Like a lot of people, I grew up reading comic books. I was into Marvel, but by the mid-90s, I was super into Image Comics (Oh, and rest in peace, Sam Kieth, creator of The Maxx–are we ever getting that movie, by the way?).

There were a select few names in the business that pretty much every comic book fan knew, such as Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, and, of course, Frank Miller. Now, when it comes to Miller, you might know him from his work on stuff like Batman or Daredevil. But for me, Miller will always be the guy who created Sin City.

And, when it comes to the 2005 movie adaptation from the legend, Robert Rodriguez, I'm always shocked that more people don't talk about it, given that it's one of the best comic book adaptations ever, so I aim to fix that.

The Inventive Plot Structure Keeps The Story Intriguing Throughout

Do you want to know my favorite comic book movie? Dredd, starring Karl Urban. Do you want to know my second favorite? The third Punisher movie (You know, the one starring Ray Stevenson). Here’s the thing about those movies. They both took massive creative liberties with the source material. I enjoyed them as films, sure, but not so much as direct adaptations from the comics.

Sin City, on the other hand, is probably the most faithful adaptation of a comic book series EVER (and definitely one of the best non-superhero comic book movies of all time). I bet this is because Frank Miller is actually a co-director of the movie (as well as a frequent Robert Rodriguez collaborator, Quentin Tarantino). What makes this movie special is that it doesn’t just cover one book in the series, but rather, MULTIPLE books, those being Books 1, 2, and 4 (with Book 3, A Dame to Kill For, being the primary basis for the second movie, which is fine, but not nearly as engaging as this one).

In this way, 2005’s Sin City is an anthology movie, which makes it feel super unique and different from any other comic book film. The various stories - those being “The Customer Is Always Right” (Parts I and II), “That Yellow Bastard” (Parts I and II), “The Hard Goodbye” (which is my favorite), and “The Big Fat Kill” - are all exceptional, and there isn’t a weak link throughout the entire film.

It all just works, and it’s never boring, as the inventive, anthology plot structure just doesn’t allow it to be.

Mickey Rourke Honestly Should Have Been Nominated For An Oscar For His Portrayal As Marv

The whole shtick of Sin City is that it's basically a modern take on film noir, and it somehow ended up being one of the best film noirs ever. I think a large part of this is because of two particular actors, those being Bruce Willis, who plays the hardboiled detective, John Hartigan, and then a massive man named Marv, played by Mickey Rourke.

Now, Willis' character is great as a vehicle for the overall narrative, as what noir film doesn’t have some kind of detective? However, I think the true star of this film is Mickey Rourke, as his portrayal of Marv just hits all of the right buttons for me. It’s just everything about him: The way he looks, the way he sounds, the way he calls his hands his “mitts,” and just the overall way he carries himself truly makes me think that he deserved an Oscar nomination for this performance.

His story, in particular, “The Hard Goodbye,” fits nicely toward the middle of the movie. In the chapter, he’s being framed for a murder that he didn’t commit, and it feels all sorts of film noirish. However, Rourke’s intimidating size is larger than life here, and we see the full range of emotions from his character all the way up to his ultimate demise in the electric chair.

It’s one of the best performances in a comic book movie ever, and I’m surprised that more people don’t bring it up. In fact, I’m surprised that people don’t bring up the other performances in this movie as well.

All Of The Acting Is Top Notch

Sin City probably has one of the most stacked casts for a comic book movie I’ve ever seen. Sure, we would get The Avengers films later, which were just chock full of movie stars, but who doesn’t want to play Captain America, Spider-Man, or Black Widow? Of course those films are going to get big names in Hollywood. However, it's a whole other matter entirely that we’d get somebody like Clive Owen to play a general unknown like Dwight McCarthy, Rosario Dawson to play the leader of a band of prostitutes, or Nick Stahl playing a brightly yellow character referred to as…that yellow bastard.

The beautiful thing is that every actor commits to playing the denizens of this corrupt and dirty city. In fact, much like Baltimore itself is the main character of The Wire, Sin City itself is the main character of this film, with each character playing a role in its many chapters. But, even if you’ve never read Sin City, the film does an excellent job of feeling like a film noir, and it’s because all of the actors are spectacular in it.

I especially love Rutger Hauer as Cardinal Patrick Henry Roark, or Benicio del Toro as “Jackie Boy”. They don’t have the biggest parts in the world, but they definitely stand out. Or, what about Jessica Alba as Nancy Callahan, who is the grown-up version of a younger character we meet earlier in the story? She might just seem like eye candy, but she really commits to selling the idea that she’s come from a hard upbringing.

The point is, all of the acting is great, and it makes this movie stand out.

I Like How The Film Still Looks Like No Other

Another thing that I’m surprised more people don’t talk about is the overall look of this film. I mean, what other comic book movie looks like Sin City? Yes, I know Miller tried to replicate the style when he directed The Spirit, but for some reason, that movie just felt too clean in its appearance. It wasn’t grungy enough.

And, I think that’s important. It’s not just that Sin City is black and white, with moments of bright colors, just like the comic series. It’s also that the color palette paints the overall bleakness of this world, and it wouldn’t be nearly as effective if it were fully in color. In fact, I think the overall design does a lot of the legwork when it comes to getting this world across, making it feel literally ripped right off the pages.

For example, I’m a big fan of Ang Lee’s Hulk movie, and I especially like how some of the film utilized panels. But, what I especially love about Sin City is that the whole movie feels like it came right off the page, with some shots almost direct replicas of scenes from Frank Miller’s original stories.

It’s yet another reason why this film is so faithful to the source material - it looks just like it!

In The End, Sin City Still Holds Up Incredibly Well

I know the movie came out over 20 years ago, but it still holds up!

The stories still work, it’s still incredibly pulpy, and the visuals all still hold up. Roger Ebert originally gave the movie four stars, and it deserved it.

In fact, it still deserves it. Sin City is a four-star film, never mind it being “a comic book movie”.

So, watch it again if you haven’t in a while. It deserves your love.

The great Bruce Willis is one of the biggest movie stars of my lifetime. It’s crazy to think that he could have had his whole legendary career derailed by two movies that came out in the early ‘90s, The Bonfire of the Vanities and Hudson Hawk. The estimated losses at the box office for both movies combined are somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million, which is crazy to think about in 1990 dollars. To put it in perspective, that’s somewhere around $130 million today. Here’s what happened.

Willis Had Jumped From TV To Movies Successfully

Back in the ‘80s, it was far less common for stars to jump back and forth between TV and movies than it is today in this age of prestige television. Once an actor got a rep for being “a TV star,” it was often difficult to shake that. Willis first found fame on the small screen in the hit show Moonlighting, but after Blind Date in 1987, and especially after Die Hard in 1987, Willis was a bona fide movie star. He followed those up with hits like Look Who's Talking and Die Hard 2.

Then came The Bonfire of the Vanities, directed by Brian De Palma. Bonfire is a book-to-screen adaptation based on the excellent best-selling novel by Tom Wolfe of the same name. The movie, which co-stars Tom Hanks, Melanie Griffith, Morgan Freeman and Kim Cattrall, was a box office disaster. It was panned by critics, and audiences didn’t think much of it either. I actually remember when it came out, as I had loved the book, and I didn’t think much of the movie, either. The cost overruns on the production are legendary, including, maybe most infamously, what amounted to about a 10-second scene of an Air France Concorde landing that cost nearly $100,000.

All the pieces were there: a great director, an A-list cast, a best-selling book from a big-name author… and yet it totally flopped. Tom Hanks bounced back with A League of Their Own a couple of years later, Morgan Freeman returned a year later with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and then Unforgiven in 1992. Willis came back with Hudson Hawk.

Hudson Hawk Is A Bizarre Movie

If you’ve never seen Hudson Hawk, I wouldn’t be surprised. Not many people saw it in 1991 when it came out, and it certainly hasn’t become a cult classic in the decades since. It’s a comedy, but it doesn’t know what kind of comedy it’s trying to be. It’s slapstick… and surrealist… and dark at times. It has a musical number that Willis and co-star Danny Aiello sing together… It’s really, really, really weird, and not in a cool way.

Like Bonfire, Hudson Hawk was a huge bomb at the box office. Once again, critics hated it, as did audiences. For any normal actor, back-to-back bombs like this would spell certain career doom, but Willis isn’t normal. He’s just too good. He finally got things back on track with The Last Boy Scout in 1991 before tearing it up in the latter half of the ‘90s with Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element and Armageddon, before finishing out the decade with The Sixth Sense.

Bruce Willis’ career lasted a remarkable four and a half decades before he retired in 2023 after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. To think, it almost all came crashing down before some of his most iconic movies.

Bruce Willis is a film legend, although in recent years, he's become synonymous with his degenerating health. Back in 2023, Willis was forced to retire and was later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Since then, fans have been following along and getting updates from his family, who have rallied around him. And after his wife Emma Heming Willis posted a sweet tribute on his 71st birthday, some celebrities offered messages of love and support in the comments section.

On top of serving as Bruce's caretaker, his wife Emma Heming Willis has been advocating for dementia research. While celebrating his birthday, she asked people to donate to The Emma & Bruce Willis Fund. You can check out the post in question below:

How sweet is that? On top of showing Bruce Willis during a simpler time in their lives, her message also took the time to try and make a difference with FTD research on the legendary actor's 71st birthday. It's hard not to be touched by her dedication to her husband and the community.

Bruce Willis' best movies often showed him as a badass, so his frontotemporal dementia stands in juxtaposition to his previous public image. A number of public figures gave both him and Emma love in the above posts' comments section, some responses read:

• Bruno buddy, happy b-day! We rocked the 80s !!! 🎸 feel all the love you’ve earned.And amazing Emma.. love You too … 🙏 - realmikejfox
• That smile - alroker
• Happy Birthday Bruce ❤️ we will keep advocating for FTD, god bless! - theftdbrothers
• Watching Moonlighting today because that was the first exposure I had of his greatness! Thanks for loving him so well! - bobsmileycomedy

There's clearly a ton of love there, as previously shown with the family's Thanksgiving photos. It really seems like Bruce Willis' loved ones have rallied around him, including his ex-wife, Demi Moore. And now folks like Michael J. Fox and Al Roker have shared sweet responses on the actor's 71st birthday.

Bruce's wife has had a unique and emotional respective on her famous husband's declining health over the years. Emma Heming Willis revealed the "one blessing" is that the Pulp Fiction actor isn't actually aware of his diagnosis. And as such, the family can simply focus on making him as comfortable and loved as possible. Although she's also using their shared platform to advocate for FTD research.

The above post is one of love, but Emma has also stood up for Bruce when necessary since his diagnosis. For instance, she asked paprazzi to stop calling out to him and creating confusion in public. Throughout it all, she's shown grace and dedication in spite of an impossible situation. Talk about a total class act. Let's just hope that his 71st birthday was one where the whole family could come together and show each other love.

Bruce Willis had an incredible film career that was unfortunately cut short in 2022 following a diagnosis of aphasia. Later, we learned the Die Hard star had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). His family has regularly kept his fans updated on how things are going in the retired actor’s life. Now his wife, Emma Heming Willis, is taking a big step that she believes her husband would be proud to see.

Yesterday, Heming Willis accepted the Susan Newhouse & Si Newhouse Award of Hope at The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration's Hope Rising Benefit. As part of her acceptance (via People), she revealed the launch of the Emma & Bruce Willis Fund for Dementia Research and Caregiver Support. The fund is designed to support both research into FTD and care for those caring for people with it. Heming Willis said…

Bruce Willis’ family has been surprisingly open about their lives following the diagnosis. Emma Heming Willis has discussed her decision to move Bruce to a different house to get better care. His wife and daughters have talked about when Willis’ health has been good and when it has taken a turn for the worse. Heming Willis has also been candid about her own struggles as a caregiver.

We know that at this point, direct communication from Bruce Willis is largely impossible. It’s clearly difficult for the family. At the same time, there are also bright spots that at least indicate that Willis is still quite happy. The family is clearly trying to help Briuce feel as comfortable as possible.

There has even been some backlash to the way the family has shared information about Bruce Willis, with some feeling they’re too open. Emma, however, seemingly feels that speaking openly about living with somebody with FTD may help other families dealing with the diagnosis feel less alone. She wrote a book on the topic, and the new fund is another step toward helping the wider community.

Celebrities are in a unique position to bring attention to any cause they wish. When it comes to medical diagnosis, they can often become the face of a disease or condition. For many, Michael J. Fox is the face of Parkinson’s disease, and Willis will likely be that for FTD. That celebrity can help bring attention, as well as money, that can be invested in research that likely would not have come otherwise. Hopefully, the Emma & Bruce Willis Fund will not only be good, it will also do good.

There’s no doubting how famous Rumer Willis’ parents are, with Bruce Willis amongst the greatest action stars of all time before he was forced to retire from acting and her mom Demi Moore set to appear in the 2026 movie release I Love Boosters. However, Rumer is setting the record straight about how she supports herself and her daughter, after fans apparently assumed she was living off of her parents’ income.

Rumer Willis has one daughter, Louetta Isley Thomas Willis, who made Bruce Willis a grandpa when she was born in 2023. The 37-year-old has been open about her parenting journey, including what it’s like to be a single mom since her 2024 breakup with musician Derek Richard Thomas, and she posted a photo on Instagram listing some of the multiple tasks she juggles on a daily basis:

Many fans in the comments appreciated the post, saying they felt seen and identified with the multiple hats that single parents wear. Others, however, apparently took issue with Rumer Willis’ post because of her parents’ fame.

Bruce and Demi’s daughter didn’t take the criticism lying down, either, as she posted a new Story to set the record straight, writing:

Rumer Willis strongly rebuffed the notion that she skims off of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s fortune to benefit her own life by pointing out that she has four different jobs. For one thing, she has followed mom and dad’s footsteps into acting, even appearing in several movies with her parents.

Most recently she appeared in an episode of Ryan Murphy’s Doctor Odyssey, though strangely it wasn’t in the “Spring Break” episode that featured other so-called “nepo-babies” Ava Phillippe, Paris Jackson and Charlotte Lawrence.

However, even after Rumer Willis clarified that she makes her own money, people still continued to call out her privilege, saying that having Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s money as a backup meant that she never had to worry about losing her home or not being able to pay her bills. Rumer responded to that as well in another Story, where she acknowledged her privilege but denied thinking of her parents as a safety net:

She said she has experienced the financial stress that comes with inconsistent work, and she pointed out that someone with stability in one area like finances or housing might experience hardships in other parts of their lives. Rumer doesn’t mention her dad in these posts, but she’s opened up plenty about how hard Bruce Willis’ health issues are for their family.

Just because her life is different from others’ doesn’t mean she doesn’t have things in common with them, she said, continuing:

Clearly there are strong opinions on both sides here, but regardless of if or how much Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s financial situation has benefited their children, I love that Rumer set the record straight on how hard she works for her daughter, while still calling for us all to have grace for one another.

In many of Bruce Willis' best movies, he's a bonafide badass. He's an icon of the screen with generation of fans, which is why it was a shock when Willis was forced to retire thanks to health issues. The iconic actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, and the public has been closely following any updates from his loved ones. And his wife Emma Heming Willis recently spoke about the "blessing and the curse" of his declining health.

Emma Heming Willis has been open about when she saw changes in Bruce, as well as what it's been liking serving as his caretaker since the diagnosis. She recently appeared on the podcast Conversations with Cam, where she revealed a silver lining related to her husband's health. Namely, that he doesn't necessarily understand that he's sick. In her words:

Dementia is a daunting diagnosis, and there's (understandably) a great deal of fear that comes when one finds out about the uphill battle of treating it. But according to Emma Heming Willis, Bruce's mental health decline actually resulted in him not knowing that he's got frontotemporal dementia. And the fact that he can be kept blissfully unaware seems to be a silver lining in this otherwise impossible situation.

Emma has been serving as both a caregiver and an advocate for her husband. For instance, she begged paparazzi to not yell at Willis in public, so that he doesn't become confused or agitated. In the same podcast, she went on to speak more about how and why the Die Hard icon doesn't realize the nature of his health condition, sharing:

But while Willis' dementia is affecting his speech, Emma also shared that there's still a ton of love between them, as well as with his children. That's something the disease hasn't been able to take away, as she put it:

From all the ways that Emma Heming Willis has taken care of her husband and shared information about his condition to the public, it's pretty remarkable to hear about her compassion and strength of character. It sounds like the 70 year-old actor is surrounded by love, which is no doubt a comfort to his generations of fans.

Our thoughts continue to be with the entire Willis family during this difficult time. But it's heartening to hear about just how much love is still within his home.

Chris Pratt knows exactly what he’s doing when he slips into new action movie mode. Sometimes that means dialing things back, while other times, it means deliberately putting himself at a disadvantage. In his 2026 movie schedule release for the upcoming sci-fi thriller Mercy, the Parks & Recs alum made a very specific choice that longtime action fans will immediately recognize as a clear nod to Die Hard. It’s a clever homage, but it also came with some consequences.

