Many actors have said that a villain is one of the most fun types of roles that you can play. Unfortunately, not every actor knows how to be menacing, or at least just not in a way that matches the tone or intent of their given story. The following are some of the most notable examples of movies and TV shows that might have benefited from searching a bit harder for the right person to play the enemy.

Lex Luthor (Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice)

There are few superhero movies as polarizing as 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but one thing most audiences agree about director Zack Snyder's crossover epic is that it misses the mark with Lex Luthor. It seems Academy Award nominee Jessie Eisenberg, who blamed himself for his role's poor reception, is trying more to be a clone of Heath Ledger's Joker without the makeup than portray a fitting take on Superman's archnemesis with his manic, almost childish, performance.

Walter Padick (The Dark Tower)

Some fans of Stephen King's acclaimed book series, The Dark Tower, have said that Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey might have been a better fit to portray the heroic gunslinger, Roland, allowing Idris Elba to shine stronger as the demonic sorcerer Walter Padick instead. Of course, the casting is one of the least pivotal reasons why this 2017 adaptation from director Nikolaj Arcel received such horrid backlash.

Eddie Brock (Spider-Man 3)

On an episode of MovieFone’s Unscripted, Topher Grace admitted that he felt he was an unlikely choice to star in 2007's Spider-Man 3 as Eddie Brock, also known as Venom, given the character looks more like... well, Tom Hardy. What convinced him to take the part was director Sam Raimi's idea of depicting the photojournalist, who becomes attached to a symbiotic alien, as, essentially, Peter Parker's evil twin. With all due respect to the man behind the Evil Dead movies and to the former That '70s Show cast member, that might not have been the best call.

Gellert Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald)

While his presence alone is distracting enough, fans and critics alike thought Johnny Depp was too cartoonishly over-the-top as the villainous title role of the Harry Potter movie prequel, 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The performance especially pales in comparison to Mads Mikkelsen, who succeeded the Oscar nominee in the part for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore to greater acclaim.

Jafar (Aladdin)

I am not saying that no one else could play Jafar better than how Jonathan Freeman voiced the ruthless tyrant in the original 1992 classic Disney animated movie, Aladdin. However, I do believe that Marwan Kenzari is simply too reserved, too earnest, and not having enough fun with this iconic, dastardly role in Guy Ritchie's live-action remake from 2019.

Mr. Freeze (Batman & Robin)

I must admit, I actually think Arnold Schwarzenegger's shamelessly over-the-top performance and incessantly punny dialogue as the "coldhearted" Gotham criminal, Mr. Freeze, almost makes the reviled Batman & Robin worth watching. However, I would also agree that the 1997 DC flick offers a poor representation of the tragic character, especially after Batman: The Animated Series handled him to such wonderful acclaim a few years before.

Javert (Les Misérables)

With 2012's Les Misérables, director Tom Hooper did not just adapt Victor Hugo's novel, but the acclaimed, operatic stage musical it inspired. Perhaps if it had been a more traditionally dramatized version of the story instead, the Academy Award-winning non-singer Russell Crowe's casting as Inspector Javert would have been perfect.

Obadiah Stane (Iron Man)

This may be a hot take, but I believe 2008's otherwise terrific premiere installment of the Marvel Movies in order suffers from a third act that does not quite live up to its promises, and I think Obadiah Stane is to blame. As a longtime fan of Jeff Bridges, I hate to admit that the Academy Award winner's performance in Iron Man is not menacing or memorable enough to make an enduring impression or match Robert Downey Jr.'s fun, nuanced, and tone-setting performance as Tony Stark

Balem Abrasax (Jupiter Ascending)

There are many reasons why Lana and Lily Wachowski's 2015 sci-fi epic Jupiter Ascending ended up being a critical and commercial failure, and many critics cite Eddie Redmayne as a key reason. Even the Oscar winner himself agreed, while filming a video for GQ, that his over-the-top performance as Balem Abrasax, consisting of a gravelly whisper often interrupted by irritating screams, was "pretty bad."

Norman Bates (Psycho)

Gus Van Sant's 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock's classic film, Psycho, sees Vince Vaughn succeed Anthony Perkins in the role of disturbed motel manager Norman Bates. The actor was already an unlikely choice to play a murderer then, fresh off his hilarious performance in Swingers, and seems even more unlikely today after his many other iconic comedic roles.

The Joker (Suicide Squad)

For many, Jared Leto's Joker in Suicide Squad is the go-to example of a badly cast villain, but having seen his more subdued take on the Clown Prince of Crime in Zack Snyder's Justice League, I disagree that the Oscar winner was the wrong choice. I will agree that his performance in David Ayer's 2016 DC supervillain crossover is a misfire, but I also feel that this particular iteration of Batman's archnemesis fails mostly because of how the disparagingly rushed screenplay depicts him.

Dracula (Blade: Trinity)

I will say that I give credit to writer and director David S. Goyer for attempting to try something different when incorporating the most powerful vampire of all into the third installment of the Wesley Snipes-led Marvel movie franchise. However, Dominic Purcell just does not fit the bill as Dracula, aesthetically or otherwise, contributing substantially to the unremarkable legacy of Blade: Trinity.

Thomas Gabriel (Live Free Or Die Hard)

I remember hearing movie critic Richard Roeper, on an episode of Ebert & Roeper, say he would have rather seen Maggie Q, who plays a henchperson, take over the main villain role in Bruce Willis' fourth adventure as John McClane instead of Timothy Olyphant. As much as I enjoy the actor in almost everything he does, I cannot help but agree that he might have been a better henchperson than the mustache-twirling lead cyberterrorist in 2007's Live Free or Die Hard.

Ares (Wonder Woman)

I realize that casting David Thewlis as the God of War, disguised as the speaker for the peace Sir Patrick Morgan, was meant to be a misdirect, and I respect the intent. However, most people agree that the final act reveal was one of the weakest parts of 2017's Wonder Woman, which is otherwise considered one of the better installments of the DC Extended Universe.

Griffin (The Watcher)

In defense of Keanu Reeves, the actor told The Guardian he was tricked into starring in 2000's The Watcher, which he never found interesting, after a "friend" forged his signature onto a casting agreement and, since he had no evidence to prove it, he decided it would be easier to go through with it than getting sued. This explains his phoned-in performance in the panned serial killer drama as a menacing murderer, whom star James Spader probably would have handled much better instead of playing the hero.

Lex Luthor (Supergirl)

Forgive me, but I just find it so difficult to see Jon Cryer outside of his longtime role as Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men. Even with the shaved scalp and beard drastically altering his appearance, the Pretty in Pink actor is simply not very believable as the ruthless Lex Luthor on Supergirl and other installments of the Arrowverse.

Two-Face (Batman Forever)

Harvey "Two-Face" Dent may be an unstable psychopath, but he is not the cackling maniac that Tommy Lee Jones portrayed him as, as if he were trying to one-up Jim Carrey's scenery-chewing energy as The Riddler. It really makes you wonder why the otherwise brilliant Academy Award winner told the comedian that he "could not sanction [his] buffoonery" when he ultimately gives the more buffoonish performance in 1995's Batman Forever anyway.

Carlton "Riot" Drake (Venom)

Riz Ahmed is typically sensational in just about everything he does, from his Emmy-winning performance in The Night Of to his Oscar-nominated turn in Sound of Metal. However, he gives one of his most boring performances in 2018's Venom as Carlton Drake, a scientist who obsessively and insidiously leads a study of extraterrestrial symbiotes.

The White Death (Bullet Train)

Michael Shannon has played some fantastic antagonistic roles in the past, such as in Premium Rush and 99 Homes, and even in the otherwise polarizing Man of Steel. However, his attempt at playing an Eastern European criminal known as "The White Death" is almost too silly, even for a consciously silly action flick like Bullet Train.

Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire)

Perhaps it is a controversial choice to choose one of the great Marlon Brando's most praised performances as a miscast villain. However, the Tennessee Williams-penned play that inspired 1951's A Streetcar Named Desire is really about Blanche (Vivien Leigh), and you could argue that casting Stella's (Kim Hunter) abusive husband with one of Hollywood's most handsome and charismatic actors shifts the focus in the wrong direction.

Poppy Adams (Kingsman: The Golden Circle)

I would not say that Julianne Moore is necessarily bad in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the 2017 sequel to Matthew Vaughn's hit comedic spy thriller. However, there is something about seeing her gleefully chewing the scenery as the unusually charming, but psychopathic, cartel leader, Poppy Adams, that still feels a bit off.

Rodney Alcala (Woman Of The Hour)

Star and director Anna Kendrick's Woman of the Hour is based on the true story of Rodney Alcala, a convicted serial killer whose charming personality and classic good looks earned him a win on The Dating Game. However, Daniel Zovatto not only looks barely anything like the guy, but also does not quite pull off the same charm when trying to court Cheryl Bradshaw (Kendrick) in the game show scenes. He is quite terrifying in depictions of his murder spree, though.

Blackheart (Ghost Rider)

Wes Bentley plays a strong, antagonistic force in the Yellowstone cast as Jamie Dutton, so I suppose the secret is casting him in more grounded, vindictive roles. However, he is not quite the right match for powerful, supernatural entities like Blackheart, whom he plays in 2007's Nicolas Cage-led Marvel movie, Ghost Rider.

Travis Marshall (Dexter)

In theory, Colin Hanks is a perfect choice for the big bad of Dexter's sixth season, Travis Marshall – a seemingly mild-mannered man driven to murder by religious fanatic, Prof. James Gellar (played by Edward James Olmos). However, the moment he realizes Gellar is a figment of his imagination and embraces his dark side is the moment the otherwise affable actor's performance as a sinister killer becomes a tragic misfire.

Miranda Tate/Talia Al Ghul (The Dark Knight Rises)

Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard is not a bad choice to play Miranda Tate, who is really Ra's Al Ghul's vengeful daughter, Talia, in disguise, in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. Unfortunately, the French actor's performance in the polarizing finale to Christopher Nolan's trilogy of Batman films will forever be overshadowed by her hilariously inept death scene.

Adrian (Oldboy)

The world never needed Spike Lee's remake of Oldboy in the first place. However, the usually impressive Sharlto Copley makes an especially convincing case for its needlessness with a performance that paints his villainous role as more of a whiney brat than a vengeful sadist.

Gabriel (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning)

In a series that has only ever had one enduringly memorable villain (Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian in Mission: Impossible III), the rest seem as scary as they come when compared to the egregious, mustache-twirling nature of Esai Morales' role, who gives an even more ridiculous performance in 2025's Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning.

Dr. Norman Spencer (What Lies Beneath)

Following a career defined by heroic characters like Star Wars' Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and President James Marshall in Air Force One, it is just really hard to picture Harrison Ford as a murderer. You could argue that the actor's reputation makes the chilling reveal in What Lies Beneath even more shocking, but others have argued it just comes off as unbelievable.

Raymond Blossom (Playing God)

Based on his Academy Award-winning role in Ordinary People, Timothy Hutton is an undeniably fantastic actor, but his role as Raymond Blossom in 1997's Playing God is not his best work. He plays the ruthless counterfeiter a little too cheesily to match the tone of this crime thriller starring David Duchovny as a disgraced surgeon hired on Blossom's payroll.

Col. Tom Parker (Elvis)

There may be a heightened sense of reality in 2022's Elvis, Baz Luhrmann's biopic of the legendary musician. However, Tom Hanks' prosthetic makeup and faux European accent as Elvis Presley's manager, Col. Tom Parker, is too inauthentic and silly to be taken seriously.

Abigail Williams (The Crucible)

With all due respect to the otherwise talented Winona Ryder, her casting in 1996's The Crucible as a young woman who corrupts her entire village with lies about witchcraft is just not very believable, from her subpar accent to her lack of chemistry with Daniel Day-Lewis as a married man she shares an affair with.

Dr. Newton "Newt" Geiszler (Pacific Rim Uprising)

Charlie Day starred in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim in the obligatory role you see in all kinds of sci-fi/disaster flicks: the plucky comic relief who is never taken seriously despite having all the right answers. For 2018's Pacific Rim Uprising, Dr. Newton "Newt" Geiszler is brought back as the villain, which is already a tough sell before his motivation (being corrupted by an alien he has had a romantic relationship with) descends the sequel into unforgivable levels of cheesiness.

A Goofy Movie celebrated its 30th anniversary recently, and as stories of how our perspective on the film has changed with age, and famous stars who almost ended up in the movie circulate, an awesome VR experience is on the web. Have you ever wanted to dance with Powerline on stage? Well, thanks to a new 360-degree video from Disney, you can.

While the video can be viewed on a browser without a VR headset, I was able to check it out using my Meta Quest 3. Not only would I deem it the superior experience, but I'm also going ahead and listing two other iconic Disney moments I'd love to see in VR, in case someone in charge is looking for ideas on what to tackle next.

What's So Special About Powerline In VR?

For those curious who can't immediately check it out, Powerline Live! puts you onstage for the biggest scene in A Goofy Movie. Rather than watching from your couch with a Disney+ subscription, you're right next to Powerline as he performs, and ultimately joined by Max and Goofy as they try to avoid capture from security.

The real jewel of this experience, besides listening to the fantastic song, "I2I', is watching how the scene in the movie would unfold if you were in Powerline's perspective. You'll still see things like Max in the rafters, Goofy walking in on someone changing, and all the other fun bits. I'm a little bummed we don't have another video of "Stand Out," one of the most uplifting Disney songs ever, but man, was this a treat to watch.

I Would Love To See Aladdin's "Friend Like Me" Sequence In VR

If Disney is planning on making more of these, I would like to humbly suggest the "Friend Like Me" sequence in Aladdin. Unfortunately, we're a few years past the 30th anniversary, but do we need a valid excuse to bring one of Robin Williams' best scenes back to life? There'd be an opportunity to see a lot of wild animation all around, and be as gobsmacked as Aladdin when he first meets Genie. Plus, a VR experience would help me wash the taste of Will Smith's rap in the live-action out of my mouth. It was a valiant attempt, but not nearly as good as the original.

Alice In Wonderland's Tea Party Would Be Wild As Well

Part of the appeal of VR is how it can transport you to an entirely different world, not unlike what happened in Alice In Wonderland. With that in mind, it would be great to see the Mad Hatter's tea party or other iconic scenes from the movie reimagined in VR. I think it's safe to say I'd enjoy that more than the live-action remake, which CinemaBlend ranked as one of Tim Burton's worst movies.

I feel like this briefly turned into a hit piece on live-action Disney adaptations, but the point I'm really trying to make here is how cool it was to experience A Goofy Movie in virtual reality. It's like realizing an impossible dream I had in the '90s as a kid, and I swear this video scratched a nostalgic itch I hadn't been able to scratch.

While VR still feels like a technology that is early in its run, it would be cool to see more efforts by Disney and others to work with it and deliver innovative experiences we can all enjoy. Perhaps the next Fantasia movie (assuming one is ever made) could be in VR? These are all ideas I can't do because I don't have the licensing rights or technological know-how to pull off, so have at it Disney!

A Goofy Movie is available to stream on Disney+. Check it out in honor of the 30th anniversary, or just because you want to watch one of the best Disney movies ever made!

Animation is the one screen medium that allows an artist to unlock the most potential out of the story they want to tell, which begs the question of why anyone would want to bother trying to reinterpret a great animated movie or TV show for live-action?

Well, we cannot deny it is amusing to see classic animated TV shows and films recreated in a more realistic light, and many have pulled off the task to surprising esteem. The following are some of the most acclaimed and noteworthy examples and, as you might have guessed, there are a few live-action Disney animated movie remakes included.

The Jungle Book (2016)

OK, we realize that we are technically cheating by including director Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book because one of the few elements not created with CGI is Mowgli actor Neel Sethi. However, the film recreates Disney's 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's seminal stories with Academy Award-winning visual effects so astonishingly vivid that you would not be able to tell the difference.

Transformers (2007)

Released in tandem with Hasbro's popular toy line was the hit animated series Transformers, which was first spun off to the big screen in a 1986 feature starring Orson Welles. More than three decades later, director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg would help increase the shapeshifting robots' notoriety with a live-action blockbuster that spawned a long-running franchise.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird first introduced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1984 with their Mirage Studios comic book series that was later adapted into a toy line and tie-in animated series just three years later. Only three years after that, fans got to see what Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo would look like in the real world in a film that depicts the pizza-chomping urban warriors more accurately than the 2014 reboot.

Paddington 2 (2017)

Author Michael Bond's beloved adventures of a marmalade-slurping, Peruvian bear named after a London train station inspired a popular English animated series in the 1970s. While the character was first adapted for live-action cinema in 2014 with Paul King's well-received film, it is the first sequel, Paddington 2, that especially welcomed the bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) into the hearts of movie lovers of all ages.

The Little Mermaid (2023)

The most famous adaptation of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, The Little Mermaid, is Disney's acclaimed 1989 classic that many audiences thought should be left untouched. However, Halle Bailey's impassioned performance as Ariel and her unbelievable singing talent make director Rob Marshall's live-action take a must-see.

Attack On Titan (2015)

Hajime Isayama's manga depicting a war between humans and giant, man-eating humanoids was made into one of the most popular and acclaimed Japanese anime TV shows of its time, Attack on Titan. Toho would release a two-part feature adaptation that was criticized by fans for the way it deviated from the source material but impressed general film critics with its exciting B-movie-style action and bizarre creature designs.

101 Dalmatians (1996)

Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians was first adapted into an instant animated classic in 1961, featuring Betty Lou Gerson as the voice of Cruella de Vil – a villain who seemed too uproarious for a live-action setting. That was until Glenn Close stepped into the role, giving a pitch-perfect performance as the ruthless fashionista in director Steven Herek's fun reboot.

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)

When Pokémon: Detective Pikachu was first announced, fans of the trading card game/video game/animated TV show questioned why the franchise's first live-action installment, of all the potential choices, would be based on a game that makes the lightning-spewing creature a talking mystery solver. However, with Ryan Reynolds voicing the adorable title hero, an impressive Justice Smith as his human companion, and a witty script, Rob Letterman's film was heralded as one of the best video game movies ever made.

George Of The Jungle (1997)

A movie you might not have known was based on a TV show is George of the Jungle, which was originally an animated series that ran for only 17 episodes in 1967. Future Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser's performance in the title role would make Disney's hilariously meta live-action feature nearly as iconic as the character it was poking fun at: Tarzan.

Cinderella (2015)

Most audiences would immediately become convinced that Disney really was on to something when it released the live-action version of its animated, 1950 adaptation of the seminal fairytale, Cinderella. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and led by an extraordinary Lily James, the reinterpretation would redefine the titular princess as a strong, independent role model and the story itself as a touching romance worth buying into.

One Piece (2023)

Netflix has released live-action iterations of a few popular anime series and one of the more successful is developers Matt Owens and Steven Maeda's TV show, One Piece. Originally based on a manga by writer and illustrator Eiichiro Oda, the animated series adaptation premiered in 1999 and followed the adventures of a pirate crew searching for mystical treasure.

Scooby-Doo (2002)

There is probably not a single person who disagrees that none of the live-action adaptations of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? have surpassed the beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon. However, the generation that grew up with the James Gunn-penned reboot, simply titled Scooby-Doo, regards the film as a classic that boasts some spot-on casting for the Mystery Inc. crew, especially Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, even if Scooby's CGI animation is a little dated.

The Flintstones (1994)

Executive producer Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera favorite, The Flintstones, starring John Goodman as Fred and Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble, was not met with the most positive reviews, particularly for its tepid humor and adult-oriented storylines. However, the city of Bedrock reimagined for a live-action setting is truly a wonder to behold.

Office Space (1999)

There are two different types of fans of Mike Judge's filmography: those who love his animated efforts, such as Beavis and Butt-Head, and those who admire his live-action titles, such as Silicon Valley. Well, fans of Office Space might be surprised to learn that their love for the film, technically, makes them a fan of both since the cult-favorite corporate satire is based on a series of short films Judge created called Milton.

Mulan (2020)

Mulan is a modern Disney classic way ahead of its time that some might call a movie that did not need a reboot, especially with the exclusion of its famous musical numbers and the mystical lizard sidekick, Mushu (Eddie Murphy). However, Yifei Liu is wonderful in the title role of a Chinese woman posing as a male imperial soldier to save her father's life and the action is beautifully choreographed.

Speed Racer (2008)

Originally a Japanese manga that became an international pop culture phenomenon as an anime series, Speed Racer was later adapted by Lana and Lily Wachowski into a live-action film starring Emile Hirsch as the ambitious titular driver. The brightly colored, CGI-heavy film was divisive upon release, but has since been widely reevaluated as an underrated cult favorite.

Casper (1995)

Casper made his debut in a series of Paramount-produced animated shorts called The Friendly Ghost before the spirited spirit became an official property of Harvey Comics and went on to star in multiple hit animated series. He would return to cinema in a fun entry-level ghost story, starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman, that became the first live-action film to feature a central character who is created entirely with CGI.

Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

Established Disney favorites Chip and Dale became the stars of their own adventure series, called Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers, in the late 1980s. The anthropomorphic chipmunks would later be voiced by Andy Samberg and John Mulaney in a feature film of the same name that premiered on Disney+ to wide acclaim from both critics and audiences.

Cruella (2021)

Disney had already released two live-action installments to the 101 Dalmatians franchise by the time the company announced director Craig Gillespie's spin-off, Cruella. However, it proved to be a worthy entry thanks to a lead performance by Academy Award winner Emma Stone that would forever change the way audiences saw the typically ruthless villain.

Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2019)

Nick Jr. introduced a hero who would bring young viewers along with her on her many adventures in the animated series, Dora the Explorer, which originally premiered in 2000. Isabela Merced played a teenage version of the character in the theatrically released live-action feature, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, which also stars Danny Trejo as the voice of her monkey sidekick, Boots.

Looney Tunes: Back In Action (2005)

In 1996, Space Jam brought the real-life basketball champion Michael Jordan into the world of Bugs Bunny and his furry friends. Roughly a decade later, Joe Dante's spiritual sequel Looney Tunes: Back in Action – a globe-trotting espionage adventure with Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, and Steve Martin – would, instead, bring the iconic cartoon characters into our live-action world.

Popeye (1980)

Director Robert Altman could not have picked a better choice than Robin Williams to bring the beloved comic strip character, Popeye, to life in his live-action film, also starring Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. Williams heavily altered his voice to authentically match the voice of the spinach-chomping sailor, which was originated by voice actor Billy Costello for the character's original animated adaptations.

Christopher Robin (2018)

Author A. A. Milne's world-famous bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, actually made his television debut as a puppet in a live-action 1960 episode of Shirley Temple's Storybook before getting his own beloved animated series later that decade. He and the rest of the animals from the Hundred Acre Wood would return to the medium for Christopher Robin, in which Pooh's human friend (played by Ewan McGregor) grows up to become someone similar to Robin Williams' Peter Banning in Hook.

Ben 10: Race Against Time (2007)

The Cartoon Network original series Ben 10 is about a boy who discovers a device that, when placed on his wrist, can turn him into several different extra-terrestrial species. Two years after it premiered, the channel aired a live-action feature spin-off from director Alex Winter called Ben 10: Race Against Time, starring Graham Phillips in the title role. It was followed by 2009's Ben 10: Alien Swarm, which stars Ryan Kelley as an older Ben.

Aladdin (2019)

One of the most beloved animated movies from Disney's "Renaissance Era" in the '90s is Aladdin, which follows a poor, young Arab man (voiced by Scott Weinger) whose luck begins to change when he befriends a genie (voiced by Robin Williams). Guy Ritchie helmed a live-action retelling starring Mena Massoud in the title role and Naomi Scott as Jasmine, which proved to be a career milestone at the box office for Will Smith, who played Genie.

Madeline (1998)

The first adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline books, which center on a witty, mischievous young girl at a Catholic boarding school in 1950s France, was in a 1960 episode of The Shirley Temple Show. After the books were adapted into a popular animated series in the late '80s and early '90s, a live-action feature was released to theaters, starring Hatty Jones in her debut role as the title character and Oscar winner Frances McDormand as Miss Clavel.

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's "tale as old as time" has been adapted and reinterpreted into countless variations, with few as famous and esteemed as 1991's Beauty and the Beast from Disney. The company would revive the Oscar winner with a live-action feature starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast.

Masters Of The Universe (1987)

Some audiences consider the live-action Masters of the Universe film, starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor, to be one of the worst movies based on a toy. However, it is a fun cult favorite in the eyes of those who grew up with the tie-in animated series about a prince using his mystical abilities to defend his kingdom.

Mr. Magoo (1997)

Mr. Magoo, an elderly millionaire who often finds himself in uproarious situations due to his extreme near-sightedness, entertained audiences with his animated short films and various iterations of his TV show for decades before Disney adapted the character for live-action. Admittedly, the best reason to check out the film is to watch the great Leslie Nielsen work his comedy magic.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

The original Sorcerer's Apprentice was a short film that appeared in Disney's 1940 animated anthology movie, Fantasia, in which Mickey Mouse's character uses his boss' mystical hat to create an army of sentient brooms. Director Jon Turtletaub expands upon the concept and redefines it as a Harry Potter-esque adventure starring Nicolas Cage as a wizard living in modern-day New York City who takes Jay Baruchel's character under his wing.

Dudley Do-Right (1999)

Dudley Do-Right first appeared as a segment on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show in the late 1950s before becoming the star of his own animated series the following decade. Brendan Fraser does his best to do for the heroic Canadian Mountie what he did for George of the Jungle in director Hugh Wilson's live-action feature.

Æon Flux (2005)

Director Karyn Kusama's Charlize Theron-led thriller, Æon Flux, is not a very beloved film by itself. However, seeing the eye-popping, dystopian visuals from the original MTV animated series brought to life for a live-action setting is quite remarkable.

Disney is the king of the franchise right now and while the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avatar, and Star Wars are the names we normally think of when the word “franchise” comes up, there’s another corner of the Disney kingdom that has been equally successful in movie after movie, the live-action remake.

Disney has churned out one live-action remake after another over the years with a frequency only matched by the list of upcoming Marvel movies, and while not all of them are massive hits, when they hit, they hit big, to the tune of billions of dollars at the box office. Some of them have been so successful, they’ve received sequels, or in the case of Mufasa: The Lion King, a prequel.

I’ve been a Disney fan my whole life, which means I tend to be a fan of most of these movies that inspired the remakes, and I don’t actually hate most of the remakes. But I really hope that Mufasa is as big a hit as the remake of The Lion King because I hope Disney makes more movies like it, and fewer like The Lion King.

I Love Disney Movies But The Remakes Have Been Largely Underwhelming

I don’t dislike The Lion King remake. How can you? If you loved the original, and I did, the remake is the same movie, so there’s a lot to love. And the technical expertise on display in creating life-like animals and environments is truly impressive. And yet, while the movie made a billion dollars, I was as underwhelmed by it as I have been by many of the remakes.

While I won’t claim there’s no value in translating animated films into live action, doing 1:1 recreations has diminishing returns. We’ve seen the movie already, and we can watch it as many times as we want with a Disney+ subscription. Just giving it to us again just isn’t that exciting.

Maybe there’s a new song, though most of those have been lackluster. Maybe there’s a new scene, but the core story is exactly what we expect and know. It’s all just too comfortable.

My Favorite Disney “Remakes” Haven’t Really Been Remakes At All

I know my own opinion goes against the box office results of most of these movies, but my favorite Disney remakes are the ones that aren’t actually remakes. I love the original Maleficent with its twist on the story by focusing on the villain. I have a soft spot in my heart for Dumbo, as it finishes its “remake” in Act I, and the rest of the movie is actually a sequel. I’ve already gone on record that I hope the Snow White remake is more than just a remake.

These decisions are at least creative, they give us a new take or a fresh twist on the story we know. I’ll even give a slight pass to the Aladdin remake, which is almost entirely the movie we know, but Will Smith’s take on the Genie is so different from Robin Williams’ iconic character that the film doesn’t feel like a total carbon copy.

It's for this reason that I've honestly been looking forward to seeing Mufasa: The Lion King ever since the movie was announced. A prequel to The Lion King was at least new, and directed by the great Barry Jenkins, I just wanted to see what a great filmmaker could do with the admittedly wonderful world of The Lion King.

Mufasa: The Lion King Is A New Story, And New Is Good

But Mufasa: The Lion King isn’t a remake. It’s a prequel, which is a story that we have not seen before. That, all by itself, puts the new movie in a great place because I simply can’t compare it to any story I've seen before. I didn’t adore Mufasa, but I enjoyed it, and a big part of the reason was that I simply hadn’t seen the movie before.

The thing is, we didn’t need a remake of The Lion King to get to Mufasa. Disney could, rather than doing live-action remakes, simply do live-action sequels, prequels, spinoffs, or whatever. I’ll be the first to admit that doing a live-action sequel to an animated movie might be a bit strange, but Star Wars has given us animated canonical franchise installments that are connected to originally live-action content, so why not flip the script?

Of course, if that hadn’t happened Disney wouldn’t have made a billion dollars, so they’re certainly going to continue to do the remakes before they bother to do any sequels or prequels, but now it means I actually want these movies to do well because the movie I really want to see is the film that comes next.

Mufasa isn’t the first follow-up to a remake we’ve seen. We got a sequel to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and one to Maleficent, and if we’re being honest neither of them was all that great. If nothing else Mufasa is the first follow-up in the franchise to be pretty good, and that’s a trend I hope continues.

After the Aladdin remake made a billion dollars there was talk of a sequel to that movie, and while I would have said I wasn’t necessarily interested in that at the time, my interest in such a thing has now peaked. As long as it’s not a remake of Return of Jafar, but rather an entirely new sequel, let’s do it. Let’s write a fresh story, make new music, and give it a shot. There hasn't been much news on an Aladdin sequel so it's unclear if this project is still alive, but now, for the first time, I hope it is.

So as I look forward to the 2025 movie schedule and two more live-action remakes in Lilo & Stitch and Snow White, I’m looking even more forward than that. I hope I enjoy the movies. I want them to be good, but I’m hoping they are successful enough that Disney green lights sequels because honestly, those are the movies I’m much more interested in.

Alright, we always end up loving the side characters. While they may technically be part of the main cast of movies and TV shows, they are not the main characters that we are all supposed to follow. And yet, somehow, we always end up liking them more than the person we are supposed to pick the most – and here are just some of the classics that I need to bring up.

Frozone (The Incredibles)

When it comes to the best Pixar movies, The Incredibles tops the list, but you want to know who’s even better than the titular family? Their best friend, Frozone, another superhero with ice powers. Granted, he only has a little bit of screen time in comparison to most, but it’s thanks to his hilarious nature, and Samuel L. Jackson’s excellent voice-acting that makes him a fan-favorite.

NoHo Hank (Barry)

I think there are a lot of characters in the Barry cast that you could like way more than Barry himself, but the best example is NoHo Hank. I wrote a whole article about why NoHo Hank became one of my favorite TV characters ever since I watched Barry, and I still think he’s utterly hilarious.

Megan (Bridesmaids)

The Bridesmaids cast is filled to the brim with comedic talent, but let’s be honest – when we think of Bridesmaids, we think of Melissa McCarthy, and when we think of her, we think of Megan, the character that made her famous. She’s hilarious, and because of her role, she earned an Academy Award nomination.

Mike (Breaking Bad)

The Breaking Bad cast is filled to the brim with characters that are morally grey in every sense of the word, but Mike is one of those that you can’t help but love way more than Walter. He’s calm under pressure, has this stoic thing going on about him, and has appeared in both the mainline series and Better Call Saul.

Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Do I even need to say it? Zuko is the most-loved character in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Zuko’s character arc is one of the best on television, and I have always been a Zuko lover because of it. Heck, I’ll rewatch the show specifically for him, not really for Aang anymore.

Amy (Pitch Perfect)

Amy, otherwise known as Fat Amy, felt like she was going to be a punching bag in the first Pitch Perfect film, but she ended up becoming one of the best parts. Rebel Wilson’s iconic performance, the hilarious singer showcased someone who was unashamedly herself and spoke her mind, and we loved her for that.

Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

There are so many side characters where, at first, they look like they are the epitome of “jerk” or could probably beat you up. Rosa is definitely the latter, but she secretly has the biggest heart of gold, and out of everyone on the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, she’s the person I connected to the most on the show.

Rizzo (Grease)

Grease is overrated, and I stand by that even now because I personally can’t stand Danny or Sandy. But you know who I can? Rizzo. She has depth, emotion, and the voice to match. Sure, the actress does not look like she belongs in high school, but who really does in this film?

Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Obviously, I had to put Daryl Dixon on here. I’m pretty sure that he became the entire show once Rick left the series. He has his spinoff now called The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. There was a whole campaign that said “If Daryl Dies, We Riot.” Heck, the character wasn’t even part of the main cast in Season 1 until Norman Reedus turned him into the loveable redneck that we all know him as today.

Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park)

Jurassic Park is a quintessential ‘90s film, but I’m going to be honest and say most of the characters in there, to me, are forgettable. You watch the movie for the fantastic dinosaurs and epic action. But you want to know who isn’t? Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum. But that’s not fair, because Jeff Goldblum makes every side character better than the main one.

Genie (Aladdin)

Arguably one of Robin Williams’ best movies, Aladdin is a great Disney princess flick, but every time I think of it, I think of the Genie. He’s hyper, hilarious, and a great friend to Aladdin, even when Aladdin treats him selfishly at one point. You can’t get enough of him.

Urkel (Family Matters)

There are certain iconic TV shows that you know about just from a particular character. Urkel is the definition of that with Family Matters. Sure, I loved the hilarious sitcom for years, but the first thing that comes to my mind whenever it pops up is Urkel’s famous catchphrase, “Did I do that?”

Emily (The Devil Wears Prada)

The Devil Wears Prada cast is filled to the absolute brim with stars, but when you watch it, it’s really Emily Blunt’s character, Emily, that steals the show and her absolute love of fashion and all things Miranda Priestly. It’s actually amazing to think back on this film because this is the movie that made Emily Blunt into a household name because of how amazing she was in this role.

Titus (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

I will always love Titus in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. There was just something about this fabulous man that I could not get enough of, and I wanted so much more from him. I will never forgive Netflix for canceling this show. Titus Burgess (the actor behind the character) portrayed him so well, and I just need to see more.

Brienne Of Tarth (Game Of Thrones)

The Game of Thrones cast is ridiculously huge, so it’s almost impossible to pick side-characters that outshone the core six – Daenerys, Jon, Sansa, Tyrion, Jaime, and Cersei, because those were the ones we cared about. But in terms of side characters that surrounded their stories, there’s no one better than Brienne of Tarth. She was strong, fought for what she believed in, and arguably had one of the best endings out of everyone on this show.

O’Ren Ishii (Kill Bill)

I am an avid lover of Kill Bill because I adore watching women kick butt. If we’re being honest, I always rewatch the fight between Black Mamba and O’Ren Ishii. She is just so awesome, and her fighting style gives me chills every single time.

Troy And Abed (Community)

The Community cast is excellent, but let’s be honest here - Jeff, as a main character, is pretty boring, but it’s all the side characters around him that make him great, and Troy and Abed are the definition of that. Their friendship is iconic, but it wasn’t the same when Donald Glover left the series.

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

There are plenty of side characters in The Office that could make this list, but I think the biggest one is Dwight Schrute. The weird office worker had a certain charm about him that everyone loved—and I think it’s really in part to Rainn Wilson’s great performance of him.

Fonzie (Happy Days)

He is the definition of a side-character-turned-fan-favorite. He was a side character until fans ended up loving him so much that the show turned him into a main character for Happy Days. Granted, they ended up doing too much, and it ruined his character – hence the phrase, ‘jumping the shark’ was born – but still. It’s a great example.

Lisa (Girl, Interrupted)

Girl, Interrupted is a very serious movie that is tough to watch, but there’s no denying the excellent performances. Winona Ryder is terrific as the main character, but let’s be truthful here – Angelina Jolie as Lisa stole the show and then some. There’s no beating her.

Sam (The Lord Of The Rings)

While Frodo is the main character in The Lord of the Rings, everyone talks about Sam. He’s a great friend to Fordo, but he’s also kind, loyal, and utterly wholesome in comparison to everything else in the movies.

Bronn (Game Of Thrones)

There are so many side characters in Game of Thrones, but the one I have to point out that I love so much is Bronn. I feel like we always forget he’s there, but when he’s on screen, he just steals every scene he’s in. He’s hilarious, doesn’t hold back what he wants to say, and is a great fighter. You can’t help but love him.

Yelena (Black Widow)

Okay, so maybe this is a slight stretch, but I think when Black Widow came out, so many people had already moved past Natasha dying in Avengers: Endgame that it was hard to connect with her in this new film. But you want to know who people are really connected with? Yelena, Natasha’s adoptive sister, ended up becoming a tremendous character, and people wish to be back in the MCU. It catapulted Florence Pugh’s career.

Schmidt (New Girl)

The New Girl cast has so many great characters, but I’m going to be honest and say that Schmidt is undoubtedly my favorite. Jess is great and all but I don’t find myself laughing uncontrollably when she’s on-screen – I’m rooting for my man Schmidt and how he somehow comes up with the most hilarious moments that make me snicker.

Dionne (Clueless)

Clueless is a great ‘90s film, but Cher is one of those characters that you either love or hate because of how she acts. However, the one person I think we can all agree with is fantastic: Dionne, played by the impeccable Stacey Dash. She’s a fashionista who sticks by Cher’s side, and you have to respect that.

Grogu (The Mandalorian)

Alright, so I do love Din Djarin, and I will legit support anything that man does, but it wasn’t his face plastered everywhere after the first season of The Mandalorian – it was Grogu, who was first known as Baby Yoda. And, I mean, he is pretty cute, so I can’t really complain.

Darius (Atlanta)

Atlanta is a series that toed the line between drama and comedy during its four-season run, but one of the best characters that fit in with both of those was Darius. Played by Lakeith Stanfield, Darius is calm, if not a little weird, but does it so well and with a smooth nature.

Steve (Stranger Things)

It would be an absolute travesty if I did not include Steve Harrington on this list. He’s Steve—you know, the babysitter of all these kids, and will legit do anything to protect him? His character growth is impeccable, and I will stand by him until the end of this show. Joe Keery plays him so well.

