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Last Seen Alive Reviews

And just like that, Gerard Butler’s back to making B and C movies?

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Dec 28, 2022

We’re left waiting for a movie that grabs our attention in its first fifteen minutes to take us someplace…anyplace. It never does.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 27, 2022

An extremely generic kidnapping thriller that plays like a really lousy episode of “Ozark.”

Full Review | Oct 12, 2022

This is the kind of poor man’s thriller that already doesn’t have a very high bar to clear yet still manages to disappoint based on limited imagination or limited means.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Oct 7, 2022

[Brian Goodman] isn't willing to plant his feet on the ground and lets his imagination fly high with some graphic, very graphic, violence scenes. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 6, 2022

Kind of a good time for the wrong reasons.

Full Review | Original Score: D- | Oct 5, 2022

It has a tired premise like those used frequently in unimaginative thrillers.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Sep 10, 2022

Frustratingly generic thriller.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 7, 2022

Sometimes 'serviceable' is good enough.

Full Review | Original Score: 2 stars | Jun 19, 2022

Caught in two minds as to whether it wants to be a psychological thriller or an action-adventure, Brian Goodman's film never manages to get its story straight.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 15, 2022

Cliches and contrivances sap away most of the suspense in this derivative B-movie vigilante thriller that squanders some reliably intense Gerard Butler confrontations.

Full Review | Jun 8, 2022

Creative risks aren't taken here, with Butler basically asked to be the hero yet again, trying to convey confusion in a movie that doesn't trust the audience to appreciate such a disorienting journey.

Full Review | Original Score: D | Jun 3, 2022

The American actor Ethan Embry is a highlight as Knuckles, a childhood friend of Lisa’s who Will thinks knows more than he is admitting.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 31, 2022

Last Seen Alive is as generic as it gets and should serve as a warning to anyone looking to cash in without effort with one of cinema’s most overdone plots.

Full Review | May 31, 2022

The low-flying standard of the direction by Brian Goodman can best be summed up by the golden moment when a tracking camera shot pauses to focus on a cannister that has FLAMMABLE emblazoned on it. Take a wild guess what happens soon after.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | May 19, 2022

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Last Seen Alive

Will's soon-to-be ex-wife mysteriously vanishes at a gas station. He delves into the town's criminal underbelly while running from the authorities in a race against time to find her. Will's soon-to-be ex-wife mysteriously vanishes at a gas station. He delves into the town's criminal underbelly while running from the authorities in a race against time to find her. Will's soon-to-be ex-wife mysteriously vanishes at a gas station. He delves into the town's criminal underbelly while running from the authorities in a race against time to find her.

• Brian Goodman
• Marc Frydman
• Gerard Butler
• Jaimie Alexander
• Russell Hornsby
• 343 User reviews
• 55 Critic reviews

Top cast 34

• Detective Paterson

• Barry Adams

• Deputy Anderson

• Assistant Deputy

• Patrol Officer

• Ghost Worker

• Hazmat Officer
• (as David Steven Perez)

• (as Robin Inez Fletcher)
• Gas Station Employee
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Gerard Butler posted on his Instagram page on October 5, 2022: "I'll let you in on a little secret. I took this movie on as a fun challenge/experiment. I improvised the whole movie. I was only ever shown the first ten pages and even they were thrown away once we were on set. We shot the movie in 8 days. I was drawn to the idea of how it would feel stepping into scene after scene having no idea what was gonna be thrown at me. I've never taken on anything like that and it was both challenging and exhilarating. You can't help but be in the moment. Obviously there were certain parts where I would have to be guided in a general direction but mostly it was flying by the seat of my pants. Amazing work by the rest of the cast having to play off me given I had no idea what was about to come out of my mouth. And to our director Brian Goodman-love you brother."
• Goofs At the end of the movie at the parents house you can see the camera man crew in the reflection of the window. You can clearly see how the cameraman rushes off not to be seen.
• Connections Featured in OWV Updates: Multimedia Update (16/07/2023) + The First Poster from OWV Cinema (2023)
• Soundtracks Back At One Performed by Brian McKnight Written by Brian McKnight Published by Universal Polygram Int. Publishing, Inc. Courtesy of Motown Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User reviews 343

• deloudelouvain
• Jun 25, 2022
• How long is Last Seen Alive? Powered by Alexa
• June 3, 2022 (United States)
• United States
• Nhân Chứng Sống Cuối Cùng
• Savannah, Georgia, USA
• Voltage Pictures
• Perfection Hunter Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 35 minutes

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Last seen alive.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 1 Review
• Kids Say 0 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Potboiler action-thriller has swearing, violence, drugs.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Last Seen Alive is an action thriller with strong language, some bloody violence, and drugs. Real estate developer Will Spann (Gerard Butler) is trying to save his marriage when his wife, Lisa (Jaimie Alexander), suddenly disappears. The movie hinges on suspense and certain…

Why Age 15+?

Character manhandled, bloody injuries. Physical threats of violence. Reference t

Language used includes "s--t," "motherf----r," multiple uses of "f---ing," and "

Characters mass produce methamphetamine to be dealt. Character smokes unidentifi

Will works in real estate -- some discussion of earning lots of money and taking

A married couple discusses one partner's infidelity. Character shown in underwea

Any Positive Content?

Caring for loved ones. Being brave and persistent. Overcoming adversity.

Will and Lisa have marital difficulties, but Will remains committed to their rel

Some gender and ethnic diversity among the main and supporting cast. Character's

Violence & Scariness

Character manhandled, bloody injuries. Physical threats of violence. Reference to death and murder. Fighting with punches, kicks, and blunt instruments. Character bound and restrained with heavy duty tape. Warning shots fired from a pistol. Reference to getting shot. Character beaten unconscious. Characters threatened at gunpoint, shot, and killed. Bloody wounds but no gore. Explosion and property damage.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language used includes "s--t," "motherf----r," multiple uses of "f---ing," and "f--k."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters mass produce methamphetamine to be dealt. Character smokes unidentified substance from a pipe.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Will works in real estate -- some discussion of earning lots of money and taking out large life-insurance policies. Also owing people money. Characters manufacture and deal drugs to enrich themselves. Character tries to extort money in exchange for information.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A married couple discusses one partner's infidelity. Character shown in underwear.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Will and Lisa have marital difficulties, but Will remains committed to their relationship. Will cares for his wife and literally fights to get her back under difficult circumstances. Lisa is unhappy in her marriage and there is reference to her having had an affair. She tries to communicate her feelings to Will, but often without success. A police officer uses excessive force to try and get information from suspects.

