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What’s On? – A Master Content Calendar For Your Bookmarks
Note: Check back for updates as new content is announced!
January 2026
January 2 – We Bury The Dead (Theaters)
January 6 – Will Trent (ABC, Next day Hulu)
January 8 – The Traitors (Peacock)
January 8 – His & Hers (Netflix)
January 9 – People We Meet On Vacation (Netflix)
January 9 – Sleepwalker (Theaters)
January 9 – Primate (Theaters)
January 16 – Night Patrol (Theaters)
January 16 – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Theaters)
January 21 – The Beauty (FX, Next day Hulu)
January 21 – Queer Eye (Netflix)
January 22 – Finding Her Edge (Netflix)
January 23 – Return to Silent Hill (Theaters)
January 28 – School Spirits (Paramount+)
January 28 – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
January 30 – Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (Theaters)
January 30 – Iron Lung (Theaters)
January 30 – Send Help (Theaters)
February 2026
February 6 – The Strangers: Chapter 3 (Theaters)
February 6 – Dracula (Theaters)
February 6 – Pillion (Theaters)
February 6 – Whistle (Theaters)
February 8 – The ‘Burbs (Peacock)
February 13 – “Wuthering Heights” (Theaters)
February 13 – GOAT (Theaters)
February 13 – Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (Theaters)
February 18 – 56 Days (Prime)
February 20 – This is Not a Test (Theaters)
February 25 – Scrubs (ABC, next day Hulu)
February 27 – Scream 7 (Theaters)
March 2026
March 5 – Ted (Peacock)
March 6 – The Bride (Theaters)
March 6 – Peaky Blinders: The Eternal Man (Theaters, Netflix on March 20)
March 11 – Scarpetta (Prime)
March 18 – Imperfect Women (Apple TV+)
March 20 – Project Hail Mary (Theaters)
March 27 – Ready or Not: Here I Come (Theaters)
March 27 – Fantasy Life (Theaters)
March 27 – They Will Kill You (Theaters)
April 2026
April 3 – The Drama (Theaters)
April 8 – The Boys (Prime)
April 10 – Malcolm in the Middle (Hulu)
April 15 – Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV+)
April 17 – The Mummy (Theaters)
April 17 – Normal (Theaters)
May 2026
May 1 – The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Theaters)
May 1 – Hokum (Theaters)
May 15 – Obsession (Theaters)
May 22 – I Love Boosters (Theaters)
June 2026
June 12 – Scary Movie 6 (Theaters)
June 19 – Toy Story 5 (Theaters)
July 2026
July 12 – Disclosure Day (Theaters)
July 17 – The Odyssey (Theaters)
August 2026
August 21 – Insidious: The Bleeding World (Theaters)
August 28 – The Dog Star (Theaters)
August 28 – Coyote vs. ACME (Theaters)
September 2026
September 11 – Sense and Sensibility (Theaters)
September 18 – Practical Magic 2 (Theaters)
September 18 – Play House (Theaters)
September 18 – Resident Evil (Theaters)
October 2026
October 1 – Terrifier 4 (Theaters)
October 2 – Digger (Theaters)
October 9 – Other Mommy (Theaters)
October 16 – Street Fighter (Theaters)
October 23 – Remain (Theaters)
November 2026
November 20 – The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Theaters)
December 2026
December 18 – Avengers: Doomsday (Theaters)
December 18 – Dune: Part Three (Theaters)
December 25 – Werewulf (Theaters)
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“My Mom And Dad Are Gonna Be So Mad At Me”: A Spotlight On Matthew Lillard
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the work of Matthew Lillard into the ol’ VCR.
Matthew Lillard is a gem.
And, I can vouch for all of the Good Guy Matthew Lillard stories because, well, I have one of my own.
Back in 2012, I was volunteering at SXSW when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
It was Matthew Lillard.
His movie, Fat Kid Rules the World, was premiering, and he had stepped outside because he was nervous to see audience reactions.
