There are a lot of exciting titles on the 2026 movie schedule, especially for this coming summer. However, few titles, however, have been drumming up as much buzz as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The historical drama's is so stacked that it feels like everyone has worked together at some point. Yet one particular reunion that's not being discussed as much is getting me hyped for the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation, and it’s not one of the ones you might expect.

I feel like everyone is talking about how Tom Holland and Zendaya are appearing together for the fourth time via this film, or how Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are collaborating again after just working together on The Drama. Christopher Nolan is also reuniting with familiar faces like Elliot Page and Anne Hathaway, which is causing a lot of chatter. However, no one seems to be mentioning that Matt Damon and Charlize Theron are reuniting for the film as well, and Theron had some lovely things to say about getting to work with him again. She told Elle:

Based on what's known about The Odyssey, filming it was no easy feat. Nolan's stars e experienced some pretty harsh conditions, especially Matt Damon. The leading man has been open about being wet and cold for most of the shoot, and it sounds like things were pretty rough for Theron as well. Theron plays Calypso, a divine nymph who detains the hero Odysseus (Damon) on her island, Ogygia, for years. Based on her storyline alone, it sounds like most of her scenes are with Damon, and I personally can’t wait to see this chemistry on the big screen again.

For context, Theron and Damon first worked together 26 years ago on The Legend of Bagger Vance. The film sees them play former lovers who come back together when Theron’s character invites Damon to compete in a golf competition.

While Bagger Vance isn’t the most memorable entry in their respective filmographies, it’s a pretty fun watch, and the two of them have great chemistry. The Mad Max star clearly has fond memories of her experience working with the Boston-born actor, and ecstatic that they'll be sharing the screen again.

With such a huge cast, there’s a laundry list of reunions in The Odyssey in addition to the ones I previously mentioned. Cast members Benny Safdie and Robert Pattinson have worked together before, as have Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland. But, personally, this Theron/Damon connection feels like an underrated one. They have both had full careers since The Legend of Bagger Vance, and getting to reignite this working chemistry in a new context after they have both grown as actors is something truly special.

Also as a literary nerd, I have to say the Calypso storyline is one of the most interesting in The Odyssey. So I can’t wait to see how it plays out with these two powerhouses.

You can see Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, and the rest of the starry cast in The Odyssey, which hits theaters on July 17, 2026. Fans of the pair can also watch The Legend of Bagger Vance, which is now streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

As we wait to see if Season 2 of MobLand premieres on the 2026 TV schedule, big news came out that claimed Tom Hardy would not be returning if the show continues. It was rumored that the actor was not asked to return due to issues he had with a few people who worked on the series. However, this is not the first time he has had problems with colleagues on set, as he's had reported conflicts with other actors, like Charlize Theron, before.

What’s Allegedly Going On With Tom Hardy And MobLand

It was reported that Tom Hardy was not asked to return to MobLand due to on-set issues he had with 101 Studios, executive producer Jez Butterworth and others earlier in May by Variety. However, on May 28, the outlet reported that he “was not fired,” as one source alleged:

According to the newest report, the tension between Hardy and his co-workers is real. However, apparently, he was not officially fired, and they’re trying to work through creative differences.

Older reports claimed that Hardy was frequently late to set while they were working on Season 2. He also would allegedly give script notes and change the dialogue according to a Puck report (via Page Six). Variety also noted that the actor was frustrated because Butterworth would apparently deliver scripts late and was not present on set to deal with script changes.

Season 1 of MobLand premiered in 2025, and alongside Hardy, it stars Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. It was a hit among those with a Paramount+ subscription and was renewed for a second season. Season 2 finished filming in March; however, it’s unclear when it will be released. What does seem to be confirmed is that even though the actor is still reportedly working on the show, there has been tension between him and other folks who work on the program.

Tom Hardy Has A History Of Not Getting Along With Co-Stars

Now, this situation with MobLand is not the first example of Hardy having issues with colleagues.

He and Charlize Theron infamously didn’t get along when they worked on one of the best action movies of all time, Mad Max: Fury Road. Crew members said Hardy was hard to work with on set, and it was claimed that Theron was not happy about his tardiness. Zoë Kravitz also said the conditions they were working in could have impacted this tension too, seeing as they were isolated and working long hours in the desert.

Meanwhile, In Patrick Stewart’s memoir, Make it So, via Page Six, he wrote that Hardy “wouldn’t engage with any of us on a social level” while they were filming Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002. However, Hardy said he was “terrified” while working on that movie because he thought he was “genuinely out of [his] depth.”

It was also reported that the Peaky Blinders actor and Shia LaBeouf got into a fight while filming Lawless in 2012. Director John Hillcoat said there was “definitely a fight between them” and they “had to both be restrained.” However, when LaBeouf appeared on Hot Ones, he called the rumors about him knocking his co-star out “bullshit,” while explaining that he and Hardy would “wrestle.”

So, Tom Hardy does have a history of conflict and/or tension when it comes to his working relationships. Right now, it seems like things on MobLand are being worked out, and as we learn more, we’ll keep you posted.

Charlize Theron’s best movies see her portraying a lot of tough characters. From a professional safecracker in The Italian Job to a rock climber in the 2026 Netflix release Apex, Theron has plenty of experience playing disciplined individuals. However, as superhuman as she may seem at times, she is still a mortal. However, Matt Damon's story about Theron acting through a “30-to-40-mile-an-hour wind” for The Odyssey still proves the sheer amount of toughness she has.

Part of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey was shot at a Moroccan beach known for windsurfing and kite boarding and, as a result, there were some rough conditions. Damon, who spoke with Elle for Theron's cover story, said she was able to endure filming in the sandy location, though. And, based on his description of the shoot, I'm not sure I could've handled it:

That’s wild! Just the mere fact that Theron was even able to withstand filming while the sandy wind blew across her face is really impressive. My eyes sting just thinking about that stuff blowing in my own face. What's also surreal to note is that this instance of “massive discomfort” barely even holds a candle to other precarious moments the Oscar winner has had on movie sets.

Over the years, Theron has suffered “a lot” of injuries while filming her movies. Just recently for Apex, she “slammed” into a wall, broke some toes, and jacked up her elbow. She also had to endure harsh cold weather for Mad Max: Fury Road, and she cracked her teeth on the set of Atomic Blonde. If Theron isn't a serious trooper, than I don't know who is.

Theron plays the Calypso in The Odyssey, and she said filming under the harsh, windy conditions was “brutal.” Despite that, she didn't find it to be a negative experience. In fact, she said it was a great way to explore the location her character originated in. By playing the mythical nymph, Theron got to share some solid screen time with Damon (as Odysseus), who she previously starred alongside in The Legend of Bagger Vance. Damon went on to share more about why he was impressed by Theron:

Now, that’s admirable. While it’s understandable that the Monster star was trying to tough it out through the sandy winds, I’m glad she eventually expressed how uncomfortable she was. After all, everyone has their limits. However, I still give Theron credit for pushing through every obstacle, and I'm hopeful that'll translate into a strong performance in this latest Christopher Nolan movie.

See Charlize Theron channel Calypso when The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17th as part of the 2026 movie schedule. I'll also be keeping my eyes peeled for those scenes Matt Damon is describing.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Apex. Read at your own risk!

Charlize Theron's Apex is available to stream with a Netflix subscription, and as someone who absolutely loved it, I highly recommend it. Others at CinemaBlend have their issues with it, especially because of the ending. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, though I couldn't help but think they had a point when my coworker questioned if Taron Egerton's serial killing hiker, Ben, actually had to climb the mountain at the end.

Admittedly, I hadn't thought about it in the moment, so I had to go back and see what the movie had to say about it. Fortunately, upon rewatch, I now have an answer, and was reminded of a few details I'd since forgotten after watching.

How Apex Ended Sasha And Ben's Showdown In The National Park

After a violent pursuit through the woods, Sasha and Ben end up tethered together at the end of a riverbank. Ben has broken his leg and is unable to walk. As for Sasha, she's still in solid shape, but handcuffed with little knowledge of the area. She's told by Ben that the only way out of the woods is by climbing the mountain in front of them, which gives her an idea.

Sasha suggests they do a tandem climb, with Ben anchoring her and her hoisting him via a sling setup to keep weight off his leg. Ben reluctantly agrees, knowing the only other option he has is starving to death. He attaches the tether to her harness and tells her that if she successfully gets them to the top, he'll set her free. Betray him, and he'll yank the tether and pull her off the mountainside.

It takes some effort, but Sasha is finally able to create some distance from Ben and tie the rope off in an effort to abandon Ben on the mountain. Unfortunately, he catches on and attempts to rip her off her ledge. Sasha's harness is stripped from her, and Ben is sent falling to his death on the rocks below. While she's forced to complete the rest of the perilous climb without a harness, Sasha arrives at the top and finds help. The movie ends with Sasha telling rangers about Ben's hiding place, where he hid all the bodies of missing hikers.

Why Sasha Couldn't Abandon Ben And Make The Climb Herself

It isn't entirely impossible to believe Sasha could've made the climb by herself, but Apex does a pretty good job of justifying it. For example, Ben is in possession of the rope needed to make the climb and is armed with a knife and able to fend her off if he needs to.

Additionally, Ben only agreed to remove Sasha's handcuffs for the climb until they were at the rock, and after he had secured his tether to her harness. This gave him full power to yank her from the rocks whenever he saw fit, which he did a couple of times. She didn't really have a chance to escape in that moment, and more or less had to go ahead with the plan and create some distance, given Ben's superior strength.

Sasha could've waited for Ben to die of starvation, thirst, or infection, but remember, she's suffering during that time as well. Who knows how long it'd take for him to pass, and if she'd have the strength to scale the mountain by the time it happened. Personally, I think Sasha made the right play, especially with little knowledge of the area.

That's my takeaway, but anyone interested can rewatch Apex on Netflix and decide for themselves.

I’m not sure who in Hollywood started this trend of wilderness hunting thrillers starring A-List actors, but I’m totally here for it. After loving Send Help, Apex, starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, is next on my action watchlist. The latest action flick on Netflix’s release schedule topped the streamers charts this week due to its suspenseful scenes and incredible stunts, and I totally understand why after hearing about how Theron literally put her whole body into making this film.

As far as action movies go, Charlize Theron is a Hollywood vet, but it sounds like Apex really put the Tully actress to the test. True to its name, Theron’s character Sasha must outrun and outlast Egerton in the Australian wilderness as he attempts to hunt her down. Her life is on the line as she scales hundred-foot rock walls and paddles down white-water rapids, and of course, Theron took on the majority of her own stunts. The Odyssey actress told Screenrant she sustained multiple serious injuries from filming Apex, and her explanation is giving ‘just a typical day at the office’:

This isn’t the first time Theron has gotten injured on a movie set. She revealed she had to get shoulder surgery after filming 2025’s The Old Guard 2, which can’t have made her rock-climbing stunts for Apex any easier. Even though the stunts themselves were incredibly well thought out, Theron still managed to earn herself a trip to the hospital:

Yikes. I give the Atomic Blonde actress huge props for almost always attempting her own stunts, but man, it sounds painful. The list just keeps on going, and I’m starting to believe she really is accident prone after this next one:

As a film enthusiast, I love when movies are filmed on location. The less CGI and effects (don’t even get me started on the use of AI) the better. Apex was filmed in the Australian wilderness, and while it’s stunning to see, the scary rock cliffs and roaring rivers in the trailer are very real, and those natural hazards are something to factor in.

Wow, the list just goes on. What if I told you that’s still not the worst of it? Theron said on the press tour she’s still recovering from this next set of injuries, and I’m cringing in pain just hearing about it:

Listen, I know the 50-year-old actress is incredibly fit for her age, which has allowed her to continuously do amazing onscreen action scenes, but what’s the breaking point? Theron has previously complained about her body not bouncing back like it did in her 20s after back-breaking action sequences, but it sounds like Apex really did a number on her:

As far as action movies go, Charlize Theron and Tom Cruise are the litmus test when it comes to wild stunts, so if the Monster actress is tapped out, that’s where you call it quits. However, hearing her compare the filming process to one of her best movies, Mad Max: Fury Road, makes me want to immediately go watch Apex with my Netflix subscription.

Charlize Theron's latest action movie, Apex, is available with a Netflix subscription and has maintained a solid hold at the peak of the platform's popular movies. I'm not surprised, as I absolutely loved the action thriller and all the rock climbing, but I am surprised at how middling the response is to it by others.

Apex's 65% critic score prevents it from "Rotten" status on Rotten Tomatoes, but not by much. Audience approval is even lower than that, with 52% enjoying the movie. I'm here as someone who legitimately thought it was one of the best Netflix movies I've seen in a good while, and ready to defend it on two major things that set it apart from similar offerings.

Apex Makes The Most Of Filming In The Blue Mountains National Park

One thing that I love so much about Apex is how it's set in the Blue Mountains National Park, located in Australia. While I've never been there, I'm a big lover of National Parks in general, and as a true crime lover, aware of the various crimes that can occur there. Just take a look at the cold cases provided by the National Parks website. Amidst all that beauty and wonder, there's always a possibility of danger lurking.

I certainly had that vibe when hiking through an isolated path in the Great Smoky Mountains, desperate to find a spot that wasn't overrun by others. Once I found it, I was enjoying a nice hike until I heard a rather large rustling in the bushes. My first instinct was a bear, but it was probably a rabbit.

In any case, I did get to thinking about how wild it would be to be out in the forest and pursued by someone, and the powerless feeling associated with that. Some people are unfortunate enough to have lived what happened in Apex, though not quite in those exact circumstances. To me, I feel the movie provides an authentic experience of that, and shows how even the most beautiful locales (with mountains that may make people motion sick) around the world can be the setting for a tragic story.

Taron Egerton's Ben Is The Perfect Mix Of Creepy And Bizarre

I'm a big Taron Egerton fan in general, and have been among those looking for him to take on a grittier role like Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We'll probably never get that, but we now have Ben, and I'm a big fan of this villain's transition from friendly Aussie hunter to full-blown psychopath.

So much of Apex is Sasha and Ben that he has to be a level 10 to keep things interesting. Obviously, not everyone feels that way, but for me, this was a classic character that reminded me of the backwoods folk in Deliverance.

All this to say, I'm encouraging people to take a chance on this movie if they haven't already. You may not like it as much as I did, but you certainly won't leave feeling like you weren't entertained. I'd rank it in my top ten of favorite Charlize Theron movies, and that's quite a list if you look at it.

Apex is available to stream right now on Netflix. Tune in to see what becomes of Sasha and Ben's showdown in the wilderness, and stay for the chaotic action in between.

When I first noticed Apex, the new movie starring Charlize Theron, Eric Bana, and Taron Egerton on the 2026 movie schedule, I was skeptical I would bother to use my Netflix subscription to watch it. It’s not because I don’t like the cast or anything like that, I’m a fan of all those actors. It was the title alone. I sensed what it was going to be about, and I wasn’t wrong. However, I’m glad I powered through the opening moments and got into the movie, because it’s pretty fun.

I Don’t Like Movies With Climbing Scenes

I just knew Apex was going to involve some harrowing moments on the side of a mountain, and I can’t watch stuff like that. My acrophobia, which they call a fear of heights, but we all know is really a fear of falling, gives me terrible anxiety and vertigo when I watch anything with scenes like that. I couldn’t watch the scene in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol when Tom Cruise climbed the Burj Khalifa, and I flatly refused to watch Alex Honnold climb El Capitan in Free Solo.

Apex does indeed begin with a climbing scene, complete with distressing looks down the mountain, slipping hands, and swinging ropes. It has everything that stresses me out in scenes like this. I mean, they were even camping in a tent attached to the side of the cliff. My stomach churned, and at one point, I just picked up my phone and played Wordle for a few minutes. After the white-knuckle start, however, I got pretty into the movie.

It’s Not A Perfect Movie

I’m not going to sit here and write that Apex is the…um…pinnacle of filmmaking achievement. It’s not. It’s chock full of well-worn tropes and plot holes the size of a mountain in Yosemite National Park. It also has some dodgy CGI, but those things didn’t stop me from enjoying it. It’s a pretty typical Netflix action movie in a lot of ways. It clearly had a decent budget and obviously landed some big stars, but it’s not going to be added to a list of the best action movies ever.

I won’t spoil the movie, but it’s an adventure-horror movie featuring a heroine played by the always great Theron and an even better villain. It’s pretty clear very early on just what kind of movie this is going to be, and I was ok with that. Nothing in the film is particularly unique, either; the plot is something we’ve all seen before. High cinema it’s not, but for a rainy Saturday afternoon, it’s pretty much exactly what I’m looking for. As I said, it’s just a fun movie.

If you’re like me and you love fun-but-cheesy action movies, but can’t watch scenes involving extreme heights, I would say power through the opening. I think you’ll end up having a pretty good time with this movie, just like I did.

Apex is available to stream with a Netflix subscription, and it features Charlize Theron's Sasha as she attempts to evade a hunter trying to track her down in a national park. While she doesn't recover from action movies like she used to, the actress showed she's still got it with a video of her scaling a rock wall for this new flick.

Days before the official release on Netflix's 2026 schedule, Theron posted photos and videos taken from the set of Apex on Instagram. Take a look at the video below, and see her climbing up a mountain as though she's the female equivalent of Alex Honnold:

The footage isn't quite as hype as the trailer for Apex, but how about a round of applause for Charlize Theron for how easily she made that ascent look. Even with a harness, rock climbing can be intense, especially when having to navigate a crack in the side of a rock like that.

Not that anyone should be surprised by Theron's athletic nature, as she's been doing action movies for decades now and crushing roles ranging from Fast & Furious to Atomic Blonde, which she cracked her teeth in. After seeing her in Apex, I don't think she's lost a step, and she gave Netflix subscribers a performance worthy of that subscription price.

While reviews are still pouring in for Apex, Netflix's latest action film has netted a 67% critic rating on the platform so far. Critics have praised the scenery, which I'm not surprised by, looking at the photos, as well as Taron Egerton's performance alongside Charlize Theron. Definitely one to watch for those looking for something to check out this season, but would rather enjoy a movie from the comfort of home.

Apex follows rock climber Sasha, a grieving woman who ends up in the crosshairs of a hunter, played by Taron Egerton. What then unfolds is a survival thriller in which Sasha has to evade the man pursuing her, in what sounds like an elevated version of the classic short story The Most Dangerous Game.

We'll see what kind of battle scars Charlize Theron escaped with in this movie, as the actress has talked about the litany of things she's dealt with over the years. If I were her, I'd think I'd walk away from action movies after a certain point, but I guess that's why I'm the writer sitting at home and not traveling the world appearing in action movies. I'm also not that good at rock climbing, either, so I clearly never stood a chance of starring in Apex at all.

Check out Apex on Netflix right now, and see Theron evading trouble and scaling rock walls. Also, be on the lookout for other new stuff arriving on Netflix, as 2026 is jam-packed with new titles.

Charlize Theron has made a career out of being daring. She’s a star known for her knockout and fearless performances in films like Mad Max: Fury Road (you know, one of the best action movies of all time). However, her style is also daring and fearless, and she showed that off by skipping a shirt and rocking a wild collar and blazer-only look to the premiere of her movie on Netflix’s 2026 schedule, Apex.

In celebration of Apex, Theron showed up to its New York premiere decked out in Dior. However, her look did not feature a shirt. In fact, she went topless for the event, instead opting to wear a black blazer and a high-necked white collar. Take a look at his stunning fit:

Truly, this look is both chic and edgy. She sincerely looks so cool. I’m obsessed with the juxtaposition of the high collar and the lack of shirt. I also adore how timeless the black suit she’s wearing is. Plus, topping it off with a bright red lip is utter perfection. Along with all that, she wore Dior Fine Jewelry, per People. I mean, talk about stunning.

Overall, this outfit reminds me of the ever-evolving sheer trend, which is known for its revealing and often edgy nature. While this look isn’t sheer, it is revealing, and the way the Atomic Blonde star's lack of shirt complements the rest of the outfit is amazing.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Theron has not worn a shirt in the name of fashion. Last year, she skipped a top and rocked a leather jacket and shorts for a Paris fashion show.

I’ve always seen Charlize Theron’s style as rock ‘n roll, and this look further proves that point. She has a knack for adding some edge to overall timeless outfits, and it’s irresistible. Like, I loved when she wore a dress made of strings of pearls, and this latest outfit fits right in with her chic and daring fashion sense.

Speaking of daring, the film on the 2026 movie schedule that prompted this premiere look can be defined as that, too. In Apex, Theron plays a woman who is looking for an adventure in the Australian wilderness. However, she winds up in a situation where she’s being hunted by a man played by Taron Egerton. It looks wild and action-packed, and based on the trailer, Theron and Egerton are giving performances I know I don’t want to miss.

So, you best believe I’ll be streaming Apex with a Netflix subscription on April 24. Meanwhile, I’ll also be keeping an eye out for more mind-boggling looks from the movie’s lead, because as this one proves, she knows how to create a unique, bold and timeless fashion moment.

Taron Egerton is only a little over a year removed from earning acclaim for a hero turn in a Netflix movie. In 2024's Carry-On, the Welsh actor starred as a TSA agent trapped under the thumb of a mercenary – the character working to stay alive while simultaneously undermining a terrorist plot –and he once again demonstrated his skills as a leading man. As cool as it was to see him in that role, however, I have to say that I am way more excited to see him go totally unhinged while starring alongside Charlize Theron in the action thriller Apex.

The upcoming Netflix feature will be streaming in less than a month, and the new trailer above previews what is hopefully an intense ride. Theron plays a thrill-seeking rock climber who travels to Australia to grieve after a painful loss. She travels into the wilderness with expectations of isolation, but she instead ends up in a battle for her life. A man whom she casually asks for directions at a gas station (Egerton) turns out to be a psychopath who enjoys hunting people for sport, and after he tracks her down, he gives her a brief head start before taking off after her while armed with a deadly crossbow.

Apex is directed by Baltasar Kormákur, best known for moves like 2015's Everest and 2022's Beast, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the filmmaker let Egerton go completely off the leash with this movie and what we see in this footage is merely a taste of his insanity (you can see a whole lot of crazy in his eyes in close-up shots). It can be a whole lot of fun when actors are allowed to be as wild as their sensibilities will let them – two great recent examples that comes to mind being Jake Gyllenhaal in Ambulance and Jason Momoa in Fast X – and I hope that Egerton chews through each and every one of his scenes.

Of course, I can't ignore that we're also seeing Charlize Theron back and showing off her special action skills – Apex being her second feature in a row for Netflix subscribers following last summer's The Old Guard 2. One gets the sense that this adventure will principally have her demonstrating her awesome athleticism running, climbing, and battling rapids in a kayak, but it looks like she'll also be showing off some of her combat talents as well.

Apex, with Theron coming aboard in December 2024,was shot a little over a year ago on location in Australia, and it's now just weeks from its premiere. Also featuring Eric Bana (curious who he's playing, as he doesn't appear in the trailer), the movie will be available to stream starting April 24.

We’re just about a year away from the release of Avengers: Doomsday, and beyond the fact that Doctor Doom, as played by Robert Downey Jr, will be the film’s main antagonist, we know very little about what the film will be about or what various characters will be doing. However, a new rumor is indicating how Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will fit into the story. I, for one, hope it’s true, as it means the return of a Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness character that we need to see again.

Doctor Strange’s Doomsday Status Has Been Unclear

Exactly how, or even if, Doctor Strange would appear in Avengers: Doomsday has been a topic of some confusion. Initially, when asked, Benedict Cumberbatch stated he wouldn’t be in the new film, before going back on that and claiming that yes, he would be in Doomsday after all. However, when the big Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal took place, Cumberbatch’s name wasn’t included.

While we know there will still be some surprises in the cast, not including Cumberbatch when he’s already said he would be in the film seems like an odd “surprise.” Now, a new rumor from The Cosmic Circus states that yes, Strange will be in the movie, and he’s bringing a friend.

Doctor Strange Could Appear In Doomsday Alongside Clea

The last we saw of Doctor Strange, in the mid-credits scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he was approached by a woman who insisted on his help in sealing the multiversal incursion he had created. She then tore a hole in reality for the two of them to jump through.

The character was played by Charlize Theron, and while her name was never given, the credits confirmed that she was playing Clea, a popular companion of Doctor Strange in the comics. The rumor claims that when we meet Doctor Strange again in Avengers: Doomsday, he will still be working with Clea, investigating incursions and attempting to repair them in order to keep the multiverse from collapsing.

While we have to take any rumor with a grain of salt, I’m certainly hopeful this one turns out to be on the level. While many comic fans were excited to see Clea on screen, I was mostly excited to see Charlize Theron join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I would love to see more of her in the new Avengers movie.

Even if this information is accurate, it’s still unclear how big a role Doctor Strange or Clea would have in Avengers: Doomsday. There are expectations that the first trailer for the film will be hitting soon, likely attached to the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash next week. Perhaps that will give us some of the answers we’re waiting on.

Charlize Theron is an action star who is still thrilling us today both on screen and off. This year, we got to see her do just that in the 2025 movie schedule entry The Old Guard 2, and now we’re seeing her do it again off-screen with her latest fashion choice. I say that because she rocked shorts and a leather jacket with no shirt under it to a Paris fashion show, and I really need this kind of look to become a trend.

Now, we’ve seen the pants-free trend here and there for a while now. Sydney Sweeney rocked it, Hailey Bieber brought it back, and it’s an overall fun and edgy fad. Now, the Mad Max: Fury Road star is flipping the script and rocking a leather jacket with no shirt underneath. Take a look:

Theron wore this look to the Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2026 show during Pris Fashion Week, and seriously, I’m utterly obsessed. The star of the show is obviously the leather jacket, which is oversized yet perfectly falls at her waistline. She’s not wearing a shirt below it, and that truly lets the coat shine while also making this entire fit totally punk rock.

Along with the jacket, the actress wore long green shorts with black nylons that peeked out of the top of her shorts. She finished off the look with black and white loafers, a red clutch and black sunglasses.

To top the ensemble off, she also wore her blonde hair in relaxed waves, making this all look so carefree and rock ‘n roll.

People loved the fashion moment, too! When the Atomic Blonde star posted it to her Instagram, many A-listers took to the comments to show their support for her, writing things like:

• Jordana Brewster: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
• Dior: Thank you for joining us 💝
• Reneé Rapp: this is soooooo
• Jonathan Anderson: You look so so so amazing amazing ❤❤❤
• Sophia Bush: MA’AM!! This is beyond 🖤🔥

First of all, to have both Dior and Jonathan Anderson, who debuted his collection at Paris Fashion Week, is amazing. Secondly, I couldn’t agree with Reneé Rapp’s comment more. This look really is, honestly, everything, and I need it to become a trend.

I bet Rapp would totally hop on it, seeing as her style falls right in line with the look. I also think tons of other celebs would too, because this whole outfit is a total vibe that’s perfect for fall.

Along with this fit being trend-worthy, it also fits perfectly with Theron’s style. From wearing just a string of pearls as a top to sporting a gorgeous silver gown to the Oscars, she’s almost always rocking something fun and a bit edgy. So, I’m happy that trend is continuing with this ensemble that I’m hoping inspires an even bigger trend overall.

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.

Every streaming service has had some megahits, and those with a Netflix subscription probably remember the record-breaking success of The Old Guard. The 2020 Charlize Theron-led action movie reportedly was seen by 78 million users of the streamer, and a sequel was quickly green lit. I was invested, and watched The Old Guard 2, but the movie's ending is driving me pretty bonkers.

Critics weren't pleased with The Old Guard 2, despite the good will that the first movie garnered. I liked it more than most of them, but the ending of The Old Guard 2 made me want to throw something at a wall. Almost none of the stories are given closure, and the cliffhanger left the fate of most of the team unknown. Seriously, how are you going to offer absolutely no closure?