Pratt discussed the Bruce Willis inspiration and the fallout during a recent interview with Extra, in a YouTube clip featuring both him and his Mercy co-star Rebecca Ferguson. While promoting the film, the Guardians of the Galaxy star explained that going barefoot in the flick was an intentional choice, designed to mirror Willis as John McClane decades earlier. He explained:

That sense of exposure fits the story Mercy is trying to tell. The film centers on Pratt as a detective on trial for the murder of his wife, forced to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge played by Ferguson. It’s a high-pressure setup where control is constantly being stripped away, both physically and psychologically. Removing shoes might seem small, but on screen, it immediately raises the stakes.

Of course, action scenes don’t happen in a vacuum, and the Super Mario Bros. voice star was quick to emphasize that safety was still a priority. Like any major production, Mercy had a full stunt team and extensive rehearsals to make sure the choreography worked before cameras rolled. He continued:

Even with that preparation, things can still go sideways. On one of the early days of filming, the Jurassic World franchise star took a hard tackle into a wall, resulting in an injury. The chubby sidekick turned leading man added:

There’s something fitting about the situation. Die Hard endures because John McClane is always paying a price. He bleeds, limps, and earns every inch he gains. Pratt’s homage taps into that same 80s action-movie-hero philosophy, even if it went a bit further than intended and resulted in a real-world injury. Fortunately, the timing worked in his favor, as much of the following weeks of filming had him seated and strapped to a chair.

The difference, of course, is that movie injuries vanish once the credits roll. Real ones linger. Still, Pratt seems comfortable with the trade-off. The reference landed, the scene gained extra tension, and Mercy ultimately benefited from the added vulnerability.

Mercy opens in theaters January 23, so be sure to check your local listings for show times.

Michael Bay movies are often crowd pleasers, but near the top of any list of Bay’s best movies has to be his outer space disaster movie, Armageddon. The film has some incredible action, as well as some truly emotional moments. Interestingly, it turns out one of the most powerful scenes was aided by co-star Ben Affleck being incredibly sick.

If the ending of Armageddon can make a tough guy like Michael B. Jordan cry, you know it’s going to be something else. The scene, in which Bruce Willis’ character, Harry Stamper, trades places with Ben Affleck’s A.J. Frost, saving the younger man from certain death, is one of the all-time tear-jerkers. While speaking with Jake Hamilton of Jake's Takes, Affleck revealed that the scene was shot while he was ill, because the actor didn’t realize he was allowed to call in sick. He explained…

Affleck mentions talking to Steve Buscemi at the premiere of his new movie, The Rip, which is available with a Netflix subscription. He says one of the elements that made the movie interesting was the way most of the actors were better known for smaller independent films, save for star Bruce Willis, who was an action movie vet. Clearly, Armageddon was a new experience for most of the cast.

On the one hand, the work that goes into setting up different scenes can be quite significant. In most cases, a production team can’t just change its mind and shoot a different scene that day because somebody called in sick. So it’s maybe understandable why Affleck didn’t think calling in sick was an option.

At the same time, being sick happens, and sometimes you are just too ill to work, no matter what else is going on. Affleck was so ill that he was apparently throwing up in between takes. However, in the end, he thinks the scene actually benefited from him being less than 100%. He joked…

Ben Affleck may be more famous for his Armageddon commentary track than for the movie itself. Despite the way he ribbed his own film, though, he clearly put the work in to make the movie as good as he could. He does look absolutely physically wrecked in the dramatic scene, which can be seen below. He’s sweating and looks like he’s having trouble getting his words out. Maybe it’s acting. Maybe it’s just that he feels like hell.

I suppose we can thank Ben Affleck’s relative inexperience for helping make the scene more powerful. Many a moviegoer has admitted to tearing up during that moment, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment for a film about blowing up asteroids. That's not bad for a movie Michael Bay once apologized for.

We’ve continued to get updates from Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming, over the years regarding the ‘80s and ‘90s action star’s condition since frontotemporal dementia forced him to retire from acting. Willis’ ex-wife, Demi Moore, has had nothing but praise for what Heming’s done for her ex as well as other caretakers, but things got a little more personal during a recent Q&A. Moore opened up to Kate Hudson about a sweet memory from her and Willis’ marriage that resurfaced when she watched Song Sung Blue.

Kate Hudson has received a lot of praise for her performance as Claire Sardina in Song Sung Blue, a musical biopic about the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder, even getting nominated for a Golden Globe. Demi Moore did a Q&A with the actress at a screening last week, where the Substance star told Hudson how the movie had sparked a meaningful memory. She recalled (via US Weekly):

Demi Moore said Bruce Willis would play the artist’s songs throughout the day, noting that he was “a huge Neil fan,” and she was, too.

Music is so powerful in the way it can evoke such strong memories and feelings. With Neil Diamond being such an important musician to Bruce Willis, I can only imagine what an emotional experience it must have been for Demi Moore to see Song Sung Blue and hear those tunes.

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were married from 1987 to 2000 and share three daughters — Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31. Even after their divorce, as he married Emma Heming in 2009 and had two more daughters — Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11 — they remained close, even famously quarantining together during the pandemic.

This latest chapter in Bruce Willis’ story has undoubtedly been hard on all involved, and his daughters have spoken candidly about the hard parts and what they’re grateful for. Emma Heming has described the FTD as both a blessing and a curse, as he is sheltered from the awareness of his disease.

Last year, as Willis' ability to communicate became a bigger issue, the decision was made to move him to a separate house where he could better receive the care he needed. Meanwhile, his younger daughters remained with their mother in the home better suited to their needs.

When times get tough for Bruce Willis’ family, it’s nice that they have such great memories to hold onto, and I love that Demi Moore shared how Song Sung Blue transported her back to her Neil Diamond Days with him.

Song Sung Blue is in theaters now, and be sure to watch the Golden Globes on January 11 to see if Kate Hudson takes home an award for her role. The ceremony airs at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and can also be streamed live with a Paramount+ subscription.

Some people cry during movies. It’s just a thing that happens. Some people get emotional during films all the time, others only have that happen in a few cases. Michael B. Jordan is man enough to admit that he has cried during movies before, but I have to say I wasn’t expecting the one that got him.

There’s a halfway decent chance that the last time you cried at a movie, it was during Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners. Jordan tells W Magazine that he also cried at Sinners. It says a lot about that movie that the guy who was in it still cried when he saw it. But what’s even more interesting are the other times Jordan mentions crying while watching something. He said…

I won’t lie, I did not expect Michael B. Jordan to drop Armageddon as a movie that made him cry. To be sure, I know Armageddon made audiences emotional. I have my own distinct memory of seeing the film on opening night and standing by the theater door as the previous showing ended and dozens of people filtered out, many of them sobbing. I knew going in that something was going to happen.

Clearly, Armageddon had quite an impression on Michael B. Jordan. The movie itself is nearly 30 years old, and it’s the one that he mentions when asked what movies make him cry. He’s seen the film multiple times, and it makes him cry “every time.”

The scene in question that almost certainly made Jordan cry, if you’ve never seen Armageddon, comes in the finale when the team, trying to drill a hole in an asteroid, discovers that the bomb to destroy the planet-killer rock will have to be triggered by a member of the team. Initially, Ben Affleck’s character pulls the short straw, but then Bruce Willis takes his place, so that his daughter and the man she loves will be together. Then he says goodbye to his daughter, and there isn't a dry eye in the house.

Today, this movie is maybe better known for Ben Affleck's hilarious DVD commentary than the film itself, but this makes me realize I really need to rewatch Armageddon. It's one of Michael Bay's best movies, with some incredible action, and some truly heartbreaking moments. Next time you need a good cry, maybe give this one a try.

Megyn Kelly is known for her no-holds-barred opinions, but it was still surprising when she outed a whole slew of the most "unhappy” celebrities she’s interviewed in Hollywood. The list was varied and included a-list actors all the way down to one beloved journalist. Yes, I’m talking about Al Roker. And no I didn’t see his name coming, but they do have a past.

Some A-Listers Megyn Kelly Claims Are More Naughty Than Nice

Kelly was asked by The Daily Mail about some negative interactions she’s had over the years. Unsurprisingly, she had opinions, but it was still a bit surprising to see her openly name drop some of her bad interactions, one of which came from Jane Fonda and Robert Redford when they were promoting Our Souls at Night. She said she had a tough time navigating through the fact Redford refused to talk about their sex scenes, but Fonda wanted to:

Both Fonda and Redford are Hollywood legends, but she also told the outlet they weren’t the only legends to really be tough on her during her time on the air. Bruce Willis has been more out of the public limelight and has retired from acting since his Aphasia diagnosis (though wife Emma Heming Willis has been a champion of research for the cause, and has been candid about the 'blessing and curse' with Willis' diagnosis).

However, in his heyday, he was apparently not-so-easy to deal with. Megyn Kelly said Bruce Willis agreed to go on Fox News, despite having a different political take than many of the anchors there, and she noted it was awkward overall. Said Kelly:

However, of all the people Kelly name-dropped as having a bad attitude toward her, I did not see one fellow broadcaster coming.

NBC's Al Roker Made Megyn Kelly’s List

Al Roker is one of America’s Darlings. He’s known for being well-liked and affable on NBC’s Today. He publicly weathered a health scare that kept him from the show for a while, and kept a positive attitude throughout the ordeal. He’s a cheery guy… at least when on camera. Kelly was a little reticent to be as specific about Al Roker’s specific issues, but she made a comparison most people could understand.

Megyn Kelly currently runs her own podcast “The Megyn Kelly Show,” but prior to these she was an anchor for Fox News from 2004-2017 during an era where people’s political opinions became more polarizing. She left Fox for NBC News after the scandal with Roger Ailes, working for the same network Al Roker worked for at the time. From her Dershowitz (a conservative) bumping into Larry David (a liberal) comment, it sounds like Kelly felt Mr. Roker was not super warm or welcome to her.

We do know that Al Roker publicly called out Ms. Kelly amidst the backlash after she claimed blackface within the context of Halloween costumes is OK. She later left NBC to go it alone.

In my personal experience, celebrities run the gamut. They can be consistently nice or consistently not, though many might have different moods on different days. I’ve experienced celebrities who are totally nice and engaged for one movie and irritated for others, and we don’t know if the experiences Kelly had with certain celebrities might have changed over time. We also don’t know if she interacted with some of these people multiple times. Suffice to say, we all have had exchanges with people that may not have gone as planned. Yet, in the journalist’s case, there’s more tea simply because she’s dealing with famous people on a day-to-day basis.

Like many, many others, I dedicate a few hours every December to spend time with Bruce Willis. Despite what the haters say, Die Hard is unquestionably a Christmas movie, and it never gets old spending the holiday annually watching John McClane navigate the upper floors of Nakatomi Plaza as he works to foil the plans of the nefarious Hans Gruber. The film features Willis at his “everyman” best, and the character is obviously a performance, it’s nonetheless comforting to know that it very much a reflection of who the actor is as a person.

Vanity Fair recently published a profile of Jerry Bruckheimer, and while the well-known super producer didn’t work with Bruce Willis on Die Hard (that was Joel Silver’s domain), he does recall his experience collaborating with the star on Michael Bay’s 1998 blockbuster Armageddon. Contrary to the cliched image of a Hollywood A-lister, the Willis described by the filmmaker was a dedicated worker on the set of the hit disaster movie, which echoed his blue collar past. Said Bruckheimer,

It takes no effort at all to find stories about big time actors who habitually show up late, boss around members of the crew, and bolt to their trailer at every opportunity, but that’s the opposite of the man with whom Jerry Bruckheimer worked telling the story of a crew of oil drillers who become astronauts and save the planet.

Because of the nature of an actor’s work, it can be very easy to misinterpret who they actually are when they are off screen, but there’s a loveliness in Bruce Willis being of the more “genuine article” sort, and the knowledge will only serve to make Die Hard a greater comfort watch.

Should you be interested in watching the greatest holiday classic from 1988, Die Hard is a blockbuster that’s very easy to access in the modern age of entertainment. Unlike most films that have only one streaming option, you can start watching the Bruce Willis film with just a few clicks if you have A) a Hulu subscription, B) an Amazon Prime subscription, and/or C) a Peacock subscription. Other online options include digital rentals/purchase from all major outlets, and if you’re a physical media collector, you can pick up a copy on 4K UHD or Blu-ray.

In 2022, Bruce Willis was unfortunately forced to retire after his aphasia diagnosis, which was later updated to frontotemporal dementia . Since then, his wife Emma Heming as well as his older kids, have been trying to find strength during this tough time. Emma, in particular, has been sharing heartfelt throwbacks of the man she fell in love with. In the latest video she shared, fans can see the Die Hard actor sounding like an excited child as the two ride a rollercoaster together.

The British-American model and mother of two took to Instagram to after taking a trip to Magic Mountain with her kids. Heming Willis specifically posted a video of her and the Red actor on the wicked Viper rollercoaster ride in 2008, and they seemed to be having a ball at the time. Take a look at the fun clip:

While you couldn’t pay me enough to go on a wild rollercoaster like that, it warms my heart to see Bruce Willis and his wife have fun on it. (The fact that he never dropped his camera is also impressive!) Willis' enthusiastic commentary on what’s happening on the ride and his contagious laughter are more than enough to make this fan smile. This video is an excellent example of Willis’ long-held vivacious spirit and willingness to have fun.

At the same time, though, it's sad reading Emma Heming’s caption about missing her “riding companion.” I can imagine that watching fun home videos like this one can stir up a lot of feelings. Still, I love that she's been sharing such memories with her social media followers.

The Malta-born businesswoman has consistently shared funny and genuinely moving videos that remind us of the vibrant, playful man Bruce Willis was. For instance, there was the time when Heming shared when her husband shook hands with first responders amid the California wildfires this past January.

Despite Emma Heming admitting that her husband’s dementia diagnosis was “hard,” she’s discovered that the silver lining to his health decline is that their love story is growing stronger. With each throwback video she’s posted, I’d like to believe Heming is not only remembering Willis’ human spirit, but sharing his legacy.

There was also the time she posted a video of Willis singing lead with The Temptations, which caused her to fall in love with him. All in all, these short reels paint a portait of a man whose warmth, joy and loving spirit continue to shine through, even as his life becomes more challenging.

It's hard not to think about the health issues Bruce Willis has endured over the past few years. However, as a result of Emma's videos, I'm hopeful that fans will continue to think of Bruce's playful energy -- like what he exudes in the rollercoaster video -- for the foreseeable future.

Bruce Willis formally retired from acting in 2022, with that decision being attributed, at the time, to him being diagnosed with the cognitive condition aphasia. It was subsequently confirmed, however, that the now-70-year-old actor has frontotemporal dementia. Willis’ wife and older children have since been caring for him and providing occasional updates on his condition. Rumer Willis – who Bruce shares with ex-wife Demi Moore – was recently asked how he’s doing and, while it was hard for her to answer, she shared some silver linings.

The 37-year-old mother of one participated in another Q&A via her Instagram stories, during which she touched upon a variety of topics. One fan asked her how the Willis patriarch is doing at this point in his health battle. Rumer, who revealed that she’s put a lot of thought into this question due to it cropping up occasionally, explained why it’s hard to quantify whether her famous father is doing well or not:

Members of the Willis family have been candid about the challenges of caring for Bruce throughout his illness. Earlier this year, his wife, Emma Heming, explained that one of the first changes she noticed in her husband early on was that his childhood stutter returned. Although Heming said the situation has “taken a toll” on her and her family, she sees a silver lining in that the love she and Bruce share in their journey together has only grown deeper.

Rumer Willis has also opened up about the emotionally draining aspects of her father’s condition. She’s even been candid about the fact that Father’s Day is now “hard” for her. However, like Emma Heming, Willis has been choosing to be “grateful” for several reasons even amid this difficult time for her and her relatives. As the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood alum explained during her recent Q&A, she just feels fortunate to still have her dad around at all:

Over the last few years, the Willis family has had its moments of joy amid Bruce’s health challenges. Most notably, Rumer welcomed her first child – daughter Louetta – with former partner Derek Thomas in 2023, making Bruce a grandfather. Rumer went on to express the joy she feels in seeing her father with her little girl in tow:

At present, Bruce Willis is in a care facility, given the progression of his disease, as revealed by Emma Heming earlier this year. That news was met with backlash, though Heming defended that decision, explaining that it was necessary at this point in her spouse’s life. It’s honestly unfortunate that the Willis family has had to handle so much over the past few years. However, it’s heartwarming to hear that, like her relatives, Rumer is remaining upbeat and counting her blessings.

Bruce Willis’ life took an unexpected turn in 2022 when he had to retire from acting due to developing frontotemporal dementia. This degenerative disorder has not only affected the talented actor, but his family as a whole. His wife, Emma Heming Willis, talked about how she first noticed changes in her husband, and that “never in my wildest dreams” would she have known that was a symptom.

What was originally diagnosed in Bruce Willis as aphasia was updated to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which negatively affects the beloved actor’s personality, behavior, and speech. While on NewsNation to promote her memoir The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, Emma Heming Willis, revealed when she first suspected something was wrong with her husband, and it’s a tiny detail that only someone paying close attention would notice:

It’s a good thing that Heming Willis recalled her husband’s knowledge of his childhood stutter, or his speech problem coming back could have been overlooked. According to FTDtalk, the neurodegenerative disease causes the brain to have trouble planning how the speech muscles create words, resulting in issues with speaking words or having a stutter.

