Dave Calhoun is Time Out's Global Chief Content Officer, based in the UK. Dave has held several roles at Time Out in both the UK and the USA, including Global Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Global Film Editor. He started his career at Time Out directing cinema coverage for Time Out's London magazine. He was previously Deputy Editor at Dazed and has worked for organisations including The Guardian, the British Film Institute, Hibrow.tv and Bafta.

Dave Calhoun

Dave Calhoun

Global Chief Content Officer

Articles (146)

The 100 best horror movies of all time

The 100 best horror movies of all time

Everyone is scared of something. It might be something specific, like spiders or snakes or heights, or something less tangible, like death or failure. But deep down, even the most posturing tough guy harbours deep-seated fears. Perhaps that explains why horror has grown into one of the most popular of all film genres. Even if a movie doesn’t necessarily touch on the things that personally scare us the most, allowing ourselves to be scared at all helps us confront and ease the anxieties and fears that keep us paralysed.   Of course, horror hasn’t always been a moneymaker. Not long ago, it was mainly a niche interest, ignored by mass audiences and shrugged off by critics. The recent artistic and commercial success of diverse films from Get Out to Longlegs to Sinners to Final Destination Bloodlines have brought retroactive respect to a genre once synonymous with schlock. So if you’ve spent too much of your film fandom dismissing horror, consider this your guide to everything you’ve missed. Here are the 100 greatest horror movies ever made. Written by Tom Huddleston, Cath Clarke, Dave Calhoun, Nigel Floyd, Phil de Semlyen, David Ehrlich, Joshua Rothkopf, Nigel Floyd, Andy Kryza, Alim Kheraj and Matthew Singer Recommended: đŸ”Ș The best new horror movies of 2025 (so far)đŸ”„Â The 100 best movies of all timeđŸ€Ą The 21 best Stephen King movies of all timeđŸ©žÂ The 15 scariest horror movies based on true stories
The 101 best sex scenes in movies of all time

The 101 best sex scenes in movies of all time

We are living in puritanical times. If you’ve followed the ongoing debate over sex scenes that’s carried out on social media over the last few years – and if you haven’t, well, congratulations – then you’ll know the one thing that unites progressive-minded zoomers and pearl-clutching conservatives is an aversion to cinematic boning. The argument goes that sex scenes rarely add anything to the plot of a movie, and exist simply to gratify the perv in the director’s chair. It’s a flawed viewpoint, but in fairness, given Hollywood’s general shift away from showing sexuality on screen, it’s entirely possible that younger folks have simply never seen a good sex scene.  Well, allow us to offer a counterpoint – 101 of them, to be exact. On this list of cinema’s greatest sex scenes, you’ll find multiple examples where a roll in the hay is meant to convey more than just mere titillation – it’s part of the story itself. In some cases, sex is a punchline. In others, it’s downright horrifying. Sometimes it’s supposed to make you uncomfortable. And sometimes, yes, it exists to be arousing. But there’s value in that, too. Written by Dave Calhoun, Joshua Rothkopf, Cath Clarke, David Ehrlich, Phil de Semlyen, Daniel Walber, Trevor Johnston, Andy Kryza, Daniel Walber and Matthew Singer Recommended: đŸ•Żïž The steamiest erotic thrillers ever madeđŸ”„ The 100 best movies of all-time❀ The 100 best romantic films of all-time😬 The 50 most controversial movies ever madeđŸ’Ș The 100 best feminist films of
The best action movies of all time

The best action movies of all time

June 2025 update: In this update, we've added one of the best blockbusters of the last decade, Top Gun: Maverick, the movie that finally brought audiences back to theaters post-pandemic and which firmly outclasses the 1986 original with some of the most thrilling flight sequences ever put on film.  Everyone loves a good action movie. Sure, film school snobs may turn up their noses, but even hardcore cineastes cannot live on indie dramas and experimental art flicks alone. No matter how cultured you are, there’s a part of your lizard brain that loves explosions and shootouts and badass one-liners – and it needs to be satisfied. And the only thing that will scratch the itch is watching something get blowed up real good.  The truth is, action is a deeply misunderstood genre. Action flicks needn’t be dumb or epic or even particularly loud to succeed. Some find beauty in violence. Others might dropkick you right in the heart. Heck, some even have character development. So light that fuse, clip that wire and batten down the hatches – these are the most pulse-pounding, heart-racing, edge of your seat action movies of all-time.  Recommended: đŸ”„ The 100 best movies of all-timeđŸ’„Â The 18 greatest stunts in cinema (as picked by the greatest stunt people)đŸ„‹ The 25 best martial arts movies of all-time🌊 The 33 best disaster movies of all-time
The best hotels in Malta for 2025

