Movie and TV lovers are tuning into the Golden Globe Awards to see the best of the best accept awards for the work they’ve done over the past year, but let’s be real — we’re also here for the fashion. Celebrities walked the red carpet in some beautiful and sometimes bold looks, including Julia Roberts, whose classic black dress got a pop from her statement red jewels.

You can’t go wrong with black on the red carpet — just ask Kylie Jenner and all of her LBDs — and Julia Roberts did it perfectly in a floor-length black gown with three-quarters sleeves. The V-neck was just the right neckline to show off a large strawberry-shaped pendant, as you can see below:

The bejeweled berry featured seeds and stems of gold, hanging on a gold chain from Julia Roberts’ neck. She paired it with a matching ring on her right middle finger, where she also showed off a red manicure.

The necklace is such a show-stopper, and if I came face to face with her, I might be tempted to ask if it was doubling as a vial of something — likely some sort of runoff from the fountain of youth. Whatever it is, it's working, because the 58-year-old actress was simply glowing and looked as great as ever.

Tonight’s awards show features the 11th Golden Globes nomination for the actress, who is being recognized in the category of Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for her role of Alma in Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt. She’s won three trophies at past shows, for Steel Magnolias, Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich.

I’m not sure if the strawberry jewelry can be considered method acting, but she previously took things to a new level, when she attended the Venice Film Festival wearing a cardigan that featured Luca Guadagnino’s face all over it. She’s truly an icon.

In After the Hunt, Julia Roberts portrays a college professor who gets caught in the middle of a sexual abuse scandal involving a colleague and one of her students (played by Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri) — both of whom she’s close to.

While Julia Roberts no doubt deserves this nod — critics raved about her performance, despite having mixed reviews about After the Hunt overall — some fans think Ayo Edebiri was one of the women of color who were snubbed in this year’s nominations.

Will the Ocean’s Eleven actress bring home the hardware? We’ll know soon enough, but either way, she’s already a winner in my book — in the name of celebrity fashion, that is — with that red carpet look.

Her psychological thriller After the Hunt is available to stream now with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. The Golden Globes aired live on the 2026 TV schedule on CBS Sunday night, kicking off with a monologue from repeat host Nikki Glaser. The show was also streaming live with a Paramount+ subscription.

Julia Roberts and George Clooney go way back, from teaming up on two Ocean’s movies to reuniting a few years back for their rom-com Ticket to Paradise. Even when they’re not working together, these two Hollywood stars support each other, like how Roberts enjoyed watching Clooney’s most recent movie, the Netflix subscription-exclusive Jay Kelly. She was especially taken with the movie’s cheesecake plot, as it made her think of her own similar experience as a celebrity.

During Jay Kelly, we learn there’s a rider in the contract of George Clooney’s title character that a slice of cheesecake be available to him wherever he goes. When Jay realizes this, he mentions that he doesn’t even like cheesecake, but his manager, Adam Sandler’s Ron Sukenick, assures him that he just doesn’t remember enjoying a slice wants. In an interview with Deadline tied to her latest movie, After the Hunt, Julia Roberts revealed that watching Jay Kelly made her realize she has a similar situation going with “either a huge bag or a huge bowl of raw almonds,” and she doesn’t know why. Roberts continued:

I hope Julia Roberts is able to track someone down who can shed light on how it was decided to deliver her almonds in bulk. Is this something that’s only been happening within the last decade or so, or does this stretch back to earlier movies of hers, like My Best Friend’s Wedding or Erin Brockovich. Whatever the answer is, I’m sure she’ll be able to get the almond portion of her riders removed. If Roberts has that much of a craving for those kinds of nuts one day, she has people who can easily obtain them.

Jay Kelly’s cheesecake subplot also reflects a mistake George Clooney made in real life. He discovered in New York from a driver ferrying him around that he’d been instructed to find Fuji apples for the actors, but wasn’t having any luck. This stemmed from just one time that Clooney expressed interested in eating Fuji apples because “it was the only one” he could think of, and that request led to that kind of fruit being added to his rider. Celebrities really need a system in place where someone actually checks with them about if they want a certain kind of food in their riders rather than just assume it should be included.

Like George Clooney and Adam Sandler for their work in Jay Kelly, Julia Roberts was also recognized in the 2026 Golden Globe nominations for her performance as Alma Inhoff in After the Hunt. We’ll see if all three actors win their respective categories when the ceremony airs this Sunday on both CBS and streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

There have been talks and rumors, and hopeful wishes for a possible Ocean's Fourteen movie for years. Those rumors have been heating up in recent months, and now we can confidently say that it looks like a new installment in the Ocean’s franchise is on the way. We don’t have a ton of details on the movie, and it’s not going to be part of the 2026 movie schedule, but we have learned a little bit, including whether stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and the other cast members will be returning (the answer seems to be ‘yes’). Here’s what we know, and why I’m excited.

When Will Ocean’s Fourteen Be Released?

There is no release date as of yet for Ocean’s Fourteen. George Clooney was quoted in October 2025 as saying that Warner Bros. has approved the budget and that filming could begin in “nine or ten months.” Keeping that schedule on track might prove tricky, given all the big stars with busy schedules who are hopefully going to return for this.

It’s challenging to predict when the movie might be released, but a late 2027 date doesn’t seem impossible if the schedule remains intact.

The Big Stars Will Likely Be Returning

Obviously, it looks like George Clooney (Danny Ocean) is a lock, as he’s been the one doing the most talking about it in pubic. The Jay Kelly star also intimated that he expects Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle to be back. Pitt hinted at his own involvement back in June, though Damon has been playing it more coy.

Of course, the cast is more than just those huge stars. Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Qin Shaobo, and Eddie Jemison have all been part of the gang in the previous three movies. I think they would be likely to return. Elliott Gould, who had a guest spot in 2025’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription, is an OG cast member and could be back. Andy Garcia also appeared in each of the first three movies.

Al Pacino and Catherine Zeta-Jones weren’t in the first film, but appeared in the second (Zeta-Jones) and third (Pacino) movies. The franchise has also seen the likes of Eddie Izzard, Ellen Barkin, and Vincent Cassel (all of whom were in Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen), plus there is the entire cast of Ocean’s 8. Could Sandra Bullock, who plays Danny Ocean’s sister in the spinoff, appear? The sky’s the limit here, I think.

Sadly, we’ve lost some of the original cast members since Ocean’s Thirteen’s release in 2007. Hollywood legend Carl Reiner (father of the late Rob Reiner) died in 2020, and the great Bernie Mac passed away at age 50 in 2008. Robbie Coltrane and Albert Finney, who both appeared in Ocean’s 12, have also since passed away.

We’ll keep a close eye on any casting announcements in the coming weeks and months.

David Leitch Is Expected To Direct Ocean’s Fourteen

It has been reported that David Leitch will be helming the fourth installment of the series. Leitch has been building quite a resume since making his (uncredited) debut as a director with John Wick in 2014. Over the last decade or so, he’s directed Atomic Blonde (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Bullet Train (2022), starring Brad Pitt, and The Fall Guy (2024). He even has a heist movie coming out in 2026, How to Rob a Bank, starring Zoë Kravitz, Pete Davidson, and Nicholas Hoult, so he has some experience with movie thieves.

Steven Soderbergh, who directed all three of the original trilogy, will serve as a producer. Soderbergh has been on quite a run recently, releasing at least a movie a year, every year, since 2017, including two in 2025, The Christophers and Black Bag, so it’s understandable that he might want to take a little break from directing.

What Will The Plot Of Ocean’s Fourteen Be?

As of yet, there is no word on who might be writing the script, but Pitt has said what's being developed is “pretty damn tasty.” Given Pitt’s fondness for eating in movies, that’s an encouraging description.

Clooney has also hinted that the script won’t ignore that the Ocean crew is aging, after all, it’s been almost 20 years since we last checked in with the thieves. The star also said he was inspired by the ‘70s heist movie Going In Style, about aging thieves, in an interview with Variety in December 2025.

So long as the movie has a fun heist and some excellent one-liners, I’m confident it’ll be great.

There Is Also An Ocean’s Prequel Starring Margot Robbie In The Works

Ocean’s Fourteen isn’t the only movie to look forward to for fans of the franchise. Word first leaked out in early 2024 that an Ocean’s prequel movie set in the 1960s and starring Margot Robbie was in the works. Ryan Gosling was rumored to be teaming up with Robbie again, and they would be playing Danny Ocean’s parents in the film.

The latest news on the possible prequel came in October 2025, when it was revealed that Gosling wouldn’t be starring, but Bradley Cooper was in talks to take over in the role. Either way, that’s a win, right? Frankly, I may be just as excited about this as I am about Fourteen, after all, the Ocean’s franchise was born in the 1960s with the original Ocean’s 11, starring the Rat Pack, in 1960.

It sounds like we’re still a ways away from either movie being released, but in the meantime, it’s always a good time to rewatch 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven, which you can do with a Paramount+ subscription. I know that I’m planning on diving back in soon.

One thing many people love to do is watch celebrities set out for any number of red carpet events, because paying attention to celebrity fashion is, in fact, its own pop culture pastime. It’s quite common for people to don outfits that cause a stir for one reason or another, including what they do or do not choose to show of their bodies in public. 2025 movies star Julia Roberts became a lightning rod for such attention decades ago, when she showed off her armpit hair at a premiere, and has recalled the “scandal” it caused.

What Julia Roberts Has Said About Her Infamous Armpit Hair Moment

Generally, when there is shock and dismay about what a famous person is wearing, it tends to involve something like one of Dakota Johnson’s many sheer looks that have gotten backlash, Sydney Sweeney’s viral fashion choices, the incredibly wild looks of someone like Bianca Censori, or Kim Kardashian coming up with things for SKIMS like “bush” undies. As you probably know, the comments about such clothing options and the people who wear them can quickly become quite personal.

Unfortunately, this is what happened on one fateful day in 1999, when the notably fashionable Julia Roberts (who recently put a somewhat odd twist on method dressing) attended the London premiere of one of her hit films (which eventually became one of the best romantic comedies of all time), Notting Hill. The actress sported an adorably sparkly, red Vivienne Tam cap-sleeved dress to that showing, but as she recalled to Vogue, it was because she put her arm up and waved that all hell eventually broke loose:

It might be hard for those in a younger age bracket to imagine the outpouring of disgust that occurred after the Erin Brockovich lead revealed her hairy pits, especially because it is far more common now for ladies like Rachel McAdams to go unshaven and also show it off. But, trust me, this was actually such a big deal that it made the news. Let’s take a look at exactly how hirsute our Pretty Woman was at the time, shall we? Observe:

Not only did I see this relatively mild amount of hair be referred to as “a bushel,” as though it could be cut, sold at market and used to construct entire coats for a family of four, but it was also labeled "unhygienic" and a host of other negative, incredibly speculative and, let’s face it, misogynistic things. If the After the Hunt star’s pit strands amount to her being unclean in any way, then the same should be true for most men, who, shockingly, feel little to no societal pressure to shave their pits or any other body parts.

The move was also seen as some kind of feminist statement, but as Roberts explained in 2018 when appearing on the talk show Busy Tonight (via People), she wasn’t trying to say anything at all. As she explained:

Considering what Roberts said more recently to Vogue, my guess is that what she means is that she simply prefers not to shave her pits on any kind of regular basis, which is cool with me and should be cool with everyone. Because, my god, if we can’t all decide whether or not to do something as personal as leave our body hair alone (or not), then we really are paying attention to the wrong things in life.

Filmmaker Luca Guadagnino has entertained viewers over the past few years with thought-provoking projects like Challengers, Queer and Call Me By Your Name. He undoubtedly aims to do that again with After the Hunt as it hits the 2025 movie calendar. Critics have seen the psychological thriller, and while they agree Julia Roberts is solid as a college professor with a secretive past, not all of them are on board with Guadagnino’s latest movie.

Julia Roberts stars as Alma Imhoff, whose protégée Maggie Resnick (Ayo Edebiri) accuses Alma's friend and fellow Yale philosophy professor Hank Gibson (Andrew Garfield) of assault. This leads to a dark secret of her own resurfacing. In CinemaBlend’s review of After the Hunt, Sarah El-Mahmoud says Luca Guadagnino has made another movie that feels like every frame is art, and the actors rise to the occasion. However, its substance is severely lacking, and she rates the movie 2.5 stars out of 5, writing:

Tomris Laffly of RogerEbert.com gives the upcoming LGBTQ+ movie 3 out of 4 stars, saying the script smartly reveals the depth of its trio of main characters slowly, which keeps us engaged and questioning their reliability as narrators. Julia Roberts’ performance is one of After the Hunt’s biggest rewards, Laffly says, and continues:

Nick Schager of the Daily Beast says movie lovers should “Skip This,” despite his calling it Julia Roberts’ best performance in years. It’s a “wannabe conversation starter,” Schager says, that introduces thorny issues but doesn’t explore them. The critic concludes:

David Rooney of THR says director Luca Guadagnino and screenwriter Nora Garrett seem convinced their exploration of power dynamics, thorny ethics and generational divide are current, but it actually feels quite outdated. The critic writes:

Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire agrees, giving it a C and saying the ideas feel ripped from another era and slapped into After the Hunt without actually having anything to say. The critic writes:

After the Hunt has garnered just 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, but despite critics’ issues with what the movie has to say (if anything), it sounds like Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield brought their A-games.

If this is one you want to check out, you may be able to do that now. After the Hunt opened in limited release on October 10 and will expand to more theaters with its wide release on Friday, October 17.

Obviously, Julia Roberts is one of the biggest stars in the world, and has been for over 30 years at this point. Because of her undeniable movie stardom and fame, this means that lots of people are eager to learn as much about the Oscar winner as possible, even what she likes to eat, cook or bake when she’s just hanging out at home. Now, though, her 2025 movies co-star Andrew Garfield has funnily shut down questioning that would lead the highly paid Erin Brockovich star to give up her famous banana bread recipe.

What Did Andrew Garfield Say When A Reporter Tried To Get Julia Roberts’ Banana Bread Recipe?

We all know that many of us love eating good food, which is why cooking shows have been a TV staple pretty much since the medium began. With that go innumerable baking shows that have hit the heights of popularity, like The Great British Baking Show (which has beloved celebrity episodes) and its easily watchable cousin The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Summer. This is all to say that lots of people enjoy engaging in the culinary arts as a relaxing pastime, and it turns out that After the Hunt star Julia Roberts is among them.

In fact, the director of her latest film, Luca Guadagnino, recently opened up about how she baked banana bread for him and their movie’s production designer, which had airline staff “starstruck” because it was so “beautiful.” Unfortunately, an Entertainment Tonight reporter who tried to get the scoop on the Pretty Woman lead’s secret recipe just got stopped in their tracks by Andrew Garfield. Take a look!

Well! Looks like Roberts can easily keep her baking secrets a mystery as long as the We Live In Time actor is around, right? The “sexy” and “neuroses”-filled Golden Globes presenter asked his co-star if she was planning to give away her recipe (which we all now at least know doesn’t have chocolate or nuts), and when the Leave the World Behind star gave an emphatic “NO” he relieved her of any additional denial duties, and said:

He’s not wrong. For one thing, pretty much every family has tried and true recipes that are passed down or even stumbled upon and held near and dear to the heart of everyone in that family. That’s to such an extent that sometimes only certain people in those families will be entrusted with the details of how to make them.

Secondly, people like Roberts (though that’s, shockingly, not actually her family name) have lived most of their lives in the public eye. Yes, she’s generally managed to do so with grace, but I can totally see her not wanting literally everyone in the world to be able to make her banana bread. Surely we can all find a recipe we love without it having to be hers, right? The Spider-Man: No Way Home star (who’d love to play Spidey again, as long as it’s in a “weird” way) continued, while looking right at the camera, and added:

WOW. Garfield might be a bit trepidatious when it comes to award shows, but he’s fierce when protecting baking enigmas, and as far as I’m concerned that counts as one more thing to love about him.

It would seem that we’re actually pretty close to getting the band (and by that I mean the Ocean’s cast) back together, as George Clooney has finally shared a very positive update about progress on Ocean’s 14. Along with sharing where they’re at in terms of conversations with the studio, he also explained when he thinks the long-awaited movie might start filming, and let’s just say, the heist is getting closer to beginning.

At the moment, Clooney is promoting his project on the 2025 movie schedule, Jay Kelly. While at the New York Film Festival, where the new flick is being screened, E! News asked him about the Ocean’s Eleven continuation. In response, he actually gave a pretty big update, explaining:

Wow! What an update! For quite some time now, we’ve gotten vague comments here and there about what’s going on with this fourth Ocean's film. However, this feels like the most solid news we’ve received about the upcoming movie in a long time.

An approved budget and an actual timeline for filming tell me this film is probably well on its way to being made; talk about great news!

A little over a year ago, in September 2024, we got an update about the Ocean’s 14 script from Clooney. He explained at the time that there was a “good script” that everyone liked. Then, earlier this year, Brad Pitt called it “pretty damn tasty.” Before that, we didn’t have much to go on, with Matt Damon even saying in August of 2024 that he hadn’t heard much about the project.

Now, though, it sounds like the crew is very close to their next heist. After sharing the update that filming could start in nine or ten months, Clooney also gushed about reuniting with his co-stars. When asked specifically about working with Pitt again, he enthusiastically responded with an answer about the ensemble as a whole, saying:

It would be fun for them and us! I need more Ocean’s one-liners and smooth and hilarious moments from this stellar ensemble. Plus, I’ve been dying to catch up with this crew. While we did get Ocean’s 8 in 2018, that wasn’t super connected to the original trilogy. So, it’s really been 18 years since we’ve seen Ocean’s Eleven on our screens. Personally, I can't wait to see how these characters have evolved over the last almost two decades.

By the time Ocean’s 14 comes out, it will have been likely over 25 years since that first Las Vegas heist, and I’m sure fans will be more than ready for another con – I know I will be. So, stay tuned, folks, this movie is in the works and on the move, and hopefully, sooner or later, it will be on the big screen for all of us to see.

When it comes to giving out thoughtful gifts, there’s nothing like receiving a homemade baked good from someone. But, from Julia Roberts? Now, that’s a pretty great brag. Luca Guadagnino, who’s the director behind Roberts' one and only role on the 2025 movie schedule, just told a story about the time he received some delectable banana bread from the movie star, and it proved to be a hit.

Roberts and Guadagnino have been promoting After The Hunt, a psychological thriller set in the world of academia, also starring Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri. The director, who’s also helmed Call Me By Your Name and the viral Zendaya movie Challengers, gushed about his relationship with Roberts with these words:

The new interview with Variety really shows the sweet relationship that has formed between the director and the Pretty Woman actor. I’m not surprised after seeing pictures of the actress showing up in Venice in a cardigan with the director’s face all over it.

Now, going back to the bread, Roberts went out of her way to help host a screening for his previous movie, the Daniel Craig-led Queer, and they even stayed at her house, as the actress added to his anecdote:

They’re talking about Roberts’ kids, Hazel and Phinnaeus, who are twins and are now both 20. The director and production designer Stefano Baisi each took over one of their rooms. But here’s how the banana bread really comes in, per Guadagnino:

Somewhere out there, I hope the random airline staff who was offered banana bread from Luca Guadagnino now knows they had the pleasure to try Julia Roberts’ banana bread and didn’t even know it. It’s certainly a very random honor, but knowing that they tried it without the name drop and they loved it so much gives her storied banana bread some more clout.

I’m not sure if it’s the same one the director was talking about, but if you’re inspired by the story, I found a banana bread recipe on Oprah.com that was apparently created by Roberts and Candace Nelson. They are banana-hemp heart muffins that include cinnamon, hemp hearts, flaxseed meal, chia seeds and such.

You can see Roberts and Guadagnino’s collaboration, After The Hunt, in theaters on Friday, October 10. Otherwise, Roberts also said in the interview that she could be part of the Best Friend’s Wedding sequel currently in the works, and Guadagnino is working on a remake of American Psycho.

The fashion world has lost an icon, as designer Giorgio Armani passed away September 4 “peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones." He was 91. Many celebrities and other notable figures in the fashion industry were quick to pay tribute to Armani, including his fellow Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace, actress Julia Roberts, Victoria Beckham and many more.

Giorgio Armani celebrated 50 years in the fashion industry last year before falling ill, which caused him to miss his first Armani catwalk event ever this June at Milan Men’s Fashion Week, per USA TODAY. It’s obvious how much of an impact he had on so many, as Julia Roberts shared a photo of herself with Armani on the red carpet to Instagram with the caption:

Donatella Versace also took to social media to say that Giorgio Armani’s contribution to the world of fashion and the world in general will never be forgotten. She wrote:

Demi Moore penned a message to the legend alongside a sweet video that showed her hugging the late designer. She wore Armani gowns on the red carpet many times, including her glittery Oscars gown earlier this year, and she showed several of them on her Instagram page, saying:

Samuel L. Jackson also shared photos of a number of Armani outfits that we’ve seen him wear for big occasions and awards shows over the years, posting the caption:

Even more celebrity reactions included:

• Victoria Beckham: The fashion world has lost a true legend in Giorgio Armani — a visionary designer whose legacy will live on forever. I feel honoured to have called him a friend.
• Ashton Kutcher: Visionary kind human Giorgio Armani, RIP
• Diane von Furstenberg: Good bye and Rest in Peace 🙏❤️ caro Giorgio ! You have touched so many people with your elegance and will continue to inspire for ever ❤️🙏❤️
• Anne Hathaway: He was one of the Emperors of Italian fashion. Goodbye to Giorgio Armani, You will not be forgotten 🕊️

Those who don’t live and breathe celebrity fashion may not be able to recall the designer’s looks off the top of their heads, but you’re likely to remember at least some of the amazing dresses he’s provided, including Cate Blanchett’s effortlessly cool black catsuit with pearl necklaces cascading down the back.

Sydney Sweeney frequently wears Giorgio Armani, sporting a strapless white gown at an Armani Beauty event this year. She has also embodied the designer’s elegance with a black floor length dress paired with really tall shoes.

Giorgio Armani’s passing was announced September 4 by his team at Armani Group, who wrote on Instagram:

The statement went on to say the co-workers are like a family, and they feel not only a huge loss but a responsibility to continue Giorgio Armani’s legacy:

Our condolences go out to all of those affected by the fashion icon’s death.

As of late, just about every Hollywood star is getting in on the method dressing trend when going on a press tour for a movie, and it never ceases to amaze us what stylists are coming up with. After Rachel Brosnahan wore a newspaper dress while promoting Superman, and Scarlett Johansson wore khakis on her Jurassic World: Rebirth press tour, Julia Roberts is getting on it for her new movie. And, she’s got a completely new take!

Roberts just arrived at the glitzy Venice Film Festival where her new movie After The Hunt is set to premiere on Friday. When arriving in Italy, the famed actress was seen wearing a cardigan with the face of the After The Hunt director, Luca Guadagnino, all over it. Check it out below:

Luca Guadagnino is an Italian filmmaker who has had many of his films premiere at the prestigious festival, from Suspiria to his most recent film, Queer. So while it’s totally on brand for Roberts to celebrate the filmmaker by wearing his face all over a white cardigan, it’s also a very new and quirky way to take the trend of method dressing. We have to wonder what the conversation was like behind the scenes that led to Roberts stepping into Italy with the unique cardigan on.

The upcoming movie marks Roberts’ first movie since 2023’s Leave The World Behind, and first collaboration with Guadagnino. The director famously got wide acclaim for his 2017 film Call Me By Your Name before remaking Suspiria, directing Bones And All with Timothée Chalamet and then Challengers with Zendaya. His latest film has Roberts leading the cast alongside Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri. You can check out the trailer below:

The plot of After The Hunt revolves around Roberts as a college professor who must grapple with a secretive past after one of her star students (Edebiri) lodges a serious complaint against one of her colleagues (Garfield), and threatens to expose her for something she’d like to keep hush-hush. Guadagnino is known for always bringing new LGBTQ+ movies to the fold, and there certainly seems to be queer context here as shown in one scene in the trailer where Roberts tells Edebiri she knows she has “feelings” for her.

It’s not exactly one of the 2025 movies we’d imagine would be easy for a lead to find method dressing opportunities in, but Roberts has pulled it off in a very unexpected way. Roberts has become very known for being in fashionable movies over the years, and wearing iconic outfits – such as that Pretty Woman dress. It’s exciting to see her interacting with the current method dressing trend, and now we’re curious what else she’ll have up her sleeve during the festival and the movie’s press tour.

After The Hunt is hitting theaters on October 10.

Julia Roberts’ career is packed with great movies, but did you know she’s never starred in a sequel to one of them? Well, that could finally change thanks to some news about a sequel that’s apparently going into early development. The word is that Sony is working on a followup to 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding with Celine Song, and I need to talk about it.

I’m All Over Celine Song Making A Sequel To My Best Friend’s Wedding

In recent months, we’re seeing a lot of movies from the 1990s and early 2000s get starstudded sequels, from Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep filming the second The Devil Wears Prada, to Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman being in Practical Magic 2. Per Collider, one of the most beloved Julia Roberts movies of her rom-com era could be next.

The only name currently attached to the project is Celine Song, who just put out her second movie, Materialists, starring Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal. We gave the movie a five out of five in our Materialists review for how Song was gracefully able to discuss modern dating and love through her unique romance film. The movie is a followup to her 2023 debut, Past Lives, which has also become a quick favorite among cinephiles.

While it’s early days for the sequel to My Best Friend’s Wedding, I love the idea of such a talented and critically-acclaimed filmmaker being behind it – 1, because it could attract Julia Roberts to reprise her role, and 2, it could give us a rare worthwhile sequel that doesn’t feel simply like a cash grab. Celine Song has a really solid hold on crafting great romance stories, and as soon as I saw this report, I was immediately interested in her take on Julianne Potter and who she might be over 25 years later.

What Could Happen In A Best Friend’s Wedding Sequel?

That brings me to thinking about what a Best Friend’s Wedding sequel could be. As you might recall, the original movie follows lifelong friends, Roberts’ Jules and Dermot Mulroney’s Michael, who once made a pact that they would marry each other if they were both unmarried by age 28. However, just weeks before Jules’ 28th birthday, he calls her to let her know that he’s set to get married. Jules doesn’t take it well, and decides to sabotage the affair. Ultimately, Michael marries his bride Kimmy (played by Cameron Diaz).

Julia Roberts has commented about how her view on the character has changed since making the movie, pointing out Jules as a “pretty dodgy character,” which has me interested in how the actress could explore that further for a sequel. Maybe Michael flees to Jules after dealing with problems in his relationship with Kimmy, and Kimmy becomes the one ready to sabotage?

Dermot Mulroney also commented on the sequel just a few days ago to The New York Post, confirming “there is talk of a sequel.”. It’s still early, but I very much hope the sequel happens with Celine Song, and the main cast from the 1997 movie.

It never ceases to amaze me when an actor is the spitting image of the real person they are selected to play. I do not think a historical portrayal necessarily lives or dies by the performer’s resemblance to the subject, but I think it is something to appreciate, especially when you consider the amount of biopics starring actors who bear absolutely no resemblance to their role. Here are a few notable examples of actors who were clearly hired for their talents above anything else.

Michael Shannon As Elvis Presley (Elvis & Nixon)

The most requested photo in the National Archives depicts Elvis Presley shaking hands with Richard Nixon in the Oval Office, and the events surrounding this historic meeting at the White House are dramatized in 2016's Elvis & Nixon. Kevin Spacey makes for a visually believable depiction of the 37th United States President, but the otherwise wonderfully talented Michael Shannon simply does not cut it as the one many call the King of Rock 'n Roll, even with a decent jumpsuit and wig.

John Wayne As Genghis Khan (The Conqueror)

Oh, boy, where do we begin with this one? The only visual evidence we have of what Genghis Khan looked like is artist renderings, but it does not take an expert to notice that John Wayne was not Asian. Still, the legendary Western movie star was cast as the Mongol chief in 1956's The Conqueror, which has since been regarded as one of the worst films ever made.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson As John Lennon (Nowhere Boy)

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson's 2009 music biopic Nowhere Boy focuses on the pre-Beatles life of John Lennon, as portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. If you ask me, the Golden Globe-winning actor might have been a better fit to play, perhaps, Paul McCartney or, better yet, George Harrison.

Tom Cruise As Barry Seal (American Made)

If more people knew about Barry Seal and what he looked like, I believe Tom Cruise's portrayal in 2017's American Made would have been criticized as one of the most egregious miscastings in Hollywood history. The otherwise talented movie star did absolutely nothing to alter his appearance and pass for the ill-fated, heavy-set CIA smuggler, save what I regard as an embarrassing Southern accent.

Julia Roberts As Erin Brockovich (Erin Brockovich)

Julia Roberts gives, arguably, the finest performance of her career as a single mother and paralegal who uncovers a small town pollution scandal in Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich from 2000. However, if a resemblance to the person an actor is portraying were part of the Academy's voting criteria, she might not have won the Oscar.

Denzel Washington As Frank Lucas (American Gangster)

Ridley Scott's 2007 biopic American Gangster dramatizes the career of mobster Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas' brother, Huey. Curiously, Ejiofor actually looks a whole lot more like the real Frank than the two-time Oscar winner. However, Washington was a good friend and frequent collaborator of the director's brother, Tony Scott, so he probably had the role in the bag for that, among other reasons.

Johnny Depp As J.M. Barrie (Finding Neverland)

Oddly enough, J.M. Barrie boasted a striking resemblance to another influential author, Edgar Allan Poe, with his tall forehead and small moustache. However, Johnny Depp, who played the Peter Pan author in 2004's Finding Neverland, does not boast a resemblance to either of them, if you ask me.

Hugh Jackman As P.T. Barnum (The Greatest Showman)

Let's not even bother talking about the many historical inaccuracies from The Greatest Showman, 2017's musical retelling of the origins of the circus, and even ignore the fact that P.T. Barnum was not the kindhearted man Hugh Jackman portrayed him as. All that matters to this list is whether or not the Wolverine star looked the part, and the famously attractive Australian actor most definitely was not a match for Barnum in that regard.

Michael Fassbender As Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs)

Michael Fassbender's Oscar-nominated performance in director Danny Boyle and writer Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs from 2015 is widely regarded as superior to Ashton Kutcher's portrayal in Jobs from two years earlier. However, at least the former That '70s Show cast member can say he resembled the tech pioneer more closely.

Jesse Eisenberg As Mark Zuckerberg (The Social Network)

Mark Zuckerberg once made a surprise SNL cameo, during which he stood right next to host Jesse Eisenberg on the Studio 8H stage, proving that they are certainly not a visual match. The actor does not even bother to imitate the Facebook founder's distinctly low voice when portraying him in 2010's The Social Network, but his Oscar nomination proves that that is not what really matters in the end.

Tom Hanks As Fred Rogers (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood)

Casting a universally beloved actor such as Tom Hanks to play a universally beloved children's television personality like Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fame, is brilliant in theory. However, even giving the Oscar winner the icon's signature haircut and sweaters is not quite enough to distract from the fact that you are still unmistakably watching Hanks on screen.