Almost None Of The Stories Were Resolved By The Old Guard 2's Ending

In some ways it felt like the Netflix sequel was trying to replicate the twist of Avengers: Infinity War's ending. Charlize Theron's Andy failed to best the Thanos-esque villain of Uma Thurman's Discord, and her entire team fell. Now the question is: how long are we going to have to wait for a third movie?

As we got deeper into the runtime of the sequel, it was revealed that KiKi Layne's Nile had the ability to take immortality away. It turns out that Discord was planning on using her to get her own immortality back... but we never actually see this. Instead Nile is captured and never seen or heard from again.

The same can also be said for fan favorite characters Joe and Nicky, who serve as a great example of LGBTQ+ representation throughout the franchise. Like Nile, they were also captured, and their ultimate fate is totally a mystery at this point. Will they be separated? I sure hope not, but ultimately none of us know.

Much of The Old Guard 2 was building up to Andy and Discord finally getting into a battle. While it was thrilling to see Kill Bill's Thurman once again wielding a katana, that fight came and went without any closure about the rest of the story. After all that build up, to get no conclusion and neither characters perishing felt like a let down to me.

Since there hasn't even been any confirmation about a third Old Guard movie, it's possible that we'll simply never get resolution on the franchise's story. Hopefully it continues perform well for Netlflix and a threequel is quickly green-lighted. Seriously, I need to know what happens to Joe and Nicky.

Both Old Guard movies are streaming now on Netflix, with the sequel only recently arriving as part of the 2025 movie release list. At the timing of writing this story, the sequel is no longer sitting in the Top 10 Movies on the streamer.

SPOILERS are ahead for The Old Guard 2, now streaming with a Netflix subscription.

The Old Guard may be the latest hit on Netflix, with the recent release soaring to No. 1 on the streaming service’s top movie list throughout the weekend, but I’m in agreement with critics’ negative reaction to the sequel. (audiences have also echoed this through the movie’s 37 percent Rotten Tomatoes score). But, I want to talk about the aspect of it that bothered me the most: how Andy and Quynh’s romantic plotline simply fizzled out.

I Wasn't Expecting Andy And Quynh's Relationship To Lose All Its Romance In The Old Guard 2

While it’s been five years since the original movie came out, I distinctly remember appreciating the movie for having two queer relationships, the more explicitly gay relationship between Joe and Nicki, and a more heartbreaking and subtext-y one between Charlize Theron’s Andy and Veronica Ngo’s Quynh. When the 2020 movie ended with Quynh escaping from her underwater prison, I was excited to see what was next for her character with Andy in the present day, especially knowing that in the comics their romantic relationship is canon.

Sure, I can get behind Quynh being initially angry with Andy for not being the one to save her and pulling back, but The Old Guard 2 takes a big step backward regarding the pair’s queer relationship. All in all, I think the movie barely counts as one of the new LGBTQ+ movies to be released, counting Joe and Nicki’s relationship being sidelined as well, aside from one kind-of cute scene between them.

Yes, Andy and Quynh have a solid fight scene and they do thankfully make up by the end for the movie’s cliffhanger ending, perhaps teasing more for them in a third movie, but rather than the sequel embracing their romantic potential, you’d have to really look for it to see these two as more than really intense friends.

I Think The Old Guard 2 Watering Them Down Is The Movie’s Biggest Upset

Now, as I spoke to earlier, this is a disappointing movie for many reasons. It might actually be the worst movie I’ve seen this year… and I rather liked the original. But, I think the thing about it that bothered me the most is how the opportunity was right there to inject some romance between Andy and Quynh. It absolutely would have made me actually care about these characters a lot more, and added some more emotional stakes to its stiff premise. I thought both actors did a great job with the material they had, but it felt like the script wasn’t interested in anything outside of the surface level here.

If these two have a romantic history and hadn’t seen the other in literally five hundred years, would it have really hurt the movie to give us some romance? It was right there! If your friend didn’t come looking for you, you’d probably be OK, but if your immortal lover didn’t, it just adds a lot more to the equation, and it felt like the story was trying to go there, but only took it halfway.

And, I'm Definitely Not Alone...

When looking around online, I noticed there’s a big fanbase rooting for these two, as well, and share similar gripes. For example:

Oh, the scene would have been so much better if they did! Lots of fans are rooting for them to finally kiss in the third movie, but what if it never happens?

And here’s one more that I really felt brought the point home. Check it out:

I’m so disappointed not only that The Old Guard 2 wasn’t very good, but rather than forwarding the queer relationships established in the first movie, their queer identities in the DNA of the comics were watered down, and as a result reduced to rather uninteresting characters, as well.

Charlize Theron has been an action star for decades. From Mad Max: Fury Road, to Atomic Blonde, to her latest film, The Old Guard 2, fans have been watching Theron kick ass on the big screen for a while, and it truly never gets old. She has a powerful on screen presence, and can carry out stunt choreography in a way that transcends what a lot of other stars are doing. However, being an action star comes with a price, as Theron has sustained several injuries over the years. Now, she’s opening up about why she thinks it was all worth it.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, co-stars Uma Thurman and Charlize Theron opened up about going toe to toe for The Old Guard 2, as well as their sustained action movie careers they have both become known for. While they certainly have displayed superhuman prowess on the big screen, this hasn’t come without a price. Theron revealed that she has had several serious injuries that have come from movies, even some that have required surgery. She said:

These are pretty serious injuries, much more than a scratch here and there from a stunt practice gone wrong. Despite these mishaps, it seems like Theron has had no interest in stopping making action movies. She just made one with the release of The Old Guard 2, and has two upcoming action films with Apex, alongside Taron Egerton, and Two for the Money alongside Daniel Craig. This is a sign of true passion, and the Oscar winner even revealed that these injuries she sustained were inevitably good for the film and her characters. She said:

While this is pretty hardcore, Theron doesn’t seem to be the only one with this perspective. Tom Cruise famously broke his ankle while making Mission: Impossible - Fallout and continued going until they had completed the take. The shot of the injury ended up being the take used in the film. Leonardo DiCaprio also was injured when he cut open his hand during Django: Unchained, which ended up adding even more tension to the scene as he kept going through his speech. It may be controversial, but sometimes these unexpected incidents can bring something to the screen.

Theron’s clear commitment to her craft is abundantly clear, both in front of the camera and behind it. Putting storytelling as the main priority shows her dedication, and why she has been able to sustain such a career as an action star. This is all pretty hardcore, but it’s this energy that makes her so magnetic on screen. She clearly is in her own class of actors, and doesn’t seem like she’s slowing down soon, as I can’t wait to see her shine again in another on-screen adventure very soon.

You can see Charlize Theron in The Old Guard 2, which is currently streaming now with a Netflix subscription. Fans will also be able to catch her in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which is set to hit theaters on July 17th 2026. For more information on other exciting titles heading to streaming and cinemas in the near future, make sure to consult our 2025 movie release schedule.

While the film industry has made a number of progressive strides in recent years, there remain certain biases that are so engrained in the business that they have proven more difficult to remove. As Charlize Theron recently pointed out, there remains a distance between how the success of female-led action movies are judged in comparison to those with male heroes, and though she has obviously built a wonderful legacy in the genre, it remains a source of frustration for her.

Now available to stream with a Netflix subscription, The Old Guard 2 sees Theron team up with fellow modern action legend Uma Thurman, and in a recent New York Times interview with the two actors, the former didn't hide her feelings when asked about gender disparity in the genre. Asked if it's harder for an action movie with a female lead to get produced, Theron said,

This is not just a double standard that Charlize Theron has objectively observed; she has personally experienced it. In 2005, she played the lead in Æon Flux, and when that movie turned out to be a major flop, it took many years before she got to play the lead in an action movie again. She had supporting roles opposite male leads in movies like Hancock and Mad Max: Fury Road, but it wasn't until 2017's Atomic Blonde that she got the opportunity to be front and center as an ass-kicker again. (It's worth noting at this juncture that while Atomic Blonde made more money at the global box office than the original John Wick, one has spawned three sequels and a spinoff while the other has had a single follow-up trapped in development hell for nearly a decade.)

Arguably the biggest problem with this is that it ends up putting a lot of extra pressure on the movies that do get made. While a star may have a string of hits, one disappointment could mean having to start at square one again. For Charlize Theron, that was something that she had in mind in the making of The Old Guard 2. She continued,

One thing that can help ease the pressure of each movie for Charlize Theron is to keep working, and she has a couple of big projects on her plate. She is playing Circe in Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey and she has already reteamed with Netflix for Apex: an upcoming action movie from director Baltasar Kormákur that sees the actor star as an adrenaline junkie who finds herself hunted while doing a bit of rock climbing. The film also stars Taron Egerton and Eric Bana and it filmed in Australia earlier this year.

Charlize Theron is no stranger to epic roles or demanding productions, having starred in some of the best action movies, including Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde and The Old Guard and its sequel (which is available with a Netflix subscription). However, her latest casting takes her into truly legendary territory. The Oscar winner has finally opened up about her upcoming role in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Though she hasn’t stepped on set yet, Theron is already sizing up the scale of the production and her place in it.

While promoting The Old Guard 2, Charlize Theron spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, during which she discussed joining Nolan’s upcoming page-to-screen adaptation. Theron is set to take on the role of Circe, the iconic sorceress who famously crosses paths with Odysseus (played by Matt Damon), describing the script as “epic” and sharing thoughts on Nolan's filmmaking prowess:

If anyone can make a deep impact in two weeks, it’s Theron. This fan is confident that her portrayal of Circe, a goddess known for her intoxicating power and ability to transform men into animals, will leave a mark, especially under Christopher Nolan’s direction. While we don’t know exactly how The Odyssey will interpret the ancient tale, especially after the leaked first trailer However, Theron’s casting as the iconic Greek witch may indicate that we'll receive a bold, commanding version of the character, and she’d be more than equipped to deliver that.

The South African and American star admitted she hasn’t yet joined the production, which has reportedly been filming for several months. However, she’s not worried about walking into an already-running machine. She trusts Nolan’s vision and knows a thing or two about large-scale filmmaking.

For fans of both Christopher Nolan and Charlize Theron, this pairing may feel overdue. The Memento filmmaker’s movies often explore deep themes, time, fate, identity and Theron brings the kind of presence that can hold the screen in even the most fantastical scenarios. Add to that her recent performance in The Old Guard 2 and the buzz around her action-heavy upcoming Netflix film, Apex, and it’s clear she’s not slowing down anytime soon.

While she remains tight-lipped about specific details, the Furiosa performer’s confirmation that she’s playing the Odysseus’ enchantress and that she’s entering Christopher Nolan’s orbit soon has already got me buzzing with excitement. Circe is one of The Odyssey’s most memorable figures: mysterious, dangerous and captivating. In Theron's hands, that character could become one of the film’s highlights.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is set to hit theaters and the 2026 movie schedule on July 17, With Charlize Theron officially on board, the journey just got even more exciting.

Since The Old Guard 2 is the latest of 2025 Netflix releases to reach No. 1 on the streaming service’s top movie list, it’s time to talk about that cliffhanger ending, and what it could mean for a possible sequel, isn’t it? CinemaBlend got a chance to talk to director Victoria Mahoney about how the action movie leaves its characters, and how it was decided to leave things open for the story to continue.

The first The Old Guard movie brought us some much-needed summer action in the year 2020 when theaters were closed. After Gina Prince-Bythewood passed off the director duties to Victoria Mahoney, who also served as second-unit director on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Old Guard 2 is finally here five years after the original to catch us up on the lives of Andy and her fellow immortal friends, as well as a new enemy in the form Uma Thurman’s Discord. But what does the ending mean for all the main characters and the future of the franchise?

What Happens At The End Of The Old Guard 2?

The third act of The Old Guard 2 has Charlize Theron’s mullet-wearing Andy leading her team to save millions by disarming a set of bombs set off by Discord and Veronica Ngô’s Quỳnh. In the process, Matthias Schoenaerts’ Booker sacrifices his immortality to give to Andy, just before the newly-mortal man ends up dying while fighting off some guards. KiKi Layne’s Nile, who we find out in this film has the power to make other immortals mortal by injuring them, strikes Quynh (making her mortal) before Discord captures Nile and other members of the Old Guard.

Andy and Discord take part in a fight where we learn that Discord is also no longer immortal and desperately wants to regain it. She plans to use Nile’s powers to strip her team (and all other immortals) of their eternal lives so she can have hers again. Andy is able to come out of the fight with Discord and reunite with Quynh before the movie ends on a cliffhanger of the pair charging into battle side by side – reconciled after over 500 years. When I asked Victoria Mahoney about leaving things where she did, here’s what she had to say:

It sounds like The Old Guard 2 director and the filmmaking team definitely wanted to make sure to leave audiences wanting more with the final moments of the sequel available to stream with our Netflix subscription now. We don’t know if Discord will be successful in her attempt to use the Old Guard to become immortal, but she’s very close to accomplishing her goal. Even though Booker had a sprawling death scene, Mahoney even made it a point to leave some room for more from his storyline should the next movie choose to go there.

Why Andy And Quynh Are Working Together Again At The End Of The Old Guard 2

During our interview, I was certainly curious about the specific decision to have Andy and Quynh reconcile at the very end of the movie, and what Mahoney’s intentions were there after Quynh initially is very angry with Andy. Here’s what she had to say:

Now this makes a lot of sense. The character of Quynh is a pretty dark one considering she has experienced death after death across 500 years before she was finally fished out of the water by Discord. While the end of the movie leaves a lot of characters in a distressing place, Mahoney really wanted there to be some levity for Quynh and Andy. As she explained:

Quỳnh woke up incredibly disappointed in Andy for not looking for her longer than she did, but by the end of The Old Guard 2, it seems she starts to realize that it’s better to spend her days with someone she loves rather than hold a grudge. But the reconciliation wasn’t without some miscommunication and soreness from the pair. I do have to wonder if another movie could end with more tragedy between the pair considering Quynh is no longer immortal and Andy is. It would be diabolical if Discord killed her in front of Andy, but I wouldn’t put it past the villain.

Are There Plans For The Old Guard 3?

Now, The Old Guard 2 is based on the comic book series by Greg Rucka, who also wrote the script for this movie. The comic book story is told across 16 issues, so there’s definitely more to tell on his end. But as Mahoney told us, as a director, she didn’t end The Old Guard 2 with specifics of the next movie in mind – herself anyway. In her words:

That’d likely be a question for screenwriter Greg Rucka, but Mahoney could tell us for sure that she wouldn’t be helming the next installment herself. I do wonder, after the underwhelming critical response for The Old Guard 2 (along with a low audience score on Rotten Tomatoes), if we’ll get another movie at all, but I don’t imagine the filmmakers would set up a cliffhanger if they are not prepared to deliver on another movie.

I imagine whether it gets the greenlight could be affected by how streaming numbers do in coming weeks! As far as Mahoney’s involvement goes, she boarded The Old Guard 2 in 2021 and originally filmed the movie in 2022 before reshoots took place in late 2024, so it’s certainly understandable she’d want to spend her time on other creative endeavors. We’ll keep you updated here on CinemaBlend as we hear about any developments.

If you're a Netflix subscriber, you could be watching Charlize Theron back in action hero mode right now, as her new movie The Old Guard 2 is now available to stream. Fans have waited a long time for Theron's return as Andy, as The Old Guard first debuted back in 2020... but at least she got the opportunity to reprise the character, which was something she regrets not being able to do for George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

While Theron delivered one of the greatest, most celebrated performances of her career as Furiosa in Md Max: Fury Road (and let's not forget that she is an Oscar-winner), she had to stand by and watch the role go to Anya Taylor-Joy for the prequel. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Theron notes that she knows there was no ill-intent behind the recasting, and she was ultimately impressed by the vision of the 2024 movie, but it still burns. Said the actress,

The story behind the making of Mad Max: Fury Road has risen to the level of notorious, as the production faced a number of major set backs, and there was a consequential conflict between Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy spurred by their very different working habits. On top of all that, Theron was tasked with playing a tough and complicated character with extremely high emotional walls and a lot of pain in her past.

Peace between the actors was made after filming wrapped (Hardy even painted a self-portrait for her as a gift), and the movie is now regarded as one of the greatest cinematic accomplishments of the 21st century. But time wasn't on Theron's side when it came to developing the prequel – which George Miller envisioned as he was making Mad Max: Fury Road. Hands were forced, Anya Taylor-Joy was recast, and now she has to live with the nagging regret of not getting to star in Furiosa.

Perhaps we'll one day George Miller will decide to complete a Furiosa trilogy, and Charlize Theron will be able to tell the story of what happens in the aftermath of Fury Road... but for now, she is plenty busy with other projects. In addition to having The Old Guard 2 now on Netflix, she has completed work on director Baltasar Kormákur's new thriller Apex and is attached to star with Daniel Craig in Justin Lin's Two For The Money. She is also developing Atomic Blonde 2 and is currently filming Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey.

Those with a Netflix subscription are constantly treated to exciting new content, both TV shows and movies. Regarding the latter, Charlize Theron's The Old Guard broke records on Netflix upon it release, resulting in the quick green lighting of a sequel. Critics have seen that follow-up film, and they seem pretty agreed on it being a "forgettable" second entry in the burgeoning franchise. Let's break it all down.

While not necessarily one of Charlize Theron's best movies, The Old Guard offered some thrilling battles, and once again proved how great the Oscar-winning actress is at action. There was good will with critics ahead of the sequel arriving, but unfortunately the response for The Old Guard 2 has been quite chilly. For instance, David Ehrlich's response for IndieWire called the movie "disposable", with one particular section reading:

While there's action in The Old Guard movies, they are supposed to be character-driven. After all, this team has been fighting together for hundreds of years. Alas, that particular critic didn't think that that was pulled off for the sequel.

IGN's Eric Goldman compared The Old Guard 2 to its predecessor, and unfortunately the follow-up failed to meet those expectations. As he shared:

Ouch. The Old Guard's ending was a cliffhanger, and it sounds like the Netflix sequel followed that tradition. We'll just have to see if fans enjoy that final twist or not.

Rolling Stone's David Fear writes the action sequel feel "ancient", and not in a good way. As he writes:

Some journalists took further aim at the main story of The Old Guard franchise, as well as the technical elements of the sequel. The Times' Kevin Maher didn't hold back his thoughts on the streaming project, saying:

Well, that was honest. Variety's Owen Gleiberman spoke about how the script seemingly fails its all-star cast of actors, which includes Theron, Uma Thurman, and Henry Golding. As he wrote:

Of course, the true question is going to be how Netflix users respond to this project. Will The Old Guard 2 follow its predecessor and become insanely popular on the streamer? We've seen a discrepancy between critical and audience responses to movies, so perhaps this could be another example of that.

The Old Guard 2 is streaming on Netflix now as part of the 2025 movie release list. At the time of writing this story, it isn't trending in the streamer's Top 10 just yet.

Last week, Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos married media personality Lauren Sánchez in Venice, Italy. Needless to say it was quite the event, with major guests in attendance including Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Tobey Maguire and Lady Gaga, among others. Charlize Theron, however, was not invited to the wedding that reportedly cost $50 million, as evidenced by her comment about Bezos and Sánchez.

This topic came up while the actress was speaking at the fifth annual block party for her organization Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), which was raising funds for the health and safety of the youth in her home country of South Africa. In the midst of discussing how “the world feels like it’s burning” this year, Theron had the following to say on Saturday night about the Bezos/Sánchez wedding (via THR):

This dig came ahead of Charlize Theron talking to the audience about how society is “moving backwards fast” around the world, including how “foreign aid cuts” have brought the HIV and AIDS programs in South Africa “to a standstill.” So her throwing shade at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez served as one of the evening’s lighter moments. While I’m sure Theron experiences FOMO every now and then like the rest of us, that wasn’t the case with this high-profile wedding.

Bezos and Sánchez’s wedding was held from June 26-28 across multiple locations in Venice. Other notable names who were present included Khloé Kardashian, who turned heads with a curve-hugging dress; Kylie Jenner, who sounded the alarm from fans with her own outfit; and Leonardo DiCaprio, and his girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, who accidentally ripped the vintage dress she wore. Bezos and Sánchez have been together since 2018, when they were having an affair together while both still married.

While Charlize Theron didn’t get to hobnob it with other celebrities at the wedding across the pond, it sounds like the CTAOP block party was a fun time in its own right. For one thing, Reneé Rapp stopped by to perform her 2023 song “Tummy Hurts” and her new single “Mad.” Theron’s The Old Guard 2 costars KiKi Layne, Henry Golding and Marwan Kenzari were also there, with Theron and Layne did a live version of Hot Ones with host Sean Evans and the highest bidder from the night’s fundraising auction.

You can see Charlize Theron reprising Andy, a.k.a. Andromache of Scythia, when The Old Guard 2 becomes available to stream with a Netflix subscription on Wednesday, July 2. Then next year, she’ll play Circe in Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey.

We've reached July, and it’s hot outside. So you may have some time off this week with the 4th of July weekend happening. You could spend that time doing something useful, or you could spend it in front of the TV with the A/C on and enjoying something new on your favorite streaming platform.

One of the biggest box office hits of the year is heading to HBO Max. One of Netflix’s biggest hits is finally getting a sequel after all these years, and the newest Marvel series on Disney+ wraps up after only two weeks. Here’s a look at what you don’t want to miss on streaming this week.

Ironheart, Episodes 4-6 - July 1 (Disney+)

The first three episodes of Marvel Studios' Ironheart received a strong response from fans, so there could be strong interest in the final three. Unless you canceled your Disney+ subscription in the middle, you can watch the conclusion to the strangely released series this week.

The Old Guard 2 - July 2 (Netflix)

The Old Guard was a major triumph, becoming one of Netflix’s most successful original movies when it was released. Of course, that was five years ago, and quite a lot’s happened since then. Will The Old Guard 2 be worth the wait? Fans certainly hope so. We'll finally find out what Charlize Theron (whose kids were not a fan of her mullet) and her gang of immortals have been up to. Maybe rewatch the original first, just to be safe.

Heads of State - July 2 (Prime Video)

Not since Harrison Ford fought off terrorists in Air Force One have leaders of the free world kicked so much ass. Heads of State stars Idris Elba as the British Prime Minister and John Cena as the President of the United States, who can’t stand each other, but must work together when they’re both targeted for assassination. The movie looks to be full of action and laughs, and fan know Elba and Cena can dish out both. The best reason to have a Prime Video subscription this week.

The Sandman, Season 2, Volume 1 - July 3 (Netflix)

The first season of Sandman, based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel, was a solid hit that earned itself a second season, despite being a fairly expensive series to produce. The first of three episode drops for Season 2 arrives this week. The new DC TV show's return is a pretty good reason to keep your Netflix subscription for the next few weeks.

Sinners - July 4 (HBO Max)

So often, I highlight movies that were released theatrically, but that most people probably haven’t yet seen. In this case, I get to sing the praises of Sinners, a movie that there’s a decent chance you saw, considering it’s one of the highest-grossing non-franchise movies in years. Whether you need to see what all the hype was about or you want to watch it again, you can use your HBO Max subscription to watch one of the best horror movies of the year so far, starting on the 4th of July.

July is just getting started, and there are a lot more high-profile series and movies debuting this month. We’ll see you back here next week with another list of streaming content you won’t want to miss.

Fans of movies and television know that there’s plenty that goes into wardrobe, and hair and makeup. We’ve seen award-winning costume designs and stand-out ones which elicit many different emotions from their audience. Seemingly, for the stars, the effort that goes into a role can create the same reactions at home. For Charlize Theron, it came after her kids, August and Jackson, saw her Old Guard 2 mullet cut, where they expressed how much they disliked it through tears.

Theron dropped by Late Night with Seth Meyers to chat about the coming 2025 Netflix guide sequel, The Old Guard 2. The pair talked about how the protagonist Andy has a different hairdo for the July 2 movie, and it’s not a wig. The A-lister confirmed that for the gig, she got a cut and color in the style of a dark brown mullet that her kids were not loving. In fact, she shared that they are into more feminine looks. So when they saw their mom after the transformation, things didn’t go over well, as she said:

I can only imagine the sisters realizing how much Theron transformed in the course of a couple of hours. Though with both under the age of tweendom, it’s completely understandable that the bold ‘do had them in real-time shock, including tears. I’m looking forward to taking a closer look at the complete look when the flick comes out with my Netflix subscription to see more of what they saw up close.

What was surprising was that the girls revealed to their mom just how much they didn’t like it after the initial realization. The Mad Max alum revealed that she even had to sit one of them down, who continued to express ill feelings toward the mullet, and explain that people are allowed to look any sort of way. Theron shared:

What an afternoon it must’ve been for all. At least they all walked away with a new lesson from the character’s new hairstyle and grew their mother-daughter relationships. Personally, a cut over anything less than an A+ wig is preferable and Charlize Theron’s best movies are proof (her hair in Monster was hers, and I think her kiddos should be thrilled they didn’t have to see that in person).

Soon enough, we’ll finally be able to see Old Guard 2 and the conversation-stoking mullet. Fans of the action/fantasy film have been waiting years (since 2022) to see the final product finally have a premiere date. Viewers started questioning the production timeline after the Atomic Blonde star jumped onto Netflix's Apex.

After speculation around why the delay on The Old Guard 2's premiere was happening, Theron weighed in and speculated it was due to changes higher up at the mega-streamer that had caused a delay in post-production. Eventually, news of a handful of reshoots was scheduled, and it became apparent that it was also a factor in the issue.

Now that all the bumps and children-related mullet woes regarding the movie have seemingly been worked out, Theron must be breathing easier. And, if any viewers do have comments about the new cut, hopefully, they will take note from the mother-daughter conversation.

Among the things you can expect when you stream The Studio with your Apple TV+ subscription are celebrity cameos… like, a lot of them! Seth Rogen’s new series, which premiered late last month on the 2025 TV schedule, is packed with actors, directors and other creative talent from Hollywood playing fictional versions of themselves, including Charlize Theron. What’s especially funny about her appearance is that she only said one line in her mere seconds of screen time, and The Studio co-creator Alex Gregory told CinemaBlend why this was “the most baller thing ever.”

Theron uttered “Get the fuck out” to Seth Rogen’s Matt Remick and Ike Barinholtz’s Sal Saperstein at the party she was hosting. This happened after she was informed that the men had told Martin Scorsese that not only would he not be making Jonestown for Continental Studios, he wouldn’t be allowed to shop what was supposed to be his final movie anywhere else because Continental was making its Kool-Aid Man movie. While Gregory was talking about the process behind getting these celebrity cameos during my recent interview with him, he had this to say about Theron’s appearance:

So we could have gotten a bit more of Charlize Theron in The Studio’s first episode, titled “The Promotion,” but the actress wasn’t having it. Instead, she felt it was better if her fictional self just stated that one demand, and it paid off. Matt and Sal walked off with their tails between their legs, and I have no doubt they’ll never be invited to another one of Theron’s shindigs again. Alex Gregory’s right, it was indeed a baller move.

Charlize Theron, of course, previously worked with Seth Rogen on the comedy movie Long Shot, so it was probably easy enough for him to convince her to stop by the critically-acclaimed The Studio. On that note, Gregory also told me that most of the celebrities cameoing in The Studio have either worked with Rogen before or are fans of his work. So there’s already a “huge amount of trust,” and Gregory also noted that Rogen and Evan Goldberg, one of the show’s other co-creators, have done a great job “making sure they're comfortable, making sure that they understood what their joke was.” He added:

Alex Gregory also mentioned after talking about Charlize Theron that once people learned that Martin Scorsese would be appearing in The Studio, “the cameos became a lot easier to get.” While I suspect we won’t be seeing Theron again for the rest of the season, if the Apple TV+ show is renewed for a second season, I’d like for her to pop back to stare down Matt Remick. I need her to hold a grudge against him for making one of the greatest directors of all time cry.

