George Lucas has always been blunt - even about his own work - so I wasn’t surprised to hear he has less-than-glorifying thoughts on focus groups. We all know how he feels about certain Star Wars topics, so when the director sat down for an interview discussing the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (which is now in its final stages) I knew we were in for a delightful verbal treat.

What got the director started during his conversation with A Rabbit’s Foot: was his stance that “art is in the eye of the beholder,” but less so when the beholders are focus group members. It turns out his dislike for the group-based approach goes back to his famous friend group. Lucas name-dropped icons Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola while revealing why he really hates movie focus groups. In his words:

His answer didn’t surprise me at all. Everyone he named - including himself - is known for their filmmaking talents and experimental movies. But they’re also known for being direct about their opinions regarding films in general. This has been especially true when it comes to the Marvel Universe. Just ask Francis Ford Coppola, who has been blunt about the superhero films, but showed much love to Black Panther director Ryan Coogler's horror epic by penning a love letter to Sinners. Scorsese has also shared such opinions, but maybe he'll be into the DCU's Clayface, since he's already made a body horror film himself.

In any case, the last director that Lucas name-dropped, Spielberg, is one that every generation knows, and is another that also doesn't ever seem bothered by negative critiques. (Most recently, he faced mixed reactions to his film Disclosure Day.) And I can understand that after speaking with some of the best filmmakers on the planet about one's movie ideas, it's a bit of a drop-off to then hear the opinions from random people. Lucas shared this blunt take on the matter:

I think we all know what Lucas is referring to when he says that. Every Star Wars trilogy and spinoff has sparked mixed reactions from the most passionate fans, specifically from those who thought Jar Jar Binks was terrible. Lucas certainly went into that movie knowing fans would be "picky" about the prequels, but no one could ever know how much.

But what shocked me the most was learning that people wanted the director to get rid of C-3PO and even the Ewoks at one time. I couldn’t imagine if those people had gotten there way. What is a Star Wars universe without the humorous duo of C-3PO and R-2? The director feels that studios allow the audience to be too involved in making modern movies, rather than viewing their opinions as just that. In his words:

Can you imagine what classics like Citizen Kane and Casablanca would have been like had they been guided by focus groups? How would they have changed Alfred Hitchock's Psycho had that been as big a part of the studio process at the time?

While George Lucas doesn’t have any current movies in the works, he is overseeing the completion of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art after installing himself as lead curator in the wake of the second curator quitting. The passion project houses 35 galleries and a collection that has more than 100,000 works, from infamous works to African American cinema artifacts.

This unique project serves as a commentary on “disposable art of the 20th century,” which Lucas feels “belongs at the center of its culture.” It seems the director and his wife, who is co-founding the project, want to focus primarily on art that “had never been considered art.”

I wonder if any artifacts from his director friends will be in the museum? After all, they are part of cinema history.

Did you know that Martin Scorsese once made a horror movie? I mean, it’s okay to admit that you didn’t, because I certainly didn’t until recently, and I thought I’d seen all of Scorsese’s movies, from the ‘60s all the way up to current day.

However, that’s not fair, since the “horror movie” I’m referring to isn’t an actual “movie,” per se, but rather a short titled The Big Shave, which came out in 1967, the same year as his feature-length debut, Who’s That Knocking at My Door?

That said, The Big Shave is definitely horror, albeit only six minutes in length, and one that I would put up there with the best body horror movies of all time. Here’s why.

I Love Horror, But I Simply Could Not Watch This Short All The Way Through Without Turning My Head

I’ve seen most of the best horror movies ever made, and a vast majority of them don’t scare me. I mean, I LIKE them, but it’s not like they make me cover my eyes or turn my head (I’m talking about the ones that I can actually watch, that is. Some I can’t).

I could not sit through The Big Shave without turning my head, which I must say, is the highest compliment for somebody who regularly watches horror. In short, a man (Peter Bernuth) goes into the bathroom and simply shaves himself. All the while, Bunny Berigan’s “I Can’t Get Started” plays throughout. That’s it.

However, that’s not quite it. Because even though the silent protagonist shaves himself just fine at first, he keeps shaving…and shaving…and shaving! There’s a little bit of blood at first…then more blood…then even more blood, until he just starts shaving off his skin. And by the halfway point, I was just like, “Stop! Stop!” which I guess was the point, given what the film has been interpreted to actually be about…

Some Say It's Meant To Be Allegorical For Vietnam

The Big Shave is also known as Viet ‘67, and ahhh. NOW The Big Shave makes a bit more sense. At its heart, the short is about pointless self-mutilation, and it seems that Scorsese was making a point about America’s involvement in the Vietnam War and how we were futilely hurting ourselves by engaging in the conflict.

In that way, even though nobody would mistake this short of a man shaving in his bathroom as a war movie, it actually very much could be interpreted as one, just as Godzilla can be interpreted as an allegory for the atom bomb.

So, yeah, Scorsese directed both a body horror short and an anti-war short, all in one shot. Amazing stuff!

Honestly, Try To Watch It For Yourself. I Dare You. See How Long You Make It

So, now, I have a challenge for you. I want you to WATCH The Big Shave for yourself and see how long you can last. Yes, I’m definitely hyping this film up, and you might watch it and think, This Rich Knight guy was just farming for clicks.

I’m being dead serious. Because as somebody who has actually cut himself shaving (I’m pretty sure all males have done it at some point), the genuine terror of REALLY hurting yourself is palpable. And just the idea of cutting yourself until you’re a bloody mess is nightmare fuel.

So, even though this is also technically a silent movie, it’s one of the most effective silent/body horror/anti-war short films you’ll ever watch. So, give it a try, and let me know your thoughts!

When I found out a TV adaptation of Cape Fear, one of the best horror movies ever, was getting made, I immediately wondered how it’d pay homage to the films that came before it. Along with that, when I found out Martin Scorsese, who directed the 1991 movie, and Steven Spielberg, who executive produced the film, were EPs on the show, I had to know how they influenced it. So, I asked Nick Antosca about the notes he got from the two legendary directors, and he told me about one I’m very happy he listened to.

Nick Antosca, the creator and showrunner of Apple TV’s critically acclaimed Cape Fear, worked with Spielberg and Scorsese on this show because they are all executive producers on it. When I asked him about the notes he got from the Jaws and Goodfellas directors, he recalled one vital one that helped tie this new program back to the movies that came before it:

For a bit of a history lesson, Herrmann was the composer of the 1962 movie’s score. Then, in 1991, Elmer Bernstein “adapted, arranged and conducted” Herrmann’s original score, as the album cover for '91's score proudly states. This music was then incorporated into the score for the show on the 2026 TV schedule.

Jeff Russo did the music for this series that sees Javier Bardem take on the role of Max Cady (who was played by Robert De Niro in ‘91 and Robert Mitchum in ‘62). As Antosca stated, there’s a lot of original music in the Apple TV project as well as the original score because this show is significantly longer than the movies that came before it. So, it’s cool to see how Russo has managed to mix the old with the new.

Overall, I love that this note was taken so seriously with this show. The commanding and classic score is undeniable, and it creates such a sense of fear and drama whenever it plays. Hearing it used in this modern take on Cape Fear helped me connect this new project back to the originals, as it evoked the thrill that came with the movies.

Along with that, this music, and how it is used alongside new original music, serves as a good example of how this new series (which could be one of Apple TV's best) forges its own path while honoring the projects that came before it.

Obviously, you can hear that in the music. However, I can also feel this specifically in Javier Bardem’s performance as Max Cady. His take on this guy is quite different from the others. Although the creepy yet slightly charismatic nature of the character is still very much intact.

Honestly, I’m very here for the ways this new take on Cape Fear both differentiates itself from its source material and pays homage to it. And I’m really happy it was able to do just that with the score, thanks to both Antosca’s vision and the adamant note he got about it from both Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.

Now, to see this story unfold and to hear the iconic music, you can stream new episodes of Cape Fear every Friday with an Apple TV subscription.

Growing up, there were two movies my mom told me I was never allowed to watch: The Silence of the Lambs and Cape Fear. Both are considered some of the best horror films ever made, and as of late, I’ve been warming up to the genre. So, I watched The Silence of the Lambs a few years ago, and thought it was very good. Now, with a Cape Fear TV show on the 2026 TV schedule, I figured it was time to give the 1991 flick a chance. I gotta say, after watching it, I see why my mom told me not to.

Robert De Niro’s Max Creeping Around Is So Genuinely Terrifying

From essentially the jump, I was creeped out by Robert De Niro’s Max Cady. Just seeing him stare at people from afar gave me the heebie-jeebies. In real life, I’m constantly worried about bad people who could potentially appear, and that’s literally all Max does in this movie. So, I was watching a massive fear of mine unfold for two hours straight.

Max is out for revenge, and he got it in the most disturbing and unsettling way possible. He also wanted to torment this family and drive them to insanity. So, it wasn’t like his acts of revenge were quick and violent. No, they were evil, drawn out and calculated. And as they accumulated on top of each other, the reality of this situation became even more terrifying.

I think that’s what’s so great about this Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese collaboration. The actor is giving the creepy performance of his life, and his actions build on themselves to create a story about a family being driven truly mad by this man.

The Way Max Treated Women In This Movie Made Me Never Want To Watch It Again

Overall, what really scared me in Cape Fear was how badly the women were treated. As a young woman, it was terrifying to see them be manipulated and tortured.

Sadly, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the scene where Max literally bit part of a woman’s face off. I was also so disgusted watching him kiss Juliette Lewis’ Danielle at the high school theater that I had to look away from my screen.

While Nick Nolte’s Sam was tormented and abused by Max, there’s no question that his wife and daughter got the worst of it. Throughout the movie, Max uses the women close to Sam to torment him. It’s diabolical, disgusting, and outright disturbing. It scared the living daylights out of me, honestly, and it had me not wanting to leave my home alone after watching the film.

However, while it did terrify me, Cape Fear is also a very good movie; there’s no denying that.

So, as the show approaches, I’m mentally preparing to be traumatized. To be clear, I mean that as a compliment. Cape Fear is brilliantly unsettling, and I want Javier Bardem’s take on Max to be frightening like De Niro was. So, you best believe I’ll be tuning in on June 5 with my Apple TV subscription. However, in the same breath, I also think it’s worth noting that I won’t be rewatching 1991’s Cape Fear anytime soon, because my mom was right, it’s terrifying.

With a movie like The Wolf of Wall Street, it may be easy to assume the wildest moments were confined to the screen, and, in a lot of ways they were. However, there were still some unbelievable off-screen moments. They have all seemingly come out over the years, as the Wolf of Wall Street cast has recounted their experience making the film. However, it seems like there are still stories to tell as Martin Scorsese and Jonah Hill recently recounted a hilarious one that involved Leonardo DiCaprio, a woman covered in money and an upset home owner.

Scorsese recently chatted with Hill for Interview Magazine, where they talked about working together on Hill’s third directorial effort, Outcome. The two met working on Wolf of Wall Street, and Scorsese makes an unforgettable cameo in the 2026 movie schedule entry.

While Hill and Scorsese had a lot to chat about, including the directing process they both now share, the conversation quickly turned to their Wolf of Wall Street experience. They revealed that while shooting a scene where the characters attempted to smuggle money out of the country by taping it to a Swiss woman, the person who owned the house they were shooting in tried to kick them out. That house in question also originally belonged to the film's real-life subject, Jordan Belfort. As Hill and Scorsese explained:

• Martin Scorsese: "And then we had to get out because the man who owned the house was really getting mad at us."
• Jonah Hill: "For context, the guy who owned Jordan Belfort’s house was desperate to get us out. He goes, ‘Guys, I’ve got to get back in my fucking office. Ten minutes ago you said you’d be out of here.’ Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are shooting a scene in your office. A woman has money taped to her breasts. What do you have to do that’s cooler than this?"
• Scorsese: "And I’m saying, ‘How the hell do you want me to get her out of here? She’s got money taped all over her.’"

I actually can’t imagine trying to kick Martin Scorsese and the cast and crew of Wolf of Wall Street out of my residence. The notion of that team shooting a scene in my presence is an absolute dream but, apparently, this man saw it as a terrible inconvenience. Given the man's feelings, it's hard not to wonder how he was convinced to let the crew shoot in the house in the first place. While Hill pointed out that he still had no idea what was so important that the guy felt the need to kick out such cinematic legends, he admitted that the crew was running over time:

Although the cast and crew may have been a pain in the behind to this guy, I think it was all worth it. The scene in question is hilarious, and the fact that it's all shot at Jordan Belfort's former home is the icing on the cake. From a technical perspective, it's also hard to beat the natural lighting.

Getting yelled at was clearly a small price to pay for the space. It also made for a great story and, as mentioned, there are plenty of those when it comes to WOWS. This anecdote can be added to the list of unbelievable stories shared over the years, like the crew actually shaving an extra’s head or Margot Robbie slapping DiCaprio during her audition. Overall, this sounds like one of the coolest, most off-beat movie sets of all time, and I hope even more stories come out in the years to come.

Check out The Wolf of Wall Street now, as it's currently streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Fans of Jonah Hill should also check out his new movie, Outcome, which is now available with an Apple TV subscription.

The superhero genre keeps going strong, and fans who watched the DC movies in order have recently been introduced to a new shared universe. Crafted by co-CEO James Gunn, the DCU is still in its infancy, with a handful of projects released in theaters and streaming with a HBO Max subscription. The next upcoming DC movie is Supergirl, and it's star Milly Alcock recently responded to folks like Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott who have criticized comic book movies.

Back in 2019, Scorsese claimed that superhero movies "aren't cinema" starting a debate that's still going strong today. Some have taken the legendary filmmaker's side, while others have stuck up for genre work. While speaking with Vanity Fair Alcock shared her own thoughts, offering:

There you have it. While Milly Alcock is best known for starring as Supergirl and as pat of the House of the Dragon cast, she doesn't mind that some famous directors aren't fond of genre work. Art is subjective, so folks like Scorsese and Scott (who called comic book movies "boring") are entitled to their opinions. Sounds like a healthy perspective to me.

This is a great perspective for the 25 year-old actress to have, especially as she's early in her tenure as Kara Zor-El in the DCU. While this is a huge opportunity that could make her a household name, it's also a gig that opens her up to a ton of criticism. But she seems to understand that everyone is going to have their own opinions, and there are folks who simply don't enjoy comic book movies.

Alcock debuted as Kara with a Superman cameo, debuting her drunk Kryptonian to audiences. Anticipation for her solo film has been steadily building, especially after Supergirl's full trailer was released. As a reminder, you can check it out below:

While superhero movies aren't for everyone, this movie has something for everyone. Namely because of the emphasis on Krypto, who is once again in danger in his second appearance in the shared universe. Who doesn't love dogs... especially if they have superpowers?

This above trailer is definitely giving some Guardians of the Galaxy vibes, even if James Gunn isn't actually the director. The cosmic story, flawed hero, emphasis on classic rock, and adorable sidekick all bring those sensibilities to the table. But if Krypto dies I will riot in the streets.

All will be revealed when Supergirl hits theaters on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Although we can assume Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott won't be in attendance.

Following in the footsteps of two all-timer Hollywood legends like Robert Mitchum and Robert De Niro would be intimidating for anyone, but taking on a role like stalker-rapist Max Cady already requires a certain amount of quasi-psycho chutzpah. And hot diggity danger, Javier Bardem is truly embodying beast mode in the first trailer for the upcoming Apple TV series that’ll be the first episodic adaptation of Cape Fear, backed by mega-producers Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.

The first trailer seen above is arguably one of the most tense and blood pressure-raising ways to start one’s day, or to end it, depending on when you’re watching. Cape Fear co-stars Patrick Wilson and Amy Adams as attorney Tom Bowden and Anna Bowden, respectively, the parents of Lily Collias’ Natalie and Joe Anders’ Zack. They’re your typical, everyday, affluent AF, Southern family….with some regrettable skeletons in their shared closet.

Enter one such intimidation-minded skeleton, the aforementioned Max Cady, who is newly released from prison and is seems pretty interested in seeking vengeance against those who put him away. It wasn’t exactly an open and shut case, with Tom and Anna responsible for obscuring evidence that likely would have led to Cady going free. Let it be a lesson that the worst people you can possibly try to legally screw over are the ones you already believe are capable of humanity’s worst crimes. I say, I say, are ya taking’ notes, Tom, my boy? (That’s my best Foghorn Leghorn impression.)

It’s not a very complicated set-up, and the TV show looks like it’ll take full advantage of all the extra narrative time to really juice the hell out of Cady stalking and psychologically hounding the Bowden family. Javier Bardem really does look like a natural fit for the part, bringing all of the impulsive and intrusive terror of No Country for Old Men’s Anton Chigurh, but with the most charismatic and engaging personality attached. Not to mention the way his back tattoos seem to follow me no matter where I’m walking in the room.

Cape Fear was one of the best movies of the 1990s — despite not even being Scorsese’s top ‘90s film — so the idea to bring it back as a weekly series for the 2026 TV schedule takes a wild mind behind the scenes. Which makes it a perfect project for creator and showrunner Nick Antosca, whose A-tier anthology series Channel Zero remains my most treasured horror TV ever, and who’s also helped bring other classic characters like Hannibal Lecter and Chucky to the small screen.

Beyond the trio of huge stars fronting this series, the Cape Fear cast is as good as it gets. We have Silence of the Lambs great Ted Levine (who's also excellent in Netflix's Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen), a pair of Sons of Anarchy vets in CCH Pounder and Ron Perlman, The Wire great Jamie Hector, Daredevil: Born Again's Margarita Levieva, Paradise's Patrick Fischler and more.

June 5 is the big day when everyone with a Apple TV subscription can take part in sharing the Bowden family's ongoing dread, as Cape Fear will be dropping the first two episodes of its 10-ep season, with the first directed by The Intimidation Game's Morten Tyldum.

The 98th Academy Awards, which we covered extensively on our live-blog, have come and gone, and among the 2026 Oscar winners was beloved director Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another. With PTA’s win, an Oscar’s connection pops up that actually makes you stop and think. One very specific thing links the first Oscar wins of three wildly different directors: Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, and Paul Thomas Anderson. And no, it’s not a shared genre, a studio, or even a similar style.

All three filmmakers earned their first (and, so far, only) Academy Awards for movies starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Once you see it laid out, it’s hard to ignore. Their connection comes from these movies starring the former teen heartthrob:

• The Departed (Martin Scorsese)
• Titanic (James Cameron)
• One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)

Three directors. Three very different careers. One surprisingly consistent through-line. DiCaprio.

The Leo Pattern Is Hard To Ignore

To be clear, these directors are not in the same position regarding their Award wins, though each of them, in my opinion, could be categorized as shocking Oscar wins.

Martin Scorsese famously had to wait decades before winning Best Director for 2007's The Departed, despite building one of the most respected filmographies in cinema history.

James Cameron, on the other hand, didn’t just win for Titanic; he dominated the Oscars with it, which led to his now infamous 'I'm the King of the World' speech. While his other films, like Avatar, have won Academy Awards across his career, his first major breakthrough and the only time he personally took home trophies came with a DiCaprio-led film.

The same goes for Paul Thomas Anderson. After years of critical acclaim and multiple nominations, One Battle After Another finally got him over the finish line, as he won Best Picture, Director and Adapted Screenplay. (Though I would hardly categorize it as one of PTA's best movies.) Like Cameron, his movies have won Oscars (Daniel Day-Lewis won for his performance in There Will Be Blood, for example). However, PTA's personal trophies didn't come to him until he worked with DiCaprio on OBAA.

So while their careers look very different on paper, there’s a strange overlap in how their Oscar stories actually played out.

The Leonardo DiCaprio Factor

What makes this even more ironic is Leo’s own Oscar history. Despite being at the center of these major wins, he only has one Academy Award himself, and it's for The Revenant. And notably, that win has nothing to do with any of the films that helped these directors secure their Oscars.

In other words, the Inception actor has been a key part of multiple Oscar-winning moments for directors, without personally winning for those same projects. That’s kind of wild.

It also says something about the roles he chooses. The Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood lead has built a career around working with filmmakers at pivotal moments, whether that’s helping bring massive projects like Titanic to life or collaborating on prestige films like The Departed and One Battle After Another.

He’s consistently in the mix when something big is happening, even if the awards don’t always land directly in his hands.

It’s easy to write this off as a quirky stat, but it also highlights how certain collaborations shape awards history in ways that aren’t always obvious. DiCaprio has spent years aligning himself with ambitious directors, and those partnerships have clearly paid off, even beyond his own accolades.

Three directors with multiple Oscars between them, and in each case, a Leonardo DiCaprio-led film played a key role in getting them there, especially when it came to that first big win. At the very least, it’s one of those connections that would make an awesome little piece of trivia at your next Oscar night party.

This year's best picture winner and the movie that got Paul Thomas Anderson his first Oscar, One Battle After Another, is streaming with an HBO Max subscription.

When it comes to many books, I'm late to the party. It's a hazard of having an ever-growing TBR and only so many hours in the day. But I do get to the ones I really want to read, which includes Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. As a fan of some of Larson's other books, and having heard great things about this 2003 non-fiction account of the development of the 1893 World's Fair and H.H. Holmes' murder spree in Chicago, I knew this was going to be a good one, and I wasn't disappointed. Naturally, upon finishing the riveting tale, I was curious about the status of the book-to-screen adaptation, and here's the thing: as glad as I am that there are still plans to bring it to the screen, I really don't think it should be a movie.

As mentioned, the book covers two stories taking place at the same time, in the same place. It's as much about how the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (also known as the World's Columbian Exposition) came to be as it is about Holmes carrying out his murderous acts and various fraudulent activities. Before I get into why I really think TV–probably a limited series–is the way to go with this adaptation, let me break down the timeline highlights for this adaptation, because it's been literal years.

Key Bullet Points in the Devil in the White City Adaptation Timeline

• November 2010 (per THR): It's announced that Leonardo DiCaprio would star in and produce a film adaptation of The Devil in the White City.
• December 2011 (per Deadline): Warner Bros. Acquired the rights to the adaptation with DiCaprio to star and The Imitation Game's Graham Moore to pen the script for the movie.
• August 2015: Paramount Pictures nabbed the rights to the adaptation after Warner Bros. reportedly let them lapse (per Deadline). It's at this point that Martin Scorsese comes into the picture as director, with DiCaprio still set to star as H.H. Holmes. In December of 2016, Scorsese was quoted as saying that a script was in the works.
• February 2019: Scorsese and DiCaprio's adaptation was being developed as a series at Hulu, with Paramount Television set to produce.
• August 2022: Hulu reportedly ordered the adaptation to series with Keanu Reeves lined up to star as Daniel Burnham (the architect organizing the World's Fair). Sam Shaw was reported to be penning the adaptation and serving as showrunner and EP.
• October 2022: Reeves exited the Hulu series, and Todd Field was no longer lined up to direct.
• January 2025: A new report stated that the adaptation had moved to 20th Century, and that Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio were in talks for a film adaptation. As of this report, there wasn't a script for the movie.

As you can see, there've been quite a few ups and downs with the adaptation, including a switch from movie to series, then back to movie -- its current status. Far be it from me to complain about DiCaprio and Scorsese teaming up for another movie. If this gets made as it's presently expected to be made, I'm going to see it, even if it's 3+ hours long. But I really can't get past how much potential this story has as a limited series, and I'm far less optimistic that a movie can do the full story justice.

My Concerns About A Movie Adaptation

The main concern I have with a movie adaptation is that, even if it had a longer-than-average run-time, I worry that there won't be enough time to really dive into the fair side of the story, or more to the point, that the movie will give more screen time to Holmes' scheming and murders, while the World's Fair will be more of a background story.

There’s more character story to dive into on the former, so I’d understand it being the focus if that were to be the plan. And, don't get me wrong, I can see why many people might prefer Holmes' story to be at the forefront of the adaptation. But reading the book, I found myself really caught up in the hugeness of the World's Fair, the people who attended, the attractions that were on display, and all of the challenges it took to get the whole thing up and running.

