In the age of reboots and revivals, you never know what fan-favorite classic will be next to get the treatment. Of course, it doesn’t always work out because some shows are better off being left alone, but sometimes it’s fun seeing what characters are up to years later. Nickelodeon has done a few reboots and revivals, including one for iCarly, and Keke Palmer is down for a True Jackson, VP revival. And I love her take on what the fashionista’s been up to.

Before taking over the world with her memorable memes and movie roles, Palmer was a child star. One of her roles was on the beloved Nickelodeon show, True Jackson, VP, as the titular teenager who lands a job as the Vice President of a major fashion company’s youth apparel. True Jackson ran for three seasons from 2008 to 2011, and since it’s been 15 years, Palmer told Parade she’d want to do a revival of some type and doesn’t mind revisiting her childhood:

As someone who grew up watching True Jackson, VP, I would love it if the show came back, even if it was briefly. It would definitely be fun to see where True and everyone else are now, especially since the series ended with True taking on the position of President of Mad Style after her boss retired to become a stay-at-home dad. There is a lot that the show could focus on, and Palmer certainly has some fun ideas that I would love to see:

Considering there are plenty of former child actors who would rather not revisit their pasts, it’s sweet to see that True Jackson still means a lot to Palmer, even as her career continues to grow. She most recently starred in Peacock’s new hit series The ‘Burbs and the crime comedy I Love Boosters, but it seems like she’d be on board to return to her roots.

Overall, the 32-year-old Emmy winner has been in the business for most of her life and is one of many child actors who have made a triumphant comeback. Aside from True Jackson, back in the day, she was also known for the Disney Channel Original Movie Jump In! with Corbin Bleu and, of course, Akeelah and the Bee. No matter how many roles she takes on, she will always be known for the classics, which she doesn’t seem to mind. She even met an Akeelah and the Bee fan at a strip club once, so fans are definitely everywhere.

Whether or not a True Jackson revival will ever happen is unknown, but with Palmer’s ideas, who knows what could happen? If anything, just hearing what she thinks True is up to after all this time and her interest in returning makes for a great alternative. If iCarly can make a comeback, why can’t True Jackson? For now, fans will just have to settle with streaming the series with a Paramount+ subscription.

Keke Palmer is one of the funniest and hardest-working actresses out there right now, delivering great titles over the past couple of years including Nope, One of Them Days and a reimagining of The ‘Burbs, to name just a few. She’s keeping her foot on the gas for the 2026 movie calendar, too, teaming up with Boots Riley for I Love Boosters. Reviews are in as the film hits theaters May 22, and I’m intrigued by critics’ reactions to the “deranged” crime comedy.

In I Love Boosters, Keke Palmer’s Corvette leads a group of shoplifters — aka “boosters” — against fashion maven Christie Smith (Demi Moore) after she steals their designs. The ensemble cast boasts too many big names to list, and in his review of I Love Boosters, Joseph Tomastik of Loud and Clear says Riley brings the same chaos and big twists to this as he did to Sorry to Bother You. The critic gives it a perfect 4 out of 4 stars, writing:

Bill Bria of SlashFilm rates it 8 out of 10 and says I Love Boosters is one of the most visually innovative comedies in some time. It draws colorful inspiration from ‘90s cult movies, music videos, fashion and street culture to drive home its message, even incorporating stop-motion animation and a monstrous creature. Bria continues:

Alyssa Mora of IGN also rates it a “Great” 8 out of 10, calling it a “cheeky takedown of capitalism served up in signature Boots Riley bizarre fashion.” I Love Boosters is equal parts romp and political statement, the critic says in her review:

Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire gives it a B, writing that even as I Love Boosters “spins wildly out of control,” Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie and Taylour Paige are able to ground the “dizzying, entertaining acid trip.” That’s especially true of Palmer, as Lattanzio says:

Jacob Oller of AV Club also gives I Love Boosters a B in his review for how Boots Riley paints an amusement park ride in the bright colors of his politics. The style is like a “Marxist Pee-wee Herman run wild,” Oller says, that “weaponizes silliness of all flavors.” Some choices are more overbearing than exhilarating, but the critic loves how Riley uses classic animation to inform his vision, writing:

Boots Riley clearly has some things he wants to say, and these reviews suggest he’s using all forms of humor, animation, colorful sets and some highly comedic actors to get those messages across. Critics have rated it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, so if this movie sounds at all interesting or intriguing to you, take Riley’s suggestion and see it opening weekend.

I Love Boosters hits theaters on Friday, May 22.

The 2026 movie schedule is packed to the brim with a number of interesting titles, and Keke Palmer is arguably headlining one of the most eclectic ones. Palmer's latest film is Neon’s I Love Boosters, a crime comedy that comes from the mind of acclaimed writer/director Boots Riley. The film is set to hit theaters later this week, and the cast and crew have already been promoting it. As part of that, Riley recently responded to a fan inquiry, and it paints a brutally honest picture of the state of movie theaters in this current entertainment landscape.

Riley is a constant fixture on social media and doesn’t mind sharing (brutally) honest comments on a given topic when it’s warranted. An admirer recently tagged Riley in an post and invited the filmmaker to join them and some friends for a potential I Love Boosters screening in June. Riley later reposted the offer on X and didn’t mince words about why the fan should consider organizing that friend-centric meet-up for May:

Sadly, Riley’s post is a reflection of a few unfortunate realities that currently exist as far as cinemas go. A smaller film like Boosters can have a difficult time performing in a cinema under even the best of circumstances. What makes the situation even trickier for Riley’s latest feature, though, is that it’s coming out during the onset of the summer blockbuster season. In other words, should Boosters not attract much business during its opening weekend, it could quickly lose screens at cinemas across the country.

While I’m someone who enjoys big, tentpole films, I also appreciate smaller films that are a bit more niche. So it pains me to see that a talented filmmaker like Boots Riley, who also directed the well reviewed Sorry to Bother You – even has to make this appeal at all. Honestly, it’s easy to see why a star like Harrison Ford would be “concerned” about theaters. Ideally, there’d be a situation in which a healthy ecosystem – greatly sparked by solid cinema attendance – would allow films of different sizes to get their time in the sun.

Something that’s also disappointing about all of this is that the humorously chaotic-looking I Love Boosters has received strong reviews thus far, and it currently holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Set in a heightened version of the San Francisco Bay Area, the film sees Palmer play Corvette, the member of a group of shoplifters. And their ultimate goal is to get revenge on a fashion magnate for pilfering their designs. Palmer leads a stellar cast that includes Taylour Paige, Naomi Ackie, LaKeith Stanfield, Eiza González, Poppy Liu, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle and Demi Moore.

Although there’s reason to be concerned about Boosters' box office performance, there’s also the possibility that it could end up being a surprise hit. Keke Palmer is no stranger to such fortune, as her 2025 buddy comedy, One of Them Days, crushed in theaters. Neon is also known for its quirky movie marketing, so that could help give the film a “boost” as well.

I Love Boosters opens in theaters on May 22. With that, based on Boots Riley’s appeal, anyone who wants the film to stay in cinemas for a while will want to make it a point to see it as soon as they can.

Sure, being on the front of Time is a big deal, but what about being the biggest stunner at the magazine’s annual Time 100 gala honoring the most influential people in the world? At the Thursday evening event that took place in New York City, the likes of Sterling K. Brown, Ethan Hawke, Zoe Saldaña and Dakota Johnson were honored. However, I think there was a clear winner of rocking the corset trend: La La Anthony.

It’s no surprise to me that corset dresses were running rampant at the gala. Sydney Sweeney is always finding new takes on the trend, along with big stars like Margot Robbie, who took it to the next level a while back by wearing one with cutouts. Check out how VH1 host and actress La La Anthony translated the trend:

A corset Pajtim Raci dress with gold fringe? This look is the definition of fabulous. I haven’t seen the TV personality share the details about the designer or how this look came together, but my jaw dropped! Corset looks have been in style for a while now, but it’s moments like this that remind us why it’s not going anywhere.

Anthony’s gold look may have been my favorite corset fit, but we still have to show some love to other examples of the trend from Thursday evening. Just look at Maura Higgins in this shimmering silver gown:

Higgins was just announced to be on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars, following being a finalist on The Traitors. And, the reality star really doesn’t know how to miss. I mean, this silver grown truly is stunning.

Another great corset getup came from social media star Jess Val Ortiz. Take a look:

While the other two are more modern, this one feels very romantic and girly. I particularly appreciate the way she paired the pale pink with a black purse and high heels, too.

Last but certainly not least, Keke Palmer absolutely served in her own corset look on the same night:

I’m really digging the different material between the corset part of the dress and its skirt. And, the smoky eye? Magnificent. Palmer has been having a big year, starring in The Burbs series, having a movie called I Love Boosters coming out next month and being one of the voice actors in The Angry Birds Movie 3 out this holiday season.

All these ladies really pushed the envelope with their fashion at the Time 100 Gala! We’re only about a week away from the Met Gala, with this year’s theme being “Costume Art,” so I can’t wait to see how corset looks influence celebrities there. Certainly, the trend will make another few appearances.

Last year, shortly after Keke Palmer killed it in One of Them Days (seriously, one of the funniest movies this decade), word spread that she was working with Boots Riley for his next theatrical effort. That crime comedy, I Love Boosters, will be arriving on the 2026 movie schedule before you know it, and there’s one question that I have about what looks to be a chaotic follow-up to his 2018 masterclass in absurdity, Sorry to Bother You.

Anyone who has watched the outrageously hilarious yet thought-provoking comedy probably knows what I’m going to ask about Riley’s new movie focusing on a group of shoplifters getting back at the fashion industry, and yes, you’re on the right track. That being said, I’m over here wondering if Riley is going to outdo himself after giving us one of the most WFT moments last time.

Is There Going To Be An Off-The-Wall Twist Like In Sorry To Bother You?

The Sorry to Bother You trailer gave some hints that Boots Riely's movie was going to be a thrilling, bonkers, and fresh comedy, but nothing, and I mean nothing, could have prepared audiences for what came in the final act. You know what I’m talking about, right? The whole revelation that there’s a conspiracy to turn workers into half-horse, half-human hybrids called Equisapiens?

Watching the I Love Boosters teaser, I can’t help but pick up on similar vibes to Sorry to Bother You. Instead of LaKeith Stanfield putting on a “white” voice while working for a call center, we have Keke Palmer leading a group of professional shoplifters infiltrating the fashion industry, but the same radical tone and over-the-top personalities are there. I can’t help but think that Riley is going to have some wild twist again this time. I’m not saying it’s going to be horse people again (I would be so down), but I don’t think this is going to be a straightforward affair either.

This Movie Looks So Chaotic, And I’m All For It

I don’t want anyone getting the impression that I’m just looking forward to this movie because I’m convinced there’s going to be some kind of big twist involving hybrid humanoids, because that’s not the case. Even if we don’t get any Equisapiens-like reveals in this new comedy, I’m going to be seeing I Love Boosters as soon as humanly possible. Judging by the trailer, premise, and that insanely stacked cast, this looks like it’s going to be the best kind of chaos, and I’m all for it.

I mean, you have Keke Palmer and Naomi Ackie leading a successful group of shoplifters boosting clothes from high-end fashion companies and selling them to the public for some seriously marked-down prices. You have Will Poulter and Demi Moore looking fabulous. You even have Don Cheadle looking nearly unrecognizable. Sign me up and sign me up now!

We still have a few months before I Love Boosters drops May 22, and I’m going to be anxiously counting down the days (and watching the superb black-led sci-fi comedy Sorry to Bother You again) in the meantime.

When it comes to Tom Hanks’ career, his 1989 dark comedy The ‘Burbs is not likely to be the first thing to come to mind. However, this under-rated ‘80s flick has become a cult classic and is even considered one of Carrie Fisher’s best non-Star Wars roles. Now the story of suburban life and the dark secrets that populate those well-manicured lawns has been updated for the 2026 TV schedule, and critics are weighing in on whether or not this neighborhood is worth revisiting.

Keke Palmer leads the cast of The ‘Burbs as Samira, a new mom who becomes fixated on the creepy house across the street after she and husband Rob (Jack Whitehall) move back to his childhood home. The series will drop all eight episodes for Peacock subscription holders on February 8, and according to The Wrap’s Amber Dowling, The ‘Burbs is definitely worth the visit. The critic writes:

A first-look video of The ‘Burbs showed us how much potential the series has to become one of the best shows on Peacock, especially with executive producer Seth MacFarlane and a stacked supporting cast (Bridesmaids’ Paula Pell, Newhart’s Julia Duffy, What We Do in the Shadows’ Mark Proksch, Night Court’s Kapil Talwalkar and Weeds’ Justin Kirk).

Sherin Nicole of RogerEbert says The 'Burbs is a smart and fun watch as Keke Palmer leads a charismatic-but-bonkers Scooby Doo-esque gang into a haunted house mystery that’s satisfying to watch play out. Nicole says:

Judy Berman of Time says The ‘Burbs goes heavy on the racial aspect at first, with Samira being Black in a mostly white neighborhood, but it quickly finds a unique and humorous voice as it settles into a gentle and unusually nuanced story of suburban secrets. Berman says:

Alex Maidy of JoBlo gives the first season a 7 out of 10, noting how the series pays homage to the 1989 film through visual easter eggs and by using movie quotes as each episode’s title. Because of his love of the original, Maidy expected to dislike the show but says he ended up enjoying how it does its own thing. Maidy continues:

Daniel Kurland of Bloody Disgusting, meanwhile, says The ‘Burbs doesn’t bring anything new to the oversaturated genre of crime-infused suburbia. The chemistry between the characters does a lot of the heavy lifting, Kurland says, with the supporting cast giving standout performances with enough eccentricity to meet Palmer’s energy. The critic rates the Peacock drama 2.5 skulls out of 5, writing:

Initial reviews are a bit mixed, but it seems many critics enjoyed their binge through Hinkley Hills, with Keke Palmer and her capable co-stars bringing what sounds like a fun mystery to Peacock. We’ll have to see if it has a similar over-the-top, ridiculous ending to the Tom Hanks movie, which is available to stream online for free.

If this series sounds like something you might enjoy, all eight episodes will be available to stream starting Sunday, February 8.

It’s hard to believe January is already over, and the second month of 2026 is already here. February may be the shortest month in terms of days, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to have less in terms of great content arriving on your favorite streaming platforms. There are plenty of great movies streaming this month and fantastic series to enjoy. Although our first item this week isn’t a series, at least not yet.

The Muppet Show - February 4 (Disney+)

The Muppet Show was a big hit when it ran from the late 1970s in to thoroughly 1980s, and when there have been various attempts to bring The Muppets back to TV since, none have resonated quite like the original. So Executive Producer Seth Rogen has brought back the original show for a one-off special, with Special Guest Star Sabrina Carpenter. If the show is a hit, however, the return of the series is a real possibility. The special will air on ABC, but it will be available the same day with a Disney+ subscription.

The Lincoln Lawyer, Season 4 - February 5 (Netflix)

Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer has been one of the many reasons to keep up your Netflix subscription, as the show has been consistently good and popular with both fans and critics. The fourth season of the series debuts this week. The new season will see The Lincoln Lawyer become the Lincoln Defendant. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s Mickey Haller is framed for murder and must defend himself.

Relationship Goals - February 4 (Prime Video)

February is Valentine’s Day, so it’s the perfect time for a new rom-com. If you have a Prime Video subscription, you can get a jump on the romance with Relationship Goals. The story follows two people (Kelly Rolland and Cliff “Method Man” Smith) with relatonship history competing for the same job, forced to work side by side.

Is It Cake? Valentines - February 4 (Netflix)

There are so many baking and cooking competitions on television that sometimes it can be hard to decide what to watch. Luckily, there’s nothing quite like Is It Cake? The series sees bakers attempt to fool a panel of judges by making cakes that look like things that are not cake. Following Halloween and Chirstmas themed shortened seasons, the next holiday on offer is a standalone Valentine’s Day special. Perfect for giving the show a try.

We Call It Imagineering - February 4 (Disney+)

Theme parks can be magical places, but the people responsible for making that magic happen at Disney Parks don’t have special powers; they have degrees in engineering and art. After having debuted on YouTube, We Call It Imagineering makes the jump to Disney+and takes a look behind the scenes of recent and upcoming Disney theme park attractions.

The ‘Burbs - February 8 (Peacock)

1989’s The Burbs, starring Tom Hanks, is a comedy classic, which meant it was only a matter of time before it was remade. Keke Palmer leads the cast alongside Jack Whitehall, who moves to a new neighborhood only to learn that there may be murder in the suburbs. You’ll need a Peacock subscription to check out this new series.

February has plenty more where this came from. The revival of Scrubs, the second half of the new season of Bridgerton, and so much more are on the way.

The majority of the movies that Tom Hanks has filled his career with, from the instantly recognizable blockbusters to the lesser-seen cult classics, are iconic enough that Hollywood has largely resisted the urge to remake all of them. But mega-producers Seth MacFarlane and Brian Grazer have teamed up with Peacock for an episodic reimagining of The 'Burbs that has multi-hyphenate superstar Keke Palmer as the suspicion-harboring lead. I was admittedly wary when the project was first announced, but the first-look teaser below stoked my interest.

The streaming service not only dropped the first preview footage for The 'Burbs, but also revealed when the mystery-comedy will hit the 2026 TV schedule. Now we know it'll be available to watch (via Peacock subscription) starting on Sunday, February 8, with the entire eight-episode season going live at once. So at least viewers who need to solve the mystery won’t need to wait two months to wrap the story. Now without further ado, check out the new teaser!

Not a whole lot to glean there as far as specifics go, but anyone who's familiar with the original 1984 film will know what the deal is. Either way, let's break down the cast and plot synopsis so that we're all on the same page.

What The 'Burbs' Remake Is About

Similar to the original film vying for a "present day" setting, Peacock's The 'Burbs takes place in the here and now, as opposed to a throwback era. A young couple, portrayed by Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall (Jungle Cruise), have recently changed locations to settle into the latter's former childhood home, much to her disgust.

Things get even less ideal when a new neighbor takes up residence across the street, which inevitably starts to unearth some of the dark and hidden-away secrets kept by the cul-de-sac's homeowners, with potentially fatal threats rising up and bringing chaos to what previously seemed like a quiet and welcoming neighborhood. Trust no one!

I can only assume that this new series will bring spins and twists to everything that played out in Joe Dante's film, but I still don't want to dig into those plot points too much just in case it is a fully faithful remake.

The 'Burbs Has A Stacked Cast And Creative Team

Beyond the Nope and Clifford the Big Red Dog stars at the center of the project, The 'Burbs also boasts some stellar comedic talent. The neighborhood will be filled out with characters played by SNL and Bridesmaids great Paula Pell, Newhart and Designing Women fave Julia Duffy, What We Do in the Shadows’ Mark Proksch, and Night Court’s Kapil Talwalkar. As far as I can tell, Weeds and Succession vet Justin Kirk will be portraying the suspicion-sparking new neighbor.

Behind the scenes, The 'Burbs boasts the pair of aforementioned top-tier producers in Seth MacFarlane (for Fuzzy Door) and Brian Grazer (for Imagine Entertainment), as well as Henry Danger creator Dana Olsen, who was the writer and producer of the original film. The new take was developed by Celeste Hughey, a writer and producer for Netflix's Dead to Me and Apple TV's Palm Royale, who served as showrunner for the first season. Also on the writing staff is Rachel Shukert, who previously wrote and produced for shows such as Supergirl, The Handmaid's Tale and Nine Perfect Strangers.

Given how far back Brian Grazer's career partnership with Hanks goes - they first worked together on 1984's Splash before Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, and its two Robert Langdon follow-ups. Grazer had nothing to do with the original Burbs, but I do wonder if his involvement here means we can expect a certain Oscar winner’s cameo at some point. The 'Burbs features one of Tom Hanks’ all-time great freakouts, so one can hope for a reprisal of some kind.