We’re now at the halfway mark with The Studio Season 1, with new episodes, including one inspired by the Golden Globes, dropping Wednesdays. Meanwhile, Charlize Theron can next be seen in The Old Guard 2, which will be released to Netflix subscription holders on July 2.

Tom Hanks has built a career as an amazing actor and performer, and that’s enough reason to celebrate the man. But if you’re like me, you also appreciate his writing and directing efforts as reasons why he’s one of our greatest talents. Which is yet another excuse for me to celebrate his writing/directing debut, That Thing You Do, as one of the best ‘90s movies - especially when it inspires random thoughts like the ones I’m about to share with you now.

That Thing You Do On VHS For $5 Was A Solid Teenage Investment

There was once a product line known as “20th Century Fox Selections,” which involved special titles being on sale “for under 10 dollars” on VHS. That Thing You Do was one of them, and seeing as I worked electronics at K-Mart in my teenage years, this tape and I were bound to meet. That’s right: before I was even a professional entertainment journalist, my work put me in line to discover movies.

The Extended Version Is The Better Version To Me

Most “Extended” or “Director’s Cuts” either add some scenes here or there, or totally overhaul the picture into a sprawling, Ridley Scott-style epic. That Thing You Do’s superior extended cut is somewhere in the middle, adding 39 minutes worth of moments that help the movie breathe. It also does a great justice to Tina and Guy's breakup plotline, and shows us that Mr. White had a special man in his life, played by NFL legend Howie Long.

My Mind Is Still Blown That This Soundtrack Is All Originals

Tom Hanks needs to write a musical, a jazz record, or something involving melody. His pen is one of the several, including late Fountains of Wayne member Adam Schlesinger, who gave this movie its totally original sonic landscape. That’s right, even “Lovin’ You Lots And Lots,” a song that sounds like it should have existed during the ‘50s, was created specifically for this film.

That Thing You Do Is Insanely Quotable

I have certain lines and moments of That Thing You Do that I’ll either quote with friends and loved ones, or even out in the wild. Steve Zahn’s spiel about the pigging contest at one of the several state fairs The Wonders play is one that definitely comes up quite often. Also, whenever it’s a bad retail day, I love to think to myself that those cats, much like Telemart, don’t know squat about service.

I Still Can’t Believe The Bass Player Never Technically Had A Name

In all fairness, Ethan Embry gave his character a full name in “Tobias Player,” while only being credited as T.B. Player. I like it, as it totally works, and I could buy that member of The Wonders as a Tobias. Sadly, that answer came to us in 2016, and I don’t think it’s been officially canonized by Tom Hanks.

What Would The Wonders Journey Be Like If Chad Was Still In The Group?

Everything in That Thing You Do happens because of the fact that The Wonders’ original drummer Chad (Giovanni Ribisi) broke his arm while vaulting over parking meters in Erie, PA. If that didn’t happen, “That Thing You Do” wouldn’t have seen its uptempo rebirth - which was the move that pushed it all into place. It’s practically a temporal hinge point, and like Doc Brown, I wonder what would have happened if it opened the other way.

That Thing You Do Should Have Never Been “A Ballad”

Oh, James Mattingley II (Johnathon Schaech) - author of the best-selling book “Alone In My Principles.” He co-wrote this would-be “ballad” with Lenny Haise (Steve Zahn), and you can practically tell that this tune was straining against its initial definition. Score another win for Guy “Skitch” Patterson.

This Film Is Where Liv Tyler Officially Stole My Heart

Everybody can pinpoint where they developed those watershed celebrity crushes. For me, I fell hard for Ms. Liv Tyler when watching That Thing You Do presented her as the kind-hearted Faye Dolan. Between snappy mid-century fashions and her sincerity, it was hard not to want only the best for Jimmy’s soon-to-be ex.

The ‘Oneders’ Was Never Going To Work As A Band Name

Commonly mispronounced as “The Oh-need-ers,” the clever approach was just never in the cards when naming those boys on stage. Everyone knows that if you can’t literally make a name for yourself at the Mercyhurst Talent Show, you should probably go back to the drawing board.

Sean Whalen Is A Professional “That Guy”

Regardless of pronouns, well-regarded character actors that seem to pop up everywhere are “That Guy!” Sean Whalen’s heckling skills in That Thing You Do were a huge sign that he’d made it, because by that point he’d already “that guy’d” his way into movies like Batman Returns, Twister, and The Cable Guy.

RIP Adam Schlesinger

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, songwriter Adam Schlesinger passed away, due to “Coronavirus complications.” While hearing “That Thing You Do” always brings me joy, it’s a bittersweet moment when remembering that the man behind that song was taken before his time.

Growing Up Is Understanding Tina Wasn’t An Evil Girlfriend

Initially, Charlize Theron’s Tina came off to me as a cold and aloof girlfriend who just didn’t get Guy. However, with time, wisdom, and the Extended Cut’s added context of Tina genuinely falling in love with her dentist, I came to realize that she and Guy were not a good fit. Still, she should have dumped him much earlier, rather than waste both of their time.

The Evolution Of The Wonders Is Cool To Witness

You can literally feel the song at the heart of That Thing You Do, and the group that sings it, evolve into their final forms. Through clever breadcrumbs like T.B. Player enlisting in the U.S. Marines, and just how “That Thing You Do” is played in each venue, the path to the Hollywood Television Showcase is one that teaches us a lot about these young, good men.

Holmes Osborne Is A Professional ‘Movie Dad’

Between 1996 and 2000, Holmes Osborne was the on-screen dad in That Thing You Do, Election, Bring It On, and Donnie Darko. An ace at playing an authority figure, I think this run qualifies Mr. Osborne as a professional “Movie Dad,” especially with the final turn for his paternal figure in this film seeing the straight-laced electronics store manager loosening up and embracing his son Guy’s dream.

That Thing You Do Should Have Never Lost The Best Original Song Oscar

Anyone who knows me knows that I have strong opinions on the Academy Awards, and my list of Best Picture losers who should have won is just part of that equation. But one of my deeply held grudges in Oscar history is the fact that “You Must Love Me” from Evita somehow bested “That Thing You Do” as the Best Original Song of the 69th Academy Awards.

That Thing You Do’s Cameo Game Is So Wicked

There is a seriously strong bench of performers that make up the world of That Thing You Do’s supporting and cameo cast. Just to name a handful of folks that show up at one point or another, we get to see Chris Isaak, Paul Feig, Peter Scolari, Colin Hanks, and Bryan Cranston make appearances. And if you watch the Extended Cut, former football player Howie Long shows up as the implied boyfriend of Tom Hanks’ Mr. White.

The Wonders’ Song Never Gets Old

I’ve never counted how many times “That Thing You Do” is played, both partially and in full, in Tom Hanks’ cinematic tribute to ‘60s pop. What I do know is that no matter how many times this tune comes on through streaming music, or even in the local supermarket, I will always smile and sing along.

T.B. Player Could Have Been A Preacher

While we know that Tobias “T.B.” Player eventually served two tours in Vietnam, "receiving the Purple Heart for wounds sustained at The Siege of Khe Sanh," he seemed cut out to become a preacher. Though he would go on to become a building contractor, his ability to cite scripture with Guy’s Uncle Bob (Chris Isaak) proved he was a man of some level of faith, and he had the gentle demeanor to pull it off.

The Scene Where The Song First Plays On The Radio Is An All-Timer

One of the definitive best movie music moments has to be when Faye and The Wonders catch “That Thing You Do” on the radio for the first time. Capturing the moment when everything changes for this band of friends, it’s also a scene that pairs such a feeling with a very summery vibe to it. Also, Steve Zahn dancing with a cardboard cutout never gets old.

Tom Everett Scott Is Really Good At Channeling A Young Tom Hanks

There’s a scene where Tom Everett Scott’s Guy is talking on the phone with his girlfriend Tina, and the performance during that moment feels like watching young Tom Hanks during his early career. It was probably unintentional, but the resemblance made That Thing You Do’s Guy even more of a lead to root for.

‘Boss’ Vic Koss Is Even More Of A Jerk In The Extended Version

“Boss” Vic Koss (Kevin Pollak) always comes off as a jerk when The Wonders hit Pittsburgh. But if you watch That Thing You Do’s extended cut, you get quite a bit more of his nasty energy to behold. Sure, Lenny shouldn’t have been messing with his Cuban cigars, but that wasn’t a license to treat The Wonders like trash.

That Thing You Do Belongs In The Criterion Collection

Everybody has those favorites of theirs that they wish would be given the full Criterion Collection treatment, flush with special features and insightful essays. I think it’s time to give Tom Hanks’ writing/directing debut that treatment, or at the very least a premium 4K re-release of the generous Blu-ray package that ported the Extended Cut and its extras. And if anyone is listening, I’d be glad to contribute an essay upon request.

I Want To Write An Entire Series Of Mr. Downtown Mysteries That Live Up To That Theme

If I had to pick a favorite track of That Thing You Do’s soundtrack, besides the titular ditty, I’d have to go with the theme from “Mr. Downtown,” sung by the dulcet tones of Freddy Fredrickson (Robert Torti). It’s a loving riff on Henry Mancini’s theme for Peter Gunn, which only makes me want to create a mystery series that fully fleshes out that fictitious TV series. Clearly I’m not alone here, as YouTube channel Arcade Productions has already taken a spin on such a project.

Mr. White Must See Himself In Guy Patterson

Tom Everett Scott kind of resembles a young Tom Hanks in his performance, and while it seems unintentional, I think it may have also served a secondary purpose. Between Mr. White and Guy bonding over sunglasses at a State Fair, and the considerate speech that Playtone’s mover and shaker gives to the young squire after The Wonders implode, it feels like past life experience is a motivator between mentor and student.

I Would Watch Weekend At Party Pier

A short sequence meant to lampoon the teen beach movies of Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Weekend At Party Pier is where The Wonders become Cap’t Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters. Yes, it looks incredibly goofy, but I would be very happy to see this frothy lampoon, directed on screen by the late Silence of the Lambs helmer Jonathan Demme, become an actual movie.

Lamarr Is A Five-Star Human Being And Ace Concierge

If you’re a serious practitioner in the hospitality industry, you know how to make people happy before they even ask. The Ambassador Hotel’s concierge Lamarr (Obba Babatundé) is someone who definitely fits that bill, as he takes care of the sickly Faye, makes killer dessert suggestions, and makes sure that Guy Patterson gets to appreciate jazz, and the love of his life, in the appropriate fashion.

When Can We See That Thing You Do As A Broadway Musical?

We’ve seen plenty of Hollywood motion pictures become Broadway musicals, and there are even more waiting in the wings to have their shot. But when will the Great White Way get with the program and turn That Thing You Do into an expanded, full spectacle musical that feels like a Wonders concert?

Darlene And Chad Totally (Probably) Got Married

While Guy and Faye are That Thing You Do’s predictable love connection, I’m now inclined to think that Chad and Guy’s sister Darlene (Dawn Maxey) wound up together in life. After being rebuffed by Lenny Haise after a spark of interest, and Chad becoming close to the Patterson family in Guy’s absence, this is one leap involving Chad that could have worked.

There Is Not A Universe Where Jimmy Deserved Faye’s Love

Jimmy was cheating on Faye with Diane Dane (Chaille Percival), and I’m tired of pretending otherwise. She sits on the man’s lap during the rehearsal for “My World Is Over,” Jimmy talks about her constantly, and you can tell he is smitten with her. Faye Dolan deserved much, much better than that; and he should have dumped her in Pittsburgh.

I Wonder How Many People Actually Used Jimmy’s Quitting Schtick After Seeing This Movie?

Johnathon Schaech’s Jimmy was That Thing You Do’s heel, and that’s a credit to the Arrowverse vet’s skills. So is the fact that his catchy, passive-aggressive hit single “I Quit (Mr. White)” is something that I could see viewers being tempted to implement when leaving a job at one point or another.

Did Tom Hanks Write Mr. White’s Liner Notes For The Mondo Vinyl?

On the back of Mondo’s long-awaited That Thing You Do vinyl release is a section of liner notes that are credited to “Mr. A.M. White,” who is presumably Tom Hanks’ character in the film. Seeing as the man created this world, I really want to know if he wrote those liner notes - in between making hit movies and writing novels like “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” did he add this expansion of lore to the Playtone Galaxy?

I Still Want A That Thing You Do Legacy-quel

We saw snapshots of where all of The Wonders wound up after their disbanding at the end of That Thing You Do, and fans still hold those clues as canon. With the 30th anniversary of the film approaching in 2026, I really think it’s time to reconsider putting together a legacy-quel that follows the band in the ‘90s, and how their past climb to stardom is seen in the march to Y2K.

The Academy Award for Best Actress has been handed out every year since 1929 — it was initially awarded to star Janet Gaynor for her roles in 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans — and in the near-century since, it's been presented 97 times to 79 actresses. Winning that coveted statuette is unsurprisingly a dream come true for many a big-screen performer, but the award does come with added attention on the actress's next projects. Will whatever they work on next be as critically acclaimed or commercially successful? Here are 32 films that Oscar-winning actresses did after taking home the Academy Award, and how they were received.

Emma Stone

The whole La La Land Oscars brouhaha at the 2018 ceremony was quite memorable, but clearly so was star Emma Stone's performance as aspiring actress Mia Dolen opposite Ryan Gosling's jazz pianist Seb Wilder. One of Stone's best movies, the role earned the star her first Best Actress win (she would strike gold yet again with her 2024 victory for Poor Things). Her next performance also stirred up awards buzz: she was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for portraying tennis legend Billie Jean King in the sports drama Battle of the Sexes.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep's history with the Academy Awards is long and legendary: over her decades-spanning career, she's been nominated for a record 21 Oscar nominations, winning thrice. After taking home the Supporting Actress statuette for Kramer vs. Kramer, Streep got her first big Best Actress win for one of her most iconic performances: as the titular character of the devastating 1982 drama Sophie's Choice. Her next role was just as haunting: as Karen Silkwood in the 1983 thriller Silkwood, for which she earned yet another Best Actress nod.

Michelle Yeoh

Along with kicking major butt, Michelle Yeoh made history with her starring role as Evelyn Quan Wang in the 2022 action-dramedy Everything Everywhere All at Once, for she became the first Asian performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Following that notable win in 2023, the Wicked star lent her voice to the sci-fi flick Transformers: Rise of the Beasts as Airazor, a Maximal warrior who transforms into a peregrine falcon. That title earned largely mixed reviews, and it currently sports a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jessica Chastain

After losing out on the Oscar for Zero Dark Thirty, Jessica Chastain took the Best Actress trophy home for her transformative role as televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in the 2022 bio-drama The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Her next project was far less successful with awards bodies — the action-spy thriller The 355 was both a critical and commercial bomb, reportedly losing Universal an estimated $93 million. Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Despite the strong cast, this is the film equivalent of a corn-syrup-based fizzy drink being passed off as chic in taller, slimmer cans."

Frances McDormand

Three-time Best Actress winner Frances McDormand took home her first Oscar in 1997 for her instantly iconic performance as Minnesota police chief Marge Gunderson in the classic Coen Brothers dark comedy Fargo. Later that year, the acclaimed performer joined a heavyweight lineup of actresses — including Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Ehle — in the World War II drama Paradise Road. However, despite that acting clout, the film received mixed reviews, with its approval rating at a lowly 43% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Brie Larson

Child actor turned Marvel superhero Brie Larson took her career to a whole new level with her performance as kidnapping victim Joy "Ma" Newsome in the 2015 survival drama Room, for which she swept the subsequent awards season and took home the Best Actress Oscar. In 2016, the Lessons in Chemistry lead starred in another survival drama, this time the Ben Wheatley-directed action-comedy Free Fire. CinemaBlend's own Gregory Wakeman wrote of the film: "Free Fire has enough gun blasts and violence to entertain, but ultimately lacks the requisite surprises or savvy to be anything more than a frivolous diversion."

Olivia Colman

Olivia Colman's Best Actress win for her portrayal of Queen Anne in the black-comedy period piece The Favourite was a deserved yet delightfully shocking moment at the 2019 Oscars. Her next role was equally strange, but less acclaimed: she appeared alongside Kaitlyn Dever, Jim Gaffigan and Walton Goggins as snake-handling fundamentalists in the horror mystery Them That Follow. Though it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, it earned mixed reviews from critics.

Cate Blanchett

One of the most versatile actors in the industry — she's played Queen Elizabeth I and Bob Dylan, for crying out loud! — eight-time Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett secured her first Best Actress win in 2014 playing a neurotic former socialite in the Woody Allen-directed dramedy Blue Jasmine. And speaking of versatility, the Aussie star followed that awards win with a voice role in the animated fantasy sequel How to Train Your Dragon 2, which got its own Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature.

Sandra Bullock

Rom-com queen Sandra Bullock received her first Best Actress nomination and win in 2010 for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the biographical football drama The Blind Side. Her next film credit was the Stephen Daldry-directed 2011 drama Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which did manage to score a Best Picture nod but not without controversy. Chris Krapek of The Huffington Post called the film "not only the worst reviewed Best Picture nominee of the last 10 years, [but] easily the worst film of 2011."

Katharine Hepburn

Hollywood icon Katherine Hepburn earned four Academy Awards for Best Actress out of 12 nominations across her illustrious film career—a record for any performer. The leading lady's first Oscar win was in 1934 for the Pre-Code drama Morning Glory (the rest would come later in the star's life), which she followed up with John Cromwell's Spitfire. Some viewers found Hepburn miscast as "hillbilly" faith healer Trigger Hicks — the film has a 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman didn't win the Best Actress Oscar for one of her most beloved performances, as cabaret star Satine in Moulin Rouge! but she instead secured the big win only a year later for playing English writer Virginia Woolf in The Hours. The Babygirl star's first post-award project was the 2003 avant-garde thriller Dogville, written and directed by Lars von Trier. Though the film prompted quite a polarizing response from critics at the time of release, it did end up on several best-of-the-decade roundups, including The Guardian and Paste.

Jennifer Lawrence

If they didn't already love her from her work in the David O. Russell dramedy Silver Linings Playbook, the world certainly fell for Jennifer Lawrence when she charmingly tripped up the stairs to accept her Best Actress statuette in 2013. That fall, she would reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen in the second Mockingjay movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which is widely considered the best installment of The Hunger Games film series (it's got a solid 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating) and earned Lawrence a Critics' Choice nod.

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren is a regal onscreen presence no matter what the role, but her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 docudrama The Queen welcomed her among the Hollywood royalty known as Oscar winners. However, despite the film title, she didn't strike gold with her next project: the Nicolas Cage-led adventure flick National Treasure: Book of Secrets, alongside Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris and Diane Kruger. Per Rotten Tomatoes, critic consensus said of the 35% "Rotten" movie: "A talented cast goes to waste in the improbable National Treasure: Book of Secrets."

Jodie Foster

One of Hollywood's most acclaimed child stars — she was only 12 years old when she starred opposite Robert De Niro in the Martin Scorsese masterpiece Taxi Driver, earning her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress — Jodie Foster successfully segued into more adult fare with the 1988 legal drama The Accused. As an assault survivor Sarah Tobias, Foster received a Best Actress win—it wouldn't be her last, with the star winning the same award for her next film release, one of the greatest horror movies of all time, The Silence of the Lambs.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry made Oscar history when she became the first African-American woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performance as a struggling widow in 2001's Monster's Ball. After becoming an Oscar winner, Berry became a Bond Girl — bikini-sporting NSA agent Jinx, to be exact — in the 2002 spy flick Die Another Day, opposite Pierce Brosnan as 007. However, the latter is widely considered to be the worst entry in James Bond's canon.

Julie Andrews

A legendary performer across both screen and stage, Julie Andrews won her Best Actress Oscar in 1964 for a truly iconic role: as the titular nanny extraordinaire in Mary Poppins. And she didn't stop there — the very next year, she would get yet another Academy Award nomination for an equally beloved character, as The Sound of Music's Maria, the sweet, singing governess to the Von Trapp family. Talk about an epic filmography!

Kathy Bates

One of the best Kathy Bates performances, as obsessive superfan Annie Wilkes in the 1990 Stephen King thriller Misery, earned the talented actress her first Academy Award nomination and win. (She would have three more Oscar nods across her decades-spanning career.) Bates' next film role was in the South African drama The Road to Mecca, based on the Athol Fugard play of the same name — the performer was praised for both her acting and her accent work.

Hilary Swank

Before there were transgender characters like Emilia Pérez (Emilia Pérez), Sin-Dee Rella (Tangerine), or Raymond Rayon (Dallas Buyers Club), there was Brandon Teena, the real-life trans man at the center of the 1999 drama Boys Don't Cry. Hilary Swank's harrowing, career-making performance as Teena earned the star her first Best Actress award, with critics like Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman calling the actress a "revelation" in the film. Reactions to her next movie, the 2000 supernatural thriller The Gift, were far more mixed. A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "The picture is saved from mediocrity by [director Sam] Raimi's smooth competence, and by the unusually high quality of the acting."

Renée Zellweger

After prior Best Actress nominations for two of her best movies, Bridget Jones' Diary and Chicago — plus a Best Supporting Actress win for Cold Mountain — Renée Zellweger finally got her big Best Actress win for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Rupert Goold's Judy. After taking a multi-year break from acting, Zellweger's much-anticipated next film credit will be a return to a beloved role, in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was so convincing as a troubled ballerina in the 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan that she thought the film was a docudrama while making it. So, it's no surprise, then, that her tour-de-force performance garnered the star an Academy Award for Best Actress. Ever one to keep you guessing genre-wise, Portman's next role was in the 2011 stoner fantasy-comedy Your Highness, which sadly was a box office bomb and received largely negative reviews from critics.

Cher

The "Goddess of Pop" Cher officially added the title of "Oscar winner" to her already legendary showbiz career with her 1988 Best Actress triumph for one of her best movies, the acclaimed rom-com Moonstruck. Her next movie role came two years later as Rachel Flax, the saucy single mom to young Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci in the 1990 dramedy Mermaids. The heartfelt title has been dubbed an "underappreciated 1990s coming-of-age gem" by The Guardian, which singled out Cher's performance as "nothing short of magical."

Kate Winslet

One of the greatest performers of her generation, it took Kate Winslet a whopping six Oscar nominations before she finally took home the Academy Award for Best Actress, for playing a former Nazi camp guard in 2008's The Reader. Her next onscreen role was in the 2011 black comedy Carnage, by disgraced director Roman Polanski. The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the cast, including Winslet's — she earned a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress in a Motional Picture Musical or Comedy.

Julia Roberts

After a decade that solidified her as rom-com royalty, Julia Roberts proved her dramatic bonafides by winning the Best Actress Oscar for playing the title role in the 2000 legal drama Erin Brockovich, one of her best movies. America's Sweetheart returned to her romantic comedy roots with her next film, fittingly entitled America's Sweethearts, though critics weren't too sweet on the movie. It only holds a 33% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's consensus reading: "Despite its famous cast, the movie lacks sympathetic characters and is only funny in spurts."

Susan Sarandon

After Oscar nominations for Atlantic City, Thelma & Louise, Lorenzo's Oil and The Client, Susan Sarandon was finally named Best Actress by the Academy for playing Sister Helen Prejean in 1995's Dead Man Walking. Her next film was the decidedly lighter kids' flick James and the Giant Peach, in which Sarandon voiced the character of Miss Spider. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with Randy Newman's score earning an Oscar nod; however, the film was a box office failure, grossing $300,000 less than its budget.

Marion Cotillard

French movie star Marion Cotillard became the first actor to win an Academy Award for a French-language performance for her transformative turn as legendary singer Édith Piaf in the 2007 music biopic La Vie en Rose. Her next film credit was another biographical drama — this time, the Michael Mann-directed gangster film Public Enemies, alongside Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Though many critics praised the leading performances, reviews were mixed, with the title holding a 68% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin's acting debut in 1986's Children of a Lesser God saw the actress making Oscar history not once but twice: she became the first deaf performer to ever win an Academy Award, as well as the youngest winner in the Best Actress category. The CODA star followed up that momentous victory with the 1987 Western Walker, starring Ed Harris, Richard Masur and Peter Boyle. The historical drama was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival but received very polarized reviews and was a failure at the box office.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Fun fact: Gwyneth Paltrow wasn't initially supposed to star as Viola de Lesseps in the 1998 Bard-inspired romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love — Julia Roberts was. But Gwyn is no doubt grateful the latter ultimately left the production, as the role won her a Best Actress Oscar. Her next project was equally acclaimed: 1999's Anthony Minghella-helmed thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley scored five Academy Award nominations.

Audrey Hepburn

Screen legend Audrey Hepburn won her first Oscar in 1953 for her debut starring role, as Princess Ann in the classic black-and-white comedy Roman Holiday. The British beauty would later be nominated four more times for films like her first post-award project, the 1954 Billy Wilder-directed dramedy Sabrina, as well as The Nun's Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Wait Until Dark.

Sally Field

The Academy likes her, they really like her — yes, Sally Field has won not one but two Best Actress statuettes, the first being for her inspiring performance in 1979's Norma Rae and the second five years later for another one of her best films, Places in the Heart. Following her first win, Field reprised her role as Carrie, or "Frog," in 1980's Smoky and the Bandit II opposite her real-life love Burt Reynolds. Though the sequel was a box office success, prompting a third film, it received almost entirely negative reviews from critics.

Charlize Theron

One of the best Charlize Theron roles was also the star's most remarkably unrecognizable: the South African-born actress earned a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of real-life prostitute and serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 crime drama Monster. Her next big-screen performance was the 2004 war drama Head in the Clouds, which saw Theron acting opposite her then-romantic partner Stuart Townsend. The film was a critical and box office failure; in the San Francisco Chronicle, Walter Addiego wrote: "If not for the presence of Charlize Theron, it's hard to imagine this film would have attracted anywhere near the kind of attention it's gotten."

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon proved she was more than just a musical sidekick with her Oscar-winning performance as June Carter Cash in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. The Legally Blonde star was next seen in the harrowing 2007 political thriller Rendition opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Peter Sarsgaard. However, "the impressive cast cannot rescue Rendition, which explores complex issues in woefully simplified terms," reads the critics' consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, with the film at a paltry 47% approval rating.

Elizabeth Taylor

Through much of the mid-20th century, celluloid icon Elizabeth Taylor was one of MGM's most bankable stars. In fact, her final film for the studio — 1960's Butterfield 8, playing glamorous call girl Gloria Wandrous — earned the movie star her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Her next performance was just as iconic: as the titular Egyptian queen in the 1963 historical epic Cleopatra, which received nine Oscar nominations and four wins, though, alas, none for Taylor specifically.

When Gina Prince-Bythewood's The Old Guard was released in the summer of 2020, it scratched an itch that a lot of people were feeling. The COVID-19 pandemic had shut down movie theaters all around the world, but cinephiles with a Netflix subscription were still able to check out some fresh blockbuster action featuring Charlize Theron kicking all kinds of ass as an immortal warrior. The film made a big splash when it arrived, and Theron has continued to collaborate with the streaming service – recently signing on to make the new thriller Apex with director Baltasar Kormákur... but what still remains a mystery is the status of The Old Guard 2.

The sequel isn't theoretical or something fans need to launch internet campaigns for if they ever want to see it. Not only was The Old Guard 2 given the green light in early 2021, but Victoria Mahoney was hired to direct the feature a few months later, and principal photography began in the summer of 2022. There have been reports about reshoots, but Netflix has not yet provided an update regarding their plans for releasing the film.

Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Vân Veronica Ngô, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Chiwetel Ejiofor are all reprising their roles for The Old Guard 2, and it has been reported that new additions to the cast include Uma Thurman and Henry Golding.