The best hotels in Malta for 2025

​​Boutique hotels have been popping up around Malta’s historic capital of Valletta in recent years, returning dilapidated palazzos to their Baroque glory. If you’re looking for independent, design-led spots to rest your head, there’s a wealth of places to choose from. That does mean that sometimes trips err on the more expensive side, but you can also discover Asti Malta for mid-range stays and Gozo if you’re confined to a budget. For old-school grandeur, check out Mdina, the former capital which is now referred to as the ‘silent city’ for its nighttime calm. Conversely, the waterfront town of St Julian’s is unrestrained with its flashy local entertainment. Get a deeper look at the best hotels in Malta with our ultimate guide to them all here. đŸ›ïž RECOMMENDED: Where to stay in Malta Who makes the cut? Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 📍 The best things to do in Malta
Discover the 100 best movies of all time

Discover the 100 best movies of all time

Are we back? Are movies a big deal again? Maybe they’re not at the centre of culture like they used to be, but coming out of both the pandemic and the strikes, there are signs that films are starting to matter again, particularly to a younger audience, from the popularity of platforms like Letterboxd, the rise in repertory screenings and the omnipresence of the Criterion closet on social media – to say nothing of the big box office for fresh stories from rising filmmakers, from Ryan Coogler’s Sinners to Zach Cregger’s Weapons. With the interest in both current movies and movie history growing, it feels like an ideal time to make use of our list of the greatest films of all-time. After all, we’ve always thought of it less as a definitive canon than an educational tool – a jumping-off point for burgeoning cinephiles to fill in the gaps of their knowledge, while also spurring discussion among more experienced film buffs. It covers a lot of ground: over 100 years, multiple countries, and just about every genre imaginable, from massive blockbusters to intimate cult films, silly comedies to bloody horror, action-packed thrillers to thrilling action flicks.   It won’t satisfy everyone, we know, but that’s not our intention. We just hope it gets you talking – and more importantly, watching.   Jump to list: 100-91 |  90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1 How we chose our 100 best movies of all time Admittedly, the process is not an exact science. Mostly,
The best comedy movies of all time

The best comedy movies of all time

Call it a hot take if you want, but there is no greater feat in cinema than creating a timeless comedy. That’s because no film genre ages worse. Drama, horror and romance movies all tap into innate human desires and anxieties that anyone from any generation can understand. But comedy is all about context. What’s funny in 1925 might not make a lick of sense to 2025 audiences. Humour is also deeply individualistic: one person’s ROTFLMAO is another’s shrug emoji. That makes coming up with the best comedy films of all-time especially challenging. There’s a lot that goes into identifying truly great comedy, but the main one has to do with durability. Is this film still funny now, and will it still be years from now? In sorting the GOATs from the groaners, we enlisted the help of comedians like Diane Morgan and Russell Howard, actors such as John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker and a small army of Time Out writers. And the films we came up with represent the 100 most hilarious – and most lasting – laughers ever made. We can’t be sure they’ll all make you laugh. But if they don’t
 well, that sounds like a ‘you’ problem. Recommended: đŸ”„ The 100 best movies of all-timeđŸ€ŁÂ The best comedies of 2024đŸ„° The greatest romantic comedies of all time
55 pelĂ­culas que hay que ver al menos una vez en la vida

55 pelĂ­culas que hay que ver al menos una vez en la vida

Cada uno tiene sus preferencias, asĂ­ que cualquier debate sobre cuĂĄles son los mejores largometrajes de todos los tiempos se puede alargar horas y horas. ÂżPuede haber algĂșn listado que los agrupe todos? Es difĂ­cil, pero hemos intentado incorporar desde las revoluciones cinematogrĂĄficas mĂĄs clĂĄsicas hasta las mĂĄs modernas, grandes estrenos, todos los gĂ©neros, paĂ­ses, Ă©pocas... cine para todos los gustos, haciendo equilibrios entre la racionalidad y el sentimentalismo. El reto ha sido enormemente complicado, pero no nos hemos podido resistir a elaborar una buena lista, nuestra lista, de las pelĂ­culas que hay que ver, al menos, una vez en la vida. Decidnos hasta quĂ© punto nos hemos equivocado. ÂĄY, ah, prohibido repetir directores! RECOMENDADO: Las 50 mejores pelĂ­culas para ver en familia. 
The 100 best animated movies of all time

The 100 best animated movies of all time

Long before your love of comedy or romantic movies took wing, we're betting you were friendly with talking animals. Chances are, the first movie you saw was animated: a Disney movie or a toon about a pig on TV. Animation is where we call come from, as we learn the building blocks of narrative storytelling from the simplest forms. But the genre has long been a refuge for adults as well. In researching the best animated movies ever made, we encountered plenty of Oscar winners, along with darkly imaginative foreign films from Japan, France and beyond. Our polled experts included Fantastic Mr. Fox' Wes Anderson and Wallace & Gromit's Nick Park. Dive in to our authoritative list and you'll find nostalgia and new horizons alike. RECOMMENDED: Our list of the 50 best family movies of all time
Las 57 mejores pelĂ­culas de la historia (y dĂłnde verlas)