With of without Hanks’ involvement, The 'Burbs is set to hit streaming on Sunday, February 8, 2026. And Keke Palmer’s fans can also look forward to seeing her in another ‘80s-related project, the upcoming spoof sequel Spaceballs 2, which just wrapped filming this week.

Horror flicks may be the primary focus for many movie lovers in October, but there’s always room for a good supernatural comedy, right? Aziz Ansari sure hopes so, as he makes his feature directorial debut with Good Fortune. With a cast that includes Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer and more, this one has been on our radar as one that must be seen in the theater, so are critics in agreement?

Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune — which hits the 2025 movie calendar on October 17 — stars Keanu Reeves as Gabriel, a guardian angel who loses his wings after failing to prove to down-on-his-luck Arj (Ansari) that switching lives with rich socialite Jeff (Seth Rogen) won’t make him happier. Matt Fowler of IGN calls the movie “funny, sharp, and sweet,” as it somehow upends the It’s a Wonderful Life cliché but still manages to embrace it. He rates it a “Great” 8 out of 10, writing:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY also says Keanu Reeves is “angelic” in this “heaven-sent” comedy, giving it 3 out of 4 stars. Aziz Ansari toes the line between hilarity and gravity, Truitt says, by using comedy to approach deep themes. The critic says:

Joe Schmidt of Collider rates Good Fortune 7 out of 10, writing that it’s a fine first effort from Aziz Ansari at the helm, as he weaves a simple yet satisfying tale of people realizing they can both cherish what they have and fight to make the world better. Keke Palmer steals the show, in Schmidt’s opinion, and Keanu Reeves is a “godsend.” In the critic’s words:

Tim Grierson of AV Club grades the movie a C+, noting that Good Fortune acknowledges the anger that economic inequality causes but doesn’t dig too deep. Grierson wonders if Aziz Ansari’s message lacks heft because the actor can’t fully recognize the plight of those struggling to make ends meet. The critic says:

Lindsey Bahr of the AP also says the life-affirming message that comes from Good Fortune feels hollow, despite the director’s good intentions. She gives it 2 out of 4 stars and writes:

While there are some questions regarding Aziz Ansari’s feel-good message, it appears that critics are mostly on board with his directorial debut. Good Fortune holds a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so if you want to see the hilarity that ensues amongst this cast — including Keanu Reeves, who is apparently worthy of all the angel puns — the movie is in theaters as of Friday, October 17.

Keke Palmer has been in the industry for over two decades and KP's best movies prove why she has sustained a career. As a powerhouse child star who's still acting, it only makes sense that she’s met some incredible stars and notable Hollywood families along the way. A highlight for the actress and singer while growing up was meeting Eddie Murphy long before sharing the screen on Prime Video's The Pickup. She humorously recounted the encounter, which goes against the "celebrities are like us" adage.

Palmer talked with People about her streaming action-comedy hitting the 2025 movie schedule. She stars alongside Pete Davidson and fellow SNL vet Murphy, and shared that she actually met the icon around 15 years prior to working with him on the Tim Story project, without fully realizing she was standing inside Eddie Murphy's house at the time. . It all stemmed from an invitation by her longtime pals – his daughters. She explained:

What a wild moment that must’ve been for then young adult Palmer! Sure, as a kid actor there’s no doubt she met plenty of great celebs ahead of this, but Murphy is indisputably next level Tinseltown royalty. Per the article, it sounds like she remained chill throughout the evening, but I love that the glimpse she got of him was typical dad. And, when re-meeting on the set of the now streaming Amazon subscription movie, not much changed.

Unfortunately, The Pickup has been snagging so-so reviews from critics after it premiered earlier this August. People did seem to enjoy the costars’ motley red carpet looks with Pete Davidson, though. And the former two did have other bright spots earlier this year. The SNL alum partook in the historic 50th reunion late night show anniversary special. Meanwhile, the KP and SZA buddy film, One of Them Days, dominated streaming charts on Netflix after being a hit at the box office.

Aside from the highs and lows for Murphy and Palmer this year, both have big hits coming next year on the 2026 movie schedule and beyond. Among the 64-year-old’s projects, he’ll be returning to Shrek 5 (recently pushed to 2027). As for the 32-year-old and her whopping 11 upcoming gigs are Sister Act 3 and Spaceballs 2. Needless to say, there’s plenty more big happenings ahead, but for her to work with a hero of hers sounds pretty monumental.

I’m so pleased to know Palmer’s first memories of meeting Murphy, but it makes me want to know his! Does he remember one of his kids’ friends that tagged along for dinner one average night? And does he have as many equally amusing elements as the Nope star’s? One thing is for sure here, I hope they get to cross paths onscreen again.

If you look up “project that sounds way better on paper” and “wasted opportunity” in the dictionary, you won’t actually find anything, because that’s not how dictionaries work. In a world where those concepts were included, however, Prime Video’s new action-comedy The Pickup would be the pictured and heavily cited example, because wow, what an exercise in unexpectedly rampant disappointment. But how?

The three above-the-title stars involved are certainly all capable of delivering the goods, or even the greats. Eddie Murphy’s early career performances remain dynamic and influential enough to overshadow decades’ worth of lackluster projects, and his efforts in more recent projects like Dolemite Is My Name and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F prove he’s still capable of unhinged magic. Pete Davidson is a slightly more acquired taste, but he excels at playing put-upon characters dealing with arrested development. And Keke Palmer… well, she’s just plain excellent in everything.

As such, even the most amateur mathematician would consider it a no-brainer to assume that Murphy + Davidson + Palmer would combine for a highly engaging modern crime comedy classic. Yet, that assumption gets almost violently upended by an abysmal script from co-writers Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider – arguably best known for the animated web series Gentleman Lobsters and sadly not for crafting worthwhile action-comedies.

Perhaps the writers aren’t fully at fault, however, since so many of the movie’s dead-on-arrival quips and one-liners appear to be ad-libbed by the actors, pushing the blame more on them and director Tim Story, whose hit-or-miss filmography includes the Ride Along movies, the Think Like a Man franchise, the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four blockbusters, and Barbershop. He also made the Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon vehicle Taxi, though — pun firmly intended — and that’s more in line with the armored truck-centric messiness of The Pickup.

Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson’s talents are 100% wasted, and this should have been Keke Palmer’s movie from top to bottom.

The Pickup opens with what can only be considered a meet-threat, with Pete Davidson’s Travis, an armored truck driver and complete social misfit, misguidedly pulling a gun on Keke Palmer’s Zoe as she attempts to flirt with him. They quickly take things to the next level, and it’s clear that Zoe has ulterior motives, because Travis is a wiffle ball of a human being: mostly transparent with zero depth.

Had Davidson made The Pickup as his first foray into cinema early into his Saturday Night Live run, Travis might not be as fingernails-across-the-chalkboard grating to the nerves. But at this point in the actor's career, we’ve seen the comedian deliver far better performances and deliveries, even with similarly dimwitted characters.

Travis is paired up for an all-important and financially irresponsible delivery with Eddie Murphy’s Russell, a longtime fellow driver with an eye on celebrating his anniversary and eventually pivoting into a different career. This duo could have been fantastic, but the actors have lacking chemistry, with Travis veering from nebbish and put-upon to overbearing and fawning, while Russell mainly sticks to passive antagonism throughout. At least Eva Longoria, who plays Russell's wife Natalie, is ready to deliver during her fleeting scenes.

To be expected, Zoe has plans to rob the very truck that Travis and Russell are responsible for, and she has two completely forgettable henchman in tow. Claws’ Jack Kesy plays the humorless sack of testosterone Banner, with The Rings of Power’s Ismael Cruz Cordova bringing a modicum of a sassy personality as Miguel. These two take on more villainous roles as the story goes on, but never feel like a truly formidable threat, which is another one of this movie’s big issues.

The movie also features underserved appearances from Andrew Dice Clay and Marshawn Lynch and breaks the streak of A+ cameos from the former NFL star by wasting his comedic skills on a couple of nothingburger scenes. The Diceman, meanwhile, is like a made-for-cable J. Jonah Jameson, playing Travis and Russell's crabby, loud-mouthed boss.

The only character worth watching in this movie is Keke Palmer's Zoe, since she's the only actor whose star power is present and accounted for. I don't know how much better The Pickup would be if it focused solely on Zoe's wheeling and dealing, but I know my throat wouldn't feel quite as prickly from all the disgruntled groaning.

Everything in The Pickup feels like a deleted scene from a better movie.

Several of The Pickup's biggest action sequences revolve around the armored car speeding down highways and through city streets, mostly with Pete Davidson behind the wheel and Eddie Murphy doing the more physical acting inside the vehicle. These scenes in particular felt like they were cribbed from one of Judd Apatow's line-o-rama productions, particularly in regards to Travis blurting out an endless barrage of reactions to anything and everything happening around him. I can just imagine Tim Story & Co. keeping the camera on Davidson as he improvised one line after another, with everyone confident they were mining gold.

But instead of using the best lines, The Pickup only included the ones that make Davidson look like an attention-addled child taking his first road trip. None of the jokes that made the final cut are actually funny or original or worth extending the runtime to include, and that observation can be stretched out and applied to the entire movie.

To be fair, Story and the stunt & VFX teams deliver some pretty hectic and enjoyable explosions and crashes, largely set to a Speed-lite score, but so many of those moments are also predicated on either nonsense or unexplained lines and character choices. It's enough so that it feels like we're watching a subjective version of the story that was snipped out of a more fully informed version where relevant motivations and facts were included.

Case in point: Travis and Russell's truck contains a highly important and expensive monkey-under-glass display that comes up multiple times as if it's inherently the most hilarious prop imaginable (even to the point of it getting a post-credits gag), but without a scene that actually clues audiences in on why we should care. That informative scene, I assume, would be included in the director's cut that no one will ever petition for.

The creative choices range from questionable to pure fucking garbage.

I certainly understand that The Pickup is meant to be a breezy movie that shouldn't be taken too seriously, and that choosing to hone in on all of the baffling and/or under-cooked moments requires an unhealthy amount of misery and cynicism. However, I often felt like this storyline was actively provoking me into complaining about it.

The most obvious faux pas is the conceit that Travis and Zoe would actively vie for an authentic romance after the aforementioned sexual duping that kicks the movie off. Zoe is far too cool, sophisticated, and capable a human being for Travis' eternal manchild. Davidson's character always appears to be far more invested in obsessing over her than surviving any of the movie's ill-plotted conflicts.

The second biggest WTF decision was to cast Eddie Murphy, once one of Hollywood's most electric comedians, as the fuddy-duddy straight man opposite Davidson. I can somewhat appreciate the Lethal Weapon-esque run of age jokes at Russell's expense, but he's not really part of the joke there. Only one moment in the movie truly calls back to Murphy's golden-age delivery (what I'll refer to as Russell's diner rant), and it just feels like an impersonation of Murphy more than the real thing.

Even beyond its unfortunate first-draft decisions, The Pickup is littered with choices and moments that might have been clipped out if it weren't for the already svelte 94-minute runtime – with action-movie logic on full display. Example: two vehicles smash into the same side of the same car, and instead of the rammed car just being demolished, the other two go flying over it with fiery explosions. Make it make sense, but without gaslighting me into thinking some cars have giant hubcap ramps.

Characters also often refer to events and details without a lick of insight into their importance and do things that would only come out of a writer's brain. This is a movie where, after one baddie is seemingly killed off in a blaze of glory, another character makes a point of joking about how glaringly obvious it is that anyone would be dead after suffering such an incident... only for the supposed victim to return without any kind of dibilitating injuries and without anyone asking how the fuck it happened. Because spoilers: yes, they definitely should have died.

If I were to put a hard number on the amount of times I actually laughed at The Pickup itself, and not one of my own snarky comments, I honestly couldn't go higher than two. I can say without a doubt that I had more laughs at both of my parents' funerals, respectively. So if The Pickup can't even live up to the "comedy" half of its subgenre with its talent involved, how did we even get to this point?

One of this week’s biggest new streaming debuts (and perhaps one of the week's worst-reviewed releases) features two superstar SNL vets sharing the screen together, but Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson aren’t necessarily the most amorous coupling in the 2025 movie. (Though I’m sure there’s someone out there who thinks differently.) That distinction goes to Davidson and his somewhat illogical on-screen love interest, the heist-planning con artist portrayed by Keke Palmer, whose character Zoe seduces Davidson’s Travis in the opening sequence.

Despite The Pickup earning an R rating, Travis and Zoe don’t deliver any wildly graphic sex scenes, and viewers really don’t see much physical intimacy at all. But that doesn’t mean the actors got to stay in their clothes, with Palmer revealing to EW that the co-stars did indeed film in the nude extremely early in the production. The way she talks about it makes it sound like it was a total breeze, thanks in part to them getting along so well. As she put it:

To that end, Pete Davidson's dating life has been tabloid fodder for quite a few years now, as has the rumored size of his manhood. For a while, it seemed like he couldn't have a conversation with a female without someone making the intuitive leap to assume that they were dating, which certainly plays into Palmer's chemistry assessment. (He's now having his first kid with Elsie Hewitt, though, which may bring an end to his run of headline-making relationships.)

The actress and musician confirmed that she and Pete Davidson filmed their more illicit scenes early on, more or less matching up with when their characters got together in the movie, even though audiences don't actually get to see what went on until later in the movie. Perhaps because those slightly lewd moments went down so soon after they started getting to know each other, their excitement to be working with Eddie Murphy was as present as any more illicit forms of exitement. In her words:

Palmer brought up the fact that she and Davidson worked together for a murder-mystery Audible narrative podcast, which is where their chemistry first formulated. And she thinks that the movie's silly and over-the-top tone helped make Zoe and Travis' awkward semi-romance more enjoyable to play up, since it wasn't taken super-seriously.

Clothing or no clothing, The Pickup is a comedy first and foremost, and Palmer says that both she and Davidson felt really lucky to be a part of a movie with Eddie Murphy at this point in their careers, with both having looked up to the comedian when starting down their own careers paths before they were even teenagers. As she put it:

I kinda love the idea of Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer hanging out naked and shooting the breeze about how funny Eddie Murphy is, and wondering which of them would look better wearing the comedian's iconic red leather suit from Delirious. (My money's on Keke.)

No word on how hard the intimacy coordinator was laughing during the production of The Pickup, but I can imagine this being one of the more low-stress gigs in that department. Although I wouldnt' be surprised if Eddie Murphy's chemistry with Eva Longoria was palpable enough to cause electrical shortages.

For those who haven't yet watched, check out The Pickup’s trailer below.

The Pickup is currently available to stream with a Prime subscription.

There are plenty of options on the 2025 movie calendar currently fulfilling the role of summer blockbuster if you’re looking at a trip to the theater, but sometimes isn’t it nice to not have to leave your house? The Pickup, a new heist comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer will be available to stream with an Amazon Prime Video subscription starting August 6, but critics seem to think its cast’s comedic talents — especially Murphy’s — are wasted.

There’s no denying how funny the three leading actors are, and this movie sees the Saturday Night Live alums playing armored car drivers who get mixed up in a heist run by Keke Palmer’s Zoe. One would hope that this flick from director Tim Story would play to their strengths, and while THR’s Lovia Gyarkye says Pete Davidson and Eddie Murphy’s chemistry does help, it sounds like this movie may clash as badly as the trio’s red carpet outfits. The critic writes:

Pete Hammond of Deadline points out the similarities between The Pickup and The Bad Guys 2, the animated sequel in theaters now that’s also receiving mixed reviews. That’s probably not a great thing to hear for fans of Eddie Murphy’s best movies. In this one, the veteran comedic actor plays it low-key, allowing Pete Davidson to carry the comedic weight. Hammond says:

Travis Hopsin of Punch Drunk Critic rates it 2.5 stars out of 5, saying that Eddie Murphy is relegated to the straight-man role in The Pickup, which is not a natural spot for him. Even those hoping to see Marshawn Lynch get his due in a supporting role will be disappointed, Hopsin says, writing:

Alex Harrison of ScreenRant says The Pickup ventures into so-bad-it’s-good territory by taking its action too seriously and thereby wasting its comedic cast. Though the critic ended up rating it just 3 out of 10, he walks away with more positive feelings than negative, writing:

Matt Goldberg of The Wrap agrees with the consensus above, except for any of the parts where critics found the scarce laugh or redeeming quality. It’s best chance of success, per Goldberg, “is hoping that autoplay sends it to someone’s screen and the viewer is too indifferent to hit the stop button.” The critic continues:

It sounds like critics were definitely hoping for more from Eddie Murphy in this role, because it wasn’t just the above reviews that posted negative ratings for The Pickup. The action comedy holds a 43% Rotten Tomatoes score as of this writing.

Some said there are laughs to be found, though, so if this sounds like a movie you want to check out — without even leaving your home — fire up Prime Video and draw your own conclusions! The Pickup will be available to stream on Wednesday, August 6.

There is a lot of comedic talent packed into The Pickup, a heist-action-comedy set to hit the 2025 movie calendar next month. Eddie Murphy stars as an armored truck driver alongside Pete Davidson as his colleague and Keke Palmer, who ropes them into a scheme to steal millions of dollars. If you had any doubt that each of these three actors will bring their own unique flavor to the flick, you need look no further than their red carpet attire.

The Pickup is set for release August 6, when it will be available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription, and ahead of that, its world premiere was held July 27 in Los Angeles. The three stars gathered together for a group shot on the red carpet, looking like quite the motley crew in their individual outfits of choice:

There have been some great examples of co-stars coordinating their wardrobe to fit the project they’re promoting — take Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s Wicked outfits — but that is definitely not what’s happening here. And while no text chain likely existed between the actors’ stylists, each of the above outfits is actually perfectly suited to the person wearing it.

Keke Palmer, who has several exciting projects in the works, looks amazing in a patterned, partially sheer Versace dress. The beaded one-shoulder gown featured abstract cutouts and different shades of silver and gray that looked almost camouflage as it flowed down to the floor. Her glam makeup was perfect, and she wore her auburn hair in a voluminous high ponytail.

Eddie Murphy, for his part, looked quite dapper in all black, with his black suit jacket over a high-necked black sweater.

Then there was Pete Davidson in a tracksuit.

The Bodies Bodies Bodies actor donned a two-toned beige sweatshirt with matching sweatpants from Sergio Tacchini and Under Armour sneakers. The look was casual but on-brand, and he probably got let off the hook for dressing down, at least a little, given the fact that The Pickup premiere was his and girlfriend Elsie Hewitt’s first public appearance since announcing they were having a baby.

The model opted for a long, sleeveless black dress and matching pointed-toe pumps. (She should have been the one wearing sneakers, in my opinion!)

While Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson didn’t necessarily look like they all belonged in the same photo, I’m pretty excited to see their styles come together in their upcoming movie.

The Pickup trailer promises plenty of action, including car chases and shootouts, and the leading trio is far from the only talent. Eva Longoria plays Natalie, wife to Eddie Murphy’s Russell. Meanwhile, Marshawn Lynch's comedy was highlighted as part of the cast of Murderville and on plenty of other shows and movies since he retired from the NFL. He's portraying a character called Chop Shop.

A lot of different styles will combine for the upcoming comedy from director Tim Story, and I’m excited to see what this motley crew delivers when The Pickup comes out Wednesday, August 6, on Prime Video.

Jonathan Majors’ career and personal life took a turn in April 2023 following his arrest for assault, strangulation and harassment. The once-promising actor was eventually found guilty on two misdemeanor counts of harassment and assault. While he’s taken a number of professional hits as a result of his legal woes, Majors seemed to be mounting a comeback earlier this year and, amid that, he was set to be interviewed by fellow actor Keke Palmer. That interview was subsequently shelved, however, and Palmer is now explaining why.