While that movie is hanging in limbo, Charlize Theron's upcoming slate of projects includes a very different kind of film in Apex, which will see the Oscar-winning actor playing a protagonist in harrowing circumstances. Per The Hollywood Reporter, she will be playing a "rock climber and adrenaline junkie" who goes out on an expedition and finds herself getting hunted by a psychopath. The antagonist in the movie will be played by Taron Egerton, who has had his own recent success with Netflix starring in the new throwback action movie Carry On.

The feature is based on a spec script by up-and-coming writer Jeremy Robbins, who previous credits include The Purge television series, and it will be Baltasar Kormákur's return to the action movies after making the 2024 Icelandic romantic drama Touch (his last contribution to the genre was the Idris Elba vs. a lion thriller Beast in 2022)

With Apex still being in pre-production here at the end of 2024, it may not end up with a spot on Netflix's 2025 movie and TV show release calendar, but fans can remain hopeful that The Old Guard 2 will end up with a release date during the calendar year. To be totally honest, the delays and reshoots don't suggest that the film is a masterpiece of action cinema... but there remains excitement to see the return of the movie's immortal heroes.

Great actors don't need a lot of makeup or total body transformations to improve their performance, but when you get the combination of a great and those things, the effect can be amazing. Sometimes the effect is so good the actors become completely unrecognizable, like the examples in this list where actors like Jared Leto and Gary Oldman were completely transformed for roles.

Jared Leto - House Of Gucci

It's fair to say that House Of Gucci was, at best, an uneven movie. It was a daunting challenge for everyone involved and none more so than Jared Leto. Leto played the legendary Paolo Gucci, and while his accent was a little shaky, his look and his mannerisms were completely on point. It's one heck of a transformation.

Charlize Theron - Monster

There is no more intense transformation for a role than Charlize Theron's performance as real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster. Theron completely embodies the monster that Wuoronos was, while also subtly allowing the audience to understand how the killer became the way she was. Theron rightfully won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the brutal murderer.

Christian Bale - Vice

Christian Bale is one of the best actors of his generation and he's never been afraid to alter his look for a performance. The Machinist is one excellent example, but even that transformation pales in comparison to the way he completely became Dick Cheney in Vice. Not only does he look just like the former vice president, but he nails his speech pattern and mannerisms as well. It's remarkable.

Lily James - Pam & Tommy

When Lily James was cast as Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy it raised a few eyebrows. The actress seemed like a complete opposite in every way, especially her looks, as the blonde bombshell. Yet, when the movie came out, people were amazed at how well James pulled it off. No, it's not the best movie, but James was the spitting image of Anderson.

Gary Oldman - True Romance

One actor who is truly a master of disguise is Gary Oldman. He seemingly looks completely different in almost every role he plays. One of the most astounding transformations was early in his career when he played a pimp in True Romance. He literally looks and sounds nothing like himself in the film, to the point where if you didn't know it was him, you'd never guess.

Jessica Chastain - The Eyes of Tammy Faye

You know when a film wins the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Best Actress, the role is going to be special. Such is the case for Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Chastain is completely unrecognizable in the role of the wife of the infamous Jim Bakker and is simply incredible in the movie.

Margot Robbie - I, Tonya

Turning Margot Robbie into a street tough figure skater like Tonya Harding is no easy feet. Through a combination of incredible makeup work and even better acting, Robbie completely disappears into the notorious skater made famous for her part in attacking her rival Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 Olympics.

Glenn Close - Hook

Steven Spielberg's 1991 Hook isn't generally remembered as the legendary director's best work, but it is chock full of fun cameos and one of the hardest to spot is Glenn Close. The actress plays one of the pirates on Captain Hook's ship and if you don't look closely, you'll never notice the multiple Oscar nominee under the beard and makeup turning her into a male pirate.

Tilda Swinton - Trainwreck

The most remarkable thing about Tilda Swinton's transformation in the rom-com Trainwreck is just how conventional she looks. Swinton has one of the most unique looks in Hollywood and most of the time that look is enhanced by the roles she plays, it's part of what makes her so great. Her "normal" look in Trainwreck is made remarkable by that,

Mike Myers - Bohemian Rhapsody

Mike Myers took a long hiatus from acting in the 2010s and when he returned in Bohemian Rhapsody, audiences had to do a triple-check to make sure it was him in the role of a record executive arguing with Queen about the song that the movie is named after. With sunglasses and a full blonde beard, Myers looked nothing like his normal sense and his performance was excellent.

Colin Farrell - The Batman/The Penguin

When the trailer first dropped for The Batman, people were astounded at how Colin Farrell looked as Penguin. When the movie came out and we all watched his performance, it was even more shocking (in a great way). When he took the role to HBO for the TV show named after the character, we were all completely lost in it, because he was just so great. Though he says the suit and makeup aren't worth it, we have a feeling he'll be back as the Gotham-based villain.

50 Cent - All Things Fall Apart

50 Cent has proven to be quite the actor. The rapper has branched out into producing, even. Perhaps his best performance was as the fallen football star in All Things Fall Apart. His body transformation to play a pro athlete in peak physical condition who falls victim to cancer is incredible

Sarah Paulson - Impeachment: American Crime Story

Sarah Paulson knows how to completely disappear into a role. She was as incredible as Marsha Clark in The People Vs. OJ Simpson and she was even more remarkable as Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story. Seriously, if you didn't know it was her, you'd never guess. She looks more like Tripp than Paulson in every way.

Billy Bob Thornton In U-Turn

Billy Bob Thorton is one of the most fun actors to watch in everything he is in. Take, for example, his role in Sling Blade, in which he looks completely different from himself. Another fine example is as the mechanic in U-Turn with Sean Penn. If it wasn't for his distinctive voice, you'd never know it was him.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

For a while there, Eddie Murphy made it his job to look completely different in his movies like The Nutty Professor, but at no point in any of those movies did he transform quite like he did to play the Jewish guy who hung out in the barbershop in Coming To America. Even his role as the barber in the movie was more recognizable. We also have to give props to Arsenio Hall for his various roles in the movie as well.

Mia Goth - X

Mia Goth playing the elderly Pearl in X is fantastic. Though you can tell it's her as Maxine, if you just walked in on the movie as those scenes of her as the older Pearl was playing, you'd never know who it is.

Tom Hardy - Bronson

Tom Hardy has never been shy about taking on challenging roles that require him to transform completely. He changes so much, that you almost feel like you don't know what he actually looks like in real life. Bronson is one of his finest transformations as he looks way more like the notorious British prisoner than like himself in the movie. It's so much more than just a mustache, that's for sure.

Donnie Wahlberg - The Sixth Sense

Mark Wahlberg may be the more famous brother, but Donnie Wahlberg also has some incredible acting chops and his performance comes in his minor-ish role in The Sixth Sense. It's clear that the former (and current) New Kid On The Block lost a ton of weight for his haunting performance in the movie.

Steve Carell - Foxcatcher

Murderer John du Pont of the famous du Pont family was a unique-looking guy. In Foxcatcher, Steve Carell completely embodies that uniqueness, It's almost unsettling how much Carell looks like du Pont and not like himself in the disturbing movie about the murder the scion of the wealthy family committed in 1997.

Cate Blanchett — I’m Not There

The legendary Bob Dylan has been played on screen a few times and remarkably the actor that pulled off his look and mannerism best is the amazing Cate Blanchett in I’m Not There. Of all the actors who play a version of the folk singer, Blancett is the most convincing and she looks nothing like herself in the movie.

Zac Efron - The Iron Claw

Early in his career Zac Efron was kind of typecast as the goofy good-looking guy. In 2023's The Iron Claw he completely upends that as he embodied the late Kerry Von Erich in the fantastic biopic about wrestling's first family, the Von Erichs

Renée Zellweger - The Thing About Pam

After a little bit of a career lull that included a four-year break from acting, Renée Zellweger returned in a big way in the late 2010s, culminating in an Oscar-winning performance as Judy Garland in 2019's Judy, which completely revived her career. Her best was yet to come because despite not getting the same accolades in the press, her performance as murderer Pam Hupp in The Thing About Pam was a complete transformation

Jared Leto - Chapter 27

Turning someone as good-looking as Jared Leto into someone as despised as the man who killed John Lennon is no easy feat. Leto's performance as Mark David Chapman is incredible and even though the movie has flown under the radar for years, it's worth seeking out just to see how different Leto can look from himself.

Missi Pyle - Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

How do you take a beautiful woman like Missi Pyle and make her look like a deranged Eastern European dodgeball player? Ask the makeup department for Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The work they did, along with Pyle's acting, was amazing. There's no way to know it was her in any way unless you double-check the credits.

Sebastian Stan - A Different Man

A Different Man tells the hilarious and heartwarming tale of a struggling actor with a condition known as neurofibromatosis. Sebastian Stan plays the actor under a whole ton of wonderful makeup and despite the obvious limitation that makeup puts on the actor, Stan puts in a career-defining performance.

Chris Hemsworth - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

While it isn't the most extreme example on this list, Chris Hemsworth's look in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is amazing. The only reason you really know it's him is that he uses his natural Aussie accent in the movie, which he doesn't do all that much these days. He's even won awards for the performance!

Ryan Reynolds - Blade: Trinity

Okay, we'll admit this isn't the biggest transformation on this list, but you can't deny that Ryan Reynolds has a completely different, more sinister look in Blade: Trinity. It's way different from what you expect from a standard Reynolds performance.

Nicole Kidman - Birth

Nicole Kidman is an amazing actress, but she's not one of those actors you expect to completely change her look for a role. Her part in Birth shows that she certainly can do that, and do it in spectacular ways.

Robert De Niro - Raging Bull

Robert De Niro famously put on a ton of weight for his role as Al Capone in The Untouchables. He also got completely jacked for Cape Fear. He did both for his incredible performance in Raging Bull. As a young Jake LaMotta he was cut and fit and as an older version of the boxer, he was flabby and overweight. Either way, De Niro looks less like himself and more like the real-life boxer. He certainly deserved the Oscar he won for the role.

Margot Robbie - Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots had a unique look that was only enhanced by the odd style of 16th Century Scotland. Still, Margot Robbie nails the look of the queen in a way that leaves the audience squinted to see if it's really the Australian actress.

Gary Oldman - The Darkest Hour

No one transforms quite like Gary Oldman. He's completely different in every role he plays and in The Darkest Hour, he completely embodies his role as Winston Churchill. It's not just the makeup, though that is perfect, it's also the voice and mannerisms he brings to the role that makes you believe you're actually watching the legendary prime minister.

Charlize Theron - Bombshell

Bombshell is one of those movies where you might think you're watching the real-life characters that the cast of Bombshell are playing. Charlize Theron's portrayal of former Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly tops the performances. It's pitch-perfect in every way.

We’ve seen great TV shows that explore the struggles of working in Hollywood like HBO’s Entourage and the 2016 Emmy-nominated Lifetime series UnREAL. But Seth Rogen’s Apple TV+ series The Studio is on a whole other level, as it's filled with A-list celebrities to really add authenticity. Out of all of the A+ cameos in the teaser trailer, I wouldn’t even be able to pinpoint just one that I’d be most impressed to by in this 2025 TV schedule entry. (Okay, it’s Martin Scorsese).

Seth Rogen’s best movies are known for their big ensemble casts like This Is the End, The Disaster Artist and Sausage Party. But I certainly wasn’t prepared for all of the recognizable faces I saw in the first look at The Studio. The show sees Rogen starring, writing, directing and executive producing. Rogen plays aficionado Matt Remick, who becomes the newly appointed head of Continental Studios. Based on the teaser trailer, it’s a battle between executives, stars and corporate overlords amid the production of a big movie. We see the anxiety-ridden situations that occur behind the scenes like parties, creative meetings, awards programs and more.

Other than seeing panic and chaos occur in the teaser, I'm distracted by all of the A+ celebrity cameos that will be featured in the streaming series. If you were to ask me which celebrity I’m most impressed to see in the new Seth Rogen series, I wouldn’t be able to pick just one with all of the options in front of me. Though the first that truly stands out is Martin Scorsese, who looks in the trailer to be giving some brutally honest feedback about a talent:

I already have a feeling that Martin Scorsese’s cameo is going to be one for the books. The Oscar-winning director does make cameos here and there. Some Scorsese's best movies feature him on screen, and he also had that funny cameo in Entourage. Needless to say, I'm excited to see how he figures into this upcoming series.

Another celebrity cameo I can’t wait for is Catherine O’Hara. Known for playing one of the funniest characters on Schitt’s Creek, the Golden Globe winner looks to be a mentor of sorts for Seth Rogen’s character. It’s a huge relief that O’Hara’s time on TV isn’t over.

Bryan Cranston will also be appearing on The Studio as a Continental Studios employee. The Emmy Award winner hasn’t let us down yet with his prolific roles in shows like Breaking Bad and Malcolm in the Middle. I already can tell he’ll be bringing his infectious energy to the cast. Viewers can see Cranston's character telling Matt Remick what the studio’s expectations are in movies they’ll be making.

Of course, you can’t leave out Anthony Mackie. He's dazzled as Sam Wilson in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and as Twisted Metal's John Doe, and I'm ready to see him take on yet another sweet role:

My personal favorite honorable mentions would have to be Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano and Charlize Theron. Kravitz has been wowing us with her most recent projects like The Batman and her directorial debut Blink Twice. Dano is one of the most talented actors out there who constantly delivers transformative performances in movies like Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood and The Fablemans. Considering how many films he does, it's refreshing to see him on a TV show (though he was on Mr. And Mrs. Smith last year.)

And I'm definitely confident that Charlize Theron will do a great job on The Studio. Coincidentally, she worked with Seth Rogen in Long Shot, and their chemistry was great.

Though this first look at The Studio is just roughly a minute-long, I’m already anticipating Seth Rogen’s new series, and the A+ celebrity cameos as the sweet icing on the cake. Plus, if Martin Scorsese is going to be in it, how can I ignore it? The first two episodes of the 10-episode half-hour series will be available to stream with an Apple TV+ subscription on March 26th, with one episode subsequently premiering every Wednesday.

There are some highly anticipated movies on the 2026 movie schedule, and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as the Greek hero Odysseus, is one of the biggest. All of Nolan's movies draw a lot of hype, and adding to the director's reputation is that he is doing what amounts to the first real adaptations of one of the founding myths of Western culture and literature.

This is more than a mere book-to-screen adaptation; it's sure to be an epic film based on the epic poem. The hype is real. The movie's IMAX 70mm screenings mostly sold out a full year in advance.

We've learned a lot more about the movie since the year began, including who many in the all-star cast will be playing (though there are still a few mysteries). Here is everything we know as of the end of March 2026, including some casting guesses and the first trailer.

What Is The Odyssey’s Release Date?

Universal has confirmed that The Odyssey will hit the 2026 movie schedule on July 17th, 2026.

The film will be released in IMAX, of course, as no one in Hollywood loves the format more than Nolan. In fact, this is reportedly the first time every frame of a film will have been filmed in 70mm for IMAX. According to Nolan, over 200 million feet of film were used in the production. That's a mindboggling number, as it is orders of magnitude more than a standard 35mm film, or even a 70mm non-IMAX film.

We also now know that the movie will have a five-week theatrical window. That is a big change from the three weeks that has been standard in the industry since the pandemic. Universal, the movie's producer, announced this change recently, adding that it will guarantee seven weeks in the future. It's likely no accident that it is timed with the release of The Odyssey.

The First Trailer Has Dropped

The first teaser was initially presented in the summer of 2025 as a preview during screenings of Jurassic World Rebirth, and a longer trailer accompanied Avatar: Fire and Ash in December. The teaser trailer was finally released online right before Christmas 2025, and now we've finally seen the full trailer, which was released in early May.

Of course, there have been some snarky comments about the uniforms and other pedantry, but let's be honest, it already looks as epic as we anticipate it will be. I'm not ready to say it'll get a boatload of Oscar nominations next year based on a trailer, but c'mon, of course it will!

Check out the full trailer here:

We see a lot more in this full trailer than we saw in the previous teaser trailer, including our first looks at some of the stars of the movie. Of course, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway are here, as they were in the teaser, but we also get glimpses of Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, John Leguizamo, Eliot Page, and a better look at Jon Bernthal. Plus a couple of sightings of the Cyclops, Polyphemus, rumored to be the role Bill Irwin is playing.

What Is The Odyssey About?

The story of Homer’s The Odyssey is, of course, well known throughout the world. Many of us, including me, read the epic poem in high school, and it is one of the foundations of Western literature and storytelling. It’s the story of Odysseus and his journey home after the Trojan War. The movie has been partially adapted before, including as the principal inspiration for the Coen Brothers’ classic O Brother Where Art Thou?

While the companion poem by Homer, The Iliad, was partially adapted as Troy, by director Wolfgang Petersen in 2004, starring Sean Bean as Odysseus, among a cast that included Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, and Diane Kruger, and many others, this will be the first straight adaptation of The Odyssey for the big screen in English, ever, if you can believe it. It has been adapted for TV before, but not for almost 30 years. Recently, the director's brother, Jonathon Nolan, revealed to CinemaBlend:

Obviously, the two poems are important to both Nolan brothers, and it's safe to assume the story is in good hands. It's also very much worth noting that Christopher Nolan referenced a specific translation by Emily Wilson in 2017, as a version of the oft-translated poem, as one of his major sources.

The Odyssey Cast

Of course, as has been the case with recent Nolan films, this epic has an epic cast, as well. There are dozens of characters in the poem, and most of them will be played by A-listers. It also seems like more and more news has come out, beyond the initial casting news, like rapper Travis Scott (who worked with Nolan on Tenet) being included. We’ll start with the roles that are confirmed and then move on to the rest of the giant ensemble cast:

Matt Damon As Odysseus

Matt Damon will star as Odysseus in The Odyssey. Damon has worked with Nolan before, in one of the best Christopher Nolan movies, Interstellar, winning a Golden Globe for his performance. He also held a role in the large cast of Oppenheimer, so it's not that much of a surprise that one of the first stars to be set to work on this film is someone with whom Nolan has worked previously.

According to reports, Damon put in a ton of work for the role, including losing weight and growing a full beard without shaving for a year. He somehow looks both in the best shape of his life and the most haggard he's ever looked. It's pretty impressive, and of course, completely fitting for a battle-weary king who must go through hell and back to get home. In every way, it seems everyone involved put in work to pull this epic off correctly.

Tom Holland As Telemachus

Tom Holland will be starring as Odysseus' son, Telemachus. Holland is best known for playing Spider-Man in the MCU movies, but his credits run much deeper, including 2022's Uncharted. Interestingly, Holland's next Spidey appearance will also be in the summer of 2026 in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, alongside some other actors in The Odyssey: Zendaya and Jon Bernthal.

Charlize Theron as Calypso

Oscar-winner Charlize Theron was originally rumored to be playing the legendary Circe, who, if you'll remember, was responsible for turning Odysseus' crew into pigs in the story. However, we now know that the Academy Award-winner is playing Calypso. Theron is no stranger to blockbusters, having starred in the Fast franchise, and has even made a cameo in the MCU as Clea in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Zendaya As Athena

Zendaya will be portraying Athena, the Greek goddess of war and wisdom. This was some casting news I was excited to find out more about. Not only am I a fan of Zendaya, but Athena plays a crucial role in the epic, assisting Odysseus wherever she can during his journey.

Zendaya has a pretty big year in 2026, starring in three of the most anticipated movies of the year: The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Dune III. She has already been seen alongside one of her castmates here, Robert Pattinson, in The Drama. Not to mention Euphoria Season 3, which you can catch up on with an HBO Max subscription.

Anne Hathaway As Penelope

This is one that I predicted when the cast list was first announced, without the corresponding characters. Anne Hathaway, who has worked with Nolan before in The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar, seemed like the natural choice for Penelope, wife of Odysseus, who is stuck at home, fending off suitors and awaiting her husband's return.

Like Zendaya, 2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for Hathaway. She has five movies on the schedule, including Mother Mary, which was released in April, The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is currently in theaters and performing well at the box office, The Odyssey in July, The End of Oak Street in August, and Verity in October.

Robert Pattinson As Antinous

In the original poem by Homer, Antinous is one of Penelope's suitors who serves as the main (human) antagonist to Odysseus and his family. He's a nasty sort, and Robert Pattinson, who will hopefully be filming The Batman 2 when this comes out, is an inspired choice. Judging by the trailer, he looks to be perfect for the role of one of the true villains in this epic.

Jon Bernthal As Menelaus

Jon Bernthal is playing the king of the Spartans, Menelaus. Bernthal is always great, and there's no reason to expect he won't be again in The Odyssey, playing a pretty different role than we are used to. It was Menelaus who was responsible for the Trojan War after all; it was his wife, Helen of Troy (rumored to be played by Lupita Nyong’o), who ran off with Paris (who was played by Orlando Bloom in Troy), kicking off the hostilities.

John Leguizamo As Eumaeus

John Leguizamo is an interesting choice as Eumaeus, the servant and companion to Odysseus. It's an important role, and not really a role anyone would expect to see Leguizamo in; however, he gets a big moment in the trailer, and he looks pretty awesome (and old! The makeup is fantastic) as the loyal friend to our hero.

Benny Safdie As Agamemnon

Benny Safdie is playing Agamemnon in the film, which was finally confirmed by Nolan in Time in May 2026. We see a glimpse of what is almost certainly the Mycenaean king standing in front of a kneeling Odysseus with his brother Menelaus (Bernthal) standing behind him. You can't totally tell it's Safdie (whose 2025 The Smashing Machine earned an Oscar nomination for Best Makeup), but it's him.

Lupita Nyong’o As Helen of Troy And Clytemnestra

Lupita Nyong’o has long been rumored to be playing Helen of Troy, whose love triangle between Menelaus and Paris is what kicks off the Trojan War in The Iliad. Christopher Nolan finally confirmed this rumor in the article in Time. The director actually revealed that the Academy Award-winning actor is playing two roles: Helen and Helen's sister, Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon.

Samantha Morton As Circe

The goddess Circe will be played by Samantha Morton, as confirmed by Nolan in Time. Morton, who has twice been nominated for an Oscar, is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood with credits that span more than a quarter of a century in both hit movies like Minority Report and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and big TV shows like The Walking Dead and The Serpent Queen. She'll also be seen in the upcoming A24 film The Entertainment System is Down.

Bill Irwin As Polyphemus, The Cyclops

Bill Irwin, who worked with Nolan on Interstellar, is playing Polyphemus, the infamous cyclops in The Odyssey. Irwin is well-suited to play the mythical creature, as his skills span everything from acting to clowning to puppetry.

Additional The Odyssey Cast Members

There is a huge cast list from several sources for The Odyssey. Here is who else you can expect to see, but may have smaller roles, or for whom we don't know specific roles (though I have made some guesses, based on rumors):

• Mia Goth as Melantho
• Himesh Patel as Eurylochus
• Jimmy Gonzales as Cepheus
• Will Yun Lee as a Shipmate
• Travis Scott as a bard
• Elliot Page (Hermes?, Achilles?)
• James Remar (Tiresias?)
• Jesse Garcia
• Rafi Gavron
• Shiloh Fernandez
• Corey Hawkins
• Nick Tarabay
• Maurice Compte
• Michael Vlamis
• Iddo Goldberg
• Logan Marshall-Green
• Ryan Hurst
• Jovan Adepo

The Oppenheimer cast was filled with very familiar faces, and apparently, everyone in Hollywood wants to (understandably) be part of an epic Christopher Nolan production.

Christopher Nolan Will Direct, And Also Wrote The Film

Christopher Nolan will, of course, direct, and he also wrote the screenplay for The Odyssey, as well. That’s not unusual, as he has written or co-written all but one of the films he’s directed in the past, including Oppenheimer, Interstellar, and Dunkirk. Insomnia is the one movie he hasn’t been credited with penning.

Earlier this year, Jesse Garcia spoke to CinemaBlend about how the process is very “intimate,” but also so big, and noted that we’re truly going to see things that we have never seen on the big screen. As the film was entirely shot in IMAX, this is truly going to be…epic.

There are plenty of celebrity fashion looks that have been immortalized on the big screen, but there are also plenty of other famous dresses that never hit a red carpet. Maybe they should have. We've compiled a list of some of the best gowns (and looks) from films that could totally have worked on a red carpet, if given the chance. Here are some of the coolest takes.

Lily James In Cinderella

When I think of a ball gown, to me the 2015 Cinderella look of Lily James is a great example of a dress that’s carpet ready. It’s somehow timeless and modern, it’s an indescribable blue color, and it brought an animated concept to life in just the perfect way. A top-notch stunner for any era.

Emma Watson In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

I know you thought I was going to bust out Hermione’s iconic Yule Ball gown look here, even though she’s said the scene was uncomfortable in the past. While it’s a sweet dress for a teenager, it’s the stunning red number Watson’s character wears to Bill and Fleur’s wedding I deem to be most red carpet-worthy.

Jennifer Lopez In Maid In Manhattan

Jennifer Lopez played a maid who borrowed a gown for a night out on the town in Maid in Manhattan. While the flick may not make anyone's list of best rom-coms, the dress is perfect for any best list. It was a peachy pink and very on trend in the early aughts, and its silhouette – and the iconic jewelry she paired it with – would very much still be on point on the carpet today.

Halle Berry In Die Another Day

Halle Berry may be more known for an iconic bikini scene in Die Another Day, but it's her purple dress that really stands out when she's playing Jinx. The color and silhouette are stunning years later, but this is one dress that's also even more brilliant once you see it from behind.

Julia Roberts In Pretty Woman

A far cry from the look we meet her in, Julia Roberts’ Vivian Ward dons a romantic red dress for a night out with Richard Gere’s Edward. The two end up entangling their lives in myriad ways, but the dress is still the most memorable moment from the movie for me.

Margot Robbie In The Wolf Of Wall Street

Black dresses will never go out of fashion, and Margot Robbie looks like a cool woman in a little black dress in Wolf of Wall Street. It's not the only fashionable moment in Scorsese's film, but it's the look I would choose if I were having to go to a fun event. The earrings amp the look up considerably, too. Her whole vibe has me rethinking my wardrobe.

Aubrey Hepburn In Sabrina

One of the most iconic ball gowns of all time, Hepburn’s famous Sabrina dress may never have happened if she hadn’t pushed and befriended designer Givenchy. They made movie history together, and red carpet history in other cases. This dress would not have been out of place there.

Natalie Portman In Black Swan

Black Swan may be one of the best psychological films, but the costume design is also superb, from outfits worn on the stage to everdaywear. The white gown Portman’s character wears from Rodarte has one of the coolest backs I’ve ever seen. Nearly 15 years later, I wish she or someone would bust it out again.

Lady Mary In Downton Abbey

Lady Mary was a bit of a fashionista across the entirety of the Downton Abbey series and its two subsequent movies, but this lush sapphire blue Prussian gown from 2019’s Downton movie stands out as a favorite and also the one that’s most red carpet worthy. Maybe in this day and age I’d drop the gloves, though (even if celebs like Taylor Swift and JLo are bringing gloves back).

Billy Porter In Cinderella (2021)

The Cinderella cast all had amazing outfits, but Billy Porter's fabulous godmother (Fab G) dress in the 2021 Cinderella is all bold colors and lush satin. It's very much a Porter-perfect look that still stands out years later.

Keira Knightley In Atonement

Keira Knightley’s green dress in Atonement is very much a dress of the era it is portraying, but it’s also the sort of classic look in the perfect color and fabric that could be worn by anyone, in any formal situation, in any time period. If I had to choose a dress to rock to a movie premiere or a wedding or pretty much any occasion, this look from the 2007 (but period) movie would be it.

Charlize Theron Snow White And The Huntsman

Hear me out: Charlize Theron looks so extra in Snow White and the Huntsman but she never looks more extra than when she’s wearing the dress with the extravagant shoulders. Puff sleeves come in and out, but I’m really ready for some avante garde looks to hit the red carpet and this is a great take on a totally unique style.