Levi Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

There are so many side characters in anime in general that people love more than the main character, but my top pick has to go to Levi Ackerman in Attack on Titan. If you know, you know. But if you don’t, he’s literally coined Humanity’s Strongest Soldier and proves it several times throughout the course of the series, and yet, behind his stoic nature, he is a good (if not morally grey) man. And fans eat that stuff up -- including myself.

Lexa (The 100)

As someone who was a devout fan of The 100 for many years, I don’t think any other side character came along that changed the game quite like Lexa did. Not only was she badass, but she ended up becoming a love interest for the main character, which spawned an entire shipping war, which was a time to be alive. She was only in this show for a few seasons, but she made her impact.

April Ludgate (Parks And Recreation)

The Parks and Recreation cast is hilarious in so many ways, but of course, I have to point out April Ludgate, played by the hysterical Aubrey Plaza. There was just something about her deadpan responses and the way she reacted to everything that made her the best character on this show. I would watch a whole spinoff of her.

Negan (The Walking Dead)

While Negan is no doubt a very complex villain-turned-antihero by the end of The Walking Dead, there is no denying that people loved him. I swear, fans were rooting for him to win in that war during Seasons 7 and 8, and honestly, I think it’s because Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrayed him so well. And he continues to do so in The Walking Dead: Dead City. You can’t beat Negan.

There are so many great side characters out there that I might have missed, but these are certainly my favorites. Now, we have to have a little marathon to enjoy all of them in their splendor once again.

If you know me, you'd know I like Disney. In fact, I'd say I'm a pretty big Disney lover in general, from the Disney Renaissance movies to the CGI films of the 2010s. But you want to know what Disney is also fearless in doing? To get dark, super dark, and today, we're going to talk about the times when Disney dared to walk down that path.

When Lampwick Turned Into A Donkey (Pinocchio)

Oh, you knew that I would put this scene on here. Pinocchio is a pretty dark movie in a lot of different parts. Still, I literally had nightmares as a kid when I watched Lampwick turn into a donkey in front of Pinocchio on Pleasure Island. I still don't like to think about it.

When Alex's Family Completely Forgot Who She Is (The Wizards Of Waverly Place Movie)

I'll be the first to say that Wizards of Waverly Place stands up even as an adult, and the hilarious Disney Channel series is beloved by most. Still, the fact that Alex's family basically forgot who she was at the very end of the Wizards of Waverly Place movie really sat with me. I mean, it was her own doing for the spell she cast, but it still hurts that the film went that far.

When Mufasa Is Dropped Into A Stampede (The Lion King)

I'm pretty sure that, as kids, we all had nightmares after Scar betrayed his brother. While it's based on Shakespeare's real works, I think we all emotionally connected more with a brother betraying a brother, and Mufasa getting dropped into a stampede in the middle of Africa will always not sit right with me.

When Phineas And Ferb Are Sent Off To Reform School (Phineas And Ferb)

Phineas and Ferb is a great kids show to watch on Disney+ but the darkest it ever got was when Phineas and Ferb actually got busted and sent to reform school. Now, I know, on the surface, that doesn't seem that bad, but it's the fact that they were literally brainwashed in this episode. When would Disney Channel go that far?

When Tod Is Attacked By A Bear (The Fox And The Hound)

The Fox and the Hound start cute enough, but obviously, as Tod and Copper get older, they end up becoming enemies because of the natural order of things. But the darkest moment of this kid's movie is watching Tod get chased down by a bear and attacked. Like, oh my goodness, I did not need to see this as a child.

When Bambi's Mother Was Killed (Bambi)

We have to put Bambi here somewhere. The way Bambi's mother dies is a sad reality of life and hunting, and it is really only a matter of time. But that doesn't make the moment any less tragic when we see Bambi calling out for his mother, but she's not there.

When Wendy Is Literally Almost Dragged Into The Water(Peter Pan)

Peter Pan is a film with plenty of problematic elements, but one of the darkest moments features Wendy when the mermaids of Neverland tease her and then nearly drag her into the water. Like, this is a literal child. And she was almost harassed by mermaids, of all things.

When That Crazy Drunken Elephants Scene Happened (Dumbo)

Dumbo is honestly one of the most normal Disney movies out there because it features the story of circus animals. The only weird thing is Dumbo having big ears. But the film features this dark moment of Dumbo getting drunk and visualizing the most scary-looking elephants marching around in vibrant technicolor – look, if you watched the movie, you know what I'm talking about, you know it's scary.

When Tinker Bell Essentially Comes Close To Dying (Peter Pan 2: Return To Neverland)

A lot of people forget about the sequel to Peter Pan, which is expected since it was direct-to-DVD. However, when Wendy's daughter, Jane, doesn't believe in the magic of Neverland when she's taken there, Tinker Bell literally begins to lose her magic—so much so that she nearly dies. It's an unfortunate part of this film that still sticks with me to this day.

When Claude Frollo Sings "Hellfire" (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

When I talk about the best Disney villain songs, "Hellfire" ranks high on that list, but that doesn't make the moment any less dark. The song is essentially how Judge Claude Frollo is absolutely obsessed with Esmerelda and wants to be with her (if you catch my drift). Still, if she refuses his advances, then she will be burned at the stake for daring to be defiant against him. Like, dang, Disney.

When Flynn Takes A Knife To The Heart (Tangled)

In comparison to some of the moments on this list, Flynn getting stabbed in the heart in Tangled doesn't seem nearly as bad, but it's still a dark moment. The way he falls to the ground as Rapunzel cradles him always gets me – but at least they have their happy moment at the end.

When We All Sobbed During The First Ten Minutes Of Up (Up)

I don't even need to write a whole paragraph about this. You know what I'm talking about. The rise and fall of Carl and Ellie will sit with us for the rest of our lives, from miscarriages to death alike. I am already getting sad thinking about it.

When We Saw All Those Dead Rats (Ratatouille)

Ratatouille is an underrated gem and one of the best Pixar films. But a part of me sometimes forgets this super dark moment when Remy's father decides to bring him to a shop to show him rat poisoning and traps – where dead rats hang in the window. Granted, it was to try and convince Remy to give up on his dream of being a cook with the humans, but it's still a very dark scene.

When It's Revealed What Really Happened To Hector In Coco (Coco)

Coco is a film that connects me to my Spanish heritage in more ways than one. One of those instances that made me realize how special this film was is that it wasn't afraid to take a risk. This twist, where we know that Ernesto de la Cruz actually poisoned Hector so he could take credit for all his songs, is bonkers and will make any first-time viewer's mouth drop in shock.

When Tadashi Was Exploded (Big Hero 6)

I mean, yeah, I had to put Tadashi on here. Hiro had already lost his parents earlier in life and now his big brother is suddenly taken from him in this giant lab explosion that was caused out of pure selfishness (as we find out later in the film from the villain). It's so sad.

When Mulan Suddenly Stops It's Songs When It Reaches The Destroyed Village (Mulan)

Mulan is one of those movies that, when you watch it for the first time, will stick with you for the rest of your life. The film is filled with catchy songs for the first fifty minutes or so, and then "A Girl Worth Fighting For" suddenly cuts off at the very end as the army stumbles upon a destroyed village. It's chilling and perfectly well done but still so dark.

When The Literal Apocalypse Happened In The Finale (Gravity Falls)

I'll be honest and say that Gravity Falls was a show that was after my time of loving Disney Channel. Still, I had to put this moment – that the end of a Disney Channel animated series literally has the finale going through the apocalypse. I'm sorry, what? This is Disney, right?

When Jafar Was Blatently Attracted To A 15-Year-Old Girl (Aladdin)

We sometimes forget that a lot of the Disney princesses are literal teenagers in most of these movies because they're so mature half the time, but Jafar and Jasmine in Aladdin are the worst. Jafar is blatantly attracted to Jasmine in the film and wants to marry her for power, but she is actually fifteen. Someone call the police, please.

When The Toys Were About To Get Burned To Death (Toy Story 3)

Toy Story 3 was initially created as a cap to the Toy Story movies before the fourth film was conceived, so having this scene was wild. The toys, who are in a garbage plant thanks to Lotso, are nearly burned alive by an incinerator. They are all holding hands and waiting for their demise. Thankfully, at the last moment, the little green aliens come in and save them with the giant claw that picks up trash, but god, that was a close one, huh?

When Hades Wanted To Kill A Child (Hercules)

Look, Hercules is underrated in so many ways, and Hades is a hilarious villain, but there's a reason why he is a villain in this movie. He wants to kill Hercules at the beginning and gets his minions to do so by using a vial of poison, but Hercules ends up only drinking most of it, not all, so he just loses his godlike immortality.

When Belle Was Chased By Wolves (Beauty And The Beast)

We all glamorize Beauty and the Beast a little too much because there were plenty of dark moments in that movie, and one of the biggest was when wolves chased Belle. I know, in the grand scheme of things, that it’s not super dark, but it's still scary for a kid to watch a Disney princess get chased down by wolves and nearly die.

When We Saw All Of Sid's Horrifying Creations (Toy Story)

Toy Story featured probably some of the most disgusting creations I had ever seen when we first noticed Sid's fascination with destroying toys and molding them into new ones. As the movie continues, we do see that even these strange concoctions have souls of their own, but man, they are still freaky as heck.

When Dr. Facilier Was Dragged To Hell By Demons (The Princess And The Frog)

There's a lot that I love about The Princess and the Frog, including Tiana being the best Disney princess, but I think we sometimes forget just how dark Dr. Facilier was. This man works with the literal souls of the underworld to gain power, and when he falls flat on his deal, he is dragged through a grave down to hell. Yup, it can't really get darker than that.

When Gaston Fell To His Death (Beauty And The Beast)

There are plenty of great villain deaths in the world of Disney, but Gaston's is honestly one that is pretty dark. We don't necessarily see his head hit the pavement, but we do see Gaston fall to his death when he and the Beast are facing off.

When Esteban Gets Possessed (The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody)

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is a great series overall, but even I'll admit that this episode, where Esteban (a hotel bellboy) and the twins are trying to contact the dead, is scary as hell and dark for Disney. They do so well in contacting the dead that a spirit takes over Esteban. What? That never happens.

When Wall-E Nearly Forgot Who Everyone Was (Wall-E)

Wall-E is a film that feels a little too real nowadays with how global warming has changed our world, and the movie itself can be super dark if you look at it. But to me, the darkest moment was at the very end when I thought Wall-E was reset to his factory settings and forgot all about Eve and everything that happened. Thankfully, her spark brings back his memory, so it all works out, but man, that was a close one!

When An Evil Force Begins To Take Over And Turn Everyone Into Monsters (Halloweentown)

Halloweentown is my favorite non-scary Halloween movie because it's so homey and rings in the season in a great way. Still, there's no denying that the idea of an evil force – not even just a spirit, but a malevolent force – taking over an entire town is dark for Disney Channel DCOM standards.

When Clayton Accidentally Hangs Himself (Tarzan)

Tarzan is a film that I think a lot of us forget about (except for Phil Collins' great score), but let's not forget the dark moment when the villain, Clayton, literally accidentally kills himself. He's struggling with vines as he's in the final fight but falls to the ground, and ultimately, we see the vines wrapped around his neck and the shadow of his hanging body not that long after.

When Bing Bong Sacrificed Himself (Inside Out)

The world has never forgiven Pixar for sacrificing Bing Bong in Inside Out. I mean, look at him. He didn't deserve that. Bing Bong deserves his freedom, but he lets himself get erased in Riley's mind so Joy can get out and make Riley happy again. Gosh, I'm getting tears thinking about it.

When Scar Is Eaten By His Own Followers (The Lion King)

Scar is a dastardly villain, but his demise is even darker than what he has done. The hyenas who have followed him for the whole movie turn on the lion at the very end, and we see them tear him apart in the shadows, bit by bit, eaten because they are hungry now.

When The House Turns Into A Prison (Smart House)

In a world where we live with Alexas and smart devices galore, the twist of Smart House feels all too real. The film itself was a Disney Channel film about a home with a robotic attendant who turns the house into a prison. I mean…not for nothing, but AI is scary, and this film feels a little too real.

When Marlan's Wife Was Killed In The Opening Minutes Of Finding Nemo (Finding Nemo)

I think everyone who saw Finding Nemo as a kid was shocked to death when they watched the first minutes. We don't actually see Marlan's wife getting eaten, but we know she's gone in the moments after, when there's just one egg left and Marlan is all alone.

These are just some of the dark moments I instantly think of when it comes to Disney – but trust me, there are plenty more. I think it's time for a Disney marathon – and for me to enjoy every second of it while also getting creeped out at these dark moments.

For many of us, the sound of Disney songs brings in an instant air of nostalgia for our childhoods. And when you look back at the best Disney animated movies (along with some live-action and Pixar) from the House of Mouse’s one-hundred-year history, there are a ton of genuinely hilarious song lyrics. Check out which funny bars from Disney movies we chuckle to whilst singing along.

“Try the grey stuff, it's delicious. Don't believe me? Ask the dishes.“

One of the most charismatic Disney characters has to be Beauty and the Beast’s Lumiere, and he definitely shines the brightest (pun intended) during his solo song “Be Our Guest.” Lyricist Howard Ashman was clearly having a blast imagining what a talking candlestick would say. The lyric that gets us every time is when he asks Belle to try the “grey stuff” before pointing to the dishes as references. It’s so clever and fun.

"I'm in the mood to help you, dude."

Aladdin is one of Robin Williams' best movies, especially for what the actor brought to the character of Genie. In his show-stopping song, “Friend Like Me,” it’s a blast to see Williams’ ancient character blend together elements from Middle Eastern culture of the time with more modern phrases. A funny instance of that is when he literally calls Aladdin “dude.”

"Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino..."

In Disney’s Rapunzel adaptation, her captor is super evil, but one cannot help but love how hilarious Mother Gothel is, either. In her song “Mother Knows Best,” where she reiterates to Rapunzel why she should not leave her tower, it’s rather comical for the audience to hear the random ways she incites fear into the lost princess – especially with this rhino line.

"And, it hurt that my friends never stood downwind!"

Disney songs love wordplay, and “Hakuna Matata” has a hilarious one from Pumbaa. During the song, Pumbaa’s backstory is basically that he is super gassy and felt super embarrassed about it. However, with the phrase of the song, he’s able to embrace himself, smells and all. With that, this line uses “downwind” to have two meanings.

"Don’t know if I’m elated or gassy, but I’m somewhere in that zone.”

When it comes to all the Disney Princess movies, Frozen is definitely high on the list, and much of that has to do with how grounded and real Anna and Elsa feel. While other princesses are so dainty and graceful, Anna sings basically everything that comes into her brain, and in this line in “First Time In Forever,” she’s able to convey her stress about the Coronation in a relatable way.

"There's children throwing snowballs, instead of throwing heads. They're busy building toys, and absolutely no one's dead.”

In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton’s concept allows Jack Skellington to experience Christmas for the first time after living his life as the King of Halloween Town. While the lyrics are absolutely true to Jack’s experience when he is singing them in “What’s This?” it is very funny to hear a character announce that no one’s dead or being thrown – and it’s a revelation to him.

"So, you wanna be a hero, kid? Well, whoop-de-do."

Danny DeVito is so great as an old satyr named Philoctetes in Hercules, that it’s no wonder Disney fans really want to see him in the live-action Disney remake! One rather comical moment of his comes from his song “One Last Hope” when he injects some sarcasm into the opening line. It’s a solid way for Phil to comment about his past experiences training heroes, and it's fun to recite with him.

"Cleaning crud up in the kitchen as we sing along!"

Enchanted was an excellent addition to Disney movies because of how candidly it satirized the studio’s clichés over the years. This is especially put on display when Giselle sings “Happy Working Song” by going into detail about all the tidying up she is doing in her new live-action setting. It’s not quite as magical as in her animated land, that’s for sure!

"Don't underestimate the importance of body language, ha!"

During The Little Mermaid’s “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” the deliciously evil villain of Ursula successfully convinces young and naive Ariel to give the sea witch her voice in exchange for a spell that will give her legs. One funny line, especially for the delivery, is when Ursula suggests she uses “body language” while dancing rather playfully.

"I'd rather be called deadly for my killer show-tune medley. Thank you!"

After Rapunzel leaves her tower for the first time in Tangled, it’s fun to see her end up at a pub called “The Snuggly Duckling” full of ruffians. Her presence inspires the criminals to break into song for “I Have A Dream” to share their innermost desires. One great line is when one shady character shares that he’s secretly a pianist who wishes he was recognized for his talents. It’s sweet, too.

“We finish each other's…" "Sandwiches.”

During the first act of Frozen, Anna falls quickly for Prince Hans and they sing a duet called “Love Is An Open Door.” In one moment of the song, Hans says it’s crazy that they “finish each other’s” before Anna interrupts with “sandwiches.” Usually, that line would be “sentences,” but Anna’s quirky way changes things – made even better by him following up that with “that’s what I was going to say!"

“Winter's a good time to stay in and cuddle, but put me in summer and I'll be a... happy snowman”

Frozen was very clever to invent a snowman character who dreams of the summertime and actually devotes an entire song to his dreams around being in the season. It’s kind of a fun dark song because Olaf would technically melt if he was around in those weather conditions. This is played to directly when he says a line that rhymes with “puddle” and looks at one before going into a completely different direction lyrically.

"It just occurred to me that I'm illiterate and I've never actually had to spell it out loud before…”

While the live-action Beauty and the Beast is rather similar to the original animated version overall, Josh Gad’s LeFou brought some additional comedy to the song “Gaston.” He points out he’s illiterate while attempting to spell out Gaston’s name during the tune and it deserves the extra chuckle not found in the '90s original.

"These guys don't appreciate I'm broke."

In Aladdin, “One Jump Ahead” helps introduce Aladdin as a young man on the streets of Agrabah who steals in order to survive. The action-packed song is full of visual gags, but one line delivery that’s funny and relatable to some of us is how he casually says the law enforcement after him just doesn’t appreciate that he’s “broke.” What a mindset!

"Oh I wouldn't climb this tree, if a Pooh flew like a bee. But I wouldn't be a bear then, so I guess I wouldn't care then."

Winnie The Pooh is such a funny guy as is, so it’s no surprise he has his own song to match that energy. In the Sherman Brothers song “Rumbly In My Tummy,” Pooh laments on being all sorts of hungry which he hopes to grab from a honey tree. In a sweet line, Pooh thinks about if he was a bee he could fly up the tree he’s climbing, but then he would no longer be a bear, wouldn’t he?

“Hey! What has two thumbs and pulled up the sky when you were waddling yay high? This guy!”

Maui is a charismatic demigod who tells his story to Moana in “You’re Welcome.” One particularly funny line that Lin-Manuel Miranda cooked up for the lyrics was this one above that has Dwayne Johnson basically rapping in the best way.

"You say put them on your head. Ay, mi amor! Ay, mi amor!”

In Coco, Miguel sings the very catchy tune “Un Poco Loco” while trying to win a contest to go to Ernesto de la Cruz’s concert. Unlike many Disney songs, this one translates to “a little crazy” and is rather random to the narrative itself. The song speaks to how love can make one crazy, by basically saying one’s love tells him the sky is red and he should put his shoes on his head.

"You telling this story, or am I?"

Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” became the biggest hit of the 2021 movie, even though Lin-Manuel Miranda called the big hit the “least likely candidate for breakout success possible.” The whole song is a fun time, but especially when Mirábel’s uncle and aunt are trying to tell her Bruno’s backstory and fight over who is telling the story!

"'Cause when you're older, absolutely everything makes sense!"

After Olaf went viral for being the sweetest talking snowman in Arendelle, he gets another solo in Frozen 2. In the song “When I Am Older,” Olaf talks about his excitement for understanding more things when he grows up more and experiences life further. However, with lines such as this one, adults will especially chuckle because being older doesn’t necessarily amount to things in the world finally making any “sense.”

“What do they got, a lot of sand? We got a hot crustacean band.”

Sebastian the Crab is such a lively character in The Little Mermaid, even if it takes him some time to come around to Ariel’s dreams of being human. This is most apparent in his song “Under The Sea” when Sebastian brings together tons of talented sea creatures to show her that there’s a lot to love as one of them. Sure, it doesn’t work on Ariel, but they make a good case for it.

“Honey, you mean Hunk-ules!”

The Muses in Hercules help tell the story of the Greek hero with a lot of soul and sass. In “The Gospel Truth,” the muses kind of break the fourth wall to showcase how they find the hero attractive by calling him “Hunk-ules” rather than “Hercules,” and it’s an unforgettable part of the song.

"There's only she who is beautiful as me. So, I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle."

At the beginning of Beauty and the Beast, the setting and its characters are established with the ensemble song “Belle.” During the song, Gaston is introduced in a straightforward way by sharing his goals with these lines. There’s also something quite hilarious about Gaston referring to himself as “beautiful.”

“You’re not a voice, you’re just a ringing in my ear. And, if I heard you, which I don’t.”

At the beginning of Frozen 2, Elsa starts to hear a voice calling to her. While she’s singing about it in “Into The Unknown,” the songwriters found a witty way to communicate how she’s denying the voice calling to her with this line, which is also just well executed lyrically.

"It's genetics! Yeah, I got these genes from outer space. Peep the name, I'm magnificent!"

When Chris Pine was cast as Disney’s latest villain in Wish, he was “geeking out” about the process of getting to sing songs in an animated movie from the House of Mouse. In his big villain song, “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” Pine’s character of King Magnifico shows off his charm and sense of humor by commenting on his good looks.

I’m just a punky little eyeball, and a funky optic nerve.”

Not every Pixar movie has original songs, but Monsters Inc. does in the form of a duet between John Goodman’s Sully and Billy Crystal’s Mike Waskowski. The song “If I Didn’t Have You” is funny from beginning to end as the friends quip with each other about their friendship, but this line from Mike is especially a great line.

”I love to laugh, it’s getting worse every year.”

Laughing isn’t a “condition” typically, but in the case of 1964’s Mary Poppins, it is for Ed Wynn’s Uncle Albert, who starts floating in the air when he starts laughing uncontrollably. In the song “I Love To Laugh,” it’s simply comical to see this concept come to life as Albert sings (through his laughter) how it’s getting “worse every year.”

“This child is getting wildly out of wing.”

In The Lion King’s “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” Simba shares his excitement about being the ruler of Pride Rock someday. However, his majordomo, Zazu, is not impressed with the song. In a great pun moment from the ‘90s hit, he says Simba is getting wildly “out of wing” rather than “out of hand” – because he’s a bird.

”I’m the king of the swingers. Oh, the jungle VIP.”

In 1967’s The Jungle Book, “I Wan'na Be Like You” an orangutan named King Louie attempts to entice Mowgli to teach him about the ways of being human with him. The character voiced by jazz and swing singer Louis Prima makes a great joke about playing a monkey and the genre of the song by calling himself the “king of the swingers.”

"His assets frozen, the venue chosen is the ends of the earth, whoopee! So long, ex-Prince Ali!"

Aladdin’s Jafar is a rather comical villain, even though he’s terrifying as well. In the reprise for “Prince Ali,” which comes at a time when his evil plans are coming together, he uses his cleverness to roast Aladdin as he grabs the Genie lamp for himself and asks to become a sorcerer himself.

“Now when you pick a pawpaw, or a prickly pear…”

This is one of those lyrics that is just funny to say and leaves the tongue tingly. In The Bare Necessities, Baloo the Bear teaches Mowgli his motto for life, which includes how he picks his fruit in a long line full of alliteration.

"Are ya achin' (yup, yup, yup), for some bacon? (Yup, yup, yup.)"

Near the end of The Lion King, Timon and Pumbaa assist Simba in foiling Scar by the art of distraction. They do so by crafting up a hilarious Luau song where they use Pumbaa as bait. It will never not be a funny sequence in The Lion King.

"Who can make up these endless refrains like Gaston?"

Beauty and the Beast’s “Gaston” sequence is loads of fun as LeFou sings about his muscled-up mate in a pub full of people who worship him. One funny bit is when LeFou kind of comments on how they are singing a lot about Gaston by saying he makes up “endless refrains."

Disney has created some of the greatest characters in movie history. The Disney Princesses are a brand unto themselves and Disney Villains include some of the most iconic characters ever conceived. However, there are also those other characters. Sometimes the characters you remember most coming out of the best animated Disney movies aren't the heroes or the villains.

Sometimes the character that steals a scene, or even an entire movie, are the sidekicks. Sometimes it's the characters that are barely in the movie at all, but are so memorable in their few moments of screen time that you want to see an entirely new movie based on them. Here are some of the best Disney side characters who have stolen scenes in our favorite films.

The Genie - Aladdin

There may be no Disney character who stole the show, who was designed to steal the show, like Aladdin's Genie. Voiced by the incomparable Robin Williams, the Genie owns every scene he's in even though the movie is never really about him.

Sebastian - The Little Mermaid

There's no better way to steal a scene in an animated Disney movie than with a great song, and Sebastian gets a great one in The Little Mermaid. "Under the Sea" won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1990 and it's not hard to see why. Considering songwriter Howard Ashman specifically designed Sebastian with a Jamaican accent so that he could write a calypso song, clearly he knew this little crab would be one of the highlights of the film.

HeiHei - Moana

It takes a certain skill to steal a scene when you can't actually speak, and yet Moana's chicken HeiHei is somehow able to do exactly that. Alan Tudyk's great voice acting (voice clucking?) combined with perfect animation make Heihei unforgettable. It's a good thing Maui didn't eat him or we would have been robbed of some hilarious moments.

Maximus -Tangled

From sword-fighting Flynn Rider to breaking him out of prison, few horses are quite as capable as Maximus. Not simply a mount for the captain of the guard, Maximus himself ultimately becomes the captain of the guard, which is only fitting considering his importance. This horse deserves all the apples.

Kronk - The Emperor's New Groove

The Emperor's New Groove is one of Disney's funniest movies, and Kronk is absolutely the funniest part of it. The sidekick to villain Yzma, Kronk is big and dumb but it's impossible not to love him. He's just so earnest, and he tries so hard, how can you not love Kronk?

Lumiere - Beauty And The Beast

Even as a candelabra, there's something irresistible about Lumiere. Nothing phases him and he can get an entire dining room dancing. He's always sure that everything will work out in Beauty and the Beast, and he does eventually turn out to be right. Clearly, he knew something the rest of us did not.

Mr. Pleakly - Lilo & Stitch

Mr. Pleakly is the last alien who should be sent after experiment 626, but he certainly does give it his all in attempting to recapture the mischievous monster. From his numerous costume changes to his perpetual fear of basically everything, Pleakly is the perfect comic sidekick.

Rutt And Tuke - Brother Bear

Rutt and Tuke are minor characters in Brother Bear but of course, they steal every scene they're in. Why? They're voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, and are basically just animated versions of The McKenzie Brothers, the hilariously Canadian duo of SCTV fame that the two played in live-action. Their appearance is almost more of an easter egg than anything else, but it's a welcome one.

Louis - The Princess And The Frog

Louis is a friendly alligator who plays the trumpet in a movie where jazz music plays a pivotal role. Of course, he's going to steal the show. He leads one of the best songs and gets some of the best jokes in The Princess and the Frog.

Vincenzo “Vinny” Santorini - Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Atlantis: The Lost Empire isn't a movie that a lot of people remember, but it had an incredible voice cast including Michael J. Fox, James Garner, and Leonard Nimoy. However, the character you likely remember most is explosives expert Vinny Santorini, who was voiced by Don Novello, best known for his character Father Guido Sarducci who would appear on SNL from time to time. Vinny is a simple man who just wants to blow things up. Is that too much to ask?

Tigger - The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is made up of three different stories, one of which doesn't even include the character of Tigger. And yet, today most people don't even realize that there was a time when there was no Tigger in Disney's Winnie the Pooh. He basically takes over the movie from the title bear from the moment he arrives and never gives it back.

Cheshire Cat - Alice In Wonderland

Wonderland is a strange place full of all sorts of strange characters, but the Cheshire Cat may be one of the weirdest of them all and one of the few who seems well aware of how strange he is. This makes him instantly memorable.

Scuttle - The Little Mermaid

Buddy Hackett was a great comic talent and he brings that incredible ability to the role of Scuttle in The Little Mermaid perfectly. The seagull's cluelessness is quite endearing, making every moment the bird is on screen hilarious.

Valentino - Wish

Alan Tudyk has voiced numerous Disney characters over the last several years, but one of his best is also one of his most recent. Valentino, the goat who gains the ability to speak in Wish does not let his new gift go to waste. He embraces his new speech and every line he speaks is another scene-stealing moment.

Rhino - Bolt

Disney movies teach us that we can do anything and one has to assume that Rhino, the hamster stuck in a ball from Bolt has seen more than his share of Disney movies. Rhino never lets his small stature stand in the way of whatever he believes he can accomplish, and while what he believes he can do is a great deal more than what's actually possible, you have to love the enthusiasm.

Archimedes - The Sword In The Stone

Sometimes in the middle of a bright and happy Disney movie, what you need is an angry curmudgeon who has no patience for any of it. That's the owl Archimedes in The Sword in the Stone. He doesn't like anybody or anything, and honestly, we've all been there.

Iago - Alddin

Voiced by the great Gilbert Gottfried it's literally impossible for Iago not to steal any scene he's in. How could you possibly ignore that voice? Still, Iago is hilariously fun with his endlessly sarcastic quips.

Sgt. Calhoun - Wreck-It Ralph

Most of Wreck-It Ralph takes place inside bright and colorful video games where the characters are all pretty laid back and fun. And then there's Sgt. Calhoun, the no-nonsense hardcore leader of Hero's Duty. She's so different than everything else in the movie that she instantly draws your attention whenever she's on screen.

Meg - Hercules

Oh all Disney heroines, Megara is one of the most overlooked. While she does eventually need rescuing from the hero, she never asks for help and spends a not insignificant amount of her time making fun of Hercules. She's such a shift from what we're used to it that you can't help but want more.

Allan-a-Dale - Robin Hood

Robin Hood isn't one of Disney's musicals, but it still has some great music thanks to Alan-A-Dale, the rooster minstrel voiced by the late great Roger Miller. He's the narrator of our story, but more than once his music becomes the story.

Boun - Raya And The Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is not lacking for memorable side characters, they're all quite impressive, but restaurant owner Boun, a kid pretending to be a businessman is the best of them. He commands the screen when he's being hilarious as much as when he's being vulnerable.

Olaf - Frozen

Olaf is one of those great Disney sidekicks that could have gone terribly wrong, but great writing and solid work from Josh Gad have continued to make Olaf incredible. There's a reason the little snowman has received his own holiday specials and animated short. The Frozen movies alone can't contain him.

Duke Weaselton - Zootopia

Duke Weaselton only appears in a couple of scenes in Zootopia but they're both quite memorable, with the first being one of the movie's great action sequences, and the second being one of the funniest parts of the film, where Weaselton is selling bootleg DVDs of animal-influenced Disney films.

Bruno - Encanto

They don't talk about Bruno, but after seeing Encanto Bruno was all most people could talk about. He may have gone slightly bonkers living in the walls of his house but the love he has for his family is palpable, making his brief appearance key to the story and the movie's emotional core.

Rafiki - The Lion King

Timon and Pumbaa often get all the credit for being scene-stealing sidekicks in The Lion King but Rafiki is the one who ultimately teaches Simba the lesson that he needs to understand, and he does it in a way that is equal parts magical and ridiculous. He has less screen time than almost any other voiced character in the film, but Rafiki makes it count.

Flora, Fauna And Merriweather - Sleeping Beauty

The master plan of the three fairies to keep Aurora safe for 16 years in Sleeping Beauty doesn't exactly work, but you certainly can't say that Flora, Fauna, and Meriweather don't give it their all. Even if they can't make a decent cake or decide what color to make a dress, these three are the aunts we all would be lucky if we had.

Jock And Trusty - Lady And The Tramp

Many Disney movies deal with incredible friendships but one of the best is happening on the sidelines of Lady and the Tramp. Trusty is an old bloodhound who has lost his ability to smell and Jock is his dear friend who will never tell him that he can't smell anything because Jock knows how heartbreaking that would be for his friend.

Jasper And Horace - 101 Dalmatians

Yes, Jasper and Horace are technically bad guys, but they're hilariously incompetent bad guys, and that makes them a great deal more fun and easier to love. If Cruela deVil had been able to hire anybody smarter she might have actually been dangerous.

Jaq And Gus - Cinderella

Cinderella's little mice friends are small but they are actually a big part of her movie. Jaq is (allegedly) the brains of the operation, but Gus is too cute to ignore. They are able to get the better of Lucifer the cat in a pair of sequences that are among the best in Cinderella.

Baymax - Big Hero 6

In a movie full of superheroes, the real hero is the one who would rather heal than hurt. Baymax is just so innocent and kind that it's impossible not to love him. Eventually, it's the robot who shows the biggest heart.

Scat Cat - The Aristocats

The Aristocats is not one of Walt Disney Animation's best movies, but it does have its moments. Or at least its moment. "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat" is a classic Disney song, even if it's in a largely forgotten movie. Scatman Cruthers is the voice of his namesake kitty, and he rocks the song and steals the show.

Dodger - Oliver And Company

How do you not steal the scene when you're literally Billy Joel? Dodger in Oliver and Company is the cool dog that everybody else wants to be, and he's got the best song in the movie. If you've ever seen this movie you probably don't remember anything else.

More times than not, if there is a pet in a movie, we’re going to love them more than the rest of the cast. We’ve seen it in everything from family-friendly comedies like Babe to all-time great sci-fi thrillers like Alien and countless others. And since we had so much fun looking back on the greatest movie dogs, we thought we’d give the rest of the animal kingdom some love by breaking down 32 of the best pets in Hollywood history. 

Let’s look at some of the beloved cats, dogs, fish, and alien creatures that have stolen our hearts over the years.

Gizmo (Gremlins)

While the rest of his siblings are off causing all kinds of mayhem in Kingston Falls, Gizmo spends the entirety of Gremlins being not only a cute and adorable pet, but also a brave companion for Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan). He’s not your typical pet, but this furry and brave mogwai is a creature we’d all love to have in our house.

Beethoven (Beethoven)

Sure, Beethoven destroys the Newton home on more than one occasion, likes to steal bacon, and uses dress shoes as his chew toys, but there’s no denying this massive St. Bernard is one of the best movie pets in Hollywood history. Like, come on, he even turns George Newton (Charles Grodin) from a neurotic mess of a man who hates dogs to a slightly less neurotic man who takes in no fewer than a dozen dogs at the end of the movie.

Babe (Babe)

Babe, one of the best family movies from the ‘90s, features what is perhaps the most beloved on-screen pig in Hollywood history. The titular sheep-pig, which warmed everyone’s hearts including James Cromwell’s farmer in the 1995 classic, never lets the other animals’ comments or attitudes get the best of him. 

Jonesy (Alien)

One of only two survivors of the Nostromo incident in Alien, Jonesy the cat has become one of the most recognizable felines in Hollywood history. The orange tabby cat that was on a yearslong mission to deep space for some reason, shows up again in Aliens, but doesn’t get to leave Earth’s orbit, which is a shame.

Oliver (Oliver & Company)

Sure Billy Joel’s Dodger is the definition of cool in Oliver & Company, but the titular feline is there to melt our hearts and teach us about bravery and new beginnings. Though he starts out as an orphan, Oliver, an adorable kitten voiced by Joey Lawrence, does eventually find a family and does everything he can to make it his forever home.

Toto (The Wizard Of Oz)

One of the most well-known terriers in Hollywood history, Toto is a major part of The Wizard of Oz and is quite crucial to its plot. Not only does he give the Wicked Witch of the West a hard time throughout the movie, but he also doesn’t fall for the Wizard’s act and exposes him for the fraud he is.

Hedwig (The Harry Potter Movies)

What other movie pets have their own iconic theme composed by the legendary John Williams? This alone puts Hedwig in the top tier of animals in Hollywood history, but it’s honestly just one part of Harry Potter’s trusty owl’s on-screen accomplishments. And the way she puts her life on the line to protect the young wizard is nothing short of commendable.

Toothless (How To Train Your Dragon)

Dragons don’t have to be massive, ferocious, or obsessed with gold to earn a spot in Hollywood history, and that’s the case for Toothless in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Ever since his first appearance in the 2010 franchise starter, this adorable yet courageous pet and companion has come through big for Hiccup time and time again.

Blofeld's Cat (From Russia With Love)

There are quite a few recurring characters in the James Bond franchise and one of the most frequently featured is Blofeld’s cat, which was a major fixture in the early movies. The pet belonging to the fearsome leader of Spectre, this white cat is adorable even if it’s part of one of the biggest crime syndicates in Hollywood history.

Abu (Aladdin)

Sure, Genie makes a case for himself with “You Never Had A Friend Like Me,” but the titular hero in Disney’s Aladdin had a great pet and friend all along: Abu. This crafty monkey with a knack for lifting valuable objects and artifacts, has more street smarts than just about any other animal in the studio’s history, which is saying something.

Jiji (Kiki's Delivery Service)

One of Hayao Miyazaki’s best movies, Kiki’s Delivery Service features one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli characters with its titular witch, but the movie also has an all-time great movie pet. Jiji, Kiki’s talking cat, who was voiced by the late Phil Hartman in the 1998 English dub, is crafty, sassy, and devoted to his human. With a quip and morale boost at every turn, we’d all be better with a cat like this.

Wanda (A Fish Called Wanda)

Wanda, the angelfish and not the character played by Jamie Lee Curtis, in A Fish Called Wanda doesn’t do as much as other pets on this list, but it is key to one of the most iconic scenes from this hilarious ‘80s crime comedy. Anyone down for fish and chips?

Sassy, Chance and Shadow (Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey)

For folks of a certain age, Sassy, Chance, and Shadow are three of the most recognizable pets of all time. Sure, they wouldn’t have had to cross a mountain pass if they had just stayed put, but we have to give it to them for going to extreme lengths to get back to their owners, even if it means almost dying multiple times in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.