Diverse Representations

Some gender and ethnic diversity among the main and supporting cast. Character's discuss Will's mental health and temperament in light of his marriage troubles and then sudden disappearance of his wife.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Last Seen Alive is an action thriller with strong language, some bloody violence, and drugs. Real estate developer Will Spann ( Gerard Butler ) is trying to save his marriage when his wife, Lisa ( Jaimie Alexander ), suddenly disappears. The movie hinges on suspense and certain characters not being honest with Will and Detective Roy Patterson ( Russell Hornsby ), who each carry out their own investigations into Lisa's possible abduction. Violence features occasionally, as Will resorts to desperate means. The most extreme cases include gun violence, shootings, and death, with some bloody injuries but no gore. Detective Patterson also uses force when dealing with violent criminals who are reluctant to talk to him. Swearing is constant, with multiple variations of "f--k" used throughout. Various characters are motivated by money -- Will's wealth plays a factor in his efforts to find his wife. Drugs are also dealt and manufactured at scale in some scenes, while there is also some drug use, including a character smoking an unidentified substance from a pipe. There is some discussion of Lisa's infidelities and a man is also seen in just his underwear. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (1)

Based on 1 parent review

If you like sitting in the edge of your seat~ this is a great movie!

What's the story.

LAST SEEN ALIVE follows real estate developer Will Spann ( Gerard Butler ) in the aftermath of the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Lisa ( Jaimie Alexander ), at a gas station.

Is It Any Good?

Caught in two minds as to whether it wants to be a psychological thriller or an action-adventure, Brian Goodman 's film never manages to get its story straight. Saving its Taken -like revenge rampage for the closing stages, Last Seen Alive still can't manage to create a sense of intrigue about any of its characters. Central to this is Butler's Will, who manages to be equal parts real estate developer, vigilante warrior, and super sleuth -- basically whatever the convoluted plot needs him to be in order to move things forward.

The flashback scenes of marital strife try to give us some indication of what sort of person Will is. But these are never linked to his life or work well enough for them to carry any weight. Likewise, the bad guys pretty much appear out of nowhere toward the end, half-borrowed from the first season of True Detective with their shotguns and rural meth lab. Butler does his best to sell the drama and the trauma of Will's situation. But he looks much more comfortable playing men whose missions make more sense, be it defending Sparta ( 300 ) or saving the President's skin in the Has Fallen series. Will's wife isn't the only thing missing in Last Seen Alive : it also needed a dose of originality, other than its bizarre suggestion that couples who survive kidnappings together, stay together.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in Last Seen Alive . What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

How were drugs depicted in the movie? Were they glamorized? Were there consequences? Why does that matter?

Discuss Will and Lisa's relationship problems. How did these affect the way they talked to one another? How did the movie's use of flashbacks reveal more about them?

Did the movie remind you of any others you've seen?

Movie Details

• In theaters : June 3, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : August 9, 2022
• Cast : Gerard Butler , Jaimie Alexander , Russell Hornsby
• Director : Brian Goodman
• Inclusion Information : Black actors
• Studio : Vertical Entertainment
• Genre : Thriller
• Run time : 95 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : pervasive language, violence and some drug material
• Last updated : May 15, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

REVIEW: “Last Seen Alive” (2022)

Will and Lisa Spann are going through a tough patch. Their marriage is on the rocks, and Lisa has asked for some time apart so she can sort things out and clear her head. Will wants to forgive and move on (there are hints of infidelity), but Lisa needs some space. So he’s driving her to her parents home where she plans on staying a few weeks until she can figure out what to do next. With only a few miles left, Will stops at a convenient store for gas. And so begins “Last Seen Alive”, the new(ish) yet not-so-new action thriller starring Gerard Butler.

Directed by Brian Goodman from a screenplay by Marc Frydman, “Last Seen Alive” is a case of a genuinely interesting setup that goes nowhere. And while it’s essentially an action thriller, the action is scarce and the thrills are nonexistent. So we’re left waiting for a movie that grabs our attention in its first fifteen minutes to take us someplace…anyplace. It never does. It never develops or maintains any tension. It can’t make the characters worth our investment. And the stakes never feel as high as they should.

At the convenient store, Lisa (Jaimie Alexander) goes inside while Will (Butler) fills up their tank. After waiting a bit he goes in to check on her but can’t find her anywhere. He checks the bathrooms, asks the unhelpful clerk (Michael Irby), and even make circles outside the building asking motorists and truckers if anyone has seen her. Convinced something is terribly wrong, he calls the police. Detective Paterson (Russell Hornsby) eventually responds and begins one of the most perfunctory and scattershot investigations ever put on screen.

Of course we predictably run through the whole ‘ Will as a suspect ’ angle. And with this being a Gerard Butler movie, you kinda know at some point he’s going to take matters into his own hands. But as Will’s actions and reactions get more bizarre (unintentionally, mind you), it gets harder and harder to buy into him or the story. And no amount of super-seriousness from Butler can change that. Meanwhile Hornsby (who’s a really good actor) is handcuffed by an aggressively generic cop character – a carbon copy of the kind we’ve seen in countless movies through the years.

While nobody seems to be phoning it in, no one is able to bring any energy to “Last Seen Alive” (which is something it desperately needs). It turns out to be one of those maddening movies where people routinely do dumb things, don’t ask the obvious questions, and seem completely oblivious to common sense. And with no compelling characters or exciting action to pick up the slack, the movie sits stuck in neutral and basically squanders a promising start. “Last Seen Alive” is now streaming on VOD and Netflix.

VERDICT – 2 STARS

Share this:

9 thoughts on “ review: “last seen alive” (2022) ”.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for Gerard Butler, this movie never would’ve gotten any attention, and rightfully so. To me, this was Break/Down lite. Butler is so much better than this.

He seems stuck in these mediocre to all-out bad ‘action thrillers’. Every once in a while one will be pretty good (I liked “Greenland”). But most are pretty blah.

Oh no, not another goddamn SHUT-UP BUTT-WAD film. Fuck that Irish cunt and his essence of mediocrity.