Kate Hudson In How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

The early aughts were a prominent time for formalwear gowns dominating movie posters, and the Kate Hudson rom-com era was no exception. The good news is the gold dress she sported opposite Matthew McConaughey still holds up more than 20 years later and is a color she should continue to sport on the red carpet.

Grace Kelly In Rear Window

Grace Kelly had a lot of iconic dresses in a lot of movies that could have fit the criteria of this list, but my favorite has to be her tulle look from Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. It's no wonder the ballet-inspired look has come back in 10 Things I Hate About You and other movies.

Jennifer Lawrence In Catching Fire

The Hunger Games has some solid fashion design, particularly when it comes to characters like Snow, Effie and others living in the capital. But if you really want to make a statement, how about a dress that catches fire and turns into a second fashion statement? Tell me you wouldn’t like to see this on the red carpet!

Kate Winslet In Titanic

When Jack and Rose meet in Titanic, she’s dressed for dinner in a gorgeous red and black beaded dress that would stand out in any crowd. It’s a good thing she catches Jack’s eye in this dress, or Titanic would have been a different movie.

Angela Bassett In Jumping The Broom

Listen: Paula Patton’s character has a lovely wedding dress in Jumping The Broom (not to mention a really cute purple plaid dress at the beginning of the movie), but Angela Bassett is the actress to keep your eye on. As the matriarch in a wealthy family, Bassett’s character is the one with the polished, structured looks I’d feel most confident in on the red carpet.

Rita Hayworth In Gilda

I’m not sure how many people revisit Rita Hayworth’s Gilda these days, but when I think of old Hollywood glamor, her satin gown and matching gloves always come to mind. This was the role that made Hayworth a household name and that dress would still have a moment if it debuted today.

Sonoya Mizuno In Crazy Rich Asians

There's a lot of just epic fashion in 2018's Crazy Rich Asians, but the stellar standout moment is Araminta's wedding, which just has so many great looks from the main cast. At the end of the day, despite the gorgeous setting and shiny, happy people, it's the dress that's to die for.

Vivien Leigh In Gone With The Wind

Leigh gets the opportunity to wear a lot of lovely fabrics in 1939’s Gone with the Wind but none seem as carpet worthy (somewhat ironically) as the dress made out of curtains. It's a memorable color combo and an all-time great movie look.

Hilary Duff In A Cinderella Story

While allegedly Sam is wearing an "old" wedding dress when she shows up in this gorgeous white number, the tulle look is a classic one. Hilary Duff wore the dress with pink Chuck Taylors on the cover for the film, and casualizing a dress with sneakers has become a popular trend in the time since.

Emma Watson In Beauty And The Beast

A Disney ballgown that really hits the mark, Emma Watson’s yellow Belle dress does the animated character justice while fitting the actress like a glove. The color might not work on everyone, but it’s such a perfect fit.

Whitney Houston In The Bodyguard

I think Whitney Houston’s Queen of the Night costume is probably the one we all think about first when we think about The Bodyguard, but it’s her simple black halter dress and beaded hair and bracelet accessories that would really stand out on a red carpet and give something a little special.

Aubrey Hepburn In My Fair Lady

Eliza may have made a bet with Professor Higgins to help her sound like a lady, but it's not hard to believe Audrey Hepburn at least looks like a lady in this dress. The thick, sparkling necklace gives it an additional upgrade. Beautiful.

Ariana DeBose In West Side Story

Ariana DeBose's yellow dress in Spielberg's West Side Story is a direct nod to the 1961 movie musical, but it's an updated take on the look. Originally, Rita Moreno wore a famous lavender dress, but DeBose's is an upgraded color and has a little more swish in it. It's gorgeous and the type of look I hope is popularized again.

Marilyn Monroe In How To Marry A Millionaire

Marilyn Monroe rocked lots of iconic gowns over the years, but the thing I like about this satin dress is the one shoulder strap. It's fitted like a glove and the pink color is fabulous. It's hard to pick one thing about this dress that is most successful. It's just perfect.

Barbara Bach In The Spy Who Loved Me

Plenty of Bond girls have had great outfits over the course of more than 50 years, but when Bond meets Anya Amasova, her navy gown really pops thanks to the Swarovski crystal trim. I love that it's not a flat color, and the leg slit adds a sweet extra touch.

Lana Condor In To All The Boys I've Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You

Lana Condor has a lot of beautiful clothing in the To All The Boys movies. Of all her sweet looks, my favorite is the one in the sequel that Stormy lends her from her impeccable collection. It's vintage perfect, and a lovely color to boot.

Lori Singer In Footloose

Lori Singer’s Ariel dress looks great on her, and it fits the character well. Despite the movie coming out in the eighties, the off-shoulder style comes in and out, and its simple silhouette would be perfect for a low-key movie premiere. As vintage is making a big comeback, perhaps it’s a style we’ll see back on the carpet in coming years.

Rachel Leigh Cook In She’s All That

Laney’s red makeover dress is on-trend now the ‘90s and early aughts are making a comeback. Its spaghetti straps and slim silhouette are simple, but would still really would turn heads on the red carpet today. I love the matching red pumps she pairs the look with as well.

Margaret Avery In The Color Purple

Shug Avery's bright looks in The Color Purple stand out. It may be more of a show dress, but if I had to kick it on the red carpet, I'd want something just as sequiny. Maybe I'd throw in some pearls to boot.

Anne Hathaway In The Idea Of You

A lot of people would say Ms. Hathaway's iconic fashion movies are either The Princess Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada, and while neither are wrong choices, my pick has to go to her character in The Idea of You. When Solene meets Hayes in her beautifully tailored, creamy Fendi number, his head was turned, but so was mine.

Luckily, we're likely to see many more red carpet-worthy looks on the big screen for years to come!

For me, there’s no place I’d rather be on any given day than Disneyland. I’ve been there more times than I can count, but it’s still a place where magic takes over and stress melts away as soon as you walk through the gates. The only thing better than a normal day at Disneyland is when that day is a holiday, and Disneyland Resort does Halloween up right. Just ask Charlize Theron.

In a post to Instagram, Theron says that the spooky season doesn’t officially begin until she visits Disneyland. I can’t disagree with that at all. Halloween at Disneyland is an incredible time to visit, and you can tell by her pictures that Charlize Theron gets that.

While I’m not even as big a fan of Halloween in general as a lot of people, I do love Halloween at Disneyland Resort. It’s the little ways that things change. Charlize Theron’s picture next to the Stanley monument, now wearing a black traffic cone like a witch’s hat, inside Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is a prime example.

At night, when the lights come on, the whole mood of the park changes. Theron has a picture of Cars Land at night that shows some of that. I love walking by the Halloween Tree in Disneyland’s Frontierland. The projections on the wall of the Carthay Circle Restaurant or the Headless Horseman statue on Buena Vista Street just add to the ambiance.

While it’s certainly not to the terrifying levels of Halloween Horror Nights at a Universal Park, it’s a more family-friendly level of spookiness that is just fun to experience. Night is the best time to be in any theme park, and Disneyland at Halloween only more so.

Theron and her family are clearly living their best Disney life. This is their second theme park trip this year, as the family hit Walt Disney World over Spring Break. Theron doesn’t usually get put in the same class of celebrity Disney superfans like Rebel Wilson, John Stamos and Neil Patrick Harris, but maybe she will be if she continues to hit the parks this frequently.

I guess for me, the spooky season hasn’t started yet because I haven’t been to Disneyland yet. I went to the Oogie Boogie Bash last year, but decided to take this year off. Although, that may not have been a bad choice since Oogie Boogie Bash treats have been of questionable quality this year.

If there’s anything better than Halloween at Disneyland, it’s Christmas at Disneyland. I adore the holiday season in the parks, as the season of joy is only more joyful at Disneyland. With Tiana's Bayau Adventure opening at Disneyland soon, it's going to be an even better season. I’ll be looking forward to that, and I feel like Charlize Theron probably enjoys it too.

The Old Guard was a near-instant hit when it debuted on Netflix. A sequel was announced in short order, as is to be expected for a film that was one of the top-viewed products on Netflix at the time. However, it’s now been four years since the first movie came out, and two since filming on the upcoming Netflix movie wrapped, so just what's going on with The Old Guard 2?

The Old Guard was a movie that Netflix was apparently eyeing as a franchise even before the first movie was released, which makes the fact that the sequel has taken this long even more unusual. Earlier this year, Charlize Theron confirmed that The Old Guard 2 had completed filming in 2022, but said that changes at Netflix had caused a delay in post-production. However, that’s apparently not all that’s going on.

Reshoots Are Coming For The Old Guard 2 

What’s On Netflix reports that reshoots for The Old Guard 2 are now scheduled for next month in Vancouver. This means that the film is likely still several months away from being completed at the very least. Even if post-production is close to being complete on the movie as it exists now, that kind of work will need to be done again after reshoots are completed.

There are no specifics on the reshoots or what they will entrail. Reshoots happening this late certainly could mean that the movie is undergoing some significant changes due to a feeling that plotlines or characters aren’t working as they were supposed to.

However, it’s equally possible that the shorts being undertaken are simple pick-ups and that the delay in post-production Charlize Theron mentioned simply resulted in it taking until now to know what additional shots would be needed.

When We Could Finally See The Old Guard 2 

Fans are often leery of reshoots because while almost every major release goes through them, they give an implication that something is “wrong” with the movie that needs to be “fixed.” In this case, the reshoots are reportedly only scheduled to last about 10 days, and if something was being changed drastically for The Old Guard 2, things would likely take longer than that.

No release date had ever been given for The Old Guard 2 by Netflix. This means the film has technically never been delayed. The first movie was released in July 2020, and if The Old Guard 2 was a theatrical release, we would expect a similar release date for the sequel. That means summer 2025 is when everybody with a Netflix subscription should probably expect the sequel. Having said that, if the reshoots aren’t too significant, the movie will probably be ready to go much sooner, so an early 2025 release date is possible.

The 2010s were a transformative decade for movies as directors like Damien Chazelle, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele hit the mainstream, and many actors exploded into stardom or gave career-defining performances in movies like theirs. Now, it’s time to celebrate some of the best films of this decade and the performers who starred in them. 

Emma Stone – La La Land 

This ode to Old Hollywood and modern romance from Damien Chazelle is widely beloved in part because of Emma Stone's performance. If you go back to reviews for La La Land, you’ll see Stone and Ryan Gosling praised for their work as they played Mia and Sebastian, two aspiring artists who fall in love with each other. Notably, Emma Stone won her first Oscar for the film because of the wonderful performance she gave as the up-and-coming actress. 

Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids

When it comes to Bridesmaids and all its hilarious lines and gags, we all need to say a collective thank you to Kristen Wiig. Not only did the Saturday Night Live alum lead the stellar ensemble cast of this 2011 flick, but she also wrote the movie with Annie Mumolo, and they got an Oscar nomination for it. 

Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

Moonlight, which famously won Best Picture in 2017, is a coming-of-age film that follows Chiron through three stages of his life, focusing on him exploring his sexuality and identity. In it, Mahershala Ali plays Juan, a man who has a pivotal role in Chiron’s early life. Famously, Ali won his first Oscar for his moving performance in this film. 

Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

Get Out is considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time, and it marked the directorial debut of Jordan Peele. While this film about the deeply dark turn a trip takes after a white woman brings her Black boyfriend home to meet her family is career-defining for its director – as he’s gone on to become quite the name in the genre – it also marked a major breakout for Daniel Kaluuya who played the film’s lead, Chris. 

Amy Adams – Arrival 

Arrival is unquestionably one of Amy Adams’ best movies, and to this day, folks are still livid that she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for it. She plays Louise, a linguist assigned to decipher and translate an alien language. However, as Arrival’s ending makes abundantly clear, there’s way more to it than that, and one of the major reasons this movie works is because of Adams’ masterful, emotional and nuanced performance. 

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

In Whiplash, one of J.K. Simmons’ best films, he plays a brilliant and brutal jazz conductor and instructor named Terence Fletcher. During the film, Miles Teller plays a young drummer named Andrew who is determined to become great, and his intense relationship with Terence and the notion of being the best is what makes Damien Chazelle’s film magnificent. On top of its overall acclaim, Simmons also won an Oscar for his performance.

Hugh Jackman – Logan 

Logan was Hugh Jackman’s last ride as the Wolverine, and it was basically perfect. While he’s returned to the role since in Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan still serves as a wonderful conclusion to the iconic X-Man’s story. It was also a game-changing Marvel film, as it brought a level of grit and intrigue that we hadn’t really seen in a movie from this universe before. 

Ben Affleck – Argo 

Much like Good Will Hunting, Argo marked a major milestone in Ben Affleck’s career. It was one of the films that solidified him as a top-tier director, and on top of that, he also starred in the film about a CIA agent disguised as a producer who goes into Tehran on a mission to save a group of Americans. Oh, also, the film went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars too. 

Jesse Eisenberg — The Social Network

The Social Network cast is stacked, however, it wouldn’t be what it is without Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Mark Zuckerberg at its center. His nuanced performance which is somehow both collected and chaotic compliments Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking script perfectly, and he expertly helped build up tension in the film that director David Fincher is known for. All around, that made for a perfect, heart-pounding drama about the rise of Facebook.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street  

While Leonardo DiCaprio has a long list of career-defining performances, and he and Martin Scorsese have made many great movies together, you can’t deny that his portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street tops that list. 

Brie Larson – Room

The film Room, which is about a mother and her son escaping captivity, is masterfully led by Brie Larson, who plays Ma. Both she and Jacob Tremblay, who played her son Jack, were praised for their performances, and in 2016, the actress won an Oscar for her work. 

Daniel Craig – Knives Out

Now, I know that Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond was still happening in the 2010s. However, an equally important and brilliant role he took on was as detective Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s first whodunnit Knives Out. Now, after leading the cast of Knives Out, Craig has gone on to reprise his role as the Southern detective on multiple occasions, because he loves it and so do we. 

Ryan Gosling – Drive

If you look over Ryan Gosling’s best movies, on one side you’ll find his brilliant comedic films – like Barbie and The Nice Guys – and on the other side, you’ll find his stoic and dramatic performance, like the one he gives in Drive. Put simply, Drive wouldn’t work without the actor’s lead performance, because the entire film hinges on him and his abilities. 

Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

After years of working to get it made and some well-timed leaked footage, finally, in 2016, Deadpool came out and we got to see Ryan Reynolds in his element as the Merc with a Mouth. 

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 

In a film about a man returning home to reckon with his past and grief after losing his brother, Casey Affleck gives an emotional and commanding performance. Not only did he win an Oscar for his work in this drama, but it’s also one of the big defining roles of his career. 

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

Chris Evans began and ended his tenure as Steve Rogers in the 2010s. While all his outings as the star-spangled man with a plan were excellent, nothing tops his performance as Cap in the political thriller that is the Russo brothers’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which is easily one of the best Marvel movies ever made. 

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel 

Under Wes Anderson’s precise direction, Ralph Fiennes occupied the pastel world of the Grand Budapest Hotel with grace and style. His fast-talking M. Gustave went on quite the adventure in this film, and he won over the hearts of audiences with his quick wit, smooth charm and impeccable work ethic. 

Natalie Portman – Black Swan 

Throwing it back to the beginning of the decade, Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan showed us Natalie Portman’s talents in a new light. While she had been on the scene and in big movies for years, this film marked a major milestone in her career as her performance as a tortured ballerina got her an Academy Award. 

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buys Club

Obviously, for a couple of decades before this, Matthew McConaughey was known and beloved for fun movies like Dazed and Confused and How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. However, in 2013, Dallas Buyers Club marked a notable shift in his career. Not only did he win an Oscar for this dramatic turn as a man who finds out he has AIDS, but he also went on to star in acclaimed projects like Interstellar and True Detective one year later, cementing himself as a magnificent dramatic actor with serious range. 

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Yes, Jennifer Lawrence leading The Hunger Games cast is one of the biggest triumphs of her career. However, amid all of that, she starred in the beloved dramedy Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper, and that’s the film for which she won her Oscar. This magnificent film about two people learning to live and thrive through grief and mental illness, is a thoughtful and funny film that Lawrence steals with her amazing performance. 

Brad Pitt – Moneyball 

Moneyball is the story about the general manager of the Oakland A’s using his business savvy and what little money his team had to assemble a rag-tag team of MLB players. Brad Pitt plays said manager, Billy Beane, and I mean it when I say the movie really wouldn’t work without him. He’s at the center of it, and he carries it to victory just like his character did with the A’s.  

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther 

We sadly lost Chadwick Boseman way too early, however, his legacy will live on forever. This is in part because of his performance as the King of Wakanda, T’Challa. Black Panther was a historic moment in modern movie history, and his incredible take on the titular hero is a big reason why. 

Margot Robbie – I, Tonya 

Before I, Tonya, Margot Robbie was beloved for her supporting and ensemble roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Suicide Squad. However, one of the movies that helped solidify her as both a leading lady and super producer was I, Tonya. She played Tonya Harding and produced the film under the banner of her company LuckyChap – which went on to make films like Barbie and Promising Young Woman. 

Florence Pugh – Midsommar

Florence Pugh exploded onto the scene with the haunting Ari Aster film Midsommar. The movie is now considered one of the best horror movies of all time, and a big reason why is Pugh’s performance. 

Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird

Talk about a dynamic duo. Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan are a match made in heaven, and that was solidified into fact when the actress played the titular Lady Bird in the director’s breakout film. Not only did fans fall in love with Ronan’s performance as the defiant teenage gal, but she also received wide acclaim and an Oscar nomination for it. Plus, it was the beginning of a glorious partnership between her and Greta Gerwig as they then went on to make Little Women together. 

Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name

These days, when people think of Timothée Chalamet, they likely think of him as Paul Atreides, the leader of the Dune cast. However, before that (and in a different decade) the film that sprung him into the mainstream was Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. The deeply romantic and tender coming-of-age drama was led beautifully by Chalamet, and since then he’s taken on more roles that have helped cement him as one of the top-leading men of his generation. 

Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect

If you were a kid in 2012 (like I was), odds are you learned the “Cups” song. The movie about college acapella was a phenomenon in the early 2010s, and it served as a big breakout leading role for Anna Kendrick. Not only was she funny as Becca, but everyone also became aware that she had the singing voice of an angel.  

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years A Slave

Lupita Nyong’o’s first feature film was 12 Years A Slave. Her performance in the movie by Steve McQueen won her an Oscar in 2012 and solidified her as a top-tier dramatic performer. Since then, she’s gone on to star in massive blockbusters like Black Panther and A Quiet Place: Day One. 

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

There have been many amazing takes on the Joker, and Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was a totally new one. In Joker, we see the villain’s origin story, and it’s a film that’s unlike any other DC project. The haunting performance ultimately won the actor an Oscar, and he reprised the part again in Joker: Folie à Deux.

Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

The movie is named after Mad Max, and he’s great, don’t get me wrong, but Furiosa steals the show. Charlize Theron’s performance as the driver in Mad Max: Fury Road is fierce and jaw-dropping, and she’s one of many reasons why George Miller’s movie is considered one of the best action films. 

Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

You can’t have Scott Pilgrim vs. The World without a perfect Scott Pilgrim and that’s who Michael Cera is. He perfectly played the awkward yet heroic protagonist in Edgar Wright’s beloved film, and to this day, it's considered some of his best work.

Matt Damon – The Martian

This Ridley Scott movie is literally about one man who is stuck on Mars. Yes, there are other people in the film trying to save him. However, overall, The Martian is Matt Damon’s movie. He plays the stranded astronaut and scientist, and the heart, charisma, intelligence and even humor he brings to the space drama is unforgettable. 

All around, the 2010s were full of films that are on their way to becoming all-time classics, and it’s in part thanks to the brilliant actors who starred in them. 

Whether it's in biopics or in other historical movies, playing an important person often leads to some of the most amazing performances put on film. There are far too many to count, much less list here, but we do think you'll agree that this list of 32 actors playing famous people rank among the best. 

Ben Kingsley - Gandhi

The 1982 epic Gandhi starring Ben Kingsley as the revered leader of India and icon to peaceful protestors all over the world is an amazing movie. At the heart is Kingsley's amazing, transformative performance. He looks and sounds just like Gandhi, it's almost uncanny. 

Margot Robbie - Tonya Harding

When the news first broke that Australian Margot Robbie was cast to play controversial US Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, it's safe to say that many were skeptical. It took the actor all of about 30 seconds of screen time in the movie to prove those skeptics very wrong. Robbie is fantastic as the troubled skater with a family life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. 

Paul Dano - Brian Wilson

The Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy seems to have been overlooked by many, but if you're a fan of The Beach Boys, you need to see it. John Cusack plays the older Wilson in the 1980s and it is fantastic. Paul Dano, who plays the Pet Sounds-era Wilson, is simply amazing. He completely disappears into the role. 

Reese Witherspoon - June Carter Cash

Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix are both amazing in Walk the Line as June and Johnny Cash. Really both deserve to be on this list, but we've the honor to Witherspoon if only because she won Best Actress at the Oscars in 2006. 

Robert Downey, Jr - Charlie Chaplin

It took a long time for Robert Downey to win an Oscar, which he finally did for Oppenheimer. More than 30 years before that win, he earned his first nomination for 1992's Chaplin for playing the legendary actor and Hollywood trailblazer. It's a movie that doesn't get talked about much these days, but it's still great. Especially Downey's performance. 

Natalie Portman - Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy has to be a tricky person to play. She is so iconic and so well known to so many people that the scrutiny would be stressful. Luckily for all of us, Natalie Portman hit it out of the park when she played the former First Lady in Jackie. 

Meryl Streep - Margaret Thatcher

It's hardly surprising to see Meryl Streep's name on any list of great performances. She has been arguably the best actor in Hollywood for 50 years. One of her finest performances came in 2011's The Iron Lady where she played the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher. 

Rami Malek - Freddy Mercury

You knew we couldn't have this list without including Rami Malek's incredible performance as Freddie Mercury in the biopic about the late Queen singer, Bohemian Rhapsody. It's not all about the prosthetic teeth, as Malek nailed so many nuances and mannerisms of the icon rock star. Just as in real life, the performance at Live Aid at the end of the movie brings down the house. 

Val Kilmer - Jim Morrison

If you grew up in the '90s, The Doors was probably a seminal film for you. Val Kilmer blew audiences away as the late Jim Morrison. It was so good you'd swear you were watching the real Morrison as he rose to fame and then burned out quickly before tragically becoming a member of the "27 Club" in 1971.

Denzel Washington - Malcolm X

A powerful personality takes an actor with equal strength to pull off and in Malcolm X, Denzel Washington is more than up for the task. Playing the combative, controversial civil rights leader could not have been easy, yet Washington brings him back to life in every way. It's the reason everyone should see this biopic. 

Faye Dunaway - Joan Crawford

Faye Dunaway gives the performance of a lifetime in Mommie Dearest. It's scary and mesmerizing. Joan Crawford was one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood in the Golden Age in Hollywood, but this movie changed the public's opinion of her forever - and not for the better. 

Jennifer Lopez - Selena

Before played the murdered superstar Selena in the movie of the same name, Jennifer Lopez had had a few roles in movies, but after Selena, she was the legend we all know today. It's a groundbreaking performance. 

David Oyelowo - Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Everyone in America has heard the powerful voice of Martin Luther King, Jr. hundreds of times. His speeches are part of everyone's education. That makes David Oyelowo's turn as the civil rights leader that much harder - and that much more impressive. It's just fantastic. 

Cate Blanchett - Bob Dylan

Okay, we admit, technically Cate Blanchett is playing a character named "Jude Quinn" in I'm Not There, but c'mon, let's be real, she's playing Bob Dylan. It's an uncanny performance as well. There is actual footage of Dylan from that time in his career in the excellent D.A. Pennebaker-directed Dont Look Back. Compare that to Blanchett and you'll realize just how great she was. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Abraham Lincoln

Of all the amazing performances on this list, Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln just may be the best. It frankly could be the greatest acting performance of all time. There's an argument for it, at least. He's simply incredible and brings the tragic president to life like no one else has before or since, and likely never will. 

Cillian Murphy - J. Robert Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy won a well-deserved Best Actor Award for playing J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. It's a subtle, smoldering performance, just like the personality of the real Oppenheimer. Playing the scientist in his greatest moments in life and his lowest, it's a fantastic showing by the Irish actor. 

Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is one of the most important people in US history, but one that hasn't been explored on film nearly as much as you might expect. Luckily, when someone did decide to finally tell her full story on the big screen in 2019's Harriet, they had the good sense to cast Cynthia Erivo as the former slave-turned-freedom fighter. She's amazing. 

Forest Whitaker - Idi Amin

Forest Whitaker is pretty great in everything he's in. He cranks his talent up to another level in The Last King Of Scotland as the brutal dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin. He's so good there are even moments where viewers might feel compassion for the man, despite his worst tendencies as the leader of the country. 

Jessica Chastain - Tammy Faye Bakker

If you were around in the 1980s, you remember all the insanity around Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Jim Bakker crying on TV with Tammy Faye right next to him is something no one will forget. Jessica Chastain's turn as the evangelical preacher's wife is just as memorable. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote

it's hard to imagine anyone will ever play Truman Capote as well as the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote. The role completely takes control of the actor in the best way. It might as well been the writer himself. You completely forget there is even an actor behind the role. 

Daniel Kaluuya - Fred Hampton

Fred Hampton was a controversial and complicated leader in the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. Casting a Brit like Daniel Kaluuya in the role was a daring choice by the filmmakers of Judas and the Black Messiah, but it paid off brilliantly as Kaluuya nails the role. 

Gary Oldman - Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill has been played on the big and small screen by plenty of great actors. John Lithgow (The Crown), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), and Albert Finney (The Gathering Storm) have all garnered praise for playing the legendary prime minister. Gary Oldman, who won an Oscar for playing Churchill in 2017's The Darkest Hour may just be the best. His reading of those famous speeches is just mesmerizing. 

Angela Bassett - Tina Tuner

Tina Turner was a fierce woman, who deserved a fierce performance and she got one with Angela Bassett in What's Love Got To Do With It. Bassett's performance is transcendent and certainly deserved the Oscar nomination she received. She should've won it! 

Austin Butler - Elvis Presley

Austin Butler got so caught up in his performance as Elvis Presley in Elvis that critics of the actor complained that even months later he was still talking like the King of Rock and Roll. he wasn't, but that does say something about how good he was in the Baz Luhrmann-directed bio flick. 

Jesse Eisenberg - Mark Zuckerberg

When The Social Network was first announced, many were confused as to how someone could make an interesting movie about the founding of Facebook. It turns out, that if you get a great writer like Aaron Sorkin, a great director like David Fincher, and someone like Jesse Eisenberg to play the Mark Zuckerberg, you can make it look easy. The movie is great, and Eisenberg's performance is pitch-perfect. 

Leonardo DiCaprio - Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes is one of the most mercurial and odd celebrities in US history. In The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio fully embodies everything about the director and businessman. He takes on his greatest triumphs and sinks to the depths of Hughes' despair in the lowest points of his mental illness with the same gusto. 

Charlize Theron - Aileen Wuornos

Serial killer Aileen Wuornos was a terrifying person. A true monster, as the name of the movie about her is called. That's not to say a viewer can't have some sympathy for the circumstances that brought her to the point of murder, but you can't excuse her. Charlize Theron does an incredible job bringing all of that to the role in Monster. 

Sean Penn - Harvey Milk

Milk is one of the great political movies of the last few decades and the biggest reason why, besides the inspiring story, is Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk. Like Penn has done so often in his career, he completely disappears into the character. It is Harvey Milk.  

