Zach Seemayer lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Zach Seemayer - Lists at Ranker

Entertainment

A heist movie is often only as good as the crooks who come together to pull off the big job. Eclectic heist teams <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/heist-movies-and-films/ranker-film" target="_blank">have a rich cinematic history</a>&nbsp;and can be filled with lovable antiheroes looking for a life-changing score or cold-blooded career transgressors who love nothing more than the thrill and the rush.

A good caper crew can be a delicate balance, but as we&#39;ve seen in countless classic caper flicks, there&#39;s no single right combination of thieves, targets, or motivations that make for a successful silver-screen joyride.

From large crews filled to the brim with experts who all get along like family&nbsp;to smaller, more violent teams of hardened pros who aren&#39;t shy when it comes to pulling a gun or punching a security guard, there are a handful of heist movie crews who really could pull off any big gig.

The Strongest Heist Movie Crews Who Could Pull Off Any Job

Film

Zach Seemayer

Lists about the best (and worst) films, TV series, novels, characters, etc. in every sci-fi genre.

The Worlds of Science Fiction

Total Nerd

The nameless, faceless monoliths known as corporations and conglomerates have long been go-to villains for sci-fi franchises. After all, big corporations don&#39;t have a spotless record when it comes to respecting their employees or caring about the environment. So, for speculative fiction about near or distant futures in which companies are allowed unregulated control, it isn&#39;t hard to imagine them as ruthless, amoral manifestations of avarice and villainy.

However, the methods in which the fictional megacorps of film and TV assert their influence and control - and the level of evil to which they aspire - vary greatly. Some sinister fictional corporations value wealth and power above all else, while others are motivated by the arrogance and egomania of their founders and CEOs. In a few cases, these sci-fi companies exist solely to achieve nefarious goals of world domination or outright genocide, all behind a facade of legitimacy.

Here&#39;s a look at some of the most villainous and&nbsp;malicious corporations from sci-fi movies and TV shows, examining what the companies claim to do&nbsp;and the dark, secret underbelly of their operations, which make them so memorably evil.

The Most Villainous Corporations In Sci-Fi History

General

Just because someone is fictional, deceased, or an entire universe doesn't stop Ranker from tossing them into Battle Royale-type tournaments against their worthiest foes.

Choose Your Fighter

Looking closer at the heroes, villains, and supporting characters of sci-fi.

Science Fictional Characters

Sci-Fi

Robots, cyborgs, and androids, oh no! For years, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-robots-of-all-time" target="_blank">mechanical automata</a> have captured the imaginations of moviegoers, and they have stunned and amazed with their formidable strength and stoic allure. Whether they&#39;re <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-playing-robots/mikekrumboltz" target="_blank">working on behalf of humanity</a> or working diligently to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-artificial-intelligence-movies-list/ranker-film" target="_blank">enslave and subjugate us all</a>, robots have been the go-to titans of sci-fi and sci-fi/horror since the dawn of film.

But which of Hollywood&#39;s <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cutest-robots-in-movies-and-tv-ranked/ranker-characters" target="_blank">iconic mechanized monstrosities</a> wields the most power? Is it the unstoppable murder-bots, unfazed by machine gun blasts and fire? Or the humanoid guardians of goodness protecting mankind from other robotic threats? Or perhaps it&#39;s the extraterrestrial creations who come to Earth with towering proportions and unknowable motivations? There&#39;s certainly no shortage of contenders for the title of most powerful movie robot of all time.

The Most Powerful Robots In Movie History

Fictional Character

In appreciation of the action thriller franchise that follows a deadly assassin who comes out of retirement to seek [highly justified] personal revenge. 

Wick... John Wick

All movie characters need obstacles to overcome or trials to endure, and sometimes that means getting put through the wringer and taking a lot of punishment. However, in some cases, characters prove they aren&#39;t just tough -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/times-action-heroes-shouldnt-have-survived/jessica-bedewi" target="_blank">they are basically immortal</a>. This isn&#39;t something that only happens with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-characters-slasher-movies/ranker-entertainment" target="_blank">supernaturally immortal slasher monsters</a> or unnaturally impervious superheroes, either. A lot of films have totally ordinary mortals who prove to be extraordinarily death-proof.

While it seems to be most common among action movie heroes - because you can&#39;t have a franchise without a durable protagonist - the trope of the virtually indestructible character spans all genres, from drama to comedy to sci-fi horror. Whether it&#39;s for comedic effect - like Red from Pineapple Express - or a byproduct of being around for such a long time and part of so many films (like everyone&#39;s favorite martini-drinking British spy), being functionally unkillable adds a unique dynamic to the character&#39;s entire existence. Vote up your favorite indestructible characters.