We proceeded to talk for over half an hour, and like all of the stories you’ve heard, he always turned the conversation back to me.
He asked me all about where I grew up, my university, you name it.
He then proceeded to tell me that if no one had ever told me, he was proud of me for getting out of a small town and moving 165 miles away, by myself, to better myself.
I told him all about KP, and he smiled and said, “Well, she sounds like a hell of a woman who raised a hell of a kid.”
One of his friends took a blurry picture of us and another volunteer after the movie ended, but our conversation is what really meant the world to me.
I’ve said this before, but how many people can say that Stu Macher said he was proud of them??
And, that’s why I want to give Matthew Lillard a spotlight piece.
He’s known for being a sweetheart, and, based on my experience, I fully agree.
Matthew Lillard has played so many iconic characters and has reached such a level of fame that he could easily be an unapproachable jerk.
But he’s not, and I think that’s more than worth a spotlight.
There’s not much more I can say about Matthew Lillard that hasn’t already been said.
But, Matthew Lillard, please know that if you ever see this, that little conversation meant the world to me, and ignore the fact that this is the second time I’m telling it in the world of B Moves. 🖤
Without further ado, here’s some of my favorite Matthew Lillard content:
- Scream
- Serial Mom
- SLC Punk!
- Scooby-Doo
- She’s All That
- Thir13en Ghosts
- Grave Conversations
- The Boulet Brothers’ Halfway to Halloween TV Special
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Horror Recommendations From A-Z
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping horror movie recommendations from A-Z into the ol’ VCR.
This probably won’t come as a surprise, but people often ask me for movie recommendations.
And, as with what happens every time someone asks me about my favorite things, I immediately forget every single movie I’ve ever seen.
That’s why I thought I’d make a little list with some of my horror movie recommendations from A-Z, meaning I’m giving you a horror movie for each letter of the alphabet.
I tried to throw in multiple decades as well as a variety of genres and subgenres.
In short, there should be something for everyone.
Or, at the very least, this should be a good jumping-off point to find another movie to watch.
Alrighty, that should do us for introductions.
Without further ado, here are 26 horror movie recommendations to keep you from mindlessly scrolling through streamers:
B – Barbarian
C – Carnival of Souls (1962 or 1998?)
D – Demon Knight (technically known as Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, but work with me)
E – Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
F – February, aka The Blackcoat’s Daughter
G – Get Out
H – Hell House LLC
I – I Trapped the Devil
J – Jennifer’s Body
K – Krampus
L – Let’s Scare Jessica to Death
M – My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To
N – Near Dark
O – Ouija: Origin of EvilP – Psycho Cop 2
Q – Queen of the Damned
R – Ready or Not
T – Trilogy of Terror
U – Urban Legend
V – V/H/S/94
W – Willy’s Wonderland
X – XX
Z – Zombeavers
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The Soundtrack Of My Life
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the soundtrack for the movie of my life into the ol’ VCR.
Friends, we’ve talked about 2000s soundtracks.
We’ve talked about concept albums.
I’ve even shared some of my favorite music videos with you.
Now, I want to do something fun.
We all have those moments where we’re walking down the street with our headphones in, and we pretend like we’re the main character in a movie.
Just me? Cool.
Well, it got me thinking about what would actually be on the soundtrack of my life.
That brings us to this piece.
Yes, friends, I’ve chosen 10 songs that would comprise my soundtrack.
Or, at the very least, that I think would.
If someone wants to make a fan art CD cover, I won’t be mad.
I digress.
I tried not to pick songs that I loved, but that I thought applied to my life for one reason or another. But, it’s definitely hard to not be self-indulgent for this one.
Alrighty, that should do us for introductions.