The British-American businesswoman said to NewNation that despite Willis’ dementia affecting his communication, “we don’t need words.” Heming Willis previously said that Die Hard actor has a special way of expressing himself through his “hearty laugh” or a “twinkle in his eye.” As the two clearly share a powerful love for one another, it’s evident that their connection goes beyond language, that no disease can take away from them.

The one “blessing” and “curse” that the Malta native said came from Bruce Willis’ health condition was him not having to “tap into” the disorder, but Heming Willis having to carry that for him. The Coco Baba founder has never held back on the “toll” that FTD has had on herself and her whole family. She's said that constantly putting others first has made it hard for her to attend to her own needs.

This past summer, Emma Heming Willis took a big step in having the Sixth Sense actor live in a separate household from their young daughters, believing it’s what he’d want for them. Not far from their family home, Willis would receive help from a full-time care team. His kids have apparently still been able to visit him, regularly seeing him for breakfast and dinner. This may have been a difficult decision for Willis’ wife to make, but it's a selfless one to ensure the retired actor receives as much health care as possible and a sense of normalcy for their kids.

Emma Heming Willis may have never in her “wildest dreams” pictured her husband’s stutter coming back meant he had FTD. However, she’s met the diagnosis with great love for Willis, channeling her energy into helping him and spreading awareness of this rare disease. Make sure to read Heming Willis’ book, The Unexpected Journey, available on Amazon and at your local bookstore.

Back in 2022, it was announced that Bruce Willis would be retiring from acting after he was diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. Nearly a year later, his family shared that his condition had progressed into frontotemporal dementia. While this places the iconic actor, known for Die Hard and The Sixth Sense, out of the swing of a lot of Hollywood circles, apparently he and his Moonlighting co-star Cybill Shephard had a chance to get on better terms prior to his health struggles going public.

Back in 2000, Cybill Shepherd characterized Bruce Willis a “jerk” while talking about their past on Moonlighting, per The Scottish Daily Record. There were also claims from their co-stars that they “hated each other” and were “unhappy” working together. However, when Shepherd recently spoke to People about Willis, she said they were actually able to mend things between them before he officially retired. In her words:

Shepherd’s comments about Willis were from pages of her 2000 memoir, Cybill Disobedience, where she said that there was a mutual flirtation between herself and Willis when they first met on Moonlighting. The actress claimed they “never did finish what we started,” but she was ultimately happy they didn’t because “Bruce Willis is a jerk.”

Also, their Moonlighting co-star Curtis Armstrong said in his 2017 memoir Revenge Of The Nerd that Shepherd and Willis “hated each other,” via Us Weekly. Allyce Beasley said in 2019 that they were “very hard to be around”, in part due to the show’s heavy workload. However, that was 25 years ago, and things have clearly changed since between the co-stars.

In the past few years, the Willis family has gone through a lot in conjunction with the Die Hard actor’s health struggles. Back in August, Willis’s wife, Emma Heming, announced that they had made the decision to have him live in a separate home and get full-time care.

On a similar front, Shepherd also called Christine Baranski “unfriendly” when they were co-stars on the sitcom Cybill back in the day. She said she and Baranski are “good now” in the same new interview, adding that they were able to mend their relationship by talking and being “real open-hearted with each other.”

Every Moonlighting episode, which aired for five seasons from 1985 to 1989, began streaming for the first time a couple of years ago, which was highlighted by Willis’s wife, one of his daughters and, of course, the many fans who had been waiting to revisit it. It’s perhaps even more enjoyable now that we know its two costars are not at odds with the other.

The past several years have sadly seen 70-year-old actor Bruce Willis face health challenges. Willis retired from acting in 2022, with his team saying that he’d been diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects a person’s speech and comprehension functions. In 2023, that diagnosis was updated to frontotemporal dementia and, since then, Willis’ family – led by his wife, Emma Heming – have been caring for him and sharing updates. Emma is now getting real about one “blessing” and “curse” of her spouse’s health situation.

As of late, 47-year-old Emma Heming Willis has been promoting her new book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path. In it, Heming Willis chronicles her experiences serving as a caregiver for her husband over the past several years. While the mother of two discussed various health related-topics during the tour, she just recently took to Instagram to highlight a term known as anosognosia, which she wishes she would’ve discussed more while during interviews.

Heming Willis explained in her post that anosognosia – which is mentioned in her book – is a neurological condition in which a person is unaware of the details regarding their own illness. The health advocate’s post notes that this isn’t “denial” but a natural “part of the disease” in which a person downplays the severity of their condition or finds some kind of way to rationalize this. Bruce apparently didn’t experience this, and Heming Willis laid out how this was a positive development for him and a not-so-positive one for her:

As his wife explains it, due to not having anosognosia, the Die Hard icon wasn’t cognizant of his health struggles, which she sees as the “blessing,” in this case. However, the “curse” Emma Heming Willis mentions here is the fact that not only has she had to contend with the situation but also shoulder much of the emotional baggage, given her husband isn’t aware of his condition. Just as Heming Willis goes on to mention in her post, there are many other caregivers who are also in her shoes.

Heming Willis has been incredibly candid about what it’s been like caring for Bruce and how, in some ways, it’s “taken a toll” on her and her family. In recent months, she’s also discussed how Bruce’s communication skills have been impacted by dementia. Nevertheless, Emma has sought to remain optimistic during this time, even sharing that she believes a silver lining in the situation is that she feels as though their “love story has only grown and developed more.”

During this time, Emma Heming Willis has not only sought to protect her husband and family but also defend herself at times. She recently did so when she shut down the “debate” over her decision to put her spouse in a care facility as his disease progresses. It goes without saying that it’s hard to imagine what it’s like being in Heming Willis’ shoes. However, there’s beauty in the fact that even amid such an emotionally draining period in her life, she can acknowledge the bright spots as well as the negative ones.

Over the past several years, Bruce Willis’ continued health issues have drawn considerable attention. It was formally announced in 2022 that the now-70-year-old Wills would retire from acting due to being diagnosed with aphasia. That diagnosis was updated to frontotemporal dementia in early 2023 and throughout it all, Willis’ wife, Emma Heming, has been opening up about caring for him. During a recent interview, Emma talked about moving Bruce into a care facility, and she’s now addressing the “debate” that’s cropped up due to her choice.

Emma Heming Willis (47) discusses her life with her husband and family during an in-depth interview with Diana Sawyer, during which the care facility decision came up. The businesswoman and health advocate was asked about that again when she sat down with Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan. When Strahan asked Willis what she wanted people to know about her reasoning for moving her husband into the facility, she opened up (in the YouTube video) about how beneficial it’s been for her family’s situation:

Since that initial ABC News interview, people have taken to social media to share their opinions on Bruce Willis being placed in a care facility. The topic has seemingly divided some commenters, as there are people who can understand why Emma would move her spouse into a different space. However, there are also those who seem to take issue with the fact that Emma would place her spouse in the care of strangers outside of their home. Nevertheless, the mother of two is standing firmly in her position:

During these last several years, Emma Heming Willis hasn’t held back about the struggles of caring for Bruce. She’s also provided information on dementia while detailing her family’s own experience with the disease. Just recently, she revealed that the Die Hard icon’s stutter began to return and that his conversations were matching up as they once were. Those details are what ultimately alerted Willis to the fact that there was something going on with her husband.

While Bruce Willis’ wife says that caring for him and watching his health decline has been difficult, she does have a considerable amount of support. Emma has also made note of the silver linings and rare, sweet moments that play out between her husband and his younger kids. Willis may no longer be living in the same house as his family but, per his spouse’s comments, it seems that “tough” decision was the right move for all of them.

There have undoubtedly been lots of hard moments for Bruce Willis’ family since the actor was forced to quit acting due to a health condition, which was later identified as frontotemporal dementia. His daughter Rumer has spoken about Father’s Day being particularly “hard,” while his wife Emma Heming Willis admitted there was a “heaviness in my heart” on their most recent wedding anniversary. However, despite everything, she has still found a silver lining.

Emma Heming Willis has been pretty candid about what life is like since Bruce Willis’ dementia diagnosis, both in order to spread awareness of how the disease affects people and their caretakers and to keep fans updated on the beloved action movie star. While she recently revealed that Bruce is losing the ability to communicate, she said she now feels connected to her husband in a whole new way, telling People:

Emma Heming Willis said in a recent interview with Diane Sawyer that her family has developed a new way of speaking with Bruce Willis. I can definitely see how making those adjustments and walking through this journey alongside him would create a different bond than they had before.

She showed similar appreciation for the time she’s sharing with Bruce Willis during that interview, saying she’s “grateful” for him still being there. His wife said there are still flashes of his “hearty smile,” the “twinkle in his eye,” and “that smirk.”

Anyone whose family has been affected by dementia knows it’s not easy to watch someone go through this, so I’m glad that Emma Heming Willis and the actor’s five daughters are able to still hang onto the good that they have with him.

Another positive aspect to come out of this otherwise devastating situation is the work the Willis family is doing to raise awareness. Tallulah Willis said it’s important to use their platform to provide support for others in similar circumstances, and her stepmother is doing just that with her new book. Emma Heming Willis is speaking out on behalf of caregivers in The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, which comes out September 9.

Bruce Willis’ wife recently revealed that the Die Hard star no longer lives in the same house as his family, moving to a home “not far” from them so he can receive 24-hour care. It’s what he would want for his youngest daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, Emma Heming Willis said.

I can’t imagine having to go through such a heartbreaking experience in the public eye the way Bruce Willis’ family is, and even when the health updates are tough to hear, it’s so encouraging to know that there are plenty of silver linings that exist for Emma Heming Willis in her relationship with her husband.

When Die Hard star Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022, it came with the shocking news that it was due to aphasia, a degenerative condition that impacts one’s ability to communicate and understand language. That was followed, a few months later, by the official diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD), and has meant a lot of major changes for his wife, Emma Heming Willis, their two daughters, and his children with ex-wife Demi Moore. Now, Heming Willis is opening up about when she first realized something was wrong with her husband.

What Did Emma Heming Say About Suspecting Something Was Wrong With Bruce Willis?

As Emma Heming and Bruce Willis get further into his post-FTD diagnosis life (along with their daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11) the family has had to make a lot of serious adjustments. It was just a few days ago that Heming Willis revealed that not only is the Moonlighting actor’s “language going,” leading to the family having to find new ways to communicate with him, but he’s also been moved to another home nearby the family’s original residence, so that he can have full-time caretakers with minimal interruptions to daily life for their daughters.

The former model spoke to People about what this journey has been like, and noted that by the time the 12 Monkeys star received his first diagnosis, she was already acting as his sole caretaker, but without understanding what was going on. As she said:

I have some experience with realizing that something is very wrong with a loved one but not knowing exactly what, and it’s an incredibly scary, stressful situation that can pretty quickly lead to every other negative emotion under the sun and take everyone involved into overwhelm. In the early days of The Sixth Sense star’s diagnosis, Heming Willis talked about how hard it was to take on the caregiver role, and attempt to care for her husband, young daughters and also still give much needed time to herself, revealing that the delicate and imperfect balancing act had already “taken a toll” on her “mental health and overall health.”

When a diagnosis finally came, however, she says she was able to mentally put some distance between her husband and the condition that was slowly taking the man she knew away from their family:

That “relief” helped her take control of the feeling of being “isolated” she had early on, because she was “too scared to say anything to anyone” about what was happening with the action star. Heming Willis began thoroughly researching not only her husband’s condition, but how those caring for loved ones with it were able to cope, and then decided to open up about what was going on and her own process with handling the difficulties of care giving.

She’s now written a book, The Unexpected Journey, which helps those in situations like theirs, and added that being able “to help someone else feel less alone” is “the only way I can get through this.”

Fans around the world were heartbroken when it was announced that Bruce Willis would be retiring from acting for medical reasons. It was first revealed that Willis had aphasia, which later progressed into frontotemporal dementia. Willis’ condition has remained a topic that fans are curious about, and now his wife, Emma Heming, has written a book and spoken out on where things stand, which includes new information.

Bruce Willis Is No Longer Living With His Family

To me, one of the most interesting revelations from Heming on the TV special Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey – A Diane Sawyer Special was the news that Willis is no longer living in the family home. Instead, he resides in a second home “not far” from there, where he has access to a full-time care team. Heming told Sawyer:

One imagines that a person suffering from dementia would need a lot of specialized care that a family would not be able to provide at some point. To bring all that into the home where everybody else is living would be complicated at best and impossible at worst. By putting Willis in his own home, it’s likely that everybody is more comfortable, and he can better receive the care he needs.

Willis and Heming’s two children, ages 11 and 13, still get to see their dad regularly. The three apparently go over to Dad’s house for breakfast and dinner. As difficult as the situation clearly is, it seems to work well for the family and is the best available option.

Bruce Willis Is Otherwise In Good Health

Willis’ adult children, from his marriage to actress Demi Moore, have spoken publicly in the past about both the good and the bad as their father’s condition has progressed. While daughter Rumer has admitted that Father’s Day with Bruce Willis can be difficult, Tallulah Willis has also shared family photos of the good times they’ve spent together recently.

While Emma Heming has admitted that Willis’ language skills are starting to fail as a result of the dementia, she says the family has begun to find other ways to communicate. Physically, the actor is actually in pretty good shape, with Heming saying…

It certainly appears like Bruce Willis’ family is cherishing the time they spend with him and making the best of a difficult situation. For fans, we'll always have Bruce Willis' best movies to help us remember the good times.

Bruce Willis is one of the most beloved modern-day action heroes for his roles in classic movies like Die Hard, The Sixth Sense and 12 Monkeys, and fans were devastated when he was forced to retire from acting due to his health. Since the actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, his wife Emma Heming Willis has offered us peeks into their lives and his condition. She provided an update in a new interview, saying he’s losing the ability to communicate.

Emma Heming Willis spoke to Diane Sawyer for the upcoming ABC special Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, which will air on the 2025 TV schedule on August 26. In a preview for the interview, Heming Willis said that while Bruce is still mobile and healthy overall, her husband’s brain is “failing him,” and it’s affected how they can speak to each other. She said:

She said despite their waning communication, Bruce Willis’ family — which includes five daughters, three who he shares with ex Demi Moore and his two youngest with Emma Heming Willis — still see flickers of his cheerful personality. They cherish those times, his wife said, continuing:

Tallulah Willis posted photos of her dad in one of those good moments earlier this summer, showing him smiling and hugging his kids, though she had to defend herself to fans who questioned if she should share images from the actor’s private life. The 31-year-old said she used her discretion and chose to show “a day full of smiles” because she knew how much it would mean to Bruce Willis’ fans.

Also, those times can be far too fleeting, Emma Heming Willis said:

The Unbreakable star’s family has been fairly open about their journey, sharing both highs and lows. Tallulah Willis said it’s important to use their platform to raise awareness or provide support to others in a similar position. Rumer Willis admitted Father’s Day was particularly “hard.” For her part, Emma Heming Willis is speaking out on behalf of caregivers and has written a book — The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path — that’s set to come out September 9.

This latest update regarding his communication may be more discouraging than fans were hoping for, but Bruce Willis has given us some amazing quotes over the course of his career, and nothing can take that legacy away.

If you want to hear more, tune into Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, August 26, on ABC and streaming the next day with a Disney+ subscription or Hulu subscription.

Many of the biggest action stars of all time, in the best action movies, got their start in the 1980s and 1990s when action movies really started to dominate Hollywood. Stars like Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Keanu Reeves all started making their mark in those seminal decades in film. This gallery is a tribute to all the action stars who are still making movies today, but began their careers decades ago.

Keanu Reeves

While he broke out in comedies like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood, it wasn't long before Keanu Reeves was starring in big action flicks like Point Blank and Speed. Reeves isn't just an action star, but with the lead in two now-iconic franchises, The Matrix and John Wick, he definitely belongs near the top of any list like this.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's career started early. She was just 6 years old when she appeared in her first movie in 1982 alongside her dad, Jon Voight. By the late '90s, she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. She got into action movies with films like Gone In 60 Seconds and her biggest franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and while she has always kept one foot in more indie-type movies (including as a director), she's been a steady action star for decades.

Nicolas Cage

It's hard to come up with a Hollywood star with a more diverse acting career than Nicolas Cage. His rage is actually pretty amazing, and that certainly includes starring in some great action movies, like the iconic Con Air and the National Treasure movies.

Scarlett Johansson

Like a lot of actors on this list, Scarlett Johansson can't be pigeon-holed as simply an action star. She is, however, one of the major players in the MCU as Black Widow, and has starred in other action flicks like Jurassic World Rebirth and Lucy.

Wesley Snipes

Most of the biggest box office successes of Wesley Snipes' early career were comedies like Major League, Wildcats, and White Men Can't Jump. In the early '90s he transistioned into action movies with leading roles in the likes of New Jack City, Passenger 57, and Rising Son. He also starred in Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, and, of course, as Blade in three movies.