Las 57 mejores pelĂ­culas de la historia (y dĂłnde verlas)

Cada uno tiene sus preferencias, así que cualquier debate sobre cuåles son las mejores películas de todos los tiempos se puede alargar horas (o, en nuestro caso, toda la vida). ¿Puede haber alguna lista que las agrupe a todas? Es difícil, pero hemos intentado incorporar desde las revoluciones cinematogråficas mås clåsicas hasta las mås modernas, todos los géneros, países, épocas... cine para todos los gustos, haciendo equilibrios entre la racionalidad y el sentimentalismo. El reto ha sido enormemente complicado, pero no nos hemos podido resistir a elaborar una buena lista, nuestra lista. Decidnos hasta qué punto nos hemos equivocado. Ah, para que no tengåis excusa, os hemos añadido las plataformas digitales dónde podéis verlas, ¥mås fåcil imposible! NO TE LO PIERDAS: El top 10 de la cartelera de cine de Barcelona Clica aquí si quieres mås información sobre nuestros eståndares editoriales y nuestras directrices éticas para crear este contenido
The 50 greatest gangster movies of all time

The 50 greatest gangster movies of all time

As far back as anyone can remember, the movies have loved gangsters – and it’s not hard to understand why. Who hasn’t fantasised about living outside the law, of having money and influence, of being untouchable? Sure, all the immoral behaviour is a bit unsavory, and the crushing paranoia that comes along with the lifestyle seems like a major drawback. But getting to live vicariously through the criminals we see on screen is one of cinema’s purest thrills.  But not all movie gangsters are built the same. Some are loud and boisterous, others cold, calculating and unreadable. From fedora-sporting mobsters to pistol-packing yakuza enforcers, to street-level bosses whose empire only extends to the end of the block, cinema has seen them all and told their stories – and you’ll find all of them on our definitive list of the best gangster movies of all-time. Recommended: 😬 The 100 best thriller movies of all-time💣 The 101 best action movies ever madeđŸ”Ș The 31 best serial killer moviesđŸ•”ïž 40 murder mysteries to test your sleuthing skills to the max
Les 54 millors pel·lĂ­cules de la histĂČria del cine (i on veure-les)

Les 54 millors pel·lĂ­cules de la histĂČria del cine (i on veure-les)

Tothom tĂ© les seves preferides, per aixĂČ qualsevol debat sobre quines sĂłn les millors pel·lĂ­cules de tots els temps es pot allargar hores (o, en el nostre cas, tota la vida). Hi pot haver alguna llista que les agrupi a totes? És difĂ­cil, perĂČ hem intentat incorporar-hi des de les revolucions mĂ©s clĂ ssiques de la histĂČria del cinema fins a les mĂ©s modernes, tots els gĂšneres, paĂŻsos, Ăšpoques i per a tots els gustos... tot fent equilibris entre la racionalitat i el sentimentalisme. El repte ha sigut enormement complicat, perĂČ no ens hem pogut resistir a elaborar una bona llista, la nostra llista. Feu-nos saber fins a quin punt ens hem equivocat. Ah, tambĂ© us posem en quines plataformes digitals la podeu veure... mĂ©s fĂ cils impossible! NO T'HO PERDIS: El millor de la cartellera de cine de Barcelona Fes clic aquí si vols mĂ©s informaciĂł sobre els nostres estĂ ndards editorials i les nostres directrius Ăštiques per crear aquest contingut.
The 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world

The 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world

What makes a special cinema? A colossal IMAX screen, Dolby Atmos sound and cutting-edge 4K projectors are all great, but there’s something more that makes a great temple of cinema – a sense of storytelling that starts before you’ve even grabbed your popcorn and taken your seat. There are a few cinemas that truly stand apart: cine-temples so historic, beautiful and unusual that they make taking in a movie feel like an act of pilgrimage. We’ve scoured the globe, from London to Paris, Jaipur and New York to Sydney and Copenhagen, to highlight the 50 most heavenly movie theaters on the planet. From a 12-seat theatre in an old Ontario crafts shop to a 2702-seat grand salle in the City of Light, Time Out is celebrating them in all their architecturally eye-popping, Insta-friendly, just plain drop-dead-gorgeous variety. Pull up a red velvet armchair, plonk your feet on a foot stool and take a trip to the world’s most beautiful cinemas. RECOMMENDED: đŸŽ„Â The 100 greatest movies ever made🌏 101 places all movie lovers should visit