Film history

Returning to cinemas next week, the superhero may be known as the ultimate all-American Mr Nice Guy – but, back in the 1930s, he didn't begin that way.

No production has been as troubled as Apocalypse Now. As a documentary about Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 war epic is re-released, its director, and people who were on set, reveal all.

Twenty years ago, Ang Lee's drama about the love between two male sheep herders was released after a long battle to get it made. It was a watershed moment for gay representation.

Released 40 years ago this week, The Wizard of Oz sequel Return to Oz was as scary as it was unconventional. It was a box office failure, but has since become a cult classic.

In June 1993, Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel brought prehistoric monsters to life. Crichton spoke to the BBC about why dinosaurs continue to fascinate us.

Darren Aronofsky's radical drug-addiction drama was highly acclaimed and angrily slated when it came out in 2000. Today, this Hubert Selby Jr adaptation is no less contentious.

When Midnight Cowboy came out 56 years ago this week, it instantly upended Hollywood's idea of a mainstream hit. In its Academy Award-winning year, the BBC spoke to one of its actors.

Decades before Tom Cruise was making audiences gasp, the Gallic star was getting up to even more hair-raising exploits on screen – sometimes with few safety measures.