With his research and telling, Larson really painted a picture of the city of Chicago and this massive event during this particular time period in U.S. history, which I think enhanced my appreciation of the way he told Holmes’ story. There's also the story involving the mayor's assassination near the end of the fair and the impact that had on the city, which is relevant and would need to be included.

There Are So Many Details A TV Show Could Showcase

There are things I would hate to see rushed, or worse, cut out completely for a movie. I can see a series covering the story of the fair, from the very start to the tragic conclusion, and weaving Holmes' story throughout each episode so that we're able to get the full picture of what happened and how impactful it all was.

It's entirely possible that a movie can achieve this, but I think about how great it would be to wait for each new episode, anticipating guest stars playing notable fair attendees like Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Helen Keller, and George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. (who built the Ferris wheel), and what new inventions and foods might be featured (Juicy Fruit gum! Pabst Blue Ribbon!).

Millions of people attended this fair over the months of its run. I just hope whatever adaptation is made can capture this event as more than just the backdrop to Holmes' story. If there's room for both stories to play out as they do in the book, I think this adaptation could be amazing. It's hard for me to see it working as a movie, but as I said, if Scorsese makes it, I’ll absolutely see it -- and at this point, given how long it's taking to bring the tale to the screen, I just hope it gets made -- but I'd love it if the next update told us this was back in development as a series.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese have had a good thing going ever since they first worked together on 2002’s Gangs of New York. The duo have teamed up on seven feature films and have more lined up, so needless to say that these men know each quite well. So when DiCaprio offers advice about working with Scorsese that sounds like it came from 1999, you better heed it, no matter how archaic it sounds.

DiCaprio, star of the 2025 movie release One Battle After Another, shared this advice while speaking with Jennifer Lawrence, who starred this year in Die My Love, as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors series. The two actors previously worked together on the Netflix subscription-exclusive Don’t Look Up, and they’ll reunite under the supervision of Martin Scorsese for the film adaptation of the Peter Cameron-penned novel What Happens at Night. This will be Lawrence’s first time working with Scorsese, so when she asked DiCaprio what she should know about the filmmaker ahead of time, he answered:

Look, Martin Scorsese is 83 years old and has been making movies for nearly 60 years, starting with 1967’s Who’s That Knocking at My Door. I’m not surprised if he’s not subscribed to any of the best streaming services; the man’s entitled to watch movies however he wants, so all power to him for still using DVDs. At least they’re still being sold, unlike VHS tapes. Maybe he’s like Christopher Walken and has special DVDs sent to him so he can watch stream-exclusive content.

It’d be great to be in Jennifer Lawrence’s position, as I’d welcome getting a first row seat to Martin Scorsese going over his film references and gladly break out my old DVD player. Who knows, depending on how What Happens at Night turns out, maybe this will lead to the actress and director collaborating again, whether or not Leonardo DiCaprio is involved. It’s also worth mentioning that DiCaprio will also work with Scorsese again, this time alongside Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, in an untitled movie that follows organized crime in Hawaii.

DiCaprio and Lawrence have both earned Golden Globe nominations for the respective performances in One Battle After Another and Die My Love. Find out how they do when the awards ceremony airs on the 2026 TV schedule January 11th on both CBS and Paramount+.

49 years ago, Martin Scorsese directed what I (and many others) believe to be the best concert film of all time, The Last Waltz. The movie documents what was supposed to be the final concert for The Band (though some of the members would continue to tour together well into the 1990s, after a short break).

The concert took place 49 years ago tonight, on Thanksgiving night, November 25, 1976, and the film, which you can stream for free on YouTube, was released in April 1978. Since it took place on Thanksgiving, I make it a point to watch it every Turkey Day, and yes, as the title card suggests at the beginning, I do play it loudly.

The Band Was Burned Out, But They Still Crushed The Performance

Despite ostensibly being The Band’s last concert, the group was hitting on all cylinders, but life on the road as a touring band was taking its toll on all the members. Lead guitarist and principal songwriter Robbie Robertson was burned out from it and convinced the rest of the band that they needed to retire from touring. So, Robertson and the rest of The Band (Levon Helm on drums and vocals, Rick Danko on bass and vocals, Richard Manuel on piano and vocals, and Garth Hudson on keyboards) conceived one final concert to be held at The Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. They brought in their friend Martin Scorsese to film it and make a movie.

While The Band may have been burnt out (and dealing with internal squabbles), that isn’t reflected in their performance, which is outstanding. In addition to multiple guests (which I’ll get to), they performed some of the best versions of their biggest hits and crowd pleasers. The movie opens with the song that was actually the final song they performed that night, a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Don’t Do It,” which had been a staple encore for the band over the years. Unless you know that it was played at 2:15 in the morning, about five hours after they first hit the stage, you’d swear they were just getting going.

The next song up is “Up on Cripple Creek,” which was the song that actually opened the show. Drummer and singer Levon Helm’s powerful voice led the group through one of their most enduring hits, and while watching, you know that this is going to be a special movie. I’ve watched it countless times and heard the song many, many more times, but it gets me every time. Every song The Band plays throughout the whole movie crackles with energy, and had there been no guests at all, The Last Waltz would stand apart from most other great concert films. Of course, there are guests, and wow, what a list.

The Guests Are A Who’s Who Of ‘70s Rock And Roll

As the concert was intended to be the final concert by The Band, they invited a few friends to join in on the fun. Some of the guests, like the first guest in the movie, Ronnie Hawkins, were guys they had worked with a lot of with. Others, like Muddy Waters, were huge influences on them as musicians. Robertson had recently worked with Neil Diamond, so he was there. Eric Clapton had long been a friend and admirer of the group, so he showed up. Of course, their most famous collaborator (and the man who helped launch their successful career as The Band), Bob Dylan, was there.

The list is truly incredible. Joni Mitchell has one of my favorite moments in the movie when she sings backup to Neil Young on his iconic hit “Helpless,” but she does it off stage, out of view of the audience, giving her vocals an ethereal feel. Mitchell later joined the band for her song “Coyote.” New Orleans legend Dr. John is the best-dressed guest, with a fantastic sparkly jacket and oversized pink bowtie.

The Best Performances Were The Staples Singers And Van Morrison

There are two scenes that were filmed on a soundstage after the concert that are also standouts. The first, featuring Emmylou Harris, is wonderful, and the second, The Band doing their hit “The Weight” with the Staples Singers, is simply sublime. However, the best song with a guest in the movie is without a doubt Van Morrison joining The Band for his song “Caravan.” It starts with Morrison’s purple jumpsuit, and it ends with his amazing leg kicks as the song reaches its climax.

It’s such an amazing moment that it became a stand-in among my friends and me when we were excited about something. “VMLK” for “Van Morrison Leg Kick” became our go-to text-speak for an enthusiastic “yes.” Morrison is a bit of an enigma in rock and roll, and he hasn’t always been known for being all that energetic of a performer, but he is here, and it’s plainly amazing. It’s a scene I can watch over and over and over again.

Martin Scorsese And His Crew Make This Movie Stand Out

One of the coolest moments in the movie comes when The Band is joined by Blues legend Muddy Waters. Scorsese, who was shooting on 35mm, told the cameramen to take a break to let the cameras cool down and reset the film. Apparently, Scorsese thought that “Mannish Boy,” the song he intended to film, would be the second song performed by Waters and The Band. Instead, as the band started the signature riff, Scorsese jumped up and radioed for the cameramen to start filming again.

It took most of the song for most of the crew to get up, but one cameraman, legendary cinematographer László Kovács, never stopped, and because of that, we all get to enjoy the whole amazing performance. It’s moments like this that show why having an A-list director like Scorsese bring in a fantastic crew makes such a difference with The Last Waltz.

There are other amazing concert films out there that I love, like Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, U2’s Rattle and Hum, The Rolling Stones' At The Max (which is being re-released next month), and others. Those are ranking in a tie for second place behind The Last Waltz, and frankly, I’m at an age when I don’t think another one could ever replace this one at that top.

We’re creeping closer to Halloween, but while you might expect that to mean an increase in the number of spooky season shows and movies coming to streaming, that’s not really the case. To be sure, there’s already plenty of horror content on all your favorite streaming platforms, but any additions to the various streaming libraries have largely already been handled.

This week’s theme is actually animation, as several different animated series and films are debuting this week, alongside the return of some popular streaming series and a movie about one of the greatest men to ever make movies.

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch - October 14 (Netflix)

It has been far too long since the video game world has seen a new entry in the Splinter Cell franchise, so fans of covert agent Sam Fisher will have to make due with a new animated series available with a Netflix subscription. The good news is the series is produced by John Wick creator Darek Kolstad, and stars Liev Schreiber as the voice of Fisher, so the chances this one will be good are pretty solid.

Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy - October 16 (Peacock)

In what appears to be Peacock’s answer to Netflix’s popular Monster series of true crime dramas, we have Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Michael Chernus stars as Gacy, but the series appears to primarily be mostly about the aftermath of Gacy’s killings, giving a greater focus on the man’s victims than on the man himself.

The Diplomat, Season 3 - October 16 (Netflix)

The Diplomat, Netflix’s political drama starring Kari Russell, gained a little bit of TV political clout in Season 2 when West Wing star Allison Janney joined the show as the Vice President. Season 3 will up the ante by introducing Bradley Whitford as the new President’s husband. The reuniting of the castmates will likely only be a small part of what is sure to be another season of political intrigue.

The Twits - October 17 (Netflix)

Netflix has been making itself a force in animated films over the last several years, which has earned it Oscar recognition and critical praise. Its newest animated film, The Twits, takes Roald Dahl’s characters on an original adventure. Phil Johnston, writer of Zootopia and director of Ralph Breaks the Internet, handles both duties here for a film that includes Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke among its voice cast.

Marvel’s Spidey and Iron Man: Avengers Team-Up - October 17 (Disney+)

Spidey and his Amazing Friends is a hit Disney Junior series that imagines Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Gwen Stacy as a trio of Spider-Man-powered heroes who are also about nine years old. A similar companion series based on Iron Man recently debuted, and in a new crossover special, all of them, alongside pint-sized Hulk, Black Panther, and more, will team up thanks to your Disney+ subscription. It’s basically Avengers: Endgame for kids who are too young to watch Avengers: Endgame.

Mr. Scorsese - October 17 (Apple TV+)

Martin Scorsese has given some of the greatest movies ever made, so it’s only fitting that he get a movie of his own. Mr. Scorsese will trace the Oscar-winning director’s life from childhood through to the modern day and will include interviews with his many friends and collaborators, like Robert De Niro, Margot Robbie, and Steven Spielberg.

If you were looking for new horror to enjoy in October, stay tuned because next week will give us one of the month’s biggest news releases with HBO Max’s new IT series, Welcome to Derry. Come back next week for more info on it and everything else new to streaming.

Whenever Martin Scorsese’s filmography comes up, it’s quickly followed a discussion on his iconic gangster movies like Goodfellas, Casino, or The Departed. But did you know that in addition to making those classics and so many other great dramas over the course of the past 60 years, the Academy Award-winning director also made a body horror film way back in his younger days? I’m talking before Who’s That Knocking at My Door put him on the map.

Recently, while looking for something to watch with my HBO Max subscription, I stumbled upon a short film from 1967 called The Big Shave. Clocking in at six minutes in length, I decided to give it a watch, not realizing until the end credits that Scorsese was behind this bright, vibrant, and bloody short that was full of '60s-era social commentary.

The Short Starts Off Harmless But Slowly Turns Into Blood-Soaked Trauma

Remember those old government PSAs from the ‘60s showing people being functioning and upstanding members of society? They’d be eating properly, driving the right way, being courteous to neighbors, and so on. Well, The Big Shave starts out like that by showing a young man played by Peter Bernuth delicately and meticulously shaving his face in an all-white bathroom. I thought it was going to be some play on conformity until the blood started to shed. And shed it did.

Over the course of a few minutes, the once clean and pristine bathroom (and young man) becomes covered in blood. And I’m not talking a knick on the chine that you can fix with a small piece of toilet paper. Remember how Travis Bickle looked at the end of Taxi Driver? It’s like that and then some. There is just so much blood, and the guy just doesn’t stop shaving…

The Big Shave Can Be Seen As A Commentary On The Vietnam War

Not only is The Big Shave an intense and surreal body horror short film, it’s also a biting commentary on America’s involvement in Vietnam, which had started a few years earlier and would go on for nearly another decade. Also known as Viet ‘67, the short follows the seemingly everyday man as he inflicts violence upon himself, which Bilge Ebiri described in a 2020 Criterion essay, “A Singular Voice, in Short,” as being a metaphor for the United States tearing itself apart after entering the complex conflict.

Much like George A. Romero with his landmark zombie film, The Night of the Living Dead, one year later, Scorsese accomplished two things with his intense body horror: shocking the audience and making them think about the world around them through a different lens.

There’s A Surrealist Comedy Short By Scorsese That’s Just As Wild

On top of recently stumbling upon The Big Shave, I also discovered another one of Martin Scorsese’s old short films on HBO Max. Released a few years earlier, What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? is a black-and-white surrealist comedy about a young writer named Algernon (Zeph Michaelis) or Harry, as his friends call him. Over the course of the nine-minute short, the struggling author becomes obsessed with a nondescript painting of a boat on a lake, making it difficult to eat, sleep, write, or function in society.

It’s wonderfully surreal, utterly hilarious, and a little dark at times, making it a feast for all the senses. It’s out there, which is honestly fun to see from a young filmmaker before he became one of the all-time greats.

You can watch both The Big Shave and What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?, as well as some of Scorsese’s other short films, on HBO Max or as part of a massive collection available from the Criterion Collection. I think I’m going to dive into more of these…

Sometimes in Hollywood, it only takes a single role to catapult an actor from obscurity to superstardom. It’s safe to say that Margot Robbie’s performance in The Wolf of Wall Street was one such role. The movie made her one of the most in-demand actresses in cinema. It's a fact which is all the more impressive considering Robbie said she once thought she wasn't even going to be in The Wolf of Wall Street.

It’s impossible now to imagine a version of The Wolf of Wall Street that doesn’t even have Margot Robbie in it, but speaking with IMDb, the actress revealed that she thought that so much happened in the film that her character might simply get lost in the edit. She explained…

It’s at least understandable why Robbie might have felt this way. She’s certainly not wrong, as The Wolf of Wall Street is a wild movie, and there’s a lot that happens. From a strict plot perspective, the personal relationships of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort aren’t the most important part of the movie, so if something was going to be cut, it’s not unreasonable for Robbie to be afraid it would be her.

The Wolf of Wall Street is also three hours long. Anytime a three-hour movie comes along, there are discussions about whether or not a movie like that is too long. While Martin Scorsese has made more than his share of epically-long movies, he usually doesn’t have to fight with studios over their length. It wouldn’t have been outside the realm of possibility that the director decided to cut the film down, if only for time, and Robbie got lost in the process.

It also sounds like the editing process on The Wolf of Wall Street, which was headed by frequent Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker, was simply long. It’s possible that multiple cuts of the movie were considered, and perhaps some of them didn’t include Robbie, or didn’t include much of her. Ultimately, the actress went into the movie wondering how much of her performance was in the final film. She continued…

One has to imagine that there was never any real risk of Margot Robbie being cut. Martin Scorsese clearly knew what he had, as Robbie’s performance in the film is significant, and she steals every scene that she’s in, even when she's not naked. The Wolf of Wall Street isn’t about her, but it wouldn’t be as good a film if she weren’t in it.

If the question is, what's your favorite Scorsese movie of the ‘90s, then the obvious answer is, “Goodfellas!” But that's not my favorite Scorsese movie of the decade, because my answer would be, “The Age of Innocence!”

Who picks ‘93's The Age of Innocence as one of their favorite Scorsese movies? Well, the same person who would put Silence in his top 5, thinks Casino is better than Goodfellas (it is!), and who believes the ‘80s is Scorsese's best decade, that's who!

The Age of Innocence is one of Scorsese's best movies that people rarely talk about, and you can watch it with a Netflix subscription. That said, it leaves the streaming service on September 30th. So, here's why you should catch it before it's gone!

Scorsese's The Age Of Innocence Does A Great Job Of Adapting An Excellent Novel

Have you ever heard the idiom, “Keeping up with the Joneses”? It basically means that people will buy expensive stuff to exude a higher social status, and that other people will do the same so that they don’t look poor in comparison. Well, the “the Joneses” were an actual New York family. In fact, it was Edith Wharton’s – the author of The Age of Innocence – family. So yeah, before she was a Wharton, she was Edith Jones.

I bring all this up since the novel toys with the idea of trying to uphold a social status, and actually bucking that trend (or at least wanting to). The title, you might not know, is actually sardonic in that the Gilded Age (No, not that The Gilded Age. The actual time period) wasn’t an “age of innocence” at all, but rather, society pretended that it was. Deep stuff, and the great thing about the Scorsese adaptation is that it captures all of this, which couldn’t have been easy.

The story mostly focuses on three characters, Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis), May Welland (Winona Ryder), and Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). Archer is a prominent lawyer, and he wants to marry into Welland’s family to improve his status. All seems auspicious at first, until he meets May’s cousin, Countess Olenska, who is not only getting a divorce, but actually slept with her cheating husband’s (male) secretary out of revenge.

This is a big no-no in their society (it’s scandalous!), and Archer feels sympathy for Olenska at first, but then lust, even despite marrying May. And, in that way, the book and movie go hand-in-hand, making this one of the best movies based on classic literature ever!

Daniel Day-Lewis Is A Fantastic Newland Archer, Of Course

No surprise here, but Daniel Day-Lewis is phenomenal in The Age of Innocence (I’m especially looking forward to seeing his return to acting in Anemone). Newland Archer is a complex role since we feel a number of things about his character, and DDL captures all of those emotions.

For example, at the start of the film, we understand why Archer wants to marry May (it’s for status), but we also get a sense that he’s a modern gentleman. And we feel this way because he’s upset that Countess Olenska’s husband could cheat on her, but she can’t cheat on him without being ostracized. We also understand that he feels like society’s norms aren’t all what they’re cracked up to be, once he regrets marrying May after he falls in love with the Countess, who wants to get a divorce.

Daniel Day-Lewis plays Archer as both sympathetic and selfish. He finds his new wife, May, to be boring, and is willing to have an affair with her cousin once he realizes (what he feels is) the error of his ways in marrying May. Wharton did such a good job of creating his character that we actually want him to leave May because we know it will ultimately make him happy, and Daniel Day-Lewis does an excellent job of capturing that character, making us feel bad for everybody involved.

And, by the end of the film (which I won’t spoil for you), you still feel bad for him, which could have been hard to capture on film if DDL wasn’t up for the challenge, which of course he was.

Michelle Pfeiffer Steals This Movie As Countess Olenska

Speaking of challenging performances, Michelle Pfeiffer steals this movie from all of the other actors (and that’s saying something when it costars Daniel Day-Lewis). In the book, we get a sense that Countess Olenska is a character out of time. She sees the modern standards, but doesn’t see why she needs to follow them. Her family tries to get her to stay in her marriage since it would look bad for everyone if she got divorced, but she’s all like, I don’t care. It’s my life, and I want to be happy.

And, if anybody can play, “It’s my life, and I want to be happy,” it’s Michelle Pfeiffer. She shows no remorse for her actions, and if anything, merely shows restraint. Because even though her character loves Newland, she won’t consummate the relationship because she doesn’t want to hurt her cousin. Pfeiffer could have played this role a lot of different ways (She could have vamped it up, or been more seductive), but that’s not what she’s like in the book, so that’s not what she’s like here.

She’s a free spirit who knows her boundaries. She’s educated, but makes decisions that are only going to hurt her in the long run. And, I think a lot of this goes to Pfeiffer being able to play both a romantic interest and somebody who is entirely unobtainable, due to society’s norms.

The Age of Innocence probably wouldn’t be my favorite Scorsese movie of the ‘90s if not for the excellent acting of Daniel Day-Lewis and especially of Michelle Pfeiffer. She’s exceptional.

It's Also Probably My Favorite Period Piece Of Scorsese's As It Nails The Era

When ranking Scorsese’s best films, a lot of people would likely put 2002’s Gangs of New York on that list, and look, I get it. Gangs of New York is a great movie, and the way Scorsese captured the Five Points was really quite something to see.

That said, while I like his recreation of 1862 New York, I much prefer his interpretation of 1870s New York. That's only because I’d rather see high society than the slums (Which just goes to show how talented Daniel Day-Lewis is, since he could portray somebody from both ends of the spectrum).

I like seeing lavish paintings of families, women dancing in ball gowns, and people living with unfettered privilege. I like tall staircases and horse-drawn carriages. In other words, I love being transported to old-time New York, but not the seedy underbelly side. No, I just want to see high society (Not what’s being hidden by high society), and I think Scorsese did a better job doing this with The Age of Innocence than any other movie of his.

Because every time I watch it, I truly feel like I’m an outsider looking in and seeing all of high society’s scruples, which I think was Wharton’s intention when she wrote the book in the first place.

In that way, similar to Scorsese’s own After Hours, I think The Age of Innocence is the director’s overlooked masterpiece, so watch it on Netflix while you still can!

When we talk about the best Margot Robbie movies the actress has made, it’s impossible to forget her performance in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf Of Wall Street. It was her first major movie role before going on to make other big films, including Suicide Squad, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Barbie and her latest, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, which is among the latest of 2025 movie releases. When the Aussie looked back at her career so far, she gave some context on an unforgettable line from Wolf Of Wall Street.

While talking to Vogue, Robbie told the story behind one now famous scene between her role of Naomi Lapaglia and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort. Check out what she had to say:

This moment is so quotable and memorable to The Wolf Of Wall Street. While we might want to give credit to the screenplay writer, Scorsese or even Margot Robbie, apparently the line came from one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s friends while he was on set. As she recalled, in between shooting the scene, he fed her the line, she went for it while the cameras were rolling, and voila!

Robbie’s story speaks to the collaborative process of moviemaking, where some of the best ideas can come from the most unexpected places. The movie came at a time when Robbie was just breaking into Hollywood and wasn’t yet an influential producer. Even so, Robbie’s willingness to take a left field idea from someone outside the production shows what great instincts she has as an actor and creative mind. I also love that she gave credit where credit is due!

Robbie won the role of Naomi after an intense casting process when Scorsese saw her audition tape. The actress previously said that “no part” of her thought the director would actually see her tape, and she was overwhelmed when she heard that they wanted to see her come in and read with DiCaprio. The Barbie actress has also spoken about taking on that nude scene in a prior interview and why she was worried about filming one scene with DiCaprio.

Margot Robbie’s latest movie, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is now playing only in theaters.

Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Silence. To many, it might seem like one of those movies doesn't belong. However, I'm here to tell you that they all belong, because they're all masterpieces from Martin Scorsese, including the latter.

Not too long ago, I questioned what Scorsese's best decade was. Even though I settled upon the ‘80s, I really considered putting the 2010s, since he had one hell of a ten year run. Well, in that decade, I feel like his crowning achievement wasn't The Wolf of Wall Street (or any Scorsese movie starring Leo), but rather 2016's Silence.

Based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Shuzaku Endo, Silence is one of my all-time favorite Scorsese movies. Here's why.

It's One Of Scorsese's Most Challenging Movies To Date…In A Good Way

Now, Scorsese is not what I would consider a “fun” director. What I mean is, he doesn't mix action movies with his serious work like Spielberg does (sometimes even within the same year). That said, I wouldn't say he's a director who regularly makes “deep” movies, either (like, he's no Tarkovsky making complex films like Stalker).

No, he just makes good (oftentimes great) movies. In other words, he doesn't typically make “challenging” films that most people find boring. But, sometimes he does, and Silence is one of those films.

Now, I know I just said it's “boring,” but I also said “most people.” The story is about two Portuguese Jesuit priests (played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who travel to ancient Japan to find their superior (Liam Neeson) who is believed to have given up the faith. However, once they arrive, they learn just how challenging it is to remain Christian, as Japan wants no part of it.

