Ne Zha 2—The Chinese Blockbuster that you've probably never heard of
I hadn’t heard of it either until recently—and yet, it’s one of the highest grossing movies of all time.

This film tells the story of Wendhorst, a man who is constantly striving to do his duty for his country. He protects Germany’s secrets but when his wife lets them slip, he abandons her and decides to continue to protect his country but this time on the battlefield. He is depicted as a hero battling enemy troops, but also demonstrates kindness and benevolence when he listens to the story of two prisoners. His benevolence is rewarded, as the prisoners turn out to be his wife and his son, whom he has never met. His newfound son decides to join him in battle but is killed fighting, and at the end of the film only Wendhorst comes home to his wife. Wendhorst and his son depict ideal German soldiers whose belief in the glory and good of their country never falters, even to the very end.
I hadn’t heard of it either until recently—and yet, it’s one of the highest grossing movies of all time.
A brave Indian woman rises from an oppressive background to become an inspired leader for women and men alike around the globe.
Outer Banks (2020-) knows its audience: young adults in a country that can’t stop romanticizing good ole’ treasure hunts. Add a little of Riverdale’s (2017-) sex appeal, and no one can look away. Forty years after The Goonies (1985) America’s consciousness hasn’t strayed from the same tropes: treasure hunts, a vulnerable white male lead, and the whitewashing of a racially segregated setting.
Neon Gravity is an assassin who realizes that her target, as well as her current reality, are not what they seem. This short film is a futuristic story that takes place in Downtown Miami.
Paris is Burning elevated drag and ballroom into the public consciousness and permanently impacted LGBT culture. However, the performers featured in the documentary didn't reap the rewards of their visibility.
I can say without question, that this is the first movie I’ve ever seen where art imitates life so much that I could 100% identify with it on a personal level. The predominately Black cast of characters are people with hopes, dreams, fears, and ambitions.