For some time now, Palmer has hosted her own podcast – Baby, This is Keke Palmer – on which she’s invited a myriad of guests. Her conversation with Jonathan Majors was announced this past April and was met with much backlash. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the conversation would not be released as scheduled. Palmer recently stopped by The Breakfast Club, where she was asked about the unaired podcast episode. The 31-year-old starlet eventually suggested that feedback from other parties impacted the choice:

The Hustlers star further emphasized her point by mentioning that people sit down with “serial killers,” though she also clarified that she wasn’t comparing Jonathan Majors to a killer. During her interview with The Breakfast Club, a portion of which is on X, Keke Palmer also showed love to Meagan Good, who married Majors this past March. Palmer brought up Good – whose career has also been impacted by her husband’s controversies – while discussing her desire to speak with Majors:

Jonathan Majors was doing press earlier this year for his drama film Magazine Dreams, which had its release delayed for over a year due to the actor’s legal issues. Upon its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, the movie received rave reviews, and further praise was heaped on Majors upon its theatrical release. All the while, the actor has still seen his share of starts and stops career-wise and, amid the release of his latest feature, audio of Majors admitting to assaulting his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, has been released.

The 35-year-old actor remains a topic of conversation and is still finding ways to make money. He’s also signed on to star in the supernatural thriller Merciless, which is being directed by Martin Villeneuve. At the same time, rumors continue to swirl in regard to the former A-lister rejoining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he was fired from after his guilty verdict came down. Earlier this year, he even showed interest in returning as Kang the Conqueror.

When it comes to Jonathan Majors’ interview with Keke Palmer, the latter seems to suggest that the conversation is still around if her partners or the public do ever want to see it. It’s hard to say if that episode will ever see the light of day.

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of horror movies. Even some of the best horror movies of all time are hard for me to get into and appreciate. This is a “me” problem, not an indictment of the genre. However, I recently watched Jordan Peele’s Nope with my Peacock subscription, and I have to admit, it really grabbed me and didn’t let me go. Now I need to consider just why I tend to avoid horror movies.

It Wasn’t My Jordan Peele Movie

Now, I have seen plenty of horror movies in my life. As someone who writes about movies for a living, I’ve always considered it important to my job, even if watching them sometimes feels like a chore. Jordan Peele’s movies and TV shows have never felt that way, though. I loved Get Out, though it doesn’t feel quite like a horror movie to me; it’s more of a mystery than anything else. Us is definitely more of a true horror movie, but still one that had my rapt attention for the whole thing.

The common element of all three, including Nope, is that even when I’m at home watching them on my TV, rather than in theaters, I never get bored or reach for my phone (something I can’t claim for every movie I watch). Even if I do reach for that little black distraction device, I quickly realize that I don’t want to look at it; I have to make sure I know what’s coming next. Peele’s movies reward close watching, and it’s never a chore to get through, just a delight.

Nope Had All The Elements I Love In Any Movie

Oftentimes, especially when it comes to slasher films or ultra-violent and gory horror movies, I get frustrated that they often lack in other key elements that make movies great. Things like character development and interesting plotlines get sidelined in favor of more jump scares or violent fight scenes. The violence doesn’t make me queesy, it just bores me.

Nope sacrifices nothing. There is a well-told back story for the two main characters, OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer), and their friend/rival Jupe Park (Steven Yeun). There is a great story that is enhanced by the fear, not distracted by it. There is some great comic relief, mostly from Palmer, and there is, most importantly, an interesting twist that doesn’t feel forced. And yes, it still manages to be plenty scary.

I Loved The Way The “Twist” Worked

The twist of the movie is that the UFO isn’t a ship, but a living being, an animal. That twist isn’t played for shock value, but it makes the story so much more interesting than just a standard green beings from outer space doing unthinkable things to humans on earth. It’s like Predator, but without the absurd backstory.

I love that it isn’t forced, as happens in so many movies in the genre. It’s not some kind of big reveal, it’s a much more organic discovery that a wildlife expert like OJ would come to naturally. Peele doesn’t dwell on the twist long either. Instead, we’re thrown right into the plan to take it out.

All of that makes for a much better movie than I am used to in the horror genre, and I think it’s time for me to seek out more movies like it rather than only happen upon them while I’m working on my next story. I’m also really excited to see what Jordan Peele’s next project looks like and can’t wait to see it.

It’s an exciting time to be a movie fan because there’s so many actors in their 20s and 30s who are proving to have A-list star quality – from Timothée Chalamet to Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Glen Powell, or Jenna Ortega and Sydney Sweeney. I’m a big fan of all those names, but it’s time to talk about how we should be naming Keke Palmer among them. Sure, she falls into the category of child stars who made a comeback, but Palmer has too many huge and exciting projects on the way to be called anything but one of the biggest young actresses in Hollywood.

Earlier this year, Keke Palmer of course starred in One Of Them Days with SZA, which actually crushed at the box office with a $51 million worldwide haul against a reported $14 million budget. While certainly audiences were looking for a good comedy to start their year, I think undoubtedly Palmer was a huge selling point for the film, and women in the industry who are doing it like Keke Palmer are few and far between.

I Can’t Get Over How Funny Keke Palmer Is In One Of Them Days

When I walked out of One Of Them Days when it hit theaters in January, I was just happy. Along with critics having a blast with it, I had such a good time at the movies watching Palmer and SZA’s buddy comedy. I know I’m going to return to it when I need a few belly laughs, because there just aren't enough female buddy comedies like it. The movie proved further that there’s no shot Palmer has “no charisma” like her character says about herself as the down-on-their-luck besties hilariously tried to come up with their rent in the matter of hours.

The movie then arrived for those with a Netflix subscription at the end of March, and shot right to the top of Netflix’s top 10, making it one of the most popular movies being streamed at the moment. What makes the Netflix domination better is how much the movie deserves to reach its status.

Next, Palmer Is Set To Keep Her ‘Good Fortune’ In A Comedy Alongside Keanu Reeves And Seth Rogen

In honor of Keke Palmer finding huge success with a comedy, which is very hard to do in the present landscape in Hollywood, I decided to hunt around for what she’s up to next, and boy, was I not bummed out. Even though Keke Palmer has the baggage of being on Nickelodeon as a kid and recently became a first-time mother herself, she’s clearly hustling and being sought after with what she has next.

Her next project set to be released, which is among upcoming 2025 movies coming out in October, is another comedy called Good Fortune. The movie -- written and directed by Aziz Ansari -- will have Palmer starring alongside Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen and Sandra Oh! Is Palmer here to revive the theatrical comedy? I think she might be.

Anyway, in Good Fortune Reeves playing an angel named Gabriel who has Ansari’s and Rogen’s characters body swap to show the former struggling man that money won’t solve his problems. It leads Gabriel to lose his wings and all sorts of mayhem to occur following his actions. I’m so ready for this.

She's Also Going To Team Up With Eddie Murphy For A Movie!!

Another upcoming project that Palmer has under her belt will have her actually collaborating with comedy legend, Eddie Murphy. It’s a heist movie called The Pickup from the director of The Blackening and the Ride Along movies. It’s an Amazon Prime movie that also has Pete Davidson and Eva Longoria involved, so you know it’s going to be a funny one. I just need to see this pair’s chemistry like right now!

I’m Also Hyped For The Filmmaker She’s Working With On An Upcoming Sci-Fi Comedy

I was also excited to read that Keke Palmer will be the star of Boots Riley’s next movie, I Love Boosters, with Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield, Naomi Ackie, Eiza González, Poppy Liu, Taylour Paige and Will Poulter. The film is apparently about a group of shoplifters who target a fashion icon. Boots Riley directed a movie called Sorry To Bother You in 2018 that was absolutely wild and riveting, and I love that Palmer is getting a chance to be in more auteur projects alongside some pure fun comedies. I mean she was just incredible in Jordan Peele’s Nope, she deserves the range she’s getting in her career.

And, She Also Signed On For A Remake Of One Of My Favorite Weird ‘80s Movies

As if all those projects in and of themselves aren’t exciting already, per a Variety report from this past September, Palmer has also signed on to star in a remake of The Burbs for Peacock. I know it’s not one of the most popular '80s movies, but I watched the original The Burbs movie, which stars Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern and Corey Feldman, when I was growing up and I loved its weird, dark humor.

If you’re not hip to it, it’s about residents of a suburban neighborhood who start to suspect their neighbors are ritualistic murderers. While Palmer is doing all sorts of original stories not based on any IPs, I definitely can’t wait to see her spin on this classic, because I actually think she’s one of the few people who could really make it as funny (or funnier) than the cult classic.

I'm So Just Happy Keke Palmer Is Becoming A Bona Fide Movie Star Now, As She Should

Didn’t I tell you Keke Palmer is absolutely on fire? Of course, I don’t know at this point which of these movies will actually be good and which one’s might bomb, but I think her upcoming resume really shows how big a star Palmer is. And, it’s time for the public to recognize Keke Palmer as such, because it feels like she’s only just now starting to get her flowers!

Buddy comedies are a tried and true genre of film, one that has the potential to spark real joy with audiences. A recent addition that came this year was One Of Them Days, which is quickly becoming a fan favorite. The movie is streaming now for those with a Netflix subscription, and after watching, there was one line of dialogue I can't believe that Keke Palmer actually said.

CinemaBlend's One Of Them Days review praised its leading performers, Keke Palmer and SZA, and the pair has excellent chemistry and comedic timing throughout its 97-minute runtime. I'm a huge fan of them both, and think that Palmer is one of the great versatile talents of her generation. But, around halfway through the movie when running into her crush, her character, Dreux, laments:

I basically spit my drink out in this moment. Keke Palmer is perhaps the most charismatic actor in Hollywood right now. She's worked across all genres of film, hosted game shows, judged Max's series Legendary, and basically every interview she does is fodder for memes. Palmer is a charming soundbite machine, so I simply couldn't suspend my disbelief that she was lacking charisma in One of Them Days.

To be clear, SZA's performance is stellar in this buddy comedy as well. On top of being an acclaimed recording artist (those albums have gotten me through countless workouts), she's also able to volley with Palmer. We spend basically every single scene of One of Them Days with their characters, Dreux and Alyssa, as they go through a variety of hijinks trying to make their rent.

Palmer's natural charisma is what makes her such a soundbite machine whenever she's doing press. From her famously saying "sorry to this man" when unable to recognize Dick Cheney, to her meme-worthy appearances on Hot Ones, the 31 year-old multi-hyphenate is endlessly watchable. Most recently, she was promoting One of Them Days and proclaimed Wicked's "Defying Gravity" as a "slave hymn." Just check out this compilation of her viral moments:

Just try to describe her without using the word "charismatic." And, all of these clips are just Palmer being herself, so this doesn't even begin to cover what she's able to bring to the screen while playing a character.

While Keke Palmer is obviously funny, she's been able to show off her range thanks to her work in TV and film. This includes Jordan Peele's acclaimed horror movie Nope, starring opposite Jennifer Lopez in Hustlers, and voice work in Netflix's Human Resources.

We'll just have to see where her charisma takes her next. One of Them Days was part of the 2025 movie release list, but is streaming now on Netflix

I love comedy movies, and buddy comedies are a particular favorite. On-screen chemistry, especially between a dynamic duo, is mesmerizing. However, chemistry is underrated and not easily achieved. This is why I am sometimes hesitant to watch new buddy comedies. Therefore, I was excited to see One of Them Days, but a little worried.

Keke Palmer is one of the most charming actors of this generation. She’s a former child star who has made it look easy transitioning from that to a thriving adult acting career. Her charm radiates on screen and off. Therefore, I was confident in Palmer’s ability to deliver a hilarious performance, but I wasn’t sure how her chemistry would work with SZA. This was mainly because I had never seen her act.

Thankfully, Palmer and SZA made One of Them Days meet and exceed the hype. They are both good in it. Their performances and many other factors are why the film may join the list of my favorite buddy comedies.

Warning: general One of Them Days plot spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

I Love That It Has Two Equally Hilarious Black Female Leads

Frankly, I cannot think of many buddy comedies led by Black women. Buddy comedies that center women, in general, don’t have many entries — though there are plenty of great female buddy comedies. So, One of Them Days immediately caught my attention. It proved that we need more comedies like this, because SZA and Palmer are so good in it. The film also highlights the importance of needing more female friendship movies. They help show young girls the beauty of having female friends.

Most buddy comedies have a bit of a duo formula. A more serious character is paired with a ridiculous one. It’s the classic example of the wise guy and straight man trope. SZA and Palmer’s characters, Alyssa and Dreux, fit right into their archetypes.

Dreux isn’t without her quirks and hilarious flaws, but she’s more grounded than Alyssa. However, you never question how these two could be friends. Despite their differences, their friendship makes sense. This is mainly because the actors thrive at making you buy into their long history from the start.

They have great chemistry but also shine with their individual comedic skills. Palmer has honed her comedy chops with decades in the industry, while SZA gets more comfortable and funny as the story progresses. I would gladly watch them reunite for many sequels.

It Has So Many Funny Side Quests That I Enjoy

The best thing about Hood Comedies or day-in-the-life movies is the random side quests or escalation of chaos. One of Them Days starts with unpaid rent and things pile on from there. We have a trip to the fast food chicken spot Church’s, an adult bully, an attempt to get a loan, and plenty more shenanigans.

The main goal is paying the rent, but the silly misadventures that happen along the way very much add to the movie’s character. Many buddy comedies use these side quests to help keep the film fun and engaging. However, sometimes they don’t all work, but this is not the case here. I found each side quest ridiculous and hilarious.

It Reminds Me Of Other Classic Buddy Comedies

This comedy clearly gets a lot of inspiration from the Friday movies and similar ‘90s movies centered on Black characters. You can also trace influences to other buddy comedies, like Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, and some modern coming-of-age movies or buddy films.

This shows screenwriter Syreeta Singleton’s love for this genre. She understands and can take elements that make these classics memorable and work them into this movie. I could easily see and appreciate the influence of those films that came before it. Additionally, there aren’t many movies like the Friday films, so it’s nice to see another successful attempt at this type of Hood Comedy.

One Of Them Days, To Me, Has The Perfect Blend Of Stupid Gags And Clever Comedy

One of the best It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia episodes dissects the idea of a poop joke. It analyzes whether or not it’s just something vulgar that people have moved past. The conclusion is that poop jokes are just funny sometimes. One of Them Days kind of reaches the same conclusion, but thankfully skips the bathroom humor.

However, it has plenty of silly and vulgar gags, including a giant dick and a haunting incident with blood. Those silly, over-the-top comedy moments don’t always work, but they work in this movie.

Then it has more subtle comedy, like commentary on gentrification and poverty. The movie knows how to balance very silly gags with one-liners and funny dialogue and situations. Some comedies go one extreme or the other, but this one finds the perfect medium for all its comedic aspects.

It Contains An Abundance Of Great Cameos And Supporting Cast

Katt Williams is very funny as the sort-of prophet Lucky. Lil Rel Howery and Janelle James are just a few of the other cameo-type roles seen here. They don’t have a lot of screen time, but use what they have well.

Maude Apatow is ideal casting as the clueless white neighbor Bethany. Aziza Scott is appropriately scary as Berniece. One of Them Days is full of characters that give the story more life. Palmer and SZA carry the movie, but these supporting cast and cameos help amplify it even more.

They make the neighborhood and these situations seem even more believable. The fact that most of the supporting cast are not well-known actors makes it more impressive how well they embody these roles.

I Love That The Movie Takes Serious Topics And Makes Them Comedic

This movie tackles poverty, gentrification, predatory loans, gun violence, infidelity, and many other serious topics with a smile. Instead of portraying these situations as dire, it laughs at them.

In particular, some of the movie’s funniest moments happen at the payday loan establishment. These loans have ruined people’s lives, and the movie addresses this by showing the ridiculousness and extremes of these companies. It also showcases how people turn to them in their times of crisis.

It criticized these companies through humor and addresses concerning topics with a sharp tongue and wit.

The film does enough to showcase the direness of Dreux and Alyssa’s situation without making you ever feel too bad for them. You can laugh at them and with them, but know they’ll be okay.

One of Them Days is an optimistic film, despite all the chaos and danger surrounding Alyssa and Dreux. They’ll find ways to better themselves in the end. Comedy is pointless if it can’t make you laugh at even the darkest situations.

You can add to the film’s box office success by seeing it in theaters.

Rent or buy One of Them Days on Amazon.

Keke Palmer is back and better than ever. The actress has always been busy, but lately it seems like she’s taking stardom to whole new levels. After her career-defining role in Jordan Peele’s Nope, she took on something different this year with the positively reviewed One Of Them Days, a comedy she starred in opposite SZA. With such a spotlight, Palmer must be offered roles left and right. However, the former child star did recently make it known that she does have boundaries when it comes to the roles she takes on, especially when it comes to nudity.

Palmer recently opened up about the highs and lows of child stardom, and how some of her earlier experiences led her to where she is today. Within her career, she clearly is interested in experimenting with genre, especially considering she went from a pure horror film to a pure comedy. Even though she is open minded when it comes to what she does on screen, she has decided to draw the line at any nudity. She explained to The Independent that she is "reluctant" about the prospect.

The interviewer noted that Palmer audibly shuddered just thinking about the idea of having to do nudity, and it was pretty visceral. Thus, despite her brazen and extroverted public persona (and roles in movies like Hustlers), this is something she certainly doesn't seem like she would be comfortable with, noting:

She isn’t alone in her thinking. Actresses like Julia Roberts have also deliberately chosen roles that don’t require nudity, as Roberts explained that the practice wouldn’t feel representative of who she was.

On the other hand, many actresses do feel differently. Jennifer Lawrence decided to bare all for No Hard Feelings, because she found the script funny and thought the nudity would make it funnier. Demi Moore’s nudity in The Substance came down to mutual trust with the filmmaker, was something that was essential to the plot, and enhanced the film in many ways. It’s certainly a personal decision and one no actress should be pressured into making one way or another.

There’s nothing wrong with nudity on screen, and some of the most incredible performances committed to screen were by actors who decided to take on roles that required it. However, I have to respect Keke Palmer for sticking to her guns. She’s been in this business a long time, and likely has been approached for plenty of roles that probably required nudity.

But she has kept her boundaries clear, and has still been able to have a robust career because of it. She’s a great role model, and hopefully other young actresses learn from her when they make decisions about their own bodies.

You can see Keke Palmer in her latest film One of Them Days, which is now playing in theaters nationwide. The movie is also currently available to purchase VOD on Amazon. For more information on other titles heading to cinemas and streaming this year, make sure to consult our 2025 movie release schedule.

As the upcoming awards shows continue to drum on, so do the viral moments from these evenings. The latest comes from The Screen Actors Guild Awards -- which aired on Netflix's 2025 schedule -- and it was all about Law & Order. When Keke Palmer took the stage, she proudly stated that if anyone in the audience had played a role in the Law and Order universe they should take a drink. And let me tell you, watching many celebrities, including Timothèe Chalamet and Elle Fanning, oblige and accept the cue was surprising.

While it’s no secret that plenty of A-Listers appeared on Law and Order before making it big, the number of stars who popped up in the long-running series is actually wild. And, it's worth mentioning that Palmer, who made the joke, is an L&O alum too (her episode is from SVU, Season 7, Episode 10, to be exact). So, watching the Akeelah and the Bee alum, alongside presenting partner, Colman Domingo, set up the cheers humorously in the video below, solidified just how essential a stepping stone the Dick Wolf-created world has come to be.

As the Nope actress watched the crowd respond, and jokingly called out a few names, including Zoe Saldaña and the whole cast of The Bear, my mind was being blown.

What made it even better was after the room had a good laugh, the Sing Sing actor also pulled out a flask, confirming he too is on that long list of L&O alum. Then, they ended the category intro by saying cheers to all of the guest stars across Hollywood.

It’s a cute moment that is lighthearted but rightfully shouts out the importance of guest stars for franchises like Law & Order. Booking a cameo for the NBC show certainly feels like an important milestone while building an acting career in Hollywood. Watching a room full of successful actors confirm that idea by participating in Palmer’s game is astounding and humbling. What makes it even better is realizing that we’re currently watching a new crop of aspiring talent on the Law & Order shows that are airing on the 2025 TV schedule.

