Edwards, commonly known by his nickname "Ant" in the NBA, spoke to People about acting after Hustle and whether he'd be open to doing more movies after the role. The two-time NBA All-Star didn't mince words about his future in acting and said the following:

It's a surprising quote, especially for readers familiar with Anthony Edwards's bravado on the court. He's commonly seen as one of the most confident players in the league and is rarely afraid to express that when cameras are around. To hear him say that he's not cut out for acting is a surprise, considering what we usually hear.

In fairness, Edwards told CinemaBlend that his trash-talking sequence in Hustle was well over the line and not like something he'd say in the NBA. Edwards added that kids talk smack on the basketball court younger and younger each year, so there may come a point where that happens one day at the most elite level of professional basketball.

Fortunately for Anthony Edwards, Hustle director Jeremiah Zagar told Reelblend about another NBA player he'd sooner work with on a movie, Boban Marjanović. That's not too surprising to hear, considering the Serbian NBA veteran also had a stand-out cameo in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. Maybe if Edwards should change his mind about acting in the future, he can hit up Marjanović for tips on how to juggle reading scripts while also playing basketball at an elite level.

Both men played a part in why critics praised Hustle, and why some believe that Adam Sandler should continue to make basketball movies in the future. While it's no secret that he can pull out a dramatic performance in movies when the situation calls for it, the movie's authenticity is helped by his knowledge and love of the game, and I know that I'd love to see what he'd do with another movie. He can't count on Anthony Edwards to be a part of the fun, but I'm sure there's at least one other NBA superstar in the league who could give a buzz-worthy acting performance.

Adam Sandler's Hustle is available to stream on Netflix. Those wanting a look into the world of NBA scouts and players looking to get a chance in the league should watch it, especially if they like sports movies.

Some might stoke a passionate defenses for the veteran of the Marvel and Star Wars cinematic universes; however, the man himself isn’t bent out of shape one bit. In conversation with The L.A. Times, the noted f-bomb dropper admits that the annual chase for that golden path doesn’t necessarily motivate him. So, what does keep Samuel L. Jackson going in his career pursuits?

Knowing that The Avengers alum values the blockbuster entries in the pantheon of the best Samuel L. Jackson movies as much as any actor would treasure an award-winning act is unsurprising. Even when you’re watching Jackson at work in something like the Star Wars movies, you can see that he’s having fun with what he does.

Further explaining why he doesn’t pay too much mind to the Oscars, Jackson also admitted to no regrets letting “statue chasing” projects go in favor of other projects. Providing a self evaluation of his mythically awesome career, the Jurassic Park co-star pretty much summed it up in a manner most fans would totally agree with. In Samuel L. Jackson’s eyes, he’s very quotable. In fact he's...

Honestly, there is not a more perfect summary of what you could call the Jackson Oeuvre. And that’s something that we’ve seen the Argylle cast member wear rather proudly on his chest, as seen through several Samuel L. Jackson t-shirt photos on social media. Hell, you could even put the quote mentioned above on its own t-shirt, in the font of his most recognizable projects, and it would probably sell quite well.

Seeing as he’s a fan of the many times characters like John Shaft, Mace Windu, and even his solo Academy Award nominated role as Pulp Fiction’s Jules Winfield pop up on such garments, it would perhaps make even more sense to chase those sort of projects. But possibly the best thing about Jackson is that he takes roles across the board, from popcorn flicks to b-movies, to awards contenders and big budget successes. He's a stable, solid player at the box office with a great reputation for fun.

Oh, and if anyone’s actually made Mr. Jackson’s perfect Secret Invasion t-shirt, make yourself known. Whatever 2025 movie release next gets to benefit from his exceptional talents is probably going to need some fresh one-liners for more memes and tees. Maybe it'll even be an Oscars contender this time.

Speaking of those dancers, remember when The Dude catches a peek underneath their skirts while sliding down the lane like a bowling ball about to make a strike? Bridges has a story about what took place while he was rehearsing that particular moment that is even racier than what ended up in the finished picture. Take a look at the uproarious story behind one of the most memorable scenes from one of the best movies of the ‘90s.

Jeff Bridges Got a Big Surprise Rehearsing The Gutterballs Dream Sequence

While appearing on TBS’ Conan, Jeff Bridges recalled to host Conan O’Brien about the day he was set to rehearse the Gutterballs scene in the now classic Coen Brothers movie, which had him lay on a skateboard that pulled him along the bowling lane underneath the “Bowling Pin Corinnes.” Seeing this as an ample opportunity to use his Widelux panning still camera, after receiving unusually enthusiastic permission from the head dancer, he laid down on his skateboard and set up the shot. The following is his description of what he saw:

The Academy Award winner finally mentions, before the then late night talk show host goes insane with embarrassment, that the “tufts” were actually crepe hair that had been applied by the makeup department as a practical joke on the actor. While I imagine this was a hilarious discovery to make after the fact, I also would not be surprised if experiencing the prank in the moment must have been very uncomfortable for Bridges, considering who was on set that day.

Jeff Bridges' Family Was In On The Prank

At the beginning of the actor’s story to O’Brien, Bridges says that he believed it would be a fun idea to invite his wife, Susan Geston, and three daughters, who were within the 7 to 9-year-old age range at the time, to the Big Lebowski set on the day he was scheduled to shoot the Gutterballs scene. However, he was told that was a “terrible error,” given the cheekily sexual nature of the scene. He must have really felt like he messed up when he saw the “tufts” sticking out from underneath the dancers.

Luckily, as it turns out, Bridges’ wife and children were actually involved in crafting the prank – a detail that was especially bewildering to O’Brien. Yet, I suppose you could call that the kind of moment that brings families closer together.

As Bridges also mentions during his conversation with O’Brien, the photograph he took with his Widelux on that very day can be found on his website, JeffBridges.com, along with other photos he snapped while making The Big Lebowski and other great Jeff Bridges movies. I can certainly understand if you would rather leave the visual of the prank up to the imagination but, you have to admit, just knowing this story makes rewatching the rewatchable cinematic classic even more interesting.

Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt on Sept. 19, 2016, but between figuring out custody regarding their six children, their shared winery property, and abuse allegations, the couple have had a long winding road to cutting ties since their split. A source close to Jolie told People the following:

Both Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have starred in 2024 movies (Pitt with Wolfs and Jolie with Maria) but in between that they have been quietly tying off the loose ends on their divorce. Per AP, the exes signed off on a default declaration in Los Angeles Superior Court this week that has both their signatures on a written agreement on their marital and property rights. People’s source also said this:

In October, Jolie decided to drop a lawsuit she filed back in 2021 against her ex-husband alleging he had physically and verbally abused her and their children on a plane back in 2016. As the source continued:

However, a source on the side of Pitt told the outlet Jolie has been engaging with “one-sided attacks” on him for eight years, including a “never-ending distortion of facts.” Jolie and Pitt were declared legally single back in 2019, but have had many other matters to attend to, like the matter of their children, which was settled in 2021 when Pitt was awarded 50/50 custody. While Jolie and Pitt’s divorce is now final, their latest documents reportedly do not affect their ongoing winery lawsuit, so the couple’s legal battles might not be completely over yet.

Following Jolie’s recent decision to drop her suit, it was reported that the actress seemed “really relaxed and happy” after her decision, had “turned over a new leaf,” and is ready to date again. Pitt on the other hand is reportedly serious with model Ines de Ramon, his girlfriend of a couple years now, and is considering marriage again with her.

At the beginning of 2024, signs pointed to the couple being close to the end of their divorce, with a report sharing that they were in the stage of filing separate final declarations of disclosure in February. Following the latest in their legal agreement, hopefully the Pitt-Jolie family can start the new year under better circumstances.

While it's a movie that’s just about too bizarre to recommend, The Substance was also named the best movie of the year by CinemaBlend. Twitter is talking about watching the movie this New Year’s Eve, thanks to a pivotal scene that occurs on the last evening of the year.

The final scene of The Substance, that is still giving me legit nightmares, has the main character Elisabeth Sparkle hosting her own New Year’s Eve broadcast at the same time as she’s having a horrific reaction to a drug she’s been taking. Here’s when fans recommend turning on the film for the ultimate experience:

The Substance follows Demi Moore as a famous actress who is kicked off her long-running aerobics TV show on the day of her 50th birthday. After getting into an accident, she is referred to an off-market drug called The Substance that will allow her to live life as her younger self every two weeks. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a bloody, queasy good time that also has so much to say about how detrimental the lack of self love can be on someone, especially when they let all the unrealistic societal expectations of beauty take over.

Considering most of us usually start the new year having “lose weight”, “eat healthier” or “exercise more” on our resolutions (seriously, Statista found 51 percent of U.S. adults penciled one of those in), The Substance is actually a genius movie to ring in the new year. Literally, if you're not careful. Plus, it starts the year with a unique bang…

With 2025 almost here, there’s a ton of upcoming horror movies we’re excited for, but it’s really going to be tough to top what’s going on with The Substance. Given these social media responses, it sounds like the movie starring Demi Moore could go down in history as a twisted New Year’s Eve tradition for some.

If you’re looking to start your 2025 with a body horror bloodbath, you can stream with a Mubi subscription (which is offering 7 days free) or rent/buy it on Amazon. Happy New Year! Enjoy sparkling your life with this absolutely unhinged NYE pick should you dare to.

It's common for The Rock to share messages with his Instagram followers following a workout session, so I would forgive those who saw his latest and scrolled right on by. That said, I would recommend looking at this one, as he shares an important message about the things we "get to" do and how we can use that motivation to do the hard things and gain important life experience. Take a listen:

I'm beginning to understand why there are always so many upcoming Dwayne Johnson movies on the way. His want to push himself and finding the motivation to continue to push himself even when he doesn't want to is the key to The Rock's work ethic. I can't help but feel a little inspired by his message and wonder how I can implement his advice in the new year.

Others absorbed the message in the same way, and some couldn't get past the flash of pink on the actor's hands as he was giving his late-night speech in the gym. Rather than ignore the comments, Dwayne Johnson hopped in the comments to address the fact that he had painted nails in the video:

The Brahma Bull has his daughters, Jazzy and Tia, to thank for his stylish-looking fingernails, seen briefly in the video. There's no denying Johnson has been a family man over the years, and he even managed to get his girls a cameo in Moana 2. Is it any surprise he's the type of dad to let his daughters glam him up every so often? Not to me.

As for what 2025 holds for Dwayne Johnson, he will be in the A24 film The Smashing Machine, which highlights the real-life story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. We also know he'll be reprising his role as Maui in a live-action adaptation of Disney's Moana, which I think many are eager to see even so quickly off the heels of Moana 2. The remake began filming back in November, and the BTS looks at props already have me eager to see this one on the big screen.

Until the time comes for that, we'll all have to just settle for more gym videos from Dwayne Johnson and motivational words to keep us on top as we head into the new year. Maybe I'll also have my daughter paint my nails before 2025, just to see if that brings any extra good mojo my way in the new year.

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked currently is available for digital download, as of December 31. In connection with the release, People had an exclusive clip featuring Chu and Ariana Grande as they talked about the audition process for Glinda. And according to Grande, she kept her ear to the ground for years waiting for a hint or a nod that Wicked was going to begin casting. As the former Disney star and pop singer explained on the clip:

In the promotional clip for Wicked, Ariana Grande says that she went in and sang for both roles, prepared to play either, just to be part of the show. She admits that while she loves Elphaba, Glinda was the part she felt like she was born to play. Social media absolutely agrees, as the actress has become a meme thanks to her performance.

Based on how committed Ariana Grande is in the role of Glinda, we can see her going to extreme lengths to step into the part, even asking herself what kind of underwear the Witch would wear on any given day. It’s not exactly Method acting. But it’s taking that extra step to make sure that you are in the right mindset. Now I want to know if Cynthia Erivo thought more about Elphaba’s wardrobe. We know that the hat she wore was very important to her.

I wonder if Wicked arriving on home video will do anything to cut into the momentum that the movie has in the theaters. We know that the studio planned to release specific sing-a-long versions of the movie, so that audiences could belt out their favorite Wicked songs. They can even think about our ranking of the songs, if they wanted to do that. But right now, there’s no real competition at the box office for Wicked, so I could easily see it dominating through January, at the very least. Put on a pair of Witch Panties, and sit through one more screening of the long movie musical.

It’s been over 30 years since the release of Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, and a lot has changed. The holiday classic, which is among the best movies streaming on Disney+, follows Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister as he's once again left out of a family trip, this time in New York City. Kevin uses his father’s credit card to live a temporary life of luxury at the Plaza Hotel, where he runs into Donald Trump for the now-memorable scene filmed 15 years ahead of Trump’s ascension to the presidency. How that cameo came about has been a point of mild contention.

Years after Donald Trump first laid claim that he was begged to make a cameo in the film, and that it wasn't his idea, the film's director Chris Columbus spoke out about what actually went down in a recent interview with Vanity Fair. Columbus opened up about making a number of beloved Christmas movies over the years, and was asked about the billionaire's unforgettable cameo in the Home Alone sequel, and whether the incumbent president had asked to be in the movie at the time.

Columbus confirmed that was not the case, but that it was in fact a stipulation for the production to film in the iconic Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time. Columbus explained:

At the time, Trump had more widespread support as a cultural figure and from his real estate contributions to the city of New York, and nobody had reasons to petition to have him removed from the Home Alone sequel the way others did years later. The mogul ownership meant he could decide which film productions were allowed to use it as a set. Replicating the Plaza any other way would’ve been a tall order for the film's crew, as the hotel is one of the most iconic in New York and has a signature look to it. Opting to shoot elsewhere would have completely changed the feel of the film, so obliging Trump was in the best interest of the film.

Columbus noted that over the years Trump has denied demanding a cameo in Home Alone 2, but the director asserted that this was indeed the case. When the 45th president publicly claimed that the production begged him to be in the film, the filmmaker decided to keep his mouth shut, so as not to escalate the conflict further. He said:

No matter who you choose to believe in this situation, the cameo scene stayed in the movie, cemented in movie history forever. Trump has proudly appeared in cameo roles in a number of other movies as well including Two Weeks Notice, Little Rascals, and Zoolander. Trump’s frequent cameos and media appearances made him a cultural figure well beyond what most New York real estate tycoons were. Watching the films in hindsight makes his presence seem even larger, and such cameos are impossible not to note whenever a rewatch happens.

You can revisit Donald Trump’s Home Alone 2 cameo by streaming the film now with a Disney+ subscription.

Jack Castello - Hollywood (2020)

David Corenswet proved he possessed an old-fashioned acting quality by starring in an old-fashioned story about chasing the acting dream from creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. He leads the cast of Netflix’s seven-part miniseries, Hollywood, as Jack Castello – a World War II veteran-turned-gas station attendant who turns to sex work to make ends meet before landing a part in a movie in 1940s Los Angeles.

How to watch Hollywood

• Stream Hollywood on Netflix

River Barkley - The Politician (2019-2020)

Before Hollywood, Murphy and Brennan, with co-creator Brad Falchuck, cast Corenswet in another scandalous, but more uproarious, Netflix satire called The Politician. In the first season, Corenswet is charming and ultimately devastating as River Barkley – the secret lover and opponent to ruthless high school student body president hopeful Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) – and also recurs in the raunchier second season, in which Hobart runs for New York State Senate while still attending NYU.

How to watch The Politician

• Stream The Politician on Netflix

David McDougal - We Own This City (2022)

Based on Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton’s non-fiction book of the same name, We Own This City is a six-part HBO miniseries detailing the corruption surrounding Baltimore’s Gun Trace Task Force. David Corenswet has a small, yet memorable, role as Harford County Narcotics Task Force veteran David McDougal, whose surveillance work with Gordon Hawk (Tray Chaney) becomes one of the first steps in uncovering the city’s dirty cops.

How to watch We Own This City

• Stream We Own This City on Max

Projectionist - Pearl (2022)

One of the best cases for Corenswet’s charming presence, surprisingly, can be found in one of the best horror movies in recent memory, writer and director Ti West’s Pearl. He manages to hold his own strongly in the prequel to X opposite the mesmerizing Mia Goth in the title role as an unnamed movie theater projectionist who strikes up an ill-fated affair with the homicidal aspiring performer in early 1900s Texas.

How to watch Pearl

• Stream Pearl on Netflix
• Rent or buy Pearl on Amazon
• Buy Pearl on Blu-ray on Amazon

Jake - Look Both Ways (2022)

The Netflix dramedy, Look Both Ways, technically counts as a multiverse movie as it depicts two alternate timelines in the life of Lili Reinhart’s Natalie: one in which she stays in Austin after becoming pregnant and another in which she is not with child and pursues an art career in L.A. The latter scenario sees her finding love with Jake, who is played by Corenswet in another charming performance.

How to watch Look Both Ways

• Stream Look Both Ways on Netflix

Max Enders - The Greatest Hits (2024)

Another romance that experiments with time in a more overtly fantastic way is Hulu’s The Greatest Hits, in which a grieving woman (Lucy Boynton) discovers that listening to certain songs can, literally, allow her to revisit moments from her past. She uses this ability to spend time with and potentially save the life of her deceased boyfriend, Max (Corenswet in another devastatingly charming turn), which becomes complicated after meeting David (Justin H. Min).