What Gerard Butler’s next movie needs a fight scene in KFC.

It comes out in a few weeks so we shall see. 🙂

Excellent review. It started off intense and with promise then went off the rails. Sometimes unlikeable characters can win me over but I really hoped the worst for both of them.

It does start off well and I had hopes. But it squandered them pretty quick. Such a bummer.

How can the film.a movie in Georgia and say they are in New Hampshire. The boat was registered in GA There Palms in the woods And Spanish Moss in the trees

Either film it in New England or just change the story to be from Georgia.

Yes this was an awesome movie

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Meet the Last Seen Alive cast: who's who in the Netflix movie

Last Seen Alive is an action thriller starring Gerard Butler and Jaimie Alexander.

Last Seen Alive is an action thriller that received a limited release earlier this year but quickly found a following upon its release on Netflix . The movie is about a man, Will, whose wife Lisa goes missing at a gas station while he’s filling up. When the police start to consider him a suspect, Will takes things into his own hands. 

It’s a fast-paced movie that jumps right into the story at the start of the film and doesn’t let up until the credits roll.

Last Seen Alive cast — who's who

Gerard butler as will spann.

Will Spann is a successful real estate developer who finds himself under scrutiny after his wife disappears at a gas station. Though his marriage to Lisa is strained, he loves his wife and will do anything to get her back. 

What starts out as a disappearance quickly turns into a kidnapping and from there it becomes something far more sinister as Will follows the trail of clues. 

Scottish actor Gerard Butler is no stranger to action movies. He’s well known for his role in 300 , as well as Law Abiding Citizen and London Falling . 

Jaimie Alexander as Lisa Spann

From the very start of Last Seen Alive it’s clear that something is bothering Lisa Spann. She’s uncomfortable in the car with her husband and jittery when she goes into the gas station. As we see in the movie, she’s asked her husband for some space to sort out some issues on her mind. He’s opposed to the idea and it has raised the tension in their relationship. 

Jaimie Alexander is known for her role as Lady Sif in the Thor movies. She lent her voice to a couple of Marvel’s What If…? episodes, too, along with an appearance in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D . Alexander has starred in a number of TV series; she starred as Jane Doe in the acclaimed action series Blindspot for five seasons. 

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Ethan Embry as Knuckles

Knuckles grew up with Lisa and still lives in her hometown. He’s a handyman who does odd jobs around the neighborhood where Lisa’s parents live. He was spotted on the surveillance camera at the gas station talking to Lisa; it wasn’t until Lisa’s mother recognized the car that they had a lead on Lisa’s whereabouts.

Ethan Embry has been in the acting business for a long time. He’s recognized for his memorable roles as Chevy Chase’s son in Vegas Vacation and the wayward bassist in That Thing You Do ! Since then, he’s appeared in Once Upon a Time , Grace and Frankie and Sneaky Pete . 

Russell Hornsby as Detective Patterson

When Will Spann calls the police, he’s directed to Detective Patterson. At first, Patterson is dismissive about his wife’s disappearance, as she’d only been missing for a short while. However, once Will pleads his case, Patterson decides to investigate a little deeper and that’s when he starts to see that there’s more to Lisa’s disappearance than meets the eye.

Russell Hornsby’s acting career dates back to an appearance on Bill Nye the Science Guy in 1993. Over the years he’s starred in a number of TV shows, including BMF , Grimm and In Treatment and most recently played Don King in MIKE . 

Michael Irby as Oscar

Oscar is the convenience store clerk at the gas station, and he’s also the last person to see Lisa before she disappears. As someone who works a thankless job with scores of people coming and going on a regular basis, he doesn’t remember Lisa when asked about her. However, he’s not exactly a reliable witness.

Michael Irby is a well respected character actor, known for his roles in Mayans M.C. , Taken and True Detective . Last Seen Alive is the second time he’s worked with Gerard Butler; the two worked together in 2009’s Law Abiding Citizen .  

Who else is in the cast?

• Cindy Hogan as Anna Adams
• Bruce Altman as Barry Adams
• David Kallaway as Frank

Sarabeth joined the What to Watch team in May 2022. An avid TV and movie fan, her perennial favorites are The Walking Dead, American Horror Story , true crime documentaries on Netflix and anything from Passionflix. You’ve Got Mail , Ocean's Eleven and Signs are movies that she can watch all day long. She's also a huge baseball fan, and hockey is a new favorite.  

When she's not working, Sarabeth hosts the My Nights Are Booked Podcast and a blog dedicated to books and interviews with authors and actors. She also published her first novel, Once Upon an Interview , in 2022. 

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Is ‘Last Seen Alive’ Based on a True Story?

• Gerard Butler

'Land Of Bad' Solidifies Russell Crowe As A Netflix King — Without Making Any Actual Netflix Movies

Happy father's day: your new king of the "dad movie" is ... matt damon, stream it or skip it: ‘plane’ on starz, the continuation of the gerard butlernaissance, is 'kandahar' streaming on netflix, max or prime video.

What does an innocent man do when he becomes the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance? He goes on the run, of course. That’s exactly what happens in the 2022 action-thriller Last Seen Alive , which is currently the #1 trending movie in the United States on Netflix, out-performing the streamer’s new originals Blonde and Lou .

Along with Inheritance , Mr. and Mrs. Smith , Rush Hour , Robin Hood , and Land of the Lost , this film is an older release that is newly capturing the attention of the Netflix audience. Last Seen Alive was added to the streamer on October 1, 2022 and stars Gerard Butler , Jaimie Alexander , Russell Hornsby, and Ethan Embry .

Given that we’re in the age of true crime, many viewers were left wondering: Is Last Seen Alive based on a true story? Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about the film and its origins.

What is Last Seen Alive about?

Last Seen Alive starts with Will Spann (Butler) taking his wife Lisa (Alexander) to stay with her parents, following their recent separation. After a brief stop at a gas station, Lisa goes missing. When Will turns to the local authorities, he becomes a prime suspect which leads him to launch his own investigation.

Is Last Seen Alive Based on a True Story?

No, Last Seen Alive is not based on a true story – nor is it based on the novel with the same name by Claire Douglass. The film has an original script by Marc Frydman; however it shares a few notable qualities with films in the same genre. Films like the 1958 classic Touch of Evil and the action film Die Hard both deal with men seeking to rescue their missing wives, and the 1988 thriller The Vanishing features a man whose girlfriend goes missing at a gas station.

