The Men in Black film series has had a sporadic release schedule, to say the least. Men in Black 2 followed five years after its predecessor’s release in 1997, Men in Black 3 came 10 years later, and then Men in Black: International hit theaters in 2019. The franchise has remained in limbo ever since that last movie, which starred Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, bombed critically and commercially. Today, however, brings work that a new Men in Black movie is in the works, though it comes with a big question surrounding Will Smith, one of the franchise’s original two leads.

As reported by Deadline, Sony Pictures is looking to bring Men in Black back by having Bad Boys for Life writer Chris Bremner pen the next movie. Although no onscreen talent is attached to what I’ll call Men in Black 5 for now, the publication has heard from insiders that once Bremner has finished writing the script, Will Smith will read through it. The plan for now is, at least in this first draft, for Smith to reprise Agent J, though it’s unclear if this will be in a leading or supporting capacity. Other sources stressed that Smith is not officially attached to Men in Black 5 right now and won’t commit to anything until he’s read Bremner’s script.

Like I mention, Will Smith has previously collaborated with Chris Bremner on the aforementioned 2020 Bad Boys movie and its follow-up, last year’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die. So it should be no issue for Smith to look at Bremner’s first go at Men in Black 5, but then what happens from there? Does the Agent J actor merely give any notes that come to mind, but ultimately sign on to the project? Or is it possible that Smith won’t vibe with whatever story Bremner has written and decide not to return to the Men in Black franchise after all?

This reminds me of how two scripts for Independence Day 2 were developed last decade: one with Will Smith reprising Steven Hiller, and the other without. In the end, the latter became 2016’s Independence Day: Resurgence, which didn’t come anywhere close to achieving the same critical and commercial success that the 1996 original did. Director Roland Emmerich even admitted that version of the sequel should never have been made once Smith bowed out to play Deadshot in Suicide Squad. 

Now I’m not going to say with 100% that the same thing will happen in Men in Black 5 moves forward without Will Smith. Still, taking into account both Independence Day: Resurgence and that Men in Black: International failed to interest audiences with two new leads, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Will Smith likes Chris Bremner’s script and agrees to join Men in Black 5 if Sony Pictures greenlights it. That brings me to another question: would we also see Tommy Lee Jones reprise Agent K?

I’m not going to go down that rabbit hole right now, but needless to say that we’ll keep you apprised about if Men in Black 5 moves forward or if it ends up suffering the same fate as that crossover movie with the Jump Street franchise. None of Will Smith’s Men in Black movies are currently streaming, but you can watch him in Bad Boys: Ride or Die with your Netflix subscription.

I think I speak for many when I say audiences love it when characters from two (or more) different movies or TV series come together in one special event, such as the epic monster movies featuring both Godzilla and King Kong, or when Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. appeared on Supernatural. Of course, for all of the mind-blowing crossovers we have been blessed with, there is still much to be desired in the realm of bringing two big-screen or small-screen franchises together.

In that respect, let’s let our imaginations run wild and dream up the movie or TV crossovers that would be incredible to see. Now, I cannot promise that many (or all) of these ideas are legally or even humanly possible, but why should we let that get in the way of the fun?

Toy Story And Small Soldiers

The first, and still one of the best, Pixar movies, Toy Story, showed us the world from the point of view of sentient toys in 1995. Three years later, Small Soldiers offered the same perspective, but with more of an edge and a more realistic approach. Seeing Woody (Tom Hanks) and other innocent children's playthings crossing paths with Major Chip Hazard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his AI-powered, militaristic action figures sounds like one wonderfully warped animated flick, if you ask me.

The Office And Parks And Recreation

As recalled by MovieWeb, co-creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels initially conceived Parks and Recreation as a spin-off of The Office before it turned into its own separate and equally beloved TV sitcom. Still, there is no reason why Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and his former Dunder-Mifflin co-workers could not somehow cross paths with Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and other Pawnee residents in a mockumentary-style special.

Drive And Fast And Furious

A famous example of misleading movie marketing is 2011's slow-burn, Neo-noir thriller Drive, which one woman assumed would be more of a high-octane action thriller like the Fast and Furious movies, inspiring her to file a lawsuit, according to The Guardian. Honestly, I see this as a reason to give the people what they want and release a movie that sees Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew facing off against Ryan Gosling's Driver.

Succession And Yellowstone

Having both premiered in 2018, Jesse Armstrong's Succession and Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone would become subjects of comparison, with some even calling the Paramount Network hit "Succession with cowboy hats." I think seeing the wealthy and vindictive Roys indulging in a rivalry with the also wealthy and vindictive Duttons would make for one epic feature-length special or miniseries.

21 Jump Street And Men In Black

Among the hypothetical crossovers presented here, not all are too much of a stretch from the realm of possibility. In fact, there were actual plans for a film called MIB23, which would have brought Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) from the 21 Jump Street movie into the world of the Men in Black franchise. Unfortunately, plans were scrapped in 2019, but I still have hope this insane sci-fi/comedy mash-up could work.

Poker Face And The Thing

Imagine if human lie detector Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) from the Peacock original TV show Poker Face was trapped in one place with a group of people who may or may not be shapeshifting extraterrestrial organisms in disguise, like the 1982 horror movie classic, The Thing. She would be the only one who could suss out the imitators, but the rest of the group might be too paranoid to confidently trust her judgment. I think Rian Johnson should give John Carpenter a call.

Star Wars And Marvel Cinematic Universe

As a fan of both the Star Wars movies and of Guardians of the Galaxy, I love the idea of seeing the cosmic warriors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe visit George Lucas' galaxy far, far away. Considering both Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm are owned by Disney, this intergalactic epic is entirely possible, as long as the timeline is respected, of course.

RoboCop And Terminator

Omni Consumer Products' half-man, half-machine crime-fighting tool has crossed paths with Skynet's mechanical killer before, but only on the pages of a Dark Horse comic book series from Frank Miller. Why Hollywood has not yet tried its hand at a movie that pits the hero from RoboCop against any of the antagonistic cyborgs from the Terminator franchise is beyond me.

James Bond And Jason Bourne

The Matt Damon-led Jason Bourne movies are often cited as the inspiration for the James Bond franchise's grittier tone, especially after Daniel Craig took over as 007. If there could be a way to get the American amnesiac assassin and the suave MI6 agent together in a room (which would likely be destroyed by the end), that could make for one of the best spy movies ever.

Sherlock And Doctor Who

Two of the BBC's most popular series, Sherlock and Doctor Who, both involve a highly intelligent, fashionable, and sometimes arrogant protagonist who is accompanied by a reliable companion. For that and many other reasons, I think it would be amazing to see them come together in a special or miniseries in which Holmes, hitting a wall with a case that defies logic, finds unexpected help from The Doctor.

DC Universe And Marvel Cinematic Universe

The two biggest comic book publishing companies in the world have not always been rivals and have indulged in creating stories that see DC heroes and Marvel heroes fighting side by side. Considering his strong ties to the MCU, it can't be out of the question for DC Studios head James Gunn to at least call a meeting with Kevin Feige to discuss bringing this kind of crossover to the big screen, which might end up being the greatest superhero movie ever made.

John Wick And Kill Bill

While largely differing in tone, the John Wick movies and Quentin Tarantino's two-part Kill Bill saga are pretty similar in concept, following two retired, legendary assassins waging a vengeful war on those who wronged them. Who is to say that Keanu Reeves' gun-fu master and Uma Thurman's The Bride never crossed paths in their deadly heyday?

The Evil Dead And The Exorcist

Two of the most popular franchises of demonic possession movies, The Exorcist and The Evil Dead, could not be more different from one another, which is exactly why I want to see them converge. In my pitch, grown-up Regan MacNeill's (Linda Blair) expertise in devilish activity is enlisted to help with a new case, but when it spirals out of control, the only one who can help is chainsaw-headed Deadite hunter, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell).

Inception And A Nightmare On Elm Street

When you think about it, Leonardo DiCaprio's Dom Cobb from Christopher Nolan's Inception essentially has the same job as Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Just imagine how much more challenging his team's adventures through the subconscious would be with Robert Englund's sadistic, badly burned boogeyman invading the same dream.

Alien, Predator, And Jurassic Park

You know what I think the Alien vs. Predator movies were missing? Dinosaurs. Putting these two fearsome extraterrestrials in yet another battle, but while trapped on one of the prehistoric animal-infested islands from the Jurassic Park films, could result in one of the most exciting entries from any of these franchises. You would not even need human characters to make it work because seeing both the Predator and the Xenomorph knocked down a peg by the T-Rex as a common enemy would be more than enough.

Ghostbusters And Casper

We already know that Casper and the Ghostbusters exist in the same universe, thanks to Dan Aykroyd's cameo as Ray Stantz in the Friendly Ghost's 1995 live-action feature adaptation of the animated series. I am sure Casper would happily help the paranormal exterminators take on a few evil spirits, even after an awkward misunderstanding were to happen when they first meet.

Mad Max And Dredd

The great thing about post-apocalyptic movies is that each has a different, intriguing interpretation of what a dystopian society would look like. However, what if the Wasteland from George Miller's Mad Max movies existed just across the (dried up) pond from Mega City One in Dredd? The gritty, visually stunning possibilities are endless.

Blade And Twilight

Allow me to make one thing clear: I am not suggesting that Marvel Comics' vampire hunter, originally played on the big screen by Wesley Snipes, should show up in the Twilight movies just to see Robert Pattinson's Edward, Kristen Stewart's Bella, and other bloodsuckers get slaughtered. I actually think Blade's presence could give the persistent haters of the films based on Stephanie Meyer's YA novel series a reason to treat the franchise with a little more respect.

Indiana Jones And Marvel Cinematic Universe

Since Disney owns both Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, I wonder if anyone there has ever tinkered with the idea of putting a character like Indiana Jones in the MCU. I mean, he and Steve "Captain America" Rogers would have been alive around the same time and, as staunch anti-fascists, probably would have gotten along great. I doubt Harrison Ford's casting as Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America: Brave New World would cause much confusion, either.

Monk And Psych

The USA Network used to run promos bringing characters from their respective series together, including one in which Tony Shalhoub's eponymous detective from Monk suspects that Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) is not a real psychic. It makes me wish that we could have seen an official crossover episode that would have seen plenty of funny bickering between the carefree Shawn and someone as neurotic as Adrian Monk, who at least might have gotten along with Gus (Dulé Hill).

Power Rangers And Godzilla

By combining their respective, animal-shaped vehicles into one large Megazord, the Power Rangers have managed to face off against bizarre creatures of all sizes, which means they could realistically take on Godzilla. However, if I were to pitch this crossover, the rangers would eventually have to join forces with the King of the Monsters after an even larger creature emerges to wreak havoc on Angel Grove.

Bill & Ted And Wayne's World

Perhaps we never saw Bill S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves) take Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) on a trip through time because we are not worthy of such an excellent idea. Then again, if Myers and Carvey can still get together for Wayne's World reunions on SNL and Reeves and Winter could come back for 2020's Bill & Ted Face the Music, who says it doesn't have potential?

Dirty Harry And Death Wish

I think the greatest Dirty Harry movie we never saw would have put Clint Eastwood's Lt. Callahan on the case of a murderer targeting the most vicious gangs in San Francisco, which would turn out to be Charles Bronson's Paul Kersey from Death Wish. Inevitably, I think Harry would be lured into an alliance with the vengeful vigilante, coming to believe that his more permanent methods of justice align with his own.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer And Sabrina The Teenage Witch

It's a shame that there was never any attempt to make an official crossover between Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Sarah Michelle Gellar and the Melissa Joan Hart-led Sabrina the Teenage Witch while they were still on the air. The coming-of-age supernatural series may have differed dramatically in tone, but that is just what would have made the collaboration such a blast.

Harry Potter And The Dresden Files

If fans of the Harry Potter movies have ever been interested in trying out something a bit darker and grittier, there is another literary modern-day wizard with the same first name: Harry Dresden, played by Paul Blackthorne on the SyFy series, The Dresden Files. I think it would be fun to see J.K. Rowling's The Boy Who Lived helping author Jim Butcher's Chicago-based P.I. solve a grisly mystery in which magic is involved.

The Munsters And The Addams Family

They may have been on different networks and produced by opposing studios, but how in the world has there never been an attempt to introduce the Munsters to the Addams Family? I would even be open to getting the actors from Rob Zombie's reboot movie to star alongside the cast of Netflix's Wednesday if it meant getting just a glimpse at these creepy, kooky families finally coming together.

It And Terrifier

There are no two villains in the subgenre of creepy clown movies more iconic than Pennywise from It and Art the Clown from Terrifier. I can't imagine a horror fan being against the idea of bringing Bill Skarsgård's shapeshifting fear demon from Andy Muschietti's blockbuster adaptation of Stephen King's novel and David Howard Thornton from Damien Leone's shocking indie slashers together for one brutal showdown that would have blood and white face paint smeared across the screen.

Hocus Pocus And Trick 'R Treat

In Disney's cult favorite, family-friendly witch movie, 1993's Hocus Pocus, our young protagonists go through a lot of trouble to defeat the Sanderson Sisters (played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker). I cannot help but wonder how easily those sinister spellcasters could have been taken care of by the mischievous Sam from the 2007 anthology horror movie favorite, Trick 'r Treat.

Hoarders And Storage Wars

You know those people on the show Hoarders who compulsively keep hold of any item they possess, no matter how unnecessary or even unhealthy it may be? I have a potential idea to help them: put them on another A&E reality show called Storage Wars and tell them that they must outbid other experienced collectors if they want to maintain ownership of their junk.

Johnny English And The Pink Panther

While it barely held a candle to Peter Sellers, I cannot deny that I enjoyed Steve Martin's portrayal of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in his Pink Panther reboot. I even more enjoyed Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling Bond-wannabe in the Johnny English movies. I imagine that having the clueless French detective and accident-prone British spy cross paths on a case would result in some real comedic dynamite (especially if real dynamite is involved).

Sister Act And The Nun

After watching Whoopi Goldberg's Academy Award-winning performance in Ghost, I am convinced that a sequel to Sister Act in which Deloris Wilson-Van Cartier must contend with the habit-wearing demon Valak (Bonnie Aarons) from the Conjuring movies would be a riot.

Big Brother And Survivor

Big Brother and Survivor are both competitive reality shows that make social interaction a key element to winning, with the biggest difference being the setting. If I ran CBS, I would send the most famous all-stars from Big Brother to a remote island, bring Survivor champs to the Big Brother house, and see what happens.

There really isn't anything more fun than Easter Eggs that filmmakers sneak into their movies. Often it's in tribute to past work, or to other things they admire. Sometimes they even reference real-world events. We collected a bunch of our favorites, so let's get into them! Tell which ones you knew about and which ones were unseen until now.

The Spinal Tap Hat In The Princess Bride

The story behind director Rob Reiner sneaking his hat from This Is Spinal Tap! into The Princess Bride is that Mark Knopfler, who did the soundtrack for the fantasy movie, only agreed to do the movie if Reiner got the hat into a scene. He did, by hanging it on the wall in Fred Savage's character's room.

Avengers Comic In The Electric State

In a blink-or-you'll miss-it moment, there is a quick call back a previous Russo Brothers' movie in the Netflix original film, The Electric State. A robot can be seen reading an Avengers comic.

R2-D2 In Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

Steven Spielberg paid tribute to his good buddy George Lucas in his film Close Encounters Of The Third Kind by adding a little R2-D2 to the underside of the alien ship. It can be seen very briefly as the ship takes off.

The Duke Brothers In Coming To America

In Trading Places, Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd's characters take down the Duke Brothers and leave them broke. A few years later, in Coming To America, Eddie Murphy's character Prince Akeem hands a homeless man a wad of cash. The bum turns out to be Mortimer Duke, who shakes his brother Randolph awake, and they celebrate being back.

Pac-Man In Tron

Disney's Tron broke a ton of new ground with CGI use, and in the first wave of the video game craze, it makes sense they would find a way to work in Pac-Man, the biggest video game of the character at the time, and really the first video game superstar.

The HMS Surprise In Deadpool & Wolverine

There are a ton of Easter Eggs in Deadpool and Wolverine, many of them when the characters land in the void. One of the most subtle, and one of the funniest, has to be the HMS Surprise from Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World, a movie that many people are sad wasn't turned into a franchise. Or maybe this wasn't an Easter Egg? There is a debate that it could be a fake.

Ezekiel 25:17 In Captain America: The Winter Soldier

You wouldn't think a Marvel movie would reference a Quentin Tarantino film, but that's what happened in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. At the end of the movie, the audience sees Nick Fury's "grave," and on the tombstone, there is a quote from Ezekiel 25:17, which, of course, is where Samuel L. Jackson's Pulp Fiction character gets his famous speech in the opening scene.

Binford Tool Box In Toy Story

If you weren't a big fan of Home Improvement, the reference to the sitcom in Toy Story would be easy to miss. In the show, Tim Allen's character's show-in-a-show "Tool Time" is sponsored by Binford Tools. In Toy Story, Allen's character is seen trying to move a Binford Tools toolbox.

Club Obi-Wan In Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

Of the many times Steven Spielberg has made reference to Star Wars, the most fun might be in Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom. The name of the club at the beginning of the movie, as seen as Indy jumps out of the window, is "Club Obi-Wan."

E.T. In Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

George Lucas paid a tribute to Steven Spielberg in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. During the scene in the Galactic Senate, one group of diplomats appears to be from E.T.'s home planet. It's good to know that everything was represented, even aliens in other universes.

Jimmy Buffett With Two Margaritas In Jurassic World

This is really more of a cameo than an Easter Egg, but it's kind of both. Sitting in Jurassic Park's Margaritaville is none other than the man who wrote the song and opened the first restaurant, the late, great Jimmy Buffett.

Goya's Portrait Of The Duke of Wellington In Dr. No

This has to be one of the best Easter Eggs ever. In the very first James Bond, and one of the best of the Sean Connery era, Dr. No, James briefly pauses to examine a painting in Dr. No's secret lair. The painting is a portrait of the Duke of Wellington by Francisco Goya. In the real world, that painting had famously been stolen the year before the movie came out, and at the time, it was missing. It seems Dr. No had it.

Starbucks Cups In Fight Club

This one is wild. Fight Club is a lot of things, and on one level, it's a pretty harsh critique of capitalism. As part of that, director David Fincher made sure that Starbucks cups appeared in every - or at least many - scenes in the movie. They are all over the place, and next time you watch it, you'll see them, we promise.

A Cowbell In The Jungle Book (2016)

Now this one is great. Director Jon Favreau seems to have snuck a great reference to a classic Saturday Night Live episode into his live-action version of The Jungle Book in 2016. When Mowgli visits King Louie, he bangs on a cowbell to summon the king. King Louie, of course, is voiced by Christopher Walken, who starred in the famous "more cowbell" skit on SNL.

Lou Ferrigno In The MCU Movies

One of the coolest things about the Hulk-centered movies in the MCU is that Lou Ferrigno gets his due. He famously played the superhero in the 1980s, of course. Getting his due in the modern movies is a fantastic tribute.

A Xenomorph Skull In Predator 2

Many years before they would meet in Predator V. Alien, it was established that the two franchises existed in the same universe. In Predator 2, there is a very clear Xenomorph skull on the wall in a trophy room of the team of hunters.

Yoda In E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg really loves making sly references to the Star Wars franchise in his movies. In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, there is a kid dressed as Yoda on Halloween, and very briefly, you can hear Yoda's theme music from Empire Strikes Back. E.T. recognizes Yoda, but is pulled back before he can speak to him.

Batman V. Superman In I Am Legend

This one is wild. In I Am Legend, there is a billboard in a post-apocalyptic Times Square advertising a "Batman vs. Superman" movie. Legend came out in 2007, a full nine years before Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice came out. Of course, the idea of a team-up between the two giant DC comic characters goes way back, but still, it's almost like I Am Legend predicted the future in a movie set in the future.

License Plate THX-138 In American Graffiti

George Lucas' breakout movie was American Graffiti, and he found a way to work the name of his first movie, THX-138, into the movie set in the fifties. It appears on a license plate in the movie. Lucas has snuck it into most of his movies since, as well.

The Millennium Falcon In Spaceballs

Spaceballs is one of Mel Brooks's best movies. It's a parody of Star Wars, and Brooks manages to pay direct tribute to the epic space opera by sneaking in The Millennium Falcon at the end of the movie. As the main characters pull into the space truck stop, they park their RV right next to it. Sadly, Han and Chewie aren't seen inside the diner.

OB-3PO In Raiders Of The Lost Ark

This is one of our favorites. Lots of people are aware that Steven Spielberg snuck R2-D2 and C-3PO into the hieroglyphics in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but did you know that wasn't the only tribute? The tail number of the plane at the beginning of the movie (the one with the snake in the seat) is "OB-3PO," referencing Obi-Wan and C-3PO.

Douglas Adams' Face In The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Towards the very end of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, the filmmakers pay quick tribute the Douglas Adams, the author of the beloved "trilogy" the movie is based on. The face of the late writer is seen very briefly as the ship swings around to head to the restaurant at the end of the universe.

Rango's Shirt In Rango

Johnny Depp voices the character Rango in the movie of the same name, and throughout the movie, there are a few references to one of Depp's other classic movies, Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, most notably Rango's shirt, which is the same as Depp's character wears in Fear & Loathing.

A113 In Every Pixar Movie

One of the most famous Easter Eggs in movies has references to room A113 in almost all of the Pixar movies. Room A113 at California Institute of the Arts is where many of the artists and animators at Pixar studied in college, and they add it into the movie as a tribute to their education.

The Tesseract In Iron Man 2

The first time The Tesseract is properly introduced into the MCU is in the post-credit scene in Thor, but the first time it's ever referenced was in the preceding movie, Iron Man 2, when Tony Stark is seen looking through his father's journal is pauses on a drawing of the powerful object.

Hank Hill In Idiocracy

This one is really hard to catch, but it's there. At the beginning of director Mike Judge's Idiocracy, there is a family tree of the "idiot," and there are dozens and dozens of photos of his descendants. One of those, if you look closely towards the bottom, just left of center, is none other than Hank Hill. Judge, of course, is also the creator of King Of The Hill.

Roald Dahl Original Text In The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Director Wes Anderson paid a wonderful tribute to author Roald Dahl, whose story he adapted for The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and included a little of Dahl's original writing from the book.

Fire Marshall Bill In Liar, Liar

Jim Carrey had a lot of crazy ideas and nutty characters when he starred on In Living Color, and one of the most popular was Fire Marshall Bill. The idiotic fireman is seen very briefly in the background in Liar, Liar, and it's, frankly, brilliant.

Huttese Language In Men In Black

It's rare that you get an audio Easter Egg, but that's what we get in Men in Black. As K is showing J around the Men In Black headquarters, K stops for a cup of coffee, and there is a cadre of aliens making the coffee. They are speaking "Huttese," or the language of the Hutts, in the Star Wars universe. It's a great little tribute.

Callahan Institute in 50 First Dates

Lucy, played by Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates, learns about her memory problems by visiting Dr. Keats, played by Dan Aykroyd. Keats works at the Callahan Institute. Callahan Auto, of course, is the name of the auto parts company Akyroyd's character tries to buy from Tommy Callahan (Chris Farley) in Tommy Boy.

Easter Eggs In The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Did you know that there are literal Easter Eggs in a few scenes in The Rocky Horror Picture Show? The lore surrounding the eggs is that the cast had their own Easter Egg hunt and they either left some on purpose, or failed to find a few, but there are at least three that can be seen in the "Time Warp" scene, including on top of the statue to the right of Frank's throne.

The Race In Ready Player One

It feels a little like cheating by adding it to this list, since Ready Player One is basically one big Easter Egg. So we could mention dozens, but in the race alone, there is a Knight Rider car, Christine, The A-Team van, and a whole lot more.

Whether it’s movies like Heat bringing massive stars together to create one of the best ‘90s movies, all-time great romantic comedies allowing America’s sweethearts to show off in front of adoring fans, or legendary sci-fi flicks showcasing the skills of up-and-comers and established stars, there have been a lot of movies that brought two heavyweight actors together.

Below are 32 such movies that brought such an incredible one-two punch, we still can’t believe they actually happened. But luckily, these castings did happen and they were pulled off really, really well.

Heat (Robert De Niro & Al Pacino)

Though they were technically both in The Godfather Part II, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino wouldn’t share a scene until more than 20 years later in Heat. Sure, their shared time on screen was minimal (this was a cat-and-mouse game, you know), but this Michael Mann epic was made all the better with these two heavyweights together at last.

Escape Plan (Sylvester Stallone & Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger had one of the biggest rivalries in Hollywood throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s as they competed for box office supremacy with all kinds of action movies. Well, they finally started working together in the 2010s with a series of movies that includes Escape Plan. Though The Expendables came first, that was more of an ensemble affair and Schwarzenegger was relegated to a brief cameo.

Collateral (Jamie Foxx & Tom Cruise)

When it comes to movies set in Los Angeles, few are as cool or thrilling as Collateral. Michael Mann’s 2004 thriller stars Jamie Foxx (just months before he won an Oscar) and Tom Cruise (one of his most menacing performances) as a cab driver and assassin, respectively, on a night neither will forget.

Fast Five (Vin Diesel & Dwayne Johnson)

Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson would go on to have one of the strangest Hollywood feuds in the years that followed, but the two Hollywood heavyweights first came together for Fast Five in 2011. A movie that forever changed the course of the Fast & Furious franchise, this wild heist adventure saw the two beefed-up and bald actors go at it in one of the series’ best fights.

You've Got Mail (Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan)

While it is true that You’ve Got Mail was the pair’s third movie together, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan weren’t really the massive stars they were when making Joe Versus the Volcano and Sleepless in Seattle. Hanks had earned two Oscars and Ryan had led several more rom-coms between their early films and this 1998 romantic comedy.

Waiting To Exhale (Angela Bassett & Whitney Houston)

Waiting to Exhale has a great cast from top to bottom (as well as a great original song), but it was wild seeing Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston share the screen in this iconic 1995 dramedy about a group of women navigating love, life, and friendship with each other by their sides.

A Few Good Men (Tom Cruise & Jack Nicholson)

Rob Reiner’s A Few Good Men has a cast that includes Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Cuba Gooding Jr., and so much more. But then you have Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson at the top of the list. Though they don’t share the screen for all that long, they were both part of the now iconic “You can’t handle the truth” courtroom scene, which has gone on to become one of the most universally known quotes of all time.

True Romance (Dennis Hopper & Christopher Walken)

The “Sicilian Scene” from True Romance will forever be remembered as one of the greatest cinematic moments of the 1990s, and that’s thanks to Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken (two absolute legends) giving it their all. Yeah, Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are the core of Tony Scott’s 1993 romantic crime drama, but these two heavyweights stole the show.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (Paul Newman & Robert Redford)

Paul Newman and Robert Redford could very well be one of the best on-screen pairings in Hollywood history. While The Sting is great and all, we have to talk about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid bringing these two legends together. From the start of the flick to that iconic ending (you know what we’re talking about), this movie is in a league of its own.

The Departed (Leonardo DiCaprio & Jack Nicholson)

Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, one of the best 2000s movies, has one of the director’s best group of actors, which is saying something. The two megastars at the top of the list? Well, none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, who are outrageously great together. No wonder this won Best Picture.

Bad Boys (Will Smith & Martin Lawrence)

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do when Will Smith and Martin Lawrence come for you? Well, moviegoers found out with the 1995 release of Bad Boys, a landmark buddy cop movie starring two of the biggest names on the planet at the time. Still on the rise, Smith and Lawrence became even bigger stars after his great Michael Bay movie came out.

Thelma & Louise (Susan Sarandon & Geena Davis)

Thelma & Louise is one of those movies that never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it. And while we would love to give Ridley Scott all the credit, or say Brad Pitt’s small part made a difference, let’s be real and acknowledge the work of Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as two on-the-run women with nothing but the open road (and open sky) ahead of them.

Marriage Story (Scarlet Johansson & Adam Driver)

Marriage Story brought together Scarlet Johansson and Adam Driver together in 2019, the same year they starred in box office juggernauts Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, respectively. And if we’re being honest, this Netflix original was actually the best of those three films.

Lethal Weapon (Mel Gibson & Danny Glover)

Lethal Weapon, the first in a franchise of legendary buddy cop movies, brought together Mel Gibson and Danny Glover for an outrageously funny and action-packed crime story about two cops from different walks of life trying to solve a case (and not kill one another). Riggs and Murtaugh are still one of the best duos, even after all these years.

Life (Eddie Murphy & Martin Lawrence)

Though both appeared in Boomerang earlier in the decade, Martin Lawrence was a star on the same level as Eddie Murphy when they teamed up for Life. This rude, crude, and incredible 1998 comedy about two convicts making the most out of life sentences is full of hilarious and unforgettable moments.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Harrison Ford & Sean Connery)

There are some out there who think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the best of the franchise, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. With Sean Connery coming on to play Harrison Ford’s on-screen dad, this 1989 adventure film was bigger, grander, and more epic than anything that came before it in this beloved franchise.

The Mexican (Julia Roberts & Brad Pitt)

Gore Verbinski’s The Mexican may not be the best movie or even the most successful to feature Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, but these two were at or near the peak of their fame when this 2001 crime film was released. Coming out nine months before they shared the screen in Ocean’s Eleven, this oft-forgotten romance film brought the pair together.

Bruce Almighty (Jim Carrey & Morgan Freeman)

After both became two of the biggest stars of ‘90s Hollywood, Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman shared the screen in 2003’s Bruce Almighty, with the latter playing God (can you imagine anyone else playing the divine being?). Though they didn’t have all that much time together, these two legends made the most of it to create some utterly hilarious moments.

Night At The Museum (Ben Stiller & Robin Williams)

The Night at the Museum movies have all kinds of great pairings, but the original did it best with Ben Stiller as a lowly nighttime security guard and the late Robin Williams as a wax figure of a former United States President that comes to life at night. We could watch these two riff until the sun comes up, and luckily that’s what happened in two subsequent sequels.