How to watch The Greatest Hits

• Stream The Greatest Hits on Hulu

Scott - Twisters (2024)

In 2024, Corenswet also proved that he could play bad, and deceptively so, in the surprisingly good Twister sequel, Twisters. He plays Scott, one of the members of a corporate-funded tornado-chasing outfit, Storm Par, whose allegiance to the company outweighs his compassion for bystanders facing the threat of hazardous weather, as it turns out.

How to watch Twisters

• Stream Twisters on Peacock
• Rent or buy Twisters on Amazon
• Buy Twisters on Blu-ray on Amazon

Perhaps you might still be a fan of Henry Cavill’s Superman (and understandably so) but you may find yourself excited to see what David Corenswet will do in the role after watching the first Superman trailer… and after watching these other movies and TV shows.

When it comes to looking back at Keira Knightley's best movies so far, it’s tough to top the sexual tension the actress created with James McAvoy in 2007’s Atonement. The movie based on the novel by Ian McEwan had Knightley playing the eldest daughter in a wealthy family, who falls for the son of her family housekeeper. Now, over 15 years later, we’re still talking about the steamy library sex scene they shared, and so is the actress.

While promoting her new series, Black Doves, which is getting marvelous reviews and is currently streaming with a Netflix subscription, Keira Knightley mentioned the famed scene that had her getting hot and heavy with McAvoy’s Robbie Turner in a silk emerald green dress. She said while chatting with The Times:

A lot has seemingly changed when it comes to the making of sex scenes in Hollywood movies. Lately, the use of intimacy coordinators is a regular occurrence on movies and TV shows to make sure the actors are comfortable when it comes to filming sex and nudity.

Knightley called her scene with McAvoy on Atonement her most famous and “best” sex scene because there was a lot of intention that was put into it behind the scenes. Per her words, it sounds like every frame of the scene directed by Joe Wright was shot with intention. As a result, it’s one of those modern classic sex scenes. Check it out:

During Knightley’s interview with The Times, she started off the conversation by talking about how she was spending her first week in London on her own since becoming a mother. She shared that she enjoyed sightseeing and doing things “just for me”. The rare occurrence also awarded her time to catch up on the new series, Rivals, starring David Tennant. She said the “bonking is extraordinary” before sharing her overall thoughts on sex scenes today. As she continued:

Knightley pointed out that male nudity is a lot more prevalent than it used to be in the world of movies and TV shows. That, plus female nudity has actually gone down. According to a 2024 study published by The Economist (via The Independent), findings showed that sex and nudity as a whole in the 250 biggest films of each year has gone down by almost 40% since 2000. That being said, the study noted the sex scenes that do make it to the movies tend to be more graphic than movies from the 20th century.

While sex scenes in the past seemed to be inserted in films willy-nilly, apparently the trend has to do with the use of intimacy coordinators and a focus on sex scenes being “in service of the character and storytelling.” The topic of sex scenes has definitely shifted from Knightley’s standpoint since the time she became famous in her 20s.

While Dornan is best known to audiences for playing the serious, domineering Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades trilogy, he shows a completely different side of himself in Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar playing Edgar Pagét – the passion-filled henchman for supervillainess Sharon Fisherman who ultimately becomes a hero thanks to the influence of the titular characters. He is hilarious in the role, and he has previously revealed in an interview with Collider that he has reached out to brilliant co-writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo about a potential follow-up, but he isn't particularly optimistic that we'll ever get to see a sequel. He told the site in spring 2024,

As Jamie Dornan references, the release that Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar got in 2021 was not what was planned for the film when it was first developing. Lionsgate produced the comedy with the expectation of giving it a theatrical release in the summer of 2020... but then the world shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other notable titles during that time, the movie was delayed but never got a wide release on the big screen, as distribution instead pivoted to premium video-on-demand.

Jamie Dornan laments the fact that Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mara never got the exposure that it deserved, and he feels that if it hadn't been for the pandemic, the tone of conversation surrounding a potential sequel would be wholly different. He continued,

Given the way the world works and media is discovered these, it's not impossible that Barb And Star could someday get a proper discovery a la the passion for Suits that erupted with the show streaming on Netflix, and such an event could reignite discussions of a sequel. For now, however, we'll just have to revel in the magic that is the singular movie and do their part of share it with others who will love it (and on that note, I'll point out that it's currently available to stream with a Hulu subscription).

Jenkins was recently a guest on The Jess Cagle Show on SirusXM, and he spoke about the weirdness of the 2017 Oscars with host Jess Cagle and co-host Julia Cunningham – who were also at the Dolby Theater on February 26, 2017 (the former was in the room and the latter was backstage in the press room). The director explained that when he went to the premiere of Mufasa earlier this month, he had a sense of familiarity with the location, but needed his publicist to explain why. He notes that the chaos of the Best Picture winning moment has rendered his memory "a blur." Said the Moonlight filmmaker,

In addition to Barry Jenkins' memories from the stage, the interview also features Jess Cagle remembering that "it was like society had melted down" during the 89th Academy Awards, and Julia Cunningham recalls a 1940s-esque atmosphere in the press room with panic in the atmosphere and discarded papers flying in the air.

When you make a film that ends up winning the Oscar for Best Picture, it's not ideal for that victorious moment to get wrapped up in bewilderment, but Barry Jenkins does appreciate that Moonlight has most made a massive impact on Academy Awards history. He notes that he still gets recognized as a direct result the madness of that night, but he also simply loves the fact that people are still discovering and watching a movie he is very proud of. Said Jenkins,

You can watch the clip from the Jess Cagle Show interview below:

If you've never actually seen Moonlight, or at least haven't seen it in the eight years since it was released and want to give it a rewatch, the film is now available to stream with a Cinemax add-on to you Hulu subscription. The movie is also available for rental and purchase digitally from a variety of online outlets, and it has been released on 4K UHD.

The Billy on the Street star sat down with Josh Horowitz, of the Happy Sad Confused podcast to talk about some highlights of his career, including the LGBTQ+ romantic comedy. When asked about his feelings about the movie, The Lion King actor shared that he’s still proud of its comedy caliber and realistic portrayal of middle-aged gay men beyond a caricature. Eichner said:

The movie does really showcase some of the more detailed inner workings of a gay relationship honestly and realistically. I agree with Eichner that it's hard to make a good movie that’s funny and speaks to real relationships. Bros has the power within its storytelling to have the potential to impact young people for the better, especially those who are seeking out LGBTQ+ representation.

The Difficult People alum went on to share that it remains one of the greatest achievements of his life. And it isn’t due to streaming numbers but rather people who connected with the movie and shared their experiences with its star.

While it doesn’t rank as one of the best rom coms of all time (yet), Eichner and Luke MacFarlane have undeniable chemistry in Bros. It is, after all, one of the key elements fans connected with, the Noelle alum explains. I’m just hoping they eventually reunite in a sequel or something because they were some of the most incredible romantic comedy partners.

The Friends From College alum then dove into some behind-the-scenes feelings of what it's like being a gay man in the industry making a movie that's akin to Bros. He revealed that while the pressure was outstanding, he continues to stand firmly with the result, as he should. Eichner shared:

Billy Eichner isn’t alone in the sentiment. He also shared during the interview that an exec reached out to him after rewatching the film. He shared with the comedian and writer that he was also proud and glad to have been a part of the film. As someone who has seen Bros, I agree wholeheartedly, it’s a film to be proud of and one of the best recent romantic comedies I’ve seen.

Hopefully, Eichner, and the cast and crew behind the movie, know the enormous amount of weight and pressure that came along with it was well worth it. The legacy of Bros, I think, is just beginning and future viewers will make up for the low-performing numbers at the box office–it’s too good not to.

Bros is available with a Starz subscription or VOD.

The video comes from ParamountUK’s Instagram account, and the exchange is enthusiastic, a great time that is long overdue. Amongst paparazzi, their respective loved ones in attendance and other stars the two seem like kids eagerly catching up after a long school break. There are quick compliments exchanged between the two legends and the video ends with a photo op. Check out their initial meeting down below:

It’s hard to believe these two entertainment veterans and overall icons have never met, although, it makes sense with their respective places within Hollywood. All the same, I’m glad their meeting took place at a public event and was recorded for all their fans to relish the moment. And with Washington’s thoughts about how he probably won’t be in the threequel, I’m all the happier to have the small and earnest moment on the premiere carpet. I don’t think this match could be topped with how fun it was for them to be meeting each other.

The Tragedy of Macbeth actor was recently ranked as one of 60 of the best performers of the 21st century (and fans have a lot to say about the rankings, of course). His latest Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Macrinus marks an important milestone for his career as well as Black performers. And the official announcement of Washington’s involvement with the latest Black Panther movie has him excited (and fans like me) for what’s ahead. This reaction he has when greeting the beloved rapper makes me appreciate him beyond his body of work.

The Old School actor’s reaction, big grin and all, when meeting the Gladiator II actor confirms my continued love for him. He’s had a year, between being a USA correspondent, torch bearer, and all-around hypeman for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics to his mini-summer tour and being a coach on The Voice, to name just a few. The two men meeting each other, in my opinion, is probably a great cap to end their respective years.

Whoever shot the footage should be awarded something special for capturing the enthusiastic hellos. Hopefully, down the road, we’ll catch some more sweet content and footage of Washington and Snoop Dogg together, maybe even at another red carpet event.

Gladiator II is now showing in theaters and available on VOD streaming services.

Frank Serpico - Serpico

Frank Serpico, played by Al Pacino in the movie Serpico, was famous in the 1970s for bringing down important, but corrupt, members of the New York City Police Department. The movie, like the real-life story is harrowing and incredible. Pacino is perfect as the real-life Serpico.

Eliot Ness - The Untouchables

It's more than fair to say that director Brian de Palma's masterpiece The Untouchables plays pretty fast and loose with the actual historical facts surrounding Eliot Ness and his crew taking down Al Capone in Chicago during Prohibition. the broadest of the strokes are true, in that Ness and Capone were real people and Ness was partly responsible for nabbing Capone, but otherwise, it's just a really great work of fiction. In the movie, Ness is played by Kevin Costner.

Javier Peña - Narcos

Like most TV shows and movies, Narcos isn't 100% true to real life, but it gets most of the story correct, some of the real-life cops are condensed down into just a few characters, like Javier Peña, played by Pedro Pascal. Peña was actually one of the cops in on the investigation and chase for Pablo Escobar, but in the show, he's a combination of more than one DEA agent.

Melvin Purvis - Public Enemies

Melvin Purvis was an FBI agent who was famous in his day for bringing the likes of Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger to justice, or, at least to their death, as the movie portrays. In the movie Public Enemies, he is played by Christian Bale.

Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle - The French Connection

Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) in The French Connection seems almost too over the top to be based on a real guy, but he was. The real guy who helped take down the French drug smuggling ring was named Eddie Egan. He was on the job in the NYPD for 16 years before he caught the acting bug after appearing in a small role in the French Connection.

Bill Tench - Mindhunter

Mindhunter is one of those Netflix shows that most people believe got canceled way too quickly. The show tells the story of the first FBI agents to dive headfirst into understanding the minds of serial killers and the formation of the Behavioral Studies Unit at the FBI. Robert Ressler, who the character Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) is based on, was one of those agents.

Wyatt Earp - Tombstone

It's hard to think of Wyatt Earp being. 1. a bad guy and 2., a police officer. But he was kind of both. He was definitely a sheriff in Tombstone, as he is shown to be in the movie of the same name, played by Kurt Russell. He wasn't strictly a "good guy" in real life and there is plenty of evidence that he and his brothers were just as much "a gang" as the Cowboys and they were all looking to make more money in town.

Joseph D. Pistone - Donnie Brasco

Joe Pistone must have cajones of steel to do what he did in real life. If you don't know who he is, check Donnie Brasco, which tells his story pretty accurately. Played by Johnny Depp in the movie, Pistone went so deep undercover that he almost became a made member of the Bonanno crime family.

Frank Hamer - The Highwaymen

Frank Hamer, who was played by Kevin Costner in The Highwaymen was a legendary Texas Ranger who was primarily responsible for hunting down and eventually killing the notorious Bonnie & Clyde. In the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde starring Warren Betty and Faye Dunaway, Hamer was played by actor Denver Pyle.

Dave Toschi - Zodiac

In regards to 20th-century lawmen, there is no more famous one than San Francisco detective Dave Toschi. Toschi played a large part in the fruitless hunt for the Zodiac killer, as portrayed in Zodiac, where he was played by Mark Ruffalo. He was also supposedly the basis for the fictional detectives Frank Bullitt, Steve McQueen's character in Bullitt, and Harry Calahan in the Dirty Harry franchise.

Carl Hanratty - Catch Me If You Can

Tom Hanks' character in Catch Me If You Can was based on a real FBI agent named Joeseph O'Shea. O'Shea worked on a number of notable cases during his time at the Bureau, most famously the Frank Abagnale case as portrayed in the movie.

John McLoughlin - World Trade Center

There were tragically only 20 people pulled out of the collapsed World Trade Center in the days after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Port Authority police officer John McLoughlin was one of the last. He was trapped for 22 hours under the rumble and his fellow first responders worked non-stop to free him. It's an incredible story and Nicolas Cage's portrayal of McLoughlin in World Trade Center has all the emotion you would expect.

J. Edgar Hoover - J. Edgar

Leonardo DiCaprio is great at playing eccentrics from Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby to Howard Hughes in The Aviator, to the legendary (and controversial) former director of the FBI J. Edgar Hoover in J. Edgar. It's a different kind of movie about a LEO for a very different kind of LEO than the cop on the beat, but it's a great movie and as always DiCaprio puts on an excellent performance of the enigmatic FBI boss.

Eliot Ness - The Untouchables TV Series

While Kevin Costner may have played the most famous version of Eliot Ness in The Untouchables, he was the first. In the late '50s/early '60s Robert Stack, later of Unsolved Mysteries fame, played a very fictionalized version of the legendary Fed on The Untouchables TV show. It wasn't about Ness napping Al Capone, it was more a standard police procedural with Ness and his crew chasing down the criminal of the week, often high-profile ones from the 1930s when the show was set.

LAPD Gangster Squad - Gangster Squad

2013's Gangster Squad is a decent movie with some great performances about a crew of LAPD detectives who form a...well... gangster squad to take down legendary mobster Mickey Cohen (played by Sean Penn in the movie) in Los Angeles in 1949. Most of the characters, like John O'Mara (Josh Brolin), are loosely based on real members of the squad and it even features a scene with Josh Pence playing a rookie on the squad, Darryl Gates, who would find infamy later as the Chief of Police in LA during the Rodney King beating and subsequent riots.

Holden Ford - Mindhunter

John E. Douglas was one of the FBI agents who helped start the now-legendary Behavioral Science Unit. The excellent show MIndhunter, a show Netflix canceled way too soon) features a fictional version of Douglas named Holden Ford, played by Jonathan Groff.

Pat Garrett - Pat Garrett And Billy the Kid

Like most of the best Westerns in film history, Pat Garrett And Billy the Kid isn't really the true story of the legendary lawman Pat Garrett (James Coburn) tracking down the outlaw Billy The Kid. Take into account the film's director, Sam Peckinpah, and what you get is a wildly entertaining, but hardly factual account. It's such a crazy movie though, it's worth mentioning on this list.

Mark Fuhrman - The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

One of the biggest villains in many peoples' eyes in the O.J. Simpson murder trial was LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman. He was seen as dirty and racist (for good reason) and he became a lightning rod during the long trial that gripped the nation's attention in 1995. In the incredible FX mini-series, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Furman is played by Steven Pasquale.

Dan White - Milk

Josh Brolin's performance as murderer Dan White in Milk is fantastic. White was not a cop when he murdered Harvey Milk (Sean Penn in the movie), he was a former cop and the performance is so good, that it deserves inclusion on this list.

Despite Ryan Reynolds’ best efforts to slam Hugh Jackman at every opportunity amidst their faux feud — even making a dig at Jackman’s divorce in their 2024 blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine — those around the Australian actor continue to be utterly charmed by him. That apparently includes members of Reynolds’ own household, as the actor recently admitted his daughter Betty is absolutely obsessed with all things Jackman, and The Greatest Showman is involved in the best way.

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have been friends for years, although they have a strange way of showing it. (The Wolverine star even threw a jab into a birthday tribute to Reynolds’ mom.) It’s a good thing nobody has to actually pick a side in this false rivalry, because it turns out Reynolds’ 5-year-old daughter Betty — yes, the one Taylor Swift named her song after — knows exactly where her loyalties lie, and it’s not with her dad. The Free Guy actor told EW:

That is pretty intense, but given that her love apparently stems from watching The Greatest Showman — aka one of the best movies on Disney+ right now — who could blame her?

Ryan Reynolds has said that his four children, who he shares with Blake Lively, have been known to rock out to the musical, and he shared the sweetest story, saying:

What a fantastic experience for Ryan Reynolds’ kids! I fully see how little Betty Reynolds would become obsessed with Hugh Jackman after that. The Tony Award winner admitted that re-enacting his own movie for his buddy’s kids might sound like a strange thing for a person to be caught doing, and he joked:

Ryan Reynolds shared another story of just how deep Betty’s love for the X-Men actor is from when the duo were filming Deadpool & Wolverine. He recalled:

Yeah, that is sweet, and Ryan Reynolds is never getting his daughter back. Betty fully belongs to Hugh Jackman. Or is it the other way around? Jackman laughed:

Ryan Reynolds obviously has the utmost respect for the Wolverine star, and I love that the whole family is close. If you want to watch these best friends battle it out on screen, Deadpool & Wolverine can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription, and that might just be the inspiration you need to start watching all of the Marvel movies in order.