Now, if you were wondering where some of the noted A-Listers land within the L&O fam, look no further:

• In 2009, Timothée Chalamet played Eric Foley in Season 19, Episode 10 of Law & Order.
• Colman Domingo was in one episode of Law & Order: Trial by Jury in 2006 (Season 1, Episode 13), two episodes of Law & Order in 2004 (Season 14, Episode 17) and 2008 (Season 19, Episode 6) and two episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2006 (Season 5, Episode 20) and 2010 (Season 9, Episode 7).
• Zoe Saldaña was in one episode of Law & Order in 1999 (Season 9, Episode 24) and one episode of Law & Order: SVU in 2004 (Season 5, Episode 21).
• In 2006, Elle Fanning played Eden in Season 8, Episode 8 of Law & Order: SVU
• Jeremy Allen White was in two episodes of Law & Order in 2007 (Season 17, Episode 15) and 2008 (Season 18, Episode 5) and one episode of Law & Order: SVU in 2010 (Season 11, Episode 21).

As it has always done, the beloved and ever-growing franchise continues to help turn out the next wave of Hollywood giants.

Now, with seven series within the world, spanning almost 35 years, it’s no wonder so many of those familiar faces wryly responded to Palmer's joke. Even though it was written for them, hats off to the Alice alum (and the Euphoria actor) for shining a light on the quiet importance of Law & Order in Hollywood.

Bits like Keke Palmer asking a room full of stars to drink if they ever landed a Law & Order gig, and people like Chalamet and Fanning responding, are excellent. It’s the kind of sweet but goofy content I’d like to see more of at award events going forward.

To watch the fun homage to Law & Order and guest stars in full, you can stream the SAG Awards with a Netflix subscription. To watch the new episodes of Law & Order's various shows and see new guest stars who could end up as famous and successful as the folks who held up a glass to Palmer's joke, you can stream all the series with a Peacock subscription.

Considering how many child stars have walked away from Hollywood, it is always so inspiring to see an actor who started early and continues to act to this day. Of course, some of them would walk away from the spotlight or experience a bit of a career hiccup before making an impressive return, either with more acting roles or in a new medium altogether. See for yourself by taking a look at these former child actors who went on to impress us as adults.

Mayim Bialik

After hitting it big as the title character of the hit '90s sitcom Blossom, Mayim Bialik lived a normal life that included earning a neuroscience degree and starting a family. She made her major industry return by joining the Big Bang Theory cast as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, which led her to lead another sitcom called Call Me Kat and host Jeopardy! for a short time.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

After getting his start in movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It and playing an alien posing as a human teen on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt never really went away from Hollywood. However, he did experience a moment of relative obscurity before roles in the likes of (500) Days of Summer, a few great Christopher Nolan movies, and his many collaborations with Rian Johnson put him on the A-List.

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett made a grand impression in her youth with a recurring stint on Full House and as the title role of the acclaimed Black horror movie, 1997's Eve’s Bayou. Her career would take an astonishing turn toward A-list success in 2020 after her Emmy-nominated turn in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, which was followed by her role as Black Canary in DC’s Birds of Prey, her great performance in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, and more.

Jason Bateman

Following his debut appearance on Little House on the Prairie, his roles on sitcoms like Valerie (later called The Hogan Family after some major casting shake-ups), and his lead part in Teen Wolf Too made Jason Bateman an '80s heartthrob. Years later, playing Michael Bluth in the Arrested Development cast made him a comedy icon before his Emmy-nominated turn as Marty Byrde in Netflix's Ozark cast further proved his remarkable versatility.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer – who proved she was an acting powerhouse at 9 years old with her debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business before scoring her first lead role in 2006's Akeelah and the Bee – never needed a comeback moment because her notoriety never really stopped. However, it is clear that the multi-talented Emmy winner was never more popular before her scene-stealing performance in Jordan Peele’s 2022 alien invasion movie, Nope.

Josh Brolin

After making his acting debut at 17 in 1985's The Goonies cast, Josh Brolin rarely had another role quite as successful until, at 39, he was cast in 2007's instant classic Western movie, No Country for Old Men, as Llewellyn Moss. The son of James Brolin went on to receive an Oscar nomination for 2008's Milk, was cast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first big bad, Thanos, and has given commanding performances in various other acclaimed films.

Drew Barrymore

Many forget that, years after 1982's E.T. the Extra-terrestrial made her a sensation at just 7 years old, Drew Barrymore had a few career shake-ups due to personal drama including addiction. Yet, her astonishing performance in the opening scene of 1996’s Scream brought her back to the A-List and earned her roles in blockbusters like Charlie's Angels and TV shows like Santa Clarita Diet before she found later success as a daytime talk show host.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing the prodigious title role of Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, at least for a while. His popularity would skyrocket, however, when he played Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother cast, which opened up many avenues for the now multi-Emmy-winning performer, from working with David Fincher on Gone Girl to hosting award shows and taking the stage on Broadway.

Gaby Hoffman

Gaby Hoffman had an amazing run as a child actor in the late 1980s and early 1990s with roles in movies like Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, Now and Then, and Sleepless in Seattle. After stepping away to focus on her education, she resurfaced as a sought-after talent with her Emmy-nominated starring role in the Amazon Prime original TV show, Transparent.

Ke Huy Quan

Following his iconic roles in classic '80s movies Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Short Round, and The Goonies, as Data, Ke Huy Quan’s role offers began to disappear. That would change decades later when he won an Academy Award for his uplifting performance in A24's acclaimed multiverse movie, 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Anna Chlumsky

For years, Anna Chlumsky was best known for her heartbreaking performance as 11-year-old Vada in 1991's My Girl. Years later, she significantly increased her star power with her multi-Emmy-nominated role in the hit HBO series, Veep, as Amy Brookheimer.

Macaulay Culkin

One of the most essential examples of a “former child star” is Macaulay Culkin, who had Hollywood in the palm of his young hands after leading the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. He still acts from time to time, having shown up in the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or on HBO's The Righteous Gemstones, is in a power couple with Brenda Song, and finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci would continue to find notable acting roles beyond her star-making turn as Wednesday Addams in 1991's The Addams Family and 1993's Addams Family Values. However, starring in Showtime’s Yellowjackets cast did wonders for her modern notoriety before she revisited her breakout role with a fun part in Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale owes his fame to starring in Steven Spielberg's 1987 period drama Empire of the Sun and the cult-favorite 1992 musical Newsies but his menacing turn in 2000's American Psycho earned him wide respect as an adult. However, leading Christopher Nolan's live-action Batman movies as Bruce Wayne made him one of the top actors of his generation, leading to his Oscar win for 2011’s The Fighter.

Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar embodied the ultimate girl next door when she was cast in the original Wonder Years as Winnie Cooper from 1988 to 1993. Much later in her career, she would acquire a much different fanbase when she became one of the most prolific stars on the Hallmark Channel with roles in movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse had already acted alongside his sibling, his identical twin brother Dylan, numerous times (such as in Big Daddy) before Disney Channel’s The Suite Life franchise made them teen idols. However, you could argue that Cole was never more popular after he joined the Riverdale cast as Jughead Jones.

Hilary Duff

There were few teen Disney Channel stars who became quite as iconic and as quickly as Hilary Duff after she starred in the title role of Lizzie McGuire. She would find later success in the scene-stealing supporting role of Kelsey Peters on TV Land’s Younger and as the lead protagonist of Hulu's short-lived but well-liked How I Met Your Mother spin-off, How I Met Your Father.

Josh Peck

Josh Peck first rose to fame on Nickelodeon by scoring major roles in kid-friendly comedies like The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. He would later prove his worth as a versatile actor with more mature roles, such as on Fox's Grandfathered or in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture Oscar winner, Oppenheimer.

Vincent Kartheiser

Vincent Kartheiser first made a name for himself by appearing in ‘90s teen movies like Alaska and Masterminds. However, he would find later and greater success after starring in AMC's Mad Men cast as Pete Campbell.

Kurt Russell

Following his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, Kurt Russell continued to have success as the star of light and funny Disney movies like The Strongest Man in the World. In 1981, he reinvented himself as an action movie icon after playing Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, which led to plenty more awesome movie roles, such as R.J. MacReady in The Thing and Coach Herb Brooks in Miracle.

Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin was previously best known as Macaulay Culkin’s younger brother, who also showed up in the Home Alone movies and played Matty Banks in the Father of the Bride movies. However, he would become one of the more prolific Culkin siblings following his Emmy-winning turn in the Succession cast as Roman Roy and other widely acclaimed performances.

Johnny Galecki

For years, Johnny Galecki was best known for playing the third Rusty Griswold in 1989's National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and David Healy on Roseanne. He would later reprise the latter role on The Conners years after experiencing a career resurgence by playing Leonard Hofstadter on CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster made an impressive feature film debut as Liam Neeson’s onscreen stepson in the 2003 rom-com, Love Actually. The British actor would later surprise audiences with his role as Jojen Reed in the Game of Thrones cast, leading to parts in the Maze Runner movies and Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams became a bonafide sitcom star by playing a young Chris Rock on Everybody Hates Chris, which led to more interesting roles, such as Lionel in the acclaimed 2014 indie comedy, Dear White People. However, his recurring role on the Walking Dead cast and multi-Emmy-nominated turn as Gregory Eddie on the Abbott Elementary cast earned him wide respect as an adult actor.

Alisan Porter

Alisan Porter only appeared in a handful of movies, including Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role, before she walked away from acting when she was still very young. She would later reinvent herself as a talented musician when she competed in and won the tenth season of NBC's hit singing competition show, The Voice.

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson broke into the business when she joined the Growing Pains cast as the Severs' youngest child, Chrissy. She is best known these days as a prolific voice actor who has breathed life into iconic roles such as Gretchen on Recess and Ellie in the hit post-apocalyptic video game The Last of Us, which was adapted into an HBO series that she cameoed on.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy became one of the most promising young talents to break through on Nickelodeon, having been cast on iCarly as the charmingly bullish Sam Puckett. However, she became better known and even better respected years later for her acclaimed, revealing 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, which focuses on her life as a reluctant child actor.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne began her career early in life – notably appearing on Pee-wee's Playhouse – and seemingly hit her peak in her late teens and early 20s with the American Pie movies and But I'm a Cheerleader before substance abuse caused her career to slow down. Years later, Emmy-nominated turns on TV shows like Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll (which she co-created), and Poker Face and a few acclaimed movie roles reignited her wonderfully versatile career.

Mara Wilson

Following her star-making roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda, Mara Wilson walked away from the spotlight soon after starring in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. She would later take up minor, infrequent parts after becoming better known for writing about her experiences as a top child actor.

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment would never go on to play a role quite as iconic as young medium Cole Sear in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Sixth Sense (which earned him an Oscar nomination) at 11 years old. However, his work as an adult – such as recurring roles on hit series like Silicon Valley and The Boys and memorable parts in movies like Kevin Smith’s Tusk – has been nothing short of exciting.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen made a charming debut as Cindy Lou Who in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and, in her teens, made an impression on the Gossip Girl cast as Jenny Humphrey. She would later reinvent herself as the frontwoman of a successful rock group called The Pretty Reckless.

Lukas Haas

Following an acclaimed run as one of the most revered child actors of the 1980s for his roles in Witness and Lady in White, Lukas Haas went on to take progressively smaller roles as he grew up. However, much of the projects he has taken in his adulthood – including movies like Inception and Babylon and TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds – have been met with great receptions.

In honor of Black History Month, I’ve got to say that Akeelah and the Bee is one of my favorite movies to watch during this time. Not only is it one of Keke Palmer’s best movies, but it delivers a powerful message way beyond simply winning a spelling bee. I need to talk about the Black-cast family movie’s important message about the community playing a huge role in Akeelah’s success.

I Love Seeing Akeelah's Neighborhood Come Together To Support Her

It’s easy to assume that winning a spelling bee is all about studying and memorizing hard words, their definitions, and their language of origin. But because Akeelah was representing her low-income neighborhood, the pressure was riding on her to win. While initially letting that get to her, she used the power of “50,000 coaches” to help her achieve victory.

I loved seeing residents from all corners of her neighborhood come together to help this 11-year-old girl win the National Spelling Bee. It’s incredibly inspirational to see that just when you feel at your lowest, there are always helping hands when you take a closer look at your environment.

It was even delightful in the scene where Akeelah saw news footage of a child saying they felt inspired to try out for their school’s spelling bee because of her. Whether her coaches were personal friends, family, or even complete strangers from her neighborhood, they dedicated their time to helping her study and watched her in the televised Bee from their homes.

Dr. Larabee Is the Tough-But-Loyal Mentor We All Wish We Had

Laurence Fishburne’s Oscarworthy performance as Dr. Larabee was truly memorable. While he may have been hardened and stiff on the outside, this fictional teacher made a real impact on Akeelah. The English professor never sugarcoated anything to his spelling bee student, motivating her the way he would for his college students instead of a little girl.

If she was disrespectful, he showed tough love by declining to help. But if he noticed anything that was holding her back from unleashing her full potential, Dr. Larabee would step in and help, whether it was teaching her to jump rope to keep time or introducing her to powerful essays.

My favorite scene between Dr. Larabee and Akeelah was when she spoke to her mentor about the way she coped with her father’s passing so he could cope with his daughter’s. It was a moment that showed a student can become a teacher, too.

It Took All Kinds Of People To Help Akeelah Win

Like Akeelah admitted to Dr. Larabee at the end, “We did it.” After all, she didn’t win on her own; it took all kinds of people in her community practicing words with her and letting her know they had her back. Her father first got her into words, her mother, whose Oscar-worthy performance is given by Angela Bassett, introduced the concept of “50,000 coaches,” and her spelling bee opponent and friend, Xavier, taught her about the importance of Latin classes to study the origin of words.

Unlikely people in Akeelah’s life, like her brother’s shady friend Derrick T., and even her rival, Dylan Chu, provided their assistance either by helping her with hard words or teaching her the importance of a fair competition. It proves that it really does take a village to make it possible to get far in the spelling bee. Akeelah may have been the one on stage, but the heart of her community got her there.

Just When Akeelah Felt Like Falling, Her Peers Picked Her Back Up

There was a ton of pressure for Akeelah Anderson to succeed, because she was representing her community. Fortunately, the middle-schooler had plenty of people in her life to pick her up when she needed it. Though Akeelah reminded Dr. Larabee of his late daughter, he still managed to be the voice of reason to her when she felt it was impossible to beat her experienced rival, Dylan. It was a powerful scene that proved we all need a Dr. Larabee to pick us up no matter what.

Akeelah’s best friend, Georgia, was still a cheerleader for her despite being jealous of her new spelling bee friends. She also received help from her older sister, Kiana, who witnessed a contestant cheating during the contest, and her older brother, Devon, who reminded her to compete in memory of their father.

And we can’t forget Akeelah’s mother, who encouraged her to compete when she was ready to quit. Each person in her life made sure to pick her up when she was doubting herself and it’s through their encouragement she kept going.

The most memorable quality of Akeelah and the Bee was how the strength of community and love can help one person accomplish enormous feats. The whole family will love this movie, especially during Black History Month, as it beautifully celebrates the idea that the steadfast support of those who believe in us can make us do incredible things. The drama is available for rent on digital streaming platforms.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor has many roles under her belt these days, with more than 80 acting credits credited to her name, including some hitting the 2025 movie schedule. However, before The Mentalist, If Beale Street Could Talk, Quantico, Lovecraft Country, Nickel Boys, The Color Purple and even before she joined the cast of Justified: City Primeval, the actress says it was Keke Palmer who really helped her to land meatier roles. This was a surprise for me, as I remember her career really shifting into high gear thanks to another TV role.

In 2012, Ellis-Taylor starred opposite Ms. Palmer in the Lifetime original movie Abducted: The Carlina White Story. In the movie, she played a nurse who had abducted a baby from a hospital system years before and had raised her on her own, all while the child’s birth parents were still searching for her.

The made-for-TV movie was based on a true story, and it’s a role that was higher profile for the actress at the time. She said in a speech while accepting an American Black Film Festival (ABFF) honor (via Variety) that if it wasn't for Keke Palmer and her mother, she might not have ever gotten the chance to really launch a major Hollywood career, noting of Carlina White:

Of course I would never want to take away the actress’ own thoughts on her career and the pivotal moment she felt like things changed for her, but I do think it's worth noting Ellis-Taylor was already starting to make her mark on the industry a few years before that.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s Good Wife Episode Is The One That Really Put The Actress On My Radar

In 2009, Ellis-Taylor had a one-off appearance on The Good Wife, then in its first season on CBS. The show was already a critical darling (and led to spinoffs that have become critical darlings), and the actress landed a role in one of the most memorable early Alicia Florrick episodes. In it, she played Linda Underwood in an episode where Alicia was defending three widows whose husbands had been involved in a fatal train crash. Subsequently, the company was trying to push the blame onto the dead men, leaving the widows with no pensions. It’s a mess of an episode culminating in Alicia having to make a difficult moral choice, but it’s the scenes with Ellis-Taylor that stand out.

By 2010, she’d landed a role as Madeleine Hightower in The Mentalist, and while she didn’t have the world’s biggest role on the CBS series, it was a popular procedural that plenty of people still revisit today. Plus, her role was memorable and lasted for plenty of episodes. It felt then that she was well on the way to making a name for herself.

Regardless, the connection with Keke Palmer and her mom was obviously cool and extremely meaningful for her. It certainly amplified her profile quite a bit when the movie came out in 2012, but I’d like to think the kind of roles she's garnered since would have come in another way if Palmer hadn’t been there.

At the end of the day, it’s always cool when a major actress shouts out another major actress, and Ellis-Taylor and Palmer’s connection years later is still a fun BTS story about the inner workings of Hollywood. Now, excuse me while I go watch Abducted: The Carlina White Story with my Amazon subscription.

What 2025 movies will we be talking about this year? As we’re just a few weeks into January, it’s too early to tell, but I was so pleased with my first trip to the movie theater in the new year. I went to see One Of Them Days, and had so much fun with the Keke Palmer and SZA pairing. As my One Of Them Days review notes, it’s a blast of a buddy comedy about two women who have to wander around their neighborhood in Los Angeles to make their rent money in a matter of a handful of hours. Along with other critics loving it too, I’m so happy it won the box office during its opening weekend, because I’ve seen too many movies in the subgenre go unnoticed in recent years.

Keke Palmer and SZA (along with executive producer Issa Rae and writer Syreeta Singleton) absolutely deserve this moment of being one of the few female-driven comedies to break into the mainstream and make bank during its theatrical release. It’s genuinely such a fun time, and I know I missed laughing out loud in a theater with strangers. In honor of its release, I want to highlight five other female buddy comedies that have come out in recent years that I don’t think had the same buzz.

Joy Ride (2023)

One movie that made it high on our list of best comedies of 2023 is Adele Lim’s Joy Ride. When it came out the summer of 2023, I found it to be such a hilarious movie with an ensemble cast. Starring Broadway’s Ashley Park, Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Stephanie Hsu and newcomers Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu, the movie follows Park’s Audrey and her best friend Lolo as they travel to China to meet her birth family (she’s adopted) for the first time and close a business deal all at once. However, during the trip things go very awry, and so raunchy that a K-pop version of “WAP” is involved.

While it’s very R-rated, it also includes a refreshing take on female friendship. CinemaBlend even gave the movie 4 out of 5 stars in our Joy Ride review. However, it totally bombed at the box office, making $15 million worldwide. It’s time to give it some love!

Stream Joy Ride on STARZ.
Rent/Buy Joy Ride on Amazon.

Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021)

If you’re a fan of SNL, chances are you’re also a fan of Kristen Wiig, and her comedic shenanigans. The comic co-wrote and starred in a movie called Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar that is right up her alley of hilarity. It has Wiig and her co-writer/star Annie Mumolo playing middle-aged best friends who leave their home in Nebraska for a vacation in Vista Del Mar, Florida. Wiig pulls double duty as a ridiculous but very funny villain named Sharon Fisherman, who has a vendetta against Vista Del Mar, who sends her agent Edgar (played by Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan) to assist her in her master plan.