Men In Black (Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones)

Here comes the Men in Black! This 1997 comedy, which came out a few years into Will Smith’s unprecedented run at the box office, saw the Fresh Prince share the screen with Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones. The pair of secret agents tasked with protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats have since become one of the best onscreen duos and two characters that’ll never get old.

The Fugitive (Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones)

Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones came together for one of the best 1993 movies when they shared the screen in The Fugitive. This great movie based on a classic TV show saw Ford’s Dr. Richard Kimble on the run after being falsely convicted of murdering his wife with Jones Samuel Gerard leading a team of U.S. Marshals to find him.

Mamma Mia! (Meryl Streep & Pierce Brosnan)

Mamma Mia! had great songs, unforgettable moments, and one of the best casts of the 2000s. While we could talk about Stellan Skarsgård, or Amanda Seyfried, or even Colin Firth, we have to point out that this Abba-influenced musical brought Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan together on screen, and it was marvelous.

The Nice Guys (Russell Crowe & Ryan Gosling)

Shane Black gave the world one of the great modern buddy crime flicks in 2016 with the release of The Nice Guys. Featuring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as a pair of down-on-their-luck guys tasked with solving a mystery, this throwback was so much fun. It’s a shame we never got a sequel.

Ocean's Eleven (George Clooney & Brad Pitt)

The ensemble cast from Ocean’s Eleven has talent up and down the roster and has some heavyweights from multiple generations of Hollywood. But let’s be real, this movie brought George Clooney and Brad Pitt together, a relationship that has given us nearly a half-dozen other great films in the 24 years since its release.

La La Land (Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone)

The third time’s the charm, right? Well, that was the case for Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who were electric in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. Taking on the roles of two young lovers forced to decide between following their dreams and having a great relationship, these two sing, dance, and shine throughout this beloved musical.

Independence Day (Will Smith & Jeff Goldblum)

Years before Jeff Goldblum became one of social media’s favorite (and strangest) stars, he was something of a Hollywood leading man. Between his first two stints as Dr. Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park franchise, Goldblum shared the screen with Will Smith in Independence Day, aka, one of the highest-grossing films of 1996. These two, who were on top of their game, became an unlikely duo.

Batman Returns (Michael Keaton & Danny DeVito)

Michael Keaton, as Batman, and Danny DeVito, as the Penguin, in 1992’s Batman Returns, was one of the oddest pairings of the ‘90s. But don’t let this make you think it didn’t work, as these two Hollywood heavyweights were oddly great together in Tim Burton’s second and final comic book movie set in Gotham.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey)

Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson were two of the biggest stars on the planet when they teamed up in 2003 for How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. This wildly funny rom-com, which preceded their Fool’s Gold adventure comedy by five years, further helped both actors rise through the ranks of Hollywood.

Jungle Cruise (Emily Blunt & Dwayne Johnson)

It’s crazy we never got a movie starring Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson before 2021’s Jungle Cruise, but we’re glad these two electric stars shared the screen. One of the best movies based on a Disney attraction, this throwback adventure film had action, peril, humor, and some romance before it was all said and done.

Central Intelligence (Dwayne Johnson & Kevin Hart)

Love them or hate them, there’s no denying Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart’s on-screen chemistry. Shortly before they starred in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, these two shared the screen in Central Intelligence. A good movie? No, not really, but these two had so much fun together.

Face/Off (John Travolta & Nicolas Cage)

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are two of the most unforgettable actors (for better or worse) in the history of Hollywood, and they crossed paths and swapped faces in John Woo’s Face/Off. This absurdly awesome action flick about an FBI agent and global terrorist swapping faces is as ridiculous as it sounds.

Righteous Kill (Robert De Niro & Al Pacino)

Those who were mad about Robert De Niro and Al Pacino never having a face-to-face interaction (at least on screen) in Heat were in for some good news when Righteous Kill hit the big screen in 2008. Is it a great movie? No, not really. But hey, it has two of the biggest actors of all time sharing scene after scene.

Genres are helpful—until a movie comes along that throws the rulebook into the fire. Some films are so inventive and wildly ambitious that slapping a single label on them feels like an insult. These movies blend tones, mix storytelling traditions, and challenge expectations at every turn. Whether mashup horror and comedy, sci-fi and romance, or animation and noir, these 32 films break free from traditional classification, proving that the best stories often refuse to fit into a box.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

The plot of Everything Everywhere All at Once sounds absurd when you hear it out loud. It’s sci-fi, but it’s also a family drama. It’s one of the best action movies in recent memory. It also happens to be an absurdist comedy with a scene that breaks my heart every time I see it–I still can’t look at rocks or googly eyes the same. It’s a meditation on existential dread wrapped in kung-fu spectacle. The Daniels crafted something that shouldn’t work but does—an emotional, high-energy, genre-blending rollercoaster where nihilism and love collide in the best way possible.

Donnie Darko (2001)

A suburban teen, time travel, existential horror, and a man in a creepy rabbit suit—Donnie Darko refuses to be pinned down. Is it a psychological thriller? A coming-of-age story? A horror film with sci-fi elements? Richard Kelly’s cult classic is all of these things, a moody, enigmatic puzzle box that continues to haunt viewers decades later, an easily one of Jake Gyllenhal’s best movie performances.

The Princess Bride (1987)

What other film can balance fairy tale fantasy, satirical comedy, swashbuckling action, and heart-melting romance without breaking a sweat? The Princess Bride is a book-to-screen adaptation that is as good, if not better than the novel it's based on. It’s a love letter to classic storytelling while also poking fun at its conventions. It’s pure magic—a film that can make you laugh, cheer, and cry, often within the same scene.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, one of his best movies, refuses to let fantasy be an escape. Instead, it interweaves a fairy tale with the brutal realities of war-torn Spain. Part fantasy film, dripping in historical drama and a dash of horror. Del Toro blends all three into something chillingly beautiful, proving that sometimes the scariest monsters are human.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

A hard-boiled noir detective film… with animated cartoon characters running wild? Who Framed Roger Rabbit defies expectations by fusing classic film noir aesthetics with Looney Tunes madness. It’s part mystery, part slapstick comedy, part technical marvel, entirely unclassifiable, and, in retrospect, not very appropriate for children.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Since finishing up his tenure as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliff has made some weird movies, and none are as odd as Swiss Army Man. Think Cast Away with a farting corpse–as a stranded man befriends a farting, talking corpse with Swiss Army knife-like powers—if that sounds like nonsense, that’s because it is pure absurdist genius. It’s an iconic buddy comedy, an existential drama, and a surprisingly heartfelt film about loneliness, self-worth, and the strangeness of human connection.

The Fifth Element (1997)

Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element is one of the best science fiction movies of the 90s, sure, but it’s also a campy, over-the-top, French space opera that veers into comedy, action, and cartoon levels of insanity. It’s a spectacle of pure creative energy, filled with outlandish characters and visual madness that make it impossible to categorize.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an unholy blend of campy B-movie horror and glam rock musicals. It embraces its genre-defying weirdness with open arms. It’s more than a film—it's an experience with some of the catchiest songs committed to screen.

Being John Malkovich (1999)

A movie about a portal into John Malkovich’s mind that turns into a psychological drama about identity, obsession, and control? Spike Jonze, in his directorial debut, and Charlie Kaufman turn an absurd premise into something deeply unsettling yet darkly funny, making Being John Malkovich one of the strangest films ever made and one of the best flicks of the 1990s.

The Shape of Water (2017)

If you mix a Cold War espionage thriller with a creature feature and, of course, a fairy tale romance, you’ll get an idea of what The Shape of Water is. Guillermo del Toro masterfully stitches these elements together into a haunting, poetic, and profoundly weird film. A love story between a woman and an amphibious creature shouldn't work, but in del Toro’s capable hands, the movie becomes unforgettable and deserves all its Oscar wins.

Hook (1991)

Though much maligned since its release, Hook is easily one of Robin Williams's best performances. It tells a compelling father-son story mixed with whimsy and is a family-friendly swashbuckler. However, at its heart, it’s a deeply melancholic story about rediscovering lost youth.

Spirited Away (2001)

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is an intoxicating blend of myth, folklore, and childhood wonder, defying any easy categorization. The film operates on dream logic, shifting between the whimsical and the nightmarish, crafting a world that feels both hauntingly strange and intimately familiar. It’s one of the very best adventure family movies out there.

Fargo (1996)

The Coen Brothers have a habit of making films that exist in the gray area between genres, and Fargo might be their greatest balancing act. It’s a crime thriller, a dark comedy with some of their funniest quotes, and a bleak meditation on human nature. The film is full of violence and tension, yet it never loses its absurd sense of humor—often in the same breath.

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

At first glance, The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best horror movies of the 2010s, but the deeper you go, the more it mutates into something else entirely. It works as a love letter to and a brutal deconstruction of the horror genre, blending meta-comedy with genuine scares. It starts like a standard slasher film, but by the end, it’s an apocalyptic fever dream that leaves you questioning everything you know about horror storytelling.

Gremlins (1984)

Is Gremlins a horror movie? A dark comedy? Is it a Christmas film or just Christmas-themed? The answer is all of the above. Joe Dante’s chaotic creature feature shifts wildly between tones, sometimes feeling like a heartwarming holiday classic and other times diving headfirst into gruesome horror. It manages to be both gleefully silly and genuinely unsettling—making it impossible to fit neatly into one category.

The Pagemaster (1994)

The Pagemaster refuses to commit to a single identity. Though it loomed large in my childhood, its unwillingness to commit to a single genre could be why it has such an abysmal Rotten Tomatoes score. While it’s positioned as a children’s film about the power of books, it blends so many visual and storytelling styles that it becomes something else entirely. This surreal, hybrid experience feels both nostalgic and oddly experimental.

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China is an action movie that plays like a comedy, a kung-fu film that satirizes kung-fu films, and a supernatural adventure that revels in its own ridiculousness. It gleefully subverts action hero tropes, making its protagonist more of a bumbling sidekick–with some of the greatest Kurt Russel quotes–than a traditional lead. Its genre-bending nature has made it an enduring cult classic.

Her (2013)

Her straddles multiple genres while remaining profoundly intimate and personal. Yet again, Spike Jonze takes a premise that could have been used for satire—a man falling in love with his AI assistant—and turns it into a heartbreakingly sincere exploration of modern relationships. It’s futuristic but deeply human, making it impossible to categorize.

Last Action Hero (1993)

On the surface, it’s an action movie but also a deconstruction of action movies. Last Action Hero arguably came out at the wrong time, as it revels in Hollywood excess while poking fun at its clichés, blending over-the-top action with meta-commentary way ahead of its time. It’s self-aware, chaotic, and often refusing to be boxed into a single category.

Burn After Reading (2008)

Burn After Reading is classic Coen Brothers chaos—a film where every character thinks they’re in control, yet none of them have any idea what’s actually happening. It plays with the tropes of espionage thrillers, only to reveal that the stakes are laughably low, making it a darkly hilarious puzzle box of a movie. Also, it has one of the best Francis McDormand performances ever.

Men in Black (1997)

It’s a sci-fi film, but it’s also a buddy-cop comedy. It’s a blockbuster, but it has the sharp humor of a satire. Men in Black blends alien conspiracies, action-packed spectacle, laugh-out-loud comedy, and one of the scariest aliens committed to celluloid into something effortlessly entertaining. It thrives in its refusal to take itself too seriously, making it one of its era's most unique sci-fi films.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Edward Scissorhands is unapologetically Tim Burton at his best. An oddity that defies easy classification. It’s equal parts whimsical and tragic, blending a monster movie's aesthetics with the romance's tenderness. The film’s visual style is pure fantasy, yet its emotional core is deeply human, making it one of Burton’s most enduring works.

A Ghost Story (2017)

A Ghost Story is a slow, meditative exploration of time, grief, and existential loneliness. It also tells the story of a spiritual being who walks the earth in a bed sheet. This story challenges everything you expect from a ghost story, stripping away jump scares and supernatural lore in favor of long, lingering shots and quiet, contemplative storytelling. It’s haunting, but not in the traditional sense—more of a melancholy whisper than a scream in the dark.

La La Land (2016)

A musical, but one that subverts the tropes of the genre. La La Land embraces old Hollywood spectacle while refusing to follow the standard “happily ever after” formula. It’s nostalgic yet modern, blending reality and fantasy in a way that feels both dreamlike and achingly real.

The Lobster (2015)

The Lobster is so uniquely bizarre that it exists in a separate genre–the genre of Yorgos Lanthimos. Lanthimos takes an inherently ridiculous premise—that single people must find a partner or be turned into animals—and turns it into something deeply unsettling, bleakly funny, and weirdly moving.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

The Fantastic Mr. Fox is a movie far better than its bombing at the box office would lead one to believe. It is a wonderful stop-motion movie, but it's also unmistakably Wes Anderson, as the filmmaker blends the time-consuming animation with his signature aesthetic. It feels like a classic children’s storybook brought to life, yet it carries an undercurrent of existential angst that makes it resonate just as strongly with adults.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

No movie influenced 90s cinema quite like Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. This unpredictable film intertwines multiple narratives, with Samuel L. Jackson as the standout performer. The movie redefined nonlinear storytelling by skillfully blending brutal violence, humor, and unexpected poignancy.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Another Charlie Kaufman brainchild, Eternal Sunshine, takes a high-concept premise—erasing painful memories of lost love and toxic relationships—and turns it into an achingly beautiful meditation on heartbreak, fate, and human connection. It’s as cerebral as it is emotional, making it one of the most uniquely structured love stories ever told.

Prey (2022)

Prey is not just another Predator movie; it’s a historical survival thriller and an Indigenous-led action film that reinvents the franchise. By removing the excessive machismo of earlier movies and setting the story in 1719 around a young Comanche warrior, Prey transforms into a compelling tale of resilience and culture. Amber Midthunder emerges as a standout new face in the lineage of final girls in horror.

Aliens (1986)

James Cameron cranked Ridley Scott’s slow-burn terror into an all-out war film, proving that a sequel doesn’t have to repeat its predecessor. Aliens retains the dread of its predecessor while injecting explosive, military-driven spectacle, making it a rare hybrid that succeeds as both a nerve-wracking horror movie and a high-octane action thriller.

Coraline (2009)

It looks like a children’s fantasy film, but Coraline, while being one of Laika’s best movies, is pure nightmare fuel. A dark fairy tale with horror undertones, the film walks the tightrope between whimsy and dread. Its stop-motion animation is gorgeous yet eerie, and the story—about a young girl lured into a seemingly perfect world with sinister secrets—feels like something pulled from the pages of an old gothic ghost story.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

A coming-of-age story drenched in comic book and video-game aesthetics? Scott Pilgrim vs. The World should have been a hit, with its pure kinetic energy, blending pop culture, music, and self-aware humor into a hyper-stylized spectacle. Edgar Wright expanded his abilities as a filmmaker, creating a film that’s part arcade game, part indie rom-com, and wholly unique in its execution.

Nearly 30 years after its release, Men in Black remains one of Will Smith’s best movies, though it took some convincing from Steven Spielberg for him to sign on. There’s a lot to enjoy from the Malibu Comics adaptation, from the dynamic between Smith’s Agent J and Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K, to how the movie’s various aliens were realized with practical and CGI effects. What wasn’t so enjoyable during the making of Men in Black, however, was the time Smith let out a fart that was so bad, it resulted in the set being evacuated for three hours.

This gas of a story comes to us from Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld, who stopped by Let’s Talk Off Camera to plug his new book, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time, which is filled with stories from his film and TV career. During the episode, Sonnfeld recalled to host Kelly Ripa about the time he and the Men in Black crew were getting ready to shoot Smith and Jones (whom the director said “does not suffer fools”) in a device that functioned as a car turning into a “hyper car.” The actors had to get into this device via the kind of ladders you’d find at an airport tarmac, and then they were “hermetically sealed” in.

The actors being locked in was done for safety reasons so that they wouldn’t fall out of the device, but there was an unfortunate consequence to this. Sonnenfeld heard Will Smith apologizing to Tommy Lee Jones and asked for someone named Baz to get a ladder, and Jones was simply telling Smith not to worry about what had happened (as opposed to saying he didn’t sanction his buffoonery). The actors were removed from the device and Jones raced “down the stairs” to exit the scene. As Sonnenfeld explained:

While I’m not going to shame Will Smith for being a farmer, I also have to side with Tommy Lee Jones on this. If you’re an enclosed space like that and someone lets one rip, that’s just a brutal experience. Fortunately, it sounds like it didn’t take too long to get the actors free, but the tradeoff was production grinding to a screeching halt. As Barry Sonnenfeld put it:

This is perhaps the biggest piece of fart-related news in the entertainment industry since Whoopi Goldberg was accused of farting the most out of all The View hosts in 2023. As far as Will Smith goes, though, it sounds like this was just one regrettable incident, and his toots didn’t pose any more problems during the making of Men in Black. He and Jones went on to play J and K in two more Men in Black movies, which Barry Sonnenfeld also directed. In 2019, a spinoff called Men in Black: International was released, but that Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson-led flick failed to impress critically and commercially.

As of this writing, you’ll need to be on Sling TV if you’d like to stream the first three Men in Black movies. Will Smith was seen earlier this year in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and he’s one of the producers attached to the next Karate Kid movie, which is set for a May release on the 2025 movies schedule.

I don’t know about all of you, but I’m loving Terminator: Zero. Though I haven’t finished the 2024 Netflix series, the anime set in the universe of James Cameron’s all-time great sci-fi movie franchise has a great story and wild animation. As I’ve been watching, I can’t help but think about other franchises I would love to see get the anime treatment at some point in the future.

Some of these picks have already been turned into live-action TV shows or animated series, but they have never received a proper anime series that approaches the source material with a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective. I think each of these properties would be well-suited for the medium and a ton of fun to watch.

Alien

With the box office success of Alien: Romulus and FX’s upcoming Alien: Earth live-action series coming in the near future, it’s safe to say the iconic franchise is alive and well. What better way to capitalize on the success of Alien’s resurging popularity than by giving it an anime series set somewhere in the property’s sometimes confusing timeline?

It wouldn’t have to be about Ellen Ripley, though Neil Blomkamp’s awesome sequel idea would be awesome in anime form, and instead could be about new characters living through the pattern of finding a strange organism, having it burst out of someone’s chest, and then trying to escape an almost perfect xenomorph. In an ideal world, there could be multiple seasons with each telling a new story set somewhere deep in space. 

Predator

Though there is reportedly a finished Alien vs. Predator anime series locked up in the Disney vault, according to Bloody Disgusting, there’s a good chance we’ll probably never get to see what the show had in store for us. That said, I would still love to see a series based on at least Predator, as the franchise has shown time and time again that it can work when creative forces are willing to try new things.

With animated anthology series like What If and Tales of Jedi finding audiences, I think a Predator anime set in different historical periods would be cool to see. We could have one season set in feudal Japan, another set during the French Revolution, another deep in the heart of Africa, and so forth. Disney really needs to make this happen.

Mad Max

I understand that Fuiosa: A Mad Max Saga didn’t perform well at the box office and we may never see another movie set in George Miller’s wasteland because of the bomb, but that doesn’t mean the franchise has to be over and done with, right? Well, imagine if Warner Bros. turned its attention to creating an anime series in the vein of Terminator: Zero that tells one of Miller’s unproduced ideas on a smaller (and probably less expensive) scale. 

There was a pretty sweet Mad Max: Fury Road prequel comic series that was released around the same time as the 2015 action flick, and I think that could be a cool series to adapt and fill in some of the gaps between the Mel Gibson-led movies and the more recent additions to the franchise. This four-issue series explored various characters from the wasteland and I would love to see those stories unfold in an animated series that combines elements of anime and Miller’s distinct visual style.

Planet Of The Apes

Planet of the Apes has grown a great deal over the years, going from a popular book to a landmark film to a massive multimedia brand with movies, TV shows, cartoons, and multiple reboots. Because Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has given new life to the franchise, I think now’s a good time to come out with an anime series set somewhere in the franchise’s timeline.

I’m fully aware of the Return to the Planet of the Apes Saturday morning cartoon that aired on NBC back in 1975, but the show only lasted a single season and shouldn’t prevent an anime based on the property from seeing the light of day. The gap between War for the Planet of the Apes and Kingdom is a vast one, so it would be cool if we got to see at least some of what happened in the hundreds of years between the two. 

Stargate

I have fond memories of Stargate as a kid, and I’ll never forget the first time I watched it at a friend’s sleepover the summer between second and third grade. There was just something about the look and tone of Rolan Emmerich’s sci-fi adventure that prevented me from looking away from the screen or thinking about it while I was trying to sleep that night. Thirty years later, I want to see an anime series that either revisits one of the best ‘90s sci-fi movies or at least is set in its universe.

Yeah, there have been a few TV shows (both live-action and animated) based on one of Kurt Russell’s best movies, but I would love a nitty-gritty and incredibly violent series with stylized animation and all that anime flair. Hell, you could even bring back Russell and James Spader to reprise their roles and take us off to another alien world with a culture modeled after a different ancient civilization. 

Men In Black

Remember Men in Black: The Series, the cartoon based on the hit Will Smith movie? If not, make sure to check it out because it’s a ton of fun and further expands upon the lore and characters of the sci-fi action flick. That said, the show has been off the air for nearly 25 years at this point, and I think now would be the perfect time to retool the franchise as an anime.

I mean, Men in Black is one of the best comic book movies not from DC or Marvel, and there’s a lot that could be explored from the short-lived yet influential six-issue run. It would be great to see Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones come back and voice their famous characters, but if they weren’t willing or able to, I still think there’s enough fun to be had in this sandbox. 

Metal Gear Solid

There has been a lot of talk about a Metal Gear Solid movie over the years, but I, for one, have grown tired of waiting for the upcoming video game adaptation to finally come to fruition. However, I do have an idea for how Konami could introduce its iconic tactical espionage action series to a new audience: anime. 

There are unofficial anime series inspired by Hideo Kojima’s landmark action video game, but none of those have ever had the seal of approval from Komani or anyone associated with the franchise. I would be fine with anything set in the world of Metal Gear, be it straight-up adaptations of the games or new stories about Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Les Enfants Terribles, the shadowy government project that cloned Big Boss to super soldiers. Maybe even a proper ending for Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain. 

I don’t know if any of these will happen (they should), but there are a lot of great 2024 TV shows we can watch right with a Netflix subscription, like Terminator: Zero.

While watching Alien: Romulus, it occurred to me that the Xenomorph never fails to terrify. However, it also made me wonder, Is it the scariest movie alien of all time?

There are countless classic horror movies and even more awesome sci-fi movies that have unveiled otherworldly creatures of all different shapes, sizes, and, most importantly, qualities of nightmare fuel, but only one can be the eeriest and most intimidating extra-terrestrial of all. Could it be the Xenomorph? Let's take a deeper look at some of cinema's most horrifying horror villains from outer space before we determine which is my choice for the ultimate in revolting interplanetary royalty.

First, let's start with some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

While they did not make the cut for my personal Top 10 Scariest Movie Aliens, I could not call this list complete without some mention of freaky favorites like the visitors who abducted Travis Walton (D.B. Sweeney) in 1993's Fire in the Sky, the bioraptors from the first Riddick movie (2000's Pitch Black), and what are referred to as "Gorilla-Wolf Motherfuckers" in 2011's Attack the Block. 

I also believe that Jean Jacket from Jordan Peele's Nope is one of the best modern horror movie villains for its stunningly unique design alone, the haunting sights from The Shimmer (which some might consider to be a creature in its own right) make 2018's Annihilation one of the best sci-fi horror movies of its time, and Robert Patrick's performance as a gym teacher infected by an alien parasite makes 1998's The Faculty a classic.

10. Blue Aliens (They Live)

Have you ever felt you were being treated like a puppet? If so, you can relate to Roddy Piper's Nada from John Carpenter's They Live, who uses special sunglasses to uncover one of the most inventive alien invasion movie plots: brainwashing the human race with subliminal messaging while living among us in plain sight. The Blue Aliens' plan might be even scarier today than when the cult favorite was released in 1988, as its themes of psychological manipulation are more relevant now than ever.

9. The Blob (The Blob)

Not to undermine psychological manipulation, but at least that sort of circumstance is easier to overcome than being consumed whole by sentient slime, like The Blob. With all due respect to the original from 30 years earlier, Chuck Russell's 1988 version is the one that really pulls no punches in showing what horrors this strange gelatinous goo is capable of.

8. Edgar The Bug (Men In Black)

I am actually not sure which I find scarier: Edgar the Bug in his true form as a giant cockroach or while hiding under Vincent D'Onofrio's skin. Either way, the slimy interstellar terrorist is easily Men in Black's most iconic alien for its breathtakingly eerie design and intimidating snarl, even though J (Will Smith) does manage to find its soft spot by stomping on some of its smaller relatives.

7. Long-Limbed Gray (No One Will Save You)

The otherworldly visitors in Brian Duffield's No One Will Save You (one of the best horror movies on Hulu) boast the most familiar alien design imaginable (gray skin with a skinny frame and bulbous head). However, the 2023 film's most unnerving sequence sees Kaitlyn Dever's Brynn chased by one creature with extra-extra-long arms and legs that sends a chill down your spine with every movie it makes.

6. The Children (Village Of The Damned)

Another great John Carpenter movie featured on our list is his 1995 remake of Village of the Damned, in which Superman actor Christopher Reeve takes on human-looking youngsters who turn out to be alien spawn hellbent on taking over the world. The horror genre has its fair share of creepy kids, but the eerily intelligent, platinum-blonde troublemakers with hypnotic eyes are on a whole different level.

5. Death Angels (A Quiet Place)

While the antagonistic creatures from the post-apocalyptic movie favorite, 2018's A Quiet Place, and its sequels are undeniably chilling, it is not their appearance that makes the so-called "Death Angels" so iconically scary. It is their keen sense of hearing, which has forced people all over the world, such as the Abbotts, to live in complete silence or become the monsters' next meal.

4. Pod People (Invasion Of The Body Snatchers)

Perhaps the only thing scarier than a savage beast from another planet is an alien that looks perfectly human and intends to replace you, your loved ones, and the rest of mankind. Hollywood has released multiple Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies, but one thing that remains the same in each iteration is the eerie, emotionless Pod People, who can only take your place if you cannot stay awake.

3. Predator (Predator)

Not all of cinema's most frightening extra-terrestrial creatures are animalistic savages. Exhibit A: the hulking, titular antagonist of the Predator movies, who does select its targets randomly, but uses a certain code of honor like your typical hunter would. Defeating the creature is not a test of strength but of wit, which Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch learns during his final one-on-one battle with the "ugly motherfucker" in the 1987 original.

2. Xenomorph (Alien)

One of the Predator's most challenging opponents is the Xenomorph, which is not so merciful and will tear apart anything that comes in its way — its first victims always being the human host it pops out of. Cunning stamina and bloodlust aside, H.R. Giger's unmistakably iconic design for the Alien movies' flagship creature, which has since taken on many different Xenomorph variations, is an unparalleled combination of picturesque purity and unsettling grotesquerie.

1. The Thing (The Thing)

However, the one thing that the Xenomorph cannot do is fool its prey by posing as a fellow human they trust, like the titular creature from John Carpenter's masterpiece, The Thing, which was a surprising box office flop in 1982. In addition to the wave of paranoia it inspires, the creature's ability to perfectly imitate any living organism makes way for some indelibly gruesome transformations that little to no other cinematic extra-terrestrials can rival.

Our beloved and beautiful Xenomorph just cannot hold a candle to the more clever and manipulative master of disguise from The Thing, which is why I believe it is the scariest movie alien we have ever seen. Would you agree?

As a follow-up to 1996’s Twister with an original story and new characters, Twisters — called a “hell of a good time” by CinemaBlend’s Mike Reyes — has proven that a strong sequel to a classic does not necessarily need to be a direct continuation. This begs the question, what other great ‘90s movies could benefit from another chapter that exists in the same world, but keeps things fresh by not relying on their predecessors? Here are some beloved blockbusters from that era that we would love to see get a standalone sequel someday.

Speed (1994)

Speaking of Twister, before Jan de Bont helmed the disaster movie favorite, the Dutch cinematographer made his directorial debut with Speed. It would actually be a real dream come true to see a direct sequel to the action movie masterpiece — set on a city bus rigged to explode if it slows to less than 50 mph — that reunites Sandra Bullock with Keanu Reeves, who was missing from the less successful Speed 2: Cruise Control. Then again, the idea of another adrenaline-fueled thrill ride that somehow involves a mode of public transportation and explosions still sounds fun no matter who is in it.

Ghost (1990)

Director Jerry Zucker (part of the trio that helmed the classic spoof movie Airplane!, believe it or not) made an Academy Award-winning surprise hit out of a supernatural haunting story from the haunter’s perspective with Ghost. The romantic thriller ended perfectly, with Patrick Swayze’s Sam bidding Molly (Demi Moore) a final farewell before crossing over, but its intriguing interpretation of the afterlife could be explored more deeply. Apparently Channing Tatum plans to remake Ghost, but I think a new story set in the same world — like a slain detective trying to solve his own murder, perhaps — is what the potential franchise really needs.

The Mask (1994)

A standalone sequel to one of the best Jim Carrey movies, The Mask, actually was released in the form of 2005’s Son of the Mask, which was neither a hit with critics nor audiences. If Carrey’s (current) retirement from acting were to prevent us from seeing a sequel in which Stanley Ipkiss puts on the mystical vizard once more, why not give the franchise one more try with yet another attempt at a new story? May I suggest something more akin to the far darker comic book that inspired the original fantasy comedy?

Men In Black (1997)

Another bizarre, funny comic book movie that received a standalone sequel was one of the best sci-fi movies, Men in Black, which follows an organization monitoring extra-terrestrial activity on Earth. After Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones came back for two direct follow-ups, 2019’s Men in Black: International changed the setting to MIB’s London branch and brought in Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the leads, but did not quite capture the same magic. Still, I would love to see another attempt at a new story like this one, but with a more creative concept, a stronger sense of humor, and far less fan service.

