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.

Movie Monday: ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Makes a Monkey Out of ‘Primate’

James Cameron continues to dominate the box office with ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,” but at least we’ve got newcomers this time!

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the lion the witch and the wardrobe

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – Plugged In Rewind

Plugged In dives into 2005’s ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ unpacking why this fantasy film is such a beloved classic in many homes.

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Predator: Badlands

‘Predator: Badlands’ is the most navigable film in the Predator franchise. But given the franchise’s problematic history, that’s not saying much.

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stranger things

Stranger Things

The newest season of Netflix’s Stranger Things continues to blend ’80s nostalgia with ever-darker spiritual content and horrific violence.

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stranger things

The Upside-Down World of ‘Stranger Things’

After the penultimate episode of ‘Stranger Things,’ many Christians may have felt that they were being force-fed by one of Vecna’s tentacles.

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Sentimental Value

‘Sentimental Value’ may be mostly in Norwegian, but it still speaks powerfully about some difficult issues. Alas, what it says isn’t always that positive.

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christmas stories

Christmas Roundtable: Why We Love Our Holiday Stories

Christmastime is story time. Maybe we gather ‘round the dinner table and read all about the very first Christmas—right from the Bible. Maybe we hunker down by the Christmas tree and sink into classic Christmas tales such as The Gift of the Magi or The …

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Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ catalogues the making of one of the artist’s most memorable albums. But the film takes viewers to some problematic places.

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Best TV Shows of 2025: Plugged In’s Year-End Picks

We’ve seen a lot of shows this year (well, just like every year). This time, check out our top shows from both Christian and secular sources.

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Little Disasters

‘Little Disasters’ deals with child abuse and postpartum depression. But its other content concerns make it a bit of a disaster itself.

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rob reiner

From 2010, an Interview With Rob Reiner

The late Rob Reiner directed some classic films. Plugged In had a chance to talk with Rob Reiner in 2010, and you can listen to it here.

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The Running Man

‘The Running Man’ comes with lots of action and some satirical jabs. But it’s loaded with plenty of bloody sucker punches, too.

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Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Lara Croft may raid tombs, but viewers of this show will need to be careful they don’t let its content raid their homes.

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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ comes with content concerns aplenty, and it sure isn’t for kids. But its take on faith is worth discussing.

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rian johnson

Director Rian Johnson Talks Faith and Filmmaking in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’

You wouldn’t think that murder mysteries would be exactly Christian. Just the word “murder” implies that at least one big commandment is broken during the story …

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