When did Last Seen Alive come out?

Last Seen Alive was released in U.S. theaters on June 3, 2022, before being added to Netflix on October 1, 2022. The film premiered to poor critical reception and currently has a lousy 10% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes , with many citing the film’s generic nature. And  that’s a true story!

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Last Seen Alive Reviews

• 1 hr 35 mins
• Drama, Suspense, Action & Adventure
• Watchlist Where to Watch

After Will Spann's wife suddenly vanishes at a gas station, his desperate search to find her leads him down a dark path that forces him to run from authorities and take the law into his own hands.

Does Will Find His Missing Wife Lisa in the Ending of 'Last Seen Alive'? (SPOILERS)

Published Oct. 5 2022, 3:14 p.m. ET

Spoiler alert: The following article contains major spoilers for the film Last Seen Alive , now streaming on Netflix .

The premise for the film Last Seen Alive on Netflix is downright terrifying because it's something that can easily happen in real life — and it has. After Lisa Spann (Jaimie Alexander) asks her husband Will (Gerard Butler) for a marriage separation, he drives her back to her parents house for some time apart.

They stop at a gas station about fifteen minutes away for Lisa's parents house – and to say everything goes to hell would be an understatement. Lisa is abducted, and Will finds himself left alone with the police eyeing him as the prime suspect.

So what happens in the Last Seen Alive ending? Let's break it down.

'Last Seen Alive,' could also be called, 'Will's Very Bad, Very Long Day.'

The 'Last Seen Alive' ending, explained.

You know that one saying? The one that basically says you're more likely to be attacked/murdered by someone you know? It turns out that's the case with Lisa's kidnapping.

Will discovers that Lisa was kidnapped by her parents handyman, Knuckles (Ethan Embry). But why would Knuckles kidnap a random woman from a gas station? Is he salty about being named Knuckles?

Lisa's parents reveal to Will that Knuckles has known Lisa since their school days. Will asks Lisa's mom Anna (Cindy Hogan) if Lisa would recognize Knuckles enough to actually get in a car with him.

Anna says no, and Will sets off in hot pursuit of Lisa's kidnapper. It turns out Knuckles kidnapped Lisa, knowing how wealthy her parents and Will were. Knuckles had hoped to get ransom for Lisa for drug money from a man named Frank (David Kallaway).

Basically, Knuckles' plan was terrible from the start, since Frank is pissed that Knuckles kidnapped Lisa in an area where he was caught on camera. He orders Knuckles to get rid of his incriminating evidence (aka Lisa) and basically bury her somewhere where she can't be found.

Wait, so is Lisa dead?

Thankfully, Will hunts down Frank, who claims he doesn't know a Knuckles (given that name, we wouldn't claim to know him either TBH). Frank ends up dying during his confrontation with Will, which doesn't help matters in the search for Lisa.

Just when Will thinks the trail runs cold, he runs into Oscar the gas station guy — who also offers up information about Lisa's well-being for ransom. Oscar has proof that he knows where Lisa is. He shows Will her phone.

However, Oscar ends up dying too. What's a guy like Will to do? Just when it seems like his trail has run cold again, Will finally finds Lisa. She's locked in a shed near the hole Knuckles dug for her body.

Thankfully, Lisa is very much alive. At least Knuckles did that part right. Will and Lisa are reunited and reconciled, and they all live happily ever after. You can stream Last Seen Alive now on Netflix.

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This Intense Gerard Butler Thriller Has Overtaken ‘Blonde’ as the #1 Movie on Netflix

One of the most highly-anticipated films of 2022 was Blonde —a Netflix drama based on the Joyce Carol Oates novel of the same name, which tells a fictionalized version of Marilyn Monroe's life and stars Ana de Armas ( Knives Out ) in the lead role. And although the film met a mixed reception ( including from PureWow ) upon its release, it still managed to sit strong at the number-one spot on Netflix's most-watched movies list from the day it premiered. That was, until a new movie just overtook it.

The Gerard Butler-starring thriller Last Seen Alive has just moved into the top spot, nabbing the crown from Blonde .

Last Seen Alive was directed by Brian Goodman ( Black Butterfly ) and it follows a Gone Girl -esque plotline. In the movie, a man named Will Spann (Butler) is driving his wife to her parents’ house when he stops at a gas station and she mysteriously disappears. However, when he alerts the authorities about it, he becomes one of the top suspects.

“You know, I have to ask you: how's your marriage?” Detective Paterson (Russell Hornsby) says to him in the clip. Of course, it looks as if the film sets up the mystery so you're not sure who to believe.

And to make matters worse, we learn from the clip that Will's wife, Lisa (played by Jaimie Alexander), asked for a divorce right before their trip. “I think we need a break,” she says. “I don't feel anything anymore.”

In addition to Butler, Alexander and Hornsby, the movie also stars Ethan Embry ( Sweet Home Alabama ), Michael Irby ( Barry ), Cindy Hogan ( Boy Erased ), Bruce Altman ( Mr. Robot ), Jordan Salloum ( Oldboy ) and Dani Deetté ( Ozark ).

We'll have to check this one out and see if it matches the hype.

Want all the top Netflix shows sent right to your inbox? Click  here .

10 Shows and Movies to Watch This Weekend

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

‘Last Seen Alive’ Ending Explained: Why did Lisa get taken?

Last seen alive plot synopsis.

In Last Seen Alive , Gerard Butler stars as Will, a man whose wife disappears at a gas station after he pulls in to fuel up his car. After frantically searching for her, he eventually decides to take the law into his own hands when the police prove to be ineffective.

But where did his wife go? And why was she taken? The answer to this one is fairly straightforward but let’s take a closer look at the movie and its ending.

When does Lisa go missing?

The marriage of Will and Lisa isn’t a happy one. He has been emotionally absent from the relationship for quite a while, partly as a consequence of the affair Lisa had several months previously.

Their relationship isn’t over yet, however, although Lisa wants to stay at her parent’s house to get some perspective on their marriage.

On their way to her parent’s home, they pull over at a gas station. After popping into a shop to buy a bottle of water, Lisa is then seen talking to somebody outside. Unfortunately, a truck pulls up and obscures Lisa and this other person. When the truck drives away, Lisa has gone.

