Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Magic Mike’s Last Dance, we’re counting down our favorite movies starring Channing Tatum! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
Say what you will about Hoosiers or Blue Chips or Space Jam, but Coach Carter has better actual basketball scenes, a strong moral, a motivating leading man who isn’t a failure (looking at you, Gene Hackman), and an interesting ensemble. And who holds the whole movie together? Mr. Channing Tatum himself. Of course he isn’t the lead, and frankly we only see him shoot a basketball once, but every championship team needs a Dennis Rodman. He scraps inside, grabs rebounds, sets violent screens, yells in opponents’ faces, and stands up for his teammates in the name of fellowship and team success. Not to mention this movie follows the classic underdog story of having a team of misfits overachieve and ultimately learn an important lesson that the game itself is not all that matters. Carter is an under-recognized masterpiece of a sports movie that should be right next to the bigwigs of the genre. (Sam Nichols)
The cast in Hail, Caesar! is so stacked down to the bit parts that it gives you an itchy trigger finger throughout the movie, wanting to grab your phone and do deep dives on IMDb to figure out from where you know different characters. The talent is backed by great performances, yet Channing Tatum manages to stand out among a crowd also featuring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Scarlet Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Alden Ehrenreich and more, a list barely scratching the surface of the credits. He is primarily only around for an extended song and dance scene, but he maximizes on the screen time. Tatum channels Gene Kelly in his shockingly good voice, seamless tap dancing, and overall charisma throughout the performance of “No Dames!”, making me eager to see him cast in a feature-length musical. It is one of many movies within the movie which are all given great care and attention by Joel and Ethan Coen as they showcase 1950s Hollywood. Brolin stars as executive Eddie Mannix, who is tasked with cleaning and covering up all the studio’s messes, and he is saddled with a massive one when the star of their biblical epic goes missing. It is the most lighthearted project written, produced and directed by the Coen brothers, but the dialogue is as witty as ever, and the cinematography makes it eye candy in every frame. (Jason Mack)
Is Magic Mike one of the most impressive subversions of expectations ever put to film? I would say so. When it came out to the mainstream that Channing Tatum was starring in a male stripper movie of this name, people thought it would be a garish display of sexy men and lack of substance. But when you look at the involvement of Steven Soderbergh, you should have known that there would be plenty more to this stripping rendezvous than originally expected. Magic Mike sure has plenty of sexy men doing sexy things on stage, but there is depth to this story about someone chasing their own dreams, while being corrupted by the drugs and crimes surrounding them. Backstabbing and broken dreams line this thrilling drama which packs in just as much style as any of Soderbergh’s previous offerings. Don’t underestimate this one — give Tatum and Soderbergh’s collaboration a watch. (Shane Conto)
Side Effects is precisely like what the film sounds like, but director Steven Soderbergh created a clever psychological thriller about how one pill can change, or, more like ruin, someone’s life. After Emily’s husband returns from a stint in jail, she slips more into depression before being prescribed an experimental drug, and the side effects are deadly. Within the first 15 minutes, Soderbergh throws the first bombshell for the film to continue to go downhill, and I mean that in the best way manageable. It reminds me of Gone Girl without being Gone Girl.I enjoy putting the pieces of the puzzle together. This is all thanks to the leads, Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and possibly 10 minutes of Channing Tatum to help round out the cast that carried each scene with their performance. You never know who you can trust or believe until the last twist in the third act, which, in Soderbergh’s style, becomes full circle. I was disappointed after watching this movie; I’m checking the side effects of any newly prescribed pill. (Chantal Ashford)
