About Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith is located just south of Boston and is a lifelong fan of movies, comics and pop culture. Growing up, Ryan spent far too much time talking movies, reading comics, watching pro wrestling and writing folk music. Nothing much has changed in this regard, but Ryan's most prominent hobby remains discussing movies and TV. Ryan took that hobby to the next level when he started the horror movie podcast The Thriller Club on a shoestring budget, which he cohosted with KZ Staska (of post-hardcore band Dreamwell) before they decided to place the show on hiatus. Now Ryan looks forward to sharing his love and appreciation of all things nerdy with the readers of CBR.
The True Story Behind the Von Erich Family in A24's The Iron Claw
A24's The Iron Claw just received a trailer showcasing its pro wrestling family, but what's the true story behind "the Von Erich Curse?"
Lobo's Treacherous Road to the Big Screen
With rumors swirling that Lobo will make his film debut in James Gunn's DCU, now is a great time to revisit his tumultuous journey to the big screen.
Revisiting 1990s Nickelodeon Halloween Specials
Nickelodeon has been the foundation for iconic Halloween specials for decades. But nothing beats the Halloween specials it aired in the 1990s.
Why Severance's Season 1 Finale Is Already Iconic
Severance was an anticipated show in 2022, with Season 1 ending on multiple cliffhangers. Yet, the wait for Season 2 has only built anticipation.
Why It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Is the Perfect Halloween Special
While easily overlooked with all the Halloween specials airing in the month of October, the tale of the Great Pumpkin remains as important as ever.
Baylan Skoll Raises Some of Star Wars' Biggest Questions
After Ahsoka's finale, the future of Baylan Skoll is unclear. But the character helped to introduce some of the show's most interesting concepts.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter Proves Universal Must Get Back to Basics
There is still a lot of potential in a classic Universal Monsters universe, but the studio's approach should be to honor the classics.
Kevin Smith’s Clerks: The Animated Series Deserves a Reboot
Clerks: The Animated Series was never given a fair shake during its initial run, but it would undeniably make a perfect fit in the age of streaming.
Sci-Fi's New Film Resurgence Is Great - But Will It Challenge Star Wars?
Movies like The Creator have proven that sci-fi movies are on the rise again. But this could offer a new challenge for the Star Wars franchise.
One Character from The Office Would Be Perfect to Lead a Reboot
Robert California may not have been everyone's favorite addition to The Office, but the character would fit perfect in the upcoming reboot.
Harry Potter’s Most Misunderstood Character Was One of the Keys to Defeating Voldemort
One of Harry Potter's most misunderstood characters eventually became one of the Wizarding World's unlikeliest heroes by helping beat Voldemort.
Ezra Bridger's Approach to Battle Echoes Yoda’s Original Characterization
While Star Wars seemed to have abandoned the initial teachings of Yoda during the prequel trilogy, Ezra Bridger is bringing them back in Ahsoka.
How The Pirates and the Prince Kept Star Wars Alive in the 1990s
Before Star Wars made its big return with The Phantom Menace, a lesser-known animated film helped keep the lore alive post-Return of the Jedi.
Hulu's No One Will Save You Should Have Left More to the Imagination
Hulu took a swing into the alien invasion genre with its new movie No One Will Save You, but the end result landed a bit too on the nose.
If Dave Filoni Is Adapting Heir to the Empire, a Major Role Must Be Filled
It may be too late to include Mara Jade in the Star Wars universe as originally written, but her role could still be filled in the modern canon.
MGM+'s From Must Avoid the Pitfalls of Mystery Box Storytelling
With a third season on its way, MGM+'s From needs to be very careful of failing to answer the many questions introduced in the first two seasons.
One of Ahsoka’s Big Character Returns Fell Flat
Star Wars fans were ecstatic when returning fan favorite characters appeared during Ahsoka's sixth episode -- but did both returns really deliver?
Matt Reeves’ The Batman Sequel Should Adapt a Scott Snyder Comic
Scott Snyder's comic The Gates of Gotham provides an outline that would fit perfectly with the world Matt Reeves built in The Batman.
Wet Hot American Summer Is This Generation’s Most Influential Comedy
Wet Hot American Summer may have flown under the radar when it released in 2001, but it has since proven to be more influential than anyone expected.
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem May Have Made a Grave Mistake With Its Villains
Mutant Mayhem is the most critically acclaimed TMNT movie in the history of the franchise, but it may have left the series with a villain problem.