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Thomas West

Thomas J. West III earned a PhD in film and screen studies from Syracuse University in 2018. His writing on film and TV has appeared at Screen Rant, Screenology, FanFare, Primetimer, Cinemania, and in a number of scholarly journals and edited collections. He co-hosts the Queens of the B's podcast and writes a regular newsletter, Omnivorous, on Substack. He is also an active member of GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.

The 20 best everyman characters on TV

These fascinating figures have much to reveal about how American society and culture view masculinity and how they expect men to behave, particularly when it comes to their relationships with their wives, children, and the rest of their families. 

The 20 best movies based on TV shows

There has long been a symbiotic relationship between film and TV, with each medium drawing on and influencing the other. The most successful and enjoyable examples of this phenomenon are reminders of how integrated the entertainment industry has become. 

Box office gross: The 20 funniest raunchy comedies

The raunchy comedy is one of the most enduring forms of the genre. It revels in the debauched and the grotesque, inviting the audience to leave behind the boring real world and surrender themselves to uncontrollable (and sometimes uncomfortable) humor.

The 20 most memorable sitcom villains

Several great antagonists have emerged in sitcom history — many of whom threaten to steal the spotlight from the characters who are supposed to be the center of the audience’s sympathies and loyalties. These are the 20 best.

20 film protagonists who lost their spotlight in sequels

If there is one thing that Hollywood loves, it’s a sequel. While it is always a good idea to give secondary characters some time in the spotlight, it’s the rare film that can be truly successful if it makes the mistake of sidelining a main character too much. 

25 best dark fantasy movies and TV series

Whether in animation or live-action, these stories excavate some of the more sinister aspects of the human psyche and desire for stories. Furthermore, as the best that dark fantasy has to offer, these films demonstrate the extraordinary flexibility of the fantasy sensibility.

25 disturbing films that really mess with your mind

These kinds of films are designed to mess with the mind, whether through the effective use of a plot twist, the narrative, or sometimes just the inventive use of the visual field. As thought-provoking as they are disturbing, these are the kinds of films that prove the enduring power of cinema. 

25 movies that have disappeared but deserve a rewatch

These films span multiple genres and time periods, from family comedies to epics, from the 1960s to the 2000s. In all cases, these films are worth rediscovering because they say something about the period that produced them and are enjoyable in their own right.

25 best movies about American history

More than anything else, the best movies about American history allow for a keener, more complex understanding of how those living in the present make sense of what has come before as they try to figure out where to go in the future.

25 greatest leaders in films

How does a leader rise above the fray? Fortunately, there are many examples of great leaders in the movies, men and women, both fictional and real, who show what it takes to inspire others.

25 movies you didn't know were inspired by Shakespearean plays

Shakespeare has found a home in drama, political thrillers, and, perhaps most surprisingly, teenage comedy. There is, seemingly, a Shakespeare for every cinematic taste that one can imagine.  

The 25 best pulpy movies

Whether film noir or space adventure, there’s something in the pulp sensibility for everyone.

The most iconic films and TV shows set in the Middle Ages

Though films and TV series about the Middle Ages do not always attract the same level of love and critical praise as those set in other periods of history, there are still a number of notable films and TV series which take the period as their setting. 

25 best movies and TV shows based on the Arthurian legend

Popular culture has long been fascinated with the legends and myths surrounding King Arthur. These films and TV series indicate the enduring power of the Arthurian legend in all of its beauty and tragedy. 

25 movies and shows about queens

Popular culture has long been obsessed with the lives and loves of royalty, and while kings have, of course, come in for their fair share of representations, it’s hard to argue that some of the most notable on-screen royals have been women.

25 most romantic LGBTQ films

June is Pride Month, which means it’s a good time to look back at the many different types of LGBTQ+ stories being told by Hollywood.

Grizzly violence: 20 of the deadliest bears in movies

Whether it’s the recent Cocaine Bear or the many other great (and not-so-great) movies focusing on bear attacks, the beast itself serves as something of a return of the repressed, the force of nature, at last, taking a strike back at the decadence and oppressiveness of human civilization.

Deadly is the female: Cinema's most dangerous moms

Popular culture has often shown a distinct ambivalence regarding motherhood, and over the years, several films have shown mothers in a less-than-flattering light. Dangerous mothers frequently appear in horror movies, and just as often, she appears in comedies and other genres.

25 heartwarming movies that celebrate moms

These are the 25 movies designed to leave the viewer with a renewed sense of what a vital function mothers play.

25 shows impacted by the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike

The recent announcement that the Writers Guild of America will strike sent shock waves through Hollywood. As this newest strike continues to exert pressure on the studios and streamers, it’s important to look back to appreciate the value writers bring to the world of screen entertainment. 

The 25 most memorable fantasy villains

If there’s one genre that seems to excel at creating memorable villains, it’s fantasy. Partly, this is because films and TV series set in alternate universes have more latitude when it comes to what they can portray. The imagination can run wild, creating beings of almost unimaginable power.

25 fantasy films that have the most fun

These types of films are potent reminders of the fact that fantasy, more than any other genre, shows the radical power of escapism.

The fame monster: The 25 best films about the dark side of stardom

If there is one thing that Hollywood seems to love, it’s stories about itself, and films about Hollywood and its stars have regularly appeared. These movies remind the viewer of the glamor and magic associated with the industry itself.

The 25 best neo-noir films

These are the rich psychological dramas that explore the darker, seamier, and more destructive parts of the human condition. Given how popular neo-noirs remain even in the present, it’s worth taking a look at the best that this particular sensibility has produced throughout the decades.

25 sci-fi movies that examine the nature of life and our reality

Whether it’s peering into the future — with all of its perils and promise — or excavating humanity’s deepest fears and desires about the body, sci-fi films have always been incredibly thought-provoking.