Zendaya was already impressing us with her fashionista self every time she channeled Tina Turner doing Dune Part Two press. But when the former Disney Channel star walked the walk on the anticipated sequel’s red carpet looking like C-3PO, heads turned and it was like we time-traveled into the future of fashion:

The Spider-Man actress’s longtime stylist Law Roach really outdid himself this time, bringing method dressing to a whole other level on the red carpet. Even Zendaya’s boyfriend Tom Holland sweetly let her have the floor at the event. The archival cyborg suit from Thierry Mugler’s fall/winter 1995 couture collection consisted of metallic armor with silver panels and sheer transparent plastic inserts. This futuristic-looking suit was the perfect ensemble to remind audiences they were about to enter another world when watching Dune 2.

However, the Thierry Mugler robot look wasn’t without painstaking challenges. According to the 2024 movie release of the documentary Inside the Dream: Mugler, the metallic suit was only made for one model decades ago. Fashion Creative Director Casey Cadwallader explained exactly what could go wrong with having a different model fit into the same suit again years later:

Wow, that sounds like a lot of stress for a red carpet photo shoot. It proves that even though the look is supposed to make you look like a robot, I can imagine Zendaya FEELING like one if the suit inhibits her movements.

Considering Zendaya’s robot look was actually made of metallic pieces, it wasn’t the type of suit you could easily just slip into. Casey Cadwallader continued to talk about the real-life obstacles the fashion team faced prepping the Euphoria star for her big red carpet moment and the mishap that occurred when she was there:

I would be afraid to move if I were in Zendaya’s position wearing an outfit that can easily come apart with one misstep. Fortunately, the Emmy winner slayed wearing Thierry Mugler’s metallic suit for the Dune 2 premiere. Law Roach was clearly a positive influence on his longtime client, saying his goal with her fashion is to build confidence with each style ensemble. Considering Zendaya looked fierce on the red carpet despite wearing a challenging suit, I’d say mission accomplished.

After learning about all of the intense issues that could have gone wrong with Zendaya’s cyborg-looking suit, it’s proof that it takes the strength of a design team and the Dune 2 actress’s professionalism to pull off the red carpet look. Fashion events may bring a lot of anxiety if there’s a chance a complex outfit could fall apart, but its efforts are well worth it when a fashion piece becomes the highlight of the event. You can watch Inside the Dream: Mugler on your Amazon Prime subscription as well as Dune 2 on your Max subscription.

Charles Shyer co-wrote the screenplay for The Parent Trap — considered among the best family movies of the ‘90s — with David Swift and his then-wife Nancy Meyers, who was making her directorial debut. Shyer passed away on December 27, 2024, at the age of 83 after a brief illness, per THR, and Lindsay Lohan shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the two of them to her Instagram Stories in his memory.

The Parent Trap, which was a remake of the 1961 classic starring Hayley Mills, was not only Nancy Meyers’ first go at directing, it was also the film debut of a 12-year-old Lindsay Lohan, who portrayed both of the troublesome twins Hallie Parker and Annie James.

Despite the fact that the plot sounds absolutely ridiculous if you say it out loud, it has become a much-beloved film over the past quarter-century, and Lindsay Lohan's performance — including the ability to bounce back and forth between a British and American accent — launched her to stardom.

Nancy Meyers also paid tribute to her ex-husband — with whom she shared four children, including daughters named Annie and Hallie — on Instagram with two throwback images of her own. Lindsay Lohan commented a single heart on the post, and fellow The Parent Trap star Lisa Ann Walter, who played the beloved Chessy, added her own condolences, commenting:

Charles Shyer started out writing for TV on shows including The Odd Couple and The Partridge Family. He broke into the movie business in 1977 with Smokey and the Bandit and was nominated for an Academy Award for his writing on the 1980 movie Private Benjamin.

Other notable collaborations between him and Nancy Meyers include Steve Martin’s Father of the Bride and its sequel, as well as 1994’s I Love Trouble, starring Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte.

His final projects had him — like Lindsay Lohan — joining the Netflix Christmas movie family, as he wrote and directed 2022’s The Noel Diary and co-wrote and produced Best. Christmas. Ever! in 2023.

If you want to honor Charles Shyer’s memory by rewatching The Parent Trap and seeing Lindsay Lohan in her debut role, the movie is available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

Our condolences go out to Charles Shyer’s family and loved ones at this time.

"Luke, I am your father." - The Empire Strikes Back

It may be the most famous misquote of all time. At the end of Empire Strikes Back, after Luke and Darth Vader have battled to the edge, and with Luke hanging on for dear life, Darth takes a moment to tell him who his father is. "Luke, I am your father," is not what Vader says, however. Luke tells Vader that Obi-Wan told Luke that Vader had killed his father, and Vader says, "No, I am your father!"

"Play it again, Sam." - Casablanca

Yes, Sam is the piano player. And yes "As Time Goes By" is Rick and Ilsa's song in Casablanca, but at no point in the movie does anyone say "Play it again, Sam." Instead, what most people are misremembering is Ilsa requesting the song when she first walks into Rick's Cafe. What she actually says is "Play it once, Sam"

“Beam me up, Scotty." - Star Trek

"Beam me up, Scotty" has become one of the most iconic quotes from the entire Star Trek franchise. The only problem is that no one, not Captain Kirk, not Spock, not Bones... no one, ever actually used that line in the whole history of the TV or in any of the movies that followed. It is, more or less, completely made up. Kirk does say "Scotty, beam us up," in one episode, but that's as close as anyone gets.

“We’re going to need a bigger boat.” - Jaws

This one is close. Very close. The line Brody actually says in Jaws is "You're gonna need a bigger boat." The confusion may come from Clerks, where Randal misquotes it as "We're."

"Hello, Clarice" - The Silence Of The Lambs

This one is hard for people to believe, but Hannibal Lector doesn't say "Hello, Clarice" when the two characters meet in Silence Of The Lambs. It wouldn't even make sense, as they have yet to formally meet, so he would never be so informal. Instead, he simply greets her with "Good morning."

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” - Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

This one is a little tricky. In Disney's Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, the witch is often quoted as saying "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" That is, in fact how it is written in the original story that the movie is based on, including in the original German. BUT, in the movie, the quote is actually "Magic, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"

“Do ya feel lucky, punk?” - Dirty Harry

Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) doesn't actually say the exact line "Do ya feel lucky, punk?” in Dirty Harry. It's close, but what the hard-boiled detective says is "You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky? ' Well, do ya punk?”

"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!" - The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre is a legendary movie starring Humphrey Bogart, but the most famous line from the movie actually comes from the leader of a Mexican gang they come across as they search for the treasure. The line "Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!" has been misquoted many, many times over the years in many movies and in pop culture. The original line in the movie is, "Badges? We don't have no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges!"

“If you build it, they will come.” - Field Of Dreams

This is another one that people always just miss by a nose. When you hear the famous quote that the voice from beyond in Field Of Dreams says, usually it's "If you build it, they will come." It probably is due to the long line of cars at the end of the movie that coming to watch the baseball and save the farm. Instead, what the mysterious voice actually says is "If you build it, he will come," meaning Kevin Costner's character's father.

“I’m king of the world!” - Titanic

This one is really getting pedantic, but while we're here, let's get it right. When quoting Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Titanic, most people say, "I'm king of the world!" What the character actually says on the prow of the ill-fated ship is "I'm the king of the world!" Yeah, pedantic, we know.

“Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?” - The Graduate

The Graduate is a stone-cold classic about a college guy having an affair with the older friend of his parents. There is no question what is going on in the scene where this famous line comes from, but doesn't actually go down like this. Instead of asking, "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" what Ben (Dustin Hoffman) actually declares is, "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me!"

“Mama always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates.’” - Forrest Gump

This is one that we're really splitting hairs with, but while we're doing this list, we might as well get them all out of the way. In Forrest Gump, Gump actually says "My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." It's usually misquoted as "life is like a box of chocolates."

"Cowabunga, dude." - The Simpsons

This is a pretty odd one. It's pretty clearly a mashup of two different IPs that both came to prominence around the same time. Bart Simpson has never said "Cowabunga, dude" in the whole history of The Simpsons. "Cowabunga, dude" comes from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While Bart does say "Aye Carumba," he doesn't ever quote the Turtles.

"Houston we have a problem" - Apollo 13

This one goes back way further than 1995's Apollo 13. This line, or the real line, was first uttered by Jack Swigert during the actual Apollo 13 mission in 1970. What Swigert actually said was, "Houston, we've had a problem here." Captain Jim Lovell repeated it in real life. In the movie, all you hear is Hanks say "Houston we have a problem." So the movie is actually doing what everyone else had been doing, misquoting the now famous line.

“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore" - The Wizard Of Oz

“I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" has become one of the most famous misquotes in Hollywood history. It's been said in movies and TV shows for decades. Of course, it's not what Dorothy actually said in The Wizard of Oz. The exact quote is actually, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.”

"Greed is good." - Wall Street

In Wall Street, Michael Douglas plays one of the best villains of the 1980s, and his character, Gordon Gekko, definitely believes that greed is good. That's not exactly how it expresses the sentiment. In the famous speech, Gekko says, "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." We've all shortened to what many believe is now the actual quote.

"A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do" - Hondo

“A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do," has become more than just a famous line by the legendary John Wayne. It's become a modern mantra. Unfortunately, like the other famous lines on this list, it's quoted incorrectly The real line said by The Duke is "A man oughta do what he thinks is best." Quite different, don't you think?

"What if I told you..." - The Matrix

One of the most famous misquotes ever, and it's all due to modern memes is Morpheus saying "What if I told you..." in The Matrix. Though the meme's photo does come from the scene where Morpheus is telling Neo about the matrix, he never actually says those words at any point.

“I’m ready for my close-up now, Mr. DeMille.” - Sunset Boulevard

The ending of Sunset Boulevard is one of the most iconic scenes of all time. As Gloria Swanson, as NormaDesmond, makes her way down the stairs, she turns to the camera and says “I’m ready for my close-up now, Mr. DeMille.” Except, that's not exactly what she says, we get it backwards. What she actually says is, "Alright, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." Same effect, but slightly different wording, just like most of the quotes on this list.

In a heartfelt and unflinchingly honest X (formerly Twitter) post, the live-action Snow White cast member opened up about a harrowing experience she endured earlier this year while pregnant with her daughter. The actress revealed that in February, which was her eighth month of pregnancy, she began suffering from headaches that left her bedridden for weeks. Concerned, Gadot underwent a series of tests, the actress shared:

The discovery was understandably devastating, and things escalated rapidly. Within hours, the Fast and the Furious breakout star was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she underwent emergency surgery to save her life and safeguard her unborn child. Reflecting on the emotional weight of the ordeal, the Death on the Nile actress shared how the fragility of life became painfully clear to her and her loved ones:

Amid the fear and uncertainty, Gadot’s determination to hold on for her baby became her guiding light. When her daughter was born, the family chose a name steeped in significance and hope. In her heartfelt post, she wrote:

Thankfully for fans and her family, Gadot is fully healed and grateful today. However, she admits the experience has profoundly changed her. She shared that it taught her the importance of listening to her body and paying attention to even the subtlest signals it sends. The Justice League alum hopes that sharing her story will encourage others to prioritize their health and trust their instincts when something feels wrong.

The actress encouraged anyone facing similar challenges, highlighting that while giving birth is a profound testament to human resilience, it also serves as a powerful reminder to care for ourselves with the same devotion we offer to others. Honestly, that’s a message worthy of an Amazonian Warrior.

At 39, Gal Gadot shows no signs of slowing down, with an impressive slate of projects on the horizon. One of her most anticipated roles is in one of Disney’s upcoming live-action remakes. Though the Date Night performer is anything but “wicked” in real life, she’s stepping far outside her comfort zone to take on the role of the Evil Queen in the “mostly” live-action upcoming Snow White, which opens in theaters on March 21, 2025.

For fans who want to relive her time wielding the lasso of truth, all of Gadots DCEU appearances as Wonder Woman are available to stream now with a Max subscription.

I think a lot of us are guilty of this. Christmas comes to an end. But we have spent so much time preparing for the holiday season, baking cookies and watching beloved Christmas movies, that we’re not ready to say goodbye to the annual season of giving. However, Will Ferrell just gave us the best indicator yet that it’s time to take down that tinsel, and to start removing the stockings from the mantle over the fireplace. The iconic comedian who’s always in need of more cowbell went to an L.A. Kings hockey game in his Buddy the Elf costume. But man, did he make Buddy look rough.

There was no Christmas spirit present on funnyman Will Ferrell as he sat near the ice and cheered on the Kings, who prevailed over the Philadelphia Flyers 5 to 4 on Sunday night. Ferrell made sure that the cameraperson in the arena caught “Buddy” chugging a beer:

And later in the game, Ferrell put a cigarette between his lips and stared down the camera, as if daring him to share this bad boy look with Santa. We guarantee that Buddy would end up on the Naughty List if he behaved this way during the year!

Will Ferrell and director Jon Favreau produced an instant holiday classic when they released Elf in 2003. Some people apparently love it so much, they watch it year round… even on July 4th. Now that’s dedication!

In the movie, Ferrell plays a man born to human parents who ends up crawling into Santa’s bag by mistake, and getting raised at the North Pole as an elf. Now a grown man, Buddy (Ferrell) heads to New York City to find his birth father (James Caan) and possibly rediscover the magic of Christmas. It’s the ideal mix of Ferrell comedy and holiday cheer, and that has helped Elf sustain the waves of Christmas competitors that have followed in its wake.

Buddy may be a very excited elf, fascinated by all the small wonders that he finds in the modern world. But Ferrell in the photos above looks like he wants to drink himself to sleep, and possibly set his pajamas on fire by passing out under the mistletoe with a lit cig in his mouth. It’s official, friends. Christmas is over. Bah humbug. Time to move on to 2025.

Speaking of 2025, there are plenty of things to look forward to in the pending new year, including a slate of fresh upcoming theatrical movie releases that will have all of us flocking to the multiplex. And you won’t have to wait very long for a new Will Ferrell movie, as he’s about appear alongside Reese Witherspoon in an anticipated wedding comedy called You’re Cordially Invited, which will be available to anyone with a Prime Video subscription. So cheer up, Buddy! Things are looking up. Also, the Kings won. That’s reason to cheer.

"Just When I Thought I Was Out..." - The Godfather Part III

There is a lot to be disappointed about in The Godfather Part III. It would have been almost impossible for Francis Ford Coppola to match the first two in the series, but sadly he didn't even come close with the third installment. However, it does have the now-legendary scene when Michael (Al Pacino) declares "Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in."

The Wingsuit Flight - Point Break

Almost everything about the ill-conceived 2015 remake of Point Break was a bad idea. It's not just a bad retread of a classic, if campy, '90s movie, it's just not a good movie in the slightest. Save for one scene. When the bank-robbing crew goes out of a little wingsuit flying, the movie perks up for a few minutes in a very cool scene with some of the best stunts of the decade.

Pteranodon - Jurassic Park III

Jurassic Park III was such a letdown from the first two movies in the franchise. The lone scene that stands out from the rest is the incredible moments inside the Pteranodon aviary. It'll come as no surprise to learn that the scene was actually lifted from the original book by Michael Crichton that was left out of the first movie in the series. It's a gripping scene in the book made terrifying in the movie.

The Opening Steady Cam Shot - Bonfire Of The Vanities

Brian de Palma's Bonfire Of The Vanities was a misfire in almost every way. It completely lacked the charm and wit of the book it was based on by Tom Wolfe and it was rightfully panned by most critics. One scene that critics did like is the opening steady cam/tracking shot that opens the movie that rivals even Scorsese's famous tracking shot in Goodfellas.

The Illegal Chop Shop - Beverly Hills Cop III

The Beverly Hills Cop franchise redeemed itself a little in 2024 with the release of Axel F, but it had a long way to go after the third installment of the series basically tanked it for decades. Beverly Hills Cop III feels phoned in and for the most part, wasn't very funny at all. The lone exception was the scene when Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) bangs on the door of the chop shop and asks if it is, indeed, an illegal chop shop in a way only Murphy can pull off at his best.

The Thunderdome - Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

Even the most hardcore fans of the Mad Max franchise can admit that the third installment Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome isn't all that great. Even the great Tina Turner can't save it. One scene that almost saves it is the actually fight in the titular Thunderdome. It's not quite enough, but it is pretty freakin' cool.

Left My Wallet In El Segundo - The Ladykillers

The Coen Brothers have a pretty amazing track record of making great movies. Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, No Country For Old Men... the list goes on and on. One glaring example of miss is their remake of The Ladykillers starring Tom Hanks. It's hard to pinpoint why the movie doesn't have the same charm as the rest of their movies, but it's not hard to recognize that the opening scene with Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall) complaining about the "hippity hop" music is delightful.

Dream Scene - The Exorcist III

If we're honest, The Exorcist III is kind of a mess. It's just a confusing, mess of a movie but it does have that super trippy and terrifying dream sequence that makes it worth the price of entry.

The Light Saber Battle - Star Wars: Episode 1- The Phantom Menace

Now, no one, not even the most ardent Star Wars fans usually try to defend Star Wars: Episode 1- The Phantom Menace. Not only did it introduce Midi-chlorins and Jar-Jar Binks, but it also tried to ruin a lot of the original trilogy for us too. Thankfully it does have some redeeming qualities, like the epic lightsaber battle at the end with Darth Maul. It's possibly the best such battle in the entire franchise.

