This guide is designed as a comprehensive, long-form resource on intertextuality—a term that sounds academic, but is something we engage with every time we recognize a reference, a homage, or a twist on a familiar story.
The “Chosen One” trope never really left. It just learned new tricks. When handled with care, it’s less about destiny handed down from the heavens and more about pressure, doubt, and the cost of being singled out. The stories that still resonate aren’t asking who was born special, but what it means to carry that label and survive it intact.
Every impossible story runs on rules. They don’t need to be realistic, but they do need to be consistent. Break the logic, and the magic leaks out. Belief isn’t suspended in fiction. It’s engineered.
Explore 10 terrifying fictional worlds—from the Upside Down to Panem and the Warp—where survival is impossible, monsters lurk everywhere, and reality suddenly looks pretty great.
Let’s study the philosophy of the force. It emerges as a mystical energy but also a profound philosophy weaving through existence.
These literary masterpieces, penned by authors long past, have continued to captivate readers for centuries, resonating with universal themes and insights into the human condition.
Fictional heroes have been an integral part of literature since time immemorial, captivating readers with their extraordinary abilities, moral dilemmas, and relentless pursuit of justice.
The vast world of comics is filled with lesser-known antagonists who are just as compelling, if not more so, than their famous counterparts. These underrated villains possess rich backstories, unique powers, and the potential to become the next big threat in their respective universes.
Amidst the iconic Sith Lords and powerful Force-sensitive adversaries, there exists a rich tapestry of non-Force sensitive villains who have played pivotal roles in the unfolding drama.
David Fincher, a name synonymous with cinematic brilliance, has etched his mark on the world of film.
As the galaxy far, far away continues to expand through the minds of passionate fans, the wealth of creative interpretations and speculative ideas has given rise to a new frontier of storytelling.
Dystopian fiction has long been a compelling and thought-provoking genre in literature, offering a glimpse into possible dark futures.
The synergy between video games and movies has captivated audiences for decades.
However, the journey from controller to camera has often been fraught with challenges and disappointments.
If you’ve ever been stuck indoors and driven stir crazy from lack of social interaction, these trapped movies help you feel not so alone.
Adapting a book into a film is a daunting task, primarily because the two mediums have distinct storytelling methods.
Comics, with their colorful heroes, vivid villains, and thought-provoking narratives, have emerged as a cultural superpower, leaving an indelible mark on society’s collective imagination.
What is it about villains that makes them so compelling? The answer lies in the complex psychology of villains.
Han shooting first is much more in line with his rogue nature and reinforces his character development throughout the original trilogy.
This corpulent, slug-like crime lord may not fit the traditional mold of a hedonist icon, but just take a look at his lifestyle and values.
Recent developments in Majors’ personal life have raised questions about how these developments could potentially affect the future of the MCU.
In May 2023, Hollywood once again found itself at the center of a storm as the Writers Guild of America embarked on a strike that reverberated throughout the entertainment industry.
Despite the growing recognition of the importance of gender parity, many movies still fall short in providing substantial speaking opportunities for female characters.
The title of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of the Skywalker, the purported last of the Skywalker saga, is a bit of a slap in the face.
In the vast realm of fiction, one narrative technique that continues to captivate readers and challenge perceptions is an unreliable narrator.
Daniel Kaluuya’s eyes carry so much charisma, Jordan Peele’s horror sci-fi Nope managed to accomplish a 21st century impossibility.
Many failed movies could benefit with extra running time. Let’s take a look at 10 terrible movies better suited as prestige TV series.
You might be asking yourself what is speculative fiction? Speculative Fiction is a super-genre of fiction. But let’s dive even deeper.
We sat down with some of Framestore’s key Army of the Dead VFX artists to chat about putting together this action-packed visual feast.
In this article, we examine Filipino movies and Philippine cinema, arguably one of the more underappreciated industries in Southeast Asia.
Fiction genres are much debated and revised, but they’re crucial to providing logical order to the storytelling arts.
Franchises rule the movie marquee, but there are still movies that need a sequel but don’t have one. Here’s our top 10 picks.
Here’s a look into how filmmakers select the perfect songs to complement their work and a breakdown of a few iconic movie soundtracks.
For 90s action movies, cinema moved away from the musclebound giants of yesteryear and embraced more relatable heroes.
The best buddy cop movies are, at their core, great action movies. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best buddy cop movies ever.
Not all box office flops are made equal. Our proof? These 10 fantastic films that flopped financially in their original theatrical releases.
Looking back at science fiction film history, we see that its roots are dug deep and tied together with into sci-fi horror movies.
Monochrome: The Chromism’s crew is a genuine group of people who came together around a passion project to make something ambitious and different on a shoestring budget of $2,000.
The Shining and Doctor Sleep are Stephen King’s latest seemingly complete saga, years apart in the making but just as chilling.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why the movie Alien is a work of art.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a work of art.