Halle Berry

You might not think of Halle Berry as an action star... until you remember how many superhero movies she's starred in. Not only was she an important part of the X-Men franchise, but she was also Batwoman in 2004 and has also starred in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

This one is a little tricky. Technically, action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger had his first role way back in 1970 with Hercules in New York, but that was really a one-off B-movie that was soon forgotten. After he spent the 1970s winning every bodybuilding trophy on Earth, he entered Hollywood properly in 1982 when he starred in Conan the Barbarian. Everything since is action history.

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. doesn't jump off the page as an action star. The Oscar winner has proven he can star in any genre, but as the anchor of the MCU movies for more than a decade, he definitely belongs on this list.

Tom Cruise

There's nothing to be said about Tom Cruise that hasn't already been written, right? One of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, Cruise has starred in action movies like Top Gun and its sequel, a couple of Jack Reacher movies, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and great one-offs like Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report, to name just a few. Plus, he famously does a ton of his own stunts, which shows just how much he belongs on any list of big action stars.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich started as a model, but transitioned to movies with films like Return to the Blue Lagoon and Dazed and Confused. Soo,n though, she started popping up in legendary action movies like The Fifth Element and, most notably, as Alice in six Resident Evil movies.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the '80s, a whole slew of action-first stars emerged, and one of the most popular was Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme first gained fame in No Retreat, No Surrender, and followed that with hits like Bloodsport and Cyborg.

Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron can be divisive, but you can't argue that he knows how to create female action star leads with great parts and great casting. Linda Hamilton is a legend from her appearances in the Terminator movies over the years.

Kurt Russell

Okay, we have to acknowledge that Kurt Russell's career started when he was a child star with Disney way back in the 1960s. In the '80s, he fully dove into action flicks in a big way with movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, all directed by one of the decade's best directors, John Carpenter. He's since been in a slew of action movies.

Mel Gibson

With the Mad Max franchise and the Lethal Weapon movies, Mel Gibson would be on this list even if those were his only movies. Of course, he has so much more, like Braveheart, Ransom, and many of the other best action movies of the '90s.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton debuted in 1991's comedy Flirting, and in the '90s and beyond, she's starred in action movies like Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and 2012. She's also starred in TV shows like Westworld that fit in this genre, too.

Dolph Lundgren

One of the pillars of cheesy (and awesome) '80s action is the great Dolph Lundgren. From fantasy heroes like He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe to communist boxers like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, he's been a staple for decades in lots of action movies, including part of the O.G. cast in The Expendables franchise.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu kicked off her career in the early '90s, and before too long, she started doing some awesome action movies. Probably the most notable are the Charlie's Angels movies and the Kill Bill movies, but she's also got some less-well-known ones like The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA, and even superhero movies, like Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Jason Statham

Like other actors on this list, Jason Statham didn't start in true action flicks. His first roles were in the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but within a couple of years, he became a full-blown action hero in The Transporter and The Italian Job. Now it seems like he's in all the biggest action franchises, like The Expendables and the Fast & Furious movies.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the terrifying true story Monster. She's also been in acclaimed dramas like The Road, Cider House Rules, and Bombshell. Of course, she's starred in a whole slew of great action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Æon Flux, and a few of the Fast & Furious movies.

Jet Li

Jet Li started out in movies in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he quickly established himself as one of the great martial arts stars in Chinese-language films. After a decade and a half in Hong Kong, he moved to Hollywood in the late '90s, starring first as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. He became such a big action star that he was included in the first three Expendables movies.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner might not seem like the typical action star, but he definitely is. Movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Postman, and the incredibly underrated Waterworld prove that when he wants to be, he can be a great action hero.

Michelle Yeoh

Like some other actors on this list, Michelle Yeoh starred in martial arts movies in Hong Kong in the '90s. Her breakout film in the West was as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, where she showed the whole world her stage fighting and stunt skills. Since then, she's been in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bruce Willis

There's no way this list would be complete without the great Bruce Willis! Die Hard will always be one of the best action movies of all time and in many ways helps define what a action movie in the 1980s looked and felt like. Only Willis could have pulled off the the wit and charm of John McClane. He's been in a ton of action movies since, of course. He is now retired, due to his health, but he worked right up until he no longer could.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz took a long hiatus from acting, finally returning in the 2025 Netflix release, appropriately called Back in Action. While she may be best known for her roles in romcoms like There's Something About Mary and The Mask and dramas like Gangs of New York and Vanilla Sky, she's had her fair share of action hits too, like Charlie's Angels and Knight and Day.

Steven Seagal

It's easy to forget just how huge an action star Steven Seagal was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He actually sort of dominated the box office with movies like Hard To Kill, Above The Law, Mark For Death, and Out For Justice. He reached the artistic pinnacle of his career with 1992's Under Siege. It's not just a great movie for teenage boys like his first four movies; it's legitimately a great movie, with great performances from Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Sure, he's not making movies on that level anymore, but he's still been churning out straight-to-video-type releases for decades.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller's breakout came in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension in 1984, but he really hit the big time with 1987's classic RoboCop. Sure, it was insanely violent, but RoboCop had a unique political message, too. Weller's been going strong ever since.

Robert Patrick

The iconic T-1000 in Terminator 2 became one of the great action villains of the 1990s. Robert Patrick played the role of the callous, cold robot killer perfectly. It established him as a legit action star, and he's been busy ever since.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke isn't only an action star. In fact, most of his roles have been in serious dramas, starting with movies like The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9½ Weeks in the 1980s, but he's definitely proven his action bona fides with roles in Iron Man 2, Sin City, and The Expendables.

Matt Damon

Anyone who has starred as Jason Bourne in four films deserves to be on this list. Sure, Matt Damon might not be the first actor you think of as an action hero, but come on! You can't deny that he belongs on this list for those films alone. Throw in movies like The Martian and Elysium, and he definitely should be here.

Dwayne Johnson

We're making a slight exception here. Technically, Dwayne Johnson's first movie credit came in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, but he had been quite famous for years for his work in the WWE throughout the 1990s. So while he didn't get his start in movies until later, he was a well-established star years before that. Of course, in the two and a half decades since his first movie role, he's become one of the biggest action heroes of all time.

Zoe Bell

This is another interesting case. Zoe Bell's first acting role in a movie was in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in 2007. However, she had already built a legendary career as a stunt woman going back to the 1990s. With the Academy Awards (finally) adding a trophy for best stunts, we're going to include Bell here, because she's been performing in movies for decades.

Will Smith

He started as a rapper, then got into acting with comedy, and in the '90s, Will Smith became a big action star with movies like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and Men in Black. He's proven to be a very versatile actor over the years, starring in every genre of film you can think of.

Throughout his illustrious career, Bruce Willis made a name for himself as one a premier movie star. Not only that, many have since lauded Willis for his generosity as a performer and person. The A-lister also, however, earned a reputation for being somewhat headstrong when it came to working with certain directors. Filmmaker Rian Johnson had the opportunity to work with Willis on the acclaimed sci-fi film Looper, and he just opened up about what it was like working with the beloved star.

Looper is easily one of Rian Johnson’s seminal films, and it not only struck gold at the box office but also received critical acclaim. (The film even influenced Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival when it came to time travel.) A lot had to come together for the ambitious film to get off the ground, of course. During a recent chat with Rolling Stone, Rian Johnson recalled making the flick and explained just how crucial it was for the Die Hard icon to sign on. Johnson also revealed what he knew of his prospective co-lead’s reputation at that point:

Bruce Willis’ relationships with directors varied, with some referring to him as a delight and others making note of difficulties they had working with him. Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin recalled having disagreements with Willis while making the film. Cop Out director Kevin Smith said he experienced “true darkness” when working with Willis on the 2010 comedy film. However, Smith later apologized to Willis for his remarks following the latter’s retirement from acting in 2022.

When Rian Johnson discussed his experience with the Moonlighting veteran, he had nothing but positive sentiments to share. Johnson didn’t seek to underplay the experiences that other filmmakers apparently had with the actor while sharing his own. However, he didn’t hold back when explaining why Bruce Willis was such a pleasure to work with on Looper (which is available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription):

I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall while the 2012 thriller film was being shot, if only to rub shoulders with the impeccable cast. The film also stars the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano and Jeff Daniels. Someone would be hard-pressed to find a better assortment of actors.

Looper still stands as one of Bruce Willis’ best movies. At present, Willis himself is retired from acting, having unfortunately stepped away from the profession due to his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. Various stars have honored him since then, with Rian Johnson doing so as well in 2022. He referred to Willis as one of the “all-time great movie stars of our generation.” I’m glad Willis and Johnson were able to work together and that it was a fruitful partnership.

Being a celebrity is a tricky thing. Because while it's a dream for many, it makes one's personal life (and struggles) into a very public matter. Case in point: Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, which resulted in his retirement and concern from his generations of fans. While celebrities spoke out in support of Willis, some fans have also made their voices known. Case in point: Tallulah Willis having a back and forth online after sharing some photos of her famous father.

Tallulah Willis has called out fans online before, whether it was about hate her siblings have received online or simply getting honest about Bruce's health journey. Most recently she posted a set of photos on Instagram, which showed the family laughing and hugging the Die Hard actor. Check it out below:

How sweet is this? Bruce Willis' family has been open about the struggles that come with his condition, asking photographers and fans to stop calling out his name in public. And while Tallulah's post offered a touching look at the joy still happening in their family, she had to defend herself in the comments.

Tallulah Willis shared her post to her 450k followers on Instagram. Although given the level of her father's fame, smart money says it was seen by even more. One person in the comments criticized how she shared photos online of Bruce Willis, posting:

This is definitely a bold swing, as I would personally never tell people how to handle being caretakers for an ailing relative. But rather than being defensive, Tallulah Willis engaged in an open dialogue with this person. As she put it:

What a class act. While it would be understandable if she told off the person in the comments for being judgmental, instead she offered a thoughtful take on her perspective. Caretaking isn't a black and white experience, and it sounds like Tallulah Willis was simply trying to celebrate and share the good days with Bruce's many fans out there.

Tallulah Willis' post shows, once again, how much love Bruce is surrounded by during as his mental health deteriorates. His wife Emma Heming Willis has also shown the good times, while being honest about the challenges of caring for the acclaimed actor. With so many fans who have loved for Willis thanks to his long and iconic career, smart money says this back and forth is going to continue.

For a lot of people, Father’s Day is a special time to spend with family and celebrate. Unfortunately, for many more, Father's Day is somewhat bittersweet. Not everybody has a strong relationship with their father, and many more no longer have their father with them to celebrate. For the family of Bruce Willis, however, things are especially difficult because the man is here and yet, is not.

Bruce Willis suffers from dementia, following the diagnosis of aphasia theat forced him to retire in 2022. This means that while he’s still able to spend time with his family, he’s simply not able to relate to them in the ways he previously could. The actor’s daughter, Rumer Willis, took to Instagram on Father’s Day to admit that such a day is difficult. While she’s glad she still has her father, she wishes she could still talk to him and wishes she had done more earlier. She said:

Bruce Willis' wife has also spoken about the difficulty that comes with his diagnosis. The entire family has been open about the situation, in an attempt to make it easier for others who are dealing with similar problems.

While Bruce Willis may not be able to communicate in the way he once good. However, it’s clear from the way he interacts with his family that he’s still there. Rumer finds some solace in the way her dad reacts when he spends time with his granddaughter, saying:

The comments of Rumer Willis’ post are full of well wishes, most likely from strangers, but several from friends who know her well.

Brittany Snow's Supportive Message

One comment comes from actress Brittany Snow, who revealed last year that her father is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, making her somebody who truly understands the struggle. Snow said:

You can check out Rumer Willis’ complete post below. It includes many fantastic pictures of Bruce and Rumer throughout the years, as well as a lovely picture of Bruce with his granddaughter.

Bruce Willis was clearly a remarkable father, and even if he’s not the same, his family is still here to make sure he knows their feelings haven't changed one bit.

Bruce Willis remains a beloved figure within the Hollywood sphere, with fans and fellow celebrities alike having spoken highly of him over the years. Of course, it’s not just Willis’ great films that have earned him the admiration of his peers and the public at large. He’s also been commended for the kindness he’s shown people. Attributes like that can surely rub off on people, and that seemed to be the case with Dax Shepard. As Shepard’s wife, Kristen Bell, explained, he picked up a sweet habit from Willis that persists today.

Kristen Bell participated in a lovely chat with friend and fellow actor Adam Scott as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors series (which is on YouTube). What made the conversation so delightful is that they not only discuss their work but their personal relationship. Early on, Scott brought up Dax Shepard (who he’s also friendly with) and made note of his generosity. Bell eventually recalled how they all recently went out for burgers and, when Scott – who offered to pay, said he didn’t have enough cash, Shepard swiftly stepped in.

As the Severance star put it, Shepard dropped “like eight times the amount of the check on the table.” Bell initially joked that her hubby does that to “flirt” with her, but that’s truly one of her “favorite things about” him. She then went on to explain how Bruce Willis played a role in shaping Shepard’s giving spirit:

It’s sweet hearing about Bruce Willis’ unselfish nature, but what I really love is the way in which Dax Shepard apparently views it in his mind. The thought of a major actor like the Die Hard icon giving “little presents” to people as he sees fit simply brings a smile to my face. As previously alluded to, this is far from the first time that the actor’s considerate nature has been mentioned. Willis’ Sixth Sense co-star, Haley Joel Osment, spoke about how he was generous with his time on set. Veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer also revealed how Willis treated the Armageddon crew to regular cash drawings.

Dax Shepard certainly picked up the right kind of habit from a fellow actor, and I love that Kristen Bell finds that so attractive. Both Bell and Shepard – who married in 2013 and share two daughters – have been incredibly open about each other and aspects of their relationship. For instance, amid the COVID lockdown, the couple admitted that they weren’t getting along in isolation. Ironically, Shepard also addressed fans’ assumptions that his wife pays for everything and, based on what we know now, that’s definitely not the case.

It honestly does my heart well to hear so many people praise Bruce Willis following his retirement from acting. Unfortunately, in 2022, Willis’ family announced that he would leave his profession due to being diagnosed with aphasia. His condition was further clarified to be frontotemporal dementia. It’s honestly heartwrenching that Willis is battling the disease and that his wife, Emma Heming, has faced challenges while caring for him. All the while, a story like Kristen Bell’s could help ensure that Willis’ goodwill is long remembered.

In Hollywood, some actors have reputations for being great to work with, and others… do not. Samuel L. Jackson, according to most accounts, is one of the good ones. He says he really tries to be nice to everybody on the movie set, too, because doing so is easy, and because he knows there’s a possibility he’ll get paid back for it later.

In a video posted to Instagram by Masterclass, Jackson relays a sign that he saw while working on Die Hard With A Vengeance. The film was one of the actor’s biggest roles at the time, a co-lead alongside Bruce Willis, and he says there was a poster on the wall in the office that he took to heart. He explained…

It’s an idea that we’ve certainly all heard before, but I’ve never heard it put quite this way. While there’s a bit of a self-serving nature to it all, it doesn’t mean you can’t be genuinely nice to other people. It’s a lesson we can all learn that being nice is often just easier, it never hurts, and it might help.

There have been those times when actors and crew haven't always gotten along. Christian Bale once famously berated somebody on the set of Terminator: Salvation. Hugh Grant has admitted to losing his temper in a similar fashion. Tom Cruise famously laid into some of the crew of Mission: Impossible for violating pandemic protocols.

While these may have all been outliers for the actors, the fact that we know about them says something, and can certainly change the perception of a performer. Having a reputation as an actor who's great to work with is always ideal.

Samuel L. Jackson says following this simple rule has absolutely come back to him as he’s gotten jobs from producers that liked him because he was nice to them when they were much lower on the org chart. The beloved Die Hard sequel was a big role for the actor, but Samuel L. Jackson's best roles would all come later. He likely took this lesson to heart at just the right time.

In the end, Jackson simply sees it as a variation on the Golden Rule. Try to make sure everybody has a good day, because you want to have a good day. He said…

Movie-making is an incredibly collaborative business. There are all kinds of people doing all sorts of jobs on set. All of them are necessary, and they’re all working toward the same goal. There’s no reason not to just be nice to the people you’re working with.

Hopefully, we can all learn this lesson from Samuel L. Jackson.

As a professional movie fan, excitement surrounding a roster like the 2025 movie schedule means anticipating the arrival of both projects and talent heading to the big screen. It’s been that way for a while, and I have to admit that as a kid, looking forward to a new Bruce Willis movie was pretty sweet, considering movies like The Fifth Element and The Jackal were square in young Mike’s wheelhouse.

But there’s a movie that never got its chance in the sun, and it’s all because of a perfect storm of imperfect creative differences forcing it to be cancelled. Yet through a story that saw the Die Hard legend basically being forced into a deal that was less than ideal, the result saw two classics we still consider as some of the best Bruce Willis movies becoming a living, breathing reality.