Barb and Star then get caught up in Sharon and Edgar’s plot amidst their holiday, and it’s just tons of goofy fun. The reason why a lot of people likely missed out on it is because it’s one of those movies that came out at the wrong time. The comedy was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then released on premium VOD in early 2021.

Stream Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar on Hulu. Stream Barb & Star for free on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Barb & Star on Amazon.

Unpregnant (2020)

Another solid female buddy comedy that has come out in the last few years that I loved was Max’s Unpregnant. The movie is specifically a road trip comedy starring The White Lotus’ Haley Lu Richardson as Veronica and Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira as Bailey. The movie is about a teen whose life-plans get sidetracked when she gets pregnant and can’t get an abortion in her state of Missouri. So, Veronica and her former best friend Bailey drive to the closest clinic, all the way in New Mexico to get the procedure done.

Even though this movie came out five years ago at this point, I still think about it every so often for the on point chemistry and fun between its leads and the important social commentary it has on abortion access in the U.S. Its writer/director Rachel Lee Goldenberg had her own experience with abortion and the topic is handled with honesty and care. The movie came out exclusively for Max in 2020, so I think it just wasn’t on a lot of people’s radars.

Stream Unpregnant on Max.

Plan B (2021)

In a similar vein to Unpregnant, I’d also recommend checking out Hulu’s Plan B. This is also a coming-of-age comedy about two women navigating the troubling waters of contraception access in the U.S. In this movie, helmed by actress Natalie Morales, two teenaged friends, a sheltered Indian teen unexpectedly loses her virginity at a party her more outgoing friend Lupe has pressured her to throw while her parents are out of town. When she realizes the condom they used might not have been effective, they rush to find a Plan B pill. However, the closest they will be able to track down is in another city in South Dakota.

The leads in this, Kuhoo Verma and Victoria Moroles, are not well-known actresses, but they absolutely crush in this very funny buddy comedy. As a streaming release, we truly have no idea if this has been watched a lot or not, but considering I don’t often hear it mentioned, it deserves a place on this list as well.

Stream Plan B on Hulu.

Babes (2024)

Last but not least, is a comedy that came out last year, but also seemed to slip through the cracks. As a huge fan of Broad City, I was so excited to see Ilana Glazer in Babes and it does not disappoint. While the last two buddy comedies on this list were about two women trying not to be pregnant, this one is about a single woman who decides to have her baby after having a whirlwind one night stand.

I appreciated Babes, not only for its blast of a pairing with Glazer and Michelle Buteau, but because of the honest conversations underneath about what happens during pregnancy (from a hilarious woman’s perspective – Glazer wrote it after getting pregnant herself) along with it really honing in on the complicated friendship between its two leads. But, Babes also sadly bombed at the box office, with a haul of just $3.9 million.

Stream Babes on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Babes on Amazon.

I’m so happy to see a lot more female-driven buddy comedies in recent years – including the likes of more mainstream buddy comedies like Booksmart, Do Revenge and Bottoms, which are also amazing! In honor of One Of Them Days showing these comedies have a theatrical audience, I can’t wait for Hollywood to make more of these movies. If you want to see more of these types of stories like I do, go out of your way to watch them in theaters or right when they hit streaming.

Spoilers for One of Them Days lie ahead, so read on accordingly.

We may only be a few weeks into January, but the 2025 movie schedule has already delivered a few solid titles. One such film is the buddy comedy One of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and SZA. Thus far, the film has surprised at the box office, and critics have praised Palmer and SZA for their performances and lauded the flick’s direction. Considering all of that, I’m not surprised the film is currently crushing in theaters. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was to have been moved by one specific aspect of the movie.

Directed by Lawrence Lamont and written by Syreeta Singleton, the Issa Rae-produced film centers around best friends Dreux and Alyssa. The story tracks the ladies’ attempts to recoup their squandered rent money by the end of a day in order to avoid eviction. That proves to be easier said than done, as they face a number of obstacles while trying to achieve their goals. Serious shenanigans ensue, which make this an entertaining comedy, though let’s get into one of the more thoughtful elements of the movie.

What Aspect Of One Of Them Days Was Surprisingly Moving?

Make no mistake, this film is funny, as noted in CinemaBlend’s One of Them Days review. One scene sees SZA’s Alyssa being electrocuted while trying to get a pair of sneakers off a telephone line, while another sees both Alyssa and Keke Palmer’s Dreux being hurt by a bully who partly beats them down with her butt. It’s easy to get caught up in the over-the-top scenes, which are somewhat reminiscent of those in the long-dormant Friday franchise. Yet what some may miss is the movie’s keen sense of community.

It’s established early on that Dreux and Alyssa live in an apartment complex that features extensive damage. Given those closed quarters, the residents of the place have tight bonds and rely on each other in a myriad of ways. For example, there’s the sweet Mama Ruth (Vanessa Bell Calloway), who sells affordable snacks to her neighbors and also offers to house Alyssa and Dreux after their apartment is burned to a crisp during the third act. There’s also Jameel, a neighborhood stylist who can do someone’s hair in a pinch.

There’s also eccentric neighborhood wanderer Lucky (Katt Williams), who takes it upon himself to mentor the lead protagonists (in his own eclectic way) throughout the movie. A key portion of the movie that truly encapsulates the sense of community I’m discussing involves Dreux and Alyssa, in the hopes of raising money, planning an impromptu art show for the latter’s work. In doing this, their neighbors help decorate the apartment, prepare food and organize live music. And, ahead of the event, Jameel even fulfils a promise to do Dreux’s hair.

As a whole, I found this sense of interconnectedness to be quite touching and certainly didn’t expect to get that here. Still, I’m glad I did, as it adds to the nuance of this humorously sweet feature film. This should serve as a firm reminder that when it comes to a film like this, sentiment should be considered just as important as comedy.

How Is One Of Them Days Performing At The Box Office Thus Far?

One of Them Days made its box office debut over MLK weekend, and it earned $11.6 million during its first three days in theaters. Also, as projected, it ended up hitting $14 million by Monday, which is currently where its domestic (and overall) total sits. That’s especially impressive when you consider that the film has a reported budget of $14 million. It’s certainly hard to hate on a reasonable budget for a comedy, and other studios should take note.

I’m excited to see how Lawrence Lamont’s film continues to perform throughout its theatrical run. Quite frankly, I can’t recommend it enough, as Keke Palmer, SZA and co. are stellar. I also hope that when people see it, they not only appreciate the comedic elements but the communal ties it depicts as well.

You can check out One of Them Days in theaters now!

It’s hard to argue with the energy that Keke Palmer brings to the screen or the music SZA has graced us with over the years, and now these two talents are coming together for the buddy comedy One of Them Days by producer Issa Rae. It will be the film debut for the four-time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee, while Palmer returns to the big screen in her first major starring role since she became a horror movie final girl in Nope. Critics had the opportunity to screen the film ahead of its release to the 2025 movie calendar, and they say the stars bring the fun.

Keke Palmer and SZA star as roommates Dreux and Alyssa, respectively, who are on a race against the clock after Alyssa’s boyfriend spent their rent money. In CinemaBlend’s review of One of Them Days, Sarah El-Mahmoud writes that they go on a hilariously relatable search to make some fast money and avoid eviction, all while bringing the fun best friend energy to the screen. She rates it 3.5 stars out of 5, saying:

Alison Willmore of Vulture says the movie impressively balances its characters’ exhaustion with the goofiness of the situations they find themselves in. Keke Palmer also proves herself, again, as an under-rated talent. Willmore continues:

Lovia Gyarkye of THR agrees that Keke Palmer shines in One of Them Days, and newcomer SZA holds her own. More than anything, Gyarkye says, the ride-or-die duo inspire nostalgia for the female friendships Issa Rae’s projects have become known for. The critic continues:

Owen Gleiberman of Variety calls One of Them Days “a winning throwback to the kind of day-in-the-hood comedy they used to make in the ’90s,” in the same vein as Friday. The screenplay has a “screwball recklessness,” the critic writes, with Keke Palmer commanding the screen and SZA sizzling in her debut. Gleiberman continues:

Adrian Horton of The Guardian gives the movie 3 out of 5 stars, calling the ride that the two best friends take as “bumpy but fun.” The lead actresses are the highlight of the movie — specifically, the critic notes, their “rat-a-tat banter.” The movie may go too far at times, but that shouldn’t deter audiences from a trip to the theater. Horton writes:

This movie sounds like one hell of a wild ride, which is really all I’d expect from Issa Rae, Keke Palmer and SZA. Critics overall seem to agree, as the movie holds an impressive 95% Rotten Tomatoes score from 38 critics as of this writing. If you want to go on this adventure, whose objective is the all-too-familiar chore of paying rent, One of Them Days hits the big screen on Friday, January 17.

No longer a child star anymore, Keke Palmer has done a great job throughout her adult career with her best movies including Nope, Animal, and her 2025 movie release One of Them Days. At the same time, it doesn’t mean fans have forgotten about her breakout role as Akeelah Anderson in Akeelah and the Bee. So much so that Palmer talks about the time she met a superfan of the family-friendly movie in a strip club!

It’s natural with child stars that no matter how many adult roles they have under their belt, they’ll always be remembered for the role that established their career. In the case of Palmer, there are still Akeelah and the Bee fans out there who will never forget when she played a Scripps National Spelling Bee contestant. In a Fandango video, One of Them Days producer/star Issa Rae asked Palmer about the wildest experience she had with a server at a restaurant. Here’s the former child star’s hilarious response and it involves a strip club and her breakout role as Akeelah:

I can imagine it being wild for Keke Palmer to discover a role she played when she was 12 was almost the inspiration for a stripper name! It’s also ironic that the dancer said another of her favorite movies was Selena which starred Jennifer Lopez. Both the True Jackson, VP actress and Lopez were in the cast of Hustlers where they both played exotic dancers themselves. Talk about a coincidence.

But then again, I can understand why this fan was so taken by the movie Akeelah and the Bee. The character of Akeelah Anderson is certainly motivational as the middle schooler faced a lot of luck ranking as high as she did in the spelling bee when it was her first year competing. As Akeelah's school was underfunded, she didn't have the privileges that kids from other schools had in the classes offered that could have helped her win. However, Akeelah had the help of English professor Dr. Larabee, a fictional teacher who made a real impact on the 11-year-old to bring out skills she didn’t know she had. At the same time, she helped her tutor as well cope with a personal tragedy they both could relate to. It appears that Palmer felt incredibly complimented that her first big movie still resonates with adult fans today.

The Daytime Emmy nominee didn’t always have positive experiences with her fans. For instance, there was a time a fan filmed her against her will after Keke Palmer told her she didn’t want her picture taken. She also clapped back at haters who told her she wasn’t pretty without makeup. Fortunately, not all fan experiences for her have been bad like how fans have been rooting for her to play Rogue in an X-Men remake which she responded delightfully in an on-brand way that she’d be up for it. Plus with a stripper saying how much she loved her Akeelah and the Bee, it’s nice to know there are superfans out there who take the time to compliment a person’s achievements.

It may have been a "unique situation" for Keke Palmer to meet an Akeelah and the Bee superfan at a strip bar. On the other hand, it shows that there are fans everywhere and that an actress’s breakout role can still stay in people's minds decades later. Make sure to catch Palmer’s latest movie One of Them Days in theaters on January 17th.

Keke Palmer had a child star experience like few others. Compared to the common trope of growing up in the entertainment industry at a young age leading to rehab or public scandals, Palmer didn't go through any of that during her childhood. Her movies and TV shows have shown what a talented, strong force she is making a name for herself. The former Nickelodeon actress means “no disrespect” in getting honest about what she experienced as a child star compared to contemporaries like Miley Cyrus and others.

Being a child star certainly isn’t easy balancing a professional career at such a young age with the responsibility of your own well-being and the growth of your personal brand. So many exploitive documentaries like Quiet on Set and Demi Lovato’s Child Star have presented the darker side of being a young starlet and the long-term effects that can have on growing up. Fortunately for Keke Palmer, her experiences in the industry were separate from other child stars as she gets real with The Cut about not being pushed into anything inappropriate by network execs:

Looking at your career from your own perspective instead of comparing yourself to others is, indeed, a great way to survive in what can be an “exploitative” industry. Keke Palmer showed her superb acting talents at the age of 12 leading one of the best family-friendly movies Akeelah and the Bee about overcoming the hurdles of being a Scripps National Spelling Bee contestant. We were able to see the actress’s depth, charm, and emotional range as she brought Akeelah Anderson’s personal struggles and perseverance to life.

After taking on supporting roles in films like Madea’s Family Reunion and Cleaner, Keke Palmer’s career came in full force in the underrated Nickelodeon show True Jackson, VP about a teenager offered Vice President of the Youth Fashion Design Department of Mad Style. The Barbershop 2 actress said this leading role resonated with her the most in playing an independent teen who climbed up the corporate ladder just like she did in real life. However, the actress/singer said her experiences being a young Black woman in Hollywood weren’t easy for her compared to white child stars with their own shows like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and more:

That’s truly heartbreaking that Keke Palmer’s success was unfairly labeled as “the Black girl on the network” which separated her success from others. Shows like Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Victorious were a hit with young audiences. At the same time, Palmer became the fourth highest-paid child star on television because of True Jackson, VP. She even received four NAACP Image Awards for her performance and approved the designs of a Walmart fashion line based on the sitcom. By any standard, those are genuine triumphs that can’t be ignored.

Back when the media was constantly comparing Keke Palmer’s career to former Disney star Zendaya, the Jump In! actress was quick to clap back about her own accomplishments from the Euphoria actress. Palmer said she’d rather people acknowledge her for being the first Black woman to star in a Nickelodeon show, the youngest and first Black woman to play Cinderella on Broadway, and having over 100 acting credits to her name since she was 11. The Winx Club voice actress continued to speak about the importance of being incomparable:

With Keke Palmer refusing to compare herself to her white peers, she’s boldly recognizing not only the biases that come with being a Black woman in Hollywood but proudly pointing out the successful career she’s created. While it was hard for Palmer to secure roles after True Jackson, VP went off the air in 2011, she still completed plenty of career milestones like being added to the cast of Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens, her first hosting gig with Password, starring in Jordan Peele’s Nope, and the producer of KeyTV which aims to present opportunities for Black talent in front or behind the camera.

Keke Palmer also has her new movie with SZA called One of Them Days about two friends on a race to make rent. With the buddy comedy having been in development for the past five years, Palmer also served as executive producer making sure the script resonated with the central theme of community among economic change. Plus, you can’t forget she’s very busy “mommy-ing” her firstborn child, Leodias. As you can see, the Daytime Emmy nominee has plenty in her schedule to help her continue to be victorious.

There really is no comparing Keke Palmer’s career to other former child actresses who were around during her prime. The Screen Actors Guild nominee has proven herself to be a pro taking on big silver screen roles before becoming a lead on a Nickelodeon show. Her determination to set herself apart and be in control of her own career are truly inspirational qualities for the masses to look up to.

The 2025 movie release of Keke Palmer’s One of Them Days heads into theaters on January 17th. You can also watch Palmer’s first Nickelodeon starring role in True Jackson, VP on your Paramount+ subscription.

Law & Order: SVU is currently airing its 26th season on the 2024 TV schedule, and there's no end in sight. That shouldn't surprise anyone either, because the show's following is huge, and includes some massive A-listers (like Taylor Swift). Keke Palmer, who actually guest-starred on SVU back in the day, is also a big fan. In fact, she's such a big fan that she slid into Mariska Hargitay's DMs a few years ago.

The Nope actress guest starred on Law & Order: SVU back in 2005 when she was just 12 years old. She played the oldest sister of three girls who were abducted from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and brought to New York in Season 7, Episode 10. Even before she was on the show, it had an impact on her when she was 6 because she had experienced sexual abuse the year prior. Palmer told Us Weekly she was starstruck when she was on set:

Not only was little Palmer on what was probably her favorite show, but she also worked directly alongside both Hargitay and Christopher Meloni since her character helped Benson and Stabler find her kidnapper.

It was likely a dream and an experience that she would never forget. It turns out Hargitay didn't forget either. Palmer revealed she had a sweet exchange with the actress years later when she slid into her DMs:

The fact that SVU has gone through hundreds of guest stars throughout its 20 seasons and Mariska Hargitay still remembered Keke Palmer's role is impressive. However, as we all know now, the Joyful Noise actress is an unforgettable performer.

Now, what I really need is Keke Palmer to return to SVU. She could play the same character she played when she was 12 or someone completely different. I don't really care, but no matter what, I need it to happen.

Since Palmer is one of many former child stars still acting today, it wouldn’t be surprising if she made another appearance on SVU or any other show in the Law & Order franchise. However, for now, nothing is in the works. Although, it seems like she'd be down to do it based on the sweet DM she sent Hargitay a few years ago.

Thanks to streaming, those with a Peacock subscription can watch Keke Palmer’s episode of Law & Order: SVU and see the impressive little actress that she was and still is. Then, start crossing your fingers that her path will cross with Mariska Hargitay's again sometime soon.

Keke Palmer’s film debut came at the young age of ten in Barbershop 2, but her career blew up when she was 12 playing the lead in one of the best family-friendly movies Akeelah and the Bee. But the BET Award winner felt that family issues weren’t making her early start in Hollywood easy for her. When Palmer felt she was “done” with her parents, she got an unlikely message from actor Will Smith that made a big difference to her.

There are so many movies and TV shows of Keke Palmer’s that show the actress/singer is so talented, like Akeelah and the Bee, True Jackson VP, Hustlers, and more. However, the American star revealed on the podcast The Toast that at 17, she felt her parents weren’t understanding of what she was going through as a rising young starlet at the point where she was considering emancipation. Palmer recalled first reaching out to her lawyer who gave her some sound advice on whether or not she’s making the right decision:

Emancipation is a tough decision that should not be entered into lightly. Keke Palmer’s lawyer knew what he was talking about where it’s better to try to work things out with your parents first before entering a legal battle with them.

Many child stars, such as Drew Barrymore, Alicia Silverstone, and Corey Feldman went through emancipation. Reasons may include financial control of their earnings, making career decisions without parental interference, and bypassing child labor laws. In the case of the Joyful Noise actress, it appears that she was seeking emancipation because she felt like her parents’ behavior over her wild success in the entertainment industry was affecting her self-esteem.

Being a professional at a young age can be incredibly overwhelming. Whether it’s learning how to deal with the financial and emotional demands of stardom or feeling “trapped” during your time on a kids' show, receiving support can make a world of difference. The Nope actress certainly got that from a big-name actor who left her a voicemail when she was debating about emancipation. Will Smith called and said:

That must have been such an amazing feeling to know that the Will Smith reached out during a pivotal moment when a helping hand was most needed. It’s really big for the actor/rapper to act as a mentor figure to Keke Palmer, showing an experienced actor helping the next generation of stars navigating the pressures of fame and personal life problems.

I’m sure The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor could understand the former child star’s struggles with her parents considering things weren’t perfect between him and his dad. Based on what Smith wrote in his memoir Will, his parents separated when he was 13 and his dad was apparently abusive towards his mother. Due to the childhood trauma Smith endured, he admitted to even thinking about killing his father. This shared experience of navigating a complex parental relationship clearly motivated the Academy Award winner to guide Keke Palmer in the right direction. You can watch Keke Palmer's video interview with The Toast in full below:

It was good that Keke Palmer listened to the advice of her lawyer and Will Smith instead of going through with emancipation. As The Longshots actress admits now as an adult, being the “first” in your family to follow a career path unfamiliar to them is unsettling. But finding a set community mattered to the talented actress compared to her family broken apart. Fortunately, the former child star is still acting today and a parent to her little boy, showing that community continues to grow strong in her life. Take a look at our 2025 movie releases so you’re updated on Palmer’s upcoming projects.