Deep Impact (1998)

In 1998, audiences saw the releases of Armageddon and Deep Impact, which both involve an attempt to neutralize a large cosmic object hurtling toward Earth with nuclear explosions. However, Deep Impact boldly sees the plan fail and shows a large fragment of a comet hitting the Atlantic Ocean and creating a tsunami that destroys most of the American East Coast and even hits Europe and Africa. It might be interesting to explore the aftermath of the event from the perspective of a new set of characters as a new cataclysmic threat suddenly emerges.

Volcano (1997)

An earlier example of twin disaster movies from the same year is the 1997 releases of Volcano and Dante’s Peak, which both involve a hidden, long-dormant volcano erupting on American soil, putting a community in danger. However, Volcano ends with a hint that Mount Wilshire is still active in Los Angeles and I think it is about time that we see the next eruption. In fact, I recommend pulling a Twisters and calling it Volcanoes and revealing that a second (or even third) magma-spewing mountain has emerged in L.A.

Tremors (1990)

Despite not doing great at the box office in 1990, Tremors became a cult favorite creature feature and spawned six straight-to-video sequels and a TV show — all of which (save the 19th-century-set prequel Tremors 4: The Legend Begins) saw Michael Gross reprise his role as Burt Gummer. Sadly, the expert in hunting worm-like monsters known as Graboids was killed in 2020’s Tremors: Shrieker Island, but I think that opens an opportunity to bring new blood to the franchise. By that, I do not just mean new characters and new places, but new creatures to fight, too.

Waterworld (1995)

Another beloved ‘90s-era box office flop is Waterworld, which stars Kevin Costner as a sailor searching for dry land on a fully-submerged planet Earth. Not only is this post-apocalyptic thriller more appreciated by audiences today, but it is also more relevant now than ever as conversations regarding the threat of global warming have only increased in importance. Of course, that is not the only reason why I believe another adventure from this inventive dystopian world is in order.

Event Horizon (1997)

While many believe it is one of the best horror movies of the ‘90s, I personally have never been a big fan of director Paul W.S. Anderson’s Event Horizon. However, I do adore the concept of a spaceship that travels through wormholes and accidentally takes a detour through Hell. Thus, I think a new story from the same world that involves a similar combination of cosmic sci-fi and otherworldly horror would be fun.

Total Recall (1990)

Among the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movies to not be sequelized is Total Recall, in which the Austrian actor plays a man who discovers his strange dreams are actually memories of his forgotten life as a secret agent. It was remade in 2012 with Colin Farrell, but I would like to see a completely original mystery thriller involving the same memory-implanting technology from the Philip K. Dick story that inspired the action flick. Also, I think setting it entirely on that Martian colony would make it extra fun.

Considering how well Twisters has done at the box office, more standalone sequels to ‘90s favorites is not out of the question. Hopefully it is one of these!

There are a lot of comic publishers out there, and some really great movies have been adapted from their works. While the film and TV world may be dominated mostly by two companies, Marvel and DC, these movies hold their own against any movie adapted from the Big Two. Here are 32 great examples of movies adapted from comic books that aren't Marvel or DC. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

When Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird first conceived and published the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book for Mirage Studios, they never could've foreseen the wild success of the media franchise the book turned into. The original indie comic, first hitting shelves in 1984 was dark, and all in black and white. Still, it was an underground hit that soon moved into the streets as a phenomenon. 

Hellboy

2004's Hellboy, based on the Dark Horse Comics book by the same name, is one of the most beloved comic book movies of all time, especially one not adapted from a Marvel or DC story. Starring Ron Pearlman as the titular character and directed by Guillermo del Toro, the movie was a big enough hit to spawn a sequel in 2009. Sadly, a third movie completed the trilogy never got off the ground, and a more recent attempt to reboot the series bombed in 2019. 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

During its initial run in theaters, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, starring Michael Cera as Pilgrim, was a disappointment. As testament to the original material, a series published by Oni Press, the movie quickly gained cult status and today has fans all over the world. 

Sin City

Creator Frank Miller is a legend in the comic book industry. His first hits came working for DC, but after building his reputation, he struck out from DC and began releasing his books through Dark Horse. One of those, Sin City, was a huge success and led to the film adaptation with an all-star cast in 2005. 

Dredd

Judge Dredd is one of the most popular comic book anti-heroes outside of Marvel and DC. The series he comes from 2000 AD, first published in 1977 by IPC Magazines, was a hit and two movie adaptations based on the dystopian future cop have been made. The first, 1995 Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone, is not all that great, but the second, 2012 Dredd starring The Boys star Karl Urban, is excellent. 

The Crow

1994's The Crow is sadly remembered for the on-set fatality of its star, Brandon Lee, and fewer people recognize that it was adapted from a comic book series published by Caliber Comics. Three more sequels have also been produced and in 2024, 30 years after The Crow's release, the series was rebooted on film. 

300

Dark Horse publishing has turned itself into a comic book publishing force in the last 40 years and one of the biggest reasons why is the work of artist and writer Frank Miller. His 300, adapted in 2006 and starring Gerard Butler, was a huge hit with director Zach Snyder earning praise for the style of the film, which was very much in keeping with its origins as a comic. 

Weird Science

Okay, pardon the pun, but this is a weird one. John Hughes' 1985 teen comedy classic Weird Science was actually loosely based on a comic book. Weird Science comics, published by EC Magazines in the early '50s only ran for 22 issues, but one "Made of the Future" by Al Feldstein, told the story of a man who creates a woman from a computer. Wild. 

Spawn

Todd McFarlane's Image Comics is the third largest publisher in the comic book world and you can count Spawn as a major reason why. The movie adaptation in 1997 of the same name wasn't a big hit, but the comics will always be classics. 

Men In Black

Aircel Comics was eventually swallowed up by Marvel in the 1990s, but before that happened, it published five issues of its Men In Black series. Once the series was adapted for the first time in 1997 (after Marvel owned it), it would become one of the biggest franchises of the last three decades. 

The Kingsman Series

The publishing history of the Kingsman series is a little convoluted. It does involve Marvel, but Image Comics and Dark Horse have also published books, so we're going to fudge a little here because it's such a fun franchise, both in print on the big screen, we had to include it. 

Heavy Metal

1981's Heavy Metal directed by Ivan Reitman is one of the best animated movies for adults ever made. It was adapted using stories from the legendary Heavy Metal magazine that ran for nearly 50 years before ending in 2023. 

Atomic Blonde

2016's Atomic Blonde, a Cold War-era spy thriller was adapted from a character in a comic book called The Coldest City by Antony Johnston, first published by Oni Press in 2012. The movie, starring Charlize Theron, was a critical success and performed modestly at the box office. 

Timecop

As Jean-Claude Van Damme movies go, Timecop is pretty decent. Released in 1994 and based on a comic book of the same name from Dark Horse, it was a successful hit and launched a moderate franchise with a short-lived TV show and a straight-to-video sequel. 

The Killer

2023's The Killer, directed by David Fincher and starring Michael Fassbender was based on a long-running French comic by the same name. The first volume, published in 1998, led to many more over the years before Netflix commissioned the movie. 

Dıck Tracy

So this entry is a bit of a stretch, because Dick Tracy was technically a comic strip first, though the character has appeared in comic books since the 1930s. The first adaptation of the hard-boiled detective was a radio show, also in the '30s. In 1990 Warren Beatty adapted the character for the big screen to big office success. 

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

The most famous adaptation of the Archie Comics' Sabrina The Teen Age Witch was the TV show starring Melissa Joan Hart as the titular spell caster. The show started as a made-for-TV movie starring Hart and Ryan Reynolds in one of his earliest roles. It aired first aired on Showtime in 1996 before moving to ABC as a TV show later that year. The show ran for seven successful seasons. 

The Rocketeer

Years before Disney reached the dizzying heights of the Avengers movies, the House of Mouse tried to find a hit with The Rocketeer. Based on the 1981 comic of the same name, with a character that paid homage to the heroes of the 1930s. Sadly, the movie was a commercial failure, but fans of the movie still praise it to this day. 

Flash Gordon

The character Flash Gordon first hit American newspapers as a comic strip in the 1930s. Over the years, stories of the space-traveling hero have been adapted into every medium imaginable, including serial movies in the 1930s, novels, radio shows, a TV show, a musical, and of course, comic books. The 1980 movie is a wonderfully bizarre adaptation that quickly gained a cult following.

Oldboy

Japanese magazine Futabasha started publishing the serialized story Old Boy in the late '90s and in 2003 Park Chan-wook-directed a phenomenal adaptation in South Korea. It's a dark story, as Japanese magna often is, but it's fantastic. A less-well-received remake by Spike Lee in 2013 isn't as good. 

Tank Girl

In one of the most notorious examples of a movie failing to live up to the expectations of fans, 1995's Tank Girl starring Lori Petty was a commercial and critical failure. Fans hated the movie as they did not think it carried the spirit of the character. The comic, first published by Deadline in the UK, continues to be very popular with fans well into the 21st Century. 

Mystery Men

1999's Mystery Men bombed at the box office and that's really too bad because it's really a fun movie. Based on the surrealist comic Flaming Carrot Comics, it featured an all-star cast as superhero rejects and has-beens that come together to fight evil. It's funny, and sweet, and really much better than its box office receipts show. 

Akira

There is no more famous and popular anime than Akira. The original 1988 film was based on a manga first published in Weekly Young Magazine in Japan, then later imported to the US by Marvel. Akira is one of the most surprising examples of an enduring property that somehow hasn't become one of the biggest franchises on earth.  

The Mask

Sometimes it seems like people forget just how huge 1995's The Mask really was. It made over ten times over its budget in theaters and solidified Jim Carrey as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. For almost 25 years, that made it the most profitable comic book movie of all time until it was surpassed in 2019 by The Joker. It was also a great example of a comic book adaptation, as it was based on the 1991 comic of the same name printed by Dark Horse. 

Ghost World

Maybe the most surprising movie on this list is Ghost World. The 2001 movie doesn't feel like a comic book movie, but it was adapted from the cult classic comic of the same name. First published as a serialized story in Fantagraphics' Eightball, the movie didn't find an audience at first, but was lauded by critics and even got an Oscar nomination for best-adapted screenplay. It's since found its audience and is considered a cult classic. 

The Old Guard

Images Comics first published The Old Guard in 2017 and just three short years later, Netflix produced a movie based on it. Charlize Theron and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead a stellar cast in the movie that critics and fans loved setting it up for a sequel. 

Cowboys & Aliens

Platinum Studios is a fairly new comic book publisher whose work Cowboys & Aliens is the first movie adaptation of their characters. The movie, starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford was a commercial flop, but it's not the worst movie on this list and some critics praised it. 

Shortcomings

Rom-coms are not the genre you ever expect to be adaptations of comic books, but 2023's Shortcomings is just that. It's a movie that flew under the radar upon its release, but all you have to do is look at the reviews and see how that's too bad. It's a very well-made movie with enough "from" and "com," and ever drama, to make it worth a watch. It was adapted from a graphic novel of the same name, first published in 2007 by Optic Nerve Comics.

Robot Dreams

2023's Robot Dreams is a unique movie, based on a unique graphic novel. There is no dialog in either. Both, however, are a masterclass in wordless storytelling. The original book was published in 2007 to universal acclaim. It was even one of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club picks.

Extraction

Extraction is loosely based on Ciudad by graphic artist Ande Parks along with the Avengers: End Game directors the Russo Brothers, plus Fernando León González, and Eric Skillman. who also directed the film. The book was released in 2014 with the intention of turning into a movie, which happened in 2020 with Chris Hemsworth starring. 

Wanted

It's a bit surprising that Wanted, released in 2008 and starring Angelina Jolie, hasn't had a sequel. It was a success at the box office and has a lot of fans. Some of those fans go back to the original comic book, which was published as a limited series by Top Cow Productions, part of Image. 

From Hell

Alan Moore is one of the most revered comic book authors of all time. Many of his books have been adapted, including The Watchman, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and V is for Vendetta. All of those, however, were published by DC. A fourth adaption, actually the first, From Hell was based on a series published by Top Shelf Productions starting in 1989. It stars Johnny Depp Jack The Ripper investigator Frederick Abberline and tells the story of the investigation of those murders. 

Given that people are watching less and less cable and there are myriad pathways to finding good films now, how do you figure out what to watch? We've compiled a list of great films, all with the goal of marking them as movies fans can return to again and again and find something new each time. 

So why 90%? There are plenty of Rotten Tomatoes movies with 100% scores for lower-budget projects that may only have a smattering of reviews. In addition, there are plenty of other movies with great scores, like Citizen Kane, that I wouldn’t necessarily argue are films that should be thrown on for the fifth or sixth time on a Saturday night. 

The Godfather 

The Godfather’s so famous that years later You’ve Got Mail used the phrase "go to the mattresses" when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's characters were coming up with a business plan. A quintessential mobster drama, it’s still being watched by new generations of movie buffs coming of age. If it’s been a bit since you've seen the 97% positive-rated movie, dive in. 

Toy Story

A film with a cool 100% critics score, Toy Story really put Pixar on the map as storytellers and ended up spawning a whole franchise of beloved characters like Woody, Buzz, Andy, T-Rex, Jesse, Mr. Potatohead and so many more. The definition of rewatchable, the movie holds up years and years after its original family audience has created families of their own, and there are sequels you can rewatch to boot!

Singin’ In The Rain

The Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds classic has it all: Great set pieces, classic music numbers, a notable cast-- and it's so well-known that it used to be referenced in Disney's The Great Movie Ride. It’s actually one of the few movies on this list to also have a solid 100% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics. You don’t have to throw this one on during a rainy day, but it’s not a bad plan, either. 

The Dark Knight

Easily the most popular of Christopher Nolan’s superhero films, with excellent performances from Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Heath Ledger, it’s clear why The Dark Knight should be on this list. Though tragedy struck in relation to this movie with Heath Ledger’s death, it’s stood out as a testament to what superhero movies can really do if given the right budget and script. 

Modern Times

A few Chaplin classics earned big scores from critics, but chief among these is Modern Times, the deft part-talkie that Chaplin put together in 1936 and that later became one of the first 25 films to make the Library of Congress’ preservation list. It’s not just historically significant, however. It’s a fun story about facing setbacks and still maintaining a positive attitude, and its memorable ending makes it easy to understand its 98% rating.

Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise's original Top Gun was not as much of a hit with critics, and currently has a middling rating on critical aggregators. That's not true of the 2022 follow-up Top Gun: Maverick, which boasts an exciting opening sequence, an all-star sequel cast, and an upgraded beach sequence. This garners it a well-deserved 96% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Even better? This is one you'll want to watch again and again. 

How To Train Your Dragon

The definitive dragon film, Dreamworks' How To Train Your Dragon is not just a solid example of an animated movie, it's a good movie, period. The 2010 film launched two sequels, but it's the first movie that landed it a 99% critics score and is the one to revisit over and over again. It had some competition from Game Of Thrones on the TV side, but given it's a family film, I think it has the edge in the rewatch department. 

All About Eve

The 99% approved 1950 Bette Davis film has been around for decades, but lines like “fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night” never, ever grow stale, even after repeat viewings. Nor does the story about the cutthroat nature of the Hollywood business ever grow tiring. All About Eve is a classic for a reason: It and Davis will never go out of style. 

Skyfall

Technically, Skyfall has the second-best score for a Daniel Craig Bond movie, coming in at 92% behind Casino Royal's 94%. Honestly, both have great rewatch value, and one could argue Royale is the more fun movie. But I find myself gravitating to Skyfall and its emotional gut-punch impact and memorable performances far more often. Do, I do this more often on a rainy day? Sure. Will you regret throwing it on? I highly doubt it. 

The Princess Bride

If you've read the William Goldman book The Princess Bride is based on, you'll know exactly how the script for Rob Reiner's movie got to be so quotable. But the source material says nothing about how well the movie is put together and how funny the timing of the cast still is years and years later. I was at a party a few weeks ago when someone mentioned "I mean it" and a pal of mine responded, "Anybody want a peanut?" That kind of resonance can't be manufactured, it has to come about from years and years of people wearing out VHS tapes and DVDs and now streaming subscriptions. This one deserves better than its 96%. 

Paddington 2

Like Daniel Craig's Bond films, It can be great to revisit a later movie in the franchise instead of the original, though the highly rated Paddington is also delightful. Why does the 99% Paddington 2 get the edge? Well, it hilarious ushered in Hugh Grant's era as not a leading man but a comedic character actor, and its plot --which sends Paddington to jail where he becomes known for making marmalade sandwiches -- is absolutely bonkers, in a good way. And there are musical numbers! Throw it on now. 

Avengers: Endgame

You may know the order MCU movies have come out, but you may not know there's a second list of the most rewatched MCU movies. Endgame lands high here, not just because it's one of a handful of Marvel movies that has over a 90% critics score, but because it's also at the top of lists including the most rewatched and highest-grossing Marvel films. It's a behemoth of a movie, and you obviously wouldn't be alone if you revisit it again and again. 

Men In Black

A perpetual favorite of cable networks in the early aughts, Men in Black still holds up. The Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones movie has everything: Aliens, weird weaponry, a cool soundtrack, and it's a great blockbuster that's funny to boot. The marble scene at the end of the movie also marks one of the most striking and memorable endings to a movie from the 1990s, and it's no wonder critics gave it a 91%. It's more rewatchable than other Will Smith classics like The Pursuit of Happyness and King Richard to boot. 

John Wick Chapter 4: Parabellum

Honestly, it's hard to believe the fourth Keanu Reeves John Wick movie is the only one to break the 90% barrier with critics. It's a great movie, to be sure, and given the Chapter 4: Parabellum ending, it's certainly one worth revisiting. I just wish the startlingly good first movie in the franchise fit the specifications of this list too. 

Devil In A Blue Dress

Denzel Washington? Check. A seedy film noir feel? Check. A generally good mystery? Check. Intriguing side characters? Check, check, check, check. It's no wonder the flick has a 92% approval rating with all that it has going on and I didn't even mention Don Cheadle or Jennifer Beals yet. Devil in a Blue Dress is not only one of the best Denzel movies, it's also adapted from one of the great murder mysteries of all time, and it has held up long after its 1995 release. 

Godzilla Minus One

With a whopping 98% score, Godzilla Minus One overperformed at the box office and has become an even bigger behemoth through its subsequent streaming release. Not only has it remained popular, it has remained a great movie to revisit. It's a monstrous spectacle (pun very much intended), but it's the personal stories in Takashi Yamazaki's movie that make the human plot really shine. 

Encanto

There are actually a large volume of Disney movies that have landed more than a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Most of these are re-watchable, to boot. However, Encanto is a particularly special entry into the genre as it introduces fans to the culture in Colombia and shares a story about family flaws, trauma and patterns that set up the future. OK, that doesn't sound all that fun, but it's great. 

Bridesmaids

It's tough for a comedy to land a score high enough to make this list, and Bridesmaids ekes in just under the wire. The movie is at a 90%, but I'd argue it's more than 90% hilarious; not everyone can have great taste. Kristen Wiig's seminal comedy is a rare female-centric ensemble movie with some memorable moments, including a plane scene and one very unique driving scene from Kristen Wiig. And that's not even getting to major moments from the additional cast, including Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy.

The Terminator

Rewatchable for the catchphrases alone, The Terminator is both one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's and James Cameron's highest-rated films. It weighs in at a (somewhat shocking) 100% fresh rating 40 years after its initial release, proving that nostalgia can be a big factor when it comes to success. What's most interesting to me is that the movie dwarfs Terminator 2, another big rewatchable winner, when it comes to the score. 

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2 Judgment Day has a respectable 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, but if you were to ask me, given it's big budget, popcorn-y bent, this is the most fondly remembered movie in the long and storied franchise. I was a little surprised to learn it was the OG movie with the 100% score and not this one. Really though, it's comparing apples to apples, as both are great movies to throw on at home years later. 

Mary Poppins

Just thinking of this movie might get any of a plethora of songs stuck in your head. "A Spoonful of Sugar" comes to mind first, but I'll go ahead and give spelling "Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious" a stab. If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious, after all. For decades, the Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews starrer has been a fan-favorite, much of which is due to its musical soundtrack, though the performances help. It will doubtless remain that way in the years to come. Having a 97% positive score from critics always helps though.

Halloween

A quintessentially repeatable horror film, Halloween is perfect for one particular evening of rewatching every year, and I don't think I need to spell out which. It's also a great entry into more hardcore horror for folk just getting into the genre, as well as a great entry point into Jamie Lee Curtis' oeuvre. At a 96% rating, it's pretty close to perfect, too. 

Moana

There are plenty of movies with a rich musical history that have lived on for years and years after their release. In comparison, Moana is a relative newcomer, but its fun music ("You're Welcome") and rich, diverse storytelling have made it an instant classic and a continual go-to for families. I'd give credit to The Rock's popularity as a movie star, but this one really is a family favorite for audiences of all ages. If it's been a while, give the 95%-scored movie a shot. 

Mad Max: Fury Road

Choosing the best Mad Max film is difficult, and in fact, four of them have a 90% rating or more on Rotten Tomatoes. The highest of these is Mad Max: Fury Road, the film that helped cement Charlize Theron as an action icon and went on to make nearly $380 million at the box office. Not bad for a dystopic sci-fi film, and if you bang through this one fast, there are plenty more highly rated franchise movies where that one came from. 

Edge Of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow is one of Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise's most underrated movies. It was a box office flop that has a 91% rating with critics and similar audience ratings. Its Groundhog Day-combined-with-aliens premise makes it one of the best action films to rewatch again and again... and again and again and again. 

Groundhog Day

This idea of reliving a day over again and again really originated with the 1993 fantasy classic starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. For years, Groundhog Day was a staple on cable networks, and in the era of streaming, it's no wonder the movie continues to be a favorite romantic comedy and time loop film with a 94% score from critics. 

Jaws

The theme music to Jaws alone makes it one of the more memorable and rewatchable flicks of all time. It helps that this was the movie that made Steven Spielberg a big-budget name, that it's so quotable, and that it does a lot in the way of special effects for the time period. It's no wonder it has a 97% rating and people are still talking about it years later. 

Schindler's List

While not a movie you'd probably want to throw on while folding laundry or doing other background tasks, Schindler's List has held up for years thanks to its stark and emotional story about a man who risked all to save Jewish individuals during the Holocaust. There's a reason it won Best Picture in 1997 and there's a reason critics are still giving it a 98% score years later, but it's one you should revisit only when you have tissues readily available. 

Planes, Trains And Automobiles

A slew of Steve Martin and John Candy movies are beloved years later. But their team-up in Planes, Trains and Automobiles is even more momentous thanks to its fun road trip premise and the presence of both famous comedians, not to mention a brilliant directing effort from '80s movies staple John Hughes. It's landed a 92% rating with critics and is still a perfect movie to revisit every few years. 

Back To The Future

The '80s were a time of great comedies and angsty teen movies, but if you are looking for a little bit of both of those things, Back to the Future is a great time. Launching Michael J. Fox's career on the big screen in 1985 (after a successful run on Family Ties), Back to the Future's time travel hijinks and fun premise have kept it relevant for a long time. It's easily a go-to as a rewatch for many movie lovers and it's landed a 93% from critics. 

Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse

Both an animated and family-friendly film, Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse not only has a killer premise, it also appeals to a wide swathe of audiences in different age groups. It's one of the best superhero movies to revisit, and it's a movie that's smart enough to be watched and discussed in-depth but is also exactly the type of movie you can throw on while your kids are multi-tasking with toys. And critics love it, as it has a 95% critics rating -- and a similar audience rating to boot!

Creed

I know, I know, Rocky's more the classic movie and also has a strong Rotten Tomatoes score, but for many the go-to movie in the franchise is 2015's Creed. It's a film that made Michael B. Jordan even more of a household name and stands up as a solidly grounded movie. Plus, it has wonderful performances and pays respect to what came before. What not to like? At least 95% of critics feel the same way. 

A 21 Jump Street/Men In Black crossover may sound like an idea that originates from a movie that is satirizing Hollywood, but it was a real thing. At the end of 2014, leaked emails from Sony revealed that the project was in the works, with the intention being for it to exist as a follow-up to both 22 Jump Street and Men In Black 3. In 2019 (around the release of Men In Black International), the film was deemed dead – but after Channing Tatum recently discussed his love for the existing script, screenwriter Rodney Rothman is keeping hope alive that it could someday see the light of day.

Rothman, who was a co-writer on 22 Jump Street, was the man assigned the task of having Channing Tatum's Jenko and Jonah Hill's Schmidt meet Will Smith's Agent J and Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K in a franchise crossover feature. It's been a long time since the project has made any kind of meaningful moves towards production, but the filmmaker took to his personal Twitter account this week to share the cover page of his screenplay and note that "nothing is impossible." Check out his post below:

For those who don't recall, the 21 Jump Street series was birthed with the concept of young-looking cops going undercover in high school... but that isn't something that is particularly sustainable for a big screen franchise (where, in the best of circumstances, each installment takes a couple of years to come together). Hence, the protagonists went to college in 22 Jump Street, and 23 Jump Street: Men In Black 4 would see them enlist in yet another institution.

Needless to say, there are a lot of question marks that surrounded the crossover idea (in 2015, 21/22 Jump Street co-director Phil Lord said that he and filmmaking partner Christopher Miller "only do things that seem like they’re going to be terrible"). One would assume that the second sequel would see Jenko and Schmidt be introduced to the Men In Black, the secret authority keeping tabs on human/extraterrestrial relations, but would they be infiltrating it as part of an undercover mission? Or would they become full-on agents enlisted by Agents K and J? And what would be the alien-centric mission that Jenko and Schmidt would be best suited for?

I would very much like to get answers to all of these questions and more, so to answer Rodney Rothman's question, yes, I most definitely want to see the rest.

At present, the Men In Black movies are available to stream with a Hulu subscription, but neither 21 Jump Street nor 22 Jump Street are featured on any services. That being said, you can always rent or purchase the films digitally, and both are easy to find on Blu-ray.

When it comes to Hollywood rumors and crossover speculation, few have garnered as much excitement, at least in my own home, as the potential 23 Jump Street and Men in Black crossover. This tantalizing prospect has been the subject of much fan discussion and anticipation. Recently, Channing, one of the stars who would be central to such a crossover, addressed these rumors, leaving fans both hopeful and curious about the future of this potential project.

Speaking to ComicBook at the Fly Me to the Moon press junket, Tatum gave some insight into the status of the long-rumored project–which even had rumors of a director being hired for the job. He was candid about his enthusiasm for the crossover and the hurdles that have prevented it from moving forward. However, his words also carry a sense of hope, as he expressed:

Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the directors of the first two films, eventually revealed the 21 Jump Street/Men In Black crossover failed because the worlds were deemed too different to make sense together in a movie. However, Tatum’s statement alone could reignite interest in the crossover, as fans can be very vocal, and sometimes, production companies listen. Just imagine the comedic and action-packed potential that the best script Tatum has ever read for a third movie would hold. It's fascinating to think about, isn't it?

During the interview, Tatum was joined by his Fly Me to the Moon co-star Scarlett Johansson, who couldn't help but interject with a question many fans have been asking: "What happened?" The Magic Mike franchise veteran continued:

Channing’s comments reflect the perspective of directors Lord and Miller regarding the challenges with the potential crossover. Unfortunately, the studio missed an opportunity to revitalize both film series with this mashup. Even if the crossover had failed, neither franchise has flourished in recent years. This is disappointing because both Jump Street films were unexpectedly hilarious and high-quality. In contrast, the MIB series has struggled to maintain its former greatness for some time.

Sony gave it a shot, revitalizing the series, with Men In Black: International, but let’s face it, it just didn’t hit the mark with fans. On the flip side, the Jump Street series has been radio silent for years now, and the much-talked-about female-led spin-off seems to be stuck in development limbo. The last real progress on MIB 23 happened eight years ago. In 2016, James Bobin (known for The Muppets) was brought on to direct the third installment, with production rumored to begin that June. However, filming never commenced.

Still, never say never because, according to the Step Up actor, he still hopes the movie will happen. He continued:

We might not see new chapters from these beloved franchises anytime soon, but don’t worry—the 2024 movie schedule has plenty of exciting releases to keep us entertained. One highlight is Tatum and Johansson’s upcoming romantic comedy Fly Me To The Moon, which lands in theaters on July 12.

If there was ever a series that I could say, “You really had to be there,” for it, it would have to be the Men in Black movies. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. I LOVE the Men in Black series. The movies are really fun, and I think a lot of young audiences would still dig them if they watched them today. In fact, my brother in Criterion, Mike Reyes, once made a great list for any newbies that wanted to get into the series. 

Back in the late ‘90s, and early 2000s, MIB was HUGE! Unfortunately, I just don’t think the series has the same impact anymore, which was exhibited back in 2019 when Men in Black: International came out to dismal results. That said, was that the worst MIB movie? And, if it is, then what’s the best one? Well, you’re about to find out. 

4. Men In Black II (2002) 

To answer the question in the intro, no, Men in Black: International is not the worst in the franchise. That would have to go to the series’ first sequel, Men in Black II. The thing is, though, it isn’t a bad movie. In fact, none of them are bad (in my incredibly humble opinion). 

That said, each other one felt like it brought something new to the table, whereas this really just felt like a rehash of the original, which we said as such in our review at the time.

Once again starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith from the original, but also adding in Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson, and even Michael Jackson for a brief, non-terrifying (unlike the scarring Moonwalker) cameo appearance, Men in Black II now sees Agent J (Smith) in charge, as Agent K (Jones) was neuralyzed in the previous movie. So, in that way, a lot of the humor involves Agent K re-learning how to be an agent, which…well, isn’t all that funny.

The rest of the plot is as zany as the plot should be, with the crux of the story involving a shapeshifting seductress named Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle). I’d be lying if I didn’t say the movie wasn’t enjoyable (I especially like the worm scene in the subway). 