Without further ado, here are the 10 songs I think would be on the soundtrack of my life:
“No Children” by The Mountain Goats
Video source: the Mountain Goats
“Waiting for October” by Polaris
“What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes
Video source: 4 Non Blondes
“Til I Hear It From You” by Gin Blossoms
Video source: Gin Blossoms Official
“I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” by My Chemical Romance
Video source: My Chemical Romance
Note: You should totally check out the LCA we did for Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge if you haven’t 👀
“Sleep to Dream” by Fiona Apple
Video source: fionaapple
“Things I’ll Never Say” by Avril Lavigne
“Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis
Video source: Oasis
“My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit
Video source: Lit
“Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes
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It’s All Four You: My Hypothetical Letterboxd Four
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping my Letterboxd top 4 into the ol’ VCR.
So, I famously don’t have a Letterboxd.
It’s not because I think I’m above it or anything like that.
I just feel like y’all constantly hear my cinematic opinions, so you don’t need to hear them again.
Also, as we all know, I tend to be long-winded when it comes to talking about pop culture.
However, I’ve had a lot of people ask me to start a Letterboxd over the years.
That’s why I’ve decided to compromise and give you my hypothetical Letterboxd top four.
Believe me when I say that this was one of the HARDEST things I’ve ever had to do.
I know I’ve said that before, but whittling this list down to four movies sincerely took me all day.
But, I’ve finally done it.
As with most of the Letterboxd interviews, I thought I would also give you a little explanation as to why I chose each movie.
Now, I feel like two of these might be obvious, but I think the other two might be a little surprising. Emphasis on a little.
Alrighty, that should do us for introductions.
Without further ado, I present to you, my hypothetical Letterboxd top 4:
Scream (1996)
Scream (1996) brought meta to the mainstream. Sure, movies like Student Bodies and Wacko, to some extent, existed, but none of them did it like Wes, baby. Scream has some comedy, but it’s not a slapstick routine like some of its predecessors. Scream is sexy, smart, and scary. It’s also queer-coded, thanks to Billy and Stu’s relationship.
Without Scream, we wouldn’t have the same level of commentary within the horror community space. Hell, I would even argue that Sidney Prescott created a new version of the final girl. Scream is one of the most influential horror movies of all time, so it’s rightfully earned its spot in my top four.
Halloween (1978)
The reason Halloween (1978) is in my top four is because John Carpenter revolutionized the slow burn. He and Debra Hill crafted one of the most iconic horror villains of all-time on a shoe-string budget, as well as one of the best original scores. Laurie Strode harkened in a new era of final girl, just like Sidney Prescott would almost 20 years later.
We also wouldn’t have the likes of The Strangers without Halloween. Michael Myers was never supposed to be Laurie’s brother—she was just an obsession, aka he did what he did because she was home. Additionally, we wouldn’t have gotten Jason Vorhees without Michael Myers. Finally, Halloween is just one of my favorite movies of all time.
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
The original House on Haunted Hill is incredible. First and foremost, it’s led by Vincent Price, so how can you NOT love it? Secondly, there’s a level of camp that I really appreciate for a 1950s horror movie. The riffing between Frederick (Vincent Price) and Annabelle (Carol Ohmart)? Come on.
HOHH is also a William Castle joint, so there were all sorts of gimmicks in the theater, and we all know I love a good gimmick. Finally, this movie is ahead of its time. They break the fourth wall, give us a good ol’ fashioned twist, and keep it at a tidy 75 minutes.
Promising Young Woman
I feel like this movie might be the most surprising, but I promise it doesn’t have anything to do with Bo Burnham. In my opinion, Promising Young Woman is a damn near perfect movie. The cast is flawless, the ending is *chef’s kiss*, and the soundtrack is next level. Every single time I watch this movie, I love it more. Saltburn was also one of my favorite movies of last year, so I’ll watch anything Emerald Fennell directs (within reason).
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“There She Is! The Almost-Birthday Girl!”: A Spotlight On Oz Perkins
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the works of Oz Perkins into the ol’ VCR.
I’m sure that some, if not a lot, of you have seen Longlegs.
And, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I left the theater.
That’s why it should be no surprise that, today, we’re shining the spotlight on Oz Perkins.
For those who don’t know, Osgood “Oz” Perkins is named for his paternal grandfather, who was an actor of both stage and screen.