19 Movie Characters Who Are (Almost) Impossible To Kill

Movie Characters Who Are Basically Indestructible

Sequels

Sometimes, when a movie is great&nbsp;or it&#39;s a smashing box office success, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-that-were-supposed-to-have-sequels/joedonley" target="_blank">it simply demands a sequel</a>. If the sequel works out, another sequel is inevitable, and suddenly you&#39;ve got a bona fide franchise on your hands. However, in line with the law of diminishing returns, you&#39;ll find a lot of movie franchises that should have ended way sooner than they actually did.

Sometimes, the franchise starts to falter because the main character becomes a ridiculous parody of themselves&nbsp;or&nbsp;because the premise the franchise is based on <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-franchises-that-should-have-ended-after-one/zach-seemayer" target="_blank">wasn&#39;t strong enough to support multiple installments</a>. Often, it&#39;s because the producers win the conflict between commerce and art and start churning out cheaper and cheaper entries, banking on the popularity of earlier movies in the series.

Whatever the reason, some of the best most beloved franchises in cinema history have become diluted by shoddy installments and hacky cash-grabs that make fans wish the story had come to an end much sooner. Not everything has the staying power of James Bond or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead, some franchises should have stopped at three instead&nbsp;of pumping out sequel after sequel... after sequel...&nbsp;after sequel...

Vote up the franchises that simply lasted way too long.

13 Great Movie Franchises That Should Have Ended Earlier

Sometimes, a movie captures the hearts and imaginations of the world, wowing audiences with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unnecessary-sequels-to-classic-comedies/mike-mcgranaghan" target="_blank">comedic brilliance</a>, breathtaking action sequences, or heartwarming emotional performances. Then studios rush to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-worst-sequels-of-all-time" target="_blank">shove out a terrible sequel</a> fans pretend doesn&#39;t exist, and they try to do it as cheaply as possible, often with none of the original cast or crew involved.

There are many sequels that not only <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-disappointing-movie-sequels/ranker-film" target="_blank">don&#39;t live up to the original</a>, they undermine the entire point or message of their predecessor, or actively <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unwanted-pg-13-sequels-to-r-rated-movies/jake-williams" target="_blank">eat away at the goodwill</a> people felt toward it. Sometimes coming out less than a year later, and other times&nbsp;a decade or more <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/franchise-sequels-that-ignored-previous-movies/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">after the fact</a>, these sequels don&#39;t even have to be actively bad movies - though most of the time they are - but rather films that <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-franchise-worst-decisions/tyler-mitchell" target="_blank">fans simply disregard</a>, their existence wholly inconsequential to the impact of the originals.

Vote up the unnecessary sequels you&#39;ve made a conscious effort to forget.

17 Inexplicable Movie Sequels We've All Agreed To Pretend Never Happened

Movie Sequels We've All Agreed To Pretend Never Happened

For so many, the Christmas season evokes memories of holiday cheer, the smells of cinnamon and peppermint, and the spirit of giving, evoked in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/guilty-pleasure-christmas-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">Christmas movies</a> since the dawn of cinema. But for every dozen <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-christmas-movies-of-all-time" target="_blank">wholesome, uplifting holiday flicks</a>, fans of less festive silver-screen fare are treated to a darker take on the Christmas spirit - movies where yuletide joy is replaced with profound disappointment and the only gifts being given are in the form of vulgar insults, harsh beatings, and general misanthropic mayhem. Essentially, Christmas movies for jaded grown-ups instead of their precocious kids.

The holidays don&#39;t just come for kids learning lessons about friendship and faith or parents who are reconnecting with their kids - it&#39;s also for criminals looking to pull jobs on Christmas Eve, sinister <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-christmas-movies/anncasano" target="_blank">monsters seeking children to eat</a>, and drug-addled maniacs trying to have some fun by sowing chaos. From horror flicks to crime dramas to pitch-black comedies, here&#39;s a look at some great Christmas movies that are definitely on Santa&#39;s naughty list. Vote up your darkest Christmas favorites.

15 Great Christmas Movies That Are On The Naughty List

The quality of the villain&nbsp;can make or break a movie, and is often the difference between a timeless classic and a forgettable action flick. But crafting <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-movie-villains-of-all-time" target="_blank">a good baddie</a> requires more than just fun one-liners and great casting. The best bad guys are often <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sci-fi-move-villains-who-were-right/tyler-mitchell" target="_blank">complex and multidimensional</a>, with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/horror-villains-ruined-by-backstory/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">fully fleshed-out backstories</a> and rich inner lives. In other words, they feel every bit as real as the hero - even if viewers don&#39;t get to see it all on screen.