Leonardo DiCaprio As Howard Hughes (The Aviator)

A major inspiration for Marvel's Tony "Iron Man" Stark was Howard Hughes, whose resemblance is actually a striking match for both Robert Downey Jr. and Dominic Cooper, who plays Howard Stark in his early years in the MCU. In fact, I think either one of them would have been a better visual fit for the eccentric millionaire in The Aviator than Leonardo DiCaprio, even if his performance in the 2005 biopic makes it one of his best collaborations with the director, Martin Scorsese.

Warren Beatty And Faye Dunaway As Clyde Barrow And Bonnie Parker (Bonnie And Clyde)

From a performance standpoint, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway make a great onscreen duo portraying the titular notorious bank robbers in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde. However, the screen legends' casting does not earn the film any points for historical accuracy, considering Beatty does not have Clyde Barrow's jug ears, nor does Dunaway boast Bonnie Parker's sharp, thin face.

Taraji P. Henson As Katherine G. Johnson (Hidden Figures)

Taraji P. Henson gives an undeniably commanding performance in 2016's Hidden Figures as Katherine G. Johnson, a mathematician who was pivotal in helping NASA figure out space travel. Yet, when comparing the Empire star to photos of the real Johnson, it is clear the actor does not resemble her much at all.

Anthony Hopkins As Richard Nixon (Nixon)

Reportedly, Anthony Hopkins had some hesitation about taking on the lead role of Oliver Stone's 1995 biopic about Richard M. Nixon. Ultimately, I would say the Academy Award winner went on to give a great performance in Nixon, but I find myself distracted by his struggle to hide his accent and his obvious fake teeth and hairpiece that really do not help make him look any closer in resemblance to the disgraced U.S. president.

Margot Robbie As Queen Elizabeth I (Mary Queen Of Scots)

Cate Blanchett previously gave an Academy Award-nominated performance as the lead of 1998's Elizabeth, and even bore a strong resemblance to the royal based on artist renderings. I cannot say the same about Margot Robbie, even if the Australian actor's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots was still worthy of praise.

Benedict Cumberbatch As Alan Turing (The Imitation Game)

Benedict Cumberbatch has such a distinct appearance, making it difficult for him to resemble anyone else without heavy alterations. However, nothing was done to make him look any closer to World War II-era computer scientist Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.

Javier Bardem As Desi Arnaz (Being The Ricardos)

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman went above and beyond to physically become Lucille Ball for writer and director Aaron Sorkin's dramatization of what went on behind the scenes of the beloved TV sitcom, I Love Lucy. However, playing her onscreen husband is Oscar winner Javier Bardem, who does not pass for Desi Arnaz in the slightest.

Ray Liotta As Shoeless Joe Jackson (Field Of Dreams)

Technically, Ray Liotta plays the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, but even a person's spectral remnant should look something like them. The infamous MLB player had a much narrower face and wider ears, not to mention that he pitched left-handed, while the actor did the opposite in the beloved sports movie.

Beyoncé As Etta James (Cadillac Records)

No one could possibly deny that Beyoncé has the pipes to match Etta James, which had to have been the reason why she was cast in 2008's Cadillac Records. However, the "At Last" singer was short and round-faced, and the former Destiny's Child member is neither.

Dominic West As Prince Charles III (The Crown)

I mean no disrespect to Prince Charles III, but is it just me, or was The Wire star Dominic West just a little too handsome to play the Royal Family member on The Crown? Then again, any one cast member's portrayal on the historical Netflix series might pale in comparison to Elizabeth Debicki's striking resemblance to Princess Diana.

Kane Hodder As Ed Gein (Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield)

The most famous actor to wear Jason Voorhees' hockey mask in the Friday the 13th films must have seemed like an inspired choice to play one of the most notorious serial killers in history in 2007's Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield. However, the 6'2", broadly built Kane Hodder does not boast Gein's narrower face and small stature.

Clive Owen As Bill Clinton (Impeachment: American Crime Story)

In most cases, prosthetics can be very helpful in making an actor look more similar to the person they are portraying, such as when Charlize Theron became Megyn Kelly for Bombshell. Clive Owen adopted this method to play Bill Clinton on Impeachment: American Crime Story, but the makeup only caused the English actor to resemble the 1990s-era President even less.

Angelina Jolie As Christine Collins (Changeling)

Christine Collins is the subject of Clint Eastwood's 2008 period film, Changeling, which is based on the true story of when her missing son was replaced by an impostor. Had she been an even better-known historical figure, there might have been more criticism over casting Angelina Jolie, an actor known for her voluptuous lips, as the thin-lipped 1920s woman.

Fred Armisen As Barack Obama (Saturday Night Live)

Considering the fact that the otherwise extremely talented SNL star Fred Armisen is a white man with a subpar impersonation of the 44th. U.S. President, I'll just say that I am glad Jay Pharoah eventually took over as Barack Obama.

Tom Hulce As Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Amadeus)

Just based on artist renderings of the seminal composer, Tom Hulce was nowhere near a match to play the title role of director Milos Forman's Best Picture Oscar winner, Amadeus, from 1984. However, the actor is widely admired for his performance as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which earned him a well-deserved Academy Award nomination.

Robert Redford As Harry Longabaugh (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid)

I wonder how many others like me had no idea that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was based on a true story, which might be how the film was able to get away with casting actors who look nothing like the Western outlaws they play. For instance, Robert Redford's mustache works just fine for the role, but Harry Longabaugh, a.k.a. "The Sundance Kid," did not have long blonde locks.

Diana Ross As Billie Holiday (Lady Sings The Blues)

Most would agree that 1972's Lady Sings the Blues is the superior biopic about the trailblazing "Strange Fruit" singer over The United States vs. Billie Holiday from 2021. However, those same people might also agree that Andra Day was a better fit to play Holiday, physically speaking, than the otherwise wonderfully talented Diana Ross in the earlier film.

Robin Williams As Patch Adams (Patch Adams)

The real Patch Adams hates Tom Shadyac's biopic based on his life, which has nothing to do with the fact that Robin Williams looks nothing like the influential doctor. However, it's still impossible to ignore, especially with how they do not even bother to give the Oscar winner Adams' signature mustache.

Mel Gibson As William Wallace (Braveheart)

In the most well-known illustrations of William Wallace, the Scottish warrior is depicted as having short hair and a beard. Why director Mel Gibson opted against this look when he portrayed Wallace in Braveheart is beyond me.

Serena Scott Thomas As Princess Diana (Diana: Her True Story)

Many actors have portrayed Princess Diana to varying degrees of success, but most consider Serena Scott Thomas from the 1993 two-part miniseries, Diana: Her True Story, to be one of the weakest matches, purely in terms of her physical resemblance.

Zoe Saldaña As Nina Simone (Nina)

The 2016 biopic, Nina, sparked controversy when Zoe Saldaña donned skin-darkening makeup and a prosthetic nose to better resemble singer Nina Simone, which the actor would later admit she regretted.

It’s no secret that Julia Roberts is one of the most prolific performers of her generation. From her best rom-com titles to her thriller/heist collection, there’s plenty of ground she’s covered. With the vast territory, unfortunately, things like heartbreak and conning have been common themes throughout Roberts’ work by females, but more so by males. Here’s a rundown of some of the biggest betrayals of Julia Roberts’ characters enacted by men.

Linus Caldwell In Ocean’s Twelve (Matt Damon)

Really, this is the whole team's doing per Danny (George Clooney), but Linus (Matt Damon) carries out this plan. This wrongdoing is different and arguably tops this list because it not only relates to Julia Roberts’ character, Tess Ocean, but a fictionalized Julia Roberts. Tess is wrangled to join the heist by Linus, on very vague terms. When she lands in Rome, Linus and Basher (Don Cheadle) let her in on the con that revolves around her impersonating a pregnant Julia Roberts.

Khamel In The Pelican Brief (Stanley Tucci)

After writing The Pelican Brief, Darby (Robert) shares it with her professor-boyfriend Callahan (Sam Shepard) who shares it with a select handful of people who get killed by a rigged car explosion. This sets off a series of events where Darby has to be particularly aware of all involved while avoiding various assassins trying to hurt her, including Khamel (Stanley Tucci), among others. Darby experiences beyond multiple pursuers, being watched, items stolen from her, multiple attempts of murder via rigged car bombs, impersonators, and more, making it one of the more surprisingly successful 90s movies.

Martin Burney In Sleeping With The Enemy (Patrick Bergin)

Laura Williams (aka Sara Waters, played by Roberts) is in an abusive marriage with Martin Burney (Patrick Bergin). As he continues to mistreat her, she plans her escape. After fleeing the marriage, and town, Laura turns into Sara, heads to live near her mother, Chloe, who Laura had previously told Martin had died. Martin realizes that Laura isn’t dead, due to one error on her end, and tracks her down. Fortunately, things ultimately work out in Laura/Sara’s favor and she can rest easy.

Ed Masry In Erin Brockovich (Albert Finney)

When Erin Brockovich (Roberts) initially dives into the PG&E water case, for Ed Masry (Albert Finney), she gets okayed to visit a few locations. Diving in, she works out of the office for a few days but doesn’t share any updates with coworkers. As she gets back to the office, she learns she’s been fired since she didn’t communicate with anyone. Thankfully, it’s a blip between the two and Masry quickly adds her back on after a lead in the case arises.

Edward Lewis In Pretty Woman (Richard Gere)

The Garry Marshall-directed movie is arguably one of the best Julia Roberts films with her portrayal of Vivian Ward. Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) betrays Roberts’ character while at a polo match. Lewis’ business associate, Philip Stuckey (Jason Alexander) suspects Ward to be a corporate spy to destroy the Jim Morse business deal. Edward debunks Philip’s theory and shares how he met Vivian. With the information, Stuckey propositions Vivian, which she declines, and knows that Edward revealed her secret to Philip.

Michael O’Neal In My Best Friend’s Wedding (Dermott Mulroney)

My Best Friend’s Wedding may be trickier for some. Roberts’ character Julianne ‘Jules’ Potter is honestly the more deceitful character in this movie, in my opinion. The whole movie is centered around Jules trying to sabotage her best friend, Michael’s wedding to no avail. In Jules' eyes, she feels betrayed on and off through the whole wedding weekend by Michael, only to eventually accept what’s happened at the reception.

George In Erin Brockovich (Aaron Eckhart)

George (Aaron Eckhart) is Erin Brockovich’s neighbor turned love interest in the movie after he continually shows up for her and her children. And overall, things end well for the couple, but in the middle, and the height of the case, George makes Erin (Roberts) choose between him and her work. He leaves after Erin shares she can’t give up on the people of Hinkley. The two find their way back to one another as the trial nears its end.

Danny Ocean In Ocean’s Eleven (George Clooney)

At the beginning of the film, Danny (George Clooney) starts out as Tess’ (Roberts) ex-husband. Danny tricks Tess’ current partner, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), into choosing the stolen money over Tess. (He unknowingly chooses this while she watches a live feed of the whole thing.) After successfully destroying a perfectly fine relationship, the once-divorced couple reunites. The whole thing sounds bananas, but remembering the amount of best one-liners from the Ocean's franchise that Danny had, it’s no wonder every scheme of his played out just right.

Charles Gordon In Mystic Pizza (Adam Storke)

Fun-loving Charles Gordon (Adam Storke) meets bold and daring Daisy Araújo (Julia Roberts) and they quickly start dating. The couple runs into trouble while eating dinner with the Gordon family, and when an inappropriate comment is made, that relates to Daisy, Charles goes off on his family. Daisy, afterward, blames him for using that instance to blow out of proportion and rebel against his family. Even though the argument was substantial, the two made up at her sister’s wedding reception.

Bill Fordham In August: Osage County (Ewan McGregor)

At the beginning of this tour-de-force acted film, Bill (Ewan McGregor) and Barbara (Roberts) are quietly separated but both agree to go to Barbara’s Oklahoman home after getting notified of her missing father. They stand united to support their daughter, Jean (Abigail Breslin) during this period. When Barbara and Bill get confronted head-on by her mother Violet (Meryl Streep) about their relationship, Bill confirms that they are separated and there’s a younger woman involved.

Homer Eisenhower “Ike” Graham In Runaway Bride (Richard Gere)

Even though all the wrongdoing done to Maggie (Roberts) eventually works its way into something positive, Ike initially wreaks havoc. Ike (Richard Gere) starts by writing a hurtful, and biased piece on Maggie’s inability to settle down (his source, unknowingly, was an ex). The article leads to Ike coming to town, which makes Maggie face personal issues and rumors while ramping up for her next possible marriage to Bob (Christopher Meloni). Her old life falls apart the night of her rehearsal when she and Ike confess their feelings for one another, leading to a sweet marriage proposal from him.

Terry Benedict In Ocean’s Eleven (Andy García)

Benedict (Andy García) and Tess (Roberts) are dating as Ocean’s Eleven begins, and all is fine within their relationship until her ex-husband Danny Ocean finds out. Honestly, Benedict’s betrayal is more rooted in Danny’s deceit toward Tess–in that, he knew Benedict would admit he would pick money over her. All the same, Tess watched on a live feed, Benedict’s confession, ruining any future of a lasting relationship.

Dan In Closer (Jude Law)

Closer has multiple layers of betrayal, and not just toward Roberts’ character, Anna (We’ll save that for another time though). Anna meets Dan (Jude Law) while photographing him for his coming book. Even though Dan is already dating someone, he makes a move on her, which Anna refuses. The scene jumps to Dan chatting in an adult chatroom with an unknown male, at the time (Larry), as Anna. He leads Larry her and tricks Larry into meeting the real Anna under fake pretenses at an aquarium.

Spike In Notting Hill (Rhys Ifans)

Spike (Rhys Ifans) is William Thacker’s (Hugh Grant) sweet but goofy flatmate. He accidentally tips the paparazzi off that movie star Anna Scott (Roberts) is staying at his home. When the trio realizes that her location has been revealed, she believes that it is Thacker and not Spike who let it slip. With the series of events, she leaves their flat.

Larry in Closer (Clive Owen)

After Larry gets (Clive Owen) tricked by Dan (Jude Law) into meeting the real Anna (Roberts), they actually hit it off. It’s only later, when the couple is getting divorced, that Larry complicates Roberts’ character’s life. Anna left Larry for Dan but Larry chips away at the new couple’s relationship quietly. It comes to the surface when the married couple meets up for him to sign divorce papers and he declares the only way he’ll let her go is if they sleep together. Anna agrees, but it destroys Dan, and their relationship, because she ultimately never turns the divorce paper in.

Peter Banning In Hook (Robin Williams)

From the start, Tinkerbell (Roberts) feels cheated by Peter (Robn Williams) because he gave up Neverland long ago, but puts it aside to help him return. While Peter is remembering everything about Neverland and gearing up to fight Hook, Tinkerbell admits her unrequited love for him. Tink gets denied in the way she wishes he would respond, but ultimately helps Peter and his family fight Hook so they can return home peacefully.

Brighton In Mirror Mirror (Nathan Lane)

Over the decades, there have been plenty of new Disney remakes, but this 2012 iteration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is structured with a bit more humor and modern tones. After Queen Clementina (Roberts) orders Brighton (Nathan Lane) to deliver a drowsy Snow White to the woods so the Beast can kill her, he does but warns her to run instead. Snow White escapes the Beast’s clutches, but Brighton lies to the Queen, telling her Snow White has died.

Eddie Thomas In America’s Sweethearts (John Cusack)

A-Lister powerhouse couple Eddie (John Cusack) and Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) are done, at least behind closed doors. After Eddie realizes that he’s over her, he falls in love with Kiki (Roberts), Gwen’s assistant and sister. The new couple realizes they have mutual feelings for one another and spend the night together. The following morning, Eddie shares with Gwen he technically isn’t seeing anyone, making Kiki storm out of the room, although they make up later.

Dean Tainot In Larry Crowne (Brian Cranston)

Dean (Brian Cranston) is married to Mercedes (Roberts) and both are in large ruts at the beginning of Larry Crowne. Mercedes is a jaded professor at the community college Crowne, played by Tom Hanks, one of her semi-regular acting partners, ends up attending, Dean used to also teach there before becoming a full-time blogger. The couple has ups and downs, but between Mercedes finding Dean on an adult website while he’s supposed to be working, and a big intoxicated fight, the events lead to the end of their relationship.

Bill Dunbar In Mona Lisa Smile (Dominic West)

After breaking up with her Californian boyfriend, who just proposed, Katherine Ann Watson (Roberts) starts dating fellow Wellesleyan college professor Bill (Dominic West). As the two get to know each other, Bill shares about his time in Italy during the war. Katherine ends up breaking up with Bill after learning he has been lying to her about his time serving, along with discovering he used to date students.

G.H. Scott In Leave the World Behind (Mahershala Ali)

While the Netflix subscription movie ultimately plays out to have much greater dealings that Amanda (Roberts) and her family have to face, G.H. (Mahershala Ali) initially derails their vacation. Not long after the family arrives, G.H. returns to the rented home unexpectedly and makes Amanda uncomfortable. Over the course of the film, they slowly learn to work together to process what’s happening.

Howard Tully In Duplicity (Tom Wilkinson)

While secret agents Claire (Roberts) and Ray (Clive Owen), meet, fall for each other and parlay their way into high-brow spy jobs, deceiving each other along the way, it’s Claire’s boss who pulls the biggest trick. Ray and Claire both play a game of cat and mouse with each other and their respective employers–as they planned. When they think they’ve succeeded and headed out of the country, it is revealed that Tully (Tom Wilkinson) swapped the coveted formula everyone was racing for a bottle of hand lotion.

Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde In Mary Reilly (John Malkovich)

Mary Reilly (Roberts) and Dr. Jekyll (John Malkovich) grow close enough that she shares about her previous traumas and the scars that remain. After Mr. Hyde gets hired, he uses that information to ridicule Mary while trying to proposition her. Throughout the film, both Jekyll and Hyde have moments where they abuse their relationship with her. Mary eventually leaves the grounds of the home after Jekyll and Hyde have passed away.

Collin’s Assassin In Michael Collins (Jonathan Rhys Meyers)

Because of Michael Collins' political standing within the Irish Republican Army, he is a leading figure that England is motivated to take out. While members of the IRA are traveling, they encounter a roadblock, which was intended to trap the conclave of travelers, which succeeds. As the two sides battle it out, the young assassin hits Collins (Liam Neeson) with a bullet, killing him.

Ben Harrison in Stepmom (Liam Aiken)

Even though young, Ben (Liam Aiken), son of Luke (Ed Harris) and Jackie (Susan Sarandon) Harrison, is just a child, he betrays Isabell Kelly’s trust. Kelly (Roberts) has Ben and his sister Anna while she’s working on a photo shoot in Central Park and doesn’t have much for them to occupy themselves. After the gig, Isabell realizes Ben is missing, thankfully, it doesn’t last long, but it creates a bigger wedge between her and Luke’s family.

Nelson Wright In Flatliners (Kiefer Sutherland)

When Rachel (Roberts) realizes that Nelson (Kiefer Sutherland) withheld the supernatural side effects of being flatlined from the rest of them, she confronts him. Before leaving, she yells at how reckless he was for not sharing the essential information, especially since her visions involve her father who committed suicide. By the end of the film, they’ve all had closure with their experiences and bring Nelson back to life.

Eddie Bichon In Something To Talk About (Dennis Quaid)

Right off the bat, Grace (Roberts) discovers that her husband, Eddie (Dennis Quaid), is sleeping with another woman. The trio fights publicly, making Grace return home, pack her belongings and their daughter, and leave for her parents' house. For the rest of the movie, Grace is then repeatedly confronted by various family members about forgiving Eddie’s marital mistake. Eventually, the two make up on Grace’s terms.

Jerry Fletcher In Conspiracy Theory (Mel Gibson)

Taxi driver and conspiracy theorist, Jerry (Mel Gibson), has good intentions, but he keeps Alice (Roberts) in the dark about many layers of their relationship. Between him secretly spying on her while at home, her discovering that Jerry has a notable family item she parted with after her father passed, and Jerry’s eventual faked death (a way to protect Alice) all are significant points within their turbulent relationship.

Another small but mentionable offense Alice faces is after realizing everyone except for Harry Finch is deceased on Jerry’s subscriber list, she visits him. Finch turns out to be the troublesome psychiatrist Dr. Jonas (Patrick Stewart) and claims that Jerry killed her father (which turns out to be a lie).

Victor Geddes In Dying Young (Campbell Scott)

Victor (Campbell Scott) hired Hilary (Roberts) as a live-in nurse to help care for him while going through treatments for leukemia. The pair fall in love, and Victor convinces Hilary that he’s doing better and the two should go on a trip together. While on their coastal vacation, she suspects and then discovers, in the trash, that Victor is still partaking in his chemotherapy. He confirms that he’s been lying to her, and Hilary calls his father to come get him, trust me when I say it’s one of those movies you can’t watch without crying.

Charles In Fireflies In The Garden (Willem Dafoe)

Married couple Lisa (Roberts) and Charles (Willem Dafoe) don’t have a shining relationship, but they started a family together and are doing the best they can. In an unexpected and tragic turn of events, the two get into a car accident and Lisa dies. After her death, the news of Charles having an affair with one of his students while Lisa was pregnant arises.

Joe Berlin in Everyone Says I Love You (Woody Allen)

With the help of D.J.’s (Natasha Lyonne) suggestion, Joe (Woody Allen) tricks Von Sidell (Roberts) into thinking she’s found a man better than her husband. The pair happen to meet during a few chance encounters where he feigns interest in things she loves. Von falls deeply for Joe and ends up leaving her husband for him, but eventually tires of him and returns to her previous relationship.

Anzor Marzin / Clay Beckwith In Secret In Their Eyes (Joe Cole)

Friends Jess (Roberts) and Ray work for various branches of public safety in a not long after post-9/11 world. They receive a call about an unidentified body at a Mosque Ray has been investigating. When the two arrive, they realize it is Jess’ daughter, Carolyn, who’s been killed. After a series of discoveries, they deduce her killer is Anzor Marzin (who later seemingly lives under the alias Clay Beckwith, played by Joe Cole), who is photographed staring at Carolyn at a company event.

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.

Think of your favorite movie character of all time. There is a good chance that the actor who ended up playing that part is not the first actor the studio approached. See for yourself by taking a look at this list of celebrities who decided to pass on a movie role that would turn out to make cinematic history.

Will Smith (Neo In The Matrix)

It is actually pretty easy for us to picture what the Matrix movies might have been like with Will Smith as Neo. However, the Academy Award winner seems to believe that Keanu Reeves was the better choice to play the chosen one in the mind-bending, dystopian sci-fi movie classic, claiming in a video on his YouTube channel that he would have "ruined it."

Jodie Foster (Princess Leia in Star Wars)

Fresh off her Academy Award-nominated breakthrough role in 1976's Taxi Driver, a teenage Jodie Foster was offered the chance to be a part of the Star Wars movies as Princess Leia Organa. As she revealed to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, the two-time Oscar winner had a contractual obligation to an unnamed Disney movie, allowing Carrie Fisher to win the role.

Tom Hanks (Jerry Maguire In Jerry Maguire)

Tom Hanks was on top of the world with two Oscar wins (for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) when he was offered to play a sports agent down on his luck in Jerry Maguire. He ended up passing on the eponymous role from Cameron Crowe's 1996 dramedy and later told Access Hollywood (via FandomWire), "I think you look at it now and it couldn’t have been anybody other than Tom Cruise," who would receive a nod from the Academy for his performance.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Patrick Bateman In American Psycho)

Christian Bale once told GQ that every one of his roles was first offered to Leonardo DiCaprio and one confirmed example is Patrick Bateman in 2000's American Psycho. The future Oscar winner told The Morning Call that he passed on playing the sadistic yuppie because he felt the script “didn’t mean anything in the end," but rumor has it Bale's stepmom, Gloria Steinem, convinced DiCaprio that it would be bad for his post-Titanic, romantic heartthrob reputation at the time.

Jean-Claude Van Damme (The Predator In Predator)

The titular terrifying alien enemy from 1987's Predator looked a lot different when Jean-Claude Van Damme was still in the role, according to THR's oral history. The Belgian actor star actually shot some footage in the original insect-like suit before deciding he would rather not be hidden in his own movie, leading to a redesign of the costume and the casting of 7'2" Kevin Peter Hall.

Jack Nicholson (Michael Corleone In The Godfather)

While we cannot imagine anyone other than Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Jack Nicholson probably would have been great in the Godfather movies. However, the three-time Oscar winner refused the offer, explaining to Movieline in 2004 (via ScreenRant) that he believed "Italians should play Italians."

John Travolta (Forrest Gump In Forrest Gump)

When speaking with MTV News (via Collider), John Travolta revealed that he had no regrets about turning down the title role of the Best Picture Oscar winner Forrest Gump and it is no wonder why. Not only did Tom Hanks embody the role to Oscar-winning acclaim but Travolta found career-rejuvenating success with Pulp Fiction in 1994 instead.

Burt Reynolds (James Bond In Live And Let Die)

In 2015, Burt Reynolds told USA Today that, when approached to be Sean Connery's replacement in the James Bond films, he believed the public would not accept a 007 with an American accent. However, he would later come to believe that, "It was a stupid thing to say. I could've done it and I could've done it well."

Eddie Murphy (Winston Zeddemore In Ghostbusters)

While appearing on The Tonight Show in 2019, Eddie Murphy was asked by Jimmy Fallon if it is true that he passed on playing Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters. The comedian confirmed that it was true but added that it allowed him the opportunity to lead an even bigger hit from 1984: Beverly Hills Cop.

John Lithgow (Seth Brundle In The Fly)

Jeff Goldblum's iconic role from David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly was previously offered to John Lithgow, who told IndieWire that he said no, not wanting to play "something so grotesque.” Having witnessed Seth Brundle's transformation into a half-human, half-insect in the intense body horror movie, we cannot say we blame him.

Tom Selleck (Indiana Jones In Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

Having already worked with Harrison Ford three times before, George Lucas was reluctant to cast the Han Solo actor as Indiana Jones, opening up the opportunity for a rotation of actors, including Tom Selleck. As he recalled on Today, the actor was forced to pass on 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, due to his commitment to the CBS crime drama, Magnum P.I.

Christopher Lee (Dr. Loomis In Halloween)

While already a horror movie icon at the time for his acclaimed portrayal of Dracula and role in 1973's The Wicker Man, Christopher Lee could have added one of the all-time best horror movies, 1978's Halloween, to his resume. According to The Digital Fix, he would come to regret the decision to pass on the role of Michael Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Loomis, who was immortalized by Donald Pleasance instead.

Christina Applegate (Elle Woods In Legally Blonde)

Before Reese Witherspoon made Elle Woods an icon among fictional lawyers in Legally Blonde and among fictional politicians in the sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, the role was offered to Christina Applegate. The former Married... with Children star later explained to Entertainment Tonight that she was afraid of repeating the ditzy blonde but jokes it was a "stupid move."

Emily Blunt (Black Widow In Iron Man 2)

Scarlett Johansson was perfect as Natasha Romanoff but Emily Blunt would have made a killing as the Avenger also called Black Widow. The English actor explained to Howard Stern that she could not originate the role for the MCU in 2010's Iron Man 2 because she was contractually obligated to appear in that year's adaptation of Gulliver's Travels.

Emma Watson (Mia In La La Land)

Playing Mia in 2016's La La Land earned Emma Stone her first Oscar win but the role of the aspiring actor had originally gone to another Emma: Emma Watson. The Harry Potter movies star said in a SiriusXM Town Hall interview (via Us Weekly) that her commitment to Beauty and the Beast and the hard work required to star in the musical led her to pull out.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Rollergirl In Boogie Nights)

Heather Graham made her mainstream breakthrough in 1998's Boogie Nights as "Rollergirl" – a role that was previously offered to Gwyneth Paltrow. The future Oscar winner told Howard Stern (via Us Weekly) that she passed because she feared the role, which required her to completely disrobe and simulate lewd acts on camera, would "kill" her conservative grandfather.

Jennifer Hudson (Precious In Precious)

Jennifer Hudson had previously said in her memoir, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways And Lost What Weighed Me Down, that she turned down the title role of Precious because she did not want to take a role that involved her weight. The Oscar winner later retracted that statement when speaking to The Huffington Post, explaining that Was not interested in what the role, which ultimately went to Gabourey Sibide, would have required her to do at that point in her career.

Matt Damon (Jake Sully In Avatar)

Sam Worthington became a household name when he led James Cameron's astonishingly successful sci-fi epic, Avatar, as Jake Sully – a role previously offered to Matt Damon. The Oscar winner once joked to Access Hollywood that not participating in the 2009 film cost the movie "a lot."

Ian McKellan (Albus Dumbledore In Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban)

The Lord of the Rings movies' Gandalf actor, Sir Ian McKellan, could have added another famous wizard to his resume and become the Harry Potter franchise's new Albus Dumbledore. Instead, the part went to Michael Gambon after, as he told BBC News, McKellan turned it down because he couldn’t “take over the part from an actor who I’d known didn’t approve of me,” referring to the late Richard Harris who was a vocal critic of the actor.

Drew Barrymore (Sidney Prescott In Scream)

Given Drew Barrymore's A-list status in 1996, audiences assumed that she was the lead of Wes Craven's Scream, which could have been the case, as she confirmed on Hot Ones. However, she requested to be killed off in the beginning as Casey Becker, knowing it would shock the audience, paving the way for Neve Campbell to become a Scream Queen in the role of Sidney Prescott.

Angela Bassett (Leticia Musgrove In Monster’s Ball)

Halle Berry became the first Black Best Actress Oscar winner for her performance in Monster's Ball as Leticia Musgrove – a role that was offered to Angela Bassett. According to EW, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star felt the part of a Black call girl was too stereotypical.

Sean Connery (Gandalf In The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

Sir Ian McKellan mentions in an oral history about the Lord of the Rings series for The Independent that an earlier choice to play Gandalf the Grey was Sir Sean Connery. New Line Cinema executive Mark Ordesky notes that the former James Bond actor passed on the role of the wizard simply because he "did not get it."

Bette Midler (Annie Wilkes In Misery)

Despite having no qualms about playing an actual evil witch in 1993's Hocus Pocus, Bette Midler did have some reservations about playing Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's Misery from 1990. The actor and singer told Variety that was interested in playing the sadistic nurse because of her violent, unfunny, and irredeemable qualities.

Warren Beatty (Bill In Kill Bill)

In 2003, Quentin Tarantino told BBC that he originally started writing the title role of Kill Bill with Warren Beatty in mind because he wanted to work with him and the Oscar winner was set to play the target of Uma Thurman's vengeful Bride for a bit. However, after realizing that David Carradine was a better fit, followed by consideration of the time commitment and martial arts training involved, the actor and filmmaker amicably agreed to part ways.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Clarice Starling In The Silence Of The Lambs)

Michelle Pfeiffer once told Today's Hoda Kotb (via People) that her reasons for passing on roles in the likes of Pretty Woman and Basic Instinct typically had to do with scheduling conflicts. However, she told The New Yorker she passed on playing Clarice Starling (which ultimately went to Jodie Foster) in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs because the “evil” in the film made her nervous.