But, the film just has a, been there/seen that quality to it that’s a bit too hard to swallow. Hell, even its lead single, “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head)” isn’t anywhere near as catchy as the first movie’s single, “Men in Black.” So, yeah. A decent, albeit, much lesser sequel.  

3. Men In Black: International (2019) 

Directed by F. Gary Gray (the first three were all directed by Barry Sonnenfeld), and starring Thor: Ragnarok’s Chris Hemsworth, and er, Thor: Ragnarok’s Tessa Thompson, I feel like Men in Black: International (which we gave a pretty abysmal review) is better than a lot of people give it credit for. 

Granted, I didn’t say it’s a great movie since some of the jokes don’t land, and it looks kind of cheap at times. But, as a standalone sequel that also acts as a reboot to the property, I think it does a pretty decent job.

This story centers around a new rookie agent (Thompson) who had been tracking the MIB for years after agents neuralyzed her parents. She gets paired up with another agent (Hemsworth) and travels all around the world to stop an alien race called the Hive that can mimic humans. But, the real problem may be lurking within the agency itself. 

Men in Black: International kind of reminds me of a better version of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Stay with me for a moment. You see, one of the worst things about Ghostbusters: Afterlife – for me, anyway – was that it didn’t tonally feel like the other Ghostbusters movies, in that it was somber, whereas the previous films were definitively comedies. 

International doesn’t have that problem though, as it tonally feels like the previous movies, but different because it has new characters. It’s not a great film, don’t get me wrong, but I think it’s a worthy sequel, and I applaud them for even giving it a shot. It’s a decent (though, it could have been better) flick for a rainy afternoon.  

2. Men In Black 3 (2012) 

MIB II was a bit of a disappointment since it didn’t try anything new, but Men in Black 3 definitely rectified that problem by being wholly original. And, it did so with a trope that is really either hit or miss for me – time travel. 

In this one, which stars Smith, Jones, and Josh Brolin as a pitch perfect young version of Agent K, we get Agent J going back in time to prevent K from being killed by a cool new alien called Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement)...but just call him Boris. He hates it when you call him “The Animal.”

Brolin’s performance elevates this movie from being what could have been stale, and it's great seeing the story take place in the past, since it feels like a stranger in a strange world kind of scenario for J. 

I also love the action in this movie, probably more so than in any other Men in Black film, because it’s so propulsive and engaging. The humor feels earned this time around, and the whole cast seems like they're having a lot of fun. 

For a time, I thought this was a fitting end to the series, and if you don’t like Men in Black: International (which, as I mentioned in the last entry, I don’t mind), then the story here wraps up in a satisfying way and acts as a great capper to the trilogy. All in all, it’s a great movie, but still not the best in the series. That would still have to be… 

1. Men In Black (1997) 

Now this is what I’m talking about, baby. The original Men in Black is still the best movie in the series, even after all these years (DECADES!) later. Acting as an origin story for the whole franchise, it still works on so, so many levels.

First off, if Smith wasn’t already a star by 1997 when this movie came out, then it certainly would have made him one, as his charisma and charm were undeniable. Plus,  Jones made the perfect, deadpan partner for him. 

Half of all the jokes in this film involved Agent J saying something (often exposition, but it was so well-written that you didn’t realize it), and Agent K just staring at him, unamused. Plus, this film just made the MIB feel so cool. The gadgets, the weapons, the cars. Everything! Just so awesome. 

The story in this one involves an alien terrorist who is on the hunt for two intergalactic ambassadors, and it just all moves so quickly that it’s over before you even realize it. Honestly, it's so creative and bold, that it kind of makes me angry in a way. 

Nowadays, I honestly don’t think Hollywood would launch a new tentpole movie like this in fear of it not being a sequel or a recognizable brand (Like Furiosa, or Garfield, and look at how those two movies did at the box office).

People are always complaining that nothing creative comes out of Hollywood these days. And, while I don’t completely agree with that assessment, I will say that we definitely don’t get movies like the original MIB anymore, that’s for sure, which is a shame.

Tangent over. What’s your favorite MIB movie?

Throughout the 1990s, audiences were introduced to countless iconic movie characters that made us laugh, cry, and feel every emotion on the spectrum. Lovable good guys, mean bad guys, and characters that live somewhere in the middle helped make some of the best ‘90s movies turn into pop culture phenomena. 

Though there are close to 25 years of separation between us and the end of the final decade of the 20th century, big-screen figures like Forrest Gump, Cher Horowitz, and Jules Winnfield are still very much a part of our culture. That said, we’ve put together a hefty list of iconic ‘90s movie characters and why we still talk about them today. 

Jules Winnfield & Vincent Vega (Pulp Fiction)

From the first time we met Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta) in the early goings of Pulp Fiction, the dynamic duo has been one of the most iconic and quotable in cinematic history. Their banter (Royale with Cheese), legendary lines (Bad Motherfucker), and chemistry have kept them relevant 30 years on.

Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)

When discussing Tom Hanks’ best performances, it doesn’t take long before his portrayal of Forrest Gump enters the conversation. This beloved character, who was somehow at the center of every major event from the 1960s to the 1980s in Forrest Gump, remains a symbol of hope and a source of whimsical expressions decades later.

Ace Ventura (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective)

Jim Carrey went from an on-the-rise comedian to the biggest thing in show business in 1994, thanks in part to his starring role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The over-the-top, zany, and aggravating Ventura inspired an entire generation to drive with their heads out the window and make their butts talk.

Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)

In 1990, Macaulay Culkin became the biggest child star on the planet thanks to his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. The performance, which is still as great as ever 30-plus years later, completely changed the way kid protagonists are portrayed and launched an entire industry of imitators, so much so we’ll never forget this iconic character.

Vivian Ward (Pretty Woman)

The ‘90s gave us some of the best romantic comedies ever, and that includes Pretty Woman. While Richard Gere is great in the 1990 movie, it’s Julia Roberts’ Vivian Ward who steals the show. All the years later, Vivian remains a powerful, independent, and beloved character that reshaped the mold of the rom-com heroine.

Neo (The Matrix)

The Wachowskis changed the sci-fi and action genres with their incredibly popular and inventive The Matrix back in 1999, and the same can be said about the film’s hero: Neo. One of Keanu Reeves’ best characters, Neo was and remains a revelation decades later.

The Dude (The Big Lebowski)

Jeff Bridges has a long list of great characters, but he will forever be associated with The Dude from The Big Lebowski. At this point, it’s hard to talk about one without bringing up the other, which says something about the performance.

Happy Gilmore (Happy Gilmore)

Adam Sandler had great characters on Saturday Night Live, and his performance in Billy Madison should be applauded, but come on, his most iconic role is Happy Gilmore. The titular hockey player-turned-golfer in this 1996 comedy made golf cool before Tiger Woods, so no wonder a Happy Gilmore sequel is in the works.

Edward (Edward Scissorhands)

There is something innocent and pure about Johnny Depp’s performance in Edward Scissorhands that has resonated with audiences over the past few decades, which is why the character always comes up with discussing the actor’s collaborations with Tim Burton. Equally odd and heartfelt, the portrayal is the stuff of wonder.

Bernadine & Savannah & Gloria & Robin (Waiting To Exhale)

On top of having a fantastic soundtrack and one of the best stories about friendship captured on film, Waiting to Exhale also introduced us to four of the best characters of the ‘90s. Bernadine Harris (Angela Bassett), Savannah Jackson (Whitney Houston), Gloria Matthews (Loretta Devine), and Robin Stokes (Lela Rochon) taught us about life and the meaning of friendship; lessons we still hold dear years later.

Hannibal Lecter (The Silence Of The Lambs)

A character that still sends shivers down our spines, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in The Silence of the Lambs redefined what it meant to be a movie villain. The psychology, the physicality (or lack thereof), and the menacing expressions were something to behold.

Andy Dufresne & Red Redding (The Shawshank Redemption)

Arguably one of the most iconic movies of the ‘90s, The Shawshank Redemption gave us a touching and endearing friendship shared by Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Red Redding (Morgan Freeman). Even if the movie wasn’t played on TV in perpetuity decades after its release, we’d still be championing these two beloved characters.

Henry Hill (Goodfellas)

Love him or hate him, Henry Hill from Goodfellas is a criminal and character that’ll never be forgotten by pop culture. One of Ray Liotta’s best performances, the late actor’s turn as criminal-turned-witness is mesmerizing, to say the very least.

Cher Horowitz (Clueless)

Few characters captured the attitude, style, and sensibilities of a ‘90s teenager better than Alicia Silverstone’s Cher Horowitz in Clueless. And like, so many people still say “Ugh, as if,” a line taken from a movie released nearly 30 years ago.

Thelma & Louise (Thelma & Louise)

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon gave the performances of a lifetime with their portrayal of the titular characters in Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, portrayals that still come up time and time again decades later. These two characters were a breath of fresh air and helped kickstart the modern heroine back in 1991.

Will Hunting (Good Will Hunting) 

Matt Damon became an overnight sensation with his portrayal of Will Hunting in Good Will Hunting, a movie he co-wrote with co-star and best friend Ben Affleck. The math prodigy from South Boston was a revelation at the time of the film’s release and showed the dynamic range of the young actor.

Mrs. Doubtfire (Mrs. Doubtfire)

The late, great Robin Williams thrived in the ‘90s, and during that stretch, he gave us some of his best characters. One of those is Daniel Hillard, a.k.a., Mrs. Doubtfire, from the 1993 comedy classic. Not only is the performance tremendous, but those of us who grew up with Mrs. Doubtfire still quote the movie like every single day.

Lloyd & Harry (Dumb And Dumber)

Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) are two of the dumbest yet beloved characters to grace the silver screen in the ‘90s. Dumb and Dumber, one of the funniest movies of the decade, is still finding an audience 30 years later, and that’s all thanks to this unforgettable duo.

Tracy Flick (Election)

If you were to make a list of the best Reese Witherspoon movies and NOT include Election, then you’d probably get voted out of office. Her portrayal of high school busy-body Tracy Flick is outstanding and ICONIC, even if she’s a character we’d so much want to see lose.

Austin Powers (Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery)

Austin Powers is up there with Wayne Campbell when it comes to iconic Mike Myers characters, and one of the most memorable figures from ‘90s cinema. Starting with Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the English spy parody took over pop culture more than a quarter-century ago and never let go.

Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

The number one rule of Fight Club is to not talk about Fight Club, but there was no way we could make a list of iconic ‘90s movie characters and not include Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden. The definition of cool (or at least what Edward Norton’s character thought was cool in the final years of the 20th century), Tyler became an instant icon and he never went away.

Jay & Silent Bob (Clerks/Mallrats/Dogma)

Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) weren’t really the main focus of the various Kevin Smith movies released throughout the ‘90s, but they still became two of the most iconic characters of the decade. The goofiness, their unique personalities, and the way they could always save the day made them just so dang cool.

Agents J & K (Men In Black)

There were a lot of great duos in ‘90s cinema, including Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) in Men in Black. These two were polar opposites, which made the pairing so much fun and unique, even for the buddy action genre. Years later, these two are so much fun to watch.

Sydney Prescott (Scream)

Wes Craven’s 1996 horror classic, Scream, was like a breath of fresh air, and a lot of that is because of Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and how she rewrote what it meant to be a scream queen. Modern horror movies have both to thank for this.

The Genie (Aladdin)

Robin Williams’ Genie from Aladdin could very well be the best side character from Disney’s Renaissance from the later part of the 20th century. The lovable and powerful character had it all: jokes, songs, infinite power, etc., and made a mark on audiences.

Craig & Smokey (Friday)

Though Ice Cube had been in movies by the time he starred in Friday, his portrayal of Craig took things to the next level. And we can’t forget about Chris Tucker’s Smokey, an endless source of comedic relief. These two down-on-their-luck friends are still a good hang years later.

Cameron Poe (Con Air)

What’s not to love about Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) in Con Air? The hair, the accent, the “Put the bunny in the box” line, and the bravery all make this a character that is not only incredibly badass, but also iconic as hell.

Jack & Rose (Titanic)

Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) from James Cameron’s box office sensation, Titanic, are not just the most tragic couple of ‘90s movies, they’re also the most iconic. For years, these two ill-fated lovers have captured the hearts of billions around the world, and they’re not letting go.

Sarah Connor (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Though Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) technically first appeared in The Terminator, which came out in 1984, she’s just too much of a badass in Terminator 2: Judgment Day to leave off this list. No longer the young and naive waitress from James Cameron’s first movie, Sarah is a one-woman army and a trailblazer for other strong female characters that followed.

Eric Draven (The Crow)

Eric Draven, the anti-hero protagonist played by the late Brandon Lee in The Crow, has become one of the most unforgettable ‘90s movie characters over the years. It may have something to do with the tragic on-set accident that killed Lee, but it is also because the character is just so charismatic. 

Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

Sure, there are other great animated characters from the ‘90s, but Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas is on a whole other level. Even if you discount all the merch that has flooded stores like Hot Topic over the past 30 years, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town is an iconic creation that’s never really left the conversation.

Truman Burbank (The Truman Show)

Jim Carrey proved in The Truman Show that he was more than capable of handling more dramatic (or at least less over-the-top) roles with his portrayal of Truman Burbank. This earnest performance is to thank for Carrey’s later more dramatic performances in movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

There are so many more iconic ‘90s movie characters we could have included, but we had to stop somewhere.  

The final decade of the 20th century gave us some of the most unforgettable cinematic experiences, including some game-changing science fiction spectacles. If you want to go back and revisit some of the best ‘90s sci-fi movies like Jurassic Park, The Matrix, and so much more, then you’ve come to the right place. From some of the best ‘90s movies to sci-fi deep cuts you may have forgotten, there’s a lot to choose from.

Here’s everything you need to know about what we think are some of the best sci-fi movies of all time and how you can go about watching them in a variety of ways, including on some of the best streaming services.

The Faculty (1998) 

A great horror movie that never got a sequel, The Faculty is also one of the most overlooked sci-fi films of the ‘90s. Released on Christmas Day 1998, Robert Rodriguez’s thriller follows a group of high school students (played by Jordana Brewster, Josh Hartnett, and Elijah Wood, among others) as they try to save their school after members of the faculty have been infected by alien brain parasites.

Stream The Faculty on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy The Faculty on Amazon.

Alien 3 (1992) 

Though not the best Alien movie, David Fincher’s 1992 sequel isn’t a terrible one by any means. Set almost immediately after the events of James Cameron’s Aliens, this down-and-dirty sci-fi thriller has more in common with Ridley Scott’s franchise starter when it comes to its tone and approach. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) attempting to escape a prison colony invaded by xenomorphs is quite the experience.

Stream Alien 3 on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Alien 3 on Amazon.

Flatliners (1990)

Released in 1990, Joel Schumacher’s Flatliners has one of the most unique concepts of any sci-fi movie in the ‘90s: what happens when a group of medical students intentionally kill themselves before being brought back to life to document their near-death experiences? With a cast that features Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, and Kevin Bacon, to name a few, the movie sets out to answer that question and explore the ramifications of playing with death.

Rent/Buy Flatliners on Amazon.

The City Of Lost Children (1995)

Directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, The City of Lost Children is one of the most terrifying and unsettling sci-fi movies to come out of the ‘90s. Basically, a mad scientist named Krank (Daniel Emilfork) kidnaps children to steal their dreams after losing the ability to make them on his own. With off-putting cinematography, unnerving performances by its cast, and a general sense of eeriness, there’s a lot to unpack.

Rent/Buy The City of Lost Children on Amazon.

Face/Off (1997)

Featuring one of the craziest Nicolas Cage performances, John Woo’s 1997 sci-fi action flick shows what happens when an FBI agent (played by John Travolta) and terrorist (played by Cage) swap faces. What follows is one of the wildest movies to come out of the decade, which is saying something.

Stream Face/Off on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy Face/Off on Amazon.

The Matrix (1999)

In one fell swoop, the Wachowskis forever changed the action genre and ushered in a new era of sci-fi with their landmark 1999 film, The Matrix. With its unique and engaging story about the last remnants of humanity fighting to free themselves from a computer simulation, along with its inventive action, and loads of philosophical discussions, there are countless reasons The Matrix is so influential 25 years later.

Rent/Buy The Matrix on Amazon.

The Fifth Element (1997)

With its futuristic setting, ridiculous collection of outfits, and characters that are just too good to believe, there’s much to love about The Fifth Element. Luc Besson’s 1997 sci-fi action film follows Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) as he is tasked with saving the world by working with a mysterious woman named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), and it just gets better from there.

Rent/Buy The Fifth Element on Amazon.

12 Monkeys (1996)

Sent decades into the past, James Cole (Bruce Willis) is put up to the task of preventing a devastating plague from being released. In a race against time, the unsuspecting hero encounters all manner of obstacles and crazed characters in Terry Gilliam’s 1996 sci-fi adventure, 12 Monkeys.

Rent/Buy 12 Monkeys on Amazon.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Considered one of the best action movies of all time, James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day took everything that worked about its predecessor and turned it up a few notches. This story of survival, redemption, and making a better world is just as good in 2024 as it was back in 1991.

Stream Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Netflix.
Stream Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Amazon.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, a movie that defined 1993, is one of those massive blockbusters that combines elements of multiple genres to create an unforgettable experience. Sci-fi, action, adventure, comedy, drama, they’re all there in what is -- and forever will be -- the greatest dinosaur movie ever made.

Rent/Buy Jurassic Park on Amazon.

Ghost In The Shell (1995)

The ‘90s saw a golden era of anime, and one of the best examples is Mamoru Oshii’s adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. Set in a futuristic 2029, the movie follows Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) as she tracks down a mad scientist who is hacking into the brains of cyborgs before the damage cannot be undone.

Stream Ghost in the Shell on Freevee.
Stream Ghost in the Shell on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Ghost in the Shell on Amazon. 

Galaxy Quest (1999)

Released in 1999, Galaxy Quest finds the perfect balance between homage and parody with its story inspired by shows like Star Trek and the lore and fandom surrounding them. Tired, jaded, and bitter, the stars of a fictional TV show find themselves on a real-life space adventure after an alien civilization mistakes their series for the real thing.

Stream Galaxy Quest on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Galaxy Quest on Amazon.

The Iron Giant (1999)

Though it wasn’t a box office success, The Iron Giant has since become one of the most cherished and beloved sci-fi and animated movies of the ‘90s. Brad Bird’s touching and powerful adventure film follows a young boy as he strikes up an unlikely bond with a massive alien robot, a machine being hunted by the government.

Rent/Buy The Iron Giant on Amazon.

Contact (1997)

With great performances, stellar and inventive visual effects, and a controversial movie ending we’re still debating, Contact had it all. Robert Zemeckis’ 1997 sci-fi thriller stars Jodie Foster as Dr. Ellie Arroway, a brilliant scientist who comes in contact with a mysterious alien civilization with technology far eclipsing anything on Earth. But like other great sci-fi films, that’s only part of the story.

Rent/Buy Contact on Amazon.

Stargate (1994)

Scientists and soldiers form an uneasy bond after humans discover a mysterious gateway that can transport them to an alien planet that looks very similar to ancient Egypt in Stargate. But after visiting the magical world, the travelers find themselves trapped by its tyrannical leader.

Stream Stargate on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Stargate on Amazon. 

Dark City (1998)

After waking up alone and confused, John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) finds himself on the hook for a series of murders, crimes he has no memory of committing (or not committing). In his attempt to solve the mystery, however, he finds himself falling a little deeper into the madness of it all in Dark City.

Rent/Buy Dark City on Amazon.

Strange Days (1995)

Set in a world in which people become addicted to experiencing recordings of others’ memories and experiences, Strange Days follows Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), a former cop-turned-dealer. When one of the recordings shows a grisly crime, Nero goes back to his old ways to solve the case. 

Buy Strange Days on DVD on Amazon.  

Starship Troopers (1997)

A movie that perfectly blends sci-fi and satire, Starship Troopers is one of the most misunderstood movies of the ‘90s. On one hand, it’s about humanity getting revenge against a civilization of bugs who killed millions of people, while on the other, it’s an exploration of fascism, imperialism, and every other ism in the book.

Rent/Buy Starship Troopers on Amazon.

Men In Black (1997)

After having a chance encounter with an extraterrestrial criminal, Agent J (Will Smith) finds himself as the new partner for Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) as they try to prevent an interstellar war from destroying the universe. Men in Black checks all the boxes when it comes to sci-fi, action, and movie tie-in music videos.

Stream Men in Black on Peacock.
Rent/Buy Men in Black on Amazon.  

Independence Day (1996)

One of Will Smith’s best movies, Independence Day follows humanity’s effort to come together and defeat a malevolent alien force that is determined to wipe out all life on Earth. A massive box office hit, this 1996 blockbuster also features some of the most terrifying movie moments of the ‘90s.

Stream Independence Day on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Independence Day on Amazon.

Total Recall (1990)

After undergoing an experimental virtual reality procedure to visit Mars, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) realizes that his life isn’t what he thought it was. Total Recall, a wild adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel of the same name, does a lot of things well, including some key Arnold freakouts.

Stream Total Recall on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Total Recall on Amazon.  

Gattaca (1997)

Upon learning that he wasn’t accepted into a space program because he was deemed “in-valid,” Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) draws up a plan to use the DNA signature of another man (played by Jude Law) to make his dreams come true, in Gattaca.

Stream Gattaca on Max.
Rent/Buy Gattaca on Amazon. 

Fire In The Sky (1993)

Inspired by the alien abduction account told in the book The Walton Experience, Fire in the Sky follows a group of friends who find themselves in the middle of a terrifying situation after one of them is abducted by aliens and the others are accused of killing him. The story only gets stranger from there.

Rent/Buy Fire in the Sky on Amazon.

Mars Attacks! (1996)

With Mars Attacks!, Tim Burton created one of the strangest movies about Las Vegas and one of the goofiest alien movies ever made. There’s just so much going on in this fun throwback to mid-century sci-fi stories, including its bonkers cast.

Rent/Buy Mars Attacks! on Amazon.  

Cube (1998)

Vincenzo Natali gave audiences one of the most unique and terrifying sci-fi experiences of the ‘90s with Cube. This low-budget sci-fi horror film follows a group of random strangers who wake in a series of cube-like rooms with no explanation and no memories of how they got there. Paranoia, claustrophobia, and madness are aplenty in this cult classic.

Stream Cube on Freevee.
Stream Cube on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Cube on Amazon.

The X-Files: Fight The Future (1998)

About halfway into the show’s run, The X-Files got the big-screen treatment with 1998’s Fight the Future. Serving as a narrative bridge between the fifth and sixth seasons,  Rob Bowman’s movie follows Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they unwittingly uncover a government conspiracy revolving around, you guessed it, aliens.

Rent/Buy The X-Files: Fight the Future on Amazon.

eXistenZ (1999)

David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ follows a game designer (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) as she goes on the run from a killer and teams up with a young businessman (Jude Law). But their journey isn’t a simple Point A to Point B affair, as they fall into a place between the rules of reality and virtual reality.

Buy eXistenZ on 4K on Amazon.

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Considered one of the best Star Trek movies, 1996’s First Contact feels very much at home with The Next Generation TV series and is a must-watch for fans of the franchise. After following a Borg ship through a wormhole, the Enterprise crew finds themselves trapped in the past with no way of getting home, or so they think.

Stream Star Trek: First Contact on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Star Trek: First Contact on Amazon.

Predator 2 (1990)

Though Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t return, there’s still a lot to love about Predator 2. Replacing the jungles of the first film with the busy streets of Los Angeles, the movie follows a group of cops and special agents as they try to combat the technologically advanced and deadly predator before it’s too late.

Stream Predator 2 on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Predator 2 on Amazon.

Back To The Future Part III (1990)

Back to the Future Part III, which is primarily set in the Old West, follows Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as he goes back in time to save Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) one final time. The mixing of old and new creates an exciting and clever way of wrapping up the beloved franchise.

Stream Back to the Future Part III on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Back to the Future Part III on Amazon. 

Demolition Man (1993)

Though it's cheesy and silly, Demolition Man is a gem of a movie. This 1993 sci-fi action flick starring Sylvester Stallone as a renegade 20th-century cop waking up in the future to take on an old enemy is just so much fun.

Rent/Buy Demolition Man on Amazon.

If you’re all caught up with these great flicks, check out our breakdown of all the upcoming sci-fi movies that could very well become classics before long. 

If you’re on the lookout for some of the best sci-fi movies on Peacock, you’ve come to the right place. At any given time, anyone with a Peacock subscription can check out at least a few of the best sci-fi movies of all time and spend hours diving into mind-bending and action-packed adventures.

However, anyone who has navigated Peacock’s massive collection of sci-fi films knows, there are a lot of movies from the genre’s 100-plus-year history included on one of the best streaming services, which can result in spending way too much time looking for something to watch and less time checking out one of those classics. We’ve put together a quick list of the best sci-fi movies streaming on Peacock.

The Jurassic Park Movies (1993 - 2018)

The Director: Steven Spielberg, Joe Johnston, Colin Trevorrow, J.A Bayona

The Cast: Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Chris Pratt

What They’re About: What’s the worst that can happen when man decides to bring dinosaurs back from extinction and place them in a theme park that is one-part nature preserve and one-part Disneyworld? A lot, actually.

Why They’re Some Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: Inspired by Michael Crichton’s novels of the same name, Jurassic Park, and its various sequels have inspired generations of moviegoers with massive, enchanting, and action-packed adventures where long-extinct dinosaurs try to find their place in today’s world.

• Stream The Jurassic Park movies on Peacock

The Back To The Future Movies (1985 - 1990)

The Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

What They’re About: Using a DeLorean time machine, a high school student travels to different eras in history (and the future) where he encounters one dilemma after another.

Why They’re Some Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the Back to the Future movies reinvented the “time travel” genre in spectacular fashion. With dazzling special effects, a fun story, and a career-defining performance by Michael J. Fox, there’s a lot to love.

• Stream The Back to the Future movies on Peacock

Interstellar (2014)

The Director: Christopher Nolan

The Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway

What It’s About: With humanity on the brink of being wiped out after years of blight, a farmer is sent deep into space to find a new place to call home.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: Interstellar, one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies, managed to add more heart and emotion to the sci-fi genre than pretty much anyone before. On the surface, this is an incredible deep-space adventure with remarkable visuals, but go deeper and you find a heartfelt story about the unbreakable bond between parent and child, and the lengths we’ll go to preserve that.

• Stream Interstellar on Peacock

Face/Off (1997)

The Director: John Woo

The Cast: Nicolas Cage, John Travolta, Gina Gershon

What It’s About: An FBI agent swaps faces with a maniacal terrorist before his plot to blow up Los Angeles can be carried out. But when the murderer-for-hire undergoes the same surgery, things go off the rails.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: Face/Off is without a doubt a cheesy, but awesome movie, but it’s also one with a fun and clever sci-fi bent. The face-swapping performed by John Travolta and Nicolas Cage’s characters is still wild nearly 30 years later.

• Stream Face/Off on Peacock

The Endless (2017)

The Director: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead

The Cast: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, Callie Hernandez

What It’s About: Years after escaping a UFO cult, two brothers are drawn back to their past upon receiving a mysterious message that could change everything, for themselves and the universe as we know it.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: The Endless, which is something that fans of small-budget sci-fi movies with a big human element will enjoy, takes the genre back to its roots with a more grounded yet intriguing story that involves time loops and other phenomena.

• Stream The Endless on Peacock

Terror Of Mechagodzilla (1975)

The Director: Ishirō Honda
The Cast: Tomoko Ai, Akhiko Hirate, Katsuhiko Sasaki
What It’s About: After a mad scientist hatches a plan to wipe humanity off the map by unleashing all kinds of monsters on the world, including a new Mechagodzilla and Titanosauraus, Godzilla must rise to the occasion once again.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock:

One of the best Godzilla movies, Terror of Mechagodzilla is a wild and action-packed sci-fi flick that’s full of charm, camp, and so much fun.

• Stream Terror of Mechagodzilla on Peacock

The Wave (2019)

The Director: Gille Klabin
The Cast: Justin Long, Donald Faison, Sheila Vand
What It’s About: The day after a wild hallucinogenic experience, two insurance attorneys attempt to fill in the gaps about what happened and make sense of their new reality.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: With elements of sci-fi, psychological thrillers, and a scenario that can best be described as a conscious nightmare, Gille Klabin’s The Wave is a unique and transfixing experience.

• Stream The Wave on Peacock

Cosmos (2019)

The Director: Elliot and Zander Weaver

The Cast: Tom England, Joshua Ford, Arjun Singh Panam

What It’s About: A group of amateur astronomers stumbles upon a massive, and game-changing discovery by uncovering a message sent out from deep space.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: This alien adventure film does a lot with a little, creating one of the most unforgettable and refreshing sci-fi experiences in recent memory.

• Stream Cosmos on Peacock

Timecop (1994)

The Director: Peter Hyams
The Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Gloria Reuben
What It’s About: A cop-turned-federal agent travels through time to fight crime and prevent some awesome technology from falling into the wrong hands.
Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: If you’re looking for a wild ride through time, classic Van Damme lines, and some killer fight scenes, Time Cop is the movie for you.

• Stream Timecop on Peacock

The Void (2016)

The Director: Steven Kostanski, Jeremy Gillespie

The Cast: Aaron Poole, Kenneth Welsh, Daniel Fathers

What It’s About: A group of doctors, nurses, and patients become trapped in a hospital by a mysterious cult who believe the building is a gate to Hell.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: With some heavy Lovecraftian elements, an extremely small budget, and wild creature effects, Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie created a fun and terrifying cinematic tour de force with The Void.

• Stream The Void on Peacock

Dreamscape (1984)

The Director: Joseph Ruben

The Cast: Dennis Quaid, Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer

What It’s About: A psychic joins a government program that’ll teach him how to enter people’s dreams only to discover that one of its leaders wants to use the tech for his own gain.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies on Peacock: With its sci-fi and thriller elements, Dreamscape creates a fun and exhilarating experience that explores constructs like good and evil while also presenting some cool visuals along the way.