Vito Corleone's Cat (The Godfather)

Despite only being featured in one scene, Don Vito Corleone’s cat in The Godfather has become one of the most unforgettable characters in the crime epic as well as one of the most recognizable pets in Hollywood history. And the notoriously dark and shadowy opening scene with Vito and the cat is even better in the 4K remaster, which adds so much to the feline’s character. 

Arthur (Beginners)

Beginners is a charming and heartful romantic comedy that touches on love, happiness, loss, and new beginnings (hence the name). And while Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Melanie Laurent are all masterful in their respective roles, it’s the dog, named Arthur, who steals the show. This Jack Russell terrier, whose thoughts are shown in subtitles, has great comedic timing, which makes the 2011 movie so much more fun.

Cat (Breakfast At Tiffany's)

Holly Golightly’s pet, appropriately named “Cat,” is honestly one of the best things about Breakfast at Tiffany’s and helps make the iconic Audrey Hepburn movie so beloved. And who is there in the timeless final scene in which Holly and Pual Varjak get back together in the pouring rain? Yep, it’s Cat.

Benji (Benji)

When it comes to legendary on-screen pooches, Benji is near or at the top of the list. Ever since the 1974 classic, Benji, the beloved dog has melted audiences’ (of multiple generations) hearts and provided for some adventurous moments along the way.

Jinxy (Meet The Parents) 

Jinxy cat can wave, flush toilets, and make life miserable for Greg Focker in Meet the Parents, but despite being antagonistic against Ben Stiller’s character in the 2000 comedy, he’s still one of the best. Who else can make Rober De Niro’s Jack Byrnes turn into a big softy like that? No one, not even his daughters.

Max (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)

At the heart of every version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is Max, the Grinch’s best friend, trusty assistant, and beloved pet dog. It’s hard not to feel sympathetic towards the iconic pooch, especially before the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes…

Buddy (Air Bud)

We’ve lost count of how many times Buddy has saved the day in the Air Bud movies, but it’s a lot. It all goes back to the ‘90s kids sports movie where the Golden Retriever joins the basketball team after escaping from an abusive circus clown. Are there any other dogs that can shoot hoops (and later play football and just about every other team sport)?

Mike Tyson's Tiger (The Hangover)

Mike Tyson has a pet tiger in The Hangover because of course he does. Probably the most exotic, deadly, and out-of-left-field pet in the history of cinema, the infamous boxer’s tiger is involved in one of the movie’s most hilarious sequences, one that’ll leave you laughing and scratching your head as you try to figure out how this happened.

Stitch (Lilo and Stitch)

Yeah, Stitch is technically an alien lifeform and not an animal from Earth, but the little blue creature from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is just too good to not mention. We can’t understand a thing he says and he causes a lot of mischief, but isn’t that true about all pets?

Ulysses (Inside Llewyn Davis)

Ulysses, the cat Oscar Isaac’s titular character in Inside Llewyn Davis brings with him after getting locked out of a friend’s apartment, is honestly one of the best big-screen feline characters of the 21st century. He represents the struggling folk singer’s life so well and adds so much to this Coen brothers movie.

Daisy (John Wick)

Daisy, we didn’t know you all that long, but you’ve remained in our hearts for the past decade. A present from John Wick’s late wife to help him with his grief ended up becoming the spark for the retired hitman’s return back to the underworld. There have been more John Wick dogs over the years, but Daisy will always be the first.

Clyde (Every Which Way But Loose)

Clyde the orangutang playing the comedic relief to Clint Eastwood’s straight man in Every Which Way But Loose is one of those great primate movie performances and provides for so many great moments. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with a rambunctious ape that likes to flip people the bird?

Virgil (Project X)

Virgil isn’t your typical pet, which is what makes this chimpanzee so great in Project X (the 1987 sci-fi drama and not the 2012 party flick). Part of a secret military project and later the best friend of Matthew Broderick’s Jimmy Garrett, this advanced primate embarks upon an epic adventure as he and his human counterparts seek a better life.

Goose (Captain Marvel)

Goose may look like a normal housecat, but this isn’t your everyday tabby. Instead, as seen throughout Captain Marvel, Goose is an alien creature known as a flerken and has all kinds of crazy strengths and powers. Just watch your eye.

The Ranchor (Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi)

On the surface, the ranchor looks like a ferocious and massive monster in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, but as we see after the creature’s death, it’s actually someone’s pet. Just look on the trainer’s face when Luke kills the beast in Jabba’s palace. Heartbreaking.

Dug (Up)

There have been countless pets in Pixar movies over the years, and one of the best is Dug from Up. Equipped with a collar that turns his thoughts into words, this fun-loving, ball-obsessed, and adventurous canine is a source of entertainment throughout this beloved 2009 animated gem.

Rajah (Aladdin)

What makes Rajah such a great pet, well, besides being a freaking tiger? Well, he projects Jasmine from countless threats throughout Aladdin and never falls for Jafar’s games, which is more than you can say about pretty much every character in this Disney staple. But don’t let that fool you, because he’s actually a big softie.

Sven (Frozen)

Reindeer are better than people, especially when it comes to Sven in Frozen. The longtime friend, companion, and pet of Kristof’s in this massive box office hit. He doesn’t talk, but this trusty character has all kinds of emotions and never ignores the call to adventure.

Wilbur (Charlotte's Web)

There’s a good chance Charlotte’s Web would have earned an Oscar if the Best Animated Feature category existed at the time of its release. A lot of that is because of the infectious energy of Wilbur, the prized pig who becomes the source of inspiration for the titular spider and her incredible creations. Sure, he doesn’t become a sheep-pig, but he’s still pretty great.

When it comes to Disney movies, there are plenty of instances where I’m sure we all look at the TV screen, look at our partner next, and sigh, wondering how our lives could never be as romantic as the couples in Disney movies. Alright, well, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but you get what I mean – and today, we’ll be going over some of the best romantic scenes in Disney movies that give me hope in true love. 

Ariel And Eric During “Kiss The Girl” (The Little Mermaid)

One of my favorite Disney scenes comes from The Little Mermaid. Not only does the “Kiss the Girl” scene provide one of the best Disney songs ever, but it’s also a significant turning point in Eric and Ariel’s relationship.

Hercules Literally Risking His Life To Save Meg (Hercules)

Hercules is such an underrated Disney classic, and while it has gotten plenty of praise in the last few years, including talk of a live-action remake, I will never forgive it for not being nearly as big as it should have been. Hercules and Meg were the definition of the ‘it’ couple, and I’m pretty sure not every man would dive into a river of death, risk losing their lives, and so much more to save their significant other—the definition of love. 

Lady And Tramp Sharing A Dinner (Lady And The Tramp)

It’s funny when I watch The Lady and the Tramp now as an adult because I can’t help but think that these dogs are getting celebrity treatment, getting fresh spaghetti and meatballs from a chef. But of course, I have to put down the two main characters swapping meatballs and spaghetti. 

Carl And Ellie’s Montage (Up)

I’m not crying; you are. 

Rewatching Up as an adult is always a hard-hitter, but you want to know what still hits just as hard? Watching Carl and Ellie’s montage of their love story. Heck, I recall seeing this film in the theater with my dad and remembering it as the first time I ever saw him cry. It’s profound love, people. 

Simba And Nala Reuniting (The Lion King)

There is literally nothing better than a friends-to-lovers romance, and I stand by that because now, we have a cemented foundation on which to start a new relationship. And nothing tells a better story than Nala and Simba when they reunite after years apart in The Lion King. Look at these two – they are so in love, and it’s so adorable. 

Eugene And Rapunzel In The Boat (Tangled)

Tangled is a better movie than Frozen, and one of the reasons is that the central relationship between Eugene and Rapunzel legit gives me butterflies even now. I could point out so many scenes between them, but for the sake of space, I’ll say the lantern scene. Eugene is renting out a boat for them on a lake to watch the lanterns in the sky – peak romance moves right there, my man. 

Kiara And Kovu’s Little Love Boat Ride (The Lion King 2)

A lot of people don’t really know that much about The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, considering that it was never released in theaters, but I have a soft spot for it. In the central love story, Kiara (Simba’s daughter) and Kovu (the son of a leader of outcast lions) are great enemies to lovers. One of their best moments is when they are on a love-boat ride, thanks to Rafiki, during the song “Upendi.” I still dance to it now. 

Eve Trying Her Best To Save Wall-E (WALL-E)

WALL-E is undoubtedly one of the best Pixar movies by far, and while it paints a dystopian view of the world (that almost feels like it’s slowly coming true), at its core is a love story between two robots. The final scene, where Wall-E has basically been destroyed and Eve is trying her absolute hardest to save him – brings tears to my eyes every time. 

Kristoff Getting Anna Home When The Coldness Spreads (Frozen)

Frozen is a great movie about sisterly love, but in terms of romance, Kristoff and Anna are pretty great, too. A great scene to point out is when Kristoff rides Sven home back to Arendelle for even a chance that Anna could live after the coldness in her spreads. He started off not even wanting to travel with her to save her. Adorable. 

Pongo And Perdita Literally Bringing Their Owners Together (101 Dalmatians)

I always say that there is no purer love than a dog’s love, and I think Pongo and Perdita perfectly exemplify that. But you want to know what’s better than them? The fact that these two were so enamored with each other that they literally brought their owners together, too. Talk about fate. 

Aladdin’s Carpet Ride (Aladdin)

I’m, like, 99% sure that “A Whole New World” has become one of the most iconic romance songs of all time, so of course, I have to include the scene from Aladdin that features him taking Jasmine out on a magic carpet ride. Haven’t we all wished for a prince to sweep us off our feet literally? 

Prince Charming Literally Going From Town To Town To Find His Love (Cinderella)

While Cinderella to me isn’t one of the best Disney films ever, there’s no denying its impact and the fact that the Prince did make a very romantic gesture. He’s so enamored with Cinderella, not knowing her name, that he uses a shoe going from town to town in order to find her. 

The Beast Gifting Belle A Library (Beauty And The Beast)

As someone who is counting down every upcoming book-to-screen adaptation that is coming out, do you know the things I would do to be gifted a library like Belle? The Beast in Beauty and the Beast just casually had this whole library in his castle and decided to give it to Belle when feelings began to arrive. I wish. That’s so sweet. 

Prince Phillip Fighting A LITERAL Dragon For Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

I mean, you really can’t get a better protector than Prince Phillip, who literally went to defeat a dragon for Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. It’s not like he had a giant crossbow or anything like that – he went in with just a sword, and my god, I can’t help but admire that and also love that kind of energy for Aurora. 

Elizabeth And Nicholas Marry Again (The Parent Trap)

I always love second-chance romances in any of the best rom-com out there, and The Parent Trap is an excellent example of that. While we do see Elizabeth and Nicholas kiss at the very end of the film, it’s the pictures we see of their second wedding that make me swoon and awe and practically cry.

Eric Giving Ariel The Reigns (The Little Mermaid)

You know, upon watching The Little Mermaid as an adult, I’ve slowly come to realize that Eric and Ariel were actually a decent couple, considering it felt like everyone fell in love so quickly with older Disney movies. Eric, who barely even knows Ariel, takes her out on a journey into town for fun and lets her control the carriage of a horse because she showed interest. Was it necessarily wise? No, but it was still fun. 

Giselle And Robert Finally Kiss (Enchanted)

Rewatching Enchanted is always fun when you’re older, especially when you realize that the songs are incredible and I could jam to them every time. But after seeing Giselle and Robert dance around each other for an entire movie, their kiss at the very end is so fulfilling, and I always feel myself take a deep sigh of relief whenever it happens. 

Eugene Telling Rapunzel That She Was His New Dream (Tangled)

God, that's the gut punch that this scene always gives me. In Tangled, when Mother Goethel stabs Flynn, Eugene cuts off Rapunzel’s hair in order for Goethal to die, rendering her unable to heal him. As he dies, he says to Rapunzel that she has become his new dream, referencing a song earlier in the movie. Thankfully, she’s able to bring him back, but this moment is so beautifully sad. 

When Belle Danced With The Beast For The First Time (Beauty And The Beast)

I’m pretty sure Beauty and the Beast has some of the most iconic romantic scenes ever, and one of them is undoubtedly Belle and the Beast dancing for the first time. It’s slow at first; both are not used to the feelings that are there, but they eventually relax and have fun, and – ugh, I’m swooning thinking about it. 

Troy Decides To Do Both Theater And Basketball To Be Closer To Gabriella (High School Musical 3: Senior Year)

Okay, let’s not address the fact that Troy’s most significant issue in life was whether he wanted to play basketball or theater and that his friends were criticizing him for it – because my man did not deserve that pain. But what we can talk about is how Troy decides to follow his heart and go to a school closer to home so he can be closer to Gabriella at Stanford. I love it. 

Tiana Teaches Naveen How To Mince (The Princess And The Frog)

Tiana is an underrated Disney princess and a great role model. One of my favorite parts about her is that she can cook like no one is watching. When she and Prince Naveen are frogs and need food, she decides to teach Prince Naveen himself how to mince mushrooms. I don’t know what it is about this scene, but it makes me smile every time I see the look in his eyes when he’s impressed with her knife skills. 

Pocahontas Saving John Smith (Pocahontas)

Forget the historical inaccuracies of this film. Instead, let’s talk about how Pocahontas and John Smith were a decently good couple (in the movie) and that she threw herself against her people to save him. Only the fictional versions of these characters make me believe in love again – not the actual figures they are based on. But it’s still a good scene. 

Wade And Ember Finally Embrace (Elemental)

I don’t think you can really get better than fire and water finding a way to co-exist. It is a significant plot point in Elemental that both Wade and Ember wouldn’t be able to touch each other if romance ever entered the picture, but at the very end of the film, they embrace it. It’s a moving scene, and it is one I still love to watch. 

Kristoff Dressing Up For Anna (Frozen 2)

Kristoff is a very manly man – meaning his dressing up in a fancy suit with slicked-back hair isn’t really his style. However, he does do this for Anna’s coronation in Frozen 2, and it’s a charming gesture – although she does say she prefers him in leather after. 

Will And Elizabeth Marry In The Middle Of A Battle (Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest)

Literally, how can you get more romantic than getting married in the middle of a battle? The Pirates of the Caribbean movies drop off with Will and Elizabeth’s romance in later films, but man, these first few were top-tier – and then tying the knot while fighting for their lives with that Hans Zimmer score in the background? Chills, every time. 

The Beast Lets Belle Go (Beauty And The Beast)

To lose something is to have loved something, and that phrase is thoroughly used in Beauty and the Beast. Despite falling for Belle, the Beast lets her go after their dance because she sees that her father is in trouble. He cares about her happiness more than anything else, and…that is true love right there. 

Jane Decides To Stay In The Jungle With Tarzan (Tarzan)

You know, I always wonder how Jane adapted to Tarzan because the fact that she stays behind to be with him is the most significant act of love on this list. Think about it – she left behind her entire world to stay with this man. I’d love to know how their interactions went once the movie was done. 

When Aladdin Stares At Jasmine For The First Time (Aladdin)

Everyone dreams of having someone stare at them the way that Aladdin does the first time he spots Jasmine in Aladdin. That look of utter infatuation and love at first sight – it gets me every time. He’s so down bad it’s not even funny. 

Opposites Truly Attract Between Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun And Felix (Wreck-It-Ralph)

Wreck-It Ralph is a great 2010s Disney movie with many great themes and relationships. One I never expected was between Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun and Felix, two people from two very different games who somehow find their way to each other through this crazy journey. Opposites truly do attract. 

Ariel Singing To Eric (The Little Mermaid)

I think everyone would love to wake up to a mermaid singing to them, but the way that Ariel does it is so ethereal – and it makes total sense why Eric would fall in love with that voice. I mean, come on – saving someone and then singing to them? Pure love, right there. 

Hercules Being The Absolute Cutest With Meg In The Garden (Hercules)

Hercules and Meg are one of my absolute favorite couples in all of Disney, and I can’t get over their date and walking in the garden afterward. I don’t know what it is – maybe it’s the fact that this super strong man who is so nerdy and silly in front of Meg, this headstrong girl, melts her defenses, and it makes me swoon. Either way, it’s adorable. 

Ben Getting A Sign From His Wife (Haunted Mansion)

2023’s Haunted Mansion had no right to be as emotional as it was, and it was made even more emotional when Ben, at the very end, received a sign from his wife from the beyond. His wife, who loved tater tots – and now Ben himself found a cat named Tater Tot. Shut up. Shut up. I am getting tears in my eyes just writing about it. 

This is making me excited for all the upcoming Disney movies and any romantic scenes that will make me swoon. I’m here for the tears, the laughs, and so much more. 

Throughout the 1990s, audiences were introduced to countless iconic movie characters that made us laugh, cry, and feel every emotion on the spectrum. Lovable good guys, mean bad guys, and characters that live somewhere in the middle helped make some of the best ‘90s movies turn into pop culture phenomena. 

Though there are close to 25 years of separation between us and the end of the final decade of the 20th century, big-screen figures like Forrest Gump, Cher Horowitz, and Jules Winnfield are still very much a part of our culture. That said, we’ve put together a hefty list of iconic ‘90s movie characters and why we still talk about them today. 

Jules Winnfield & Vincent Vega (Pulp Fiction)

From the first time we met Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta) in the early goings of Pulp Fiction, the dynamic duo has been one of the most iconic and quotable in cinematic history. Their banter (Royale with Cheese), legendary lines (Bad Motherfucker), and chemistry have kept them relevant 30 years on.

Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)

When discussing Tom Hanks’ best performances, it doesn’t take long before his portrayal of Forrest Gump enters the conversation. This beloved character, who was somehow at the center of every major event from the 1960s to the 1980s in Forrest Gump, remains a symbol of hope and a source of whimsical expressions decades later.

Ace Ventura (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective)

Jim Carrey went from an on-the-rise comedian to the biggest thing in show business in 1994, thanks in part to his starring role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The over-the-top, zany, and aggravating Ventura inspired an entire generation to drive with their heads out the window and make their butts talk.

Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)

In 1990, Macaulay Culkin became the biggest child star on the planet thanks to his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. The performance, which is still as great as ever 30-plus years later, completely changed the way kid protagonists are portrayed and launched an entire industry of imitators, so much so we’ll never forget this iconic character.

Vivian Ward (Pretty Woman)

The ‘90s gave us some of the best romantic comedies ever, and that includes Pretty Woman. While Richard Gere is great in the 1990 movie, it’s Julia Roberts’ Vivian Ward who steals the show. All the years later, Vivian remains a powerful, independent, and beloved character that reshaped the mold of the rom-com heroine.

Neo (The Matrix)

The Wachowskis changed the sci-fi and action genres with their incredibly popular and inventive The Matrix back in 1999, and the same can be said about the film’s hero: Neo. One of Keanu Reeves’ best characters, Neo was and remains a revelation decades later.

The Dude (The Big Lebowski)

Jeff Bridges has a long list of great characters, but he will forever be associated with The Dude from The Big Lebowski. At this point, it’s hard to talk about one without bringing up the other, which says something about the performance.

Happy Gilmore (Happy Gilmore)

Adam Sandler had great characters on Saturday Night Live, and his performance in Billy Madison should be applauded, but come on, his most iconic role is Happy Gilmore. The titular hockey player-turned-golfer in this 1996 comedy made golf cool before Tiger Woods, so no wonder a Happy Gilmore sequel is in the works.

Edward (Edward Scissorhands)

There is something innocent and pure about Johnny Depp’s performance in Edward Scissorhands that has resonated with audiences over the past few decades, which is why the character always comes up with discussing the actor’s collaborations with Tim Burton. Equally odd and heartfelt, the portrayal is the stuff of wonder.

Bernadine & Savannah & Gloria & Robin (Waiting To Exhale)

On top of having a fantastic soundtrack and one of the best stories about friendship captured on film, Waiting to Exhale also introduced us to four of the best characters of the ‘90s. Bernadine Harris (Angela Bassett), Savannah Jackson (Whitney Houston), Gloria Matthews (Loretta Devine), and Robin Stokes (Lela Rochon) taught us about life and the meaning of friendship; lessons we still hold dear years later.

Hannibal Lecter (The Silence Of The Lambs)

A character that still sends shivers down our spines, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in The Silence of the Lambs redefined what it meant to be a movie villain. The psychology, the physicality (or lack thereof), and the menacing expressions were something to behold.

Andy Dufresne & Red Redding (The Shawshank Redemption)

Arguably one of the most iconic movies of the ‘90s, The Shawshank Redemption gave us a touching and endearing friendship shared by Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Red Redding (Morgan Freeman). Even if the movie wasn’t played on TV in perpetuity decades after its release, we’d still be championing these two beloved characters.

Henry Hill (Goodfellas)

Love him or hate him, Henry Hill from Goodfellas is a criminal and character that’ll never be forgotten by pop culture. One of Ray Liotta’s best performances, the late actor’s turn as criminal-turned-witness is mesmerizing, to say the very least.

Cher Horowitz (Clueless)

Few characters captured the attitude, style, and sensibilities of a ‘90s teenager better than Alicia Silverstone’s Cher Horowitz in Clueless. And like, so many people still say “Ugh, as if,” a line taken from a movie released nearly 30 years ago.

Thelma & Louise (Thelma & Louise)

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon gave the performances of a lifetime with their portrayal of the titular characters in Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, portrayals that still come up time and time again decades later. These two characters were a breath of fresh air and helped kickstart the modern heroine back in 1991.

Will Hunting (Good Will Hunting) 

Matt Damon became an overnight sensation with his portrayal of Will Hunting in Good Will Hunting, a movie he co-wrote with co-star and best friend Ben Affleck. The math prodigy from South Boston was a revelation at the time of the film’s release and showed the dynamic range of the young actor.

Mrs. Doubtfire (Mrs. Doubtfire)

The late, great Robin Williams thrived in the ‘90s, and during that stretch, he gave us some of his best characters. One of those is Daniel Hillard, a.k.a., Mrs. Doubtfire, from the 1993 comedy classic. Not only is the performance tremendous, but those of us who grew up with Mrs. Doubtfire still quote the movie like every single day.

Lloyd & Harry (Dumb And Dumber)

Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) are two of the dumbest yet beloved characters to grace the silver screen in the ‘90s. Dumb and Dumber, one of the funniest movies of the decade, is still finding an audience 30 years later, and that’s all thanks to this unforgettable duo.

Tracy Flick (Election)

If you were to make a list of the best Reese Witherspoon movies and NOT include Election, then you’d probably get voted out of office. Her portrayal of high school busy-body Tracy Flick is outstanding and ICONIC, even if she’s a character we’d so much want to see lose.

Austin Powers (Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery)

Austin Powers is up there with Wayne Campbell when it comes to iconic Mike Myers characters, and one of the most memorable figures from ‘90s cinema. Starting with Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the English spy parody took over pop culture more than a quarter-century ago and never let go.

Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

The number one rule of Fight Club is to not talk about Fight Club, but there was no way we could make a list of iconic ‘90s movie characters and not include Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden. The definition of cool (or at least what Edward Norton’s character thought was cool in the final years of the 20th century), Tyler became an instant icon and he never went away.

Jay & Silent Bob (Clerks/Mallrats/Dogma)

Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) weren’t really the main focus of the various Kevin Smith movies released throughout the ‘90s, but they still became two of the most iconic characters of the decade. The goofiness, their unique personalities, and the way they could always save the day made them just so dang cool.

Agents J & K (Men In Black)

There were a lot of great duos in ‘90s cinema, including Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) in Men in Black. These two were polar opposites, which made the pairing so much fun and unique, even for the buddy action genre. Years later, these two are so much fun to watch.

Sydney Prescott (Scream)

Wes Craven’s 1996 horror classic, Scream, was like a breath of fresh air, and a lot of that is because of Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and how she rewrote what it meant to be a scream queen. Modern horror movies have both to thank for this.

The Genie (Aladdin)

Robin Williams’ Genie from Aladdin could very well be the best side character from Disney’s Renaissance from the later part of the 20th century. The lovable and powerful character had it all: jokes, songs, infinite power, etc., and made a mark on audiences.

Craig & Smokey (Friday)

Though Ice Cube had been in movies by the time he starred in Friday, his portrayal of Craig took things to the next level. And we can’t forget about Chris Tucker’s Smokey, an endless source of comedic relief. These two down-on-their-luck friends are still a good hang years later.

Cameron Poe (Con Air)

What’s not to love about Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) in Con Air? The hair, the accent, the “Put the bunny in the box” line, and the bravery all make this a character that is not only incredibly badass, but also iconic as hell.

Jack & Rose (Titanic)

Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) from James Cameron’s box office sensation, Titanic, are not just the most tragic couple of ‘90s movies, they’re also the most iconic. For years, these two ill-fated lovers have captured the hearts of billions around the world, and they’re not letting go.

Sarah Connor (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Though Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) technically first appeared in The Terminator, which came out in 1984, she’s just too much of a badass in Terminator 2: Judgment Day to leave off this list. No longer the young and naive waitress from James Cameron’s first movie, Sarah is a one-woman army and a trailblazer for other strong female characters that followed.

Eric Draven (The Crow)

Eric Draven, the anti-hero protagonist played by the late Brandon Lee in The Crow, has become one of the most unforgettable ‘90s movie characters over the years. It may have something to do with the tragic on-set accident that killed Lee, but it is also because the character is just so charismatic. 

Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

Sure, there are other great animated characters from the ‘90s, but Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas is on a whole other level. Even if you discount all the merch that has flooded stores like Hot Topic over the past 30 years, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town is an iconic creation that’s never really left the conversation.

Truman Burbank (The Truman Show)

Jim Carrey proved in The Truman Show that he was more than capable of handling more dramatic (or at least less over-the-top) roles with his portrayal of Truman Burbank. This earnest performance is to thank for Carrey’s later more dramatic performances in movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

There are so many more iconic ‘90s movie characters we could have included, but we had to stop somewhere.  

While Broadway and Hollywood are often thought of as their own entities on the opposite side of the United States, they share a lot more in common than one might think. Particularly, a ton of popular and very good musicals over the years have been created thanks to the movies they are based on. Check out all these instances of Broadway musicals being inspired by Hollywood movies! 

The Lion King 

Following Disney’s The Lion King becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of all time upon its release in 1994, it was developed into a rare stage musical that has gone on to become one of Broadway’s mainstays. The Lion King musical reimagines the 2D animated epic into an impressive visual experience complete with elaborate animal costumes and giant hollow puppets. The stage show also includes six indigenous African languages which are spoken throughout the show. 

Little Shop Of Horrors

In 1960, director Roger Corman made The Little Shop Of Horrors, which is about a florist’s assistant who grows a plant that turns into a flesh-eating monster. Twenty years later, legendary composer-lyricist duo Alan Menken and Howard Ashman developed a musical version of the storyline which premiered off-off Broadway in 1982 to a successful five-year run. It has since been on Broadway numerous times. Plus, the musical was adapted into a movie in 1986 starring Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, John Candy, James Belushi, and Bill Murray. 

Waitress

In 2007, Adrienne Shelly’s Waitress became an indie darling when it premiered at Sundance at the front of the year. The movie stars Keri Russell as a small-town waitress who unexpectedly gets pregnant amidst an abusive marriage. In 2015, with the help of Sara Bareilles, who wrote the music and lyrics, Waitress became a smash hit on Broadway from 2016 to 2020. The musical is so beloved, the production was filmed and brought to theaters in 2023. 

Hairspray 

Back in 1988, John Waters made a cult classic in Hairspray. The movie follows an overweight teen Tracy Turnblad living in Baltimore, Maryland in the year 1962, who dreams of appearing on the popular local TV program The Corny Collins Show. In 2002, it was turned into a Broadway musical that would go on to win eight Tony awards, including Best Musical. Its musical version was adapted into a movie in 2007. 

School Of Rock

One of the best music movies of all time has to be School of Rock starring Jack Black. The Richard Linklater movie is about Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck musician who impersonates his roommate and becomes a substitute teacher for a prep school where he forms an underground band on campus made up of his students. The 2015 Broadway musical, composed by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, ran in New York until 2019. 

Some Like It Hot

One of Marilyn Monroe’s most famous movies is 1959’s Some Like It Hot, which also stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. It's about two men who make their escape from Chicago after witnessing a Mafia murder by dressing as women and joining an all-female jazz band, led by Monroe’s sultry singer character. In 2022, the movie was turned into a musical by Hairspray’s composer, Marc Shaiman. The show is set to embark on its first North American tour in the fall of 2024. 

The Color Purple 

In 2023, The Color Purple stage musical was turned into a movie. The release came nearly 20 years after the Broadway version of the story first opened with the likes of Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey as producers. Before The Color Purple ran from 2005 to 2008 and had a successful revival back in 2015, it was first a novel by Alice Walker before Steven Speilberg adapted it in 1985. The beloved story revolves around an African-American teen named Celie as she is raised in rural Georgia in the early 1990s. 

Beauty and the Beast 

Disney’s “tale as old as time” became a Broadway musical just two years after the animated hit became a huge success for the House of Mouse in 1991. Just like the movie, the stage production is about the book-loving Belle who stumbles upon an enchanted castle while looking for her father where a Beast lives. While she’s initially held there against her will, she starts to fall in love with her captor, who is a lot more than meets the eyes. 

The Producers 

Back in 1967, Mel Brooks wrote and directed The Producers starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It’s about two con artists who decide to oversell a stage musical in order to get rich. While it was controversial when it came out, it later became a cult favorite and in 2001 a Broadway version of the storyline was created starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. The show won a record-breaking 12 Tony awards (out of the 15 it was nominated for) including Best Musical. 

Back To The Future 

When it comes to the best ‘80s movies, Back To The Future instantly comes to mind! The blockbuster is unforgettable for its quotable dialogue, great banter between Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown, and its iconic DeLorean, of course. In 2020, a musical version of the movie, with a book by one of the movie’s writers, Bob Gale, emerged in England and quickly became a hit. Back To The Future: The Musical made its Broadway debut in the summer of 2023 and is going strong in New York City, with a tour on the way. 

Kinky Boots 

2005’s Kinky Boots had Joel Edgerton playing a shoe factory owner who ends up teaming up with a drag queen, Chiwetel Ejifor’s Lola to save his dying business by making footwear for other drag queens. Shortly after, Kinky Boots was developed for the stage with none other than Cyndi Lauper working on its music and lyrics. Like many shows on this list, Kinky Boots is one of those Broadway shows that have been so popular that they’ve run for a crazy amount of time.

Billy Elliot 

Set during England’s miners’ strike in the ‘80s, 2000’s Billy Eilliot is about a young working-class boy who falls in love with ballet. After Jamie Bell played the leading role at the age of 13, Elton John helped develop it into a stage musical for the West End. (Fun fact: Tom Holland famously once starred as one of the West End Billy Elliots before he was Spider-Man, which Zendaya can do an A+ impression of.) It later moved to Broadway, of course! 

Moulin Rouge! 

Baz Luhrmann wrote and directed a stunning jukebox musical movie starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor back in 2001 with Moulin Rouge! The romantic drama takes place in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris where a writer (Ewan McGregor) stumbles upon a troupe of performers and helps them write a show. In the midst of this, he falls in love with Kidman’s Satine. While its musical started in Boston, it quickly moved to Broadway a year after its premiere. 

The Little Mermaid 

Disney’s big “Under The Sea” masterpiece, 1989’s The Little Mermaid, was a no-brainer for a Broadway show after its smash commercial success. The musical went to Broadway in 2008 and has since gone across the globe.  

Beetlejuice 

Tim Burton’s beloved horror comedy, Beetlejuice, saw Michael Keaton playing a hilarious and rather creepy poltergeist that is hired by a recently deceased couple to drive away the new inhabitants of their home. A Broadway musical version of the movie debuted in 2019. The show unfortunately had a short first run due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but since returned, toured, and may even be better than the original movie. 

Once

John Carney’s Once is a sweet romantic musical from Ireland about a busker who forms a connection with a Czech immigrant woman over their love for music. A few years after the 2007 movie won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Falling Slowly”, it was transformed into an equally sweet Broadway musical in 2011. 

Sunset Boulevard 

Back in 1950, Sunset Boulevard, which continues to be thought of as one of the greatest movies of all time, hit theaters. It’s about an aging movie star, who once ruled the silent film era, who hires a screenwriter to help her make a comeback. Forty years later, the black-and-white classic was brought to the stage with music from Andrew Lloyd Webber. There’s an interesting story behind it because the star of the original actually worked on a musical version back in the ‘50s, but it never came to fruition. Luckily, the musical implemented some of Gloria Swanson’s work. 

Bring It On 

About a decade after Bring It On became a cult classic of an early ‘00s flick about the world of cheerleading, Bring It On: The Musical took its school spirit to Broadway. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt wrote the music and allowed its cast to bring some impressive gymnastics from the popular sport to a massive NYC stage.  

Shrek

Dreamworks’ hit spin on fairy tales, Shrek, turned into a Broadway in 2008. Brian d’Arcy James and Sutton Foster originated the roles of Shrek and Fiona in the original Broadway production about a love story between a green ogre and a princess. Unlike many movies-to-musicals on this list, Shrek The Musical borrows from multiple Shrek movies that were made over the years.  

Mean Girls 

“Fetch” may never happen, but Mean Girls has certainly become not only a favorite high school flick, but one of the best movies of the 2000s. After Tina Fey wrote the original script about a new student who shakes up the dynamics of her school’s hottest clique, the SNL alum wrote the musical’s book. Recently, a Mean Girls remake was released based on the stage production as well. 

Newsies 

Back in 1992, two Disney legends came together to make a new musical called Newsies. Director Kenny Ortega, who would later do the High School Musical movies, and Alan Menken, who composed the music. The movie about newspaper boys during the newsboys’ strike in 1899 stars Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, and Robert Duvall. Twenty years later, a stage version hit Broadway with tons of new numbers not seen in the movie. 

An American In Paris

Gene Kelly dazzled with his mega-star power in the 1951 musical comedy (and Best Picture winner), An American In Paris. He even choreographed many of the dance numbers himself! It follows his character Jerry Mulligan, a World War II veteran who tries to make it as an artist in Paris. In 2014, a stage version premiered in Paris before coming to Broadway the following year. 

The Band’s Visit 

2007’s The Band’s Visit is an Israeli movie that starts when a group of eight men that comprise Egypt's Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrive in Israel to play at an Arab cultural center. However, through a miscommunication, they accidentally end up in a small town in the Negev Desert where they are taken in by a small restaurant owner. In 2017, the Broadway version became a Tony-winning Best Musical that initially starred Monk’s Tony Shalhoub.

Aladdin

“10,000 years will give you such a crick in the neck!” So why keep the Genie in the bottle? It only took about twenty years for Disney to take its Arabian Nights animated movie into a Broadway production that continues to be a popular ticket for those to grab while they are in New York City. 

Sister Act

Whoopi Goldberg will always be remembered for her hilarious leading role in 1992’s Sister Act. So, it’s no wonder that the comedy about a lounge singer who is placed in a convent as a nun after witnessing a murder would be a great place to start for a stage production. Alan Menken composed the music, and Goldberg produced the production that first debuted in Pasadena, California back in 2006 and continues to tour more cities. 

Finding Neverland

Funny enough, 2004’s Finding Neverland, was based on a play called The Man Who Was Peter Pan from a few years prior. The movie, starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, told the story of J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. Since its release, it has been adapted for Broadway, where it had a 17-month run in New York City. 

Mary Poppins

Walt Disney and the Sherman Brothers made an all-time great movie musical in 1964 starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. It was only a matter of time before it found a place on Broadway, wasn’t it? Audiences have been having a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious time with the British nanny since it debuted at the West End in 2004. 

Anastasia 

In 1997, audiences learned the tune of hit songs like “Once Upon A December” and “Journey To The Past” with the animated film, Anastasia. The movie loosely based off the legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia starred Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, Hank Azaria and Angela Lansbury. Two decades after the children’s movie came out, it landed on Broadway with a mix of its fan-favorite songs and new ones. 

Footloose 

After Kevin Bacon’s Footloose overturned the ban on dancing in a small town with the hit 80s movie, Ren McCormack was revived for the stage with the 1998 Broadway musical, yes, with Kenny Loggins among the creatives in the mix. 

American Psycho

Yes, even movies about serial killers can be fodder for Broadway! Back in 2013, Doctor Who’s Matt Smith actually debuted the role of Patrick Bateman on the stage in London before the musical went to Broadway three years later. American Psycho was a 2000 movie starring Christian Bale, and based on a 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

Frozen 

Do you want to build a snowman? After Disney’s Frozen became a certified phenomenon with its earworms that had stars like Kristen Bell hilariously apologizing to parents, the production became an on-stage extravaganza to see on Broadway in 2018. The story is about Elsa, a royal who embraces her longtime secret powers by freezing her kingdom and her sister’s journey to find her. 

Tootsie 

After Tootsie, led by Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange, became one of the biggest movies of the ‘80s, it was transformed into a Broadway musical in 2019. The production follows an actor who decided to present as a woman in order to land a job following a disintegrating reputation. While the movie is about a daytime soap opera, the musical version is about Michael trying out for a Broadway musical. 

And this trend is not expected to stop! A lot of musicals based on movies are also rumored to hit the stage in the years to come. 

Everyone — from some of the greatest action movie heroes to even some of the funniest sitcom protagonists — needs a friend by their side to help them out of a jam or just to keep their spirits up. For that reason, we love a good sidekick, and the following are some of our all-time favorites from the big and small screen.

Short Round (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom)

Ke Huy Quan's young companion to Harrison Ford's titular hero in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom said it best: "... you listen to me more, you live longer!" You could even argue that Short Round is the true hero of the 1984 sequel for his bravery in breaking an enchanted Indy's spell and his brave help rescuing kidnapped children from the Thuggee cult.

Robin (Batman)

Despite the campy nature of the character, there might not be a more iconic iteration of Robin than Burt Ward's '60s-era portrayal. His sharp wit, outstanding courage, and loyalty to Adam West's Batman in the series and theatrical spin-off make him just as important to Gotham City's safety.

Chewbacca (Star Wars)

Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is not quite the "lead" character of the original Star Wars movies, but he and his furry companion, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), absolutely steal the show. The Millennium Falcon pilot and the Wookiee represent the strongest kinds of friendships in which one understands the other, literally, better than anyone else could.