Al Pacino (Han Solo In Star Wars)

In his memoir, Sonny Boy, Al Pacino reveals that, before Harrison Ford was cast in Star Wars, he was offered the role of Han Solo. The Oscar winner explains that he could not "make anything out of" George Lucas' script and chose not to play the pilot of the Millennium Falcon.

Bela Lugosi (The Creature In Frankenstein)

According to the book, The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi by Arthur Lennig (via SlashFilm), the star of 1931's Dracula had the opportunity to play two Universal Monsters in the same year, having also been offered to play The Creature in Frankenstein. However, the actor believed such a role was "beneath him," paving the way for Boris Karloff to rise up in the ranks of horror royalty as Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation.

Haley Lu Richardson (Dani Ardor In Midsommar)

Haley Lu Richardson, known for one of the best M. Night Shyamalan movies, Split, passed on the role of Dani Ardor in Ari Aster's 2019 sophomore effort, Midsommar. The A24 horror masterpiece was ultimately led by Florence Pugh, whom Richardson told Backstage she has nothing but praise for, despite not yet having the courage to watch the movie.

Julia Roberts (Annie Reed In Sleepless In Seattle)

The two most prestigious queens of the rom-com genre would have to be Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan but only one could play Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle. Roberts told InStyle (via ABC News) that she was offered the part but could not do it, adding that Ryan and Tom Hanks "are just such a jewel of a fit in that."

Jamie Lee Curtis (Regan MacNeil In The Exorcist)

Jamie Lee Curtis became horror royalty with her feature film debut in 1978's Halloween but her reign could have begun earlier if not for one thing: her mother, Janet Leigh. Curtis told EW that, when she was asked to audition for Regan MacNeil in 1973's The Exorcist (which would go to Linda Blair), the Psycho star spoke on the then-13-year-old's behalf and refused the offer.

Lee Marvin (Quint In Jaws)

Robert Shaw's performance as Quint in Jaws is nearly as famous as the man-eating shark itself but the English actor was actually not Steven Spielberg's first choice. The filmmaker told Vanity Fair that he previously approached Lee Marvin but the Dirty Dozen star was not interested.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Amber In Clueless)

Elisa Donovan's character in Clueless, Amber, very nearly went to the future star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Adam Schroeder, the co-producer of the 1995 high school movie classic, told Vanity Fair that the actor's commitment to the soap opera All My Children at the time forced her to recede from consideration.

Notting Hill is undoubtedly one of the best romantic comedies ever seen, so the idea of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant returning to play the characters from the 1999 movie sounds like a great idea in theory. However, as the movie’s writer, Richard Curtis, recently spoke to, when he pitched a sequel idea to Roberts, she was really not into it. However, given prior comments from Grant, I have a feeling Grant would have been on board.

Julia Roberts Turned Down A Notting Hill Sequel

After the classic brings together a famous Hollywood actress and a travel book store owner, fans would certainly be curious what would be next for the couple years later. However, as Curtis recently shared, his idea did not hold water with Julia Roberts. As he told IndieWire:

Richard Curtis has been behind tons of great romance movies, from Love Actually to About Time or Bridget Jones’s Diary (which is actually getting its own sequel among 2025 movies). Previously, the filmmaker did a little sequel for Love Actually in 2017 for the fundraising event Red Nose Day with Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley and such. As he explained, he also thought about giving Notting Hill the “mini sequel” treatment, but he just couldn’t get Julia Roberts on board.

Julia Roberts’ best movies have been romantic comedies, so one could say she has a solid opinion on what works and what doesn’t for the genre. Perhaps she thought the Notting Hill couple being involved in a divorce would take away from the fantasy the original movie brings? There is something to be said about the escapism of a rom-com that may have been betrayed by this idea, but perhaps it would have ended in the couple falling back in love?

Why Hugh Grant Probably Would Have Done The Notting Hill Sequel

While Julia Roberts shot down Richard Curtis’ Notting Hill sequel, I think Hugh Grant would have been very much into it. Back in 2020, Grant said this about doing another Notting Hill:

So… in other words, this would have been the romantic comedy of Hugh Grant’s dreams. Grant said he spent so long being known as a “dreamboat,” that he’s been into doing more “character-y roles” that have challenged his former image in movies. In fact, the actor just starred in a horror movie called Heretic as a villain that we can’t stop thinking about.

While it doesn’t sound like Notting Hill is getting another movie anytime soon, you can stream the 1999 classic right now with a Peacock subscription.

Some actors excel in dramas, others in action flicks; but there are also others whose best work happens to be in some of the best romantic comedies of all time. Nothing against Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan, or Colin Firth’s more dramatic or action-oriented work, but let’s be real for a second and admit that Four Weddings and a Funeral, When Harry Met Sally, and Bridget Jones’s Diary, as well as their other work in the genre, is why they’re so beloved.

That said, here are 32 actors whose best roles are rom-coms…

Hugh Grant

With movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’s Diary to his name (and many, many more), it’s no wonder Hugh Grant’s name comes up rather frequently when discussing the best rom-coms ever made. Sure, his work in Paddington 2 and Remains of the Day is great, but the man knows how to anchor a romantic comedy with that signature charm and wit.

Renée Zellweger

Sure, Renée Zellweger won her two Oscars in dramas – Cold Mountain and Judy – but that doesn’t mean those were her best roles. Again, they were both great, but don’t hold a candle to her work as the titular character in Bridget Jones’s Diary or her star-making performance in Jerry Maguire. More than 20 years after first playing those iconic characters, Zellweger’s work is still received with heaps of praise.

Julia Roberts

One of the queens of the ‘90s rom-com, Julia Roberts bookended the final decade of the 20th century with legendary performances in Pretty Woman and Notting Hill. Those roles, which should be revisited annually if we’re being honest, helped pave the way for Roberts’ stellar career.

Meg Ryan

It’s impossible to put together a list of Meg Ryan’s best movies and not include the likes of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, to name a few. The rom-com mainstay, who shared the screen with Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, and Kevin Kline over the years, has given us unforgettable moments and more beloved characters than just about anyone.

Cameron Diaz

My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, The Holiday, The Sweetest Thing, and countless other romantic comedies made Cameron Diaz one of the biggest stars of the past 30 years. The actress has shown off her more dramatic roles in everything from Any Given Sunday and Being John Malkovich, but her performances in those rom-coms can’t be touched.

Drew Barrymore

Long before Drew Barrymore became one of the premier names in the world of daytime talk shows, she held it down in the rom-com circuit. Fever Pitch, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, and The Wedding Singer are just some of Barrymore’s best romantic comedies. And while she does have a killer scene in the opening minutes of Scream, these are her most memorable performances.

Colin Firth

As much as we love watching Colin Firth play Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, his more modern take on the character in Bridget Jones’s Diary is the stuff of legend. Firth, a tremendous dramatic actor in his own right, has been a staple of the romantic comedy over the years thanks in part to those Bridget Jones movies, Mamma Mia!, and Love Actually. However, don’t let this take away from the greatness of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The King’s Speech.

Billy Crystal

When Harry Met Sally is one of the first movies to come to mind whenever the topic of hilarious Billy Crystal movies comes up. Filled with some of the funniest lines (and others filled with heartbreak and emotion), Crystal’s work in the rom-com genre is absolutely fantastic, be it movies like America’s Sweethearts or Forget Paris. And The Princess Bride sort of counts, right?

Cary Grant

Few Hollywood leading men have a resume as great as Cary Grant, an actor who appeared in dozens of romantic comedies over the years. Charade, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, and so many others have long cemented Grant’s place in the annuls of rom-com history, and those hilarious and heartfelt performances are still cherished many years after his death.

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was the king of the silent film and an actor who could do anything from drama to slapstick to romantic comedy better than just about every single one of his contemporaries. Chaplin’s 1931 rom-com, City Lights, helped define the genre and has been a benchmark for nearly 100 years.

Nia Long

Nia Long has so many great movies to her name, including Friday, Boyz n the Hood, Big Momma’s House, and Soul Food. This also includes some all-time great romantic comedies from the ‘90s like Love Jones, The Best Man, and Hav Plenty. Though her name doesn’t come up as much as it should, Long is still in a league of her own.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton won an Oscar for her titular in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, but the talented actress has several other iconic rom-coms to her name. Something’s Gotta Give, Manhattan, The Family Stone, and Baby Boom all show off the incredible skill and nuance of this once-in-a-generation actress. And this is coming from someone who thinks The Godfather is one of the top five movies of all time.

Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady are all some of the funniest movies of the 20th century, and all happen to feature the unmatched talent of Audrey Hepburn in iconic roles. The late actress had a great number of dramatic roles over the years, but her charm and charisma seen in these rom-coms made her one of the all-time greats.

Constance Wu

Constance Wu has all kinds of great film and TV roles on her resume, but for some, she’ll always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians. The massively popular romantic comedy about a Chinese-American NYU professor learning her boyfriend is a member of the richest and most powerful family in Singapore still hits more than a half-decade after its release.

Richard Gere

Though Richard Gere has killed it in dramas like An Officer and a Gentleman and musicals like Chicago, those performances don’t hold a candle to, at least culturally, to his role as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. Gere and co-star Julia Roberts would rekindle that spark less than a decade later with another great rom-com, Runaway Bride.

Reese Witherspoon

The Importance of Being Earnest, Sweeet Home Alabama, and Legally Blonde all allowed Reese Witherspoon to show off comedic skills in romantic comedies, and those roles remain some of her best. Sure, she won an Oscar for Walk the Line, but there’s no touching Elle Woods.

Henry Golding

Henry Golding had already had some success by the time he was cast as the uber-wealthy Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, but his performance in the 2018 romantic comedy sent him to the next level. He’s found success in movies like The Gentlemen and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare since then, but his rom-com performance is still his best.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes has long killed it in comedies, romance movies, and romantic comedies. Take Hitch for example. The 2005 rom-com starring Will Smith as a professional “date doctor” who meets his match in Mendes’ character was so much fun and allowed the actress to show off all of her skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Sandra Bullock

While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats, The Proposal, and Two Weeks Notice are just a few of Sandra Bullock’s all-time great romantic comedies. The Academy Award-winning actress has long been one of the best to attempt the genre, and she’ll have a long-lasting legacy because of those strong, vulnerable, and incredibly relatable characters.

Michael Ealy

Over the years, Michael Ealy has put together a crazy good filmography, one that is filled with medical dramas and thrillers, action flicks and comedies, etc. But let’s not forget all the great work he’s done in the world of romantic comedies. Kissing Jessica Stein, Think Like a Man, and About Last Night have all shown what the talented actor is working with.

Adam Sandler

Though not the prototypical romantic lead, there are so many great Adam Sandler rom-coms out there. From The Wedding Singer to Punch-Drunk Love and 50 First Dates to Spanglish there’s so much variety and fun to be had with his stellar filmography.

Jennifer Garner

13 Going on 30, anyone? Jennifer Garner became one of the queens of the rom-com with the release of her 2004 comedy about a young girl who is transformed into a 30-year-old magazine editor and undergoes a massive transformation (both physically and emotionally). She’s also appeared in other great comedies of the era like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Love, Simon, to name a few.

Woody Allen

Woody Allen’s monologue in the opening minutes of Manhattan is honestly one of the best cinematic moments of the ‘70s and features some of Allen’s best writing. That’s saying something considering the writer-director-actor has been a part of so many great rom-coms over the years. Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Hannah and her Sisters have made us laugh, cry, and feel everything in between over the past 50-plus years.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway’s name doesn’t come up in the rom-com discussion as much as it should, which is a shame considering the Oscar-winning actress has killed it in movies like The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Love & Other Drugs, and so many others. Yeah, she was great in Interstellar and Les Misérables, but there’s no denying her performances in these romantic comedies.

Morris Chestnut

Okay, Morris Chestnut was AMAZING in Boyz n the Hood with his portrayal of Ricky Baker, but the man has become a legend in the rom-com game over the past few decades. Two Can Play That Game, The Best Man, The Brothers, The Perfect Holiday, Breakin’ All the Rules are all classics, thanks in no small part to Chestnut’s performances.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams’ career has been full of swirling tales of romance like The Notebook, The Vow, and Disobedience, but some of her best work has been in romantic comedies. Wedding Crashers and Midnight in Paris quickly come to mind, but her best performance can be found in About Time, an incredibly emotional and hilarious story of love, loss, and second chances.

John Cusack

Look at the best John Cusack movies and you’ll see iconic rom-coms like High Fidelity, Say Anything, Serendipity, Better Off Dead, and America’s Sweethearts. The vulnerability and likeability of the Hollywood star have made those movies, and the beloved characters he plays in each of them, such gems over the years.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson is amazing when it comes to roles in romantic comedies, and few could come close to her batting average in the early-to-mid 2000s. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Best Friend’s Girl, Something Borrowed, and A Little Bit of Heaven all come to mind in this regard.

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs has done it all, but he’s excelled tremendously in the rom-com world. Movies like The Wood, The Best Man, Brown Sugar, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back have shown just how charming and funny the classically trained actor can be.

Ben Stiller

Though an unlikely leading man in the realm of romantic comedies, Ben Still has long excelled in the genre. Over the years, we’ve had sensational comedies like There’s Something About Mary, Along Came Polly, Keeping the Faith, and even Reality Bites that have allowed the comedian-actor-writer-director to show off what he’s working with, and it’s been great all along.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Green on Friends, but let’s not forget that she has also been a longtime staple of the romantic comedy genre. The Break-up, Wanderlust, Just Go With It, The Switch, Rumor Has It, and several others have been perfect movies for Aniston to show off her skills.

Patrick Dempsey

From Can’t Buy Me Love to Made of Honor and everything in between, Patrick Dempsey has been a tour de force in the world of romantic comedies. He’s done great work on TV and in big-screen dramas over the years, but he particularly excels in the rom-com genre.

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!

Longtime actor and Julia Roberts’ brother Eric Roberts has a new book coming out, and he made headlines yesterday when he apologized to the Pretty Woman actress for viral comments he’d made about her career. Intriguingly, in the past Ms. Roberts has been candid about an actor that did have a major impact on her career, and it wasn’t her brother. It was Denzel Washington.

Eric Roberts’ ‘Asinine’ Comment And His Subsequent Apology

Back in 2018, the Runaway Train Oscar nominee spoke with Vanity Fair and made an oft repeated claim that if it wasn’t for him, the (more famous) women in his family might not have made it in the business. What he seemed to be getting at was that he was famous before Julia and, later, his daughter Emma made names for themselves, but I don't think the quote went viral in a bad way.

Roberts has been candid that his relationship with his sister was strained even prior to these comments. He’d dealt with drug addiction in the past, and Julia supported Kelly Cunningham when she wanted full custody of Emma after their split. Now, in his new book Runaway Train: Or The Story Of My Life So Far (via People), he reportedly writes that he is sorry for comments he’s made about fame in the past, referring to them as “asinine."

Eric has also previously been open in the past that both Emma and Julia have asked him not to name drop them in interviews.

Julia Roberts Often Speaks About The Time Denzel Washington Impacted Her Career

While Eric may feel he deserves some of the credit, Julia Roberts has spoken out about working with her “beloved friend Denzel Washington” on numerous occasions and has credited him for really pushing her acting career in the right direction. The two brought the John Grisham story The Pelican Brief to life on the big screen back in 1993. At the time the movie was filming, she was still relatively new to Hollywood, though she’d made a name for herself in Mystic Pizza and Pretty Woman prior.

In The Pelican Brief, though, she was tasked with “this scene where I was very distraught and upset and kind of falling apart.” Washington was in the scene with her, and the two had been told it would be filmed at a distance, as if they might as well be “two mops;” ergo, the actress didn’t think she’d need to do any heavy lifting emotionally. Then, the shot was changed, and her co-star gave her one simple piece of advice that has stuck with her for years, as she revealed to Michael Strahan.

Julia Roberts has gone on in other interviews to express being grateful for her acting career but she puts it all in perspective, noting it’s not her “only dream come true.”

As for Eric, he writes in the book that as he is embarking on a new portion of his career – a portion that includes this book release and a new gig on Dancing With The Stars (though he’s not a Season 33 frontrunner) – he is ready for a Hollywood act that puts the two other famous women in the spotlight.

Next up, you can catch Julia Roberts in Luca Guadagnino’s After The Hunt (which is coming after his upcoming movie Queer). And Emma Roberts in the recently released Space Cadet with an Amazon Prime subscription. The latest season of Dancing with the Stars has already hit the 2024 TV schedule and airs Tuesday nights on ABC.

The 1990s had some truly great rom-coms, some of which are easily among the best romantic comedies of all time, and that includes Roger Michell’s Notting Hill, which arrived in theaters in 1999. Written by Richard Curtis, the film delivered scene after scene of great comedy and charming romance as we see Julia Roberts’s character — famous actress Anna Scott — fall for Hugh Grant’s Will Thacker, a divorced bookshop owner who lives in Notting Hill, London.

There is no shortage of great scenes and quotes from Notting Hill, which to this day, still make me smile, laugh, cry, and in some cases, swoon at the romance of it all. So let’s dig into some of the best quotes and scenes from the film, which is undoubtedly one of Julia Roberts’ best movies, and also one of Hugh Grant’s best rom-coms.

William Introducing Us To Notting Hill

Notting Hill does a wonderful job of introducing us to both of the main characters, but more importantly, the contrast between their lives. First, we see Anna on red carpets, looking stunning while being photographed and adored, and then we’re brought into Will’s side of the story, and his relatively simple life as a bookshop owner in the London neighborhood of Notting Hill. It’s a great way to set things up just before their meet-cute. 

Will Catches A Shoplifter In The Act

There’s a hilarious politeness to the way that Will approaches Rufus, the man attempting to shoplift a book from his store. Will first has to break the bad news to the man that there are security cameras, and then the man must casually acknowledge that, ok, maybe there is a book down his trousers. But this situation needn’t escalate, and it really doesn’t, as Will gives him the opportunity to either buy the book or put it back. 

"I was gonna steal one, but now I've changed my mind."

Anna’s funny reaction to witnessing Will’s encounter with a shoplifter is made all the funnier because, at this point, Will still doesn’t seem to recognize her. It isn’t until Rufus boldly approaches her for an autograph that he puts two and two together. 

Will Awkwardly Offering Anna Food

At this point, Anna and Will’s encounter has escalated to a run-in involving a lot of spilled orange juice and Will inviting Anna into his home so that she can change out of her juice-soaked shirt, which she surprisingly accepts. But the awkwardness doesn’t end there, as Anna soon finds herself standing in Will’s kitchen — dressed in a shirt that’s probably more appropriate for nighttime wear, but is undoubtedly less sticky than the other shirt she was wearing — and politely declines all of the things Will offers her from his fridge (including apricots soaked in honey).

Will And Anna's First Kiss

None of what transpires before this event is what you’d expect to precede a kiss, unless you’re in a rom-com, of course, which they are. So the fact that Anna seizes an opportunity to kiss Will after their numerous awkward encounters is more charming and adorable than it is unlikely as far as I’m concerned. 

"Oh my god, my flatmate. I'm sorry. There's no excuse for him."

Anna and Will’s first kiss might’ve ended on an awkward note, given how surprised Will seemed to be by it. Fortunately, this is the moment Spike (Rhys Ifans) walks through the door. Upon hearing the key turn in the lock, Will barely has time to offer some attempt at an apology for whatever it is his flatmate might say or do, which as we see, isn't really an overreaction. 

"Imagine, somewhere in the world, there's a man who's allowed to kiss her."

What’s funny on the surface about this scene, in which Will and Spike are watching one of Anna’s movies together, is that we know that Will very recently got to be the man who’s allowed to kiss Anna Scott. But it’s even funnier when we consider that Spike doesn’t seem to have made the connection between the woman on the screen and the woman he pushed past when he came into the house earlier. 

When Will Finds Himself Interviewing Anna

This entire sequence is nothing short of hilarious. Anna has invited Will to her hotel to speak to him and apologize for the kiss, but she’s still in the middle of a press junket for her latest film when he arrives. Will finds himself caught up in it, and rather than explaining to Anna’s publicist that he was invited by Anna, he quickly lies and says he’s a reporter from Horse & Hound, and follows through with interviewing her. 

"Any horses in that one? Or hounds, for that matter. Our readers are equally intrigued by both species."

Because they keep getting interrupted by someone involved with the film, Will continues to try to interview Anna about a movie he has not seen, on behalf of the first magazine he saw in the waiting area for the interview. Naturally, there are no horses or hounds featured in the movie Anna’s promoting (which is set in space), and the same is the case for her next movie, which is set on a submarine. So his questions really go nowhere. 

"This is one of those key moments in life when it's possible you can be really, genuinely cool and I'm going to fail just 100%."

While most people who encounter Anna make some attempt to play it cool, Will’s sister Honey (Emma Chambers) proves to be especially self-aware from the start and, upon meeting Anna when Will brings her for Honey’s birthday dinner, quickly reveals out loud that there’s no way she’ll be able to be cool in this situation. And then she pitches the idea of being best friends.

When Bernie Finally Realizes Who Anna Is

Ah, Bernie (Hugh Bonneville). Unlike everyone else at Honey’s birthday dinner — including Max (Tim McInnerny) and Bella (Gina McKee) — who catch on fairly quickly that Anna is “Anna Scott,” a famous actress, Bernie completely misses this observation. Even when he’s asking Anna about her work as an actress, he doesn’t seem to connect the dots. It isn’t until Anna excuses herself to use the restroom that he’s informed of who she is, and he has to rethink everything they just talked about in an entirely new light. 

Anna Joining In On The Contest To Win The Last Brownie

It’s so great to see Anna sitting back and enjoying the easy levity during Honey’s birthday dinner. But things take a more serious turn when, facing one last brownie available at the table, an impromptu contest about who has the saddest life-situation erupts with the brownie being the prize. Not wanting to be left out, Anna takes a shot at it by sharing some of the not-so-glamorous things she’s had to deal with in her life. After a pause, they laugh off her attempt to get the last brownie, but up to that point, this was a sweet but sad moment of vulnerability from Anna, and one that everyone at the table seemed to appreciate until the tension needed to be broken. 

"You said whoopsidaisies"

It’s impossible for me not to laugh at this scene every time. Maybe it’s the way Anna laughs and then insists that Will confirm that he did, in fact, say “whoopsidaisies” as though he’s a little girl from fifty years ago in blond ringlets. Or maybe it’s the fact that, after this embarrassing situation that Will tries to pretend didn’t happen, he once again tries to climb over the gate to the park and falls back down with a second “whoosidaisies," which prompts an even bigger laugh from Anna.

"Come and sit with me."

I love the way Will lets Anna sit by herself on the park bench, as though he knows she’s having a special moment after reading the inscription on the plaque. And then she invites him to sit with her, which he does. The sequence is enhanced by the way we’re looking down on it from above, the view moving slowly away from them, as though even the camera wants to give them some privacy in this simple, romantic moment. 

William Wearing His Prescription Goggles At The Movies

We should’ve known that Will owning prescription snorkeling goggles might come back at a later point in the movie. And so it does, when he can’t find his glasses and is late for his movie-date with Anna. He ends up sitting next to her, watching the movie while wearing snorkeling goggles, which she seems to find very amusing. 

When Anna Tells Off The Men At The Restaurant

It’s such a satisfying moment, after watching Anna and Will listen in on a table of men nearby at a restaurant talk about Anna Scott. At first, it seems like the conversation might be friendly banter, but it soon devolves into some very rude and crass words about who they think Anna Scott is. When Will has heard enough, he approaches the table to ask them to stop. The men brush him off and are only silenced when Anna chooses to approach them and put them in their place. 

Meeting Anna's Terrible Boyfriend

Just when it seems like things couldn’t be going better for Will and Anna, we find out at the worst possible time — when Anna has invited Will up to her hotel room — that Anna has a boyfriend. Jeff (Alec Baldwin) has surprised Anna with a visit. Of course, we immediately don’t like him, even though he’s being friendly in an overly confident sort of way, and totally oblivious to the fact that Will is not, in fact, the room service guy, as he’s pretending to be. But Jeff soon proves that he’s the absolute worst when he suggests Anna not “overdo it” when ordering food for herself, lest she gain weight and it reflect poorly on him. Except that’s not how he says it. 

"You are lovelier this morning than you have ever been."

It isn’t until later in the movie that Will and Anna spend the night together, and it’s under strange circumstances, as Anna is hiding out from the press after some old photos of her have resurfaced. The morning after their night together, Anna quotes Rita Hayworth in talking about how men went to bed with a fantasy but woke up with a real person the next day and were disappointed. It’s clear she’s concerned that Will might be experiencing something like that, but he assures her with the most perfect response imaginable. 

"Can I stay a bit longer?" Anna - "Stay forever." William

Just when I thought Will couldn’t top his “you are more lovelier” line, when Anna asks him if she can stay at his home a bit longer, he assures her that he’s just fine if she never leaves. 

Spike Posing For The Photographers

Spike’s not a man to miss an opportunity. Unfortunately, he’s also maybe not a man to keep his mouth shut, as he proved when he admitted to Will later that he might’ve told a few people at the pub about Anna staying at their house. But before this confession, he enjoyed a few seconds in the spotlight of the paparazzi by flexing his muscles for the cameras. 

Time Passing After Anna Leaves

Once again, things with Will and Anna fall apart just as they were starting to get going. At this point in the movie, our hearts are as broken as Will’s as we see him back to his life in Notting Hill, the passage of time reflected in the changing of seasons as he walks down the street. To add sadness to heartbreak, the scene is set to Lighthouse Family’s “Ain’t No Sunshine.” 

When Honey Announces Her Engagement

At this point, any good news helps, and during a dinner to acknowledge the closing of their friend’s restaurant, Honey has some good news. She’s decided to get engaged. It’s impossible not to be happy for her, but then it becomes funny when she turns and informs Spike that he’s the person she’s getting engaged to. Fortunately for both of them, Spike’s into it. And it’s adorable. 

The Interruptions When Anna's Attempting To Reconnect With Will

Will and Anna have tried to be together numerous times at this point, and something has always happened to thwart their romance. When Anna is attempting to profess her hopes that something could happen between her and Will, they’re interrupted numerous times — once by a call from Will’s mother, and another time by the customer who’s returned, despite the shop not carrying John Grisham thrillers. While Will does take the call from his mother, he flatly sends the “Annoying Customer” (as Roger Frost’s character is actually credited) away. 

"I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

It’s an iconic line, and likely the one fans remember most from the movie (along with Roberts' tearful delivery of it), so, of course, I’m including it. But this is also a line that’s meant to remind Will that, beyond her fame and fortune, Anna really is just a woman who hopes he’ll love her back. Sadly, it takes a bit more than that for Will to get beyond all of the other stuff. 

"Well, you know. Anyone saying they want to go out with you is pretty great, right?"

We might give credit to Spike for reacting appropriately — calling Will a name and acting totally disgusted — when learning Will has turned Anna down. But it’s actually Bernie who seems to change Will’s mind. After all, everyone is supportive of Will’s decision not to reconnect with Anna, but when Bernie points out how nice it is when someone wants to go out with you, Will seems to realize that, at its core, that’s the situation he’s in. Anna wants to be with him. The other stuff really doesn’t matter. 

Spike Directing Traffic

Other rom-coms have pulled off the last-minute dash to find the love interest and ask for a second chance, but Notting Hill is a masterclass in the trope, as we see Will and his friends set off to find Anna, first at her hotel, and then at the hotel where her press conference is taking place. This is how Spike ends up saving the day by jumping from the over-packed car and straight into traffic where he clears a path for Max’s car to get through. 

"Thacker. His name's Thacker."

It’s not a moment we’re expecting, but it’s one of the funniest quick bits in the movie, in my opinion. Will has interrupted the press conference to ask Anna for a second chance. At this point, no one but Anna seems to know who he is. So when Will is speaking hypothetically about the man whose house Anna was photographed at, another reporter helpfully interjects that the man’s name is “Thacker.” Which is, indeed, Will’s name. 

The Way William And Anna Look At Each Other At The Press Conference

The grand finale happens when Anna re-answers the question about how long she’ll be in London, and she answers “indefinitely” this time, indicating that maybe things aren’t over with her and this Thacker guy. And that’s when the room figures out that the man in the pink shirt is, indeed, Will Thacker, and all their attention turns to him. But Will and Anna can’t take their eyes off of each other, and it’s clear they’re both in this for the long haul. 

When Spike Shows Off His Ridiculous T-Shirts

Early in the film, we get a good sense of who Spike really is when he shows off several t-shirts he has in mind for his upcoming date. As though an “I love blood” t-shirt might be a good option. Fortunately, Will discourages him from wearing it. But the one Spike lands on isn’t so great either. 

Will And Anna's Kiss In The Park

After sneaking into the park at night, Will and Anna share their second kiss. Once again, Anna initiates it, but it’s in response to Will questioning if the park really was worth all of the effort it took to break into it. I love that the movie later ends with them lounging together in that park. Presumably, they’re allowed to be there at that point, but it’s a great callback to see them back on that bench, just being together. 

"Sorry, they always do that when I leave."

Well, how would you react if your friend or family member showed up at an intimate birthday gathering with a mega-star? Will’s friends kept it cool throughout most of the night, but the moment they left, they erupted in cheers and laughter at the whole situation. And Will humorously brushes it off when he and Anna hear it from outside, as though this is just how they act when he leaves. 

"There's something wrong with this yogurt."

What’s funnier - that Spike is eating spoonfuls of mayonnaise that he thinks is yogurt, or that he continues to eat it even after Will informs him that it’s mayo? Not sure, don’t care. It’s gross, but so funny. 

In our lifetimes, the only turn of a century we’ve witnessed is the move from the 1990s to the 2000s. It was an exciting time in the world of Hollywood, between superhero franchises like the Spider-Man and X-Men trilogies making comic books mainstream and adaptations of book series like Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter films becoming some of the biggest blockbusters of the decade. But, many of the best movies of the 2000s wouldn’t have been possible without the star power of several actors of the time. 

In celebration of an incredible decade in movies, we chose the quintessential film of 32 actors of the 2000s. Check it out: 

Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl)

Johnny Depp was unquestionably one of the biggest stars of the 2000s after previously making a name for himself throughout the 1990s, most notably with his work with Tim Burton and in the independent film space. Looking back, the No. 1 movie of his was his debut as Captain Jack Sparrow in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie in 2003. The actor helped create the best fumbling pirate we’ve ever seen before, going on to make four more of its kind. Fans are still talking about this movie and even writing and signing petitions for the actor to reprise the role. 

Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge!)

Nicole Kidman was one of the most in demand actresses of the 2000s, so much so that she did an average of three movies a year across the first half of it. Her greatest movie of the decade is actually the first of them from that time period: Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! The jukebox musical was a commercial success, award season darling and we’ll always go back to her role as Satine. 

Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) 

After Robert Downey Jr. was in the public eye for addiction-related setbacks, he found a way to make a comeback throughout the 2000s with a ton of great movies like Zodiac, Good Night and Good Luck and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. But the best of the best was his turn as Iron Man in 2008. 

Samuel L. Jackson (Unbreakable) 

Samuel L. Jackson was a major fixture of the 1990s, between saying “Hold onto your butts!” in Jurassic Park, starring in Pulp Fiction or starring with Bruce Willis in Die Hard with a Vengeance. His prominence as an actor remained strong in the 2000s with all sorts of roles, including as Mace Windu in Star Wars, but his greatest is in M. Night Shyamalan’s unique superhero film, Unbreakable. 

Scarlett Johansson (Lost In Translation)

Scarlett Johansson was a major star in the 2010s, especially as an Avenger, but she really blossomed into this throughout the 2000s, between movies like Ghost World, Match Point, The Island or The Prestige. The performance that really carried the audience’s love for her throughout the decade was in Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation alongside Bill Murray, where they play unlikely friends who meet in Tokyo. 

 Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness)

After Will Smith had a hugely successful decade in the '90s between Bad Boys, Independence Day and being The Fresh Prince, Smith notably took his career a step further in the 2000s. He took on a number of more dramatic roles like Ali and Seven Pounds during this time that deserved the actor an Oscar, but there’s no movie more special than 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness. In the film, he helped tell the true story of a homeless salesman and his son. 

Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde)

“What, like it’s hard?” Of course, the defining Reese Witherspoon movie of the 2000s is Legally Blonde! The 2001 movie continues to be one of the most quotable comedies and Elle Woods is a beloved heroine in modern pop culture. As a whole, Witherspoon was serving throughout the decade by also starring in things like the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line or the rom-coms Sweet Home Alabama and Just Like Heaven.

Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds)

The 2000s was a huge decade of career expansion for Brad Pitt after his heartthrob beginnings in critically-acclaimed '90s flicks such as Interview with a Vampire, Seven, Fight Club. The cream of the crop for a very busy Pitt during this time has to be Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, where he played Lt. Aldo Raine in an alternate history story about World War II. 

Jim Carrey (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind)

The stardom of Jim Carrey was deep in the fixture of 2000s movies through a ton of big movies like How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Bruce Almighty or Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. But one of the actor’s most dramatic roles, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, stands as his best of the decade. The sci-fi romance imagines a world where one could have a procedure to forget their ex, and asks big questions about memory and love. 

Kate Hudson (Almost Famous) 

Kate Hudson has called Almost Famous “the beginning of everything” for her, and it really was career-wise for the actress. When the movie came out in 2000, it started a massive decade for her that would have her in flicks like How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days, The Skeleton Key and Nine among a ton of roles. The Cameron Crowe movie had Hudson playing Penny Lane, a groupie of a '70s band. 

Tom Hanks (Cast Away)

The 2000s marked Tom Hanks third decade as a movie star and it was another solid time for the actor, particularly for more serious roles. While there are a lot of close contenders like Road To Perdition, Catch Me If You Can and The Terminal, his greatest movie of that time was Cast Away. Hanks gives an all-time performance as a man who gets stranded on an island alone. We never knew we could cry over a volleyball before the 2000 movie. 

Meryl Streep (Mamma Mia!)

Meryl Streep turned 50 in 1999. While that historically has spelled bad news for female actors in Hollywood, Streep proved she could still be one of the biggest stars in her middle-aged years with a ton of performances in the 2000s. From Adaptation to The Hours, The Devil Wear Prada, Lions For Lambs, Doubt, Julie & Julia, Fantastic Mr. Fox and It’s Complicated, this time was an embarrassment of riches for the actress, but if we had to pick one, the iconic Mamma Mia! is the one we’re still singing all the words to. 

Denzel Washington (Training Day)

Denzel Washington’s place as one of the most impressive living actors was apparent in the 2000s through a productive decade full of critically-acclaimed performances. The ultimate Washington movie of the time we’ve chosen is 2001’s Training Day, which in turn earned him his second Oscar win. But, the actor made a ton of great hits during this time like Remember The Titans, Antwone Fisher, Man on Fire, Inside Man, American Gangster and The Great Debaters. 

Tom Cruise (Minority Report) 

After Tom Cruise starred in movies like Rain Man, Top Gun, the first Mission: Impossible and Magnolia in the '80s and '90s, he continued to be a major actor into the 2000s with a ton of fresh roles. His best of the decade is arguably one of his two collaborations with Steven Spielberg, Minority Report. The sci-fi flick has Cruise’s character on the run for a crime he has not committed in an imagined 2054. 

Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich)

Julia Roberts made a string of romantic comedies in the ‘90s, but when the new century came along, she diversified her career with a lot more dramatic roles. Her best movie during this time was in 2000’s Erin Brockovich. The biographical movie from Steven Soderbergh about groundwater contamination also earned Roberts an Oscar for Best Actress. 

Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity) 

It felt like Matt Damon was in all the movies back in the 2000s after he and Ben Affleck wowed Hollywood with Good Will Hunting in 1997. The actor was in 20 movies across this decade, but the best of them was 2002's action thriller The Bourne Identity. He would go on to star in an entire trilogy as Jason Bourne. 

Leonardo DiCaprio (Catch Me If You Can) 

Leonardo DiCaprio became a verified movie star when he said “I’m king of the world!” in 1997’s Titanic. As he moved into his mid-twenties and thirties in the 2000s, he started working closely with Martin Scorsese in a series of movies (Gangs Of New York, The Aviator and The Departed). However, his best comes from Steven Spielberg with Catch Me If You Can. The biographical crime comedy had DiCaprio playing a con man alongside Tom Hanks. 

Kirsten Dunst (Marie Antoinette)

Kirsten Dunst got her start as a child actor in the '90s in movies such as Jumanji and Interview with a Vampire before starring in films like The Virgin Suicides and Drop Dead Gorgeous at the tail end of the '90s. Dunst officially became an adult in the 2000s and made tons of movies, from being Mary-Jane Watson in the Spider-Man movies to being in Bring It On. Her second collaboration with Sofia Coppola as the famed French archduchess is her best work of the decade. 

Adam Sandler (Punch-Drunk Love)

Even though the 2000s didn’t quite top Adam Sandler’s amazing Saturday Night Live star into movie star turn, he was in all sorts of memorable movies in the 2000s. The one that sticks out the most is his collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson with 2002’s Punch-Drunk Love. Unlike his screwball comedies, it’s an earnest rom-com that may not have been popular, but it is unforgettable. 

Will Ferrell - Anchorman

Will Ferrell’s acting career really took off in the 2000s in a massive way. He left Saturday Night Live in 2002 after seven seasons on the sketch show and became one of the funniest Hollywood movie stars. His most hilarious leading role has to be in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, where he played a 1970s news host. 

George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven)

It’s not easy to choose the best George Clooney role of the 2000s given the sheer amount of solid movies he starred in at the time. From his Coen Brothers’ movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? to his Oscar-winning role in Syriana. But, it simply wouldn’t have been the 2000s without Clooney leading the pack in Ocean’s Eleven (and the trilogy it became). He’s effortlessly cool as the master plotter of a casino heist. 

Gwyneth Paltrow (The Royal Tenenbaums) 

Paltrow was in a load of films during this decade, coming off her Oscar win in Shakespeare In Love. But, among a cast including Owen Wilson, Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston and Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Margot stole the show and therefore finds a spot as her No.1 2000s role. 

Halle Berry (Monster's Ball) 

The 2000s was an iconic moment for Halle Berry, who became Storm in X-Men and starred in Catwoman and as a Bond girl in Die Another Day. Her best role is her Oscar-winning lead in 2001’s Monster’s Ball. The movie is about a widower who unknowingly begins a relationship with a corrections officer who assisted in the execution of her late husband. 

Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) 

Christian Bale started the 2000s as the star of American Psycho and ended it as the star of Michael Mann’s Public Enemies alongside Johnny Depp. But unquestionably, Bale’s performance in one of the most seminal movies of the 2000s, The Dark Knight, is our pick. His second outing as Bruce Wayne/Batman is elevated when Heath Ledger’s haunting Joker struts into Gotham. 

Jennifer Garner (13 Going On 30) 

During the 2000s, Jennifer Garner became famous for starring in the TV show Alias. But at the same time, she established herself as a movie star, too. What caught our hearts the most was her role in 13 Going On 30 alongside Mark Ruffalo. It’s a blast to see the actress play a teen in an adult’s body. 

Ben Stiller (Tropic Thunder) 

The 2000s had Ben Stiller becoming a movie star in his own right, between the hilarious Meet The Parents in 2000, to Zoolander and Along Came Polly. His best movie of this era was one he wrote, directed and starred in. Tropic Thunder is a hilarious satirical action comedy with a star-studded cast that we’re still laughing about over a decade later. 

Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind) 

After becoming a familiar face for his roles in the '90s, Russell Crowe became an all-time great actor of the 2000s by starring in Gladiator, Cinderella Man, American Gangster, Master and Commander and 3:10 To Yuma. If you’ve seen his performance in 2001’s A Beautiful Mind, you likely never forgot Crowe’s inspired performance as schizophrenic mathematician John Nash. 

Nicolas Cage (Adaptation) 

Nicolas Cage’s third decade in movies was a busy one that had him in more big-budget movies than ever between National Treasure and Ghost Rider, but Spike Jonze’s Adaptation takes the prize as he played twin brothers, one struggling with writer’s block and the other deciding to copy his brother’s ambitions.

Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice) 

Keira Knightley turned fifteen when the 21st century began, but it wasn’t long before she became a movie star – leading movies like Bend it Like Beckham, Pirates of the Caribbean and Love, Actually. The defining Knightley performance of her first decade as a big-screen actress was in the film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. 

Jack Black (School of Rock) 

Jack Black had a massive decade in movies in the 2000s, but one cannot forget how perfect he was in the role of Dewey Finn in School of Rock. The 2003 movie allowed the actor to flex his musician muscles and unique charm as he played a failed rock star turned imposter substitute teacher. 

Drew Barrymore (50 First Dates)

Drew Barrymore had the chance to come into her own as a movie star in her adulthood in the 2000s following being a child actor in films like E.T. and Firestarter. She had an awesome decade that included Charlie’s Angels, He’s Just Not That Into You and Whip It, but her role with Adam Sandler as a forgetful love interest remains one of her best and most hilarious (yet heartwarming) roles. 

Hugh Jackman (The Prestige) 

Hugh Jackman started his career in theater in the '90s, but in the 2000s he quickly became a big star. Sure, he became Wolverine for the first time in the X-Men movies, played Van Helsing and starred in Kate & Leopold, but it was particularly special to see his role in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige. He’s amazing as a magician who feuds with Christian Bale’s character over the ultimate magic trick. 

Anyone else feeling nostalgic for the decade of the 2000s, now? It was an amazing time for great movies and the movie stars we saw everywhere like the people above. 

Whenever we talk about the best ‘90s movies, it doesn’t take long before the conversation turns to the most iconic actors of the final decade of the 20th century and their most beloved performances. But what are Will Smith’s, Julia Roberts’, or Keanu Reeves’ best movies for the unforgettable and transformative 10-year stretch? 

We’re being totally subjective here (Because why not?), but here are the best ‘90s movies for these 32 actors. Best Picture winners, a handful of the best action movies of all time, and other films that turned up-and-comers into overnight megastars can all be found below.

Will Smith (Independence Day)

Will Smith was already a household name by the time Independence Day was released and became the biggest movie of 1996, but this massive sci-fi flick took him to new heights. Electric, magnetic, and charismatic beyond belief, the Fresh Prince became the King of the summer blockbuster with his portrayal of Captain Steven Hiller.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic)

Is there a bigger ‘90s movie than Titanic, both in terms of financial returns and cultural prominence? Yeah, James Cameron’s story of the ill-fated ship, his special effects, and the rest of the cast made this 1997 disaster movie a must-see, but Leonardo DiCaprio, with his “King of the World” moment, made this an all-timer. 

Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire)

Picking the best ‘90s movie for Tom Cruise is no easy task, considering some of the actor’s best performances took place that decade. However, despite Magnolia and Mission: Impossible being great in their own ways, this has to go to Cruise’s dynamic portrayal of the struggling sports agent in Jerry Maguire. “Show me the money,” is a quote we keep in our repertoire nearly 30 years later. 

Sandra Bullock (Speed)

Sandra Bullock put herself on the map with her performance in Speed, one of the most iconic 1994 movies. Though she was great in Demolition Man the year before, Bullock’s take on Annie Porter made her an overnight sensation and quickly became one of her best roles to date, even outside the ‘90s.

Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption)

How Morgan Freeman didn’t win an Oscar for his performance in The Shawshank Redemption is one of the biggest mysteries, and travesties, in Hollywood history. His portrayal of Ellis "Red" Redding in this spectacular Stephen King adaptation is so strong and so believable that you don’t see him as an actor playing an inmate, but more like an aging prisoner trying to “get busy living or get busy dying.”

Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction)

As much as we would have loved to argue for Jurassic Park being Samuel L. Jackson’s best ‘90s movie, Ray Arnold has nothing on the bad mother [redacted] that was Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction. Easily Quentin Tarantino’s best movie, this 1994 classic is essentially a master class in dialogue and non-linear storytelling.

Meg Ryan (Sleepless In Seattle)

A few years after leading the best romantic comedy of all time with When Harry Met Sally, Meg Ryan teamed up with Nora Ephron (who was directing this time around) for Sleepless in Seattle in 1993. The chemistry between Ryan and Tom Hanks as Annie Reed and Sam Baldwin, is incredible, even if they only share a couple minutes of screentime.

Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman)

It’s hard to imagine what Julia Roberts’ career and Hollywood in general would be like if the actress didn’t play Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman. Sure, Roberts already had some hits and would have gone on to land big roles, but this 1990 rom-com instantly made her one of the brightest stars on the planet and showed off her dynamic range and impeccable comedic timing.

Angela Bassett (What's Love Got To Do With It)

Angela Bassett’s best movie, What’s Love Got to Do with It saw the celebrated actress take on the role of the legendary Tina Turner in this 1993 biopic about the late singer’s life, career, and toxic relationship with husband and music partner Ike Turner. Bassett had some pretty iconic ‘90s roles throughout the decade, but this is at the tippy top of the mountain.

Keanu Reeves (The Matrix)

Picking Keanu Reeves’ best movie of the 1990s is more difficult than you’d think. Point Break, My Private Idaho, and Speed are all contenders, but none come close to the heights of The Matrix and his performance as Neo, aka, the One. Watching Reeves’ character develop throughout this great ‘90s sci-fi film never gets old.

Robin Williams (Good Will Hunting)

Robin Williams had SO many good movies in the ‘90s, but Good Will Hunting was in a league of its own, at least in terms of performances by the late comedian. The richness, range, and emotion found in his portrayal of Sean Maguire is something to behold. No wonder he took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Bruce Willis (The Sixth Sense)

The ‘90s saw Bruce Willis play everything from his most iconic character in the second and third Die Hard movies to the leads in multiple blockbusters. However, none of those compare to his work in The Sixth Sense. There is just something so warm and refreshing about his portrayal of a child psychiatrist trying to help a young boy make sense of life and his strange gift.

Harrison Ford (The Fugitive)

Have you gone back and watched The Fugitive lately? If not, do so now. If you have, you’re all too familiar with Harrison Ford’s performance as Richard Kimble, the Chicago doctor trying to clear his name after being wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife. Air Force One and Clear and Present Danger are great, but this 1993 thriller is one of Ford’s career-best.

Frances McDormand (Fargo)

Frances McDormand’s portrayal of Marge Gunderson in the Coen Brothers' Fargo earned the actress the first of her three Academy Awards, and for good reason: she’s the heart and soul of the 1996 crime comedy.  

Gary Oldman (The Fifth Element)

Gary Oldman played some of the meanest ‘90s villains in movies like Air Force One, Leon: The Professional, and The Fifth Element, the latter of which features his best work of the decade. Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg is one of those characters that you love to hate and enjoy watching as much as the 1997 sci-fi film’s hero, which is saying something.

Wesley Snipes (White Men Can't Jump)

In the years following his breakout performance in Major League, Wesley Snipes became one of the dependable faces in Hollywood thanks to unforgettable turns in New Jack City, Demolition Man, and Jungle Fever. But let’s be real, Snipes’ take on Syd Deane is one of the most iconic ‘90s characters and essentially carries this all-time great basketball movie.

Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan)

Tom Hanks dominated the ‘90s with Oscar-winning performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump as well as other decade-defining films like Toy Story and A League of Their Own. But in terms of the BEST movie, that has to go to Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg’s harrowing World War II epic about heroism, survival, and the hope of a better tomorrow.

Robert De Niro (Cape Fear)

We could have listed Goodfellas, Heat, or even A Bronx Tale as Robert De Niro’s best movie from the ‘90s, but his performance as Max Cady in Cape Fear is on a whole other level. Easily one of the Oscar winner’s most menacing characters, the psychopathic ex-con with a bone to pick is a force of pure evil here.

Al Pacino (Heat)

After playing all-time great gangsters in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Al Pacino was on the other side of the law in Michael Mann’s 1995 crime epic, Heat. Sure, Scent of a Woman earned him that elusive Oscar for Best Actor, but his take on Lieutenant Vincent Hanna is the stuff of legend. Plus, we also got to see Pacino and Robert De Niro share a scene for the first time.

Anthony Hopkins (The Silence Of The Lambs)

Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs is one of the greatest performances of all time. That said, it should be no surprise that this great horror film gets the call here. Though there was some stiff competition.

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Boogie Nights)

As much as we would love to break down all the awesome ways Philip Seymour Hoffman stole the show in Twister and My Boyfriend’s Back, the late actor really came into his own in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 drama, Boogie Nights. Hoffman’s sympathetic take on Scotty J. was nothing short of brilliant and showed what was to come.

Jodie Foster (The Silence Of The Lambs)

If you were to break down Jodie Foster’s best performances, her portrayal of Clarice Starling would be at or near the top of that list. A movie that has been quoted or referenced countless times over the years, this 1991 thriller remains one of the best ever made.

Brad Pitt (Seven)

David Fincher’s Seven is Brad Pitt’s best movie from the ‘90s for a variety of reasons: 1) the movie about a serial killer taking lives based on the seven deadly sins is violently unique, 2) it was the start of a partnership between actor and director, and 3) Pitt showed he was more than a pretty face and really had what it took.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (T2: Judgment Day)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is not only a decade-defining action movie or a landmark achievement in visual effects, it’s also Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best movie of the ‘90s and perhaps all time. James Cameron’s sequel is bigger and louder than its predecessor and epic beyond compare.

Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act)

Whoopi Goldberg won her first Academy Award for her role as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost, a film that kicked off an impressive decade for the comedian and actor. Her spiritual guide for Patrick Swayze’s ghostly Sam Wheat in this supernatural thriller helped anchor the film and turn it into the biggest movie of 1990.

Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting)

Matt Damon went from a relatively unknown actor to one of the brightest faces (and voices) in Hollywood thanks to Good Will Hunting. His tortured performance as a young math prodigy in South Boston is still captivating more than 25 years later.

Eddie Murphy (The Nutty Professor)

Eddie Murphy did a little bit of everything in the ‘90s, but The Nutty Professor shows off some of the comedian’s best work. Playing multiple characters (heroes, villains, and in between) really showed off Murphy’s dynamic range and varied comedic styles.

Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore)

Though Big Daddy proved that Adam Sandler could handle slightly more dramatic roles, there’s no denying the fact that Happy Gilmore is the former SNL star’s best ‘90s movie. His take on a failed hockey player finding new purpose (and fortune) in the world of golf was a game-changer and created one of the best sports characters of all time.

Denzel Washington (Malcolm X)

Denzel Washington is another actor who had more great roles in the ‘90s than we can count, but at the top of his “best” list is Spike Lee’s 1992 biopic, Malcolm X. The movie about the controversial civil rights icon was eye-opening, enchanting, and epic.

Joe Pesci (Goodfellas)

We could have talked about My Cousin Vinny, we could have talked about Home Alone, and we could have even made a case for Casino, but none of that is possible without Goodfellas. The movie, which introduced the world to Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito, is one of the greatest gangster movies of all time and an influential piece of cinema we still rave about 30-plus years later.

Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise)

Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, a movie featuring one of the best female friendships with Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis’ titular characters, helped kickstart the decade back in 1990. Easily Sarandon’s best movie of the ‘90s, this crime drama about two friends on the run from the law is just so dang great.

Jim Carrey (Dumb & Dumber)

Jim Carrey absolutely dominated the ‘90s comedy scene, and the box office in general back in 1994. While Ace Ventura Pet Detective and The Mask both have their moments, we have to be real for a second and admit that Dumb and Dumber is some of Carrey’s best work.

Movie fans had lots to love in the '90s and these actors and their best movies of the decade will never be forgotten.

Sometimes, all it takes is one joint appearance in a movie or television show for two popular actors to become known as an acting duo, and sometimes they prove to work so well together that they go on to star in even more projects together. We’ve come up with a list of 32 acting duos who have worked together multiple times, so you can see if you’ve watched all of the times these talented stars have been on screen with each other.

Tina Fey And Amy Poehler

Obviously, this funny duo began their most famed time together while starring on Saturday Night Live, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn’t let the good times end there. The women were both in Mean Girls, starred in the movies Baby Mama and Sisters, and used their talents to great effect when co-hosting the Golden Globe Awards for several years.

Robert De Niro And Al Pacino

Two legendary actors make for a legendary acting duo, and while Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are frequently mentioned in the same breath, they’ve only been featured in four films together. Two of those movies, however, are absolutely the reason people often talk about them together as they count The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman as their joint efforts.

Julia Roberts And George Clooney

Now, these two actually have made quite a few movies with one another, and largely with both in on-screen roles. Of course, it’s hard to forget that George Clooney and Julia Roberts are in all three of the Ocean’s Eleven films, but they’ve also starred in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney also directed), Money Monster and the 2022 rom-com Ticket to Paradise. The erstwhile Danny Ocean also produced August: Osage County, while Roberts starred.

Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin

Frequently we see an acting duo together multiple times because they really are buddies in real life, and that’s true for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After first starring together in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, of course) they eventually re-teamed for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (which ran for seven seasons), as well as the dark comedy Moving On and 80 for Brady.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

This duo has produced some well-known and beloved comedies and dramas over the years, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling first starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011, moving on to Gangster Squad in 2013 and the Oscar-winning musical La La Land in 2016. Stone even once said she couldn’t “imagine” her life without Gosling, so these two will probably be friends forever.

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas sharing the screen in Desperado caused considerable heat, along with igniting a very real friendship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve now worked together a number of times. They’ve also been in the casts of Four Rooms, Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and both Puss in Boots animated movies. That’s a lot!

Dwayne Johnson And Kevin Hart

We’ve already born witness to a rather lengthy history of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart ripping on each other during their (apparently) laugh and roast-filled friendship, and the two megastars have, indeed, brought that chemistry to the big screen multiple times. The duo counts Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, Hobbs & Shaw and DC League of Super-Pets as the titles they’ve appeared in together.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck

If this isn’t a classic acting duo by now, there are none. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been “bizarrely close” friends since childhood, and they first joined forces to great effect by penning and starring in Good Will Hunting (after having both appeared in School Ties), which won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They also worked on Dogma in the 1990s, then, after nearly 25 years, they joined forces again to write and star in The Last Duel, and since then have also worked together on Air and the upcoming RIP for Netflix.

Denzel Washington And Don Cheadle

If only these two powerhouse stars had already been in more movies together…Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle’s first pairing was as P.I. Easy Rawlins and his loyal but unpredictable friend, Mouse, in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. While their work in the film garnered critical acclaim, it would be over 15 years before they teamed again for Flight.

Sanaa Lathan And Taye Diggs

We should never underestimate the power of a franchise when it comes to popular on-screen pairings. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs appeared in The Wood together in 1999 and then went on to star in The Best Man, its sequel and the Peacock mini-series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The duo also played the lead couple in the rom-com, Brown Sugar in 2002.

Scarlett Johansson And Chris Evans

Co-starring in a franchise with the same people will take an acting duo far, but Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have surpassed even the typical standard where that’s concerned. Thanks to their joint time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’ve appeared in a whopping seven movies together (including their mid-end credits cameo in Captain Marvel), and prior to their time as blockbuster movie-making superheroes they starred in The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries, bringing their current total to nine.

Anthony Mackie And Chris Evans

If you did enjoy many of those MCU movies, then you know that Chris Evans rubbed elbows with Anthony Mackie quite a bit there. But, did you also know that the two have been in XX non-Marvel movies together? Playing It Cool, What’s Your Number, and Ghosted also star/feature both actors and if you add in all their shared time in tights on screen, their total is also at nine.

Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson

The first time was a hit, so why not join forces again, right? Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson famously delivered winning chemistry in Jungle Cruise, and are coming back together for the upcoming drama The Smashing Machine. The two are also said to be willing to return for Jungle Cruise 2, whenever that can finally get off the ground.

Chris Pine And Ben Foster

The third time has been the charm so far for Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The duo famously portrayed bank-robbing brothers in Hell or High Water, joined up for The Finest Hours, and made it a three-peat in 2022 for The Contractor.

Margot Robbie And Will Smith

If it seemed that there could have been a little something extra going on between Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot when you watched 2016’s Suicide Squad, then it might have been because you picked up on the chemistry the duo first built in Focus from the year before.

Margot Robbie And Brad Pitt

This big screen coupling made quite a showing for themselves across less than a decade, as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have starred in The Big Short, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Babylon. 

Margot Robbie And Leonardo DiCaprio

Just imagine, had it not been for this pairing, we might not have the megastar who is Barbie actor/producer Margot Robbie right now. Her role in Wolf of Wall Street as the second wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s corrupt fraudster propelled her career, and by the time they starred in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood together Robbie was a major star.

Halle Berry And Hugh Jackman

We, again, have a superhero franchise to thank for bringing two great talents together, as Oscar winner Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman both have four of the X-Men movies among their credits. The duo also starred in Swordfish and Movie 43.

Awkwafina And Michelle Yeoh

This duo counts two megahits in their joint credits, with Awkwafina and Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh both having starred in Crazy Rich Asians (and we’re still waiting for that rom-com sequel) and the MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Michelle Yeoh And Jackie Chan

Michelle Yeoh has been a star for several decades, and part of that reason is because of her breakout role in the 1992’s Supercop, which also starred Jackie Chan. But, they’ve made a number of other films with each other, including Supercop 2, and Hong Kong action films Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars, Project S, and both voiced characters in Kung Fu Panda 2, along with having starred in a 1984 watch commercial together.

Angela Bassett And Laurence Fishburne

While Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were famously nominated for Oscars for their lead roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?, the duo was actually first together on screen for Boyz n the Hood in ‘91. They then later teamed up for Akeela and the Bee in 2006.

Julia Roberts And Richard Gere

If this isn’t a famous acting duo, then none are, despite their only making two movies with each other. Of course, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the mega-hit classic rom-com Pretty Woman and teamed up again for Runaway Bride in 1999.

Jennifer Aniston And Jason Bateman

For a while there, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, who are friends in real life, were kinda on a roll. Their first joint film was The Break-Up in 2006, and since then they’ve filmed four additional movies with one another: The Switch, Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and 2016’s Office Christmas Party.

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

Who can forget the glorious chemistry created by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? No one, that’s who! This is why they made a second rom-com, Fool’s Gold, just five years later.

Kirsten Dunst And Jesse Plemons

It’s not unusual for an acting duo to become friends in real life, but Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons took that a few steps further after working on the TV series Fargo together. Not only have they since starred in the film The Power of the Dog (which netted each their first Oscar nomination) and the A24 drama Civil War, but they married in 2022 and have two sons.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

We could hardly leave Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks off of this list, as the famed actors have co-starred in two of the biggest romantic comedies of all time. Everyone knows them for making Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail hits, but before all of that, they led one of the weirder rom-coms made with Joe Versus the Volcano, and reunited for the 2016 drama Ithaca, which Ryan directed.

Drew Barrymore And Adam Sandler

People often mention Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler as an acting duo they want to see more of and with good reason. The two have made magic in the classics The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended.

Adam Sandler And Chris Rock

This pairing goes back decades, to the time when Adam Sandler and Chris Rock starred on Saturday Night Live together in the ‘90s. Since then, the real-life buddies have appeared in seven movies together, with The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and its sequel, The Week Of and Top Five counted among that number.

George Clooney And Brad Pitt

Of course, George Clooney and Brad Pitt helped to make the Ocean’s Eleven franchise a hit, but the friends additionally teamed up for the live TV movie 8, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney directed), Burn After Reading and the 2024 films If and Wolfs.

Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele

The duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who first became recognizable during their time on MadTV, eventually went on to their own acclaimed sketch comedy series, Key and Peele. But, while making names for themselves on other series and in a number of movies, they continue to work with one another on projects like Keanu, Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild.

Awkwafina And Simu Liu

It was the MCU that first brought Awkwafina and Simu Liu together in the hit film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while we’re still waiting to see when that franchise will bring them back together, 2024 saw them team up again for the action comedy, Jackpot!.

Jane Fonda And Robert Redford

Dedicated film fans probably know that legends Jane Fonda and Robert Redford starred together in Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman, but their joint movie appearances do go beyond that. They also starred in The Chase in ‘66 and reunited for Our Souls at Night in 2017, and both had their film debuts in 1960’s Tall Story.

As you can see, film history is packed with acting duos who’ve worked together more than once, and that will probably always be the case.

Right as Christopher Meloni was starting his work on Law and Order: SVU as Detective Elliot Stabler, the actor had another big acting gig in front of him. Meloni was cast as Julia Roberts’ fiancé in 1999’s Runaway Bride. This movie was a huge deal for many reasons. Not only was Roberts the queen of rom-coms in the '90s, but this would also be the return to her collaboration with Richard Gere. A lot of eyes were on the project, and Meloni recently opened up about how difficult he found working on the film to be.

In an interview with People, the Law and Order: SVU star was asked about his role in Runaway Bride, as the film celebrates its 25th anniversary. It was a major opportunity for Meloni, but it seems like, at the time, the actor was more intimidated than excited, especially when it came to working with the all-star ensemble cast. He said:

Another part of it that intimidated Meloni was the genre. It was a big studio comedy, where the emphasis on being funny for the camera was present and endlessly important. Doing so, without being cheesy or hammy was a delicate balance that the actor discovered very quickly wasn’t always easy. He continued:

It’s no surprise that Roberts was effortlessly able to maintain the comedy/heartfelt balance. Throughout the late '80s and '90s, this became her specialty. Movies like Mystic Pizza, Pretty Woman, and My Best Friend’s Wedding became signature movies of Roberts’, and they still resonate with audiences today. Also, going into Runaway Bride with already established chemistry with Gere probably felt like a certified home run for the actress, and she could just focus on doing what she does best.