Stopping Bullets - The Matrix Reloaded

How do you top a scene stopping bullets like in the original Matrix? Stop a whole bunch of bullets in The Matrix Reloaded. There is also that great chase scene, but most of us were asleep by then.

The Invisible Jet - Wonder Woman 1984

On the heels of the fantastic Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984 was just such a letdown. Not only did it trade in annoying Gen X nostalgia, but it just wasn't a very well-conceived movie. It did, however, finally give something we've always wanted, a live-action version of Wonder Woman's invisible plane, and for that, the wait was worth it.

The Convenience Store - Hard To Kill

It's hard to argue that any Steven Seagal movie is good, except the great Under Siege. But some of those movies in the late 80s and early 90s were at least decent. Hard to Kill fits in that category. It's not an epic film by any means, but it's got some great fight scenes, most notably the one in the beginning when Seagal takes on a would-be robber in a convenience store. It's Seagel at his best.

"I Just Stopped Caring" - The Fan

Robert de Niro and Wesley Snipes are both great in The Fan which is an otherwise completely underwhelming movie. It makes sense that the one really good scene in the whole movie is the one they are in together as de Niro pitches to Snipes and they talk about life and baseball before Snipes really makes de Niro mad.

The Japanese Attack - Pearl Harbor

The late critic Roger Ebert penned one of his best reviews for Pearl Harbor, calling it, "a two-hour movie squeezed into three hours, about how on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on an American love triangle." Truer words have never been spoken as the movie and the silly love triangle it invents ruin what would otherwise be an incredible movie if they had just stuck to the actual attack. The attack scene is phenomenal.

The Roof Chase During The Horse Race - Quantum Of Solace

Quantum of Solace is generally thought of as one of the worst James Bond movies. Still, it has its moments like any Bond film. The best scene, by far, is the chase across the rooftops of Siena, Italy as the town's famous horserace, the Palio di Siena, takes place below. It's a fantastic action sequence in every way.

The Elevator Scene - Suicide Squad

Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn is the only thing that saves Suicide Squad from being the worst superhero movie of all time. In fact, the only truly great scene in the movie is her fight in the glass elevator before she reunites with The Joker when the movie falls apart again.

Jane Slaps Thor - Thor: The Dark World

When ranking the MCU movies, Thor: The Dark World is usually at or near the bottom of all the films, and with good reason. Still, there is a completely charming moment when Jane (Natalie Portman) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) reunite. It doesn't make up for the rest of the movie, but it is a nice scene,

Stealing The Car Back - Navy SEALs

Even by 1990s action movie standards, Navy SEALs is a terrible movie. Still, there is one scene that is super fun to rewatch and that is Charlie Sheen's character stealing his Mustang back from the repo man from atop the tow truck. But that's it and it certainly doesn't make the rest of the movie worth watching.

Wolverine's War Experiences - X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a polarizing movie. Most hate it, though some love it. Whether you love it or hate it, you can't deny that the scene in the beginning with Wolverine and his brother Sabertooth fighting it out in a montage across all the major wars in U.S. history is a pretty awesome way to start a movie.

The Pod Race - Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace

This might be a controversial entry on the list, but the pod racing in The Phantom Menace is pretty freakin' cool. Maybe it's just because of the great video game that was born from it, but either way, the scene holds up in an otherwise pretty brutal movie.

The Rhino - Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls doesn't even come close to matching the charm of the original Ace Ventura movie. There are few redeeming scenes in the whole movie, and even the best scene, when Ace is "birthed" from a fake rhino, fits right in with the over-the-top gross-out humor the movie relies on. Still, it's pretty darn funny.

Coach D'Amato's Speech - Any Given Sunday

Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday is a pretty bad movie that clocks the audience over the head with its morality like a frying pan. Still, the speech that Coach D'Amato (Al Pacino) makes about "clawing for every inch" is pretty epic and inspiring.

The Final Battle - The Patriot

There is really very little good to say about The Patriot, so we'll keep this short. Despite all the poor history and dubious plot points, the final battle is a fantastically well-put-together action sequence.

Racing In A Chicken Suit - Stroker Ace

Despite being one of the best movies about auto racing, Stroker Ace isn't really a good movie. Burt Reynolds even admitted as much. Still, it's pretty hilarious to watch the great Burt Reynolds racing around a NASCAR track dressed in a chicken suit.

The President's Speech - Independence Day

Another entry that may cause some controversy is Independence Day. While many love it, do you really think it's a great movie (it's okay to like bad movies)? Still, whether you think it's the best movie ever made or silly Hollywood schlock, the speech that Bill Pullman made as the President will always be remembered for its greatness.

Making a movie about the institution that is Saturday Night Live has to be challenging. For starters, the audience comes to the movie with its own preconceived notions about the show. Then, director Jason Reitman spent years trying to find the ideal actors to play legendary comedians Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, and more. Does he worry if those cast members watched the movie? And is he concerned what they think of it? Well, when it comes to Chase, Reitman need not worry, because the Fletch and Vacation star told him exactly what the thought after watching the comedy… and he didn’t hold back.

Jason Reitman appeared as a guest on the excellent Fly on the Wall podcast, hosted by Saturday Night Live alums Dana Carvey and David Spade. The pod has become a great spot for former cast and guests to stop by and share memories of creating iconic moments on the sketch comedy show. Jason Reitman makes for an obvious guest, having spent several years working on the movie Saturday Night. But when they got around to Chevy Chase, Reitman told the hosts what the notoriously difficult Weekend Update comedian thought of the film. Said Reitman:

That dry reaction apparently made David Spade and Dana Carvey die laughing. Because Chevy Chase is known for being such a condescending jerk, it’s hard to tell if he was being serious – shooting Jason Reitman down immediately after a screening of Saturday Night – or if he knew that delivering a crushing blow is exactly what would be funniest in that moment.

If you are going to hang out with comedians, you need to have a thick skin.

While Carvey and Spade tried to assure Rietman that Chase probably was being funny in his own vicious way, the director still confessed:

Perhaps that’s one way that a Hollywood legend like Chevy Chase can stay guarded, and protect his own image. He knows that he can’t do anything to control the way that he’s portrayed in Saturday Night by Cory Michael Smith. And truthfully, I thought Smith’s portrayal of Chase was one of the better turns in Reitman’s film. But what, am I going to argue with Chevy Chase about it? Not very likely.

Saturday Night is still a very fun watch, and a movie that was good enough to make CinemaBlend’s collective Best Movies of 2024 list. Catch up with it soon if you haven’t seen it yet.

Seth Rogen knows how to make people laugh. Whether it be as an actor, writer, producer or all of the above, he has been a key contributor to many of the funniest movies and TV shows of the 21st century. But knowing how to make people laugh also means that he has a full understanding of the extreme challenge of comedy – and it's that understanding that is at the heart of his deep appreciation for Jason Reitman's Saturday Night.

This being the end of the year, everybody in the film world is looking back at 2024 and highlighting their favorite features of the last 12 months, and in a recent list published by Variety, Seth Rogen uses 413 words to express a lot of love for the new film about the launch of Saturday Night Live. The multi-hyphenate begins by acknowledging and appreciating the challenge Jason Reitman took on in the making of the comedy:

Those funny people, of course, are the members of the original Saturday Night Live cast – and the performances by the ensemble cast including Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, and Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd has been praised since the film first premiered.

Seth Rogen goes on to call Saturday Night "nothing short of miraculous" in the way in which it adapts the special skill of comedians. The filmmaker explains that it's not just that the film is funny, but that it accentuates the importance of the artform and its valuable longevity. Rogen continues,

The short-form review concludes with Seth Rogen explaining how Saturday Night's thesis is best expressed in the film's climax. It appears as though the experimental television comedy may be doomed, as nobody has faith in it beyond the creatives involved... but then Nicholas Braun's Andy Kaufman steps into the spotlight to properly save the day with his iconic Mighty Mouse bit. As Rogen notes, everyone in the room in that moment understands that funny is funny, and that's a pretty special thing to portray in a film.

If you're now feeling the itch to watch/rewatch Saturday Night (which made it on to CinemaBlend's list of 2024's best movies), the bad news is that it is not available on any subscription services, but it is available for digital rental and/or purchase from online retailers including Prime Video, Apple, Fandango At Home and Google Play.

Christmas is over, but I'm not judging anybody who may still be watching Home Alone while nursing a holiday hangover. It's one of the best Christmas movies of all time, so who wouldn't want to give it one last stream with their Disney+ subscription before the next holiday season? The movie has an outstanding legacy, but director Chris Columbus' latest comments are a reminder of how it tanked with critics early on.

Columbus, who served as a producer on this year's holiday hit Nosferatu, spoke to THR about his lengthy career, which obviously includes his much-beloved movie Home Alone. When the filmmaker was asked about actor Macaulay Culkin hosting a screening tour with the film across the U.S., which I was lucky enough to attend, he talked about what the family comedy's legacy meant to him personally, given how it was initially received. In his words:

While critics might've knocked points off Home Alone for no explanation behind how Kevin's father afforded a giant house, or several other oddball details, theater-goers clearly loved it. So much that the initial film's box office success was enough to spur a number of sequels, although only Home Alone 2: Lost In New York is celebrated on the same level, given it's the only follow-up that lured Culkin back.

All things considered, there are a lot of things about Home Alone 2 that don't make sense, especially when it comes to the parents' sense of responsibility. So it's fair to say the original reigns supreme in a lot of hearts and minds and box office receipts.

Chris Columbus takes pride in the longevity of Home Alone's popularity over the years, and had only positive things to say about not only Macaulay Culkin's skills, but also those of his younger brother Kieran, who portrayed Fuller McAllister decades before achieving his Emmy win for Succession. According to Columbus:

Here at CinemaBlend, we also had great things to say about Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain, and it's clear that on the heels of Succession, the actor's Hollywood ascent is only getting more pronounced. Ironically, the younger brother hasn't yet shown his own children Home Alone, but has a valid reason for doing so.

Hopefully Chris Columbus is justified in his excitement for Macaulay Culkin joining Fallout Season 2, which many others are equally pumped about. Given the kookiness of that universe and how it's a world where an extensive knowledge of booby-trapping would come in handy, I have to wonder if his character will get at least one cheeky nod to Home Alone. Let me just see The Ghoul get blindsided on a stairwell by a swinging paint. That's all I'm asking for.

2024 was another huge year for Home Alone, especially with the aforementioned tour by Macaulay Culkin actually celebrating the movie with others in person. Here's hoping that story stays the same in 2025, possibly with other actors joining in on the fun and sharing their fond memories of this holiday classic.

As mentioned, Home Alone is available to stream on Disney+ right now. I've seen it so many times I could probably play it in my brain at this point, but I think I'll give it one last stream before the new year anyway.

In recalling the production of one of the best ‘90s movies starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, it was none other than Val Kilmer who earned such acclaim from Mann. Speaking with Variety about, among other things, the progress of Heat 2, Mann couldn’t help but highlight the Tombstone icon’s portrayal of the character Chris Shiherlis.

Looking at his efforts from his lens as a seasoned director, Mann offered this anecdote that recalled the work he saw on that very set:

Heat’s legacy has secured its place on many lists of the best in a variety of fields. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the best Val Kilmer movies, and that fact makes Jon Bon Jovi’s botched Heat audition story all the more important to know. I mean no disrespect to the legendary rocker, but Chris Shiherlis wouldn’t have been as memorable if it wasn’t for the Top Gun actor's skills that Michael Mann singled out above.

Kilmer has always been known to commit to the bit, and his acting chops sell both the insane L.A. robbery action sequence as well as the ultimately tragic arc of his character. That dialogue-less scene that sees Ashley Judd warn him that it’s not safe to come home wouldn’t play the same without either participant bringing their A-game.

Knowing Michael Mann’s track record as a director, he’s obviously a fan of working with such energy on set. That’s something to keep in mind as we continue to hear rumors like Austin Butler’s supposed Heat 2 casting as a younger incarnation of Val Kilmer’s character. Although if I’m being completely honest, with Kilmer’s visage and skills from his ‘90s era fresh in mind, I’m totally on board with that decision - should it come to pass.

Don’t take my word for it though. You can revisit Heat with a Paramount+ subscription. And while Heat 2 isn’t in a theater near you, it is a book that you can purchase through whatever major provider you procure your reading materials from.

Speaking with our sister site Games Radar+ at the UK premiere of Nosferatu, the former X-Men: First Class star shared how Bill Skarsgård’s physicality and commitment to his role created a genuinely intimidating presence on set. Talking with the outlet, he shared:

The entire Nosferatu cast seems to agree with Hoult, as many of them have gone on record sharing how Skarsgård’s character is the scariest thing they've ever seen. And, having seen the movie, I tend to agree. The intensity the actor brings is exactly what fans of him, Eggers, and the horror genre have come to expect.

Eggers is known for his meticulous world-building in films like The Witch and The Lighthouse (available to stream with a Max subscription). His take on the classic 1922 silent film is no different, as it is a haunting reimagining of the original story with enough originality, especially in its final act, to keep new and old audiences on the edge of their seats. With Bill Skarsgård in the role of Count Orlok, the titular vampire pursuing Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen Hutter, it is genuinely one of the most disturbing cinematic experiences I’ve had with any of the 2024 movie releases.

Skarsgård has more than earned his reputation as a master of monstrous transformations. After haunting our dreams as the shapeshifting Pennywise, he’s now tackled one of horror’s most iconic roles: Count Orlok His take on the character is fresh, unapologetically dark, and uniquely grotesque, setting it apart from past interpretations of the material.

Critics are already heaping praise on Nosferatu, calling it one of the best vampire movies of recent years, and much of that acclaim stems from The Crow actor’s spine-chilling, unrecognizable performance. Frankly, it’s no shock that he managed to intimidate even his co-stars on set—it’s just what the Barbarian alum does best.

You can witness Bill Skarsgård’s nightmare-inducing portrayal of Orlok by heading to your local theater, as Nosferatu is currently playing in theaters. Check out our 2025 movie schedule to see what upcoming horror movies are headed to the big screen in the new year.

Just recently, The Independent shared its 60 Best Actors of 21-Century Cinema list. The No. 1 spot was bestowed upon the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, while Emma Stone was behind him at No. 2. That not only put her above Bale (No. 14) and Washington (No. 4) but also in front of the likes of Viola Davis (No. 39), Frances McDormand (No. 32), Joaquin Phoenix (No. 26) and more.

It shouldn't be all that surprising that people took to social media to weigh in on the rankings. And, while some declared their love for the Cruella star, they simultaneously couldn't accept the standings. Check out what user @LucaGuadagnegro had to say:

Some commenters were a bit more blunt when sharing their thoughts on the matter. For instance, @sewelankoana shared a brief assessment that was particularly blunt:

For the most part, people’s qualm was not in regards to Emma Stone being included on the list but rather her being placed in the second highest spot. Many X users even stated who they thought should be above the Amazing Spider-Man actress. Check out some more responses:

• Love me some Emma Stone and Florence Pugh, but i think even they agreed that to put them top 10 above Viola Davis, Amy Adams or Kate Winslet is a bit too much recent bias -@Lyta232323
• How tf is Emma Stone higher than DDL?!?!? -@davesteele71
• Emma Stone being above Isabelle HUPPERT, Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett is a joke - @kalatozov
• Emma Stone?! Go home, you’re drunk. 🙄 - @Archimusik

While I don’t think we need to outright dismiss the entire list based on one ranking, I think the line of questioning is valid. It certainly is a tough decision to make, to say the least. That's especially true when you have an actor like Christian Bale finding his stride in some of the best movies of the 2000s, with performances as Batman, Patrick Bateman and more.

Then, of course, there's Denzel Washington, who has the uncanny ability to steal a scene. Washington's best films more than convey his range as an actor. Malcolm X, Training Day, Flight and Gladiator II represent just a few of the strong performances he's put in. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that he's within the Top 5 of the list.

It’s important to emphasize that the majority of people are not questioning her talent. In my opinion, and I’d bet most people would agree that Emma Stone deserves to be on this list. Stone's catalog of films convey her impressive range in acting, from her impeccable comedic timing in movies like Easy A and Zombieland to her ability to deliver raw emotional moments like in Birdman and The Favourite. The Battle of the Sexes actress has certainly proved she has longevity in this biz, and of course, she has two Oscars to her name. With that, she won Best Actress for La La Land and earned the same award for Poor Things.

Ultimately, no online ranking is ever going to be able to please everyone who reads it. People have inherently different tastes from one another, which The Independent even acknowledged in the intro of its list, alongside their ranking criteria: only films, not TV, released post-2000 could be taken into consideration for an actor’s spot on the list. Most likely, this is why certain celebrated actors like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks were ranked lower on the list, having experienced their prime years in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

At the end of the day, do I think the list is perfect? No, I don’t. I have my own opinions just like everyone else. However, I respect the folks who made this list simply because it reignites healthy debate and conversation around cinema, which I love to take part in. And, of course, I also love Emma Stone, who deserves to be mentioned alongside the best actors working today.

You can stream Emma Stone's latest film, Kinds of Kindness, which is currently streamable with a Hulu subscription. Be sure that you also keep your eyes peeled on the 2025 movie schedule, as she has films set for release on it.