George Costanza (Seinfeld)

Loyalty, support, compassion (yada, yada, yada) are attributes of an honorable sidekick, but not George Costanza (Jason Alexander). In fact, in many of the best episodes of Seinfeld, he is often relying on Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) to help him out. Nevertheless, despite all the times the comedian could have justifiably shunned George out of his life, the pair maintain a friendship is one of the few endearing things about the cynical sitcom. 

Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Top Gun)

We cannot think of a more bromantic dynamic from the 1980s than the personal and professional relationship between Maverick (Tom Cruise) and his RIO, Goose (Anthony Edwards), in Top Gun. Maverick could have never asked for a better wingman, which makes his untimely death (after his head hit the jet canopy during ejection), one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in cinema.

Ethel Mertz (I Love Lucy)

Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) would have had even more splainin' to do if not for her landlady and best friend, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance), helping her out of trouble on occasion. Some of the best episodes of I Love Lucy see them going on crazy adventures together, such as when they got a job at a chocolate factory with a high-speed conveyor belt.

Ron Weasley And Hermione Granger (Harry Potter Movies)

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) may have been the titular wizard, but the film franchise inspired by the hit young adult fantasy book series was really about a trio. The Boy Who Lived could not have asked for a better and more loyal pair of friends to help him contend with deadly forces surrounding Hogwarts than Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).

Barney Fife (The Andy Griffith Show)

When it comes to being Mayberry's deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts in his scene-stealing role from The Andy Griffith Show) certainly has his shortcomings. When it comes to being a friend to his Sheriff, Andy Taylor (Griffith), and a dedicated resident of the town, he could not be more perfect.

Dr. Emmett Brown (Back To The Future)

The only real reason we count Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown as a sidekick is because he gets second billing to Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly in the time travel movie masterpiece, Back to the Future, and its sequels. In any other story, the out-of-time teen would be considered the second banana to the brilliant, yet eccentric, inventor of the modified DeLorean who is ultimately responsible for Marty's successful trip back to 1985. 

Genie (Aladdin)

The only other genie-master dynamic in pop culture history that we might compare Aladdin (Scott Weinger) and Genie (Robin Williams) from Disney's 1992 animated classic to is Jeannie and the Captain from I Dream of Jeannie. The big, blue, highly energetic magical being grants wishes to the title character not just out of obligation, but because he genuinely likes the poor young man, who kindly offers to wish for his freedom at the end.

Dr. John Watson (Sherlock Holmes)

Watson is more than just the narrator of the mysterious adventures of Sherlock Holmes. As one can see in Guy Ritchie's film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and the modern-day reimagining, Sherlock, the world-famous detective's flatmate and companion — also a war veteran — plays a pivotal role in all his many investigations.

Gromit (Wallace & Gromit Franchise)

There are many cases in which the sidekick proves to be the true brains behind the operation and the canine half of the world-famous stop-motion animated duo of Wallace & Gromit is one of the most essential examples of this. The silent, but notably expressive, beagle is often the one who gets himself and his bumbling human companion (an absent-minded inventor) out of trouble.

Garth Algar (Wayne's World)

Behind every great TV host is a great sidekick and the Ed McMahon to Wayne Campbell's (Mike Myers) Johnny Carson is Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) in. Despite his awkward characteristics, the blonde metalhead is really the glue that holds their cable access program, Wayne’s World, together in the original SNL sketch and movies it inspired in 1992 and 1993.

Cameron Frye (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

When you really think about it, while Matthew Broderick’s fourth-wall-breaking character is the titular protagonist of 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the true heart, soul, and center of the story is his best friend, Cameron Frye. In fact, it is Alan Ruck’s neurotic teen who inspires Ferris to skip school and tour Chicago in the first place and it is his emboldened transformation by the end that makes their risky adventure worth it.

Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

The personal and professional relationship between chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) is one of the most problematic in TV history, to say the least. However, in spite of their frequent conflicts, Jesse has been known to support his business partner (and vice versa) when they both stood in the face of the same greater dangers in some of the best episodes of Breaking Bad.

Donkey (Shrek)

A protagonist does not always come to appreciate (or even like) their sidekick in an instant, such as in the first of the Shrek movies when Donkey (Eddie Murphy) crosses paths with the titular ogre (Mike Myers). Luckily, after enduring a perilous journey rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) together, Shrek came to see the talkative animal as a true friend… who still gets on his nerves on occasion.

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) takes his position as Assistant to the Region Manager a little too seriously at times, exhibiting a loyalty to Michael Scott (Steve Carell) that the absent-minded manager for Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton branch does not always deserve. However, that is what made the beet-farming, bobblehead collector more than a great colleague, but a great friend, and a perfect choice to take over the branch when The Office ended.

Igor (Young Frankenstein)

Among the different iterations of Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s lab assistant, Igor, we are partial to Marty Feldman’s portrayal (who pronounces it “eye-gore”) in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. He and Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (who initially pronounces it “fronk-en-steen”) make a lively comedic duo in, with the 1974 horror-comedy classic, whether he is making a grave mistake or spouting a one-of-a-kind one-liner.

Samwise Gamgee (The Lord Of The Rings Movies)

One does simply walk into Mordor, especially without a selfless, loyal, and honest companion at their side. It is a good thing that Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) found exactly that in his best friend and gardener, fellow hobbit Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) during his mission to defeat the One Ring in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal fantasy novels.

Spock (Star Trek)

The one character whom every fan of the original Star Trek series wanted to be more than Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was his second-in-command, Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Also serving as the USS Enterprise’s science officer, the Vulcan was not one to be messed with (immediately knocking people out with his signature nerve pitch), but was still a kind and gentle soul who was always sure to let Captain Kirk know when any of his calls were “highly illogical.”

Silent Bob (Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse)

Not every sidekick needs to crack jokes or provide words of encouragement to make an impression on their buddy or their audience. Case in point: Silent Bob — the “hetero life mate” to motor mouth Jay (Jason Mewes) whom Kevin Smith casts himself as in most of his movies (including Clerks and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back), in which he does have at least one amusing to say.

Barney Rubble (The Flintstones)

While Wilma Flintstone was always putting her husband in his place for his bone-headed ideas, at Fred’s side helping him along the way is his best pal, Barney. You could argue that Mr. Rubble was even closer and more loyal to his friend and neighbor than his own wife, Betty, and son, Bamm-Bamm.

Bubba (Forrest Gump)

A good friend like Benjamin Buford Blue, better known as “Bubba” (Mykelti Williamson), is not something you can find just around the corner, but Tom Hanks’ Academy Academy Award-winning title role from 1994’s Forrest Gump, certainly did. Their brotherly bond was formed and tragically ended during the Vietnam War, during which Bubba passed away, but Forrest kept his promise to him to go into the shrimping business and put his name in the company title: Bubba Gump Shrimp.

Agent 99 (Get Smart)

Bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) is no James Bond, which is why it is good that he had a partner like Agent 99 to help him on missions to stop KAOS. Played by Barbara Feldon on creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry’s spy comedy series, Get Smart, 99 is easily the more competent member of the duo, let alone of the best agent at CONTROL.

Dory (Finding Nemo)

In the beloved Pixar movie, 2003's Finding Nemo, the over-protective clown fish, Marlin (Albert Brooks), would have never been able to find his eponymous son (Alexander Gould) without the help of his newfound friend, Dory (Ellen Degeneres). As we also come to find out, Marlin's friendship is what helped improve her memory, making them a duo for the ages.

Ed Norton (The Honeymooners)

One of the best qualities of most sidekicks is acting as their friend’s conscience and pointing them in the right direction, but that is not quite the case for Ed Norton (Art Carney). The sewer worker not only went along with but even encouraged most of the schemes hatched by his neighbor, Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) on The Honeymooners.

Randy Hickey (My Name Is Earl)

My Name is Earl is the sitcom that tells the story of a man (Jason Lee) hoping to better his life by making amends for the terrible things he has done in the past. Helping him along the way is his simple-minded, but good-natured, younger brother, Randy (Ethan Suplee), who admirably looked up to Earl even when he was still a troublemaker.

Duckie (Pretty In Pink)

Some sidekicks do not receive the attention or admiration from their companion that they desire and Philip F. “Duckie” Dale (Jon Cryer) from Pretty in Pink is a textbook example of this. However, at the end of the John Hughes-penned 1986 coming-of-age favorite, Duckie encourages his life-long friend, Andie (Molly Ringwald), to choose Blane (Andrew McCarthy) over him, and such a love is stronger than any high school romance.

Lane Kim (Gilmore Girls)

Not enough sidekicks are treated like true family, making Lane Kim (Keiko Agena) on Gilmore Girls a heartwarming rarity. Not only does the witty punk rock drummer boast a strong sisterly bond with Rory (Alexis Bledel), but Lorelai (Lauren Graham) treats her almost like a second daughter.

Patrick Star (SpongeBob Squarepants)

Jacques Cousteau would have to search the entire deep blue sea before he could find a friendship between two marine animals as impenetrable as that of SpongeBob Squarepants (Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke). A moment that best summarizes their bond is when the Krusty Krab fry cook asks the unemployed starfish what he does whenever he is away from home, to which he tearfully responds, “Wait for you to come back.”

Walter Sobchak (The Big Lebowski)

A prime example of a sidekick who almost always leads the protagonist into more trouble is John Goodman’s Walter Sobchak from the Coen Brothers’ hilarious 1998 cult favorite, The Big Lebowski. However, despite his misguided ideas and potential pathological dishonesty — did he really serve in Vietnam? — the avid bowler’s willingness to help The Dude (Jeff Bridges) through his ins, outs, and what-have-yous, and even on Shabbos, is still quite admirable.

Pedro Sanchez (Napoleon Dynamite)

Jon Heder’s title role in 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite is so awkward and perfidious that he has trouble making friends (and even relating to his own family) until he meets Pedro Sanchez (Efren Ramirez). The friendship quickly proves to be a match made in heaven, leading to some of the funniest and most heartwarming moments in the high school movie genre’s history.

We wish we had people like these in our lives to be at our side and give us a kick when we need it.

For over a century now, Walt Disney Animation Studios has given audiences some of the most beloved, groundbreaking, and majestic cinematic experiences. During that time, those timeless films have introduced us to unforgettable movie villains, sidekicks, and heroes that have withstood the test of time and found a permanent place in the hearts of billions of fans. But sometimes, those iconic princesses and knights in shining armor aren’t the real heroes of their respective stories.

That being said, here are the REAL heroes and unsung champions, from some of the best Disney animated movies…

Anna (Frozen)

There are countless reasons why Princess Anna is the true hero of Frozen, and a lot of those have to do with the younger sister of Queen Elsa actually being a great inspiration for younger viewers. She opens up about her feelings, accepts the call to adventure, and is willing to do anything and everything to help out those she cares about, even if it means sacrificing herself.

Abu (Aladdin)

In addition to being one of the best Disney sidekicks of all time, Abu is actually a pretty righteous hero in Aladdin, one who always stays true to himself and his friends. Sure, his greed nearly kills him and Aladdin, but he comes through moments later when he tricks Jafar and steals the magic lamp, which leads to Genie coming out of his lamp.

Baloo (The Jungle Book)

Baloo is not only one of the best Disney characters of all time, but he’s also a great hero throughout The Jungle Book. The iconic sloth bear goes above and beyond to help Mowgli on his journey to find the “Man-Village,” teaches him some great lessons and a legendary song along the way, and comes through for everyone time and time again.

Widow Tweed (The Fox And The Hound)

There’s a lot to love about the classic Disney animated film, The Fox and the Hound, but the character who continues to rise to the occasion is Widow Tweed. From finding and caring for a young Tod to saving multiple characters from certain death to being the voice of reason in some tense situations, this lovable elderly character is simply the best.

Nani Pelekai (Lilo & Stitch)

Go back and watch Lilo & Stitch as an adult and see if your opinions on Nani, Lilo’s older sister and guardian, have changed. Throughout this 2002 animated film, Nani does everything she can to make life better for her younger sister, even if that means pushing herself to the limit (and then some) or trying to pull off the impossible. She’s a hero, that’s for sure.

Rafiki (The Lion King)

Who never gives up hope for Simba in The Lion King? Rafiki, that’s who. The shaman and advisor for the late Mufasa is one of Simba’s biggest supporters and was there for him as a young cub and as an adult when he returned from his self-imposed exile away from the Pride Lands. And he puts a whooping on some hyenas, which never gets old.

Scuttle (The Little Mermaid)

Sure Scuttle doesn’t know what he’s talking about half the time in The Little Mermaid, but the seagull and friend of Ariel helps the young princess learn more about the human world before helping in a big way when he discovers that Vanessa is actually Ursula in disguise. 

Pacha (The Emperor's New Groove)

Pacha in The Emperor’s New Groove is an underappreciated hero if we’ve ever seen one, so it’s about time he receives some praise. Putting up with Kuzco is enough to earn Pacha a place in the halls of great Disney heroes, but he does so much more than that throughout the movie. Constantly putting himself before others, taking care of himself in a fight, and being a supportive friend are also admirable qualities.

Thumper (Bambi)

Besides the titular deer in Bambi, no character is more impactful or important than Thumper. More than 80 years after the film’s release, fans still celebrate the iconic rabbit for his go-getter personality, leadership skills, and seemingly limitless energy. If it weren’t for him, who knows what would have happened to Bambi.

Charlotte 'Lottie' La Bouff (The Princess And The Frog)

When it comes to best friends in Disney movies, few come close to Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff in The Princess and the Frog. Instead of using her family’s wealth, power, and influence in menacing or vindictive ways, this southern belle uses her blessings to offer support and love for Tiana and her dreams. We could all use a friend like that.

The Mice (Cinderella)

When it comes to mico-heroes, no names carry as much weight as Jaq and Gus from Disney’s Cinderella. Throughout this 1950 animated classic, these two trusty mice help lead the show when it comes to fixing up Cinderella’s dress, supporting her, and helping make her dreams of attending the ball come true. And who helps save Cinderella from her stepmother’s captivity? Yep, these fearless mice.

Colonel, Sergeant Tibbs, And Other Animals (One Hundred And One Dalmatians)

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes in One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and some of the best examples of this can be found in Colonel, Sergeant Tibbs, and the other animals who help save the pups and defeat Curella Cruella de Vil by thwarting her masterplan. The way these four-legged (and sometimes winged) characters get everyone involved is nothing short of magical. 

Nana (Peter Pan)

One of the movie dogs we want to adopt, Nana in Peter Pan is a character that’s always down to offer some support. Though she doesn’t journey off to Never Land with Pan and the Darling children, she holds the fort down in their absence. Speaking of Wendy, John, and Michael Darling, who is it that takes care of the children every night and gives them much-needed medicine? Yep, it’s Nana, the trusty nursemaid St. Bernard.

The Dwarfs (Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs)

Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey are some of the earliest examples of Disney heroes, and nearly 90 years later, they’re still some of the best. Sure, the Prince gets a lot of credit in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but it’s these classic characters who take care of the young princess the rest of the time.

Pascal (Tangled)

Rapunzel is empowering and Flynn Rider is dashing, but let’s not forget the real hero of Tangled… Pascal. Despite his small size and stature (he is a chameleon, for crying out loud), this feisty and fearless lizard will do anything and everything to serve and protect the princess. Whether it means putting on a pink dress or tripping Gothel and sending her falling out of Rapunzel’s tower, he’s going to get it done.

The Fairies (Sleeping Beauty)

The Three Good Fairies (Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather) are crucial to Princess Aurora’s survival in Sleeping Beauty, and they don’t always receive enough credit. From altering Maleficent’s curse upon Aurora at her birth to planning her birthday dress later on, these three fairies get a lot done… once they stop fighting one another.

Archdeacon (The Hunchback Of Notre Dame)

If it wasn’t for Archdeacon in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, who knows what that loathsome and depraved Claude Frollo would have planned for everyone around him. The voice of reason with a heart and soul of pure gold, this clergyman saves multiple lives and thwarts diabolical plans like it’s nothing. 

Archimedes (The Sword In The Stone)

When it comes to heroes in The Sword in the Stone, the first names to come up are probably Arthur or Merlin. And while both of those characters are great, let’s not forget Archimedes, the talking and trustworthy owl who helps both legendary figures along the way. Seriously, this wise owl is constantly coming through for his king.

Fix-It Felix (Ralph Breaks The Internet)

Though he’s not in the movie all that much, Fix-It Felix is still heroic as can be in Ralph Breaks the Internet. But when he and Calhoun are on screen, they’re stealing the show and offering both hilarious and tender moments. Come on, who else would adopt all those orphaned Sugar Rush racers when they have no place to go?

Little Noi (Raya And The Last Dragon)

You could argue that every character in Raya and the Last Dragon is a hero in their own right, but Lille Noi, the toddler con artist who joins Raya on her journey, has to be at the top of the list. Though other characters do go through changes along the way, the adorable Noi has one of the most transformative and emotional arcs of them all.

The Enchantress (Beauty And The Beast)

The Enchantress could be seen as a villain in Beauty and the Beast, but the young and vain prince wouldn’t have learned his lesson if not for her lesson about true beauty in the opening chapter of the movie. A lot of people got turned into clocks, cups, and candelabras in the process, but sometimes tough love is all that’s needed.

Li Shang (Mulan)

Nothing against the titular heroine of Mulan, but let’s not act like Li Shang is some chump put in charge of a regiment of outcasts and misfits. He never gives up, he kicks a lot of butts, and gave us one of the best Disney songs of the late 20th century with “I’ll Make a Man out of You.” 

Kala (Tarzan)

If we could give this honor to Phil Collins for his Tarzan soundtrack, he’d be at the top of this list. But since he’s not in the movie, we can’t go without celebrating Kala, Tarzan’s adoptive gorilla mom. When everyone sees the young human as a freak or threat, this grieving mother rises to the occasion and takes him in as one of her own.

Olaf (Frozen 2)

There’s a case to be made for Olaf being the biggest hero of both Frozen movies as he’s constantly accepting the call of adventure, protecting his friends, and putting himself on the line to make sure the job is done. Sure, he’s mostly around for comedic relief during tense moments, but this snowman is the man!

Toby (The Great Mouse Detective)

The Great Mouse Detective is a Disney movie that doesn’t come up all that often these days, which is a shame because it features one of the best pooches of all time: Toby, Sherlock Holmes’ Basset Hound. This incredibly smart and crafty dog is key to Basil, Dawson and Olivia’s quest and provides for some impactful discoveries. But would you expect any less from the world’s greatest detective’s best friend?

Piglet (The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh)

Piglet is pretty much the underdog of the Hundred Acre Wood in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and is often caught in the middle of some issue or misadventure. However, this doesn’t mean he’s any less heroic. In fact, there’s an argument to be made for him being an unsung hero of the group as he is often an inspiration for them all, as well as for us watching at home.

Princess Kida (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire isn’t one of the top Disney movies, but it is one that features a rather underappreciated hero, or heroine, as is the case with Kida. The princess of the lost city deep under the ocean, Kida proves time and time again she’s not a damsel in distress, but instead a fearless warrior with a heart of gold and nerves of steel.

Philoctetes (Hercules)

We’d all love to see Danny DeVito return for a live-action Hercules movie because we just can’t get enough of his satyr character, Philoctetes. Though he doesn’t have the strength or height of the movie’s titular hero, “Phil,” as he likes to be called, is a great teacher and trainer who helps the demigod prepare for his hero’s journey. And what good is a hero who doesn’t know how to make the most of his abilities?

Baymax (Big Hero 6)

One of the most fun and exciting Disney animated movies in recent memory, Big Hero 6 is a treat from top to bottom. A lot of that is because of Baymax, the childlike inflatable healthcare robot who helps Hiro Hamada find his place in the world and then go and save it. He doesn’t have great communication skills but this robot has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

Flit (Pocahontas)

Flit, Pocahontas’ pet hummingbird, isn’t the biggest, strongest, or most intimidating hero in the Disney universe, but he’s definitely one of the most protective and courageous. Throughout Pocahontas, the colorful bird doesn’t let his size, or lack thereof, stop him from serving his best friend. Is he a little too overprotective? Yeah, but he’s got heart.

Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio)

What would have happened to Pinocchio if Jiminy Cricket wasn’t around to keep him in line? Well, you could say that the classic character from Disney’s Pinocchio doesn’t always get the job done, but he tries, and that’s what really counts. And, he’s not big on lying.

Prince Philip (Sleeping Beauty)

From following his heart to saving Princess Aurora from an eternal rest to fighting Maleficent and her goons in Sleeping Beauty, there’s a lot to love about Prince Phillip. This courageous character helped set the standard for Disney heroes back in the 1950s.

These characters are heroes in their own way. While some are more courageous, stronger, or more eager than others, they all have a lot of heart and the best of intentions.

Throughout the history of TV, much of the public has been fortunate enough to indulge in some incredible animated series (including Saturday morning fare we don’t even talk about anymore). Many might primarily cater to kids, but a lot of them also appeal to those who are a bit older. Despite the abundance of quality programming, not many of them are truly perfect. That’s right, even the greatest toons have their flaws. With that in mind, we’re going to discuss some of the best classic children’s cartoons and list the best and worst things about them. So let’s not waste any more time and jump right into this.

The Flintstones (1960-1966)

Best Thing: The Mix Of The Prehistoric Setting And Modern Sensibilities - While set in the Stone Age, The Flintstones flawlessly makes the time period feel tangible and relatable, which is a reason why it’s one of the greatest animated TV shows of all time.

Worst Thing: Overuse Of "Rock" Puns - The rock jokes (commonly employed via names, items, etc.) on the show are definitely cheeky to a point but, in some ways, they get a little played out.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1960-1970)

Best Thing: Mystery Inc.’s Chemistry - There are plenty of reasons why Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is beloved and launched a massive media franchise. But what truly makes the classic toon endearing is the interplay between the likable meddling kids and their talking dog.

Worst Thing: Lack Of True Scares - Yes, the show is mostly meant to be a comedy, but a few true jump scares (fit for younger viewers) would be great.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994-1998)

Best Thing: Classic, Yet Modern, Storytelling Sensibilities - This superhero show manages to capture the classic comic-booky sensibilities of Spidey stories but seamlessly combines that with contemporary serialized (‘90s-era) storytelling.

Worst Thing: Peter Parker Couldn’t Throw A Direct Punch At A Living Foe - Peter Parker can kick and punch unfeeling beings and entities all day on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, but flesh and blood beings are typically just hit with web shooters and other projectiles.

Ed, Edd N' Eddy (1999-2009)

Best Thing: The Eds’ Creative Schemes - The titular trio on the Cartoon Network classic are mischief makers but also craft a creek cruise, an elaborate miniature golf course, a roller coaster, a corporate office (with a working elevator) and more enterprises.

Worst Thing: Squiggly-Line Animation Style - As fun as this coming-of-age comedy is, the line-heavy animation can be rough on the eyes at times, especially when it comes to earlier episodes.

Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996)

Best Thing: Intense Battles - Dragon Ball Z contains some of the best hand-to-hand fights ever animated like Gohan and Cell’s skirmish and, of course, Goku and Frieza’s brawl.

Worst Thing: Too Many Filler Episodes - As exciting as the anime is, there are plenty of installments with no major narrative developments, only characters charging up their power levels.

The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999)

Best Thing: “Mad Love” Episode - The New Batman Adventures – one of the Dark Knight’s shorter-lived shows – succeeds in flawlessly adapting Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s origin story for Harley Quinn.

Worst Thing: The Joker’s DCAU Redesign - Many of the updated character designs are great, but Joker’s beady-eyed look is definitely a head-scratcher.

Doug (1991-1999)

Best Thing: Doug’s Relatable Situations - The predicaments that the eponymous character finds himself in greatly represent the highs and lows of adolescence. 

Worst Thing: Doug’s Overwhelming Anxiety - As easy as it is to identify with Doug, his worrisome nature sometimes becomes a little unbearable – even by preteen standards.

The Jetsons (1962-1987)

Best Thing: Great Early Version Of Retro-Futurism - Just as The Flintstones paints a portrait of the past, The Jetsons shows off an over-the-top but oddly tangible picture of progress, which has shaped our views of the distinct view of the distant future.

Worst Thing: Laugh Track - When it comes to multi-camera sitcoms, laugh tracks can be quite invaluable but, on an animated show like this one, it just feels unnecessary.

Dexter’s Laboratory (1996-2003)

Best Thing: Dexter’s Various Inventions - Dexter isn’t called a boy genius for nothing, as viewers see him create a dream machine, a giant robot for combat, a reverse belt, and much more.

Worst Thing: Dee Dee’s Characterization - The annoying (and sometimes dimwitted) sister archetype is one we know well but, at times, Dexter’s Laboratory’s use of it stunts Dee Dee’s growth as a character.

Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1992)

Best Thing: Interactions Between The New And OG Characters - Buster Bunny, Babs Bunny, Plucky Duck, Hampton J. Pig, and co. are fun on their own, but it’s really sweet seeing them mix it up with Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Sylvester, and other Looney Tunes veterans.

Worst Thing: Montana Max - It’s obvious that Montana Max is meant to be a counterpart for Yosemite Sam but, unlike Sam, Montana comes off as more of a pure nuisance than a funny foil.

Aladdin (1994-1995)

Best Thing: Worldbuilding - Aladdin does a great job of adding new characters (heroes and villains), locations, and lore to the fictional world established in one of the best Disney Renaissance movies. 

Worst Thing: Recycled Animation Sequences - I understand that a number of animated shows in the ‘80s and ‘90s were on tight budgets, but some of the reused scenes from other entities here look cheap.

Hey Arnold! (1996-2004)

Best Thing: Ensemble-Centric Storytelling - Arnold may headline this sweet series, but the writers share the love by crafting stories around Helga, Gerald, Harold, and other supporting players that provide character development.

Worst Thing: Actor Recastings For Arnold - Each of the three actors (five if you include the pilot and Jungle Movie) who plays Arnold brings their own unique style but, when rewatching the show, the vocal shifts are a bit jarring.

Gargoyles (1994-1997)

Best Thing: Character development - The amount of character growth present throughout Gargoyles is staggering, from the evolution of the main heroes to that of antagonist David Xanatos.

Worst Thing: The third season - Season 3 is very lackluster compared to its predecessors and is disappointing – even if every episode aside from the premiere isn’t considered canon by producer Greg Weisman.

Looney Tunes (1920s-1960s)

Best Thing: Bugs Bunny’s Various Shorts - You’d be hard-pressed to find a Bugs Bunny short that isn’t entertaining on some level, and the classic toon is perfectly voiced by Mel Blanc. 

Worst Thing: The “Censored Eleven” - This now-banned set of cartoons sadly depicts racist stereotypes and unfortunately serves as a stain on the history of this illustrious franchise.

Beast Wars: Transformers (1996-1999)

Best Thing: Animal-Themed Transformers concepts - I mean, if you’re a kid and lover of this franchise, how can you not dig the notion of Transformers like Optimus Primal, Cheetor, and Airazor? (2023’s Rise of the Beasts introduced them on the big screen, much to Beast Wars fans’ intrigue.)

Worst Thing: The CGI - Computer-animated TV shows were a novelty in the ‘90s, and Beast Wars exemplifies how the tech still needed time to develop for a weekly series.

Animaniacs (1993-1998)

Best Thing: Sharp, Meta, and Pop-Culture-Infused Writing - Animaniacs had few equals during its run and, even now, its wit and satirical view of popular culture (including the educational songs) are still top-tier.

Worst Thing: The Mindy And Buttons Segments - The various segments on the show are legendary, but the portions featuring the curious Mindy and her long-suffering dog, Buttons, feel particularly thin and repetitive.

Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)

Best Thing: Adult humor - Thanks to (then-rising) writer Seth MacFarlane and others, Johnny Bravo includes a level of comedy that satiates the young but also widely caters to older viewers in the best way. 

Worst Thing: Animation Style For Seasons 2 and 3 - The show’s look in these two seasons marks an attempt to jazz up the designs from Season 1 but doesn’t quite land. That’s likely why Season 4 transitions back to more familiar looks for the characters and world.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)

Best Thing: Camaraderie Amongst The Turtles - So much about TMNT works and makes it one of the Saturday morning cartoons that holds up, but the reason many fans arguably keep coming back is because they love the bond between the four reptilian brothers.

Worst Thing: The Interpretation Of Baxter Stockman - The original Mirage Comics establish Dr. Baxter Stockman as a darker and relatively maniacal figure, so it’s disappointing that the ‘80s show makes him into something of a joke.

The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)

Best Thing: Terrifying Monsters Added To The Canon - Gozer and Vigo the Carpathian are solid threats in the films, but they don’t hold a candle to the likes of The Bogeyman, Samhain and The Dark Rider of The Real Ghostbusters. 

Worst Thing: Q5 Consulting Firm’s Impact On Season 3 Onwards - ABC enlisted the services of Q5 Corp to make the show (which we don’t talk about much now) more accessible and, in the process, it became duller and sillier.

Kim Possible (2002-2007)

Best Thing: Balance Between Comedy And Adventure - Kim Possible succeeds at offering thrills and laughs, and neither one of them ever drowns out the other in a given episode.

Worst Thing: Ron Stoppable’s Qualifications As A Crimefighter - Ron is an important and beloved part of the impactful Disney Channel show, but his lack of skills in the field begs an explanation as to why he was approved for his crime-fighting gig in the first place.

Garfield And Friends  (1988-1994)

Best Thing: Characterization Of Garfield - There have been many adaptations of Garfield, but few are as perfect as the lazy, snarky, and constantly hungry iteration we see on this show.

Worst Thing: Binky The Clown: While Binky the Clown is meant to be obnoxious, his overly aggressive attitude can make him incredibly annoying.

Rocko’s Modern Life (1993-1996)

Best Thing: Clever And Mature Humor - Those who’ve seen Rocko’s Modern Life, one of the best ‘90s Nick shows, know it’s filled with great adult-level humor that’s riotous (and sometimes raunchy).

Worst Thing: Heffer Wolffe’s Freeloading - In his defense, Heffer is one of the more likable mooches, but his over-indulgent demeanor is a constant burden on Rocko whether the steer is aware of it or not.

Recess (1997-2001)

Best Thing: The Heart – Disney’s Recess wears its heart on its sleeve, and that’s especially necessary when you have episodes like “The Great Can Drive” and “Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave.”

Worst Thing: Randall J. Weems - You’ll never find a bigger snitch on a cartoon than Randall, whose weasley tendency for tattling on others undermines the efforts of T.J. Detweiler and co. on various occasions. 

Jonny Quest (1964-1965)

Best Thing: Encapsulates The Adventurous Spirit Of The ‘60s - Hanna-Barbera’s Jonny Quest takes all of the best parts of the greatest action fare of the ‘60s to make a great Saturday morning cartoon. 

Worst Thing: Characterization Of Hadji Singh - As lovable as Hadji is, the franchise’s inaugural series doesn’t flesh him out enough, making Quest’s adopted brother feel like a cliché.

Courage The Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)

Best Thing: Scary Stories - The writers of Courage the Cowardly Dog deserve a lot of credit for giving kids true chills and not pulling punches in the process. (I still think about needing to return the slab.)

Worst Thing: Elements That Were Too Surreal - Abstract art is definitely appreciated, but it can sometimes be confusing, especially if you're one of the show's younger viewers.

SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron (1993-1995)

Best Thing: A Fresh Concept - The idea of two former military men (or “katz”) suiting up as vigilantes and using technology to defend their home may not sound too unorthodox, but it’s truly novel.

Worst Thing: The Two Leads Could Be More Developed - Razor and T-Bone are fun characters but, at times, it feels like their characterizations could be more nuanced in some respects.

The Magic School Bus (1994-1997)

Best Thing: Learning Is Fun - Only a great show could make learning science fun, and Ms. Frizzle’s journeys into space, the human body, and the Mesozoic Era are as insightful as they are enjoyable. 

Worst Thing: Kids Were Always In Mortal Danger - The only downside to all of the aforementioned adventures is that Frizzle’s young class is constantly in serious danger.

Rugrats (1991-2004)

Best Thing: Narrative Structures That Appeal To Different Generations - Rugrats is one of the quintessential daydreaming shows, and the writers employ movie genres, childhood tropes, and more to portray the babies’ adventures. 

Worst Thing: Inattentive Parents - Most probably know this by now but the babies’ parents are incredibly irresponsible when watching them and should be grateful the kids usually return to them unscathed by the end of each episode. 

Popeye The Sailor (1933-1942)

Best Thing: Popeye Gains Strength From Spinach - It’s very on the nose, but few moments in TV are as satisfying as when the sailor opens up a can of spinach, bulks up, and takes down Bluto.

Worst Thing: Olive Oyl’s Lack Of Agency - There are damsels in distress, and then there’s Olive Oyl, who’s just as totally helpless as she is sweet.

The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)

Best Thing: Great Rogues’ Gallery - The Powerpuff Girls have one of the best and most diverse rosters of villains ever created, from Mojo Jojo and Princess Morbucks to Sedusa and the Gang Green Gang.

Worst Thing: Binary Personality Traits For The Girls - Yes, the girls are all great and worthy of being loved, but each rarely portrays more than their respective “leader,” “sweetheart” and “hothead” molds. 

Arthur (1996-2022)

Best Thing: Power Of Community - One of the key strengths of PBS Kids’ Arthur is that it emphasizes the importance of being a good neighbor, and just about everyone in Elwood City shows traces of that quality at times. 

Worst Thing: Underutilized Characters - With such a massive ensemble, some characters – like Jenna Morgan or Sue Ellen – don’t get enough time in the sun.

The Yogi Bear Show (1961-1962)

Best Thing: Voice acting – Hanna-Barbera was well known for having quality voice-acting, but the work that Daws Butler (Yogi), and Don Messick (Boo-Boo) do on The Yogi Bear Show is still top-notch.

Worst Thing: Stealing Food - This is very obvious and key to the lead characters, but I mean, they used to steal tasty vittles from people’s picnic baskets!

To be clear, the classic children’s cartoons we’ve discussed are all definitely worth checking out. You should just be aware that each of them has their own share of strengths and weaknesses. 

In the more than 100 years that Walt Disney Company has been making films and television. They have created some of the most iconic heroes. in the history of cinema and every good hero needs a good sidekick. Unfortunately, not every great hero gets a great sidekick.

Some Disney sidekicks are incredible. They add something much needed that the hero lacks, making the team even better in the process. Sometimes, however, sidekicks are just annoying hangers-on that we could all do without. Here are some of the most annoying Disney sidekicks. 

Phil - Hercules

Following the success of Robin Williams as the Genie, hiring comedians to play wise-cracking sidekicks became the norm at Disney for a bit. Phil is a perfect character to be played by Danny DeVito, but he's not a great character for any Disney movie. He's rude and inappropriate and it seems like every time he has something to say it's not something you're going to want to hear.

Koda - Brother Bear

Koda is a young bear in Brother Bear who is accidentally adopted by the movie's protagonist. Koda is actually a tragic character and the entire movie is about setting up the little guy for heartbreak. Unfortunately, it doesn't land, in part because Koda never stops making a nuisance of himself. 

Sergeant Demetrio Lopez Garcia - Zorro

The overweight bumbling cop has become a trope that we've seen countless times, and it's never not annoying. Sergeant Garcia in Disney's old Zorro TV and films was just a guy doing what the powers that be told him, as he tried, and repeatedly failed, to capture Zorro. It's honestly a shock his superiors kept him around so long.

Tito - Oliver and Company

Cheech Marin is a great comedian but his performance as Tito in Oliver & Company is not one of his career highlights. Tito's continual attempts to flirt with Georgette the poodle, voiced by Bette Midler, just get frustrating and it's just not as funny as it might have looked on paper.

Gurgi - The Black Cauldron

The Black Cauldron was a massive Disney failure that is now a largely forgotten Disney movie. And that's a good thing because Gurgi, the small fuzzy creature with the world's most annoying voice, deserves to be forgotten. His voice and grammar are just two annoying things on top of each other. Even a heroic sacrifice doesn't save Gurgi, it would have been better if he'd stayed dead. 

The Gargoyles - The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Gargoyles of The Hunchback of Notre Dame are mostly annoying because if the three comic relief characters were simply removed from the film, it would be a much better movie. Their humor is in direct contrast to the serious tone of the rest of the story that should have been embraced rather than trying to make it more "kid-friendly" with wise-cracking sidekicks.

HeiHei - Moana

HeiHei the rooster is barely a character. He nearly gets eaten by Dwayne Johnson's Maui, and that might have been a better fate. He's a largely unnecessary character and it's not clear why it was decided that the chicken got to go on the adventure while Pua the pig, who probably would have helped out more, had to stay home. 

Tinkerbell - Peter Pan

Tinkerbell is an iconic Disney character, so including her on a list of annoying sidekicks might seem strange, but she's actually sorta terrible. Tink is perpetually jealous of Wendy, and as a result, she's actually the cause of most of the terrible circumstances the rest of the characters have to endure. 

B.O.B. - The Black Hole

The Black Hole was Disney's answer to Star Wars and it has, fittingly, been relegated to a largely forgotten corner of history. B.O.B. was the movie's attempt to give us a C-3PO or R2-D2-like character, and while B.O.B. was well designed, the decision to have him voiced by Slim Pickens gives us a robot with a Southern twang which just never sounds right.

Abu - Aladdin

Abu isn't the worst sidekick in the world, but the little monkey can't even follow basic instructions. He was told not to touch any other treasure in the Cave of Wonders, but he didn't listen, and as a result, he almost killed himself and Aladdin. Bad movie monkey.

Launchpad Mc Quack - Ducktales And Darkwing Duck

Launchpad McQuack found himself a sidekick to both Scrooge McDuck on Ducktales and Darkwing Duck. How he got both gigs considering the one talent he purports to have, as a pilot, always results in a crash, is beyond me. He's just annoying for getting two shows when it would have been nice to do something different in one of them.

Major David Q. Dawson - The Great Mouse Detective

Dawson is basically the Watson to Basil of Baker Street's Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately, Dawson comes from the Nigel Bruce school of "Watson is a big dumb idiot" which is the most annoying version of Watson there has ever been. Why would somebody as smart as Basil hang out with this guy?

Terk - Tarzan

To a certain extent, Terk in Disney's Tarzan is supposed to be annoying. She's like Tarzan's sister, and sisters can certainly be annoying. Unfortunately, maybe Rosie O'Donnell does her job too well because, in the end, she is so annoying you just want her to stop. 