The priests are forced to either give up their faith, or suffer, and the “silence” is the non-response from God as his followers are tortured and killed in His name. Challenging stuff! Also slow, demanding-of-your-patience, stuff. Some might see this as a strike against it, but I feel it really rewards you if you're willing to see it through. It's masterful!

With Its Religious Angle, It Also Feels Like One Of Scorsese's Most Personal Films

My dad has a funny story. He attended Cardinal Hayes, which is an all-boys Catholic high school in the Bronx, and said that both Scorsese and Regis Philbin were alumni. But, while the school constantly brought up Philbin's name, he said they didn't say a peep about the filmmaker. It's almost as if (as my dad puts it), “They didn't want to associate with a guy who puts the F-word in everything.”

Now, I don't know if that's still the case (or even if it was entirely true back then), but that has always been the interesting thing about Scorsese. On one hand, he makes these violent gangster movies like Goodfellas (or, a superior gangster film like Casino - I said what I said). On the other hand, he makes deep, introspective films, some of which are based on the questioning of faith like The Last Temptation of Christ, Kundun, and yes, Silence.

Of the three I just mentioned, the last feels the most personal. Through Andrew Garfield's character, we almost get a sense that he's an avatar for Scorsese himself. He wants to believe, but it's often hard, or even impossible in a violent world.

Throughout the film, there are temptations for Garfield's character to denounce God, but his faith is just too foundational to him. Too baked in, and he suffers because of it. In that way, Silence feels like it's as much about the character's faith as it is Scorsese's.

Andrew Garfield Gives The Performance Of A Lifetime

Garfield can pretty much do it all (I mean, he's my favorite Spider-Man for a reason). However, I don't think he has ever had such a nuanced, revelatory performance as he had here.

In the film, he plays Sebastiao Rodrigues, a Catholic Jesuit priest who has his faith tested time and time again. Throughout the story, it's demanded of him to step on an image of Christ in denunciation of his faith. When he decides not to do it, others have to suffer in his stead, and he constantly wonders if it's selfish to keep the faith when others are being punished because of him.

You can see the torment written all over Garfield's face. Throughout the film, he watches people be tortured, and he feels like he's to blame. When he reaches out to God, he is met with silence until a crucial moment, when he finally feels he hears the voice of Jesus. This causes him to publicly disavow his faith, but you can tell in Garfield's expressions that he's holding onto his beliefs as closely as possible.

It's genuinely painful to watch. You can see that Rodrigues is caught between his faith and his morality, and none of it would work if Garfield couldn't showcase both in his performance. All of the acting in this film is phenomenal, but his talent truly stands out.

Japan Has Probably Never Looked So Beautiful…Or Punishing

I went to Japan last summer (it took me 26 hours and seven new-to-me movies, there and back!), and it was the experience of a lifetime. Japan is such a unique, wonderful country steeped in tradition and culture that there really is nothing else like it. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, vacations cost money, so I guess I'll just have to settle with seeing the country in movies and TV shows. Now, Silence was actually filmed in Taiwan, but the 17th-century Japan presented here truly is beautiful…and yet incredibly punishing.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto really created a convincing, gorgeous Japan, and it almost feels like a character in itself. The crashing waves are tempestuous, almost like the emotions that are swirling in our Christian characters. Or, like the clash of belief systems that is presented here. The rural greenery feels both natural, but also alien, making us feel like our characters are trapped in an antagonistic paradise.

It's all of these conflicting elements that paint Japan as a beautiful, and yet uninviting place, and I really can't think of many other films where the setting just makes you feel the struggle of our protagonists, especially when it comes to a Scorsese movie.

That Ending Really Sticks With You

I love Scorsese's entire filmography, but, here's the thing. Even though I think he pretty much always sticks the landing, few of his movies actually have excellent final shots. For example, I can probably tell you how all of his best films end, but I'd have a hard time telling you the very last shot before the credits.

This isn't really a problem, per se, but a final shot can really burn itself into your memory for a lifetime. Like, I can remember Joe Pesci firing a gun at the camera at the end of Goodfellas, but I have a difficult time remembering the last shot in Scorsese's other movies. Except when it comes to Silence, which has such a potent final shot that I truly think it encapsulates the entire movie.

I won't spoil what happens since I want you to watch the movie for yourself, but I can tell you that when it ended, I just said, “Wow.” In fact I still frequently think about the film's final shot, and how much it impacted me as both a viewer, and as a Catholic.

What do you think? Have you seen Silence before? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Who is the best living actor? If one were to ask that question to a room of 100 people, there's a chance that you could get 100 different answers, as the world is populated with not only a great number of brilliant performers, but also a great number of takes on what it means for an actor to be "the best." For Spike Lee, however, there is really only one correct response to the query, and it's Denzel Washington – though he knows that friend and filmmaking colleague Martin Scorsese would disagree.

The legendary director of Do The Right Thing made his thoughts on the matter known recently in an interview with Vulture, having just had the chance to work with the Oscar-winner actor on his new drama Highest 2 Lowest. On the subject of Denzel Washington's potential nearing retirement, Lee was asked if he felt that their latest collaboration serves as "a fitting potential capstone" to their many years of working together, an he explained his grander thoughts about their partnership:

To be totally fair, Marlon Brando has been out of the "greatest living actor" conversation since he passed away in 2004... but the debate of Denzel Washington versus Robert De Niro for the title is a hefty one. Both have spent decades unleashing some of the best performances of all time in some of the most incredible movies of all time – with features directed by both Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese on the list. Perhaps what is needed to provide a proper answer to the matter is for De Niro to make a movie with Lee and for Washington to make a movie with Scorsese (it's actually kind of crazy that neither collaboration has ever happened).

As referenced by Lee, it was back in 1990 that he first had the chance to work with Denzel Washington, as the star played trumpeter Bleek Gilliam in the drama Mo' Better Blues. What is arguably their greatest collaboration came next, with Washington playing the eponymous role in 1992's Malcolm X, and the power of He Got Game in 1998 and the awesomness of 2006's Inside Man followed.

It's been nearly two decades since Spike Lee and Denzel Washington worked together, but their latest is in theaters now. Highest 2 Lowest is a reimagining of the great Akira Kurosawa classic High And Low that sees Washington play David King – a legendary music producer facing a powerful moral conundrum. After a kidnapper abducts the son of his employee/closest confidant (Jeffrey Wright) thinking that it's King's child, he must make the decision to mortgage his own family's future to pay the ransom.

Washington's work in the movie really only furthers Spike Lee's argument – and if you can't presently see the film in a theater near you, know that it will be streaming soon. Those with an Apple TV+ subscription will find Highest 2 Lowest available from the service starting on September 5.

As cinephiles, we might disagree about a lot of things, but the one thing that I think we can all agree upon is that Martin Scorsese is one of the greats.

The man has been making movies since the ‘60s, and while I would argue that he's never made a bad movie, I think we can all reach common ground and say that some of his movies are masterpieces, and some of them are not. That said, he has never had a mediocre decade.

Which is kind of crazy when you think about the fact that he's been making movies for nearly 60 years now. That said, while he may not be a director who made a really good movie on his first try, I would argue that he has been consistently good for his entire career. But what is his very best decade? Well, you're about to find out.

Well, It's Certainly Not The ‘60s, That's For Sure

If there's any decade that's easy to check off as not being Scorsese's best, it's the ‘60s, and that's mostly because he only directed one movie, which was 1967's Who's That Knocking at My Door? And, as I alluded to in the intro, Scorsese's first movie isn't “really” good. It's just good. That said, “just good” ain't bad!

Starring Harvey Keitel in his first major movie and Zina Bethune, the story is about a Catholic man (Keitel) who meets a woman (Bethune) who wants to have sex. He declines because he wants to marry her instead, and wishes her to be “pure.” When he finds out she isn't (and not by her own choice, mind you), he no longer wants her. It's…kind of icky by today's standards, but the acting and pacing are good.

Yes, Scorsese also directed a documentary in ‘66 titled New York City…Melting Point, but it was for educational purposes, and I don't think anybody is comparing it to his later, more influential documentaries.

So, yeah. The 1960s were more of a starting point than anything else for Scorsese. Thankfully, he hit the next decade off like a firecracker and never looked back.

The ‘70s Are A Good Contender

I love ‘70s cinema. It's my favorite decade of film. I recently wrote about what I think is the best movie of the ‘70s, and few directors have a list of bangers like Scorsese. Honestly, you could make an argument that this is his best decade, and I wouldn't disagree with you.

That said, he had a rough start. In 1972, he directed the Roger Corman-produced Boxcar Bertha, which a lot of Scorsese fans probably haven't even seen. Thankfully, his next film was the career-making 1973's Mean Streets with De Niro and Keitel. And, it still holds up!

In ‘74, we got the underappreciated comedy drama Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore with Ellen Burstyn and Kris Kristofferson, and in the same year, we got his concert film with the Band's The Last Waltz. What a year! In ‘76, we got one of Scorsese's best movies (and my personal favorite of his), Taxi Driver. It's the story of a deeply troubled man, and it still resonates today.

His last feature-length film of the decade (and, by this point, his third pairing with Robert De Niro) was 1977's New York, New York, which featured De Niro as an abusive musician, and Liza Minnelli as an up-and-coming singer. So, the '70s were a super important decade for Scorsese.

But The ‘90s Were A Real High Point

Now, I know a lot of people will call the ‘90s Scorsese's best decade, and mostly because he started it off with arguably his best movie, Goodfellas, which is, if not the best movie of the ‘90s, then damn near close.

So, that's a lock, but the rest of the decade is stacked, too. The very next year, we got the Cape Fear remake in ‘91, and in ‘93, we got the immensely underappreciated The Age of Innocence adaptation, which I need to write about someday. By ‘95, we got Casino (which, keep this quiet, but I like it better than Goodfellas).

However, it's after Casino where we might have an issue. Now, I don't hate ‘97's Kundun, which is about the Dalai Lama (again, I don't hate any Scorsese film). However, if I were to pick one weakness in Scorsese's filmography, it's this film. It just doesn't feel like it gets that in-depth with its source. The movie is…fine.

Also “fine” (though I know it has its fans) is 1999's Bringing Out the Dead, which stars Nic Cage as an emotionally exhausted paramedic. I like the film, but I think it and Kundun kind of weaken Scorsese's ‘90s output rather than strengthen it, which is why I wouldn't consider this Scorsese's best decade.

Surprisingly, Both The 00s And The 2010s Have Been Close To His Best

Boy oh boy, the 2000s were good for Scorsese. He made three films, and ALL of them were either good or great. We also got multiple documentaries, with two of them - the Bob Dylan documentary, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones concert film, Shine a Light - possibly being the best in his admirable career.

But, as for features, we got 2002's Gangs of New York (banger), 2004's The Aviator (banger!), and 2006's The Departed (to which Scorsese FINALLY won Best Picture and Best Director). Honestly, the only thing really keeping me from putting the '00s as Scorsese's best decade is that he made so few features.

The 2010s started with Shutter Island, which continued Scorsese's work with DiCaprio. We then got the really unique kids film, Hugo, in 2011, while also getting the fascinating George Harrison documentary, Living in the Material World. In 2013, we got my favorite DiCaprio movie, The Wolf of Wall Street, and in 2016, we got Silence, which I love every time I watch it. In 2019, we got the epic mobster film, The Irishman.

As for the 2020s, we've gotten just one movie so far, that being 2023's fascinating Killers of the Flower Moon. Honestly, I would probably say the 2010s might just be Scorsese's best decade, given the sheer scope and subject matter he explored in each film he approached. That said….

Scorsese's Best Decade Has To Be The ‘80s

Calling the ‘80s Scorsese's best decade is interesting, because I doubt he would say the same. That said, when it comes to everything that makes Scorsese great, I think it's all contained in the 1980s.

He started the decade off strong, just like the ‘90s, with what might be considered his second-best movie, Raging Bull. And then, in 1982, everything went wrong. His movie, The King of Comedy, was a box office BOMB. That said, the years have been kind to it, and it's my second favorite movie of Scorsese's, right after Taxi Driver.

We then got what I consider Scorsese's hidden gem, the comedy After Hours, in ‘85, and The Color of Money in ‘86, which is arguably one of the best movies both Paul Newman and Tom Cruise have ever been in. I think what seals the deal, though, is 1988's deeply personal The Last Temptation of Christ, which is one of Scorsese's most fascinating (if not polarizing) movies.

Even though there are only five films and no documentaries, I still think this is the strongest, most eclectic decade Scorsese had in his entire career. I would also say that every film in this period is a masterpiece, especially The King of Comedy, which feels more relevant today than ever.

But, what do you think is Scorsese's best decade? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Leonardo DiCaprio has made several of the most iconic movies in modern Hollywood. The actor’s numerous Oscar nominations show just how great a performer he is. Millions of people have seen him in dozens of films, but one person who hasn’t seen many Leonardo DiCaprio movies is Leonardo DiCaprio.

In an interview with Paul Thomas Anderson, his director in the upcoming One Battle After Another, for Esquire, Leonardo DiCaprio says that unlike his character Rick Dalton in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, he rarely watches his own movies. His one exception to that rule is his film The Aviator, one of his projects with Martin Scorsese. DiCaprio said:

It’s far from uncommon for actors to not watch their own movies. While many will see their own work at the movie's premiere, many actors avoid their own movies after that. There are a variety of reasons given. In some cases, the performer just feels weird watching themself. In other cases actors end up critiquing their own performance pretty harshly so they avoid watching it in order to avoid seeing everything they think they did wrong.

It's arguably an interesting-bordering-on-unexpected choice for a movie that DiCaprio rewatches himself in. As good as The Aviator is, it's probably not the movie most DiCaprio fans rewatch to see the actor in his element. That film feels like it gets overlooked within his filmography alongside others like The Wolf of Wall Street or ONce Upon A Time...In Hollywood.

The Aviator would certainly be a big movie for Leonardo DiCaprio. It marked his second Oscar nomination, but his first for Best Actor, an award he’s been nominated for four additional times since.

However, DiCaprio doesn’t watch the movie in order to review his own performance. The actor says the thing that makes The Aviator special is that it was a landmark movie in his career, one where he felt more than just a hired player. DiCaprio continued…

The Aviator was also the first of DiCaprio’s own movies where he served as a producer, giving him more of a say in the how the finished product turned out. At all of 30 years old, he was the embodiment of accomplishment to be in that position, and with a project that he clearly felt very strongly about. One imagines rewatching the film brings back a lot of those memories, and considering how well regarded The Aviator was, they're likely all good memories.

'If most of us were to meet our favorite celebrities, we would probably have a hard time keeping our cool. It turns out that this is still the case even when it comes to other celebrities. You’d think that with so many A-listers making cameos on Saturday Night Live over the years, the cast members there would get jaded over it, but Bill Hader recently revealed the time he went all fanboy over Martin Scorsese, to the point the producer had to ask him to stop.

In a recent episode of the A24 Podcast, Hader welcomed esteemed filmmaker Ari Aster as his guest, and the two discussed some of their creative heroes, many of whom they have both met and even become friends with. Hader mentioned a point when 2025 Emmy nominee Martin Scorsese made an appearance on SNL. It seems Hader was so invested in talking cinema with Scorsese that he continued to bug the award winner until somebody made him stop. Hader said:

In Hader’s defense, Ari Aster says he’s met Martin Scorsese before, and he felt equally obligated to try and get the director to like him. Hader says that he only realized after the fact that his impulsive actions might have made him look like an ass in the eyes of Scorsese, accomplishing the exact opposite of what he was trying.

All this being said, this may not have been the most awkward celebrity experience of Bill Hader's life. His own daughter once conned him into meeting Chris Pratt. He's not always this awkward, however. A lot of people would probably get a little starstruck when meeting Lebron James, but it was no big deal for Hader.

Have no fear, however. the two celebs are on apparently on decent terms now. Hader continued:

It reminds me of the old Chris Farley Show sketch that the Tommy Boy star did in his SNL days. It was a talk show set that saw Farley ”interview” the host or musical artist of that week’s show. It was usually little more than Farley fawning over the guest and talking about how cool he thought they were, which was reportedly based on the way Farley would sometimes actually act around guests.

Honestly, there are probably a lot of people who would get this way if they met Bill Hader. And Hader isn’t the first to go a little nuts meeting Scorsese. If I ever had the chance to interview, I would almost certainly do the same thing. And I’d be just as embarrassed afterward.

The Studio is one of the most critically acclaimed shows to be released onto the 2025 TV schedule so far, with co-creator Seth Rogen starring as Continental Studios head Matt Remick. The series’ first episode saw Matt being tasked with putting together a Kool-Aid movie, and he went so far as to court Martin Scorsese to direct it after learning the filmmaker was interested in making a Jonestown movie. Needless to say this didn’t go well, and you can break out your Apple TV+ subscription to learn what happened, but now we have life initiating art… almost. There’s a Jonestown TV series in the works, and Saturday Night Live vet Bill Hader is attached.

Hader is partnering up with Daniel Zelman to write an HBO series about cult leader Jim Jones and the horrific events that took place at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, a.k.a. Jonestown. Both men are also serving as co-showrunners and executive producers, and if the project moves forward, Hader would also direct the project if it gets greenlighted. Additionally, Variety reports that the man behind SNL characters like Stefon and Vinny Vedecci could end up starring in the series as well.

Jim Jones started the Peoples Temple in Guayana in the 1950s, and by the 1970s, it became known as Jonestown. The settlement gained global attention in 1978 when over 900 people, including Jones, died in a mass murder-suicide. This came just hours after US Congressman Leo Ryan was shot at an airstrip in Guyana as he and others were attempting to leave, having come to the country to investigate the claims that people at Jonestown were being held against their will.

The majority of the deaths came from ingesting a cocktail of drugs and poisons, including cyanide, mixed into Flavor Aid. However, this was misidentified as Kool-Aid, resulting in the phrase, “Drinking the Kool-Aid.” The Jonestown deaths were previously explored on TV in the 1980 miniseries Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, which starred Powers Boothe as Jones. Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan was also working on his own Jonestown series for HBO in 2016, but it never moved forward.

Although Bill Hader is primarily known for his comedy work, he’s also delved in dramatic territory various times, most notably with his HBO series Barry. So he presumably knows that adapting what happened at Jonestown for television needs to be handle with care and not used for comedic fodder. It’s also probably a safe bet that if the acting side of Hader’s arrangement is worked out, he’d be playing Jim Jones, though we’ll obviously let you know if that’s not the case.

Assuming this Jonestown TV series gets off the ground, I can only hope that its creative process goes ok and doesn’t crash and burn like what Martin Scorsese wanted to craft as his final movie in The Studio. Meanwhile, feel free to revisit Bill Hader’s work on Barry with a Max subscription, and remember that he’ll be heard as The Cat in the Hat’s title character in the animated film adaptation hitting theaters next year.

Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Sarah Polley and Olivia Wilde. We’re four episodes into The Studio’s run on the 2025 TV schedule, and that’s only a few of the wildly impressive A-list directors Seth Rogen and co. have rounded up to guest star in this show. However, there’s one more director who I think would be a great fit for this series, and I desperately, and I mean desperately, need her to be on this fabulous Apple TV+ series.

Now, the director I’m talking about is Greta Gerwig, and I doubt anyone is really shocked by this choice. The first episode of The Studio is all about Rogen’s Matt Remick trying to secure a director for the Kool-Aid movie, and Barbie and its success are mentioned while talking about how it was an artistic anomaly in the world of IP-driven films. Plus, the Superbad writer has been open about how Gerwig’s movie influenced The Studio.

That alone makes her a great and fitting addition to this show. I mean, to have her come in and enter this ongoing conversation about the state of film would be perfect, based on that one episode alone.

However, I also want you to consider the other directors who have guest-starred on The Studio, because it gives us another reason why Gerwig would be a perfect fit.

Of the four directors I mentioned at the top of this story, three of them are or were also actors. Ron Howard got his big break playing Opie Taylor on the Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. Then, he went on to direct Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind (among many others). Olivia Wilde was on screen in projects like House and Tron: Legacy before she helmed Booksmart. And Sarah Polley acted in films like Dawn of the Dead and Go way before she directed Women Talking.

Gerwig is also an actor-turned-director. You can see her on screen in Frances Ha and Mistress America. However, she’s best known for directing Ladybird, Little Women and Barbie. She’d fit in perfectly with the talent that has been lined up for The Studio, and I just know she’d give an A+ performance.

All this is to say, so far, the director guest stars have been my favorites on The Studio because they are playing themselves, which helps show how relevant this series is, while also getting to show off their skills as performers. Ron Howard playing an absolute diva was hilarious. Sarah Polley getting more and more frustrated over that one-take was incredible. Then, seeing Olivia Wilde freak out about a missing roll of film was really, really funny. So, let’s get Greta Gerwig in the mix.

Her films have played a major role in making the film industry what it is right now, and she’s got the acting history to exceed on camera. Putting her in The Studio would give her a chance to show off both things while also providing a poignant and impactful commentary about the state of movies.

Quite literally, I think she’s the perfect person to get on this series all about making movies in this day and age, so Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, can we get on this?

In the meantime, Season 1 of The Studio is in full swing, and it will feature even more iconic directors and writers like Zack Snyder and Aaron Sorkin, as well as TV bosses like Hacks’ Paul W. Downs and Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson (among others). So, make sure you tune in every Wednesday with your Apple TV+ subscription, while I hope and pray that this dream of mine comes true.

As exciting as it is that moviegoers may finally see Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s long-gestating Devil in the White City adaptation, which was acquired by a new studio recently, the pair will first deliver another high-profile thriller based on real events. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is also teaming with Scorsese for the still-untitled new feature, and he shared a celebratory post after it landed its official studio home. Something tells me he’s pumped about this one.

Working with a living legend like the Goodfellas and Casino filmmaker is obviously well worth a ton of energetic social media posts at the very least, but that momentous experience has to be all the more enjoyable whenever it’s happening on a project that hits close to home for Scorsese’s collaborators. Such is clearly the case for Johnson here, as he hinted at with his latest Instagram post about the upcoming film, which will likely arrive in theaters after the 2025 movie schedule has concluded. According to the occasional WWE Superstar:

As someone who regularly honors his Polynesian heritage, Dwayne Johnson is no stranger to filming projects set in Hawaii, from 2017’s Baywatch reboot to Disney’s 2021 adventure The Jungle Cruise to the upcoming live-action Moana and both animated films. And that’s hardly an exhaustive list.

Not that the biggest draw related to this project is necessarily its filming locations. Especially for an actor who has worked and lived on the islands before. With the rest of his post's message, Johnson addressed working alongside Martin Scorsese as the project comes together behind the scenes, which is the kind of occupational perk that very few people get to boast about. As he put it:

The other creative team members that Dwayne Johnson is referring to are likely fellow co-star and producer Emily Blunt (his Jungle Cruise co-star) and the film's screenwriter Nick Bilton. It was Blunt who reportedly ideated the concept and idea for the project, which she looped Johnson into, and now the latter is set to co-author a book about the subject matter along with Bilton, an already established true crime author.

The story is set to center on a sociable and powerful mob boss who aims to assert himself as a controlling force on the Hawaiian islands by building up a criminal empire that also aimed to project the native lands from mainland corporations and rivals in the underworld.

Johnson will likely next be seen in the MMA fighter biopic The Smashing Machine, in which he portrays the athlete Mark Kerr for another A+ director in Benny Safdie. Stay tuned for more updates about his untitled Hawaii crime thriller.

Dwayne Johnson remains one of Hollywood’s most popular blockbuster stars, and that doesn’t look to be ending anytime soon, as evidenced by him reprising Maui in the live-action remake of Moana and reprising Luke Hobbs in an upcoming Fast & Furious movie. But the man also known as The Rock is additionally stretching those more dramatic muscles soon playing UFC legend Mark Kerr with the A24 movie The Smashing Machine. If that wasn’t a big deal on its own, Johnson will also be teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio for filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s next movie, and he went on social media to share why the story it’s telling is so personal for him.