In addition to having two major blockbusters battling it out for dominance (namely Jeff Fowler's Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Barry Jenkins' Mufasa: The Lion King), the final weekend of the year also features a strong showing from a bit of seasonal counterprogramming (specifically the arrival of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu). You can check out the full results of the Top 10 below and join me after for analysis.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Speeds Past $200 Million Worldwide As It Takes Its Second Domestic Box Office Crown

Last weekend, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 went toe-to-toe with Mufasa: The Lion King in an opening weekend battle, and after the former came out on top in Round 1, matching rankings have been revealed from Round 2. But while the video adaptation has held on to its domestic box office crown, the race between the two titles was much closer over the last three days.

According to The Numbers, early box office reporting says that Sonic The Hedgehog 3 made an additional $38 million in the United States and Canada over the last three days – which is less than $1 million more than its close competitor (more on that in a bit). Not only did the film make enough money to stay in first place, but it only experienced a 37 percent weekend-to-weekend drop. That suggests that the movie is performing with strong word of mouth – which fits in line with the strong response from critics (CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes gave Sonic 3 a four star review) and the "A" grade that was calculated from CinemaScore surveys.

In just a little oer a week, Sonic The Hedgehog has climbed into the domestic top 20 for 2024 (having already earned more than John Krasinski's IF did in its entire theatrical run), and it will rise into 18th place, surpassing Gil Kenan's Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, with just $2 million more added to its coffers. Given the way the box office landscape typically plays out in January, it has a long runway to race higher and higher up the list.

Even though Sonic The Hedgehog 3 had a softer opening than Jeff Fowler's Sonic The Hedgehog 2 in 2022 ($72.1 million) and did only slightly better than the 2020 original ($58 million), the latest sequel's current trajectory suggests that it could end up outgrossing both of its predecessors domestically. The first sequel is currently the biggest hit of the trio, having made $190.8 million during its run in the United States and Canada, but Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is looking to be even bigger – and it's a good omen for what is being cooked up for the announced Sonic The Hedgehog 4.

Worldwide, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 has made $210 million on the big screen thus far – but on that scale, it's actually being outpaced by its most significant box office competition.

Mufasa: The Lion King Has To Settle For Second Place Again, But Box Office Numbers Are Actually Up From Last Week

If you recalled last week's box office chart while observing the Top 10 above, you'd be excused for performing a double take. There is no typo: Mufasa: The Lion King made more in its second weekend of domestic release than its first. Final numbers during the prequel's debut saw the film earn $35.4 million (which was significantly less than the $60.1 million made by Sonic The Hedgehog 3), but the life-like animated feature followed up that performance by making $37.1 million in the final weekend of the year).

In contrast to the aforementioned impressive 37 percent weekend-to-weekend drop of the video game movie, that's a five percent weekend-to-weekend increase, despite no change in theater count. I pondered in my box office column last week, if families seeing Sonic The Hedgehog 3 last weekend would opt to see Mufasa: The Lion King this weekend, and the ticket sales suggest that to be a reasonable surmise.

The Barry Jenkins film hasn't broken into the domestic Top 20 yet like its fellow Christmas season blockbuster, but it has made $88.4 million so far, and every sign points towards it continuing to be a significant box office presence for weeks to come. It's worth noting that it is playing bigger overseas than it is at home, as it has earned $328 million worldwide to date,

Nosferatu Proves Popular Christmas Season Counterprogramming As Robert Eggers Has His Best Opening Weekend Success

With Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King obviously set to dominate the box office, the lineup of new releases from this past week were all smaller prestige titles – and while James Mangold's A Complete Unknown starring Timothée Chalamet and Halina Reijn's Babygirl with Nicole Kidman didn't make too big a splash, the same can't be said for Nosferatu. The movie is the buzziest horror title we've seen arrive in theaters since the end of spooky season, and it not only made $19.2 million in its first weekend, but it has made $40.3 million since it arrive in theaters on Christmas Day.

The success of the violent and eerie vampire film has instantly made it the biggest box office success of Robert Eggers' career thus far. The writer/director has earned extreme acclaim since the release of his feature directorial, 2016's The Witch, but his highest grossing feature prior to Nosferatu was The Northman, which completed its time playing on the big screen making just $34.2 million.

So what can we expect from the 2025 Movie Release Calendar? The answer is not much immediately, as there actually aren't any fresh wide releases arriving in theaters for the first weekend of the new year. That being said, you should still plan to head back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday for my latest box office report and an update about all of the titles mentioned above.

Anne Hathaway is somewhat of a fashion icon in her own right these days, between her amazing Aubrey Hepburn-esque look from last month or the stunning bright red Versace dress she wore at The Idea Of You premiere in April. But her story about The Princess Diaries mentions a brand that feels super early aughts.

Anne Hathaway grew up in Brooklyn, but once she struck big in Hollywood, The Princess Diaries costume designer brought her to Santa Monica’s outdoor fashion hub where she decided to cut loose and buy some designer leather pants. Why? Because she was super into Angelina Jolie, of course. The actress, who is seven years older than Hathaway, had started gaining prominence in the public eye at that time with Hackers, Girl, Interrupted and Gone In 60 Seconds, and Hathaway loved her style.

While leather pants are totally not the same energy as the Queen of Genovia, it’s sweet that Anne Hathaway shouted out Angelina Jolie while speaking to Women’s Wear Daily. As someone who used to be an 18-year-old teen girl like Anne Hathaway was, I can recall looking to celebrities and their fashion sense to inform my own, and making a purchase like this would have been a huge deal to me, too.

It’s especially fun to hear about Anne Hathaway’s early days as a star now that she announced The Princess Diaries 3 is happening. Hathaway shared the good news a couple of months ago with word that Joy Ride director Adele Lim is set to helm the feature. We don’t know The Princess Diaries 3 release date right now, or if Julie Andrews, Chris Pine and such will be joining, but we certainly hope they will accompany Hathaway.

Additionally, Angelina Jolie has been out and about with her first role in three years with Maria, which has earned rave reviews and is now streaming on Netflix. Perhaps if she hasn't already, one day Hathaway will get to tell Jolie about her funny first purchase!

Emma Heming Willis took to her Instagram to commemorate the start of her and the Last Boy Scout star’s relationship. It was in 2007 that the two first met, and they eventually tied the knot in 2009. This year, Heming Willis included a sweet throwback photo of herself and her now-69-year-old hubby, as they posed against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset. Additionally, the Mrs. penned the aforementioned sentiments, through which she didn’t hold back about the bittersweet nature of this latest anniversary:

One can certainly understand why the 46-year-old veteran model has mixed feelings about what would typically be a lovely occasion. It goes without saying that it surely can’t be easy caring for her or her relatives caring for her husband amid his health issues. Nevertheless, the Red alum and her loved ones have conveyed significant resilience throughout this time, and her sweet anniversary post conveys that same aura. Check out the full post:

Emma Heming Willis has truly proven to be her husband’s advocate, as he continues to deal with his health challenges. Based on what she’s shared, she’s become one of his primary caregivers over the past several years. She’s also defended him when necessary, such as when paparazzi were hollering at him in public a few years ago. Some of her Heming Willis’ posts have been raw but, based on her sentiments, they’re rooted in her love for her spouse.

Amid Bruce Willis’ health challenges, he and his family have still been able to spend time together. Two of his daughters, Scout and Tallulah Willis shared some sweet Thanksgiving photos this year. Said snapshots show the actor embracing his children while also holding up a sign that reads, “Best Dad Ever.” The brood also spent the holiday together around which time it was reported that Bruce’s family was “praying for a miracle” in regard to his condition.

It’s honestly been heartbreaking to watch the Whole Nine Yards star’s loved ones grapple with their circumstances. However, it’s also been incredibly heartwarming to see Emma Heming Willis lead the charge when it comes to caring for him and celebrating the brighter moments that come the family’s way. Here’s hoping that she and the iconic action star are able to spend as many more anniversaries together as possible.

Fans can check out Bruce Willis’ best movies, as they’re available to stream in a myriad of places.

Tom Cruise has been working in the entertainment industry for decades now and continues to thrive. All the while, the star has seemingly shared his experience and knowledge with some of the newer actors to hit the scene. One such person is Monica Barbaro, who famously starred alongside Cruise in the box office hit Top Gun: Maverick. Barbaro recently explained how her co-star recently went to bat for her when it came to her involvement in the 2024 movie schedule entry A Complete Unknown, and the comments are so sweet.

In James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, Monica Barbaro took on the role of legendary folk singer Joan Baez and acted alongside Timothée Chalamet (who played lead character Bob Dylan). Barbaro really wanted the role and, as she has explained during the film’s press tour, she put in a lot of work to secure the part. Though the FUBAR star’s casting can mostly be attributed to her dedication and talent, it turns out she had someone to vouch for her. Barbaro recently revealed that said person was Mr. Cruise, who she had some kind words for:

To say that Tom Cruise is one of the most influential people in Hollywood would be a gross understatement, as the man has amassed some serious influence. However, his decision to reach out to the Ford v. Ferrari filmmaker on Monica Barabaro’s behalf could also be due to the fact that Cruise and Mangold worked together on Knight and Day. Regardless of that, it was incredibly sweet for Cruise to vouch for Barbaro. During that same interview with Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, the actress further sang her co-star’s praises:

Few would likely deny that the Jerry Maguire star is one of the hardest working people in show business. Over the past few years, he’s been devoting a great deal of time to the highly anticipated Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is set to hit theatres as part of the 2025 movie schedule. It would seem that the leading man performed more massive stunts for the film, based on the first M:I 8 trailer. Of course, it’s likely that he continued to exercise the safety approach that his Maverick co-star mentioned.

I’d say that Tom Cruise’s belief that Monica Barbaro was the right actress for the role of Joan Baez was correct. Barbaro has since received several awards nominations, including a Golden Globe nod, which she’s over the moon about. She also recently had the chance to reunite with Cruise for a screening of James Mangold’s latest flick. Overall, I love that these two stars remain close and support each other. Here’s hoping that their professional and personal bond remains strong for years to come.

A Complete Unknown is playing in theaters now, so head over to your local cinema to check it out. Also, anyone with an active Paramount+ subscription can see Tom Cruise and Monica Barbaro share the screen in Top Gun: Maverick.

The multi-talented star recently took to her Instagram stories to share an intimate moment from her cozy holiday retreat. The post featured an image, which you can see below, of a breathtaking view through a large picture window overlooking a serene, snow-draped landscape of rolling hills and pine trees. Framed by minimalist decor, two plush armchairs with fur throws sit on either side of a simple coffee table adorned with a bouquet of crimson flowers—adding a pop of warmth to the frosty scene:

If there’s one thing we’ve come to expect from the Selena star, it’s her ability to embrace life with unmatched gusto—and the holidays are no exception. The cozy winter scene she shared feels like it could be plucked straight from the set of the best Hallmark Christmas movies, yet it’s undeniably infused with J.Lo’s signature flair.

Every detail, from the thoughtfully arranged decor to the stunning snow-dusted backdrop, is a testament to how simplicity can radiate elegance. It’s a refreshing departure from the high-octane performances and red-carpet glamour we usually associate with her, offering fans a glimpse into a quieter, more personal side of her yuletide celebrations.

The holiday season has been buzzing with activity for the Gigli actress and her blended family. Recently, news surfaced about Emme—one of the twins JLo shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony—participating in a play alongside Fin, one of Ben Affleck’s children with Jennifer Garner. Both families came out to support the event, and while reports suggested minimal interaction between the adults, TMZ did catch a moment of Affleck chatting with Lopez’s daughter. It’s yet another example of the families showing up for one another, building on moments like the much-talked-about brunch earlier this year that included JLo, Affleck, and their kids.

Amid her busy life, seeing the Cell actress taking some well-deserved time to relax in her dreamy winter wonderland is refreshing. Personally, JLo’s latest holiday vibes have me craving a cup of hot cocoa and already planning how to revamp my holiday decor for next year. With her latest post, Jennifer Lopez proves yet again that she’s not just an icon of entertainment—she’s an icon of living beautifully. Here’s hoping for more glimpses into her winter wonderland as the season continues!

Jennifer Lopez has a hectic 2025 movie schedule ahead, as she’s got a ton of projects on the horizon, like the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of Kiss of the Spider Woman. For now, you can stream her most recent flick, Atlas, with a Netflix subscription.

With a title like The Conjuring: Last Rites, it sounds like this sequel is going to bring one of the most successful horror movie franchises of all time into the afterlife. Could this truly be the end of the Conjuring Universe movies in order? Find out by taking a look at this guide to what we know about the upcoming horror movie so far.

What Is The Conjuring: Last Rites Release Date?

Showing up on our upcoming 2025 movies schedule is the release of The Conjuring: Last Rites, which is set to haunt theaters on September 5, 2025. It is one of the biggest horror releases in an already massive year for the genre, which includes the upcoming “zombie” movie sequel, 28 Years Later, and the a new chapter in the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise. Of course, this sequel is a special occasion with the return of two of the most iconic horror movie actors of their time reprising their roles.

Patrick Wilson And Vera Farmiga Lead The Conjuring: Last Rites Cast

So far, the confirmed The Conjuring: Last Rites cast includes two particularly familiar faces and a couple of newcomers to the franchise. See who is playing whom.

Patrick Wilson (Ed Warren)

Following his performance as Josh Lambert in director James Wan’s Insidious cast, the filmmaker would cast the actor in his next haunted house movie favorite, 2013’s The Conjuring, as famed paranormal investigator Ed Warren, whom he is portraying for the fifth time (or sixth if you want to count the Nun II post-credit scene) in Last Rites.

Outside of the horror genre, Wilson is known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the 2004 miniseries Angels in America, the Oscar-nominated 2007 drama Little Children, and a handful of DC movies (namely Zack Snyder’s Watchmen and Wan’s Aquaman films).

Vera Farmiga (Lorraine Warren)

Once again playing Ed Warren’s medium wife, Lorraine, is Vera Farmiga, whose own most notable horror contributions include 2009’s Orphan and A&E’s psycho prequel series Bates Motel. The actor (whose younger sister, Taissa Farmiga, plays Sister Irene in the Nun movies) is also known for her dramas like Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas from 2009, and Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, for which she received an Academy Award nomination.

Mia Tomlinson

Joining the Conjuring franchise in an undisclosed role (which is rumored to be an aged-up version of Ed and Lorraine’s daughter, Judy) is Mia Tomlinson, who is making her film debut in The Conjuring: Last Rites. The British actor debuted as Anne Bonny in Netflix’s partially dramatized docuseries The Lost Pirate Kingdom, followed by a U.K. series called The Beast Must Die and two short films: 2023’s Bandits and The Mediator from the following year.

Ben Hardy

Rumored to play Judy Warren’s real-life husband, Tony Spera, is fellow English actor Ben Hardy, who first broke through on the soap opera EastEnders before appearing as Angel in X-Men: Apocalypse and later starring in movies like Mary Shelley and Only the Brave. He is perhaps best known for playing Queen drummer Roger Taylor in Bohemian Rhapsody and for Netflix’s 2023 romantic drama, Love at First Sight.

What The Conjuring: Last Rites Is About

As of December 2024, there is no word on which alleged paranormal investigation from the Warrens’ extensive case files will serve as the inspiration for The Conjuring: Last Rites. What we do know, based on director Michael Chavez’s comments to SlashFilm in 2023, is that this will serve as a finale for the franchise.

Whether this means that there will no longer be any cinematic spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun has yet to be determined, but we can confidently say that the film will be last hurrah for Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga’s portrayals of Ed and Lorraine. In November 2024, to celebrate the final day of production for Last Rites, Farmiga made an emotional Instagram post “bidding adieu” to her fake marriage to Wilson.

Michael Chaves Is Directing The Conjuring: Last Rites

The aforementioned Michael Chaves is the director of Last Rites. The movie will be the third in the Conjuring Universe helmed by the filmmaker after 2019’s The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It from 2021 – the former of which was his feature film debut. He was previously best known as the director of the video for Billie Eilish’s Bury a Friend.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick – who previously wrote Orphan, the second and third Conjuring movies, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – penned the screenplay. James Wan – the popular director of great horror movies like the original Saw, the first two Insidious movies, and the first two Conjuring movies – is involved as always as a producer, alongside Peter Safran.

There Is Also A Conjuring TV Show Spin-Off In Development

While The Conjuring: Last Rites could mark the end of this spooky shared universe on the big screen, it will soon be crossing over to the small screen. There is an upcoming horror TV show spun off from the world of the Warrens now in the works.

The Conjuring TV show was announced in 2023 but it was not until roughly a year later when Variety reported that plans for the series were still moving forward. Still, there is no word on what this spin-off will focus on and when it will become available to stream with a Max subscription.

How To Watch The Previous Conjuring Movies

Speaking of Max, one of the reasons why it is considered one of the best streaming services to subscribe to today is that it serves as a streaming home for the Conjuring movies… well, a couple of them at least. The rest are available on other platforms (such as 2014’s Annabelle with a Netflix subscription) or can be bought or rented on digital or purchased on physical media on Amazon.

How to watch the Conjuring Movies

Celebrate more than a decade of horrifying haunts with the Warrens’ cinematic counterparts when The Conjuring: Last Rites hits theaters.