Timon and Pumbaa - The Lion King

Before you break out the pitchforks and torches. This is not about Timon and Pumbaa from the original animated The Lion King, but specifically live-action remake, which is far from the best of Disney's live-action remakes. While the movie is technically impressive for the way it digitally recreates the animals, the characters largely add nothing new to the story, so they're annoying because you want to see something new happen here, and it never does. 

Le Fou - Beauty And The Beast

Beauty and the Beast is one of the best Disney animated movies, but that doesn't save it from having annoying sidekicks. Clearly, Le Fou hangs around Gaston because Gaston likes to have somebody this dumb around so he looks smarter. You want the little guy to wise up and realize that he's being mistreated, but he never does, which makes him all the more annoying. 

Archimedes - The Sword In The Stone

Archimedes is Merlin's pet owl in The Sword in the Stone. It's basically his job to spend the whole movie telling everybody else why they suck. He's a real stick in the mud, which is fine, but that's really all his character does for the entire film, and it gets old fast. 

Ben -Treasure Planet

Ben's saving grace in Treasure Planet, one of IDsney's biggest failures, is that he only appears near the end of the movie. If a character this loud and annoying, unlike any other character in the film, had been in more of the movie, Treasure Planet would have been worse for it.

Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather - Sleeping Beauty

The three fairies of Sleeping Beauty spend more of the film's runtime bickering with each other than they do taking care of Aurora, which is supposed to be their job. It really makes one wonder if their plan to take Briar Rose away and hide her was even a good idea. Maybe they should have given the job to somebody else. 

Pintel and Ragetti - Pirates Of The Carribbean Franchise

You probably don't even remember the names of Pintel and Regetti, the pirate duo who work for Barbosa in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. They're fun and interesting in the first film, but their success brought them back again and again, and with each succeeding film it becomes clear nobody knows what to do with them. 

Anastasia And Drusella - Cinderella

Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother is a truly evil woman who does terrible things to the heroine of the film. Her daughters, however, seemingly learned nothing from her, as they are just spoiled brats. How even a mother could love their annoying behavior is a real question.

Zini - Dinosaur

Zini is the comic relief sidekick of Disney's Dinosaur. Why does a movie about dinosaurs trying to outrun their extinction have a comic relief character? The world will never know. The fact that the lemur best friend of protagonist Aladar is mostly concerned with getting a date, just makes the whole thing even more bizarre. 

Mushu - Mulan

Eddie Murphy does a fine job as the voice of Mushu. He's pretty funny a lot of the time, but he's also the cause of most of Mulan's problems, something that he eventually apologizes for, but never really learns from, making the fact that he ultimately gets what he wants really annoying. 

The Mad Hatter - Alice In Wonderland

Casting Johnny Depp in a live-action Alice in Wonderland is fine, deciding that, because you cast Johnny Depp, you must make the Mad Hatter a much bigger part of a movie where there's no reason for it, is less fine. Depp is so important to this movie and its sequel that he barely qualifies as a sidekick, which makes him an even more annoying sidekick. 

Mater - Cars Franchise

Honestly, Mater isn't that annoying in Cars. He grows on you and you find him lovable by the end, even if you don't at the beginning. What makes him ultimately annoying in Cars 2 is that he worked so well as a sidekick in the first movie, he got promoted to main character in the sequel, and that's where the wheels come off this tow truck. He should have remained a sidekick.

Gusgus - Cinderella

The mice in Cinderella are sort of all annoying because a great deal of the film's runtime is focused on them and not the title character. But Gusgus is the most annoying in the lot because his particular comedic focus is "being fat" which is far more annoying than funny.

Meeko And Flit - Pocahontas

Pocahontas has more than a few problems, but its animal sidekicks are certainly among them. Maybe if these were talking animals they'd be more interesting, but they largely exist to inject silly in what was supposed to be a much more serious movie.

Thumper - Bambi

Bambi was a revolutionary Disney movie when the studio produced it back in 1942. It's beautifully animated, with the scenes of nature as breathtaking as the real thing while the animation of animal characters was done with a level of perfection not previously seen by Disney or anybody else. And then Thumper has to get in there and be so loud all the time and just ruin the beauty of it. 

Cogsworth - Beauty and the Beast

Cogsworth is certainly supposed to be a bit annoying, as he plays against the easy-going Lumiere. He's basically your micromanaging boss if your boss was a bipedal clock. He does ultimately redeem himself by the end of the movie, but it takes a long time for him to get there as he's really annoying up until that point.

Tonto - The Lone Ranger

Disney's The Lone Ranger movie actually cast Johnny Depp as Tonto in a movie that came out in 2013. That's a thing that happened. Just because Johnny Depp wearing a funny hat in a Disney movie worked once, did not mean this was something we needed twice. It's an annoying performance that just never ends.

Bagheera - The Jungle Book

Bagheera means well. He's just trying to do right by Mowgli, but his "my way or the highway" style of parenting is going to be really annoying to anybody who has seen that not work, and it very much doesn't work in the movie either. 

Woola - John Carter

John Carter is one of the most expensive movies Disney has ever made. It's also one of its biggest live-action flops. None of that is Woola's fault. The movie has several problems that resulted in its failure, but the overly eager puppy dog that is actually a massive Martian monster certainly doesn't help matters.

Flounder - The Little Mermaid

Flounder seems like a really nice guy. He's friendly, and Ariel clearly likes him. The problem is that he doesn't do anything that's particularly useful for the entirety of The Little Mermaid, which makes him really annoying as his screen time could have been given to anything else and been better used.

Some of the sidekicks are useless, others are actually detriments to the hero and everything they're trying to accomplish, and still others are just people we don't want to listen to anymore. For every amazing Disney sidekick, there's an annoying one. And honestly, the heroes can do better.

Did you know that the Academy Awards’ category for Best Animated Feature has only existed since 2002 and the first recipient was one of the best kids movies, Shrek? It makes us wonder what other classics of the medium would have received the honor had the category been introduced prior to their release. Let’s explore the idea by recalling some of the most acclaimed animated movies of all time that deserved the Oscar (including some that were either recognized or won in another category or received a special statuette).

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)

As the first feature-length animated film ever made, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs likely would have earned the award for that grand achievement alone. In fact, the film did earn Walt Disney an honorary Oscar that was specially designed with seven miniature statuettes surrounding it, in reference to the Seven Dwarfs.

Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story was a game-changer in the mid-1990s as the first fully computer-generated feature length film — a feat that did earn Pixar a Special Achievement Oscar, in addition to nods for its screenplay and Randy Newman’s score and iconic original song, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” It probably would have won Best Animated Feature on that fact alone, if not for the ingenious plot and heartwarming themes of friendship, as explored through the complicated relationship between string-activated cowboy doll, Woody (Academy Award winner Tom Hanks), and “high-tech” spaceman, Buzz (Tim Allen).

The Lion King (1994)

It makes sense when you learn that The Lion King is an adaptation of King Lear because the story is on par with even the most powerful works of William Shakespeare. Throw in gorgeous animation of the Pride Lands of Africa and Oscar-winning music by Elton John and Hans Zimmer and you have yourself a masterpiece.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The only thing more unique than the story of The Nightmare Before Christmas — the disillusioned Halloween King tries to bring Christmas to his spooky town — is its stop-motion animation style. The fascinatingly freaky aesthetic of producer Tim Burton and director Henry Sellick's cult favorite did earn it an Oscar nomination for Visual Effects, but we imagine it would have received a Best Animated Feature Oscar win had the category existed.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

As one of the all-time most beloved anime film classics, Akira very likely could have received the Best Animated Feature honor in 1989. Yet, Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro — which follows the adventures of two young girls and the spirits of the forest — is the more irresistibly whimsical anime fantasy, making it more of a shoe-in.

The Iron Giant (1999)

The BAFTAs have a category for Best Feature Film in a division reserved for children’s entertainment that, in 2000, was received by Brad Bird's feature-length directorial debut, The Iron Giant. This might be a good indication that the highly original, intelligently crafted, and heartwarming B-movie throwback had a great chance of winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar, too, despite what would have been fierce competition with Toy Story 2, Disney's Tarzan, Fantasia 2000, and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.

Princess Mononoke (1997)

The year 1997 was another iconic one for animated cinema, with Disney's Hercules, Anastasia, Cats Don't Dance, and Perfect Blue among its most acclaimed examples. However, an epic, visually stunning fantasy adventure by Studio Ghibli like Princess Mononoke seems like the best bet.

Aladdin (1992)

This beloved animated adaptation of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights was nominated for five Oscars and won two for Alan Menken's score and the original song, "A Whole New World." In an alternate world, Aladdin — one of the all-time best Disney animated films for its sweeping, romantic, adventurous tone and, especially, the late Robin Williams’ extraordinary performance as the voice of Genie — just might have won a third statuette.

Chicken Run (2000)

The last year before the Best Animated Feature Oscar was created saw the release of the hilarious The Emperor's New Groove, the thrilling Titan A.E., and Dinosaur, which boasted some unusually realistic animation. However, the most acclaimed animated film from that year was the funny claymation-style escape thriller, Chicken Run, which could have ended up being the most acclaimed pick from that year by the Academy.  

The Little Mermaid (1989)

This beautiful adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s aquatic fairytale might have faced some competition in the Best Animated Feature category with Hayao Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and, perhaps even, Peter Jackson’s Meet the Feebles. However, considering The Little Mermaid did earn Alan Menken two Oscars for Best Original Song (for “Under the Sea” against “Kiss the Girl”) and Original Score, it very likely would have swam its way to the top, as well.

Mulan (1998)

The most noteworthy theatrically released animated films of 1998 included Quest for Camelot, The Rugrats Movie, The Prince of Egypt, Antz, and its Pixar twin A Bug’s Life. However, the one with the best chance of taking home the gold would have probably been Disney’s funny, action-packed, period epic, Mulan, which did earn a Best Original Score nod at that year’s Oscars.

Beauty And The Beast (1991)

Disney’s retelling of the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, was the first animated film to receive a nomination for the Best Picture Oscar — in addition to five other nominations, including Original Song and Score, which it won. Later, 2009’s Up and 2010’s Toy Story 3 also earned nods in the grand prize category and wound up taking home the Best Animated Feature Oscar in their respective years. Thus, if the category existed in 1992, this timeless story of the prevailing power of true love would have had no competition.

The Jungle Book (1967)

Disney’s first adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s seminal novel about a young boy (voiced by Bruce Reitherman) living among wild animals was recognized by the Academy with a nomination for Terry Gilkyson’s original song, “The Bare Necessities.” When taking a look at the other animated films from 1967 — including Rankin/Bass’ The Wacky World of Mother Goose and Cyborg 009: Monster Wars —  it seems like the The Jungle Book would have had this in the bag.

Peter Pan (1953)

Disney’s animated adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s seminal fairytale about a wondrous world with pirates and an ageless boy with the ability to fly did not get much awards attention, save a Grand Prize nomination at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival. That kind of praise for Peter Pan probably would have given the Academy something to think about, at least, had they created the Best Animated Feature adaptation then.

Castle In The Sky (1986)

Even with acclaimed animated features like An American Tail (which was nominated for Best Original Song), The Great Mouse Detective, and Transformers: The Movie released in the same year, we still have the most confidence in Castle in the Sky. This gravity-defying adventure was the first feature-length film by Studio Ghibli and is still remembered as one of the studio’s finest efforts.

Bambi (1942)

Based on a novel by Felix Salten, the iconic, devastating Bambi received Academy Award nominations for Best Sound, Song, and Score, which alone makes a good case for its Best Animated Feature eligibility. Not to mention, its only competition in that race would have been another, much-forgotten, Disney film called Saludos Amigos and a lost Chilean feature called 15 mil dibujos.

Fantasia (1940)

The year's animated feature to compete at the Academy Awards was Pinocchio, which did take home statuettes for Original Score and Original Song (“When You Wish Upon a Star”). The only other feature-length animated flick released that year was an anthology called Fantasia, which received two honorary awards for its then unique combination of music and visuals and “contribution to the use of sound in motion pictures." Fantasia’s groundbreaking technical achievements, wondrous aesthetic, and sense of variety probably would have given it the edge for Best Animated Feature over Pinocchio, which would have meant a win for Disney either way.

Watership Down (1978)

Inspired by Richard Adam’s novel, Watership Down is the harrowing tale of a group of rabbits desperate to find refuge from humans intent on destroying their home, which received a Hugo Award nomination for “Best Dramatic Presentation.” To us, this suggests that it might have been favored by the Academy as well, considering its biggest competition would have been Ralph Bashki’s divisive The Lord of the Rings and a few Disney cartoon compilations.

Lady And The Tramp (1955)

While the Academy Awards did not have a Best Animated Feature category in 1956, the BAFTAs did and one of their nominees that year was Lady and the Tramp. While a Canadian short film called Blinkity Blank ended up winning, we imagine the heartwarming tale about a pampered Cocker Spaniel (voiced by Barbara Luddy) who falls for a stray mongrel (voiced by Larry Roberts) would have been treated better by the Academy.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

George Burns’ original score for this adaptation of Charles Perrault’s seminal fairytale, Sleeping Beauty, did get a nod from the Academy, but probably would have taken home Best Animated Feature. Fun fact: the Disney film’s most notable competition might have been an adaptation of the “Aladdin” segment from One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Columbia Pictures.

Dumbo (1941)

Perhaps one of the reasons why the Academy had not created a Best Animated Feature category by 1942 is because victories were pretty much inevitable at the time. In other words, Dumbo — which did win Best Score that year — probably would have beaten out The Reluctant Dragon (an anthology also from Disney) and Princess Iron Fan, which was China’s first animated feature, but its colorless animation might have hurt its chances.

Cinderella (1950)

Three Academy Award nominations — namely Best Original Song ("Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"), Score, and Sound — went to, arguably, the most definitive Disney animated movie. Without even taking the other animated features released in 1950 into account, it is hard to imagine anything else but the timeless love story in Cinderella winning over the Academy’s hearts in the Best Animated Feature category for that year.

Charlotte’s Web (1973)

Disney certainly would have had a good chance at winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 1974 with Robin Hood, which did earn a nod for George Burns’ original song, “Love.” However, we can’t help but feel that Paramount’s original, uplifting adaptation of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web would have been the radiant victor.

One Hundred And One Dalmatians (1961)

In 1962, the BAFTA for Best Animated Film was given to Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians. If this category existed in the Oscars at that time, we imagine it would have also gone to this iconic adaptation of Dodie Smith’s novel about a family of puppies kidnapped by ruthless fashionista, Cruella de Vil.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

While there is a case to be made that the largely stop-motion animated James and the Giant Peach could have been eligible and that Beavis and Butt-Head Do America deserved a chance, it might be safest to say the Best Animated Feature Oscar would have gone to The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1997. Disney’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s esteemed French novel did received an Academy Award nomination for Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s score, however.

The Secret Of NIMH (1982)

The 1983 Best Animated Feature Oscar race might have had a pretty stellar line-up with two acclaimed Rankin-Bass fantasies (The Flight of the Dragon and The Last Unicorn), the U.K. adaptation of Richard Adam’s The Plague Dogs, and (if they counted it) the visually groundbreaking Tron. However, our money would have been on The Secret of NIMH, which is one of the legendary Don Bluth’s most wild and wondrous adventures.

The Aristocats (1970)

To modern audiences, The Aristocats is a seen as an animated Disney movie that has not aged very well, due to some racial insensitivities. However, in 1971, that would have had no effect on the Academy, who probably would have given it the Best Animated Feature Oscar for its incredible musical moments.

Alice In Wonderland (1951)

Disney’s original adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s surreal novel was one of only three feature-length animated films released in 1951, the others being a Czechoslovakian stop-motion film called Prince Bayaya and a Soviet adaptation of The Night Before Christmas. Not only would this have helped its chances in the Best Animated Feature Oscar race, but its score also received a nod from the Academy.

Animal Farm (1954)

Because Disney did not release an animated film in 1954, that very likely would have left Animal Farm as a shoe-in for the Best Animated Feature Oscar at that time. While not particularly appropriate for family viewing, the adaptation of George Orwell’s clever, anti-fascist satire is a work of great importance.

The Fox And The Hound (1981)

Despite its heart-wrenching story of two creatures whose friendship is threatened when they discover they are meant to be natural enemies, Disney’s The Fox and the Hound was easily one of the most family-friendly animated films from 1981, which probably could have helped its chances in the Best Animated Feature Oscar race. Its greatest competition most likely would have been Ralph Bashki’s American Pop and producer Ivan Reitman’s Heavy Metal — both of which are musicals that, certainly, were not made for younger audiences.

The Rescuers (1977)

The Rescuers was nominated by the Academy for its original song, “Someone’s Waiting For You,” but we are inclined to believe a Best Animated Feature win would have also been in order. In fact, this thrilling adventure’s 1990 sequel, The Rescuers Down Under, more than likely would have won for its year, too.

Yellow Submarine (1968)

If the music in Yellow Submarine (courtesy of The Beatles, whose 1966 song inspired the film) would not win over the Academy, at least the intense visuals likely would have. The film follows John, Paul, George, and Ringo, who are enlisted by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band to help save Pepperland from the anti-musical Blue Meanies.

The animation medium has come a long way, but its greatest admirers would agree that these classics deserved more recognition in their prime. Hopefully, mentioning them in this list served as a worthy consolation to being made before they could have the chance at a Best Animated Feature Oscar.

I love it, you love it, we all love it – let's talk about the best and worst things about every film from the Disney Renaissance. 

That's right – those ten sacred films from the long-lasting Disney catalog that never seemed to do any harm to anyone. While I love those movies with all my heart, I can even say that there are some flaws with these otherwise fantastic films.

Let's start with the first – and probably one of the most known. 

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Best Thing: It's Vibrant Colors And Music – There are so many positive things about The Little Mermaid, it's almost hard to choose just one. But if I had to, I would say the music and the vibrant colors the original animation brought to the big screen. 

From "Under the Sea" to "Kiss the Girl," the songs are some of the best out there, and the beautifully crafted scenes to go with them make it even better.

Worst Thing: King Triton Being An Actual Jerk – Look, Ariel isn't my favorite princess. She ranks relatively low for me, considering she's a pretty naive teenager who doesn't know the world that well. 

But did Triton have to destroy all her stuff? At least this version of Triton is a lot more caring and protective than the one in the live-action version of this film, but he's almost too protective, even scary. He's a jerk, to say the least – and I think he could have done better. 

The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

Best Thing: It's Classic Animation – The Rescuers Down Under is the only sequel here, and if I had to pick its best thing, I would say the animation overall. It reminds me of many classic Disney films from the early 1950s and 1960s, which is good.

Worst Thing: It's Forgettable Plotline – Even after rewatching this film, I barely remember what happened. The plot is so forgettable that I doubt this movie is anyone's favorite from the time period. It's a fun film, but it's not the best overall. 

Beauty And The Beast (1991)

Best Thing: The Love Story Between Belle And The Beast – How could you get a better love story than Belle and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast? This was the first animated feature to score a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars, before some of those fantastic Pixar films that have done so. It's just a perfect story. 

Worst Thing: "Human Again" – Okay, so let's talk about "Human Again." I know that the song wasn't in the original release of the movie, so some people might not even know the song - and consider yourselves lucky. 

Unfortunately, I grew up in the early 2000s, when the song was added back into the film, and in every watch I have seen, it has always been in there. I could have gone my whole life without hearing that dang "Human Again" song. It doesn't fit with the vibes of the movie, and those voices make my head want to implode. It never should have been added back in. This is a Disney song I could have lived without. 

Aladdin (1992)

Best Thing: The Genie – Arguably, the Genie was one of Robin Williams' best roles in his career. I think out of every sidekick in any Disney film, the Genie's genuine heart, sarcasm, and hilarity stand above the rest – and I will forever love him the most from Aladdin. 

Worst Thing: How Gullible Jasmine's Father Is – This man is a Sultan. That is a ruler, a sovereign – furthermore, he looks decently older, so how was he so gullible and able to rule for so long until Jafar somehow took over? Every scene he's in makes me roll my eyes. 

The Lion King (1994)

Best Thing: Hans Zimmer's Incredible Score – Hans Zimmer's scores literally never miss. You can't sit there and tell me that when those opening chords of The Lion King hit, you don't feel chills. Every time I watch it, I am instantly immersed. 

Worst Thing: It Takes WAY Too Long For Simba To Grow Up – It's hard to pick something from The Lion King that's bad, considering it is a masterpiece. But if I had to, Simba's lack of responsibility is up there. I think this is almost a coming-of-age movie, and we watch Simba grow into his role of ruler, but it feels like it comes on way too slowly – and the people accept him back way too quickly after running away for years. 

Pocahontas (1995)

Best Thing: "Colors Of The Wind" – I'd also like to give a little shoutout to "Just Around the Riverbend," but "Colors of the Wind" is the real winner of Pocahontas. The lyrics are moving and teach us to cherish the Earth rather than destroy it, and its meaning holds even today, more than twenty years later. 

Worst Thing: It's Historical Inaccuracy And Overall Forgettable Love Story – Do I even need to get into this that much? Pocahontas has been criticized for years for its historical inaccuracy. And even so, the love story between Pocahontas and John Smith was so forgettable compared to many others here – and was further ruined by the unnecessary DVD sequel. 

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

Best Thing: "Hellfire" – This song defined Disney villain songs. Not a single other Disney villain song has ever surpassed "Hellfire" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The scenery, the lyrics, the meaning – ugh, it makes me shiver every time I watch it. 

Worst Thing: The Fact That Quasimodo Still Ends Up Alone At The End – My poor man not only took out the man ready to take over Paris in the name of God but saved the girl of his dreams, only for her to end up with the conventionally attractive person. I feel for him so much. My heart hurts. 

Hercules (1997)

Best Thing: The Songs Are Nonstop Hits – Hercules is an underrated hit, and the songs never miss, not for a single second. You will get up and dance to "Zero to Hero." You'll root for Hercules in "Go the Distance." You'll want to lament your love in "I Won't Say I'm In Love" – every song is fantastic. 

Worst Thing: I Needed To See More Hades – While I love "Hellfire" as my favorite Villain song, Hades from Hercules is one of my favorite villains, and it's a crime that he only got fifteen minutes of screentime. Yes, I know that's a decent amount for an hour-and-a-half-long movie, but I needed more of my sassy ruler of the underworld!

Mulan (1998)

Best Thing: Mulan's Strong Spirit In General – Mulan was the princess I grew up wishing to be. She's strong, witty, kind, sweet, and a bit clumsy. As the movie goes on, her personality, growth, and evolving fighting prowess make her all the more interesting to watch. 

Worst Thing: Those Three Soldiers That We Are Forced To Follow And Like – Yeah, I won't even lie, I despise these three soldiers with a passion, the ones called Yao, Ling, and Chien Po. I guess they're okay, but they were given too much screen time, and in the grand scheme of things, I would have much rather seen the movie open up more about Shang's character than those three fools we're forced to like. 

Tarzan (1999)

Best Thing: Phil Collins' Absolutely Devouring This Soundtrack – I don't how Phil Collins did it when he wrote absolute fire for the Tarzan soundtrack, but these songs always rock my world any time I hear them. I love them so much. 

Worst Thing: It's Forgettable Villain – But Impactful Death – Yeah, there are iconic villains in Disney movies, and then there are villains like Clayton, a hunter who's just that – he hunts animals in the jungle for devious intent. 

I mean, sure, it's a villain, but in comparison to many other Disney villains, he's so forgettable. I will say his death – where we see his shadow as he hangs from vines while falling in the jungle – is impactful, but other than that, I barely remember him. 

Now, this makes me want to rewatch all these films all over again and enjoy every single one of them. It's time for a Disney rewatch, don't you think?

Before the best movies from the 2000s were allowed to run, the cinematic classics from the 1990s had to walk. (Well, except for Forrest Gump.) The 20th century closed out with a decade of cinematic spectacles as Hollywood embraced bigger budgets, the early days of CGI, and a new breed of superstars like Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Keanu Reeves.

From great ‘90s sci-fi movies like Jurassic Park to beloved ‘90s family films like Toy Story to chilling thrillers and hilarious comedies, just about any genre fan can feel represented by the era's best. Can the same be said for music, TV and literature? (I'll be too busy watching Speed again to research that.) So grab your long-dead Tamagotchis and scented markers and join us in celebrating the best of the best that the ‘90s had to offer.

• This list was compiled by the bulk of CinemaBlend's editors and writers, who gave 0-5 scores to an overall list of around 300 movies, with all of the final scores averaged out to determine the final ranking of 100.

How We Put This List Together

• Around 300 entries from a vast variety of 1990s films , which fit the bill of being culturally relevant and critically respected, were gathered using a combination of staff recommendations, movie guides and further research. The entries were tracked in a spreadsheet, where the majority of our staff then went through a multi-level voting process, with scores assigned based on personal opinions. A base number of viewers was also required for entries to make the cut, and lowest scores were then eliminated, in the style of scoring figure skating. The movies were then ordered from 1-100 based on the final average scores, with a variety of staff members writing the movie-celebrating entries. 

100. The Fifth Element (1997)

Luc Besson's The Fifth Element is a seriously wild movie. The sci-fi adventure has become a bona fide genre classic. Even though parts of the film were frustrating to make, those efforts clearly paid off, leaving us with one of the most fun space rides to date with an A-level cast including Milla Jovovich, Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Chris Tucker in arguably his spaciest performance. Anyone who may have forgotten how fun and bonkers it is should grab a multi-pass and return immediately. 

99. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Jim Carrey may have enjoyed the most successful year for any comedian in 1994, and Dumb and Dumber is a major part of that unprecedented run. After the wildly successful Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask, the Saturday Night Live reject gave an iconic performance as Lloyd Christmas in the Farrelly Brothers’ breakout comedy alongside Jeff Daniels’ Harry Dunne. Everything about the movie simply works in spite of itself. The chemistry between its stars, the balance of over-the-top humor and more subtle jokes, and the most annoying sound in the world work together to create an unparalleled and game-changing experience. 

98. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project may not have been the first to bring a cinéma vérité approach to the horror genre, but through extremely savvy marketing and lore-building, the no-budget flick became one of the most profitable films of all time, spawning a franchise of film sequels, comics, a video game, and beyond. And all without an actual “witch” to tease in the trailers. One of the ‘90s most polarizing efforts, BWP’s “something from nothing” approach makes it as influential as anything else from the decade.

97. Mulan (1998)

What can be said about Mulan that has yet to be talked about? Released at the tail end of the famed Disney Renaissance through the ‘90s, Mulan was the animated film that defined a generation of young women, inspiring many to always fight for their honor and never back down, even when everyone in the world says otherwise. The music is excellent as the voice-acting takes you to another world, and the animation easily pulls viewers in, but it’s the themes that stay with audiences forever.

96. The Wedding Singer (1998)

More than just a wonderful romantic comedy, The Wedding Singer is a standout title in Adam Sandler’s early career. In the 1990s, Sandler was known for his goofy characters on Saturday Night Live and in goofy movies like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Airheads, but The Wedding Singer was an opportunity for him to show he could do work with a bit more gravity. There’s an argument to be made it paved the way for him excelling in films like Punch Drunk Love and Uncut Gems. And the power of Sandler + Drew Barrymore can never be denied.

95. Death Becomes Her (1992)

There’s a scene in Death Becomes Her that pretty much sums up the Robert Zemeckis film’s greatness – as Goldie Hawn’s Helen sits and leans back, the handle of a shovel slips perfectly through the hole in her torso. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep’s Madeline gracefully takes a seat while clutching her hair atop her head, in order to keep it from flopping forward against her broken neck. It’s dark, it’s twisted, it’s hilarious, and for 1992, the special effects are impressive. Bruce Willis’ Ernest being dragged along for the ride caps off the excellent trio of characters, in this eternally underrated comedy.

94. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Four years after already penning one of the all-time great romantic comedies (Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally), the late Nora Ephron directed a landmark rom-com of her own with Sleepless in Seattle. The second of three movies co-starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, this genre staple features an incredible story about a woman who goes to great lengths to be with the man she loves, a man whom she’s never met and only knows from a call-in radio show. It’s charming, witty, earnest, and the best kind of enchanted realism. 

93. Jackie Brown (1997)

Quentin Tarantino’s third directorial effort, Jackie Brown kicks off with Pam Grier’s money-smuggling flight attendant trekking to work to the tune of Bobby Womack’s “Across 110th Street,” helping it stand apart from the testosterone-enhanced violence of his first two features. And while the star-studded flick does dip into the filmmaker’s favored crime genre tropes, Jackie Brown hinges more on character study than sheer plot machination, and provides career-high performances from Bridget Fonda, Robert Forster, and Grier herself. And in that way, it’s arguably the most empathy-worthy project from Tarantino’s career.

92. Happy Gilmore (1996)

Depending on who you talk to, Adam Sandler’s '90s comedies are either near the peak of the genre or near the pits of low-brow comedy. We know where Shooter McGavin's opinions would lie, but we lean toward raising our clubs and pucks to Sandler’s story about a failed hockey player taking the world of professional golf by storm, all for his grandma. I’ll always laugh at Happy Gilmore’s titular hero going toe-to-toe with the late game show host Bob Barker, and the wild story of how he got involved is as great as the on-screen fisticuffs.

91. Casino (1995)

It’s hard to pick a favorite when talking about the best mob characters that Robert De Niro has played, though I’d argue Sam "Ace" Rothstein is as good as it gets. Unlike many other gangster movies tethered to dark alleys, Casino zeroes in on the mafia’s stranglehold of the glitzy and glamorous Las Vegas in the 1970s. It’s further bolstered by excellent directing from master craftsman Martin Scorsese and a supporting cast with legends like Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. A fantastic movie that doesn't shy away from deeply upsetting moments. 

90. Forrest Gump (1994)

Despite all the cringey and parody-fueling moments in Robert Zemeckis' Forrest Gump --- never forget the Weird Al classic "Gump" --- Tom Hanks' history-making and country-crossing simpleton remains one of the 1990s most enduring movie heroes. With a stacked cast of pros, from Sally Field to Gary Sinise, Forrest Gump's popularity was evident from both its boffo box office, its huge success at the Oscars and beyond, and just how many quotes from this movie have permanently nestled themselves into pop culture. 

89. A Few Good Men (1992)

Courtrooms are a natural fit for high drama, and A Few Good Men has some of the best courtroom scenes in cinema history. Aaron Sorkin’s first screenplay, based on his own stage play, is missing many of the elements that would later define his writing, but that’s not a bad thing here. The battle between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson has become iconic, but even outside of that near-perfect scene, A Few Good Men is full of incredible characters, smart dialogue, and memorable moments. It’s perhaps one of Cruise’s most criminally overlooked performances.

88. Pretty Woman (1990)

Pretty Woman is definitely one of Julia Roberts's best movies in a wildly impressive career, but it's also one of the best ‘90s rom-coms. The film's sleazy-on-paper tale, which follows a rich businessman hiring a Hollywood escort to be his date to several social events, is a charmer thanks to its stellar leads. The film vaulted Roberts into an even bigger star, while making romantics everywhere swoon at the idea of a wealthy millionaire like Richard Gere coming out of nowhere to sweep them off their feet – if only, amirite?

87. As Good As It Gets (1997)

I miss Jack Nicholson. I miss James L. Brooks. I miss emotional, character-driven comedies that excelled thanks to outstanding performances from A-list talent. Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear weave magic in this sweet story about strangers forming friendships over low-stakes but relatable dramas. Studios craving IP don’t back movies like this anymore. But when they did, and when actors could sink their teeth into the material, this one was as good as they got. 

86. The Sandlot (1993)

There are ‘90s sports movies that are kid-pleasers, and then there is The Sandlot, the 1993 coming-of-age story about a ragtag group of kids living what could be the best summer of their lives. There's so much to love about this small-stakes baseball tale, from its timelessness to its life lessons to incredible characters like Scotty Smalls, Benny Rodriguez, Ham Porter, and so many others, there’s just so much to love about this classic sports film. To quote the Great Bambino, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” In this case, we're calling our shot: The Sandlot is one of those legends. 

85. Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

Can’t Hardly Wait combines an "everybody's recognizable" ensemble cast with the classic house party setting and a killer soundtrack to give us one of the most epic teen movies of all time. The plot centers around Ethan Embry’s Preston, who needs to profess his love for Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) at the graduation party, now that she is finally single after being dumped by Mike (Peter Facinelli). But plots are for dorks, and the 1998 comedy epitomizes the teen angst of the late 20th century in an honest and hilarious way.

84. You've Got Mail (1998)

You’ve Got Mail arrived in 1998 when just about everybody would have recognized the title as the AOL greeting message. This was the third movie to pair Tom Hanks with Meg Ryan, with writer/director Nora Ephron bringing her magic romantic comedy touch to the story of two business rivals who unwittingly fall in love via online chat. Hanks and Ryan channel the same chemistry that was a hit years earlier with Sleepless in Seattle, and it doesn't require having lived through the AOL era to appreciate the level of classic rom-com energy that makes this a winner. 

83. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

In a decade filled with all-time great Robin Williams movies, there’s something particularly tender and very much unforgettable about Chris Columbus’ Ms. Doubtfire. Underpinned by the heartbreak of having less time than ever with his three kids as his divorce looms, voiceover actor Daniel Hillard hatches a plan to form a new character in an elderly housekeeper named Mrs. Doubtfire to get more time with them. Not only does his new secret identity make for some hilarious moments that very much play to Williams’ strengths as a comedy actor, Mrs. Doubtfire is also a touching film that takes a grounded approach to parent separation. 

82. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The most Tim Burton movie ever to Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is, on one bladed hand, a weirdly heartwarming horror movie, but on the other bladed hand, an endlessly frightening family film. The suburban Frankenstein homage is bolstered by stellar performances from Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder and Dianne Weist, with each bringing grounded authenticity to this wildly fantastical fable. (Yes, even the pity-provoking Depp.) The cherries on top of this macabre cake are Vincent Price, in his final major film role, and Burton-familiar composer Danny Elfman. And the eye-popping hedge art and ice sculptures don’t hurt.

81. American History X (1998)

Long before debates about The Snyder Cut, star Edward Norton, director Tony Kaye, and New Line Cinema engaged in a very loud and sometimes public squabble over American History X. The final cut we got, which Kaye publicly disavowed, is a brutal, almost two-hour look at modern white supremacy that’s shot partially in black and white. It netted Norton an Oscar nomination and has individual moments as strong as anything on this list, but it also occasionally loses pace and has always left fans wanting to see Kaye’s original 95-minute cut, which remains unreleased following the film’s disastrous production

80. Aladdin (1992)

It’s easy to look at Aladdin and celebrate the work of the great Robin Williams, and justifiably so. Only animation could truly uncork the man’s absolutely manic comedy style. But focusing only on Williams overlooks the work of amazing animators who created the Genie and everything else, since it's a testament to their skill that the animation is able to keep up with Williams and the high-flying scenes. Musical sequences like “A Friend Like Me” and “A Whole New World” show another form of animated beauty and have become just as iconic on their own as the Genie himself.

79. That Thing You Do! (1996)

By the time he wrote, directed, and co-starred in 1996’s That Thing You Do, Tom Hanks was already an acting powerhouse. So it was a bit of a surprise to see the Academy Award-winning actor delivering a tale about the wild ride that so many one-hit wonders of the ‘60s endured. Initially, the story of The Wonders (Johnathon Schaech, Ethan Embry, Steve Zahn, and Tom Everett Scott) and their roller-coaster journey wasn’t a smash success, but decades later, That Thing You Do is a well-regarded mini-cult classic that can still leave audiences with songs in their hearts.

78. Trainspotting (1996)

While it wasn’t his directorial debut, Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting was the flick that put the man on the map. Following the lives of a group of Scottish drug addicts and friends, a cast including Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly MacDonald landed their start as the stars of tomorrow. Through a narrative that’s both darkly comic and frightfully serious, Trainspotting ushers its heroin addicts through life's struggles in grounded and trippy ways. Establishing Boyle’s skills in telling a conventional story through unconventional means, it’s a powerful statement for its director and the message he’s trying to convey.

77. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

The Die Hard formula survived the transition to the “buddy cop” genre (at least initially) with Bruce Willis’ iconic John McClane being forced to team up with a good samaritan (Samuel L. Jackson) and solve a bunch of riddles around Manhattan to prevent bombs from going off. Many consider With a Vengeance to be the best in the Die Hard series, though it’s blasphemy to put ANY of them ahead of John McTiernan’s original. Still, this one moves like a freight train, Willis and Jackson have remarkable chemistry, and Jeremy Irons is a sinister villain with a satisfying twist of a motivation to take McClane down. 

76. Titanic (1997)

Titanic was an event in itself when it arrived in theaters, with James Cameron’s film ambitiously bringing to screen the story of the ill-fated ship, depicting the journey across the Atlantic with incredible visuals that give us a sense of what it might have been like aboard the ship during that terrible night. At the center of it all is the love story of Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), who manage to find each other, despite their differing social classes, and never let go. Considering how many millions of dollars it earned from repeat audience viewings, its "classic" status is unsinkable.

75. Men in Black (1997)

One of the biggest sci-fi hits of the decade, Men In Black holds a special place in the hearts and minds of both space and comedy nerds. Even though it initially took some convincing to land Will Smith for the role of Agent J., Steven Spielberg (as producer) managed to re-catch lightning in a bottle with the actor coming off of Independence Day. And as unpredictable as it seemed at the time Smith and Tommy Lee Jones made for an extremely fun and combative pairing in the rest of the Men in Black film franchise.

74. The Fugitive (1993)

When it comes to movies based on old TV shows, it doesn’t get much better than The Fugitive. There’s no way around it, this 1993-defining film straight-up rocks and is still just as great more than 30 years after its release. Watching one of Harrison Ford’s most iconic characters go to great lengths to clear his name after being wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife never gets hold, and the same can be said about Tommy Lee Jones’ Academy Award-winning performance as the U.S. Marshal tasked with capturing the elusive fugitive.