If I had a nickel for every time there was an animated movie based around the Day of the Dead celebration that turned out to be a fantastic movie, I would have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it still impresses me! Of course, Coco is the more recent example that everyone knows and loves; however, it surprises me how The Book of Life is overlooked nowadays as an incredibly solid animated adventure of love, death, and familial expectations. I, like many, was late to the party on this movie due to not having kids at the time of its release. I saw it for the first time a few years ago, and was so impressed with many aspects. The animation to start is unique and fun, with all the characters looking like wooden puppets. The music is mainly pop songs of the time, but I love how they are new versions sung by the characters without falling into the trap that many animated movies do by just using the song’s popularity as a gimmick. The voice cast is also fantastic, with Diego Luna, Channing Tatum, and Zoë Saldaña voicing our three main heroes. The story and humor doesn’t talk down to its audience or assume it will only be watched by children under four. This is a movie that my entire family enjoys sitting down to watch! (Nick Ferro)
At times, life can be stranger than fiction, and in the case of the late multimillionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell), strange doesn’t even begin to describe this aberrant individual. The film Foxcatcher tells the story of Mark (Channing Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo), two U.S. Olympic Wrestling Champions, who are provided an opportunity they can’t refuse. Starting with Tatum, this is a large departure from the roles he was playing up until this point, showing that he can take on far more serious types of characters. It is no easy feat to play opposite of Ruffalo and Carell, but he more than holds his own, and goes to some dark places when playing Mark. Knowing the story and seeing the real life individuals, it is quite astounding what these performers pull off. The tension in this film could be cut with a knife, especially between Mark and du Pont. When their friendship/working relationship goes sour, it’s difficult to watch for the right reasons. A great companion piece for this film is the 2016 Team Foxcatcher documentary: It will give the viewer a clearer scope of the events that take place throughout the film. Foxcatcher can be downright terrifying, and at the same time rather sad, but nonetheless is a great film showcasing the talent of both the performers and creative minds behind the scenes. (Joe Vargas)
In the eighth film of Quentin Tarantino’s career, he decided to make a whodunit, even after the infamous incident where someone leaked the script. And he made it stand out by setting it in America sometime after the Civil War; he traps a few odd characters in a cabin, and some might not be who they seem. I love every minute of this almost three-hour-long film, from the score (Ennio Morricone finally got his well-deserved Oscar), to the performances, to the surprise element, The Hateful Eight is a perfect example of how someone with a unique style can bring some necessary freshness to the genre of their choosing. And although Tatum isn’t in this film for too long, his role is not only memorable, but an important one too. The Hateful Eight is one of those films that justifies its runtime, and I wouldn’t cut even a frame out of it. (Luke Burian)
Channing Tatum has chosen some interesting films to star in over the years, and one of the better ones is Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky. The movie tells the story of Jimmy Logan (Tatum), who, after he is fired from his construction job, decides to rob the Charlotte Speedway. Jimmy drags his brother, Clyde (Adam Driver), and bomb expert, Joe Bang (Daniel Craig), to pull off the ultimate heist and prove there is no Logan Family Curse. This is one interesting movie that takes impossible-to-pull-off heists to a whole new level. Tatum, Driver, and Craig work well together, and even bring in Seth MacFarlane and Sebastian Stan to round out a great comedic cast. Soderbergh’s films are always top notch in at least one aspect or another, and this is no different. Logan Lucky is a comedic, action-packed, thrill ride that will make you wonder if these guys could really pull off a heist like this. (Austen Terry)
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have become masters of making something out of nothing. The duo takes concepts whose pitches obviously start from a place of capitalism and make their creativity the selling point. This is true of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie, and of course 21 Jump Street. The first Jump Street movie remains one of the funniest movies of its era, even 11 years later. Jonah Hill is one of the funniest actors working, but combining his comedic chops with those of Channing Tatum is what lifts the movie to the heights it reaches. After a few years of dancing, action, and romance, Tatum shows in 21 Jump Street that comedy just might be where he excels the most. And what’s almost even more impressive is that this same team almost topped their work in 22 Jump Street. I would’ve been happy to get one of these every two years, but I’m still ecstatic with what we have. (Robert Bouffard)