• Stream Dreamscape on Peacock

Dark Star (1974)

The Director: John Carpenter

The Cast: Brian Narelle, Dan O’Bannon, Cal Kuniholm

What It’s About: A group of astronauts tasked with destroying unstable planets encounters a strange extraterrestrial being that could jeopardize their mission and the colonization of space.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi movies on Peacock: It’s campy, cheaply made, and rough around the edges, but Dark Star is pure fun and joy from start to finish. It also features the work of filmmakers who’d go on to create franchises like Alien, Halloween, and so many others.

• Stream Dark Star on Peacock

Lola (2023)

The Director: Andrew Legge

The Cast: Emma Appleton, Stefanie Martini, Rory Fleck Byrne

What It’s About: Two sisters build a time machine in World War II-era England that allows them to see into the future through radio signals.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi movies on Peacock: Lola dives into the inherent risks of knowledge of the future and how using tech to change history can have major ramifications.

• Stream Lola on Peacock

Coherence (2013)

The Director: James Ward Byrkit

The Cast: Emily Foxler, Hugo Armstrong, Nicholas Brendon

What It’s About: A group of friends gathers for a dinner party the night a comet is to pass by Earth. But after the exciting event, the party notices a series of strange and unexplainable occurrences.

Why It’s One Of The Best Sci-Fi Movies On Peacock: A quirky and unique sci-fi thriller, Coherence has a lot going for it with its stellar cast, tight direction, and an engaging story dealing with the multiverse

• Stream Coherence on Peacock

The offering of sci-fi movies streaming on Peacock is changing all the time, so make sure to check back in the future to see what new (or classic) titles are available.

One of the best things about the science fiction genre is that it reaches far and wide. It’s such a varied genre that you will find a film in it that you love. The genre has produced many incredible movies. It’s easy to name some of the best science fiction movies of all time, such as Star Wars, Alien, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, but sometimes many great Black-led sci-fi movies don’t get enough praise and attention. 

Many of these fantastic movies are underrated. Because there are so many entertaining and not-discussed enough Black-led science fiction movies, while developing this list, I had a hard time narrowing it down. However, I attempted to pick ten entertaining and well-crafted films.  

Attack The Block 

Attack the Block is a science fiction comedy that follows a group of kids living in a crime-filled part of London as aliens begin to invade their community. It stars John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, and Nick Frost. The action escalates from one battle to the next in an adventure movie that’s both very fun and genuinely intense at times.

It’s one of John Boyega’s best movies and a really clever and entertaining entry into the science fiction world. Attack the Block is the story of how young offenders go from criminals to heroes.

Rent or buy Attack the Block on Amazon.

Men In Black 

The Men in Black series includes four films. The first three movies star Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, while the 2019 spin-off, called Men in Black: International, stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Though that film wasn’t as well-received as the first three, it would shock me if it marked the end of the franchise. 

It is such a popular and well-liked series that it would excite many to watch more Men in Black movies. The first two were filmed during one of the peaks of Smith’s career. These movies helped make him such a beloved and bankable actor. His on-screen goofy charm contributes a lot to the success of the Men in Black movies. 

Rent or buy Men in Black on Amazon.

The Kitchen 

Daniel Kaluuya makes his directorial debut with The Kitchen. It's also co-directed by Kibwe Tavares. The film follows a boy named Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman) and the man he believes is his father Izi (Kane Robinson) as they get to know each other. Izi is trying to escape from living in a rough community at a time of heightened tension. Benji just wants a new place to call home. Their different needs pull them together and nearly break them apart. 

The Kitchen is a film that takes place in a dystopian future. The futuristic aspects are not that prominent, so it’s not the best dystopian film, but it’s a very compelling drama about connection and falling in love with a part of yourself that you buried. 

Stream The Kitchen on Netflix.

The Creator 

The Creator is one of the best sci-fi films of 2023. It follows Sergeant Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) as he works to protect a robotic AI child, nicknamed Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles). It’s set in 2070, in a world where Western society has made AI and all those who support it the enemy.

You’ll likely enjoy The Creator’s action adventure but the real appeal is the heartwarming relationship that develops between Joshua and Alphie. They develop a strong dynamic that breaks and warms the heart. The Creator tackles topics such as overcoming prejudice, lost love, an unbreakable bond, and extremist behavior. 

Stream The Creator on Hulu. 

See You Yesterday 

See You Yesterday is a great time-traveling movie that explores the depth a person goes to for family, as it’s about a girl who invents a way to time travel to save her brother. Like all fascinating movies about altering events, her actions have consequences. The film stars Eden Duncan-Smith, Dante Crichlow, and Brian “Stro” Bradley. 

The film addresses the problem of police brutality in a very thought-provoking and impactful way. You watch as C.J. endlessly feels helpless because she seems trapped in a no-win situation. It’s a powerful film that’s also entertaining and showcases why time-traveling movies remain special. They can act as catalysts for exploring internal and external issues facing the world and individuals. 

Stream See You Yesterday on Netflix. 

Fast Color 

Fast Color is a superhero film and a science fiction movie. The story revolves around three generations of Black women with powers. Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is on the run as scientists attempt to capture and experiment on her. Her powers cause her to have violent seizures that cause earthquakes. Ruth hasn’t been home to see her mother and daughter in many years.

This isn’t just a homecoming, but an escape from a world that she can barely survive in. Fast Color establishes an interesting mythology that I would have loved to see further explored in the TV show. But as of January 2024, there haven’t been any updates on it. 

Rent or buy Fast Color on Amazon.

The Girl With All The Gifts 

Based on the book of the same name, The Girl with All the Gifts is set in a world that has been nearly completely wiped out by a virus. However, a few of the child survivors, who are zombie-human hybrids, are being used as a possible cure. The disease turns most people into zombie-like creatures, known as Hungries. The film stars Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, Glenn Close, and Sennia Nanua. 

The Girl with the Gifts falls more into the horror realm, but leans toward science fiction. It’s also a great zombie movie but has enough sci-fi aspects to work in the genre. The film has wonderful performances, and Nanua is particularly riveting in this role. Additionally, The Girl with All the Gifts has a haunting ending.

Stream The Girl with All the Gifts on Starz. 

They Cloned Tyrone 

They Cloned Tyrone is a science fiction comedy starring John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris. After being murdered, drug dealer Fontaine (Boyega) discovers that he’s been cloned. This sends Fontaine and some of his associates on a quest to uncover the truth. 

This is a comedy that borders on satirical. It tackles issues in a snarky but insightful manner, and the Netflix movie becomes more over-the-top as it continues. That commitment to the absurd adds to the fun ride. Underneath all the outlandish things in They Cloned Tyrone lies a discussion on oppression and keeping people in an endless cycle. 

Stream They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix.

Nope 

Jordan Peele has become synonymous with horror movies. Therefore, many may argue this is his third horror movie, but I would say that this is more science fiction than horror, though it falls within the horror, sci-fi and western genres. However you categorize it, Nope once again proves that Peele knows how to make a captivating movie. Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, and Brandon Perea star. 

They all play fascinating and entertaining characters that leave memorable impressions. The storyline, performances, cinematography, and visual effects make Nope such an unforgettable cinematic experience. It also presents so much to analyze and explore, like the Nope ending.

Stream Nope on Peacock.

Sorry To Bother You 

One of the best things about Sorry to Bother You is that you don’t know how insane the plot becomes until you watch it. Knowing it is a science fiction movie is only a part of the journey. The story follows Cash (LaKeith Stanfield) as he uses his white voice to excel at his telemarketing job. 

It’s one of Stanfield’s best films because he makes you have conflicted feelings about his character. He gives Cash depth. Sorry to Bother You is extremely funny, complex, ridiculous, and shocking in all the best ways.

Rent/buy Sorry to Bother You on Amazon. 

While this list should keep you busy, these are some other great Black-led sci-fi movies to check out: Project Power, Independence Day, Synchronic, and Black Box.

Before the best movies from the 2000s were allowed to run, the cinematic classics from the 1990s had to walk. (Well, except for Forrest Gump.) The 20th century closed out with a decade of cinematic spectacles as Hollywood embraced bigger budgets, the early days of CGI, and a new breed of superstars like Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Keanu Reeves.

From great ‘90s sci-fi movies like Jurassic Park to beloved ‘90s family films like Toy Story to chilling thrillers and hilarious comedies, just about any genre fan can feel represented by the era's best. Can the same be said for music, TV and literature? (I'll be too busy watching Speed again to research that.) So grab your long-dead Tamagotchis and scented markers and join us in celebrating the best of the best that the ‘90s had to offer.

• This list was compiled by the bulk of CinemaBlend's editors and writers, who gave 0-5 scores to an overall list of around 300 movies, with all of the final scores averaged out to determine the final ranking of 100.

How We Put This List Together

• Around 300 entries from a vast variety of 1990s films , which fit the bill of being culturally relevant and critically respected, were gathered using a combination of staff recommendations, movie guides and further research. The entries were tracked in a spreadsheet, where the majority of our staff then went through a multi-level voting process, with scores assigned based on personal opinions. A base number of viewers was also required for entries to make the cut, and lowest scores were then eliminated, in the style of scoring figure skating. The movies were then ordered from 1-100 based on the final average scores, with a variety of staff members writing the movie-celebrating entries. 

100. The Fifth Element (1997)

Luc Besson's The Fifth Element is a seriously wild movie. The sci-fi adventure has become a bona fide genre classic. Even though parts of the film were frustrating to make, those efforts clearly paid off, leaving us with one of the most fun space rides to date with an A-level cast including Milla Jovovich, Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Chris Tucker in arguably his spaciest performance. Anyone who may have forgotten how fun and bonkers it is should grab a multi-pass and return immediately. 

99. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Jim Carrey may have enjoyed the most successful year for any comedian in 1994, and Dumb and Dumber is a major part of that unprecedented run. After the wildly successful Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask, the Saturday Night Live reject gave an iconic performance as Lloyd Christmas in the Farrelly Brothers’ breakout comedy alongside Jeff Daniels’ Harry Dunne. Everything about the movie simply works in spite of itself. The chemistry between its stars, the balance of over-the-top humor and more subtle jokes, and the most annoying sound in the world work together to create an unparalleled and game-changing experience. 

98. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project may not have been the first to bring a cinéma vérité approach to the horror genre, but through extremely savvy marketing and lore-building, the no-budget flick became one of the most profitable films of all time, spawning a franchise of film sequels, comics, a video game, and beyond. And all without an actual “witch” to tease in the trailers. One of the ‘90s most polarizing efforts, BWP’s “something from nothing” approach makes it as influential as anything else from the decade.

97. Mulan (1998)

What can be said about Mulan that has yet to be talked about? Released at the tail end of the famed Disney Renaissance through the ‘90s, Mulan was the animated film that defined a generation of young women, inspiring many to always fight for their honor and never back down, even when everyone in the world says otherwise. The music is excellent as the voice-acting takes you to another world, and the animation easily pulls viewers in, but it’s the themes that stay with audiences forever.

96. The Wedding Singer (1998)

More than just a wonderful romantic comedy, The Wedding Singer is a standout title in Adam Sandler’s early career. In the 1990s, Sandler was known for his goofy characters on Saturday Night Live and in goofy movies like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Airheads, but The Wedding Singer was an opportunity for him to show he could do work with a bit more gravity. There’s an argument to be made it paved the way for him excelling in films like Punch Drunk Love and Uncut Gems. And the power of Sandler + Drew Barrymore can never be denied.

95. Death Becomes Her (1992)

There’s a scene in Death Becomes Her that pretty much sums up the Robert Zemeckis film’s greatness – as Goldie Hawn’s Helen sits and leans back, the handle of a shovel slips perfectly through the hole in her torso. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep’s Madeline gracefully takes a seat while clutching her hair atop her head, in order to keep it from flopping forward against her broken neck. It’s dark, it’s twisted, it’s hilarious, and for 1992, the special effects are impressive. Bruce Willis’ Ernest being dragged along for the ride caps off the excellent trio of characters, in this eternally underrated comedy.

94. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Four years after already penning one of the all-time great romantic comedies (Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally), the late Nora Ephron directed a landmark rom-com of her own with Sleepless in Seattle. The second of three movies co-starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, this genre staple features an incredible story about a woman who goes to great lengths to be with the man she loves, a man whom she’s never met and only knows from a call-in radio show. It’s charming, witty, earnest, and the best kind of enchanted realism. 

93. Jackie Brown (1997)

Quentin Tarantino’s third directorial effort, Jackie Brown kicks off with Pam Grier’s money-smuggling flight attendant trekking to work to the tune of Bobby Womack’s “Across 110th Street,” helping it stand apart from the testosterone-enhanced violence of his first two features. And while the star-studded flick does dip into the filmmaker’s favored crime genre tropes, Jackie Brown hinges more on character study than sheer plot machination, and provides career-high performances from Bridget Fonda, Robert Forster, and Grier herself. And in that way, it’s arguably the most empathy-worthy project from Tarantino’s career.

92. Happy Gilmore (1996)

Depending on who you talk to, Adam Sandler’s '90s comedies are either near the peak of the genre or near the pits of low-brow comedy. We know where Shooter McGavin's opinions would lie, but we lean toward raising our clubs and pucks to Sandler’s story about a failed hockey player taking the world of professional golf by storm, all for his grandma. I’ll always laugh at Happy Gilmore’s titular hero going toe-to-toe with the late game show host Bob Barker, and the wild story of how he got involved is as great as the on-screen fisticuffs.

91. Casino (1995)

It’s hard to pick a favorite when talking about the best mob characters that Robert De Niro has played, though I’d argue Sam "Ace" Rothstein is as good as it gets. Unlike many other gangster movies tethered to dark alleys, Casino zeroes in on the mafia’s stranglehold of the glitzy and glamorous Las Vegas in the 1970s. It’s further bolstered by excellent directing from master craftsman Martin Scorsese and a supporting cast with legends like Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. A fantastic movie that doesn't shy away from deeply upsetting moments. 

90. Forrest Gump (1994)

Despite all the cringey and parody-fueling moments in Robert Zemeckis' Forrest Gump --- never forget the Weird Al classic "Gump" --- Tom Hanks' history-making and country-crossing simpleton remains one of the 1990s most enduring movie heroes. With a stacked cast of pros, from Sally Field to Gary Sinise, Forrest Gump's popularity was evident from both its boffo box office, its huge success at the Oscars and beyond, and just how many quotes from this movie have permanently nestled themselves into pop culture. 

89. A Few Good Men (1992)

Courtrooms are a natural fit for high drama, and A Few Good Men has some of the best courtroom scenes in cinema history. Aaron Sorkin’s first screenplay, based on his own stage play, is missing many of the elements that would later define his writing, but that’s not a bad thing here. The battle between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson has become iconic, but even outside of that near-perfect scene, A Few Good Men is full of incredible characters, smart dialogue, and memorable moments. It’s perhaps one of Cruise’s most criminally overlooked performances.

88. Pretty Woman (1990)

Pretty Woman is definitely one of Julia Roberts's best movies in a wildly impressive career, but it's also one of the best ‘90s rom-coms. The film's sleazy-on-paper tale, which follows a rich businessman hiring a Hollywood escort to be his date to several social events, is a charmer thanks to its stellar leads. The film vaulted Roberts into an even bigger star, while making romantics everywhere swoon at the idea of a wealthy millionaire like Richard Gere coming out of nowhere to sweep them off their feet – if only, amirite?

87. As Good As It Gets (1997)

I miss Jack Nicholson. I miss James L. Brooks. I miss emotional, character-driven comedies that excelled thanks to outstanding performances from A-list talent. Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear weave magic in this sweet story about strangers forming friendships over low-stakes but relatable dramas. Studios craving IP don’t back movies like this anymore. But when they did, and when actors could sink their teeth into the material, this one was as good as they got. 

86. The Sandlot (1993)

There are ‘90s sports movies that are kid-pleasers, and then there is The Sandlot, the 1993 coming-of-age story about a ragtag group of kids living what could be the best summer of their lives. There's so much to love about this small-stakes baseball tale, from its timelessness to its life lessons to incredible characters like Scotty Smalls, Benny Rodriguez, Ham Porter, and so many others, there’s just so much to love about this classic sports film. To quote the Great Bambino, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” In this case, we're calling our shot: The Sandlot is one of those legends. 

85. Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

Can’t Hardly Wait combines an "everybody's recognizable" ensemble cast with the classic house party setting and a killer soundtrack to give us one of the most epic teen movies of all time. The plot centers around Ethan Embry’s Preston, who needs to profess his love for Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) at the graduation party, now that she is finally single after being dumped by Mike (Peter Facinelli). But plots are for dorks, and the 1998 comedy epitomizes the teen angst of the late 20th century in an honest and hilarious way.

84. You've Got Mail (1998)

You’ve Got Mail arrived in 1998 when just about everybody would have recognized the title as the AOL greeting message. This was the third movie to pair Tom Hanks with Meg Ryan, with writer/director Nora Ephron bringing her magic romantic comedy touch to the story of two business rivals who unwittingly fall in love via online chat. Hanks and Ryan channel the same chemistry that was a hit years earlier with Sleepless in Seattle, and it doesn't require having lived through the AOL era to appreciate the level of classic rom-com energy that makes this a winner. 

83. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

In a decade filled with all-time great Robin Williams movies, there’s something particularly tender and very much unforgettable about Chris Columbus’ Ms. Doubtfire. Underpinned by the heartbreak of having less time than ever with his three kids as his divorce looms, voiceover actor Daniel Hillard hatches a plan to form a new character in an elderly housekeeper named Mrs. Doubtfire to get more time with them. Not only does his new secret identity make for some hilarious moments that very much play to Williams’ strengths as a comedy actor, Mrs. Doubtfire is also a touching film that takes a grounded approach to parent separation. 

82. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The most Tim Burton movie ever to Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is, on one bladed hand, a weirdly heartwarming horror movie, but on the other bladed hand, an endlessly frightening family film. The suburban Frankenstein homage is bolstered by stellar performances from Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder and Dianne Weist, with each bringing grounded authenticity to this wildly fantastical fable. (Yes, even the pity-provoking Depp.) The cherries on top of this macabre cake are Vincent Price, in his final major film role, and Burton-familiar composer Danny Elfman. And the eye-popping hedge art and ice sculptures don’t hurt.

81. American History X (1998)

Long before debates about The Snyder Cut, star Edward Norton, director Tony Kaye, and New Line Cinema engaged in a very loud and sometimes public squabble over American History X. The final cut we got, which Kaye publicly disavowed, is a brutal, almost two-hour look at modern white supremacy that’s shot partially in black and white. It netted Norton an Oscar nomination and has individual moments as strong as anything on this list, but it also occasionally loses pace and has always left fans wanting to see Kaye’s original 95-minute cut, which remains unreleased following the film’s disastrous production

80. Aladdin (1992)

It’s easy to look at Aladdin and celebrate the work of the great Robin Williams, and justifiably so. Only animation could truly uncork the man’s absolutely manic comedy style. But focusing only on Williams overlooks the work of amazing animators who created the Genie and everything else, since it's a testament to their skill that the animation is able to keep up with Williams and the high-flying scenes. Musical sequences like “A Friend Like Me” and “A Whole New World” show another form of animated beauty and have become just as iconic on their own as the Genie himself.

79. That Thing You Do! (1996)

By the time he wrote, directed, and co-starred in 1996’s That Thing You Do, Tom Hanks was already an acting powerhouse. So it was a bit of a surprise to see the Academy Award-winning actor delivering a tale about the wild ride that so many one-hit wonders of the ‘60s endured. Initially, the story of The Wonders (Johnathon Schaech, Ethan Embry, Steve Zahn, and Tom Everett Scott) and their roller-coaster journey wasn’t a smash success, but decades later, That Thing You Do is a well-regarded mini-cult classic that can still leave audiences with songs in their hearts.

78. Trainspotting (1996)

While it wasn’t his directorial debut, Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting was the flick that put the man on the map. Following the lives of a group of Scottish drug addicts and friends, a cast including Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly MacDonald landed their start as the stars of tomorrow. Through a narrative that’s both darkly comic and frightfully serious, Trainspotting ushers its heroin addicts through life's struggles in grounded and trippy ways. Establishing Boyle’s skills in telling a conventional story through unconventional means, it’s a powerful statement for its director and the message he’s trying to convey.

77. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

The Die Hard formula survived the transition to the “buddy cop” genre (at least initially) with Bruce Willis’ iconic John McClane being forced to team up with a good samaritan (Samuel L. Jackson) and solve a bunch of riddles around Manhattan to prevent bombs from going off. Many consider With a Vengeance to be the best in the Die Hard series, though it’s blasphemy to put ANY of them ahead of John McTiernan’s original. Still, this one moves like a freight train, Willis and Jackson have remarkable chemistry, and Jeremy Irons is a sinister villain with a satisfying twist of a motivation to take McClane down. 

76. Titanic (1997)

Titanic was an event in itself when it arrived in theaters, with James Cameron’s film ambitiously bringing to screen the story of the ill-fated ship, depicting the journey across the Atlantic with incredible visuals that give us a sense of what it might have been like aboard the ship during that terrible night. At the center of it all is the love story of Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), who manage to find each other, despite their differing social classes, and never let go. Considering how many millions of dollars it earned from repeat audience viewings, its "classic" status is unsinkable.

75. Men in Black (1997)

One of the biggest sci-fi hits of the decade, Men In Black holds a special place in the hearts and minds of both space and comedy nerds. Even though it initially took some convincing to land Will Smith for the role of Agent J., Steven Spielberg (as producer) managed to re-catch lightning in a bottle with the actor coming off of Independence Day. And as unpredictable as it seemed at the time Smith and Tommy Lee Jones made for an extremely fun and combative pairing in the rest of the Men in Black film franchise.

74. The Fugitive (1993)

When it comes to movies based on old TV shows, it doesn’t get much better than The Fugitive. There’s no way around it, this 1993-defining film straight-up rocks and is still just as great more than 30 years after its release. Watching one of Harrison Ford’s most iconic characters go to great lengths to clear his name after being wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife never gets hold, and the same can be said about Tommy Lee Jones’ Academy Award-winning performance as the U.S. Marshal tasked with capturing the elusive fugitive.

73. Run Lola Run (1998)

Outside of sci-fi adventures, time loops aren’t often used as storytelling devices, and 1998’s thriller Run Lola Run absolutely proves why this is a shame. While the story isn’t explicitly a looping band of time, we do get three different versions of writer/director Tom Twyver’s story. Centered around lovers Lola (Franke Potente) and Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), each variation has one thing in common: they have 20 minutes to score 100,000 Deutschmarks, or Manni is dead. New twists and pitfalls arrive, keeping that premise fresh each time, right up until the end. 

72. Swingers (1996)

Long before he directed major projects like Iron Man and The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau wrote and starred in the Doug Liman-directed Swingers. This comedy follows Favreau’s Mike Peters, a comedian who’s getting over a bad breakup and moves to Hollywood to find success in the midst of the ‘90s swing revival. The witty back-and-forth dialogue between Favreau and his co-stars, including Vince Vaughn and Heather Graham, and the simple, yet effective story of moving on to better horizons make Swingers one of the most underrated comedies of this decade. It's just so money, baby. 

71. Malcolm X (1992)

For his 1992 “Spike Lee Joint,” the legendary Do The Right Thing filmmaker made his dream come true to make a biopic about one American Civil Rights Movement figure, Malcolm X. It not only remains among the best works of Lee’s incredible filmography, but it’s flat-out one of the best biography movies ever made. That’s all without mentioning a particularly powerful performance by Denzel Washington, who disappears into the figure and brings great intrigue and nuisance to Malcolm X across decades of his life. Spike Lee’s biopic stands tall as an enduring portrait of an important man in a pivotal moment in U.S. history.

70. Friday (1995)

Franchise lead and rap legend Ice Cube teamed up with Chris Tucker to create one of the best "sit back and kick it" movies in movie history. Spawning a line of sequels, the O.G. Friday boasts an awesome cast that also includes the late John Witherspoon, and understandably caught on with a certain kind of stoner comedy-loving crowd, but has become an all-encompassing cult classic. Even beyond its on-screen greatness, Friday also turned "Bye, Felicia" into everyday jargon. 

69. Miller's Crossing (1990)

Joel and Ethan Coen didn’t waste time demonstrating their eclecticism in their careers, breaking out with the phenomenal neo-noir Blood Simple in 1984 ahead of a 180-degree tonal pivot with 1987's gonzo comedy Raising Arizona. Then they kicked off the 1990s with one of the great modern gangster movies in Miller's Crossing. Gabriel Byrne’s Tom Reagan leading John Turturro’s Bernie Bernbaum into the woods to be murdered is the movie’s iconic moment, but it’s the brilliant chaos that spins out from Tom’s decision at the end of the sequence that cements this tense slice of art's place on this list.

68. Rushmore (1998)

Rushmore is often referenced for a lot of things. It was the first Wes Anderson movie to find more mainstream success. The critical acclaim Bill Murray received for his performance helped push him toward the more independent, critically acclaimed movies that defined his later career. It was the debut of Jason Schwartzman. All of those are reasons to celebrate the movie, but none are reasons why it’s on this list. It’s here because it’s an endlessly watchable slice of weirdness that holds up decades later. It’s some of the best career work of everyone referenced, and in its own offbeat way, it’s downright hysterical. 

67. South Park: Bigger, Longer, And Uncut (1999)

In 1999, with South Park at the height of its cultural powers, Matt Stone and Trey Parker took one of the biggest gambles anyone could have ever imagined. Producing the R-rated, animated musical that was South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, the pair doubled down on their uniquely dirty humor. Everything from parenting culture to Les Miserables got sent up, thanks to songs that were catchy but also not safe for work. Not every TV show survives a feature-length expansion, but South Park thrived in theaters, especially when it called the very parental uproar its release would inspire to a tee.

66. Misery (1990)

What does a creative owe to their fans? It’s a complex question that author Stephen King horrifyingly examined with his remarkable 1987 novel Misery, and three years later, director Rob Reiner adapted the work into a remarkable and unsettling film. The Oscars don’t typically support the horror genre, but Kathy Bates’ turn as Annie Wilkes was unignorable – as she remains one of the meanest villains of the ‘90s.. Though in Bates’ shadow, James Caan delivers an equally excellent turn as captive author Paul Sheldon, and the weaving of tension as he keeps his mind on options for escape is perfection.

65. Clerks (1994)

Kevin Smith famously maxed out credit cards and stretched a production budget of just $27,000 to make his first movie, 1994’s Clerks. Sure, the acting is hit or miss, and the editing isn’t perfect, but that only adds to the charm of the movie. It’s also really, really funny. It’s got some of the most quotable lines of any movie from the era, and they all shine through, despite the limitations of the budget. Clerks has become the stuff of legend in Hollywood, sparking dreams of would-be filmmakers everywhere and with good reason. 

64. Galaxy Quest (1999)

What if you found out that the fantastic adventures in your favorite sci-fi TV weren't so fake after all, such as in Galaxy Quest? Tim Allen plays a washed-up actor who, along with his former co-stars (played by Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and more), experience their cancelled, cult favorite series for real, thanks to an alien race that believes their televised adventures are "historical documents" and are desperate for their help. The concept makes for a clever, hilarious commentary on Trekkie culture, but also manages to be just as exciting as any Star Trek episode or movie spin-off could ever be.

63. Thelma and Louise (1991)

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis have made dozens of memorable movies, but even if they had just made Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, they’d have a space carved out for them in cinema history. It’s regarded as a keystone title in the history of feminism in film, and it makes you fall in love with the titular leads as they go on the run from the law. And it should go without saying that the final moments will forever be remembered as an indomitable moment of 1990s pop culture.

62. Primal Fear (1996)

Courtroom dramas were big in the ‘90s, and Primal Fear in 1996 is a prime example of why. Richard Gere plays the pompous attorney Martin Vail, who volunteers to represent a young Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton in his first screen role) after he is accused of brutally murdering a beloved archbishop. The movie takes an unexpected turn when Aaron is discovered to have a split personality named Roy, and the dark twist that comes to light after an explosive courtroom scene remains one of the wildest movie endings ever.

61. Home Alone (1990)

I'm pretty sure Home Alone has hit classic Christmas movie territory because you always know it's the holiday season when this movie is causing a clatter on your TV screen. Following a child accidentally left home alone during Christmas and who has to defend his home from burglars, Home Alone captures the happiness of the season while adding a bit of chaos – especially with all those serious injuries that probably would have killed Marv and Harry in the real world. It'd be a fun time even without Catherine O'Hara and John Candy's SCTV reunion, but is all the better for it.

60. Leon (The Professional) (1994)

Luc Besson seems to be motivated by big sci-fi ideas in films such as The Fifth Element, Lucy, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. On the flip side of Besson’s coin, though, are these stripped-down crime thrillers (Nikita, The Family), and none were more effective than Leon. The film heralded the arrival of young Natalie Portman, who proved she could appear convincingly as basically anything on screen. But also, Gary Oldman walks away with the picture, playing an unhinged and drug-addicted DEA agent looking to kill Portman’s character, much to the chagrin of professional hitman Jean Reno.  

59. Office Space (1999)

There’s a scene in Office Space where all the workers are assembled for an all-hands meeting. Above the boss’ head, there’s a banner printed that says Is This Good for the COMPANY? The question is underlined and COMPANY is in weird light blue font for unclear reasons. It’s somehow both utterly ridiculous and one of the most relatable things I’ve ever seen. In a way, it’s a perfect explanation for why some people, myself included, love Office Space so much. It’s one long series of hysterical if-you-know-you-know-moments, and watching other people live through and comment on that same misery feels so cathartic. 

58. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

There are few filmmakers in cinematic history who made as an audacious splash with their first feature as Quentin Tarantino, who was immediately recognized as a tremendous upstart talent following the premiere of Reservoir Dogs at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. With its spellbinding non-linear storytelling, sharp-as-knives dialogue, and violent shocks, it is recognized as a perfect archetype of Tarantino’s strengths as a writer/director, and it is remembered for inspiring a whole generation of filmmakers and its lasting impact on genre cinema.

57. Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13 may be best remembered in pop culture for the iconic line “Houston, we have a problem," but the 1995 film accumulated nine Academy Award nominations for a reason. Boasting a stacked cast that includes Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan, the movie dramatizes the true story of the failed 1970 lunar mission, and the ending sequence is no less suspenseful nearly thirty years later than it was in the ‘90s. The effects mostly stand up to this day; but even where they don’t, the performances sell the story entirely.

56. The American President (1995) 

Before Aaron Sorkin created The West Wing, he wrote The American President, which saw one of the most respected movie presidents, Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), fall for feisty environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening). Could a widowed president ever court a girlfriend in an election year? Sorkin’s snappy dialogue shows why it wouldn’t be easy, as the two become tabloid fodder, and even bigger trouble awaits when their political agendas don’t align. Both lead actors give absolutely charming performances in this 1995 political rom-com directed by Rob Reiner.

55. True Romance (1993) 

The first screenplay Quentin Tarantino ever sold in Hollywood was 1993’s True Romance, and it became an offbeat cult classic when combined with Tony Scott’s slick direction. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are perfect as the flawed lovers and the rest of the cast, which includes Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Michael Rappaport, Val Kilmer, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Sizemore, James Gandolfini, just to name a few, are all brilliant. It’s one scene, however, between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken, that steals the whole show and deserves its own placement in cinema history.

54. Unforgiven (1992)

This might be the quintessential Clint Eastwood Western – which says a lot when you realize that the man helped to define the genre, dating all the way back to his days on television (in Gunsmoke). With Unforgiven, an older Eastwood figured out how to comment on the evolution of the Western, and reflect on the moral quandaries several cowboys faced over the course of their lawless lives. This marked the beginning of a contemplative stage of Eastwood’s career, and redefined the boundaries of the Western for storytellers that followed. 

53. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Not only is The Nightmare Before Christmas one of the best stop-motion movies of all time, but it was also a game-changer within the animation industry. The movie -- following the story of Jack Skellington turning Halloween Town into Christmas Town and trying to take over the role of Santa Claus -- has become a cultural icon. Not only is the movie celebrated during the Halloween season, but it's also become one of the best animated Christmas movies and has a wildly popular fan base – go to Disney World during Halloween and Christmas and see how popular this movie is. 

52. Natural Born Killers (1994)

Few movies in the last decade of the 20th century caused a stir quite like the big screen adventure of Mickey and Mallory Knox in Oliver Stone’s demented crime saga Natural Born Killers. Fans of the TV show Cheers got to witness a whole new side to Woody Harrelson, and he makes for one-half of an absolutely ferocious on-screen pair partnered with Juliette Lewis. Though it was only released in 1994, it is a title to point to when aiming to epitomize a certain spirit in 1990s pop culture.

51. The Rock (1994)

It is still totally bonkers to think that the mid-’90s gave us a Michael Bay action movie in which Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage got to mesh their wildly different talents. A movie that helped pencil in the blueprint for what we know as modern Bayhem, The Rock is a solid cocktail of action, comedy, and drama tied together with a surprisingly poignant message. None of that gets lost in the shuffle, either, even as the shuffle keeps viewers glued to their seats until the very last scene. You can bet this quotable, adrenaline-charged classic is still friendly with the prom queen.

50. Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Relatively few directors made great movies on their first try, and the late John Singleton did just that with 1991’s Boyz n the Hood. Set in South Central Los Angeles, the film centers on three young men, whose paths begin to diverge as they steadily approach adulthood. Singleton, who also wrote the Oscar-nominated drama, provided a nuanced look at life in a low-income neighborhood. 

In doing so, he shed light on gang violence, systemic racism, and other elements that still negatively impact many communities today. For better or worse, this well-acted and directed film is as timeless and relevant as they come.

49. The Sixth Sense (1999)

While the ending twist may have helped put the film and its director, M. Night Shyamalan, on the map near the close of the decade, The Sixth Sense is so much more than those final, incredible moments where all of the pieces fall into place (in a scene that comes after we think the story has been mostly resolved). 

What elevates The Sixth Sense to ‘90s movie greatness is the combined efforts of the stellar performances of Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, and Olivia Williams; of the music combined with the fantastic shots; of the use of the Philadelphia backdrop. Every scene taps into something dark, scary, heartbreaking or humorous, and the best go for a little bit of all of those things at once. 

48. Get Shorty (1995)

What is the best Elmore Leonard adaptation? There are many candidates that qualify for consideration, including Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, Steven Soderbergh’s Out Of Sight and the TV series Justified, but Barry Sonnenfeld’s Get Shorty is my uncontested contender for the title. 

It’s a dark, cynical, and hilarious take on the film industry where a shylock finds himself right at home in Los Angeles, and it brims with exceptional characters – from John Travolta’s Chili Palmer to Gene Hackman's skeezy producer Harry Zimm, to James Gandolfini's stuntman-turned-heavy Bear. The sequel that came out a decade later, 2005’s Be Cool, is dreadful, but that has thankfully not tainted its predecessor’s stellar legacy as one of the great “Hollywood on Hollywood” movies. 

47. The Rocketeer (1991) 

Believe it or not, The Rocketeer is a comic book movie. In the wake of the blockbuster success that was Batman, studios scrambled to get their own piece of that four-paneled pie; leading a pre-Marvel Disney to adapt Dave Stevens’ pulpy ‘30s throwback. Hoping this movie would be the studio’s answer to Bat-mania, director Joe Johnston’s picture suffered in the obscenely crowded summer of 1991. 

Over time, fate has been kinder to the Billy Campbell and Jennifer Connolly adventure, as it developed into a cult classic much like the original Tron. Even if audiences didn’t flock to it at first, the message was never lost, because the quality was always there. Best experienced with a heart full of nostalgia and courage, The Rocketeer's mere existence is worth celebrating. 

46. Audition (1999)

Few movies start off as unassuming as the psycho-horror Audition, whose first half sits among the legendarily prolific Takashi Miike’s most restrained directorial efforts. The story begins with Ryo Ishibashi’s widower Shigeharu Aoyama re-entering the dating world in the least natural way possible: via auditions with women who believe they’re vying for an acting role. 

Things progress in an almost mundane manner as Shigeharu becomes more attracted to the quiet and seemingly reserved Asami (Eihi Shiina), but with enough peeks into her home life to send red flags waving. What makes Audition a unique ‘90s treasure is when the wheels fall off for its dread-flooded final act, in which Asami teaches Shigeharu a torturous lesson in stringing women along. Don't try this at home.

45. Point Break (1991)

Comically manly, but in the best ways possible, Point Break is the 1990s encapsulated. Clean-cut FBI agent Johnny Utah (tremendous character name) loses himself undercover when he tries to infiltrate a gang of surfers (tremendous plot twist) who may be posing as former presidents of the United States and robbing banks. What an awesome plot. And what an awesome movie. 

Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze are the Yin and the Yang of Southern California cool, tapping directly into the “Brah” of it all while also delivering unforgettable action set pieces – notably, a skydiving chase without parachutes. Credit most of this to director Kathyrn Bigelow, who eventually won her Best Director Oscar for 2010’s The Hurt Locker. 

44. Clueless (1995)

We’ve seen movies put a new spin on old classics before, but rarely has the result been as entertaining as Clueless, Amy Heckerling’s take on Jane Austen’s Emma. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, a beautiful and rich Beverly Hills high school fashionista who decides she wants to use her popularity for the betterment of humanity. 

The 1995 coming-of-age comedy — which also stars Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd and more — still stands up today with its iconic looks and quotable dialogue (not to mention Cher’s inspiring speech comparing refugees to guests at her father’s garden party). And has there ever been a movie takedown more savage than Tai calling Cher “a virgin who can’t drive”? As if! 

43. L.A. Confidential (1997)

Once upon a time, the noir detective story was a staple of film, but fewer and fewer examples have emerged with each decade that passes. So when a movie like Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential comes around, you really begin to wonder why we don’t see more of these. 

It’s an absolutely incredible film that likely would probably be better remembered if it hadn’t come out the same year as Titanic. On top of everything else, the film introduced Russell Crowe and Guy Pierce to U.S. film audiences, and for that alone, it should be recognized, but it also won Kim Basinger an Oscar for a reason.

42. The Hunt for Red October (1990)

While The Hunt for Red October was a huge success when it hit theaters in 1990, it took years for people to see it as a classic. It’s not a flawless movie. Sean Connery, as amazing as he is, plays what appears to be a Scottish Russian, not changing his accent at all. The underwater scenes of the special effects submarines, while praised at the time, have not aged well, either. Accents aside, the actors are all superb here. 

Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan, Tim Curry, Sam Neill, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, Stellan Skarsgård, Fred Thompson, Courtney B. Vance, and everyone else are all amazing, and John McTiernan’s direction is snappy and perfectly paced. This is THE submarine movie. 

41. The Green Mile (1999)

Considered one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time, The Green Mile is a fantasy drama directed by Frank Darabont, telling the story of a wrongly convicted man and his time at a prison in the 1930s and the strange supernatural events that follow his arrival. 

I feel like The Green Mile is just one movie everyone should watch at least once. It's a classic for a reason, featuring all-time career performances from Tom Hanks, Sam Rockwell, and Michael Clarke Duncan. The Green Mile will capture your heart and crush it into a million pieces by the end – and might just make one admire the horror-driven Stephen King all the more for writing such an emotional story. If you're not ugly sobbing by the end of this, you may not be watching it right. 

40. The Truman Show (1998)

Easily considered one of Jim Carrey’s best movies, The Truman Show – which is about a man who realizes his reality isn’t real – uses its star’s signature over-the-top sense of humor and physicality to make you laugh. Then his dramatic skills come to the forefront as you take this journey with Truman, and you feel all the emotions as it becomes clear that this comedy is more of a searing satire.

Overall, this film is about Truman coming to terms with the fact that the world’s been watching him live in a simulated reality, and it gives us all an example of how exploitative social media can be. That’s why The Truman Show is not only one of the best movies of the ‘90s, but it’s also one of the more relevant films when it comes to the present. 

39. Waiting for Guffman (1996)

Waiting for Guffman is mockumentary gold. Christopher Guest and his group of comedic geniuses — Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, etc. — bring the sleepy berg of Blane, Missouri to life, with the audience watching as a motley crew of community theater actors put on a musical about their town. 

The stakes get higher when Guest's Corky St. Clair tells everyone a Broadway production house is coming, and "we may be going to Broadway." The songs are insane, the cast is unhinged, and this movie is heaven; even more so for those who are personally familiar with the madcap process of staging plays. 

38. Dazed and Confused (1993)

It’s really hard to make a comedy that stands the test of time, yet as we get older, Dazed and Confused stays the same age, er, quality. Director Richard Linklater’s love letter to his teen years in Texas transcends generations and keeps fans coming back again and again. Sure, it’s the 1970s, but teenagers (and adults) of any generation can relate. 

Of course, it also helps that so many huge stars got their first big break in the movie, including Matthew McConaughey in his first role. Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Cole Hauser, Anthony Rapp, Rory Cochrane, Nicky Katt, and the rest of the cast are amazing. Everyone can point to one character and say “I knew someone just like that in high school!”

37. The Matrix (1999)

It’s hard to put into words just how mindblowing The Matrix was when it first came out. Of course, the successive sequels somewhat diminished the franchise’s legacy as a whole, though make no mistake, the first movie is just as much of a thrill in the modern era as it was back in 1999. 

Keanu Reeves is the ultimate leading entity in the Wachowskis' game-changing mega-blockbuster, making every move look as cool as can be. Because of the filmmakers' work on this neo-classic (no pun), people will forever be cursed with the idea that everything we’re doing in life is a simulation, and that we’re all slowly and secretly being harvested in pods for energy by robotic overlords. Great movie, though.

36. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Two years after Jim Henson’s death, son Brian Henson directed arguably the only truly great Muppets release of the entire 1990s: The Muppet Christmas Carol. (Excluding the final two years of Muppet Babies.) Based on the Charles Dickens novel that has spawned countless numbers of adaptations, the holiday film is anchored on the human side by Michael Caine’s Ebenezer Scrooge, and on the felt-covered side by Kermit and Miss Piggy’s Bob and Emily Cratchit, with Gonzo as Dickens himself. 

Though it doesn’t offer any huge adjustments to the source material, the Muppets make everything twenty-fold more charming, and Statler and Waldorf’s ghostly jam “Marley and Marley” is among the best of any original Muppet tunes. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without this movie.

35. City Slickers (1991)

There are plenty of laughs to be had in Ron Underwood’s Western comedy City Slickers, and while that’s a safe bet for any of Billy Crystal’s best movies, what sets this one apart is its enormous heart. 

Crystal’s Mitch Robbins, along with pals Phil and Ed (Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, respectively) are all suffering midlife crises of sorts when they embark on a cattle drive across the Southwest. It was refreshing to see the men open up to each other about their childhoods, relationships, and what matters most in life. Jack Palance gives an Oscar-winning performance as Curly, and the $124 million it earned at the domestic box office made it one of the top 5 movies of 1991.

34. The Birdcage (1996)

Robin Williams was a brilliant comedian, a supernova of personality that could command our attention with his hysterical stream-of-conscious thoughts. But Williams, to me, truly shined bright when he downplayed his natural comedic energy to either try serious drama (Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society), or to support an equally brilliant comedic performance – as he did with Nathan Lane in The Birdcage.

While broad and flamboyant at times, The Birdcage captures the heart of a family rallying behind their beautiful son (Dan Futterman) who is getting engaged to a Conservative girl (Calista Flockhart). Williams and Lane, as an on-screen couple, are tender, touching, funny, sweet, and perfectly paired in this special gem of a film.

33. Princess Mononoke (1997)

As someone who has watched every single Hayao Miyazaki movie, there's something about Prince Mononoke that speaks deeply to my soul. While I possibly think Spirited Away is Miyazaki's best film, and I have a love for Howl's Moving Castle, this is a movie that has changed the way I view the world. 

Princess Mononoke follows the story of a young prince who discovers that the gods of the forest are upset at the humans for consuming their precious resources. While the anime film itself has breathtaking animation and a story that pulls you in; both are equally sating while leaving a desire for more. Truthfully, this is the one movie that speaks on human consumption in simple ways that everyone should be required to watch.  

32. Groundhog Day (1993)

By all accounts, the creative process behind Groundhog Day was not easy. The film was originally conceived as a darker, more philosophical movie with independent sensibilities. That’s what Bill Murray liked. Director Harold Ramis saw it as more of a good-natured and broad comedy. So they fought about it, plaguing the shoot with delays, rewrites and enough acrimony to sever their friendship for decades. 

Amidst that disharmony, or perhaps even because of that disharmony, the two comedy masters compromised and created a perfect blend of the two: a broad and funny romantic comedy that’s weird enough and dark enough to feel totally original. 

31. Scream (1996)

With A Nightmare on Elm Street and its two best sequels already under his belt (among many other frightfests), Wes Craven made horror franchise lightning strike twice with the post-modern whodunit slasher Scream, and it kept striking across two eras of sequels. Led by one of the ‘90s greatest scream queens in Neve Campbell, the 1996 classic became such a blueprint for Hollywood horror that the inciting film doesn’t feel anywhere near as novel as it did when audiences first sat down thinking they were about to watch “a Drew Barrymore movie.” 

But that opening remains chilling AF, David Arquette’s Deputy Dewey remains a loveable dork alongside Courteney Cox’s hardcore bitch Gail Weathers, and Ghostface’s pop culture-tinged massacre has only become more relevant in an ever-connected world.

30. Cape Fear (1991)

I was way too young when I watched Cape Fear for the first time. I was experienced with plenty of slasher or jump scare style horror movies and figured I’d be fine. Wrong. Cape Fear is an entirely different type of scary than what I was used to. 

With a prime Martin Scorsese at the helm and a fantastic all-in performance from Robert De Niro, it’s a relentlessly creepy and unnerving take on slow-burn vengeance. It haunted my sleep for weeks as a kid, and during an adult rewatch decades later, its themes of religion, underage sexuality, criminal justice and moral relativism were every bit as disturbing. 

29. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Being John Malkovich may not be the very best ‘90s movie, but it may very well be the strangest that still qualifies as a great time. The premise itself — that a door exists allowing others to enter the mind of another person — is odd enough, but for the person whose brain is invaded to be celebrated actor John Malkovich? 

That brilliant choice somehow gives the otherwise impossible story a slight jolt of realism, and it all comprises a cinematic experience that should not be missed. It’s also a movie full of incredible performances, as Malkovich plays a fantastic version of himself, while John Cusack and Cameron Diaz play against type about as much as possible.

28. Dave (1993)

Probably the funniest movie that uses the presidential line of succession as a plot device, Ivan Reitman’s Dave is a hilarious, charming, and oddly sentimental exploration of politics in the early 1990s. There’s just something about Kevin Kline’s portrayal of Dave Kovic that makes this movie about a presidential impersonator becoming the Commander-in-Chief so innocent and pure, especially when compared to the political climate we live in 30-plus years later. 

Whenever I revisit Dave every couple of years, it feels like opening a time capsule to the final decade of the 20th century with its optimism and promise of a better future. 

27. A League of Their Own (1992)

A League Of Their Own is too busy with meaningful character development and telling an awesome baseball story to go for jokes all the time, but on a per-attempt basis, I would put it up against almost any comedy ever made. Director Penny Marshall has a wonderful tonal sense of when her actors should play it straight, when they should add in a little humor, and when they should drunkenly pee for thirty seconds. 

The result is one of the best sports movies of all time, one that delivers all those laughs but also plays it straight enough to give viewers fantastic and relatable plots about friendship, sisterhood, and what it means to thrive and find your own space.

26. The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant is Brad Bird's heartstrings-pulling story about a young boy who befriends a massive alien robot in 1957, and it proves that a movie bombing at the box office doesn’t mean it can’t still become a cinematic classic. Though its theatrical run didn’t even make back the initial budget, thanks to its home video rollout and stellar word-of-mouth buzz, it’s now considered one of the best animated movies of all time. Rightly so, because this is one of those movies that remains timeless no matter when it’s being viewed. 

Watching Hogarth teach the Giant about life on Earth and urge him to overcome his original purpose of being a weapon never gets old. The Iron Giant remains arguably Vin Diesel’s best movie from before the Fast & Furious franchise's launch, and co-stars like Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Christopher McDonald also shine.

25. Toy Story 2 (1999)

I remember that Toy Story 2 was the first film that made me uncontrollably sob – like fat tears rolling down my face and having a stuffy nose for hours afterward, and I'm sure I'm not alone there. A sequel to Toy Story, which took the world by anthropomorphic storm with its industry-revolutionizing animation, the follow-up adventure was released in 1999, and follows Woody after he is accidentally sold to a toy collector. There, he meets companions from a former TV show that he had no idea about – a show all about him. (And Joan Cusack's Jessie, of course.)

The Toy Story 2 voice cast is stellar, and the animation was a huge step forward in CGI films, but the heart-wrenching story of love, friendship, and so much more is what made Toy Story 2 one of the best Pixar films out there – and yes, I still cry during, "When Somebody Loved Me."

24. Election (1999)

How did Reese Witherspoon not win an Oscar for her performance as Type-A goodie two-shoes Tracy Flick, the textbook overachiever who bites off more than she can chew by running for student government president? It’s possible that we have come to realize that Witherspoon might just BE Tracy Flick in real life. 

But at the time, she was a tornado of talent matching Matthew Broderick beat for beat, bringing to life the sharp school-set satire in director Alexander Payne’s screenplay. Election has as much to say about the greed and immaturity powering politics many years after its release – at every level – as it did back in 1999, which is yet another reason why it remains special.

23. Magnolia (1999)

While not the highest-ranked Paul Thomas Anderson film on this list, Magnolia is a film to be marveled at for its phenomenal ambition. The Los Angeles-based epic juggles the stories of nearly a dozen protagonists who are not only dealing with a wide variety of personal conflicts and demons but are all linked to one another in the stunning cinematic tapestry. 

As the hyper-misogynist motivational speaker Frank T.J. Mackey, Tom Cruise delivers one of his most brilliant turns, and Julianne Moore’s pharmacy monologue is flooring, but the reality is that every member of the ensemble – including Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, and many more – deliver some of the best work of their respective careers. Further considering the frogs and the stunning performance of Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up,” it’s indelible cinema.

22. Tombstone (1993)

I don’t think you could ask for a more star-studded cast for any genre of film, much less a Western. 1993’s Tombstone is blessed by a top-notch cast including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, the late Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn, Stephen Lang, the late Powers Boothe, Thomas Haden Church, Michael Rooker, Charlton Heston, and many more, making it an instant classic in the Western genre. 

The story behind how this film came to be, along with many behind-the-scenes facts, is bizarre enough, but the struggles resulted in one of the best cowboy films of all time. And one that has stood the test of time against a similar movie released around the same time, Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp.  

21. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and decades later, it’s still clear that was the right call. The movie is beautiful, with early computer animation enhancing some of the most visually stunning hand-drawn shots in the medium’s history. It also has one of the best soundtracks of any Disney musical, if not any musical, full stop. This is Howard Ashman’s greatest achievement as a songwriter. 

But beyond even that, the two title characters are about as three-dimensional as any animated characters ever were. It may be a tale as old as time, but Beauty and the Beast is one the audience gets wrapped up in from the first notes to the last. It’s the definition of Disney magic.

20. The Usual Suspects (1995)

No one saw the twist ending coming. Trust me. No one. It caught audiences off guard completely, exactly the way it crashed down like a ton of bricks on Chazz Palminteri's cop. He finally understood who Keyser Soze was, and we all rushed right back into theaters to watch the puzzle snap into place all over again. 

But The Usual Suspects is more than just its “dropped shoe,” miraculous as that reveal is. The cast of colorful criminals assembled by director Bryan Singer played off of each other wonderfully, with many of them defaulting to the natural leader in Gabriel Byrne, but still finding ways to steal the spotlight every now and then. (Benicio Del Toro mumbling under his breath in the jail lineup belongs in the conversation of funniest five-minute performances, ever). As twisty crime thrillers go, few are tighter and more entertaining than this.

19. Boogie Nights (1997)

Introductions can make or break anything in this world. Careers, reputations, even the flow of a movie can be bungled if you don’t know how to open. Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson must have known that when he made Boogie Nights, because when he introduced that picture to the world, he gave himself one hell of a calling card. 

Following young Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) in his journey through the underground of porn films, we see a man still growing up in an industry that feels as young as he is. An ensemble drama boasting the likes of Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Boogie Nights is a cautionary tale with style and tension to burn. Good luck ever listening to “Sister Christian” without having flashbacks to this big, bright, shining star that still manages to break hearts and crack jokes with everyone it meets.

18. Good Will Hunting (1997)

Good Will Hunting is one of those films that changes you forever once you watch it. Starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams, the drama follows a young janitor at MIT who's discovered to be a secret math genius. The premise itself isn't as catchy as some of the other big-time blockbusters of the 1990s, without aliens, robots or crazy action fights, but Good Will Hunting is a film that leaves its message imprinted on audiences long after the credits roll. 

A story of perseverance, hope, and so much more, this movie gave movie fans one of Robin Williams's best roles and catapulted the careers of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. (You gotta like them apples.) This kind of film teaches you that sometimes, the people you meet turn you into your best self, so we just have to be fearless enough to go out there and find them. 

17. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Anthony Hopkins is fantastic in The Silence Of The Lambs, and every positive thing you’ve ever heard about his performance is deserved and probably an understatement. He’s that engrossing, but with all due respect, The Silence Of The Lambs isn’t his movie. It’s Jodie Foster’s movie, hingeing on her career-best performance here as Clarice Starling, which just gets better with every rewatch. 

Foster finds the perfect balance between uncertain and determined. She lets her FBI trainee lead character feel the weight of every obstacle, whether it be sexism, personal loss or physical danger, and then she pushes forward. With relentless determination, she just keeps going and that one step at a time, careful momentum gives the film its narrative structure and allows director Ted Demme to create one of the 90s best and most memorable movies.

16. Fargo (1996)

Joel and Ethan Coen have crafted films both stoically grounded and ludicrously fantastical in their long and storied careers, with Fargo possibly the one straddling both of those lines with the greatest of ease. The faux-kidnapping-gone-wrong and the ensuing investigation are smart story beats, and were enough to win the Coens the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, if fairly rote for the genre in general. But it’s the cast, the Minnesota location, and the singular nature of being a snow-white noir that make Fargo one of the greatest films of the decade. 

The always affable William H. Macy is aces as a man being eaten alive by guilt, opposite the gosh-darn excellent police skills of Frances McDormand’s Marge Gunderson, with Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare as the pair of amoral criminals making everyone’s lives (and deaths) worse. Fargo is a chilling masterpiece, and it’s got nothing to do with the weather. 

15. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Even though one of my colleagues claims her testimony was incorrect in the film, I will still stand before the court and argue that Marisa Tomei, Joe Pesci, and their cast of supporting characters make My Cousin Vinny guilty as hell of being one of the best comedies of all time.

The film is widely used in an educational capacity to showcase one of the few times that a court case is mostly portrayed accurately through a film, and to be honest, the wordplay coupled with the main character/judge dynamic is something to write home about.

14. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

For years, veterans would be the first to say that cinema's depiction of combat — especially that of World War II — is a cakewalk compared to the real thing. Because few films offered a truly accurate portrayal of the hellish, soul-crushing conditions soldiers faced, at least before the release of Saving Private Ryan.

This story of a U.S. military captain (played by Tom Hanks) tasked with leading his crew on a mission to bring a family's last living son home is easily one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies (the second to earn him a Best Director Oscar) and is widely considered to have been unjustly robbed of the Best Picture honor (which went to Shakespeare in Love that year). From the landmark D-Day sequence to the heartbreaking final act and every unforgettable moment in between, it is one of the harshest films you could ever experience, but the passion and craftsmanship put into makes for a grand reward. 

13. The Big Lebowski (1998)

I’m a Lebowski, you’re a Lebowski, we’re all Lebowskis who love the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski, even if its massive fandom wasn’t automatic. It was only a moderate success in the spring of 1998 when it sauntered into theaters on the heels of the Coen’s winning their first writing Oscar for Fargo a year earlier. Reviews at the time were middling, as was the audience reaction. 

Then, over the next couple of years, The Big Lebowski turned into a bonafide cult craze. Pages have been written about its status as such, but too often overlooked is what makes the movie so lovable. It’s quotable, it’s silly, and the plot is the ultimate shaggy dog story with a ridiculous McGuffin — the Dude’s rug — but as it goes for the Dude’s living room, the whole movie ties together just brilliantly. It’s world-class storytelling and the performances from Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and the rest of the cast are perfect.  

12. Schindler's List (1993)

Sometimes what makes a movie from a particular era great is how it represents its time, but some movies would be considered an important work of art in any decade. Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List is one of those that transcends eras. The film is great in all the traditional ways: Liam Neeson gives a career-making performance as Oskar Schindler, an Industrialist who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II. The supporting performances are equally strong. It’s beautifully filmed. 

But beyond that, Schindler’s List is an important movie, offering audiences a sobering look at the tragic events of World War II through a character based on a real-life survivor that many were not even aware of before the movie's release. Schindler’s List is one of those movies that you don’t forget after having seen it, and it may be Steven Spielberg’s greatest achievement.

11. Toy Story (1995)

More than 25 years after moviegoers were first introduced to Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, and the rest of Andy’s collection, it can be easy to forget just how big the impact John Lasseter’s Toy Story had when it hit theaters in 1995. It’s the film that put Pixar on the map, and while it sadly helped kickstart the downfall of hand-drawn animation in lieu of CGI, it also paved the way for three of the greatest Hollywood sequels to ever be produced. Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz are an all-time great animated duo, sharing hallowed space with Bugs & Daffy and Tom & Jerry, though obviously with a lot more heart than what short-form characters are allowed.

The Toy Story franchise hinges a lot on childhood memories, nostalgia, and maintaining a sense of fun in life as one gets older, and this first film delivers the most distilled take on that idea, with Andy still attached in some way to his inner child. Life, as it were, gets way more depressing for the toys as he gets older, which perhaps is why Toy Story rewatches are all the more enjoyable in comparison.

10. Philadelphia (1993)

 Philadelphia is not only a well-made movie, but is first and foremost an important movie. LQBTQ+ rights were non-existent at the time, as the movie highlights and one cannot discount the role this movie, directed by Jonathan Demme, had in awakening the general public not only to the plight gay people faced at the time but the discrimination people with HIV/AIDS faced as well when it was released in 1993. Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a gay man with AIDS who is fired from his job won the actor his first Oscar and for good reason, he’s amazing. Equally amazing is Denzel Washington, who plays Hanks’ character’s (Andrew Beckett) lawyer, Joe Miller. 

Miller, like most people in 1993 when Philadelphia was released, is scared of Beckett and AIDS, because he, like many, didn’t understand it. It’s Miller’s reaction that resonates with audiences. After watching Beckett get asked to move to a “private room” at a library, Miller realizes the discrimination is similar to that faced by African-Americans in the United States, and by the end of the film, he touches Beckett’s lesion-covered face, after learning the truth about AIDS. It’s a powerful moment that still reverberates today. 

9. Fight Club (1999)

So many “futuristic” sci-fi movies from years past have failed to successfully depict modern society and behavior, but David Fincher’s Fight Club now feels it was adapted from some of Nostradamus’ naughtier quatrains, instead of Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 novel. Seemingly both a love letter to, and a cautionary tale about, nihilistic anti-consumerism and anarchy, Fight Club features one of cinema’s most convoluted love triangles in Edward Norton’s spine-lacking unnamed narrator, Brad Pitt’s ultra-male Tyler Durden, and Helena Bonham Carter’s impulsively erratic Marla Singer. A demented character study in part, the movie oozes testosterone both before and after the titular underground brawls come together, and maybe even oozes a bit of estrogen when Meat Loaf’s Bob is around. 

