When you think of Elijah Wood, what first comes to mind is probably characters who embody innocence or heroism. From his career as a child actor to his performance in the record-breaking Lord of the Rings trilogy, to family films like Happy Feet, he has found great success portraying people who exemplify what is good in the world. However, one role lurks in the shadows of his filmography: Kevin, the sadistic cannibal killer in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s 2005 film Sin City.In a movie full of tough guy actors such as Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Benicio del Toro, it’s Wood that stands out as the most intimidating, as he uses a unique approach to make the audience squirm in their seat.

Sound has always been the understated genius of cinema. The audience may not always notice it, but sound is crucial in shaping the way we feel about a movie. The crackle of a gunshot in a classic war movie, the sharp intake of breath in a horror, or an ominous knock on the door in a thriller, can all be as effective as any line of dialogue or special effect. Some movies weaponize sound, such as A Quiet Place or Don't Breathe, but in the new crime thriller Tuner, it almost resembles a superpower.

In a genre as storied as action movies, it's hard to find something that feels like it breaks new ground. In the 2020s, however, one of the leading names in action starred in a franchise that has brought a new perspective on the large-scale, effects-heavy spectacle. Gerard Butler's Greenland, and the 2026 sequel, Greenland 2: Migration, imagines an apocalyptic event and one family trying to survive. Combining cutting-edge visual storytelling with a script that never forgets that the people are the most important part of the movie, it has become a hit on streaming that will grab newcomers from the beginning, right up until the second movie's credits.