Movies

Sleeping with the Enemy (1991 film) Sleeping with the Enemy 1991 American psychological thriller film starring Julia Roberts about a woman who flees an abusive marriage and rebuilds her life; based on a novel and noted for its themes of ide…

Sleepless in Seattle (1993 film) Sleepless in Seattle A popular 1993 romantic comedy-drama directed by Nora Ephron, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Known for its mix of romance, humor and fate, with positive reviews and several major…

Sleepy Hollow (1999 film) Sleepy Hollow 1999 gothic supernatural horror film directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp; a stylized adaptation of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with period atmosphere a…

Slumdog Millionaire: film, themes, production and reception Slumdog Millionaire Overview of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire: plot, main cast and crew, production and release, themes and reception, notable awards and controversies, and its cultural legacy.

Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997 film) Smilla's Sense of Snow 1997 international mystery thriller directed by Bille August, adapted from Peter Høeg's novel. Stars Julia Ormond and Gabriel Byrne; noted for its icy atmosphere, ensemble cast and…

Smoke (1995 film) Smoke (movie) Smoke is a 1995 American independent drama by Wayne Wang, written by Paul Auster, that links short character scenes around a Brooklyn tobacconist to explore storytelling and daily…

Smokey and the Bandit (1977 film) Smokey and the Bandit 1977 action-comedy directed by Hal Needham starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed; a high‑energy road picture famed for car chases, CB radio culture and…

Smokin' Aces (2006 film) Smokin' Aces 2006 American action crime thriller directed by Joe Carnahan. Ensemble cast centered on a Las Vegas magician turned informant who becomes the target of numerous assassins; noted fo…

Snakes on a Plane (2006 film) Snakes on a Plane 2006 American action‑horror crime thriller directed by David R. Ellis, starring Samuel L. Jackson; notable for its high‑concept premise of snakes released aboard a passenger jet an…

Snow Falling on Cedars (1999 film) Snow Falling on Cedars (movie) A 1999 drama directed by Scott Hicks, adapted from David Guterson’s novel. A courtroom story set in the Pacific Northwest that examines memory, prejudice and love; noted for its ci…

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 movie) Disney's 1937 animated adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale — a landmark in feature animation, notable for its storytelling, technical advances, commercial success and lasti…

Snuff film (snuff movie) Snuff movie A snuff film is alleged footage showing an actual murder made for entertainment or profit. The phenomenon is mainly an urban legend, with legal, ethical, and media debates arising…

So Dear to My Heart (Disney film) So Dear to My Heart A 1948 Walt Disney production blending live action and animated sequences, based on Sterling North's Midnight and Jeremiah; a nostalgic rural coming-of-age story released to U.S. a…

Softcore pornography: definition, characteristics, history and distinctions Softcore pornography An overview of softcore pornography — its defining features, history, distribution and how it differs from hardcore, erotica, and mainstream depictions of sex.

Some Girls (1988 film) Some Girls (movie) 1988 coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama directed by Michael Hoffman, starring Patrick Dempsey and Jennifer Connelly. A sensitively drawn small-town story about first love, class t…

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987 film) Some Kind of Wonderful 1987 American romantic drama written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch, exploring teen love, class tensions, and friendship; notable for its cast and place in 1980s teen…

Some Like It Hot (1959 film) Some Like It Hot 1959 American comedy directed by Billy Wilder, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. A Prohibition-era farce about two musicians who disguise themselves to escape g…

Something to Talk About (1995 film) Something to Talk About (movie) 1995 romantic comedy-drama directed by Lasse Hallström, exploring marriage, infidelity and family dynamics, noted for strong performances by Julia Roberts, Dennis Quaid and Robert…

Son in Law (1993 film) Son in Law 1993 American romantic comedy starring Pauly Shore, directed by Steve Rash. A fish-out-of-water comedy about a city character visiting a rural family; noted for poor critical recep…

Son of Flubber (1963 film) Son of Flubber 1963 Walt Disney live-action family comedy directed by Robert Stevenson. A direct sequel to The Absent‑Minded Professor, it continues the misadventures surrounding the anti‑gravity…

Son of God (2014 film) Son of God (movie) 2014 biblical drama film depicting the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Adapted from the History Channel miniseries The Bible; released February 28, 2014; ru…

Song of the South (1946 film) Song of the South Song of the South is a 1946 Walt Disney feature blending live action and animation, adapted from Joel Chandler Harris's Uncle Remus tales; famous for 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' and contro…

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020 film) Sonic the Hedgehog (movie) A live-action/CGI family action-comedy film based on Sega's video game character, notable for a fan-led redesign and a commercially successful 2020 theatrical release.

