Will 'Nuked the Fridge' Unseat 'Jumped the Shark'?

'Tropic Thunder' leads the way

(NEWSER) - The decade had lots of lousy movies, but 11Points rounds up the most disappointing—those that didn't live up to their promise:

• Tropic Thunder (2008): Amazing cast, great premise. Slam dunk, right? Not when "your go-to bit is a retarded joke." Such a lazy waste.
• Bruno (2009): Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat follow-up "didn't expose homophobia—it manufactured homophobia."

Paramount wants director Ratner to revive franchise after Indy -like 14 years

(NEWSER) - Fans of the old Eddie Murphy (you know, before the fat suits and prostheses), rejoice: A third sequel to 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop will start production next year, Variety reports. Murphy approached Paramount about the project, and the studio eagerly agreed after successfully disinterring Indiana Jones. Murphy is attached, Brett Ratner may direct, but will Judge Reinhold be back? More»

Film may nab Memorial Day record with $126M

(NEWSER) - Indiana Jones whipped his box office rivals this weekend with the second-best Memorial Day debut ever, Variety reports, grossing $126 million. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian finished second with $23 million; Iron Man showed no signs of rust in third, earning $20.1 million; and What Happens in Vegas and Speed Racer wrapped up the top five. More»

Trusty lashmaker is due for another movie-induced Jones

(NEWSER) - The Indiana Jones set is again beating down the door of the Washington man who's made most of the bullwhips used in the movie blockbusters, the Seattle Times reports. David Morgan, 82, handcrafted eight more for the fourth installment, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which premieres at midnight tomorrow; there's a 6-week waiting list for Morgan's $895 lashes. More»

Lucas spent 15 years persuading Spielberg and Ford of new idea

(NEWSER) - It seems like a sure thing: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, in on 13 of the 100 highest-grossing movies ever, revive the billion-dollar Indiana Jones franchise. But Lucas spent 15 years trying to convince Spielberg and Harrison Ford to do Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, due out May 22. Why the discord? It all came down to what Hollywood calls a MacGuffin, Vanity Fair reports. More»