Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

The Bikeriders

The Bikeriders can feel a teensy bit like ‘West Side Story,’ but with a lot less dancing and a lot more swearing.

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The Exorcism

Though The Exorcism seems to come with better intentions than you’d expect, it’s possessed by more problems than it needed.

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Movie Monday: ‘Despicable Me 4’ Has a Gru-vy Holiday Weekend

Despicable Me 4, the latest film to feature bad-guy-turned-good-dad Gru, treated North American theaters like banks just begging to be burgled.

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Episode 241: ‘Despicable Me 4’ and ‘Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot’

First, we discuss Despicable Me 4 and the impact of Illumination Entertainment. Then, we unpack Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot.

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Space Cadet

Space Cadet has its merits. But even as some of its messages reach a comfortable orbit, its problems pull it back down to earth.

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The Imaginary

The animated Netflix film The Imaginary is beautiful, scary and mostly clean. But its handful of problems aren’t imaginary at all.

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Five Quintessentially American Movies for The Fourth of July

These films don’t necessarily show America’s history, but they do exhibit what we’ve achieved, what we value and what we just kind of like.

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Movie Monday: ‘Inside Out 2’ Threepeats; ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Makes Some Noise

Inside Out 2 earned an estimated $57.4 million this weekend. Add in overseas earnings and it’s the first film this year to gross $1 billion.

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The Bible Goes to Hollywood: Seven Movies and Shows Based on Biblical Stories

Here’s a look at 7 movies and television shows based on the Bible. Plenty of your favorites are not included, but all of these are notable—for one reason or another.

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The Watchers

It’s a horror movie, but The Watchers stays within its PG-13 confines. Too bad it wanders away from sensible storytelling.

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In a Violent Nature

In the über-bloody genre of slasher movies, is ‘In a Violent Nature’ the bloodiest? It very well may be.

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Land of Women (Tierra de Mujeres)

Land of Women positions itself as a heartwarming story with unsavory secrets. Fitting that it comes with unwelcome surprises of its own.

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Ezra

Ezra takes us on a cross-country road trip with an anger-prone father and his autistic son. And while it can be sweet, it’s often a bumpy ride.

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We Grown Now

We Grown Now is a work of cinematic poetry—a look at inner-city turmoil and poverty through the forgiving, knowing eyes of a child.

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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

‘Furiosa,’ a prequel to the much-praised ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ has all the action fans want—but more than a little sadism, too.

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