Even though Meloni may have been intimidated by the experience, those who have seen the movie wouldn’t be able to tell. He is perfect as the goofy, over-the-top high school football coach determined to wed Roberts. He is great throughout, but especially shines in the scene where he’s in utter shock after Roberts’ character kisses Gere during their “wedding practice.” His look of bewilderment followed by swiftly punching the handsome actor in the face is priceless, and one of the most memorable scenes in Runaway Bride.

Meloni has yet to return to the rom-com genre, but if he ever decided to, he’d likely be welcomed back with open arms. He is a great dramatic actor, with an underrated funny streak that hasn’t had the ability to shine through in some of his more recent projects. After the success of Anyone But You, rom-coms seem to be making a comeback, and this could be the perfect opportunity for fans to see Meloni lead with maybe more confidence than he had while shooting Runaway Bride.

You can revisit Christopher Meloni’s performance in Runaway Bride with a Paramount+ subscription. Fans can also see him in Law & Order: Organized Crime which has episodes available now with a Peacock subscription.

If you look at lists of George Clooney’s best movies or Brad Pitt and Matt Damon’s greatest work, without a doubt Ocean’s Eleven will be on all of them. The same can be said for the rest of the stellar A-List cast that includes Julia Roberts, Casey Affleck, Andy Garcia and many, many more, and it’s easily some of director Steven Soderbergh’s finest work. It’s so good, in fact, the remake ended up getting two sequels – Ocean’s Twelve and Thirteen, plus the female-led Ocean’s Eight almost two decades later. This fast-talking, smooth world of heists and crime is irresistible, and today we’re talking about the best quotes from this beloved franchise. 

"Why do it? Because yesterday I walked out of the joint after losing four years of my life and you're cold-decking 'Teen Beat' cover boys. Because the house always wins. Play long enough, you never change the stakes, the house takes you. Unless, when that perfect hand comes along, you bet big, and then you take the house."  -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven

When Rusty asked Danny why they needed to do this heist he gave the great speech above. What makes it even better is it’s followed by Pitt’s character asking if Clooney’s has “been practicing” his speech, to which Danny responds with “A little bit, did I rush it?”

"Well, first, I know all the guys you’d hire to come after me, they like me better than you. Second, you’re not gonna go to cops. Well, let’s face it, you’re not going to go to the cops. Third, you shook Sinatra's hand. You should know better, Willy." –Danny, Ocean’s Thirteen

Once Danny exacts his revenge on Willy Bank and bests him, he says this great line, which ends with him bringing it back full circle to the Frank Sinatra line that Reuben said to Al Pacino’s character at the beginning of the movie.

"Who died and made you Danny?" –Turk, Ocean’s Twelve 

Linus really tried to take on more of a leadership role in this movie, and the boys didn’t take it lightly, hence this sassy line from Turk that came after basically everyone else got arrested. 

"So whatever happens tonight, I want you to remember one thing, you are not doing this for me. You are not doing this for you. Somewhere out there is an 8-year-old girl lying in bed, dreaming of being a criminal. Let's do this for her." -Debbie, Ocean’s Eight

In the quiet moment right before the heist began, Sandra Bullock looked at herself in the mirror in a public bathroom and said this motivational, yet funny, monologue to herself. Everyone needs a pep talk, and this was Debbie’s. 

"You think we need one more? You think we need one more. Alright, we’ll get one more." -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven

The boys had their crew of ten assembled, however, they were questioning if they needed one more. That, my friends, is how Matt Damon comes into the Ocean’s 11 cast as the young pickpocket Linus. 

"We got a grease man." -Rusty, Ocean’s Eleven

As Danny and Rusty search for their grease man, Pitt’s character takes Clooney’s leading man to the circus. That’s where they find Yen, and Rusty couldn’t have been happier to hire him. 

"The specs aren't on the gray market, the black market or any other market. And all I keep hearing is there's never been a system like this. Now, I found out where they designed it, but I can't even get in the building! I've blown all my buy money, my bribe money, four of my best ID's and I am nowhere! Not only am I nowhere, I'm pretty sure I'm being followed." –Linus, Ocean’s Thirteen

While walking through their plan with Roman, Rusty says the security in this casino is “spooky.” 

Then, while on the phone with Danny, Linus confirms that as he shares that what they’re trying to figure out is the Greco while noting that he’s been having a really hard time. 

"If you're going to have a problem with stealing, then you're not going to like the rest of this conversation." -Debbie, Ocean’s Eight

Debbie and Lou’s relationship is very reminiscent of Danny and Rusty. And just like the boys’ first scene in Ocean’s Eleven, Sandra Bullock’s first interaction with Cate Blanchett’s character does not disappoint.

"She already left me once. I don’t think I’d do it again just for kicks." -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven 

Ocean’s Eleven opens with Danny Ocean in a hearing about whether or not he’s likely to commit a crime again if/when he gets out of jail. After explaining that his wife Tess left him, he gets asked if she’ll do it again, and he quips back the great line above. 

"Mr. Benedict, you can lose $80 million secretly or $160 million publicly. It’s your decision. [Rusty puts his phone down and looks at Tess] Hi." -Rusty, Ocean’s Eleven 

This line hits so hard because it’s one of the big moments where it becomes clear that these guys are going to pull off the heist. What makes it even better is that as Brad Pitt’s Rusty is talking to Andy Garcia’s Terry, he also just casually says hi to Julia Roberts’ Tess in the middle of it all. 

"You're analog players in a digital world. You're done." – Roman, Ocean’s Thirteen

Once Roman finds out that the Greco is the issue Rusty and Danny are running into he’s quick to tell them that this heist is out of their league. As much as he likes them, this is too much, and it’s too technological for these “analog” players according to him. 

"You’re gonna ask me a question? Give me time to respond, unless it’s rhetorical in which case the answer is obvious: yes." – Rusty, Ocean’s Twelve 

One of the most fun dynamics in Ocean’s Twelve is between Rusty and Linus. Seeing Brad Pitt act as Matt Damon’s reluctant mentor is so silly, and fun, and it’s moments like the one above that I get a great chuckle out of. What makes it even better, is when Linus started to ask his question about Tess looking like Julia Roberts, Rusty stopped him, saying he could never ask about that. 

"You of all people should know Terry. In your hotel, there is always someone watching." - Tess, Ocean’s Eleven 

As one of their final tricks, the boys make it so Tess hears Terry betray her. So, when she runs into him, she makes sure he knows that she’s leaving and that it’s 100% his own fault. 

"It just hurts, you know, because it seemed like we all agreed to call it ‘the Benedict job.’ I mean that’s what we called it when we were doing it. If you wanted to call it something else all along then…" – Virgil, Ocean’s Twelve

When the boys found out that the job they pulled off in Ocean’s Eleven was named after Danny Ocean, they weren’t thrilled. While many of them lamented to George Clooney’s titular character during their first team meeting, Affleck’s disappointed words as Virgil were top-tier. 

"Ted Nugent called, he wants his shirt back." -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven 

After Danny gets out of jail a second time, Rusty comes to pick him up. Of course, the movie ends on a classic Pitt/Clooney back and forth. So, once Rusty says he hopes Danny was a groom since he left prison in a tux, Danny ribs his friend with the line above. 

"I’d like to say a few words about commitment, about honor, about responsibility, about a very special someone and admitting to her. Get up. Pull the chair out. Admitting to her, in front of everybody, that her wedding, and that very special honeymoon trip to Epcot Center, will have to be postponed." -Terry, Ocean’s Twelve 

When Terry Benedict starts to make his visits to the boys at the start of Twelve, he does a good job of intimidating them all. However, one of the most memorable moments was when he showed up to scare the brothers Virgil and Turk Malloy, who are played by Casey Affleck and Scott Caan, respectively. 

"What? Did you guys get a group rate or something?" - Reuben, Ocean’s Eleven

Once the crew is assembled, they all head to Vegas and meet at Reuben’s swanky house. What makes this scene iconic is that when most of the guys show up at the same time, Elliott Gould’s rich character quips this hilarious line.

"‘I,’ ‘I wasn’t in Four Weddings and a Funeral.’ Just protect your fake baby." -Linus, Ocean’s Twelve

As Tess, Linus and co. make their way into the hotel, with Tess pretending to be Julia Roberts, she starts getting overwhelmed by all the paparazzi around them. Then, when Linus told her to calm down and think about the great rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral, she reminded him that the actress was not in that movie, to which Damons’ character had this hilarious response. 

"You lose focus in this game for one second…" -Linus // "I know, and somebody gets hurt." - Danny, Ocean’s Eleven 

Picture this, Linus and Danny are almost in the vault and they’re trying to detonate the explosives to get in, however, the clicker isn’t working. So, in the midst of this high-stakes heist, they have a humorous back and forth about preparation, focus and batteries. 

"[Sobbing] I'm old, and I'm going to prison. Then I'm going to be really, really poor." -Rose, Ocean’s Eight

Helena Bonham Carter’s role in Ocean’s 8 is so fun, and it’s because she’s quite dramatic and extra. No line proves that better than one where she was lamenting to Debbie and Lou after her fashion show. 

"Well, we've shaken all the trees, we've looked under every rock, we’ve searched…I mean, we've talked to everybody we can trust. I know it's not a great idea but it is an idea and as long as we have one idea we shouldn't give up." – Linus, Ocean’s Thirteen 

Right when the boys are on the verge of failure, and they’re out of ideas, Linus thinks up one, and Danny wonders if he really means it. Well, it’s desperate times, so yes he really meant it when he suggested that they contact Terry Benedict, their nemesis from the first two films. 

"[Slaps Danny] That is for keeping me in the dark. [Punches Danny] That is for making me a master thief. [Elbows Danny] And that is for ruining our second third anniversary." – Tess, Ocean’s Twelve

After everyone gets cleared and out of jail, Tess has a very reasonable reaction to it all as she slaps, punches and elbows Danny once they’re in the cars leaving. 

"I couldn't even hear myself think. You know, five women in one cell. So I got myself thrown in solitary for a little peace and quiet, and that's where I finally came up with it." -Debbie, Ocean’s Eight

As you likely know, like Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Eight begins with our master planner getting out of prison. It quickly becomes clear that Debbie has been scheming the whole time she’s been in the clink, and once she got herself “thrown in solitary” she could really cook on her plan. 

"Number one: if any of you try to screw me, you'll be dead. I'll be looking in on the operation just to make sure. Number two: I'm your senior partner, which means last money in, first money out and you will double my investment." –Terry, Ocean’s Thirteen 

Enter Terry Benedict, AKA, Andy Garcia’s bad man from the first two movies. However, this time, he’s the thirteenth member, and he’s actually helping Linus, Danny, Rusty and co. as they try to take down Willy Bank and avenge Reuben. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. 

"I want the last check I write to bounce." –Saul, Ocean’s Twelve  

The late great Carl Reiner played Saul, and he wanted to go out on top with his money in Ocean’s Twelve! While he eventually does come back to help the crew, this moment where he walks out with his head held high is pretty epic. 

"A him gets noticed, a her gets ignored. For once, we want to get ignored." –Debbie, Ocean’s Eight 

While Debbie and Lou are putting their team together, Lou runs the idea of hiring a few guys by her. However, Sandra Bullock’s character makes a point that’s both sad and useful at this moment: they don’t want to be seen, they are actively trying to get ignored, and it works in their favor. 

"How was the clink? Did you get the cookies I sent?" - Rusty, Ocean’s Eleven 

After Danny gets out of jail and meets up with his pal Rusty Ryan, and Brad Pitt’s character jokes around with his pal by asking if he got the sweet treats he sent while he was in “the clink.” 

"No, Dad. It will work. [Danny puts his hand out for the phone] No Dad, I won't put Danny on. [Rusty puts his hand out] Or Rusty." – Linus, Ocean’s Thirteen

In a heated phone call with his father, Linus pushes back against his parent – who is later revealed to be a con man working as an FBI agent specializing in casino fraud cases – about the fake nose he wears later in the movie, and he also won’t let him talk to Rusty and Danny. While Matt Damon’s performance at this moment is incredible, it’s the perfectly timed gestures of George Clooney and Brad Pitt trying to take the phone that make it. 

"Terrific, it’ll be nice working with proper villains again." -Basher, Ocean’s Eleven 

Basher is the explosion expert for the team, and when he’s approached about doing the job he responds with this fantastic line, despite the fact that Don Cheadle’s British accent is quite bad in the film. 

"Look, it’s not in my nature to be mysterious. But I can’t talk about it, and I can’t talk about why." –Rusty, Ocean’s Twelve 

After Rusty tells Linus that he should just ask the question, the inquiry he makes is not one Rusy is willing to go into detail about. Hilariously, this topic has to do with Tess looking like Julia Roberts, which is funny because, you know, Tess is played by Julia Roberts. 

"First of all, if there’s one thing I know it’s bad acting." –Daphne, Ocean’s Eight  

Surprise, Anne Hathaway’s Daphne Kluger is the eighth member of Ocean’s 8, and it’s brilliantly revealed at the end of the female-led Ocean’s movie when she starts her admission with this line. 

"It's not their fight." -Danny, Ocean’s Thirteen

These are some of the first words uttered in Ocean’s Thirteen after Rusty boards a private jet and asks Danny if “they understand.” It’s later revealed after Linus asks Danny the same question that the “they” they’re referring to are Tess and Isabel, Danny and Rusty’s respective partners.

Overall, the Ocean’s movies are full of quick-witted, fun and intelligent lines, and it’s one of the big reasons why they remain so iconic to this day. 

Within the realm of Hollywood, there are a number of famous families that have managed to make an impact through the art of acting. One such brood is the Roberts clan, which includes siblings Eric and Julie Roberts as well as Emma Roberts, the former’s daughter. Of course, much has been said about the power of connections within the industry and how that intersects with the “nepo baby” discussion. Emma recently spoke about that herself, explaining how her familial ties have impacted her career. And, just days later, Eric shared some comments about both his daughter and sister. 

What Did Eric Roberts Say About Julia And Emma?

Eric Roberts has had a successful career in Hollywood, having notched roles in notable motion pictures like Raggedy Man, Runaway Train, The Dark Knight and Babylon. As his career has progressed, the 68-year-old actor’s personal life has also been a topic of discussion. There’s especially been much speculation regarding his relationship with younger sister Julia. Eric was asked about his sibling during his appearance on the Still Here Hollywood podcast (which is shared on YouTube). When faced with the question of how his sister is currently doing, the Star 80 lead revealed a rule involving both his sis and his little girl: 

When it comes to Eric and Julia Roberts (a star of some of the best rom-coms of all time), they’ve had their share of ups and downs. It was confirmed by Eric himself in the early 2000s that he and Julie were estranged for several years due to his past drug addiction. Their relationship was also strained due to the Pretty Woman star siding with Eric’s ex-girlfriend over custody of their daughter. Speaking of Emma, her dad did end up stumbling during his interview by providing some glowing thoughts about her career: 

Emma Roberts has certainly been on a tear and, of course, she’s been working for years, long before her performance in 2023’s Maybe I Do. Many millennials grew up watching her on the classic Nickelodeon sitcom Unfabulous and, since then, she’s starred in movies and TV shows like Valentine’s Day, Scream 4, American Horror Story and Scream Queens. During her aforementioned interview, she got candid about her work and how she believes her family name has impacted it. 

How Did Emma Roberts Weigh In On The Nepo Baby Discussion?

33-year-old Emma Roberts spoke about the nepotism debate during an interview with Flaunt. During the chat, she didn’t specifically speak about having benefited from the family ties she possesses. She did, however, contend that her surname has made her career somewhat challenging: 

The Holidate co-lead is far from the only notable star to share thoughts on this topic. Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford’s daughter, joined the debate and acknowledged how she’s benefited from her connections. Maya Hawke, whose parents are Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, even brought up the nepo baby discussion herself when explaining how she was ultimately able to land her role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Dakota Johnson found the discussion to be “lame,” which she said is the reason why ultimately poked fun at the conversation. 

When it comes to Emma Roberts though, her position within the industry seems to be solidified at this point. As far as her talent goes, father Eric says he can claim “absolutely nothing” from that except that he “gave her that name.” Perhaps it’s in the genes and, if he, Emma and Julie were to ever get together and talk about themselves, maybe they could discuss that notion.

Right now, you can catch Emma Roberts’ latest film, Space Cadet, now by streaming it with a Prime Video subscription. Also, keep an eye on the 2024 movie schedule, in case his family of stars debut other flicks on it.

The $2 billion lifetime box mark for all their movies is a major milestone for actors and only the most popular ones have reached that level. The full list, per The Numbers, includes a lot of names you'd expect, and a few you wouldn't. Many on the list play major characters in the MCU, though we've limited those somewhat here, to get a fuller picture. So here it is, our list of actors who've topped the $2 billion mark all-time at the box office.

Daniel Radcliffe

There are some huge franchises out there, and few are bigger than the Harry Potter series, so naturally, the actor who played its protagonist, Daniel Radcliffe, is going to find his way onto this list. With a box office total climbing north of $2.6 billion, Radcliffe has supplemented Harry Potter with big movies like Now You See Me 2 and The Lost City.

Tom Cruise

For four decades Tom Cruise has been one of, if not the, most bankable stars in Hollywood. The biggest chunk of the more than $4 billion he's earned has come from the Mission: Impossible movies, but almost every one of his movies, from Top Gun to War of the Worlds and beyond are usually big money makers. 

Harrison Ford

When you star in two of the biggest franchises in Hollywood history, you're going to make this list. As Han Solo in the Star Wars movies and as the titular character in the Indiana Jones series, Harrison Ford has been raking in box office receipts for decades.  He's also had big money earners outside those series as well, like the two Jack Ryan movies he starred in, and movies like The Fugitive and the two Blade Runner flicks.  

Tom Hanks

It's hardly a surprise to see Tom Hanks on this list. With a total box office of over $5 billion, Hanks has consistently crushed it in some of the most iconic roles in Hollywood history. The list of Hanks' best movies includes Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Big, and many more, but the movies that make the biggest contribution to that box office number come from the Toy Story franchise. 

Jack Black

Jack Black movies have brought in more than $2.7 billion. Before you wonder where that has come from, you have to remember just how huge the Kung Fu Panda series of movies have been. They all have collected huge box office numbers. Throw in School of Rock, and the Jumanji series, and all of a sudden, you're climbing in some pretty rarified air. Oh - and it might surprise you that the Super Mario Bros. Movie earned more than a billion on its own.  

Morgan Freeman

Is there a more beloved actor in Hollywood than Morgan Freeman? With movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy, and Unforgiven he's proven he's one the best actors, and with huge movies like The Dark Knight trilogy, he's brought in a ton of money, with over $2 billion total. 

George Clooney

There isn't anyone in Hollywood who quite personifies a classic movie star than George Clooney. He's brought in more than $2 billion lifetime, with only one superhero movie on his resume (and a forgettable one at that, with Batman & Robin). Of course, the Ocean's movies have been his biggest box office successes, but he mostly has just put out great movie after great movie. 

Liam Neeson

While Liam Neeson isn't alone in actors we'd like to see in the MCU one day, he's still earned bank at the box office. He's appeared in a number of other big franchises, like Star Wars, The Dark Knight, and The Chronicles of Narnia, and the franchise he's most known for, the Taken movies. 

Steve Carell

It may surprise you to see Steve Carrell on this list until you remember how huge the Despicable Me franchise is. Those movies print money and Carell has been a monster piece in that puzzle. Of course, he's also had huge hits like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and the Anchorman movies. 

Meryl Streep

It's hard to argue against Meryl Streep being the finest actress of a generation, and perhaps even ever. With more than 20 Oscar nominations, she's built a career that is unparalleled. She has also managed to kill it at the box office despite not being a part of any huge franchises. The Mamma Mia! movies are the closest she's come to something like that, which makes her $2 billion+ that much more impressive.  

Eddie Murphy

Year after year Eddie Murphy just cranks out hit after hit. Sure, he's a long way away from his peak as a comic in the '80s, but you can't argue against the results, with over $3.5 billion in total receipts. The biggest contributors, of course, are the Shrek movies. 

Johnny Depp

Of course, Johnny Depp has to be on this list. Depp led one of the biggest franchises of the early 21st Century with the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He's had a lot of hits outside of his work for Disney, but the role of Jack Sparrow has translated to a big chunk of his more than $3.6 billion total box office. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence hasn't been in the MCU proper, but in full disclosure, she did appear in the X-Men franchise when it was outside of the MCU proper. So there is that. Still, she's also got another franchise under her belt with the Hunger Games movies. Outside of that, she's known for taking on serious roles in movies like Winter's Bone and Mother. It all adds up to more than $2.6 billion.

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro has been one of the most famous actors in Hollywood for more than 50 years and with that has come a lot of success at the ticket window. in total, his movies like Cape Fear, The Godfather II, Killers of the Flower Moon, and, the films that have contributed the most to his more than $2.6 billion lifetime box office sales, the Meet The Parents movies. 

Emma Watson

As one of the key cast members of eight Harry Potter movies, it's hardly a surprise to see Emma Watson on this list. That franchise alone has made billions. She also appeared as Belle in the Disney live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast in 2017, which made a cool billion as well. 

Leonardo DiCaprio

The great Leonardo DiCaprio is another actor on this list who has built remarkable box office numbers – well over $2 billion – without the benefit of a major franchise. It helps to have Titanic on your resume though. 

Julia Roberts

Since the late '80s, Julia Roberts has been box office gold. In all, her movies have made more than $2 billion, and without the benefit of a major franchise, aside from the first two Ocean's movies. Instead, she's built her legendary career on movies like Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich, and Eat Pray Love.

Bruce Willis

There are few action stars as loved as Bruce Willis. Before he retired due to aphasia and dementia, he not only starred in the Die Hard series, but he consistently churned out hits like Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, and one of his biggest movies, Armageddon. He also popped in two of the Expendables movies, earning an overall $3 billion or so. 

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson may have started out in professional wrestling, but he's owned Hollywood since making the transition to acting. In addition to the Fast and Jumanji franchises, Johnson's box office totals include two Mummy movies and a slew of other hits. It all adds up to well over $3 billion. 

Owen Wilson

There is a small caveat here. Owen Wilson has technically appeared in the MCU, but it was on the Disney+ show Loki and he's never been in one of the movies, so nothing in the MCU is reflected in his box office numbers. What does count is movies like Meet The Parents, Night At The Museum, and The Cars franchise. It all adds up to more than $2.3 billion.

Adam Driver

While he may not have the MCU on his resume, Adam Driver does have three huge Star Wars movies on it. That's a great way to pad your box office numbers. Driver is hardly a one-hit wonder though. House of Gucci, BlacKkKlansman, and others all add up to more than $2.3 billion.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock has put together an impressive career that's spanned over three decades. Despite not starring in many major franchises aside from Ocean's 8 and Minions. Still, over her career, she's generated more than $2.6 billion in box office totals. Impressive, to say the least. 

Kevin Hart

Everyone loves Kevin Hart, but it's sort of surprising just how successful his movies have been over the years. He's in rarified air here with over $2.4 billion in tickets sold to movies he's appeared in. It certainly helps that's his popped up in the Fast franchise, as well as the Jumanji movies, of course. 

Jim Carrey

Other than Batman Forever Jim Carrey has avoided major franchises over the years. Still, at one point, he was Hollywood's highest-paid actor because his movies almost always make big bucks, bringing in more than $2.9 million overall. Movies like Bruce Almighty and the Sonic movies have contributed greatly to that haul. 

Will Ferrell

What can you say about Will Ferrell that hasn't already been said? Frankly, he's the premier comedic actor over the last couple of decades. With movies like the Anchorman series, Elf, Step Brothers, and maybe his biggest contributor to his more than $2.8 billion in receipts, the Lego franchise, Farrell movies continue to clean up in theaters. 

Will Smith

Before the infamous "slap" at the Oscars in 2023, Will Smith was one of America's most beloved movie stars. His reputation has taken a hit, but his box office numbers over the years don't lie. With franchises like Bad Boys and Men In Black, in addition to a huge number of other hits over the years, Smith's total take is among the highest ever at over $3.8 billion. 

Keanu Reeves

You don't need comic book movies when you've got monster franchises like John Wick and The Matrix. Those two series have contributed a huge part to Keanu Reeves' amazing box office numbers, which stretch over $2 billion now. Throw in one of the Toy Story movies and a handful of other big hits and you're on top of the world. 

Denzel Washington

Until The Equalizer series, Denzel Washington had never even starred in a sequel, much a franchise. He has still managed to rack up more than $2.5 billion in box office numbers though. Washington has been one of the world's most famous actors for decades and has won a slew of awards, including two Oscars, so it's hardly a surprise, but it's still darn impressive. 

Brad Pitt

If Brad Pitt's Ocean's franchise co-star George Clooney isn't the most famous movie star in the world, Brad Pitt might be. Like Clooney, he's mostly built his box office record without the help of any major franchise, aside from Ocean's. It is worth mentioning that he had that infamous cameo in Deadpool 2, but that's still technically outside of the MCU. 

Adam Sandler

He's not everyone's cup of tea, sure, but Adam Sandler has put together one of the most impressive careers in Hollywood history with his unique brand of humor. Movies like Big Baddy, Mr. Deeds, You Don't Mess with the Zohan and Grown Ups have all tucked away huge amounts of money, as have others, meaning Sandler's overall box office is up over $2.8 billion. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck does benefit from his time as Batman in the ill-fated DCEU, which has since been replaced with the reboot DCU. Those movies, despite mostly middling reviews, did all make a lot of money. When you add in movies like Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and Gone Girl, it's easy to see how his total haul adds up to more than $2.4 billion. 

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg might be the most surprising person on this list, believe it or not. Then you remember he was in some of the Transformer movies, and think about how much the Ted and Daddy's Home movies made, and you realize it's not actually all that shocking. In total, his movies have brought in well over two and a half billion dollars. 

Accents are incredibly difficult and to be clear, this isn't knocking any of the people on this list's acting talents. Some of the best actors in the world often struggle with accents. In fact, everyone on this list should be praised for taking the risk and even attempting one. That said, this is still a list of actors with bad accents in a role. 

Dick Van Dyke – Mary Poppins

Quite possibly the most notorious of an actor messing up an accent is Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. The Midwest native's take on a London Cockney accent is... rough. The rest of his performance is legendary, of course, but boy, it's rough to hear him talk sometimes. 

Keanu Reeves – Bram Stoker's Dracula

Keanu Reeves is an icon, but let's be real, some of his acting performances in the past haven't been the best. The most glaring example is his performance in Bram Stoker's Dracula. It's a stilled example of an English accent that comes across as really unconfident. He's much better in the John Wick movies, to say the least. 

Don Cheadle – Ocean's Eleven

Don Cheadle is one of the best actors in Hollywood and is proof that even the best get it wrong sometimes. His cockney accent in Ocean's Eleven is brutal. In a way, it can be excused, as everyone in the movie is just chewing the scenery the whole time, but still, you expect more. Especially because we've all seen him do amazing accents like in Hotel Rwanda, a movie so good you never want to see it again. 

Daniel Craig - Knives Out

This one might get some pushback from fans – and I am a huge fan of Daniel Craig and Knives Out – but the accent is distracting. Cajun accents are tough, so for even attempting it, Craig gets credit, but he's been much better at other accents, like his straight southern accent in Lucky Logan. 

Kevin Costner – Thirteen Days

Thirteen Days is one of the best movies about the Cold War we've ever seen, but Kevin Costner's Boston accent isn't what makes it great. Costner's performance outshines the accent, but it's still pretty distracting, as it's way off. Boston accents are hard to do, so we'll forgive him. 

Tom Cruise – Far And Away

Another one of the most notorious accents in Hollywood history is Tom Cruise's attempt at an Irish accent in Far And Away. The movie itself is a lot better than its reputation would have you believe, but Cruise, one of the biggest movie stars of the last few decades, has a rough go of it. He's not alone in that, either. 

John Malkovich – Rounders

John Malkovich's career is filled with amazing, and often over-the-top performances. Maybe his most over-the-top is that of the Russian "KGB" in Rounders. His accent is presumably supposed to be Russian, but wow, who knows what it really is? It's wild, that's for sure. He even joked to co-star Matt Damon that he is a "terrible actor," which, of course, is false, even here. 

Brad Pitt – Meet Joe Black

This one is on the list because it's a popular choice as one of the worst ever, but I'm here to defend it...sort of. His Cajun patois is not great, that's true, but, for one, that's a really hard accent to nail, and some have defended it. It also could be argued that it fits his character to not quite understand how to speak normally, as he talks about in other parts of the film. Pitt gets a pass here. 

Mickey Rooney – Breakfast At Tiffany's

In one of the most indefensible roles in the history of Hollywood, Mickey Rooney's bad accent is actually the least offensive part. You can argue about 1961 being a different time, but it wasn't that different, and having Rooney play an offensive caricature of a Japanese man was called out even at the time for how offensive it was. 

Julia Roberts – Michael Collins

The beloved Julia Roberts has been in some of the best movies of the last 30 years. Michael Collins isn't a bad movie, but it's also not among Roberts' best films. While she can usually be counted on for great performances, her Irish accent here misses the mark. 

Anne Hathaway – One Day

Anne Hathaway is an Oscar winner for good reason. She's consistently great in her movies, and in roles that range from rom-coms to comic supervillains. In One Day, she adopts a British accent...sort of. It's not bad when she nails it, but it's wildly inconsistent. 

Brad Pitt - Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years In Tibet is an underrated movie in my opinion. In all honesty, I don't know if Brad Pitt's accent is truly bad, or if it's just really annoying. I tend to think it's a combo of both. Her performance otherwise is great, and the movie's visuals are stunning, making it well worth suffering through the iffy accent. 

Jack Nicholson – The Departed

This is one that might get some pushback, but I think Jack Nicholson's Boston accent in The Departed is terrible. Given all the great accents in the movie, some by Boston natives, some not, this one really sticks out as not being all that great. Nicholson is awesome as the menacing Frank Costello, but he should have just played it straight. 

Angelina Jolie – Alexander

Okay, what in the ancient world is going on here? Angelina Jolie's accent in Alexander is just wild. It's sort of Greek, sure, but we're not even sure what the ancient Greeks sounded like, so why even go here with this acting choice? Jolie is a wonderful actor and director, but this is not her finest moment. 

Emma Watson – The Bling Ring

Emma Watson's biggest accent sin in The Bling Ring is how inconsistent it is. Maybe the hardest part for an actor is staying consistent, but this one still needs to be highlighted here. A Valley Girl, Watson is not. 

Ewan McGregor – Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down has an amazing cast, many of whom are not American, all playing American servicemen. To be honest, all the accents in the movie, from Orlando Bloom, Tom Hardy, and others are a little dicey. It probably isn't fair to only call out Ewan McGregor, but it's not his finest work, either. 

