand is meant to be some magical martial arts guru, but his show on Netflix had people questioning whether he’d ever so much as cracked a kung fu book. The show’s cringeworthy attempts at Eastern philosophy and a hero who can’t even harness his abilities made Iron Fist a joke instead of a force to be reckoned with.

3. Inhumans Royal Family (Marvel’s Inhumans)

The Inhumans TV show was so bad that fans have all but forgotten it. The royal family, under the silent Black Bolt and the eternally bewildered Medusa, did not have a hope with stilted performances and a bad cosplay competition plot.

4. Whiplash (Ivan Vanko, Iron Man 2)

Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash had the potential to be a great villain before he ever opened his mouth. From the bird fixation to the disappointing final fight, Whiplash is more remembered for his bizarre accent than as a legitimate threat to Tony Stark.

5. Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2)

Sam Rockwell can’t be faulted—except when burdened with a script that makes him a bargain-bin Tony Stark. Justin Hammer is all smarm and no substance, a tech bro who’s more grating than menacing.

6. The Warriors Three (Thor Franchise)

Thor’s Asgardian trio of friends—Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg—ought to have been the MCU equivalent of the Three Musketeers. Rather, they are elevated extras who are ruthlessly dispatched in Ragnarok. Blink and you’ll miss them, and quite frankly, you won’t miss much.

7. The Leader (Samuel Sterns, The Incredible Hulk)

Don’t forget about the man whose head began to expand after The Incredible Hulk? So does the MCU. Samuel Sterns was positioned to be the future big bad, but he disappeared into thin air, leaving audiences with a villain who never got to wreak havoc.

8. Cloak & Dagger (Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen, Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger)

The Freeform duo’s attempt at street-level drama for the MCU was unsuccessful, with Cloak and Dagger’s brooding teen romance and glacial pace being easy to forget. Their abilities are nice, but their characters are CW filler material.

9. The Mandarin (Trevor Slattery, Iron Man 3)

Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery is a comedic fake-out, but as the would-be Mandarin, he’s a disappointment of epic scale. The twist is great, but it left viewers salivating for an actual villain rather than a drunken thespian in over his head.

10. Darcy Lewis (Thor Franchise, WandaVision)

Kat Dennings’ Darcy began as a source of comic relief, but her act got old quickly. By the point at which she appeared in WandaVision, her oddball one-liners tried harder than they were funny, making her one of the MCU’s most polarizing sidekicks.

The MCU universe is one of infinite possibilities, but it cannot be that all characters are scene-stealers. Some will be doomed to be the punchline, the plot hole, or the face you forget as soon as the credits roll.