However, these hints at rich and often tragic backstories are often more tantalizing than the movie itself, and there&#39;s quite a few film villains whose origins could make for a truly epic cinematic experience. Whether it&#39;s a heartbreaking tale of their fall from grace that awards them <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-villains-who-were-right/loganrapp" target="_blank">a semblance of sympathy</a> or a wild, anti-hero tale of carving out their place in the world, there&#39;s no denying that some movie antagonists should get a chance at being protagonists in their own prequel films.

Vote up the villains who are rich and complex enough to be the star of their own movies.

14 Villains Whose Backstories Could Be An Entire Movie

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought fans countless heroes and villains with otherworldly&nbsp;skills who duke it out in explosions of CGI violence and mostly bloodless mayhem. However, that kind of over-the-top action and wild, super-powered combat is expected from movies based on comics, and the dozens of recurring characters who populate the MCU are expected to get their hands dirty with some serious fighting.

However, for many of the actors who have established their careers with their involvement in the MCU, their roles as superheroes (or villains) aren&#39;t even their most brutally violent. Whether it&#39;s a past role as a gunslinger or mercenary or a more recent role (that came after their time in the MCU)&nbsp;as a black-ops hitman or a sword-wielding zombie slayer, many Marvel stars have shed their share of blood in roles outside this particular comic book universe.

MCU Actors' Most Violent Non-MCU Roles, Ranked By Sheer Ownage

Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz is that rare breed of movie that manages to be a genre parody and a love letter to that genre at the same time. The action comedy - starring frequent collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and directed by groundbreaking auteur Edgar Wright - is a pitch-perfect sendup of every action movie trope you&#39;ve ever seen, but told in a way that embraces, subverts, and relishes those same time-honored filmmaking cliches.

<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-hot-fuzz-quotes-v1/movie-and-tv-quotes" target="_blank">Hot Fuzz</a> tells the story of a big city English policeman named Nicholas Angel (Pegg) who&#39;s so good at his job, he&nbsp;makes the rest of the department look bad, so he&#39;s transferred to the sleepy, idyllic village of Sandford, in Gloucestershire. He soon befriends a fellow officer named Danny (Frost) who has a deep love of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-action-movies" target="_blank">all action films</a>, and is bored as a cop because it doesn&#39;t live up to what he sees in the movies. Soon, however, as slayings start piling up and a conspiracy unfolds, their lives begin to reflect high-octane, over-the-top Hollywood fare.

The movie goes out of its way to make direct references to the action movies it parodies, including a scene in which the two heroes spend a drunken evening watching Point Break and Bad Boys II&nbsp; -&nbsp;the two films parodied most directly later on -&nbsp;well into the wee hours. Hot Fuzz doesn&#39;t simply call out <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/action-movie-cliches/brettdahlenburg" target="_blank">action cliches</a> for a laugh - it dives into the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hot-fuzz-small-details/damon-davis" target="_blank">pool of cinematic tropes</a> and gleefully splashes around in the&nbsp;fun. Here&#39;s a look at all the cliches Hot Fuzz parodies perfectly.

Every Action Movie Cliche Parodied In 'Hot Fuzz’

Lists that rank the best and worst film series, sequels, prequels, threequels, and other ways movie studios chew up and regurgitate good ideas to squeeze out every last dignity-free penny.

Super-Franchise Me

Entertainment Franchises

When it comes to Hollywood, the first question that gets asked when a movie does well is how to turn it into a franchise. Sometimes, the material justifies its sequels (<a href="/list/best-john-wick-fight-scenes/ranker-film" target="_blank">we&#39;re looking at you, John Wick</a>). However, there are just as many franchises with <a href="/list/movie-franchises-with-only-one-good-movie/zack-howe" target="_blank">only one good movie in the whole series</a>, and it&#39;s often the first.

There are a lot of reasons a great film will often be followed by a slew of lackluster follow-ups. Often, it&#39;s because the sequels are just baseless cash grabs with no heart. Other times, it&#39;s because the premise of the original is so unique and high-concept that it simply doesn&#39;t leave room for sequels -&nbsp;and yet the producers don&#39;t let that stop them for a second.

While some over-stretched franchises have amassed legions of devoted fans&nbsp;and others are somewhat universally considered to be cinematic failures, the fact is some film series would have done themselves a favor&nbsp;if they&#39;d quit after their first installment.

Franchises That Should Have Stopped After One Movie

Blade (1998)

When Blade hit theaters in 1998, the story of a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/blade-ii-underrated/zach-seemayer" target="_blank">daywalker hunting&nbsp;vampires</a> in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles captured many imaginations and, as it would turn out, set the stage for the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/tags/marvel-cinematic-universe" target="_blank">Marvel Cinematic Universe</a> a full 10 years before Iron Man&nbsp;flew into theaters and kicked off one of the biggest movie franchises of all time.