Kevin Costner – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

What can be said here? It's the bad accent that beats them all. Kevin Costner's accent (or sometimes lack of) in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has been knocked ad nauseam over the years and there isn't much more to say about it. It's not just poor, it's not even there sometimes. 

Cameron Diaz – Gangs Of New York

Let's be clear, Cameron Diaz is not alone with her poor accent in Gangs of New York. Leonardo DiCaprio isn't at his best, either. It's maybe a little more striking in Diaz's case though. It's hard though, when you are going up with Daniel Day-Lewis, who probably spent months and months perfecting his American accent for the role.  

Blake Lively – The Town

If you're not from Boston, it had be a deceptively difficult accent to master. It's not as simple as dropping the Rs, though that is hard to do consistently also. It's also the long vowels and other more nuanced parts of the accent that make it very tricky. Blake Lively is great in The Town, but her accent leaves a lot to be desired. 

Vanessa Hudgens – The Princess Switch

In one of the weirder choices on this list, Vanessa Hudgens decided to go with what is ostensively a British accent in The Princess Switch when she easily could have just gone with her regular accent. Sure, she needed to differentiate herself from...herself as she was also playing the other role in the movie in this Parent Trap-like movie, but still, she was a princess of a fictional country, the accent could have been anything 

Scarlett Johansson – Don Jon

Scarlett Johansson is from New York, and is an excellent actor. That's why it's such a surprise that she missed with a New Jersey accent in Don Jon. Once again, it's an example of a great performance losing a point or two because of the dodgy accent.

Jared Leto – House Of Gucci

Most of the actors in House Of Gucci struggle a little with the Italian accents. Jared Leto, however, sounds like a cartoon character. It's more like Mario than Paolo Gucci. I give him props for trying, heck I give them all props for trying, but it just doesn't work. 

Mel Gibson – Braveheart

I have a lot of problems with Braveheart. The history is notoriously poor, and the acting by Mel Gibson is so over the top, that it's comical, hence all the memes, right? Often lost in that is how sketchy Gibson's Scottish accent is in the movie. 

Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is arguably the best director of the last 30 years with nine (or ten, depending on how you count Kill Bill) great movies out of nine directed. Django Unchained is no exception, but you can't excuse the Australian accent Tarantino tries to pull off in his acting role in the movie. It's not good - and it's not like he's a bad actor, either. 

Harrison Ford - K-19: The Widowmaker

With all due respect to the Gods of the 1970s and '80s, I don't want to besmirch the great Harrison Ford. Sadly, I have to for his messy attempt at a Russian accent in K-19: The Widowmaker. We all love Ford's gruff voice, but it's better when he sticks with his natural accent. 

Nicole Kidman – Far And Away

Tom Cruise gets a lot of gruff for his Irish accent in Far and Away, but that shouldn't distract from Nicole Kidman's sketchy work. The Aussie struggles as much as the American in the film. 

Alan Rickman - The Butler

Alan Rickman, who is one of my favorite actors ever and responsible for some amazing performances, has one of his most uneven in The Butler as President Ronald Reagan. It's not just the accent, though that is part of it. He speaks weirdly softly and it feels like a shallow performance, which was unlike Rickman, most of the time.  

Michael Caine - On Deadly Ground

The great Michael Caine has but one accent – the Michael Caine Accent. It's so iconic, that it's as imitated as Christopher Walken's. When he gets away from it, it gets a little bizarre, as it does in On Deadly Ground. Now, the semi-retired Caine is co-starring in a Steven Seagal movie, so you can't blame him for really going over the top, even if he misses. 

Brad Pitt – The Devil's Own

In The Devil's Own, Brad Pitt makes a go at an Irish accent. I'll always applaud Pitt for going for tougher roles, but he really does struggle with accents, and here is no exception. It is distracting, but I appreciate that he goes for it. 

Jennifer Lawrence – Red Sparrow

As the winner of one Oscar and owner of three more nominations, Jennifer Lawrence is clearly one of the best actresses so far in the 21st Century. Red Sparrow is not her best work though. The movie is surprisingly boring, and her Russian accent, while far from the worst here, is in and out throughout the whole film. 

Ana De Armas – Blonde

Make no mistake, Ana De Armas made a bold decision to play not only an American actress but one whose voice is very familiar to movie fans everywhere, Marilyn Monroe. Blonde was a challenging choice for the Cuban actress and for that she should be celebrated, but when the brass tacks were down, her accent was not the best part of her performance. 

Charlie Hunnam – Green Street Hooligans

If you want to understand how hard accents can be, look no further than Englishman Charlie Hunnam's attempt at a cockney accent in Green Street Hooligans. While Hunnam is English, he's from Newcastle, not East London, and boy does it show. Hunnam was decent doing an American accent in Sons of Anarchy, but he doesn't kill the cockney accent here, in fact, he's so inconsistent it's distracting in an otherwise super fun cult classic. 

Rom-coms are a tried and true genre in the film world, one capable of making tons of money and piercing the pop culture lexicon. 1990's Pretty Woman is widely considered one of the best romantic comedies of all time, in no small part thanks to the chemistry shared by Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The latter actor doesn't think he and Roberts could recreate their Pretty Woman chemistry, but I disagree.

Pretty Woman (which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription) is truly iconic, and has influenced countless rom-coms that followed. While fans like myself would love to see this pair of A-listers share the screen again (especially after Roberts returned to rom-coms with Ticket to Paradise) Gere recently cast doubt on that possibility. While speaking with Deadline about the movie's success, he shared why doesn't think they could strike gold twice. In his words:

There you have it. It sounds like Richard Gere isn't convinced that another rom-com with Julia Roberts would ended up being a success. On top of the timing of Pretty Woman being excellent, he also credits late filmmaker Garry Marshall as the reason why the 1990 film worked. 

Indeed, Garry Marshall has a lasting legacy, both as a filmmaker and as an actor. And other actors like The Princess Diaries' Anne Hathaway have credited him as the reason why their movie worked.

Then again, Richard Gere and Julia Roberts are wildly good actors who no doubt have the talent and name recognition that could make another romantic comedy project work (assuming that the material is good). So I think that the Chicago actor's comments aren't necessarily true, unless they were trying to make a sequel to Pretty Woman. 

I previously mentioned Ticket to Paradise, but it seems like a prime example as to why Gere and Roberts could totally pull off another rom-com. The movie (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription) was totally delightful, largely because of the outstanding movie stars who were at its center: Roberts and George Clooney. So clearly there's an audience for rom-coms focusing on that caliber of actor, which Gere definitely is. 

Hopefully the success of Ticket to Paradise inspires more romantic comedies featuring iconic actors like Clooney and Roberts. For example, some fans are hoping that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan get one more rom-com. In the meantime, check the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

It only took one movie for audiences to fall in love with Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney's chemistry. The box-office success Anyone But You is about two exes who reunite at a destination wedding only to pretend to be a couple for their own separate reasons. The Twisters actor feels his working chemistry with Sweeney works so well that he compares the two of them to Julia Roberts and George Clooney which makes a lot of sense.

We’ve seen a lot of rom-com partners light up the screen with their cute banter and steamy kiss scenes. Glen Powell told Sunday Today that he and Sydney Sweeney work so well together that they could be the next Julia Roberts and George Clooney! Check out his reasoning below and you’ll see for yourself how much it makes sense:

It’s true that if you have a good thing going with your co-star, you don’t want that successful partnership to stop. After all, George Clooney and Julia Roberts had great chemistry in the Oceans movies and reunited for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Money Monster. But, the reunion we were all excited for was when they re-teamed for Ticket to Paradise in 2022, which was a rom-com first in years for the two of them. Clearly, everyone wanted some Clooney/Roberts fun as their rom-com made $168.6 million, hitting a box office milestone that put all five productions they’ve done together at a total of $1.007 billion.

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney had similar luck with their movie, as Anyone But You racked up more than $100 million at the box office. Of course, one thing that brought a lot of attention to their project was dating rumors between the two after Powell’s girlfriend Gigi Paris reportedly unfollowed the Euphoria actress on social media with fans speculating it was because of their cute on-set photos together. It didn’t help matters when the pair broke up not long after and a photo surfaced of Sweeney’s fiancé leaving the house with bags.

However, those rumors have since been debunked, with the internet twisting every post and picture it sees into something it’s not. The Top Gun: Maverick actor actually revealed he and his rom-com female lead leaned into those affair rumors for the purpose of bringing more attention to their movie. You can’t say that it didn’t work.

While speaking on Sunday Today, Glen Powell admitted some very exciting news that he jokingly admitted his agent wouldn’t be happy saying: he and Sydney Sweeney are reading scripts in the direction of planning their next movie together. They’ve said previously that they’re reading everything handed to them with the goal of making sure what they pick is something that will resonate with audiences. I think we have this generation’s new rom-com dream team forming here!

As Glen Powell said, he and Sydney Sweeney could be on the verge of being the next George Clooney and Julia Roberts. It makes so much sense as their on-screen chemistry is box office gold and a chance to deliver to audiences a rom-com they’ll enjoy. Anyone But You is available to watch with your Netflix subscription.

Some actors are best known and even defined by a single character that has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world. However, in many cases, said iconic character does not necessarily reflect the performer’s strongest performance, which they often tend to save for the role that they hope will earn them an Academy Award nomination or, at least, challenges them the most. The following is our attempt to distinguish the most iconic roles from our choices picks for the absolute best roles of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Chris Evans

The role that skyrocketed Chris Evans to the A-list and the one he will always be most famous for is Steve "Captain America" Rogers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his talents are even better utilized in his scene-stealing performance in the Knives Out cast as the hilariously smug and conniving Ransom Drysdale.

Amy Adams

The world first fell in love with Amy Adams when she absolutely nailed the Disney Princess schtick as Giselle in 2007’s Enchanted. Yet, she is truly a captivating, commanding, and heartbreaking force to be reckoned with in Denis Villeneuve’s powerful 2016 alien invasion movie, Arrival, as linguistics expert Louise Banks — which, surprisingly, is not one of the six roles that earned her an Oscar nomination.

Kurt Russell

For many people, when they see Kurt Russell, they see the dystopian anti-hero Snake Plissken in Escape from New York from 1981 or helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in another great John Carpenter movie, 1982’s The Thing. Yet, even the actor’s biggest fans might agree that those performances pale in comparison to his acclaimed portrayal of Wyatt Earp in the 1993 Western movie classic, Tombstone.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie first captivated audiences everywhere as Naomi Lapaglia in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street and her portrayal of Harley Quinn in the DCEU immediately became one of the Batman villain’s most essential iterations. However, the Australian actor gave, arguably, her most captivating and essential performance as infamous figure skating champion Tonya Harding in the 2017 biopic, I, Tonya, which also earned her her first Oscar nomination.

Nicolas Cage 

Nicolas Cage is at his most iconic when he is at his most unhinged and few characters define that better than Castor Troy — a ruthless terrorist who switches faces with FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) in Face/Off. Of course, it is Cage's performance as severe alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas that earned him an Oscar win.

Julia Roberts 

Having been referred to as the Queen of rom-coms, it would make sense to call Julia Roberts’ strongest contribution to the genre — Vivian Ward from 1990’s Pretty Woman — the most iconic of her career. Yet, her strongest contribution to cinema might actually be her Academy Award-winning performance in the title role of 2000’s Erin Brockovich, which is based on the true story of a legal assistant’s crusade in a California water pollution scandal. 

Tom Hanks

Our choices for both the most iconic role and the best role of Tom Hanks’ career each earned him an Academy Award. While the lovable title hero of 1994’s Forrest Gump is easily the more famous, the actor is at his most gripping and moving as gay, HIV-positive lawyer Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia from the previous year.

Ryan Gosling

Playing Noah in 2004's romantic instant classic The Notebook broke Ryan Gosling into the mainstream and playing the nameless wheelman protagonist of 2011's Drive showed his action star potential. The first time critics and audiences truly began to notice his strengths as a versatile performer, however, was when he played a teacher wrestling with his vices in 2006's Half Nelson.

Robert Downey, Jr.

There was no better choice to play Tony "Iron Man" Stark — the role that effectively resurrected Robert Downey Jr.'s career — in what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yet, has the actor truly ever been better than when he played Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast in 2023? Just ask the Academy.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence breathed refreshing new life into the cinematic version of YA dystopian novel hero Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games movies. She especially breathed refreshing life into the already beautiful story of love and self-acceptance at the center of Silver Linings Playbook with her Oscar-winning performance as the widowed Tiffany Maxwell.

Jim Carrey

The one role that best represents Jim Carrey’s one-of-a kind erratic style of physical comedy is the ceaselessly goofy title hero of 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. There are certainly traces of that persona in unwitting TV star Truman Burbank from 1998’s The Truman Show, but the performance brought out a certain emotional depth and devastating earnestness we had not yet seen from the actor.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson was already a top A-lister when she was cast as Natasha “Black Widow” Romanoff for the MCU — a role that, arguably, became bigger than the actor herself. Yet, her infectious, Oscar-nominated performance in 2019’s Jojo Rabbit as Rosie — the mother of a young aspiring Nazi who is secretly hiding a young Jewish woman — is the heart and soul of Taika Waititi’s dazzling World War II-era satire.

Matt Damon

Is there anything better than watching Matt Damon kick butt in the Jason Bourne movies as the titular amnesiac spy? How about watching him pour out his heart and soul as a young and brilliant, but emotionally troubled custodian in 1997’s Good Will Hunting, which he also co-wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay for?

Jamie Lee Curtis

Playing Laurie Strode in Halloween may have made her the ultimate horror Scream Queen and playing IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All at Once may have finally earned her an Oscar, but neither reflect her absolute best work in our opinion. Her Golden Globe-winning role as Helen Tasker — a woman who discovers her husband (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a spy — shows the extent of her versatile range and is easily the performance from 1994’s True Lies.

Michael Keaton

When you think of Michael Keaton, the first character you picture could be Bruce Wayne from Tim Burton's live-action Batman movies or the title role of another Burton classic called Beetlejuice. Yet, the actor's defining role might really be the one that earned him his first Academy Award nomination: down-and-out actor Riggan Thomson in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).

Adam Driver

Typically, any Star Wars actor can call their role in the celebrated sci-fi franchise the most famous character they have ever played and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is certainly no exception. His performance as the Sith Lord is an essential highlight of the sequel trilogy, but his rich, emotionally devastating, and uniquely funny performance as Charlie Barber in 2019’s Marriage Story — his second Oscar-nominated role — really proved he was a force to behold.

Clint Eastwood

The Mount Rushmore of Western Movie Stars undeniably includes Clint Eastwood, whose own carving into the monument would probably be dressed like his three roles from Sergio Leone's "The Man with No Name" or "Dollars" Trilogy — made of up A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Well, forgive us, but we believe that coldblooded-killer turned mild-mannered family man William Munny from 1992’s Unforgiven — which he also directed — is his stronger and deeper contribution to the genre.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams is transcendent as the ultimate ruthless teen queen, Regina George, in the 2004 high school movie classic, Mean Girls. Yet, she is at her most grounded and most captivatingly understated in her Oscar-nominated portrayal of Boston Globe investigative journalist Sacha Pfeiffer in 2015’s Spotlight.

Tom Cruise 

Among Tom Cruise’s many iconic roles — especially Maverick in the Top Gun movies and Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies — we are not sure that we would include Ron Kovic in that least. Yet, we do believe the actor has never been better than in his impassioned, Academy Award-nominated portrayal of the real-life Vietnam vet-turned-war-protester in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July.

Emma Watson

Most people — especially Harry Potter fans — still see Hermione Graigner whenever they see Emma Watson. However, one role that came closest to replacing the talented wizard as the British actor’s most celebrated work is Sam Button from the tender 2012 coming-of-age drama, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is the face of two of cinema’s most iconic action movie heroes: Indiana Jones and Han Solo from the Star Wars movies. Yet, we have seen the legend give a performance as intense, grounded, and human as Detective Captain John Book in Witness, which also earned him his sole Academy Award nomination.

Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges had already achieved a storied and widely acclaimed career by the time he landed his definitive role as freewheeling burnout, The Dude, in Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 cult favorite comedy classic, The Big Lebowski. It would take another 12 years before he gave his definitive performance as disillusioned country singer Bad Blake in Crazy Heart, which made him an Oscar winner.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jack Dawson from James Cameron’s high-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner, 1997’s Titanic, remains the one role Leonardo DiCaprio is most often associated with despite winning his Oscar for 2015’s The Revenant. However, it is his remarkable portrayal of Howard Hughes, from his rise as an inventive aristocrat to his falls as a disturbed recluse, that earns the highest praise from us. 

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has an extraordinary collection of unique characters under her belt, but none are quite as distinct or recognizable as Satine in Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 musical smash, Moulin Rouge! Yet, the following year saw her give a transformative, Oscar-winning performance in The Hours as renowned author Virginia Woolf during a dismal time in her life.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale had audiences floored by his performance as Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, which solidified him as one of the best Batman actors in cinematic history. However, we believe we already saw him at his best in 2000’s American Psycho, giving a brilliantly nuanced performance as a strangely compelling sociopath named Patrick Bateman.

Natalie Portman

Rewatching the Star Wars prequel trilogy is made easier for even its harshest critics by Natalie Portman’s empowering, grounding, and ultimately heartbreaking performance as Naboo’s queen-turned-senator, Padmé Amidala. Yet, we have it on good authority that even those fans of a galaxy far, far away would rather rewatch 2010’s Black Swan and experience her unsettling, bravura, Academy Award-winning turn as Nina Sayers — a ballerina driven mad by her devotion to the lead role of Swan Lake.

Daniel Radcliffe 

Daniel Radcliffe certainly made for a great “The Boy Who Lived” in the Harry Potter movies, but even some of the franchise’s biggest fans might agree that the English actor has only gotten better since exiting the Wizarding World. In fact, some might say he has gotten better as the roles got weirder, and none have been weirder than when he starred in 2022’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story as a hilariously exaggerated version of the legendary musical parodist.

Kate Winslet

Much like Titanic made Leonardo DiCaprio a star, starring in the blockbuster historical tragedy as Rose Bukater turned Kate Winslet into one of the top actors of her time. In spite of her wonderful performance there, many would agree the role mainly paved the way for even better opportunities, such as her Oscar-winning performance in 2008’s The Reader as Hanna Schmitz.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac was certainly on the path to achieving A-list status before joining the cast of 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but playing the charming resistance pilot was his one-way ticket across the bridge. That same year, however, he delivered a captivatingly complex and intriguingly layered performance as tech innovator Nathan Bateman in Alex Garland’s classic A24 sci-fi drama, Ex Machina

Reese Witherspoon

As Elle Woods in 2001’s Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon brings warmth, humor, and authenticity to a character who could have easily been an annoying, one-note stereotype. As June Carter Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line, she absolutely steals the show from Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash with her powerful, Oscar-winning portrayal of the legendary singer.

Henry Cavill

Being, essentially, the spitting image of Clark Kent made Henry Cavill an ideal choice to play Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel, but not quite the perfect choice. The English actor’s signature charm, charisma, and sense of humor shine through much stronger as American secret agent Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which we think is gleaming proof of his 007 material.

Brie Larson

You could say that Carol Danvers has become such a popular character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because Brie Larson is the one portraying her in Captain Marvel and subsequent films. For that, we can likely thank her magnificent, heart-wrenching, Oscar-winning performance in 2015’s Room as a single mother held captive with her son.

There are the characters we cherish and the performances we adore. Both are equally important reasons for why we love our favorite actors.

Carrie Preston has been entertaining fans on what critics are calling her “delightful” The Good Wife spinoff Elsbeth on CBS, but more than a quarter-century ago, the actress was just getting her start in acting on the beloved 1997 film My Best Friend’s Wedding. Preston played one of Kimberly’s cousins, and that means she got to take part in one of the most iconic awkward dinner scenes in movie history — the “I Say a Little Prayer” sing-along. Turns out shooting that scene might not have been as fun as it looked, as the actress explained why things were pretty gross by the second day of filming.

Alongside Rachel Griffiths, Carrie Preson played one of the self-proclaimed “vengeful sluts,” cousins to Cameron Diaz’s character. During the scene in question, the entire wedding party is at brunch while George (Rupert Everett) regales them with a made-up story of how he met Julianne (Julie Roberts). After building to a dramatic climax, George breaks into song, ultimately leading the entire restaurant in a spirited sing-along of Dionne Warwick’s “I Say a Little Prayer.” Preston opened up about that scene and shared the most unappetizing detail during a segment of The Jess Cagle Show. She recalled: 

As many times as I’ve re-watched My Best Friend’s Wedding, I’ve never for a second considered that they spent that much time on set with real shellfish. Honestly, to spend over 24 hours on that song sounds like a pretty big ask to begin with, but I’d also have to hope that any crab or lobster that wasn’t being actually eaten by the Wallace family was not real. Maybe the smell helped Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney keep such disgusted expressions on their faces the whole time.

Despite that part of the experience, it didn’t sound like Carrie Preston had one ounce of regret about getting such a fun part in one of the best rom-coms of all time. She even spilled a little tea about the scene in question, saying: 

P.J. Hogan must have known he had gold on his hands if he added that scene to the movie himself and then took two days to shoot it — lobsters and all. I’m glad he did, since it has become such a well-known scene, and my sympathies go out to all involved for their sacrifice. How long do you think it was before any of them ate shellfish again?

You can stream My Best Friend’s Wedding with a Starz subscription through Apple TV+, or catch Carrie Preston on Elsbeth at 10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS or streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Whether you are looking at the list of Julia Roberts' best rom-coms or Hugh Grant’s finest work in the genre, you’re guaranteed to find Notting Hill on both. The story about a normal guy falling in love with a famous actress has stood the test of time, and to this day people can’t get enough of it. Now, there’s a new rom-com in town about a couple who has to face the challenges that come with fame – Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine’s The Idea Of You – and fans can’t stop comparing it to the 1999 flick that’s considered one of the best romantic comedies out there. 

What Are The Similarities Between The Idea Of You And Notting Hill?

The Idea of You follows a 40-year-old single mom (Hathaway) after she has a run-in with the 24-year-old frontman of the boyband August Moon (Galitzine). Immediately they have a connection, and what follows is a story about them falling in love and navigating the challenges that come with fame and their age difference. 

Like Notting Hill, which follows your average Joe (Grant) falling for a very famous actress (Roberts), The Idea of You’s primary conflict comes from the issues that arise when a person starts dating a very famous human, except the genders are swapped. 

Plus, both lead couples have undeniable chemistry, and you can't help but root for their love. So, the comparisons are more than understandable. 

So, with all that in mind, and following the release of the film adaptation of The Idea of You on the 2024 movie schedule, fans took to social media to buzz about Anne Hathaway’s first big rom-com in years.

What Fans Are Saying About The Idea Of You And Notting Hill

The internet truly can’t get enough of the similarities between The Idea of You and Notting Hill; for example, @LEBassett posted:

Overall, the initial reactions to The Idea of You were very positive, and they continue to be as those with an Amazon Prime subscription stream the film. People comparing it to Notting Hill is a prime example of the good vibes surrounding the rom-com, because it’s some seriously high praise. That was proven again when @bashful_michael posted:

Getting into the details and looks of both movies, there were a lot of comparisons to be made too. Of course, the overall gender-swapped story of The Idea of You is comparable to Notting Hill. However, the wonderful smiles and laughs Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway have are quite similar, and the vibrant yet complex energy they bring to their respective movies is palpable. @tpwktom pointed that out in their post about the two films:

Spoilers ahead for this next comparison, but one fan, @lar1oliveira, couldn’t help but point out that the tearjerking happy endings were similar too:

According to @Richard@Roeper, all that was missing from The Idea of You was a fun little walk around Notting Hill. Considering Nicholas Galitzine’s character is British in the movie and the fact that he travels across Europe with Anne Hathaway’s leading lady, I don’t think it’s far-fetched to dream of this as a reality for this couple:

Overall, The Idea of You is poised to become one of Amazon Prime’s best movies, and I think these loving, and occasionally silly, comparisons help prove that point. 

Like Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Notting Hill, Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine have undeniable chemistry. Also, like Notting Hill, The Idea of You addresses the complexities of fame and public opinion while also remaining a very sweet and heartfelt romantic comedy. Now, the question is, like Notting Hill is for Grant and Roberts, will The Idea of You become some of Hathaway and Galitzine's best work? I'd hedge my bet that the answer is yes. 

Showrunner Michael Mann had a clear vision for Miami Vice when it debuted on NBC in 1984. He wanted an action show about two "cool" vice cops that showcased both the beauty of South Florida and its seedy underbelly. The show was incredibly popular and influential over its five-season run, and it starred some up-and-coming actors who would one day be huge. 

Miami Vice also crammed in an insane amount of wild cameos you'd never expect, most notably musicians, but also captains of industry, magicians, wrestlers, and comedians. Check out this incredible list that just scratches the surface! 

Bruce Willis

In the first season of Miami Vice, the show featured a young actor with no credits to his name, Bruce Willis. Willis played a gun runner in the episode, being pursued by Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) and Crockett (Don Johnson). It's not crazy to say that without this role, Willis would've never landed Moonlighting and maybe never gone on to have the incredible career he had. 

Gene Simmons

Newton Windsor Blade, played by KISS bass player Gene Simmons, was a long-time criminal antagonist to Tubbs and Crockett. Since the mid-'80s weren't great for Kiss, it makes sense that the legendary rocker, known for his wild hair and very long tongue, would branch out into acting. He's not the best actor, but it's crazy seeing him on the show. 

"Captain" Lou Albano And Afa Anoa'i

Professional wrestlers are pretty common to see on TV and "Captain" Lou Albano was also no stranger to TV, appearing in a Cyndi Lauper video in the '80s. Still, it's really fun to see Albano and fellow wrestler Afa Anoa'i playing henchmen to George Takai on Miami Vice in the show's third season. 

Little Richard

In the show's second season, Miami Vice really leaned into musicians as guest stars. One prime example is rock n' roll pioneer and real-life preacher Little Richard, who appeared in the episode "Out Where the Buses Don't Run," as a preacher on the beach. The episode also included up-and-coming actors Bruce McGill and David Strathairn in guest spots.  

Penn Jillette

Penn Jillette, the talking half of the legendary magic duo Penn & Teller, has a few acting credits in his career, usually as himself. His first acting credit, however, was playing a New York City criminal on Miami Vice. It is one of the rare times he didn't appear with his partner Teller at his side. 

Julia Roberts

Even the biggest stars in the world have to start somewhere. Miami Vice was one of the places that helped launch careers, and there may be none bigger than Julia Roberts. Roberts starred in one episode, as an assistant to a crime lord in the season finale of Season 4. It was only her second credited role, and two years before Pretty Woman made her an icon. 

G. Gordon Liddy

Perhaps the wildest guest star in Miami Vice history was former FBI agent and Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy. That's right, the ringleader of one of the most notorious political crimes of the 20th Century had a guest spot on the show. Liddy played a former colonel in the U.S. Army who, in a very meta way, was a great admirer of former President Nixon. 

Barbra Streisand

In a truly "what the heck?" moment, the legendary Barbra Streisand makes a literal walk-through cameo in the 18th episode of Season 4 of Miami Vice. She doesn't have a line, and it's a wide shot as Crockett and Tubbs get out of the car. They look twice at her, but she keeps walking. She was dating Don Johnson at the time, which explains why it happened, but still, it's wild. 

Miles Davis

Jazz legend Miles Davis has exactly three credits in movies or TV that are not playing himself or a musician. One of them is Miami Vice. Davis played a criminal being investigated by the vice squad and with that awesome, gravelly voice, he is actually great in the role. 

Teller

The quiet half of the magic duo Penn & Teller, Teller is a man of few words most of the time. When he appeared on Miami Vice – without his partner Penn Jillette – he had quite a few lines when he played a seedy lawyer in the fourth season episode, "Like a Hurricane." It's a rare opportunity to hear Teller speak on TV. 

Frank Zappa

Musician extrodinaire Frank Zappa was a true iconoclast. You never really knew where the guy might show up. One might think that Zappa would see Miami Vice as beneath him, artistically, or too commercial, but that's what made him so great. He wanted everything to be absurd on some level and showing up to play a criminal on a yacht on a network TV is definitely absurd. 

Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton is definitely underappreciated these days. The two-time Grammy winner was huge in the '80s. Not only did she have a slew of hits, working with the likes of Nile Rogers, Prince, and Kenny Rogers, but she sang the theme song to a Bond movie for For Your Eyes Only, and appeared on multiple episodes of Miami Vice as Sonny Crockett's love interest. 

Chris Rock

It's almost hard to believe that Chris Rock's career stretches way back to the mid-1980s, but then you see him with a guest spot on Miami Vice in 1987. It's one of his very first roles, before New Jack City and his bit part in Beverly Hills Cop II, but it's a decent role for a young actor. He plays a records clerk who understands the early days of the internet. 

Phil Collins

Not only did Phil Collins' music often appear in Miami Vice but the legendary drummer and singer also played a con man named...Phil in the second season of the show. Collins has played a few bit parts in movies over the years, but this was his biggest role as an actor. 

Lee Iacocca

Miami Vice was so good at getting guest stars, they even landed a captain of industry. Lee Iacocca was the CEO of Chrysler in the '80s and as such, he was somewhat famous, especially for not being in the entertainment world. When you talk about bonkers guest stars, Iacocca has to be one of the nuttiest. He plays (uncredited) the city park commissioner in the finale of Season 2. Weird. 

Willie Nelson

There are few more iconic musicians in the world than Willie Nelson. With a career that stretches eight decades, Nelson has done it all, including guest starring on Miami Vice. Nelson got to play a retired Texas Ranger who worked with Crockett and Tubbs on a case in the third season of the show.  

Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt is probably best known to TV audiences as one of the huge stars who appeared on the 1960s Batman show, where she played Catwoman in the third season. The actress, dancer, and singer, also made a guest spot in Miami Vice in the second season episode "Whatever Works." 

Ted Nugent

Rocker Ted Nugent is a polarizing figure. Known for his politics as much as his guitar shredding, he has thousands of fans and thousands of detractors. Like a lot of other musicians, he plays a bad guy in the second season of the show. 

Annie Golden

Beloved actress Annie Golden started her career in show business in the 1970s as the lead singer of the punk band The Shirts, who were part of the scene at the legendary CBGB's. Golden has gone on to star on stage and screen, including a recurring role in a couple of episodes as Crockett's Ferrari mechanic. Golden is best known these days for playing Norma in Orange is the New Black.

Don King

In a show as over-the-top as Miami Vice was, it only makes sense to have one of the biggest personalities of the decade appear as a guest star. Don King was larger than life in the '80s. The boxing promoter had Mike Tyson in his corner at the time, and Tyson was one of the biggest draws in sports, meaning King was everywhere. Naturally, he played a boxing promoter named "Don Cash" in an episode in Season 3. 

Bill Russell

NBA big men are no strangers to acting. Wilt Chamberlain in Conan The Destroyer, Shaquille O'Neal in Shazam, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Fletch and Airplane!  are a few examples. Celtics Legend Bill Russell was always a little more understated than those three, but he did find his way into an episode of Miami Vice playing a judge. 