After realising his wife has vanished, Will frantically starts to look for her. He speaks to Oscar the shopkeeper and asks if he has seen his wife after passing over her description. Oscar claims he hasn’t seen her, which is slightly odd, as he had previously served Lisa in the shop.

What does Will do next?

As his wife has mysteriously disappeared, Will decides to call the police. Detective Paterson arrives on the scene, takes a few details from Will and asks him to remain where he is while he begins the investigation.

As Lisa is nowhere to be seen at the gas station, Will decides to go against the detective’s orders. Instead of staying put, he visits Lisa’s parents instead. They aren’t pleased to see him turn up without their daughter in tow and are understandably alarmed. They are mistrusting of him too, as are the police, who suspect Will may have something to do with Lisa’s disappearance.

When Will realises his wife isn’t at her parents, he returns to the gas station and meets up with Detective Paterson.

The detective asks Oscar for the security camera footage but the man tells him the cameras aren’t working.

After the detective leaves, Will realises Oscar is lying. There is a light flashing below one of the cameras outside and this indicates that it is working. Why the detective didn’t pick up on this we don’t know but when Will finds out, he threatens Oscar, assaults him, and takes the hard drive that contains the camera footage.

What is on the footage?

Will takes the hard drive to the police station and they take a look at the footage. It shows a man talking to Lisa but when the truck pulls into view, the police aren’t able to see what happened next.

Will later shows the footage to Lisa’s parents and they recognise the man who is talking to their daughter. It’s Knuckles, their handyman, and they reveal that he used to be a classmate of Lisa’s at school. Her parents also recognise the car Knuckles is driving and they tell Will that it is in a garage nearby.

Does Will find Knuckles?

Will heads to the garage’s location and catches up with Knuckles. A fight ensues but Will is able to get the better of him.

Knuckles reveals that he is the person behind Lisa’s disappearance and that he has taken her to a man called Frank. Will ties Knuckles up, puts him in the back of his car and sets off to look for the person who apparently has his wife.

Does Will find Frank?

Yes but not before he has a run-in with the police when they catch him speeding. After pulling over, Will realises the policeman is about to find Knuckles in the boot of his car so decides to make a run for it.

He eventually reaches Frank’s location; a barn which has been converted into a meth lab. He spots Oscar, the shopkeeper from the gas station, and realises that he has something to do with his wife’s disappearance. He also catches sight of Frank and his men.

After taking out Frank’s goons in a gunfight and inadvertently causing a fire in the barn, he corners Frank and tries to make him talk. Unfortunately, Frank is killed in their scuffle so Will has no way of finding out what happened to Lisa.

Luckily, Oscar appears from the now burning barn and demands money from Will in exchange for knowledge about his wife. Before Will can find out the answer, the barn explodes and kills Oscar. At this point, it would appear that Will has no way of knowing where Lisa might be. But when wandering around the property, he hears a noise from a nearby outhouse. When he manages to get the door open, he finds Lisa inside.

Why did Lisa get taken?

Knuckles orchestrated the plan to take Lisa. After hearing of her imminent arrival after carrying out work at her parent’s house, he decided to kidnap her.

He did this because he needed money to fuel his drug addiction. As Knuckles knew Will was wealthy, he thought he could abduct Lisa, take her to Frank, and then hold her for ransom.

Frank didn’t approve of this plan, however, and instead ordered Knuckles to dig a pit for Lisa’s soon-to-be murdered body. Knuckles didn’t hang around after digging the pit, possibly because he realised he was going to get into deeper trouble if he was incriminated in Lisa’s death.

But before Frank could dispose of Lisa, Will arrived on the scene to save his wife.

After the couple are united, Paterson lets Will know that Knuckles has signed a confession and admitted to the kidnapping.

We can’t be certain of what happened to Knuckles after the events of the film, but we can assume that Will, after saving his wife from being murdered, also saved his marriage.

Read More: Last Seen Alive Movie Review

Feel free to check out more of our movie reviews here!

22 thoughts on “‘last seen alive’ ending explained: why did lisa get taken”.

I’ve been watching Gerard Butler’s movie since 300s. That is why I was looking for the peak of the action in the movie that somewhat action packed movie of Mike Banning. Yeah I agree with some of your comments, this movie gets 6 out of 10 for me.

I really thought that Will orchestrated the kidnapping, to save his marriage with Lisa. I think it would be a better plot. Lowest point of the movie was the explosion. LOL

Don’t believe Lisa was having an affair with Frank. Doesn’t make sense why he would continuously text her like he wanted her back and then be willing to kill her. Is detective Peterson’s first name also Frank? He sure seemed emotionally concerned while interrogating Knuckles.

Honestly, one of my most disliked parts of the film is how much they used the f word. Like I get it, I use it, but it’s almost every sentence. There’s a specific scene and it’s said every 7-8 words for 4-5, you can’t even hear past it. It doesn’t make up for a slightly subpar screenplay.

A lot of pot holes in this thinly scripted film. Sure you could say Knuckles running into Lisa at the gas station was a coincidence. Or that Will just happened to luck up on Frank’s meth operation while running through the woods where he was pulled over. But please explain to me how Will was able to call Detective Patterson on his personal cell phone when not having been given that pertinent information. I believe the reach of the screenwriter was way shorter than the imagination of the audience.

Movie jumped around . I give it 6 out if 10!

Based on the fact that knuckles just knew where they would be, the suspicious call frank got when Lisa went into the gas station, the almost “one more chance” question he asked before she got out the car and went in, the parents not trusting him, knuckles knowing DETAILS about the marriage, yea will was in on it. It was his attempt at scaring her back into the marriage.

I watched it and actually thought it was a very good movie. Sure it had it’s bad points but what movie doesn’t. Well worth the watch. It is a good movie. 8 out of 10

I agree with you. It’s far from Butler’s best – in fact, this might be his worst film. Here’s hoping his next movie is better!

This movie is a cross between a Dutch film The Vanishing which has been remade a couple of times. I’ve now seen a Dutch, Chinese and American version of the same film with different endings.

While I love Gerard Butler this was not his best movie. It’s 2 movies in 1 – The Vanishing and Breakdown. I enjoyed Breakdown.

The reasoning behind her disappearance is laughable, no repercussions for the main actor for his many illegal acts.