Additionally, Oz Perkins’s father was the famous Anthony Perkins, who brought Mr. Oedipus himself, Norman Bates, to life throughout the Psycho franchise.
Over the years, Oz has appeared in such iconic movies as Legally Blonde, Dead & Breakfast, and Nope.
I have also confused Oz Perkins with Rich Sommer a million times over the years.
I digress.
Then, in 2015, he released his directorial debut, The Blackcoat’s Daughter, aka February…and it freakin’ ruled (and is basically a personification of Oliva Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right?”).
Over the past nine years, he’s also directed I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, Gretel & Hansel, and, most recently, Longlegs, with his film adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Monkey” headed our way next year.
What I love about Oz Perkins is his unique presentation and subversion of the traditional horror subgenres like haunting/haunted house, possession, horror/true crime, etc…
I also love how all of his films, at least thus far, feel as though they belong to the same universe, from Mother’s comments in Gretel & Hansel mirroring a lot of Lily’s narration from I Am The Pretty Thing that Lives in the House to Kat and Longlegs both hailing Satan.
He also includes a lot of strong female characters in his films, and you know I’m always down for that.
As always, there’s not much more I can say about Oz Perkins that hasn’t already been said.
Oz, if you ever see this, from one Perkins to another, I salute you. 🫡
Without further ado, here’s some of my favorite Oz Perkins content:
- Nope
- Longlegs
- Psycho II
- Legally Blonde
- Queer for Fear
- Dead & Breakfast
- The Blackcoat’s Daughter, aka February
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The Importance of Physical Media
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the importance of physical media into the ol’ VCR.
Note: I know that buying physical media isn’t an option for everyone. I’ve more than been there before, and I recognize the privilege of being able to buy these releases. Please know that I’m not advocating to spend money on physical media if you’re struggling.
Yes, friends, I am about to go on a soapbox, but bear with me.
We all know that I grew up in the age of DVD menus and the clamshell VHS.
So, I’ll admit that I have a bit of a bias, but hear me out.
How many times have you gone to watch a movie, only to find it’s out of print and/or unavailable?
You know what I mean.
You type it into Google, only to find there are no streamers or prices listed.
It’s just…nowhere.
You can’t run to the nearest video store to rent it (unless you live in a city like I do that has an independent one).
Netflix discontinued their DVD rentals last year.
Redbox just announced that they’re closing their kiosks.
Hell, Best Buy isn’t even carrying physical media in-store anymore.
You can try to find an upload on YouTube, sure, but it’s not guaranteed, and it could be chopped up into 20-30 parts.
This is why physical media is sooooo important.
If we stop making physical copies of movies and shows, beloved and important content could fade into oblivion.
You can catch them at a showing at the Drafthouse, but then you have to wait until it hopefully comes up in a film programming block.
Or, it makes us reliant on streamers, which, believe me, I understand is the point.
But, there’s a big demand for physical media, especially for those of us who are nostalgic for the olden days.
The most recent example that comes to mind is the release of Terrifier 2 on VHS at Walmart.
People have been hunting for their copy like crazy, and I don’t know about you, but a good chunk of my feed consists of people talking about Walmart’s entire horror section as a whole.
Additionally, I follow several accounts that specialize in selling VHS copies of modern movies and/or DVD or Blu-ray copies of nostalgic shows that never got a physical release.
Their drops almost always sell out, and you have to set an alarm on your phone just to get a copy.
However, it’s not just limited to movies and shows; a lot of artists are also releasing vinyls, tapes, and CDs of albums with bonus tracks both online and at shows.
Listen, the world is a terrifying, dystopian hellscape, and every day brings a new horror.
Don’t let movies and shows just disappear or be limited to a digital platform.
Don’t rob the up-and-coming generations of pop culture that could inspire the next great director or screenwriter or actor.
Don’t stop releasing physical media—I promise that there’s a market for it.
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Laughs, Tracked: Some Of My Favorite Sketch Comedy Shows
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping sketch comedy shows into the ol’ VCR.