Leonard Cohen

French-Canadian singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen had legions of fans for decades before his death in 2016. While his music was often featured in movies, he wasn't really an actor. Still, Miami Vice managed to score him for an episode in Season 2.

James Brown

One of the coolest things about most of the guest-starring spots on the show was that rarely did one of the stars play themselves. That even went for mega-stars like James Brown. The Godfather of Soul appears as a musician, but not himself, so that had to be fun for Brown and the rest of the cast. 

David Johansen

David Johansen will first and foremost always be known as the lead singer of The New York Dolls, but he's also played a few roles on screen, including the cab driver/ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged. He also got to play a version of himself on Miami Vice before adopting the Buster Poindexter persona in his music career. 

Glenn Frey

Miami Vice was known for all its musician guest stars, and the first of those was the late Eagles guitar player and singer Glenn Frey. Frey provided a fair amount of music for the show, including his hit song "Smuggler's Blues" written for the show. He appeared in Season 1 playing a pilot who Tubbs and Crockett need for a smuggling bust, naturally. 

George Takei (And Melanie Griffith)

It's not that surprising to see an actor like George Takei on a show like Miami Vice but what makes it bonkers is that he's in a scene with Melanie Griffith and two professional wrestlers, "Captain" Lou Albano and Afa Anoa'i. It's a wild scene with the Star Trek vet playing a criminal overlord and the wrestlers as his henchman. Griffith was dating Johnson at the time, and they would eventually marry and become parents to Dakota Johnson. 

Frankie Valli

The show reached way back in the past when it cast singer Frankie Valli for an episode in its musician-laden second season. New Jersey boy Valli's career goes all the way back to the 1950s and he's had an astonishing 29 Top-40 hits. Still, his first acting role came in 1985 on Miami Vice.

Iman

Iman was one of the first supermodels of the '70s and '80s and she was on the cover of every fashion magazine out there. She didn't get into acting until 1985 when she first appeared on the show in the same episode as G. Gordon Liddy and Bob Balaban. Later she appeared in another episode in 1988 as a different character murdered by a serial killer. 

Rita Moreno

Talk about a legend! EGOT-winner Rita Moreno is Hollywood royalty and her role on Miami Vice is unique because she plays a crooked congresswoman, which is not something you would expect from her. She's brilliant, by the way, as you expect. 

Isaac Hayes

Soul singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Isaac Hayes is no stranger to acting. For years he voiced Chef on South Park, and he had roles in legendary movies like Escape from New York, and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. He also showed up in one episode of Miami Vice, playing a bad guy, which he was great at. 

The Fat Boys

Miami Vice oozed '80s cool so seeing 1980s hip-hop pioneers The Fat Boys on the show shouldn't be a surprise, but it is, and boy is it funny. Big Buff aka The Human Beat Box saunters up to Tubbs and Crockett on a street corner and makes them an offer that the two vice cops definitely refuse, but they don't bust him, because, come on, you can't bust The Fat Boys! 

Ben Stiller

Sometimes it feels like Ben Stiller has been around forever, and that's for good reason. One of his very first roles in Hollywood was on an episode in the show's fourth season. Stiller plays a criminal busted by Crockett and Tubbs and he's got some great lines, playing a real scuzzy kind of guy. 

A lot of shows over the years have brought in some interesting and surprising celebrities for cameos and guest spots, but when you look at this list from Miami Vice it's hard to argue that any show did it better. 

In one of Julia Roberts’ truly iconic ‘90s film roles Pretty Woman, the rom-com queen played Vivian, a prostitute who agrees to be businessman Edward’s escort for many social events. In order to be this powerful corporate raider’s impressionable date, that meant being a witness to a variety of eye-popping ‘90s looks. Roberts reveals one of her famous dresses actually cost about $20 and had a very different design originally.

At the beginning of Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts’ Vivian is introduced as a prostitute wearing a blue and white dress. It had a very unique design looking more like a white tank top connected with a hoop loop to a blue and white sea-patterned skirt. While speaking to British Vogue on Instagram, the Steel Magnolias actress revealed how much that distinctive dress cost and what it originally was supposed to look like. 

I think it was a good call for the costume designer. Yes, if the bottom part of the dress was black instead of blue, I can picture it having a sort of zebra design. But the blue does help it stand out more on-screen which probably helped grab the attention of Richard Gere’s character. It’s hard to believe that the blue and white dress was only $20! Maybe it was intentional to find a dress very low in price to make it realistic for Roberts’ hooker character to afford to wear.

If you thought the cost and design secrets of Julia Roberts’ blue and white dress were intriguing, wait until you discover a secret about the vibrant red jacket she was wearing in those opening scenes. An interesting behind-the-scenes fact from Pretty Woman about that jacket is it wasn’t even bought in a store. Director Garry Marshall needed a jacket for that scene when Vivian is on the streets, but had issues finding one. That is until they saw a passerby on the Los Angeles streets wearing a coat that would be perfect for Vivian. After some kids on set offered that red coat-wearer some money to buy the jacket, it ended up being the same one worn by Roberts in the rom-rom.

Just like how Julia Roberts’ blue and white dress was initially going to be a different color, so was the signature red dress she wore. In the scene when Vivian and Edward go to the opera, the Erin Brockovich actress wears a classy red dress that will stay in our minds forever. But that beautiful dress’ color was actually debated in the studio. It was originally going to be black and then they made Roberts have to go through three different color tests to see which shade worked best for a night at the opera. Luckily, it was ultimately decided to be red which made it forever iconic.

Pretty Woman, which is one of Julia Roberts’ best rom-coms, had some of the best styles and fashions. It’s hard to believe the piercing blue and white dress that Vivian wore in the beginning was only $20 and about to be a different color. But fortunately, the final result ended up looking aces on her and made her character all the more memorable. 

You can watch the Oscar winner in all of her vibrant looks in one of the best romantic comedies of all time on your Hulu subscription. You can also look at our 2024 movie releases so you’re updated on Roberts’ upcoming projects.

Netflix released a copious amount of movies in 2023, many of which managed to strike a chord with viewers. A title that hit later in the year was Leave the World Behind – a book-to-screen adaptation directed by Sam Esmail and led by Julia Roberts. Upon its streaming release in November, many seemed to be buzzing about the post-apocalyptic flick on social media. Well, it would now appear that a number of people did watch it and are continuing to do so. That’s evidenced by the fact that the movie just hit a massive milestone for the streaming company that released it.

When it comes to streaming data, entertainment companies can be incredibly cagey. Specific figures are usually just given when a title manages to hit a serious benchmark. On that note, Netflix confirmed on X that Leave the World Behind has reached the No. 8 spot on its list of Most Popular English Films List, as it’s notched 136.3 million views. To say that this is an impressive accomplishment would be an understatement, and that’s not all. Deadline reports that the psychological thriller could very well move up one slot very soon. 

As it stands, Jennifer Lopez’s 2023 chart-topping action thriller, The Mother, is currently at No. 7 with a total of 136.4 million views. Sam Esmail’s movie, however, could surpass that tally, according to the trade. That would definitely make sense due to just how close those two numbers are at the moment. There’s even a chance that it could go higher before it's all said and done, as the streamer calculates the success of its titles using a 91-day premiere window. 

This is a true testament to the efforts of all those involved with the making and production of Leave the World Behind. I’m not sure how many analysts would’ve expected it to become a breakout success for the streamer. Nevertheless, if this era of digital media consumption has taught us anything, it’s that it’s hard to predict just what might pop off and connect with audiences. Kudos to the cast and crew for their work and managing to attract so many Netflix subscribers!

An adaptation of Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name, the movie centers on the Sandford family, who find themselves slowly grappling with the apocalypse while on a weekend getaway. They also forge a somewhat uneasy alliance with the Scotts – a father and daughter who own the house at which the Sanfords are staying. The film features a strong cast, with Julia Roberts being joined by Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha'la and Kevin Bacon. Sam Esmail both directs and writes, while Barack and Michelle Obama are among the producers. (The Obamas’ involvement actually spurred conspiracy theories.)

Leave the World Behind earned mostly positive reviews from critics and, as of this writing, it holds a 75% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes in that regard. What’s really interesting is that the audience approval score is only at 35%. Though the numbers would indicate that plenty of people tuned in, it’s hard to say how exactly that number correlates with the viewership figures that just dropped. Regardless of why people decided to watch though, I’d be willing to bet everyone walked away with endless questions regarding that ominous (and Friends-adjacent) conclusion.

I’m curious as to just how high the film will get in the rankings before that 91 day-period is officially over. Time will tell but, based on the information that’s been presented, I’d say it has a solid chance of finishing in a high spot.

You can check out Leave the World Behind for yourself now and, if you’ve already screened it and are looking for other offerings, check out the 2024 Netflix movie schedule.

Julia Roberts has starred in some of the best romantic comedies of all time, from Pretty Woman to Notting Hill. In each one, she's played a variety roles, which one would think she has varying levels of affection for. However, the actress recently revealed that she has a newfound perspective the character she played in My Best Friend's Wedding, which remains one of Roberts' her most beloved rom-coms.

In the 1997 flick, the star plays Julianne "Jules" Potter, a single NYC food critic who had made a pact with her lifelong friend, Chicago sportswriter, Michael O'Neal (Dermot Mulroney), that they would get together if they were 28 years old and still unmarried. (And yes, we still think is a totally insane idea.) That all changes when Michael announces that he's engaged to bubbly college co-ed Kimberley (Cameron Diaz), much to Jules' heartbreak, which leads the latter to kick off a campaign to sabotage the wedding. 

Yeah, the whole plot makes Jules sound like a pretty awful person, which is a conclusion that Julia Roberts herself admitted she's come to in the nearly three decades since the '90s box office hit came out. As she told her frequent collaborator, director Richard Curtis, during a January 11 interview for British Vogue:

All in all, one can understand the actress' mixed feelings on the role today. Like the actress herself, it's easy to see Jules through "such innocent eyes." However, you can't forget the humorously questionable shenanigans she engages in to squash her BFF's nuptials.

Amid the interview, the filmmaker praised his Notting Hill leading lady for not only being "willing to make a fool" of herself but also being "willing to lose" on screen. As you might remember, Jules' schemes ultimately aren't successful in My Best Friend's Wedding despite her revealing her true feelings to Michael ("Choose me! Marry me!"). Michael ends up marrying Kimmy, with Jules realizing in the end that they're right for each other. She also happily supports them at their marriage, dancing with her other best friend, gay editor George (Rupert Everett), at the wedding. 

Though Julia Roberts is also known for her Oscar-worthy turns in hearty dramas like Erin Brockovich, Steel Magnolias and August: Osage County, it's the romantic-comedy genre where she's the undisputed queen. Richard Curtis commended the actress for always defending the rom-coms that made her a household name. That pride also extends to her most recent addition to the genre, 2022's Ticket to Paradise, in which she reunited longtime buddy George Clooney. Roberts also told Curtis: 

The British filmmaker is a rom-com legend himself, who directed Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Bridget Jones' Diary and About Time. He also admitted to his seemingly surprised collaborator that one of her classic rom-coms was actually the catalyst for his own career:

Maybe there's another rom-com in the duo's future? Julia Roberts has admitted to wanting to make a My Best Friend's Wedding sequel. How great would that be with Richard Curtis in the director's seat? It'd also be cool to see the star add some additional layers to Jules in a theoretical follow-up. Such a production seems like a pipe dream right now, but it surely isn't impossible, right?

While we pray to the romantic-comedy gods, you can revisit Julia Roberts' "dodgy character" of Jules by streaming My Best Friend's Wedding with a Netflix subscription. 

Julia Roberts has had a long and fruitful career starring in a number of different kinds of roles over the years. The A-lister has never shied away from challenges like Aaron Sorkin dialogue in Charlie Wilson’s War or leading a performance heavy film like Erin Brockovich. However, Roberts has boundaries when it comes to the roles she takes and that means no nudity. Recently the actress opened up about her choice not to have a nude scene and maintain what she dubs as a “G-rated career.”

The Pretty Woman star was recently the subject of a fashion spread for British Vogue where she reflected on her iconic movie career and different role choices she's made along the way. She in particular talked about her new Netflix thriller Leave The World Behind, and why she has opted out of doing films that would require nudity from the actress. She didn’t think doing so would be an indicator of how she wants to be perceived as an actress, or of her as a person. Roberts explained (via Variety):

While there are plenty of sexually explicit movies on Netflix, Leave The World Behind is certainly not one of them, and it doesn’t seem like Roberts would ever be interested in changing her boundaries anytime soon. She was also keen to mention that she respects every actress’s personal choice when it comes to their body, and this is just a personal choice she has made for her. Roberts continued:

While nudity may be a hard line for Roberts, this hasn’t stopped the movie star from participating in a provocative movie here and there. Pretty Woman may not feature any outright nude scenes, but it’s still seen as a very sexy movie by many. Pretty Woman is centered around a prostitute, which could definitely be seen as provocative in some circles. Movies like Closer and Full Frontal aren’t exactly kids movies, but the more explicit content has rarely come from characters played by Roberts. After over 30 years in the business, Roberts has definitely earned the luxury of choice when it comes to her movies, so of course having films that are reflective of her boundaries are essential. 

Every actor should make choices that are reflective of what they are comfortable with, and for Julia Roberts, nudity just isn’t a part of it, no matter the subject matter. Actresses like Margot Robbie and Emma Stone have gotten comfortable with artfully done nudity for the sake of a creative project, but not every actress feels that way, and for Roberts to continue to stick to her own principles throughout her long career in the business is admirable. She has still managed to do creative and artful work over the years, without ever compromising what matters to her. 

You can see Julia Roberts in her latest film, Leave The World Behind, now, as the film is currently available to stream for Netflix subscribers. Fans of the Oscar winner should also check out our feature on the best movies starring the Notting Hill actress, many of which would be perfectly appropriate to be enjoyed by the whole family. 

There’s no question that more than three decades after its release, Pretty Woman remains one of the best Julia Roberts movies. Not only is it a trademark classic romantic comedy, but after you’re done watching the movie, there are many interesting Pretty Woman behind-the-scenes facts to read about. Alas, this is not one of those rom-coms that later got a sequel, but Roberts did share what her and Richard Gere’s characters might be up to these days, and I didn’t expect her revelation to be so dark.

As is usually the case with rom-coms, Pretty Woman ended on a happy note, with Gere’s Edward Lewis instructing his driver to take him to the apartment of Roberts’ Vivian Ward rather than the airport. In the final minutes of the movie, Edward ascended up the fire escape of Vivian’s building just like the knight that Vivian dreamed of rescuing her as a child did, and they officially committed themselves to one another. However, in the year 2023, Edward is no longer with us, with Roberts telling CBS Mornings the following when asked if she thinks the two characters are still together:

Well, that came out of left field, didn’t it? Sure, assuming Edward and Vivian are as old as the actors who played them, that means there’s a nearly 20-year age gap between them. Still, considering Richard Gere is 74 years old, I would have liked to think that Edward still had more years ahead of him. Going off Roberts’ comment though, I wouldn’t be surprised if the stresses of running his company finally caught up with him. Oh well, assuming he passed away recently, at least those two had 30+ years together, and it’s also good to hear Vivian is now running the company rather than it being sold off.

Of course, if a Pretty Woman sequel were to be made after all this time, I imagine that Julia Roberts’ premise wouldn’t be implemented since you’re eliminating one half of the leading duo that helped make the first movie so successful, along with things like Garry Marshall’s directing and J.F. Lawton’s script (although let’s not forget that Pretty Woman was originally going to be a much grittier film). At the very least, I could envision Gere’s Edward appearing at the beginning of the movie, then dying, and the rest of the story would pick up some time later and follow Vivian trying to find love again at an older age.

Those of you now in the mood to stream Pretty Woman can do so on AMC+, whether you’re subscribed to the platform directly or as an add-on to your Amazon Prime Video subscription. Netflix subscribers can now watch Julia Roberts in Leave the World Behind, which has been quietly racking up positive notice.

It’s been over 25 years since My Best Friend’s Wedding first came to theaters starring Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney. Roberts played Mulroney’s lifelong friend who tries to sabotage his wedding due to her jealousy towards the bride. As the ‘90s rom-com queen expressed her wish to be in a sequel to one of the best rom-coms of all time, her male lead in the 1997 film reveals whether or not he wants to join in on the fun too.

As ‘90s rom-com stars like George Clooney and Julia Roberts returned to the genre in Tickets to Paradise and even Meg Ryan came back to heartwarming romances with What Happens Later, it looks like feel-good romances are making a comeback with the OGs that helped popularize them. When speaking to ET during the premiere of his new rom-com Anyone But You, Mulroney was asked if he’d be interested in being in a My Best Friend’s Wedding sequel. This was what he had to say:

There was a time when Julia Roberts said she probably wouldn’t star in romantic comedies anymore because she didn’t think she’d be able to play a lead in the genre as effectively anymore. As the Homecoming actress has slayed in her best rom-com films back in the ‘90s, it’s understandable why she thought her time as a lead in the endearing genre wouldn’t work for today’s audiences. But when it came to deciding to film Tickets to Paradise with George Clooney, she jumped at the chance to do it if it meant being snarky to the ER vet! Clearly, audiences rushed into theaters to see the duo together for that comedy-romance film as it hit a major box office milestone of $60.6 million, a personal best for the two stars’ careers. So, it looks like she’s still got it.

Now that Julia Roberts is back playing characters wrapped up in comedy antics that end in a sweet kiss, you may be wondering if she has any interest in a My Best Friend’s Wedding sequel. While speaking last Monday with Gayle King on CBS Morning, the Pretty Woman star gave her answer on what she could picture a sequel would be like. First off, Mulroney’s character, Michael, would still be with Cameron Diaz’s Kimmy. She also said her character Julianne and best friend George would “start a do-it-yourself show on HGTV and become wildly famous." 

Since the character of George is one of the best supporting characters you'd find in classic ‘90s films, I would love to see a friendship film of him and Julianne. But if nothing happens between Michael and Julianne, what would a good sequel story be? Maybe Julianne moves on with a different guy and George’s jealousy gets the best of him for fear of losing his best friend. Or maybe George gets a new love interest and Julianne is back with her sabotaging habits. Whatever it is, audiences will flock to theaters to see it knowing the OG’s of the unexpected ‘90s box office hit would return. 

With Julia Roberts being able to picture My Best Friend’s Wedding having a sequel, it’s a relief to know Dermot Dulroney feels the same way. ‘90s stars have been pouring into rom-coms as of late, so maybe we’ll get the fan-awaited sequel we’ve been anticipating. You can watch the beloved romantic comedy yourself as it’s available on your Netflix subscription. You can also catch Dulroney playing Sydney Sweeney's father in the 2023 movie release of Anyone But You in theaters on December 22nd.

Hollywood has its fair share of "what-if" casting tales, from Will Smith turning down the role of Neo in The Matrix to Gwyneth Paltrow almost strapping on Rollergirl’s skates in Boogie Nights. There is no shortage of iconic roles that almost went to other actors. Casting decisions can make or break a movie; sometimes, what initially appears to be a missed opportunity can often transform into a stroke of serendipitous luck. Recently, Julia Roberts proved this as she shared insights into the roles she passed on and those she fortuitously stumbled into, including her iconic portrayal as Shelby in Steel Magnolias. Adding more intrigue to this story though is the fact that the role was initially on the radar of another '80s icon, Meg Ryan.

In an interview on Watch What Happens Live! With Andy Cohen, the August: Osage County performer reflected on turning down iconic parts in movies like the Meg Ryan-led You’ve Got Mail and The Last of the Mohicans, only to realize later that perhaps they wouldn’t have been as strong with her. As she tells it:

The actresses found themselves in a dance with destiny on more than one occasion though. Timing played a crucial role, like when Julia had to pass on the role of Annie in Sleepless In Seattle. At that time, she was already committed to the charming rom-com Pretty Woman, a decision that proved to be a career-defining moment. Not only did Pretty Woman catapult her to superstardom, but had Roberts taken the part in Nora Ephron's movie, who knows, we may have been robbed of one of the most beloved on-screen couples, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless In Seattle.

However, it's not just about the roles she declined; the Erin Brockovich star shed light on the constant casting carousel, revealing that her journey in the industry has been filled with instances where she benefited from actresses turning down roles. The Hook veteran recounted:

In a twist of fate, Roberts found herself stepping into the shoes of the character Shelby, initially earmarked for Ryan, showcasing her talent in Steel Magnolias. The beloved drama has since become a classic movie depiction of female friendship, and it started the actress on her way to superstardom. 

The interview delved into another serendipitous chapter in the career of the Gaslit alum. She shared a fascinating tidbit about her involvement in the late EGOT winner Mike Nichols' Closer, where another Hollywood A-lister was initially intended for her part. She elaborated:

We should count ourselves as the lucky ones, because it’s hard to imagine anyone but Roberts in these iconic roles. The entertainment industry is nothing if not an unpredictable beast. Unexpected circumstances can create opportunities for actors who might not have been initially considered for specific roles and can pave the way for cinematic history. 

Julia Roberts's best movies are available to stream or to rent wherever you get your movies. However, if you want to check out her latest work, the thriller Leave the World Behind, it is available to stream now with a Netflix subscription. 

It’s been over a month since Matthew Perry’s death at 54, and much of the public still seems to be processing the truly devastating loss. By this point, a large sum of the beloved actor’s family, friends and loved ones have weighed in on his passing. Now, Julia Roberts – one of Perry’s ex-girlfriends – is sharing her own thoughts on the star’s untimely death. The actress not only discussed what his departure from this life means to her, but she also reflected on what it was like working with Perry and his co-stars when she guest-starred on Friends. 

Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry were arguably one of the hottest Hollywood couples of the ‘90s, reportedly dating from late ‘95 to early ‘96 (per Page Six). Though their relationship didn’t last too long, it’s still remembered by those of us who remain in the know when it comes to the celebrity scene. The two seemed to maintain a somewhat friendly relationship in the years after they broke up. Roberts was promoting her new Netflix movie, Leave the World Behind, during an interview with ET when she addressed her former partner’s death. She said that when she thinks of her time with Perry, she has “all good thoughts and feelings” and also said the following: 

It’s hard to disagree with the Oscar winner when it comes to the truly “heartbreaking” nature of this situation. She’s also astute in saying that we must be sure to appreciate what we have in this life. Time is certainly precious, and one might want to strive to make the most of it and share it with those we care about while we’re around. Even when a person is gone though, those who were closest to them are still left with memories. And the Pretty Woman star definitely seems to have some sweet ones involving her ex-boyfriend.

Notching one of Friends’ best guest appearances, Julie Roberts appeared in the Season 2 episode “The One After The Superbowl Part 2,” which aired in 1996. One of the episode’s subplots involved Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing reuniting with childhood chum Susie Moss (Roberts), who goes on a date with him. However, Susie’s ultimate motivation is to get revenge on Chandler for embarrassing her in grade school by pulling her dress up in front of other students. (She ultimately gets her revenge). Perry did a lot to convince Roberts to appear on the show and, based on the comments she recently shared, she appreciated the gig: 

It’s sweet to hear the Ticket to Paradise star’s lovely sentiments on the cast and her ex. Others have shared sweet remembrances of Matthew Perry, including other series guest stars Selma Blair and Paget Brewster. Sweet tributes came from Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and the rest of the Friends cast as well. Perry may be gone, but the anecdotes shared by his co-stars, former girlfriend and more will help ensure that he is never forgotten. 

You can see Julie Roberts’ appearance on Friends by streaming the episode with a Max subscription. Also, Netflix subscribers will be able to see Leave the World Behind when it starts streaming on December 8.

Netflix has seen its share of A-list talent starring in its original movies this year, with Adam Sandler, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Lopez, Natalie Portman and more going straight to streaming with some of their latest projects. Now Julia Roberts will team up with a number of other big names for Leave the World Behind, a movie from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground. The movie is set for release December 8 on the streamer, and it’s been racking up quite a bit of positive feedback from the critics.

Julia Roberts stars as Amanda Sandford, whose family finds itself in unsettling circumstances on vacation when Mahershala Ali’s G.H. Scott shows up at the door claiming to be the owner of the rental home. The all-star cast also includes Ethan Hawke, Myha'la and Kevin Bacon, so let’s see what the critics are saying, starting with Constance Grady of Vox. The critic rates the 2023 Netflix movie schedule entry 3.5 out of 5, praising writer/director/producer Sam Esmail as well as Mahershala Ali — in a role originally intended for Denzel Washington — who makes a meal out of the role. Grady continues: 

Tom Gliatto of People says it’s a suspenseful film that plots its course from tiny aggressions to colossal ones, with tension strong enough to snap a pencil. Gliatto continues: 

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gives Leave the World Behind 3.5 out of 4 stars, praising the sharp pacing, wonderful ensemble cast and near-perfect payoff. Roeper writes: 

Carla Renata of The Curvy Critic calls the movie “spectacularly smart,” and one that will leave audiences stressed out and longing for hope. Its cast is a “pure chemistry fire of riches,” with each actor bringing specificity and authenticity to their character. The critic says of this 2023 new movie release: 

Kristen Lopez of The Wrap calls the apocalypse film a “two-hour descent into chaos,” warning that audiences will be compelled yet utterly terrified. While Julia Roberts and Myha’la are “amazing” to watch play off of each other, this critic agrees with others who say Mahershala Ali steals the show. Lopez concludes: 

Leave the World Behind has already compiled impressive scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with 39 critics cumulatively rating it 79% Fresh, and the audience score even higher at 89%, though that’s also from fewer than 50 ratings. We’ll have to see how audiences continue to receive the movie when it becomes available to stream with a Netflix subscription on Friday, December 8. In the meantime, check out what else is new and coming soon to Netflix. 

Cher is of course a legend, in the world of music, movies, fashion and otherwise. Given her incredible track record across six decades, we certainly wouldn’t blame the artist if she had a big head over her body of work, but apparently that’s not the case. When the multi-hyphenate talent was recently asked about whether she goes back and listens to or watches her own artistry, she said “She’s not a big Cher fan,” and the host of big names sitting next to her we’re seriously not having it. 

When Cher guested on The Graham Norton Show alongside Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and Timothée Chalamet this week, the topic came up. Once Cher divulged she doesn’t really take the time to consume her own work, the couch of movie stars went into a hilarious pep talk. Check it out on TikTok: 

As Cher shared, she doesn’t find herself sitting down and listening to her own music, though as she admits she does tend to gravitate towards the songs of hers that were never hits. And when it comes to watching her own movies if they come on TV, she absolutely does not tune in. Her confession led Tom Hanks to say this: 

Who knew Tom Hanks was a Mamma Mia fan? While he and his wife Rita Wilson famously produced the movies, I didn't think he'd so enthusiastically bring it up like this. The actor passionately described Cher’s big moment in the movie musical sequel which she was cast in back in 2017, joining the likes of Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Andy Garcia. Cher makes a surprise appearance near the end of Here We Go Again as the pop star mother of Donna Sheridan who sings of the romance she had with Andy Garcia’s Fernando with the hit ABBA song of the same name, of course. 

Along with Hanks’ speaking highly of her Mamma Mia appearance, Timothée Chalamet threw in 1987’s Moonstruck into the mix, which is one of the most critically-acclaimed romantic comedies. Julia Roberts also named Silkwood, a 1983 biopic also starring Meryl Streep and Kurt Russell. The fun segment between the four A-list stars ended with Hanks saying they should all go see Cher movies together, which Roberts coined a “Cher-A-Thon.” 

It’s a fun and quite sweet moment to see a host of big stars hype 77-year-old Cher up, who is undoubtedly a legend in Hollywood along with the music industry. The moment shows how the actress has touched each of the other actors on the couch with different films of hers she has made. (Not to mention how Cher actually inspired Lady Gaga’s A Star Is Born performance). 

Cher has accomplished a lot in 60 years, and is among talents who are just one award away from an EGOT. Plus, she has a new Christmas album simply called Christmas which she released back in October. Seriously, she's an icon.

Aside from Cher being hyped up, her colleagues on the couch are all part of 2023 new movie releases. Hanks was in Asteroid City and A Man Called Otto this year, Roberts’ stars in a Netflix movie called Leave The World Behind, coming to Netflix on December 8 and Chalamet stars in Wonka, which he is already getting rave reactions for, which is coming to theaters on December 15. So along with planning your "Cher-a-thon" make sure to check out all these actor's movies as well.

Many Hollywood stars don't actually live in California these days. While some of the stars on this list might have a home in LA, they certainly seem to prefer to spend their off time very far away from the glitz and the glamour. Here are just some of the many stars that live outside of the Golden State. 

Nicole Kidman - Nashville

Nicole Kidman and her husband (and fellow Aussie) Keith Urban have quite a few homes around the world, including LA and their native Australia, but it's the greater Nashville area that they call home most of the time. 

Meryl Streep - Connecticut

21-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep was born in New Jersey, went to school at Vassar and Yale, and certainly strikes me as an east coast type of person. While she's lived in LA at times throughout her career, it's Connecticut that she's called home for most of her adult life. She's lived in Salisbury for decades now. 

John Goodman - New Orleans

John Goodman spent years living in LA, but in the '90s he'd had enough of California and he and his Louisiana-born wife made a choice between his hometown of St. Louis, and her home state. They moved to New Orleans, where they've been ever since. 

Matthew McConaughey - Austin

You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the boy. Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, TX, went to school in Austin, and has long lived on a ranch near the Texas state capital and getting fed up with the paparazzi in Malibu.

Bill Murray - Charleston, SC

Bill Murray has lived all over the place, LA, NYC, and Chicago... but he's a known fixture around Charleston, South Carolina and even owns his own restaurant in town called Harold's Cabin. He's also invested in the Charleston minor league baseball team. 

Harrison Ford - Jackson Hole, WY

Harrison Ford moved to LA in the '60s to follow his acting dreams, but once he hit it big, he bailed out. While he does own a home in Brentwood, he spends most of his time at his 800-acre ranch outside Jackson Hole, WY. The ranch has been his primary residence since the 1980s and it seems he prefers to call that home. 

Demi Moore - Idaho

When Covid hit in early 2020, Demi Moore and her daughters holed up together in her longtime house in Sun Valley, Idaho. They were soon joined by her ex-husband and father to her daughters, Bruce Willis. Eventually, Willis' current wife Emma Heming, and her child with Willis also joined the big happy family. Moore has lived in Sun Valley for years and it's often featured on her Instagram page.

Jeff Daniels - Chelsea, MI

Jeff Daniels grew up in the small town of Chelsea, Michigan and as soon as he could after finding success in Hollywood, he moved back. He's a true small-town kind of guy and it makes perfect sense. While he makes his money in Hollywood, his heart is always in Michigan. 

Chris Rock - New Jersey

Chris Rock has always been an East Coast guy. Though he was born in South Carolina, his family moved to Brooklyn when he was a baby. He grew up in Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy. He started his comedy career in New York City, and for a couple of decades has lived in Alpine, New Jersey.