The Bruce Willis Rom-Com That Was Cancelled After 20 Days Of Shooting

The only reason I know of Broadway Brawler’s existence is because of Channel Serfer’s “The Death of Cinergi Pictures” video. A deep dive into how the production label that partnered with Disney on films such as Judge Dredd, Deep Rising, and other more mature fare collapsed, this tale is one of the cornerstones of how that demise came to be.

Which is weird, because when trying to imagine what this Bruce Willis movie would have looked like, I could kind of see it working. Our basic setup is recounted on Broadway Brawler’s Wikipedia page in some pretty broad strokes. All we really know is that hockey player Eddie Kapinsky (Willis) is retired and trying to start a romance with a character played by Maura Tierney.

Admit it: this concept harkens back to Willis’ days on Moonlighting, allowing the action star to dabble once again in the rom-com format that helped make him. Alas, on February 28th, 1997, Broadway Brawler came to a halt after just 20 days of shooting.

Broadway Brawler Collapsed Pretty Early In Its Shoot For Some Heated Reasons

Per a 1997 report from Variety, the collapse of Broadway Brawler came after, according to director Lee Grant, Bruce Willis simply didn’t show up for work on the Wilmington, Delaware set. What’s more, Grant was apparently fired on that same day, along with several other crew members on the project.

Lee Grant’s husband, and Broadway Brawler producer Joe Feury, summed up the situation in this passage from a letter to the town of Wilmington: (via Delaware Online)

Allegedly, there were several Broadway Brawler crew members that the Die Hard star did not get along with; Lee Grant and her husband being two of the most notable. By the time the picture had shut down, “more than half” of the $28 million budget (worth roughly $53 million in 2025) was spent, according to the Variety piece cited above. Though that wasn’t until after Mr. Willis supposedly tapped an old friend from his Moonlighting days to try and right the ship.

Bruce Willis Tried, And Failed, To Rescue Broadway Brawler With Another Director

After the alleged troubles between Bruce Willis and his Broadway Brawler crew, the 12 Monkeys actor had what he thought was an ace up his sleeve. Recounted in The Los Angeles Times’ 1997 story “The Fight Over ‘Broadway Brawler’,” Willis had tapped director Dennis Dugan to step in and try to get things back on track.

Personal connection aside, that’s a choice that I think anyone would stand by; given that Dugan’s big hit for 1996, the Adam Sandler classic Happy Gilmore, swam in very similar circles. However, this hopeful replacement saw only one day of action on set, which officially sealed Broadway Brawler’s fate as lost media gold. Cinergi Pictures’ decline was all but certain at this point, and Disney was looking to recoup its losses, which almost came through a lawsuit against Bruce Willis himself.

Broadway Brawler’s Legal Dispute Resulted In A Subpar Deal For Bruce Willis

In the aftermath of cancelling Broadway Brawler, the final matter that needed to be addressed was how Disney would be made whole for the money they’d spent. Again, “more than half” of the aborted romantic comedy’s budget was blown, and that’s pretty huge for something that was never completed.

As you’d imagine, this is yet another one of those situations where it’s good to have friends, and as recalled by Deadline in a 2010 report about a later Bruce Willis deal, that pal would come in the form of former Fox chairman Joe Roth. That man just so happened to be the chairman of Walt Disney Studios during Broadway Bomber’s embattled tenure, which positioned him to make this infamous deal:

OK, while I’m definitely going to put a pin in the story of how Sean Connery was being pitched for Armageddon, that deal sounds like a definite downgrade. But at the same time, at least we weren't talking about a classic Marvel Cinematic Universe-style contract.

Three movies would be nothing in the grand scheme of things, and they definitely beat Mr. Willis’ other choice of going to court. The reporting above noted that it was a pretty smart move, which would be proven over the next two summers at the box office.

The Iconic Bruce Willis Hits Disney Forced Him To Make

When you hear a star like Bruce Willis has been backed into a corner on “contractual obligations,” the movies that result are almost always assumed to be horrific. But surprisingly, two of the New Jersey-native’s biggest successes came out of this twist of fate.

You see, if Broadway Brawler hadn’t failed, then Mr. Willis may have never made Armageddon, The Sixth Sense, and Disney’s The Kid. Without a question, the first two titles are included on anyone’s list of favorites from the Willis filmography, and rightfully so. Especially since Ben Affleck's infamous Criterion commentary for Michael Bay's 1998 blockbuster is just as beloved as the film itself.

However, as someone who has seen all three, I’d definitely encourage you to check out The Kid, as the light-hearted comedy scratches a similar itch to the one I mentioned when pondering Broadway Brawler’s big “what if.”

As curious as I am about what this cancelled rom-com would have looked like, I don’t think we’re ever going to see that footage for ourselves. Which means that the only traces of this unfinished Bruce Willis movie remain solely on Broadway Brawler’s IMDb page, through alleged set images and a mock-up of an Eddie Kapinsky trading card.

There’s still a little hope, though, at least if director Lee Grant’s remarks to Variety in 1997 still hold true, closing the book on her own involvement with the project, Grant discussed the results of those 20 days of filming by stating, “I’d love to edit it together.” In a post-Coyote vs. Acme world, stranger prospects could be proposed.

Even outside of the losses and disagreements that came out of Broadway Brawler’s aftermath, it’s hard to argue against this being a best-case solution to a worst-case scenario. Sadly, Bruce Willis’ 2022 retirement, due to his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia, means that the action-comedy icon will never work again. And while there are a lot of negatives in this story, perhaps the greatest is that we'll always be missing out without that trademark Willis charm flashing on our screens.

When Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022 for health reasons, he left behind a spectacular legacy of likable heroes, explosive action sequences, and quite a few brilliant quotes. Let’s look back on some of the most wonderful Bruce Willis movies and TV shows by revisiting some of the coolest things the actor ever said on screen.

"Come Out To The Coast. We'll Get Together, Have A Few Laughs" - Die Hard

Bruce Willis skyrocketed to stardom by leading arguably the greatest action movie of all time, 1988's Die Hard, as a New York cop who becomes the only hope to save a group of L.A. office workers in a violent hostage situation. At one point, his character, John McClane, is forced to evade detection by traveling via air duct, during which he reflects on the apparent fact that it was his estranged wife, Holly's (played by Bonnie Bedelia), idea to visit her corporate building, where this situation breaks out.

"Zed's Dead, Baby. Zed's Dead" - Pulp Fiction

Bruce Willis has the honor of not only starring in Quentin Tarantino's masterful 1994 hit but also speaking one of the coolest quotes from Pulp Fiction. After Butch (Willis), along with Marcellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), has survived a traumatic ordeal at the hands of Zed (Peter Greene), the boxer takes the crooked security guard's "chopper" to his girlfriend, Fabienne (Maria de Medeiros), and tells her that its owner is no longer around.

"I Don't Want To Talk About Time Travel Because If We Start Talking About It Then We're Going To Be Here All Day Talking About It, Making Diagrams With Straws" - Looper

One of the best time travel movies, Looper, stars Bruce Willis as an older version of a mob assassin named Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), whom he meets after sending himself to the past. Writer and director Rian Johnson brilliantly dodges explaining how time travel works in the film with Older Joe's dismissive response to Younger Joe's questions.

"I Got Invited To The Christmas Party By Mistake. Who Knew?" - Die Hard

Many people refuse to see Die Hard as a Christmas movie classic, despite all the festive evidence right in front of their eyes. For instance, the movie would not exist without said holiday, as Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his goons interrupt the Nakatomi corporate Christmas Eve party, which is also why John McClane was visiting Holly. His remark about a mistaken invitation, while speaking to Gruber pretending to be a hostage, references him crashing the German thieves' plans.

"So, Ross Was In College, And Decided To Jump At The Chance To Take A Young Girl To Her High School Prom?" - Friends

Bruce Willis made one of the most memorable guest appearances on Friends with a three-episode arc as Paul Stevens, the father of Ross' (David Schwimmer) college-age girlfriend, Elizabeth (Alexandra Holden), who immediately dislikes him due to their age difference. Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) attempts to vouch for her friend by recalling when Ross, then a college freshman, offered to take her to her senior prom when it seemed like her date had stood her up, but even that backfires.

"An Old Man Dies. A Young Woman Lives. A Fair Trade" - Sin City

Each segment of 2005's Sin City – Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's acclaimed film noir based on Miller's graphic novel series – is bookended by a defining quote. For Det. John Hartigan's (Bruce Willis) story, which revolves around his devotion to protecting Nancy Callahan as an adolescent and as a 19-year-old (Jessica Alba), the quote has two variations, the first being, "An old man dies. A little girl lives. A fair trade."

"Welcome To The Party, Pal!" - Die Hard

You could say that the real hero of the classic '80s movie, Die Hard, is the only one on the ground sticking up for John McClane, Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson). However, they have a bit of an awkward first meeting when McClane is forced to get his attention by dropping a goon's corpse onto his cruiser, at which point he utters one of the action film's most quotable lines.

"You've Been Back Enough. I'll Be Back" - The Expendables 2

In The Expendables 2, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Trench uses the actor's oft-quoted catchphrase, originating from The Terminator, which Bruce Willis' Church decides to try for once. Trench then replies with a sarcastic (and censored) variation of the most iconic line from Die Hard, "Yippee-ki-yay."

"United States Government Just Asked Us To Save The World. Anybody Wanna Say, 'No'?" - Armageddon

The plot of Armageddon, which star Ben Affleck even pointed out was a little ridiculous, involves a deep-sea drilling crew asked to help destroy an asteroid with a nuclear explosion before it hits Earth. We cannot help but respect leader Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) for asking if his crew would rather abstain from participating in an incredibly dangerous mission like this.

"I Spend A Lot Of Time In Air Ducts. I Definitely Don't Live Up Here" - The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Bruce Willis makes an awesome cameo in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part as himself, referencing his scene in Die Hard when McClane is forced to climb through an air duct. However, this LEGO figurine version of the actor, who crosses paths with Wildstorm (Elizabeth Banks) while she is looking for Bruce Wayne (Will Arnett), has, apparently, made himself at home in an air duct.

"Well, Maybe That Mime" - Die Hard With A Vengeance

The third (and arguably second-best) Die Hard movie, 1995's Die Hard with a Vengeance, is a buddy movie that partners McClane with Harlem shopkeeper Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson), who ends up claiming many of the best lines. However, McClane does get in a classic one-liner after Zeus asks if he is intentionally trying to hit bystanders while recklessly driving a taxi through New York's Central Park.

“I'm Gonna Keep The Coke And The Fries, But I'm Gonna Send This Burger Back. If You Put Any Mayonnaise On It, I'm Gonna Come Over To Your House, Chop Your Legs Off, Set Your House On Fire, And Watch As You Drag Your Bloody Stumps Out Of Your House. OK, Pierre?" - The Whole Nine Yards

A role that effectively blends Bruce Willis' comedic skills with his action star intimidation is Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski from 2000's The Whole Nine Yards. The former mafia hitman in hiding does not hold back when letting a Canadian restaurant server know just how much he hates a certain food condiment.

"Now I Know What A TV Dinner Feels Like" - Die Hard

Like most air vents in movies and TV shows, the ones in Nakatomi Plaza are still larger than what you might see in reality. Still, they are narrow enough to inspire one of John McClane's funniest one-liners in Die Hard.

"Charlie Chaplin Once Entered A Charlie Chaplin Look-Alike Contest In Monte Carlo And Came In Third. That's A Story" - Lucky Number Slevin

Also one of the best Josh Hartnett movies, 2006's fun crime thriller Lucky Number Slevin stars Bruce Willis as a mysterious figure who, at one point, recalls this fun bit of trivia inspired by a true, but unproven, rumor, according to Snopes.

"I Promise I Will Never Even *Think* About Going Up In A Tall Building Again" - Die Hard

In Die Hard, as John McClane is about to leap from the Nakatomi Plaza roof before it explodes (a stunt that Bruce Willis actually performed from the top of a parking garage), he pleads to God that if he lets him survive this ridiculous idea, he will stay as close to the ground as possible for the rest of his life.

"Did I Happen To Mention, Did I Bother To Disclose, That This Man That We're Seeking With The Mole On His Nose? I'm Not Sure Of His Clothes Or Anything Else, Except He's Chinese, A Big Clue By Itself" - Moonlighting

Before Die Hard made him a movie star, Bruce Willis' biggest claim to fame was the hit TV show Moonlighting, in which he and Cybill Shepherd play mismatched private detectives who eventually fall for each other. However, this was no typical mystery series, but a cleverly self-aware parody of the genre that indulges in all kinds of unusual gags, such as this Dr. Seuss-inspired speech.

"Hunter S. Thompson Once Said To Me, 'Bruce, My Boy, The Movie Business Is A Cruel And Shallow Money Trench Where Thieves And Pimps Run Free And Good Men Die Like Dogs.' And Then He Added, 'There's Also A Negative Side'" - What Just Happened

Bruce Willis may appear as himself in What Just Happens, but you might assume he was playing a role based on his bushy beard. One scene from the 2008 Hollywood satire sees him eulogize a late, beloved talent agent, during which he sums up the film's more cynical themes with a probably fictional quote from legendary author Hunter S. Thompson.

"I Was Out Of Bullets" - Live Free Or Die Hard

The fourth Die Hard movie, 2007's Live Free or Die Hard, sees John McClane try his most elaborate, and kind of ridiculous, ways to retaliate against his enemies. For instance, his reluctant partner, Matt Farrell (Justin Long), points out that he managed to take down a helicopter using a speeding cop car, and this is his witty explanation for why.

"Get Senator Roark Behind Bars? Sure. And Maybe After I've Pulled Off That Miracle, I'll Go And Punch Out God" - Sin City

Sin City's John Hartigan is on a one-man war against corruption, a war that he knows he is doomed to lose. He reflects on this harsh truth at the end of his segment after assuring Nancy Callahan that he intends to bring Senator Roark (Powers Boothe) to justice, before revealing in his overhead narration that he lied, knowing full well that she will never be safe from him as long as he is alive.

"That's What My Captain Keeps Telling Me" - Die Hard

When John McClane pulls his piece on Tony (Andreas Wisniewski), he claims that the cop will not hurt him because he would have to follow police protocol. McClane's reply is his intimidatingly witty way of letting the Gruber goon know that he is not one to be messed with.

"I'll Call You Back In Two Hours" - The Fifth Element

The closest we will probably ever get to seeing John McClane in the future is seeing Bruce Willis play Korben Dallas in Luc Besson's 1997 sci-fi favorite, The Fifth Element. The special forces agent-turned-cabbie demonstrates a flavor of wit similar to the Die Hard hero when the United States President tells him that a giant fireball is estimated to hit Earth in one hour and 57 minutes.

"Well, Now That You Mention It, I Have Experienced A, You Know, Like A Burning Sensation Between My Toes. I Thought It Was Just Some Athlete's Foot Or Something" - Die Hard With A Vengeance

In Die Hard with a Vengeance, McClane is questioned by FBI agents over how he may be connected to the mysterious bomber known as Simon (Jeremy Irons), but he does not take it very seriously. That is, until he discovers that Simon's last name is Gruber, identifying him as the brother of Hans from the original Die Hard, revealing the "vengeance" in the title.

"One Of The Things We Liked To Remind Ourselves Before We Went Into Any Job Is 'Expect The Unexpected'. Alright? Alright? Always sounds Like Good Advice. Except, Of Course, If You Are Expecting The Unexpected, Then... Well Then It Really Isn't Unexpected Anymore, Is It? And That Leaves You Vulnerable To The Truly Unexpected, Because You're Not Expecting It" - Bandits

Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton star in director Barry Levinson's Bandits as a pair of notorious thieves with the genius method of kidnapping bank managers at their homes the night before, earning the nickname "The Sleepover Bandits." Intercut between the main story are clips from their interview with a true crime host, during which Willis' character, Joe Blake, facetiously details his methodology.

"All Things Being Equal, I'd Rather Be In Philadelphia" - Die Hard

Fun fact about this John McClane one-liner: Bruce Willis actually did grow up in Philadelphia, as did Die Hard screenwriter Steven E. deSouza.

"You Wanna Take That Knife Out Of My Balls Now?" - RED

In RED, Bruce Willis stars as retired secret agent Frank Moses, who must call upon the help of his former colleague, Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich), when his life is threatened. However, their reunion is initially hostile, due to the paranoid Marvin's security measures.

"Thanks For The Advice" - Die Hard

When John McClane misses the chance to take out Marco (Lorenzo Caccialanza), the goon, sitting on top of a table that our hero is hiding under, tells him that he should not hesitate when he has the chance to kill somebody. McClane takes this to heart and promptly unloads his magazine through the table.

"I Remember When They Told Sylvia Plath, 'Hey, Syl, Cheer Up!' I Remember When They Told e. e. cummings, 'e, Baby; Use Caps!' But Did Ol' e Listen? No. Little n. Little o" - Moonlighting

In this line from Moonlighting, Bruce Willis' David Addison refers to the fact that poet e. e. cummings stylized his name in all lowercase letters. He did not, however, write entirely in lowercase letters.

"Death Is An Art Form In Russia" - RED 2

In Red 2, we meet Frank Moses' Russian former girlfriend, Katja (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who talks of taking a life like she is a painter in an art studio.