In case you missed the news from a few weeks back, Johnson, DiCaprio and Emily Blunt will be leading Scorsese’s currently-untitled movie that was described by Deadline as following someone like Robert de Niro’s Jimmy the Gent from Goodfellas, “but as a ruthless Hawaiian crime boss, based on a real figure, who battled encroaching rivals for control of organized crime in Hawaii.” Johnson shared a screenshot of that article on Instagram and included the following caption:

Dwayne Johnson’s Hawaiian upbringing means a lot to him, and he never shies away from opportunities to hype up the state both professionally or personally. Examples of him doing this in recent years getting secretly married to Lauren Hashian there, sharing an emotional message following the Hawaii fires and, of course, delving into said upbringing in the TV series Young Rock, which aired for three seasons on NBC and can be streamed with a Peacock subscription. Now the WWE superstar is getting to take part in a movie that’s shedding light on a not-so glamorous aspect of Hawaii’s history, but nonetheless deserves to be explored.

It’s mentioned in the Deadline article that Johnson and Emily Blunt, who previously worked together on Jungle Cruise and will be seen side by side again in The Smashing Machine, brought the idea for this movie to Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. This Scorsese flick will examine the period when an aspiring mob boss was battling with rival factions for control of the Hawaiian islands’ underworld. This man clashed with these other crime syndicates, as well as mainland corporations, in order to preserve his homeland. It’s unclear if this mob boss character will be named after his real-life inspiration or be called something different.

Nick Bilton is writing this Scorsese movie, and both men are also producing alongside Johnson, DiCaprio, Blunt, Dany Garcia, Lisa Frechette and Rick Yorn. There’s no word yet on when the project will start rolling cameras, but it’s good to hear that The Rock is so passionate about coming aboard to give Hawaii another chance to shine onscreen.

Being a millennial, my view of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver has always been colored by historical context. Recognizing the film’s mid-1970s release date and the combination of Travis Bickle’s insomnia, disillusionment, military jacket and service record, I’ve long associated the protagonist’s story with the experience of soldiers coming back from the war in Vietnam. Only bolstering this impression is everything I’ve ever read about the film, as dozens of writers have echoed that read of the classic thriller… but I recently discovered one critic who has challenged that interpretation: writer/director Quentin Tarantino.

In 2022, the filmmaker published the book Cinema Speculation, which is a space for him analyze a number of beloved and underappreciated films from the 1970s – from the action of Peter Yates’ Bullitt and Don Siegel’s Dirty Harry, to the thrills of Sam Peckinpah’s The Getaway and John Flynn’s Rolling Thunder, to the horror of John Boorman’s Deliverance and Brian De Palma’s Sisters. The tome is an exploration of a vital era in Hollywood history, and some of Tarantino’s most fascinating takes are about Scorsese’s 1976 classic – the standout being his theory that Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle did not see action during the Second Indochina War.

Quentin Tarantino Posits That Travis Bickle Is Not A Vietnam Veteran

Bookended with stories about the author’s personal history with film (wonderful insight for anyone who is a fan of his spectacular filmmography), Quentin Tarantino’s Cinema Speculation is comprised of a series of essays that each analyze a specific feature, but Taxi Driver gets significant focus in the book. He not only writes about the history of the movie and provides analysis into its storytelling, but also dedicates a special chapter to ponder what would have happened had Brian De Palma directed the movie instead of Martin Scorsese (per Tarantino, the Carrie filmmaker turned it down because it wasn’t “commercial enough.”)

The work touches on many aspects of Taxi Driver, but a significant focus is put on the expressed racism of Travis Bickle, and it’s this analysis of the character’s prejudices that leads to conclusions about his service record being pure fiction. Discussing “societal compromises or audience pandering” in violent films of the 1970s, Tarantino writes,

According to the Library of Congress research guides, 300,000 African Americans served during the Vietnam War, with the demographic making up 31 percent of ground forces in 1965 when they only made up 12 percent of the United States’ population. Quentin Tarantino says that Travis Bickle could still hold racist views after serving alongside Black soldiers, but he doesn’t buy how alienation holds such an important place in his hate.

As for how this impacts Quentin Tarantino’s overall view of the film, he views it as a wholly natural part of Taxi Driver as a character piece: the perspective of Travis Bickle is not to be taken at face value, and that extends to his claims about his military service. The author continues,

There is exactly zero wiggle room in Quentin Tarantino’s thoughts on this matter – and his sureness piqued my interest in a rewatch.

How Quentin Tarantino’s Theory Influenced By Own Recent Rewatch Of Taxi Driver

Because this take upended what I had always viewed as a vital aspect of the movie’s social commentary, I immediately became curious about how Quentin Tarantino’s interpretation would stand up in a revisiting of the film. It turns out that I’ll never be able to watch Taxi Driver the same way again.

As Tarantino notes, the evidence of Travis Bickle’s service in Vietnam is minimal; in fact, it’s never outright declared by the protagonist. In an early scene with Joe Spinell’s character (credited as “Personnel Officer”) as he is trying to get a job at the taxi dispatch, Travis says that he served in the Marines and got an honorable discharge in May 1973, but he never explicitly says anything about going overseas.

He wears a military jacket that features some military patches and his name stenciled on it, but it’s never a point of any discussion. A newspaper clipping states that “he fought in a special forces unit in Viet Nam,” but the information is simply sourced to “the president of the taxi garage where Bickle worked out of,” which implies it was secondhand from Travis himself.

The film also never directly correlates the character’s behavior to extensions of post-traumatic stress disorder. He doesn’t sleep at night, but there is nothing in Taxi Driver that suggests it’s because he is haunted by memories of horrors he witnessed in the jungle. He is drawn to violence not out of instinct or training, but because he fetishizes it and sees it as a means toward satisfying his dangerous hero complex. He exhibits issues with authority – evidenced in his aborted assassination attempt of presidential hopeful Charles Palantine (Leonard Harris) – but it’s less reflective of revenge against command structure in the Marines and more impotent response to his rejection by Betsy (Cybill Shepherd).

The idea that Travis Bickle is a Vietnam War veteran is attractive to audiences because it offers easy-to-understand cause and effect: the lead character of Taxi Driver would be a totally normal, well-adjusted human being if it weren’t for the terrifying experiences he had when he was fighting in what history has shown us was a boondoggle of the most extreme order. But believing that also means accepting Travis as the man he presents himself to be, and the film repeatedly shows him as a man who purposefully misrepresents himself.

The Vietnam vet “excuse” is too simple, and putting it aside makes Martin Scorsese’s film that much more bold and shocking: this maladjusted individual is a plain product of modern society.

Curious to do a deep dive into this on your own? Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino is available for purchase in hardcover and paperback and on Kindle and audiobook. After you give it a read, you can check out Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver on streaming with a Max subscription, via digital rental/purchase, or on 4K UHD.

The 2025 Oscars made history in its usual fashion, as the coronation of this year’s winners has added another chapter to the history books. It also saw the show being hosted by first time emcee and late night comedy legend Conan O’Brien, which was a pretty brilliant hire.

"How good was he?" you may be asking. Well, this golden comedy idol actually got me to decide to accidentally let the rest of the 97th Annual Academy Awards play while I was working. After rewatching the show, which is something I rarely ever do with The Oscars, I think that Mr. O’Brien should be allowed to host the show for as long as humanly possible.

No, this isn't Stockholm Syndrome. Also, for the sake of readability and the man of the hour’s sanity, I’ll scale that back to asking that Conan O’Brien host the 2026 Oscars. To make my case, I have a bunch of perfect moments as proof of why it’s the best choice.

The Oscars 2025 Monologue Was A Golden Start

I promise I won’t waste too much time on this point, but opening the Oscars is always key to setting the tone of the evening ahead. With a simple pre-taped joke involving The Substance, and a monologue that felt like classic Conan O’Brien magic, the night got off to an amazing start. Bonus points are also awarded for John Lithgow and Adam Sandler’s scene-stealing participation in gags that only got funnier upon revisiting them.

The Sandworm From Dune’s Special Guest Appearances

Who knew that Dune: Part Two’s sandworm was such a musical genius? Not only can the massive beast from Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster adaptation play the piano, it can also play the harp. If Hans Zimmer doesn’t tap the sandworm to help out with Dune: Messiah’s score, it’s a wasted opportunity.

Conan’s Multilinqual Greetings

The Academy Awards are a live TV staple that bring the world together for a moment. For Conan O’Brien, that meant the perfect opportunity to bust out some fun language skills, which resulted in him begging for film work in China. It’s another example of the former NBC/TBS host deploying a joke that felt like it came from the early days of his career, which I mean as only the highest form of compliment.

Nick Offerman’s Narrator Shenanigans

Being a good host is knowing when to shine and when to let others outshine you. John Lithgow helped prove that point twice during the 2025 Oscars, but Nick Offerman’s show-stopping shenanigans were just as golden of an opportunity to learn this valuable lesson. Questioning whether or not he was pressured by the night’s responsibilities, the physical voice of America gave us all a moment of laughter that only made its oaken tenor all the sweeter.

A Very Timely Kendrick Lamar/Drake Joke

Former Conan writer Skyler Higley’s Kendrick/Drake joke was the subject of a bet as to whether or not it would make it to air. Thankfully for him, and the rest of the world, that short and sweet punchline stayed - especially since Disney’s exec VP of unscripted and alternative entertainment Rob Mills told Variety he knew the joke “was going to kill” during rehearsal.

CinemaStreams: A Joke So Good, Martin Scorsese Was Part Of It

Showing off not only his late night background but also a love of cinema, another pre-taped Conan O’Brien sketch involved a very targeted skewering of streaming services. As you can watch in the clip provided below, the idea ‘of “CinemaStreams” is something that might sound so familiar you’ll bust a gut yourself:

Rob MIlls from Walt Disney TV also commented on this joke, stating that the Killers of the Flower Moon director was more than happy to be a part of this satirical joke. One only needs two guesses why Martin Scorsese would participate in a joke about going back to the cinema, and one of them doesn’t count.

The Oscar Tributes To The LA Wildfires Were Just Right

Addressing the very real tragedy of the L.A. wildfires was always going to be a sensitive subject. Too much reverence would have looked maudlin, and too little would have seemed callous - especially with repeated calls to cancel the 2025 Oscars. Between a somber, but respectful acknowledgement at the top of the show, and a segment where Los Angeles firefighters got to deliver jokes on stage, the heart of this year’s ceremony was absolutely in the right place.

A Quick Signature Conan Exit

Another reason I found myself revisiting the show was the fact that Hulu’s accidental disconnection of The Oscars led to a lot of us missing out on Best Actress and Best Picture’s announcements. In going back to see the moment myself, I was amazed how simply Conan O’Brien ended the evening.

In totality, here’s what he had to say once Anora won the night:

Throwing in his trademark salute and jump on stage to close out the night, it was a prime example of knowing your exit.

Honorary Mention: Those Adorable Snack Boxes

In my opinion, there’s two final honorary mentions that really seal the deal for Conan O’Brien’s return for the 2026 Oscars. Since they’re not TV moments, we’ll have to turn to other reports about things such as Conan’s sweet Oscar snack boxes. Complete with a note that joked about trying to include an edible, the man’s talents weren’t limited to merely a television broadcast.

Honorary Mention 2: Conan’s Backstage Medical Checkup

Now those of you who know Conan O’Brien absolutely understand that he loves to rope his writers into gags. Case in point: there is no Amazon-MGM executive named Steve Belsky, that was a role played by friend/writer Dan Cronin, as confirmed on his Instagram. However, that’s not the gag I’m highlighting as the grand finale.

Rather, it’s the return of Conan’s fake physician Dr. Arroyo that I feel really kept the fun going in a place where our Oscars 2025 live blog didn’t touch: social media. You know him from Mr. O’Brien’s memorable appearance on Hot Ones (played by actual comedian José Arroyo), but here’s the good doctor attending to our host at his moment of need:

It’s rare that a host’s energy is felt as extensively as Conan O’Brien’s was during the 2025 Oscars. Delivering a show that only he and his collaborators could, Variety’s report of a small ratings boost is part of the proof that Jeff Mills’ unofficial offer to welcome him back should absolutely be cashed in.

Of course, I’m a bit biased as a long-time fan that spans back to the Late Night with Conan O’Brien era. But can 19.7 million viewers really be that wrong? In this case, no, they cannot.

It's not unusual for directors to star in their own movies. Alfred Hitchcock famously made cameos in almost all of his movies and Quentin Tarantino appears in all of his in one way or another. It's rarer for a director to appear in a fellow director's movie. It's hardly unheard of, as we found plenty of interesting examples. So without further ado, here is our list of directors who appeared on other directors' movies.

Steven Spielberg - The Blues Brothers

Before the tragic accident on the set of The Twilight Zone, John Landis and Steven Spielberg were good friends. So good, in fact, that Spielberg showed up in a cameo in the Landis classic The Blues Brothers. Spielberg plays the Cook Country Accessor at the end of the movie who takes payment from Jake and Elwood.

David Lynch - The Fablemans

In a very meta moment, David Lynch plays another great director, John Ford, in Steven Spielberg's The Fablemans. The late Lynch didn't show up in movies often, even his own, so it's a fun moment in a movie by a legend, starring a legend as a legend.

John Landis - Spider-man 2

John Landis has twice done cameos in Sam Rami movies, both times appearing as a doctor, the most famous of which was in Spider-Man 2 where he plays a doctor killed by Doctor Octopus after performing surgery on the villain. It's a super quick moment and one that is easy to miss.

David Fincher - Being John Malkovich

David Fincher has occasionally popped into his own movies, including playing the voice of John Doe on the telephone so as to not give away the surprise later. He also has shown up in other directors' movies, specifically as a puppet expert in Spike Jonze's Being John Malkovich.

Roger Corman - The Silence Of The Lambs

Legendary B-movie director Roger Corman has a habit of showing up in other directors' work. It makes sense as he's a huge hero to many filmmakers who grew up watching his movies. In Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs, Corman plays the FBI director in one scene.

George Lucas - Beverly Hills Cop III

Beverly Hills Cop 3 is a pretty terrible movie, though thankfully the franchise was redeemed decades later with Axel F. Still, there is a pretty funny cameo in the movie when none other than George Lucas pops into the movie as a disgruntled patron of the amusement park that is central to the story.

Tim Burton - Singles

Tim Burton is not a director that shows up on the other side of the camera very often. In fact he has fleetingly few acting roles, but he does appear in Cameron Crowe's Singles. Crowe also has a cameo himself in the film.

Sam Raimi - Miller's Crossing

Sam Raimi is a director with a lot of acting roles on his resume, in his own film and in the movies by friends of his. One such cameo is in Miller's Crossing, a movie by the Coen Brothers. Raimi also has a cameo in another Coen Brothers movie, The Hudsucker Proxy.

Gus Van Sant - The Canyons

Gus Van Sant has a bit more than just a cameo in The Canyons, a movie that flew way under the radar when it was released in 2013, starring Lindsey Lohan. Van Sant plays a psychologist in the movie and has more than a couple lines, unlike many on this list.

Quentin Tarantino - Sleep With Me

Quentin Tarantino is always happy to cast himself in his own movies, but even before he was one of the premiere directors in Hollywood, he was popping up in movies he didn't direct. In Sleep With Me, by director Rory Kelly, which came out a month before Pulp Fiction, Tarantino has a memorable moment as a chatty party guest who breaks down the movie Top Gun in a very unconventional way.

Martin Scorsese - Quiz Show

Martin Scorsese's most famous on screen moment is as a rider in Travis' (Robert De Niro) cab in his own movie, Taxi Driver. He also shows up in Qui Show, directed by Robert Redford.

Tobe Hooper - Sleepwalkers

Tobe Hooper is a horror movie legend for his work directing the slasher classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the 1970s. In 1992 he popped up in a cameo working alongside Stephen King in the adaptation of King's novel Sleepwalkers.

John Waters - Something Wild

Director John Waters has been in many of his own movies, but he occasionally shows up in other movies as well, like Something Wild by director Jonathan Demme in 1986. Waters plays a sketchy car dealer in the movie and is one of the most fun parts of the movie.

Amy Heckerling - Into The Night

1985's Into the Night was John Landis' return to directing after being cleared of manslaughter charges as a result of the on-set tragedy during the filming of The Twilight Zone movie. In the movie, another director, Amy Heckerling, shows up in a cameo as a waitress.

Jonathan Demme - That Thing You Do!

Appropriately Jonathan Demme, who had a number of directors appear in his films, plays a film director in That Thing You Do! It's a brief role, of course, and it is one of the only times the late Demme appeared in another director's film. Into the Night by John Landis being another.

Roger Corman - The Godfather Part II

Roger Corman, one of the most influential directors of all time had a few cameos over his career with one of the most memorable coming in The Godfather II, where he played one of the senators grilling Michael Corlene (Al Pacino) in the Francis Ford Coppola classic.

Spike Jonze - The Game

Before David Fincher returned the favor for Spike Jonze in Being John Malkovich, Jonze appeared in Fincher's The Game, one of the most underrated movies by a big-time director.

Wes Craven - Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back

The late Wes Craven appeared in movies or TV shows as an actor 24 times according to IMDB, though most of his movie appearances were in his own movies. One exception was when he appeared in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back playing a version of himself directing a cartoonish version of Scream.

Frank Oz - Spies Like Us

Frank Oz has appeared as an actor in a bunch of movies, including The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, Knives Out, not to mention all his puppet and voice work over the years. One of his best cameos came in Spies Like Us where he played the proctor of a civil service exam. It's truly a classic and maybe the funniest moment in the movie.

Cameron Crowe - Minority Report

Cameron Crowe has a very brief cameo as a man on riding public transportation in Minority Report by director Steven Spielberg. If you blink - or aren't sure what he looks like - you're sure to miss the moment, but it's there. In fact, another Cameron, Cameron Diaz, is in the background of the same scene.

Robert Downey, Sr. - Boogie Nights

In his day, Robert Downey Sr. was pretty famous. Of course, that fame has been eclipsed by his son, but that doesn't mean he did carry a lot of respect within the industry even late in his life. Like when Paul Thomas Anderson worked him into a cameo in Boogie Nights.

Frank Darabont - King Kong

For many, The Shawshank Redemption is the best movie of the 1990s. It's director, Frank Darabont, doesn't make a cameo in Shawshank or any of his other movies, but he is very briefly in Peter Jackson's King Kong. It's another "blink-and-you-will-miss-it" kind of role.

Lawrence Kasdan - As Good As It Gets

Writer and director Lawrence Kasdan is most famous for writing both Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He's also directed movies like Grand Canyon, The Big Chill, and Silverado. On rare occasions, he's taken acting roles like he did in As Good As It Gets, by director James L. Brooks of Simpsons fame. Kasdan plays a psychologist in the movie.

James Cameron - The Muse

The Muse, directed by Albert Brooks, features a handful of cameos by famous directors including Martin Scorsese and Rob Reiner. In a rare appearance on the other side camera is also director James Cameron, who only has a few acting credits to his name.

Mel Brooks - The Muppet Movie

it's certainly not surprising to see Mel Brooks on the big screen, but it is rare to see in a movie that he didn't write and direct. That's part of what makes his cameo in The Muppet Movie so much fun. The legendary EGOT winner plays the evil Professor Krassman who is working to control the minds of frogs. It's worth noting that despite his delightful performance, it's not one that contributed to his EGOT.

Eli Roth - Inglourious Basterds

Eli Roth is as much an actor as he is a director, though in recent years he's concentrated on the latter. Sure he appears in his own films, but he's also been a collaborator with Quentin Tarantino a couple of times, first in Death Proof and then in a more prominent role in Inglourious Basterds.

Jim Jarmusch - Sling Blade

Director Jim Jarmusch has a unique style as a director and so it makes sense he would appear in a movie with its own unique angle, Sling Blade, by director and actor Billy Bob Thornton. Jarmusch plays the server at a food truck in the movie, serving up French fried potaters.

David Cronenberg - Jason X

David Cronenberg has a long history with the Friday The 13th franchise, having directed an episode of Friday the 13th: The Series in 1988. He shows up in a cameo in Jason X.

John Sayles - Malcolm X

John Sayles has directed some great movies over the years including Eight Men Out and Passion Fish. He's also occasionally done a bit of acting, mostly in cameos like as a memorable FBI agent in Spike Lee's classic Malcolm X.

Werner Herzog - Jack Reacher

German director is never shy about being in front of the camera as he often appears in his own films and occasionally acts in other stuff, like playing a wonderful role on The Mandalorian on Disney Plus. He also makes a great cameo in the Tom Cruise-led Jack Reacher from 2012.

Martin Brest - Fast Times At Ridgemont High

Before Martin Brest hit the big time as a director of such '80s classics as Beverly Hills Cop and the criminally underrated Midnight Run, he scored a small acting role as a coroner in Fast Times At Ridgemont High by director Amy Heckerling.

Orson Welles - The Muppet Movie

Mel Brooks has a fairly substantial role in The Muppet Movie, but he's not the only director to appear in the movie. Hollywood legend Orson Welles also appears in the movie. Welles was a huge fan of Jim Henson and the Muppets and worked with them on more than one occassion as well.

Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest living directors, helming masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull, just to name a few. Scorsese has helmed incredible films of his own, but he's also passionate about other films as well. With that, he makes an effort to check out the latest work from up and coming talent. Scorsese recently revealed that he saw Robert Eggers’ critically acclaimed horror film, Nosferatu, and the legendary filmmaker wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts.

The 82-year-old director sat down in New York City with TCM host Dave Karger for The 92nd St Y, where he chatted about the importance of film preservation and serving as a curator for the aforementioned channel along with Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson. Later in the conversation Karger also asked the director if he'd had the opportunity to check out Nosferatu. The Mean Streets helmer confirmed he had and went on to shower some serious praise on the successful horror remake:

Martin Scorsese has more so done work within the thriller genre himself with movies like Cape Fear and Shutter Island as opposed to full-on horror. Nevertheless, he's proven to be a fan of scary fare, and this is a major compliment. It's also hard to disagree with the notion that Robert Eggers has been putting in great work over the past several years. As Scorsese alluded to, the filmmaker has a knack for creating immersive atmospheres, which are present in films like The Witch and The Northman. Eggers is one of the most interesting and unique filmmakers today, and kudos to him for receiving Scorsese's seal of approval.

Over the last several years, Scorsese has been generous with his praise of other horror films by young directors as well. He was a major supporter of Ti West and his X trilogy. He said that he was “enthralled” by Pearl and that West and lead actress Mia Goth knew how to toy with an audience. Scorsese was also a fan of Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw The TV Glow, which was an A24 hit out of Sundance this year. He said he found the film moving and “psychologically powerful,” which is the highest of compliments coming from the director of Silence and Killers of the Flower Moon.

It's wonderful to see one of the greatest film artisans of our time hype up the young filmmakers of the day for the new, fresh ideas they inject into the medium. Nosferatu is the perfect blend of the old and the new, as Robert Eggers takes a classic story and infuses modern filmmaking techniques and contemporary perspective to create something truly special. It's clearly not going unnoticed, and I, like Mr. Scorsese, can’t wait to see what he does next.

You can see Nosferatu for yourself, as the film is still playing in theaters nationwide. Fans of Martin Scorsese can also check out his latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, which is currently streamable with an Apple TV+ subscription. For more information on other exciting titles heading to streaming and cinemas this year, make sure to consult our 2025 movie release schedule.

When Martin Scorsese is passionate about getting a movie made, he can exhibit saint-like patience. For example, it took the filmmaker nearly 30 years to make his religious drama Silence, but he never gave up on his vision, and he finally got to make it back in 2016. Another project that has taken a similar trek through development hell is his planned adaptation of Erik Larson’s 2004 book Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America – and while that idea seemed like it was dead for a long time, it has now been resurrected.