It felt like they ran out of money 1/2 way through and changed the ending to suit.

I only watched it all to find out the ending not because it was enjoyable.

Maybe the Razzies…

Quote Mogul – “Oscar’s Involvement?”

No, I don’t think that the Oscars will get involved in this at all

Why wouldn’t Will call the police to go to Frank’s. Knuckles happens to see Lisa at the gas station and at the right time the truck stops to block the camera? The ending is the worse. Your husband saves your life and you leave him outside waiting for you. Movie could have been so much better.

I think it’s another plot hole. Logic wasn’t the movie’s strongest point.

How did Knuckles know that Lisa and Will would be stopping at that particular gas station…not to mention when???

I’m not sure this is fleshed out in the film. He was obviously in on the kidnapping but his plot thread isn’t explored well.

Oscars involvement?

I think the movie is a bit of a jumble and it doesn’t do much to tie the various threads of the plot together, such as Knuckle’s involvement. With a tighter script, the movie would have made a lot more sense.

Thanks. I came here after watching the move because I didn’t catch how Knuckles knew the details about their marriage problems only because he worked at the family!! still not convinced 🙂 plus really how Knuckles knew they will stop in that gas station !! and if they are facing problems in their marriage is it the time to take the wife and ask for money 🙂

you’re welcome 🙂

Thanks for writing this up.

Thank you very much. I was looking for a synopsis of the movie and I’m glad I found your article.

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'Last Seen Alive' Review: Gerard Butler's thriller is breezy and packs a punch

Gerard Butler's Will Spann delivers a few biffs and some generous doses of expletives as he takes on some drug dealers in search of his wife, Lisa (Jaimie Alexander) in Brian Goodman's 'Last Seen Alive'. The thriller does enough to hold the attention but does have its share of holes. It's pretty surprising that a movie starring Butler gets less publicity. It's not a bad movie either. It might not be one of the best works from Butler, but it definitely passes for a one-time watch and is breezy enough to run through with some popcorn and soda. The story is standard. It's boilerplate where a husband goes in search of his missing wife, and how he's entangled in a mess that sees him evade authorities and take matters into his own hands.

Butler comes off a good flick. His 'Copshop' did pretty well as far as slick con movies go, and now he returns to his usual action hero mode . His career trajectory is almost Bruce Willis-like cementing his status as one of Hollywood's dependable action heroes. He packs a mean swing, he's buff, and he's almost certainly capable of shouldering a movie on his own, just as he does with 'Last Seen Alive'.

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Will has been having issues with Lisa. The latter feels the need to take a break and decides to head to her parent's house in Emerson. Things go from bad to worse when she gets kidnapped by a handyman who works for her folks. A worried Will searches and reluctantly works with Detective Paterson (Bill Hornsby), only to later take charge of things. He follows some leads, whacks the living daylights of a few baddies, and whether he finds Lisa forms the crux of the 90-minute affair. There are enough questions about the motive which the antagonists don't necessarily establish, but hey, you kidnap a person, surely there's a ransom call in the offing at least.

Butler occupies almost every frame in the movie, and it seems to have been easy work considering it takes place mostly in two locations. 'Last Seen Alive' qualifies for a decent flick even if it's got the clunky lines that somehow make their way into the film. Goodman manages to make something out of a flimsy plot that has three very straightforward acts — the kidnapping, the hunt, and the outcome. It's predictable, but it's Butler, and the man doesn't disappoint, even if he's not saving the President this time.

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Last Seen Alive (2022) Gerard Butler

Just letting you know guys this one is a real stinker.

I like Butler and some of his latest action ventures were nice (Den of Thieves, Copshop). With good script and direction the guy has this gritty charisma that engages in the story and he's able to do some believable action.

Now this movie is a classic geezer teaser, like worst Neeson's or Willis' work from last few years. Wife gets kidnap, husband has to work the case by himself kinda story. Better see the classic Vanishing instead. There's almost none action, the chemistry between Butler and his wife is none, no real characters, and the story itself is a joke. Sprinkle some shockingly bad cgi, bad acting and you have your dad streaming bite. 3/10 and it's only because there's some cool angry Butler beating.

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‘my lady jane’ canceled by prime video after one season, breaking news.

Tom Papa Sets Third Netflix Comedy Special ‘Home Free’

By Matt Grobar

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EXCLUSIVE : Comedian Tom Papa has announced that his new Netflix special, Home Free , will premiere on the service on October 29.

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Troy Miller directed the special, executive produced by Brian Volk-Weiss and Cisco Henson. Comedy Dynamics served as the production company.

One of the best-known comics in the States, who has been working as a stand-up for over two decades, Papa prior to his run on Netflix released specials including Freaked Out and Human Mule on Epix and Live in New York City on Comedy Central. Over the years, he’s built upon success in the field with pursuits as an actor, host and author in film, TV, radio and podcasts.

Film credits for Papa include Paper Spiders opposite Lily Taylor, The Informant! opposite Matt Damon, Analyze That opposite Robert DeNiro, and Rob Zombie’s The Haunted World of El Superbeasto . He can also be seen alongside Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra from Steven Soderbergh, which won 11 Emmys. In television, he hosted NBC’s The Marriage Ref , which ran for two seasons, and had a recurring role opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus on CBS’s The New Adventures of Old Christine .

A contributing writer to New Yorker Magazine, Papa has in recent years released three acclaimed books: We’re All In This Together… So Make Some Room , You’re Doing Great! – And Other Reasons to Stay Alive , and Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas .

Papa is represented by UTA.

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The 7 best new movies and shows to stream this weekend

From romance to espionage, here's what to watch this weekend

As another week draws to a close, we've got your ultimate guide to weekend watching if you're settling in for a couple of days in front of the TV. It's a big week for movies, too, with several brand-new releases making their streaming debuts. For starters, there's The Union on Netflix, starring Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry as ex-high school sweethearts thrown together on an espionage mission, and Jackpot!, a lottery action comedy with a twist on Prime Video. 

US viewers can catch Pearl, the precursor to the recently released MaXXXine, on Netflix, and La Chimera, a film festival hit starring Challengers' Josh O'Connor, on Hulu . UK audiences, meanwhile, can now watch emotional animated gem Robot Dreams on MUBI.