It’s hard for me to gauge how obvious this is, but I’m a huge fan of comedy
We’ve talked about some of my favorite comedy specials, and we all know I wrote the compendium on Inside, but I LOVE comedy, especially comedy writing.
That’s why I’m a huge fan of sketch comedy shows.
I briefly did a stint with standup (and I do miss it), but part of me has always wanted to be a comedy writer; that’s why 30 Rock is one of my favorite shows of all time.
Because, when it’s done well, comedic writing just hits different.
That’s why I have such a soft spot for sketch comedy; the amount of talent it takes to not only write but perform a sketch is next level.
It’s the same reason why I love horror and why so many comedians make excellent horror content.
You only have a brief amount of time to evoke a particular emotion from your audience, with it being laughter in comedy’s case.
I want to give you a list of some of my favorite sketch comedy shows, but we’re going to have to do a hell of a lot of disclaimers first.
First and foremost, I absolutely do NOT condone any actions of Dan Schneider or any of the pieces of shit from Nickelodeon that (allegedly) let all of these (alleged) things happen, and that’s why, sadly, I can’t include a couple of sketch shows from that era on this list. I think The Amanda Show has some INCREDIBLE writing on it, as did All That, but it just doesn’t feel right to include them.
Secondly, I loved The Chappelle Show in high school, but I can’t, in good conscience, put his show on my list either. The Prince sketch is one of my favorite things of all time, but his rhetoric towards the trans community is completely unacceptable.
Thirdly, I haven’t watched A Black Lady Sketch Show, and that’s totally on me for having not seen it.
And finally, some of these shows have sketches that clearly didn’t age well for one reason or another. Some of these are years, if not, decades, old at this point, so proceed with caution.
Okay, I think that’ll do us for introductions and disclaimers.
Without further ado, here are eight of my favorite sketch comedy shows:
- The State
- Mr. Show with Bob and David
- Portlandia
- Kroll Show
- Key and Peele
- The Birthday Boys
- I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson
- The Whitest Kids U’Know (WKUK)
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Where Are They Now?: Updates On Your Favorite Fictional Relationships
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping where we think some of our favorite movie couples ended up into the ol’ VCR.
We all know the formula for the traditional love story arc:
- Our love interests are introduced
- They get close
- They undergo some sort of conflict
- They come back together
- Roll credits
But what happens AFTER those credits roll?
What happens after graduation or college or marriage?
Friends, that’s where I come in.
Today, we’re going to check in with five couples from five beloved movies to see where they ended up.
Now, before I even start, let’s throw out a couple of disclaimers:
First and foremost, this is clearly just for fun, and I have no affiliation with these films whatsoever.
Secondly, I want to reiterate that I’m just a silly goose who writes about pop culture on the internet.
And finally, if y’all like this one, I’m absolutely down to take on more couples.
Alrighty, that should do us for disclaimers and introductions.
Without further ado, let’s check in with some iconic couples
Missy and Torrance from Bring It On
Shortly into Torrance and Cliff’s relationship, she realized she was with the wrong twin. Torrance finally told Missy she had feelings for her, and the two have been together since. They currently live in L.A. and coach cheer together on the weekends, with Missy coaching gymnastics full-time and Torrance working as a choreographer for some of the biggest names in entertainment. They also know every single word to every song on Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
Cliff is supportive of their relationship, is happily married to Darcy, and tells a mean dad joke. Darcy and Cliff have three kids who absolutely worship their aunts. Their oldest daughter is going to be a freshman this year and has every intention of auditioning for the Toros.
Megan and Graham from But I’m a Cheerleader
Megan and Graham have four kids and are now expecting their first grandchild. They live in Portland where Megan is a lawyer and Graham owns a record store. They attend every Melissa Etheridge concert they can, and Graham’s record store always makes a killer float for the Pride parade.