Deadline is reporting that the long-gestating film has found a new home, as 20th Century is now set to make it, and Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are both in active talks. The movie will tell the horrifying true story of Dr. HH Holmes, a con man and serial killer who confessed to killing 27 people amid a litany of other crimes in Chicago in the late 19th century.

Development of Devil In The White City dates back to 2010, which was when Leonardo DiCaprio first became involved as a producer, having purchased the rights to Erik Larson's book. Five years later, it appeared as though the project was going to reunite the actor with Martin Scorsese following their acclaimed collaboration on 2013's The Wolf Of Wall Street, and work continued in the years that followed... but then there was a major pivot in 2019 when plans for a movie became plans for a TV series.

There was talk a few years ago about Keanu Reeves potentially taking over the role of HH Holmes from Leonardo DiCaprio when Devil In The White City was being looked at for the small screen, but that idea fell apart in just 10 months.

Despite the fact that there has been 15 years of development, the new serial killer thriller does not currently have a script. Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese most recently collaborated on Killers Of The Flower Moon, which was regarded as one of the best films of 2023. Should Devil In The White City get off the ground before Roosevelt and The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder (two other long-in-development projects that the men have been working on), the film would be the eighth feature that the director and actor have made together.

In the more immediate future, audiences will likely next get to see Leonardo DiCaprio on the big screen in Paul Thomas Anderson's next movie, which doesn't have a title but has carved out a date on the 2025 movie release schedule (specifically August 8). And if you wish to watch the actor's most recent epic collaboration with one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live, Martin Scorsese's Killers Of The Flower Moon is available to stream with an Apple TV+ subscription.

Margot Robbie is one of the biggest stars in the world right now, which is incredible when you consider that it’s been barely more than a decade since she came on most audiences' radar in The Wolf of Wall Street. Those audiences certainly got to see a lot of her, as the film includes one of the most famous nude scenes in recent film history.

Film nudity has actually been on the decline in recent years, which may be part of the reason Robbie’s appearance sans-wardrobe is so memorable, but then there’s also the fact that she appears completely naked, with the camera hiding nothing. In a recent appearance on the Talking Pictures podcast, Robbie spoke about the movie, her first big screen endeavor, and how the nude scene ultimately became the focus of her thoughts, even though the movie was potentially her big break. The actress explained…

Margot Robbie reveals that the role of Naomi LaPalglia in The Wolf of Wall Street was specifically planned to be played by an unknown actress, which meant that it was a highly sought-after role for every young actress in a situation similar to Robbie's.

The actress was so new that when she was eventually told that "Marty" wanted to meet her, she didn't realize who that was. When she actually auditioned for the director she famously slapped Leonardo Di Caprio in the face, which may have actually helped her get the role.

It doesn’t appear the required nudity gave Robbie, or many others, pause in auditioning for the role. However, when it came time to actually shoot the scene, the actress mentioned that if she had wanted to avoid the nudity, she was given that option. Robbie says Scorsese offered to put her character in clothes, but she declined because she felt that being completely naked was what the scene required. She continued…

Many actresses have talked about the pressure to appear naked on screen. Many stars simply refuse to do nude scenes for a variety of reasons. For what it's worth, Scorsese here clearly wasn't looking to have a nude scene purely for the sake of it if he was willing to simply eliminate the scene.

Margot Robbie's talent is undeniable, so it’s all but certain that she still would have become a huge movie star even if she hadn’t been so memorably naked in The Wolf of Wall Street. Today, Martin Scorsese takes credit for discovering Margot Robbie so it seems he knew how big a star she would be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It happens every year, but this was no exception among the 2024 movies. A ton of films were released and came and gone quietly without the amount of buzz they should have received. However, when acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese was recently asked if there were any recent movies he’d seen that he liked, he gave a huge (and deserved) shoutout to a movie called I Saw The TV Glow.

Martin Scorsese Shows Love For An Underrated 2024 Movie

Scorsese has certainly gone viral for his movie opinions before, between his controversial comments on Marvel movies and liking Ari Aster’s Midsommar so much that it inspired Killers Of The Flower Moon. In an interview with AP, Martin Scorsese said this about a recent movie he watched that stood out:

I Saw The TV Glow is an A24 movie that came out in select theaters back in May after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. So there weren't a lot of chances for the indie film to become a bigger title this year, but Martin Scorsese caught it recently (the movie is currently one of the best horror movies of Max) and said he liked it a “great deal.” What an amazing piece of praise for writer/director Jane Schoenbrun to get some props from Scorsese!

The Powerful LGBTQ+ Message Behind I Saw The TV Glow

I Saw The TV Glow follows two isolated teenagers living in 1996 that bond over their love for a fictional TV show called The Pink Opaque. Jane Schoenbrun told CinemaBlend earlier this year that the movie was inspired by their love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer growing up and how fandom consumed them growing up when they were not yet comfortable in their own queer identity. Schoenbrun is a trans woman, and I Saw The TV Glow allows them to express the difficulty they felt in their childhood and teenage years when they were a “lonely kid in the wrong body.”

CinemaBlend’s own I Saw The TV Glow review gave the movie four stars out of five for being a “haunting” horror drama that draws from its trans filmmakers struggles to accept their LGBTQ+ identity. Critics raved about I Saw The TV Glow too, calling it an emotional and “surreal” aesthetic. While I Saw The TV Glow is one of those horror movies that flew under the radar this year, perhaps Scorsese’s praise will finally get more people to open their hearts to this difficult, yet important film.

It feels like fans have weathered even more loss than usual in recent weeks, as several major stars have passed away. One of the most significant losses to entertainment, however, may be the death of Kris Kristofferson. He was both a successful singer and actor and even massive talents like Martin Scorsese are feeling his loss.

Scorsese directed Kristofferson in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, in 1974. The movie about a window trying to find a new life would be nominated for three Oscars, and win the Best Actress award for star Ellen Burstyn. Kristofferson would appear as Burstyn’s love interest. In a statement (via IndieWire), Scorsese called the actor “remarkable” as a screen presence, saying…

Kristofferson initially made his name as a songwriter. He was nominated for a Grammy in 1970 for Song of the Year for “Me and Bobby McGee.” He recorded the song himself, but Janis Joplin would perform the most famous version.

Starting in 1972 Kristofferson, who had already won awards in the country music sphere, shifted largely to acting. He would become one of the most successful country artists turned actors. Following his work with Scorsese, Kristofferson would appear with Barbra Streisand in the 1976 remake of A Star is Born for which he would win a Golden Globe. In 1984 he was nominated for an Oscar for the score for the film Songwriter. Kristofferson was also in the running for another major film from a high-profile director. He was Stanley Kubrick's second choice for the lead in The Shining.

Listening to Scorsese talk about Kristofferson, it’s clear that the production of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore was a special experience for all involved. The cast included Burstyn, Diane Ladd, and Jodie Foster, two years before she would work with Scorsese on Taxi Driver. Kristofferson may have been fairly new to acting, at that point, but he clearly understood what his director wanted from him, and Scorsese was impressed. He continued…

When the director of great films like Martin Scorsese calls you a “great artist” you’ve clearly done something right. Both music and film lost immense talent with the passing of Kris Kristofferson. At least we have his work, both his songs and his films, to remind us of what a great artist he truly was.

The superhero genre has been dominating the entertainment industry for years, and is showing no signs of slowing down. While many of us have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, filmmakers like Martin Scorsese have criticized the genre as a whole. And after Chris Hemsworth defended is work in the MCU, he's once again responded to those viral comments. Let's break it all down.

While film legends like Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola have shared criticism for the superhero genre, it continues to be a powerful force in the film world. Hemsworth knows this all too well, starring in four Thor movies in addition to Avengers flicks. While speaking with The Times, he addressed the chatter surrounding superhero projects, offering:

There you have it. It sounds like the hulking 40 year-old actor is still bothered by the way comic book movies have been maligned by the greats of the film world. And he's using the wild popularity of the MCU to prove his point.

While there have been some box office disappointments lately, there are still upcoming Marvel movies that are sure to be a wild success, such as Deadpool & Wolverine. Then there's also all the live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. 

The part of Chris Hemsworth's comments that struck me the most were about how some movies simply don't work and bomb at the box office upon their release. Indeed, there are plenty of projects that bomb every year, many of which have nothing to do with comic book characters. And as such, he thinks that critics of the MCU should have a better perspective on the industry as a whole.

As previously mentioned, Chris Hemsworth is the first and only MCU hero to get four solo movies. The most recent installment was Thor: Love and Thunder, which performed well at the box office but wasn't as beloved by fans as its predecessor Ragnarok. His future in the the shared universe is unclear, but there hasn't been any news of him stepping down like his co-stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, or Scarlett Johansson. 

The MCU has seen a change in the post-Endgame world, including its first box office bombs. The Marvels was an epic fail in theaters, although the movie has defenders online. So it should be interesting to see how the studio changes its release strategy moving forward.

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

One of the legends of the music world, Frank Sinatra, is getting a biopic from one of the legends of the film world – and this is what we know about it so far. 

If, for some ungodly reason, you have never heard of Martin Scorsese, then I am sure you have heard of Martin Scorsese’s best films. The legendary director has created some of the most iconic movies of all time, from Taxi Driver to Goodfellas and so much more; even today, he is still actively making movies. Most recently, he directed the Apple TV film Killers of the Flower Moon to rave reviews. 

Scorsese has been on a roll with most of his film entries, and now, he's tackling another huge historical name—Frank Sinatra—in his own biopic. But, who will star in it? What problems are currently arising from this film? Here is what we know so far. 

What Is The Frank Sinatra Biopic Release Date?

As of May 2024, there is no set release date yet for Martin Scorsese's untitled Frank Sinatra biopic, which isn't that much of a surprise. Variety only confirmed the movie in April 2024, so to have a release date set so quickly would be surprising. 

I wouldn't expect it to premiere on the 2024 movie schedule. There are so many great films coming out this year, from the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine to the next Pixar film, Inside Out 2, to plenty of new movies. It would be hard to fit in a Frank Sinatra biopic amongst all of that. But, maybe we'll get it as soon as 2025—who knows?

Leonardo DiCaprio And Jennifer Lawrence Are Reportedly Being Eyed To Star

According to the Variety article above, the untitled Frank Sinatra biopic is reportedly eyeing two massive stars—Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, and Scorsese hopes they will play Frank Sinatra and his second wife, Ava Gardner. 

Truthfully, it's unsurprising that either of these stars would be the top picks. Leonardo DiCaprio's best films often include his work with Scorsese. They have created films like The Wolf of Wall Street, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and Gangs of New York. These two go together like butter and bread. 

Jennifer Lawrence, however, is a new pick for the Scorsese world. While she hasn't starred in one of his films yet, Lawrence is arguably one of the biggest stars in the world. Nominated three times (and won once) for the Academy Award for Best Actress, Lawrence has been in many films showing her prowess as an actress. 

Some of her biggest roles include The Hunger Games movies, when she starred in the No Hard Feelings cast, Winter's Bone, American Hustle, Don't Look Up, Causeway, and more. 

Indeed, these two would be excellent options – and I can already see it becoming a massive hit for Scorsese.

The Biopic Will Be About The Life Of Frank Sinatra And His Second Wife

While plot details have not been revealed yet, Variety reported that this movie will be about Frank Sinatra, the famous singer. Judging by the casting report, it'll cover the time Sinatra was with Ava Gardner, his second wife and an actress who starred in several films, including The Killers, Mogambo, Show Boat, and more. 

Sinatra is a legendary voice in the world of music. Credited as one of the world's best-selling artists, he's a great example of how music can pass from generation to generation. My grandparents would listen to him all the time, and now, I listen to him on my own record player. 

He released plenty of huge songs that you might recognize, like "My Way," "New York, New York," "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)," and many, many more. Sinatra also worked as an actor, appearing in films like From Here to Eternity, Guys and Dolls, High Society, The Manchurian Candidate, and many other titles. 

Martin Scorsese Will Direct

As mentioned above, Martin Scorsese is set to direct the upcoming untitled Frank Sinatra biopic. 

Scorsese has been the man behind some of the biggest films ever. Besides the ones already mentioned above, he has also directed Cape Fear, Casino, The Age of Innocence, Bringing Out The Dead, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Color of Money, Raging Bull, New York, New York, After Hours and so many others.

Scorsese Tried To Make The Film Happen Years Ago But Clashed With The Family – And They Still Haven't Signed Off On It

Here's where things get messy. According to Variety, in mid-April 2024, Scorsese has been trying to make this film for many years – in fact, Scorsese even gave up on the Sinatra movie for a time – but the main issue is that the Sinatra estate has not signed off on it because he wanted to explore the singer/actor's darker side:

Even now, the estate still hasn't signed off on the film, but Sinatra's daughter, Tina, who is head of the estate, did speak to TMZ about the movie in April 2024, and they reported that she did sound optimistic about the new project, saying that she and the director have talked for a long time:

She did not give a clear answer to TMZ on whether she was giving her blessing for the film, but her reaction does sound positive, so maybe we'll hear something soon. It can take a lot of time for an estate to sign off on a biopic. Sometimes, they don't at all—which is exactly what happened with Priscilla—but other times, there's a pretty seamless relationship. 

Scorsese Will Film The Movie Back-To-Back With Life Of Jesus

According to the initial Variety announcement that confirmed the film, they reported that sources said both the Frank Sinatra film and the legendary director's other new film, Life of Jesus, will be filmed back to back. 

Neither has been given a production start date yet, but that is a good sign that they are planning to do both ASAP. 

Sony Is Reportedly The Frontrunner To Distribute The Film

The last thing the original Variety report confirmed is that as of May 2024, Sony Pictures is the current frontrunner to release the untitled Frank Sinatra movie. While Apple wanted to stay in business with Scorsese, Sony might be distributing the film, which isn't necessarily bad. 

I think both companies would promote the film well, but since Killers of the Flower Moon was so successful, it'll be sad not to see this film among Apple TV+'s best films. 

What are you excited about with the upcoming Frank Sinatra movie? All I know is that with so many upcoming music biopics, the next couple of years are going to be very musical for the movies. 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are one of those iconic teams that just feel right. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that after their work on the 2024 Oscar nominee Killers of the Flower Moon, the boys are setting their sights on reuniting yet again. However, what is quite shocking is that their potential new collaboration is something the pair previously attempted to get off the ground over a decade ago.

Variety reports that both Apple TV+ and Sony are looking to secure their place to help realize Scorsese’s long-held ambition of making a Frank Sinatra biopic. DiCaprio is once again circling the role of the legendary singer, with Jennifer Lawrence apparently lined up to play his second wife, Ava Gardner.

We’ve known that Martin Scorsese has been developing multiple post-Killers of the Flower Moon projects. However, it seems that there are two titles that The Wolf of Wall Street’s director is planning on tackling back to back. What's taking priority over this Frank Sinatra movie is Martin’s next intended project, Life of Jesus, which is looking to secure Andrew Garfield and Miles Teller as that film's leads.

Martin Scorsese had previously tried to launch this Sinatra project around the 2012 timeframe, with Shattered Glass writer Billy Ray being brought in to write a draft. That version also had Leonardo DiCaprio attached in the lead, but unfortunately petered out for one key reason. Scorsese’s reason for giving up on the Sinatra project was, unsurprisingly, the reluctance of the singer's estate to agree to the project.

Apparently that concern is still very much in play, as the announcement of this potential picture’s resurgence came with the caveat that Tina Sinatra “hasn’t yet given her blessing to the film.” As report above mentions, this is a movie about the woman Frank Sinatra divorced first wife/Tina’s mother Nancy Barbaro to pursue, so that approval might remain elusive this time at bat.

Future developments will prove to be quite interesting, as Martin Scorsese’s decade-plus quest to make a Frank Sinatra movie continues in earnest. But while he continues to try and make moves to secure this potential renewal with Leonardo DiCaprio, you can currently stream the pair’s latest collaboration from your own home. At the time of writing, Killers of the Flower Moon is available for the public to see, through various rental platforms or the usage of an Apple TV+ subscription.

The Best Actress category for the 2024 Oscar nominations was a tough one this year. You had Emma Stone portray Bella Baxter’s emotional and intellectual journey in Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things. Then there was Lily Gladstone, who portrayed the pain the Osage Nation went through in the captivating Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon. After Stone became the one to win the Oscar that night, Gladstone had a touching moment with Scorsese, who consoled her after her loss.

Lily Gladstone stood up and cheered when her Oscar-nominated bestie Emma Stone’s name was called out as this year’s Best Actress. You can tell the La La Land actress herself was taken by surprise when she was declared the winner. The Blackfeet Nation actress may not have won that night, but it was shown in The Hollywood Reporter's behind-the-scenes clip that she was consoled by her Killers of the Flower Moon director. Take a look at the heartwarming moment below:

While we can’t hear what was said between the two, I'd like to believe Martin Scorsese shared positive words with his star as the conversation ended with a sweet hug. Even if Lily Gladstone wasn’t recognized as Best Actress this year, her nomination itself was still historic for recognizing Native Americans. Gladstone took to an X post saying she left the Oscars ceremony "feeling the love."

As Lily Gladstone was among this year’s Golden Globe winners for her Killers of the Flower Moon performance, many were shocked that the Certain Women actress didn’t win. Movie fans, of course, took to social media to express their disappointment that the first Native American woman to be nominated for an Oscar didn’t make history being the first to win the golden trophy. After all, that honor has only been done by Dances with Wolves’ Wes Studi, who won an Academy Honorary Award in 2019. At the same time, social media users didn’t dispute Emma Stone’s talents in achieving her win.

Don't think Lily Gladstone's Oscars loss means we won't be seeing any more of her. She still has plenty of impressive projects under her belt that are sure to give her more recognition for the gifted actress she is. So far, Gladstone will be part of your 2024 TV schedule with a role in the crime drama Under the Bridge, which comes to your Hulu subscription in April. 

The Room 104 actress will also re-team with Martin Scorsese in a very different movie called The Memory Police about a writer shielding her editor from political forces on an unnamed island. Gladstone also has the upcoming Sundance film Fancy Dance coming to Apple TV+, and will reunite with her Unknown Country director Morrisa Maltz in Jazzy. As you can see, there will be plenty of Lily Gladstone to go around.

Lily Gladstone may not have gone home with an Oscar, but she still “felt the love” that night after a behind-the-scenes video showed her being hugged by Martin Scorsese after the loss. Her upcoming projects are sure to win the hearts of more critics and audiences. To see the movie that gained her recognition this past awards season, Killers of the Flower Moon is available to watch with your Apple TV+ subscription.

Martin Scorsese is an iconic filmmaker largely considered to be one of the greatest artists cinema has ever known. For his efforts, he’s also the recipient of a vast array of awards. Aside from all of that though, he’s also a loving father to three daughters, the youngest of which he welcomed at the age of 56. He’s not the only person in Hollywood to have children later in life, as his longtime collaborator, Robert De Niro, did as well. Now, like De Niro, Scorsese is sharing how he feels about having had a child at that stage of his life.

The now 81-year-old Mean Streets helmer’s youngest child is 24-year-old Francesca Scorsese, who he shares with his fifth and current wife, Helen Morris. “Marty,” who occasionally opens up about aspects of his personal life, discussed parenthood while appearing on Sirius XM’s This Life of Mine, which is hosted by James Corden. As the director told Corden, he was “gifted” with that pregnancy after he met Morris. He then went on to recall (via People) the night his little girl was born, and it honestly sounds a bit stressful:

As he went on to explain that because his daughter was born earlier than expected, he and his wife weren’t sure if she’d survive. Thankfully, though, she ultimately made it through. Mother and father were also able to cradle their baby girl. And, based on how the Oscar winner described a nurse handed him the little bundle of joy for the first time, he’ll never forget it:

So how exactly has fatherhood treated him as he’s in his later years? Well, Martin Scorsese conveyed that he’s been enjoying it, and that’s been especially evident over the past year or so. He and Francesca have been making waves with viral TikTok videos that highlight cinema trivia and their general father-daughter shenanigans. One memorable clip featured a montage of Martin being a dad and, in another post, he recalled The King of Comedy being dubbed a flop. These social media activities seem to be a strong way for the two to bond, and, as the Wolf of Wall Street director further explained, he wants to make the most of his time with his daughter:

His sentiments are just as sweet as those of Robert De Niro, who welcomed a baby at 79 back in 2023. It's a somewhat unusual situation that’s apparently brought upon some interesting dynamics for the De Niro family. However, the Raging Bull icon is happy that his other kids and grandkids can appreciate baby Gia, who he shares with his partner, Tiffany Chen. 

As someone whose parents had him a little later than others, I can certainly understand and appreciate the joy that Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro feel when it comes to their kids. People who are raised by somewhat older parents understand that in the long run, they may not get as much time to spend with their folks as other people do. However, as Scorsese so astutely mentioned, it’s all about making the most of it, and I’m glad he’s still relishing it.

You can stream the longtime movie-making duo’s latest effort, Killers of the Flower Moon, which is now streamable with an Apple TV+ subscription.

With the release of Michael in April, it means that for the first time in a very long time, there aren't any music biopics with definite release dates for a couple of years. Given the box office success of the Michael Jackson biopic, it surely won't be long before some more productions get underway; however, as of this writing, on the 2026 movie schedule. There aren't any that are for sure coming in 2027 (though there is a possibility of a couple).

After a decade or so of seemingly endless music biopics, there are still quite a few that are in the works that we could see at some point. It's not like the genre isn't successful; with unforgettable Best Picture winners and cult classics about beloved and tormented musicians released over the years, it's not like Hollywood is going to abandon them completely. With all that said, here's what we know about some that are definitely on the way, and even more that have been announced, but we may or may not see on the big screen eventually.

Snoop Dogg Biopic - Possibly 2027

Snoop Dogg is about to get a full-fledged biographical drama about his life, career, and legacy in the rap game, Hollywood, and pop culture in general. Though the title has yet to be announced, Deadline reported in early 2025 that the drama will center on Calvin Broadus Jr. and his journey to becoming Snoop Doggy Dogg, one of the most successful performers of all time.

At CinemaCon in April 2026, Snoop was joined by Outer Banks' Jonathan Daviss at the Universal Pictures event (per Variety), and announced that he'd be back next year "with a trailer" for the biopic. Does that mean this one is set for a 2027 release? Well, we'll have to wait and see for information. This is the most promising title on the docket for 2027, however.

The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event - April 7, 2028

Sam Mendes, a director who doesn’t get talked about enough, is taking on what could be his most ambitious project yet: The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event. If all things go according to plan, the 1917 filmmaker will release a series of biopics, with each film centering on a specific member of the iconic band.

Production on all four films is underway, but that doesn't mean we'll be seeing them soon. In fact, all four are scheduled to be released on the same day, but that day isn't until April 7th, 2028. We've started learning quite a bit about The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event (the official title as of April 2026), but aside from some publicity photos, we're all still in the dark about what it will look like. It's weird that even though these movies are still almost two years away, they are the only ones on this list with a definitive release date.

Winds Of Change (Scorpions Biopic) - TBD

In June 2025, Deadline reported that Winds of Change, a biographical drama based on the European rockers, is in the works and will focus on their start in post-WWII Germany and eventual rise to become a massively successful and prolific group, selling millions of records. Alex Ranarivelo, best known for American Wrestler: The Wizard, is sitting in the director's chair for the upcoming biopic, with Dominic West, Alexander Dreymon, Ludwig Trepte, and Ed Speleers starring.

Principal photography took place in 2025, and the film was reportedly set to be released the same year, but it may have been affected by the Warner Bros. merger with Paramount, and it seems that, at least for now, the movie is on hold, with no release date set. At least there is a trailer, which is honestly more than a lot of the movies on this list can say for now.