As for TV, Emily in Paris returns to Netflix for part 1 of season 4, and Vince Vaughn stars in Bad Monkey, a new Apple TV Plus series from the co-creator of Shrinking and Ted Lasso.

Emily in Paris season 4, part 1

Available:  Worldwide Watch now:  Netflix

Bon retour, Emily. Everyone's favorite American abroad is back, and drama is brewing in the city of love. After the explosive wedding at the end of season 3, Emily (Lily Collins) finds herself torn between two love interests, and work and romance are dangerously close to colliding. Plus, there are some secrets brewing below the surface that threaten to ruin everything. Season 4, part 1 consists of five new episodes, with the next five dropping on September 12.

Available: Worldwide Watch now: Netflix

Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry star in new espionage action comedy The Union. Wahlberg plays Mike, a construction worker who finds himself roped into the world of secret agents when his high school girlfriend Roxane (Berry) recruits him for a high-stakes mission. Directed by Julian Farino, who also helmed the majority of the first three seasons of HBO 's Entourage, the cast also includes Luke Cage's Mike Colter, The Sopranos' Lorraine Bracco, and JK Simmons.

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Available:  Worldwide Watch now:   Prime Video

Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor director Paul Feig is back with a new action-packed comedy. In Jackpot!, Awkwafina plays struggling actor Katie, who wins the lottery – but there's a catch. Set in the near future, the law allows anyone with a losing ticket to murder her and claim her winnings before the day ends. She teams up with Noel (John Cena), who agrees to help keep her alive as long as he gets a share of the prize money. 

Available: Worldwide Watch now: Apple TV Plus

Ted Lasso and Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence is back with another Apple TV Plus series: comedy-drama Bad Monkey. Vince Vaughn stars as Andrew Yancy, a former Miami police detective who now carries out health inspections at restaurants in the Florida Keys. When some tourists find a human arm, however, he realizes that if he can crack this case, he might just be able to get his old job back… The first two episodes are streaming now, with the rest dropping every Wednesday. 

Available: US Watch now: Netflix

After trilogy closer MaXXXine hit theaters last month, the second installment in Ti West's X slasher series is now streaming on Netflix. Pearl follows the exploits of the titular Texas farm girl who dreams of being a Hollywood star, played by Mia Goth – and who we first met 60 years later in X. Set in 1918, the movie is an origin story for the first movie's villain as she furiously pursues her ambitions to become an actor, and also stars incoming Superman , David Corenswet.

Available: US Watch now: Hulu

Challengers' Josh O'Connor stars in La Chimera as tortured English archeologist Arthur, who makes a living in the black market trade of 'grave goods' in the Italian countryside in the '80s. The film opens with Arthur fresh out of jail and returning to illegally excavating Etruscan tombs with a merry band of locals as he continues to grieve for his late girlfriend. A new arrival in town shakes things up for Arthur, but can he let go of his obsessive quest for what's long dead? La Chimera is also available to stream in the UK via MUBI. 

Robot Dreams

Available: UK Watch now: MUBI

What if Past Lives was about an animated dog and robot living in '80s New York City? Well, you'd (kind of) get Robot Dreams, which got a theatrical release earlier this year and is now streaming on MUBI in the UK. The movie, which is dialogue-free, sees lonely and isolated Dog quickly form an inseparable bond with a new robot companion, but an unfortunate turn of events after a trip to the beach tears the duo apart. As they try to find their way back to one another, the film has some surprisingly astute things about moving on – get the tissues ready.

If there's nothing here that tickles your fancy, then you might have to start looking into each streaming service's back catalogue, which can be a daunting task given how many titles they each host. Fear not, though... if you're a TV fan, then we've got you covered with our lists of the  best Netflix shows ,  best Disney Plus shows , and the  best Amazon Prime Video shows .

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

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'Heels' Has Found a New Streaming Home

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The Big Picture

• Get ready to step back into the ring with Heels on Netflix! Watch the drama unfold between Jack and Ace starting September 15.
• Follow the gripping journey of two brothers in the wrestling business as they fight for their father's legacy to stay alive.
• Creator Michael Waldron brings his love for storytelling and sports entertainment to life in the powerful series Heels , now on Netflix.

It's been almost a year since Heels was canceled, but the gripping drama about a family involved in the wrestling business has found a new home. The two seasons of the show created by Michael Waldron will be coming to Netflix in the United States on September 15. Audiences will get another chance to dive deep into the journey that took both Jack Spade ( Stephen Amell ) and Ace ( Alexander Ludwig ) to the limit, while they tried to keep their late father's legacy alive.

Heels follows the two brothers after their father passes away. Tom Spade ( David James Elliot ) wasn't a perfect father. But when he died, his wrestling business fell into the hands of his sons, who also chose to fight scripted matches for a living. But the Duffy Wrestling League holds more secrets than the ones disclosed in the ring. The siblings quickly begin to fight in real life over pride, as they both want to become the star of the promotion. Heels was canceled last year after running for two seasons.

Before stepping into the ring for Heels , Stephen Amell gained plenty of fame for portraying Oliver Queen in Arrow . The drama series paved the way for an entire DC Universe to come to life on The CW . Stories such as The Flash , Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl expanded on the legacy that Oliver Queen built when he decided to become a vigilante. Amell will be seen next in Suits L.A. , the spinoff that was created thanks to the success Suits has seen after it became available for streaming on Netflix.

Created by Michael Waldron

Michael Waldron was responsible for creating Heels , back when the drama premiered as a Starz production. The writer's career began to pick up steam while he was working on Rick and Morty . After that, Marvel Studios hired Waldron to develop Loki , the television series centered around Tom Hiddleston 's God of Mischief and his fight against the Time Variance Authority. Waldron's love for wrestling and the storytelling that can only be produced through sports entertainment is palpable in Heels . Thankfully, the powerful series has found a new streaming home, where more viewers will be able to witness the thrill of Jack and Ace's journey through the wrestling industry.

Heels is coming to Netflix in the United States on September 15. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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The summer movies of 1984 are alive, well and as hot as ever in 2024

Forty has never looked so good.

It’s been a full four decades since the summer of 1984, a period dominated by the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” and a booming box office that reverberates today as loudly as the neon colors of the time.

In a time when nostalgia is as trendy as the latest viral TikTok video, the biggest movies from that summer are all relevant, seemingly destined to last longer than any clip that permeates your social media feed of choice.