George C. Scott - George Patton

George S. Patton was a great, and complicated leader in World War II. He was responsible for some of the greatest military gains in the war, and he couldn't keep himself out of trouble with his controversy. George C. Scott's portrayal of the general in Patton is amazing. Even though the opening scene of him making a speech in front of the flag is fictional, it sets the tone perfectly and the movie never lets up. 

Cate Blanchett - Katharine Hepburn

Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic in The Aviator as Howard Hughes, but he's not the only great performance in the movie. Cate Blanchett as the iconic Katharine Hepburn is, well, iconic. There's just no better word for either. It's not only a spot-on impression, the portrayal nails everything that was great about Hepburn. 

Robert De Niro - Jake LaMotta

Jake LaMotta was one of the toughest prizefighters of all time. His incredible story and Robert De Niro's performance are the two things that make Raging Bull legendary. Scorsese's direction is pretty great too. 

Helen Mirren - Queen Elizabeth II

it's really hard to play a person who has been on television screens all over the world for decades. Helen Mirren takes on that difficult task in Queen Elizabeth II. The late Queen was an icon in every sense of the word and playing her could not have been easy, yet, when you have the talent of Helen Mirren, it looks easy. It surely wasn't. 

Ruling over the box office roost in its first weekend of release, the 2024 movie Alien: Romulus has reignited 20th Century Studios’ long running sci-fi franchise. A huge part of that tradition has come from the fact that the 1979 original started something that would carry on throughout the rest of the Alien movies timeline, as well as the various spin offs and tie-in media that came after. 

Throughout the entirety of this IP, there has been a strong current of female leads that have built this saga into what it currently is. Whether serving the forces of good, or in some cases working for The Company itself, the entire Alien series has been anchored by this collection of women who have saved humanity countless times in the depths of space.

How Alien’s History Of Female Leads Almost Didn’t Happen

The history of Alien starts with the script from writers Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, which was actually written without genders set in stone for the characters. According to a 1976 draft house on The Daily Script, the project then known as “Starbeast” carried this insightful stage direction:

Of course, history played out in its own fun way, as the suggestion to make Ellen Ripley Alien’s witty survivor was apparently made on the studio level. In a 2020 L.A. Times interview with Ridley Scott (via CBR) then president of 20th Century Fox Alan Ladd Jr. was the person who pitched Ripley to be a female character. And the rest, as they say, was long lasting history. 

Ellen Ripley (Alien - Alien: Resurrection)

Ellen Ripley: warrant officer and last survivor of the Nostromo, her adventures would become legendary. Surviving three encounters with the Xenomorphs, and being resurrected for one last ride in Alien: Resurrection, her clear thinking is the stuff of legend. Not to mention, thanks to a really impressive shot in her final film in the series, Sigourney Weaver actually sank a basket from quite a distance, without looking, and on the first take.

Private First Class Jenette Vasquez (Aliens)

Throughout her adventures, Ripley didn’t have all of the fun being a strong female lead. Aliens made sure to introduce another fan favorite in the character of Private First Class Jenette Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein). A Colonial Marine who just needs to know where a target is to take it out, her tragic backstory has been fleshed out through a recent continuation novel, Aliens: Vasquez by author V. Castro.

Annalee Call (Alien: Resurrection)

Alien: Romulus introduced the world to another new Synthetic through the character of Andy (David Jonsson), who ranks as one of the least threatening androids in this universe. Right up there with him would be Annalee Call (Winona Ryder), the artificial person who helped clone, Ripley 8, and her surviving crewmates from The Betty escape the fury of a rather unique Xenomorph queen. 

Elizabeth Shaw (Prometheus)

An archeologist who helped unlock the key to discovering the Engineers’ home world, Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) is kind of the Indiana Jones of Alien. Though getting a little too wrapped up in her work leads to some horrific consequences, like unwittingly giving birth to a new life form and fighting for her life against the creators of Mankind.

It’s a shame she was eventually revealed to be killed by David (Michael Fassbender). While Elizabeth helps put David back together in the Alien: Covenant promo short “The Crossing,” her good intentions lead to her untimely death, thanks to the android’s betrayal and usage of his human companion as a Xenomorph experiment kit. 

Meredith Vickers (Prometheus)

Not all strong women in the Alien universe are playing for the side of good. Marking one of the rare female antagonists, Prometheus’ Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) is a Weyland Industries’ company woman from head to toe. Taking after her own father and company founder Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), Meredith’s ambition leads to her downfall; thanks to getting crushed by a downed Engineer spaceship that rolls over her fleeing body.

Amanda Ripley (Alien: Isolation)

In the film canon of the Alien movies, the extended version of Aliens tells us that Ellen Ripley’s daughter is dead. But apparently the video game and book canon have seen her live a richer life, and somehow cheat death. Fighting her own battle against Xenomorphs in the game Alien: Isolation, Weyland-Yutani engineer Amanda survives the disaster of the Sevastopol Space Station through her crafty resolve, and is apparently frozen in cryo-stasis, past the date of her supposed death. 

Daniels (Alien: Covenant)

The space colonists of Alien: Covenant’s titular spaceship found themselves fall prey to the machinations of David (Michael Fassbender), leaving the would-be final girl Daniels (Katherine Waterson) to seemingly escape with good guy android Walter (also Fassbender). But, as Alien: Covenant’s twisted ending showed us, Daniels has more than likely been turned into a Xenomorph breeding lab, thanks to David’s old switcheroo with Walter.

Rain Carradine (Alien: Romulus)

So far, the Alien franchise’s run of strong female leads ends with Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), the functional lead of Fede Álvarez’s current entry in the canon. Without spoiling any details from the Alien: Romulus ending, let’s just say that Rain’s struggle against the Xenomorphs is a welcomed entry in the halls of women who save the day in space.

It’s truly crazy to think that if it wasn’t for a simple decision made in 1979, the world of the Alien movies could have turned out vastly different. Without Ellen Ripley’s heroic journey into terror, the path may not have been paved for other female pop culture icons who helped break down barriers in action and sci-fi cinema.

It’s truly crazy to think that if it wasn’t for a simple decision made in 1979, the world of the Alien movies could have turned out vastly different. Without Ellen Ripley’s heroic journey into terror, the path may not have been paved for other female pop culture icons that helped break down barriers in action and sci-fi cinema. 

However, I’d like to leave you with a quote from Sigourney Weaver herself, courtesy of an Alien Anthology YouTube video honoring a 2019 high school production of the original film. When reflecting on Ripley’s status as a female character, Weaver highlighted exactly why this decision worked:

Ellen Ripley will always be a role model for good character writing and strong female leads getting their due in blockbuster entertainment. So long as her example inspires creative forces in the right ways, that legacy will carry on for some time to come. That decision can be honored by the fans by not only going to see Alien: Romulus in theaters, but also by revisiting the best moments of Warrant Officer Ripley herself via the use of a Hulu subscription. 

George Miller’s long-awaited Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – a prequel to 2015’s Fury Road – finally roared into theaters early this summer. While the action film didn’t make much of an impression at the box office, the Anya Taylor-Joy-led film did earn praise from critics and general audiences. Of course, one person who fans have probably been most curious to hear thoughts from is OG Imperator Furiosa actress Charlize Theron. Well, the actress has finally broken her silence, sharing just what she thought about Miller’s latest blockbuster.

Charlize Theron dazzled in the role of Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, and many continue to mark the film as one of the Oscar winner’s best performances. So some were quite disappointed when it was revealed that Theron would not be reprising the character for this latest installment in the post-apocalyptic saga. Despite not being able to play her famous role again, the Old Guard star has been very supportive of George Miller’s new flick amid its development. And, when recently asked if she’d seen the film for herself, she confirmed that she had and was complimentary:

The Atomic Blonde shared the sweet thoughts above while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the fourth annual block party for her Africa Outreach Project. It’s lovely to hear that the actress enjoyed the movie, and one would think her words will mean a great deal to Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, George Miller and their collaborators. Speaking of Taylor-Joy, for a little while, there’s been a question of when she and her Furiosa predecessor might meet up to discuss the flick. Back in late 2022, the Queen’s Gambit star confirmed that she hadn’t touched base with Theron. And, per the Monster star’s latest comments, she and Taylor-Joy have still yet to link up:

Charlize Theron previously admitted to being “a little heartbroken” over the fact that she was recast in the role of the eponymous heroine. Miller, who showed the Furiosa script to the starlet early on, explained that Theron was replaced due to his decision to avoid the use of de-aging technology for the prequel. Despite the Fast X star’s disappointment, she respected Miller’s choice and subsequently remained diplomatic about the film. She wasn’t alone either, as Mad Max actor Tom Hardy also showed love, despite having yet to see the movie for himself. 

As great as it would’ve been to have seen the Snow White and the Huntsman star play Furiosa again, Anya Taylor-Joy brought a unique spark to the role as well. It’s also sweet to know that her predecessor enjoyed the prequel as well. Here’s hoping that the two eventually get a chance to meet up and chat about their respective experiences working within George Miller’s beloved fictional universe.

Furiosa is currently available to rent or buy on multiple digital platforms, and you can stream Mad Max: Fury Road using a Max subscription. Anyone who’s in need of a good action flick can also check out the 2024 movie schedule to read up on potential screening options.

Most actors don't just come out of the woodwork and immediately get awards attention, box office success and global stardom. Many start out taking bit parts in big movies or supporting character gigs opposite more successful performers. From Academy Award winners like Charlize Theron and Viola Davis to superhero stars like Tom Holland and Ben Affleck, here are 32 now-famous faces you might not remember popped up in famous movies before they were big. 

Matt Damon

In his movie debut, a very young Matt Damon can briefly be seen in 1988's Mystic Pizza as Steamer Windsor, the younger brother of Adam Storke's Charles, the clean-cut, country-club love interest of fun-loving pizzeria waitress Daisy (Julia Roberts). Steamer is present at an awkward dinner where Charles brings Daisy home to meet the family. 

Viola Davis

In the 1998 crime comedy Out of Sight, which is undoubtedly one of Steven Soderbergh's best movies, Viola Davis has a small role playing Moselle Miller, the wife of boxer Maurice "Snoopy" Miller (Don Cheadle). She would later go on to act alongside her Out of Sight co-star Jennifer Lopez in another crime flick, 2015's Lila & Eve.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The 1992 Martin Brest melodrama Scent of a Woman memorably stars Al Pacino as a blind retired colonel and Chris O'Donnell as the prep-school student hired to watch over him, but it also features Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his earliest performances as a fellow student named George Willis, Jr.

Carey Mulligan

The Bennet household is a bustling one in Joe Wright's 2005 adaptation of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice, so much so that you might have overlooked that — along with the likes of Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike and Jena Malone — a teenaged Carey Mulligan is one of the Bennet sisters. (It's just one of many movies that prove Mulligan should be a much bigger star.) 

Elijah Wood

Long before he embarked on a quest to destroy the One Ring as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, Elijah Wood was a successful child actor in films like The Adventures of Huck Finn, The Good Son, North and Flipper. However, before those starring roles, the pint-sized performer showed up as "Video Game Boy #2" in Back to the Future Part II.

Octavia Spencer

The 1999 Drew Barrymore comedy Never Been Kissed is jam-packed with unexpected actor appearances, from Jessica Alba to James Franco — together they play a dopey but popular high school couple — to Octavia Spencer. The latter plays a coworker of the main character Josie Geller (Barrymore) at the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Timothée Chalamet

With everything that goes on in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar — you know, that whole part about the astronauts who have to travel through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for humankind — viewers may have forgotten that a fresh-faced Timothée Chalamet as Tim, the teen son of Matthew McConaughey's Cooper. 

Brie Larson

Well before she received an Oscar or donned a superhero cape, Captain Marvel star Brie Larson was a tween actress who had a main role in the short-lived WB sitcom Raising Dad. One of her first big-screen gigs, however, was as a popular Six Chick in the 2004 Jennifer Garner favorite 13 Going on 30. (Don't feel too bad, Mark Ruffalo didn't remember her either.) 

Charlize Theron

If you're a fan of The Wonders, you no doubt remember band members Guy (Tom Everett Scott), Lenny (Steve Zahn), Jimmy (Johnathon Schaech) and the bass player (Ethan Embry). However, you may not so readily remember that Charlize Theron is also in That Thing You Do!, as Guy's ex-girlfriend Tina, who leaves him for her dentist. 

Joe Manganiello 

Before making the ladies sweat in the Magic Mike franchise, Joe Manganiello was making Peter Parker sweat for an entirely different reason in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series, playing the high-school bully Flash Thompson. His character dated Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane before she ended up with Spidey himself (Tobey Maguire). 

Seth Rogen

The titular teen protagonist of Donnie Darko (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) doesn't just have to deal with those disturbing visions of a rabbit-costumed man named Frank. He also has to deal with a pair of high school bullies, one of whom is played by Seth Rogen in his first ever movie appearance. 

Amy Adams

The Steven Spielberg-directed crime comedy Catch Me If You Can featured several now-well-known actresses before they were household names, including Ellen Pompeo, Elizabeth Banks and Amy Adams. The latter acted opposite Leonardo DiCaprio (played teenage con artist Frank Abagnale Jr.) as Brenda Strong, a young hospital worker who falls for Frank and his fraud. 

Keira Knightley

Given her uncanny resemblance to Natalie Portman, it's only fitting that a teenage Keira Knightley appeared as Sabé, a handmaiden and royal decoy for Portman's Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Even Knightley herself could use a reminder about who she played in the space trilogy!

Michael Fassbender

Years before memorable film roles in Inglourious Basterds, Jane Eyre, the X-Men movies and his Oscar-nominated turn in Shame, Michael Fassbender made his film debut in the 2006 action epic 300. He played the character of Stelios, a young, spirited and highly skilled Spartan soldier fighting under Gerard Butler's King Leonidas.

Sandra Oh

"Gupta? Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. The queen is coming!" It's one of the most memorable lines uttered in The Princess Diaries and it's said by none other than a pre-Grey's Anatomy Sandra Oh. Joining Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews in the beloved cast, Oh plays the humorous vice principal at Mia Thermopolis's school. 

Margot Robbie

Before her big breakout in The Wolf of Wall Street — and even longer before she painted the world pink with the phenomenon that is Barbie — rom-com fans got their first introduction to Margot in the 2013 romantic dramedy About Time. Robbie plays Charlotte, a woman that the main character Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is crushing on before he meets his true love, Mary (played by Rachel McAdams).

Joaquin Phoenix

The 1989 Ron Howard-directed comedy Parenthood already has a stacked cast — Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Keanu Reeves, Mary Steenburgen and Dianne Wiest, to name a few — before you even remember that one of the youngins in the movie is played by a teenage Joaquin Phoenix, then going by his birth name Leaf.

Samuel L. Jackson

It's hard to remember a time when Samuel L. Jackson wasn't a major movie star, but in the 1970s and '80s, the iconic actor was racking up bit parts in big titles, including Eddie Murphy's Coming to America. In the 1988 rom-com, Jackson plays a character known as "Hold-Up Man," an armed robber who has held up the local fast-food restaurant called McDowell's five times. 

Kristen Stewart

Though she has been acting professionally since grade school, Kristen Stewart didn't become a global star until she played moody teen Bella Swan in 2008's vampire romance Twilight. But years before that, she played a memorable part in the 2002 David Fincher thriller Panic Room, appearing opposite Jodie Foster as her character's daughter. 

Dakota Johnson

\Dakota Johnson had her big Hollywood breakthrough leading a beloved book-to-film adaptation, as Anastasia Steele in the erotic Fifty Shades film series. But she actually showed up in another huge movie five years earlier: 2010's The Social Network, as a college coed who spends the night with Sean Parker, played by Justin Timberlake. 

Gabrielle Union

Before she led the Clovers to cheer competition victory in 2000's Bring It On, Gabrielle Union was given supporting roles in '90s teen favorites like 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That. The latter was actually her film debut, in which she appeared as popular girl Katie, a member of Zack Siler's (Freddie Prinze Jr.) friend group. 

Nicolas Cage

Technically, Nicolas Cage wasn't in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. But Nicolas Coppola was — when he made his feature film acting debut in the 1982 coming-of-age comedy, the actor was still going by his birth name. However, the Oscar-winning star would later change his name professionally to avoid nepotism allegations. (He is, of course, the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, and a cousin of director Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman.)

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp memorably made his big-screen debut in the 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street, but movie fans might not remember that a short while later, he also appeared in Oliver Stone's war film Platoon as a young soldier fighting in the Vietnam War alongside the likes of Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Forest Whitaker and Kevin Dillon. 

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has had a prolific acting career ever since she was a tween, starting from when she starred as the young protégée of a hitman in the 1994 action film Léon: The Professional at only twelve years old. Though that was an instantly memorable introduction to the performer, you might have forgotten that only a year later, she worked alongside screen greats like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the Michael Mann-directed classic, Heat. 

Tom Holland

He's most famous for spinning webs as Spider-Man but long before that, Tom Holland was making his film debut (and making audiences weep) in the 2012 disaster drama The Impossible, as a young boy desperately trying to reunite with his family following a horrific tsunami. 

Vince Vaughn

The heartwarming 1993 sports drama Rudy — about a young man (Sean Astin) who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame — features an ironic pair of film-acting debuts. It was the first movie roles of both Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, playing teaching assistant D-Bob and tailback Jamie O'Hara, respectively. That duo would famously go on to star in the 1996 buddy comedy Swingers. 

Ryan Gosling

Another early football role for a Hollywood heavyweight, a young Ryan Gosling already had some big TV gigs under his belt (The Mickey Mouse Club, Young Hercules) before he appeared as Alan Bosley, the wiry cornerback of T. C. Williams High School's football team in Remember the Titans. And if you remember that locker-room singalong, you know the little Goose had charisma even then!

Mila Kunis

Yes, that is a mini Mila Kunis in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves — she played a friend of Wayne Szalinski's (Rick Moranis) niece, who throws a house party once it seems like all of the grown-ups have left for the evening. (Instead, the adults have been accidentally zapped to microscopic proportions, naturally.) 

Daniel Craig

Before he was Bond, James Bond, Daniel Craig was Ballard, John Ballard, in the 1998 historical drama Elizabeth. The British actor portrayed a priest-slash-assassin who conspired with the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston) to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I (played by Cate Blanchett) from the throne. Of course, Bond would never treat the Queen of England that way!

Jake Gyllenhaal

Given that filmmaking is a family business for Jake Gyllenhaal — he is the son of film director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, and the younger bro of the great actress Maggie Gyllenhaal — it's not a shock that the actor started young. He made his film debut at age ten in 1991's City Slickers, playing the son of Billy Crystal's character Mitch Robbins. 

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is best known for playing crisis management expert Olivia Pope in the ABC drama series Scandal, but more than a decade earlier, she showed off her fix-it skills as Chenille Reynolds in Save the Last Dance, helping Julia Stiles's character Sara better integrate into their South Side high school and hip-hop culture at large. 

Ben Affleck

Like his famous best friend Matt Damon, Ben Affleck also began his acting career as a child and while eagle-eyed moviegoers no doubt remember spotting him in early-'90s films like School Ties and Dazed and Confused, they may have forgotten his uncredited early cameos, such as "Basketball Player 10" in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie. 

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why the Friday the 13th series is languishing. It’s similar to the issues plaguing Marvel Studios over Blade. You have vampires, and a sunglasses-wearing, sword-wielding vampire hunter. Go. With Friday the 13th, you have a killer in a hockey mask, and a camp filled with horny camp counselors. Go. But it has been 15 years (!!) since 2009’s standalone Friday the 13th movie, directed by Marcus Nispel, and then years of legal headaches and rights disputes. One project that had Jason fanatics ecstatic was the A24 and Peacock series Crystal Lake, helmed by Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller. And in a massive info dump, we are learning why that show remains in limbo, and also how Charlize Theron would have been involved.

In a fantastic new feature published to The Wrap, details are being laid out as to why A24’s first foray into IP storytelling, Crystal Lake, has stalled. The specifics sound familiar to anyone who has been tracking the entertainment industry for a short amount of time: budget concerns, arguments over creative vision, and the lingering effects of the 2023 writers strike also seem to have helped pump the brakes on what sounds like an incredible exploration of the Jason Voorhees. And at the top of the report, there’s previously unannounced news that Academy Award winner Charlize Theron was “eyed” to play the pivotal role of Pam Voorhees, Jason’s mother and the real killer in the initial Friday the 13th film.

Ugh, I want this show to happen so badly.

According to the report, Crystal Lake would have spanned several seasons, and spent its time expanding on the mythology of the first four movies in the original Friday the 13th series. Those really are the strongest overall chapters of the saga, and follow somewhat of a chronological storyline that begins with Mrs. Voorhees attacking camp counselors because they allowed her son, Jason, to drown in the titular lake. After 1984’s Friday the 13th part four, ironically titled The Final Chapter, the series basically went off the rails. It featured seriously cool kills. But the narrative stopped making any sort of sense.

Fans of Bryan Fuller hoped that he could do for Jason and Pamela Voorhees what he did for Hannibal Lecter with the celebrated series Hannibal. Critics adored the intelligent series, and the show ended too soon.

Is this the case with Crystal Lake? There’s hope at the end of the Wrap piece, with sources close to A24 claiming they still intend to produce the show, and different creatives being eyed who might start over from scratch instead of continuing Fuller’s vision. Then again, The Wrap cites agents who refer to the unproduced Crystal Lake as “radioactive,” which is far from promising.

I still think the idea of a multi-season, serious Crystal Lake series sounds incredible. But I’d feel a lot better about it if Bryan Fuller’s hands were on the wheel, steering the vehicle through production.

When George Miller was asked about future Mad Max movies after Fury Road came out he said he had multiple ideas. One of them was a prequel story about Furiosa, which we finally got last week. But now that he’s taken the story back to her beginning, he admits he’s also very interested in what happened after Fury Road ends.

If there was anything that fans of Mad Max: Fury Road were disappointed about when it came to the planned prequel, it was that such a movie would not include Charlize Theron in the role, as it would require a younger actress to play a younger character. But it sounds like George Miller has an idea that could bring Theron back to the Wasteland, as he tells our sister site GamesRadar that he does wonder what happened to Furiosa after Fury Road ends. He said…

It’s certainly an interesting idea. Especially with the potential that, after two movies that saw Furiosa as the hero, we could see her become the villain in a post-Fury Road sequel. As Miller says, the idea is as old as storytelling. Fans would likely not love the idea of Furiosa going down the path of a tyrant, but if it was handled well, and with Miller that’s all but a given, it could be amazing.

We know there is already a script completed for another Mad Max movie, currently titled The Wasteland. There has also been talk about a prequel story for Fury Road antagonist Immorten Joe, though it's unclear if those are the same project. What is clear is that George Miller still sees a lot of potential in the world of Mad Max so we could get a lot more movies if Miller is given the chance.

Unfortunately, as things are looking right now, a future Furiosa movie, if not future Mad Max movies, in general, are looking somewhat unlikely. While the new film got strong notes from critics, and some are calling it the best Mad Max movie so far, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga had a rough opening weekend that, unless it has unusually strong legs, guarantees the movie will lose money during its theatrical run.

While eventual profitability is still possible, the current situation makes WB greenlighting another Furiosa movie seem unlikely. Fans will have to wait and see what the future holds. The idea this could be the end of the entire Mad Max franchise seems unlikely, so maybe seeing Charlize Theron return is possible.

Mad Max: Fury Road is easily one of the most stunning films to hit the silver screen within the past decade. George Miller’s post-apocalyptic vision is still an excellent action movie, and what partially makes it so great is the chemistry between the leads, Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. Given that, many were likely surprised when it was revealed years ago that the two A-listers didn’t get along amid production. Various alleged details on the matter have been shared at this point. Now, Miller himself is sharing what he can recollect of the feud between the two actors. 

In the 2015 blockbuster, Tom Hardy played eponymous antihero Max Rockatansky while Charlize Theron played his on-screen ally, Imperator Furiosa. Because of that, the pair worked together quite a bit on the massive undertaking. George Miller, who’s currently promoting the Furiosa prequel, spoke to The Telegraph UK about what it was like working with both of them. The 79-year-old filmmaker described them as being performers who operate in “different” ways. Miller described what exactly he means by that:

It’s hard to say exactly what caused Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy’s beef. However,  co-star Zoë Kravitz would partially chalk it up to the cast and crew being generally isolated together for months in the desert for production. What has been said, though, is that the breaking point for the squabble between the two co-stars happened when Hardy arrived to set three hours late on a particular day. When he finally arrived, Theron allegedly confronted him and began cursing at him. From there, Hardy apparently became “aggressive,” so much so that it led to Theron asking for someone to accompany her at all times when she was on set.

George Miller said during his recent interview that he attempted to remain upbeat amid the drama. It’s for that reason that he ultimately put a more positive spin on it, which involved the notion of life imitating life in some respect. The Oscar winner explained his rationale, sharing the following: 

The Mad Max: Fury Road cast members have commented on their working relationship as well in the years since they filmed the movie. In 2016, Charlize Theron admitted to not getting along with her co-star, though she also surmised that “if we were chum-chum, maybe the movie would have been 10 times worse.” She also said that she didn’t have enough “empathy” for the pressure Tom Hardy was facing. For his part, Hardy expressed regrets, saying that what Theron “needed was a better, perhaps more experienced, partner in [him].” Hindsight is definitely 20/20 and, while what happened on that set years ago can’t be undone, the two stars – and even George Miller – can reflect and learn from it all. 

You can stream the greatness that is Mad Max: Fury Road using a Max subscription. It’ll be a great way to prep for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which opens in theaters on May 24 as part of the 2024 movie schedule.

In 2017, one of Charlize Theron’s best movies, and one of the best action movies in general, arrived in the form of Atomic Blonde, which was set before the fall of the Berlin Wall and saw the actress playing a spy sent to retrieve a stolen list of intelligence agents active in Berlin. The movie was met with a lot of positive critical reception, including the 3.5 out of 5 score from CinemaBlend’s Atomic Blonde review, and by April 201, Theron said a sequel was in development. However, there have been few updates on Atomic Blonde 2 since then, and writer Kurt Johnstad shared his hope of how many sequels are ultimately made while talking with CinemaBlend about why working on that first movie was so “special” to him.

While the majority of my recent interview with Johnstad was centered around his new movie Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver, which is now playing to Netflix subscribers on the 2024 release schedule, I capped off our conversation by asking him where things stand on Atomic Blonde 2, noting how the sequel has also been set up at Netflix for a while now.

Johnstad informed me that he hasn’t been “brought in” on that project and that Charlize Theron’s production company Denver & Delilah Productions Inc. “control” it, so it’s possible “they may have gone to another writer, they may have a draft,” he’s just not sure. But he explained that when he was writing the first movie, he always had a clear vision in mind for what he wanted a series of movies to look like.

While Atomic Blonde was a theatrical release, Atomic Blonde 2 has been slated as a Netflix project since 2020, which is fitting since Charlize Theron has worked with the streamer on The Old Guard, The School for Good and Evil and the upcoming The Old Guard 2 (which still doesn’t have a release date). However, the last major update on Atomic Blonde 2 came back in December 2022, when producer Kelly McCormick said that “some of the delay” stemmed from wanting to ensure the sequel is done “right.” Evidently that’s still where things stand with it, but Kurt Johnstad is still hopeful that Atomic Blonde 2 and even a hypothetical Atomic Blonde 3 are made someday, and he’s willing to come aboard to lend assistance if necessary.

As for the first movie, Johnstad went over how much that script means to him, and how director David Leitch, who’d made his directorial debut alongside Chad Stahelski with 2014’s John Wick, was instantly game to helm Atomic Blonde. As the writer recalled:

Charlize Theron was joined in Atomic Blonde by James McAvoy, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan and Sofia Boutella, among others. In addition to the positive reception, the movie also did pretty for itself commercially, making $100 million worldwide off a $30 million budget. It’s hard to say at this point if Atomic Blonde 2 will ever see the light of day, but even if it doesn’t, at least that first movie remains an entertaining watch on its own.