The situation between Blake Lively and her It Ends with Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni continues to grow in the aftermath of her sexual harassment complaint against him and Wayfarer Studios. A number of celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Lively’s Traveling Pants sisters were quick to send their support after accusations that Baldoni launched a smear campaign against the actress amidst her response to his allegedly toxic on-set behavior. The number of people in her corner continues to grow as others have spoken out about the brouhaha, including actresses Kaitlin Olson and Whitney Cummings.

Whitney Cummings has delivered a scathing assessment of Justin Baldoni, particularly how he’s created a brand around being a feminist. The standup comedian isn’t buying it, and in a viral TikTok roast, she says she doesn't like when men — “especially symmetrical ones” — fight for women’s rights in order to get laid. She was amused when she discovered his philanthropic work, saying:

Justin Baldoni was, in fact, set to receive the Voices Of Solidarity Award, which is given to men who show “courage and compassion” in the cause of advocating for women, but that has since been rescinded. Whitney Cummings continued to go off with several brutal assumptions about the actor, saying:

That’s not even where she stopped, either.

Others chose to show their support in other ways. Kaitlin Olson, whose husband Rob McElhenney owns the Wrexham football club with Blake Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, took to her Instagram Stories (via People) to share her opinion of the Gossip Girl alum, writing:

The High Potential star has said she and Blake Lively have only met a couple of times due to their spouses’ business dealings, but one person very in the know has also defended Lively by speaking out against Justin Baldoni. Bart Johnson, who is married to the A Simple Favor actress’ sister Robyn Lively, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Jane the Virgin actor, writing on X (Twitter):

As for what’s next for Blake Lively’s lawsuit, it sounds like this isn’t something that’s going to be resolved anytime soon, but it’s clear that she’s got plenty of support in the entertainment business, regardless of the alleged efforts to “astroturf” the actress by ruining her reputation.

In the meantime, the book-to-movie adaptation It Ends with Us is now available to stream with a Netflix subscription while we wait to see how these sexual harassment accusations play out.

John Travolta In Pulp Fiction

This is one of the more obvious ones. The meme is John Travolta looking around confused. It comes, of course, from Pulp Fiction, when he walks into the Wallace's house to pick up Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) for their date. When he first walks in, Mia is nowhere to be seen, but she can be heard over what seems like an intercom system or sound system. He is confused about where Mia is.

Charlie Day In It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The "Pepe Silvia Conspriracy is what gives us the great meme of Charlie Day on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia standing wide-eyed in front of a bulletin board with a red string drawn across "evidence" that he's co-worker Pepe Silvia isn't real. it comes from the Season 4 episode, "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack."

Nicolas Cage In Vampire's Kiss

There is no better actor from which to get great memes than Nicolas Cage, especially in those scenes where Cage goes completely bananas. In Vampire's Kiss, we get such a scene when Cage is just starting to lose it after he hooks up with a vampire who bites his neck.

Gene Wilder In Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

The "tell me more" meme, known officially as "Condescending Wonka" features Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka comes from a scene when Wonka isn't being condescending at all. He's just excited to show the kids the Ever-Lasting Gobstopper.

Patrick Stewart In Star Trek: The Next Generation

There is no question that the Patrick Stewart/Jean-Luc Picard facepalm from Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of the most widely used memes in the history of the entire internet. Curious, it comes from a very brief moment on the show. It's seriously like half a second when he does it. it comes from the Season 3 episode titled "Deja Q" and unsurprisingly, he's stunned by Q.

Leonardo DiCaprio In The Great Gatsby

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the actors people most love to use in a meme and one of his most famous is from the first party scene in The Great Gatsby as he's finally introducing himself as the great Gatsby. Of course, it's matched with great fanfare in the movie, which is sadly missing from the meme (obviously).

Steve Carell In The Office

Steve Carell has had some classic memes made from his expressions on The Office but none more used than the classic shot of him yelling "NO!" It will be no surprise to fans of that Carell's character Micheal is reacting to the return of his nemesis in the office, Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein).

Sean Bean In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

At the Council of Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Sean Bean's character Boromir declares that "One does not simply walk into Mordor." So a meme was born as the look on Bean's face is perfect for describing anything that isn't easy.

Homer In The Simpsons

The scene of Homer Simpson disappearing into the bushes, used for all kinds of memes to show embarrassment, is, incredibly, over 30 years now. The scene comes from a Season 5 episode called "Homer Loves Flanders." The scene is specifically parodying the Terminator in Terminator 2 and his shape-shifting as Homer chases after Flanders.

Spider-Man In Spider-Man

The famous Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man meme comes from way back in the 1960s and the Spider-Man cartoon that aired for one season in 1967. In the episode, the villain disguises himself as Spider-Man and they confront each other outside the police station.

Robert Redford In Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson is not one of Robert Redford's most remembered movies. In fact, there is a decent chance it would be forgotten completely if not for the famous meme of Redford with his bushy beard looking back over his shoulder seemingly approving something, as the meme makes it out to be. In the movie, he's nodding approval after having trapped a beaver.

Joaquin Phoenix In The Joker

One of the most recent memes to really take off is the scene from The Joker of Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character dances on some stairs as he embraces the villain he has become. The stairs themselves have become a popular tourist spot and famous filming location in The Bronx.

Ice Cube In Friday

It's a statement that has come to mean so much more than the fleeting scene it was originally in Friday. Felicia is the annoying neighbor who is always looking to get over on someone but isn't very good at it. After begging the main characters for a whole bunch of stuff, finally, Craig (Ice Cube) says curtly, "Bye Felicia" and a meme was born,

Willem Dafoe In Spider-Man 3

Willem Dafoe In Spider-Man 3 is really great, especially as Norman Osborn, the alter-ego of The Green Goblin. Famously he tells Peter that he is "something of a scientist himself" and that moment is one that has lived on as one of the most popular memes on the web, used to tell people that "someone is quite the something."

Keanu Reeves In Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

Long before the internet was part of everyday life, people were celebrating Keanu Reeves for his famous "Whoa!" in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. In the years since, that celebration has only grown and now it's one of the most widely circulated memes in the world, usually used to signify the same thing it is in the movie, pure surprise. In the scene, it's when they discover all both Bills and Teds are thinking of the same number.

Laurence Fishburne In The Matrix

What if I told you that the line "What if I told you" doesn't actually appear in The Matrix? Would that blow your mind? The reason most people think it does is because of the famous meme of Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus. Morpheus is explaining what the matrix is in the scene, but he never says those words.

James Van Der Beek On Dawson's Creek

The famous "Dawson" crying meme comes from a moment on Dawsom's Creek so brief if you blink at the wrong time, you'll miss it. It comes from a scene in the Season 3 finale when Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey (Katie Holmes) break up. the meme has had a far longer impact on popular culture than the show, it turns out.

Tim Robinson On I Think You Should Leave

Tim Robinson's saying "You sure about that" has quickly become one of the most used memes around, especially on YouTube. It comes from a Season 2 episode of one of the best Netflix original shows, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson where Robinson is playing a stereotypical pitchman on an infomercial.

Jeff Goldblum In Jurassic Park

Ah yes, we've finally come to the "Jeff Goldblum shirtless in Jurassic Park" meme. The scene is after Goldblum's character Dr. Ian Malcolm is injured in the T-Rex attack and he is resting and trying to recover while criticizing what's happening around him.

Woody And Buzz In Toy Story 2

The famous meme of Woody And Buzz from Toy Story 2 has been used for every kind of meme imaginable when trying to explain something to someone. In the movie, it doesn't really have anything to do with that. The scene is when Woody has lost his hat right before leaving with Andy for summer camp and they are desperately looking for it as Buzz seems unconcerned about it all.

Wayne Knight In Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park really is a meme-able movie and one of the most famous ones is Wayne Knight of Seinfeld fame laughing and pointing away from another character. In the scene, he is mocking Dobson (the man in the shades and the hat) for thinking anyone in the beach bar cares what they are doing there. In Meme form, it's used to mock anyone, really.

Bruno Ganz In Downfall

Bruno Ganz in the amazing movie Downfall is a different kind of meme as people rewrite the subtitles of the epic scene in the German movie to fit whatever they are angry about, from sports to casting decisions in the MCU. In the movie, of course, Ganz plays the evil man with a tiny mustache as he is freaking out towards the end of World War II and it's clear he and the Germans have lost.

Ray Liotta In GoodFellas

This famous meme comes from a very famous scene in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. In the scene, Ray Liotta's character Henry Hill is reacting to a funny story told by Tommy (Joe Pesci). It's used for just about everything as a meme, but in the movie, Tommy is very angry at Henry for not explaining how Tommy's funny. Funny how? Funny like a clown? The meme is, that's for sure.

Leonardo DiCaprio In Django Unchained

The very famous meme of Leonardo DiCaprio laughing in Django Unchained is from a shot so brief it's amazing anyone picked up on it to even make it a meme. It's obviously from the dinner party and DiCaprio's character is laughing at his own joke, which makes the meme even better.

Jordan Peele In Key And Peele

Jordan Peele has become better known for his direction of amazing horror movies these days than as half of the brilliant comedy duo Key And Peele, but his most famous comes from the latter. In the sketch, his wife is asking him about his browser history, and the crazier and crazier the searches get the more he starts to sweat until it's pouring like a faucet out of his head.

Wagner Moura In Narcos

"Sad Pablo" has become very popular since Wagner Moura's amazing performance as Pablo Escobar in Narcos. The various memes on him looking sad or contemplative are taken from many moments on the show, but very rarely from when he is actually sad, Mostly they are fleeting moments of the drug kingpin thinking about his next move.

Christine Taylor In A Very Brady Sequel

"Sure Jan" is a pure classic. Obviously, it's Marsha Brady and she is indeed talking down to her sister Jan in the scene in A Very Brady Sequel, which is a pretty underrated comedy based on the original show from the 1960s. In the scene, Jan is making up a story about her imaginary boyfriend, George Glass and while everyone else in the family believes her, Marsha certainly does not.

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Carl Weathers In Predator

In the meme, all we get is two very muscular arms gripping hands in a very masculine handshake. One arm belongs to Arnold Schwarzenegger and the other to Carl Weathers. It comes from a scene in the first Predator movie. When the two characters, who are old friends, first see each other before the mission to seek and destroy the titular enemy.

It’s a Trap! In Return Of The Jedi

This is probably the most famous meme of them all, or at least the one that most people are going to know where it comes from. The origin story here of Admiral Akbar in Return Of The Jedi after the fleet has jumped in the battle above Endor. His famous line is, of course, "It's a trap!"

Bill Skarsgård In It

In what has to be the creepiest popular meme around, Pennywise, as played by Bill Skarsgård in It, is looking up out of a storm drain. It occurs after one of the kids chases his paper boat as it floats down the gutter and into the sewer.

Leonardo DiCaprio In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Proving that everyone loves a great Leonardo DiCaprio meme, one of the more popular ones lately is of the actor from Once Upon A Time In Hollywood as he points at the TV because he's about to be on. Not seen in the photo is Brad Pitt, who is also in the scene watching with DiCaprio.

Nicolas Cage In Wicker Man

"NOT THE BEES!" is one of Nicolas Cage's most unhinged lines from a totally unhinged movie, The Wicker Man. It's a movie that seemingly only exists for the memes. There are a lot of options in the movie, that's for sure.

It’s easy to rank the best 2024 movies, as the criteria usually rests on the burden of artistry and enjoyment. And while I’m still putting together my own “best of” list for the year, there’s another field that actually came up when revising one of my favorites. After rewatching director Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night, I asked the question of what the most uplifting movie of this year happens to be.

The SNL historical drama definitely has a spot on my roster of top honors, but in terms of lifting ones spirits, there’s 10 other movies that could challenge its crown. So let’s look at the most uplifting movies of 2024, while winding our way to why Saturday Night is probably at the top of the list.

The Wild Robot

Even if you’re not a parent, The Wild Robot’s story of Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) trying to care for a young gosling is identifiable. Director Chris Sanders’ tale of empathy and community bonding is as heartwarming as it is tear-jerking. Don’t worry, bonding among Roz’s friends leads to some pretty funny moment to break up the really emotional stuff.

Megalopolis

Get the laughs out while you can, but I stand by my case that Megalopolis is an underrated utopian narrative. Tackling the issues of politics, division and tabloid drama, Francis Ford Coppola's passion project does what it says on the tin. Acting as a true “fable” of modernity, the Adam Driver-led cast engages in a story that ultimately wants us to work together, rather than fall apart, for the future.

The Lord of the RIngs: The War Of The Rohirrim

In my review for The War of the Rohirrim, I highlighted how director Kenji Kamiyama’s anime entry into the Middle-Earth Saga was as epic as its live-action predecessors. That statement doesn’t merely apply to the action packed fight scenes though, as the latest Lord of the Rings movie also retained a key theme from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings. Endurance and hope are the lights that guide the kingdom of Rohan through its darkest days, and I felt that when seeing this undervalued gem.

Orion And The Dark

2024 has been a sneaky good year for animation, to the point where the 2025 Academy Awards should be quite a competition to watch. Netflix’s Orion and the Dark is one such title, as we experience a journey into conquering fear. As the ever-fearful Orion (Jacob Tremblay) pals around with Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) during his nocturnal duties, the facing of his fears leads to some beautifully poignant moments, right down to the picture’s twist ending.

Conclave

Peeking through the intrigue and drama that Edward Berger’s Conclave has to offer, a lot of attention is paid to the fascinating drama and notes of humor that punctuate this stellar film. But by the time we see Thomas Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) complete his duties during the titular event, the weary man of faith seems to have found a spark that keeps him going. Conclave’s ending is a perfect conclusion to a rich and rewarding picture.

Red One

Holiday movies tend to be quite inspirational, with tales of naughty vs. nice giving us all a reason to smile. Red One actually sticks the landing though, as the development of both Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) and Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) addresses their cynical views on the world. With Red One’s record-setting streaming run now making news, a lot more people are going to get to experience the Christmas spirit of joy that this movie espouses.

The Imaginary

Imagination has been a huge theme at the movies in 2024, with the more positive side working through pictures like If, and the darker side being presented in the horror flick Imaginary. That’s not to be confused with The Imaginary, Netflix’s anime stunner that delves into the secret world of those friends we make, and eventually lose, as we grow in childhood. Not shying away from such loss, Studio Ponoc’s gorgeous adventure is a family friendly movie with the right amount of uplifting maturity.

Nutcrackers

Another holiday movie that managed to make an impression on me this year is Nutcrackers. A Hulu original directed by David Gordon Green, the low-key family drama sees Ben Stiller’s Michael adjusting to looking after his dead sister’s sons. This is another one of those movies that is on the border of being a Christmas film, but what really lifts the spirits of this picture is how the shenanigans give way to Stiller turning in some of his most emotional work.

Wicked

If you didn’t think that Wicked was going to be on this list, your worries are now officially dispelled. Jon M. Chu’s big screen translation of the hit Broadway musical has only shown us the first half of its story, but already the results have a rather positive message. And yes, that’s taking into account what little I know about Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her journey in the next chapter, Wicked: For Good.

That Christmas

Brian Cox’s casting as That Christmas’ Santa was a masterstroke, especially in a year where his voice also helps guide us through the dark times of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. But in terms of this Richard Curtis/Netflix collaboration, Cox is more of a voice of authority that leads us through a Love, Actually-style tale of kids trying to make it the best Christmas ever. Though much like J.K. Simmons’ Santa from Red One, it brings a tear to my eye to witness a Santa that believes in all of us on the ground.

Saturday Night

It’s now time for us to circle back to Saturday Night:, the dramatization of the supposedly eventful first night that Saturday Night Live would go on the air. So why is the movie I sometimes called “Whiplash meets SNL” such an “uplifting movie?” Well, it lies in the magic of the performances by the entire Saturday Night cast.

Did this movie make me cheer for the success of alleged jerk Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith)? Indeed it did. Was I tearing up during the subtly heartbreaking scene where Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt) asks John Belushi (Matt Wood) where they’d be in 20 years? Like a total baby.

But the moment that really set me up to break once the show goes off without a hitch is a monologue delivered by Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle). His impassioned defense of what SNL represents spoke to me as a creator, and as a human. Not to mention, it actually reminded me of when I first discovered the show as a teen, letting my mind be blown by the prestigious comedy show.

That’s why Saturday Night is my pick for the most uplifting movie of 2024. I hope that any of these movies give you the same warm and inspired feelings I had while watching them. Here’s to 2025 and the uplifting thrills it should deliver through pictures, like Paddington in Peru and Downton Abbey 3!

When it comes to 2024 movies going viral, Wicked might have earned the gold trophy for having the largest and most famous internet footprint while Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo promoted the film around the world. Along with the two leads of the Wicked movie cast going viral for learning an interviewer was a Broadway veteran, their fingers have been all over the internet as of late because of the “holding space” meme. And, A Complete Unknown’s Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning just recreated it while doing press themselves.

Now, obviously, Grande and the internet are freaking out about all this.

A Complete Unknown’s Leads Recreated Viral Wicked Meme

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the interviewer who famously told Grande and Erivo that people were “holding space” for the lyrics of “Defying Gravity”. The interview clip went wildly viral for the phrase Gilchrist used and the two Wicked leads holding each others' fingers during the interview.

So, when she started her interview with Chalamet and Fanning with her now viral phrase, the two actors couldn’t help but reference it. Check it:

Imagine Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning being starstruck by you. The two actors from the Bob Dylan biopic couldn’t help but parody the hilarious Wicked press tour moment that has been all over the internet recently, and their reactions are amazing.