"Hey, You Guys Wouldn't Be Able To Tell Us Who Actually Killed Kennedy, Would Ya?" - Armageddon

If the U.S. Government asked me to help save the world, I think I would also try to see if they could reveal one of the most perplexing mysteries in American history as repayment.

"Oh, Wouldn't It Be Great If I *Was* Crazy? Then The World Would Be Okay" - 12 Monkeys

Bruce Willis stars in Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys as a man from a future ruined by a catastrophic virus who is sent back in time in hopes of preventing it. However, his attempts are thwarted by people trying to convince him that his warnings are a delusion, which is what he would prefer they be.

"DOD Says I Can't Come Out Of Retirement. They Didn't Say Anything About Reenlisting." - G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Bruce Willis shows up in G.I. Joe: Retaliation as retired General Joseph Colton, the original G.I. Joe, who decides to bend the rules to help save the world.

"Try This Salsa. Go On. It Makes You Feel Like You Got Shot In The Tongue" - That '70s Show

As a friend of Ashton Kutcher, Bruce Willis guest-starred on That '70s Show as Playboy Club security manager Vic. The sleazy dude offers Kelso (Kutcher) some of his personal salsa, which he insists is hot enough to feel like you are experiencing injury, before offering him a job.

The Whole Nine Yards is remembered by fans as one of the better comedies in Bruce Willis' filmography. The film sees the beloved star play a gangster-turned-snitch who tries to start a new life for himself in Montreal and gets entwined in the life of a miserable dentist (a mid-Friends Matthew Perry) with a controlling and demanding wife (Rosanna Arquette) who wants to collect the mob bounty on his head. It's a fun movie, and co-star Amanda Peet recalls a specific way that Willis kept the atmosphere fun on set.

The crime comedy is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, having first arrived in theaters in February 2000, and Peet reflected on her time making the movie recently during a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight. The actress, currently starring in the new Apple TV+ series Your Friends And Neighbors with Jon Hamm, was asked about the making of the movie, and she highlighted a special item that Bruce Willis had strung up in his living space that she felt exemplified the air of the whole experience. Said Peet,

Amanda Peet was still very much in the early years of her career during the making of The Whole Nine Yards (just five years removed from her feature film debut in 1995's Animal Room starring Neil Patrick Harris and Matthew Lillard, but she recalls her more experienced co-stars not letting her get overwhelmed. And one would think that it would be hard to be stressed when you're hanging out with one of the biggest stars in the world under the twinkling glow of a disco ball.

In the movie, Amanda Peet plays Jill St. Clair – who is introduced as the dental hygenist for Matthew Perry's Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky but is eventually revealed as a contract killer who was hired by his wife to kill him. She ends up striking up a romance with Brice Willis' Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski, and they end the film as a happy couple.

The Whole Nine Yards, which also featured the talents of Michael Clarke Duncan, Natasha Henstridge, and Kevin Pollak, got a divisive response from critics, but it ended up being a huge hit with audiences. The movie ended its theatrical run making over $100 million, and Peet, Henstridge Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry reprised their respective roles four years later in the sequel The Whole Ten Yards (Pollak is also in the movie, but playing a new character).

Should any of you be interested in giving The Whole Nine Yards a watch in celebration of its quarter-century anniversary, it's not currently available on any subscription services, but it is streaming with ads on Xumo. It's also available for rental and purchase from all major online retailers, including Amazon Prime Video.

Every great action hero has their own epic catchphrase, and I firmly believe that Die Hard’s John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, has the absolute cream of the crop. I mean, I don’t know about you, but it never fails to invigorate me whenever I call out, “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!”

Thus, I am so relieved that this is the signature line from the 1988 action movie classic (and one of the best Christmas movies ever made, whether or not you agree) and not a significantly less badass option that was suggested on set. Before we get into the Die Hard detail that could have changed the hit franchise forever, first allow me to explain where the iconic action movie quote came from.

The Origin Of John McClane's Explicit Catchphrase

John McClane utters “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!” once in each of the Die Hard movies, typically at the end, right after or before defeating the main antagonist. However, the phrase makes its debut early on in the original film after essential ‘80s movie villain Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) calls the New York cop a “cowboy” during their first conversation via walkie-talkie. Fittingly, one of pop culture’s most famous “cowboys” would serve as the inspiration for the line.

Writer Steven E. de Souza explained to Matt Gourley on the I Was There Too podcast that, while meeting Bruce Willis for the first time, he learned they both originated from Philadelphia and even grew up watching The Roy Rogers Show, which had the famous catchphrase, "Yippee-ki-yay, kids!" That later gave him the idea to incorporate their own spin on the line in the film as the insult McClane spews at Gruber. In fact, it was one of many last-minute additions to the script while filming was taking place, which explains why there are just a few details about Die Hard that don’t make much sense.

There Was A Discussion Over How The Line Should Be Said

Speaking of, it does not make any sense to me why anyone would want to change the line “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!” to anything else. However, one Die Hard producer suggested an alternative, as Willis revealed during a press conference for 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard (which some believe is the second best in the franchise) in the following quote:

“Yippee-ti-yie, motherfucker!?” Yeah, I cannot imagine a world in which that phrase stands the test of time like the line we got. So, I guess we can say that Bruce Willis, who has, unfortunately, retired from acting due to health issues, was the hero for Die Hard in more than one way, having potentially saved his character’s signature line from falling into obscurity.

The next time you watch a comedy movie, see if you can picture the star engaging in fisticuffs with a criminal and taking down their henchpeople in a shootout. You never know: they could be Hollywood’s next great action hero.

It may seem unlikely until you realize that many of the best action movies and TV shows of all time have been led by or featured pivotal roles played by stand-up comedians or actors who broke through in funny flicks or even classic TV sitcoms. See for yourself by taking a look at some comedically talented actors who beat the odds by becoming action stars.

Will Smith

After initially coming to prominence as a rap artist, Academy Award winner Will Smith proved he had a charismatic onscreen presence as the star of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast in the early 1990s. In 1995, he was cast in director Michael Bay's buddy cop movie, Bad Boys, and, the following year, led Roland Emmerich's action-packed alien invasion flick, Independence Day. There would soon be so much more where those came from.

Cheech Marin

Along with his partner, Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin essentially became the face of stoner comedy, especially after co-leading the classic '70s movie, Up in Smoke. His career would take a turn when he appeared in 1995's Desperado, leading him to become a staple of Robert Rodriguez's movies, and, eventually, began portraying a type of character his roles from the Cheech & Chong movies would try to avoid alongside Don Johnson in the hit cop show, Nash Bridges.

Chris Pratt

By channeling much of the same comedic energy from his scene-stealing breakout role in the Parks and Recreation cast as Andy Dwyer, Chris Pratt helped make 2014's sci-fi odyssey, Guardians of the Galaxy, a light breath of fresh air into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His fun, heartfelt performance as Peter "Star-Lord" Quill also convinced Hollywood he was leading man material, opening the door for him to star in the Jurassic World movies and Amazon Prime's The Terminal List, to name a few.

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd made his major motion picture debut in the hilarious high school movie classic Clueless before later hit comedies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Knocked Up made him one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors in the genre. He found the perfect role to become inducted into the MCU in the form of Ant-Man, playing the shrinking superhero with the same everyman quality that made him an A-lister.

Michael Keaton

Because Michael Keaton got his start in stand-up comedy and had been best known for movies like Night Shift and Mr. Mom at the time, comic book fans were up in arms over Tim Burton's decision to cast him in his live-action Batman movies, Batman and Batman Returns. The Oscar nominee has since been regarded as one of the best actors to play the Dark Knight (if not the best) and would even return to superhero movies as one of the best Spider-Man movie villains, Vulture, in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Nicolas Cage

It is easy to forget that Nicolas Cage started out in comedies like Valley Girl and Peggy Sue Got Married before blowing us away in high-octane thrillers like Con Air, Face/Off, and Gone in 60 Seconds. Then again, it is also easy to tell that the Oscar winner has a comedy background from some of his action movie credits, including the three listed above and his even Cagier roles, like from Mandy and Willy's Wonderland.

Damon Wayans

You may have forgotten he was on Saturday Night Live, but you should surely remember Damon Wayans from his days on the In Living Color cast and from sitcoms like My Wife and Kids. Hopefully, you did not also forget about his roles in '90s crime thrillers The Last Boy Scout (opposite Bruce Willis) and Bulletproof (opposite Adam Sandler) or when he took over as Roger Murtaugh for Fox's series adaptation of Lethal Weapon.

Robert Downey Jr.

After lasting one season on Saturday Night Live, appearing in several '80s teen comedies like Weird Science, and earning his first Oscar nod for playing Charlie Chaplin, Robert Downey Jr.'s career would hit a snag in the early 2000s. Luckily, he would make an inspiring comeback after leading the 2005 noir thriller Kiss Kiss Bang Bang before kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the title role of Iron Man and playing Guy Ritchie's version of Sherlock Holmes.

Eddie Murphy

Many credit Eddie Murphy with single-handedly saving Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s, right before making his feature debut alongside Nick Nolte in Walter Hill's 1982 buddy crime thriller, 48 Hrs. Just two years later, the comedian led his own acclaimed action-comedy movie called Beverly Hills Cop, which made him Hollywood's biggest star.

Bruce Willis

In the mid-to-late 1980s, Bruce Willis was best known for playing David Addison on Moonlighting, starring opposite Kim Basinger in Blind Date, and appearing in commercials for Seagram, which is why audiences initially laughed when they saw him as John McClane in the trailer for Die Hard. However, the 1988 action classic would immediately skyrocket the actor to stardom and turn him into a top Hollywood action star, later known for leading thrillers like The Fifth Element, Armageddon, and Sin City.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx's stand-up career led him to join the In Living Color cast and lead his own self-titled sitcom before his Oscar-winning performance in the 2004 music biopic, Ray, and Oscar-nominated performance in Collateral the same year opened wider doors for him. He went on to star in more thrillers like Jarhead, The Kingdom, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Electro, and White House Down.

Alan Ritchson

One of Alan Ritchson's first major acting credits was playing doltish college football player Thad Castle on the uproarious sitcom Blue Mountain State before landing a small role in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, doing performance capture for the 2014 and 2017 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, and playing Hank "Hawk" Hall on Titans. The 6'3" actor's defining, star-making turn came when he was cast in the title role of the hit Amazon Prime TV show, Reacher, leading to his casting in Guy Ritchie's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu landed her breakthrough role on the hit workplace dramedy Ally McBeal as Ling Woo. Soon after, she achieved cinematic stardom in 2000's Charlie's Angels, teamed up with Antonio Banderas in the 2002 spy thriller Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever, and was cast as ruthless assassin O-Ren Ishii in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.

Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk wrote for Saturday Night Live for years in the 1980s before co-leading his own acclaimed sketch comedy series with David Cross called Mr. Show, which was his main claim to fame for years. However, he stumbled onto a new career path when he joined the Breaking Bad cast as Saul Goodman, who earned his own prequel spin-off called Better Call Saul, before leading his own action flick called Nobody.

Martin Lawrence

Martin Lawrence led a successful stand-up career that turned into a successful TV career with his hit sitcom, Martin, in between starring in movies like Do the Right Thing and Boomerang. In 1995, he played Det. Marcus Burnett, for the first of multiple times in Bad Boys and even went on to play a cop in a few more overt comedies, namely Blue Streak and Big Momma's House.

Ryan Reynolds

For years, even after starring in more earnest thrillers like Smokin' Aces and Safe House, it seemed like Ryan Reynolds' defining performance would forever be the title role of National Lampoon's Van Wilder, which paved the way for him to star in more raunchy comedies like Waiting... or Just Friends. However, that would change in 2016 when he led Deadpool, which is still very much on the side of silly but is also as action-packed as any other comic book movie.

Sam Richardson

Sam Richardson quickly became a favorite in the comedy landscape for his hilarious performances in shows like I Think You Should Leave, Veep, and Ted Lasso. He would later go on to impress audiences in Amazon Prime's action-packed time travel movie The Tomorrow War opposite Chris Pratt, as the lead of the 2021 horror-comedy movie Werewolves Within, and in Paramount+'s Star Trek: Section 31.

Keanu Reeves

As the star of franchises like the John Wick movies and the Matrix films, in addition to favorites like Speed and Point Break, Keanu Reeves is one of the most prolific action stars in cinema history. Thus, it is sometimes hard to believe that he is the same actor who, excellently, played one-half of the titular duo from the Bill & Ted movies.

John Goodman

John Goodman began rising to prominence on the groundbreaking sitcom Roseanne as Dan Conner (whom he would reprise in the revival series The Conners). However, he has managed to cover just about every genre you can think of throughout his career, including action films like Kong: Skull Island and Atomic Blonde.

Emily Blunt

It might seem like a stretch to call Emily Blunt a comedy star, but she did find her breakthrough film role with a hilarious scene-stealing performance in 2006's The Devil Wears Prada. She would later prove she could play someone with a rougher exterior when she starred opposite Tom Cruise in the thrilling time loop movie, Edge of Tomorrow, and in Denis Villeneuve's stunning Sicario.

Rick Moranis

Rick Moranis is one of the most treasured comedic actors of his time, from his days at SCTV starring alongside Dave Thomas as the McKenzie Brothers (who led their own 1983 movie, Strange Brew), to appearing in films like Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. In the middle of those comedy classics was a role in Walter Hill's dystopian "Rock 'n Roll fable," Streets of Fire.

Bill Burr

Bill Burr used to mock the Star Wars movies in some of his stand-up bits, which gave The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau a funny idea to bring him into the galaxy far, far away. He cast the Massachusetts-born comedian on the series as a mercenary named Migs Mayfield, which Burr has since recognized as one of the highlights of his career.

John Leguizamo

Despite getting his start as a stand-up comedian, many of John Leguizamo's earliest acting roles have actually been in action movies, including Die Hard 2 and Executive Decision. In addition to more humorous credits, like To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar and the Ice Age movies, more thrillers would come his way, such as the John Wick movies and Violent Night.

Owen Wilson

Owen Wilson may be closely associated with comedies like Bottle Rocket, Meet the Parents, and Zoolander, but the actor has diversified his talents over various styles. He has even tried his hand at the action genre a few times, most notably in Behind Enemy Lines, No Escape, and Disney+'s MCU-canon series, Loki

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks' first major show business breakthrough was a sitcom called Bosom Buddies, which led to roles in comedy films like Bachelor Party and Turner & Hooch. It was his Oscar-winning roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump that opened the door for him to star in intense dramas like the acclaimed war movie Saving Private Ryan and the sci-fi epic Cloud Atlas.

Val Kilmer

Some of Val Kilmer's most iconic roles include Iceman in Top Gun, Doc Holliday in the Western movie classic Tombstone, and the title role of Batman Forever. However, his breakthrough films were the ridiculous spy parody, Top Secret!, and the college comedy, Real Genius, in the early-to-mid 1980s.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis rose to fame as Jackie Burkhart in the That '70s Show cast and as the voice of Meg on Family Guy before acquiring A-list fame. Her action movie credits, namely the video game movie adaptation Max Payne and the Wachowski's ambitious sci-fi adventure, Jupiter Ascending, have not been her most esteemed efforts, but we will still count them.

Randall Park

Randall Park is best known for leading the sitcom Fresh off the Boat, his hilarious cameo on The Office as "Asian Jim Halpert," and for hit comedy movies like The Interview and Neighbors. He has also become a staple of the comic book movie genre with his role in the MCU as Agent Jimmy Woo and as Dr. Shin in the Aquaman movies.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf started making a name for himself when he was a teen as Louis on the Disney Channel original comedy series, Even Stevens. He went on to make a Hollywood breakthrough in the Transformers movies, which led to his roles in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and, eventually, David Ayer's 2014 war drama, Fury.

Malin Akerman

Before she became the first actor to play Silk Spectre II in live-action in 2009's Watchmen, Malin Akerman rose to fame in comedy movies like 2007's The Heartbreak Kid and shows like Children's Hospital.

Jim Belushi

Just like his late older brother, John, Jim Belushi broke out on Saturday Night Live. Unlike John, Jim achieved a brief career in action movies, such as Red Heat with Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Principal, and Oliver Stone's Salvador.

Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine was already an Oscar-winning movie star when he was cast as the lead of the hit sitcom, McHale's Navy. Eventually, he would appear in more earnest action-oriented titles, such as a made-for-TV adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, John Carpenter's Escape from New York, and 2010's RED.

It was in spring 2022 that the world found out that long-time action movie fan favorite Bruce Willis was retiring from acting, due to being diagnosed with a health condition that was eventually revealed to be frontotemporal dementia, which affects cognition and other things. While the shocking news was definitely sad to hear, it has likely led many of the Die Hard star’s fans to take some trips down memory lane to revisit some of his best performances. One of those is certainly the part that first made him famous: Moonlighting’s David Addison. The show’s creator opened up about working with Willis, and what their relationship has been like since his diagnosis.

What Did Moonlighting’s Creator Say About Working With Bruce Willis And Their Relationship After His Diagnosis?