Duke and Viola from She’s the Man
Duke and Viola broke up in college, but they still remain good friends and play club soccer together on the weekends. Long distance just didn’t work for them, but their friend group still remains intact. Olivia and Justin did stay together, though, and attend every single one of Duke and Viola’s games together. They still joke about what happened in high school, and Headmaster Gold sends them chain emails to this very day.
Sam and Austin from A Cinderella Story
Sam and Austin are still together and attend couple’s therapy to strengthen their relationship. Austin had to cut contact with his father after his father made some unsavory remarks on Twitter (I refuse to call it X), and Sam’s been supportive. Sam’s stepsisters are aspiring influencers, and Fiona is their manager. Sam got her PhD in Literature, and, thanks to her inheritance, she and Austin were able to set up a scholarship fund for kids in their area.
Corey and A.J. from Empire Records
A.J. supported Corey as she worked through a rehabilitation program, and she still attends meetings to this day. Corey and A.J. did eventually divorce, but they’re both excellent parents. Corey got remarried, but A.J. never did. Corey is a CMO at a very well-known company, while A.J. became a successful artist. Gina is the godmother to all of their children, and they still visit Joe and Lucas at Empire Records once a year.
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Alluring Adaptations #2: Songs I’d Love To See As Horror Movies
Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping songs I’d love to see as true crime/horror movies into the ol’ VCR.
If you missed the first edition of Alluring Adaptations, I highly recommend checking it out to a) up the view count, obvi and b) understand the truly wild journey my brain sometimes takes us all on.
Alrighty, so, let’s address the elephant in the room.
This piece is coming out late, but I can explain.
Initially, an entirely different piece was supposed to go live this week.
But then, I saw Longlegs Tuesday night, and everything changed.
The tone of Longlegs reminded me of this series because I mixed a lot of horror and true crime together for it, so I was inspired to bring you four more songs that I think would fit the bill.
And don’t worry, the other piece I mentioned is still coming soon…and I think you’ll love it as well.
Alrighty, that should do us for introductions and disclaimers.
Without further ado, here are four songs I think would make excellent true crime/horror movies, a la Longlegs.
“Act Naturally” by Buck Owens
Madeline Owens and her girlfriend, Zoe Buck, have been together for eight years. Initially, Madeline was unphased by Zoe’s fame. But, after Zoe’s career reaches new heights and she unceremoniously ends their relationship, Madeline decides it’s her turn to have the spotlight.
After refusing any help from Zoe and her new girlfriend, Madeline finds an audition for a new horror film from an up-and-coming producer. The catch? The Director has no intention of letting Madeline make it past the credits. Can she make it past the first reel? All she’s gotta do is…act naturally.
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police
(I know this one is obvious, but I couldn’t resist)
20 years ago, Alex Copeland’s entire family was murdered while they were at baseball practice, but no one was ever apprehended. In fact, no DNA or fingerprints were ever recovered. As the anniversary of their deaths approaches, Alex begins receiving letters from a mysterious source with details that were never released to the public, including the details of their mother’s lover turned stalker. The truly unnerving part is that the letters are always left on Alex’s pillow and always end the same:
I’ll be watching you
“Roxanne” by The Police
Michael “Sting” Gordon is a rookie FBI agent that’s trying to prove himself to the older members of the force. However, when sex workers begin showing up dead, including an ex-confidant of Sting’s, named Roxanne, it seems the Red Light Ripper might have come out of retirement. And, he might be closer to Sting than was ever imaginable.
“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton
Overcome with grief after the sudden murder of his partner, Jeremy, Todd Wagoner is willing to do anything to bring him back. Anything. When his neighbor, Ms. Dolly, claims she has a gift for resurrection, a disparate Todd follows her instructions to a T.
Surprisingly, Ms. Dolly was telling the truth…but Todd left a few things out. It turns out Jeremy was in the process of leaving Todd. And, oh yeah, Todd’s a serial killer and responsible for Jeremy’s death in the first place because he preemptively found Jeremy’s goodbye letter.