Earlier this year, Investigation Discovery released Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, a docuseries that shed light on the purported environment present at Nickelodeon during the tenure of ex-producer Dan Schneider. A wide array of former child stars who worked for Nick around that time has since weighed in on the five-part show and shared their own personal experiences. One person who’s now weighing in on the matter is Keke Palmer, who headlined a show for the network years ago. More specifically, it’s Palmer’s mother who had some thoughts to share, as she recalled being on Schneider’s sets years ago.

Keke Palmer famously played the titular role on True Jackson, VP, which ran for three seasons on Nick from 2008 to 2011. Over the years, the actress has been candid about her experiences as a child star, opening up about the ups and downs. Some of that came into play during the latest episode of her Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast, on which she welcomed former All That stars Giovonnie Samuels and Bryan Hearne. Before her interview with her fellow actors, though, Palmer chatted with her mother, Sharon, to get her perspective. Mrs. Palmer – who explained that she learned about Quiet on Set from fellow parents of former actors – recalled the vibe on Schneider-run set not feeling right:

The Palmers’ conversation eventually turned to one specific situation that was tackled on Quiet on Set, which was Drake Bell’s experience with sexual abuse. Bell was abused by former dialogue coach Brian Peck, who was arrested in 2003 and charged with 11 accounts of lewd conduct with a minor. Peck was ultimately found guilty on two counts and, as a result, he served 16 months in prison and was required to register as a sex offender. Dan Schneider reacted to Bell’s account from the docuseries, alleging that he offered support to the actor at the time.

Going off her point about parents wrapped up in a certain mentality, Sharon Palmer opined that Bell’s situation exemplifies how young stars and their parents can be manipulated and that as a result, their relationships can be broken down. With that, they’re left open to harm by people in the industry. Mrs. Palmer also claimed that unspecified parties tried to distance her from Keke amid her rise in Hollywood.

What followed on the podcast episode was an in-depth conversation featuring Gionvonnie Samuels and Bryan Hearne, who were both featured on ID’s docuseries. Hearne, for his part, spoke out around the show’s release, recalling how he and other Black child actors were put in “demeaning” situations. Discussions like Keke Palmer’s chat with Samuels and Hearne are quite illuminating, and it’s also interesting to hear the comments from Sharon Palmer. One can’t say for sure whether these kinds of dialogues will bring about true change but, at the very least, they’re giving ex-child stars an opportunity to speak their truths.

All five episodes of Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV are available to stream with a Max subscription.

Keke Palmer's long list of movies and shows is proof of just how long she's been in the entertainment industry a long time. She got her breaks with the movies Barbershop 2 and Akeelah and the Bee before really jumpstarting her career on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. Since then, she’s appeared in productions over multiple mediums, the Scream series, Scream Queens, Nope, Grease: Live, Human Resources and many, many more. Palmer recently made comments about quitting Hollywood, giving some the impression that she was ready to retire. But, luckily, she’s now set the record straight.

From film to TV to music, Keke Palmer has really done it all. She previously told Teen Vogue that “the timer has started” in regards to her possible retirement. Said comments seemed to make her longtime fans worry that we'd soon be living in a world in which the star didn't join new projects. However, the Password host tells People that everyone apparently took her sentiments out of context and that she doesn’t have any plans to leave Hollywood any time soon:

Considering that Hustlers star has been acting for 20 years now, it makes sense that she would want to branch out. It sounds like she doesn't necessarily want to leave the industry, just expand her career. On that note, she’s occasionally served as a producer on projects over the years, and her work on that front is now truly expanding. She most recently took on such duties with the series The Cuzzin M Show, and she has four more projects in development, according to her IMDb. She may have a lot in the works, but that may not always be the case:

Not only is she among the many child stars still acting today, but Keke Palmer is also a mom now. So she, naturally, can’t always be on the go, as being a mother definitely takes precedence for her, based on past comments. It also sounds like she just wants to work on other ventures as well, like her music career. She does seem to still love acting, of course, but it might just be time for her to focus on additional endeavors in her life.

It's still worth mentioning that man celebrities have been leaving Hollywood as of late, whether due to a desire for a change of scenery, to quit the industry or for other reasons. Mark Wahlberg left LA with his family for Las Vegas for his children's sake, while Johnny Depp moved to London since he was more at ease with the European lifestyle. Family an also factor into the decision, as it’s the reason Maia Mitchell left Freeform drama Good Trouble.

At the very least, Keke Palmer doesn’t have plans to leave Hollywood just yet. She just doesn’t want to be doing too much at once, which makes sense, given how long she’s been at it and her other priorities. But, thankfully, at this point, she still has quite a lot planned, whether with acting, producing, directing, or singing, and it’s going to be exciting to see what comes next for her.

Valentine’s Day is a special time for celebrities to show their love. Whether that holiday spirit is shown with the Kardashians branching out in edible underwear or sweets posts like Justin Timberlake penning a sweet tribute for his wife, Jessica Biel, love was definitely in the air. Celebrities like Chris Pratt, Halle Berry, and others had no problems spreading the love this Valentine’s Day through their social media posts.

The holiday of love provides a beautiful opportunity to show social media followers how much you love someone. Chris Pratt was one of those celebrities who shared a note of love to his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, on his X post. Take a look at the Jurassic World actor’s sweet post down below:

It’s incredibly cute to see Chris Pratt talk about how “lucky” he is to be with Katherine Schwarzenegger and all that she is to him and their kids. According to the married couple’s relationship timeline, they met when Schwarzenegger’s mom, Maria Shriver, was playing matchmaker for the two in 2018. As their love blossomed while dating for a year, Pratt and Schwarzenegger’s engagement was announced in January 2019 and they had a “beautiful” wedding in Montecito, California on June 8th. The lovely couple have been living their lives as a blended family sharing two daughters and a son that came from his previous marriage with Anna Faris.

Halle Berry is another celebrity who couldn’t wait to celebrate Valentine’s Day with her musician boyfriend Van Hunt. In her case, she really couldn’t wait as she posted an X video of her beau working and her jokingly waiting for him to “be working on me.” Here’s a look at the hilarious video below:

Sadly, Valentine’s Day isn’t the type of holiday where we can all get off work and celebrate. But with Halle Berry being a hard-working woman herself, I can safely assume she understands. After all, good things come to those who wait. 

The Monster’s Ball actress has been dating musician Van Hunt since 2020 who expresses their love through sweet Instagram posts like one when Berry wrapped her arms around her boyfriend in a see-through red dress. It’s good to know these two are still going strong after she had to endure a long divorce from Olivier Martinez that was finally settled in August 2023.

Viola Davis has been married to fellow actor Julius Tennon since 2003. This Valentine’s Day, she posted a beautiful Instagram post that shows these two truly are marriage goals. Be ready to see her gush with the post down below:

That’s incredibly lovely for the How to Get Away With Murder actress to call her husband her “best decision.” It shows how very grateful she is to have her husband in her life. Other than their private life together, the married couple have collaborated on a lot of projects together like being in the cast of Air playing Michael Jordan’s parents, The Woman King, Lila & Eve, and the upcoming “VR series” Operation Othello.

Emma Heming Willis paid tribute to her husband, Bruce Willis, during the holiday of love posting an Instagram throwback photo of the two in Niagara Falls. Here’s a look at the heartwarming photo below:

Love really can be beautiful when two people are willing to stay with each other despite any hurdles life throws at you. It makes you want to cry seeing how happy the two looked in that photo back when the Die Hard actor was in good health. 

Ever since Willis retired from acting in 2022 from aphasia later diagnosed as frontotemporal dementia, Emma Heming has been giving updates to fans on social media about how her husband’s been doing, how she’s dealing with the actor’s diagnosis, and taking care of her family. But the alleged positive effect the dementia battle has had on the Willis clan is keeping the family together through the good and bad.

Then, there are single celebrities this Valentine’s Day who raise awareness that there’s more love out there than romantic love. For example, Keke Palmer’s been living a single life with her one-year-old son ever since her separation from her partner, Darius Jackson, in October. You can look below at Palmer’s wise words on Instagram below:

It’s absolutely true that Valentine’s Day is the holiday of love you have for anyone in your life whether it’s a romantic prospect, a relative, a friend, or even a pet. It’s holidays like these that make you appreciate what you have right now and soak up the moments that’ll turn into fond memories.

Celebrities like Chris Pratt, Halle Berry, and many others taking time during Valentine’s Day to share love for the people in their lives is a beautiful thing. Feel free to look at our 2024 movie schedule so you’re up-to-date on the latest romance films and other movies coming out this year. If you’re in the mood for love, there are plenty of the best romantic comedies to choose from that’ll make you laugh and warm your heart.

Keke Palmer's movies and TV shows show her acting chops shining in all sorts of ways. From her breakthrough role playing a Spelling Bee contestant in Akeelah and the Bee to starring in Jordan Peele’s Nope, she has an uncanny knack for putting spunk, power, and personality into her performances. Now that the True Jackson, VP star is 30 and a mother to a one-year-old son, she might be joining the long list of people thinking of quitting Hollywood.

The Just Keke host experienced her whole childhood in front of the camera, which started with Barbershop 2, then branched into television, hosting, a singing career, podcasts and, most recently, being a CEO. Now that Keke Palmer has had multiple successful careers and been “mommy-ing” since the birth of her first child, Leo, she could retire right now if she wanted to. While speaking to Teen Vogue, Palmer gets honest if her time in Hollywood is over.

A lot of well-known celebrities have been making big changes lately away from the glitz and glam of Hollywood. Mark Wahlberg and his family left Tinseltown for Las Vegas in order to build a community for his children. Johnny Depp moved to London because he felt more at ease with the European lifestyle. Then it appeared that Byron Bay, Australia was the hot spot for celebrity living, with Chris Hemsworth and his family moving to his home roots, and Zac Efron also quitting the U.S. for the Land Down Under. 

In Keke Palmer's case, it might be more than just leaving Los Angeles. There are many child stars throughout history who have left Hollywood to do other careers like politics, fashion designing, law, animal keepers and more. In believing her time as an entertainer could be over soon, she couldn’t help thinking about the legacy she’d leave behind for her son.

An important legacy that holds dear to Keke Palmer is her latest business endeavor, KeyTV. With what she described as her “baby," the Facebook and YouTube-based digital network’s mission is to present opportunities to Black talent in front and behind the camera who are trying to break barriers in the entertainment industry. Upcoming creators can produce and shoot their own original content for the platform, like Dear Keke and Connected. With over a million subscribers, KeyTV is hoping to change the game of streaming services. It’s a beautiful legacy to leave behind her son in case his path leads him to his mother's content platform just as it's revolutionizing. 

Your girl Keke Palmer may be contemplating leaving behind her Hollywood career, but it doesn’t mean her time working is over. With upcoming film projects under her belt, being a mother and KeyTV to keep her afloat, I see it as the 30-year-old entering a new chapter in her life. You can look at our 2024 movie releases so you’ll be up to date on the Emmy Award winner’s latest projects. 

The phrase “former child star” is most often associated with someone who was famous when they were much younger, but is not quite as well-known — or, perhaps, does not even act anymore — as a grown-up. Yet, for every starlet who has risen and fallen, there are just as many who have beaten the odds and have gone onto bigger and better things as adults, like these beloved celebrities.

Macaulay Culkin

The first person you might think of when you think of “former child stars” could be Macaulay Culkin, who was on top of the world when he led the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. While his notoriety would slow in subsequent years, it is always a treat to see him show up in ensembles like the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic cast.

Lukas Haas

Lukas Haas was one of the most acclaimed young actors of his time with leading roles in 1985’s Witness, opposite Harrison Ford, and the underrated ghost story, Lady in White, from 1988. He has since made a living taking smaller roles in otherwise big movies like Inception and Babylon, plus he's shown up on TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds.

Jurnee Smollett

With an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, a scene-stealing role in DC’s Birds of Prey, and a stellar turn in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, Jurnee Smollett has established herself as one of the strongest talents of her time. However, that was already clear with her recurring role in Full House and her astonishing performance in 1997’s acclaimed Black horror movie, Eve’s Bayou, when she was still a child.

Jason Bateman

From his debut role on Little House on the Prairie to his years on the sitcom Valerie (which would become The Hogan Family), Jason Bateman showed great versatility as a performer in his younger years. He has upheld that reputation ever since, as seen by his Emmy-nominated work leading the Arrested Development cast and, later, the Ozark cast. His ability to shift from starring in funny movies like Horrible Bosses to dramas like Air is remarkable.

Dakota Fanning

Racking up more than 20 credits before she turned 10, Dakota Fanning was everywhere in the early 2000s — catching the attention of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg for War of the Worlds and holding her own against actors like Robert DeNiro in Hide and Seek. Save her age, nothing much has changed for the actor, who appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood cast and reunited with her Man on Fire co-star, Denzel Washington, in 2023’s The Equalizer 3.

Ryan Gosling

A 13-year-old Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mouseketeer, paving the way for him to star in back-to-back scary anthology TV shows for kids (Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps), lead Young Hercules, and more. Leading 2004’s The Notebook cast paved the way for him to be an action hero in Drive and Blade Runner 2049. On top of all that, he also earned Oscar nominations for Half Nelson and La La Land, and made us laugh as part of the The Nice Guys ensemble and the Barbie cast as Ken.

Brie Larson

After some faux ads on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show marked her debut at 9, Brie Larson went on to star in a family sitcom with the late Bob Saget (Raising Dad), was in a YA novel adaptation (Hoot), and she even had a singing career in her teens. Now, she is a comic book movie star (for appearing in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and playing the MCU’s Captain Marvel), and she has an Oscar for Room from 2015.

Kenan Thompson

On All That — Nickelodeon’s answer to Saturday Night Live — one of the young cast’s most prominent breakouts was Kenan Thompson, who went on to co-lead his own kid-friendly sitcom with Kel Mitchell, aptly named Kenan & Kel. The Emmy winner went on to break the record for longest-running SNL actor and lead his own adult sitcom, Kenan.

David Krumholtz

After making his debut playing a child actor in 1993’s Life with Mikey, David Krumholtz became a prominent child actor with roles in Addams Family Values as Wednesday’s love interest and Tim Allen’s head elf, Bernard, in The Santa Clause. The crime procedural, Numb3rs, earned him greater recognition, leading to a career that includes lending his voice to Sausage Party, appearing in the Oppenheimer cast, and reprising Bernard on Disney+’s series, The Santa Clauses.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing a kid genius on Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, which he acknowledged when he later played himself in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Of course, the five-time Emmy winner is better known today as Barney Stinson from the How I Met Your Mother cast, Count Olaf on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and so much more.

Josh Brolin

At 17, first-time actor Josh Brolin immediately made his mark on pop culture as part of the Goonies cast in the role of Brand Walsh. However, he really got heads turning at 39 when he starred in one of the best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men. The son of Hollywood veteran James Brolin has an Oscar nomination for Milk and multiple comic book movie roles under his belt (Jonah Hex, MCU’s Thanos, and Cable in Deadpool 2), among other great achievements. 

Haley Joel Osment

After debuting in Forrest Gump and starring on The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Haley Joel Osment’s Oscar-nominated performance in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, 1999’s The Sixth Sense, made him a sensation. He went on to earn leading parts in Pay It Forward and Steven Spielberg’s A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. More recently, Osment has been known to pop up in the most unexpected places — Kevin Smith’s Tusk, a guest role on The Boys, Netflix's animated fantasy series Dogs in Space, to name a few — but always with grand results.

Ethan Hawke

After debuting in Joe Dante’s Explorers at 15, Ethan Hawke only grew in prominence in his later teens and throughout his 20s by starring in Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, etc. He went on to earn Academy Award nominations for Training Day and Boyhood. He completed Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy with 2013’s Before Midnight, became a Scream King with great horror movies like Sinister, and he's done a fair amount of work behind the scenes, too.

Abigail Breslin

Just four years after M. Night Shyamalan gave 6-year-old Abigail Breslin her big break with Signs, her role in the Little Miss Sunshine cast made her one of the youngest Oscar nominees of all time. As she matured, so would her roles — such as a teenage murder suspect in Stillwater or a vigilante in the Accused cast for Fox.

Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik stole the show from the Big Bang Theory cast as Amy Farrah Fowler and later led Fox’s Call Me Kat in the title role. However, the Jeopardy! host’s status as sitcom royalty dates back to the ‘90s as the star of Blossom.

Brenda Song

Perhaps Brenda Song’s most iconic character is London Tipton from the Suite Life franchise — which is just one of the roles that made her a prominent Disney Channel star. Beyond the children’s cable giant, she was in one of the best David Fincher movies, The Social Network, led Netflix’s Secret Obsession, and had a main role in Hulu’s Dollface.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Despite being removed for disruptive behavior when making his show business debut on Romper Room at 3 years old (as he revealed to David Letterman), Leonardo DiCaprio went on to lead a winning child actor’s career that included a season on Growing Pains and an Academy Award nomination for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Things would only get better as he grew up, earning even more Oscar nominations — and one win for The Revenant — and becoming as important to Martin Scorsese’s filmography as his This Boy’s Life co-star, Robert DeNiro, whom he reunited with in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams started out appearing on Sesame Street before landing the title role of Chris Rock’s autobiographical sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris. Following an acclaimed indie comedy (Dear White People) and a recurring role on the Walking Dead cast, the actor became sitcom royalty again when he joined the Abbott Elementary cast, which earned him multiple Emmy nods.

Kurt Russell

Former Disney star Kurt Russell made his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, and he went on to play him in a made-for-TV biopic and Forrest Gump. Several great movie roles later, Russell is one of the top action heroes of all time, and now he's working with his family by joining the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters cast alongside his son, Wyatt, who is playing his younger self.

Jodie Foster

After getting her start on TV at a very young age (the first gig being The Doris Day Show), Jodie Foster got a head start on the more mature roles she would become known for when she appeared in Taxi Driver at 14. The two-time Academy Award winner (for The Accused and Best Picture Oscar winner The Silence of the Lambs) would continue to work from both in front of and behind the camera.

Johnny Galecki

In 1989, 14-year-old Johnny Galecki appeared as Rusty in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation cast, and he also starred in another holiday classic, Prancer. I would not be surprised if many did not realize that Leonard from The Big Bang Theory was the same actor, but they were likely more hip to that fact by the time he reprised his role from Roseanne, David Healy, on The Conners.

Miranda Cosgrove

Even with Jack Black in the lead, Miranda Cosgrove stole the show in 2003’s School of Rock, and she went on to do the same thing as the evil Megan in the Nickelodeon sitcom, Drake & Josh. One of her most notable credits as an adult was a Paramount+ exclusive revival of iCarly — another Nickelodeon show she led as a teen.

Keke Palmer

Her bombastic debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business made it clear that then-9-year-old Keke Palmer was a powerhouse talent. The Emmy winner would continue to demonstrate her skill as the lead of Akeelah and the Bee and much later in life as part of Jordan Peele’s Nope cast.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

While Zach Morris from the Saved by the Bell cast is still the role he is best known for — he even reprised it in a Peacock exclusive revival — Mark-Paul Gosselaar managed to prove his versatility in later years. He had a successful stint as a detective on NYPD Blue, played a rebellious lawyer on Franklin & Bash, and an abusive captor in NBC’s Found.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Before starring on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt made multiple TV appearances and starred in classic movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It. These days, he is best known for his many collaborations with Rian Johnson, his Golden Globe-nominated turns in (500) Days of Summer and 50/50, and running the creative collaboration platform HitRecord.

Sean Astin

Before playing the title role of Rudy and starring in the Lord of the Rings movies as Sam, Sean Astin was best known as Mikey in The Goonies. In addition to his accomplished voice acting career, one of his most celebrated roles as of late is Bob Newby from the Season 2 cast of Stranger Things — a show very much inspired by The Goonies.

Kirsten Dunst

After making her film debut in star-studded The Bonfire of the Vanities, Kirsten Dunst really made an impression at 12 playing a 70-year-old bloodsucker in Interview with the Vampire. Starring in the Spider-Man movies as Mary Jane Watson swung her right into the A-list and, in 2022, she received an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog.