Ariana Grande And The ‘Chronically Online’ Hilariously React

But then there’s the reactions from the internet. THE Ariana Grande saw the clip of Chalamet and Fanning recreating the “holding space” moment and shared it to her own Instagram and called Gilchrist a “queen.” Take a look:

This is too funny. There was a time when big names would perhaps miss viral moments like this, but Grande didn’t miss it. How could she?

The meme has become so good Mark Ruffalo even trolled it, and Gilchrist herself has even nabbed ads with the makeup brand MAC and Amazon as a result of the meme. She’s really become an internet sensation, ala TikTok’s Jools LeBron earned earlier this year with the word “demure.”

Here’s another funny response to Gilchrist’s latest interview:

It’s so specific and layered, that only the “chronically online” get it. Check out these comments from the Instagram post of the interview moment that shows the internet is nowhere close to over this whole encounter:

• “This is my Time's Person of the Year” - @cartoonsandshochu
• “I love when celebrities are chronically online like the rest of us” - @katyhobbles
• “what a time to be alive 👉🏼🤏🏼” - @sophiemullikin
• “Pop culture at it’s FINEST *chefs kiss*” - @ryantymensky
• “What a ridiculous timeline we live in. Carry on! 😂😂” - @djjohnmichael

It’s too good!

We have to wonder how Tracy E. Gilchrist, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will interact once the Wicked: For Good release date arrives in 2025! And then hopefully they get fun follow-ups to it from celebs like Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning.

Fans have seen Bill Skarsgård play a human in projects like Hemlock Grove, Castle Rock and Barbarian. But, when The Crow actor plays otherworldly creatures, it can be truly unsettling. In Robert Eggers' aforementioned remake that critics are calling “horrifically brilliant,” Skarsgård sinks his own teeth into Transylvanian vampire Count Orlok. In his interview with EW, the Atomic Blonde actor got real about having to transform into the menacing count. From there, he explained how It changed the course of his career:

It appears that playing Derry’s malevolent entity broke the ice for Bill Skarsgård as far as playing transformative roles goes. While wearing such heavy prosthetics can help with the physical transformation process, an actor still needs to know how to mentally separate themself from the role. It sounds like the John Wick 4 actor learned from Pennywise how to take his real-life self out of a given character.

You’d never know when first looking at It’s Pennywise that it's Bill Skarsgård underneath all of that extreme face paint. The talented actor brought a fresh perspective to the Stephen King character by adding his own creepy components. For example, he did this freaky non-CGI trick with his eyes to make them cross and uncross and came up with Pennywise’s smile based on the fun he had scaring his little brother. I love that the scary role not only helped boost the actor's career but also impacted his decision to take on other dark roles.

On that note, playing Count Orlok in Nosferatu was an entirely different story for Bill Skarsgård as the vampire character even “terrified” him. After all, the Nine Days actor himself is far different from a centuries-old vampire obsessed with a young woman. Initially, Skarsgård couldn’t help but compare his Nosferatu transformation to Pennywise, considering the prosthetics. Additionally, the Anna Karenina actor worked with an opera coach to learn how to roll those Rs like a Transylvanian in a low vocal register. Talk about commitment.

Now, after playing the scary vampiric character, Bill Skarsgård says he never wants to play “something this evil again” because of the dark places he had to inhabit mentally. Interestingly, after playing Pennywise, the star had horrific dreams about the body-shifting entity as well. So it goes without saying that portraying these kinds of characters aren't easy, but they can truly allow an actor like Skarsgård to challenge themselves. I'm hoping the A-lister isn't done with such roles for good.

For now, check out the actor's work in the 2024 movie release Nosferatu, which is now playing in theaters. You can also grab a Max subscription to stream It Chapters One and Two to see his turn as Pennywise, who the actor will reprise in the upcoming prequel series Welcome to Derry.

When the Canadian director spoke to our sister site GamesRadar+, he shared some more insights into why he chose to make Chani central to the final moment of Dune: Part Two. Apparently, it had to do with something that Frank Herbert felt in the aftermath of his original 1965 novel's release. In his words:

As fans of Frank Herbert's book may have noticed, there are some liberties taken with the ending of the Dune sequel. Yet those alterations help strengthen the character of Chani and better communicate the messages of the book that many readers initially misinterpreted when the text was released decades ago. Villeneuve also said this:

Dune: Part Two ends on the very shot at the top of this article. It allows the audience to feel the flood of emotions Chani feels after Paul defeats Feyd-Rautha and assumes his title as the Lisan al Gaib, who begins the apocalyptic holy war he initially feared from his visions. While everyone bows to Paul in the moment that King Shaddam surrenders, Chani is the only one left standing and refusing to do so. After that, the young Fremen warrior goes her own way, getting ready to depart on a sandworm alone as a mixture of sadness, fear and anger run over her face. I'm getting chills just thinking about it.

When CinemaBlend spoke to Florence Pugh and Zendaya about the ending earlier this year, they shared that they were totally “Team Chani." Denis Villeneuve’s expansion of Chani’s storyline was the perfect way to end of the second movie and underline Frank Herbert’s messages from the first book. The film's conclusion is truly devastating, and the filmmaker's comments are making me feel those emotions again. Nevertheless, I love that he put so much thought into the conclusion.

As for the rest of the story, Denis Villeneuve is currently writing the third Dune movie based on Messiah, which will be set 12 years after the events of its predecessor, which is in line with the books. The director has spoken about how Chani is inspiring the third movie. He didn’t get into specifics but he apparently knows “exactly what to do” and is “very excited” about what’s next for the character. Until then, we're left with that lasting image of the character's anger and disgust.

You can check out Dune: Part Two right now with a Max subscription and see where it lands amongst CinemaBlend’s best movies of 2024.

In images taken by a Saks Fifth Avenue in Los Angeles, Tom Holland was seen with Zendaya’s talent manager Jessie Greene, according to Just Jared. The images were posted on December 23, so it seems likely that the Marvel star was getting some last-minute shopping done before spending the holidays with his girlfriend’s family.

On that note, while we don’t know if it was a gift Holland was buying, it certainly would make sense, considering who he was with and where he was. Earlier this month, the Spider-Man actor explained on the Dish podcast that he had plans to spend the holidays with Zendaya’s family, saying:

So, that quote mixed with the photos seems to make the probability that Holland was shopping for Zendaya’s gifts or presents for her family very high.

During the same podcast, Holland went on to explain that in the future, he’s hopeful that he and Zendaya can bring their families together. However, he admitted that they're not the best planners, so that hasn’t happened quite yet.

Now, notably, they’ll both be working on Christopher Nolan’s new movie and Holland has joked that “studios love” it when they work together because they only have to book one hotel room. So, maybe they’ll have some time to work out a Christmas plan for 2025 after a day of filming The Odyssey.

With all this being said, I do hope Holland and Zendaya had a wonderful Christmas together with the Dune actress's family. They both had big years professionally, with the Uncharted actor launching his non-alcoholic beer brand and the actress starring in both Challengers and Dune: Part 2. So, there was a lot to celebrate.

Plus, they have so much to look forward to too. Along with Nolan’s Odyssey adaptation – which Holland reportedly really doesn’t know much about – he’s also working on a fourth Spider-Man film. At the moment, we don’t know how involved Zendaya will be in the upcoming Marvel movie. However, it’s fun to think about these two collaborating on multiple projects in the near future.

On top of all that, the two are staying busy individually too. Zendaya has been working on a new movie called The Drama and she’s expected to go into production on Euphoria Season 3 sometime in the next year. Meanwhile, along with his new business venture with Bero, Holland is working on a film called American Speed.

Overall, I hope Tom Holland’s shopping went well with Zendaya’s manager, and that he had a lovely holiday with his girlfriend and her family that involved some great gifts. They certainly have a lot to be proud of, and we have a whole lot to look forward to from them, so I hope they celebrated this holiday season.

It works as a conclusion to the character's story – but if it turns out that there is more story to tell, Doug Jones is more than happy to be a part of adventure, be it Hocus Pocus 3 or some form of spinoff.

The actor was asked about his potential future as Billy Butcherson during an interview with Collider. His reply wasn't exactly filled with a great deal of optimism that something will actually happen, but he noted that he would be game to reprise the role. Said Jones,

If there were to be some kind of Billy Butcherson spinoff, it likely wouldn't be a sequel simply because of the aforementioned conclusion the character gets in Hocus Pocus 2. That being said, his return in the sequel arrives with the reveal that he remained awake since 1993, and perhaps he didn't spend 29 years under dirt...

Doug Jones isn't brimming with confidence that such a project will ever come together, and he doesn't express inside knowledge about how he couldn't return for Hocus Pocus 3, but he emphasized that he would be interested in being a part of either:

In June 2023, a profile piece about Disney executive Sean Bailey noted that Hocus Pocus 3 was among the projects the studio was working on – but limited information about the movie has been made available since then (Bette Midler has said that conversations about the sequel are being had "very gingerly and very gently."). Screenwriter Jen D’Angelo has teased the sequel saying that filmmakers have "only scratched the surface of Hannah Waddingham's mother witch" from Hocus Pocus 2.

While we wait for Hocus Pocus 3 to come into focus (sorry, had to do it), fans can rewatch both Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 with a Disney+ subscription, as both titles are available in the streaming service's library.

The now-61-year-old actor is known for his good looks but, at one point, he was willing to cover up his visage in green fur. If you see where I’m getting at here, the former sitcom actor revealed to James Austin Johnson’s Grinch on Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast that he was very close to playing Dr. Seuss’ sinister character. The beloved star also explained the reason why he had to pass on the part:

I truly cannot believe that in another timeline, I could've seen the same star who brought the sizzling Jesse Katsopolis to life don that devilish grin underneath green hair and makeup! This is too wild for me to even comprehend. If you look at any shot of Jim Carrey as Whoville’s antagonist, it’s almost impossible to imagine anyone else pulling off the chaotic energy the Golden Globe winner accomplished. Nevertheless, it's interesting to think about what could've been.

It’s understandable why John Stamos would back out of Ron Howard's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, given his makeup allergy. He wouldn’t be the only actor who endured the negative effects of looking completely unrecognizable for a role. For instance, one BTS fact about Tim Burton’s Batman was that Jack Nicholson was allergic to spirit gum (an adhesive for applying prosthetics). So the team had to devise another way to construct his creepy Joker smile. John Rhys-Davies said no to reprising Gimli in The Hobbit to avoid wearing the brutal makeup he was allergic to.

What one can glean from Jim Carrey’s best movies is that the Ace Ventura actor is a pro bringing his characters to life through his physical, emotional, and on-point comedic timing. However, wearing prosthetics on his nose, ears, teeth, and ears was no picnic for the Canadian actor. During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, the Majestic actor said he felt like he was being “buried alive” every day and worked with a CIA operative to overcome the torture of the eight-hour makeup process.

In fact, the former In Living Color cast member said his one condition if he were to reprise The Grinch would be for motion capture to be used to go green compared to the “extremely excruciating process” of full-on makeup. I mean, Avatar, the recent Planet of the Apes series and more film proved actors don’t need to wear full makeup to look indistinguishable.

That aside, I'm still in shock that John Stamos was close to showing off his mischievous charm in full green as The Grinch. While the prosthetic makeup didn’t sit well with the TV actor compared to Jim Carrey, the potential for Stamos to embody the cynical, Christmas-ruining creature is something we can only try to imagine. I'm not sure I'll ever stop thinking about how the General Hospital actor’s interpretation of the role would have compared to Carrey's and whether it also would've garnered praise.

Anyone who'd like to check out Jim Carrey's performance as the green curmudgeon can stream How the Grinch Stole Christmas now using a Peacock subscription.

In the complaint Lively filed against Baldoni’s company Wayfarer Studios, there were a bunch of text messages sent between the director and his PR team that were screenshotted or included. On page 8 of the complaint, which was fully published by NYT, a screenshot of Baldoni’s message is included that features an X thread that’s captioned “Hailey Bieber’s history of bullying many women not just Selena Gomez throughout the years.” After sending that, the Jane the Virgin actor wrote:

In response, Jennifer Abel, a publicist working with Baldoni wrote:

She followed that up with a text noting that they should “focus on reddit, TikTok, IG.” The complaint continues to say that the texts said Lively “would be ‘destroy[ed]’ and ‘buried,’ and that:

Notably, the attention put on Hailey Beiber and her relationship with her husband’s ex, Selena Gomez, has been a point of online speculation and criticism for years. That is what these texts were referencing.

The texts referring to Bieber came after Melissa Nathan, a crisis PR specialist for The Agency Group, had texted Abel saying “You know we can bury anyone but I can’t write that to him. I will, I’ll be very tough.”

These leaked text messages also included other big names, like Taylor Swift, and detailed the alleged plan in place to make Lively look bad during the promotion of It Ends With Us.

After this complaint was filed, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called the claims “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.” Meanwhile, many celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Feig and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants cast have voiced their support for Lively. Notably, the Gossip Girl star’s It Ends With Us colleagues, including author Colleen Hoover and co-stars Brandon Sklenar and Jenny Slate have voiced their support for her as well.

On top of all that, Justin Baldoni’s ex-publicist filed a lawsuit against her ex-employee Jennifer Abel as well.

At the moment, we’re still waiting to see how things develop following the filing of this massive complaint. A litigator explained that the Civil Rights Department could get involved and that Lively has a case for economic damages.

As we learn more about how this legal situation develops, we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Of course, that was probably not the actor himself and just a stunt performer braving that death-defying feat, right? Ehhhhh! Sorry, reader. Wrong guess. Would you like to go for Double Jeopardy where the scores can really change? Or, you could just keep reading this inside look at how the most explosive moment from the beloved Christmas action movie was filmed.

Bruce Willis Performed The Die Hard Stunt Himself

Indeed, it is not a stunt performer you see on camera when New York City detective John McClane leaps from the exploding roof of the Los Angeles high-rise, but the lead star of the Die Hard cast himself, Bruce Willis. However, in reality, he did not brave 40 stories but jumped from the top of a five story parking garage. The actor recalled just how dangerous it was to film one of the most memorable scenes from one of the best Bruce Willis movies in the following quote from a 2007 Entertainment Weekly interview:

Hearing those words would be distressing enough to any actor. Yet, something to keep in mind is that, at the time, Willis was best known for the romantic dramedy series Moonlighting, the 1987 rom-com Blind Date, and starring in commercials for Seagram’s Golden Wine Coolers. So, he had never done anything like this before. In fact, this very stunt was the first of Die Hard’s action sequences he performed.

The Roof Jump Stunt Was The First Die Hard Scene Bruce Willis Shot

In the same EW interview, Willis mentions that the Nakatomi roof stunt was the first scene he shot on the first night of production for Die Hard. Apparently, that was a deliberate decision, according to this quote:

He says this with a laugh but it reinforces just how much Willis (who was not even the bankable movie star this thriller would make him into yet) was willing to risk for the production. Not to mention, he came very close to meeting a bitter end, or at least a world of hurt, when filming the scene.

Bruce Willis Nearly Injured Himself Performing The Stunt

In Die Hard, McClane has nothing but a firehose to keep him from falling to his death as he swings from the Nakatomi rooftop and onto a lower floor through a window that he breaks with a few bullets and his bare feet. Luckily, Willis had an airbag to land on when he performed the stunt but even that was not as reliable as he hoped, as he also mentioned to EW:

When promoting the movie, Willis told Entertainment Tonight that he probably would have been too scared to film the roof jump scene had he seen the “spectacular” sequence beforehand. Furthermore, he swore to never perform a movie stunt like that himself ever again. Who could blame him?

Few characters in animated film history are as iconic as Buzz Lightyear, and it seems fans aren’t the only ones excited about his return. As the upcoming Toy Story 5 moves into production amongst the slate of upcoming Disney movies, Tim Allen, the TS voice cast member behind everyone’s favorite Space Ranger, has opened up about why he was eager to reprise the role. With Disney and Pixar continuing the legacy of the beloved franchise, Allen has assured fans that this next installment will be well worth their while.

In a conversation with Collider, Tim Allen explained why coming back as Buzz wasn’t just another paycheck, but a genuine passion project that started with a fantastic script. It also marks reunion with longtime co-star Tom Hanks, the voice of Woody. While talking about the film's story, the Santa Clause star shared:

It's possible that there may be some who are a bit skeptical of a fifth installment in the franchise, especially considering how long this film franchise has run. However, per the Home Improvement alum's comments, it seems that writer/director Andrew Stanton has cracked a story that could grab even the skeptics' attention.

The Galaxy Quest alum also sheds light on what it’s been like to get back into character after so many years. While it wasn’t a seamless process at first, he quickly found his groove—and his enthusiasm for the project only grew stronger. He continued:

Everyone has their favorite entry in the Pixar series. If I were to rank the Toy Story movies, the third one would rank the highest. It’s been over a decade since that third film brought what many, like myself, considered a perfect ending to Andy’s story. However, the franchise proved there was more magic left with Toy Story 4. Now, this fifth installment promises to continue exploring new layers for everyone’s favorite sentient T-O-Y-S… children’s playthings! I’m excited to see what the writers have in mind.

Specific plot details remain tightly under wraps, but it was confirmed at Disney's D23 Expo this year that Woody and the gang will be facing off against the rise of electronics. The Last Man Standing star’s excitement about the story is a promising sign that Pixar has recaptured the creative spark that made the earlier films such classics. With the voice talent of Tim Allen and Tom Hanks leading the charge once again, fans can, hopefully, expect a movie that honors its legacy while taking bold new steps forward -- and I’m so here for it.