So, how did&nbsp;Blade - a movie that many are still surprised to find out is even based on a comic - provide a template for the MCU? It all comes down to some bold cinematic decisions made by director Stephen Norrington, star Wesley Snipes, and screenwriter David S. Goyer. The fact that it&#39;s not clear that it&#39;s based on a comic upon first inspection sets it apart from the comic book movies that came before&nbsp;and set a tone of fantastical realism that the MCU would come to embrace.

From well-constructed and high-energy fight sequences to a well-balanced blend of humor and grit&nbsp;to the way it <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/blade-trinity-behind-the-scenes-stories/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">sets the stage for its sequels</a>,&nbsp;it&#39;s hard not to appreciate how the action-horror film laid the groundwork for the cinematic juggernaut a decade before Phase 1 ever began.

‘Blade’ Paved The Way For The MCU A Decade Before ‘Iron Man’

While the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-mcu-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">Marvel Cinematic Universe</a> may ostensibly tell stories about magical beings and superpowered humans battling against cosmic odds as the fate of the universe hangs in the balance, it turns out the films also <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-woke-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">tackle some serious social issues</a> and real-world problems.

While the political messages debated and dissected in Marvel movies have long been a point of debate among fans and critics -&nbsp;with some celebrating the films&#39; subtle and quasi-subversive themes and others deriding it all as propaganda -&nbsp;it&#39;s impossible to ignore the way in which the MCU has turned to governmental policies and social inequity for narrative inspiration.

As the French philosopher Albert Camus wrote, &quot;Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth,&quot; and this even holds true when it comes to big budget action blockbusters. Whether it&#39;s the way in which Avengers: Endgame addresses climate change and genocide or how the Iron Man movies tackle everything from war profiteering to alcoholism to PTSD, the MCU has never shied away from raising questions and inspiring critical analysis of real-world issues.

12 Times MCU Movies Touched On Serious Real-World Issues

Every Time The MCU Touched On Real-World Issues

Have you ever wondered what job might be perfect for you if you were a medieval commoner&nbsp;in need of employment? As it turns out, there are a whole <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-jobs-in-the-world" target="_blank">slew of different opportunities</a> for people of all social ranks.&nbsp;

From positions <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-life-was-like-in-medieval-castles/shanell-mouland?ref=collections_page" target="_blank">in the local lord&#39;s castle</a> to jobs working and tending the fields, even entertainment gigs, if you are willing to put the work in - and don&#39;t mind living by the whims of rich, land-owning elitists - there are&nbsp;some great medieval occupations.

Love animals? Maybe you could try your hand at being a bear-leader! Have you always wanted to express your creative side? Medieval artist is a job with a lot of growth potential. Are you good with balancing a checkbook? Castle steward might be a perfect vocation. There are also a lot of jobs for people who don&#39;t mind <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/free-time-for-medieval-peasants/kathy-benjamin?ref=collections_page" target="_blank">backbreaking labor for almost no pay</a>.&nbsp;

There were many different potential career paths for a person in the Middle Ages, but which medieval jobs sound the best?

What Medieval Job Would You Like To Have?

WWII

From the hulls of ships to the sides of trucks to the walls of bathroom stalls across the world - and even <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hidden-symbols-in-us-landmarks/kellen-perry" target="_blank">engraved into national monuments</a> -&nbsp;one iconic&nbsp;phrase has appeared in seemingly&nbsp;every place across the globe: &quot;Kilroy was here.&quot; Along with a cartoon of a bald man with a big nose peering over a wall, the famous declaration took root during WWII and remained popular among soldiers through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and up to today.

As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-american-trends-and-fads-1920s-1930s-1940s/david-sharp" target="_blank">the term spread</a>, one question remained:&nbsp;Who is this Kilroy? How did this trend start, and why is it so popular? Scholars and historians have spent decades tracing its roots and formulating theories, and yet, real answers have remained as elusive as the cartoon Kilroy himself.

‘Kilroy Was Here’ May Have Been The Very First Meme, And It All Started In A WWII Shipyard

Begun In A WWII Shipyard, 'Kilroy Was Here’ May Be The First Meme

Blade II

While it may be a franchise sequel and a comic book adaptation, Blade II remains one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-superhero-horror-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">best superhero flicks ever</a> -&nbsp;and a truly frightening monster movie. Released in 2002, the blood-drenched action-horror&nbsp;film was helmed by <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-sketches-from-guillermo-del-toro/alex-welch" target="_blank">director Guillermo Del Toro</a>, who was a lesser-known genre filmmaker at the time&nbsp;but so steeped in the world of nightmares&nbsp;that his brooding sense of dread permeates every frame.

