Movies

Martin Luther, Heretic (1983 film) Martin Luther, Heretic (1983 movie) A dramatic portrayal produced for the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's birth, starring Jonathan Pryce and Maurice Denham, exploring Luther's theological conflict and historical…

Marty McFly — protagonist of the Back to the Future trilogy Marty McFly Overview of Marty McFly: fictional time-traveling protagonist created for the Back to the Future films, his characteristics, casting history, notable scenes, cultural impact and le…

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Overview, Structure, and Cultural Impact Marvel Cinematic Universe Comprehensive overview of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: its concept, phases, television and streaming extensions, production approach, and cultural and commercial impact.

Marx Brothers — American sibling comedy team Marx Brothers Influential American comedy group of five brothers whose work in vaudeville, Broadway and film blended slapstick, wordplay and music and shaped 20th-century popular comedy.

Mary Poppins (1964 film) Mary Poppins (movie) 1964 Walt Disney musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, blending live action and animation; notable for songs by the Sherman Brothers and multiple Academy Awards.

Mary Poppins Returns — 2018 musical fantasy sequel and its context Mary Poppins Returns Overview of Mary Poppins Returns (2018): premise, cast, production, music, themes, and how it connects to the original Mary Poppins and P. L. Travers's books.

Mary Reilly (1996 film) Mary Reilly A gothic psychological drama released in 1996 that retells the Jekyll and Hyde story from a maid's perspective; notable for its cast (Julia Roberts, John Malkovich, Glenn Close) an…

Masala (movie genre) Masala is a mainstream South Asian film style that blends action, comedy, drama, romance and song to appeal to broad audiences across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Masterminds (2016 film) Masterminds (2016 movie) 2016 American comic heist film directed by Jared Hess, loosely inspired by the 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery. Stars Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig and an ensemble cast; r…

Match Point (2005 film) Match Point Match Point is a 2005 crime drama thriller by Woody Allen set in London. It follows a former tennis pro whose ambition, an affair and a single act of violence raise questions about…

Matilda (1996 film) Matilda (1996 movie) 1996 family fantasy film directed by Danny DeVito, adapted from Roald Dahl's novel; follows a gifted child who uses telekinesis to confront cruel adults and protect her teacher.

Matrix: meanings in mathematics, geology, biology, culture, and more Matrix Comprehensive overview of 'matrix' as a term: its mathematical definition and operations, geological and biological senses, automotive and film uses, history, applications, and dis…

Max Dugan Returns 1983 American comedy-drama about an estranged father's return to his daughter's life; notable for strong performances and the early film debuts of Kiefer Sutherland and Matthew Bro…

McQ (1974 film) McQ McQ is a 1974 American action-crime film directed by John Sturges, featuring John Wayne in a contemporary police role. The film mixes procedural drama and action and reflects Wayne…

Mean Girls (2004 American teen comedy film) Mean Girls 2004 satirical teen comedy written by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, known for its sharp take on high school cliques, quotable dialogue, and lasting cultural influence.

Mean Streets (1973 film) Mean Streets Mean Streets, directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1973, is a gritty New York crime drama that helped launch Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel into wider recognitio…

Meet Bill — 2008 comedy-drama starring Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba Meet Bill Meet Bill is a 2008 independent comedy-drama written and directed by Bernie Goldmann and Melisa Wallick, starring Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba. It follows a man reassessing his l…

Meet Me After the Show (1951 film) Meet Me After the Show A 1951 American musical film directed by Richard Sale, starring Betty Grable. A studio-era backstage musical that highlights song-and-dance numbers and the star persona of its lead…

Meet the Fockers (2004) — overview, cast, production and reception Meet the Fockers 2004 American comedy film directed by Jay Roach, sequel to Meet the Parents. Stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand. Released Dec 22, 2004; received…

Meet the Parents (2000 film) Meet the Parents A 2000 American comedy directed by Jay Roach, starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. A mainstream remake of a 1992 indie film that spawned two sequels and notable cultural recogn…

Meet the Robinsons (2007 film) Meet the Robinsons Meet the Robinsons is a 2007 animated family film from Walt Disney that follows an orphaned young inventor who travels to the future and discovers the meaning of family and persist…

Megamind — 2010 DreamWorks animated superhero comedy Megamind Megamind is a 2010 animated science-fiction comedy from DreamWorks that playfully reverses superhero tropes, following a supervillain's journey toward identity, purpose and redempt…

Melody Time (1948 Disney anthology film) Melody Time Melody Time is a 1948 Walt Disney anthology film of musical animated segments; the tenth Disney animated feature, released by RKO and later issued on home video in the 1990s and 20…

Memento (2000 film) Memento (movie) Christopher Nolan's breakthrough psychological thriller about a man with anterograde amnesia who uses Polaroids and tattoos to pursue the truth. Noted for its reverse chronological…

Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992 film) Memoirs of an Invisible Man 1992 comedy-thriller film adapted from H. F. Saint's novel, starring Chevy Chase and Daryl Hannah. Known for its invisibility effects and tonal clash between comedy and suspense; i…

Men in Black (1997 film) Men in Black (movie) 1997 sci-fi action comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones; a secret agency polices extraterrestrials in New York, spawning a successful franchi…

Men in Black 3 (2012 film) Men in Black 3 2012 sci‑fi action comedy, third theatrical Men in Black film. Agent J returns to 1969 to stop an alien plot that would rewrite history. Stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh…

Men in Black II (2002) — film overview, cast, and legacy Men in Black II Men in Black II is a 2002 science-fiction action comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. The sequel reunites Agents J and K to stop a new alien threat; it was a commercial success tha…

Men of Honor (2000) — film overview, production, reception and legacy Men of Honor A comprehensive encyclopedia entry on the 2000 drama Men of Honor: its story, cast, production inspired by Carl Brashear, critical reception, themes and cultural significance.

Menace II Society: 1993 South Central Los Angeles crime drama Menace II Society Menace II Society (1993) is a gritty urban crime drama directed by the Hughes brothers, following a young man's struggle in South Central Los Angeles and noted for its realism and…

Merrie Melodies (Warner Bros. animated short series) Merrie Melodies American series of theatrical animated shorts produced and distributed by Warner Bros. from 1931–1969, originally musical one-shot cartoons that evolved into character-driven comed…

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM): American film and television studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) is a historic American film and television studio, famed for its roaring lion logo and large motion-picture library; it has undergone several restructurin…

Metropolis (1927 film) Metropolis (movie) Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) is a landmark German silent science-fiction drama notable for its expressionist design, social themes, pioneering effects and complex preservation hi…

MGM Home Entertainment Home video division of Metro‑Goldwyn‑Mayer formed in 1998; released MGM and United Artists films and TV for VHS, laserdisc and DVD and negotiated major distribution deals with Sony…

Michael Jackson's Ghosts A long-form short film combining music, dance and horror, co-created by Michael Jackson with Stephen King and Stan Winston's effects team; noted for elaborate makeup and a theatric…

Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009 documentary–concert film) Michael Jackson's This Is It A behind-the-scenes documentary compiled from rehearsal footage for Michael Jackson's planned This Is It concerts, directed by Kenny Ortega and released in late 2009, showing prepa…

Michael Myers (fictional character from the Halloween series) Michael Myers Michael Myers is the central antagonist of the Halloween horror franchise: a mostly silent, masked killer whose origins, guise and legacy shaped the slasher genre.

Mickey's House of Villains A 2002 direct-to-video Disney musical-comedy film based on the House of Mouse series, in which classic Disney villains stage a takeover of Mickey's nightclub.

Midnight Cowboy (1969 film) Midnight Cowboy Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film about friendship and survival in New York City, directed by John Schlesinger and notable for its awards, gritty realism and cultural i…

Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen’s 2011 fantasy romance Midnight in Paris Midnight in Paris is a 2011 fantasy romantic comedy written and directed by Woody Allen, about a nostalgic writer who time-travels to 1920s Paris and meets its artists. The film wo…

Midnight Madness (1980 film) Midnight Madness A 1980 ensemble comedy produced by Walt Disney about college students competing in an all‑night puzzle race; initially unsuccessful at the box office but later attained cult status…

Midsommar (2019 film) Midsommar A 2019 folk‑horror film by Ari Aster about an American group drawn to a remote Swedish midsummer festival that masks unsettling rituals and psychological strain.

Mighty Joe Young (1949 film) Mighty Joe Young 1949 adventure film about a giant gorilla and the woman who protects him, notable for its stop-motion special effects and a high-profile 1998 remake.

Mildred Pierce (1945 film) Mildred Pierce 1945 drama that blends film-noir visuals with domestic melodrama. Directed by Michael Curtiz, adapted from James M. Cain's novel, and starring Joan Crawford, who won the Academy Aw…

Milk: Mammalian Milk and Its Uses Milk Milk is the nutrient-rich secretion produced by mammary glands of mammals. This article explains what milk is, its composition, processing into dairy products, nutritional roles, a…

Milk (2008 film) Milk (movie) 2008 American biographical political drama about Harvey Milk, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn; acclaimed for performances, screenplay, and its portrayal of 1970s ga…

Miller's Crossing (1990 film) Miller's Crossing A 1990 crime drama by Joel and Ethan Coen, set in Prohibition-era gangster politics; noted for its noir style, themes of loyalty and betrayal, strong ensemble cast, and critical ac…

Miniseries (television limited series) Miniseries A miniseries is a self-contained television or streaming drama told over a predetermined, limited number of episodes. It emphasizes a single narrative arc and often aims for cinema…