Josephine Baker Biopic (TBD)

In May 2026, Variety reported that pop star FKA Twigs had signed on to play the legendary Josephine Baker in a biopic from French director Maimouna Doucouré. Baker may not be a household name these days, but 100 years ago, she was one of the biggest stars on the planet. She was a cabaret singer, movie star, pin-up girl, and more. She led a fascinating life outside of entertainment as a member of the French Resistance during World War II, and was a prominent voice in the Civil Rights Movement, despite living most of her life in Paris.

This won't be the first film about Baker. In 1991, Lynn Whitfield starred as the singer in The Josephine Baker Story on HBO. Sonia Rolland played Baker in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris in 2011 as well.

Joni Mitchell Biopic - TBD

Director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) knows a thing or two about music-centric movies, and Meryl Streep is no stranger to biopics. Now, the two Hollywood legends are teaming up to tell the story of one of history’s most prolific and transformative songwriters of all time for the long-awaited Joni Mitchell biographical drama. The film will reportedly co-star Ana Taylor-Joy as the singer in her earlier years as well.

Word of this came from Rolling Stone, which reported in February 2026 that Clive Davis confirmed the news of the Oscar-winning actress being picked to play the legendary musicians during his big pre-Grammys party. Details are being limited at this time, so we’ll have to wait and see if the movie hires another actress to play Mitchell during her early days in the folk scene. I mean, I’d love to hear both versions of “Both Sides Now” when this comes out.

The Replacements Biopic - TBD

We can’t hardly wait for this one. With his time in Hawkins, Indiana, a distant memory, Finn Wolfhard is already gearing up for his next project. In October 2025, Variety reported that the actor and musician was in the process of adapting Bob Mehr’s acclaimed biography Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements along with his dad, Eric Wolfhard.

While it hasn’t been revealed if the younger Wolfhard will be acting in the upcoming biopic, he certainly has the musical chops to handle the duties that’d come with playing one of the most iconic American rock bands of the late 20th century. When hosting Saturday Night Live back in January 2026, the actor and musician could be seen wearing a Replacements T-shirt when introducing A$AP Rocky.

Bon Jovi Biopic - TBD

Bon Jovi fans who have long been “living on a prayer” as they wait for information about a long-rumored biopic are in for a real treat. In March 2026, Deadline reported that Universal Pictures is currently working on a movie about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rock quartet and its leader, Jon Bon Jovi. To make it even better, the famous musician is working alongside producers and has allowed the production to use the band’s massive library of music.

According to the report, the movie will focus on the band’s formative years as it goes from a group of New Jersey rockers to one of the biggest music sensations of the ‘80s. Cody Brotter is set to pen the script, but there’s no word on who’ll be directing or starring in this hotly anticipated movie. Let the guessing games begin.

George Clinton Biopic - TBD

When it comes to the world of funk, few names carry as much weight (or groove) as George Clinton. The frontman and band leader of the iconic Parliament-Funkadelic is known throughout the music industry and pop culture as one of the most colorful, prolific, and influential figures of all time. That said, it shouldn’t be any surprise that some folks want to make a biopic about the legendary figure and his over-the-top outfits (and wigs).

After years of talk about some kind of project about the P-Funk leader’s history and legacy, Variety reported in 2024 that Eddie Murphy was in talks to play Clinton in a big-screen biopic directed by Bill Condon. However, like many other projects, there have been no updates in months, though Murphy has mentioned it in interviews over the last year, so it does seem that plans are still underway to produce it.

Dionne Warwick Biopic - TBD

Teyana Taylor gave a career-defining and scene-stealing performance in One Battle After Another, but came up just short at the 98th Academy Awards. We could be seeing her in the running for an Oscar in the future, however, as she is working on a biopic about the life and career of six-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dionne Warwick.

During a September 2025 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the Golden Globe-winning actress said that she was very protective of Warwick and that a script was being worked on. Funnily enough, the singer behind classics like “Walk On By” and “Don’t Make Me Over” took to X (still called Twitter at the time) back in December 2020 to handpick Taylor for the part. We cannot wait to hear more about this one!

As for Taylor singing those iconic tunes? She's not so sure, telling Today:

There is still no date set on when production could begin on this.

Heart Biopic - TBD

Heart, the iconic rock outfit led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, has been one of the most prolific and popular bands on the planet for well over half a century, and it sounds like they’ll soon be getting a biopic of their own. When speaking with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel back in March 2025, Nancy revealed that the ending was still being worked out and that they would soon start casting the various roles.

The movie, which is still untitled, is being written and directed by Carrie Brownstein of Olympia, Washington’s Sleater-Kinney (she also co-created and co-starred in Portlandia). The project is being produced by Lynda Obst for Amazon MGM, but it’s not yet known if it’ll get a theatrical release or end up as a streaming exclusive.

Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd) Biopic - TBD

Though you could argue that Pink Floyd’s The Wall was a biopic about Roger Waters and how the death of his father led to his artistic expression and sense of detachment from the world, there’s never been a proper biographical drama about the influential prog rock outfit. That could soon change with an untitled movie about founding member Syd Barrett, who left the band following a mental breakdown shortly before they reached superstardom in the late ‘60s.

When speaking with Matthew Belloni’s The Town podcast back in 2024, Peter Jaysen, who produced A Complete Unknown, revealed that he was in the process of turning Barrett’s story into a movie with writer/director Wash Westmoreland. He didn’t share a lot of details about the project, but considering Barrett’s story, this could be a wild, psychedelic, and ultimately tragic movie to experience.

It's been a couple of years since there have been any major announcements regarding this biopic.

Cass Elliot (The Mamas & The Papas) Biopic - TBD

Cass Elliot, the singer and songwriter best remembered for her time with The Mamas & the Papas, has gone down as one of the most influential artists as well as one of the saddest stories in rock ‘n roll history. Well, producer Peter Jaysen is also trying to tell that story to audiences around the world, as he revealed in a 2024 appearance on Matthew Belloni’s The Town (the same interview as the Syd Barrett discussion).

In the chat, Jaysen revealed that he has been in contact with the family and estate of the late singer in hopes of securing the rights to the biography My Mama Cass, which detailed the life and legacy of the late musician and actress. It was later revealed by Variety in February 2026 that the movie will go with the biography’s title and will star Baby Reindeer breakout star Jessica Gunning as the legendary singer.

Roy Orbison Biopic - TBD

It is impossible to tell the story of American rock ‘n roll without turning your attention to the impact of Roy Orbison, the man behind the powerful and operatic voice heard in classics like “Oh, Pretty Woman” and “Only the Lonely.” Well, there’s a good chance that the story gets told, as Variety reported in early 2025 that Compelling Pictures, the group behind Bohemian Rhapsody, was working on adapting the late musician’s life into a movie.

The biopic, which has a working title of You Got It, is said to be less of a traditional biographical drama and more of a romance story about Roy and his wife, Barbara Orbison, and the impact she had on his career. There have not been any updates in quite some time.

Lucille (B.B. King Biopic) - TBD

The late and great B.B. King was one of the most influential and transformative blues guitarists of the 20th century, and his impact can still be felt a decade after his 2015 passing. Well, his story will be told at some point in the future, as there’s currently a biopic in the works about his life and career called Lucille, per a December 2025 Deadline report.

Anyone who knows anything about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer is fully aware of the significance of the title for the upcoming biopic. For those who don’t know, Lucille was the name of King’s legendary Gibson ES that the guitarist played for years. And like any iconic instrument, it has quite a story. How that story is told in King’s biopic is anyone’s guess at this point.

That’ll Be The Day (Buddy Holly Biopic) - TBD

Before you get going, this is not about the 1978 biopic, The Buddy Holly Story, starring Gary Busey as the trailblazing musician whose life was cut short in a 1959 plane crash. Instead, this is a new movie about the “Peggy Sue” singer that’s been in the works since 2024, with Mario Van Peebles sitting in the director’s chair.

According to Variety, That’ll Be the Day will tell the story of Holly and the early days of the Rock ‘n’ Roll movement. Nothing has been said about the cast or how much of Holly’s story will be told in the new drama, and as of April 2026, there have no updates since the initial announcement about two years ago. The status of this one is unknown.

Otis & Zelma (Otis Redding Biopic) - TBD

Otis Redding, commonly known as the “King of Soul” and “The Big O,” was one of the most powerful R&B singers of the ‘60s and someone who transformed the face of music in a short amount of time. Well, now it appears that the story of Redding’s life and career, both of which were cut tragically short in a 1967 plane crash, will get the biopic treatment with Otis & Zelma.

According to an October 2024 Variety report, John Boyega and Danielle Deadwyler are set to portray the late “These Arms of Mine” singer and his widow, Zelma Redding, respectively, in a new drama directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples. Details are still being kept to a minimum at this time, but this could be one of the more powerful biopics in recent memory when it’s all said and done. Like a lot of music biopics on this list, the status of this one seems up in the air, with little to report in over a year and a half.

Sinéad O'Connor Biopic - TBD

The world lost one of its great voices and supporters of personal expression in July 2023 when Sinéad O'Connor passed away at the age of 56. Known for her iconic 1990 megahit, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and one of the most shocking SNL moments when she ripped up a picture of Pope John Paul II a couple of years later, O’Connor was one of the most consequential and misunderstood Irish singer-songwriters of all time.

In August 2025, Variety reported that several production companies, including See-Saw Films (the team behind Slow Horses and Power of the Dog), were working on a retelling of the late singer’s story. According to the outlet, Josephine Decker will be directing the upcoming music biopic, which is based on a screenplay by Stacey Gregg.

Gloria Estefan Biopic - TBD

Known for hit tracks like “Anything for You,” “Bad Boy,” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” Gloria Estefan has been a force in the music industry for the past 50 years. Well, now it appears the Cuban-American singer is getting her due in the form of an upcoming music biopic.

When speaking with The Sun in October 2025, Esfefan told the British publication that not only was there a movie in the works about her life and career, but that Rachel Zegler was set to portray her in the yet-to-be-titled film. Zegler, who has shown her singing chops in movies like West Side Story and Snow White, has the potential to knock this out of the park. Nothing has been announced since then.

Boyz II Men Biopic - TBD

Is Motownphilly about to be back again, or at least on the big screen? Well, it certainly looks that way now that there’s a biopic about Boyz II Men in the works. Back in November 2024, Variety reported that a biopic was in the works charting the story of the four-time Grammy-winning group known for soulful hits like “End of the Road,” “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” and “On Bended Knee.”

There’s no word on a cast, or director, or even a writer at this point, but this is one of those biopics that just has to happen. Considering Boyz II Men was one of the hottest groups of the ‘90s, this one just feels like a winner waiting to happen.

Ozzy And Sharon Osbourne Biopic - TBD

There’s a long list of music biopics we’d love to see, and that includes one about the “Prince of Darkness” himself, Ozzy Osbourne. Well, it sounds like that’s going to be happening at some point in the near future. In August 2025, not long after the Black Sabbath singer died at the age of 76, just weeks after playing his final gig, Variety reported that Sony Pictures was still in the process of producing a movie about his and longtime wife/manager Sharon Osbourne’s life that had been in the works since 2021.

During a January 2026 appearance on Billy Morrison’s SiriusXM show (via Vice), Jack Osbourne explained that the family was “full steam in the next phase of development,” adding that a director was attached to the project and that they had a "phenomenal actor” in mind to play his late father. However, he stopped short of identifying either.

Anthony Kiedis Biopic - TBD

Anthony Kiedis has a long history of appearing on the big screen, as he showed up in various ‘90s movies like Point Break and The Chase (an underrated Charlie Sheen movie). Now it sounds like the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman is getting a movie of his own. Back in January 2024, Deadline reported that Brian Grazer, known for movies like Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, was producing a biopic about Kiedis over at Universal.

The film is said to be based on the RHCP singer’s memoir titled Scar Tissue, which documents Kiedis’ upbringing in Southern California and how those experiences shaped his life, the band, and the face of American rock music in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It's been a while since there has been an update on this one, but there is an excellent new documentary available with a Netflix subscription about the early days of the band.

Britney Spears Biopic - TBD

It’s hard to talk about ‘90s and early 2000s pop culture without the conversation eventually turning to Britney Spears. One of the biggest pop stars of all time, Spears is known around the world for hits like “Baby One More Time,” “Oops! I Did It Again,” and “Toxic,” as well as a number of various controversies and unforgettable moments. Now, all of that will be explored in a new biopic.

In 2024, Variety reported that Wicked director Jon M. Chu would be helming a biographical drama about the “Princess of Pop” based on Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me. There has been a great deal of speculation about who’ll play the star, with names like Millie Bobby Brown and Sabrina Carpenter coming up quite often. There have been no updates in some time, as of April 2026.

Robert Johnson Biopic - TBD

When it comes to early American blues musicians, few have been as influential or mysterious as Robert Johnson, the King of the Delta Blues. Johnson, who would go on to inspire the likes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and countless other musicians over the years, will soon be the subject of a new biopic, Deadline reported in February 2025.

Not a lot is known about the movie at this point, but the biopic will reportedly focus on one of the biggest myths surrounding Johnson’s life and legacy: the tale that he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his unmatched musicianship. With the Academy Award-winning Sinners paying homage to Johnson in a variety of ways, now would be the perfect time for this to finally happen.

Ronnie Milsap Biopic - TBD

Though Ronnie Milsap doesn’t have the name recognition of other famous country singers like Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, or George Strait, the blind music legend has had a major impact on the genre over the years. That said, it’s not all that surprising that there is currently a biopic about the transformative star in the works.

In late 2024, Variety reported that Spencer Boldman, who most recently appeared in Welcome to Chippendales, would be leading the film that is based on Milsap’s autobiography, Almost Like a Song.

Forever And Ever, Amen (Randy Travis Biopic) - TBD

We’ve been treated to so many great country music movies over the years, and that includes a few biopics like the all-time great Walk the Line. Well, one of the biggest names in the country music renaissance of the late 1980s will soon get the biopic treatment when Forever and Ever, Amen explores the life and legacy of Randy Travis. Named after the singer-songwriter’s 1987 hit “Forever and Ever, Amen,” the movie was announced at the Grand Ole Opry in March 2025, according to Deadline.

There haven’t been any details about the movie’s plot, but we do know that country singer Clay Walker will play the iconic country star and that Andrew Hyatt is writing and directing.

Queen Latifah Biopic - TBD

Queen Latifah's run with The Equalizer may be finished now that the CBS series has been cancelled after five seasons, but it’s not all bad for the rapper-turned-actress. In September 2024, Deadline reported that the “Ladies First” and “U.N.I.T.Y.” hip-hop artist would be the subject of a new biographical drama. The untitled biopic, which will focus on Latifah’s rise in the rap game in the latter part of the 20th century, is to be the first of a series of hip-hop dramas about iconic artists.

Though she didn’t share any details about the movie when speaking with Today back in May 2025, the rapper-turned-actor said whoever is cast to portray her needs to be brave and that it’s going to be hard to cast the part.

All Out Of Love: The Air Supply Story - TBD

An Air Supply biopic is something we never thought we’d get to see, but there’s one in the works. The Australian soft rock duo consisting of Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell will be at the center of All Out of Love: The Air Supply Story, a biographical drama first announced by Variety back in 2024.

There’s not a lot of information about the movie chronicling the life and times of the successful outfit known for hits like “All Out of Love” and “Lost in Love,” but it was initially slated for 2026, though there have been almost no updates in quite some time, so that seems unlikely.

Be My Baby (Ronnie Spector Biopic) - TBD

Zendaya has become one of the biggest stars on the planet in the years since showing off her vocal skills in The Greatest Showman, and soon, she’ll get to exhibit that range once again when she plays one of the most iconic singers of the 20th century. In March 2025, Deadline announced that the Spider-Man: No Way Home and Challengers star will be playing the late Ronnie Spector in Be My Baby, the upcoming A24 movie directed by Barry Jenkins.

Zendaya has been attached to the role for some years, and even penned a moving tribute to the “Be My Baby” singer upon her death in 2022. She has a huge year this year, with movies like The Drama, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Dune III (not to mention Season 3 of Euphoria), and she indicated recently that she might be taking a break after all that, so the status of this one seems up in the air.

Rosetta (Sister Rosetta Tharpe Biopic) - TBD

After spending the past few years tearing it up on the pop charts, the multi-talented Lizzo will soon turn her attention to the big screen when she leads an upcoming biopic about one of the most influential figures in American music history: Sister Rosetta Tharpe. In March 2025, Deadline reported that the Grammy Award-winning singer and rapper has been tasked with playing Tharpe in Amazon MGM Studios’ Rosetta, a long-overdue drama about the gospel singer who helped craft rock n’ roll and R&B nearly 100 years ago.

Inspired by Tharpe’s incredible life story, the movie will reportedly follow the trailblazing musician as she shatters boundaries and navigates societal restraints while concealing her relationship with the woman she loves.

Madonna Biographical Drama Series - TBD

Madonna is one of the most successful, influential, and prolific singers of all time, and it’s wild that the artist behind “Material Girl,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” and “Vogue” hasn’t gotten the biopic treatment at this point. Well, it’s not for a lack of trying, as she has been working on getting a drama about her life off the ground since 2020. Though there have been some hiccups and unforeseen obstacles along the way, it sounds like it’s in the works yet again.

Now it appears as if Madonna will be teaming up with Shawn Levy to bring her story to the small screen at some point in the future. In May 2025, Deadline reported that the two are teaming up with Netflix for a limited series about the transformative singer’s life and career.

Boy George Biopic - TBD

There are so many biopics about transformative ‘80s artists, both already released and in the works, and soon Boy George will be added to the mix. In 2024, Deadline reported that TriStar Pictures was moving forward with a biographical drama about the lead singer of Culture Club, known for hit songs like “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” with J.C. Lee working on the script. The movie is said to be based on George’s autobiographies, Take It Like a Man, Straight, and Karma.

And, there’s no need to worry about the movie not featuring any of Boy George or Culture Club’s famous tracks, as Primary Wave Music, which owns the rights, is producing the biopic. The current status of the production is unknown.

Keith Moon Biopic - TBD

There has been talk of a biographical drama about the late Who drummer Keith Moon for 20 years at this point, but it sounds like the long-in-the-works project is finally getting closer to becoming a reality. In 2023, Who frontman Roger Daltrey told NME that he had completed a script for the film and was waiting for replies from directors.

Later on, in 2024, Daltrey gave a similar update to Ultimate Classic Rock when he said the script was written and that he was trying to work with the best available director (“all the good ones are always working”). There have been no updates since then, however.

Unforgettable (Nat King Cole Biopic) - TBD

Colman Domingo, who is currently in theaters as Joe Jackson in Michael, has been on a tear as of late, and that momentum will hopefully be enough to get his long-in-the-works Nat King Cole biopic into theaters sooner rather than later. In January 2024, the Michael and Euphoria star told Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast that the movie, which he is attached to lead and direct, is something he’s been working on quietly for several years and something he’s looking forward to putting together.

According to Variety, this isn’t the first time the multi-talented star has crafted a project based on the “Unforgettable” singer, as Domingo previously co-wrote the play Lights Out: Nat King Cole, which followed the singer during his 1957 Christmas special, the first of its kind hosted by an African American performer. In February 2026, Deadline reported the movie was being pitched as being PG-13 in order to reach a larger audience.

Shout It Out Loud (Kiss) - TBD

KISS, one of the biggest rock bands (and brands) of all time, will be getting the biopic treatment at some point in the future, as Deadline has reported that McG is slated to direct Shout It Out Loud, a film based on the life and career of the iconic outfit. Details about the movie are scarce at this point in its development, but considering the history and iconography that made the Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley-led rock group so legendary over the past 50 years, this could be a flashy, splashy, and over-the-top rock pic.

In June 2025, Deadline reported that Nick Jonas would be playing guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley, but there’s no word on who’ll be playing the other members of KISS.

Janis Joplin Biopic - TBD

Despite being one of the most transformative and beloved singers of the ‘60s counter-culture movement, Janis Joplin has never been the subject of a biographical drama, though there have been numerous attempts. Well, that will soon change as Variety has reported that Big Little Lies star Shailene Woodley is set to play the “Piece of My Heart” singer in an untitled biopic.

The singer, who’s remembered for her electric performances and powerful voice, passed away in October 1970, joining the ranks of other famous musicians like Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix who passed away at the age of 27.

Frank Sinatra Biopic - TBD

One of the most exciting music biographical dramas in the works, Martin Scorsese’s Frank Sinatra biopic will focus on the life and career of the iconic crooner and actor who dominated American music and pop culture throughout the 20th century. Though details are limited at this point, Variety reported in April 2024 that the Killers of the Flower Moon director was looking to make the movie one of his next two projects and that longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio was being eyed for the lead role alongside Jennifer Lawrence.

Though it seemed like production was going to get underway in 2024, Variety reported in September that filming had been postponed along with a couple of Scorsese’s other projects. Leo provided an update at the 2026 Santa Barbara Film Festival (via World of Reel) in February 2026, where he said it was “still in the works, still in the works.”

Linda Ronstadt Biopic - TBD

Linda Ronstadt, the 11-time Grammy winner behind iconic tracks like “You’re No Good,” “Somewhere Out There,” and “Blue Bayou,” will be getting the biopic treatment at some point in the future, and the actress tied to portraying her has us very excited. In January 2024, Rolling Stone confirmed that Only Murders in the Building star Selena Gomez was attached to star in the untitled movie after she shared an image of Ronstadt’s Simple Dreams memoir on her Instagram page.

Gomez told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024 that the movie was still happening, but she didn’t know when it would all go down. Though we still don’t know when things will get going, World of Reel confirmed in March 2025 that Miramax had acquired the rights and that David O. Russell is still in talks to direct. Fingers crossed.

With so many great biopics in the works, we’re in for a real treat the next few years. Check back for updates for each of these projects as more information becomes available.

The directors on this list are among the greatest in the history of cinema, with films that are considered the best of all time; films that will never be forgotten. What about those movies they brought all their tremendous talents to, but which aren’t remembered as well? Here is our list of great movies, by great directors, that don’t get talked about enough these days. 

The Frighteners - Peter Jackson

The Frighteners is such a great movie, and it’s criminally underrated. No, it's not as sprawling or overwhelming as Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films, but it has all the heart and more. Michael J. Fox leads as a con man/exorcist who can see and interact with ghosts. The Frightners is really funny, well-paced, and delightful. 

The King Of Comedy - Martin Scorsese 

When you think of Martin Scorsese, “comedy” is not usually the first word that pops into your head, but The King Of Comedy is really a pretty great movie, and while it’s technically a comedy, it’s really dark. Goodfellas has some comedy in it, like Joe Pesci acting like a clown… but a true (dark) comedy? This Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis-led film stands alone in Scorsese’s canon. 

Peggy Sue Got Married - Francis Ford Coppola

Peggy Sue Got Married is a deceptively simple film. Unlike Francis Ford Coppola’s more-talked-about epics like The Godfather films and Apocalypse Now, this film, starring Nicolas Cage and Kathleen Turner, is smaller, but that doesn’t mean it’s lesser. It’s a weird time-travel tale, but at its heart, it’s really a love story, and while it's not Coppola’s best work, it’s well worth a watch and should be talked about more often. 

Jackie Brown - Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Taratino has famously said that his next movie, his 10th, could be his last. Whether that holds true or not remains to be seen, but it’s a safe bet Jackie Brown will still be his least talked about.

Strange Days - Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow’s won Oscars (for The Hurt Locker) and she’s directed cult classics (Point Break). Strange Days is certainly closer to the latter. In it, Bigelow dabbles in science fiction, a rarity for her, but it’s unsurprising, as Strange Days was written by her then-husband James Cameron. It doesn’t have the iconic quotes that Point Break has, nor is it as white-knuckle as The Hurt Locker, but it is a great time capsule to filmmaking in the mid-90s and well worth remembering. 

Amistad - Steven Spielberg

Wedged between The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Saving Private Ryan in Steven Spielberg’s filmography, is Amistad. It’s easy to understand why this powerful historical drama revolving around a landmark court case regarding the slave trade is overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. It’s a moving story, told expertly as only Spielberg can, with a monster cast including Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, and Djimon Hounsou, among many others. 