The film follows the eponymous Blade (Wesley Snipes), who is forced to strike an uneasy alliance with a group of vampire hitmen known as the Bloodpack - mercenaries originally formed by elder vampire lord Eli Damaskinos (Thomas Kretschmann) specifically to take out Blade himself.

Together, Blade and the Bloodpack hunt down a monstrous super-vampire named Jared Nomak (Luke Goss) who is hunting and feeding on other vampires and turning them into nightmare creatures known as reapers. Along the way, Blade begins to develop feelings for Nyssa (Leonor Varela), one of the vampire assassins and the vampire lord&#39;s daughter.

With a supporting cast made up of the incomparably gruff Ron Perlman as one of the mercs, Kris Kristofferson as Blade&#39;s mentor and father figure, Abraham Whistler, Norman Reedus as Blade&#39;s tech inventor Scud, and famed martial arts star Donnie Yen, Blade II has the star power and deft guiding hand of a horror maestro to make it not only the best of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/blade-trinity-behind-the-scenes-stories/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">the Blade franchise</a> but also a genuine superhero classic worth revisiting.

'Blade II' Is Low-Key One Of The Best Superhero Movies - And An Even Better Monster Movie

'Blade II' Is Low-Key A Good Superhero Movie And A Great Monster Movie

With any timeless sci-fi story, there&#39;s always a grain of truth that allows the work to serve as a parable for modern times. However, there are also sci-fi films that find their inspiration directly from real-life events - whether those real incidents serve as a springboard for a totally wild romp or as a direct blueprint for the big-screen adaptation.&nbsp;

As William Randolph Hearst once said, &quot;Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it is more interesting.&quot; As is the case with several of the science-fiction flicks based on true stories, sometimes that adage rings especially true. From alien abductions to international tragedies to mad Third Reich scientists, the wellspring of inspiration for science fiction is nearly boundless.

Sci-Fi Movies That Were Inspired By Real Historical Events

The Best Sci Fi Movies That Were Inspired By Real Events

How do you feel about a little lite apocalypse?

It's the End of the World

What would you do if it were your last night on Earth? Well, filmmakers have been exploring that particular philosophical quandary for years with a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/apocalyptic-and-post-apocalyptic-fiction-movies-and-films/reference" target="_blank">slew of end-of-the-world movies</a> that run the gamut from darkly hilarious to nightmarishly scary to downright depressing, and sometimes all three at once.

While there are countless movies that deal with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/comedy-movies-about-the-end-of-the-world/ranker-film" target="_blank">life after the apocalypse</a> - and the human race <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-post-apocalyptic-movies/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">surviving against the odds</a> and eking out an existence while surrounded by zombies or leather-clad raiders - the messages, themes, and questions explored are vastly different when it comes to movies about the literal end of the Earth and the destruction of all life on the planet.

Whether you want to examine the spectrum of how people deal with inevitable tragedy -&nbsp;or how a seed of love can germinate even in the seemingly barren soil of Armageddon -&nbsp;or go for a fun, sci-fi romp through doomsday, there are quite a few surprisingly great movies about the end of everything.

15 Surprisingly Good Movies About The Literal End Of The World

Lists and lists of the things that make each US State unique, from the weirdest laws to the most popular drinks and dog breeds to the shows residents are streaming most on Netflix.

This Is America

Beer

In the cities, in the hills, and on the shores of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-popular-alcohol-by-state/greg-benevent" target="_blank">every state in America</a>, thriving microbreweries are working hard to bring quality brews to thirsty consumers. Looking at the most popular beers from the most celebrated breweries from each state provides a sense of the&nbsp;modern craft brewing landscapre from sea to shining sea in the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-women-soccer-players-from-usa/patrick-alexander?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">United States of America</a>. Of course, the nation has longstanding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-beer-brand-names" target="_blank">favorite beer brands</a>&nbsp;both domestic and foreign, but the beloved local brews have boomed in the 21st century, creating a whole new generation of serious beer nerds.

From hop-forward IPAs to fruit-filled European-inspired brews, the variety of handcrafted beer beverages in America are as wild and wonderfully diverse as the varied communities they call home. When you&#39;re in the mood for a cold one, you might just have a garage fridge full of Budweiser, but the idea here is to do a deep dive into the sudsy depths of beers that reflect the specific tastes of uniquely American places and people dedicating their lives to making distinctive and delicious booze.