The contents of the letter revealed that, although Jeremy felt he needed to leave the relationship, he would only be taking their bittersweet memories with him. He also ended the letter with, “I will always love you.”
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Lights, Camera, Albums: My Chemical Romance’s Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge
HHello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping another edition of Lights, Camera, Albums into the ol’ VCR.
With Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge having turned 20 earlier this year (WOOF), I think it’s only right to give it the LCA treatment.
If this is your first Lights, Camera, Albums, welcome!
Just to catch you up, LCA is a series where I take an album and pair each song on the tracklist with a different movie.
Sometimes, the connection is obvious. Other times, you might have to tilt your head to the side, squint your eyes, and apprehensively say, “Oh yeaaaah.”
Regardless, everyone seems to really dig this series, and I love writing it, so we’re happy that you’ve found your way here.
We’ve also covered albums by everyone from Chappell Roan to Fall Out Boy, so you have plenty of genres to choose from.
Now, it wouldn’t be a proper B Movies piece if I didn’t have some disclaimers.
First and foremost, this album has a lot of references to self-harm, SI, su*c*d*, and all like topics. So, some of the movies I chose also deal with these topics. I’m not here to make light of their subject matter AT ALL.
I also tried to pick movies that were Hot Topic-coded or Hot Topic-adjacent given how crucial this album was to the Hot Topic culture of the early aughts.
Secondly, given some of the subject matter, this means we’re going to nix any photos with funny captions.
And finally, I’m not going to include “Interlude,” and some people will probably be upset with me.
Alrighty, that should do us for introductions and disclaimers.
Without further ado, I present to you Lights, Camera, Albums: My Chemical Romance’s Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge:
“Helena” as The Virgin Suicides
CW/TW for SI, su*c*d*, self-harm, and all like topics
This pairing was actually the first I made for this album. I think the lyrics of “Helena” really capture Trip’s (Josh Hartnett/Michael Paré) thoughts about the Lisbon sisters and the heartbreak the deaths left in their wake.
I also think that “Helena” is a bit shrouded in mystery because you only get the perspective of our narrator, much like with Trip. We don’t know exactly why the Lisbon sisters did what they did, so Trip and the other boys are just trying to make sense of it all.
“Give ‘Em Hell, Kid” as Jawbreaker
I’ve been holding on to Jawbreaker for a very, very long time, but I finally feel ready to use it in an LCA for a couple of reasons:
- I feel like the venn diagram for millennials who grew up listening to MCR and watching Jawbreaker is basically a circle.
- I think Jawbreaker is Hot Topic-adjacent FOR SURE.
The lyrics that really sold me on pairing these two are these:
“Well I’m a total wreck and almost every day
Like the firing squad or the mess you made
Well don’t I look pretty walking down the street
In the best damn dress I own?“
It’s honestly giving Courtney Shayne (Rose McGowan) telling everyone to strut their shit down the hallway like everything’s peachy fucking keen while she covers up Liz’s (Charlotte Ayanna) murder.
“To the End” as Death Becomes Her
This was another immediate match for me. Death Becomes Her is all about appearances, and so is “To The End.” Things are never what they appear to be, and MCR wants us to KNOW IT.
For example, Madeline (Meryl Streep) and Ernest’s (Bruce Willis) marriage is absolutely miserable, Helen (Goldie Hawn) is obsessed with taking revenge while pretending to be over it, the list goes on and on.
I think these two play nicely off of each other because Madeline and Helen’s relationship is the real focal point of the film, and they’re stuck together for eternity.
“You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison” as Funny Games (2007)
This might be one of my more obscure matches, but hear me out. I feel like “You Know What…” matches the chaos of Funny Games, particularly the chaos of Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet in the remake. Much like Funny Games, I feel like we don’t fully know the intention or purpose of the events.
I promise this makes sense in my head.
“I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” as Donnie Darko
I knew from the get go that I wanted to throw Donnie Darko into the mix because it and the next movie we’re talking about are two of the most Hot Topic-coded movies I could think of. Then, it clicked with me…
The character of Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is the epitome of this song. Think about it. He’s a teenage kid being told by a demented rabbit that the world is going to end in a matter of days after a near-death experience. I’d be struggling too.