In addition to The Old Guard 2, Charlize Theron also has Fast XI coming up on April 4, 2025. For those of you interested in Kurt Johnstad’s work on Rebel Moon: Part Two, read what he had to tell me about where things on Part Three stand, as well as his breakdown of The Scargiver’s major deaths and what’s next for the characters Kora and Balisarius.

As much as we like to see Hollywood as a dream factory, some projects can be total nightmares. Maybe people realize that fact during production, or maybe it’s a big case of hindsight providing 20/20 vision; but eventually there comes a time when an entertainer decides that their own movie is the enemy. For one reason or another, the list we’re about to share with you is a bunch of cases where that sort of takedown was warranted by the talent that had to endure making them in the first place. 

Jamie Lee Curtis - Virus

No matter how many times the 1999 sci-fi horror movie Virus comes up, it seems that Jamie Lee Curtis has a colorful variety of responses that detail just how flat-out horrible the finished product was. And depending on which interview you read, the language can get just as cheeky, so reader discretion is definitely advised. 

Michael Caine - Jaws: The Revenge

If you ever want a lesson in destroying a cinematic turkey with great wit and class, look up Michael Caine’s remarks on Jaws: The Revenge. Simultaneously admitting he’d never watched the film, but loved the personal enrichment that came from it, it’s one of the best moments of Sir Michael’s legendary charm at work.

Charlize Theron - Reindeer Games

How bad is the perennial punchline Reindeer Games? Well, if you ask Charlize Theron like Esquire did back in 2008, the Ben Affleck co-starring film is "a bad, bad, bad movie." So that question's pretty much asked and answered. 

George Clooney - Batman and Robin

George Clooney’s continued Batman regrets will never stop being entertaining. Playing that very DC hero in 1997’s Batman & Robin, the infamously campy Joel Schumacher picture holds a very special place in the ER veteran’s heart; and it’s one of intensely self-deprecating comedy. 

Katherine Heigl - Knocked Up

The story about Katherine Heigl and her apparent lack of love for Knocked Up is one that’s circulated pretty much since Judd Apatow’s 2008 comedy mega-hit landed. However, it seems that years after the star seemed to slam her own movie, Heigl’s 2016 comments on the matter painted a different picture.

Christopher Plummer - The Sound of Music

How an actor like the late great Christopher Plummer could grow to despise a musical like The Sound of Music is still a mystery. Well, it’s puzzling in the sense that his apparent criticism of its sentimental and emotional nature feels a bit rough. Despite his misgivings, the Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptation remains one of Christopher Plummer’s best roles. 

Sally Field - The Amazing Spider-Man

Comic book movies aren’t for everyone, and The Amazing Spider-Man’s Sally Field admitted just that when talking about her role as Andrew Garfield’s Aunt May. Field’s reason for taking the role as a favor to her friend, late producer Laura Ziskin, is still sweet. But digging into Sally’s comments about the Marvel role, it would seem that there isn’t enough money in the Multiverse to bring the Academy Award winner back for any hypothetical follow-ups.

Edward Norton - The Italian Job

One of the most infamous stories of modern movie feuds, Edward Norton’s reluctance to play the villain in The Italian Job remake came down to two words: contractual obligations. As Observer covered in the lead-up to the movie’s production, Norton fulfilled his duties; but did so while taking every chance to put the project down. 

Jessica Alba - Fantastic Four

When your director tells you that CGI tears are better than the actual waterworks you’re providing on set, to say things are problematic is a bit of an understatement. That’s the scenario that Jessica Alba faced on Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which she revealed to Elle Magazine (via Today) as the reason she almost quit acting. 

Bill Murray - Garfield: The Movie

Confusion is something that even a legendary comedian like Bill Murray can admit to falling into from time to time. It just so happens that one of those times saw the legacy cast member of Ghostbusters accidentally assume one of The Coen Bros. wrote Garfield: The Movie. Thankfully for Murray, he only had to make one sequel before the franchise shifted gears to another iteration.

Jennifer Lawrence - Passengers

When Adele tells you to skip a movie like Passengers, that’s a sign you should take to heart. Unfortunately, Jennifer Lawrence ignored this advice, and what resulted was a movie that is as questionable as it is baffling. On the plus side, hearing Ms. Lawrence trash that movie means that the project is technically a valuable source of entertainment.

Channing Tatum - G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

We’ve all kind of known that Channing Tatum despises G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra; and rightfully so. But just how horrible was the man’s opinion of this past franchise starter? Well, not only did he pass on this project seven times, but when G.I. Joe: Retaliation came about, Tatum requested to be killed off in that very sequel. 

Viola Davis - The Help

Despite the contemporary hoopla that saw The Help become an Academy Awards darling at 2012’s Oscars, Viola Davis’ opinion on the movie is far from golden. Indeed, the project has become more and more scrutinized as time goes on, and Davis’ upset with the movie has only developed more nuance over time. 

Ryan Reynolds - Green Lantern

Even if you knew nothing about Ryan Reynolds starring in the much-maligned Green Lantern adaptation, his dislike for the picture is legendary. Especially when part of Deadpool 2’s wild time travel-correcting ending saw the Marvel anti-hero icing his reality-bound actor before even getting to make the film. 

Halle Berry - Catwoman

The downside to Halle Berry being in Catwoman is that she, unfortunately, had to actually make the movie. However, the upside to this painful experience is that Berry’s quips and jabs at her unfortunate DC Comics entry continue to show her impeccable sense of humor. 

Oscar Isaac - X-Men: Apocalypse

While Oscar Isaac doesn’t outright disown his X-Men movie, he does express serious regret for taking on the titular role in X-Men: Apocalypse. Though if you were cast to act up against James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, only to have your abilities hampered by an abundance of prosthetics, you’d probably be pretty steamed too. 

Dame Judi Dench - Cats

Not many actors would consider a Razzie nomination entertaining, or even valid. But then again, Cats' Dame Judi Dench isn't "most actors." Proud to have not seen the film, or read its reviews, the famed performer laughed off her own nomination, and even compared her character's final look to a bunch of foxes engaged in some not-so-family-friendly activity. 

Matt Damon - The Bourne Ultimatum

For as much cultural cache as the Jason Bourne movies still have in the world, it’s kind of astounding that the subpar reaction to some of the sequels doesn’t seem to have dampened that pedigree. That’s an especially good question after Matt Damon’s trashing of The Bourne Ultimatum script somehow didn’t prevent the worst sin that franchise has committed, 2016’s Jason Bourne. 

Megan Fox - Transformers

Megan Fox’s relationship with the Transformers franchise saw her putting the Hasbro toy franchise on blast after the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. More specifically, her comments comparing Michael Bay to Hitler allegedly helped distance her even further from the series that she apparently has no particular love for. 

Matthew Goode - Leap Year

In remarks to The Telegraph about his role in the rom-com Leap Year, Matthew Goode fully admitted that the Amy Adams starring vehicle wasn’t exactly ideal for his tastes. Taking a page out of Michael Caine’s proverbial book on silver linings, Goode did admit that one of the reasons he did enjoy being part of the project was the fact that he could go home easily on the weekends. 

Kate Winslet - Titanic

While the world fell in love with Kate Winslet after her role in Titanic, the actor herself didn’t exactly love watching herself put in, what she feels, was a performance full of errors. Even in a legacy interview with CNN, Winslet criticized everything, even her American accent.  

Mark Wahlberg - Boogie Nights

Boogie Nights was a star making performance for Mark Wahlberg, and to this day it’s a role that’s aged well on his resume. And yet, Wahlberg has asked God to forgive him for making the Paul Thomas Anderson masterpiece, regarding it the biggest mistake of his career. 

Michelle Pfeiffer - Grease 2

Allegedly, Michelle Pfeiffer was cited to have chalked up her experience with Grease 2 as a case of being young and not knowing how to pick a good script. While those stories persist, Pfieffer has apparently started to set the record straight, attributing her supposed Grease sequel bashing to misreported remarks that grew a life of their own.

Sir Alec Guinness - Star Wars

While Sir Alec Guinness’ reaction to watching Star Wars was one of being refreshed, his outlook on taking the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t as rosy. Actually making George Lucas’ sci-fi opus was a different story, with Guinness’ on-set feelings seeing the legendary actor less than pleased in the middle of production.

Miriam Margolyes - The Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter fans have been a frequent source of discussion for actor Miriam Margolyes. The performer who brought Madame Sprout to live in the film adaptation of the series not only has no personal connection with the franchise but she’s also shared some thoughts on adult Potter fans that have kicked up more dirt than one of her Herbology classes.

Sylvester Stallone - Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot!

The widely reported story of how Sylvester Stallone became the action lead in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot! is thanks to his feud with action star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Apparently, Arnie tricked him into thinking he wanted the movie, which led Stallone to lobby for the part, and win it. His enduring torment can still be heard to this day, and Sly has even suggested the film as a form of interrogation enhancement. Yikes.

Dakota Johnson - Madame Web

Madame Web seems to be an experience that barely anyone enjoyed, even the actors who starred in the movie. Dakota Johnson’s skewering of the finished product, while extremely erudite and empathetic towards herself and the rest of the cast, cuts to the core problems that some feel superhero movies have possessed since day one. 

Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Out of all the Harry Potter movies Daniel Radcliffe has fronted, the one that comes in as his least favorite is the sixth entry, The Half Blood Prince. Radcliffe called his own performance “one-note,” especially when compared to his own personal favorite: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Jennifer Aniston - Leprechaun

Jennifer Aniston’s performance in Leprechaun makes her cringe to this day. So much so that in a 2019 interview on The Howard Stern Show, she mentioned that she tried and failed to stop her then-boyfriend Justin Theroux from watching the film; much to her dismay. 

Brad Pitt - The Devil’s Own

“20 pages of dog…” You can fill that phrase in for yourself, but Brad Pitt’s Newsweek interview about 1997’s The Devil’s Own said all that needed to be said about the actor’s feelings for the Harrison Ford co-starring drama. 

Sandra Bullock - Speed 2: Cruise Control

Some experience will stick with you, no matter how hard you try. Sandra Bullock’s no-sequel rule was an echo of such a trauma, thanks to her displeasure with Speed 2: Cruise Control. Admittedly, her concerns about a large cruise ship not being as perceptively speedy as a city bus were part of the equation as well, and can you blame her? 

Robert Pattinson - Twilight

Robert Pattinson’s hate affair with the Twilight Saga is as well-documented as the memes that have committed the franchise’s dialogue to memory. Thankfully, the man didn’t develop an aversion to bats, otherwise The Batman wouldn’t have happened; which is probably one of the best things that actually came out of Twilight when you think about it.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this trip in the trenches with stars who had to tell it like it is. Judging by some of the movies mentioned here, it might be safe to say that for the most part, these reactions were spot on. But if you’re ever wondering why a movie you're fond of might be slammed by an actor or entertainer involved, keep these tales of woe in mind, and try not to take it too personally.

The Oscars were something to be experienced, and the stars all came out for Hollywood’s biggest night. It seemed like everyone was having a great time, but few were embracing the fun like Charlize Theron, who presented the Best Actress award along with other fellow Oscar winners. She looked beautiful and took the opportunity to do some photobombing of Emma Stone, before hanging out with old friend Vin Diesel at the after party. 

The Atomic Blonde star arrived at the Academy Awards wearing a Dior Haute Couture silver gown and was adorned with Boucheron jewels. The look was classic Hollywood glamor, perfect for the Oscars and the award she was about to present. The Oscars can be a stuffy event, but that is not the vibe Theron brought. She photobombed Emma Stone putting on lipstick, posed with other stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Sally Field, and of course met up with Fast and Furious co-star Vin Diesel. She posted an Instagram carousel showing moments from the night, which you can see below. 

Charlize Theron was a part of one of the most sentimental parts of the ceremony. Former winners introduced the 2024 Oscar nominees for acting individually, listing their accomplishments and how their performance was impactful. Theron was chosen to speak on Annette Bening, who was nominated for her performance in Nyad. The presenter previously received her own gold statue back in 2004 for Monster, and has been nominated twice more since the honor. It was great to see her take the stage once again with other winners, and I hope this presentation style becomes a tradition at the Oscars. 

Many of the photos Theron posted from the night included Stone, and I can’t help but love this unexpected duo. The actresses have never appeared on the silver screen together but all of these adorable moments from the Oscars makes me want to see them take on a project together. Both stars are pretty busy, with Stone set to star in another Yorgos Lanthimos movie, Kinds of Kindness this year, and Theron teaming up with Daniel Craig for an upcoming heist flick, Two For the Money. But these two seem to get along great, and I’d love for them to find a way to star alongside each other sometime in the future. 

When Theron wasn’t palling around with the Poor Things star, she found her way back to “family” member Vin Diesel. Those Fast and Furious movies are always emphasizing the importance of the family, and I love that this extends to real life. Even though it seems Theron is moving away from the franchise, the bond with Diesel remains strong, and they posed together at the Universal party. Theron was truly the life of the party, bonding with new friends, as well as old. 

Emma Stone took home the little gold man this year, but fans can revisit Charlize Theron’s own Oscar winning performance in Monster, which is streaming now for Amazon Prime subscribers. You can also catch her alongside Vin Diesel in F9, which is also streaming on the platform. For information on upcoming films featuring big stars like these ones, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule. 

The Old Guard was a monster hit for Netflix in 2020. The Charlize Theron-led film broke records for the streamer, as many migrated towards streaming during lockdown and quarantine amid the summer of the aforementioned year. With such high viewership, a sequel seemed to be inevitable, and the streamer officially greenlit a follow-up in 2021. While production on the second film seemed to be smooth sailing, we have yet to see it, despite production wrapping on the film well over a year ago. Now, one of the stars is giving fans an update regarding what's holding everything up.

Matthias Schoenaerts, who played Booker in the franchise's first flick, sat down with Collider, during which he discussed how production on the sequel is progressing. He was also asked bout when fans can expect to finally see The Old Guard 2, which is directed by Victoria Mahoney and features much of the original cast. While Schoenaerts did not offer a concrete date, his answer did give promise to the sequel becoming available for Netflix subscribers potentially in the near future. He said: 

There have been a lot of executive shakeups at Netflix within recent years, and it's possible that new leadership could have a different vision for the slate of upcoming films. Ted Sarandos became co-CEO in July of 2020 alongside Reed Hastings, who stepped down in October of 2023 and was succeeded by Greg Peters. Additionally, Scott Stuber, the head of the company's film branch, is departing this year. While Sarandos and Stuber may have been among the minds to greenlight the sequel in the first place, recent changes may influence which titles the streamer prioritizes in 2024. 

However, this doesn’t take away from how much of a hit Old Guard was for the streamer back in 2020, and how many interested people would tune in for the female-led film. Solid action flicks led by big stars feels like a specialty for the streamer, and the follow-up movie would definitely be in line with many of the other movies Netflix is platforming in 2024. With production complete, the second film’s release feels imminent. However, it's still important to note that, with the previous trend of streamers shelving completed projects, fans might also want to consider that possibility. 

It's been a while since we've heard word on the film. And, even though this may not be the update fans were hoping for, the knowledge that filming has been completed is still a good sign. Post-production processes vary from movie to movie, and maybe the process is taking so long because the filmmakers want to release the best cut possible. Not only did the first film gain high viewership numbers for Netflix, but The Old Guard also made history for its diversity and inclusion efforts. That’s a strong legacy to live up to and, hopefully, the sequel does the same when it finally releases. 

Fans may still expect to wait a while before The Old Guard 2 lands on Netflix. However, in the meantime, they can still see actor Matthias Schoenaerts starring alongside Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne and more in the first movie, which is still streaming on platform. For more information on other films expected to premiere on streaming and in cinemas in the near future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule.

The brand new, revamped and rebooted DC Universe (DCU) has opened up endless possibilities. A new Superman has already been cast and is ready to take flight in the first movie in the new universe, which is replacing the old DC Extended Universe (DCEU). 

Producer James Gunn has shown he has a clear vision to wipe away most of the past and move forward with new actors and new stories, so for the purposes of this daydreaming, we're going to leave out the great actors who have appeared in DC-related films in the past, including the most recent movies starring the likes of Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck, though we're not against them returning, too. 

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling is one of the biggest stars in the world, and also one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. He's the kind of actor you could cast in almost any role and you just know he'd hit it out of the park. He could play a hero or a villain and audiences would be transfixed no matter what. We probably want him as one of the most famous heroes though, someone befitting his star status. 

Daisy Ridley

We know she can carry a franchise, and we know she's a tough woman, so Daisy Ridley just has to find her way into the DCU. Of course, she'd have to be a hero, but who knows, maybe a change of pace from the Star Wars movies could be cool and she could play a villain. Either way, she has to have powers greater than The Force. 

Tom Cruise

It's time. It's hard to believe Tom Cruise has never been in a superhero movie. One of, in not the, biggest action stars of the last few decades still has that "hole" on his resume and it's time it got filled. Of course, we'd all love to see Cruise as a hero, but it would be awesome for him to be in any role, even a cameo like his turn in Tropic Thunder. Just get him in there, James Gunn! 

Jennifer Lawrence

Sure, Jennifer Lawrence appeared in the X-Men franchise, but that was years ago, and the comic book movie scene is a whole lot different today. Lawrence is a perfect fit for any number of roles, and even though she's great as Mystique, what about a hero as big as Wonder Woman or Black Canary? Surely she'd be fantastic. 

John Krasinski

John Krasinski delighted fans with his cameo as Dr. Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. MCU fans have been dying to see him as Mister Fantastic in the Fantastic 4 in the future, but so far, there's only been cold water thrown on the idea. That opens up the DCU for the former The Office star and he needs to step in. 

Zendaya

There isn't a bigger star on the scene right now than Zendaya. Sure, she's played MJ in the MCU and Spider-Man movies, but let's give her some real superpowers and let her run wild in the DCU. 

Jacob Elordi

Sure, Jacob Elordi says he's not interested in playing a superhero, having turned down an opportunity to read for Superman in the new DCU, but that doesn't mean we can't dream, right? There are so many heroes in the universe he could play. Elordi has been a hit in recent years with his role on HBO's Euphoria and movies like Saltburn and Pricilla, so he doesn't really need to be in the DCU, but we need him to be. 

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet has a knack for picking great roles for himself. At this point, he can pick and choose anything he wants, given how often his movies are hits. Chalamet could probably just tell James Gunn what role he wanted and they'd find a way for it to happen. So let's do it! 

Meryl Streep

Let's be real, there is nothing Meryl Streep can't do. The greatest actor of her generation, bar none, and yet, she's never appeared in a superhero movie. She's flirted with the idea, according to some reports, and she even did the Wakanda salute at the 2024 Golden Globes, but alas, we still haven't seen her in one. The new DCU must have a spot for her, right?

Patina Miller

Patina Miller has won a Tony and she's starred in two hit shows (Madam Secretary and Power Book III: Raising Kanan), but she hasn't broken big on the big screen, aside from an important but too-brief role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and it's time that changed. She looks like a superhero and can act her socks off, so let's make it happen, let's make her a star in the DCU. 

Adam Driver

As Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequels, Adam Driver showed he could play a first-rate villain. Now it's time to see him play a hero. Any hero, pick one, it doesn't matter, he'd kill it. Batman? For sure. Superman? Well, that role is taken, but yes. Aquaman? Oh yes. Martian Manhunter? Check. Wonder Woman? Sure, why not, he's got the hair for it. Let's go! 

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg may be aging gracefully and while he says he's ready to play grandpa roles, we think he'll never be too old for a spot in the DCU. Somehow he's never been in either the MCU or any of the DC-related properties, so the time is right. 

Cailee Spaeny

She may not jump off the page as a possible superhero, but don't forget that Cailee Spaeny starred in Pacific Rim Uprising and clearly has the chops to be in a big action flick. She's an up-and-coming superstar and jumping into the DCU now would be perfect timing. 

Alan Ritchson

Reacher's Alan Ritchson is over six feet tall and built like a monster truck, is there anyone in Hollywood more perfect to play an intimidating villain in a comic book movie? Sure, he could play a superhero, too, but being a villain would be an awesome departure from his character on Reacher and it would be a ton a fun. And again, just look at the guy! 

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown had an all-too-brief role as T'Chala's traitorous brother N'Jobu in Black Panther and it's high time he gets a chance to sink his teeth into a bigger superhero role. How about John Stewart/Green Lantern in the DCU? Brown has even campaigned for the role, so really, it's a perfect opportunity to get him into the DC Universe, it needs to happen, so we're putting it out there into the universe again. 

Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage has dabbled in superhero movies in the past, playing the villain, Bolivar Trask, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, as Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War, and as the Toxic Avenger, but it leaves us all wanting more. Let's be honest here, anything Dinklage does is awesome, so getting him into the DCU somehow would be amazing. He's also pretty good at carrying a wildly popular franchise, as he proved with Game of Thrones.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson has done it all, except star in a comic book movie. Henson is one of the best actors of her generation and yet, she's got this hole in her resume that, let's be honest, we all want to see filled. The DCU would be a perfect place for her to land, in just about any role, superhero, villain, regular human... anything, just get her in there! 

Charlize Theron

Audiences were teased with a Charlize Theron character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the actress stars in the Old Guard franchise, but she's not appeared in any DC-related projects yet and she sure deserves to. We'd love to see her in any number of roles, as she can play just about anything. 

Jason Statham

He's one of the biggest action stars in the world, and yet Jason Statham hasn't appeared in the MCU or anything DC-related. This is something that must be remedied! How about Cliff Steele/Robotman, whose origin story comes out of a race car crash, which would dovetail perfectly with Statham's past work as star of The Transporter movies and in the Fast franchise?

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer has been taking the world by storm over the last few years and that means it's time to find her way into the DCU. Comer could be great in the MCU, but the possibilities in the DCU are endless and for someone like her, on the rise in Hollywood, the sky's the limit. 

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle is pretty entrenched in the MCU, where he's played James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine 10 times in various movies and TV shows. Still, Cheadle is awesome, and there has to be a way to get him into the DCU, too. He'd need to play a completely different kind of character, like a villain, but we're for it. 

Jenna Ortega

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is clearly ready for the big time. She'd be great as Aquagirl, or, even better, the villain Lourdes Lucero/Encantadora. There are a lot of options, let's hope she fits into one, because it would be great. 

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña is another star that most fans immediately associate with The Guardians of the Galaxy and the MCU, but with the Guardians franchise possibly winding down, and the franchise's director, James Gunn, now in charge over at DC, this could be a good time to switch it up for Saldaña, as there are a lot of different heroes she would be great for. 

Josh Gad

Hear us out. Josh Gad may not be the first person you think of when you think of an action movie or a comic book movie, but some of the best casting decisions are sometimes the ones you least expect. Think Michael Keaton as Batman or even Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man. Gad, with his blend of humor and "everyman" qualities, can be pretty chameleon-like and that could make him perfect for the DCU. 

Gwendoline Christie

How has this happened? How have we gotten dozens of superhero movies in the last couple of decades and Gwendoline Christie hasn't been in any of them? Sure, she's got the physique to play any hero out there, but it's her wit and comedic timing combined with that that makes the Game of Thrones star a no-brainer. This seems too easy.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris jumped into the comic book world by playing Shriek in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. She was predictably great, so why not have her cast as a character with a multi-film arc? She should be. With the James Bond Universe in flux with the departure of Daniel Craig, this would be a great time for Harris to find a new franchise to get attached to. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya (who also starred as a real-life Black Panther in Judas and the Black Messiah) is an actor who could fit into the DCU in just about any role. He could be a charming hero, or an evil villain, or even a government bureaucrat. Kaluuya's acting toolbox has a lot of options, the DCU will do well to take advantage of that somehow. 

Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer is a veteran of a lot of big-time franchises. Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, and even the MCU. Unfortunately, she was in fewer Game of Thrones episodes than you would think, and her appearances in the other two were also fairly brief. The DCU has a great opportunity to feature her in a much larger role. 

Donald Glover

This is another absolute no-brainer. Donald Glover is one of the most talented and charming actors in the business, there are an endless amount of roles he could fill in the DCU, so someone out there needs to find a spot for him. 

Diego Luna

With Andor (and his other projects) Diego Luna showed the world how great he can be in a franchise. His performance was gripping, and bringing that same energy to the DCU would be fantastic. 

Jack Quaid

Let's take a sec to lament that despite starring in one of the wildest superhero franchises of all time, The Boys, Jack Quaid hasn't really had an opportunity to be a proper superhero (V-24 notwithstanding). So let's give him a proper chance here! Put him in the DCU! 

Hayden Panettiere

Save the cheerleader, save the world. It was a mantra for Heroes and it's time to see Hayden Panettiere play another superhero. She was so great in Heroes, there's no way she wouldn't be great in the DCU

The DC Universe is James Gunn's oyster, these are some of the pearls out there just waiting to be plopped onto his beach. 

The top actors in Hollywood make a lot of money, but anyone will tell you that the real money is in production. That means that many of the biggest stars in the world have formed their own companies to produce both their own films and other projects that interest them. 

Often, these company names and logos appear at the beginning of the movies, along with larger, more recognizable studios like Paramount and Disney. Here is a list of many of the actors with their own production companies, along with the name of the company to look out for. 

Jordan Peele - Monkeypaw Productions

Jordan Peele has become one of the most exciting and interesting directors and producers in recent years. His Monkeypaw Productions has produced or co-produced his own movies, like Get Out, Us, and Nope, as well as other films like Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, and Adamma Ebo's Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul.

Tom Hanks - Playtone

Tom Hanks' Playtone has been wildly successful on the big and small screens. With movies starring Hanks like Cast Away, Charlie Wilson's Way, The Polar Express, and Greyhound, as well as films not starring him, like Mamma Mia and its sequel, the company keeps winning. It has also hit it big on TV with shows like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and John Adams on HBO, and the CNN series about each decade of the last 60 years. 

Elizabeth Banks - Brownstone Productions

Elizabeth Banks has been on a hot streak with her company Brownstone Productions. It's most notable for the Pitch Perfect franchise, but the company has also co-produced movies like 2019's Charlie's Angels, and that surprise 2023 hit about a bear that gets into something it should not have in the woods, with scary (and hilarious) results. 

Reese Witherspoon - Pacific Standard

When Reese Witherspoon started Pacific Standard in 2012, she did so with the express purpose of highlighting and producing projects with strong female leads, crews, and topics. So far, it's been a huge success with films like Gone Girl and Wild, as well as TV shows like The Morning Show, and Big Little Lies. 

Adam Sandler - Happy Madison Productions

Adam Sandler movies are not for everyone, but wow, do they make him a lot of money through his company, Happy Madison. Though the two films it's named after Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison were not his productions, almost everything he's been in since 2000 is, and it continues to make a ton of money for the actor. The company has even dabbled in TV, most notably with The Goldbergs.

Drew Barrymore - Flower Films

Drew Barrymore's company, Flower Films, has produced or co-produced a ton of movies since she founded it in 1999. With movies like Donnie Darko, 50 First Dates, Fever Pitch, and the Charlie's Angels franchise, it is safe to assume Barrymore has made a pretty penny. Of course, it also produces her daytime talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Queen Latifah - Flavor Unit Entertainment

Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment started out producing movies with moderate budgets that she starred in, like The Cookout and Beauty Shop, but these days, it's been successful on TV with her show, The Equalizer.

George Clooney - Smokehouse Pictures

Smokehouse Pictures is the second company founded by George Clooney after he shut down Section Eight Productions in 2006. Most movies he's starred in or directed since 2008 have been produced under the Smokehouse banner, including Leatherheads, Monuments Men, and The Boys In The Boat, plus other projects like Ocean's 8 and Argo.