The Lego Movie is a visually astonishing “block” buster, bursting at every seam with vibrant color, clever wit, and heartfelt imagination. Filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller wrote and directed, having pitched their take on a possible Lego film during production of their second movie together, 21 Jump Street. In a story chock-full of memorable cameos, the directors made sure to include their Jump Street leads as Lego members of the Justice League and fellow master builders of protagonist, Emmet. Channing Tatum makes a charismatic entrance as Superman in a zone of free-form fantasy called Cloud Cuckoo Land, but is immediately annoyed by the overzealous, Green Lantern, voiced by Jonah Hill. Their meeting is cut short when an attack is launched, and Superman is neutralized by multiple rounds of chewing gum, and to add insult to injury, the Man of Steel is ultimately imprisoned right next to his emerald annoyance. Tatum’s interactions with Hill, while short-lived, are hilariously memorable, which is a massive accomplishment in a movie already featuring the voice talents of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, and Liam Neeson. The Lego Movie is an optimistic hero’s journey and genuinely touching, embracing all types of licensed characters, while maintaining focus on the heart of what the toy itself is all about: Everyone can be creative, imagination is an incredibly powerful tool, and even within a system bound by rules, as in life, sometimes you should throw out the manuals. (Jonathan Fedee)
Free Guy
Up until the past few years, the terms “video game” and “film adaptation” were about as compatible as oil and water. Lately, however, we’ve been on a bit of a hot streak, and Free Guy may be the best of the bunch. While it isn’t a direct adaptation of any one series, it draws clear inspiration from modern game design and culture, with Ryan Reynolds taking center stage as NPC-turned-hero Guy. Reynolds is as charismatic as ever in the role, chock full of his signature wit and charm, but is also held up by some great supporting performances by Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, and of course, Channing Tatum. Playing the suave avatar of a nerdy streamer, Tatum is able to show off his physical comedy chops as the cringey gamer slips through the cracks of his hot action star façade. All-in-all, if you’re looking for two hours of fun, this is definitely one to check out. (Jake Hjort)
The Lost City
Is The Lost City worth watching to get some laughs? The answer to that question is a resounding yes! Sandra Bullock plays Loretta, an author who puts out novels with excitement while her personal life is devoid of it. Loretta lost her husband, and her life hasn’t been easy since. Channing Tatum plays Alan, the model on the covers of Loretta’s books; together, these two make a pretty strange couple who find themselves in an attempted kidnapping while going on a jungle adventure. During promotional readings, Alan gains more interest from Loretta’s fans, but then Loretta gets kidnapped by evil, bearded billionaire Abigail Fairfax, who is played by none other than Daniel Radcliffe. Alan and Loretta must team together to escape from Abigail and his men. The film’s highlight is the action sequences from John Trainer (Brad Pitt), a veteran who concentrates on peace and meditation. Pitt is not in the film long, but that doesn’t overshadow his impressive fight scenes to rescue Loretta. Tatum and Bullock bring a lot of comedy with their funny lines. The Lost City makes for a decent action with pretty good humor. (Christian Grullon)
Don Jon
Coming in as what I consider to be an underseen film of 2013, Don Jon brings us Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s feature film directorial debut with cast of incredible stars including Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, and Brie Larson, with hilarious cameos from the likes of Channing Tatum and Anne Hathaway. Gordon-Levitt’s character Jon – or Don Jon as he is dubbed by his friends – has the uncanny ability to bed any women he wants, but he feels that sex cannot compare to the satisfaction he gets from watching porn, which he has a borderline addiction to. It isn’t until the drop-dead gorgeous Barbara (Johansson) comes into his life that he is put to the ultimate test of being able to commit to her and give up his porn addiction for good. The film is centered around Jon’s struggle with the unrealistic expectations about sex he gets from porn in his relationship, as well as depicting the other side of the coin, and showing us equally unrealistic expectations Barbara has with romance as seen in her cheesy romantic comedies she incessantly watches, played wonderfully and hilariously by Tatum and Hathaway. Jon’s struggle with truly becoming intimate with another person is faced when he meets Esther (Moore), who shows him that sex isn’t everything, and deeper, emotional connections are what truly makes you get – as Jon explains it – “lost in sex.” (Jeff Alan)