“The Ghost of You” as The Crow
Y’all KNOW I wasn’t about to write an LCA about My Chemical Romance and not include The Crow, aka the most Hot Topic-coded movie of all time. And, I feel like “The Ghost of You” could fit right into the soundtrack for The Crow. I also feel like Eric (Brandon Lee) could sing this while thinking about Shelly (Sofia Shinas) and planning his revenge on their murderers.
“The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You” as Se7en
Okay, I’m about to spoil a movie that’s 29 years old, but I wanted to give all of you a fair warning in advance.
My brain somehow immediately connected these two. I feel like this song could play as Mills (Brad Pitt) reflects back on his and Tracy’s (Gwyneth Paltrow) relationship after John Doe (Kevin Spacey, unfortunately) murders her, and Mills finds out what’s in the box. I see it as a lament and potentially slowed down because Mills is not only grieving his wife, but he’s also trying to come to terms with his own hubris contributing to the cause.
“Thank You for the Venom” as Wristcutters
This might be another one that leaves you scratching your head, but I can explain.
For those who haven’t seen Wristcutters, the entire premise is that people who kill themselves are sent to a specific sector of the afterlife. However, Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon) is adamant that she arrived there accidentally while Zia (Patrick Fugit, swoon) is on a mission to find his ex-girlfriend who he believes killed herself after his death. And, I think this song matches their intensity.
“Hang ‘Em High” as Repo! The Genetic Opera
I know Repo! was released a few years later than Sweet Revenge, but you can’t tell me that Repo! isn’t EXTREMELY Hot Topic-coded. I digress.
I see can absolutely see Nathan (Anthony Steward Head), Shilo (Alexa PenaVega), and Rotti
(Paul Sorvino) singing this song during the climax of the film after Nathan is revealed to be the Repo Man. There are parts that speak to Rotti’s hatred of Nathan, Nathan’s mourning of Marni (Sarah Power), and the betrayal Shilo feels toward her father. The recurring line, “would I lie to you?”, really drives it home for me.
“It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Deathwish” as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Forgive me for taking this long to throw Tim Burton into the mix, but you’re about to get a double dose.
This pairing is pretty on the nose, tbh. Throughout “It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Deathwish,” there are a lot of allusions to vengeance, aka the main theme of Sweeney Todd. The character of Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp, unfortunately) is a resurrection of sorts. After losing everything, Benjamin Barker returns to London as our titular character to exact his revenge. And, wouldn’t you know that these lyrics perfectly align with this sentiment:
“I will avenge my ghost with every breath I take
I’m coming back from the dead and I’ll take you home with me
I’m taking back the life you stole“
“Cemetery Drive” as Corpse Bride
I told y’all you were getting a double dose of Burton! “Cemetery Drive” tells the tale of someone’s lover who has taken her own life. While Emily (Helena Bonham Carter) was murdered, I still think it works.
Both Corpse Bride and “Cemetery Drive” share common themes of tragedy and grief. They both also focus on the aftermath of death from the vantage point of afterlife as opposed to the typical vantage point of the living. Emily is mourning the life she was robbed of and only wants to be loved, which aligns with the mournful tone of our narrator in “Cemetery Drive.”
“I Never Told You What I Do for a Living” as Lisa Frankenstein
Lisa (Kathryn Newton) would’ve LOVED this album, so I think it’s only right to pair these two. This song is, 100%, from the perspective of The Creature (Cole Sprouse). The Creature almost immediately falls for Lisa, and he’s willing to do anything for her, be it staying in her closet or killing those who wrong her in some way or another.
I also think the poetic and gothic lyrics of MCR really align with the movie, as well as Lisa’s writing. The lines that really sealed the deal for me on this one were:
“Another knife in my hands
A stain that never comes off the sheets“
And yes, I was picturing the castration scene when I read them.
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