A new Dune trailer dropped on Wednesday for Denis Villeneuve’s epic reboot of the famous science fiction story by Frank Herbert.
Project Power’s VFX is clearly one of the stars of the Netflix original movie, alongside Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Dark Knight Rises is a work of art.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Dark Knight is a work of art.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Batman Begins is a work of art.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Shawshank Redemption is a work of art.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) is a work of art.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why The Fifth Element is a work of art.
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a work of art.
Philosophy shapes every action in our lives, whether we recognize and understand it or not.
If you haven’t seen all or any of director Denis Villeneuve’s movies, make the filmmaker’s catalog a priority on your watch list.
Taika Waititi’s 2019 film Jojo Rabbit expands society’s collective memory of World War II.
Proceedings start slowly with Christine, as two high school friends, Arnie the geek and Dennis the jock, navigate life through high school.
This past award season, we bet there is one name you’ve probably heard more than any other: South Korean director and auteur Bong Joon-Ho.
Often times in science fiction we tend to eschew sci fi armor and instead focus on the ships, creatures, gadgetry, big flashy guns, and legally distinct laser swords.
Psychological thrillers leverage the complexity of the human brain, which allows them to tap into infinite possibilities.
HBO Max’s May 2020 premiere was already anticipated, but with Warner Max it’s clear WarnerMedia will enter the streaming wars guns blazing.
When analyizing A Star is Born (2018) using Laura Mulvey’s Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema it’s clear the narrative is inherently sexist.
When Shakespeare’s great tragedies are brought up, including Macbeth, we often focus on literary merits, but what about plot structure?
Religious movies have fallen in popularity at the box office in recent decades. But what caused the rise and fall of these religious epics?
At Fictionphile, we’re pretty big science fiction nerds, so it’s only natural that we keep a close eye on upcoming sci fi across all of fiction’s mediums.
The 2020 Oscar Nominations were announced this morning for the 92nd Academy Awards, and Joker received the most nominations with 11 nods, including Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, and Directing.
There is a rumor that I am a picky person, perhaps even worse, a nitpicky person. Some would say this especially applies when it comes to action movie cliches.
If you ever loved a movie, play, TV show, or book–anything with dialogue–take a moment and thank Aeschylus. Not convinced? Let’s talk.
Disney buying Fox shook up the state of the evolving Fox comic book universe, claiming victims like X-Men. Yet, strangely enough, it seems Deadpool 3 has survived the purge.
Hunting Kris Kristofferson in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, James Coburn enlists Slim Pickens and María Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García — or the Mexican actress Katy Jurado, for short.
As a long-time fan of the Star Wars series, ever since I was introduced to it in the 90’s, I was enamored with the aesthetic of glowing laser swords, massive mechanical marvels, mysterious ancient orders, and strange-looking puppets dressed up as aliens.
With Star Wars Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker out less than a week, Disney didn’t wait long to announce a Star Wars The Skywalker Saga box set of all nine installments of the franchise’s flagship story.
The New Mutants movie, based on the X-Men horror spin-off, finished years ago but never released. Now, sources say it’s on its way in 2020 with a trailer in January.
Thanks to various forms of fiction, popular culture is rife with different fictional locations from Hogwarts to the Mushroom Kingdom.
Just like bodies, no two examples of body swap fiction are exactly the same. They can range from the macabre to the quirky or cringe-worthy to brilliant.
If you’re relatively new to Stephen King, you might not know the terms constant reader or the Stephen King Multiverse. That’s why we’re here to break down the fiction universe you simply must know.
The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep is now a feature film directed by Mike Flanagan.
The battles of science fiction usually need heavy artillery. However, sci-fi movies do not all follow the rules of a single universe.
Martial arts movies reside in a pseudo-genre where actual martial art skill is not necessary. Yet, we wondered what a fighting expert might like in a martial arts film–so we asked one.
Though commonly found in poetry and prose, metaphors appear in several popular movies. Let’s review a few underrated metaphors in movies.
Movie remakes might seem like they’re a sign of the times, but their relationship with storytelling is woven into our collective history.
Earth as we know it could one day be rendered uninhabitable by some form of apocalypse, whether it’s nuclear war, zombies, or a robot uprising.
Superhero Fatigue has been discussed for years, but yet the movies (and merchandise) kept on coming. Do other films have a shot anymore?
MCU phase 4 is just around the corner. After Avengers: Endgame and the ensuing in-world fallout, there’s an approaching need for new properties.
Researchers shook the Internet by the brain this week when they partially restored a quadriplegic man’s control of his hand, and we saw a glimpse of a potentially game changing brain-machine interface.
Hearing about new discoveries in science sometimes feels exactly like reading or watching science fiction.
The singularity, otherwise known as Dawn of the Planet of Computers, has been predicted for years. All we’ve received thus far are chat bots.
At the end of June 2013, a Star Wars casting call leaked for the sequel trilogy. Here are our guesses.