For all of the smart and discussion-worthy topics that are tackled with face-pounding glee, Fight Club is, unfortunately, the kind of movie whose natural sheen has been somewhat tarnished by a fanbase who lost the point of the satire, but still holds so many visual and verbal treasures for those outside such bubbles. Especially for any new viewers who manage to go into it without knowing what kicks off the final act. It’s hard to think of a ‘90s movie with a more story-heightening ending, and The Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” remains an inarguably perfect needle drop.  

8. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pulp Fiction changed the rules of Hollywood moviemaking. That’s no exaggeration. Before Quentin Tarantino fired a shotgun blast through the screen with his nonlinear gangster picture, there was a chasm separating big-budgeted studio films and independent cinema that usually thrived on the film festival circuit before making its way to art house theaters. In the years following Pulp Fiction, studios, actors and audiences chased talent and inspiration, wherever it could be found. 

The irony of Pulp Fiction blazing so many trails is that the movie itself is a pastiche of well-worn genres that Tarantino pored over while working the counter of a video shop. He’s paying homage to countless, gratuitous stories that had come before it. Only, Pulp Fiction built on the buzz created with Reservoir Dogs to attract a constellation of stars: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Christopher Walken, Ving Rhames, and Bruce Willis. Pulp Fiction remains one of the best scripts you will ever read, crisscrossing itself at various intersections and packing repeated surprises (usually of the violent nature). But it was Tarantino’s powerful voice, and his use of soundtrack, that had clones copying his style for decades… and still, to this day.  

7. Jurassic Park (1993)

Anticipation for Jurassic Park began years before its release in the summer of 1993. Michael Crighton sold the rights to the film before he finished the book and because Steven Spielberg was the director who acquired it, the hype started early. Then, in June 1993, it finally hit theaters and was an absolute cultural sensation. Critics loved it, praising the unbelievable special effects and realism of the dinosaurs. Speilberg and the team at ILM broke so much new ground in creating the creatures that it changed how movies were made. Audiences loved it even more and showed up at theaters in hordes. Jurassic Park broke every box record there was to break. It had the biggest opening day, the biggest opening weekend, and finally, it became the highest-grossing movie of all time.

Jurassic Park also earned a slew of awards, mostly for its technical achievements, but that doesn’t mean the acting performances were bad, they were fantastic. Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Sir Richard Attenborough are all perfect in their roles. Finally, there’s the score by John Williams, which remains one of the most iconic of all time. 

6. Se7en (1995)

The film that rescued David Fincher’s career from the stench of Alien 3, and proved that the versatile music director could apply his grungy, moody, techno-acid style to a feature-length nightmare. It’s easy to say now that Fincher was destined to be a contemporary, visionary genius of a filmmaker. But prior to The Social Network, Zodiac, and Fight Club, we needed to see some evidence. Consider this disturbing plunge into the moral sewers to be Exhibit A in the case for Fincher’s mastery. 

Se7en is routine in many ways. It’s set in a rainy and nondescript city, which feels like San Francisco but could be anywhere. It follows odd-couple cops (Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt) tracking a mysterious serial killer who cunningly stays one step ahead of them. But the performances are remarkable, including Gwyneth Paltrow as Pitt’s loving and innocent newlywed, plucked and moved to the grimy city so her husband can do his job. The film’s riveting conclusion – which benefits from the icy calm delivery of Kevin Spacey as John Doe – elevated Se7en above most others in the genre. Now, when someone asks, “What’s in the box?” you don’t have to say, “Gwyneth’s head.” Just tell them the box contains an unforgettable masterpiece. 

5. Heat (1995)

Look at just about every list breaking down the best heist films ever made and the movie you’re probably going to see the most is Michael Mann’s 1995 crime epic, Heat. With some of the most iconic (and loudest) robbery and shoot-out sequences, the first on-screen pairing of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro (both were in The Godfather Part II but appeared in different timelines), and an incredible cat-and-mouse story that uses Los Angeles as a backdrop better than any other film, there’s so much to love about this legendary film.

On top of all of that, Heat has become one of the most influential films of all time in the nearly 30 years since its theatrical release. Watch movies like The Town, Widows, and even The Dark Knight, and you’ll see how Mann’s thriller was so influential. Hell, even the Grand Theft Auto franchise has taken aspects of the movie to create some of the most action-packed video game moments of all time.  

4. The Lion King (1994)

1994’s The Lion King is perhaps the most effective entry in the Disney Renaissance era when it comes to combining gorgeous animation, original songs, and a story that continues to pack a punch decades later. As the coming-of-age story for cub-turned-king Simba, the film delivers arguably the most famous Disney death with the demise of Mufasa, and Scar’s villain song is both incredibly catchy and incredibly chilling. Aladdin lyricist Tim Rice joined forces with Elton John for the songs, while Hans Zimmer composed the score, earning The Lion King an Academy Award for Best Original Score, while “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won for Best Original Song.

The Lion King was a massive commercial hit, becoming the highest-grossing traditionally animated film and holding that record to this day. The original movie also has a legacy that has extended to two TV shows, two direct-to-video sequels, and the 2019 CGI remake that was massively successful for Disney, although divisive among fans of the original animated version. Plus, there’s a generation of adults who learned about coups and succession crises thanks to Mufasa, Scar, and Simba back in the ‘90s. What’s not to roar with love about? 

3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Taking what he learned from making The Terminator and the two movies that followed (Aliens and The Abyss), James Cameron gave audiences not just a sequel in July 1991, but a game-changer of a film that completely rewrote the summer blockbuster and the action genre as we know it. While The Terminator was a small-scale sci-fi thriller about a futuristic cyborg sent back in time to kill a waitress before she could give birth to humanity’s last hope against extinction, T2 was a massive epic with numerous iconic action sequences and CGI that still holds up decades later.

The movie also gave us one of the best on-screen heroes with Arnold Schwarnegger’s T-800, a reprogrammed Terminator sent back not to kill John Connor but to protect him from the more advanced and more lethal T-1000, a character that remains an all-time villain. It is hard to imagine a timeline where Terminator 2: Judgment Day doesn’t exist, but luckily that’s a reality we don’t have to experience. 

2. Goodfellas (1990)

Of everything that Goodfellas is in part — a mobster saga, a crime drama, an ensemble biopic, etc. — it can’t properly be boxed into such a limited description, though it’s certainly safer to use fewer words when the Gambino crime family’s around, lest Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito lose his temper. Based on reporter (and eventual co-screenwriter) Nicholas Pileggi’s 1985 Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family, the film rides on the back of Ray Liotta’s Henry Hill, whose idea of the American Dream is to be living it up as a made man, but realizes over and over again how hard such a goal is to attain when everyone else around is just as hungry and ruthless. 

In many ways, it’s a perfect counterbalance to The Godfather saga, sharing similarities such as memorable food scenes and a stacked cast (with some mutual actors like Robert De Niro and Frank Sivero). But unlike Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpieces, Goodfellas was far less successful at the Oscars, with only Pesci taking home the gold, despite plenty of accolades earned elsewhere. Like much of Scorsese’s work, it’s only become more appreciated with time, and easily stands out as one of the best movies not just of the ‘90s, but of any era. 

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

“Get busy living, or get busy dying” may be the better remembered quote from Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption, but it’s the line that Red (Morgan Freeman) says in the final moments of the film that sums up the heart and soul of this story. Not only is The Shawshank Redemption our #1 pick for the best ‘90s movies, but it’s also easily one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King story – in this case, the novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.

The movie follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker who’s wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, and sent to prison. For a movie that doesn’t shy away from the brutality this character experiences throughout his years behind bars – both at the hands of some of his fellow inmates, and the warden and guards – The Shawshank Redemption never loses sight of that ultimate message of hope – the thing that Andy clings to every step of the way. It’s there in the friendships he makes, and in the moments of happiness Andy manages to find. And it’s there in the final words Red says in the closing narration: “I hope.” 

Sometimes, being the lead character in a film does not pay off quite like it does to play second (or even third or fourth) fiddle, and the 1990s was an especially great time to take those sorts of roles. That being said, there are some secondary characters from this era who don't quite get the attention that they deserve today. We cover both of these facets as we look back at some of the best movies of the ‘90s and the most brilliantly conceived supporting character in each of them below.

Darryl Albrecht (The Crow)

Best known as Winston Zeddemore from the Ghostbusters movies, Ernie Hudson’s role as Sergeant Darryl Albrecht in 1994’s The Crow is one of his most overlooked. After covering the murder case of Eric Draven (the late Brandon Lee) and his wife, Shelley, the honest cop becomes an accomplice to the resurrected rock musician in his mission for revenge.

Ricky Baker (Boyz N The Hood)

One of the most important ’90s movies centered on Black characters is writer and director John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood — one of the first films to offer an authentic inside look at the hardships of inner city life. This is most profoundly expressed in the untimely murder of promising young athlete Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut) near the end of the powerful 1991 drama.

Oda Mae Brown (Ghost)

For the murdered Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze), the only hope to reach out to his lover, Molly (Demi Moore), is a medium who discovers her abilities when she begins to hear him in Ghost. Whoopi Goldberg earned a well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her scene-stealing performance as Oda Mae Brown that is not merely the comic relief of this classic 1990 romantic fantasy, but also its heart.

Bubba (Forrest Gump)

Forrest Gump fans might agree the film’s strongest relationship is not between Tom Hanks’ titular character and Jenny Curran (Robin Wright), but between him and his Army buddy, Benjamin Buford Blue, or “Bubba.” Mykelti Williamson makes a profound impression in director Robert Zemeckis’ Best Picture Oscar winner as his best-known character – whose death in Vietnam inspires Forrest to become a shrimp fisherman.

Max Cherry (Jackie Brown)

Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel, Rum Punch, Jackie Brown has one of the most colorful character ensembles in a Quentin Tarantino movie — especially with bail bondsman Max Cherry. The late Robert Forster got an Oscar nod for playing one of the few characters in a Tarantino movie who feels completely worth rooting for without sacrificing your own moral dignity.

John Coffey (The Green Mile)

John Coffey is wrongfully put on death row after he is found holding two murdered little girls (whom he later reveals he was trying to resurrect with his extraordinary healing powers). The late Michael Clarke Duncan’s Oscar-nominated, powerhouse performance in Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Green Mile is one of the most heartbreaking of the decade, especially knowing his character’s undeserved impending fate will prevent him from helping people in need.

Tommy DeVito (Goodfellas)

The central character of Goodfellas may be Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), but the most memorable performance in the classic Martin Scorsese movie is easily Joe Pesci’s Academy Award-winning turn as Tommy DeVito. The fast-talking, borderline sociopathic loose cannon — yet, still one of the 1994 biographical drama’s more likable characters — would practically redefine cinema’s perception of the mafioso.

George Downes (My Best Friend's Wedding)

In a story about a woman out to self-servingly ruin a happy couple’s impending nuptials, it certainly helps to have a moral center like Julianne’s (Julia Roberts) editor and friend, George Downes – who reluctantly helps with her scheme despite constant attempts to end it. Rupert Everett’s defining role is key the enduring charm of My Best Friend’s Wedding and why it is remembered as one of the best romantic-comedies of its time, if not ever.

Dusty (Twister)

The ‘90s are filled with memorable performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman, but one of the most scene-stealing standouts has to be Dustin “Dusty” Davis in 1996’s Twister. The fun-loving, incessantly optimistic storm-chaser is such a jovial presence in the classic disaster movie that we wish the late Academy Award winner was able to appears in the upcoming sequel, Twisters, to reprise the role.

Genie (Aladdin)

What makes Genie such a beloved and dynamic character is not just his refreshing loyalty to Scott Weinger’s eponymous character in 1992’s Aladdin – even in spite of his obligation to grant the poor, young man three wishes. Robin Williams does not just voice one character in the acclaimed Disney animated film, but several in one, and to deliriously funny effect.

Samuel Gerard (The Fugitive)

The 1993 film adaptation of the hit 1960s series The Fugitive puts the viewer in a moral crossroads, as we are inclined to root for Harrison Ford’s prison escapee Richard Kimble, searching for his wife’s true killer. However, it’s hard not to also root for the man tracking him, Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard, played by Tommy Lee Jones in an Academy Award-winning performance so charismatic, he earned himself a spin-off with 1998’s U.S. Marshals.

Doc Holliday (Tombstone)

Tombstone is considered to be the 1990s’ better Wyatt Earp biopic, when compared to Kevin Costner’s Wyatt Earp from 1994. But what makes the 1993 dramatization of the legendary O.K. Corral standoff a modern western masterpiece is not just Kurt Russell’s lead performance, but Val Kilmer’s scintillating performance as fable gunfighter, Doc Holliday.

Jay And Silent Bob (Clerks)

There are actually many Kevin Smith movies that highlight the iconic bromance that is Jay and Silent Bob, played by Jason Mewes and Smith, respectively. But these inseparable and, in some surprising occasions, insightful stoners shine brightest as supporting characters in 1994’s Clerks in the awe-inspiring way they make an enduring impression on the story by not doing much at all.

Bill Lumbergh (Office Space)

A box office flop that went on to be a classic, writer/director Mike Judge’s Office Space offers a satirical but stunningly accurate depiction of the miserable workplace atmosphere. The monarch of mundanity in this case is Initech VP Bill Lumbergh, portrayed with incomparably slow-paced drawl and dementedly deadpan energy by the vastly underrated supporting actor Gary Cole.

Lumiere (Beauty And The Beast)

The curse affecting the Beast and his house staff in 1992’s Beauty and the Beast may have taken away Lumiere’s human form, but not his humanity, nor his infectious swagger. Voiced by the late Jerry Orbach donning a French accent, the sentient candle holder never fails to be the life — and light — of the party.

Mushu (Mulan)

The most popular of Eddie Murphy’s voice acting performances may be Donkey in the Shrek movies, but Disney fans have a special place in their hearts for Mushu. The plucky, yet boisterous, dragon — who was almost voiced by Joe Pesci — is sent to assist Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) in battle and provide sharp comic relief that was sadly missing from Mulan’s live-action remake in 2020.

Red (The Shawshank Redemption)

While primarily about Andy Dufresne’s (Tim Robbins) experience in the titular penitentiary, you could argue that Frank Darabont’s 1994 Stephen King adaptation The Shawshank Redemption is really Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding’s story. In addition to narrating, the transformation that Morgan Freeman’s smuggler undergoes during his decades locked up is brilliant.

Tatum Riley (Scream)

Most old school slasher movies consist of a final girl and a bunch of forgettable cannon fodder, but Tatum Riley defied the odds in a horror movie that changed the game in 1996. Rose McGowan’s performance as Sydney Prescott’s supportive and spunky best friend is one the original Scream cast’s best and makes her memorable death scene particularly devastating.

Sally (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

We can empathize with Jack Skellington’s (Chris Sarandon) vying for a change in scenery, but the most empathetic arc in The Nightmare Before Christmas is that of Sally (Catherine O’Hara). The kindhearted, living rag doll’s story is one of tragic neglect – not just by her captor, Dr. Finklestein, but also by Jack himself until he comes to realize they were made for each other.

Lynn Sear (The Sixth Sense)

Many of Toni Collette’s best movies just happen to be in the horror variety, including one of M. Night Shyamalan’s greatest movies: 1999’s The Sixth Sense. The Australian actor earned her sole Oscar nomination for her harrowingly grounded performance as Lynn Sear — a mother desperate to understand what troubles her child (Haley Joel Osment), unaware he is medium.

Marla Singer (Fight Club)

There have been countless discussions surrounding the complexity of Fight Club’s central “duo,” but not enough about what makes Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter) an equally dynamic character. By the end of David Fincher’s 1999 masterpiece, we come to understand her more empathetic qualities similar to Edward Norton’s Narrator, while she also boasts a destructive cynicism similar to Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) – making her a perfect match for both.

Walter Sobchak (The Big Lebowski)

One of the greatest mysteries in the Coen Brothers’ 1998 cult favorite comedy is how the persistently laid back The Dude (Jeff Bridges) came to be friends with the problematically uptight Walter Sobchak (John Goodman). However, it is a pairing we are thankful for, particularly for the way the Vietnam-obsessed, avid bowler contributes to some of the funniest quotes in The Big Lebowski.

Steve Stifler (American Pie)

Seann William Scott defined an entire generation of cinematic douchebaggery by starring in 1999’s American Pie cast as Steve Stifler. Scott's commitment to making “the Stifmeister” egregiously unlikable makes the performance a wonder to behold.

Timon And Pumbaa (The Lion King)

We will wait as long as we must before you can name a more iconic Disney duo than the classic The Lion King characters Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella). It is no wonder the hilarious meerkat and warthog — who teach Simba the ways of “Hakuna Matata” — got their own series the spin-off from the 1994 blockbuster. 

Trinity (The Matrix)

A good opening scene can really sell a good action film, which is why it is a good thing that Trinity owns the beginning of The Matrix. Keanu Reeves’ Neo may be “The One,” but Carrie Anne-Moss’ rebel shows skill and ambition in Wachowski’s 1999 sci-fi thriller that can make you believe in destiny.

Mona Lisa Vito (My Cousin Vinny)

The controversy surrounding Marisa Tomei’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar win for the hilarious courtroom drama My Cousin Vinny — as recalled by MovieWeb — has never made sense to us. The vivacious, mile-a-minute delivery of the case-winning testimony by Mona Lisa Vito — a character Tomei would love to play again — is one of the most electrifying scenes in any ‘90s comedy and clearly deserves the statuette on its own.

Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction)

Whether or not this revolutionary 1994 crime thriller is Quentin Tarantino’s best movie might be debatable, but there is no question that stand-out supporting character is the dazzling Mia Wallace. Uma Thurman’s alluring, charmingly eccentric performance in the revolutionary crime thriller is one of the most powerful among the Pulp Fiction cast, which is really saying something.

Zed (Men In Black)

What makes Men in Black a near-perfect marriage of sci-fi and comedy is not just the equally clever use of elements from either genre, but its by-the-book cop drama structure. For instance, the late Rip Torn plays Zed no different from how an actor might play a 1970s police captain, complete with hilariously deadpan reactions to otherwise bizarre, otherworldly activity.

Miles Dyson (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Can you imagine discovering that you are responsible for an impending apocalypse brought on by technology like Miles Dyson (Joe Morton) does in 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day? For that reason, it could safe to call the Cyberdyne engineer’s ill-fated arc one of the more tragic from the Terminator movies overall.

Norm Gunderson (Fargo)

One of the most underrated roles in the already underrated John Carroll Lynch’s career appears in one of the Coen Brothers’ best movies, Fargo. While not involved with any particularly memorable scenes from the 1996 crime thriller, Norm Gunderson’s support she shows for his police chief wife, Marge (Frances McDormand) — for whom he left the force when they became a couple — is something ever husband should aspire to.

Emily Montgomery (In & Out)

Joan Cusack earned her second Oscar nomination for playing In & Out's Emily Montgomery – who discovers her fiancée’s (Kevin Kline) revelations about his homosexuality as they are about to get married. While this classic LGBTQ+ comedy is noted as an inspiring story of self-acceptance, you cannot help but empathize with Emily’s manic reaction to the news.

Chris Shiherlis (Heat)

The most involving member of Neil McCauley’s (Robert DeNiro) heist crew is Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer), whose backstory as a former family man is one of the biggest surprises in Heat. However, the sharp-shooting thief is also at the center of one of the the greatest mysteries surrounding Michael Mann’s 1995 crime thriller — that being, how did he escape that climactic shootout and where did he go? 

Sometimes, it is not just the primary protagonist that keeps us wanting to revisit our favorites ‘90s movies, as these amazing supporting characters prove.

Many Hollywood stars have emerged over the last several decades and established themselves as multi-genre threats. You could think of the great Robert Downey Jr., Harrison Ford, and even Scarlett Johansson. But today, we will be talking about another actor who has been in the industry for years: Tommy Lee Jones. 

He's been all over the map, from action thrillers to sci-fi movies to dramas that show his ability to act. Now, we have this list of the best Tommy Lee Jones movies that you should check out, whether on a streaming platform or as a rental. 

The Fugitive (1993)

The Fugitive is based on the 1960s TV show of the same name. Starring Harrison Ford in one of his best roles and Tommy Lee Jones, this action thriller follows a surgeon who is framed for murder and escapes from custody after a severe bus crash. He makes it his mission to find the person who actually killed his family while simultaneously being hunted down by the government. 

Jones plays Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, one of the people hunting Ford's character, Dr. Richard Kimble. This was the film that won Jones the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the film itself earned several nominations, including Best Picture. He offers a fantastic performance, and the movie is filled with action to keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, the leads have some great chemistry. 

Stream The Fugitive on Tubi.
Rent/Buy The Fugitive on Amazon.

JFK (1991)

Directed by Oliver Stone, JFK is a political thriller that looks deep into the real investigation of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, mainly following Jim Garrison, a lawyer who believes that the supposed killer had an accomplice and that it was was a two-person job. 

Jones plays Clay Shaw/Clay Bertrand, again showing his impeccable acting talent and raw ability to draw eyes to the screen. Once again, he was nominated for an Academy Award, alongside seven other nominations, the movie winning two. It's a great political film for those who want a good drama. 

Stream JFK on Max.
Rent/Buy JFK on Amazon.

Men In Black 1-3 (1997-2012)

Here come the men in black. For the first three movies, the Men in Black franchise mainly followed the adventures of Kevin Brown and James Darrell Edwards III, known as Agent K and Agent J, as they fought against a whole universe of aliens to keep humanity safe. 

I could talk for hours about the first three Men in Black movies and why it's one of Jones' best films, but I think everyone already knows it. The chemistry between him and Smith is always killer, and they can pull laughs from the crowd no matter how gross the aliens they encounter might be. 

Truthfully, I think the franchise peaked with the films where Jones played Agent K, and nothing can ever top his role. There have been attempts to revive the series and start with new actors, but I just can't get behind them. I will always want to see a continuation of these two and their extra-terrestrial adventures. 

I don't think we'll be getting another movie from them anytime soon, but a girl can dream, alright?

Stream/Buy Men in Black on Amazon Prime.
Stream/Rent/Buy Men in Black II on Amazon Prime.
Stream/Rent/Buy Men in Black III on Amazon Prime.

In The Valley Of Elah (2007)

Directed by Paul Haggis and starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon, In the Valley of Elah is a crime drama that will captivate you. The film mainly follows the story of a military father looking for his child. When he discovers that his son has been killed, he makes it his mission to find the people responsible and take them down, settling on revenge rather than grief.

The movie was released during the Iraq War, and Jones was the perfect pick to portray that desperate fear and, later on, the rage that comes from losing a child. He was again nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. 

Rent/Buy In The Valley of Elah on Amazon.

Lincoln (2012)

Directed by the incredible Steven Spielberg, Lincoln stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the titular man and tells the story of President Lincoln during the last few months of his life as he works hard to end slavery and the Civil War, leading up to the events of the establishment of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

Lincoln is packed to the brim with stars alongside Lewis, such as the incredible Sally Field, Adam Driver, Bill Camp, and more. Still, Tommy Lee Jones' Republican Congressman Thaddeus Stevens was undoubtedly one of the best. He delivered some of the film's best scenes, from his solo speeches to moments involving others. He was again nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards for his role. 

Rent/Buy Lincoln on Amazon.

No Country For Old Men (2007)

No Country For Old Men follows three stories: a man who stumbles upon money in the desert, a hitman trying to get to the cash for his nefarious deeds, and the sheriff looking into the crime and trying to solve it before anyone else gets hurt. Eventually, their lives intertwine, and tragedy strikes. 

The film won Best Picture at the Academy Awards for a good reason, as the main three stars, Jones, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem, killed it. There's something about seeing Jones as a good guy sheriff trying to save the day that makes the film that much better. Trust me; you'll be rooting for him as the movie progresses. 

Stream No Country for Old Men on Amazon Prime.
Rent/Buy No Country For Old Men on Amazon. 

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Witness the start of a hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Captain America: The First Avenger is the first film in that franchise, where we meet Steve Rogers, a young man with many health problems, who is given the chance to become a figure of hope for America through using a super-soldier serum that will change him forever. 

The MCU has vastly expanded since this film, but I sometimes like to revisit the movies that began it all – and Jones is hilarious and fantastic here. He plays Chester Phillips, a colonel responsible for creating Captain America, and he's sarcastic, gruff, and all things great about a military officer in a movie. I would gladly watch a film just about him. 

Stream Captain America: The First Avenger on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Captain America: The First Avenger on Amazon.

Natural Born Killers (1994)

Directed by Oliver Stone, Natural Born Killers follows the story of two people who were traumatized in childhood, which bled into their adult years. But of course, these two end up meeting, twistedly falling in love, and taking their trauma to the next level – by killing people, and these acts gain media attention that turns them into stars.

Let me tell you, if you want to see a movie where Tommy Lee Jones acts maddening, this is the one. His scenes are genuinely some of the most enthralling of the movie. He plays the prison warden that the main characters are taken to, and seeing him angry is always a sight. The film itself is pretty bloody, so keep that in mind before watching. 

Rent/Buy Natural Born Killers on Amazon.

Ad Astra (2019)

Ad Astra is a psychological sci-fi film that stars Brad Pitt as an astronaut who heads into space on the mission of a lifetime – to find his father and stop him from discovering aliens, which could ruin life as they know it on Earth, and quite possibly the galaxy around them. 

The movie is one of those films that takes its time getting into the story and showing just how scary space travel can be, but Jones' performance is incredible. I love his scenes with Pitt, and it's always fun to see him back in a sci-fi film after MIB. 

Rent/Buy Ad Astra on Amazon.

Jason Bourne (2016)

Last but not least, we have Jason Bourne. This Bourne franchise film follows the titular CIA assassin, but he finds out that there's a lot more to the government organization than he ever thought possible, which causes a target to be placed on his back. While he tries to outrun the CIA, the director sends others to finish Bourne off. 

Tommy Lee Jones as a CIA director is everything you could ever want. His character, Robert Dewey, is powerful, intense, intelligent, and a perfect antagonist to Jason Bourne, and Jones’ scenes with Matt Damon are fantastic. I would watch this again. 

Rent/Buy Jason Bourne on Amazon.

There are so many other films that Jones has made, but these are the ones to highlight. Now if you don't mind me, I will go and watch Men in Black again and be freaked out by all those cockroaches. Gross. 

There is a lot of talk about aliens after a recent government hearing on UFO sightings alleged the United States government has evidence of extraterrestrial life, and the public has a right to know more about it. If aliens are among us or headed toward us, I think it's only natural for the world at large to prepare. In my home, this means stashing away the movies in my collection that would offend a visiting extraterrestrial. 

Men In Black, Independence Day, the list goes on even beyond movies that Will Smith starred in. We'll get into some of the worst offenders below and why it would be a bad idea to throw these on if you're looking to have a chill night with your new friends from a few galaxies away. 

Men In Black

At face value, one might think Men In Black is an alien-friendly movie. The organization does well to keep aliens in hiding around the world and maintain Earth as a neutral zone for refugees. Perhaps some aliens who watch would appreciate how the organization achieves this, but I'm not sure how comfortable I would feel on a planet where I have to hide amongst people who will lose their minds if they find out I'm not a fellow human. I feel like I'd be much safer on a planet where the people would be ok with me living there!

Independence Day

Independence Day is a classic humans vs. aliens movie, but I think we can all agree the perspective is largely one-sided. The humans are hailed as heroes while the aliens are faceless villains that don't even get a clear motive as to why they attacked Earth in the first place. Then you have Will Smith punching the lights out of an alien like he's Chris Rock disrespecting his wife? That's not something that I'd enjoy seeing if I was visiting from Mars. 

War Of The Worlds

Much like Independence Day, War Of The Worlds gets low marks because it's another human vs. the faceless aliens with no depth or real character. The only shot we get of these aliens is when one dies because they didn't take Earth's microbes into consideration and died because of it. If I were an alien, I certainly wouldn't appreciate the implication my species is smart enough to hide weapons underground for world domination, but not smart enough to do a basic bio-reading of the planet before invasion and get properly prepared for the conditions. It's insulting!

Killer Klowns From Outer Space

I shouldn't even need to explain why Killer Klowns From Outer Space one is offensive. Per the parameters of this prompt, however, I must. To trivialize an entire invading species as one of Earth's most comedic and ridiculous symbols; it's grotesque, bizarre, and just obscene to envision a species with the technological prowess to make it to Earth would turn into something so demeaning. If I were an alien visiting someone's home and saw the movie on the mantle, I'd be throwing hands immediately with no further questions. Perhaps it's best to start referring to this as a creepy clown movie and leave it at that. 

District 9

If Men In Black is offensive because it implies aliens would need to live in secrecy to avoid freaking out humans and discrimination, District 9 is offensive for confirming it. A group of one million alien refugees are left behind in South Africa and are ultimately pushed into slums and treated like second-class citizens by the government. This is not a story that would instill confidence that the best of humanity would be looking out for our visiting species. 

Cloverfield

I know what you're thinking, and yes, Cloverfield is a movie about an alien. In fact, it's about a baby alien trapped in an unfamiliar world and terrified. How does the Earth respond to this? By attempting to kill it rather than trying to calm it down and help it find the right way home. I can imagine this movie plays entirely differently to a group of our extraterrestrial friends, who would likely be uncomfortable seeing a young alien in fear and fighting for its life throughout the movie. 

Any Movie In The Alien Franchise

There are six movies in the Alien franchise, and I think it's entirely safe to say you'd want to keep all of them away from a visiting extraterrestrial. To start, Xenomorphs are not the most flattering representation of alien life. Second, I don't want any species to get the idea that humans are suitable vessels for hatching eggs! I think what's scariest about these movies, however, is that the title will be so easy to track down once a species starts to learn about our culture and likely be the first thing they see. The second movie may be the highest-rated sci-fi movie on Rotten Tomatoes, but it's number one on my list of movies we should all pretend never happened once our friends come from the stars. 