That summer’s top five grossing movies — “Ghostbusters,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” “Gremlins,” “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” and “The Karate Kid” — all still exist today with new TV and film projects that have come out within the last year, with many more on the way.

“Those were the days, the good old days. Movies were movies,” Ralph Macchio recently joked to TODAY.com in an interview alongside “Karate Kid” and “Cobra Kai” co-star William Zabka promoting the final season of the Netflix series.

“It was a special year, that’s for sure,” Zabka said.

It was a special year — not just for what fans could catch at their local theater, but for what those movies birthed. It was hardly a matter of the flicks coming out and then surfacing a few months later in video stores, before they’d premiere down the line on cable. Yes, the movies had staying power, but, perhaps more importantly, they also have continuing power.

“The Karate Kid” was the surprise hit of the bunch, setting the stage for multiple sequels. After a hiatus of several years, it returned as a cultural force in the series “Cobra Kai.” Another “Karate Kid” film is also in the works.

“Ghostbusters” was the summer’s gold medal winner in theaters, earning more than $188 million and giving way to a 1989 sequel, several animated series and video games. The film franchise was rebooted in 2016 with a female Ghostbusters team, while two Paul Rudd-led movies, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire , ” were released in 2021 and earlier this year, respectively.

“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” followed 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and the franchise has continued with a TV series and several more films, including last year’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” Talk of a sixth movie in the franchise is scattered online and the ending of "Dial of Destiny" hinted at the possibility of more adventures ahead .

“Gremlins” was a horror-comedy that spawned a sequel and endless chatter over the years of a third film, while an animated series, “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai,” premiered on Max last year. A second season, called “Gremlins: The Wild Batch,” is due out this fall on Max. (Warner Bros. did not reply to TODAY.com's request for information about the status of a third movie.)

“Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” is part of what is probably the most robust franchise of all the films from that summer. There have been several sequels and TV shows from that universe, with the final season of “Star Trek: Discovery” premiering earlier this year on Paramount+ and a new season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” expected to premiere in 2025.

Drawing a straight line from 1984 to the present day isn’t as simple as turning on MTV back in the day hoping to see the latest Van Halen video. Explaining exactly why this quintet of flicks has remained not just beloved, but popular with new offerings, comes down to a multitude of factors. For one, there’s a certain craving for nostalgia from the moviegoers who trekked to theaters that summer. There’s also the fact that these movies are actually good.

“I think we’re seeing the ‘80s as a prime nostalgia time right now,” Dave Karger, the Turner Classic Movies host and author of the book “50 Oscar Nights,” tells TODAY.com.

“And, let’s face it, back in the 1980s, Hollywood was coming up with some really great ideas. And if you look at ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Gremlins’ and ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ and some of these movies or franchises that were big 40 years ago this summer, they were brilliant, original ideas.”

“Hollywood entertainment was just at the peak of its abilities at that time,” he adds. “And I think that’s what you’re seeing. I think it’s a confluence of the fact that people feel nostalgic about the ‘80s. And it was a really great summer in 1984.”

“The Karate Kid” is emblematic of the trend. The movie was a critical and commercial success, even picking up an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor for Pat Morita, a rare feat for a summer movie. Sequels followed, but then the franchise disappeared for years.

It came back with a vengeance with “Cobra Kai,” deftly marrying the original film’s Daniel LaRusso-Johnny Lawrence rivalry with the introduction of young characters that appealed to a new generation. That yearning for yesteryear is complemented by quality, a recipe that’s consistent with all of these five movies still being around in some form today.

“Very often now, we’re talking decades later, and they’re bringing back a continuation of those stories with original characters. It feeds nostalgia, but, yet, when well executed, it also becomes relevant and very current. And that’s what ‘Cobra Kai’ writers were able to do and why I think we have longevity,” Macchio said.

These five movies also featured the involvement of some heavy hitters. John Avildsen, who won an Oscar for directing “Rocky,” helmed “The Karate Kid.” Ivan Reitman directed “Ghostbusters,” and Steven Spielberg produced “Gremlins,” which was written by an up-and-comer named Chris Columbus, years before he’d hit pay dirt as the director of “Home Alone.” Spielberg also directed “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” which was produced and co-written by George Lucas. The movies, made by titans of Tinseltown, set a blueprint for what was to come.

“Entertainment was really in a wonderful place, I would say, and not only because I am a child of the ‘80s, but I think objectively it was really good,” Karger says.

“It was Steven Spielberg at the height of his powers. It was George Lucas doing interesting things. It was Ivan Reitman. It was franchises like ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘Star Trek.’ It was fabulous entertainment that didn’t feel played out, like a lot of franchises do today.”

Another reason why this collection of movies still exists is the timing of where they were in their own chronology. “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” were sequels, but they were only the second and third installments, respectively. “Ghostbusters,” “Gremlins” and “The Karate Kid” were original films, covering sci-fi, comedy and drama. There was a wide swath of new subject matter in these creative movies that entertained and moved fans, as they set sail on their journeys to cultural relevance.

“It was kind of the beginning of those franchise movies, in a way,” Macchio said. “It sort of was the beginning of that.”

“We’re all fans of all those movies. They made an impression. It’s crazy to feel like, ‘I’m in something that did that, too.’ And people feel that way about our movie and us because I have that reverence for all those movies, and they’re so iconic to me,” Zabka said.

Reboots and sequels are old hat in Hollywood, as tried and true as coming attractions and buttery popcorn. Moviegoers and TV audiences have grown accustomed to seeing beloved characters resurface. But 1984 represented a perfect storm of new ideas, big stars and captivating movies that has endured long past the days we hung up our Members Only jackets. Five movies from one summer returning and existing 40 years later seems unlikely today.

“I’ll be surprised if this happens again,” Karger says. “I don’t think that every single summer, for the next five years, you’re going to be able to look at the top five grossing movies from 40 years ago and see that they’re all active franchises. I think this is a one-off in a way, but it’s also one that is understandable.”

Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital, focusing on pop culture, nostalgia and trending stories. He has seen every episode of “Saved by the Bell” at least 50 times, longs to perfect the crane kick from “The Karate Kid” and performs stand-up comedy, while also cheering on the New York Yankees and New York Giants. A graduate of Rutgers University, he is the married father of two kids who believe he is ridiculous.

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