Clockers - Spike Lee

Let’s be clear here, Clockers is not Spike Lee’s finest work. It doesn’t reach the heights of movies like Do The Right Thing or Malcolm X, but it's still a really good movie. It gets lost in Lee’s stellar filmography, which is understandable. It’s also a testament to just how good Lee’s career has been. 

Talk Radio - Oliver Stone

Talk Radio has everything you expect from an Oliver Stone movie. Its pacing and storytelling are perfect, it’s a fascinating and terrifying story that pulls from the real-world events of a murdered radio show host. It also has a healthy dose of conspiracy, as any great Stone film does. 

The Bling Ring - Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring is a meta-tastic heist film that is not only a ton of fun to watch with celebrity cameos and great acting performances, but it also touches on some of the emerging trends that exploded in the years after the movie came out, notably influencer culture. It’s too often overlooked in Coppola’s stellar filmography. 

The Game - David Fincher

David Fincher is a master, and his filmography is full of great movies, like Se7en and Fight Club. The movie he made between those two classic is The Game with Sean Penn and Michael Douglas. Understandably, it’s overshadowed, but it’s an amazing film that is every bit as good as those two more talked-about movies. Even when people watch Fincher’s whole body of work, The Game gets overlooked and it shouldn’t. 

Casualties Of War - Brian De Palma

Casualties of War was released in 1989, which was the tail end of a slew of excellent Vietnam War movies released in the late ‘80s, like Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Hamburger Hill. Despite earning well-deserved praise from critics, the Brian De Palma film bombed, and as such, it's unfortunately one of the director’s least talked about movies when it should be one of the most. 

Matchstick Men - Ridley Scott

Usually, when movie fans talk about Ridley Scott, it’s his sprawling historical epics like Gladiator or Napoleon that dominate the conversation, along with sci-fi classics like Alien and Blade Runner. Matchstick Men is a smaller movie, a dark comedy about a con man with a myriad of personal problems played by Nicolas Cage. It’s a wonderful performance by Cage, and despite not performing well at the box office, it’s been well-reviewed over the years.

Inherent Vice - Paul Thomas Anderson

Inherent Vice from Paul Thomas Anderson is a complicated movie, based on a complicated book by Thomas Pinchon. It’s easy to understand why it’s not as talked about as some of Anderson’s other movies, like There Will Be Blood and Boogie Nights, but it’s every bit as good as those, featuring great acting performances and wonderful cinematography. 

Out Of Sight - Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderberg is known for stylish filming techniques with snappy dialog and interesting plot twists. It’s all right there in Out Of Sight, but the movie still gets overlooked. It was Soderbergh’s first big-budget film, and maybe that’s why it doesn’t get talked about enough. It was also his first collaboration with George Clooney, which makes it even more confounding that it’s not more popular. 

Barry Lyndon - Stanley Kubrick

It’s hard to really argue that any of Stanley Kubrick’s films are not talked about enough, but Barry Lyndon comes the closest here. It’s most revered for its cinematography, but it’s also a wonderful story. While it doesn’t have the panache of A Clockwork Orange or the scope of 2001: A Space Odyssey, it’s still a Kubrick film and it’s one of the best ever made. 

Stardust - Matthew Vaughn

Matthew Vaughn has quietly put together one of the finest resumes in Hollywood. The Kingsman movies are a hot franchise, he’s dabbled in Marvel, and may have inspired the choice of Daniel Craig as James Bond after directing him in Layer Cake. Stardust seems to get lost in the shuffle, but it’s maybe, low key, his best film. 

Ryan's Daughter - David Lean

David Lean is rightfully most remembered for three films, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Doctor Zhivago. Lost in the discussion of those films is Ryan’s Daughter, a retelling of Madame Bovary set at the end of World War I. It was the last film Lean directed for 14 years and we can only wonder what he might have done had he not semi-retired. 

Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson has developed one of the most distinct styles in film history, which translates brilliantly to animation, as well. Anderson’s first foray into the genre was Fantastic Mr. Fox, starring George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Bill Murray, among others. While it may never outshine his live-action classics, it should be discussed more as one of his best works. 

Bound - The Wachowskis

The DNA of the Wachowskis is very evident in Bound, their first movie. It was made on a shoestring budget, so it doesn’t have the over-the-top effects of The Matrix series, but you can see where they were headed in their filmmaking. 

Intolerable Cruelty - Coen Brothers

When you have a filmography like the Coen Brothers, inevitably, some of the movies won’t get talked about as much as others. Intolerable Cruelty is one of those that gets lost in the mix, behind movies like The Big Lebowski and others that are among the best movies of the ‘90s and beyond. 

Insomnia - Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is among the most beloved directors of the 21st century, creating what feels like independent films, but with monster budgets. That DNA was on display early in his career with Insomnia, which has everything you’d expect from a Nolan movie, but with less than half the budget of Oppenheimer. 

The Fan - Tony Scott

There are few better action directors in Hollywood history than Tony Scott. Most remembered today for classics like Top Gun, and Days of Thunder, The Fan should be talked about more. It’s not a perfect movie, but De Niro’s performance is terrifying (in a great way) as a baseball fan obsessed with Wesley Snipes' character. It’s action horror, and it’s great. 

Vincent And Theo - Robert Altman

Robert Altman had one of the most up-and-down careers in Hollywood history. After a string of successes in the ‘80s, his career was almost sunk by Popeye. It took years for him to rebound, but he did with Vincent & Theo. That led to a career revival, but it’s hardly remembered anymore, overshadowed by his early and later films. 

She's Having A Baby - John Hughes

One of the biggest reasons John Hughes is so loved by people who came of age in the ‘80s and ‘90s was his ability to write and direct genuine teenage characters. That extended to a young married couple starting their lives together in She’s Having A Baby. It’s not as quotable as some of Hughes’ other movies, but it’s still sharply written and a fun watch. 

Only The Lonely - Chris Columbus

Chris Columbus has some directed some huge films in his career, most notably Home Alone and Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone. He's also got movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Adventures in Babysitting on his resume. One film that is not talked about enough is Only The Lonely starring John Candy as a man looking for a wife, but dealing with a controlling mother. 

Beowulf - Robert Zemeckis

Generations of high schoolers have been confounded and frustrated by Beowulf. Some love the old English classic, but many hate it. It takes a bold director to take it on as a movie. Robert Zemeckis makes it work, and work well. Still, given the material, it’s not a surprise it’s not talked about as much as Zemeckis’ more popular movies like Back to the Future. 

Great Expectations - Alfonso Cuaron

Director Alfonso Cuaron has made some of the best movies of the last 20 years, including Roma, Gravity, and Y tu mamá también. One of his films that doesn’t get talked about much anymore is 1998’s Great Expectations starring Gwenyth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke. It’s a bold modernization of the classic Dickens novel that can be polarizing, but still worth talking about more.

Ed Wood - Tim Burton

Of all the movies Tim Burton has made, it’s unsurprising that Ed Wood is one of his least discussed. It’s a love letter to legendary B-Movie director Ed Wood, and despite being filled to the brim with great performances, it's not as popular as many of Burton’s other works. 

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil - Clint Eastwood

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is not exactly the kind of film you might expect from Clint Eastwood, but you should. Some of his best work is when he strays away from the tough guy movies he’s so well known for and this is a great one, starring John Cusack and Kevin Spacey. 

Away We Go - Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes is best known for movies that cover heavy topics, movies like American Beauty, 1917, and Road to Perdition. That's probably the reason 2009's Away We Go with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph isn't talked about as much, but it's a sweet movie about a couple dealing with major changes in their life and how to handle them. 

Sleepers - Barry Levinson

Sleepers is a dark, dark film. It's also really, really good. With an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, and many more, it's surprising it doesn't get talked about as much as some of director Barry Levinson's other work, but given the subject matter, it can be a very hard watch.  

High Anxiety - Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks is a living legend and his filmography is filled with some of the most quotable movies of all time. One that doesn't get quoted much, or even talked about much, is High Anxiety. It was, believe it or not, the first time Mel Brooks also played the lead in one of his movies, so that alone should garner more attention. 

Great directors usually have long filmographies, so it's only natural that some of their finest work would be talked about less than their most groundbreaking or biggest films. That said, many movies should be talked about as much as those classics, but aren't. Here's to that changing now! 

Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Edward Norton, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kate Hudson, LaKeith Stanfield, Madelyn Cline, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista – all those folks have appeared in a Knives Out mystery by Rian Johnson, and that’s not even scratching the surface of the A+ Knives Out cast and Glass Onion ensemble. Well, now that we know a third installment in Benoit Blanc’s whodunnit series will go into production soon, fans are throwing all their casting ideas on social media. And I sure hope the writer/director is taking notes, because these are brilliant. 

Knives Out 3 is set to go into production later this year, meaning we’ll likely find out who will make up its cast soon-ish. Between Rian Johnson’s first two films starring Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc and his Natasha Lyonne-led series Poker Face, he’s proven over and over again that he knows how to assemble an epic cast. Therefore, fans are expecting a list of greats to make up the ensemble of the third Knives Out mystery, and they have some brilliant ideas, like @tedsbecca who is campaigning for James Marsden:

James Marsden – who received an Emmy nomination for Jury Duty – is such a fabulous actor who is genuinely hilarious, and I think he’d fit in perfectly to this wacky world of mystery.

Sticking to the world of comedy, @ZoeRoseBryant called out an actress that I think many would love to see in a Rian Johnson whodunnit, posting:

The Knives Out movies always feature extremely talented up-and-coming actors – like Ana de Armas and Madelyn Cline. Considering Edebiri’s background in comedy as well as her recent rise because of her work on The Bear, audiences would be thrilled to see her in one of these movies, myself included. 

Meanwhile, @CoyJandreau was looking back at other iconic mystery movies for his dream cast. Considering we sadly might never get a Nice Guys sequel, I’m 100% on board with him fan-casting Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in Knives Out 3:

When it comes to @heyitsjennalynn’s take, she noted that she’s willing to die on the hill of getting 2023 Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan into the threequel, and I would die on that hill too:

There were also some fun unconventional picks for Knives Out 3 ensemble members. However, considering Stephen Sondheim and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made cameos at the same time in Glass Onion, nothing is impossible. So, @hpeeryhorton, I hope your dream comes true:

People really have some brilliant and unique ideas for the Knives Out 3 cast, and I’m so here for them. Along with the fun ones highlighted above, here are a few more fun requests for the Oscar-nominated writer:

• Zendaya , Sarah Drew, Sofia Vergara ans Viola Davis. i mean....The power!! -@BellamyKeppner 
• Funny Adam Driver would be top tier -@eva_kirby21 
• here’s how I get Pedro [Pascal] and Kieran [Culkin] in a movie together, walk with me here -@sottgoods 
• Aubrey Plaza and Jenna Ortega! They would be amazing together. 🤣 -@imtiffanyblair 
• Jennifer Lawrence would be PERFECT in a film like this -@_Syncopy_ 
• I'm here to spread the Sam Rockwell for Knives Out 3 agenda again -@NeonTravesty 

Really, the possibilities are endless, and I can’t wait to see the cast Rian Johnson assembles for his next Knives Out mystery.

It seems highly unlikely that the third Benoit Blanc whodunnit will premiere on the 2024 movie schedule since reports say it will go into production toward the end of this year. However, I suspect that we’ll learn about who ends up in the film as it starts to shoot, and hopefully, some of the names mentioned above will be part of it. 

Lily Gladstone made Oscar history by being the first Native American woman to be among the 2024 Oscar nominees for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon. Her performance as Osage Nation member Mollie Burkhart has been adored by the Academy, audiences, and critics alike. With this Oscar nomination, big things are coming to Gladstone’s career, like getting to re-team with Scorsese on a very different kind of movie.

To go from roles in indie films to putting her name on the map by starring in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon is an incredible feat for Lily Gladstone. Not only did her performance as Mollie Burkhart snag her a ton of wins and nominations, but she’s already got a new project lined up. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Montana native actress will star in the sci-fi film The Memory Police which will adapt Yoko Ogwawa’s 1994 sci-fi novel. 

Other than getting to work with The Handmaid’s Tale’s Reed Morano, who will be directing the upcoming movie, Gladstone will have another chance to work with none other than Martin Scorsese himself, as he's set to be an executive producer. With these two teaming up once again, I’m sure their working dynamic will prove powerful. It also proves that the Oscar-winning director can’t find himself to stay away from his Killers of the Flower Moon cast as he’ll be working with Leonardo DiCaprio again for another Apple movie called The Wager. 

Along with Gladstone joining The Memory Police, Being John Malkovich’s Charlie Kaufman will be penning the script. The Yoko Ogwawa novel is about an unnamed island where all of its inhabitants are suffering from collective amnesia with a law enforcement organization making sure it stays that way. A writer decides to shield her editor from the Memory Police as he still has his memories. 

It looks like we'll get to see Lily Gladstone play more of a heroic role in a world very different than her previous works. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing the talented actress in a whole new light with this next movie as she heads into the sci-fi realm.

So far, Lily Gladstone has been receiving a ton of accolades for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon. Earlier this month, she became a 2024 Golden Globe winner for Best Actress in a Drama, delivering an excellent speech about how her pride in representing the Blackfeet Nation through her win. 

Gladstone was also recognized as Best Actress at the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle. During the critics’ screening of the latest Scorsese film, CNN’s Brian Lowry called the Best Actress nominee “the real star” of the movie. I have to agree. Gladstone genuinely gave an emotionally heartbreaking performance of a woman seeing her whole world falling apart while trying to survive the harm done to her and her people. Through heart-wrenching cries or a subtle look, she truly gave it her all.

With an Oscar nomination under her belt and a new sci-fi film on the way, Lily Gladstone’s career is soaring to great heights. I can’t wait to see what other roles she decides to take in the near future. 

To see her Oscar-nominated performance in Killers of the Flower Moon all you need is an Apple TV+ subscription. Also, make sure to check in with our 2024 movie releases in case Gladstone and Martin Scorsese’s next collab, The Memory Police, turns up there.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese have made several movies together and while Shutter Island may not be considered the best Scorsese movie or the best Leonardo DiCaprio movie, it is without a doubt, the most unusual in their history of collaboration and perhaps the most worthy of discussion. It’s a strange noir film that likely needs to be seen more than once in order to fully appreciate it. It’s like a few other projects in that way, but Leonardo DiCaprio thinks it has something in common with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. And honestly, he’s not wrong. 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese recently came together to discuss their movies for Letterboxd, and while the entire conversation is worth watching for any movie fan, perhaps the most interesting part came when the two discussed Shutter Island. Scorsese talked about the noir detective movies that inspired DiCaprio’s character. DiCaprio talked about the way that, in some ways, pretending to be one of the characters from those movies is exactly what his character is doing. The actor said…

Shutter Island’s ending is absolutely wild, and while I can be somewhat vague about it for anybody who hasn’t seen the film, the movie does make it clear early on that things are not entirely as they seem and that something strange is going on. This is where DiCaprio compares his character to Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, as both men are the central figure in a bizarre situation that exists entirely for them. DiCaprio explained… 

There are certainly some differences between the two characters. Willy Wonka is fully in control of his contrived situation, whereas DiCaprio’s Teddy is not in control, at least not willingly. But it’s certainly true that everything revolves around them. Watching both movies a second time makes it clearer just what is really going on. You see better on a rewatch just what is really going on. 

And of course, both movies are a bit fantastical. There’s an unreality to them both, which is part of what keeps the audience unclear on just what’s going on and what the motivations are. Scorsese said…

I’m not sure that Shutter Island and WIlly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory would work as a double feature, but there is a running theme. DiCaprio and Socrsese’s latest feature, Killers of the Flower Moon is now available to Apple TV+ subscribers. DiCaprio and Scorsese don’t have a project together on the 2024 movie schedule, but it’s a safe bet we’ll see them working together again down the road.  

From her commanding performances in everything from The Accused to The Silence of the Lambs to the upcoming True Detective Season 4, Jodie Foster has been a formidable presence onscreen for decades. And it's not just audiences who are "intimidated" in the company of the Oscar winner, it's acclaimed directors too. The actress-filmmaker revealed this while discussing her time making one of Martin Scorsese's best movies, the 1976 masterpiece Taxi Driver, in which she portrayed child prostitute Iris Steensma opposite Robert DeNiro's Travis Bickle at only 12 years old. 

The former child actor would receive her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the neo-noir. However, she revealed during an interview with W Magazine that the then-32-year-old director — with whom she had also worked on the 1974 dramedy Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore — and his team were "definitely scared" of her, given that she had already "made a lot more films than [he] had at that point": 

Overall, this fear from the director and his team simply came from Foster having more work experience than them. Between Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and Taxi Driver, the actress worked on four more projects, bringing her total number of credits up to 35 by 1976. Meanwhile, Taxi Driver was Scorsese's fifth film in the director's chair. 

The 61-year-old actress detailed to the outlet how she kicked off her critically acclaimed career as a child star at the age of 3 "in commercials and television" before segueing into movies at 6 years old. She became a tween star in the 1970s in Disney movies like Napoleon and Samantha, Freaky Friday and Candleshoe, and became the then-youngest host of Saturday Night Live at 14 years old in 1976. 

One of the rare kid actors to go on to have a successful acting career as an adult in Hollywood, Foster followed up that pre-teen Scorsese work and a Yale college degree with two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award and three Golden Globe Awards, as well as the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2013. 

In the W Magazine interview, the performer noted how becoming an adult actor post-college was "the biggest transition" in her life:

And, of course, Scorsese has been no slouch in the movie department either: the filmmaker would go on to direct 21 feature films after Taxi Driver, including Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street and this year's "brilliant" Killers of the Flower Moon. The latter title has major Oscars buzz and has already racked up seven 2024 Golden Globe nominations, including Best Director for Martin Scorsese and Best Supporting Actor for his frequent collaborator, and Jodie Foster's Taxi Driver co-star, Robert DeNiro.

Given that Foster is also a Golden Globes nominee this year in the Best Supporting Actress category for her work in the swimmer biopic Nyad, we might just be lucky enough to get a Taxi Driver reunion on the red carpet soon enough! Although, this time, I highly doubt there will be any perceived intimidation from any party involved.

It's hard to believe Entourage ended its eight-season run so long ago, in 2011 (not counting the less-than-well-recieved movie in 2015). For the length of the show, one thing that kept audiences coming back for more each week was the great celebrity cameos. What started as a trickle in the first season, became a flood towards the end, with big stars always showing up, usually with hilarious results. Here is our list of some of the funniest celebrity cameos on Entourage. 

Mark Wahlberg

It makes sense that Mark Wahlberg would be the first cameo on the show, appearing in the very first episode of Season 1. Entourage was (very) loosely based on his experiences in Hollywood as a young actor, and the Boogie Nights star was a producer of the show. 

David Schwimmer

A great thing about the cameos was that often the celebrities weren't afraid to poke a little fun at themselves. Take, for example, David Schwimmer's spot in the Season 6 episode "Running on E." Schwimmer sits in a pitch meeting with super agent Ari Gold's (Jeremy Piven) team and offer after offer is for the Friends star to play some sort of neurotic character for comedic effect. The frustration for Schwimmer is palpable. 

Peter Dinklage

One of the most common tropes on the show was the stars taking potshots at Ari. Ari was a character we all loved to hate, but it turns out most of the celebrities playing themselves also hated Ari. Peter Dinklage is one of those when he trades barbs with Ari at a party in the Season 2 "Sundance Kids."

John Stamos

John Stamos was the perfect type of celeb to show on Entourage. It was always fun to see how a cameo appearance might just be an opportunity to take down lovable loser Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon). In a bit of a twist, after getting insulted by Stamos a few times, the two play an epic match of ping pong that ends predicably for Drama in the Season 7 episode "Tequila Sunrise." 

Jeffrey Tambor

Jeffrey Tambor plays a jerk like few others can in Hollywood. When he's playing a fictionalized version of himself being to jerk to his kids, it's comedy gold. Fictional life as a jerk and real life have blurred together for Tambor, but his appearance in Season 6 is still really funny. 

Matt Damon

Matt Damon takes charity very seriously, so his cameo on Entourage, in the Season 6 finale, fits perfectly. It's also a rare time that Vince (Adrian Grenier) is the one getting clowned when he tries to dodge both Damon and Bono into giving money to their charity to help children.  

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer's guest spot on the show is a little different than most on this list. He doesn't play himself, but the role is so brief – and so funny – that it had to be included. In Season 1, the Top Gun: Maverick star plays a "sherpa" living in a giant house in Beverly Hills like a '60s hippie. 

Snoop Dogg

No one brings joy like Snoop Dogg. There is never a time when people are unhappy to see the legendary rapper show up somewhere on TV and Entourage is no exception. The brief interaction between Snoop, Vince, and Eric (Kevin Connolly), partly highlights the confusion of how to pronounce "Cannes" in the Season 4 episode "The Dream Team."

James Cameron

The Season 2 episode "Sundance Kids" really kicked the cameos on the show into overdrive and one of the best of the whole series is James Cameron. Vince is trying to land a role in his Aquaman movie, so Turtle and Drama try to help (and fail). The best part, though, is Cameron's interaction with a barista (played by This Is Us star Chrissy Metz). 

Tom Brady

Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is a die-hard New York Giants fan, so when he meets Tom Brady at a charity golf tournament, he does what any self-respecting fan would do, he blows him off and refuses to shake his hand. It's brilliant. 

Martin Scorsese

Entourage proved just how big it was for celeb cameos when none other than Martin Scorsese appeared for a brief scene to offer Vince a role in his fictional The Great Gatsby movie in the finale of Season 5. You know you've made it when Scorsese gets involved. 

Scarlett Johansson

Season 1 ends with a big-time star appearance when the one and only Scarlett Johansson cameos on the phone with Vince, after Eric promises him to land a date with the superstar actress. It works, though it's the last time we'd see Johansson on the show. 

Stan Lee

Comic legend Stan Lee became the king of cameos with his iconic moments in the MCU universe for years, a streak that ended with his death in 2018. It's all too appropriate that we include him on this list, not only due to Lee's status as a cameo-king but because his quick role is just so funny as he can't quite place where he's seen Vince's adult film star girlfriend, Sasha Grey, before.

Lamar Odom

Entourage was replete with professional athletes throughout its run. Lamar Odom shows up pretty early in the show's run, in "An Offer Refused" in Season 2. The cameo is notable because of the way Drama gets obsessed with how men's calves look, including Odom's, which understandably freaks the NBA star out. 

Bono

Bono's appearance in the Season 6 finale is brilliant. He only appears via computer screen, as he's on a video call with Matt Damon and teams up with Damon to gang up on Vince to guilt him into getting on board with their charity. It's vintage Bono, pushing a charity but not taking himself as seriously as the world perceives him to be. 

Bobby Flay

Ari being a jerk to someone isn't a surprise, but Ari being a jerk to Bobby Flay is, pardon the pun, pure gold. Flay is great playing himself as the chef at his own restaurant, one of Ari's favorites, but the two bicker before Flay has had enough in the Season 8 episode "Whiz Kid." 

Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara's cameo is notable because she's not playing herself. While she herself is perfect for the role as a Colombian actress auditioning for the movie Medellin, it's funny because of how ridiculous the rest of Vince's team reacts to her. The first episode of Season 2 is one of the most unique, and funniest, of the show's run. 

M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan's appearance in the episode "Sorry, Harvey" in Season 4 is classic Entourage. Playing himself, he's angry at Ari for not reading his latest script and confronts the super agent to call him on it. It's the kind of cameo we've come to expect from this show, a major star fighting with Ari. 

Christina Aguilera

The Season 7 finale, "Lose Yourself" is one of the saddest of the show, for a few reasons. One is Ari throwing a lavish party for his wife to keep her from leaving him complete with Christina Aguilera singing "You Are Beautiful," only to have his wife not show.  Aguilera gets mad at Ari (naturally) and demands his Lakers playoffs tickets to keep performing. 