The Best Beer In Every State

US State

The Best Beer In Every State, Ranked By Beer Lovers

There are a bevy of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/must-see-science-fiction-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">beloved science fiction films</a> that are absolutely amazing, but not that hard to follow. Stories about space marines fighting off bloodthirsty aliens or police officers being reanimated into robotic law enforcers don&#39;t require the audience to do any mental gymnastics. Then, there are movies that make you feel like you need a PhD&nbsp;in quantum physics <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ambiguous-movie-endings-explained/nathan-gibson" target="_blank">to even start to understand them</a>. If you&#39;ve ever wanted&nbsp;2001: A Space Odyssey,&nbsp;Annihilation,&nbsp;Interstellar,&nbsp;or&nbsp;Under the Skin&nbsp;explained - and were too afraid to ask - you&#39;ve come to the right place.

High-brow sci-fi isn&#39;t a new genre, by any means. In fact, it&#39;s something movie fans have been pretending to understand and appreciate since the early days of filmmaking. Whether the film is told with a nonlinear narrative, features symbolic or surreal imagery to convey characters&#39; inner thoughts, or features incredibly convoluted time travel gimmicks, &quot;smart&quot; sci-fi has <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-confusing-movies-ever-made/ranker-film" target="_blank">taunted casual moviegoers for years</a>.

Ultimately, however, when you strip away the pretense and the artifice, even the brainiest sci-fi films can be simple to comprehend (for the most part).

Sci-Fi Movies People Only Pretend To Understand

Confusing Sci-Fi Movies People Only Pretend To Understand

The Outsider (HBO)

In HBO&#39;s mind-bending new supernatural drama The Outsider, small-town sheriff Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) arrests little league coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) for the slaying of a local boy. Fingerprints and witness testimony seem to indict Maitland, yet he has an airtight alibi and irrefutable evidence of his innocence. The incident sparks a spiral of&nbsp;devastation that rips several families in the small town apart. And, as the madness plays out, a hooded figure with a misshapen&nbsp;face watches from the distance.

Based on the 2018 <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-very-best-of-stephen-king" target="_blank">novel by Stephen King</a>, The Outsider tells the story of madness sparked by what may be a supernatural force. As Anderson investigates the subsequent chaos, a private detective named Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo) joins the case, and discovers that something is taking children across the country and implicating suspects who couldn&#39;t possibly do the things they&#39;re accused of. Gibney starts to investigate the possibility that something supernatural is at work, and to this end, she&#39;s introduced to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-legends-from-mexico/natalierodriguez" target="_blank">the legends of El Coco</a> - a Latin American bogeyman figure - and Black Annis - a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-monsters-foreign-folklore/amandasedlakhevener" target="_blank">European witch monster</a>, both of which prey on and devour children while spreading fear.

These creatures aren&#39;t just baddies invented by <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cruelty-in-stephen-king-books/jacobybancroft" target="_blank">King&#39;s fearsome imagination</a>. Both El Coco and Black Annis have been <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-eastern-european-tales/jenniferlennon" target="_blank">staples of nightmarish folklore</a> for hundreds of years, and are even more frightening than The Outsider suggests.

Who Are Black Annis And El Coco, The Legends Lurking On The Fringes Of ‘The Outsider’

The dos, don'ts, and steps of survival in likely and highly unlikely, very dangerous situations.

Staying Alive

Graveyard Shift

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you woke up with no memory of who you are,&nbsp;where you are, or who anyone else is? Well, this is a reality that <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cases-of-memory-loss/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">numerous people have faced in the past</a> who have all had to contend with the fear,&nbsp;confusion, and ambiguity that come&nbsp;with suffering from amnesia.

There are a number of steps one can take to survive, thrive, and even recover if stricken by amnesia. But it&#39;s important to understand the&nbsp;kinds of amnesia that could be responsible for wiping out your memory. One of the most common forms is the loss of short-term memory due to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/amnesia#causes" target="_blank">damage to the hippocampus</a> - the part of your brain that stores and <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313295.php" target="_blank">sorts memories</a>&nbsp;- meaning you cannot ever form new memories and are stuck living in the days before whatever incident caused the damage.

However, there are two main types of amnesia that can claim your long-term memories and your sense of identity. Retrograde amnesia&nbsp;is typically a result of brain trauma, viral brain damage, or advanced dementia.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental-health-disorders/dissociative-disorders/dissociative-fugue" target="_blank">Dissociative fugue</a>, on the other hand,&nbsp;is a confused and disoriented mental state resulting from extreme mental trauma and stress. But, if you look to some of the amnesics who&#39;ve made headlines over the last few decades, like Doug Bruce or Jeffrey Alan Ingram, you can glean some life-saving pearls of wisdom regarding how to survive if you wake up with little to no memory at all.