Stay tuned for more updates on Toy Story 5. In the meantime, why not relive the magic of the first four films? All are available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

But that’s not all. Tremendous commitment to details in the film’s period setting not only embed you alongside the characters in a specific time (namely the early 1970s), but successfully contribute to the stakes. And along with a stellar cast full of demonstrative drive that gives the movie an extra charismatic kick, September 5 coalesces as one of the most all-around impressive works to arrive in theaters in 2024.

The only truly bad thing about the movie is its inappropriately boring title, which refers to the date in 1972 when a group of terrorists executed a hostage plot at the Summer Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. The only American media team on the ground to cover the event via satellite is the crew from ABC Sports, but given their primary professional focus, they are inexperienced in covering a news event of such magnitude.

Calling the shots in the control room, Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro) thinks fast about how best to shift coverage from the Olympics to the crisis involving members of a Palestinian militant organization threatening the lives of Israeli Olympic team members. With coordinating help from head of operations Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), network communication handled by producer Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard), radio translations provided by local Marianne Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch), on-the-scene reporting from Peter Jennings (Benjamin Walker), and more, Mason experiences unprecedented successes in the world of televised news, but he also discovers the extreme consequences that come with live updates from such a chaotic event.

It's a thrill to watch September 5's ensemble leap into action.

Mason and his colleagues are blindsided by the terrorist plot, but there is a special thrill that comes when a movie features protagonists facing a crisis and responding to it with competency rather than panic, and September 5 rides on that energy for much of its runtime. The members of the broadcast team go to work on the fateful day expecting to be doing normal coverage of various sporting events, and movie-goers are inspired watching them perform an extreme pivot so that they can keep their audience up to date with all of the latest developments.

The film elicits wry smiles as a member of the crew is disguised as an Olympian so that he can surreptitiously transport equipment past barricades and massive cameras are rolled outside to get angles on the action. The specific setting adds its own special flavor, as while broadcasting footage around the world in the 21^st century is no issue, the movie sees characters negotiating for satellite usage; the work from Marianne Gebhardt listening in on local police broadcasts and giving the Americans an inside scoop on what’s happening has a similar effect. Each step of the way, the bits of ingenuity have you invested and rooting for the team to provide the best coverage possible.

With shocking developments in the third act, September 5 becomes something different and unforgettable in the third act.

As fun as it is to see the folks at ABC Sports rise to the occasion and find clever ways to report on a crisis, however, what’s not lost in September 5 are the life-and-death stakes in the crisis that is being reported on – and at its core, that’s what makes the film stand out as a great story about journalism. When the line between providing reporting and providing entertainment is blurred, things can get exceptionally scary (and it renders Tim Fehlbaum’s feature a powerful commentary on modernity despite it being set over a half-century ago). There is a distinct chill in scenes where characters understand that oversteps have been made, including the broadcast tipping the terrorists off about a police maneuver or the film’s final act where hearsay ends up ruling the day.

September 5 utilizes an intimate scale to powerful effect.

The world is literally watching as events unfold on September 5, 1972, but the storytelling opts to keep things exceptionally intimate, and it’s a tremendous choice by the filmmakers. While the film in many instances breaks the rule of telling instead of showing, the larger impact is that we are fully locked into the perspectives of the character, and every update that gets delivered offers an opportunity for empathetic response – be it excitement, relief, or horror.

Having not known about the true events that inspired the film going into my screen, I found myself completely shell-shocked walking out of the theater, but given the remarkable presentation of the story, the terrific performances and its commentary on journalism practice, I don’t imagine it will have any less emotional impact on anyone already aware of the way things play out (or anyone seeing the movie for a second time, for that matter). All around, September 5 is an exceptionally well-crafted thriller and one of the best movies of 2024.

Jurassic Park

As the computer tech in Jurassic Park, way too much falls on Samuel L. Jackson's shoulders to save the park and possibly the world. Still, the chain-smoking character does all he can. That includes rebooting the whole system, which means everyone needs to "hold on your butts."

Django Unchained

Jackson's character in Django Unchained is, well, unhinged. The scene where he has Django strung up and explains what kind of slave he intends to make of Django is one of the most insane scenes in a movie full of craziness. It's scary... and fantastic.

Avengers: Infinity War

Throughout the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jackson's character Nick Fury has provided many amazing moments. One of the best is at the end of Avengers: Infinity War after Thanos snaps his fingers. Just as Fury is turning to dust along with half of the universe, he starts to utter the words that have made Samuel L. Jackson famous that involve a mother... only he disappears before he can get the words out.

Coming To America

Well, there isn't much you can quote from his short scene as a potential stick-up man in Coming To America and still keep this list rated PG, so we'll just have to hope that you know exactly what we're talking about here. If you know, you know. And if you don't, we might be forced to thrash you.

A Time to Kill

In a career filled with intense scenes, the one when Jackson's character is on the witness stand during his murder trial in A Time To Kill may be the most intense. When he can't help but burst out why he felt he had to murder the men accused of assaulting his daughter and where he hopes they are burning is just an incredible bit of acting.

Die Hard With A Vengeance

There are a lot of cool scenes in Die Hard With A Vengeance but one that shows exactly what kind of person Jackson's character is when he must answer a phone from the puppet master while facing down a cop who doesn't know what is going on. He HAS TO ANSWER THAT PHONE.

Thor

The post-credit scene in the first Thor movie is great. It's classic Nick Fury, one step ahead of every. Well, everyone but Loki. Still, his cool, calm, and collected demeanor is on full display here.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Throughout the prequel Star Wars movies, Mace Windu could have been a lot cooler. It's just one of the many things to criticize about those films. One thing you can criticize is how cool his death is and how close he came to changing the entire future when he takes on Palpatine in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Had he not been betrayed by Anikin at the moment, there might not have been a need for the rebels, as the Empire would have been dead on arrival. So close, yet so far.

Shaft

Shaft isn't Samuel L. Jackson's best movie, but there are still only a handful of actors who could have ever pulled the role of the private...detective... that won't cop out when there is danger about. He's awesome in the role and while there are plenty of pretty great action scenes, it's the moments like the one in the coffee shop when he confronts the gang members and shows zero intimidation. It sums up all that is John Shaft.

Pulp Fiction

There really isn't a question here - not only is the Ezekiel 25:17 speech his coolest moment in Pulp Fiction, but it's one of the coolest moments in any movie, ever. He's got some other amazing moments in the movie, like his negotiation with the two robbers in the diner at the end, but come on, nothing touches that opening scene in the movie.

Captain America: Winter Soldier

Nick Fury is mostly the guy behind the guys in the MCU. He's the guy motivating and planning for the superheroes and rarely a superhero himself. That isn't the case in Captain America: Winter Soldier when he is attacked in his truck and audiences get to see why he is who he is and why he is trusted to run the whole shebang.

Kingsman: The Secret Service

In Kingsman: The Secret Service, Samuel L. Jackson plays a most unconventional villain. The weirdest moment of the movie has to be when he orders all the McDonalds to eat. It's weird, and yet somehow works in a hilarious way, only adding to his unconventional take on the role. Odd? yes? Memorable? Without question.

Snakes On A Plane

It's clear what scene we're talking about here. It's that scene where he's just had enough. He's sick of all the uh...annoying snakes on the... uh, plane. Snakes on a Plane shouldn't have been the hit that it was and that line, and his delivery of that line, is 100% made it a hit. Truly memorable.

The Great White Hype

Some people don't appreciate The Great White Hype. Many haven't even heard of it, but it's one of the more underrated comedies of the '90s and in it Jackson plays a boxing promoter loosely based on Don King. His negotiation with the #1 contender for a title shot is one of the funniest scenes in the movie, with Jamie Foxx matching Jackson line for line, but Jackson's character coming out on top, of course.

Menace II Society

The poker game in Menace II Society is scary. Though Samuel L. Jackson only has a supporting role as the gangster father of Caine, everything a viewer needs to know about him is shown in that one scene when he gets angry at another player for owing him money and shoots him dead right there at the table. In front of his young son.

Do The Right Thing

Samuel L. Jackson is the epitome of cool in Do The Right Thing as the DJ of the local station. The opening monologue sets up the movie beautifully and it's a voice you can listen to all day, just like the characters in the movie do.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Nick Fury is not only known for being tough as nails, he also provides a lot of comic relief in the MCU. Take, for example, his exchange with Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Fury can't believe he's ended up in Parker's bedroom arguing with a teenager. We feel you, Nick.

The Banker

The best scene in The Banker isn't the golf course scene, but getting to see Samuel L. Jackson in 1960s golfing attire makes it the most memorable. It's just so great you want to spend the whole movie there, watching him in that getup.

Argylle

2024's Argylle was met with mostly mixed reviews and while some loved it, others found it just too meta and annoying. Like his role in another Matthew Vaughn film, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Jackson is really only seen a few times on screen and each time is memorable, like when has his eyes scratched out in what has to be a nod to the MCU, right?

Iron Man

At the time, no one could have known just how big the MCU would become, but Nick Fury seemed to know all along when, in the post-credit scene in Iron Man, Fury shows up at Tony Starks home and proposes the "Avenger Initiative." It's among the most memorable scenes in the whole franchise and we didn't even know it at the time.

The Hateful Eight

Director Quentin Tarantino clearly loves writing characters for Samuel L. Jackson as every time he's in one of Tarantino's movies, it leaves a lingering impression. Like the scene in The Hateful Eight when Jackson's character tells Bruce Dern's character that he knew the day Dern's character's son died, it was the day he met him. It's a line you'll never forget.

xXx

xXx is a way better movie than a lot of critics give it credit for. Sure it's completely ridiculous and "over-the-top" doesn't even begin to describe how off-the-wall it is. But it's got some amazing action sequences, like the one in the diner when Jackson's character recruits the titular "XXX" played by Vin Diesel.

The Avengers

Nick Fury has a lot of inspiring moments in the MCU and at the top of the list of his best is the speech he gives to the assembled Avengers after Phil Coulson is killed. There is no doubt you want to run through a wall for both Nick and Phil after that speech in The Avengers.

Patriot Games

Sometimes people forget that Samuel L. Jackson is even in Patriot Games, despite being in a scene that everyone remembers. After Jack Ryan returns to teaching after thwarting the attack on the Royals in London, he is presented the "Order of the Purple Target" by his fellow teachers at the Naval Academy, namely one played by Jackson.

Jackie Brown

Samuel L. Jackson's character in Jackie Brown has a wild look and an even crazier disposition. That attitude comes through most clearly in the scene Jackson shares with Chris Tucker where he convinces Tucker's character to get into the trunk of his car so he can murder him. Talk about unforgettable...

Captain Marvel

At the end of Captain Marvel, after we all learn how Nick Fury lost his eye, we learn something else - how he named The Avengers Initiative. It turns out, it comes from Carol Danvers' call sign etched on the side of her plane that he has a photo of. It's a pinnacle moment in the series, and we learn about how important Captain Marvel was from the very beginning.

Hard Eight

Samuel L. Jackson really makes the most out of a somewhat small, but very pivotal role in Paul Thomas Anderson's debut film Hard Eight. Though his character meets an unceremonious end, it's not until after he has an amazing scene with Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) after confronting him about some old business.

Black Snake Moan

Jackson's role in Black Snake Moan is... hard to take. The whole movie is pretty hard to watch and even if you understand his character's motivations, his actions don't really justify the means to the end. Still, that scene in the beginning when his character is rocking out on stage is at once very cool, but also a little bit scary as Jackson really shows the audience both sides of the character.

Sphere

Sphere really could have been a great movie. The film was adapted from the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, but it all felt a bit rushed like it was produced and filmed too quickly to cash in on the hype of Jurassic Park. Still, it has some cool scenes like when Jackson's character confronts the realization that they all may die down in the deep.

Long Kiss Goodnight

Long Kiss Goodnight is a decent action flick with some great comedic moments between the two co-stars, Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays a detective hired by Davis' character to find out about her past, which she doesn't remember prior to being found washed ashore eight years early. It turns out that Davis' character is a former CIA assassin and like Jason Bourne has retained her training, if not her memory. In one scene she scolds Jackson to "take lessons" on fighting someone and he responds that he "took lessons!"

Rules of Engagement

There is something about Samuel L. Jackson on the stand in a court of law that really brings the best out of the actor. Just like in A Time To Kill, he's at his best in Rules of Engagement when he is being interrogated and it's a completely unforgettable scene, admitting he did what he was accused of doing but having good reason for it.

True Romance

Even if a movie is only written by Quentin Tarantino but not directed by him, like True Romance, it's like the words were only supposed to be delivered by Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson really only has one line in the movie and each word is dirtier than the last as he explains what he likes to do with the women he hooks up with. It's one of the most iconic moments in the movie, even if it's only a minute or so long.

Per a new report from Page Six, Ben Affleck purchased an autographed Marlon Brando book and a few other items from Mystery Pier Books in West Hollywood, California. According to the store’s owner, Louis Jason, the Batman v Superman star handpicked the items before meeting Lopez for lunch at the exclusive Soho House on Sunset Boulevard. The owner spoke to the outlet, sharing:

Unlike their headline-making brunch earlier this year, there were no public displays of affection this time around. Instead, the former couple focused on the children, exchanging gifts primarily for the kids while sharing a few thoughtful items with each other. It’s refreshing to hear that Affleck and Lopez are reportedly making an effort to stay on good terms despite their split.

The book remains undisclosed, but a pretty safe bet would be the Godfather actor’s revealing 1994 autobiography Songs My Mother Taught Me, which he worked on with journalist and ghostwriter Robert Lindsey. And fans of the Hustlers star and the Argo director likely won’t be surprised to hear the Good Will Hunting screenwriter zeroed in on something with personal significance. It’s no secret Lopez draws inspiration from legendary figures like Brando.

The Town star and “On the Floor” performer became a media sensation in 2002 when they began dating after working together on the film Gigli. Their passionate romance quickly escalated to an engagement that same year, but they parted ways in 2004. Nearly two decades later, the pair rekindled their relationship in early 2021, eventually marrying in an intimate Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022, followed by an extravagant celebration in Georgia. However, in August 2024, the Selena actress filed for divorce, two years after the couple tied the knot and bringing an end to Bennifer 2.0.

The couple continues to make headlines post-split as reports suggest their divorce proceedings have hit a snag. On top of that, they’ve struggled to sell the $68 million mega-mansion they purchased during their brief marriage. Here’s hoping 2025 brings some resolutions and fresh starts for both stars.

Amid the ongoing legal matters, both Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez stayed busy with packed 2024 film schedules. Looking ahead to 2025 movie releases, their momentum won’t be slowing down anytime soon, as both have numerous projects lined up and ready to take center stage.

Still, recently on a trip to the U.K., I joined the rest of my family, some of whom are huge Harry Potter fans, for a visit to the Harry Potter Studio Tour at the Warner Bros. Studio. The tour, which is about 20 miles from London, is great. The whole thing is very well presented and definitely worth any fan's time and money. For me, it really came down to one part of the tour that made the whole thing worth it and it wasn't what I expected: the model of Hogwarts at the very end.

The Tour Is Fantastic

The actual tour starts a little like a ride at Universal Studios or Disney World, walking through a line with photos and text on the walls explaining the Harry Potter movies in order. After meandering through the line and getting a quick briefing from a tour guide, you sit down for a quick movie about the movies and the tour, hosted by the original Harry Potter cast members.

Finally, the screen rolls up and the doors to the Hogwarts dining hall are revealed. Once the doors are opened, you get the first glimpse of the actual set of the dining hall that fans know so well. Even I, a super casual fan, was pretty amazed, especially by the floating candles. From there, the guided part of the tour ends and you are on your own to explore all that the tour presents. It turns from a theme park-like experience to a museum-like experience.

Sets, Props, And Costumes

The sheer amount of film-used sets, props and costumes from the Harry Potter movies is a little overwhelming. There are wands, trophies and Golden Snitches galore. Dozens of paintings that hang on the walls of Hogwarts are on display, and there are even some very impressive examples of whole sets from the movies, including the potions classroom and, most impressively, two different versions of Gringotts: one before its destruction in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, and one after. Of course, the set for platform 9 3/4 is included, too.

After all that and a whole lot more, you finally arrive at the final climactic moment of the whole tour when you enter a darkened room with an incredible model of Hogwarts that fills the entire space.

The Hogwarts Model

The folks who created the tour definitely knew what they were doing when they put the model at the end. It is, quite honestly, astounding. As impressive as the rest is, it's the 1:24 scale mode, which was used for many of the exterior shots in the movies, that will truly blow your mind, as it certainly did mine.

The level of detail is incredible, as you'd expect from a film model like this, but it goes beyond that. Not only is the whole thing incredibly impressive from an artistic point of view, with details of the school of the school and the grounds, but the presentation is first class. It makes you believe the world of Harry Potter is real.

A winding walkway takes you from the highest point of the model, down and around to the lowest, so visitors get the complete experience from every possible angle. When we were there, it was set up for Christmas, so there was snow covering the model and the whole thing took on an ethereal vibe.

Of course, John Williams' magical score plays as you walk around, adding to the dramatic effect. Even if this model was the only thing in the whole tour, it would be worth making an effort to see it for even the most casual fans, like me. It's certainly made me eager to use my Max subscription and rewatch the entire Harry Potter series.