Kieran Culkin

With his roles in the Home Alone movies and in Steve Martin movies (both parts of Father of the Bride), it seemed like Kieran Culkin was on his way to the same level of stardom as his brother, Macaulay. However, it was not until later in life when he was thrice Emmy-nominated for starring in HBO’s Succession cast that he became the star he was destined to be.

Selena Gomez

Before leading Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place made Selena Gomez a star, she got her start on Barney in the early 2000s. She now has two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her performance on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building cast and a Daytime Emmy nod for her Max original cooking show, Selena + Chef.

Elle Fanning

Before breaking out in the Super 8 cast, Elle Fanning’s claim to fame for a while was starring as a younger version of sister, Dakota, in I Am Sam and Taken. Now, she has an Emmy nomination for leading Hulu’s The Great, which is just one of the many Victorian-era roles she has played in more recent years.

Christina Ricci

For years, Christina Ricci’s performance in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family movies was the definitive iteration of young Wednesday Addams. The Yellowjackets cast member got to revisit those days with her supporting role on Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega in the lead this time.

Danica McKellar

Some of the most memorably endearing moments from the original Wonder Years involved Danica McKellar’s Winnie Cooper and her puppy love relationship with Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold. Romance is a big part of the actor’s career these days, primarily appearing in popular Hallmark movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Knowing the kind of career they would one day lead, I am sure these celebrities wear their “former child star” identities as a badge of honor.

Every October, your favorite celebrities go completely all out for Halloween, whether it be for star-studded parties, social media splendor or for the simple pleasures of playing dress up on their own terms. From Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s incredible couple costumes, to Florence Pugh embracing her Guy Fieri hair, celebrities went off for 2023 Halloween celebrations. 

This is an odd year for celebrities and Halloween considering SAG-AFTRA actually discouraged actors from dressing up as movie characters amidst the ongoing actors strike. However, that certainly didn’t stop big names from doing the most for the spooky holiday. Check them out: 

Keke Palmer as The Bride of Frankenstein 

2023 has been a particularly big year for Keke Palmer since she recently welcomed her first child in February with boyfriend Darius Jackson. 10-month-old Leodis Andrellton Jackson had an epic first Halloween as the Doctor Frankenstein to Palmer’s incredible Bride of Frankenstein costume. The mother and son went all out with a black-and-white photoshoot playing homage to the 1935 classic. That’s not all Keke Palmer did though; she also channeled Disney’s Life-Size by dressing up as Tyra Banks’ Barbie-esque character on Instagram. 

Florence Pugh as Guy Fieri 

Midsommar and Don’t Worry Darling star Florence Pugh has been rocking bleach blonde short hair as of late, which made for the perfect opportunity for her to be the Mayor of Flavortown this Halloween! The Oscar-nominated actress put on a fake beard and yellow sunglasses alongside A Good Person co-star Zoe Lister-Jones. 

The Riverdale Gals as The Gotham City Sirens 

Riverdale may be over following its series finale over the summer, but the ladies from the long-running show are still besties. After Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch channelled the Hocus Pocus witches last year, the trio went as the Gotham City Sirens this Halloween. Mendes was Catwoman, Petsch was Poison Ivy and Reinhart went for a classic Harley Quinn costume. 

Sarah Hyland as Seemingly Ranch

Not long after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship took off, the couple inspired a meme called “ketchup and seemingly ranch” after a meal Swift was photographed eating during a Chiefs game she attended went viral. While tons of people reportedly dressed up as the couple this Halloween, Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland and husband Wells Adams thought outside the box and dressed up as the two condiments instead.  

Kelsea Ballerini as Barbie 

Anyone else surprised that literally everyone on this list didn’t go as a character from Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie? Country pop star Kelsea Ballerini wasn’t afraid to go for the most popular choice, as she went as Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie in her hot pink western outfit and absolutely slayed! She is a spitting image of the Barbie lead! 

Billie Eilish as Cat Ballou

Speaking of Western themes and Barbie, “What Was I Made For?” singer Billie Eilish stepped out on Halloween weekend as Jane Fonda’s character Cat Ballou from the 1965 movie Cat Ballou. It’s a deep cut to say the least, but Eilish absolutely killed it as the throwback outlaw character. 

Paris Hilton as Britney Spears 

Paris Hilton paid tribute to her friend Britney Spears by wearing her most famous music video looks. The pop culture sensation showed up to the 2023 Annual Casamigos Halloween Party wearing the “Toxic” getup Spears memorably wore in the 2004 music video for the hit song. She posted the look on her Instagram with the caption “in honor of our Queen.” It’s perfect timing too considering Spears’ viral memoir recently hit shelves. 

Hayley Kiyoko and Becca Tilley as Glinda and Elphaba

“Lesbian Jesus”/pop singer Hayley Kiyoko and The Bachelor’s Becca Tilley went with a classic Hollywood duo in the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch costumes. The couple clearly were having a blast embodying the Wicked women this Halloween as they shared this video of themselves in costume to the sound of “Popular.” Last year, they dressed up as Scooby Doo’s Velma and Daphne, and The Addams Family’s Morticia and Gomez Addams. 

Lizzo as Tina Turner 

Lizzo is a huge fan of Halloween, often dressing in multiple costumes in one year. So far, the “Good As Hell” singer paid tribute to the late Tina Turner, who died at the age of 83 in May. The Queen of Rock n’ Roll is undoubtedly an influence to the hitmaking artist and “bop star.” Lizzo also dressed up as Elvira on Instagram, and we wouldn’t be surprised if she throws in another costume before the end of spooky season. 

Chloe Bailey as Khaleesi 

Pop singer, actress and sister to The Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey took inspiration from George R.R. Martin’s beloved fantasy world of Game of Thrones for her costume. Chloe looked gorgeous in an armored corset and dragon eggs as the Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi.  

Kendall Jenner as Marilyn Monroe 

Kendall Jenner went for a more simple, but certainly sweet look as the one and only Marilyn Monroe this year for Halloween. Jenner effortlessly channeled the Hollywood legend in a blonde curly wig, diamond earrings, a gorgeous face of makeup and a black turtleneck. She definitely nailed her likeness!  

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker as Beetlejuice and Lydia 

Kendall’s sister, Kourtney Kardashian went for a Halloween favorite alongside husband Travis Barker this year. The married couple went as Beetlejuice and Lydia in her iconic red bride outfit, and it’s so on point! 

Justin And Hailey Bieber as Bam Bam And Pebbles 

Another solid Halloween celebrity couples costume moment comes from the Biebers, who went as Pebbles and Bam Bam from The Flintstones. They even posed with their pups for a Halloween photoshoot, and it was too cute. 

Megan Fox And Machine Gun Kelly as Kill Bill and Death Note Characters

Lastly, Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox stepped out on social media with two incredible Halloween looks this year. First, the couple paid tribute to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, which recently turned 20, as MGK dressed as The Bride and Fox as Gogo Yubari. 

Then, the couple also went as two characters from the popular anime Death Note over Halloween weekend as well. Check it: 

Celebrities really went off for Halloween 2023, even if many of them paid no mind to SAG-AFTRA’s guidelines amidst the actors strike. Happy Halloween from CinemaBlend!

Keke Palmer has had a lot going on in her life. Over the last year and a half she helped lead the cast of Jordan Peele’s horror movie Nope, and she gave birth to her first child in February. But after her relationship with her son’s father Darius Jackson made headlines earlier this year, the 30-year-old actress opened up about what “boundaries” mean to her.

The former Nickelodeon star first met Darius Jackson back in 2021 at one of Issa Rae’s Insecure after-parties. However, the drama these two endured during their time together has made headlines that have led to many people asking what their current relationship status is. While speaking to People, Keke Palmer made it very clear how important it is for people to respect her "boundaries" around her private life, she said:

Keke Palmer has been filmed by a fan against her will, and when that happened she noted that her "privacy was invaded." Luckily, this actress/singer seems to have a good head on her shoulders, and she knows exactly what she is and isn’t willing to share. 

Recently, Keke Palmer's personal life made major headlines when Darius Jackson, the father of her seven-month-old son, seemed to shame her over a sheer dress she wore to an Usher show. Jackson wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) in response to his girlfriend’s outfit choice, “It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom.” He then defended his position with a follow-up tweet that said “a man of the family doesn't want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others.” This reaction from Jackson was slammed on social media.

While we've seen the two together since, the article noted that Palmer hasn't really addressed if the couple is still together or not. The actress went on to explain how she's working to put up boundaries and not feel the need to react or respond all the time, she said:

Following all the talk about what happened between these two after the Usher concert, in August, Keke Palmer celebrated her 30th birthday with Darius Jackson. Social media users were confused about this reunion because of her recent collaboration with Usher on his music video “Boyfriend.” So, seeing that the actress and Jackson celebrated her special day together in a viral video led to shock and judgment from fans. At the end of the day, though, fans need to realize that they do share a child together, and no matter what drama is between them, they’ll at least be in each other’s lives as co-parents.

It takes a lot of bravery for Keke Palmer to publicly voice that she wants to establish boundaries in her life. It may not be an easy thing to do when you’re constantly in the spotlight, but I know she’ll make it work. You can watch her latest movie Nope with an Amazon Prime subscription, and keep an eye on the upcoming 2023 movie releases to see what else is coming to theaters and streaming soon.

Actress Keke Palmer has been a celebrity for a long time now. Starting as a child actress, she's now a bonafide movie star who is absolutely dripping with charisma. It's perhaps for this reason that the public responded so strongly over drama she had with her ex and the father of their child Darius Jackson. But despite this controversy, Palmer celebrated her 30th birthday with her ex... and the internet has thoughts.

Keke Palmer has been making a ton of headlines related to her relationship with Darius Jackson. After Palmer had a baby, she and Jackson went viral over a possible feud. Namely Jackson seemingly shamed Palmer over a sheer outfit she wore to see an Usher show. Fans rallied around the Nope star, which is why they were so shocked when Keke celebrated her 30th birthday with him. Some of those fans tweeted out a reaction to their possible reunion, saying:

Video of the Palmer and Jackson on her 30th birthday quickly started to go viral online, leading many to sound off with their thoughts about this relationship. While celebrity break-ups often break the internet, theirs got even more attention after Palmer collaborated with Usher on a music video that seemingly threw shade at the father of her child. 

Still, some weren't surprised to see Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson possible back together. Another popular response on X, formerly named Twitter, reads:

Of course, not everyone reacting online was casting judgement on this possible reunion. There are plenty who pointed out that the fact that Palmer and Jackson had a child makes their bond deeper, and guarantees that they'll be spending some time together for presumably the rest of their lives. As another person posted:

On a more cynical note, there are some folks online who think that Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson's beef wasn't actually real. Those people seem to think it was all a PR stunt for Palmer's collaboration with Usher. As one such person tweeted out:

As previously mentioned, the post on Keke Palmer's birthday came after weeks of fans being galvanized and standing behind her. Given just how much of a beloved figure she is, the public took umbrage with her seemingly being slut shamed by the father of her child. 

Another cynical fan pointed out how much Palmer's relationship was covered recently, saying:

In the end, Keke Palmer's personal life is just that: personal. We'll just have to see how her relationship with Darius Jackson plays out, as they continue to co-parent their child together. One thing is clear: fans are really invested in her life and career.

Professionally, Palmer has a number of exicting projects coming down the line including a role in Sister Act 3. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Keke Palmer was the talk of the Internet in the aftermath of a situation initiated by her boyfriend. Darius Jackson – Palmer’s partner with whom she shares a child – seemingly body shamed her on social media while reacting to a dress she sported at an Usher concert. In the aftermath, Jackson was widely criticized for his sentiments, and many took to the interwebs to defend the Nope star. Palmer herself hasn’t spoken about the situation publicly and has instead apparently progressed with her business endeavors. On that note, it now looks like she’s set to collaborate with the previously mentioned singer for a new project. And it’s very on-brand, considering the drama that recently unfolded. 

If there’s one thing to know about the former Nickelodeon star, it’s that she’s always on her grind, finding different gigs that suit her interests. That includes music-related endeavors and, for one of her latest, she’ll be teaming up with Usher for a new music video. Ironically, the production is for the Grammy winner’s newest song, “Boyfriend.” Fans won’t have to wait long to see the finished product, either, as it’s set to be released on August 16. The Lightyear star teased the project on her Instagram by sharing the date as well as a snippet of footage. Check it out: 

This pretty much represents some of what Keke Palmer is known for: serving looks and promoting her content in smart ways. The post is drumming up some serious buzz, as it already has over 150,000 likes. Not only that, but fans are flooding the comment section with praise and excitement. Of course, they couldn’t help but make note of how this all looks in relation to the drama with Palmer’s partner. Even Jennifer Lopez couldn’t help but chime in to mention how “savage” the whole affair looks. However, all in all, her admirers seem to be here for it.

It’s hard to deny that this is a shrewd career move. In a way, the Hustlers star is essentially taking using the recent narrative around her and using it to her advantage. Let’s be honest, whether commentators defended her or not during the Darius Jackson situation, just about all of them will likely check out the music video out of sheer curiosity. All in all, it’s certainly an interesting way to drum up publicity.

In July, a clip of Keke Palmer and Usher dancing together surfaced on social media, after the former attended the latter’s concert in Las Vegas. Darius Jackson eventually quoted a post on X – formerly known as Twitter – saying “It’s the outfit tho… you a mom.” (Palmer gave birth to their son in February and has since updated fans on her “mommy-ing.”) The video showed Palmer wearing a sheer dress at the “U Got It Bad” singer’s musical venue. Jackson later seemed to double down on his views in another post, which has since been deleted like the first. The post (as captured by People) read: 

While the actress didn’t publicly respond, she subsequently released “I’m a Motha” merchandise. That’s yet another instance of her taking the situation and finding a way to make it lucrative.

The state of Keke Palmer’s relationship with Darius Jackson is unclear, but she seems to still be tight with her fellow musician. Palmer and Usher shared a sweet exchange after the brouhaha, signifying at the time that they were still tight. The Grammy winner – whose full name is Usher Raymond IV – also reflected on the viral moment. He views it as a fun “pop moment” and simply believes that it represents the good time he, Palmer and others had in Vegas. There’s a firm chance the two also enjoyed their time working on the new music video, and it’ll be interesting to see how their work is ultimately received. 

The music video for Usher’s “Boyfriend” is set to be released on August 16. 

Usher has been making people swoon for three decades and across multiple generations. This fact was on full display in viral clips of his interactions during his Las Vegas residency Usher: My Way. The most viral residency video happened with Nope star Keke Palmer, and it led to her partner apparently shaming her over her sheer dress. Before the viral situation, Palmer had updated her fans about being a first-time mom, and her significant other's comment after the show read "It's the outfit tho...you a mom." Now, the Grammy-winning singer has opened up about dancing with Palmer and the backlash and attention that followed.

Following the viral moment, the R&B superstar and the actress exchanged sweet compliments online after Keke Palmer enjoyed a girls’ night out at his Vegas show. Usher remained silent about the rumors that followed until he spoke with People about his new single “Good Good.” The “Yeah” singer referred to the divisive interaction as ”a pop moment worth talking about” after the online discourse it created. Recalling the viral moment, the musician said:

Usher wanted viewers to focus on the experience, not the viral backlash he and Palmer received for their interaction. While most online commenters focused on the dress, others zoomed in on the song choice – “There Goes My Baby.” As one of Usher’s signature songs, the track spoke about complimenting a significant other. Given the Lightyear star’s relationship status at the time, some fans felt the song choice was too flirtatious for the mom of one.

The singer-actor saw the interaction with Keke Palmer as business as usual. Part of his Vegas residency featured him singing to a female patron in his VIP section. Despite the online debate over the viral moment, Usher didn’t mind the buzz, saying:

This interaction might’ve been light for the “My Boo” singer. However, the buzzworthy moment did earn him the title of “Domestic Terrorist” by his fans. In the usual Usher style, the music icon took the nickname in stride, calling the online chatter “crazy.” He joked his new moniker proved nothing can “beat the internet.”

Before his viral interaction with Keke Palmer, Usher serenaded multiple female celebrities over the course of his Vegas residency. He interacted with stars like Tiffany Haddish, Taraji P. Henson, Kim Kardashian, and Issa Rae as he crooned his defining love songs to them. Of course, each moment was flirty and fun. Fans can expect more sexy interactions soon too as the multi-talent will return to his residency in October.

Usher is currently preparing for his forthcoming album, reportedly due this fall. If you want to see more of the R&B superstar, get a Peacock subscription to watch his tenure on The Voice. Check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are airing this summer.

It’s always exciting when celebrities let their fans in on the news that they are expecting a baby. Announcing a pregnancy is such a milestone moment, and while we love a good sonogram photo on social media, or seeing siblings dressed in “Big Brother/Big Sister” shirts, some expecting couples have really gone the extra mile to fully embrace the moment. This year we’ve already seen a couple of celebrity pregnancy announcements that were nothing short of epic — Rihanna used the Super Bowl halftime show to debut her bump for god’s sake — so here we’ll look back at a few of the best.

Baby announcements can inject a bright spot onto the timelines of pop culture followers, allowing us to bask in the joy and love of the parents-to-be. Most people only get a few opportunities in their lives to let the world know of an impending bundle of joy, so we appreciate the extra effort that these celebrities put into their big reveals. 

Rihanna Debuts Baby Bump During Super Bowl Halftime Show

There is simply no bigger stage than the Super Bowl, and Rihanna took full advantage of her moment as the headliner of the Super Bowl LVII halftime show. Just nine months after welcoming her first child with A$AP Rocky, the “Umbrella” singer kicked off her performance by debuting the bump that was Baby No. 2. The Internet went wild, as Rihanna belted “Bitch Better Have My Money” from a platform suspended high above the football field. I don’t know how many more ways there are to say “iconic.” 

Kourtney Kardashian’s Blink 182 Concert Reveal 

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker were open with fans about their desire to start a family, and their struggle with infertility, including unsuccessful IVF attempts, was documented on The Kardashians. The Poosh founder didn’t need to go the extra mile to make her pregnancy announcement a huge celebratory deal — but she did anyway. 

During one of Barker’s concerts with Blink 182, Kardashian held up a sign that read, “Travis I’m Pregnant,” stopping the show long enough for the drummer to go into the audience to kiss his wife. The sign was a throwback to the band’s 1999 music video for “All the Small Things,” which was the perfect way to let the world in on their good news. 

Keke Palmer Surprises Saturday Night Live Viewers

Anything can happen on live TV, and those who tuned in to Saturday Night Live on December 22, 2022, were treated to a surprise pregnancy reveal during Keke Palmer’s monologue. The Nope star appeared in a buttoned-up, floor-length coat and said she wanted to take the opportunity to address certain rumors. In her words: 

The actress whipped open her jacket to reveal her bump, gushing over the fact that, “I’m gonna be a mom!” Two months after her big SNL moment, Keke Palmer gave birth to Leodis Andrellton Jackson, her first child with Darius Jackson, her partner of two years. 

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Honor Princess Diana With Valentine’s Day Reveal 

Valentine’s Day is a day for love, so the occasion was definitely appropriate for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to announce that they were expecting their second child back in 2021. However, going public on that day had special meaning for the Duke of Sussex. On February 14, 1984 — 37 years to the day of Harry and Meghan’s announcement — Princess Diana and now-King Charles III revealed that they were expecting their own second child (who, of course, was Harry).  

It wasn’t just the pregnancy announcement that honored Harry’s late mother. When Harry and Meghan’s daughter was born that June, they named her Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. 

Tan France Does It For The Dads

Who says moms should get to have all the fun? Queer Eye’s Tan France announced that he and husband Rob were expecting their first child via surrogate in a genius Instagram photo. The fashion guru cradled his “bump,” a.k.a. sonogram photo, as he said this was something the couple had been wanting for many years: 

The way he so modestly covers his bare chest is everything! Their son was born in July 2021, and two years later, in May of 2023, Tan and Rob France announced that they had welcomed a second baby boy, who “completes our little family perfectly,” Tan said. 