Sandra Bullock - Fortus Films

Sandra Bullock may not be acting as much these days, but her production company, Fortus Films, is still humming along. Through the company, Bullock has produced movies like Miss Congeniality and its sequel, Two Weeks Notice, and The Lost City.

Courteney Cox - Coquette Productions

Friends star Courteney Cox and her ex-husband David Arquette started Coquette Productions together in 2004. The business relationship continued after the couple split six years later, though they haven't actually produced much in recent years. 

Brad Pitt - Plan B Entertainment

Plan B Entertainment was started by Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and producer Brad Grey in 2001. In 2004, Pitt and Grey bought Aniston out in the midst of her split from Pitt. Since then, the company has gone on to major success, with three of its movies, The Departed, 12 Years a Slave and Moonlight all winning Best Picture Oscars, with seven others receiving nominations for the award. 

Sterling K. Brown - Indian Meadows Productions

This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown named his production Indian Meadows Productions after the name of the neighborhood he grew up in outside St. Louis. Though it's just getting started, there are some interesting things on the way as Brown's star continues to shine brightly. 

Margot Robbie - LuckyChap Productions

Margot Robbie may have gotten snubbed at the 2024 Oscars for Barbie, but you can be sure she wasn't snubbed out of money as one of the producers of the hit movie. Robbie's company, LuckyChap Productions, has also produced movies Robbie starred in like I, Tonya and Birds of Prey as well as other projects she didn't star in like Saltburn and Promising Young Woman.

Leonardo DiCaprio - Appian Way Productions

Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions produced two Oscar-winners with The Aviator (which won five) and The Revenant (which won three, including Best Actor for DiCaprio). Through the company, DiCaprio not only produced feature films, but documentaries, as well. 

Nicole Kidman - Blossom Films

While Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films has dabbled in movies, most notably the 2011 rom-com Monte Carlo with Selena Gomez, it has found its biggest successes on the small screen. With shows like Big Little Lies, The Undoing, Nine Perfect Strangers, and 2024's Expats. 

Michael Douglas

Further Films, founded by Michael Douglas, doesn't have the portfolio that others may have on this list, as they seem to have found a niche in thrillers and suspense films like Swimfan, Don't Say a Word, 2017's Flatliners, and the streaming show Ratched.

Natalie Portman - Handsomecharlie Films

Natalie Portman named her company, Handsomecharlie Films, after her beloved dog, and she's put together a nice run of movies. She's produced many of her own projects, like No Strings Attached and Jane Got a Gun, as well as a surprise that she didn't star in, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 

Eddie Murphy - Eddie Murphy Productions

Eddie Murphy started betting on himself early in his career through Eddie Murphy Productions and it has paid off, big time. Starting with Raw in 1987, the company has produced some huge movies for the legendary comedian, including Coming To America, Harlem Nights, Boomarang, The Nutty Professor, and Norbit. 

Barbra Streisand - Barwood Films

Barbra Streisand has produced many of her own projects through her company, Barwood Films. 1976's A Star Is Born, The Prince Of Tides, and Yentl are a few of the examples of her biggest successes. Barwood has also dabbled in TV movies, like the groundbreaking What Makes a Family in 2001, about a lesbian couple having a child together. 

Alec Baldwin - El Dorado Pictures

Alec Baldwin's El Dorado Pictures has been in the news a lot in recent years due to its connection to Rust and the tragic events that occurred on set. Baldwin has produced quite a few of his own projects through the company over the years and even got into the TV game show space with the revival of Match Game, which he also hosted. 

Tina Fey - Little Stranger

Tina Fey has one of the sharpest wits in Hollywood, so it's no surprise she would use those same brains to produce. From critically acclaimed movies like 2024's Mean Girls to wildly successful TV shows including 30 Rock and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Fey, and her company Little Stranger, continue to crush it. 

Laurence Fishburne - Cinema Gypsy Productions

The biggest success Laurence Fishburne and his company Cinema Gypsy Productions has seen thus far is the sitcom black-ish, but he's also produced some great movies of his own that have flown under the radar, but are worth checking out, in Five Fingers and Akeelah and the Bee.

Jodie Foster - Egg Pictures

It's no surprise that an actor and director like Jodie Foster, who has been in show business for basically all of her life, would be a producer as well. Through her Egg Pictures production company, she produced many of her own projects, starting with Nell in 1994 and Home for the Holidays in 1995. She closed the company in 2002 when she decided that producing wasn't for her. 

Clint Eastwood - Malpaso Films

Without question, one of the most successful companies on this list is Malpaso Films, founded by Clint Eastwood. It has served as the production company for almost all of the films Eastwood has directed and its history stretches back to the mid-1960s. Many of his classic films, including Unforgiven, The Bridges of Madison County, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz, Million Dollar Baby, Sully, and many more have all been produced or co-produced by Malpaso. 

Halle Berry - 606 Films

Halle Berry's 606 Films has an interesting origin story. Though it was formed as part of her deal to star in Extant, the name has an important meaning. She named it after CA Senate Bill 606, a law intended to protect celebrities' children from the paparazzi.

It was an important issue for Berry, and when the company was formed, her partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, said, "606 Films is named for the anti-paparazzi bill, Senate Bill 606, which Halle fought so hard for and won, when no one believed it could be achieved. It truly informs the spirit of our company — making dreams possible, one bill at a time."

Mel Gibson - Icon Productions

Mel Gibson is not the most universally loved man in Hollywood, to be sure, but he's often bet on himself with his Icon Films, and more times than not, it's worked. Since 1989, he's financed many of his own projects completely through Icon, making movies like Hacksaw Ridge, The Passion of the Christ, and We Were Soldiers, plus co-producing maybe his most iconic movie, Braveheart. 

Salma Hayek - Ventanarosa Productions

Ventanarosa Productions, founded by Salma Hayek in 1999 has most often focused on Latin-centric projects, including Hayek's own Frida and the hit TV show, Ugly Betty. Ventanarosa also works throughout Latin America, producing Spanish-language films and TV. 

Will Smith - Overbrook Entertainment

Will Smith grew up in the West Philly neighborhood of Overbrook, which he took for the name of his production company as well, Overbrook Entertainment. Through it, Smith has produced many of his own projects, starting with Ali in 2001. King Richard, for which he infamously won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2022, was also produced by Overbrook. On the small screen, the Netflix hit Cobra Kai is an Overbrook production, as well. 

Amy Poehler - Paper Kite Productions

Amy Poehler's Paper Kite Production has dabbled in movies, but most of its success has been on TV and streaming. With shows like Russian Doll, and Broad City, you can see that Poehler likes sticking with what she knows, comedy. You might be surprised, though, that the company has also found success with reality TV and even feature length documentaries.

Danny DeVito - Jersey Films

Danny DeVito is obviously proud of his New Jersey roots, naming his production company Jersey Films. He also has to be proud of the output from the company with films like Pulp Fiction and Get Shorty. He's found a lot of success on TV too, with Reno 911! Another of Jersey's films, Erin Brockovich, was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2001.

Charlize Theron - Denver And Delilah Productions

Denver and Delilah Productions' first film was Monster, starring the company's founder, Charlize Theron. That seems to have inspired a bit of a theme, as the company has produced other serial killer-related projects, like Netflix's show Mindhunters, and the HBO docuseries Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York. There are also a few non-serial killer films, like Bombshell, Atomic Blonde, and Murder Mystery.

Will Ferrell - Gary Sanchez Productions

Before Adam McKay and Will Ferrell had their falling out in 2019 and dissolved Gary Sanchez Productions, the company had been wildly successful, releasing some of the funniest movies and shows over the last couple of decades. Step Brothers, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Daddy's Home, Eastbound & Down, and Drunk History are just a few examples. Add to that a little HBO show called Succession, which has won just a few Emmys, and wow, what a success story. 

As this list shows, success as an actor often leads to success in production as well, so actors will continue to open up their own shops, and will continue to crush it, for sure. 

Whether it's doing stunts or just freak accidents, even the biggest Hollywood stars aren't immune to getting injured on set. While we mostly think of stars chilling in their posh trailers while their stunt people take the biggest risks, sometimes it's the celebrities themselves who get the worst of things. Here is our list of big stars who have been injured while filming, and what happened after. 

Daniel Craig 

You can't just pick one of the James Bond movies that Daniel Craig was injured during the filming of, because the truth is, he's been injured a lot. In No Time To Die, it was his ankle, which required surgery and he was off-set for a couple of weeks recovering. In Casino Royale, he knocked out two teeth filming a fight scene. In Quantum of Solace, he injured his shoulder, and in Spectre, it was his knee. It's easy to see why Craig has retired from the role, filming James Bond movies can be dangerous. 

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise famously does many of his most intense and dangerous stunts himself. It's become his brand, but it doesn't mean he doesn't get hurt. In fact, while filming Mission: Impossible – Fallout, it was one of his more innocent stunts, jumping from building to building, that caused an injury when Cruise broke his leg landing the jump. Filming halted for a few months while Cruise recovered, but the footage was included in the movie. 

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford has a long history of getting injured on movie sets. Maybe the most high-profile time was when a door fell on his leg while shooting Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He broke his leg and director JJ Abrams injured his back helping pull the door off the Han Solo actor. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is one of the premiere action stars of the last 50 years, and as such, he's been injured a few times on set doing stunts. The worst, according to Stallone, came while filming the boxing match with Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV. Lundgren hit him so hard in the chest at one point that it caused his heart to swell and he ended up in intensive care for eight days. 

Isla Fisher 

One of the best scenes in Now You See Me is when Isla Fisher's character performs the underwater escape trick. It wasn't so great for the actress though, as she nearly drowned during the filming. Luckily a stuntman was there to flip the safety switch and save her. 

Leonardo DiCaprio

One of the most intense scenes in Django Unchained is Leonardo DiCaprio's speech after dinner. He bangs his hand on the table and slices his hand on a glass. DiCaprio, ever the pro, kept going without missing a beat. It's so good, director Quentin Tarantino left that take in the final cut. 

Kristin Chenoweth

TV stars aren't safe either. Kristin Chenoweth was almost killed on the set of The Good Wife when part of the lighting rig fell on her. According to the actress, she had a "skull fracture and a rib issue and a hip issue" as a result. 

Bruce Willis

Like a lot of action stars, Bruce Willis has had his fair share of injuries in stunts gone wrong. In Live Free or Die Hard, the Hollywood legend suffered a serious cut above his eye that required stitches, after Maggie Q's stunt doubled kick him with high heels on. 

Mariska Hargitay

Sometimes, the extent of the injury isn't immediately understood, as was the case with Mariska Hargitay after a fall on the set of Law & Order: SVU. Hargitay performed a stunt that required her to land on some pads, but, in her words, something went wrong. She shook off the injury at first, but a few months later, she felt a sharp stabbing pain and ended up in the hospital with a collapsed lung. She recovered after surgery, though a second surgery was needed later. 

Charlize Theron

Æon Flux is not one of Charlize Theron's best movies, and it did almost leave her paralyzed. The actor fell on her neck performing a stunt and had she not been lucky and fallen just a centimeter differently, according to her, it could have been very bad. 

Malcolm McDowell

One of the more terrifying scenes in A Clockwork Orange is when Malcolm McDowell's character is "rehabilitated" by being forced to watch violent videos while his eyes are held open. For McDowell, it was even worse, as the setup caused his corneas to be scratched and he was blinded temporarily as a result. 

Brad Pitt

In the weirdest of coincidences, there is Brad Pitt in Troy. In the film, Pitt plays the Greek hero Achilles. Achilles is famous for one thing, his armor not covering that one tendon in a person's heel... Well, it just so happens that while filming Troy, Pitt tore his Achilles Tendon. 

Uma Thurman

During the filming of the Kill Bill movies, Uma Thurman crashed a car she was driving into a palm tree in Mexico and suffered injuries to her knees and a concussion. Years later she exposed what she claimed was a cover-up by the film's producers in an Instagram post. 

Orson Welles

The great Orson Welles really gave everything he had to make Citizen Kane. That includes chipping a bone in his ankle that forced him to use a wheelchair on set for two weeks while he directed. The injury occurred when he fell down some stairs while filming, and the scene made it into the final cut. 

Linda Blair

During the iconic scene in The Exorcist when Linda Blair's character, Regan, thrashes around as the bed levitates, the scream queen injured her back due to a mechanical default. The injury caused scoliosis, which still causes her problems today, though she's found ways to make it less painful. 

Jim Caviezel

The list of injuries that Jim Caviezel suffered while filming The Passion of the Christ has become the stuff of internet legend. Some injuries are hard to verify, but others aren't, the most notable of which is that as Caviezel prepared for the Sermon on the Mount scene, he was actually struck by lightning. That's got to be some sign, right?

George Clooney

The head injuries George Clooney sustained while filming the torture scene in Syriana were so debilitating that the actor says he even contemplated suicide. Eventually, doctors were able to alleviate the headaches after surgery, but in the meantime, Clooney called it "the most unbearable pain I've ever been through."

Orlando Bloom

There were a few injuries on the set of the Lord of the Rings movies, and one notable one was Orlando Bloom. Bloom broke some ribs when he fell from a horse while filming LOTR: The Two Towers. His fellow cast members gave Bloom a little...uh... ribbing in a behind-the-scenes video as well. 

Martin Sheen

There may be no more infamous Hollywood production than Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now. No one had it worse than the film's star, Martin Sheen. As told in the documentary about the filming, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, Sheen not only suffered a near-fatal heart attack during production, but he also suffered a nasty cut on his hand. In the famous opening scene, Sheen punched a mirror and sliced his hand open and it bled badly. If you've seen the movie, you know what it looked like, because Sheen continued the scene and all the blood is very real.  

Michelle Yeoh

As an actor known for doing her own stunts, it's no surprise that Michelle Yeoh has been injured a few times on set. The most notable came when Yeoh tore her ACL during the production of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She was flown from China to Baltimore where surgery was performed to fix the injury at Johns Hopkins. 

Tom Hanks

Sometimes the most innocent-sounding injuries can be the worst. Such is the case for Tom Hanks, who cut his leg filming Cast Away. While a cut doesn't seem all that serious, it caused sepsis and landed Hanks in the hospital, who almost died as a result of the blood poisoning. 

Buddy Ebsen

The Beverly Hillbillies star Buddy Ebsen could claim one of the weirder injuries on this list. Ebsen was the original actor cast to play the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz and as part of the role, he was painted silver. The aluminum powder in the paint caused a reaction that landed Ebsen in the hospital due to breathing problems and he was recast by actor Jack Haley in the role. 

Winona Ryder

Accidents happen, even on movie sets of comedies, not action movies. Such was the case for Winona Ryder while filming Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler. While filming the scene on the bike in Central Park, Ryder took a tumble off it and broke her arm in three different places. Ouch. 

Matt LeBlanc

Injuries even happen on sitcoms. Even the biggest ones. While filming a scene for Friends, Matt LeBlanc fell into a chair and dislocated his shoulder. Production was delayed briefly, but the evidence is still on the screen, as LeBlanc was seen wearing a sling for a couple of episodes as his shoulder healed. 

Michael J. Fox

One of the scariest injuries didn't happen during a proper stunt. In Back To The Future III, Michael J. Fox almost died in the scene where his character, Marty McFly, is hanged. A mishap meant that he was actually getting choked and at first no one noticed. He passed out before he was lowered to the ground. 

Ed Harris

Ed Harris was almost killed while filming The Abyss. In one of the many underwater scenes in the movie, Harris ran out of oxygen and no one else on set realized he'd signaled that he did. He passed out from a lack of oxygen, but luckily someone finally noticed and they got him some air. 

Vincent D'Onofrio

Marine boot camp is intense, even for actors just playing Marines. Vincent D'Onofrio, who played Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket, injured his knee so badly during filming one of the training scenes that he ended up needing surgery to fix it. 

Melanie Griffith

One of the most notoriously dangerous movies ever shot is Roar by director Noel Marshall. In the 1970s, Marshall was married to Tippi Hedren, which also made him Melanie Griffith's stepfather. The movie filmed Hedren and Griffith (who was a kid at the time) living with lions. Real lions. According to legend, at least 70 people were injured by the big cats, including Griffith, who was "mauled near the eye" and needed plastic surgery to fix it. 

Jackie Chan

One actor you won't be surprised to see on this list is Jackie Chan. The martial artist and stuntman has pulled off some of the most insane stunts in film history, so it's no surprised he's been injured along the way. One notable time was while shooting Police Story. In one scene, Chan slides down a metal pole, which he did so quickly he suffered third degree burns on his hands. The shot was used in the movie. 

Al Pacino

Injuries can occur when actors don't quite make the best decisions. Take, for example the great Al Pacino. While filming a scene in Scarface, Pacino grabbed the business end of a gun that had just been fired and severely burned his hands. According to Brian De Palma, the actor was off for the next two weeks. 

Matthew Fox

Every now and then, one actor will injure another one, as is the case with Terry O'Quinn and Matthew Fox on the set of Lost. In a fight scene, O'Quinn stabbed Fox with a knife, which O'Quinn thought, incorrectly, was a prop knife, but it was very real. Thankfully, Fox was wearing a protective Kevlar vest that saved him from actually being stabbed. 

Dylan O'Brien

Dylan O'Brien was almost killed while shooting The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. While shooting a scene, the star of the movie was struck by a car. According to Vulture, O'Brien had a "concussion, facial fracture, and brain trauma among his injuries." Production on the movie was halted as he recovered, which, according to O'Brien, was one of the worst periods in his life. 

Dominic Purcell

Even without stunts and other action, injuries happen. Prison Break star Dominic Purcell broke his nose and had other facial injuries while filming for the show in Morocco. It was a freak accident as a lighting truss fell from the set and hit him. It could've been very scary, as those kinds of accidents have killed people, but luckily for Purcell, his injuries healed quickly and production on the show wasn't impacted.

Most of the time, when actors are injured on set, the injuries are minor, thankfully. Of course, that isn't always the case, and though deaths on movie sets are rare, they happen, so anytime someone is injured seriously, production is usually halted. Just looking through this list, you can see just how close some of these big names came to serious injury, and in a way, they're lucky (and we're lucky) that they are still around.   

What do actors and models have in common? Well, for the most part, having “the look” will get you in the door in either profession rather quickly. However, for the purposes of the list you’re about to peruse, it just so happens that these Hollywood stars managed to work both sides of that scenario. And as expected, these models-turned-actors have done so with style. 

Mark Wahlberg

Before starring in movies ranging from Boogie Nights to The Family Plan, Mark Wahlberg was known as a rapper and a Calvin Klein model. Showing off his buff body in underwear ads helped give the aspiring star his start in the entertainment industry, with Mark shifting into acting just as his boy-band brother Donnie eventually did. 

Rebecca Romijn

In a career that saw her on Vogue magazine covers and in Victoria’s Secret campaigns, Rebecca Romijn put the “super” in “supermodel.” And then, in a move that only further strengthened that statement, she took her first acting gig as Mystique in X-Men, kickstarting a career that’s led to such fantastic parts as that of Number One on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. 

Tyrese Gibson

Ads for Coca-Cola, Guess, and Tommy Hilfiger had Tyrese Gibson primed for stardom, and gigs on TV shows like Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and Martin soon followed. But depending on who you ask, it was either Baby Boy or 2 Fast 2 Furious that caused Gibson’s star to rise to the heights it’s at today. 

Halle Berry

It’s no surprise that Halle Berry did some modeling in her entertainment career, as her beauty has always been well renowned. But rather than going for traditional ad campaign work, the future star of X-Men and James Bond movies was a contestant in both the Miss USA and Miss World pageants. 

Jamie Dornan

Prepare for a rollercoaster ride, folks. Jamie Dornan, actor known for everything from Fifty Shades of Grey to A Haunting in Venice, was not only a model…he was part of a reality show that helped get him the gig. Channel 4’s Model Behaviour led to some gigs with Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger, which eventually made way for Dornan to be discovered by Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. 

Cara Delevingne

We’ve seen Cara Delevingne do everything from John Green adaptations like Paper Towns to DCEU juggernauts such as Suicide Squad. And with a foundation of modeling for Vogue Italia, Tory Burch, and Donna Karan under her belt, the American Horror Story: Delicate star never really gave up her day job, as her modeling continued along with her acting efforts.

Channing Tatum

There was probably a time when people staring at random Armani ads featuring Channing Tatum thought, “I wonder if he can act?” With a resume that has titles like Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Foxcatcher  to boast about, it’s probably safe to say that the answer is a confident “Yes!”

Jaime King

As a young model, Jaime King saw herself making a splash with Vogue, Seventeen, and pretty much any other fashion publication of note you could think of. 2001’s Happy Campers was all it took to help her jump into the acting world, which saw her play some impressive parts in Sin City’s screen adaptation, Fox’s The O.C., and even the voice of Solus Prime in the series Transformers: Power of the Primes.

Shemar Moore

S.W.A.T. star and all around heartthrob Shemar Moore actually had his own moment in the spotlight of modeling. Through catalog jobs with Macy’s and magazine shoots for GQ, among other opportunities, this man of action continues to engage in some modeling here and there; which only brings his fans that much more joy. 

Devon Aoki

Movie fans might recognize Devon Aoki from her standout roles in both Sin City and 2 Fast 2 Furious, but believe it or not her modeling career is the stronger of the two streams she’s dipped her toes into. Brands and magazines alike have showcased her talents in the industry, with Balenciaga and Harper’s Bazaar calling themselves a part of her storied body of work.

James Marsden

Jury Duty and Sonic the Hedgehog star James Marsden feels like the type of guy that’d be a model, right? How couldn’t he, with a smile like that? Well, if the world didn’t know it before his 2011 interview on Ellen, Ms. DeGeneres helped bring that aspect of his career to light; along with the pictures to prove it.

Gal Gadot

Jaguar, Maxim, and Gucci are only some of the brands and publications that Fast Saga star Gal Gadot has modeled for. This Heart of Stone lead eventually saw herself courted by Hollywood in the early-Aughts, thanks to auditions for Quantum of Solace that saw Gal compete with Olga Kurylenko for the role of Bond woman Camille. 

Antonio Sabàto Jr.

Calvin Klein was the name of the brand that gave actor Antonio Sabàto Jr. his start in the public eye, as underwear modeling was his first claim to fame. Eventually, projects like General Hospital, Earth 2, and even a Janet Jackson music video would see Antonio becoming an acting talent that continued to capitalize on their dreamy good looks. 

Charlize Theron

Even after winning her first Academy Award for Monster, and landing big ticket franchise like the Fast Saga, Charlize Theron still managed to fit in some modeling for Dior into her busy schedule. Which is absolutely fitting, considering that Theron got a jump start on her entertainment resume as a teen model throughout Europe in the ‘90s.

Mehcad Brooks

Fans of Law & Order and Supergirl’s Mehcad Brooks may want to brace themselves for what we’re about to tell them. Before Mr. Brooks was a part of worlds where superheroes and top cops reign supreme, he made a killing as a Calvin Klein underwear model; much like Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Sabàto Jr, and Djimon Hounsou.

Milla Jovovich

Before becoming an ace action star/zombie destroyer in the Resident Evil movies, Milla Jovovich found herself in another profession: muse. As an inspiration to designer Miuccia Prada, in addition to the star of shoots with acclaimed photographers such as Herb Ritts, Jovovich built a prolific career as a model; long before she would eventually be deemed a “Supreme Being” once again in 1995’s The Fifth Element.

Tyson Beckford

Before movies such as Biker Boyz and appearances on The Celebrity Dating Game and Match Game saw Tyson Beckford become an actor and personality, he saw himself engaged in another profession cut from similar cloth. Namely, Beckford was a model for magazines like The Source, as well as designer Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand.

Brooklyn Decker

The career of Brooklyn Decker started off with a huge splash, as both Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret employed the future actor as a star model. Eventually, playing a lead in the Adam Sandler film Just Go with It put Decker on the map; which led to a pretty sweet long term gig as one of the stars of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. 

Ian Somerhalder

Lost star and vampire extraordinaire Ian Somerhalder practiced looking ridiculously good looking in the modeling world, before parlaying it into roles that headed up projects like The CW’s The Vampire Diaries. Among the various brands that saw Somerhalder posing for greatness high end names like Nautica and Versace. 

Iman

In the modeling world, brands and magazines like Vogue, Calvin Klein, and Halston all called upon the mythic talents of the great Iman. Yves Saint-Laurent’s “dream woman” would eventually find the acting profession calling, and would heed its siren song through opportunities like the Kevin Costner thriller No Way Out, as well as a memorable spot in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Tom Welling

Even handsome men from Smallville manage to find themselves gracing campaigns for the usual glizy subjects. Former Clark Kent Tom Welling knows that first hand, as working with Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein would put him on the map to become a Superman for another generation. 

Tyra Banks

Long before Tyra Banks was trying to help find America’s Next Top Model, she was practically living her life under that very title. Through Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, Victoria’s Secret campaigns, and cover shoots for Elle and Vogue, Banks’ reputation as an in demand beauty eventually saw her jumping into acting gigs like a recurring role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. 

Kellan Lutz

Vampires seem to make for good fashion models. Or should we reverse that statement? In either case, Kellan Lutz would be covered big time. Known as one of the Cullen family in The Twilight Saga, Lutz had also done some modeling before becoming one of the sparkling undead.

Kate Upton

Roles in The Three Stooges, The Disaster Artist and Robot Chicken have seen model Kate Upton active in the sphere of acting entertainment. However, her big start came from popularity stemming from cover shoots for Vanity fair, as well as modeling for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. 

Djimon Hounsou

Actor Djimon Hounsou has been known to battle it out heroically throughout various universes and time periods, making huge appearances in Gladiator, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Rebel Moon. But in addition to racking up such heavy hitting acts on his resume, the Academy Award nominee has also done some modeling for Calvin Klein underwear in the midst of his busy run.

Famke Janssen

Both the world of the X-Men movies, as well the James Bond legacy have called upon Famke Janssen’s skills as a performer. That run of good fortune actually came after she retired from modeling, which saw her lending her talents to campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent and Victoria’s Secret throughout the ‘80s.

Kofi Siriboe

Girls Trip and Queen Sugar star Kofi Siriboe is known as both an actor and an all around smokeshow in entertainment. And part of the reason the young actor has come so far so fast is thanks to childhood experience in the world of modeling campaigns!

Elle Macpherson

Everything from brands like Tab to magazines such as Elle and ads for Christian Dior have seen model Elle Macpherson gracing their campaigns for glory. And that was a perfect launching pad for Elle’s acting ambitions, which saw her hosting Saturday Night Live as well as appearing in movies such as Batman & Robin and The Edge throughout the ‘90s.

Robert Pattinson

While the world mostly knows Robert Pattinson for his acting gigs in the Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Batman franchises, you may be surprised to know that he actually did some modeling in his youth. Though he left that world behind a while back, that hasn’t stopped Pattinson from picking up some campaigns for brands like Dior Men from the Batcave.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Levi’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Teen Vogue were crucial starts to the career of model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and those pillars suited her well when continuing to be a world class icon. However, Rosie dipped her toes in the world of acting, through roles in both Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Mad Max: Fury Road.

Ashton Kutcher

How’s this for a start to a promising career? The late ‘90s saw Ashton Kutcher landing key gigs in both modeling and acting, with the former getting him started through Calvin Klein campaigns. It’s not hard to see how acting won out, as That ‘70s Show was the acting job that happened to land in his lap around the same time.

Elizabeth Hurley

The world has come to know and love Elizabeth Hurley in her capacity as an actor, throughout a career that’s seen her star in the Austin Powers franchise, as well as the remake of Bedazzled. But before she was selling Brendan Fraser’s soul, or fighting for peace with Mike Myers, Hurley was a model for the Estée Lauder brand. 

There you have it, lovers of modeling and acting talent! Keep these people in mind the next time you see a hot new star in either realm burning bright, for they could be the next exciting example of playing both sides, and looking exceptionally good in the process.