Adrian Peterson

NFL superstar Adrian Peterson selling a dinosaur skull. Is there anything more that needs to be said? The Season 7 episode "Tequila and Coke" has a great moment poking fun at people investing in fossils, and yes, Nic Cage gets a shout-out. 

Zac Efron

It's no surprise that Ari would be trying to steal a client from another agent, but what makes Zac Efron's cameo on Entourage so funny is his interaction with a fan while on the phone with Ari. A mom using her daughter to get Efron's autograph (and pushing for, um, more) is hilarious. 

Kanye West

Vince and his crew have no problem asking anyone for a favor. Kanye West is the victim of one of the most outlandish requests when they beg him for a ride on his private plane to France, even though Ye is headed for London in "No Cannes Do" from Season 4. The rapper is stunned and doesn't hide it, but still, who can turn down Vince? No one, not even Ye.

David Spade

David Spade is the perfect star for a cameo on Entourage. In his, he's got women on both arms and plays a total jerk. While he's surely not a jerk, he somehow has that public perception, which is what makes the cameo so much fun in the Season 8 episode titled "The Big Bang." Spade is just hilarious. 

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is clearly a good sport. Despite the show taking a shot at the pro golfer's failure at the 2006 U.S. Open, he later agreed to appear on the show, if only to show up Ari. A chance meeting on the golf course between Mickelson, and Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara, led to the role. Kizmet. 

50 Cent

50 Cent makes one of the briefest cameos on the show, but it's one of the best. When he sees Turtle driving, he pulls up alongside and manages to take Turtle down a notch, despite the fancy ride he's driving in. Turtle has a rough time in his birthday episode, "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car," from Season 6.

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin's first cameo (he made two) on Entourage came in an episode named after him, "The Sorkin Notes" in Season 6. Sorkin is caught up in some drama in Ari's office that he wants no part of and is hilarious in a rare acting role for the writer and director. Now can we get that West Wing revival starring Sterling K. Brown that Sorkin had an idea for, please?

Dean Cain

Another very brief cameo comes from Dean Cain. The former Superman actor disrupts one of Drama's auditions, which crushes Drama, as he figures there's no one he can compete with Cain for the part. It's vintage Johnny Drama in the Season 6 episode "Scared Straight." It's another moment in which you can't help but feel terrible for Drama. 

Eminem

The Season 7 finale, "Lose Yourself," not only foreshadows Vince's downward spiral, but Eminem's cameo. In one of the lowest moments of Vince's life, he first insults Minka Kelly, then gets into a fistfight with Eminem. It's as sad as it is funny, a line the show walked brilliantly in the episode. 

Alex Rodriguez

How tragic would be to hear that you lost out on a ton of money from former Yankee Alex Rodriguez? That's what happens to Turtle when the shortstop-turned-third-baseman shows up on screen to tell Turtle that the tequila company he once owned a lot of stock in went public after he sold out. Ouch. 

Steve Nash

Poor Steve Nash. The NBA star was at the height of his fame when he was unwittingly cornered by Eric at his manager's office (Scott Caan). Eric dumps all of his girlfriend problems on the Canadian basketball player's feet in the Season 6 episode "Murphy's Lie," and all Nash can do is look stunned. 

Johnny Galecki

Johnny Galecki's role in Entourage was a little more than one cameo, it was more like three cameos over three episodes and he plays a fictionalized version of himself who makes Eric's life hell by dating Eric's ex-girlfriend Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui). This version of Galecki is terrible but completely hilarious. 

Jessica Simpson

As Ari tries to protect his client base, he's forced to go hat in hand to a client who's mad at him for not caring when her dog died. Jessica Simpson meets Ari at the door in "Bottoms Up" from Season 7, and in classic Entourage fashion, makes Ari look like the jerk that he is, despite his insincere attempt to gift another dog to Simpson. It sums up everything a great Entourage cameo should be. A big star, an unrepentant Ari, and some choice lines. 

This is a list that could be almost endless, and we didn't even get into the multiple cameos in the Entourage movie, one of which featured Channing Tatum that didn't actually happen. 

Margot Robbie is one of Hollywood’s most bankable actresses these days, but she only skyrocketed to fame after starring in The Wolf of Wall Street alongside Leonardo DiCaprio when she was only 22. The breakthrough role moved mountains for the actress, and she has spoken over the years about how much the part meant to her when she was cast. At the time, she was flabbergasted when director Martin Scorsese asked to meet with her, and she had an unintentionally funny response when she was found out the famous director was interested in her for the role.

When Martin Scorsese was casting The Wolf of Wall Street, hundreds if not thousands of actresses vied for the role of Naomi. Even on the page it was a star-making part, and a juicy role alongside one of cinema’s most well-regarded leading men. There was something about Robbie’s audition tape that caught his eye, and he wanted to meet with the young Australian actress. When she heard the news, she couldn’t believe it, and almost couldn’t comprehend that Scorsese had actually seen her tape. She told CBS Sunday Morning: 

While it may have been surprising for her to get the call, it wasn’t surprising for the world when they saw her performance in The Wolf of Wall Street. Robbie holds her own against powerhouse performances by DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, and clearly was the right actress for the role. She is funny, animated, sexy, and effortlessly switches between comedic and dramatic scenes.

Robbie hilariously may not have known how she got into the mix, but it was clear the aforementioned "Marty" had a good eye. She end up having strong instincts about the characters, and pushed strongly to come out "completely naked" for a pivotal onscreen scene with Leonardo DiCaprio. The role could have easily been one note in the hands of another star, but she truly steals the show in every one of her scenes.

Those strong instincts have served her well in Hollywood since. Alongside Margot Robbie's myriad movie roles, She has since evolved into one of the biggest producers in Hollywood too. Doubtless, the Barbie actress is probably on a first name basis with everyone now; however, it’s still endearing to hear her reminisce about her humble beginnings. 

Since then, Margot Robbie has not only made an effort to take on challenging roles like Tonya Harding and Harley Quinn, but her experience with Scorsese also influenced her in consistently choosing to work with auteur directors. She has worked with big names like Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and Greta Gerwig, and continues to seek out interesting material. She also worked with DiCaprio again in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood… and probably now confidently calls him “Leo.” 

Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon is an absolute tour de force, a movie with an intimidating runtime that will be nominated in most if not all of the major categories at the 96th Academy Awards. The book-to-screen adaptation of David Grann’s enthralling non-fiction work that detailing the Osage Murders and the birth of the FBI left no stone unturned in its retelling of the cruel and vicious killings. The same is also true in regard to its exploration of the Native American tribe at the heart of its story.

While you wait for Killers of the Flower Moon to eventually join Apple TV+'s best movies on the streaming platform, now is as good time as any to watch a handful of documentaries that shed light on both the Osage Murders as well as other aspects of Native American history and culture. These seven films shed light on the rich cultures of the various tribes and their respective places in American history. So let's talk these out.

Osage Murders (2022)

Though rather short (it’s barely 13 minutes long), the documentary titled Osage Murders, provides an incredibly detailed and thorough dive into the systematic killings of wealthy members of the Native American tribe in the early 20th century. Directed by Dan Bigbee Jr., it focuses on the real-life events that would later appear in Killers of the Flower Moon, including the harrowing explosion at the Smith home in Fairfax. 

There's a keen focus on the prominent families who made up the Osage population in the Oklahoma town as well as their history, culture and tragic deaths, which were the basis for Martin Scorsese’s crime epic. This insightful and well-made short film is a tremendous watch for those captivated by Scorsese's latest and want to learn more about the stories that inspired it.

Stream Osage Murders on PBS.

Native America (2018 - 2023)

While Osage Murders mostly focuses on a single topic, the PBS docuseries Native America has a much larger scope and spends a considerably larger amount of time detailing practically every aspect of the American Indian experience dating back centuries. With episodes exploring the vast kingdoms and empires spread across the Americas to more modern times, it's next to impossible to come out of this experience not knowing more than you did going in. 

If you're in search of a better understanding of Native American tribes and want greater context for the events depicted in Flower Moon, there are few better documentary series worth checking out.

Stream Native America on PBS.
Buy Native America on Amazon.

American Experience: We Shall Remain (2009)

Since its debut in 1988, PBS’ American Experience series has spent countless hours telling all kinds of stories about important and interesting events and people from the nation’s storied history That's included everything from the Civil Rights Movement to various military conflicts to pop culture. In 2009, the producers of the program turned their attention to Native American history with the multi-part series subtitled We Shall Remain.

Throughout five episodes ranging from 60 to 90 minutes in length each, this outstanding exploration of the Native American experience dives into the history and culture of various tribes that have all called the North American continent home. Starting in the 17 century and going to the American Indian Movement’s last stand at Wounded Knee in 1973, the series focuses on the triumphs and tragedies of America’s first inhabitants and what they’ve faced over the years.

Stream American Experience: We Shall Remain on Hoopla.
Stream American Experience: We Shall Remain on PBS.
Buy American Experience: We Shall Remain on Amazon.

The American Buffalo (2023)

If you are a fan of Ken Burns’ various documentaries like The Ninth Inning, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, The War and The Civil War, then the decorated documentarian’s 2023 effort, The American Buffalo, is worthy of a watch (if you haven’t already). Though its primary focus is on the buffalo throughout this three-part film, it also spends a large portion of its runtime discussing the interconnectedness of the animal and various Native American tribes.

The project details the symbiotic relationship of animal and man and the way in which American Indians honored the beast that sustained them for years. There's also focus placed on how the arrival of American business interests put both man and animal in jeopardy. All in all, the film provides greater context for Martin Scorsese’s sprawling epic of greed and evil.

Stream The American Buffalo on PBS.
Buy The American Buffalo on Amazon.

Reel Injun (2010)

Directed by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond, Catherine Bainbridge, and Jeremiah Hayes, the 2009 documentary, Reel Injun, chronicles the portrayal of Native people in various Hollywood movies. Through extensive interviews with filmmakers and actors like Graham Greene, Clint Eastwood, and several others, the documentary pieces together how depictions of Native tribes, have changed over the years. Films like Flower Moon flipping the narrative, allowing for more realistic portrayals that are representative of the people as opposed to having White men in makeup using terrible accents.

This is a particularly interesting documentary to check out after the 2023 new movie release for several reasons. First, it’s fascinating to see how depictions of Native people have evolved to what we saw in Martin Scorsese’s movie and, secondly, this production features interviews with the late Robbie Robertson, the former member of The Band and Scorsese’s longtime collaborator, who scored the new film.

Stream Reel Injun on Prime Video.
Stream Reel Injun on Tubi.

America's Hidden Stories (2019 - 2023)

The Smithsonian Channel’s America’s Hidden Stories series has spent three seasons diving into historical events and people who don’t seem to get enough attention as those with more well-known stories. The show’s third season opens with “The Osage Murders,” a documentary directed by late filmmaker David Bishop that detailed the reign of terror depicted in Killers.

David Bishop, a member of the Osage tribe who passed away a few weeks before the documentary aired, uses his time to explore the dark period in the reservation’s history. He also dives into his own family’s journey through extensive interviews and a visit to the land. This is a historical and personal account worth watching.

Buy America’s Hidden Stories on Amazon.

What Was Ours (2016)

Mat Hames’ 2017 documentary film, What Was Ours, follows a group of Native Americans as they travel to the Field Museum in Chicago in hopes of finding artifacts taken from Shoshone and Arapaho tribes in Wyoming years earlier. These ancestral items, like the journey to find them, teach the documentary’s subjects about their history and themselves along the way.

Far more personal and introspective than other documentaries on this list, What Was Ours still focuses on the big picture of Native history and culture, as well as the steps taken to preserve it for future generations.

Stream What Was Ours on Prime Video.

Just like Killers of the Flower Moon and its great depictions of Native American characters, these seven documentaries do a fantastic job of telling the story of Native people, their history and their culture. And while we don’t yet know when Martin Scorsese’s movies will be streaming for those with Apple TV+ subscriptions, these non-fiction series and films are more than enough to hold viewers over.

Considering how hard it is to make one very good movie, it's a serious accomplishment to make more than ten. There are actually more than this list even encompasses, but to keep it manageable, I limited it to English-speaking films. Huge names like Otto Preminger and Akira Kurosawa, for example, certainly qualify but aren't here. Here are the names of the directors with at least 10 great movies. 

Martin Scorsese

It's no surprise that Martin Scorsese would be on this list. A director that will surely go down in history as one of the greatest of all time with films like Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Gangs of New York, Cape Fear, Casino, Raging Bull, The Color of Money, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Cape Fear, Mean Streets, and Killers of the Flower Moon, plus so many more. 

Steven Spielberg

Another no-brainer for this list is Steven Spielberg.  Spielberg's best films move at a pace and with a professionalism that is unparalleled in the industry. Just listing off the names of his movies, Jaws, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Color Purple, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Lincoln, Catch Me If You Can, Empire of the Sun... the list goes on and on. 

Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is a relative newcomer to this list, as he works so methodically, that he's only directed 11 films in his career. Of course, all are excellent, and he's a master across genres with superhero films like the Dark Night Trilogy, historical films like Oppenheimer and Dunkirk, and his mind-bending, time-twisting signature films like Tenet, Inception, and Memento.

Jane Campion

There is, admittedly, a dearth of female directors on this list. Thankfully, that is changing as directors like Jane Campion break boundaries both on screen and within the movie industry. The Kiwi director has won two Academy Awards, including best director for Power of the Dog, and best screenplay for The Piano, which she also directed. She's also won a slew of awards for movies like Sweetie, Holy Smoke! and others. 

Quentin Tarantino

Technically, since Quentin Tarantino considers Kill Bill to be one film, he's only made nine to this point. For the purposes of this list, however, I'm counting it as two, because he certainly deserves to be here. All of his movies, from Reservoir Dogs to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Tarantino never really misses. It's remarkable. 

Alfred Hitchcock

There is no bigger giant in the history of cinema than the great Alfred Hitchcock. With more than 50 directing credits to his name, most of them classics, his influence on film cannot be understated. Psycho, Rear Window, The Birds, North by Northwest, Dial M for Murder, Strangers on a Train, Rebecca, Vertigo...the list of great movies directed by Hitchcock is almost endless. 

Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is another director who rarely, if ever, misses. His string of great movies, from Bottle Rocket to Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Moonrise Kingdom, and on doesn't even get into his animated works, like Isle of Dogs, and my favorite of his, Fantastic Mr. Fox.  

Stanley Kubrick

Very few directors loom larger than Stanley Kubrick. Film buffs don't just watch his films, they memorize them, as do his fellow directors. With a resume of movies like 2001, Dr. Strangelove, Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining, it's not hard to see why he tops so many "Best of" lists. 

Few directors have the number of cultural touchstones that Robert Zemeckis is responsible for. Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Romancing The Stone, Cast Away, and Death Becomes Her are some of the most beloved movies in history, and they are just scratching the surface of his career. 

John Ford

John Ford may be mostly remembered for his early epic Westerns, like The Searchers, but he was an incredibly diverse director who won an astonishing four Academy Awards for Best Director, for The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Quiet Man (1952). He was also a war hero. A true national treasure. 

Kathryn Bigelow

It's confounding that it took a woman so long to win a Best Directing Oscar, but it wasn't until Kathryn Bigelow won for The Hurt Locker in 2010 that it happened. Bigelow was already responsible for some serious bangers, like Strange Days and Point Break, but breaking that glass ceiling is her most important accomplishment. 

Terrence Malick

Terrence Malick has made exactly ten films in his career, despite making his debut in 1973. He took a 20-year hiatus after his first couple, then periodically took long breaks after that, until cranking four in five years in recent times. All are interesting and worthwhile, and a few are all-time greats like The Thin Red Line, Tree Of Life, and Badlands 

The Coen Brothers

There is no way to separate Joel and Ethan Coen. For many years early in their careers, Joel was credited as the director, and Ethan as the producer of their many excellent movies, but they're undoubtedly viewed as a team when it comes to their films. The body of work speaks for itself. The Big Lebowski, No Country For Old Men, Fargo, Raising Arizona, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Barton Fink, Blood Simple, True Grit, Burn After Reading, The Hudsucker Proxy, etc... It's some of the sharpest writing and most unique directing in cinema history. 

Tony Scott

A true master of the action film genre, Tony Scott directed some of the biggest hits of the '80s and '90s. We're talking monster hits like Top Gun, Days of Thunder, The Last Boy Scout, Crimson Tide, and Beverly Hills Cop II. He also directed one of the biggest cult films of the era, True Romance. He was versatile and stylish and his movies are incredibly rewatchable. 

John Singleton

Okay, in full disclosure, I'm fudging a little here. John Singleton only made nine films in his career, but had he not died at such a young age (51), there is no doubt he'd have made this list. From his powerhouse debut, Boyz n the Hood to his final film in 2011, Abduction, Singleton always had something interesting to say. 

Ridley Scott

Like his brother Tony, Ridley Scott is a chameleon-like director. He can do huge war epics like Napoleon and Gladiator, sci-fi like Alien and Blade Runner, horror like Hannibal, and, of course, one of the greatest buddy flicks of all time, Thelma & Louise. His movies are some of the most appreciated movies in history. 

David Fincher

Thankfully for all of us, David Fincher didn't quite directing after his experience on his first film, Alien 3. He went on to produce hit after hit, like Se7en, Fight Club, The Game, The Social Network, Zodiac, Gone Girl, and many others. Like Steven Spielberg, his movies always move at a great pace and they are never dull and that's a real attribute. 

Mel Brooks

When you talk about comedy in the 20th century, you have to start with the great Mel Brooks. He completely invented his own style of absurdist humor and every time he made a movie, no matter the subject, you knew it was going to be hilarious. Who can argue with classics like Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, The Silent Movie, The Producer, or Young Frankenstein? Mel Brooks is a legend.

Peter Jackson

Across six epic films in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Peter Jackson cemented his place in movie history. But don't sleep on his earlier films like The Frighteners and Heavenly Creatures. When you add in his documentary works like The Beatles: Get Back and They Shall Not Grow Old you have the makings of an all-time great. 

Spike Lee

When talking about groundbreaking filmmakers, Spike Lee is among the most important. Not just because he broke so many barriers by being a Black director in an industry that made it hard for Black people to participate for so long, but because his style was just so darn unique. There was nothing like Do The Right Thing, or School Daze when he exploded on the scene in the late '80s and early '90s. Lee has never slowed down either.  

Francis Ford Coppola

If Francis Ford Coppola had only made three films in his career, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now, he'd be near the top of any best director list. But he's never rested on his laurels, directing other really good movies like The Outsiders, The Conversation, Tucker: A Man and His Dream, Peggy Sue Got Married, and The Rainmaker among others. He always made them his way and even stopped for a time when the industry wouldn't allow him to. 

David Lynch

There is no one like David Lynch. His mind just operates differently from the rest of us mere mortals. It shows in his films, all of which are distinctly his. Movies like Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Dune, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Mulholland Drive. There is nothing like a David Lynch film. Plus, his weather reports on LA public radio are now legendary too. 

Oliver Stone

Olive Stone is fearless. Whether you agree with his politics or not, he's never been afraid to tell you exactly how he feels. In movies like Platoon, JFK, Born on the Fourth of July, Natural Born Killers, and basically anything else he directed, there is no subtly, just honesty, as Stone sees it. 

Sofia Coppola

This is another little fudge on the list. Sofia Coppola hasn't quite made ten movies yet, but she continues to put great film after great film. The Virgin Suicides, Lost In Translation, Marie Antoinette, and Priscilla are all examples of just how good she can be and no doubt will continue to put out great movies in the future. 

David Lean

Like Francis Ford Coppola, if David Lean had only directed three films–Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge On the River Kwai, and Doctor Zhivago, he'd be one of the best ever. His career was hardly just those classics though. Great Expectations in 1946 began his greatness and it ended almost 40 years later with A Passage to India in 1984. A remarkable career for a remarkable director. 

Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner has made some of the most quotable and funniest movies of all time, with When Harry Met Sally, This Is Spinal Tap, and The Princess Bride. He's also made some of the greatest dramas of all time, like A Few Good Men and Ghosts of Mississippi. He even snuck a horror classic in his resume, with Misery.  

Woody Allen

It's impossible for most of us to watch a Woody Allen film these days and not feel at least conflicted if not totally repulsed by the director. It would be disturbing if you didn't connect the art with the artist, especially given how personal his films are. Still, it's hard to deny just how many incredible films the troubled Allen made over his long career, and for that, he's reluctantly on this list. 

Tim Burton

One of the most interesting and unique directors of the last several decades has to be Tim Burton. He makes oddballs into heroes in movies like Edward Scissorhands, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, and Beetlejuice. He dives into animation and even conquered the superhero genre with Batman decades before DC and Marvel superheroes were everywhere on the big screen.

Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh walks the fine line between indie filmmaker with movies like Kafka and Che, and mainstream with the Oceans movies, Magic Mike, and Erin Brockovich. It's a rare ability that Soderberg has mastered and doesn't seem to be daunted by either. 

Clint Eastwood

A giant in Hollywood for decades, Clint Eastwood is not only one of the best actors of all time, but his directing skills are phenomenal. Whether it's his early westerns like The Outlaw Josey Wales, his war films like Heartbreak Ridge and Flags of Our Fathers, or his dramas like The Bridges Of Madison County, you can always count on Eastwood to deliver, as he has over and over. 

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry's movies aren't everyone's cup of tea, but no one can deny his achievements. With the Madea series, Perry took independent filmmaking to a whole new level, churning out budget-conscious hit after hit. All are produced in-house with Perry taking on virtually every aspect of the production. You simply can't ignore that level of success. 

Danny Boyle

Trainspotting, The Beach,  28 Days Weeks,  Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours... do I need to go on? How about Steve Jobs, T2 Trainspotting, and Yesterday? Plus he directed the opening ceremonies of an Olympic Games. Is there anything Danny Boyle can't do? The director is a marvel and his movies are some of the most loved movies of the last few decades. 

This list is only a sample of the many directors who have made more than ten great films, but the list needs to grow. We need more women. We need more African American representation, and we need more LQBTQ+ representation. Hollywood is working on that, and that means this list will only grow and grow. 

One of the most powerful performances among the 2023 new movie releases is Lily Gladstone’s role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. In the award contender, the actress plays Mollie Burkhart, a member of Oklahoma’s Osage community that owned lucrative oil headrights. In the movie, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Mollie’s husband, Ernest Burkhart, who became the center of a series of murders of the Osage people. Gladstone spoke about how with DiCaprio’s role, the actor helped bring a more authentic depiction of these historical events to life. 

Before Killers Of The Flower Moon started captivating audiences on the big screen when it hit theaters last month, the film adaptation of David Grann’s novel had been in the works since 2016. During the production process, a lot reportedly changed script-wise. I reported back in 2021 that DiCaprio had switched roles during development, and Gladstone spoke to this when she took the stage at Variety’s Power of Women event. As she shared: 

Lily Gladstone was one of the distinguished honorees at the event held at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles, California. Along with Variety also awarding big names such as Billie Eilish and Margot Robbie, Gladstone took the stage to speak about the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. She continued to praise DiCaprio’s role in Killers Of The Flower Moon, saying this: 

FBI agent Tom White was ultimately played by Jesse Plemons, who is getting plenty of praise for his performance, but as a secondary character in Killers of the Flower Moon. Rather than centering the movie on the FBI’s investigation, Scorsese’s over three-hour epic focuses primarily on the inside job of sorts Ernest Burkhart commits after marrying the Osage woman. Gladstone continued: 

CinemaBlend’s own Killers Of The Flower Moon review gave the movie a perfect five out of five, saying it was under strong contention to be the “best movie of the year.” Critics have widely celebrated Scorsese’s latest as well, and it’s widely expected the movie will be a major Academy Awards contender during the 2024 award show. During the event, as DiCaprio stood off to the side, Gladstone spoke to the actor, saying this: 

You can experience DiCaprio and Gladstone’s affecting performances in Killers Of The Flower Moon, now playing in theaters.