DAILY DIRT: Get my seat ready for ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’

Daily Dirt for Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025

Not to mention some zombies and vampires … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,173 of The Daily Dirt.

1. I have vowed to return to local movie theaters on a regular basis in 2025.

Watching first-run films in the comfort of our living room is nice, for sure, but there’s something special about the in-theater experience. Not to mention the overpriced popcorn and soda.

With that in mind, here are the top five movies I plan on seeing IN PERSON:

• 1. “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning”: Judging by the title, the eighth installment of this successful series might very well be the finale. On one hand, this is kind of sad. On the other, it’s probably time. Tom Cruise is now 62, and how much longer can he be doing the physical stunts this franchise has demanded? Scheduled release date: May 23.
• 2. “28 Years Later”: I realize of you reading this probably just said, “What?” This film is tied to one of the must influential zombie movies ever: “28 Days Later”. This will reportedly be the first in a trilogy of films. There’s nothing like a good zombie movie to sink your teeth into — yes, pun intended. Scheduled release date: June 20.
• 3. “Superman”: I’m always a sucker for a new Superman movie, and this franchise entry is said to be lifting it into a new era. David Corensweet will be the new Man of Steel. Scheduled release date: July 11.
• 4. “Sinners”: 2025 is being called the year of horror movies by some critics, and this one is receiving strong critical acclaim. Two important words: Vampire. Invasion. Scheduled release date: April 18.
• 5. “The Gorge”: This film feels reminiscent of the spy romances of old, but with a supernatural twist. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy star as two elite snipers — one American, one from Lithuania — stationed on “opposite sides of a gorge and tasked with guarding the world from a lurking evil”. Scheduled release date: Feb. 14.

2. Did you know (Part 246)

• That “Blinding Lights” by The Weekend and “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars topped a recent Billboard magazine list of the most popular pop songs of the last 25 years.
• That the second and final season of “1923” will debut on Paramount+ on Feb. 23. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren will reprise their roles as Jacob and Cara Dutton.
• That the most expensive fast-food burger is currently the bacon cheeseburger at Five Guys, which will set you back $12.49. The sandwich features American-style cheese melted over two burger patties in between a sesame seed bun. The closest Five Guys outlets to those who live in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri are in the Springfield, Ill. and St. Louis areas. That bacon cheeseburger, small fry and regular soda will set you back $20.57.
• That among fast-food outlets available in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, the Burger King Whopper ($8.49) is the most expensive fast-food burger. The Whopper features a flame-grilled beef patty sandwiched between two sesame seed buns with mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and sliced onion. The Whopper combo, of course, will set you back even more, normally at least $12.79.
• That Carrie Underwood is now 41? It still seems just like yesterday she became America’s sweetheart on “American Idol” — back in 2005, the series’ fourth season.

3. Earlier this month, we spotlighted the sheer amount of former MLB superstars who died in 2024.

Names like Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Rocky Colavito and Rickey Henderson headlined the list.

I’ve continued to look for comparable years and have made by way through roughly 25 years and there’s only other calendar year (so far) that comes close to 2024. That was in 2020 when the baseball world bid adieu to the following:

• Bob Gibson
• Lou Brock
• Whitey Ford
• Al Kaline
• Dick Allen
• Tom Seaver
• Joe Morgan
• Phil Niekro
• Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn

I think many, if not all, the losses that year did not receive the tributes they deserved because of an overriding factor that year: Covid. And that was a true shame, because all of those names above — and others that year — helped define a generation of baseball.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Let this sink in, sports fans: In 1992, Deion Sanders led the NFL in kickoff return TDs and MLB in triples.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Maybe Prime can manage the Texas Rangers while he’s coaching the Dallas Cowboys.