How To Survive If You Wake Up With Amnesia And Have No Idea Who You Are

Joe Hill

Imagine if you could teleport anywhere in the world, access all of your memories and emotions, turn into an animal, or temporarily become a ghost - all with just the turn of a key and the opening of a door. This is the magical and often nightmarish world of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-horror-comic-books-graphic-novels/ranker-comics" target="_blank">Locke &amp; Key</a>, a comic book series from <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-joe-hill-books/jodi-smith" target="_blank">horror author Joe Hill</a> that tells the tragic story of the Locke family&nbsp;and the magical keys that can alter the very fabric of reality.

The story follows the three Locke children - Tyler, the eldest son, Kinsey, the middle daughter, and Bode, the youngest child - who are forced to move across the country with their mother, Nina, after their father, Rendell, is brutally slain. They all take up residence in the Locke family&#39;s ancient estate, Keyhouse Manor, in Lovecraft, Massachusetts.&nbsp;It&#39;s there they discover that the mansion - and their ancestors - both harbor dark secrets, and they come across a collection of keys that each have their own distinct magical uses. They also become the targets of a malevolent force hellbent on revenge against the Locke family.

Locke &amp; Key has now been adapted for the screen as a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-netflix-original-shows/ranker-streaming" target="_blank">Netflix original series</a> that looks like it will expand on the universe depicted in the comic book&#39;s pages. But the exciting and fantastical nature of the story of the many mystically imbued keys makes the comic endlessly engrossing. Here&#39;s a breakdown of the powers and uses of every amazing key&nbsp;found in Locke &amp; Key.

All The Keys From 'Locke & Key,' Explained

US History

The makeup of America&#39;s 50 states is steeped in controversy, politics, bloodshed, and passion, all of which have contributed to the territories&#39; development over the nation&#39;s history. Throughout the years, secessionists have led many movements in hopes of carving out <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/us-states-that-never-were/zach-seemayer" target="_blank">new states and territories</a>.

One state that has seen more than its fair share of dissension&nbsp;is California. It&#39;s one of the largest states in the union, meaning it also has some of the most diverse residents and cultural enclaves. Some of California&#39;s residents feel unrepresented by their elected state officials, which encourages them to make a change. This was the catalyst that sparked the idea for the infamous State of Jefferson, a small area made up of counties in Northern California and Southern Oregon that fought hard to become the 49th (and later 51st) state in the US.

Several West Coast Counties Have Been Trying To Form Their Own State For 70 Years

The Free State Of Jefferson Has Been In The Making For 70 Years

Will Ferrell

<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-will-ferrell-characters/reference" target="_blank">Will Ferrell</a> and Kristen Wiig are two of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-successful-saturday-night-live-alumni/ranker-tv" target="_blank">greatest Saturday Night Live cast members</a> in the show&#39;s history, and two established movie stars. Ferrell and Wiig have both starred in a string of hilarious and acclaimed comedies, but have also proven their dramatic acting chops in some more somber, dark comedies, as well.

So when it came to light that the pair were filming a domestic melodrama thriller for Lifetime called A Deadly Adoption,&nbsp;it was only natural for people to assume it would be a tongue-in-cheek satire filled with laughable, slapstick parody. Instead, what fans got was a straightforward, completely serious, and surprisingly dramatic tale that fit&nbsp;in perfectly with the usual Lifetime movie fare, only with more star power in the leading roles.

While the film was met with confusion from critics and fans who didn&#39;t know what to expect and didn&#39;t understand what they&#39;d seen once it aired, it turns out that the whole thing might have been one of the greatest examples of surreal experimental comedy that either Ferrell or Wiig have ever managed to pull off.

Will Ferrell And Kristen Wiig's Lifetime Movie Is The Best Prank They Ever Pulled

Lists about armed forces and military tactics around the world.

Military Men

Military

Since the dawn of civilization, there have been warriors who have sought to conquer neighboring territories under a single king or have dedicated their lives to defending their peoples&nbsp;against ruthless invaders. Though the motivations of these warriors have evolved through time -&nbsp;as well as their vicious efficiency, training, and arsenals -&nbsp;warfare has been a common occurrence throughout history. Those civilizations who have become known for their military dominance, however, did so with their own elite soldiers.

Whether&nbsp;it be the terrifying madness and savage reputation of the Viking berserkers and the Maori warriors, the life-long dedication and training of the Spartan Hoplites and the Aztec Jaguar warriors, or&nbsp;the advanced tactical brilliance and fearsome weaponry of the Mongol horde and the Samurai, history&#39;s&nbsp;elite super soldiers had their own set of&nbsp;weapons, tactics,&nbsp;and training that earned them <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-warriors-in-history/claire-stephens" target="_blank">their frightening reputations</a>. But which of them was the toughest?

Who Is The Toughest Of History's Elite 'Super Soldiers'?

People have been living all around the world for literally thousands of years. Here are some of the most interesting things human beings have ever done (that we know about).

