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[Movie still form Jurassic Park, Universal Pictures]

Michael Crichton may be the author responsible for some of the most beloved and iconic science fiction on shelves today, but for some reason, his work hasn’t always weathered the jump to screen very well. While Jurassic Park endures as a modern classic, and Westworld is enjoying new life as a critically acclaimed HBO original series, most of Crichton’s sci-fi stumbled in the transition from page to screen. The screenplays often made sweeping changes to the stories and characters of the novels, the effects couldn’t keep up with the imaginative visuals described in the books, and talented actors were often stuck with clunky dialogue and ridiculous, nonsensical plots. Furthermore, while Crichton’s novels forced the reader to grapple with complex questions about humanity, cause and effect, communication, nature, and more, the movies rarely concerned themselves with such thoughtful reflection, retreating instead into spectacle and action and abandoning the very things that made the novels great.

However, now that special effects technology has evolved and filmmakers are increasingly making riskier, more cerebral films, perhaps we are due for a Crichton renaissance. Hollywood is already keen on revisiting many of the films and TV shows of yesteryears, so taking another cinematic swing at a few of Crichton’s novels seems like a natural next step.

[TV still from The Office, NBC Universal Television]

Pop culture is full of leaders of all stripes, from starship captains, kings, and queens, to office managers and school principals. Some consistently inspire greatness, while others have turned slacking off and screwing up into an art form. Today we’ll take a look at some of the best – and worst – bosses that pop culture has to offer.

[Movie still from Blade Runner 1982, Warner Bros.]

Blade Runner 2049 is about to hit theaters, and while the reviews have been good, what we’re really interested in is whether or not it will give us a definitive answer to the question posed by the original movie: is Deckard a replicant? (And if so, why does he age?)

As we gear up to re-enter Blade Runner’s world of dark intrigue and murderous androids, let’s take a look at a few more of the best humanoid robots that pop culture has to offer.

[Movie still from Blade Runner 2049, Alcon Entertainment and Columbia Pictures]

In honor of Harrison Ford’s 75^th birthday this past week, and Game of Thrones returning for its seventh season this weekend, today we are ranking some of Harrison Ford’s iconic characters by their likelihood to survive in the Seven Kingdoms. For the purposes of this post, we will assume that while the characters retain their personalities, they will bring none of the technology of their worlds into Westeros. Which means no blasters for Han Solo and zero ambiguity over whether Deckard is a Replicant.

[Movie still from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Warner Bros.]

Twenty years ago, a brand new book made its way into the world, about a boy with a lightning bolt scar who lived under the stairs, until he got a letter that granted him entrance to a hidden school for witchcraft and wizardry. Since the publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry, his friends, and his magical world have become such an integral part of pop culture that it’s hard to remember a time when words like Patronus and Hogwarts weren’t part of the vernacular.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away – or not that far, really, depending on where you live – there lived four men named Chris. All were fair of skin and blessed with great charm, and together they ruled their Town of Tinsel with a benevolent hand (and well-muscled arms), and were greatly adored by all who beheld them.