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
After the success of the original Kingsman: The Secret Service, a sequel was largely inevitable. When shooting for something that screams BIGGER, like most follow-ups do, seeing the Kingsman team up with their American counterparts for Kingsman: The Golden Circle seemed like the logical step to take. Enter, Channing Tatum’s Tequila, who, along with Jeff Bridges’s Champagne, Halle Berry’s Ginger Ale, and Pedro Pascal’s Whiskey, are brought into the story to help their British counterparts prevent Julianne Moore’s Poppy from bringing the globe to its knees. Tatum is a perfect fit for the world of the Kingsman, and is a more than welcome addition. The sequel doesn’t quite capture the magic of the original, but Matthew Vaughn certainly knows how to put a spectacle on screen, and the dialogue is still sharp. Overall, it’s still a blast if you haven’t caught up on the globetrotting spy thriller. (Jake Bourgeois)
Step Up
Listen, I know when I’m writing for the Honorable Mention portion of the BEC, but I also know that some movies just deserve a few extra words in their honor. For what Step Up is trying to accomplish, I think it delivers pretty highly. It could be easy to just write it off as clichéd teen romantic drama between two people from different walks of life. Which it is. But more importantly, it’s also a really fun dance movie. And who doesn’t love a dance movie? Okay, maybe it’s not a genre people are clamoring to see all the time, but I think the art of skillfully dancing can be incredibly fun to watch, and if it can be organically integrated into a film, then that’s a recipe for a good time. And Step Up delivers on all counts. So much so that people did go out to see it, and it spawned a whole series of dance-centric films. Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan were both perfectly suited for the roles, as they had extensive history in dance and clearly understood the physical aspects of the film. In addition, they took their real-world chemistry and blended it rather perfectly into the story. I’m not saying it’s perfect, but it’s a movie with a lot of charm, and I fully believe that we might not have gotten the glory of Magic Mike if we hadn’t gotten Channing Tatum in Step Up. (Nashua Doll)
Dear John
What do you do when you are in love with someone, but your job requires you to be away from them for months, or even years? What do you do when the person you love isn’t in your life as much as you want or even need them to be? How do you explain these complicated issues to the person you love in a way that doesn’t make it look like you hate them and are trying to stop them from living their life? These are the impossible questions John Tyree (Channing Tatum) and Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) have as they attempt to remain in a long-distance relationship while John serves overseas in the U.S. army and Savannah studies at college. As you can probably guess from the title, Dear John, the main communication during this time is done through letters, and they certainly make for some of the more bittersweet moments in the story. Tatum and Seyfried have a lot of good scenes together as well, though I think Seyfried’s performance outshines Tatum’s in the more emotional moments. (John Tillyard)
G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is for passionate movie nerds who love action, explosions, and fury. The G.I. Joes are a team of elite soldiers who go wherever they are needed, and fight with new military and spy technology. The film is full of action, along with some comedic relief from Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans), who are soldiers tasked with taking warheads to NATO; but they get ambushed very badly. The warheads have a nano-virus that obliterates metal, and is lethal once released. The attackers have futuristic weaponry that destroys the military convoy, and are led by Baroness (Sienna Miller), who happens to be Duke’s former fiancée. Thankfully, Duke and Ripcord are saved by another futuristic unit comprised of Heavy Duty (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Scarlett (Rachel Nichols), Snake Eyes (Ray Park), and Breaker (Saïd Taghmaoui). The men are then introduced to General Hawk (Dennis Quaid), who he informs the men that G.I. Joe is a covert force that is tasked with eliminating dangerous threats. They are faced with Cobra, a ruthless force to be reckoned with type of villain. The film is filled with combat and violence. The hand-to-hand combat is showcased very smoothly, and the tone is balanced — it’s not too funny or too gory — and the film ends on a high note with its engaging action. The butt-kicking makes for some good entertainment. (Christian Grullon)
Also See: Public Enemies, Jupiter Ascending, Smallfoot, She’s the Man, America: The Motion Picture, Dog, White House Down, The Vow