73. Run Lola Run (1998)

Outside of sci-fi adventures, time loops aren’t often used as storytelling devices, and 1998’s thriller Run Lola Run absolutely proves why this is a shame. While the story isn’t explicitly a looping band of time, we do get three different versions of writer/director Tom Twyver’s story. Centered around lovers Lola (Franke Potente) and Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), each variation has one thing in common: they have 20 minutes to score 100,000 Deutschmarks, or Manni is dead. New twists and pitfalls arrive, keeping that premise fresh each time, right up until the end. 

72. Swingers (1996)

Long before he directed major projects like Iron Man and The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau wrote and starred in the Doug Liman-directed Swingers. This comedy follows Favreau’s Mike Peters, a comedian who’s getting over a bad breakup and moves to Hollywood to find success in the midst of the ‘90s swing revival. The witty back-and-forth dialogue between Favreau and his co-stars, including Vince Vaughn and Heather Graham, and the simple, yet effective story of moving on to better horizons make Swingers one of the most underrated comedies of this decade. It's just so money, baby. 

71. Malcolm X (1992)

For his 1992 “Spike Lee Joint,” the legendary Do The Right Thing filmmaker made his dream come true to make a biopic about one American Civil Rights Movement figure, Malcolm X. It not only remains among the best works of Lee’s incredible filmography, but it’s flat-out one of the best biography movies ever made. That’s all without mentioning a particularly powerful performance by Denzel Washington, who disappears into the figure and brings great intrigue and nuisance to Malcolm X across decades of his life. Spike Lee’s biopic stands tall as an enduring portrait of an important man in a pivotal moment in U.S. history.

70. Friday (1995)

Franchise lead and rap legend Ice Cube teamed up with Chris Tucker to create one of the best "sit back and kick it" movies in movie history. Spawning a line of sequels, the O.G. Friday boasts an awesome cast that also includes the late John Witherspoon, and understandably caught on with a certain kind of stoner comedy-loving crowd, but has become an all-encompassing cult classic. Even beyond its on-screen greatness, Friday also turned "Bye, Felicia" into everyday jargon. 

69. Miller's Crossing (1990)

Joel and Ethan Coen didn’t waste time demonstrating their eclecticism in their careers, breaking out with the phenomenal neo-noir Blood Simple in 1984 ahead of a 180-degree tonal pivot with 1987's gonzo comedy Raising Arizona. Then they kicked off the 1990s with one of the great modern gangster movies in Miller's Crossing. Gabriel Byrne’s Tom Reagan leading John Turturro’s Bernie Bernbaum into the woods to be murdered is the movie’s iconic moment, but it’s the brilliant chaos that spins out from Tom’s decision at the end of the sequence that cements this tense slice of art's place on this list.

68. Rushmore (1998)

Rushmore is often referenced for a lot of things. It was the first Wes Anderson movie to find more mainstream success. The critical acclaim Bill Murray received for his performance helped push him toward the more independent, critically acclaimed movies that defined his later career. It was the debut of Jason Schwartzman. All of those are reasons to celebrate the movie, but none are reasons why it’s on this list. It’s here because it’s an endlessly watchable slice of weirdness that holds up decades later. It’s some of the best career work of everyone referenced, and in its own offbeat way, it’s downright hysterical. 

67. South Park: Bigger, Longer, And Uncut (1999)

In 1999, with South Park at the height of its cultural powers, Matt Stone and Trey Parker took one of the biggest gambles anyone could have ever imagined. Producing the R-rated, animated musical that was South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, the pair doubled down on their uniquely dirty humor. Everything from parenting culture to Les Miserables got sent up, thanks to songs that were catchy but also not safe for work. Not every TV show survives a feature-length expansion, but South Park thrived in theaters, especially when it called the very parental uproar its release would inspire to a tee.

66. Misery (1990)

What does a creative owe to their fans? It’s a complex question that author Stephen King horrifyingly examined with his remarkable 1987 novel Misery, and three years later, director Rob Reiner adapted the work into a remarkable and unsettling film. The Oscars don’t typically support the horror genre, but Kathy Bates’ turn as Annie Wilkes was unignorable – as she remains one of the meanest villains of the ‘90s.. Though in Bates’ shadow, James Caan delivers an equally excellent turn as captive author Paul Sheldon, and the weaving of tension as he keeps his mind on options for escape is perfection.

65. Clerks (1994)

Kevin Smith famously maxed out credit cards and stretched a production budget of just $27,000 to make his first movie, 1994’s Clerks. Sure, the acting is hit or miss, and the editing isn’t perfect, but that only adds to the charm of the movie. It’s also really, really funny. It’s got some of the most quotable lines of any movie from the era, and they all shine through, despite the limitations of the budget. Clerks has become the stuff of legend in Hollywood, sparking dreams of would-be filmmakers everywhere and with good reason. 

64. Galaxy Quest (1999)

What if you found out that the fantastic adventures in your favorite sci-fi TV weren't so fake after all, such as in Galaxy Quest? Tim Allen plays a washed-up actor who, along with his former co-stars (played by Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and more), experience their cancelled, cult favorite series for real, thanks to an alien race that believes their televised adventures are "historical documents" and are desperate for their help. The concept makes for a clever, hilarious commentary on Trekkie culture, but also manages to be just as exciting as any Star Trek episode or movie spin-off could ever be.

63. Thelma and Louise (1991)

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis have made dozens of memorable movies, but even if they had just made Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, they’d have a space carved out for them in cinema history. It’s regarded as a keystone title in the history of feminism in film, and it makes you fall in love with the titular leads as they go on the run from the law. And it should go without saying that the final moments will forever be remembered as an indomitable moment of 1990s pop culture.

62. Primal Fear (1996)

Courtroom dramas were big in the ‘90s, and Primal Fear in 1996 is a prime example of why. Richard Gere plays the pompous attorney Martin Vail, who volunteers to represent a young Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton in his first screen role) after he is accused of brutally murdering a beloved archbishop. The movie takes an unexpected turn when Aaron is discovered to have a split personality named Roy, and the dark twist that comes to light after an explosive courtroom scene remains one of the wildest movie endings ever.

61. Home Alone (1990)

I'm pretty sure Home Alone has hit classic Christmas movie territory because you always know it's the holiday season when this movie is causing a clatter on your TV screen. Following a child accidentally left home alone during Christmas and who has to defend his home from burglars, Home Alone captures the happiness of the season while adding a bit of chaos – especially with all those serious injuries that probably would have killed Marv and Harry in the real world. It'd be a fun time even without Catherine O'Hara and John Candy's SCTV reunion, but is all the better for it.

60. Leon (The Professional) (1994)

Luc Besson seems to be motivated by big sci-fi ideas in films such as The Fifth Element, Lucy, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. On the flip side of Besson’s coin, though, are these stripped-down crime thrillers (Nikita, The Family), and none were more effective than Leon. The film heralded the arrival of young Natalie Portman, who proved she could appear convincingly as basically anything on screen. But also, Gary Oldman walks away with the picture, playing an unhinged and drug-addicted DEA agent looking to kill Portman’s character, much to the chagrin of professional hitman Jean Reno.  

59. Office Space (1999)

There’s a scene in Office Space where all the workers are assembled for an all-hands meeting. Above the boss’ head, there’s a banner printed that says Is This Good for the COMPANY? The question is underlined and COMPANY is in weird light blue font for unclear reasons. It’s somehow both utterly ridiculous and one of the most relatable things I’ve ever seen. In a way, it’s a perfect explanation for why some people, myself included, love Office Space so much. It’s one long series of hysterical if-you-know-you-know-moments, and watching other people live through and comment on that same misery feels so cathartic. 

58. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

There are few filmmakers in cinematic history who made as an audacious splash with their first feature as Quentin Tarantino, who was immediately recognized as a tremendous upstart talent following the premiere of Reservoir Dogs at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. With its spellbinding non-linear storytelling, sharp-as-knives dialogue, and violent shocks, it is recognized as a perfect archetype of Tarantino’s strengths as a writer/director, and it is remembered for inspiring a whole generation of filmmakers and its lasting impact on genre cinema.

57. Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13 may be best remembered in pop culture for the iconic line “Houston, we have a problem," but the 1995 film accumulated nine Academy Award nominations for a reason. Boasting a stacked cast that includes Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan, the movie dramatizes the true story of the failed 1970 lunar mission, and the ending sequence is no less suspenseful nearly thirty years later than it was in the ‘90s. The effects mostly stand up to this day; but even where they don’t, the performances sell the story entirely.

56. The American President (1995) 

Before Aaron Sorkin created The West Wing, he wrote The American President, which saw one of the most respected movie presidents, Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), fall for feisty environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening). Could a widowed president ever court a girlfriend in an election year? Sorkin’s snappy dialogue shows why it wouldn’t be easy, as the two become tabloid fodder, and even bigger trouble awaits when their political agendas don’t align. Both lead actors give absolutely charming performances in this 1995 political rom-com directed by Rob Reiner.

55. True Romance (1993) 

The first screenplay Quentin Tarantino ever sold in Hollywood was 1993’s True Romance, and it became an offbeat cult classic when combined with Tony Scott’s slick direction. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are perfect as the flawed lovers and the rest of the cast, which includes Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Michael Rappaport, Val Kilmer, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Sizemore, James Gandolfini, just to name a few, are all brilliant. It’s one scene, however, between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken, that steals the whole show and deserves its own placement in cinema history.

54. Unforgiven (1992)

This might be the quintessential Clint Eastwood Western – which says a lot when you realize that the man helped to define the genre, dating all the way back to his days on television (in Gunsmoke). With Unforgiven, an older Eastwood figured out how to comment on the evolution of the Western, and reflect on the moral quandaries several cowboys faced over the course of their lawless lives. This marked the beginning of a contemplative stage of Eastwood’s career, and redefined the boundaries of the Western for storytellers that followed. 

53. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Not only is The Nightmare Before Christmas one of the best stop-motion movies of all time, but it was also a game-changer within the animation industry. The movie -- following the story of Jack Skellington turning Halloween Town into Christmas Town and trying to take over the role of Santa Claus -- has become a cultural icon. Not only is the movie celebrated during the Halloween season, but it's also become one of the best animated Christmas movies and has a wildly popular fan base – go to Disney World during Halloween and Christmas and see how popular this movie is. 

52. Natural Born Killers (1994)

Few movies in the last decade of the 20th century caused a stir quite like the big screen adventure of Mickey and Mallory Knox in Oliver Stone’s demented crime saga Natural Born Killers. Fans of the TV show Cheers got to witness a whole new side to Woody Harrelson, and he makes for one-half of an absolutely ferocious on-screen pair partnered with Juliette Lewis. Though it was only released in 1994, it is a title to point to when aiming to epitomize a certain spirit in 1990s pop culture.

51. The Rock (1994)

It is still totally bonkers to think that the mid-’90s gave us a Michael Bay action movie in which Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage got to mesh their wildly different talents. A movie that helped pencil in the blueprint for what we know as modern Bayhem, The Rock is a solid cocktail of action, comedy, and drama tied together with a surprisingly poignant message. None of that gets lost in the shuffle, either, even as the shuffle keeps viewers glued to their seats until the very last scene. You can bet this quotable, adrenaline-charged classic is still friendly with the prom queen.

50. Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Relatively few directors made great movies on their first try, and the late John Singleton did just that with 1991’s Boyz n the Hood. Set in South Central Los Angeles, the film centers on three young men, whose paths begin to diverge as they steadily approach adulthood. Singleton, who also wrote the Oscar-nominated drama, provided a nuanced look at life in a low-income neighborhood. 

In doing so, he shed light on gang violence, systemic racism, and other elements that still negatively impact many communities today. For better or worse, this well-acted and directed film is as timeless and relevant as they come.

49. The Sixth Sense (1999)

While the ending twist may have helped put the film and its director, M. Night Shyamalan, on the map near the close of the decade, The Sixth Sense is so much more than those final, incredible moments where all of the pieces fall into place (in a scene that comes after we think the story has been mostly resolved). 

What elevates The Sixth Sense to ‘90s movie greatness is the combined efforts of the stellar performances of Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, and Olivia Williams; of the music combined with the fantastic shots; of the use of the Philadelphia backdrop. Every scene taps into something dark, scary, heartbreaking or humorous, and the best go for a little bit of all of those things at once. 

48. Get Shorty (1995)

What is the best Elmore Leonard adaptation? There are many candidates that qualify for consideration, including Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, Steven Soderbergh’s Out Of Sight and the TV series Justified, but Barry Sonnenfeld’s Get Shorty is my uncontested contender for the title. 

It’s a dark, cynical, and hilarious take on the film industry where a shylock finds himself right at home in Los Angeles, and it brims with exceptional characters – from John Travolta’s Chili Palmer to Gene Hackman's skeezy producer Harry Zimm, to James Gandolfini's stuntman-turned-heavy Bear. The sequel that came out a decade later, 2005’s Be Cool, is dreadful, but that has thankfully not tainted its predecessor’s stellar legacy as one of the great “Hollywood on Hollywood” movies. 

47. The Rocketeer (1991) 

Believe it or not, The Rocketeer is a comic book movie. In the wake of the blockbuster success that was Batman, studios scrambled to get their own piece of that four-paneled pie; leading a pre-Marvel Disney to adapt Dave Stevens’ pulpy ‘30s throwback. Hoping this movie would be the studio’s answer to Bat-mania, director Joe Johnston’s picture suffered in the obscenely crowded summer of 1991. 

Over time, fate has been kinder to the Billy Campbell and Jennifer Connolly adventure, as it developed into a cult classic much like the original Tron. Even if audiences didn’t flock to it at first, the message was never lost, because the quality was always there. Best experienced with a heart full of nostalgia and courage, The Rocketeer's mere existence is worth celebrating. 

46. Audition (1999)

Few movies start off as unassuming as the psycho-horror Audition, whose first half sits among the legendarily prolific Takashi Miike’s most restrained directorial efforts. The story begins with Ryo Ishibashi’s widower Shigeharu Aoyama re-entering the dating world in the least natural way possible: via auditions with women who believe they’re vying for an acting role. 

Things progress in an almost mundane manner as Shigeharu becomes more attracted to the quiet and seemingly reserved Asami (Eihi Shiina), but with enough peeks into her home life to send red flags waving. What makes Audition a unique ‘90s treasure is when the wheels fall off for its dread-flooded final act, in which Asami teaches Shigeharu a torturous lesson in stringing women along. Don't try this at home.

45. Point Break (1991)

Comically manly, but in the best ways possible, Point Break is the 1990s encapsulated. Clean-cut FBI agent Johnny Utah (tremendous character name) loses himself undercover when he tries to infiltrate a gang of surfers (tremendous plot twist) who may be posing as former presidents of the United States and robbing banks. What an awesome plot. And what an awesome movie. 

Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze are the Yin and the Yang of Southern California cool, tapping directly into the “Brah” of it all while also delivering unforgettable action set pieces – notably, a skydiving chase without parachutes. Credit most of this to director Kathyrn Bigelow, who eventually won her Best Director Oscar for 2010’s The Hurt Locker. 

44. Clueless (1995)

We’ve seen movies put a new spin on old classics before, but rarely has the result been as entertaining as Clueless, Amy Heckerling’s take on Jane Austen’s Emma. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, a beautiful and rich Beverly Hills high school fashionista who decides she wants to use her popularity for the betterment of humanity. 

The 1995 coming-of-age comedy — which also stars Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd and more — still stands up today with its iconic looks and quotable dialogue (not to mention Cher’s inspiring speech comparing refugees to guests at her father’s garden party). And has there ever been a movie takedown more savage than Tai calling Cher “a virgin who can’t drive”? As if! 

43. L.A. Confidential (1997)

Once upon a time, the noir detective story was a staple of film, but fewer and fewer examples have emerged with each decade that passes. So when a movie like Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential comes around, you really begin to wonder why we don’t see more of these. 

It’s an absolutely incredible film that likely would probably be better remembered if it hadn’t come out the same year as Titanic. On top of everything else, the film introduced Russell Crowe and Guy Pierce to U.S. film audiences, and for that alone, it should be recognized, but it also won Kim Basinger an Oscar for a reason.

42. The Hunt for Red October (1990)

While The Hunt for Red October was a huge success when it hit theaters in 1990, it took years for people to see it as a classic. It’s not a flawless movie. Sean Connery, as amazing as he is, plays what appears to be a Scottish Russian, not changing his accent at all. The underwater scenes of the special effects submarines, while praised at the time, have not aged well, either. Accents aside, the actors are all superb here. 

Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan, Tim Curry, Sam Neill, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, Stellan Skarsgård, Fred Thompson, Courtney B. Vance, and everyone else are all amazing, and John McTiernan’s direction is snappy and perfectly paced. This is THE submarine movie. 

41. The Green Mile (1999)

Considered one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time, The Green Mile is a fantasy drama directed by Frank Darabont, telling the story of a wrongly convicted man and his time at a prison in the 1930s and the strange supernatural events that follow his arrival. 

I feel like The Green Mile is just one movie everyone should watch at least once. It's a classic for a reason, featuring all-time career performances from Tom Hanks, Sam Rockwell, and Michael Clarke Duncan. The Green Mile will capture your heart and crush it into a million pieces by the end – and might just make one admire the horror-driven Stephen King all the more for writing such an emotional story. If you're not ugly sobbing by the end of this, you may not be watching it right. 

40. The Truman Show (1998)

Easily considered one of Jim Carrey’s best movies, The Truman Show – which is about a man who realizes his reality isn’t real – uses its star’s signature over-the-top sense of humor and physicality to make you laugh. Then his dramatic skills come to the forefront as you take this journey with Truman, and you feel all the emotions as it becomes clear that this comedy is more of a searing satire.

Overall, this film is about Truman coming to terms with the fact that the world’s been watching him live in a simulated reality, and it gives us all an example of how exploitative social media can be. That’s why The Truman Show is not only one of the best movies of the ‘90s, but it’s also one of the more relevant films when it comes to the present. 

39. Waiting for Guffman (1996)

Waiting for Guffman is mockumentary gold. Christopher Guest and his group of comedic geniuses — Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, etc. — bring the sleepy berg of Blane, Missouri to life, with the audience watching as a motley crew of community theater actors put on a musical about their town. 

The stakes get higher when Guest's Corky St. Clair tells everyone a Broadway production house is coming, and "we may be going to Broadway." The songs are insane, the cast is unhinged, and this movie is heaven; even more so for those who are personally familiar with the madcap process of staging plays. 

38. Dazed and Confused (1993)

It’s really hard to make a comedy that stands the test of time, yet as we get older, Dazed and Confused stays the same age, er, quality. Director Richard Linklater’s love letter to his teen years in Texas transcends generations and keeps fans coming back again and again. Sure, it’s the 1970s, but teenagers (and adults) of any generation can relate. 

Of course, it also helps that so many huge stars got their first big break in the movie, including Matthew McConaughey in his first role. Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Cole Hauser, Anthony Rapp, Rory Cochrane, Nicky Katt, and the rest of the cast are amazing. Everyone can point to one character and say “I knew someone just like that in high school!”

37. The Matrix (1999)

It’s hard to put into words just how mindblowing The Matrix was when it first came out. Of course, the successive sequels somewhat diminished the franchise’s legacy as a whole, though make no mistake, the first movie is just as much of a thrill in the modern era as it was back in 1999. 

Keanu Reeves is the ultimate leading entity in the Wachowskis' game-changing mega-blockbuster, making every move look as cool as can be. Because of the filmmakers' work on this neo-classic (no pun), people will forever be cursed with the idea that everything we’re doing in life is a simulation, and that we’re all slowly and secretly being harvested in pods for energy by robotic overlords. Great movie, though.

36. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Two years after Jim Henson’s death, son Brian Henson directed arguably the only truly great Muppets release of the entire 1990s: The Muppet Christmas Carol. (Excluding the final two years of Muppet Babies.) Based on the Charles Dickens novel that has spawned countless numbers of adaptations, the holiday film is anchored on the human side by Michael Caine’s Ebenezer Scrooge, and on the felt-covered side by Kermit and Miss Piggy’s Bob and Emily Cratchit, with Gonzo as Dickens himself. 

Though it doesn’t offer any huge adjustments to the source material, the Muppets make everything twenty-fold more charming, and Statler and Waldorf’s ghostly jam “Marley and Marley” is among the best of any original Muppet tunes. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without this movie.

35. City Slickers (1991)

There are plenty of laughs to be had in Ron Underwood’s Western comedy City Slickers, and while that’s a safe bet for any of Billy Crystal’s best movies, what sets this one apart is its enormous heart. 

Crystal’s Mitch Robbins, along with pals Phil and Ed (Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, respectively) are all suffering midlife crises of sorts when they embark on a cattle drive across the Southwest. It was refreshing to see the men open up to each other about their childhoods, relationships, and what matters most in life. Jack Palance gives an Oscar-winning performance as Curly, and the $124 million it earned at the domestic box office made it one of the top 5 movies of 1991.

34. The Birdcage (1996)

Robin Williams was a brilliant comedian, a supernova of personality that could command our attention with his hysterical stream-of-conscious thoughts. But Williams, to me, truly shined bright when he downplayed his natural comedic energy to either try serious drama (Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society), or to support an equally brilliant comedic performance – as he did with Nathan Lane in The Birdcage.

While broad and flamboyant at times, The Birdcage captures the heart of a family rallying behind their beautiful son (Dan Futterman) who is getting engaged to a Conservative girl (Calista Flockhart). Williams and Lane, as an on-screen couple, are tender, touching, funny, sweet, and perfectly paired in this special gem of a film.

33. Princess Mononoke (1997)

As someone who has watched every single Hayao Miyazaki movie, there's something about Prince Mononoke that speaks deeply to my soul. While I possibly think Spirited Away is Miyazaki's best film, and I have a love for Howl's Moving Castle, this is a movie that has changed the way I view the world. 

Princess Mononoke follows the story of a young prince who discovers that the gods of the forest are upset at the humans for consuming their precious resources. While the anime film itself has breathtaking animation and a story that pulls you in; both are equally sating while leaving a desire for more. Truthfully, this is the one movie that speaks on human consumption in simple ways that everyone should be required to watch.  

32. Groundhog Day (1993)

By all accounts, the creative process behind Groundhog Day was not easy. The film was originally conceived as a darker, more philosophical movie with independent sensibilities. That’s what Bill Murray liked. Director Harold Ramis saw it as more of a good-natured and broad comedy. So they fought about it, plaguing the shoot with delays, rewrites and enough acrimony to sever their friendship for decades. 

Amidst that disharmony, or perhaps even because of that disharmony, the two comedy masters compromised and created a perfect blend of the two: a broad and funny romantic comedy that’s weird enough and dark enough to feel totally original. 

31. Scream (1996)

With A Nightmare on Elm Street and its two best sequels already under his belt (among many other frightfests), Wes Craven made horror franchise lightning strike twice with the post-modern whodunit slasher Scream, and it kept striking across two eras of sequels. Led by one of the ‘90s greatest scream queens in Neve Campbell, the 1996 classic became such a blueprint for Hollywood horror that the inciting film doesn’t feel anywhere near as novel as it did when audiences first sat down thinking they were about to watch “a Drew Barrymore movie.” 

But that opening remains chilling AF, David Arquette’s Deputy Dewey remains a loveable dork alongside Courteney Cox’s hardcore bitch Gail Weathers, and Ghostface’s pop culture-tinged massacre has only become more relevant in an ever-connected world.

30. Cape Fear (1991)

I was way too young when I watched Cape Fear for the first time. I was experienced with plenty of slasher or jump scare style horror movies and figured I’d be fine. Wrong. Cape Fear is an entirely different type of scary than what I was used to. 

With a prime Martin Scorsese at the helm and a fantastic all-in performance from Robert De Niro, it’s a relentlessly creepy and unnerving take on slow-burn vengeance. It haunted my sleep for weeks as a kid, and during an adult rewatch decades later, its themes of religion, underage sexuality, criminal justice and moral relativism were every bit as disturbing. 

29. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Being John Malkovich may not be the very best ‘90s movie, but it may very well be the strangest that still qualifies as a great time. The premise itself — that a door exists allowing others to enter the mind of another person — is odd enough, but for the person whose brain is invaded to be celebrated actor John Malkovich? 

That brilliant choice somehow gives the otherwise impossible story a slight jolt of realism, and it all comprises a cinematic experience that should not be missed. It’s also a movie full of incredible performances, as Malkovich plays a fantastic version of himself, while John Cusack and Cameron Diaz play against type about as much as possible.

28. Dave (1993)

Probably the funniest movie that uses the presidential line of succession as a plot device, Ivan Reitman’s Dave is a hilarious, charming, and oddly sentimental exploration of politics in the early 1990s. There’s just something about Kevin Kline’s portrayal of Dave Kovic that makes this movie about a presidential impersonator becoming the Commander-in-Chief so innocent and pure, especially when compared to the political climate we live in 30-plus years later. 

Whenever I revisit Dave every couple of years, it feels like opening a time capsule to the final decade of the 20th century with its optimism and promise of a better future. 

27. A League of Their Own (1992)

A League Of Their Own is too busy with meaningful character development and telling an awesome baseball story to go for jokes all the time, but on a per-attempt basis, I would put it up against almost any comedy ever made. Director Penny Marshall has a wonderful tonal sense of when her actors should play it straight, when they should add in a little humor, and when they should drunkenly pee for thirty seconds. 

The result is one of the best sports movies of all time, one that delivers all those laughs but also plays it straight enough to give viewers fantastic and relatable plots about friendship, sisterhood, and what it means to thrive and find your own space.

26. The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant is Brad Bird's heartstrings-pulling story about a young boy who befriends a massive alien robot in 1957, and it proves that a movie bombing at the box office doesn’t mean it can’t still become a cinematic classic. Though its theatrical run didn’t even make back the initial budget, thanks to its home video rollout and stellar word-of-mouth buzz, it’s now considered one of the best animated movies of all time. Rightly so, because this is one of those movies that remains timeless no matter when it’s being viewed. 

Watching Hogarth teach the Giant about life on Earth and urge him to overcome his original purpose of being a weapon never gets old. The Iron Giant remains arguably Vin Diesel’s best movie from before the Fast & Furious franchise's launch, and co-stars like Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Christopher McDonald also shine.

25. Toy Story 2 (1999)

I remember that Toy Story 2 was the first film that made me uncontrollably sob – like fat tears rolling down my face and having a stuffy nose for hours afterward, and I'm sure I'm not alone there. A sequel to Toy Story, which took the world by anthropomorphic storm with its industry-revolutionizing animation, the follow-up adventure was released in 1999, and follows Woody after he is accidentally sold to a toy collector. There, he meets companions from a former TV show that he had no idea about – a show all about him. (And Joan Cusack's Jessie, of course.)

The Toy Story 2 voice cast is stellar, and the animation was a huge step forward in CGI films, but the heart-wrenching story of love, friendship, and so much more is what made Toy Story 2 one of the best Pixar films out there – and yes, I still cry during, "When Somebody Loved Me."

24. Election (1999)

How did Reese Witherspoon not win an Oscar for her performance as Type-A goodie two-shoes Tracy Flick, the textbook overachiever who bites off more than she can chew by running for student government president? It’s possible that we have come to realize that Witherspoon might just BE Tracy Flick in real life. 

But at the time, she was a tornado of talent matching Matthew Broderick beat for beat, bringing to life the sharp school-set satire in director Alexander Payne’s screenplay. Election has as much to say about the greed and immaturity powering politics many years after its release – at every level – as it did back in 1999, which is yet another reason why it remains special.

23. Magnolia (1999)

While not the highest-ranked Paul Thomas Anderson film on this list, Magnolia is a film to be marveled at for its phenomenal ambition. The Los Angeles-based epic juggles the stories of nearly a dozen protagonists who are not only dealing with a wide variety of personal conflicts and demons but are all linked to one another in the stunning cinematic tapestry. 

As the hyper-misogynist motivational speaker Frank T.J. Mackey, Tom Cruise delivers one of his most brilliant turns, and Julianne Moore’s pharmacy monologue is flooring, but the reality is that every member of the ensemble – including Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, and many more – deliver some of the best work of their respective careers. Further considering the frogs and the stunning performance of Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up,” it’s indelible cinema.

22. Tombstone (1993)

I don’t think you could ask for a more star-studded cast for any genre of film, much less a Western. 1993’s Tombstone is blessed by a top-notch cast including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, the late Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn, Stephen Lang, the late Powers Boothe, Thomas Haden Church, Michael Rooker, Charlton Heston, and many more, making it an instant classic in the Western genre. 

The story behind how this film came to be, along with many behind-the-scenes facts, is bizarre enough, but the struggles resulted in one of the best cowboy films of all time. And one that has stood the test of time against a similar movie released around the same time, Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp.  

21. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and decades later, it’s still clear that was the right call. The movie is beautiful, with early computer animation enhancing some of the most visually stunning hand-drawn shots in the medium’s history. It also has one of the best soundtracks of any Disney musical, if not any musical, full stop. This is Howard Ashman’s greatest achievement as a songwriter. 

But beyond even that, the two title characters are about as three-dimensional as any animated characters ever were. It may be a tale as old as time, but Beauty and the Beast is one the audience gets wrapped up in from the first notes to the last. It’s the definition of Disney magic.

20. The Usual Suspects (1995)

No one saw the twist ending coming. Trust me. No one. It caught audiences off guard completely, exactly the way it crashed down like a ton of bricks on Chazz Palminteri's cop. He finally understood who Keyser Soze was, and we all rushed right back into theaters to watch the puzzle snap into place all over again. 

But The Usual Suspects is more than just its “dropped shoe,” miraculous as that reveal is. The cast of colorful criminals assembled by director Bryan Singer played off of each other wonderfully, with many of them defaulting to the natural leader in Gabriel Byrne, but still finding ways to steal the spotlight every now and then. (Benicio Del Toro mumbling under his breath in the jail lineup belongs in the conversation of funniest five-minute performances, ever). As twisty crime thrillers go, few are tighter and more entertaining than this.

19. Boogie Nights (1997)

Introductions can make or break anything in this world. Careers, reputations, even the flow of a movie can be bungled if you don’t know how to open. Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson must have known that when he made Boogie Nights, because when he introduced that picture to the world, he gave himself one hell of a calling card. 

Following young Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) in his journey through the underground of porn films, we see a man still growing up in an industry that feels as young as he is. An ensemble drama boasting the likes of Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Boogie Nights is a cautionary tale with style and tension to burn. Good luck ever listening to “Sister Christian” without having flashbacks to this big, bright, shining star that still manages to break hearts and crack jokes with everyone it meets.

18. Good Will Hunting (1997)

Good Will Hunting is one of those films that changes you forever once you watch it. Starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams, the drama follows a young janitor at MIT who's discovered to be a secret math genius. The premise itself isn't as catchy as some of the other big-time blockbusters of the 1990s, without aliens, robots or crazy action fights, but Good Will Hunting is a film that leaves its message imprinted on audiences long after the credits roll. 

A story of perseverance, hope, and so much more, this movie gave movie fans one of Robin Williams's best roles and catapulted the careers of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. (You gotta like them apples.) This kind of film teaches you that sometimes, the people you meet turn you into your best self, so we just have to be fearless enough to go out there and find them. 

17. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Anthony Hopkins is fantastic in The Silence Of The Lambs, and every positive thing you’ve ever heard about his performance is deserved and probably an understatement. He’s that engrossing, but with all due respect, The Silence Of The Lambs isn’t his movie. It’s Jodie Foster’s movie, hingeing on her career-best performance here as Clarice Starling, which just gets better with every rewatch. 

Foster finds the perfect balance between uncertain and determined. She lets her FBI trainee lead character feel the weight of every obstacle, whether it be sexism, personal loss or physical danger, and then she pushes forward. With relentless determination, she just keeps going and that one step at a time, careful momentum gives the film its narrative structure and allows director Ted Demme to create one of the 90s best and most memorable movies.

16. Fargo (1996)

Joel and Ethan Coen have crafted films both stoically grounded and ludicrously fantastical in their long and storied careers, with Fargo possibly the one straddling both of those lines with the greatest of ease. The faux-kidnapping-gone-wrong and the ensuing investigation are smart story beats, and were enough to win the Coens the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, if fairly rote for the genre in general. But it’s the cast, the Minnesota location, and the singular nature of being a snow-white noir that make Fargo one of the greatest films of the decade. 

The always affable William H. Macy is aces as a man being eaten alive by guilt, opposite the gosh-darn excellent police skills of Frances McDormand’s Marge Gunderson, with Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare as the pair of amoral criminals making everyone’s lives (and deaths) worse. Fargo is a chilling masterpiece, and it’s got nothing to do with the weather. 

15. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Even though one of my colleagues claims her testimony was incorrect in the film, I will still stand before the court and argue that Marisa Tomei, Joe Pesci, and their cast of supporting characters make My Cousin Vinny guilty as hell of being one of the best comedies of all time.

The film is widely used in an educational capacity to showcase one of the few times that a court case is mostly portrayed accurately through a film, and to be honest, the wordplay coupled with the main character/judge dynamic is something to write home about.

14. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

For years, veterans would be the first to say that cinema's depiction of combat — especially that of World War II — is a cakewalk compared to the real thing. Because few films offered a truly accurate portrayal of the hellish, soul-crushing conditions soldiers faced, at least before the release of Saving Private Ryan.

This story of a U.S. military captain (played by Tom Hanks) tasked with leading his crew on a mission to bring a family's last living son home is easily one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies (the second to earn him a Best Director Oscar) and is widely considered to have been unjustly robbed of the Best Picture honor (which went to Shakespeare in Love that year). From the landmark D-Day sequence to the heartbreaking final act and every unforgettable moment in between, it is one of the harshest films you could ever experience, but the passion and craftsmanship put into makes for a grand reward. 

13. The Big Lebowski (1998)

I’m a Lebowski, you’re a Lebowski, we’re all Lebowskis who love the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski, even if its massive fandom wasn’t automatic. It was only a moderate success in the spring of 1998 when it sauntered into theaters on the heels of the Coen’s winning their first writing Oscar for Fargo a year earlier. Reviews at the time were middling, as was the audience reaction. 

Then, over the next couple of years, The Big Lebowski turned into a bonafide cult craze. Pages have been written about its status as such, but too often overlooked is what makes the movie so lovable. It’s quotable, it’s silly, and the plot is the ultimate shaggy dog story with a ridiculous McGuffin — the Dude’s rug — but as it goes for the Dude’s living room, the whole movie ties together just brilliantly. It’s world-class storytelling and the performances from Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and the rest of the cast are perfect.  

12. Schindler's List (1993)

Sometimes what makes a movie from a particular era great is how it represents its time, but some movies would be considered an important work of art in any decade. Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List is one of those that transcends eras. The film is great in all the traditional ways: Liam Neeson gives a career-making performance as Oskar Schindler, an Industrialist who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II. The supporting performances are equally strong. It’s beautifully filmed. 

But beyond that, Schindler’s List is an important movie, offering audiences a sobering look at the tragic events of World War II through a character based on a real-life survivor that many were not even aware of before the movie's release. Schindler’s List is one of those movies that you don’t forget after having seen it, and it may be Steven Spielberg’s greatest achievement.

11. Toy Story (1995)

More than 25 years after moviegoers were first introduced to Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, and the rest of Andy’s collection, it can be easy to forget just how big the impact John Lasseter’s Toy Story had when it hit theaters in 1995. It’s the film that put Pixar on the map, and while it sadly helped kickstart the downfall of hand-drawn animation in lieu of CGI, it also paved the way for three of the greatest Hollywood sequels to ever be produced. Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz are an all-time great animated duo, sharing hallowed space with Bugs & Daffy and Tom & Jerry, though obviously with a lot more heart than what short-form characters are allowed.

The Toy Story franchise hinges a lot on childhood memories, nostalgia, and maintaining a sense of fun in life as one gets older, and this first film delivers the most distilled take on that idea, with Andy still attached in some way to his inner child. Life, as it were, gets way more depressing for the toys as he gets older, which perhaps is why Toy Story rewatches are all the more enjoyable in comparison.

10. Philadelphia (1993)

 Philadelphia is not only a well-made movie, but is first and foremost an important movie. LQBTQ+ rights were non-existent at the time, as the movie highlights and one cannot discount the role this movie, directed by Jonathan Demme, had in awakening the general public not only to the plight gay people faced at the time but the discrimination people with HIV/AIDS faced as well when it was released in 1993. Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a gay man with AIDS who is fired from his job won the actor his first Oscar and for good reason, he’s amazing. Equally amazing is Denzel Washington, who plays Hanks’ character’s (Andrew Beckett) lawyer, Joe Miller. 

Miller, like most people in 1993 when Philadelphia was released, is scared of Beckett and AIDS, because he, like many, didn’t understand it. It’s Miller’s reaction that resonates with audiences. After watching Beckett get asked to move to a “private room” at a library, Miller realizes the discrimination is similar to that faced by African-Americans in the United States, and by the end of the film, he touches Beckett’s lesion-covered face, after learning the truth about AIDS. It’s a powerful moment that still reverberates today. 

9. Fight Club (1999)

So many “futuristic” sci-fi movies from years past have failed to successfully depict modern society and behavior, but David Fincher’s Fight Club now feels it was adapted from some of Nostradamus’ naughtier quatrains, instead of Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 novel. Seemingly both a love letter to, and a cautionary tale about, nihilistic anti-consumerism and anarchy, Fight Club features one of cinema’s most convoluted love triangles in Edward Norton’s spine-lacking unnamed narrator, Brad Pitt’s ultra-male Tyler Durden, and Helena Bonham Carter’s impulsively erratic Marla Singer. A demented character study in part, the movie oozes testosterone both before and after the titular underground brawls come together, and maybe even oozes a bit of estrogen when Meat Loaf’s Bob is around. 

For all of the smart and discussion-worthy topics that are tackled with face-pounding glee, Fight Club is, unfortunately, the kind of movie whose natural sheen has been somewhat tarnished by a fanbase who lost the point of the satire, but still holds so many visual and verbal treasures for those outside such bubbles. Especially for any new viewers who manage to go into it without knowing what kicks off the final act. It’s hard to think of a ‘90s movie with a more story-heightening ending, and The Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” remains an inarguably perfect needle drop.  

8. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pulp Fiction changed the rules of Hollywood moviemaking. That’s no exaggeration. Before Quentin Tarantino fired a shotgun blast through the screen with his nonlinear gangster picture, there was a chasm separating big-budgeted studio films and independent cinema that usually thrived on the film festival circuit before making its way to art house theaters. In the years following Pulp Fiction, studios, actors and audiences chased talent and inspiration, wherever it could be found. 

The irony of Pulp Fiction blazing so many trails is that the movie itself is a pastiche of well-worn genres that Tarantino pored over while working the counter of a video shop. He’s paying homage to countless, gratuitous stories that had come before it. Only, Pulp Fiction built on the buzz created with Reservoir Dogs to attract a constellation of stars: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Christopher Walken, Ving Rhames, and Bruce Willis. Pulp Fiction remains one of the best scripts you will ever read, crisscrossing itself at various intersections and packing repeated surprises (usually of the violent nature). But it was Tarantino’s powerful voice, and his use of soundtrack, that had clones copying his style for decades… and still, to this day.  

7. Jurassic Park (1993)

Anticipation for Jurassic Park began years before its release in the summer of 1993. Michael Crighton sold the rights to the film before he finished the book and because Steven Spielberg was the director who acquired it, the hype started early. Then, in June 1993, it finally hit theaters and was an absolute cultural sensation. Critics loved it, praising the unbelievable special effects and realism of the dinosaurs. Speilberg and the team at ILM broke so much new ground in creating the creatures that it changed how movies were made. Audiences loved it even more and showed up at theaters in hordes. Jurassic Park broke every box record there was to break. It had the biggest opening day, the biggest opening weekend, and finally, it became the highest-grossing movie of all time.

Jurassic Park also earned a slew of awards, mostly for its technical achievements, but that doesn’t mean the acting performances were bad, they were fantastic. Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Sir Richard Attenborough are all perfect in their roles. Finally, there’s the score by John Williams, which remains one of the most iconic of all time. 

6. Se7en (1995)

The film that rescued David Fincher’s career from the stench of Alien 3, and proved that the versatile music director could apply his grungy, moody, techno-acid style to a feature-length nightmare. It’s easy to say now that Fincher was destined to be a contemporary, visionary genius of a filmmaker. But prior to The Social Network, Zodiac, and Fight Club, we needed to see some evidence. Consider this disturbing plunge into the moral sewers to be Exhibit A in the case for Fincher’s mastery. 

Se7en is routine in many ways. It’s set in a rainy and nondescript city, which feels like San Francisco but could be anywhere. It follows odd-couple cops (Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt) tracking a mysterious serial killer who cunningly stays one step ahead of them. But the performances are remarkable, including Gwyneth Paltrow as Pitt’s loving and innocent newlywed, plucked and moved to the grimy city so her husband can do his job. The film’s riveting conclusion – which benefits from the icy calm delivery of Kevin Spacey as John Doe – elevated Se7en above most others in the genre. Now, when someone asks, “What’s in the box?” you don’t have to say, “Gwyneth’s head.” Just tell them the box contains an unforgettable masterpiece. 

5. Heat (1995)

Look at just about every list breaking down the best heist films ever made and the movie you’re probably going to see the most is Michael Mann’s 1995 crime epic, Heat. With some of the most iconic (and loudest) robbery and shoot-out sequences, the first on-screen pairing of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro (both were in The Godfather Part II but appeared in different timelines), and an incredible cat-and-mouse story that uses Los Angeles as a backdrop better than any other film, there’s so much to love about this legendary film.

On top of all of that, Heat has become one of the most influential films of all time in the nearly 30 years since its theatrical release. Watch movies like The Town, Widows, and even The Dark Knight, and you’ll see how Mann’s thriller was so influential. Hell, even the Grand Theft Auto franchise has taken aspects of the movie to create some of the most action-packed video game moments of all time.  

4. The Lion King (1994)

1994’s The Lion King is perhaps the most effective entry in the Disney Renaissance era when it comes to combining gorgeous animation, original songs, and a story that continues to pack a punch decades later. As the coming-of-age story for cub-turned-king Simba, the film delivers arguably the most famous Disney death with the demise of Mufasa, and Scar’s villain song is both incredibly catchy and incredibly chilling. Aladdin lyricist Tim Rice joined forces with Elton John for the songs, while Hans Zimmer composed the score, earning The Lion King an Academy Award for Best Original Score, while “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won for Best Original Song.

The Lion King was a massive commercial hit, becoming the highest-grossing traditionally animated film and holding that record to this day. The original movie also has a legacy that has extended to two TV shows, two direct-to-video sequels, and the 2019 CGI remake that was massively successful for Disney, although divisive among fans of the original animated version. Plus, there’s a generation of adults who learned about coups and succession crises thanks to Mufasa, Scar, and Simba back in the ‘90s. What’s not to roar with love about? 

3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Taking what he learned from making The Terminator and the two movies that followed (Aliens and The Abyss), James Cameron gave audiences not just a sequel in July 1991, but a game-changer of a film that completely rewrote the summer blockbuster and the action genre as we know it. While The Terminator was a small-scale sci-fi thriller about a futuristic cyborg sent back in time to kill a waitress before she could give birth to humanity’s last hope against extinction, T2 was a massive epic with numerous iconic action sequences and CGI that still holds up decades later.

The movie also gave us one of the best on-screen heroes with Arnold Schwarnegger’s T-800, a reprogrammed Terminator sent back not to kill John Connor but to protect him from the more advanced and more lethal T-1000, a character that remains an all-time villain. It is hard to imagine a timeline where Terminator 2: Judgment Day doesn’t exist, but luckily that’s a reality we don’t have to experience. 

2. Goodfellas (1990)

Of everything that Goodfellas is in part — a mobster saga, a crime drama, an ensemble biopic, etc. — it can’t properly be boxed into such a limited description, though it’s certainly safer to use fewer words when the Gambino crime family’s around, lest Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito lose his temper. Based on reporter (and eventual co-screenwriter) Nicholas Pileggi’s 1985 Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family, the film rides on the back of Ray Liotta’s Henry Hill, whose idea of the American Dream is to be living it up as a made man, but realizes over and over again how hard such a goal is to attain when everyone else around is just as hungry and ruthless. 

In many ways, it’s a perfect counterbalance to The Godfather saga, sharing similarities such as memorable food scenes and a stacked cast (with some mutual actors like Robert De Niro and Frank Sivero). But unlike Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpieces, Goodfellas was far less successful at the Oscars, with only Pesci taking home the gold, despite plenty of accolades earned elsewhere. Like much of Scorsese’s work, it’s only become more appreciated with time, and easily stands out as one of the best movies not just of the ‘90s, but of any era. 

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

“Get busy living, or get busy dying” may be the better remembered quote from Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption, but it’s the line that Red (Morgan Freeman) says in the final moments of the film that sums up the heart and soul of this story. Not only is The Shawshank Redemption our #1 pick for the best ‘90s movies, but it’s also easily one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King story – in this case, the novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.

The movie follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker who’s wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, and sent to prison. For a movie that doesn’t shy away from the brutality this character experiences throughout his years behind bars – both at the hands of some of his fellow inmates, and the warden and guards – The Shawshank Redemption never loses sight of that ultimate message of hope – the thing that Andy clings to every step of the way. It’s there in the friendships he makes, and in the moments of happiness Andy manages to find. And it’s there in the final words Red says in the closing narration: “I hope.” 

Whether he was making us laugh so hard our sides started to hurt in comedies like Mrs. Doubtfire and The Birdcage, excelling in more dramatic roles like in Good Will Hunting, and Dead Poets Society, or stealing the show in Aladdin, the late great Robin Williams was never short of a good line. As we continue to mourn his tragic 2014 death a decade later, we can’t help but look back at some of the best movie quotes from the standup-comedian-turned-actor.

"Carpe Diem. Seize The Day, Boys. Make Your Lives Extraordinary." - Dead Poets Society

Long considered one of Robin Williams’ best movies, Dead Poets Society features what could be best described as one of the actor’s most famous quotes, his classic “Carpe diem” speech to his new students at Welton Academy. It’s great on its own, but in the context of the story, it’s the stuff of magic.

"You Ain't Never Had A Friend Like Me!" - Aladdin

We ain’t never had a Disney character like this before Robin Williams introduced the world to his Genie in Aladdin, and we really haven’t had one as over-the-top and genuine since. This unforgettable line from one of the best Disney songs still has us jiving 30-plus years later.

"I Just Slid My Ticket Across The Table, And I Said, 'Sorry, Guys; I Gotta See About A Girl.'" - Good Will Hunting

The various therapy sessions throughout Good Will Hunting not only featured some of the best scenes and biggest revelations of the movie, they also gave us this unforgettable line when Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) tells Matt Damon’s Will Hunting about the night he skipped a Sox playoff game to meet his future wife. 

"Goooooood Morning, Vietnam! Hey, This Is Not A Test. This Is Rock And Roll. Time To Rock It From The Delta To The DMZ" - Good Morning, Vietnam 

What makes this quote, and so many others from Good Morning, Vietnam, is the fact that Robin Williams largely improvised his broadcasts by Adrian Cronauer on the  Armed Forces Radio Service each morning, per SlashFilm.

"It Took Me Twenty Years To Get Here, And I'm Not Gonna Let Some Idiot Senator Destroy That." - The Birdcage

A ‘90s movie that made way more at the box office than you’d guess, The Birdcage also features one of Robin Williams’ best characters, South Beach drag club owner Armand Goldman. A source of hilarious lines throughout the movie, this one about his son marrying the daughter of a conservative senator, is one of the best.

"Please, Don't Worry So Much. Because In The End, None Of Us Have Very Long On This Earth." - Jack

Francis Ford Coppola’s Jack isn’t the best movie, but it does have a lot of heart. This is especially true when Robin Williams’ rapidly aging character gives an emotional speech at his high school graduation, at which point he looks like an old man on the verge of death.

"Bangarang!" - Hook

Robin Williams’ Peter Banning transforming from an uptight lawyer who’s lost touch with his inner child back to Peter Pan in Hook is great, even if people try to dunk on Steven Spielberg’s fantasy film. Yelling the classic “bangarang!” line while fighting Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) and his pirates is still so much fun.

"No One Ever Takes A Photograph Of Something They Want To Forget." - One Hour Photo

One of the best horror movies of the 2000s, One Hour Photo features Robin Williams’ most disturbing role with his portrayal of Seymour "Sy" Parrish. In addition to forming an unhealthy obsession with a family, the odd photo technician also gives us some unnerving and powerful quotes like this one.

"Ten Thousand Years Will Give You Such A Crick In The Neck" - Aladdin

There’s so much great footage of Robin Williams recording his Aladdin lines; crazy improv sessions that probably led to quick yet killer lines like this one after being freed from his lamp. Like many of his quotes in the movie, this one is both simple and effective.

"Some Men Are Born Great; Others Have Greatness Thrust Upon Them" - Night At The Museum

Though Ben Stiller’s Larry Daley was the main character in Night at the Museum, Robin Williams’ Teddy Roosevelt, or at least the wax figure at the Museum of Natural History was the heart and soul of the 2006 fantasy comedy about a museum coming to life at night. Both hilarious and inspirational, this line never fails to impress.

"To Live. To Live Would Be An Awfully Big Adventure" - Hook

This classic quote from the final moments of Hook is great not only because it applies so well to Robin Williams’ character’s journey throughout the movie, but also because it also speaks to the whole audience, both the young and old.

"Twenty-Six Years Buried In The Deepest Darkest Jungle, And I Still Became My Father." - Jumanji

When Alan Parrish (Robin Williams) yells at Peter Shepheard (Bradley Pierce) in the heat of a life-or-death situation in Jumanji, he loses his cool and becomes the one thing he didn’t want to be: his own father. It’s a great moment that completely changes things for the recently returned Alan and sets the tone for the rest of the film.

"Al, No Matter What Anyone Says, You’ll Always Be A Prince To Me." - Aladdin

Yeah, Robin Williams’ Genie provides most of the comedic relief in Aladdin. But let’s not forget how the character also gives us one of the most touching and heartwarming moments when he and Aladdin are saying their goodbyes. Grab a tissue!

"You Want Your Little Booger Eater On My Show?" - Death To Smoochy

Death to Smoochy is an odd and dark Robin Williams comedy that hopefully is never forgotten by the sands of time. This hilarious and incredibly mean-spirited line comes when Williams’ children’s show host gives it to some parents, and it never gets old.

"You're A Good Man. I Know That. Even If You've Forgotten It." - Insomnia

Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia is a tense, introspective thriller that’s just as much about failure and guilt as it is about a homicide investigation. The cat-and-mouse game played by detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino) and murder suspect Walter Finch (Robin Williams) leads to some tense moments, including the one that gave us this touching yet unnerving line. 

"But If There's Love, Dear... Those Are The Ties That Bind, And You'll Have A Family In Your Heart, Forever." - Mrs. Doubtfire

Regardless of your opinions on Mrs. Doubtfire, the 1993 comedy gave us some remarkable lines from Robin Williams, including the closing moments from his character’s children’s show. This poignant response to a child’s letter about their parents’ divorce is just too good.

"You Treat A Disease, You Win, You Lose. You Treat A Person, I Guarantee You, You'll Win, No Matter What The Outcome." - Patch Adams

Patch Adams isn’t the first movie you probably think of from Robin Williams’ filmography, but this 1998 medical drama has a lot of heart and great quotes. This includes this statement from Williams’ titular character when he’s laying out his philosophy in front of an antagonistic group of doctors.

'You Know What Music Is? It's God's Little Reminder That There's Something Else In This Universe Besides Us. ' - August Rush

Though Maxwell "Wizard" Wallace (Robin Williams) ends up being a scumbag (his facial hair should give it away), his words of wisdom to Freddie Highmore’s young guitar virtuoso in August Rush are just grand.

"My First Day As A Woman And I'm Getting Hot Flashes" - Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire is full of hilarious moments that still come up 30-plus years after the film’s release. One of those is the scene in which Robin Williams’ character sets his blouse on fire while trying to cook a gourmet dinner. The “hot flashes” comment is just the icing on the face, er cake.

"A Whole Human Life Is Just A Heartbeat Here In Heaven. Then We'll All Be Together Forever." - What Dreams May Come

Though largely forgotten a quarter-century after its release, What Dreams May Come, the Robin Williams movie exploring the afterlife, has some touching and profound moments throughout. That includes this powerful moment between Williams’ character and his deceased wife.

"Why Can't We Treat Death With A Certain Amount Of Humanity And Dignity, And Decency, And God Forbid, Maybe Even Humor." - Patch Adams

Patch Adams doesn’t shy away from conversations about death, and Robin Williams’ titular character is someone who speaks freely and honestly about the subject. When speaking in front of a board of his peers, the kind-hearted unlicensed doctor speaks about accepting death and treating those in their final days with dignity and respect.

"Such A Thing Would Be Greater Than All The Magic And All The Treasure In The World." - Aladdin

Genie's desire to be free from his lamp and eternity of servitude throughout Aladdin creates some truly profound moments, which is a lot for an animated kids' movie. To not celebrate this unforgettable line from Robin Williams would be an injustice to the character and the late actor who spoke these words.

"As A Robot, I Could Have Lived Forever. But I Tell You All Today, I Would Rather Die A Man, Than Live For All Eternity A Machine." - Bicentennial Man

Chris Columbus’ adaptation of Bicentennial Man, despite being an OK film, features a tremendous performance by Robin Williams, which saw his character, Andrew Martin, go from a robot to a human by the time the credits rolled. In his final moments, Andrew gives us an emotional plea for his humanity.

"Shouldn't You Be Holding The Crucifx? It Is The Prop For Martyrs!" - The Birdcage

The back-and-forth between Armand (Robin Williams) and Albert Goldman (Nathan Lane) in The Birdcage makes a good movie into a great movie. This line from Armand to his life partner is just so catty and perfectly illustrates their differing philosophies and personalities.

"I'm Made Of Wax, Larry. What Are You Made Of?" - Night At The Museum

Robin Williams’ Teddy Roosevelt is the MVP of the Night at the Museum franchise and a character that’s always going to provide a good laugh, even when at the expense of someone else. This is especially true whenever the wax figure comments on Larry Daley’s (Ben Stiller) confidence, or lack thereof.

"People Call These Things 'Imperfections,' But They're Not. That's The Good Stuff." - Good Will Hunting

Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) talking about his late wife and how she continues to impact him after her passing in Good Will Hunting adds so much to the Oscar-winning film. This is even true when he’s talking about her little habits, like her foul farts.

'I Used To Think The Worst Thing In Life Was To End Up All Alone. It's Not. The Worst Thing In Life Is To End Up With People That Make You Feel All Alone.' - World's Greatest Dad

The 2009 dark comedy, World’s Greatest Dad, sees Robin Williams play a high school teacher who hides the true details of his son’s death by writing a fake suicide note. The grieving father, who had a role in his deceased son becoming a posthumous icon, says these fitting words after it all comes crashing down.

"We'll Take The House. Honey, The Chances Of Another Plane Hitting This House Are Astronomical. It's Been Pre-Disastered. We're Going To Be Safe Here." - The World According To Garp

The World According to Garp is a Robin Williams movie everyone should check out at least once. And no, it’s not just because of great lines like this. However, this hilarious and somewhat morbid line doesn’t hurt the movie.

'We Don't Read And Write Poetry Because It's Cute. We Read And Write Poetry Because We Are Members Of The Human Race' - Dead Poets Society

This wonderfully written (and delivered) line from Dead Poets Society is one that idealistic English teachers around the country jotted down and hung up in their classrooms after the film’s 1989 release. And who could blame them?

"This Is A Free Country, Welcome To Almost Anyone. Yes, In America Almost Anything Is Possible." - Moscow On The Hudson

Moscow on the Hudson, the Robin Williams movie about a soviet circus musician who defects to America during a trip to NYC, is full of hilarious and sardonic lines like this one. Playing on the “Land of the Free” trope of American exceptionalism, this great quote speaks a great deal of truth.

"There's Three Things In This World That You Need: Respect For All Kinds Of Life, A Nice Bowel Movement On A Regular Basis, And A Navy Blazer." - The Fisher King

Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King includes one of the most outrageous yet sincere performances of Robin Williams’ career with his portrayal of Parry, an unhinged homeless man who helps out Jeff Bridges’ shock jock radio DJ. There are a lot of great lines, but this bonkers yet helpful quote takes the cake.

"Carpe Dentum. Seize The Teeth." - Mrs. Doubtfire

Everyone loves a good reference, and Mrs. Doubtfire does just that during the movie’s absurd fancy restaurant sequence. After Mrs. Doubtfire’s (Robin Williams) fake teeth fall out, we are treated to an homage to the Dead Poets Society’s “Carpe diem speech,” and it’s wonderful.

There’s not a day that goes by when we don’t miss Robin Williams and his larger-than-life personality. However, we can take solace in knowing that he left us with a massive body of work and beloved characters who will always be there when we need them the most.

“When you wish upon a star,” a phrase first penned for Pinocchio more than 80 years ago, has been a major part of the Disney experience ever since, with multiple movies from the animation studio’s vast library featuring characters pleading to the heavens or some magical relic for help one way or another. Over the decades, classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin have all seen characters make wishes that are then granted, forever changing their lives.

As part of our partnership with AMC Theatres, where you can now purchase tickets to see Wish, Disney’s latest animated feature film about a princess named Asha wishing upon a star, we’ve gone back through the vault and found six Disney characters who got their wishes over the years, as well as how it worked out for them. Please enjoy…

Pinocchio 

After the longley toymaker and woodwork name Geppetto wishes upon a star for his puppet, Pinocchio, to come to life, the Blue Fairy makes the dream a reality in this 1940 Walt Disney classic. But that isn’t the only wish in Pinocchio, as the titular puppet wishes upon the same magical star to turn him from a wooden toy into a real boy. In order to do so, he is told he must be brave, truthful, and unselfish, a task that’s easier said than done.

While both Pinocchio and Geppetto get their wishes, they don’t become a reality until after a difficult journey that involves a trip to Pleasure Island, an iconic encounter with a massive whale named Monstro, and other ups and downs along the way.

Ariel 

Though she doesn’t wish upon a star in the 1989 animated gem that is The Little Mermaid, Ariel does have dreams of becoming a human and falling in love with Prince Eric, no matter the cost. When given the opportunity to have this wish fulfilled, the teenage mermaid makes a deal with the scheming Ursula, who gives the princess a pair of legs but with a cost: her voice.

In the end, after defeating Ursula, saving her father, and the rest of her kingdom, Ariel’s wish is fulfilled when she is turned into a human and marries Eric on a ship. But this time, the daughter of King Triton gets to enjoy life on land with her voice.

Cinderella

The 1950 animated fantasy film, Cinderella, one of the most magical and well-remembered titles in the studio’s extensive library, follows the young woman as she endures the constant verbal abuse and overabundance of chores from her evil stepmother and stepsisters after the death of her father. After her dreams of attending the Prince’s ball are thrown out the window by her evil family, Cinderella is greeted by the Fairy Godmother, who turns her rags into a beautiful dress and her animal companions into her footmen. And off to the ball she goes…

But like most Disney movies, the good fortune doesn’t last for the young Cinderella and she must flee before the stroke of midnight at which point her dress, assistants, and carriage go back to as they were before the magical wish. With the help of the glass slipper left behind in Cinderella's hasty escape, the Prince goes on a quest to find the mystery woman, eventually finding and marrying her.

Aladdin

The biggest movie of 1992, and one of most beloved titles in Disney’s animation renaissance in the ‘90s, Aladdin had not one, not two, but three wishes fulfilled before the credits rolled. After the street urchin named Aladdin is tricked into entering the Cave of Wonders by a disguised Jafar, the young man comes in possession of a magical lamp which houses a genie capable of granting three wishes for the person who finds him.

Aladdin first wishes to become a prince, which leads to him making a grand entrance and re-introducing himself to Jasmine. Next, a wish is used to save Aladdin from drowning in the sea. And after finally defeating Jafar and thwarting his plan, the hero uses his third and final wish to free the Genie from his lamp, fulfilling a promise he made earlier in the movie.

Tiana

In the underrated 2009 Disney animated film, The Princess and the Frog, a young Tiana wishes upon the evening star for her dad to get his own restaurant in New Orleans, a dream that never becomes a reality, at least not how she originally planned. As an adult, Tiana again wishes upon a star, this time to open a Big Easy restaurant of her own. And while that dream does ultimately become a reality, it only happens after a long, wild, and magical journey.

After being turned into a frog after kissing Prince Naveen, who thinks Tiana is a princess because of her costume, the two are forced to find a way to become human once more, putting the whole restaurant situation on the backburner. They are eventually able to reverse the curse, turn human, and start selling gumbo as Tiana had always wished.

Snow White

In 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first feature film from Walt Disney Studios, the young titular character visits a wishing well where she asks to meet and fall in love with a Prince that will take her away from her evil stepmother, the Queen. And while she does meet the Prince, and they immediately fall for one another, Snow White is taken away by orders of the Queen and forced to live in the woods with those seven dwarfs.

Eventually, Snow White’s wish does come true and she and the prince do fall in love, but only after she’s put into a death-like sleep from a poisoned apple. Once awoken by “love’s first kiss,” the fairest in all of the land is whisked away by her Prince and they go off to live happily ever after.

Though each of these Disney characters had to go through quite a lot before their wishes came true, each ended their respective journeys better off than they started after learning a tremendous amount about themselves and the world around them. If you are interested in seeing how Asha’s dreams come true in Disney’s Wish, make sure to purchase your tickets at AMC Theatres prior to its November 22, 2023 release.

Though Hollywood A-listers make more money for one movie that some of us will see in a lifetime, there are times where even some of the highest grossing actors of all time didn’t make as much as you'd think. Over the years, stars like Robert Downey Jr., Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt have brought in massive paydays for acting and producing, but those same stars have also seen incredibly small paychecks for one reason or another.

If you’ve ever wanted to know about 33 actors who made way less than you’d think for a beloved movie, look no further…

Robert Downey Jr. Made $500,000 For Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. was the first major star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and would be a staple of the Infinity Saga for more than a decade. During this time, he made a ton of money for his superhero performances. However, he only took home a comparatively small payday of $500,000 for 2008’s Iron Man, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Bill Murray Made $9,000 For Rushmore

Bill Murray is one of the most beloved actors of all time and a frequent collaborator of Wes Anderson’s ever since the release of Rushmore back in 1998. That fruitful partnership started out modestly for the SNL alum, as he was paid $9,000 for his take on Herman Blume, per Vulture.

Gal Gadot Made $300,000 For Wonder Woman

When Gal Gadot first signed on to portray Diana Prince in the DCEU back in 2014, Variety reported that the Fast & Furious star would take on a salary of $300,000 per movie, including Wonder Woman, which was released three years later.

Julia Roberts Made $300,000 For Pretty Woman

Though she had some success at the box office prior to its release, Julia Roberts turned into a massive star thanks to 1990’s Pretty Woman and one of the most well-known A-listers on the planet. However, Roberts, who would go on to earn a ton of cash for movies like Erin Brockovich years later, reportedly received a modest sum of $300,000 for her role in the all-time great romantic comedy, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hilary Swank Made $3,000 For Boys Don’t Cry

Hilary Swank won her first Oscar and became one of the most talked about actresses thanks to her transformative portrayal of Brandon Teena in Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don’t Cry. When appearing on Women’s Dinner Party years later, Swank revealed she was paid $3,000 for the role, which wasn’t enough to qualify for health insurance.

Tom Hanks Made $50,000 For Toy Story

Tom Hanks, who won two Academy Awards prior to the 1995 release of Toy Story, was reportedly paid $50,000 to provide the voice of Woody in the landmark Pixar film, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the same article, the publication reported that Hanks made $5 million upfront for its 1999 sequel.

Oprah Winfrey Made $35,000 For The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple back in 1985. The media mogul, who is worth billions today, later told Essence she was paid $35,000 for portrayal of Sofia.

Robin Williams Made $75,000 For Aladdin

Aladdin will forever be remembered as one of the best Robin Williams movies, and rightfully so. And while the late actor provided countless hours of incredible lines for his co-starring performance, he only made $75,000 for his troubles, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jamie Lee Curtis Made $8,000 For Halloween

John Carpenter’s Halloween, one of the best horror movies, turned Jamie Lee Curtis into a scream queen almost overnight. However, the Academy Award winner later told People Magazine that she only made $8,000 for her portrayal of Laurie Strode.

Nick Castle Made $25/Day For Halloween

Nick Castle has played Michael Myers a total of five times over the years, with the most recent being 2022’s Halloween Ends. Though the role made him a horror icon, Castle told Vanity Fair he was only paid $25 for each day of shooting in the original back in 1978.

Matthew McConaughey Made Less Than $200,000 For Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, a role that ushered in a new era of his career. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was paid less than $200,000 upfront for the movie9 but did receive an undisclosed amount on the backend.

Chris Evans Made $300,000 For Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans was a driving force for the first few phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was paid handsomely for his efforts later on. However, when he was cast to play Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, he reportedly only made $300,000, per The Guardian.

Jeff Daniels Made $50,000 For Dumb And Dumber

Jeff Daniels, who was mostly known for his dramatic roles at the time, was cast to appear alongside Jim Carrey in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber despite New Line Cinema wanting someone else. Years later, the directors told The Hollywood Reporter that the studio low-balled him with an offer of $50,000, thinking he’d say no. You know the rest.

Taraji P. Henson Made $150,000 For The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Taraji P. Henson received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a performance that netted her a great deal of screen time. However, as she later told Variety, she was only paid $150,000 for the gig, which was several hundred thousand dollars less than her initial request of $500,000.

Jonah Hill Made $60,000 For The Wolf Of Wall Street 

Jonah Hill was paid $60,000 for his portrayal of Donnie Azoff in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. While that may seem small considering the size of his role, Hill later told Howard Stern (via BBC) that he immediately took the offer, adding that he would have sold his house and given all his money to work with the acclaimed director. 

Orlando Bloom Made $175,000 For The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy 

Orlando Bloom was an instrumental part of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with his character, Legolas, being featured heavily throughout all three movies. During a 2023 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, the actor revealed he was paid a total of $175,000 for the entire project.

Jon Heder Initially Made $1,000 For Napoleon Dynamite 

Napoleon Dynamite pretty much came out of nowhere and took the world by storm in 2004, partly because its star, Jon Heder. A few years after the film’s release, Heder told Stuff Magazine that he initially made $1,000 from the movie but was later able to negotiate his deal after MTV picked up distribution.

Daisy Ridley Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Daisy Ridley was a relatively unknown actress when she was cast in one of the lead roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which might explain her low salary for the 2015 blockbuster. According to Variety, that number was reportedly between $100,000 and $300,000.

John Boyega Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

John Boyega’s Finn was one of the most heavily featured characters in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the young actor reportedly only received a payday somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000, per Variety.

James Earl Jones Made $7,000 For Star Wars

James Earl Jones’ dynamic voice gave Darth Vader a menacing edge in George Lucas' 1977 film Star Wars (and the rest of the franchise), but did you know that he was only paid $7,000 for the first movie? When speaking with the American Film Institute, the legendary actor admitted that he thought that was good money at the time.

Mel Gibson Made $9,000 For Mad Max 

After appearing in Mad Max, Mel Gibson would go on to lead some of the best action movies of all time, but back when he was cast in the late ‘70s, he was a broke college student. That’s why, as he told ExperienceWith.com, his $9,000 salary for George Miller’s dystopian thriller seemed like a fortune.

Seann William Scott Made $8,000 For American Pie 

American Pie was one of the biggest movies of the ‘90s, and Seann William Scott’s Stifler was its breakout character. So, how much did the young actor make for his career-defining role? Well, as he told The Rich Eisen Show in 2023, he was paid $8,000, most of which he spent on a used Thunderbird.

Christian Bale Made The Minimum Salary For American Psycho 

Christian Bale’s take on the unhinged Patrick Bateman in 2000’s American Psycho is one of the actor’s most unforgettable performances, but it could very well be one of his smallest paydays. Though he didn’t reveal the exact number in a 2022 GQ profile, the actor did say it was the “absolute minimum they were illegally allowed” to pay him.

Michelle Williams Made $625,000 For All The Money In The World 

Michelle Williams was reportedly only paid $625,000 for her portrayal of Gail Harris in Ridley Scott’s 2017 biographical crime thriller All the Money in the World, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though this is a hefty fee, her co-star, Mark Wahlberg, was reported to have taken home $5 million for his role.

Barkhad Abdi Made $65,000 For Captain Phillips 

Barkhad Abdi became an overnight sensation following the release of Captain Phillips, in which he plays lead pirate Abduwali Muse. According to the New Yorker, Abdi’s acting debut and Oscar-nominated performance earned him $65,000.

Jennifer Lopez Made $0 For Hustlers 

Jennifer Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Hustlers, a movie she made for free. During a GQ breakdown of her biggest career moments, the multi-talented star said she starred in and produced the movie for no upfront money, as she was investing in herself. However, it wasn’t disclosed as to how much she made on the backend of the film’s release, which was $157.6 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Gunnar Hansen Made $800 For Texas Chain Saw Massacre 

Gunnar Hansen’s Leatherface is an instantly recognizable horror villain thanks to his mask made of human flesh and signature chainsaw. But did you know that the actor was only paid a three-digit sum for his performance in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? In 2013, the actor told Fast Company that he made $800 for his part in the iconic ‘70s horror movie.

Dustin Hoffman Made $20,000 For The Graduate 

The Graduate was the movie that turned Dustin Hoffman into a young Hollywood star, but it was also one that didn’t earn him a whole lot of money. According to a 1968 New York Times article, Hoffman reportedly made $20,000 for his career-defining role, but he only ended up keeping $4,000 of that after expenses and taxes were taken out.

John Candy Made $414 For His Home Alone Cameo 

The late John Candy appears in Home Alone for only a few minutes, but it’s still wild to think that his cameo only netted the actor $414. In the Home Alone episode of Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us, it is revealed that Candy’s unforgettable portrayal of Gus Polinski, the Polka King of the Midwest, didn’t necessarily break the bank.

Jessica Chastain Made $1.75 Million For The Martian 

Jessica Chastain’s paycheck for The Martian was shockingly low. Around the time of the film’s 2015 release, there was a report that the actress made $7 million from her part, but she told The Huffington Post that she actually made around a quarter of that, which would be around $1.75 million. The film’s star, Matt Damon, reportedly made between $15 and 25 million for his part.

Brad Pitt Made $6,000 For Thelma And Louise 

Brad Pitt is one of the biggest and highest paid actors around today and has been that way for the better part of the past 30 years. However, that wasn’t always the case. According to the Daily Mail, the actor was paid just $6,000 for his breakout performance as JD in Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise.

Jon Voight Made The ‘Minimum’ Salary For Midnight Cowboy 

Jon Voight received all kinds of nominations for his performance in Midnight Cowboy, but the actor was paid the “minimum” for his portrayal of Joe Buck. When disclosing this to The Guardian decades later, Voight also revealed he received a $14.73 charge for meals on the final day of the shoot.

Adam Levine Made $0 For Begin Again 

Maroon 5 frontman and former coach on The Voice Adam Levine appeared in John Carney’s 2014 musical dramedy, Begin Again for free. When speaking with USA Today around the time of the film’s release, Levine explained that he did the movie “for no money,” stating that he had made enough through his other ventures and wanted the experience.

It’s safe to say that all of these actors have done okay for themselves over the years after making relatively small salaries throughout their career. But it’s still wild to think about Robert Downey Jr. only making half-a-million to play Tony Stark. What a steal.

Disney's new Once Upon a Studio animated short is full of just about every conceivable Disney easter egg and reference you could imagine, but beyond a doubt, the biggest piece of news coming off the cartoon is that it sees Robin Williams voice Aladdin’s Genie again for the first time in more than 25 years. This was done by using unused audio from Williams's original turn as Genie, which needed permission from the Williams estate. Still, the fact that Disney got that permission is worthy of note because Williams's relationship with the company became strained almost as soon as he finished his work on the original movie. 

Aladdin was such a hit that it spawned a franchise in its own right, with the original film being followed by a pair of direct-to-video sequels and an animated TV series. However, Williams only appeared in the final entry, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, because following the first movie, there was a major breakdown between him and the House of Mouse. So exactly what happened to cause him to leave, and why did he come back?

What Robin Williams Wanted In order To Voice The Genie In Aladdin 

Robin Williams already had a strong relationship with The Walt DIsney Company prior to Aladdin. The studio had produced both Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society through its Touchstone label, and Willams had garnered his first Oscar nominations for the roles. 

Robin Williams wasn’t the first celebrity name to voice a character in an animated movie, or even a Disney animated movie. Without question though, he was the biggest star to voice a major character in an animated film up to that point, and getting him on board was a big deal for the studio. 

The Genie was designed based on Williams’ comedic style, and animator Eric Goldberg is the one given credit for convincing Williams to take the gig after having created a rough sample animation of the Genie set to some of Williams’ stand-up. Robin reportedly laughed so hard at the animation that he agreed to the role. Goldberg has said…

What’s more, Disney got Robin William at the SAG scale rate, the lowest amount of money the union would allow a voice actor to be paid for a role. However, in exchange for that, Williams had some requirements. He asked that he not be the major selling point of the film, requesting his name be used in 25% or less of marketing materials. He also asked that his voice not be used to sell merchandise. According to him, Disney agreed to these stipulations... until it didn't.

Disney Didn’t Live Up To Its End Of The Bargain 

When it came to the marketing stipulation, Disney abided by the agreement, at least in the strictest sense. As long as Genie didn't take up more than 25% of a poster, he wasn't in more than 25% of the marketing, right? On the merchandising front, all bets were off fairly quickly. While Disney claims that the studio did abide by its agreement, and that Williams and his wife approved everything, Williams later told Today (via LA Times)  that Disney had gone back on its word. He explained…

Exactly why Disney wouldn’t follow Williams' wishes isn’t entirely clear, but a feud developed between Williams and Disney Studios chief Jeffrey Katzenberg. One of the big issues at hand was another animated feature Robin Williams was part of, Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. That film wouldn’t debut until after Aladdin, but Williams had signed on to voice the character Batty prior to Aladdin. Ferngully screenwriter Jim Cox told Vanity Fair… 

Williams was furious at the attempt to get him to pull out of Ferngully. It's possible that this was a catalyst for Disney going back on its agreement regarding merchandising. 

Battles like this often take place behind closed doors, but Willians started to bad-mouth Disney publicly. So needless to say that when The Return of Jafar, the direct-to-video sequel to Aladdin and one of the first sequels of any kind to a Walt Disney Animation Studios film, was produced, Williams was not interested in returning. Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, was cast to replace Williams in the film, as well as the follow-up TV series. 

How Disney Smoothed Things Over And Got Robin Williams Back 

In the end, all it took to bring Robin Williams back to Disney was an apology. Jeffrey Katzenberg, the studio head whom Robin blamed for going back on the original deal, was fired from his position in August 1994, and it was only a couple of months later that his replacement, Joe Roth, told the LA Times that Disney was at fault and apologized to Robin, saying… 

With that, Robin Williams returned and voiced Genie once again for Aladdin and the King of Thieves, as well as in a few animated PSAs for Disney. Williams was paid significantly more for the role this time around.

Now we have what will likely be the last Williams as Genie performance in the emotional Once Upon a Studio short. Had Disney’s ultimate apology not come, not only would we not have seen Williams return for those final projects, but it’s unlikely his family would have given their ok to use the original audio to bring the Genie back this time around. 

Aladdin is one of the best Robin Williams movies and one of the best animated Disney movies. Without question, it's an absolute classic, and a lot of that is thanks to Robin Williams. He will be missed, so it's a good thing that his ultimate relationship with Disney gave fans this final chance to say goodbye. 

The Walt Disney Company celebrated its 100th anniversary this week, and it did so in style with the release of Once Upon A Studio both on TV and on Disney+. The animated short brings together so many characters from the last 100 years that it’s almost impossible to count them all. Some of them take center stage, while others appear in a “blink and you’ll miss it” fashion, but either way, you’ll need to watch the short more than once to catch everything.

But there’s so much more going on in Once Upon A Studio. From obscure animated characters to the human beings who helped bring them all to life, here are 10 of our favorite moments from the new Disney short that made us smile.