Bruce Willis is still one of our most recognizable movie stars, having spent well over two decades bringing us cinematic delights like the aforementioned action hit Die Hard and its four sequels, sci-fi action/adventure in The Fifth Element, the thrilling twist ending of The Sixth Sense (which had its 25th anniversary in 2024) and dozens of other beloved films. But, those of us who are old enough remember how wonderful it was to discover Willis’ talents on the hit ABC detective dramedy, Moonlighting.

That series, which ran for five seasons, is largely known for losing its spark once the main couple got together, but it also helped launch Willis’s career. It featured him as a private detective who’s forced to team up with a down-on-her-luck former supermodel, Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) to keep the detective agency she owns afloat. Creator Glenn Gordon Caron spoke to TV Insider about working with the up-and-coming actor, noting how important he felt it was to make sure Moonlighting could finally arrive on streaming, and said:

There are innumerable movies that feature the 12 Monkeys star as some variety of gun-toting tough guy, but as Caron noted, those who first got to know what Willis could do via Moonlighting quickly learned that he was just as funny and adept at delivering screwball comedy levels of speedy dialogue, along with being roguish and charming as all get out.

In fact, when the show finally hit streaming for the first time ever in the fall of 2023, Rumer Willis noted how watching her dad on the romantic series reminded her of her young daughter, because of the “little side smirk” and “[mischievous] twinkle in his eye” which she also saw in her child.

Caron opened up about his visits with Willis previously, noting how fast his condition had already deteriorated. When he spoke with TV Insider, he said:

A number of the best Bruce Willis movies are available to stream, and I doubt anyone would fault you for binging quite a few of them soon.

Will Smith is still a pretty big movie star today, but there was a time in the late ‘90s that he was quite possibly the biggest movie star in the world. This was, at least in part, because becoming a movie star was exactly Smith’s goal, and it was Arnold Schwarzenegger who taught him how to do it.

In a clip from the documentary film, Number One on the Call Sheet, available this week with an Apple TV+ subscription, that has been posted to Instagram, Smith tells a story which he’s mentioned before about attending a Planet Hollywood opening in the early 1990s. He had a chance to talk to three movie star shareholders, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Sylvester Stallone. Smith said…

It may seem like an obvious statement, that being a big movie star means being a star outside of the U.S., but there are plenty of stars that are loved domestically that aren’t nearly as big elsewhere in the world. A star at the level of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Tom Cruise or yes, Will Smith, is something of a rarity.

But there’s also a more practical reason that being a big star all over the world is important. Being so acclaimed in other countries means a better chance for box office success globally. This means movies can still be a hit even if they don’t become smash hits in North America. Smith continued…

It’s not too difficult to see exactly this idea in action in Will Smith’s own career. While all the Men in Black movies are among the highest-grossing films of the actor’s career, it’s worth noting that each film made less money than the preceding one at the domestic box office. However, the sequels did much better overseas. Men in Black 3 was the lowest-grossing movie in the franchise domestically, but the highest-grossing internationally, making it actually the highest-grossing movie in the series worldwide.

Whether or not Will Smith ever returns to the heights of his previous stardom, the man clearly understands how to be a movie star.

Bruce Willis turned 70 years old this week and while Willis has had to retire from acting due to health issues, his decades of incredible work and his popular characters will live on. It seems this may have been a consideration even much earlier in his career as Samuel L. Jackson says the actor gave him some advice once that ultimately led to him becoming the MCU’s Nick Fury.

In 1995, Bruce Willis returned to the Die Hard franchise for the third time. Die Hard with a Vengeance co-starred Samuel L. Jackson in one of his biggest film roles to date, following his star-making turn in Pulp Fiction. Speaking with Vanity Fair on the occasion of Willis’s birthday, Jackson said his co-star gave him some advice on that set, which he eventually took, even if he didn’t necessarily realize it at the time. The Avengers actor said…

It’s not hard to see exactly this play out in the careers of many stars. Bruce Willis himself returned to John McClain two more times after Die Hard with a Vengeance. He certainly had critical and commercial successes outside of the Die Hard franchise, but there were also plenty of films that failed to find an audience.

To be fair, not all of the movies he made that didn’t make money were bad movies, some of the best Bruce Willis films were not massive hits, but box office success is often a determining factor in an actor’s future prospects. If nothing else, returning to those franchises that audiences love helps keep your name in the public eye, which in turn will keep you in demand as an actor.

Samuel L. Jackson has certainly followed this model. He’s appeared as Nick Fury more times than most actors play any role, making him, statistically, one of the biggest names in the history of the global box office. After his first appearance at the end of Iron Man, Jackson has appeared in 12 Marvel movies, four TV shows and three video games as Nick Fury. Plus, I bet we'll see him again in an upcoming Marvel movie as he seems ready and willing to play the iconic character for the foreseeable future.

And that's in part thanks to the advice he got from Bruce Willis.

Willis clearly had an understanding of Hollywood that helped him navigate one of the most successful careers in recent memory. Whatever else fans think of his films, they’ll always remember John McClain.

Did you know it’s Bruce Willis’ 70th birthday? Well, welcome to the party, pal, because the beloved Die Hard actor has a milestone birthday to celebrate. While he retired from acting back in 2022 due to a disorder called aphasia, his wife Emma Heming Willis continues to be a sweet direct line to him with her continued dedication to the Hollywood actor known for starring in one of the best action movies of all time.

Emma Heming Willis let Bruce Willis’ big birthday be known to the public by sharing a message on Instagram to fans on her social media. As she wrote:

Willis chose to send some praise over the Bruce Willis’ fanbase on his birthday by calling them “one powerful bunch” that often rallies to support him, and of course the Instagram post was flooded with all sorts of happy birthday messages. Check out the cute photo of Willis his wife shared with the birthday shoutout:

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis have been husband and wife for just about 16 years, and it’s clear the model, actress and businesswoman has a lot of love for the ‘80s icon. We can only imagine the rough go of it the couple have had following Willis’ frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis, which has impacted his cognitive abilities in recent years.

As Heming Willis has become a caretaker to Bruce Willis along with his wife, she has taken their high-profile names to spread awareness about the disorder and advocate for the community who deals with the same condition in their family and friends. After Gene Hackman and his wife died last month, she spoke out about how “caregivers need care too” given their situation dealing with medical conditions at home as well.

We imagine Bruce Willis is surrounded by family today, which includes the actor’s five daughters: Rumer, Scout and Tallulah, who come from his marriage with Demi Moore, and Mabel and Evelyn from his current marriage. Considering all the support Moore’s kids threw in for their mom winning a Golden Globe earlier this year, surely he’s feeling the love today.

While Bruce Willis’ place in the public eye is unlikely to change anytime soon, it’s great to see this picture of the actor and kind words from his wife to the fans. Willis’ work is constantly being referenced – next in Glen Powell’s The Running Man performance, and his giant body of work has entertained us for decades. Happy Birthday, Bruce!

A number of celebrity deaths have occurred recently, but the passing of Gene Hackman continues to make headlines thanks to the mystery surrounding it. The late actor, his wife, and his dog were found dead in their home, with the police investigating foul play. Amidst the ongoing discourse Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming opened up about the situation, sharing how caretakers need to be looked after as well.

Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022, with his loved ones revealing his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. Emma Heming Willis has been open about what it's been like caring for her husband, both the good and the bad. The ongoing situation surrounding the Hackmans inspired her to post on Instagram, sharing her perspective on the tragedy. In her words:

She's got a point. Caring for a loved one is a very specific job, one that has unique challenges. One of which is that people might forget to support and check-in on the caretakers themselves. After all, it's a physically and emotionally draining task.

Details about Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's deaths continue to trickle out, including the health issues they were both facing that resulted in their passing. Later in her same IG post, Emma Heming Willis offered her reaction to the tragedy, saying:

Each new report about what happened in the late couple's home is more sobering than the next, showing just how fragile life can be. Emma Heming Willis' big takeaway is that perhaps more care was needed across the board, especially once health issues popped up. And she's clearly been moved by the story of the Hackmans. You can see her video in full below:

This is only the latest example of Emma Heming Willis using her platform to speak about her experience as Bruce Willis' caretaker. She's been very generous about what's been going on from her, while Willis also has set boundaries when needed. That includes asking paparazzi and fans to not call out Bruce's name if they see him.

The situation surrounding the Hackmans' deaths is still ongoing, and will likely continue to make headlines for the foreseeable future. We'll just have to see if Willis ends up giving any more statement about the situation.

Glen Powell is presently on the path to become a major Hollywood star. He turned a lot of heads a few years ago with his scene-stealing turn opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, and he has since shined brightly in the romantic comedy Anyone But You and showcased a lot of charisma as a storm chaser in Twisters. He's in the process of showing movie-goers that he can do a lot of different things very well, and I love the comparison that has been made by director Edgar Wright to a pre-Die Hard Bruce Willis for his role in the upcoming The Running Man.

Based on the novel by Stephen King (published under his pen name, Richard Bachman), The Running Man isn't set to hit theaters until November, but Empire has a published a preview of the film, and it includes interesting commentary from Wright about his leading man. When Die Hard was released in 1988, audiences principally knew Bruce Willis from his role on the TV series Moonlighting, and the writer/director thinks that Glen Powell is capturing a similar energy with his performance in the upcoming thriller:

In the year 2025, we look back on Bruce Willis' career thinking of him as a confident, invulnerable action star, but when Die Hard first came out, audiences invested in the fate of John McClane because they saw him as the funny detective David Addison. We've seen Glen Powell fly jets and track tornados, but there will be a question in the minds of movie-goers if he can survive racing through American society with a huge target on his back.

While many are probably aware of The Running Man via the Arnold Schwarzenegger film from 1987, the upcoming Stephen King adaptation hones much closer to the book – which features a protagonist who is not Schwarzenegger-like in the slightest. Ben Richards is a destitute man living in a dystopia, and when he becomes desperate to afford medicine for his sick child, he volunteers to compete in one of the state-run TV network's dangerous and deadly game shows.

In the Schwarzenegger film, the hero is basically dropped into a maze-like set that sees him do battle with a collection of deadly, themed foes, but the source material is much more grounded and sees Ben Richards released into the world and hunted in cities and suburbs. He not only has to evade a team of trained killers but also must be aware that people are rewarded for snitching on his location. This was an element that Edgar Wright was particularly excited to explore with his version of The Running Man, as he explained to Empire:

The Running Man's stellar cast also includes Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Katy O'Brian, Daniel Ezra, William H. Macy, David Zayas, Jayme Lawson, and Colman Domingo, and production began late last year. Following Osgood Perkins' gory and hilarious The Monkey and Mike Flanagan's The Life Of Chuck, it's set to be the third Stephen King movie released in theaters in 2025, and will be playing on the big screen everywhere on November 7.

Michael Bay’s Armageddon remains a fan favorite of many even after almost 30 years after its release, and it's one of Bruce Willis’ best flicks. The film is packed with Bay’s special sauce, which he applies to the high-stakes action, explosions and tear-jerking moments. However, shooting one of the most emotional scenes wasn’t easy on Ben Affleck. Bay recently revealed that Affleck had the stomach flu while filming a particularly intense moment, though Bay has an upbeat take on that.

The 60-year-old filmmaker was present at SXSW, where he chatted with The Hollywood Reporter. Details on the director's new movie centered around parkour were discussed. However, there were also behind the scenes stories shared about some of Michael Bay’s best blockbuster hits. Apparently, Armageddon was one of his favorite sets to be on because of the camaraderie, And, while Ben Affleck ended up being pretty miserable during one moment of shooting, it sounds like everything worked out:

The scene in question is when Affleck’s character, A.J. Frost, has to say goodbye to Bruce Willis’ Harry Stamper, who he sees as a mentor (and potentially his future father-in-law). Frost is in tears as Stamper sacrifices himself to manually detonate a bomb and save the world. It’s a classic cinematic tragedy that continues to move audiences to tears and is one of the most memorable scenes of the '90s action film.

Amid the scene, Ben Affleck is sweaty, and his breakdown feels authentic, probably because it was. Flop sweat and the effects of the stomach flu likely enhanced his performance, and that's likely why Michael Bay thinks it all worked out well. Considering how the scene plays, it's hard to disagree with that notion. Nevertheless, it sounds like a gnarly experience.

I can’t imagine having to go through that. Filming action-packed blockbusters can require a lot of physicality in general, but being sick on top of it? That’s next-level brutal. Also, Michael Bay is known for his fast-paced directing style, which means there may have been little time for Affleck to rest in between, just enough time to get sick and start over again. Given that, at the time, the eventual Argo helmer was a young actor just starting out, he may have been looking to prove he could act through discomfort. If that was the case, he certainly succeeded, and you can see the clip below:

Even if this particular scene was pretty brutal for the co-lead to shoot, it's cool to hear that the set in general had a fun, summer camp vibe. Ben Affleck has been vocal over the years about giving Michael Bay a hard time over some of the plot inconsistencies in Armageddon, but his consistently snarky/jokey tone speaks to a real bond between a director and actor. I’d love to see these two work together again and cook up another, fun sci-fi blockbuster that has to be seen on the big screen.

Affleck is a very experienced actor now, so hopefully he’d be able to leave the paint bucket behind and deliver another excellent Michael Bay-directed performance But, this time, without the stomach flu. You can see Affleck’s performance in Armageddon now by renting the movie on Amazon. Fans of the actor should also check out our feature on what other upcoming projects Affleck has heading to the big screen in the near future.

For the past few years, any mention of the all-star actor Bruce Willis has been accompanied by an update on the celebrity’s health. Die Hard star Willis announced his retirement from acting back in 2022 due to a diagnosis of aphasia, which has graduated to FTD, a form of dementia. And while we continue to keep Willis in our thoughts, I like to think of him in terms of his illustrious career, which had decades worth of highs – as well as an even number of lows. I spent years writing a book that analyzed Bruce Willis’ complete film career, and a lot of my research revolved around his flirtation with the Ocean’s franchise, something ex-wife Demi Moore used to poke fun of him during a celebrity roast.

Demi Moore is currently making the rounds on behalf of her Oscar-nominated performance in The Substance. But a while back, she appeared as a celebrity guest for a roast of Bruce Willis. And during that “attack,” she ripped Willis for passing up the Danny Ocean role in Ocean’s 11. That got a huge laugh out of Willis. But several watching this clip might not have even known that was a thing. Here’s Demi Moore at the Bruce Willis Roast:

Let’s talk about what we know regarding Willis’s possible involvement in the Ocean’s series, and how Clooney made good on it for Willis in the long run.

Bruce Willis would have played Danny Ocean

So, as legend has it, Bruce Willis turned down the role of Danny Ocean, a part that eventually went to George Clooney. After seeing the way that Clooney occupies the role through three movies, I can’t imagine anyone else in the part. He’s the perfect blend of cool sophistication, but dirty casino sleaze. He’s ideal as Danny.

That’s not to say Bruce Willis couldn’t play the role. It just would have been different. He still could have been the calm, cool, collected leader of a team of thieves that included Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Julia Roberts, and more. Only, he turned the part down, as was explained by Clooney in a 2007 interview with Time. Said the Solaris star:

We’ll get to Ocean’s 12 in a second. Why did Willis turn down the part of Dany Ocean? We don’t know for sure, but I can tell you that he was plenty busy in 1999 and 2000, when this movie would have been going through negotiations and pre-production. The actor had just broken the bank by portraying a child psychiatrist opposite Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense. He was riding high on the success of Armageddon (1998) and the Matthew Perry comedy The Whole Nine Yards (2000). He didn’t need Steven Soderbergh’s casino romp.

Eventually, though, Willis got the chance to play in that particular sandbox, and to me, that’s a career highlight.

Bruce Willis stole the show in Ocean’s 12

Because Bruce Willis achieved global superstardom in the Die Hard franchise, he’s always been known as an action star. But Willis started in comedy, both on the TV show Moonlighting and in the film Blind Date. And his sharp sense of comedic timing was on display when he joined Soderbergh, Clooney and the cast for the European jaunt, Ocean’s 12.

In the scene, which I find quite brilliant, Matt Damon’s Linus is convincing Julia Roberts’ Tess to go along with a scheme that will have her pretending to be…. Well, pretending to be Julia Roberts. This will allow the crew the chance to infiltrate a museum and get close enough to a valuable treasure to steal it.

Only, as Tess is “pretending” to be Julia Roberts, she’s spotted by Bruce Willis playing the real Bruce Willis. And it leads to this high-wire comedy of errors that shows the best of everyone involved. Press play on this, and enjoy.

As George Clooney notes, it’s possible Willis just regretted not being in Ocean’s 11, and wanted a piece of the fun. But also, on the audio commentary track for Ocean’s 12, Soderbergh explained that he tasked Julia Roberts with choosing a scene partner she already was familiar with, and she and Willis go way back in their personal lives. Hence all the jokes about Tallulah’s Spongebob blanket being left in Taos, New Mexico… where Roberts once lived (and still owns a ranch).