Fascinating Ancient History

History

As archaeologists uncover new settlements, dig up <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bodies-at-lajia-the-pompeii-of-china/nicky-benson" target="_blank">previously undiscovered burial sites</a>, and unearth well-preserved ephemera <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-items-found-during-construction/daveesons" target="_blank">from tens of thousands of years ago</a>, one thing becomes increasingly true: So much of what you learned in school is <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/wrong-newspaper-headlines/brian-gilmore" target="_blank">totally, wildly wrong now</a>.

Massive, sprawling cities have been found in areas that were never thought to be populated; religious structures have changed the way we believe nomadic hunter-gatherers congregated;&nbsp;and new discoveries are constantly throwing off our perceived timeline of human development - forcing scientists to reevaluate what they thought they knew as fact.

From stone spear tips <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/mysterious-ancient-scientific-discoveries-and-inventions/kellen-perry?ref=search" target="_blank">crafted by extinct proto-humans</a> half a million years ago, to an embalmed mummy discovered in Egypt that pre-dates our predictions about mummification - and even the written word - by a thousand years - the last two decades have unearthed literal treasure troves of information that reshape and redefine so much of what we think we know. Here&#39;s a look at some of the most mindblowing and groundbreaking recent archaeological finds.

Groundbreaking Archaeological Finds That Have Been Discovered Since You Were In School

Exposing all the weird, expensive, political, ego-driven stuff that happens behind the scenes before and after films and TV series hit the screens.

That's Showbiz, Baby

Big actors often have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-notoriously-difficult-actors-to-work-with/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">equally big egos</a>,&nbsp;and when those egos are forced to compete for airtime, jokes, and accolades, it can <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/co-stars-who-hated-each-other/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">understandably lead to friction</a>. Some of the best <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-friends-who-hated-each-other/megan-summers" target="_blank">cinematic buddies were&nbsp;at each other&#39;s throats</a> during filming, and television is no different.

Making a TV show can be a grueling marathon, especially if the show is popular and lasts for several seasons. In this crucible, it frequently seems that off-screen relationships between co-stars develop in one of two ways: They either bond over their shared circumstances and the cast becomes like a family, or they grind away at each other&#39;s nerves and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-couples-who-hated-each-other-in-real-life/donn-saylor" target="_blank">form&nbsp;bitter, barely-contained feuds</a> that almost always spill over the soundstage and into the headlines.

When fans come to love a show - and the relationships on that show - it&#39;s nice to think that the same chemistry exists between the characters in real life. This is not always the case,&nbsp;as fans of&nbsp;Sex and&nbsp;the City, Beverly Hills, 90210, The Good Wife, and even The Golden Girls&nbsp;know -&nbsp;or are soon to find out. Here&#39;s a look at some famous TV besties who were bitter enemies when the cameras stopped rolling.

TV Best Friends Who Hated Each Other In Real Life

TV Best Friends Who Hate Each Other In Real Life

Hunter S. Thompson, founder of the "gonzo" journalism movement in which the author is a protagonist and subjective participant in the narrative, covered everything from the Hells Angels to the Kentucky Derby until he put a bullet in his head at 67.

Dr. Gonzo

Hunter S. Thompson

The outlaw newsman <a href="https://www.ranker.com/collections/mr-gonzo" target="_blank">Hunter S. Thompson</a> will forever be remembered as the pioneer of gonzo journalism, a veritable rock star of writing, a champion of the Constitution, and an eccentric, misanthropic crown prince of madness. However, if there&#39;s one aspect of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-hunter-s-thompson-books/reference" target="_blank">his infamous life and legacy</a> that may be more well-known than his acclaimed writings -&nbsp;like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fear-and-loathing-in-las-vegas-true-story/zach-seemayer" target="_blank">Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</a> and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hunter-s-thompson-and-the-hells-angels/melissa-sartore?ref=collections_page" target="_blank">Hell&#39;s Angels</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;or his long-form, genre-bending editorials, as well as&nbsp;missives for&nbsp;Rolling Stone, it&#39;s his propensity for almost unimaginable substance abuse.

His alcohol and hard drug intake was unrivaled even by the most outlandish rock gods, movie stars, and Beat poets. Some of his friends recall his love of smoking weed out of a human skull, while others remembered his habit of downing an entire bottle of whiskey every day. Truly, Thompson&#39;s daily intake of an immense number of substances sounds like it would doom a normal human, but <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-hunter-s-thompson-stories/coy-jandreau" target="_blank">Thompson was anything but normal</a>. To truly appreciate the depths of his now-legendary love of vice, here&#39;s a breakdown - from observers, reporters, and even the man himself - of what he consumed on a daily basis, from the time he woke up to whenever he went to bed the next morning.

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