Brewster's Millions (1985) is a hilarious comedy starring Richard Pryor as Montgomery "Monty" Brewster, a down-on-his-luck minor-league baseball pitcher. After a bar fight, he's bailed out and learns from lawyers that his late great-uncle Rupert Horn has left him a staggering $300 million fortune—with a catch. To inherit the full amount, Monty must spend exactly $30 million in just 30 days, following strict rules: no retaining assets (no houses, cars, or valuables at the end), no destroying property, limited charity donations, no telling anyone the real reason, and he must end up with nothing to show for it. Choosing this over an easy $1 million payout, Monty embarks on an extravagant spending spree: booking luxury suites, hiring staff, making terrible investments, running a chaotic New York mayoral campaign with the slogan "Vote None of the Above," and even staging a high-stakes exhibition baseball game. Complicating matters are his best friend Spike (John Candy), who unwittingly turns some spends profitable, and scheming lawyers trying to sabotage him. With paralegal Angela Drake (Lonette McKee) monitoring every expense, Monty races against time in a whirlwind of absurdity and laughs, ultimately proving the value (and difficulty) of squandering a fortune. Classic 80s fun with Pryor's charm and big laughs!
Release Dates
Format
Date
Theatrical Release
May 22, 1985
VHS (Original)
November 7, 1985 (MCA Home Video)
VHS (Re-release)
May 15, 2001 (Universal Studios Home Video)
LaserDisc
Mid-1980s to early 1990s (typical era; exact date not widely documented)
DVD
May 21, 2002 (primary wide release; earlier limited editions ~1998)
Blu-ray
May 2, 2017 (Universal); Collector's Edition January 14, 2020 (Shout! Factory)
The Illusionist (2006) is a romantic mystery thriller set in turn-of-the-century Vienna. Renowned magician Eisenheim (Edward Norton) performs elaborate illusions that captivate audiences and challenge authority. When he reunites with his childhood love, the aristocratic Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel), now engaged to the ruthless Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), Eisenheim uses his skills to outmaneuver the prince and reclaim her affection. Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti), a determined investigator, is tasked with exposing Eisenheim as a fraud amid rising political tensions and scandal. Blending romance, suspense, and supernatural elements, the film explores themes of love, deception, power, and the blurred line between illusion and reality. Directed with elegant period detail by Neil Burger, it features stunning visuals, a haunting score, and strong performances that keep viewers guessing until the clever twist ending. A captivating tale of magic, intrigue, and forbidden love.
Release Dates (by format)
Format
Date
Theatrical Release
August 18, 2006 (limited); September 1, 2006 (wide)
VHS
N/A (format largely discontinued)
LaserDisc
N/A (format discontinued)
DVD
December 19, 2006
Blu-Ray
November 18, 2008 (initial); later re-releases
Cast
Role
Actor/Actress
Eisenheim
Edward Norton
Inspector Uhl
Paul Giamatti
Sophie von Teschen
Jessica Biel
Crown Prince Leopold
Rufus Sewell
Josef Fischer
Eddie Marsan
Young Eisenheim
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Production Crew
Role
Name
Directed by
Neil Burger
Written by
Neil Burger
Based on short story by
Steven Millhauser
Produced by
Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Michael London, Cathy Schulman, Bob Yari
Executive Producer
Joey McFarland, Tom Ortenberg
Director of Photography
Guillermo Navarro
Original Score by
Philip Glass
Music / Soundtrack
Philip Glass
Distributed by
Yari Film Group (US), Momentum Pictures (UK)
Production Company
Yari Film Group, Bob Yari Productions, Picturehouse
Godzilla (1998) is a science-fiction monster disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich and produced by Dean Devlin. The story follows Dr. Niko "Nick" Tatopoulos (Matthew Broderick), a biologist recruited by the U.S. military to investigate a gigantic creature awakened by French nuclear testing in the Pacific. Nick and his team track the monster—now called Godzilla by the media—as it rampages from Tahiti through the Philippines and finally to New York City, where it nests and lays hundreds of eggs. The film combines massive CGI destruction of Manhattan, high-speed military pursuits, and a race against time to stop Godzilla before its offspring hatch and overrun the planet. While heavily criticized for deviating from Toho's classic Godzilla (smaller, more iguana-like, no atomic breath), it was a commercial success with over $379 million grossed worldwide and remains a divisive 90s cult favorite for its spectacle, humor, and sheer scale.
Release Dates
Release Type
Date
Theatrical release (United States)
May 20, 1998
VHS release
December 1, 1998
LaserDisc release
Late 1998 / Early 1999
DVD release (initial)
1999
Blu-ray release
September 29, 2009 (as part of Sony collections)
Digital / streaming availability
Ongoing (Netflix, Prime Video, rentable on Apple TV, YouTube, Google Play, etc. as of 2026)
Cast
Actor
Character
Matthew Broderick
Dr. Niko "Nick" Tatopoulos
Jean Reno
Philippe Roaché
Maria Pitillo
Audrey Timmonds
Hank Azaria
Victor "Animal" Palotti
Kevin Dunn
Colonel Hicks
Michael Lerner
Mayor Ebert
Lorry Goldman
Gene (Mayor Ebert's aide)
Harry Shearer
Charles Caiman
Arabella Field
Lucy Palotti
Vicki Lewis
Dr. Elsie Chapman
Doug Savant
Sergeant O'Neal
Production Crew
Role
Name(s)
Production studio
TriStar Pictures / Fried Films / Independent Pictures
Distributor (theatrical)
TriStar Pictures (Sony Pictures)
Director
Roland Emmerich
Producers
Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich
Writers
Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich, David Arnold (story)