Sony Pictures Major American film and television studio that produces, distributes, and licenses motion pictures and TV programming worldwide; part of the Sony corporate group with multiple labe…

Sorcerer (1977) — Friedkin’s tense thriller remake Sorcerer (movie) Sorcerer (1977) is a dark, suspenseful adventure-thriller directed by William Friedkin, a reinterpretation of Le Salaire de la peur/The Wages of Fear known for intense setpieces an…

Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) — film noir thriller Sorry, Wrong Number 1948 American thriller directed by Anatole Litvak, adapted from a radio play. Barbara Stanwyck stars in a tense, telephone-centered noir with strong critical reception and enduring…

Sound film (talkies): history, technology, and cultural impact Sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized recorded sound. This article outlines the technologies, early milestones, and the effects of synchronized sound on filmmaking, pe…

Soundtrack: definition, components, history and uses Soundtrack An overview of soundtracks: recorded and synchronized audio for film, TV, radio, games and other media, their parts, history, commercial releases and key distinctions such as diege…

Soylent Green: 1973 dystopian science fiction film Soylent Green Soylent Green is a 1973 American dystopian science fiction thriller directed by Richard Fleischer, noted for its social critique of overpopulation, resource scarcity, and a famous…

Space Jam (1996 film) Space Jam 1996 live-action/animated sports comedy that paired Michael Jordan with the Looney Tunes. Noted for its hybrid production, popular soundtrack and lasting pop-culture impact; follow…

Space Master X-7 — 1958 American science fiction film Space Master X-7 A concise encyclopedia entry on the 1958 B‑movie Space Master X‑7: premise, cast and crew, production context, reception, and its place among 1950s low‑budget science fiction films…

Spaceballs — Mel Brooks’ 1987 science-fiction parody film Spaceballs A 1987 science-fiction comedy directed by Mel Brooks that parodies Star Wars and other genre classics; known for its cast, visual gags and cult-film legacy.

Spaghetti Western A concise overview of the Spaghetti Western film genre: origins, style, key films and creators, differences from American westerns, and its cultural legacy.

Spanglish (2004 film) Spanglish (movie) 2004 James L. Brooks romantic comedy-drama starring Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni and Paz Vega about language, culture and class when a Mexican mother works for an affluent Los Angeles f…

Spanking the Monkey (1994 film) Spanking the Monkey 1994 American black comedy written and directed by David O. Russell that examines family dysfunction and taboo subjects through dark humor; an acclaimed independent debut with fest…

Spartacus (1960 film) — Stanley Kubrick, Dalton Trumbo, and the epic of revolt Spartacus (movie) 1960 American epic historical drama starring Kirk Douglas, directed by Stanley Kubrick (after an early replacement), adapted by Dalton Trumbo; notable for its scale, cast and cultu…

Spectre (2015 film) Spectre (2015 movie) Spectre is the twenty-fourth James Bond film (2015), starring Daniel Craig and directed by Sam Mendes. It reunites Bond with the criminal organisation SPECTRE and features large-sc…

Speed (1994 film) Speed (1994 movie) 1994 American action-thriller directed by Jan de Bont. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock star in a high-stakes story about a bus wired to explode unless it keeps moving. Known for st…

Speed Racer (2008 film) Speed Racer (movie) Live-action adaptation of the 1960s Japanese anime, directed by the Wachowskis; notable for its hyper-stylized visuals, cast including Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci, and mixed r…

Spider-Man (2002 film) Spider-Man (2002 movie) 2002 superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, an origin story of Marvel’s Spider-Man starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Willem Dafoe. Noted for its emotional focus and influenc…

Spider-Man 2 (2004 film) Spider-Man 2 A 2004 superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, Spider-Man 2 continues Peter Parker's story as he struggles with responsibility, relationships, and a powerful new antagonist while bal…

Spider-Man 3 (2007 film): production, plot, reception and legacy Spider-Man 3 Comprehensive article on Spider-Man 3 (2007): synopsis, principal cast, production and visual effects, release and box office, critical reaction, and the film’s legacy within the S…

Spiral (2021 film) Spiral (2021 movie) 2021 horror film in the Saw franchise directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson; a police-focused spin on Jigsaw's legacy with a modern procedural…

Spirited Away Spirited Away is a 2001 animated film by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. A coming-of-age fantasy, it received worldwide acclaim, won an Academy Award, and became a modern landmar…

Splash (1984 film) Splash (movie) 1984 romantic fantasy comedy directed by Ron Howard about a man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is secretly a mermaid; early Tom Hanks starring role and Touchstone Pi…

Spotlight (2015 film) Spotlight (movie) Spotlight (2015) is a biographical crime drama about The Boston Globe's investigative team exposing systemic child abuse by Catholic clergy; directed by Tom McCarthy, it won the 20…

Spring Breakers (2012 film) Spring Breakers A 2012 crime drama by Harmony Korine about five college-age women whose spring-break excess leads to theft, violence, and a controversial depiction of youth culture; noted for neon…

Spun (2002 film) Spun Spun is a 2002 crime comedy-drama directed by Jonas Åkerlund that portrays the chaotic lives of methamphetamine users. The film stars John Leguizamo, Brittany Murphy and Mena Suvar…