And that’s the story behind Bruce Willis turning down Ocean’s 11, but still getting into the series for a brilliant cameo. It’s possible we might get another Ocean’s movie, as there have been rumblings of a script, but no official announcements from anyone involved. If you want a taste of that Ocean chemistry, use your AppleTV+ subscription to watch Wolfs, a buddy comedy starring Clooney and Pitt that’s a pleasant diversion.

The Bruce Willis-Demi Moore blended family has remained tight-knit long past the A-lister’s divorce. Most recently, their daughters celebrated the Best Actress globe win, making it an even sweeter win for The Substance star. And while the Die Hard actor’s 2022 diagnosis helped bond the relationships even more, it seems that this fam has always been there for one another. The ex-couples eldest daughter Rumer Willis opened up about what she’s most thankful to have learned from watching her parents' relationship over the years, and specifically, how well they co-parent.

The House Bunny actress was a guest on the British talk show Loose Women (via Us Magazine), where she talked about her personal life, including being a co-parent herself (Rumer gave birth in 2023), with ex Derek Richard Thomas. The 36-year-old shared an update about her dad’s health and reflected on what she’s most grateful to have learned from her parents. (Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and communication disorder aphasia). She said how wonderful family life was pre and post-split, and it’s due to Willis’ and Moore’s prioritization of their kids above all else:

What a great and valuable lesson to learn from someone as close as your mom and dad. It seems that the Willis-Moore clan are as close as ever, which says a lot about both the Ghost star and the Pulp Fiction actor. Between how the famous fam had a hopeful Christmas together praying for their patriarch's health issues to subside and Tallulah Willis' sweet wedding wish, you can see just how much of the duo’s lessons have permeated. For the Sorority Row actress to reveal how special and valuable her parents' dedication to family life has been incredibly wholesome and generous to fans like me.

And, if that isn’t enough, Bruce Willis showing up to thank Californian first responders amid the wildfires puts it all over the top. With parental role models like Demi Moore and her ex-husband, it’s no wonder their girls are still right by their sides through thick and thin. But, let’s not forget Willis’ current wife, Emma Heming Willis. She and her kids with the Hollywood vet have been just as easily folded into the mix, and with her sharing her sentimental anniversary letter, all seem deeply entrenched in the precious loving tenants of the tight-knit contingency.

Hopefully, for Rumer Willis, and all who have been positively affected by Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s co-parenting, they have plenty more lessons to glean from the two.

As a star of some of the best action movies, Bruce Willis knows a thing or two about danger. But that knowledge has also given the retired acting legend a deep appreciation for the actual people who inhabit the occupational roles he's played.

This gratitude was shared with the world yet again. In the wake of the ongoing California wildfires, Willis apparently took some time to meet up and shake hands with first responders helping to handle the disaster. Courtesy of wife Emma Hemming Willis, our Die Hard hero can be seen meeting with members of the Los Angeles Police Department and sharing the love, as seen below:

Fans meeting their on-screen heroes is certainly something we’ve heard of in the wild. And yet, these moments between the Armageddon actor take on more of an emotional angle. With a lot of the best Bruce Willis movies seeing the New Jersey native cast as various law enforcement types, some of the people in this video may well have been inspired by his on-screen heroism.

That angle plays doubly effective with the LAPD, as memories of John McClane working with and in competition with that law enforcement body gave him his breakout hit. At the same time, pretty much anyone who’s a fan of Willis is having their own emotional response to this situation.

At least, that’s what it looks like when you read the comments being left on this post. Here’s just a sample of that outpouring of love:

• “This brought tears to my eyes! My dad (who was a retired police officer and who also suffered from FTD) would do the same thing. Even as things progressed, his eyes would light up with familiarity and recognition whenever he saw a person in uniform. Thank you for sharing!” - @dr.riss
• “WOW Awesome Bruce looks great. (I was my vascular dementia dad's 24/7 caregiver).... Getting out in the sun and socializing is so important. Willis family you're doing a great job.” - @jjaninejj
• “What do you want to bet that some of these cops joined the force because as kids they wanted to be just like John McClane? Yippee Ki-yay, Mr. Willis!!!” - @schmincy
• “Absolutely nobody will ever be as cool as Bruce Willis” - @jacealynnd

There’s plenty more where that came from, which is similar to the wave of celebrity reactions to Willis’ retirement from 2022. Just as predictably as law enforcement inspiration came up, it was good to see some fans who have personal experience with frontotemporal dementia taking inspiration from this story as well.

With this additional inspiration in the world after Bruce Willis’ 2023 diagnosis with FTD, his legacy continues to build a new chapter. While this Moonlighting icon may not be acting anymore, he’s shown that influence is still going strong throughout the Willis family updates that show where he's at in life.

Of course, part of that legacy is thanks to Die Hard influencing actors like Gerard Butler. But even with a little bit of kindness, he can still inspire those who love to watch him in action. Yippee ki-yay indeed, Mr. Willis.

We here at CinemaBlend continue to send our best wishes to Bruce Willis and his family as they meet the challenges ahead. And, of course, we also continue to salute the California first responders, as they continue to make progress with their efforts to stem this ecological and humanitarian disaster.

Have you ever heard of a “drop the remote” movie? It implies that a particular movie is so good, if you should encounter it while channel surfing – no matter what part the film happens to be on – you are going to drop the remote and watch it all the way ‘til the end. Usually, “drop the remote” movies tend to be comedies, which explains why Christopher Nolan named some top Will Ferrell comedies as his “drop the remote” choices. Other times, it’s guilty-pleasure action movies, ones that allow us to turn off our brains and just enjoy explosions, adrenaline, and fun.

The first Den of Thieves qualified as a “drop the remote” movie for a lot of people as it screened on cable. The heist thriller, starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr., didn’t thrill critics, and had a meager box-office performance. But audiences found it eventually, and really loved it. Heck, The Rewatchables basically claimed it as one of their own, boosting the movie’s profile through their podcast. This proved valuable when Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera recently opened. Our own Eric Eisenberg didn’t love it, but the movie made enough to lead the box office.

A new “drop the remote” movie might have been born.

While speaking with Gerard Butler on behalf of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, I asked the London Has Fallen actor if he had any movies that had that effect on him. Specifically, were there any action movies he could think of that, when they came on, he threw down the remote and watched to the end. And he came up with the best possible answer. Said Butler:

Gerard Butler isn’t exaggerating. Whether it be 300 or Greenland, the actor has so many action movies on his resume. But he wisely deferred to the best Bruce Willis action movie of all time: the original Die Hard. Christmas movie? Who cares? No matter what time of the year it is, we’re always game to watch John McClane (Willis) methodically working his way through a skyscraper filled with terrorists. There’s a reason Samuel L. Jackson told an interviewer that Die Hard with a Vengeance had a bigger impact on his career than Pulp Fiction did. Die Hard is massive. It’s global. It’s Die Hard!

One element of the “drop the remote” movie tends to be that it creates a franchise, and Butler hopes that’s the case with Den Of Thieves. The sequel didn’t set the box office on fire. But the actor and his co-star, O’Shea Jackson Jr., already have cast members in mind if they get to add to the ensemble and make Den of Thieves 3. Sadly, it can’t be Bruce Willis, as he has retired. But you know the spirit of John McClane will infuse every decision that is made on the Den of Thieves franchise, so long as Gerard Butler is in charge.

It feels like celebrity icon Bruce Willis and his family have been riding a rollercoaster through delirious highs and devastating lows. They have been dealing with the ongoing struggles linked to the actor’s Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) diagnosis, something that caused him to retire from acting in 2022. At the same time, Willis’ ex-wife and close partner, Demi Moore, is enjoying a run through the annual awards season for her brilliant performance in the winning film The Substance. There have been tangible reasons for the family to celebrate, and another one is on the horizon as Bruce and Demi’s daughter, Tallulah Willis, plans a wedding with musician Justin Acee.

There is no date set for the couple’s nuptials, though a source told Life and Style Magazine that Tallulah Willis plans to ramp up the schedule on the ceremony, for one specific reason tied to her father. As the source explains:

In addition to being a blockbuster film star, a celebrity, a musician, and an entrepreneur, Bruce Willis is a father. He has three daughters with Demi Moore, of which Tallulah is one, and two daughters with his current wife, Emma Heming Willis. And I’d imagine it is the dream of any father of daughters to be there on the day that they walk down the aisle. Patients diagnosed with FTD can last quite a long time, especially if they receive the level of care that Willis seems to be getting from his loved ones. So I think the chances are good that he will be able to walk Tallulah Willis down the aisle, and be a part of her special celebration.

Which is wonderful, emotionally, for the actor we have seen gradually disappear from the public eye. The Willis daughters have done their part to keep the actor’s fans up to date on his condition, while also respecting the man’s right to privacy. And Emma Heming Willis also has been sharing details about her journey with Bruce and FTD, but in a way that hopefully educates other people who are facing the fight in their own lives how to cope with it, and live with the obstacles that are part of the battle.

Having just come off of the holiday season, where fans debated the merits of Die Hard as a Christmas movie, we will continue to track Demi Moore’s ascent through the awards season on the back of The Substance, and hopefully the progress of Tallulah Willis’ engagement, so she can experience a very special moment with her father, on her wedding day.

Samuel L. Jackson has enjoyed one of the most remarkable careers in Hollywood history. You can’t even begin to construct a list of the best Sam Jackson movie moments without touching on some of the biggest franchises ever. Jackson was in Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park. He played Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and was a Jedi master in Star Wars. For real, any list of the 10 best Samuel L. Jackson movies is going to be leaving off multiple stone-cold masterpieces. So when Sam speaks up about the different impacts Die Hard with a Vengeance had on his career versus Pulp Fiction, you have to listen and accept what he says.

The reason this conversation even comes up is because Sam Jackson appeared in both of these movies with Bruce Willis, and released them around the same time: Pulp Fiction in 1994, and the third Die Hard movie, Die Hard with a Vengeance, in 1995. Speaking with Masterclass, Jackson shared stories of Willis – a Die Hard veteran – explaining to the Coming to America co-star that involvement in With a Vengeance was going to change his life. Here, listen to Sam tell it:

Maybe too much time has passed, and people have forgotten what a massive success the Die Hard franchise was, particularly through the first three movies. I wrote a book about Bruce Willis that tries to capture the impact of that series on his career, and the industry, but the way that Samuel L. Jackson sums it up really hammers the point home. Pulp Fiction was a major movie for Jackson. It earned him an Oscar nomination, and turned his monologue structured around Ezekiel 25:17 into a pop-culture lightning strike that none of us were going to forget.

Because as impactful as that movie was, its effects were dwarfed by Die Hard with a Vengeance. As Jackson explained, crowds embraced his cantankerous character, Zeus. They’d shout Die Hard quotes back to him when they saw him in the streets. And, more importantly, the film industry suddenly recognized Jackson as someone who could carry a blockbuster. As he recalled:

After appearing in Die Hard with a Vengeance, Samuel L. Jackson started ramping up his film credits. He continued doing prestige pictures like Eve’s Bayou. He collaborated with Quentin Tarantino on Jackie Brown. But you’d also find him in bigger-ticket items such as The Long Kiss Goodnight, Sphere, The Negotiator and, in 1999, Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. It makes me wonder if Zeus walked so that Mace Windu could run?

It makes me sad that we won’t get another Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson collaboration, as the former retired in 2022 due to an aphasia diagnosis. But we’ll always have Pulp Fiction, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and a string of excellent M. Night Shyamalan movies including Unbreakable and Glass to remind us of their combustible chemistry together.

The past few years haven’t been easy for the family of beloved actor Bruce Willis, who was confirmed to have frontotemporal dementia back in 2023. Willis effectively retired from acting and, since then, his loved ones have been pushing forward and still seeking to make memories with him. The Die Hard actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, has been candid about the ups and downs that she and her brood have gone through, but she has also dwelled on the positive. With that, Heming Willis just penned a sweet anniversary tribute to her husband.

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are many reasons why Die Hard is my personal choice for the greatest Christmas movie of all time. The most essential, however, is the heart-stopping sequences that also make the 1988 hit an undisputed action movie classic worth watching any time of the year, such as John McClane’s (Bruce Willis) jump from the top of the Nakatomi Plaza right as a fiery blaze erupts from behind him.

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

Bruce Willis Performed The Die Hard Stunt Himself

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

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

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

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

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

Bruce Willis Nearly Injured Himself Performing The Stunt

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

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

With Christmas around the corner, it’s time to turn on the best Christmas movies you can find on TV and the best streaming services. However, are you one of those people who believe one of the greatest action movies Die Hard should be on this list? As someone who personally doesn’t find the Bruce Willis-led movie to be a Christmas flick, a funny holiday post surrounding the debate truly has me in my feels.

Die Hard isn’t necessarily in your face about its Christmas themes the way classics like the Home Alone movies or Elf are. However, some argue that the action flick technically does follow the holiday-themed genre because of its use of holiday songs, the theme of reconnecting with loved ones, and the obvious fact that it’s set during Christmas. As a true non-believer that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, a funny Instagram holiday post about those on the other side of the debate really has me in my feels:

I’m not exactly seeing this post with Hans Gruber’s deadpan “Ho ho ho” expression. This has got me cackling! According to @nakatomicorporation’s social media post, the entire country lists Die Hard as their favorite Christmas movie. Even though these stats are fake, it’s still hilarious “evidence” to show others who dare to argue about the John McTiernan film’s Christmas nature.

The debate about Die Hard falling into the holiday movie genre spans through numerous surveys and famed actors chiming in. Back in 2015, Public Policy Polling asked users what their opinion was with 62% saying it wasn’t a holiday movie, 25% not sure, and 13% saying yes. Three years later, the majority also ruled on the matter with a new poll by Morning Consult/Hollywood Reporter saying the 1988 action flick wasn’t a Christmas movie. But it looks like even if the recorded majority are in favor of Die Hard not belonging among the holiday flicks, I have a feeling this cultural debate will forever be ongoing.

In terms of how the actors of Die Hard feel about their action movie being a Christmas film, Bruce Willis settled the debate once and for all after his 2018 Comedy Central roast saying “Die Hard is not a Christmas movie!” However, the OG star of the movie, Reginald VelJohnson, weighed in that he sees his high-grossing action movie as a holiday film based on its annual Christmas showings and all of the fans who tell him it’s so. Director John McTiernan had a more neutral take on the Christmas debate saying that even though the Oscar-nominated movie wasn’t intended to be a holiday movie, it’s ultimately up to the audience to decide.

Even if a funny holiday post has me in my feels about all 50 states considering Die Hard their favorite Christmas movie, I’ll have to respectfully disagree. I just see the praised action flick as Bruce Willis’ John McClane having a strange matter-of-fact Christmas experience of having to save hostages at a Los Angeles skyscraper that happened to fall on the jolly holiday. But if it’s everyone else’s favorite Christmas action movie, who am I to argue? If you want to fill your Christmas movie schedule by watching Die Hard on your Hulu subscription or your Amazon Prime subscription, Happy Holidays!

Because Bruce Willis became known for action thanks to the global success of Die Hard early in his career, it’s easy for casual fans to forget that Willis was hysterical in his prime, and cut his teeth on comedies as he broke into the industry. Moonlighting fans, as an example, have rejoiced over the classic detective comedy series making its way to streaming. Willis’ first feature film was actually the Blake Edwards screwball comedy Blind Date. And Willis helped boost his profile by lending his voice to a baby in two Look Who’s Talking movies in the 1980s. They weren’t the best Bruce Willis movies, by any stretch. So I’m dubious of the idea that director Amy Heckerling might want to make another one.

I’m an enormous Bruce Willis fan. I even wrote an entire book celebrating the actor’s versatility in movies, because I think he unfairly gets pigeonholed as an action star (which he is), because he’s capable of so much more. The Look Who’s Talking movies were tolerable because of Willis’ comedic timing as Mikey, a child caught up in the demented romance between the frazzled Kirstie Alley and the smooth John Travolta. SPeaking with Empire Magazine, original director Amy Heckerling teased a possible fourth movie, telling the outlet that she was actively working on a script set in the series, and confirming:

Well, I am. The concept really ran its course after one movie. But Look Who’s Talking was such a financial hit, the studio immediately sent the cast and crew back into production on a second movie without an idea, or even a script. Roseanne Barr was added as the voice of Mikey’s half-sister, Julie, and we also got Damon Wayans as a baby, and Mel Brooks voicing a character named Mr. Toilet Man.

Need I say more?

The franchise became one of the more problematic series of the late 80s and early 90s. I don’t see any need to revisit it. Specifically because a fourth Look Who’s Talking would not be able to involve Bruce Willis. The highlight of the movies was Willis’ brilliant comedic timing with his line readings as the toddler, Mikey. We all know that Willis is retired from acting, because he’s battling FTD that directly affects his speech. There’s no way he’s doing this movie, and trying to make one of these movies without him is an outrage. It’s insensitive. I personally think it’s a huge mistake.

I’m holding out hope that Amy Heckerling’s Look Who’s Talking revival stalls in the development stage. There are plenty of properties that warrant the time and energy of a creative person like Heckerling, and I don’t want to see this series continue without Willis. That’s a crime. We’ll see what happens, but I hope in a year we at Talking about something totally different for all involved.