Kel Mitchell Celebrates His Wife’s Bun In The Oven 

Look, if you’re known for playing an employee at a fast food burger restaurant, you simply cannot pass up the opportunity for a good “bun in the oven” joke. Kel Mitchell of Good Burger fame and his wife, Asia Lee, fully understood the assignment when they announced that they were expecting their first baby (Mitchell’s third) back in 2017: 

Those of us who grew up in the ‘90s can fully appreciate the references to Kel Mitchell’s famous All That sketch with Kenan Thompson. Good Burger 2 is expected to hit Paramount+ later this year, but it didn’t take that long for Mitchell and Lee to make their own sequel, welcoming their second baby together in 2020. 

Alanis Morissette Creates A Music Video To Announce Baby No. 2 

In many of these classic pregnancy announcements, the celebrities lean into what they are known for, or they use their creative talents in the best way. The artist certainly came out in Alanis Morissette with how she revealed she was expecting her second child with Mario "Souleye" Treadway. Using a song she'd recorded ahead of their son's birth in 2010, the "Ironic" singer surprised her husband with a music video that ended with their family of three looking at sonogram photos:

What a creative way to announce such happy news!

It's so heart-warming to see the joy that goes into couples' pregnancy announcements, be it on live TV, social media, or elsewhere. It's such a treat for their fans, too, to be allowed into such a big moment for these celebrities and their families. The above reveals are some of the most epic announcements in recent years, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

It was such a major moment when Keke Palmer announced she was pregnant while hosting Saturday Night Live. The internet freaked out over the exciting news, and now the actress is spending time with her newborn son. However, she’s also still getting out and having a blast, most recently she was seen in a gorgeous sheer dress at an Usher concert. While many praised the Nope star for her look and confidence, her partner seemingly shaded her over her outfit. Although, following that situation, the "My Boo" singer and Palmer shared a sweet exchange on Instagram. 

Keke Palmer’s Partner Seemingly Shaded Her Over Her Sheer Dress

After the Usher concert ended, a video of Palmer and the singer jamming together made the rounds, and the actress’s partner Darius Jackson shared his thoughts on her outfit that night. She was wearing a sheer black dress, and he wrote about why he didn't like it. He was criticized heavily for his comments, and now his Twitter account where the post was uploaded has been deactivated. Via EW, he started his post by writing:

The comment came after Palmer announced her pregnancy while hosting SNL, and gave birth to their son Leodis in February. Immediately following the first tweet up, Jackson wrote:

Jackson was called out and slammed on social media for his comments. In the past, Palmer has clapped back at people who said she wasn’t pretty without makeup. However, in this case, she has not directly addressed what her partner said. 

Keke Palmer And Usher Shared A Sweet Exchange After His Show

While Keke Palmer hasn’t responded to her partner’s post, she did share a sweet exchange with Usher. 

Following the concert, Palmer took to Instagram to show her love for Usher and his show. Just like the time the Alice actress showed her appreciation for Taylor Swift, she passionately wrote about how much she adores the “Yeah!” singer. Check it out:

Part of her caption was dedicated to gushing over Usher's show, and noting how inspired she is by him. Keke Palmer wrote in part:

Usher then responded to Palmer’s post, sweetly writing:

Many others also took to the comments to show their love and support for Keke Palmer, writing things like: 

• You look bomb! And yes, he is killing this show!!!!! -Christina Elmore 
• You look INCREDIBLE, I'm so proud of you and I love that you are LIVING while Mothering!!! Big Boss for REAL ❤️🙌🏾❤️ -Jamelia
• You ate the look up and down. It’s giving mother, icon, free woman and we love you, AND support you!❤️ -Joy Ofodu 

It’s so wonderful to see all the support Palmer is getting, including the nice note from Usher.

Along with being a new mom, Keke Palmer also has some exciting projects in the works. So while we continue to marvel at her sense of style and infectious confidence, make sure to check out the 2024 movie schedule so you don’t miss her next movie Sister Act 3: Kicking the Habit. Also, if you want to see one of her latest performances, you can watch her in the critically acclaimed Nope with an Amazon Prime subscription.  

It’s no secret that Taylor Swift has been a major player in the music industry for the past 15 years, but right now in particular, the singer has reached a new peak of fame as she continues her record-breaking Eras Tour across the United States. Amidst a long list of celebrities seeing Taylor Swift live as of late, truly showing that anyone can be a Swiftie, Keke Palmer is the latest big name to speak now about her love and respect for the artist. 

During the Nope actress’ latest Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast, the topic of the week was growing up with Disney Channel. During the conversation, Palmer brought up Ms. Taylor Swift for never stopping “growing with her audience” over the years. In her words: 

Keke Palmer is absolutely spitting facts, and I’m happy she said it. Even if you don’t necessarily subscribe to her music, no one can deny girlie is a poet of our generation. I mean, just look at "You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath" from All Too Well’s 10-minute version, or "They told me all of my cages were mental, so I got wasted like all my potential" from This Is Me Trying. Swift knows how to write a song and write it well. Palmer continued: 

There definitely was a time there when Taylor Swift was not the most famous and most beloved pop star out there; especially before and during her Reputation era, the singer lost some steam with the masses. But wow, has she come back full force in recent years, between her quarantine records, folklore and evermore, re-released albums, Midnights being another huge hit for the artist when it dropped this past fall and more upcoming Taylor Swift music on the way. The singer is also set to direct her own movie. Check out Palmer talk about Swift on her podcast here: 

I don’t know about you, but I love what Keke Palmer had to say about Taylor Swift because it’s just so well put. Palmer herself is a recording artist who has been putting out music since her early days as a child star for Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Palmer also posted herself singing to Swift’s song “Karma” last month with these sentiments on Instagram: 

Keke Palmer’s love for Taylor Swift is so relatable, what Swiftie doesn’t get hyped up by her music while in the car? She’s been there since the day one “Our Song” days and kept with the singer over the years, after some time falling off thanks to her amazing lyrics. Her and us all! 

Keke Palmer is coming off perhaps the biggest year of her acting career, between her starring role in the latest of Jordan Peele movies, Nope, along with her part in Pixar’s Lightyear, and hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time. But in her personal life, 2023 is an even bigger one, because Palmer just became a mom for the first time. After giving birth to her son just under a month ago, the actress has given an update about how she’s feeling about the big life milestone. 

Palmer and her boyfriend Darius Jackson welcomed their son Leodis Andrellton Jackson on February 25. With just a few weeks of motherhood on the books, the Nope star took to Instagram to share how “mommy’ing is coming along.” Check out her post below: 

The 29-year-old who got her start as a child star on Nickelodeon shared a beautiful set of photos as she happily strolled along with her baby “Leo” next to a city skyline. Keke Palmer writes that motherhood is already her “greatest gig of all” after juggling numerous careers throughout her life thus far. Palmer also shared that she’ll “never be the same again,” and that she is very much looking forward to who she will become as she embarks on the journey of motherhood. 

Keke Palmer sounds excited for her new title and “greater purpose” as a parent to her three-weeks-old son. On the social media post, Palmer also got candid about wanting all the baby things, but deciding to just add it to her cart without checking out. She capped off the post by saying that she is realizing being a mom is “big business,” and more so than her many endeavors over the years, including being a singer, producer and TV personality. 

She also took to her Instagram story to share a family selfie also including her boyfriend and partner in parenting Darius Jackson:

These are sweet updates from Keke Palmer that show the actress is fully embracing motherhood along with her in-the-moment thoughts on becoming a parent for the first time. She revealed she was pregnant during her SNL monologue back in December after rumors spread about her pregnancy. Since, Palmer has been taking to social media to share her experience being pregnant in between career updates as well. 

Just last week, Keke Palmer also announced she’d be starring and producing in a romantic comedy with Kevin Hart for Universal. The actress is also part of a comedy called Being Mortal alongside Seth Rogen, Bill Murray and Aziz Ansari, which is reportedly in production, and then there’s the fact that Marvel fans have been campaigning for her to be in the next X-Men movie for months. 

Somehow, Keke Palmer has been working in Hollywood for nearly two decades now (since she was a child actor in the industry) and not once been a lead in a romantic comedy. That doesn’t feel right, does it? Thankfully, the actress just struck up a deal to join the world of rom coms with an upcoming movie co-starring Kevin Hart called The Backup. 

Both Palmer and Hart will both star and produce the movie for Universal. The Backup will reportedly follow Keke Palmer as Alyssa, a newly engaged woman heading to Maui for a destination wedding. Little does she know that her childhood friend and major player, Ben, who she asks to be the best man at the ceremony, is secretly in love with her and decides to attend the wedding with winning her heart in mind. 

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, but did not indicate whether Kevin Hart is playing Ben, but as the second lead signed on to The Backup, we certainly imagine the comedian will be playing her best friend and unexpected secret admirer. According to the report, in the script, Ben will take “his boys” with him to the wedding to outshine Alyssa’s fiancé in hopes of her changing her mind. 

The Backup has a fun setup for a romantic comedy between Keke Palmer and Kevin Hart. The script was written by Chris Brew and Jordan Gouveia, which will mark a first major feature for both of them. Brew is also an actor who has found guest appearances on shows like Black-ish, Insecure and #BlackAF. Along with Hart and Palmer both producing the film through their production companies, Autumn Bailey-Ford, who produced projects like Tulsa and Blackbear, is also involved. 

Palmer shared the news of The Backup on Instagram and thanked the writers and producers for giving her the “opportunity to constantly level up and expand outside of being a talent but a business woman.” It’s great to see another Keke Palmer movie that sees the actress not only playing the lead, but also behind the scenes in a big way! 

Keke Palmer is coming off starring in Jordan Peele’s latest horror movie, Nope, alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Steven Yeun. The actress also lent her voice to Lightyear, led the Sundance flick Alice and hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time last year. During Palmer’s monologue, she also announced she was expecting her first child with boyfriend Darius Jackson. Palmer gave birth less than three weeks ago to a baby boy they’ve named Leodis Andrellton, or “Leo” for short. 

Kevin Hart is always keeping himself busy too, and The Backup is one of many upcoming movies the comedy actor is involved with. Hart’s next movie is an action movie called Lift, which is among Netflix new releases and also stars Vincent D’Onofrio, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jacob Batalon. Lift will be released on August 25. Hart will also soon work with Will Smith on an upcoming Planes, Trains and Automobiles remake. 

We’ll keep you posted here on CinemaBlend as we learn more about The Backup. 

Keke Palmer made a huge splash during her turn hosting an episode of SNL in the penultimate episode before the show’s winter hiatus. Viewers couldn’t help but gush over her surprise pregnancy announcement, comedic timing and characters throughout multiple sketches. However, one sketch stood out above the rest as it brought back some nostalgia for countless Nickelodeon fans – the “Kenan and Kelly” sketch. Not only did Kenan Thompson reprise his role from the classic teen sitcom, but his former co-star Kel Mitchell made a surprise appearance. The Nope cast member gushed about what it was like working with the Kenan and Kel stars following the ‘90s-infused sketch’s popularity.

The soon-to-be mom stopped by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to talk about various projects she has coming up. The conversation soon turned to the SNL Kenan and Kel reunion. Fallon asked Palmer how the viral sketch came together. As the beloved actress revealed just how it all came together, she professed her love again for the 1990s children’s program.

The SNL sketch allowed Keke Palmer to pay tribute to the art of multi-camera sitcoms. The Hollywood star openly declared her love for multi-cam comedies as she mentioned the genre being made less frequently. Palmer gushed about enjoying the satire, drama, and “the heart of it all” that older sitcoms displayed. Of course, the Lightyear star cheekily commented that classic sitcoms were being revived as “deep-seated drama” (a la Bel-Air when they brought an alum back). Those reimaginings served as inspiration for the parody.

While fans got a kick out of seeing the real-life friends back onscreen again, Palmer admitted Kel Mitchell’s inclusion in the sketch came as a surprise to her. The multihyphenate revealed how she found out Kenan Thompson had bagged Mitchell for the nostalgic sketch.

As a Kel Mitchell fan, Palmer couldn’t help but gush over the All That alum. She even singled him out as the classic Nick sitcom’s standout character. However, her love for Mitchell goes beyond the show as she mentioned both actors are Virgos and from Chicago. So, the Hollywood A-lister shares a deep personal connection with the beloved actor. Check out the unlikely trio’s chemistry and timing in the viral sketch below.

While the 29-year-old actress awaits the birth of her first child, that doesn’t mean Keke Palmer is slowing down. She is currently hosting a weekly podcast Baby, It’s Keke Palmer, which is available through Amp. Fans can hear Palmer on Human Resources and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder through a Netflix subscription and a Disney+ subscription, respectively. Both animated series’ second seasons are currently in production. Also, be sure to check out some of Palmer’s best TV and film projects in the meantime.

Keke Palmer just had a winner’s circle of a weekend. The actress, who led Jordan Peele’s Nope cast earlier this year, hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time and officially announced she’s pregnant with her first child on live television at the same time. But in the days afterwards, Palmer read some nasty comments and found it important to call out the haters weighing in on her attractiveness. 

Following her big SNL debut, Keke Palmer and boyfriend Darius Jackson were seen at a New York Rangers hockey game at Madison Square Garden. In one photo that was snapped, via People, Palmer skipped the makeup for a casual night with her man, rocking big glasses and a neon green hoodie. Following the image apparently circulating, the talented actress said this:  

As Palmer opened up, she noticed a number of comments calling her “ugly” because she decided not to wear makeup on the outing. The actress reminded folks that “makeup isn’t real” and asserted that she is “beautiful in real life,” and not only due to her appearance. 

This comes after Keke Palmer posted a selfie of herself back in 2020 without makeup on to share that she’s been dealing with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome throughout her life. With the post, she shared a longtime journey to correct it by doing things like taking Acutane, going on diets and so forth. She posted it to let others know dealing with acne such as this to know they are not only not alone, but “still so fucking fine.” 

Unfortunately, due to the beauty standards society continues to enforce, women are often pressured and shamed into wearing makeup just to feel normal. Keke Palmer had to deal with this firsthand after a date night with her boyfriend. She should not have to be criticized and made to feel bad for being herself. The actress made a great statement, saying it’s “truly insane to say anyone is ugly, but especially me.” 

Ever since she got her start as a child star on Nickelodeon and alongside Angela Bassett at the age of 12 in Akeelah and the Bee, Keke Palmer has been a role model for women. She continues to show a good example for others by being transparent about her appearance between being all dolled up for SNL and going bare faced for a hockey game, and owning them both. Girl is literally growing a human inside her right now and she has to deal with “ugly” comments!?! She didn’t have to speak to it, but her response is a great reminder to not only her haters, but any internet trolls, perhaps to just not hit send on a harmful comment. 

After Keke Palmer’s incredible year, where she starred in a few memorable 2022 movie releases and started her own podcast (which you can listen to with an Amazon Prime subscription), we can’t wait to see what she does next! She’s about to be an incredible mother alongside her owning just about everything else. 

Keke Palmer and Angela Bassett have been compared for some time now. From their physical resemblance to Palmer’s spot-on impression of the Oscar-nominated actress, fans can’t help but see some of Bassett in the Nope star. Of course, the connection goes beyond the similarities, as the Black Panther actress once played Palmer's on-screen, supportive and stern mother in the spelling bee drama Akeelah and the Bee. Both were great in the movie and, as it turns out, Palmer may have played an instrumental role in Bassett playing her mother in the 2006 classic.

The two stars reunited for a special Vanity Fair video celebrating the drama film. Keke Palmer admitted to being a huge fan of both Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne due to their work in the 1993 biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It. Fishburne had already been cast as Dr. Larrabee before his frequent co-star was cast as the title character’s mother, Tanya Anderson. Palmer recalled thinking, at the time, that it would be something if the Oscar-nominated co-stars could reunite years after co-starring in the Tina Turner biopic. During the conversation, Bassett stated that it was Palmer who got her the role:

Can you blame Keke Palmer for wanting to work with her idol? And the casting worked out, given that she, Bassett, and Fishburne gained critical acclaim for their roles and scored multiple award nominations. While no one scored an nodds from the Academy, all three actors, including Bassett, gave Oscar-worthy performances.  

The now-29-year-old True Jackson, VP alum recalled being excited upon learning that Angela Bassett was joining the indie drama. For the young actress, sharing the screen with Bassett and Laurence Fishburne was a dream come true. But once she got past being starstruck, the actress then sought to learn from her colleagues. The Hustlers star recalled what it was like watching their interactions with everyone on set, saying:

Keke Palmer seems to have taken away quite a bit from her time on the set of Akeelah. Her co-stars taught her to be professional and carry herself as such no matter how big or small the job is. And one can say that those things are partly why Palmer has had so much success. She had a phenomenal year with notable releases like Nope and Lightyear. And Angela Bassett has been booked and busy as well, between her work on Fox’s 9-1-1 and her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Still, through it all, it's hard not to think about their 2006 collaboration, and I'm glad Palmer helped make it happen.

If you want to relive the spelling bee tension with Akeelah Anderson, you can watch Akeelah and the Bee using an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Given their big success as child stars, many Saturday Night Live fans hoped Keke Palmer and Kenan Thompson would do a Nickelodeon sketch together when she hosted the sketch comedy show this weekend. It’s difficult to predict how much an SNL host might reference their past with specific sketches. In this case, she helped to reference Kenan’s past in the form of a reboot of 90s favorite Kenan & Kel.

Retitled Kenan & Kelly, the reboot saw the two working in a convenience store and blended the goofy and irreverent humor of the original show with a gritty and hardened inner city realism in an attempt to win an Emmy for Keke Palmer. The result is a really fun sketch that just so happens to feature 90s Nickelodeon legend Kel Mitchell in a big role. Check it out…

For those of you who didn’t grow up a 90s kid, Kel Mitchell was essentially Kenan Thompson’s sketch comedy partner before SNL. As teenagers, the two starred together on the shows All That and Kenan & Kel, as well as in the movie Good Burger before they grew up and went their separate ways. Thompson joined Saturday Night Live, where he’s been a regular for two decades, while Mitchell starred in Mystery Men and other projects. 

Those wanting to see the two together have had a lot of reasons for optimism so far this year. Mitchell made a cameo in a sketch when Thompson hosted the Emmy Awards, and there has been some positive momentum on the long awaited Good Burger sequel, which sounds like it could actually happen. How much fun would that be?

For now though, the surprise Saturday Night Live reunion will have to do. Thankfully, fans cannot get enough of it. Tons hit up Twitter to gush about how excited they were to see the two back together. The tweet below has over 4,000 likes as an example…

That’s far from the only one too. Numerous fans took to Twitter to talk about how much they loved Kenan & Kel as kids and how many feelings it brought back to see the two together again. For Palmer, the sketch was really special too. After the episode aired, she went on Instagram to talk about how meaningful it was for her to be in the bit. She called it the “highlight of (her) life” and shared how “influential” the two were on her development. Here’s the full quote from her Instagram story…

Keke Palmer wasn’t yet acting during Kenan and Kel’s run, but she, of course, played the lead role in her own Nickelodeon show True Jackson, VP for three seasons. Since she departed the show in 2011, her career has steadily picked up momentum. Most recently, she earned rave reviews for her performance in Jordan Peele’s Nope. It turns out she’s also pregnant, which she revealed in epic fashion during her monologue.

Given her soon to be expanding family, I’m not sure what Palmer’s schedule is going to look like over the next year, but if Good Burger 2 gets off the ground, something tells me she’d be a perfect fit for at least a cameo. Fingers crossed it happens!

As for SNL, it's hard to imagine many hosts outperforming Keke Palmer, who was excellent throughout her episode, but thankfully, the show is bringing in some ringers as upcoming SNL hosts. Returning favorites Steve Martin and Martin Short from Only Murders In The Building are pulling double duty next week, and breakout star Austin Butler from Elvis will be there on December 17th.