John Travolta - Ocala, FL

John Travolta loves to fly and is a first-class plane spotter. As such, he seems to have found the perfect place to live. The Pulp Fiction star has called Ocala, FL home for decades now. While that might sound odd, it's not when you find out his house backs up to an actual airport, so he can park his planes right at home. Sounds pretty awesome. 

Tom Cruise - Clearwater, FL

Superstar Tom Cruise actually has houses all over the world. LA and London, for starters. The most surprising place he's owns property though has to be Clearwater, FL. Cruise has what's described in the Tampa newspaper as a "sprawling penthouse" just blocks from the headquarters of the Church of Scientology, to which he has long been an outspoken member, so it makes sense. 

Taylor Swift - Nashville

Music star Taylor Swift grew up in Pennsylvania and Nashville and still has a home in the latter, where she seems to spend a lot of her time when she's not on the road. In fact, she has homes all over the place, including LA, Rhode Island, and New York City. 

Chris Evans

Chris Evans grew up just outside of Boston in the suburb of Sudbury, MA. Even though he's become one of the biggest stars in the world, he's stayed close to home. He and his new bride live nearby where he grew up in Massachusetts, after getting married in Boston. 

Chris Hemsworth - Byron Bay

The Australian native Chris Hemsworth couldn't ignore the siren call of home. After years in Hollywood becoming one of the biggest stars in the world, he decided it was time to move home. He and his wife Elsa Pataky settled in a small surfing community south of Brisbane called Byron Bay in 2015 and have never looked back. 

Tommy Lee Jones - Texas

Tommy Lee Jones doesn't seem to care much for the trappings of fame, though he has used some of the money he's earned as an actor to buy a huge tract of land in Texas. Jones might be Harvard-educated and work in Hollywood, but he's Texas through and through. 

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani - Tishomingo, OK

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani might be Hollywood's most unlikely couple, at least until you see them together. Less surprising is that they split time between her home stomping grounds in LA and his in Oklahoma. The two built a house on Shelton's ranch in Tishomingo, OK, where they spend most of their time. 

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds - Bedford, NY

The enduring couple of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds don't seem to be interested in big city living, instead opting for the small upstate town of Bedford, NY They maintain a couple of other houses, but their real home is in Westchester County, NY, where they live a quiet, but luxurious life in a small enclave with some celebrity neighbors including Martha Stewart and Micheal Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. 

Mark Ruffalo - Callicoon, NY

Mark Ruffalo is another actor who prefers the peace and quiet of small-town America to the bright lights of Hollywood. The Avengers star and his wife Sunny live in the tiny berg of Callicoon in the Catskill mountains of New York State. 

Elijah Wood - Austin

Elijah Wood doesn't actually live in a shire, like his Lord of the Rings character, but he doesn't live in a huge city, either. Wood has called Austin, TX home for years and a when he was on Hot Ones, he explained where to get all the best meals in town. 

Dave Chappelle - Yellow Springs, OH

Yellow Springs, Ohio might be the last place you'd expect to find a celebrity living among us, but when you understand Dave Chappelle's background, it makes perfect sense. The legendary comedian grew up in Yellow Springs and though he's made a name for himself in Hollywood, the Ohio town is clearly the place he calls home. 

Julia Roberts - Taos, NM

Many years ago, Julia Roberts bought a ranch in Taos, NM, and it seems every year, she spends more and more time there. She even married her husband Danny Moder there. While she does split time in a house in Malibu, closer to work, she seems to prefer the peaceful life of Taos, as she's explained in the past. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Ireland

Long before Daniel Day-Lewis decided to retire from acting, he had settled into living in Ireland’s County Wicklow. It's hardly surprising that an actor like Lewis would shun the spotlight, after all, he really only worked when the part really fascinated him, and he retired in 2017 despite unparalleled success as a performer. 

John Cena - Land o' Lakes, Florida

Don't confuse John Cena's hometown of Land o' Lakes, Florida for a stick of butter. The Fast X star has lived in the town outside Tampa for a long time. Even as his star has risen in Hollywood, with a major role in the DCEU as Peacemaker both in The Suicide Squad and his own show, The Peacemaker, Cena has resisted moving to California. 

Vera Farmiga - Woodstock, NY

Upstate New York is a popular place for stars to escape the public eye and Vera Farmiga is one of the stars that prefers it that way. The Many Saints of Newark actor lives in the famous artist colony of Woodstock in the Hudson Valley, following in a long tradition of celebrities retreating to the woods to get out of the spotlight, even when she's popping into rock shows in Woodstock to play Iron Maiden covers in a bar band. 

Woody Harrelson - Maui, HI

Woody Harrelson is definitely a man who moves to the beat of his own drummer, so the fact that he lives in Hawaii is hardly a shock. He even semi-retired for a while at the height of his career. While he's not "off the grid", he's certainly off the beaten path. Thankfully, his home was unaffected by the tragic wildfires earlier this year. 

John Mayer - Livingstone, MT

John Mayer has settled down into a much quieter life in recent years. The Dead & Co guitar player has found peace and quiet in the small Montana town of Livingstone. While life on the road certainly has its wild times, one would think, it must be nice for Mayer to get back home for some relaxing peace. 

Ken Jennings - Seattle, WA

Despite being named co-host of Jeopardy! a couple of years ago, and really taking a shine to the gig that shoots in LA, Ken Jennings does not seem to have plans to permanently relocate to Southern California. Jennings and his family have long called Seattle home and it seems he's happy to commute when it's time to shoot new episodes of the legendary game show. 

Robert De Niro - New York City

It's hard to imagine Robert De Niro living anywhere but New York. He just doesn't seem to be a California type of guy at all, right? He even helped get the Tribeca Film Festival off the ground, which bolstered not only NYC but the actual neighborhood he lives in in Manhattan as it struggled to recover from the 9/11 attacks. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is bi-coastal, for sure. She does have a house in LA, but her husband Cooke Maroney is an art dealer whose business and gallery are in New York City, so she seems to spend most of the time she's not working in the Big Apple. 

Dan Aykroyd - Sydenham, Ontario

Dan Aykroyd has always been proud to be Canadian and he's been a longtime resident of Sydenham, Ontario, near Kingston, ON, not too far from where he grew up in Ottawa. 

Jennifer Hudson - Chicagoland Area

Superstar Jennifer Hudson is a Chicago girl and as such, she's stayed close to home. She may be a worldwide star, but Chicago is what made her who she is today and despite the means to live anywhere, Hudson chooses to live in the suburb of Burr Ridge, outside Chi-Town. 

Nikki Glaser - St. Louis, MO

Despite being the hometown of a lot of huge stars like John Goodman, Sterling K. Brown, Jenna Fischer, and Jon Hamm, most don't stay in town. The exception to that rule is comedian and comedy roast specialist Nikki Glaser. She moved back during the pandemic and found it much more fulfilling to live in her hometown than on either coast. 

While Los Angeles may be the city of dreams, it's not always the city of permanent residence for stars that have reached those lofty heights. Most may get their start on the West Coast but many of the biggest stars in the world don't live in California. 

Every A-list actor had to start somewhere and all you have to do to find out what your favorite celebrity’s very first gig was is take a look at their profile on The Internet Movie Database. We sifted through the much celebrated site and found the first IMDb credit of some of today’s biggest stars. 

Tom Cruise (Endless Love)

As is often the case with many actors, Tom Cruise’s very first role is nothing like Maverick from the Top Gun movies, Ethan Hunt from the Mission: Impossible movies, or nearly anything else the Oscar nominee is known for for. He appears in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 romance, Endless Love — starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt — as a student named Billy who describes the time he attempted arson at just 8 years old. 

Jennifer Lawrence (Monk)

While appearing on Conan to promote the film that earned her her first Oscar — 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook — Jennifer Lawrence recalled the embarrassing story behind her screen acting debut in an episode of Monk from the crime drama's fifth season called “Mr. Monk and the Big Game.” She thought she was playing a member of a high school basketball team that Tony Shalhoub’s title character helps take over, but would discover a little too late that she was playing their mascot.

Robert Downey Jr. (Pound)

It’s no wonder Robert Downey Jr. is such a confident and charismatic onscreen presence when you learn he has been in the game since he was 5, having debuted in 1970’s Pound. Written and directed by his late father, Robert Downey Sr., the bizarre, X-rated, avant garde drama stars a cast of characters who appear human, but are really dogs waiting to be adopted, including the future Academy Award nominee and Iron Man actor as a puppy. 

Zoe Saldaña (Law & Order) 

Years before she became one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Zoe Saldaña’s career started when she appeared in the second half of a two-part Law & Order episode called “Refuge,” alongside Orange is the New Black cast member, Selenis Leyva, as her sister. Coincidentally, Saldaña would also appear in a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode in a different role years later.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Romper Room)

As he revealed to David Letterman in 1995, Leonardo DiCaprio made his show business debut at 3 on the children’s program Romper Room, but was so excited to be on camera, he had to be removed for disruptive behavior. He later appeared on shows like 1989's The New Lassie (pictured) or Growing Pains, paving the way for him to reach A-list status in the Titanic cast and win his overdue Oscar for The Revenant. His wild success today desperately makes us wish we could see his Romper Room footage, which may remain a lost relic, unfortunately.

Jenna Ortega (Rob)

At just 10 years old, Jenna Ortega proved she was destined to be a top Scream Queen when she made her debut on an episode of the short-lived CBS sitcom, Rob, called “The Baby Bug.” The future Emmy-nominated Wednesday cast member gets in (and wins) a fight against the title character — played by former SNL star, Rob Schneider — over a baby doll.

Nicolas Cage (The Best Of Times)

When his name was still Nicolas Coppola, the man who would be Nicolas Cage starred in a failed pilot for a coming-of-age ABC sitcom from 1981 called The Best of Times. The future Oscar winner’s scenes are a precursor to the iconic manic energy he would exhibit in movies like Vampire’s Kiss or Face/Off that every Cage fan should seek out if they can.

Margot Robbie (Neighbours)

Just like many other A-list Australian actors, Oscar nominee Margot Robbie got her start on a long-running soap opera called Neighbours when she was 17. The lead Barbie cast member actually appeared in one episode from 2022 to reprise her role as Donna Freedman.

Denzel Washington (Wilma)

Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is a living legend of the big screen, but made a name for himself on the small one. His very first gig was Wilma — a made-for-TV biopic about Wilma Rudolph that aired on NBC in 1977 — as the Olympic track sprinter’s then husband, Robert Eldridge.

Meryl Streep (Everybody Rides The Carousel)

Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep has done some great voice acting over the years, including an episode of The Simpsons, a Wes Anderson movie called Fantastic Mr. Fox, and her first job: Everybody Rides the Carousel. Originally airing on CBS in 1976, the animated film is inspired by psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson’s “Eight Stages of Development” and Streep lends her voice to the “Stage 6” segment, which covers intimacy. 

Harrison Ford (Dead Heat On A Merry-Go-Round)

We’ve seen Harrison Ford play an intergalactic pilot in the Star Wars movies, a daredevil archaeologist in the Indiana Jones movies, and other intimidating professions, but it all started when he played a bellboy. He appears in one scene from writer and director Bernard Girard’s 1966 crime thriller, Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, delivering a message to a “Mr. Ellis,” which is really an alias for the con man protagonist, Eli Kotch, played by James Coburn.

Scarlett Johansson (Late Night With Conan O'Brien)

When Scarlett Johansson appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien to promote one of the best 2000s movies, Lost in Translation, the host recalls that the future Marvel star’s first paid gig was a bit on his show from a decade earlier. She played a Spelling Bee champion who turns out to have a habit of missing a letter or two, as exposed by Andy Richter.

Robert De Niro (Three Rooms In Manhattan)

New York just happens to have been the setting for many great Robert De Niro movies, such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and his very first gig — as an extra — called Three Rooms in Manhattan. You can very clearly see the two-time Oscar-winner in the background during a scene from the 1965 French drama about an actor’s romantic encounter with a woman in the Big Apple.

Amy Adams (Drop Dead Gorgeous)

The first time you saw Amy Adams might have been on The Office or in 2007's Enchanted or even in one of her many Academy Award-nominated performances — such as from Doubt or Arrival. However, her true introduction to the world was in an underrated ‘90s movie called Drop Dead Gorgeous — a mockumentary-style dark comedy in which she plays a contestant for a beauty pageant plagued by a murderous plot.

Brad Pitt (Hunk)

Fittingly, one of Hollywood’s most iconic “hunks” debuted in a movie called Hunk, in which a computer nerd’s deal with the devil makes him a looker. However, Brad Pitt is not the titular hunk of this 1987 comedy, but an extra who can be seen in the top right hand corner of the frame, enjoying some sun on the beach, for one scene.

Tom Hanks (He Knows You’re Alone)

In 2023, two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks spoke to Jess Eagle about getting his SAG card for starring in a low budget slasher called He Knows You’re Alone as a psych student who befriends an engaged woman stalked by a killer. The Forrest Gump star would make a few other contributions to the horror genre, such as Joe Dante’s The Burbs, an episode of Tales from the Crypt, the Halloween special Toy Story of Terror, and as one of his best SNL characters, David S. Pumpkins.

Sandra Bullock (Hangmen)

The movie that skyrocketed Sandra Bullock to the A-list was one of the best action movies of all time, Speed. The Academy Award winner’s very first movie (and acting gig in general) was also an action flick from 1987 called Hangmen, in which she plays the girlfriend of a teen whose father must stay one step ahead of a terrorist organization that has infiltrated the CIA.

Ryan Gosling (The All New Mickey Mouse Club)

When he was 13, Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mousketeer on Disney Channel’s variety series, The All New Mickey Mouse Club, where he introduced the world to his skills as an actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. He would later utilize these skills to much acclaim in the likes of La La Land and Barbie, but where he learned to be a stoic, intimidating action hero in other great Gosling movies like Drive and Blade Runner 2049 remains a mystery.

Julia Roberts (Crime Story)

Julia Roberts became America’s Sweetheart in the 1990s, but what officially launched her career was Crime Story — an Emmy-nominated 1960s-set detective drama that aired in 1980s, starring Dennis Farina and produced by Michael Mann. The Oscar winner appears in Season 1’s “The Survivor” — which you can check out with a Peacock subscription — as the teenager daughter of Farina’s character’s love interest, who is discovered to have survived a harrowing assault.

Ben Affleck (The Dark End Of The Street)

Ben Affleck’s career began when he played a young boy named Tommy in the 1981 drama The Dark End of the Street, which follows a teen couple whose information about a murder could save an innocent man’s life. That sounds like the kind of thriller that the Oscar-winning star and director of Argo could handle from behind the camera, too.

Michelle Yeoh (The Owl Vs. Bumbo)

Before becoming a martial arts movie legend, Everything Everywhere All At Once star Michelle Yeoh made her acting debut alongside martial arts legend Sammo Hung in this Hong Kong-based action-comedy. Kung also directed The Owl vs. Bumbo, in which two former thieves are forced to become mentors at a youth center.

Zendaya (Shake It Up)

Zendaya became an Emmy-winning actor for her role in the Euphoria cast as a troubled teen. However, when she was actually a teen, she got her start as a Disney Channel star on Shake It Up, in which Rocky Blue (Zendaya) and her best friend, CeCe Jones (Bella Thorne), land gigs as professional dancers on a hit variety show.

Jake Gyllenhaal (City Slickers)

Jake Gyllenhaal earned his first Academy Award nomination for playing a cowboy in one of his best movies, Brokeback Mountain. Somewhat coincidentally, the Spider-Man movie villain actor made his debut as the son of an aspiring cowboy (played by Billy Crystal) in the classic ‘90s comedy, City Slickers. 

Florence Pugh (The Falling)

Even before landing her Oscar-nominated role in 2019’s Little Women cast, Florence Pugh became an awards darling right out the gate with 2014’s The Falling. In fact, both she and Game of Thrones cast member Maisie Williams were nominated for Young British/Irish Performer of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards for their performances in the coming-of-age period thriller.

Matt Damon (Mystic Pizza)

Years before reuniting with her in the Ocean’s Eleven cast, Matt Damon made his acting debut alongside Julia Roberts in Mystic Pizza. The future Jason Bourne movies star appears in a small role from a memorable dinner scene in the 1988 romantic dramedy.

Jamie Lee Curtis (Quincy M.E.)

Three years before landing her big screen debut in the first Halloween movie, Jamie Lee Curtis tried screen acting for the first time in a Season 2 episode of Quincy M.E.  Her small, but still memorable, role is a woman whom the titular medical examiner (played by Jack Klugman) accidentally walks in on at a department store changing room. This prompts her to tell him that he won’t find what he is looking for here with a level of spunk that would become signature for the Academy Award winner.

Johnny Depp (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

Wes Craven’s 1984 supernatural slasher not only saw the debut of classic horror villain, Freddy Krueger (Robert England), but also of one of the biggest celebrities of all time. Johnny Depp’s career began when he joined the A Nightmare on Elm Street cast as Glen Lantz, who, arguably, has the best death scene in the film at the hands of the razor-clawed, dream-infiltrating boogeyman.

Brie Larson (The Tonight Show With Jay Leno)

Eight-year-old Brie Larson launched her career by starring in a series of faux ads for The Tonight Show during its Jay Leno era. The now Academy Award winner for Room and Captain Marvel actor recalled the experience on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show before showing a clip of her in a sketch called “Road Kill Easy Bake Oven.”

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite being known best today for his brazen sense of humor, Deadpool movies star Ryan Reynolds started his career in a most earnest way. He starred in 18 episodes of the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen — which was also known was Hillside — in the role of Billy. 

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

While her breakthrough role was the lead of Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway broke out in 1999 on a TV show called Get Real. The short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS’s Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Jackie Chan (Big And Little Wong Tin Bar)

Fitting how one of the most quintessential kung fu movie actors, Jackie Chan, got his start in a movie from 1962 about the art itself called Big and Little Wong Tin Bar. You almost feel like you are watching the birth of a martial arts master as the future Rush Hour star plays a student of martial arts.

How does your first job compare to these?

Though Hollywood A-listers make more money for one movie that some of us will see in a lifetime, there are times where even some of the highest grossing actors of all time didn’t make as much as you'd think. Over the years, stars like Robert Downey Jr., Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt have brought in massive paydays for acting and producing, but those same stars have also seen incredibly small paychecks for one reason or another.

If you’ve ever wanted to know about 33 actors who made way less than you’d think for a beloved movie, look no further…

Robert Downey Jr. Made $500,000 For Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. was the first major star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and would be a staple of the Infinity Saga for more than a decade. During this time, he made a ton of money for his superhero performances. However, he only took home a comparatively small payday of $500,000 for 2008’s Iron Man, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Bill Murray Made $9,000 For Rushmore

Bill Murray is one of the most beloved actors of all time and a frequent collaborator of Wes Anderson’s ever since the release of Rushmore back in 1998. That fruitful partnership started out modestly for the SNL alum, as he was paid $9,000 for his take on Herman Blume, per Vulture.

Gal Gadot Made $300,000 For Wonder Woman

When Gal Gadot first signed on to portray Diana Prince in the DCEU back in 2014, Variety reported that the Fast & Furious star would take on a salary of $300,000 per movie, including Wonder Woman, which was released three years later.

Julia Roberts Made $300,000 For Pretty Woman

Though she had some success at the box office prior to its release, Julia Roberts turned into a massive star thanks to 1990’s Pretty Woman and one of the most well-known A-listers on the planet. However, Roberts, who would go on to earn a ton of cash for movies like Erin Brockovich years later, reportedly received a modest sum of $300,000 for her role in the all-time great romantic comedy, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hilary Swank Made $3,000 For Boys Don’t Cry

Hilary Swank won her first Oscar and became one of the most talked about actresses thanks to her transformative portrayal of Brandon Teena in Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don’t Cry. When appearing on Women’s Dinner Party years later, Swank revealed she was paid $3,000 for the role, which wasn’t enough to qualify for health insurance.

Tom Hanks Made $50,000 For Toy Story

Tom Hanks, who won two Academy Awards prior to the 1995 release of Toy Story, was reportedly paid $50,000 to provide the voice of Woody in the landmark Pixar film, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the same article, the publication reported that Hanks made $5 million upfront for its 1999 sequel.

Oprah Winfrey Made $35,000 For The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple back in 1985. The media mogul, who is worth billions today, later told Essence she was paid $35,000 for portrayal of Sofia.

Robin Williams Made $75,000 For Aladdin

Aladdin will forever be remembered as one of the best Robin Williams movies, and rightfully so. And while the late actor provided countless hours of incredible lines for his co-starring performance, he only made $75,000 for his troubles, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jamie Lee Curtis Made $8,000 For Halloween

John Carpenter’s Halloween, one of the best horror movies, turned Jamie Lee Curtis into a scream queen almost overnight. However, the Academy Award winner later told People Magazine that she only made $8,000 for her portrayal of Laurie Strode.

Nick Castle Made $25/Day For Halloween

Nick Castle has played Michael Myers a total of five times over the years, with the most recent being 2022’s Halloween Ends. Though the role made him a horror icon, Castle told Vanity Fair he was only paid $25 for each day of shooting in the original back in 1978.

Matthew McConaughey Made Less Than $200,000 For Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, a role that ushered in a new era of his career. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was paid less than $200,000 upfront for the movie9 but did receive an undisclosed amount on the backend.

Chris Evans Made $300,000 For Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans was a driving force for the first few phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was paid handsomely for his efforts later on. However, when he was cast to play Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, he reportedly only made $300,000, per The Guardian.

Jeff Daniels Made $50,000 For Dumb And Dumber

Jeff Daniels, who was mostly known for his dramatic roles at the time, was cast to appear alongside Jim Carrey in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber despite New Line Cinema wanting someone else. Years later, the directors told The Hollywood Reporter that the studio low-balled him with an offer of $50,000, thinking he’d say no. You know the rest.

Taraji P. Henson Made $150,000 For The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Taraji P. Henson received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a performance that netted her a great deal of screen time. However, as she later told Variety, she was only paid $150,000 for the gig, which was several hundred thousand dollars less than her initial request of $500,000.

Jonah Hill Made $60,000 For The Wolf Of Wall Street 

Jonah Hill was paid $60,000 for his portrayal of Donnie Azoff in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. While that may seem small considering the size of his role, Hill later told Howard Stern (via BBC) that he immediately took the offer, adding that he would have sold his house and given all his money to work with the acclaimed director. 

Orlando Bloom Made $175,000 For The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy 

Orlando Bloom was an instrumental part of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with his character, Legolas, being featured heavily throughout all three movies. During a 2023 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, the actor revealed he was paid a total of $175,000 for the entire project.

Jon Heder Initially Made $1,000 For Napoleon Dynamite 

Napoleon Dynamite pretty much came out of nowhere and took the world by storm in 2004, partly because its star, Jon Heder. A few years after the film’s release, Heder told Stuff Magazine that he initially made $1,000 from the movie but was later able to negotiate his deal after MTV picked up distribution.

Daisy Ridley Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Daisy Ridley was a relatively unknown actress when she was cast in one of the lead roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which might explain her low salary for the 2015 blockbuster. According to Variety, that number was reportedly between $100,000 and $300,000.

John Boyega Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

John Boyega’s Finn was one of the most heavily featured characters in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the young actor reportedly only received a payday somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000, per Variety.

James Earl Jones Made $7,000 For Star Wars

James Earl Jones’ dynamic voice gave Darth Vader a menacing edge in George Lucas' 1977 film Star Wars (and the rest of the franchise), but did you know that he was only paid $7,000 for the first movie? When speaking with the American Film Institute, the legendary actor admitted that he thought that was good money at the time.

Mel Gibson Made $9,000 For Mad Max 

After appearing in Mad Max, Mel Gibson would go on to lead some of the best action movies of all time, but back when he was cast in the late ‘70s, he was a broke college student. That’s why, as he told ExperienceWith.com, his $9,000 salary for George Miller’s dystopian thriller seemed like a fortune.

Seann William Scott Made $8,000 For American Pie 

American Pie was one of the biggest movies of the ‘90s, and Seann William Scott’s Stifler was its breakout character. So, how much did the young actor make for his career-defining role? Well, as he told The Rich Eisen Show in 2023, he was paid $8,000, most of which he spent on a used Thunderbird.

Christian Bale Made The Minimum Salary For American Psycho 

Christian Bale’s take on the unhinged Patrick Bateman in 2000’s American Psycho is one of the actor’s most unforgettable performances, but it could very well be one of his smallest paydays. Though he didn’t reveal the exact number in a 2022 GQ profile, the actor did say it was the “absolute minimum they were illegally allowed” to pay him.

Michelle Williams Made $625,000 For All The Money In The World 

Michelle Williams was reportedly only paid $625,000 for her portrayal of Gail Harris in Ridley Scott’s 2017 biographical crime thriller All the Money in the World, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though this is a hefty fee, her co-star, Mark Wahlberg, was reported to have taken home $5 million for his role.

Barkhad Abdi Made $65,000 For Captain Phillips 

Barkhad Abdi became an overnight sensation following the release of Captain Phillips, in which he plays lead pirate Abduwali Muse. According to the New Yorker, Abdi’s acting debut and Oscar-nominated performance earned him $65,000.

Jennifer Lopez Made $0 For Hustlers 

Jennifer Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Hustlers, a movie she made for free. During a GQ breakdown of her biggest career moments, the multi-talented star said she starred in and produced the movie for no upfront money, as she was investing in herself. However, it wasn’t disclosed as to how much she made on the backend of the film’s release, which was $157.6 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Gunnar Hansen Made $800 For Texas Chain Saw Massacre 

Gunnar Hansen’s Leatherface is an instantly recognizable horror villain thanks to his mask made of human flesh and signature chainsaw. But did you know that the actor was only paid a three-digit sum for his performance in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? In 2013, the actor told Fast Company that he made $800 for his part in the iconic ‘70s horror movie.

Dustin Hoffman Made $20,000 For The Graduate 

The Graduate was the movie that turned Dustin Hoffman into a young Hollywood star, but it was also one that didn’t earn him a whole lot of money. According to a 1968 New York Times article, Hoffman reportedly made $20,000 for his career-defining role, but he only ended up keeping $4,000 of that after expenses and taxes were taken out.

John Candy Made $414 For His Home Alone Cameo 

The late John Candy appears in Home Alone for only a few minutes, but it’s still wild to think that his cameo only netted the actor $414. In the Home Alone episode of Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us, it is revealed that Candy’s unforgettable portrayal of Gus Polinski, the Polka King of the Midwest, didn’t necessarily break the bank.

Jessica Chastain Made $1.75 Million For The Martian 

Jessica Chastain’s paycheck for The Martian was shockingly low. Around the time of the film’s 2015 release, there was a report that the actress made $7 million from her part, but she told The Huffington Post that she actually made around a quarter of that, which would be around $1.75 million. The film’s star, Matt Damon, reportedly made between $15 and 25 million for his part.

Brad Pitt Made $6,000 For Thelma And Louise 

Brad Pitt is one of the biggest and highest paid actors around today and has been that way for the better part of the past 30 years. However, that wasn’t always the case. According to the Daily Mail, the actor was paid just $6,000 for his breakout performance as JD in Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise.

Jon Voight Made The ‘Minimum’ Salary For Midnight Cowboy 

Jon Voight received all kinds of nominations for his performance in Midnight Cowboy, but the actor was paid the “minimum” for his portrayal of Joe Buck. When disclosing this to The Guardian decades later, Voight also revealed he received a $14.73 charge for meals on the final day of the shoot.

Adam Levine Made $0 For Begin Again 

Maroon 5 frontman and former coach on The Voice Adam Levine appeared in John Carney’s 2014 musical dramedy, Begin Again for free. When speaking with USA Today around the time of the film’s release, Levine explained that he did the movie “for no money,” stating that he had made enough through his other ventures and wanted the experience.

It’s safe to say that all of these actors have done okay for themselves over the years after making relatively small salaries throughout their career. But it’s still wild to think about Robert Downey Jr. only making half-a-million to play Tony Stark. What a steal.

When it comes to Hollywood, plenty of actresses, singers, and more have taken the world by storm. It could be from their legendary acting, brilliant singing, or even how they walk the runway, but one way or another, they become Hollywood it girls, the ones that everyone looks up to and wants to be. Today, we'll review more than 30 Hollywood It girls, their time in the spotlight, and where they are now. 

Audrey Hepburn

We need to mention Audrey Hepburn if we're talking about Hollywood it girls. The actress became a major it girl in 1960s for her roles in iconic films like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady, and several other classic films. She won an Academy Award for acting in Roman Holiday alongside Gregory Peck and is considered one of the most iconic faces in Hollywood history. The actress passed away in January 1993 at 63. 

Angelina Jolie 

Angelina Jolie really started building a name for herself in the '90s, then gained fame for her role in Girl, Interrupted earlier in the 2000s, and only continued to grow in popularity. Her starring roles in movies such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Wanted, Salt, and more in the early to mid-2000s garnered her the coveted Hollywood it girl status. She also won an Academy Award for Girl, Interrupted. There are so many great Angelina Jolie movies to watch. 

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno danced onto the scene as a Hollywood it girl 1962 with her starring role in the classic movie musical West Side Story, where she won an Academy Award for playing Anita. She continued to star in various films after in the 1960s and '70s. In recent years, she played Valentina in the new Steven Spielberg reboot of West Side Story and appeared in other films like 80 for Brady, Fast X, and more. 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Elizabeth Taylor became a Hollywood it girl around the time Cleopatra released in the 1960s. She would also star in films such as Father of Bride, A Place in the Sun, Ivanhoe, and many more. She also won the Academy Award for Butterfield 8, and starred in several films with her on-again-off-again husband, Richard Burton. Taylor passed away in 2011 at the age of 79. 

Drew Barrymore

Though she's been acting since childhood, Drew Barrymore was the Hollywood it girl in the 1990s, especially from her part in The Wedding Singer. Her small role in the Scream franchise was another big moment during the decade. Aside from that, she appeared in films like Charlie's Angels, Boys on the Side, Batman Forever, and more. In recent years, she became a host of her own syndicated talk show called The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews' best movies exemplify how she became a Hollywood it girl. Andrews is primarily known for two of her roles in the 1960s that shot her up to It girl stardom – The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins (for which she won an Academy Award), two highly iconic musical films where she showed off her acting talent and brilliant pipes. She continues to act to this day and often leads her iconic voices to several franchises. 

Dolly Parton 

When I think of Hollywood it girls, I often think of Dolly Parton. This country star has become a staple in the world of music and shot up to Hollywood it girl status in the 1980s, with a combination of her iconic music and her roles in films like 9 to 5 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Diana Ross 

Diana Ross is an incredible singer who became a Hollywood it girl as the lead vocalist from the Motown girl group, The Supremes, back in the 1960s. But from there, she had a solo career that expanded decades. To this day, Ross continues to perform and make music. She also won several awards for her role in Lady Sings the Blues. 

Aretha Franklin