Burny Mattinson 

The closing credits of Once Upon A Studio dedicate the film to Burny Mattinson. Mattinson worked for The Walt Disney Company for 70 years, longer than any person before him. Unfortunately, Mattinson passed away earlier this year. He directed Mickey’s Christmas Carol and The Great Mouse Detective, among other great achievements in his career.

But before he said goodbye, he had one other job: appearing as himself at the beginning of Once Upon a Studio. He’s the man who wonders “If these walls could talk,” just what would they say? It made sense to include the longest-serving employee in such a historic film, but it's unfortunate that he is no longer here to see the film’s release.

Alan Tudyk 

Alan Tudyk is something of a perpetual easter egg in Walt Disney Animation Studios films. Tudyk has voiced many Disney characters in recent years. While he’s performed the likes of Wrck-It Ralph’s villain King Candy and Zootopia Duke Weaselton, he’s just as likely to appear as the voice of a chicken or some other animal.

It’s only fitting that Alan Tudyk appears in Once Upon a Studio, but he doesn’t voice any of the characters that he has brought to life in any Disney films. Instead, he takes on the voice of the Mad Hatter. While most of the Disney characters who speak in the film are either given new lines voiced by their original artist, or dialogue from the original films is recycled, Tudyk takes over the character from Ed Wynne who, originally performed the Hatter in 1951’s Alice in Wonderland, and he does a fantastic job. 

Ub Iwerks

Without question, the most touching moment in Once Upon a Studio is when Mickey Mouse takes a moment to thank Walt Disney. It’s a beautiful sequence. Of course, Mickey actually has a second father, and while he doesn’t get quite the same treatment, he’s also not forgotten.

Some of the coolest stuff to look at during the film is the collection of pictures hanging on the wall of the Roy E. Disney Building. Some of the Disney greats can be spotted if you look closely and know your Disney history. One portrait that features prominently is that of Ub Iwerks, the animator who, along with Walt, designed the original look of Mickey Mouse. He can be seen near the elevator as Donald and the company are waiting for Flash.

Robin Williams' Other Character 

A lot has already been said about the fact that Robin Williams’ Genie makes an appearance in Once Upon a Studio using unused audio that Williams recorded for the original Aladdin. However, Genie isn’t the only Robin Williams character who appears in the short film.

In the same scene, just before the Genie appears, an unnamed Lost Boy appears behind Olaf. This is actually Robin Williams himself, transformed into an animated character as part of a short film called Back To Neverland that ran as part of the Magic of Disney Animation Attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Feed The Birds 

When Mickey has his heart-to-heart with Walt Disney, the emotion comes from the music as much as the moment. The song being played in the background is the classic “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins. It’s a beautiful song, but it’s especially poignant in this moment.

“Feed the Birds” is known to be Walt's favorite song ever written by the Sherman Brothers, the songwriting duo behind too many Disney classics to mention. Walt would occasionally walk into their office and simply say "Play it," and the boys would play the song for him. What’s more, this particular rendition of “Feed the Birds” is performed by Richard Sherman himself on the piano that still sits in Walt Disney’s office at the studio.

“After You” 

When the animated crowd gets together outside the building, there are so many Disney characters to see you’ll need to go frame-by-frame to recognize them all, but one classic character makes himself known when the iconic Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, whose rights were lost to Disney for decades, walks into the frame.

Mickey, ever the polite host, says “After you,” which is the perfect thing for him to say because literally all of this came after Oswald. With the possible exception of Pete the Cat, a version of whom appeared in the early Alice Comedies, Oswald is the oldest character in the history of Disney animation seen in the film.

 Flowers & Trees And The Skeleton Dance 

As the camera pans back to reveal the entire assembled crowd, we see all 100 years of Disney animation in front of us. Many of these characters we’ve seen elsewhere in the film, if only briefly, but there are a couple of newcomers who deserve special recognition.

On the left-hand side, you’ll see three skeletons standing together. These are the starting players from The Skeleton Dance, the first of the Silly Symphonies cartoons. Standing in the back, because they’re so tall, are a pair of trees from another Silly Symphonies cartoon, Flowers & Trees, which is notable because this was the first animated short ever to win an Academy Award. 

Summing up 100 years of Disney animation in nine minutes seems like an impossible task, but Once Upon a Studio did it probably about as well as it could have been done. From the well-known to the obscure, the film is packed full of almost everything you could have wanted if you’re a Disney fan, and more than a few things we never would have expected.  

Sometimes, being the lead character in a film does not pay off quite like it does to play second (or even third or fourth) fiddle, and the 1990s was an especially great time to take those sorts of roles. That being said, there are some secondary characters from this era who don't quite get the attention that they deserve today. We cover both of these facets as we look back at some of the best movies of the ‘90s and the most brilliantly conceived supporting character in each of them below.

Darryl Albrecht (The Crow)

Best known as Winston Zeddemore from the Ghostbusters movies, Ernie Hudson’s role as Sergeant Darryl Albrecht in 1994’s The Crow is one of his most overlooked. After covering the murder case of Eric Draven (the late Brandon Lee) and his wife, Shelley, the honest cop becomes an accomplice to the resurrected rock musician in his mission for revenge.

Ricky Baker (Boyz N The Hood)

One of the most important ’90s movies centered on Black characters is writer and director John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood — one of the first films to offer an authentic inside look at the hardships of inner city life. This is most profoundly expressed in the untimely murder of promising young athlete Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut) near the end of the powerful 1991 drama.

Oda Mae Brown (Ghost)

For the murdered Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze), the only hope to reach out to his lover, Molly (Demi Moore), is a medium who discovers her abilities when she begins to hear him in Ghost. Whoopi Goldberg earned a well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her scene-stealing performance as Oda Mae Brown that is not merely the comic relief of this classic 1990 romantic fantasy, but also its heart.

Bubba (Forrest Gump)

Forrest Gump fans might agree the film’s strongest relationship is not between Tom Hanks’ titular character and Jenny Curran (Robin Wright), but between him and his Army buddy, Benjamin Buford Blue, or “Bubba.” Mykelti Williamson makes a profound impression in director Robert Zemeckis’ Best Picture Oscar winner as his best-known character – whose death in Vietnam inspires Forrest to become a shrimp fisherman.

Max Cherry (Jackie Brown)

Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel, Rum Punch, Jackie Brown has one of the most colorful character ensembles in a Quentin Tarantino movie — especially with bail bondsman Max Cherry. The late Robert Forster got an Oscar nod for playing one of the few characters in a Tarantino movie who feels completely worth rooting for without sacrificing your own moral dignity.

John Coffey (The Green Mile)

John Coffey is wrongfully put on death row after he is found holding two murdered little girls (whom he later reveals he was trying to resurrect with his extraordinary healing powers). The late Michael Clarke Duncan’s Oscar-nominated, powerhouse performance in Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Green Mile is one of the most heartbreaking of the decade, especially knowing his character’s undeserved impending fate will prevent him from helping people in need.

Tommy DeVito (Goodfellas)

The central character of Goodfellas may be Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), but the most memorable performance in the classic Martin Scorsese movie is easily Joe Pesci’s Academy Award-winning turn as Tommy DeVito. The fast-talking, borderline sociopathic loose cannon — yet, still one of the 1994 biographical drama’s more likable characters — would practically redefine cinema’s perception of the mafioso.

George Downes (My Best Friend's Wedding)

In a story about a woman out to self-servingly ruin a happy couple’s impending nuptials, it certainly helps to have a moral center like Julianne’s (Julia Roberts) editor and friend, George Downes – who reluctantly helps with her scheme despite constant attempts to end it. Rupert Everett’s defining role is key the enduring charm of My Best Friend’s Wedding and why it is remembered as one of the best romantic-comedies of its time, if not ever.

Dusty (Twister)

The ‘90s are filled with memorable performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman, but one of the most scene-stealing standouts has to be Dustin “Dusty” Davis in 1996’s Twister. The fun-loving, incessantly optimistic storm-chaser is such a jovial presence in the classic disaster movie that we wish the late Academy Award winner was able to appears in the upcoming sequel, Twisters, to reprise the role.

Genie (Aladdin)

What makes Genie such a beloved and dynamic character is not just his refreshing loyalty to Scott Weinger’s eponymous character in 1992’s Aladdin – even in spite of his obligation to grant the poor, young man three wishes. Robin Williams does not just voice one character in the acclaimed Disney animated film, but several in one, and to deliriously funny effect.

Samuel Gerard (The Fugitive)

The 1993 film adaptation of the hit 1960s series The Fugitive puts the viewer in a moral crossroads, as we are inclined to root for Harrison Ford’s prison escapee Richard Kimble, searching for his wife’s true killer. However, it’s hard not to also root for the man tracking him, Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard, played by Tommy Lee Jones in an Academy Award-winning performance so charismatic, he earned himself a spin-off with 1998’s U.S. Marshals.

Doc Holliday (Tombstone)

Tombstone is considered to be the 1990s’ better Wyatt Earp biopic, when compared to Kevin Costner’s Wyatt Earp from 1994. But what makes the 1993 dramatization of the legendary O.K. Corral standoff a modern western masterpiece is not just Kurt Russell’s lead performance, but Val Kilmer’s scintillating performance as fable gunfighter, Doc Holliday.

Jay And Silent Bob (Clerks)

There are actually many Kevin Smith movies that highlight the iconic bromance that is Jay and Silent Bob, played by Jason Mewes and Smith, respectively. But these inseparable and, in some surprising occasions, insightful stoners shine brightest as supporting characters in 1994’s Clerks in the awe-inspiring way they make an enduring impression on the story by not doing much at all.

Bill Lumbergh (Office Space)

A box office flop that went on to be a classic, writer/director Mike Judge’s Office Space offers a satirical but stunningly accurate depiction of the miserable workplace atmosphere. The monarch of mundanity in this case is Initech VP Bill Lumbergh, portrayed with incomparably slow-paced drawl and dementedly deadpan energy by the vastly underrated supporting actor Gary Cole.

Lumiere (Beauty And The Beast)

The curse affecting the Beast and his house staff in 1992’s Beauty and the Beast may have taken away Lumiere’s human form, but not his humanity, nor his infectious swagger. Voiced by the late Jerry Orbach donning a French accent, the sentient candle holder never fails to be the life — and light — of the party.

Mushu (Mulan)

The most popular of Eddie Murphy’s voice acting performances may be Donkey in the Shrek movies, but Disney fans have a special place in their hearts for Mushu. The plucky, yet boisterous, dragon — who was almost voiced by Joe Pesci — is sent to assist Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) in battle and provide sharp comic relief that was sadly missing from Mulan’s live-action remake in 2020.

Red (The Shawshank Redemption)

While primarily about Andy Dufresne’s (Tim Robbins) experience in the titular penitentiary, you could argue that Frank Darabont’s 1994 Stephen King adaptation The Shawshank Redemption is really Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding’s story. In addition to narrating, the transformation that Morgan Freeman’s smuggler undergoes during his decades locked up is brilliant.

Tatum Riley (Scream)

Most old school slasher movies consist of a final girl and a bunch of forgettable cannon fodder, but Tatum Riley defied the odds in a horror movie that changed the game in 1996. Rose McGowan’s performance as Sydney Prescott’s supportive and spunky best friend is one the original Scream cast’s best and makes her memorable death scene particularly devastating.

Sally (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

We can empathize with Jack Skellington’s (Chris Sarandon) vying for a change in scenery, but the most empathetic arc in The Nightmare Before Christmas is that of Sally (Catherine O’Hara). The kindhearted, living rag doll’s story is one of tragic neglect – not just by her captor, Dr. Finklestein, but also by Jack himself until he comes to realize they were made for each other.

Lynn Sear (The Sixth Sense)

Many of Toni Collette’s best movies just happen to be in the horror variety, including one of M. Night Shyamalan’s greatest movies: 1999’s The Sixth Sense. The Australian actor earned her sole Oscar nomination for her harrowingly grounded performance as Lynn Sear — a mother desperate to understand what troubles her child (Haley Joel Osment), unaware he is medium.

Marla Singer (Fight Club)

There have been countless discussions surrounding the complexity of Fight Club’s central “duo,” but not enough about what makes Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter) an equally dynamic character. By the end of David Fincher’s 1999 masterpiece, we come to understand her more empathetic qualities similar to Edward Norton’s Narrator, while she also boasts a destructive cynicism similar to Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) – making her a perfect match for both.

Walter Sobchak (The Big Lebowski)

One of the greatest mysteries in the Coen Brothers’ 1998 cult favorite comedy is how the persistently laid back The Dude (Jeff Bridges) came to be friends with the problematically uptight Walter Sobchak (John Goodman). However, it is a pairing we are thankful for, particularly for the way the Vietnam-obsessed, avid bowler contributes to some of the funniest quotes in The Big Lebowski.

Steve Stifler (American Pie)

Seann William Scott defined an entire generation of cinematic douchebaggery by starring in 1999’s American Pie cast as Steve Stifler. Scott's commitment to making “the Stifmeister” egregiously unlikable makes the performance a wonder to behold.

Timon And Pumbaa (The Lion King)

We will wait as long as we must before you can name a more iconic Disney duo than the classic The Lion King characters Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella). It is no wonder the hilarious meerkat and warthog — who teach Simba the ways of “Hakuna Matata” — got their own series the spin-off from the 1994 blockbuster. 

Trinity (The Matrix)

A good opening scene can really sell a good action film, which is why it is a good thing that Trinity owns the beginning of The Matrix. Keanu Reeves’ Neo may be “The One,” but Carrie Anne-Moss’ rebel shows skill and ambition in Wachowski’s 1999 sci-fi thriller that can make you believe in destiny.

Mona Lisa Vito (My Cousin Vinny)

The controversy surrounding Marisa Tomei’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar win for the hilarious courtroom drama My Cousin Vinny — as recalled by MovieWeb — has never made sense to us. The vivacious, mile-a-minute delivery of the case-winning testimony by Mona Lisa Vito — a character Tomei would love to play again — is one of the most electrifying scenes in any ‘90s comedy and clearly deserves the statuette on its own.

Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction)

Whether or not this revolutionary 1994 crime thriller is Quentin Tarantino’s best movie might be debatable, but there is no question that stand-out supporting character is the dazzling Mia Wallace. Uma Thurman’s alluring, charmingly eccentric performance in the revolutionary crime thriller is one of the most powerful among the Pulp Fiction cast, which is really saying something.

Zed (Men In Black)

What makes Men in Black a near-perfect marriage of sci-fi and comedy is not just the equally clever use of elements from either genre, but its by-the-book cop drama structure. For instance, the late Rip Torn plays Zed no different from how an actor might play a 1970s police captain, complete with hilariously deadpan reactions to otherwise bizarre, otherworldly activity.

Miles Dyson (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Can you imagine discovering that you are responsible for an impending apocalypse brought on by technology like Miles Dyson (Joe Morton) does in 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day? For that reason, it could safe to call the Cyberdyne engineer’s ill-fated arc one of the more tragic from the Terminator movies overall.

Norm Gunderson (Fargo)

One of the most underrated roles in the already underrated John Carroll Lynch’s career appears in one of the Coen Brothers’ best movies, Fargo. While not involved with any particularly memorable scenes from the 1996 crime thriller, Norm Gunderson’s support she shows for his police chief wife, Marge (Frances McDormand) — for whom he left the force when they became a couple — is something ever husband should aspire to.

Emily Montgomery (In & Out)

Joan Cusack earned her second Oscar nomination for playing In & Out's Emily Montgomery – who discovers her fiancée’s (Kevin Kline) revelations about his homosexuality as they are about to get married. While this classic LGBTQ+ comedy is noted as an inspiring story of self-acceptance, you cannot help but empathize with Emily’s manic reaction to the news.

Chris Shiherlis (Heat)

The most involving member of Neil McCauley’s (Robert DeNiro) heist crew is Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer), whose backstory as a former family man is one of the biggest surprises in Heat. However, the sharp-shooting thief is also at the center of one of the the greatest mysteries surrounding Michael Mann’s 1995 crime thriller — that being, how did he escape that climactic shootout and where did he go? 

Sometimes, it is not just the primary protagonist that keeps us wanting to revisit our favorites ‘90s movies, as these amazing supporting characters prove.

Walt Disney Studios has officially been bringing magic to the world for an entire century so, of course, the House of Mouse is ready to celebrate that incredible milestone. One big way the company is marking its 100th anniversary is with a nostalgic short film called Once Upon A Studio, which brings together characters from just about every movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios over the years. That includes the Genie from Aladdin, which is one of Robin Williams' best movies and roles. And the creative team talked about reviving the beloved character and how the Williams family reacted. 

Ahead of Once Upon A Studio premiering on ABC as a part of Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration special, CinemaBlend spoke to the filmmakers about assembling Disney characters from throughout the studio’s history -- like Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan and the Frozen sisters -- and having them all interact. The short’s co-writer/director, Trent Correy, shared some particularly warm thoughts about incorporating Genie, and it sounds like a lot of time and effort went into making his appearance happen. In his words: 

In the short, fans will get to hear an unused piece of dialogue from the Genie that was pulled from the recording sessions Robin Williams did with the Aladdin filmmakers. Trent Correy’s co-writer and co-director, Dan Abraham, had the honor of going through all 16 hours of material from the sessions to find the right pieces to fit in with their production. In regard to the process of looking through audio, Abraham said:

When the short was first announced, some fans criticized the posthumous use of Robin Williams' voice. Williams’ scene partner in the short, Josh Gad -- who reprises his role as Olaf in the short -- then provided clarity. Gad shared that the character would've never would have never been without the consent of the Williams estate. Trent Correy went on to share with CinemaBlend how Williams’ family reacted to his character's role, saying this: 

Robin Williams famously had some incredible sessions with Disney while voicing Genie, with the character’s lead animator once recalling to us that he storyboarded a “zillion” impressions based on his performance in the voice booth. The short allows the animators to pay tribute to the beloved Aladdin character by giving him a fresh moment. The project had its directors calling up tons of original voice actors from Disney movies too, including Disney legends like Jodi Benson and Paige O’Hara. 

The filmmakers shared that every single person they called said yes and, when it came to handling characters played by other stars who've passed on, they used a mix of archival recordings and sound-alike stars. For example, Dan Abraham was insistent on utilizing the vocals of Cliff Edwards, who was the original voice behind Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio, for a special moment in the short. Check out the trailer for Once Upon a Studio below: 

In addition to interviewing the filmmakers of Once Upon A Studio, CinemaBlend had the chance to view the short itself, and I can say it’s an absolutely sweet and emotional tribute to Walt Disney Animation 100 years worth of storytelling. Each character moment is done with absolute care, and it’s so much fun to see familiar faces from different eras of the company's history interacting, such as Flounder and Moana or Baymax and Donald Duck. It's a great salute to the various characters, including the beloved Genie.

In addition to Once Upon A Studio airing tonight during ABC’s Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration special, the short will also play on big screens ahead of an upcoming Disney movie, -- Wish, which is an animated musical also inspired by the studio’s incredible hundred-year milestone. The movie opens in theaters on November 22.  

In the 100 years that The Walt Disney Company has existed, there are a handful of people whose influence has been so important that it changed what the name Disney even meant. Walt and Roy Disney are, of course, on that list, as is Mickey Mouse creator and Imagineer Ub Iwerks. But there’s another name that should be celebrated alongside that of those luminaries: Howard Ashman.

His name was in the news a lot recently. The documentary film, Howard, about his life that’s on Disney+, had been on the list of Disney shows recently removed from the streaming service, which shocked and upset many people, as it was set to happen both on the same day that The Little Mermaid, the film that won him the first of two Oscars, was being released in live action, and on the eve of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, as Ashman may be the single most prominent gay voice in the history of Disney. 

Luckily for all of us, Howard can still be viewed on DIsney+, at least for now. As we celebrate Pride, all Disney fans should be aware of just who Ashman was and why he’s so important, not only for the films he helped make but for so many of the films that have come since.

Howard Ashman Before Disney 

Ashman began his career as a playwright and songwriter after graduating from college in 1974. He moved to New York and, like many just getting started, would find that his passion for the theater wasn’t paying the bills, at least at first. He had a “day job” at a publishing company, where he would happen to work on a project for The Mickey Mouse Club Scrapbook that would end up bringing him to California and to Disneyland. It was reportedly a favorite project for Ashman because he was a big Disney fan, and had specifically watched The Mickey Mouse Club as a kid.

As the artistic director of the WPA theater in 1977, alongside then-partner Stuart White, Ashman would make the key relationship of his career with composer Alan Menken. The pair would work together to write the music and lyrics for God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, based on the novel by Kurt Vonnegut, and then on the musical that would really make their names, Little Shop of Horrors. 

White and Ashman eventually split up as a couple. Ashman was more focused on work and reportedly wanted a more stable home life, while White apparently liked to party a bit more, and eventually, they realized they were going in different directions. In 1984, Ashman met architect Bill Lauch, and the two would start a relationship that would last for the rest of Ashman’s life.

In 1986, Ashman wrote the book and lyrics, as well as directed, the musical, Smile. The show was, unfortunately, not a hit, but it’s a key piece in the history of his career and his connection to Disney, as it would feature actress Jodi Benson, the future voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, singing a song called “Disneyland.”

Howard Ashman Brought The Broadway Musical To Disney 

After Smile failed to impress, Ashman came west and worked on the screenplay for the film version of Little Shop of Horrors and began his relationship with Disney writing some of the music for Oliver and Company. Disney Studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg was a fan of his and wanted to work with him more. Of the various projects in development, Ashman was most interested in The Little Mermaid. 

It was seen as a return to form for Walt Disney Animation, and while it was the company’s first animated film based on a fairy tale in decades, what made it special wasn’t what it went back to, but what it started. 

While most of Disney’s classic animated movies had songs in them, to call them musicals is, honestly, not quite accurate, at least not in the Broadway sense. Classic Disney films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella usually had a couple of songs, but Broadway shows always had a lot more, and the ones in the Disney movies weren’t always core to the narrative the way they were on Broadway.

Howard Ashman saw a connection between animation and Broadway that he felt made them obvious partners. Because theater is live, the audience must have a greater suspension of disbelief than with film; we know there are actors on stage and that the sets are often incomplete. By the same token, an animated drawing is equally separated from reality. But, if you can get the audience to believe in these things, and the characters, letting characters burst into song is easy.

Ashman believed that songs should be so integrated into the plot that removing one should make the story incomprehensible. He wouldn’t simply write music, he’d be a producer on the film, which gave him a level of creative control that most songwriters didn’t have in film at that point. He transformed the character of Sebastian, changing his accent from English to Jamaican so that he could justify the inclusion of the calypso song “Under the Sea.” He fought Katzenberg, who wanted to cut "Part of Your World" after a kid got antsy during a test screening.

It's been suggested that The Little Mermaid itself is something of an allegory. Ariel is a woman who wants to be part of a world where she does not feel she belongs. It's not hard to see how a gay man living at the end of the 20th century may have felt very similar. Many who knew him have rejected the idea that any connection between story and reality was intentional, but that doesn't mean it's not there, or that Ashman didn't see it.

He would continue to build animated Disney musicals this way, transforming Beauty and the Beast, and working on a version of Aladdin. Unfortunately, Aladdin would be the last film he would be involved in for Disney, and he would never see a completed version of Beauty and the Beast.

The Death Of Howard Ashman 

During the production of The Little Mermaid,  Ashman was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. At first, only those closest to him knew. He would later tell Disney exec Peter Schneider that he didn't want to tell people at the studio, because he was afraid of how the company would react. He loved making their movies, but thought that if family-friendly Disney knew the truth, that a gay man making movies for kids had AIDS, he would be fired. 

Disney didn’t fire him. In fact, they moved a production unit from Los Angeles to New York so that Ashman wouldn’t have to travel in order to continue working on Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Even then, only those who needed to know were aware of why these accommodations were being made. Many animators felt Ashman was playing the “diva” by insisting that everybody come to him; it was a perspective that he allowed in order to keep the secret. The stigma of AIDS was so strong that it was preferable to letting people know the truth.

Howard Ashman died on March 14, 1991, at the age of 40. It would be another six months before Beauty and the Beast was released in theaters. When “Be Our Guest” won the Oscar for Best Original Song, Ashman’s partner, Bill Lauch, accepted the award on his behalf.

Howard Ashman's Influence Is Still Visible All Over Disney Today 

Ashman worked with Disney for barely five years, but his influence on the company has been absolutely immeasurable. The “Disney Decade” of the 1990s would see more animation hits, including not only the three films that he worked on, but the likes of Mulan, Pocahontas, and The Lion King.

While Ashman wasn't part of those other films, they are still musicals in the Broadway tradition that followed in the footsteps of The Little Mermaid. Even today, movies like Moana and the Frozen films are structured like Broadway musicals, with songs written by people with strong Broadway experience.

This has allowed these animated musicals to easily transition to the stage, as well. Starting with Beauty and the Beast, Disney went full circle back to the stage that Ashman loved with Broadway performances. It’s also allowed more of his music to be heard. Only three of the songs he wrote for Aladdin were used in the film, but the Broadway version of Aladdin was able to bring some of those back.

Howard Ashman is one of the great talents to walk through the doors of Walt Disney Studios. If he hadn’t done that, Walt Disney Animation was in real danger of ceasing to exist. Not only did he bring it to new heights, his work has continued to live on in new ways, and inspire and influence all that has come after. 

Disney’s trend of transforming its animated classic films into live-action, or live-action-looking, projects has proven to be a massive success overall. While not every film is a hit, many of them have been absolute blockbusters, bringing in billions of dollars at the box office. Having said that, it seems like while many people may appreciate them for what they are, there also seems to be a pretty pervasive feeling that these movies don’t necessarily need to exist. 

While the live-action version of these films might not be the ones that anybody goes to first when given the choice, that doesn’t mean that none of them have anything at all to offer. When looking at the recent batch of remakes that started with Alice in Wonderland and brings us right up to the new version of The Little Mermaid, here’s a look at the things that work best in each of Disney's live-action remakes.

Alice In Wonderland: It Is The Most Tim Burton Movie Ever

If you somehow have never seen Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, then really all you need to know is that Tim Burton made an Alice in Wonderland movie. Whatever image that conjures in your mind, I promise you the actual movie is a good 60% stranger than that. It's absolutely bonkers, but it's more a Tim Burton movie than it is a Disney movie, and that's a great thing. It's a film that has the freedom to be whatever the hell it wants to be. 

Maleficent: Angelina Jolie’s Heartbreaking Mutilation

Maleficient figured out early on that one of the best ways to do these movies was to take what fans know, but put a different spin on it. Maleficient makes the villain in the original story a sympathetic victim in this one, and what a victim she is. Angelina Jolie's character is drugged and then mutilated, and the movie doesn’t even try to avoid the obvious implications. Jolie’s scene where she realizes what has happened to her is as harrowing as anything we’ve ever seen from Disney.

Cinderella: Cate Blancett Is Perfect

Cinderella is possibly the absolute best of the live-action Disney remakes, as it nearly perfectly blends the classic with the new. It’s not a direct translation of the original, but all the key elements are there. But of all the things it does right, the thing it may do best is bring a Disney Villain to life in a way we’ve never seen before. Cate Blanchett is deliciously evil as the Wicked Stepmother. It’s a performance not to be missed. 

The Jungle Book: Idris Elba's Sher Khan Is Scarier Than The Original

What Cate Blanchett brought to a live performance, Idris Elba brought to the voice performance of Shere Khan in The Jungle Book. I’m not sure there’s a lot in any of the live-action remakes that I would actually say is better than the comparable part of the original films, but Elba’s performance brings a menace to the villain that it just doesn’t have in the animated version.

Beauty and the Beast: Belle And Her Father

The Beauty and the Beast remake makes various small changes to the story that seem primarily focused on dealing with perceived "problems" with the original film. They are largely pointless changes that don't actually improve the movie. However, if there is a change that does, it's the (slightly) stronger focus on Belle's relationship with her father. It includes the song "How Does A Moment Last Forever," the best of the new songs, and gives an endearing performance from Kevin Kline.

Christopher Robin: A Remake Made For The Adults That Grew Up On The Original

For the most part, the Disney live-action remakes have been about recreating a classic movie in a way that will work for all generations. Christopher Robin, on the other hand, may be the most “adult” of them all because it’s a story that really isn’t meant for kids who love Winnie the Pooh. It’s meant for the grown-ups who used to, and. it's a movie about remembering childhood, not experiencing it.

Dumbo: The Villain Is An Evil Walt Disney

Dumbo is actually more a sequel than a remake of the Disney animated classic, and it’s when the film dispenses with the events of the original that it actually gets good. But nothing quite prepares you for the fact that the movie’s villain, V.A. Vandevere, as played by Michael Keaton, is the successful creator of a new type of entertainment complex: a theme park. He’s basically, “What if Walt Disney, but evil.” It’s incredible that this movie was allowed to go there, and it should be appreciated.

Aladdin: The Jams Scene Is Comic Gold

Aladdin, like so many other Renaissance Disney remakes, is a pretty faithful adaptation of the animated original, but there is one entirely new scene, where Prince Ali and the Genie present themselves to the Sultan which does not appear in the earlier movie. It’s an absolutely hilarious scene where Aladdin makes a fool of himself and the Genie can’t bear to watch. It’s a scene that would not have fit in the original movie since the humor is an entirely different tone, playing to Will Smith's strengths instead of those of Robin Williams. Honestly, the remake could have used more of that.

The Lion King: The Circle Of Life Is Breathtaking 

The “Circle of Life” from the original animated version of The Lion King is one of the great movie openings of all time. It's an epic song showing off equally epic animation from the company that does it better than anybody. The Lion King remake, which isn't "live-action," showcased digital effects at an incredible level of quality. Put the two things together and you have something truly special. It’s an absolute showcase of the technology in the best way. One look at this and it's not shocking that The Lion King remake won an Oscar.

Lady and the Tramp: Janelle Monae and “He’s A Tramp”

When remaking any Disney classic, there are going to be hurdles. Additionally, there things that were done so well the first time around that when doing them again, it’s going to be difficult not to come up short. For Lady and the Tramp, that thing is the song “He’s a Tramp” sung by the iconic Peggy Lee in the animated classic. How do you even try to clear that bar? You get Janelle Monae. She takes on the task and she makes it look easy.

Mulan: Solid Action Filmmaking  

Mulan is one of the few of the Renaissance era Disney movies to not go full musical with its remake, but what it lacks in songs it makes up for in action.  While Disney’s animated movies have upped their action with recent films like Raya and the Last Dragon, this was the first Disney Princess that we really got to enjoy kicking some butt. 

Cruella: Punk Rock Disney

Cruella is an interesting twist on the live-action remake not only in that it's an origin story prequel, but also in the way that prequel was set up. A true prequel to 101 Dalmatians would be set in the UK in the 1950s, but this one goes full 1970 English punk, and it's the perfect pace or Cruella to thrive, giving the movie an energy many of these remakes lack. It's not a prequel to the animated film, but rather the launch of its own franchise, and that's ok. Cruella 2 is a sequel that many may actually get excited to see. 

Pinocchio: Pleasure Island Is Surprisingly Dark

If there's one thing that could be said about classic Disney animated films, it's that they could get really scary. The original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs famously terrified children, but it's hard to imagine most of these remakes doing the same. The original Pinocchio's Pleasure Island sequence had children transforming into donkeys and I'm guessing more than a few kids had trouble with that back in the day. The remake doesn't lighten the sequence at all, making for one of the scarier parts of any of the modern remakes.

Peter Pan & Wendy: Jude Law’s Hook Is A Villain With Depth

Peter Pan and Wendy played with some interesting ideas that were not present in the animated classic, and most of them aren’t really taken anyplace interesting. The one character who is given surprising depth is Captain Hook. Jude Law’s performance in the film is the one to watch. Hook isn’t the simple caricature that he was in the animated movie, which gives his never-ending battle with Peter Pan a lot more weight.

The Little Mermaid: Halle Bailey’s Voice

The newest live-action remake, The Little Mermaid, certainly brings the animated film to life. All the songs and key plot beats are there. It’s a fun movie, but the thing that stands out among all is “Part of Your World.” The movie’s classic "I want"
song is performed with incredible power by star Halle Bailey. It’s clear why she was the one cast when you hear her sing this song above all others. It’s even better than the original.

We certainly haven't seen the end of the live-action Disney remakes. A new version of Snow White is among the upcoming Disney movies we'll be seeing in the next few years, and films based on everything from Hercules to The Aristocats are also planned. Maybe one of these will be a truly great film, but even if they are not, they will certainly have something worthwhile to offer. 

There are some specific genres or certain styles of filmmaking that do not necessarily have a particular name of their own. In these cases, most often, all it takes is dropping the name of a filmmaker who is closely associated with this type of movie or is even widely credited as the one pioneered it. For instance, when I want someone to envision a quirky crime thriller set in United Kingdom, I mention Guy Ritchie.

Of course, the British gangster comedy is certainly not all that the prolific writer, producer, and director is known for. Case in point, his latest film — Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, which you can find on the 2023 new movie releases with an April 21st release date — is an earnest drama about the friendship between a US Army sergeant (Jake Gyllenhaal) and the Afghan interpreter (Dar Salim) who saved his life. For a deeper look at the eclectic variety of Guy Ritchie movies — along with how and where you can find them available for streaming, as a digital rental or purchase, or on physical media, read on. However, let’s start with one of his more definitive films.

Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Desperate for money after losing a high-stakes poker game, four close-knit friends (Nick Moran, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, and Jason Flemyng) find a potential solution after one overhears his neighbors planning a robbery and decide to intercept the loot.

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: Also one of Jason Statham’s best movies, Ritchie made a very impressive feature film debut with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which was lauded as one of the most clever and exhilarating crime dramas of the late ‘90s for its sharp dialogue and even sharper sense of humor.

Stream Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels on Amazon Prime.
Buy Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Snatch (2000)

When a stolen diamond goes missing somewhere in England, various people from all walks of life — ranging from innocent bystanders to ruthless criminals — vie to get their hands on it.

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: For his second time (of many) working with Statham, as well as Vinnie Jones, after Lock, Stock, Ritchie adopted a quasi-anthology-style of storytelling a la Pulp Fiction for Snatch — one of the filmmaker’s more complex ensemble crime dramedies, which features a hilariously incomprehensible Brad Pitt in one of his most badass roles and later inspired a hit TV show of the same name. 

Stream Snatch on Peacock.
Rent/buy Snatch on Amazon.
Buy Snatch on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Revolver (2005)

Following his release from seven years in solitary confinement, a successful gambler (Statham) enters a vengeful, high-stakes game against a powerful casino owner (Ray Liotta) who was directly involved with his arrest.

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: After directing his then-wife, Madonna, in a 2002 remake of Lina Wertmüller’s 1974 romantic-comedy, Swept Away (which proved to be a critical and commercial failure), Ritchie returned to his roots, but in a comparatively more earnest fashion, with Revolver — a slick, highly-stylized, star-studded action thriller produced and co-written by Luc Besson.

Rent/buy Revolver on Amazon.
Buy Revolver on Blu-ray on Amazon.

RocknRolla (2008)

In an effort to finally go legit, a pair of simple thieves (Gerard Butler, Idris Elba) borrow some money from a veteran London crime boss, which ends up putting them in a mess far over their heads.

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: Ritchie resurrected his more comedic side for his next fun gangster flick, RocknRolla — also one of Butler’s best movies and featuring a stacked, star-studded ensemble that also includes Thandiwe Newton, Tom Hardy, and more.

Stream RocknRolla on HBO Max.
Rent/buy RocknRolla on Amazon.
Buy RocknRolla on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes Movies (2009-2011) 

An eccentric, world famous private detective (Robert Downey Jr.) and his long-time assistant (Jude Law) take on a mysterious criminal who claims to possess magical powers (Mark Strong) and, in another adventure, attempt to finally catch their elusive archenemy, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris).

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: You will never see Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most iconic and influential character the same way after watching Ritchie’s hilarious, action-packed interpretation in 2009’s Sherlock Holmes and 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which have a long-awaited third installment on the way (to be directed by Ritchie’s Lock, Stock star, Dexter Fletcher) that I still hope to see.

Rent/buy Sherlock Holmes on Amazon.
Buy Sherlock Holmes on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Stream Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on HBO Max.
Rent/buy Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on Amazon.
Buy Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

A suave American secret agent (Henry Cavill) and a bearish KGB operative (Armie Harmmer) are reluctantly thrown together as partners and, along with the daughter of a German scientist (Alicia Vikander), investigate a mysterious organization using her father to construct a doomsday weapon. 

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: In a year in which spy movies were all the rage, my personal favorite of the bunch was this feature-length adaptation of the 1960s adventure series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which reignites the style of the Bond films’ Sean Connery era, but fused with Ritchie’s signature vision. 

Stream The Man From U.N.C.L.E. on HBO Max.
Rent/buy The Man From U.N.C.L.E. on Amazon.
Buy The Man From U.N.C.L.E. on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Aladdin (2019)

With the assistance of a genie (Will Smith) he helped free from a magic lamp, a poor young man (Mena Massoud) tries to win the heart of a beautiful princess (Naomi Scott), whose kingdom he must then help save from a ruthless tyrant (Marwan Kenzari).

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: Diverting further away from his signature style than he had since 2002’s Swept Away, Ritchie delivered one of the most successful live-action remakes of Disney’s animated classics with Aladdin, which reportedly has a sequel in the works.

Stream Aladdin on Disney+.
Rent/buy Aladdin on Amazon.
Buy Aladdin on Blu-ray/DVD on Amazon.

The Gentlemen (2020) 

The American head of a successful, London-based marijuana empire (Matthew McConaughey) puts his business up for sale, which leads to a series of deadly schemes by disparate criminals seeking control.

Why it is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies: Only a year after releasing Aladdin, Ritchie returned to the British gangster dramedy at full throttle with The Gentlemen — perhaps one of his quirkiest romps and one with some of the most star power, with a cast that also features Michelle Dockery, Charlie Hunnam, and Colin Farrell.

Stream The Gentlemen on Netflix.
Rent/buy The Gentlemen on Amazon.
Buy The Gentlemen on Blu-ray on Amazon.