Mars Attacks!

It feels like I'm beating a dead horse here with the "Aliens mindlessly attacking humans" trope here, but Mars Attacks! takes it to the utmost extreme. Not only are the Martians mindlessly aggressive, they're over-the-top cruel in their tactics to torture humanity. Putting a woman's head on a chihuahua? Hopefully, our visitors from another planet will have a sense of humor about the ludicrous nature of it all. Plus, I fear this movie would turn aliens off to the musical stylings of Slim Whitman, which would be a crime on another level. 

Galaxy Quest

Galaxy Quest, at first glance, may seem as harmless and progressive toward alien life as a Star Trek movie you'd binge with your Paramount+ subscription. In reality, this movie provides a false expectation that common actors can be abducted from a convention and replicate the actions of their fictional characters in their sci-fi franchise. We need to be careful with this! A visiting species may see this and try to take William Shatner to their planet to fight an actual Gorn. Just because he actually went to space does not mean he's in fighting shape!

Remember, we could be getting confirmation of intelligent life on other planets at some point in the future. Keep these movies in hiding just in case, and perhaps keep an eye out for movies to promote positive exchanges between humans and visiting friends from other planets. Hopefully that will prevent any ill feelings... or a violent invasion of any kind!

Will Smith certainly wasn’t a small-time actor by the time 1997 hit, as he’d starred in the popular NBC series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for six seasons and built some major film cred through Bad Boys and Independence Day. That said, there’s no question that Men in Black played an integral role in cementing him as a Hollywood powerhouse, though that’s not to say he was always game to play Agent J. It actually took convincing from director Steven Spielberg for Smith to agree to join Men in Black, and a helicopter was involved with making it happen.

Although Barry Sonnenfeld was sitting in the director’s chair for Men in Black (and the following two sequels), Spielberg was involved as a producer, and another key behind-the-scenes figure was James Lassiter, the executive music producer and Smith’s longtime business partner. While speaking with comedian Kevin Hart in an upcoming episode of his talk show Hart to Heart, which will premiere to Peacock subscribers on August 3, Smith first explained why he initially wasn’t interested in working on Men in Black:

1996 saw Will Smith starring in Independence Day’s ensemble cast as Captain Steven Hiller, with his notable costars including Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, among many others. Even ignoring how critically and commercially successful Independence Day was, it’s understandable that Smith didn’t want dive back into the alien pool so soon afterwards at first. However, then Steven Spielberg came along to persuade him otherwise, and it involved sending a helicopter straight to Smith so he could meet with the filmmaker in person. As the actor recalled:

At the time Will Smith and Steven Spielberg met, the latter had more than 20 years of major cinematic credits under his belt, so yeah, that “ellipsis” was definitely warranted. Granted, the former still would have been within his rights to turn down Men in Black, but he fortunately changed his mind and agreed to star opposite Tommy Lee Jones as the newest recruit to MIB. All these years later, Agent J remains one of Will Smith’s greatest performances, and he’d go on to reprise the character in 2002’s Men in Black 2 and 2012’s Men in Black 3. Still, I can’t help but wonder how this meeting between Smith and Spielberg had gone if a regular car had been sent rather than a helicopter.

If you’re now interested in revisiting Men in Black, it can be streamed with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Will Smith’s next movie, Bad Boys 4, is slated for a June 14 drop on the 2024 release schedule.

Being the highest grossing movie of all time — an honor still held to this day, domestically, by 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens — is, undoubtedly, something to be proud about. However, an achievement that does not get quite as much attention, but should, is being the highest grossing movie in a certain year. 

With help from TheNumbers.com, we were able to look at the North American (U.S.A. and Canada) box office data from 1970 to the present and discover what film proved to be the most financially successful of each year. Some of the results may surprise you.

1970: Love Story

These days, romantic dramas rarely amount to blockbuster levels of success, but this Oscar-nominated adaptation of Erich Segal’s bestselling novel proved that love really could conquer all in 1970. Starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw as a modern Romeo and Juliet, Love Story raked in $106,397,186, which is especially impressive by that year’s standards.

1971: Billy Jack

Co-writer and director Tom Laughlin debuted as half-Navajo former Green Beret Billy Jack in 1967’s Born Losers, but it was the self-titled 1971 follow-up that made the character an icon, especially at the box office. Despite mixed reviews, according Rotten Tomatoes, audiences were drawn to Billy Jack’s message of peace and thrilling action sequences, resulting a $98 million win overall.

1972: The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola was on top of the world in 1972. Not only would the first half of his adaptation of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather go on to become a Best Picture Oscar winner, but it was also the biggest hit of that year with more than $133.7 million in returns.

1973: The Exorcist

William Friedkin’s fact-based thriller about demonic possession, The Exorcist, has been plagued for years by rumors of being “cursed.” If that were true, it might not have become one of the greatest horror movies of all time or been 1973’s most successful movie with $193 million at the box office.

1974: Blazing Saddles

Mel Brooks’ iconic spoof movie targeting Westerns, Blazing Saddles, is jam-packed with so much offensive/politically incorrect material that it probably would never get made today. Yet, an unapologetically silly, boundary-pushing story like this one — in which a Black man (Cleavon Little) is suddenly appointed sheriff of a bigoted town in the late 1800s — must have been exactly what audiences were looking for in 1974, considering its $119.5 million gross.

1975: Jaws

The film credited as the very first blockbuster is one of the scariest Steven Spielberg movies, Jaws. The seminal creature feature achieved that honor by raking in $260 million and becoming the highest grossing movie of 1975, let alone of all time… for a little while, at least.

1976: Rocky

Sylvester Stallone’s breakthrough (as both star and writer of the first of the Rocky movies), was literally, a one-two punch. The iconic boxing drama beat out the competition at the box office in 1976 with more than $117.2 million and went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

1977: Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope

The film that first surpassed Jaws as the highest-grossing movie of all time was George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, with — according to Box Office Mojo — a grand total of $460.9 million domestically. Yet, it only took an initial draw of $195.7 million for the movie that first launched the enduring Star Wars franchise to become the top movie of 1977.

1978: Grease

Grease was, indeed, the word in the mouths of the many moviegoers who went out to see the big, bright musical classic in 1978. Starring John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John as teen lovers in the 1950s, it sped to the top the year’s box office with more than $153 million.

1979: Superman

In 1979, people around the country flocked to the theater to see a man fly on the big screen. That man was Christopher Reeve as Superman — the title character of director Richard Donner’s classic superhero movie that flew to the top of the year’s box office by making more than $93.3 million dollars.

1980: Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back

It is probably no surprise that the second chapter of Lucas’ epic outer space saga — also widely considered the best Star Wars movie — became the highest grossing movie of 1980 with $181.4 million. Not only did The Empire Strikes Back outweigh the competition by roughly $80 million, it was also one of only two films to surpass $100 million that year (the other being the Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder-led Stir Crazy).

1981: Raiders Of The Lost Ark

The movie that solidified Harrison Ford — a man with many interesting facts to his name — as a box office king, saw his debut as globe-trotting, daredevil archeologist, Indiana Jones. Itself a tribute to the movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark was cinema’s biggest sensation in 1981, grossing $168.4 million.

1982: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 

Years after his friend, George Lucas, took away his box office crown with Star Wars, Spielberg reclaimed the honor when his sci-fi family drama, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, became the highest grossing movie of all time (and of 1982) with $321.8 million. 

1983: Star Wars: Episode VI — Return Of The Jedi

Out of the franchise’s original trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi grossed the highest amount in the year it was first released. Not to mention, the epic "finale" was the highest grossing movie of 1983 after raking in more than $249.3 million.

1984: Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

Ford’s adventurous fortune hunter returned bigger (and certainly scarier) with Spielberg’s first follow-up to Raiders. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom whipped the competition away in 1984 by earning $220.7 million.

1985: Back To The Future

I bet if Doc Brown’s Delorean existed, moviegoers would have used it to see one of the greatest time travel movies ever, Back to the Future, repeatedly, without having to buy subsequent tickets. However, they did have to buy additional tickets, which may have helped it become the top movie of 1985 with $193.1 million.

1986: Top Gun

For years, the most successful of Tom Cruise’s action movies was director Tony Scott’s Top Gun. The thrilling popcorn flick was also the most successful movie of 1986, having grossed $171.8 million that year.

1987: Beverly Hills Cop II

Tony Scott became the most financially successful director two years in a row when he helmed the 1987 sequel to one of Eddie Murphy’s best movies. Beverly Hills Cop II was the year’s biggest hit with $153.7 million.

1988: Rain Man

Dustin Hoffman gives one of his best performances (earning him an Oscar) as a man with autism and savant syndrome alongside Tom Cruise as his long-lost brother in Rain Man. Barry Levinson’s charming drama also won Best Picture after winning the box office in 1988 with $151.7 million.

1989: Batman

When it was first announced that Michael Keaton was cast to play the title role of Tim Burton’s Batman, fans immediately rejected the idea. However, they seemed to change their minds about him pretty soon, making one of the best live-action Batman movies ever the biggest hit of 1989 with a $251.2 million gross.

1990: Ghost

Ghost proved that by combining two successful, yet deeply contradicting, genres like romance and horror, you may have a big hit on your hands. Led by Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg, the moving drama knocked other 1990 movies dead with its earnings of $217.6 million.

1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Fans of James Cameron’s technophobic franchise of time-travel thrillers agree that Arnold Schwarzenegger came “back” better than ever with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The acclaimed sequel was also a much bigger hit than its predecessor and the biggest hit of 1991 with $201.9 million.

1992: Batman Returns

Despite inciting controversy for its wicked tone and falling short of its predecessor’s success, Batman Returns still proved to be nothing short of a hit. Tim Burton’s second Michael Keaton-led DC comics adaptation topped the 1992 box office with $162.8 million.

1993: Jurassic Park

Spielberg would, again, prove that whatever he touches turns to gold with his stunning adaptation of Michael Crichton's inventive sci-fi thriller, Jurassic Park. It was likely the revolutionary special effects that helped it become the top-grossing movie of 1993 (and of all time, for a while) with $338.7 million.

1994: The Lion King

One of the all-time greatest animated Disney movies, The Lion King, is also one of the studio’s biggest money-makers. The film proved to be box office royalty, winning 1994 with $300.4 million.

1995: Batman Forever

Even without Michael Keaton or Burton, the Batman franchise was still on fire with Batman Forever. By raking in more than $184 million, the Joel Schumacher-helmed, Val Kilmer-led DC spectacle became the number one movie of 1995.

1996: Independence Day

The spaceships in 1996’s Independence Day are not the only reason it is one of the biggest and best alien invasion movies of all time. Audiences who made a $306.2 million hit out of the Roland Emmerich-helmed disaster flick also made Will Smith into a leading box office draw.

1997: Men In Black

Despite being one of Will Smith’s best movies, it may seem odd that Men in Black is the top-grossing movie of 1997, given that Titanic came out that same year. The inventive sci-fi comedy came out in the summer and ended its run with $250.7 million dollars, whereas James Cameron’s historical epic, which released in December, made only $157.5 million by the end of year.

1998: Titanic

While Titanic was released in 1997, it still managed to make more money than any film released the following year, raking in more than $488.1 million. The romantic, Oscar-winning, historical tragedy would, of course, go on to top the all-time box office charts for years with an overall domestic total of more than $600.7 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

1999: Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace

While the Star Wars prequels have experienced a bit of resurgence in more recent years, the trilogy — including The Phantom Menace — was initially met with backlash from die-hard fans. However, you wouldn't know that by looking at its impressive $430.4 million returns, which resulted in a towering box office win for 1999.

2000: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

The loot that Jim Carrey’s mean, green, holiday-hating recluse snatched in How the Grinch Stole Christmas didn't include $253.4 million. No, Ron Howard’s live-action Dr. Seuss movie earned that money at the box office fair and square, becoming the top-grossing movie of 2000 less than two months after its release.

2001: Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

The year 2001 saw the beginning of one of the most extraordinarily popular movie franchises of all time. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone — adapted from the first book in J.K. Rowling’s young adult fantasy series — also became the most popular movie of that year, casting a $300.4 million spell.

2002: Spider-Man

Director Sam Raimi came a long way from making low budget horror films by bringing a beloved superhero to the big screen in one of the best non-MCU Marvel movies ever. The Tobey Maguire-led Spider-Man cast a huge web on the 2002 box office, raking in more than $403.7 million.

2003: Finding Nemo

People already had their choices of the best Pixar movie before the animation studio became a real box office juggernaut with Finding Nemo. Grossing more than $339.7 million, the story of a clown fish searching for his son was the number one movie of 2003.

2004: Shrek 2

A way to understand how impactful the Oscar-winning, animated fantasy send-up Shrek was is by looking at the box office of its sequel. Believed to be the best of the Shrek movies by some, Shrek 2 was the highest grossing movie of 2004 with $441.2 million.

2005: Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge Of The Sith

While considered by many to be best of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith fell several million short of The Phantom Menace. However, it still managed to top the 2005 box office with more than $380.3 million.

2006: Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Johnny Depp helped make swashbuckling cool again with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The second chapter of the theme park attraction-inspired franchise, Dead Man’s Chest, brought in a lot of booty and conquered the 2006 box office with $423.3 million.

2007: Spider-Man 3

For a few different reasons — including an infamous dance scene — Spider-Man 3 is one of the webslinger’s least beloved films. Regardless, it ruled the box office in 2007, bringing in $336.5 million.

2008: The Dark Knight

Most people agree that Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is the greatest live-action Batman movie ever made, mostly for Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning Joker portrayal. If you disagree, at least you cannot deny its financial success, winning the 2008 box office with a staggering $531 million.

2009: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

Fans of Michael Bay’s live-action reinvention of a popular toy line were excited to see what came next in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which topped the 2009 box office with $402.1 million, despite coming out the same year as James Cameron’s Avatar. The latter would go on to top the all-time charts with $785,221,649 — according to Box Office Mojo — but only made over $352 million of that in 2009, coming in second behind the alien robot sequel.

2010: Toy Story 3

Despite making $408.4. million in 2010, the ludicrously successful Avatar still fell short of topping that year’s box office chart overall and came in second to Toy Story 3. Pixar’s acclaimed tearjerker of a sequel raked in $415 million.

2011: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The year 2011 saw the end of one of the most popular franchises of all time. Fans brought the final installment of the Harry Potter movies (Deathly Hallows: Part 2) to a $381 million gross, making it the big winner for that year.

2012: The Avengers

Just four years after The Dark Knight shattered box office records, Marvel swooped in to bring things to new heights with a $623.4 million gross. The Avengers was already a monumental occasion by teaming up several iconic comic book characters in one film before it topped the 2012 box office.

2013: Iron Man 3

For years, the heart and soul of the MCU was Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, which totally makes sense of Iron Man 3 becoming the number one movie of 2013. Many fans expressed their disappointment over it, but it still made a tremendous $408.9 million.

2014: Guardians Of The Galaxy

The moment that convinced the world that Marvel could make a successful flick out of anything was when Guardians of the Galaxy became the highest-grossing movie of 2014. The comic book movie starring obscure cosmic characters also played a part in making Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, and Bradley Cooper some of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

2015: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Within just a few week after its release, the 2007 box office was officially conquered by Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which made $742.2 million that year. According to Box Office Mojo, J.J. Abrams’ fun revitalization of the beloved franchise would go on to become the highest grossing of all time with a domestic total of $936.7 million.

2016: Finding Dory

More than a decade after Nemo was found, fans grew excited to see Ellen DeGeneres’ Blue Tang find her parents… and herself in Finding Dory. The long-awaited sequel topped a lot of fierce competition in 2016 with a $486.3 million gross.

2017: Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Rian Johnson’s contribution to the Star Wars saga, The Last Jedi, did not quite match the success of The Force Awakens in a few different ways — only making $517.2 within nearly three weeks after its December release, for instance. However, that was enough to make it the top movie of 2017.

2018: Black Panther

Black Panther is a landmark for the MCU (and comic book movies in general) for starring one of the first Black superheroes as the lead, receiving a Best Picture Oscar nomination (and winning three statuettes), and making an incredible amount of money. Released in February, it still managed to beat Avengers: Infinity War as 2018’s biggest movie with a $700 million gross.

2019: Avengers: Endgame

Most fans agree that the greatest MCU movie ever is the epic finale to the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame. A great indication of just how much fans love the film is its astonishing financial returns of $858.4 million, easily becoming the top movie of 2019.

2020: Bad Boys For Life

The year 2020 was not a good one for the box office (or anybody) due to Covid-19 causing a complete shutdown of the theater industry for a long time. This standstill allowed the January release of Bad Boys For Life to thrive as the Number One movie of the year with a $204.4 million gross.

2021: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Theaters came back in a big way with what many might consider to be the greatest live-action Spider-Man movie ever: Spider-Man: No Way Home. Because Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, and Tobey Maguire could not convince fans that they would not be appearing in this multiverse-spanning film together, audiences made sure they would head to theater to see it, resulting in a 2021 chart-topping win with $572.9 million.

2022: Top Gun: Maverick

The person often credited with saving Hollywood in 2022 is Tom Cruise, with his return to one of his most iconic roles in Top Gun: Maverick. It was one of the best reviewed films of the year, earned several Academy Award nominations, and topped the year’s box office at $718.7 million.

Those were top-grossing movies of every year from 1970 to now!

We all know the signature outfit from Men in Black, it's an all-black suit, black tie, white button down and sunglasses. However, before Will Smith's character turned into Agent J, he was an NYPD detective, who wore a more colorful ensemble. Clearly, Smith still has Agent J in the back of his mind all these years later, because a fan called out how the actor accidentally threw it back to his iconic role from Men in Black in an uncanny photo. 

Before becoming Agent J, Smith was NYPD detective James Darrell Edwards III who chased after criminals without any knowledge they were aliens. Do you by any chance remember what this detective wore before donning that stylish signature suit of the Men In Black? One fan, Jbokse, did when Will Smith posted a photo of himself on his trip to Saudi Arabia for the Camel Cup. The actor was wearing a similar-looking white T-shirt and orange track pants with an equally orange sweatshirt tied around his waist, just like what he wore during the first scene of Men in Black. The Oscar winner saw the realization, and he humorously responded, “YOOO @jbokse, how’d you even THINK of this?!?! 🤯 Hahahahaha!” Take a look at the uncanny side-by-side Instagram photo below:

Considering it’s been 25 years since the first Men in Black movie, it’s possible Will Smith didn’t remember his laid-back costume from the beginning for the movie. His most memorable fashion ensemble, of course, was his slick black suit and tie with a neuralyzer in his hand to help citizens forget about any extraterrestrial sightings. Maybe Agent K used a neuralyzer on Smith to help him forget that at one point in his youth, he had orange as part of his color wheel. As another fan pointed out, now the King Richard star needs to don his purple suit from Bad Boys 2. With Bad Boys 4 being official, we shall see, I know I sure hope we get another wardrobe throwback, but maybe this time it would be intentional.

If there’s anyone to thank for Will Smith getting one of his signature, it’s Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld’s wife Susan. She loved Smith’s performance in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Not to mention, it also helped that Smith’s classic sci-fi film Independence Day was the top-grossing movie the previous year before Men in Black came out. Now, the role has turned into one of the actor's most iconic characters, suit and orange ensemble included.

The last time we saw Will Smith play Agent J was when he went time jumping in Men in Black 3 back in 2012. While he may be returning to his Bad Boys role in the near future, his days of chasing aliens in his suit and tie may be over. The I Am Legend actor has previously said he has no interest in being part of a Men in Black 4 movie. He said that three was enough, and it's time to let someone else take the reins of that role. There's also the fact that Smith has admitted he “fumbled” the sci-fi franchise’s sequels, expressing discontent over them. However, while the Hitch star may have said goodbye to Agent J, he clearly still has clothes that resemble the character's wardrobe in his life.

Whether Will Smith realizes this or not, his Men in Black role will probably never escape him with the uncanny photo to prove it. You can watch his performance in all three Men in Black movies on your Peacock subscription.

Jamie Foxx tried his hand at horror-comedy movies in 2022 with Day Shift, in which the Academy Award winner plays a hunter of vampires lurking in the San Fernando Valley. If you are like me, this addition to the 2022 Netflix movie schedule might have gotten you in the mood to revisit other flicks about monsters like werewolves, ghosts, zombies, or other creatures from more traditional horror stories that also have a good sense of humor. If you are looking to have a scary good time, the following are some of the most hilarious creature features now available on streaming — starting with one of the best funny vampire moves in recent memory.

What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

A group of centuries-old bloodsuckers (including Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, and Jonathan Brugh) invite a film crew into their New Zealand home to document their struggles with romance, sunlight, rival werewolf packs, and modern times in general. 

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: Waititi (the future Academy Award-winning director of Jojo Rabbit and two of Marvel’s Thor movies) and Flight of the Conchords star Clement also co-wrote and co-directed What We Do in the Shadows — a cleverly convincing and thoroughly hilarious, mockumentary-style send-up of lore pioneered by Bram Stoker that later inspired a hit sitcom on FX.

Rent (or buy) What We Do In The Shadows on Amazon.

Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

An aimless technology store salesman (Simon Pegg), his lazy best friend and housemate (Nick Frost), his fed-up ex-girlfriend (Kate Ashfield), and others struggle to survive an outbreak of flesh-eating, reanimated corpses attacking London.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: The film that put director Edgar Wright on the map and solidified his star and co-writer Pegg as one of the sharpest talents in both comedy and genre story-telling is Shaun of the Dead — less a spoof than it is a love letter to the horror subgenre pioneered by George A. Romero and, genuinely, one of the most believable zombie movies of all time for its authentic use of humor amongst earnest and grisly thrills.

Stream Shaun Of The Dead on Peacock Premium.
Rent (or buy) Shaun Of The Dead on Amazon.

Zombieland (2009)

A mild-mannered slacker (Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg), a Southern-fried loner (Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson), a strong-willed con artist (Academy Award winner Emma Stone) and her younger sister/partner-in-crime (Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin) become unlikely companions on the road to a possible safe haven after the world becomes overrun with the undead.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: While not quite as realistic or even as scary as the aforementioned British horror-comedy above, this hit from Uncharted director Ruben Fleischer and Deadpool scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick — is easily one of the most exhilaratingly fun takes on the zombie movie genre ever made, with special thanks to the Zombieland cast — who reunited for a follow-up a decade later. 

Rent (or buy) Zombieland on Amazon.

An American Werewolf In London (1981)

After suffering a horrific attack while backpacking in the English countryside, a student from the U.S. (David Naughton) is haunted by the ghost of his best friend (Griffin Dunne), who warns him about the vicious beast he will soon become at the next full moon.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: While cleverly witty and overtly silly enough to be considered a comedy, writer and director John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London is still considered to be among the all-time finest movies about lycanthropes, especially for a monumental transformation sequence courtesy of Rick Baker’s Academy Award-winning makeup effects.

Stream An American Werewolf In London on Amazon Prime.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Three fired parapsychologists from New York (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis) and a fourth team member who joins later (Ernie Hudson) hunt and trap paranormal entities terrorizing the city.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: No film about spiritual hauntings has ever been more of an uproarious, feel-good time than Ghostbusters — an undisputed classic written by stars Aykroyd and Ramis and directed by the influential comedic filmmaker, Ivan Reitman.

Stream Ghostbusters on Hulu.
Rent (or buy) Ghostbusters on Amazon.

Gremlins (1984)

An absent-minded inventor (Hoyt Axton) brings home a Christmas gift for his son (Zach Galligan) in the form of an adorable, furry, one-of-a-kind creature that — if a certain set of rules are not followed — could mean danger for his small town.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: There is no doubt that the titular batch of little green monsters in Gremlins are deadly, but they will also surely have you dying with laughter at their cartoonish antics in this classic holiday horror flick from writer Christopher Columbus, producer Steven Spielberg, and director Joe Dante.

Stream Gremlins on HBO Max.
Rent (or buy) Gremlins on Amazon.

Tremors (1990)

In a small, dreary desert community in Nevada, a pair of disillusioned handymen (Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward) are forced to put their plans for leaving town on hold when a horde of giant, underground-dwelling, man-eating worms begin swallowing up their friends.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: Also one of the best Kevin Bacon movies and the one proved him to be an all-time great Scream King a decade after starring in Friday the 13th, director Ron Underwood’s Tremors is one of the best monster movies of its time while, itself, being a fun, cheeky throwback to creature features of yesteryear.

Rent (or buy) Tremors on Amazon.

Slither (2006)

In a small, quiet town in South Carolina, a police officer (Nathan Fillion) and others must band together when a horde of small, parasitic worms from outer space begin to turn their friends into grotesque, flesh-eating mutants.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: Imagine if the Graboids from Tremors were much smaller and capable of a fate worse than death, add even more splatteriffic gore and gross-out humor, and you would essentially have Slither — the acclaimed feature-film debut of writer and director James Gunn (who would work with Fillion several more times).

Stream Slither on Peacock Premium.
Rent (or buy) Slither on Amazon.

Grabbers (2012)

On a small island off the coast of Ireland, townsfolk band together at their local bar to do the one thing that, for some reason, will protect them from getting snatched by a pack of bloodthirsty, sea-dwelling aliens: drink as much alcohol as possible.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: The invasion of Lovecraftian extra-terrestrials with a resistance to intoxicated humans is a hilarious enough concept on its own, but, luckily, director Jon Wright and writer Kevin Lehane’s execution of Grabbers is a blast all the way through. 

Rent (or buy) Grabbers on Amazon.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)

In a small-town, a young couple (Grant Cramer and Suzanna Snyder) struggle to outrun and outwit a group of alien invaders who have disguised their deadly labyrinth of a ship as a circus tent and taken the form of grotesque, humanoid harlequins.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: With a title like Killer Klowns from Outer Space, you might expect the Chiodo Brothers’ cult favorite to be an aggressively cheesy mess, and you would not be wrong, but its unique production design, cleverly constructed macabre humor, and genuinely unnerving makeup effects make this a truly investing alien invasion thriller and the perfect clownish horror flick for people who are not ready to see It.

Stream Killer Klowns From Outer Space on Showtime.
Rent (or buy) Killer Klowns From Outer Space on Amazon.

Men In Black (1997)

A young, wise-cracking New York cop (Will Smith) is recruited into a top secret organization that specializes in monitoring extra-terrestrial activity on Earth by an uptight veteran agent (Tommy Lee Jones).

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: I would be willing to argue that no film has ever mastered the combination of the alien invasion subgenre with comedy as flawlessly nor with as much acute sophistication as Men in Black — director Barry Sonnenfeld and executive producer Steven Spielberg’s dazzling adaptation of an irreverent Marvel comic starring two Oscar winners at the top of their game.

Stream Men In Black on Netflix.
Rent (or buy) Men In Black on Amazon.

The Monster Squad (1987)

A group of youngsters discover that the iconic cinematic villains that they are obsessed with are not only real, but are causing trouble in their home town and the kids assume the responsibility of saving the day.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: If you are looking for something that has all the most essential movie monsters in one (including Count Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolfman, a Creature from the Black Lagoon-esque fishman, and Frankenstein’s Monster) and is not that scary, look no further than The Monster Squad — director Fred Dekker and co-writer Shane Black’s cult favorite fusion of a fun family adventure like The Goonies with Universal’s horror classics. 

Stream The Monster Squad on Starz.
Rent (or buy) The Monster Squad on Amazon.

The Cabin In The Woods (2012)

A sexually innocent woman (Kristen Connolly), a ditzy blonde (Anna Hutchinson), a brutish jock (Chris Hemsworth), a brainy student (Jesse Williams), and a stoned slacker (Fran Kranz) find their much-needed break from college interrupted by a family of killer zombies, but soon discover that nothing is truly as it seems.

Why it’s a great funny monster movie: Now, if you are looking for something a little (or a lot) scarier than The Monster Squad and one that has, literally, every type of beastly horror antagonist you could ever imagine, look no further than The Cabin in the Woods — director Drew Goddard’s brilliantly subversive and unapologetically insane deconstruction of the ill-fated cabin-in-the-woods trope.

Rent (or buy) The Cabin In The Woods on Amazon.

Sometimes the best kind of monster movies are the ones that do not take themselves all that seriously. There are no better examples of this than the 13 creepy comedy classics above.

A Netflix subscription can be the key to many sorts of thrills. Much like its competitors, the big red streamer is bringing in some big guns for August 2022. The Looney Tunes are going to play the basketball game of their lives, James Bond will defend his boss from a madman, and the Men in Black are the last, best line of defense against three movies worth of universal scum. Also, Neil Gaiman’s classic The Sandman is finally debuting its live-action series adaptation. 

It’s a lot to catch up with, to be sure, and you’ll want to be prepared. The July 2022 Netflix lineup is still available should you want to make sure you haven’t missed anything. When you’re ready to jump into what awaits in the month to come, return to this spot! Because now it’s time to see what’s coming to Netflix in August 2022.

New On Netflix The Week Of August 1: The Men in Black Trilogy, The Sandman, Skyfall, And More

Netflix lands another key title from the Daniel Craig era of James Bond in Skyfall, a fan-favorite that sees 007 uncovering some deep and dark secrets from MI6’s past. Also, if you’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of Men in Black, and you happen to actually enjoy the sequels, all three adventures with Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith will be coming online this week as well. 

Big Tree City - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/1/22
28 Days - 8/1/22
8 Mile - 8/1/22
Above the Rim - 8/1/22
The Age of Adaline - 8/1/22
Battle: Los Angeles - 8/1/22
Bridget Jones's Baby - 8/1/22
Bridget Jones's Diary - 8/1/22
Constantine - 8/1/22
Dinner for Schmucks - 8/1/22
Eyes Wide Shut - 8/1/22
Ferris Bueller's Day Off - 8/1/22
Footloose (2011) - 8/1/22
Hardcore Henry - 8/1/22
Legends of the Fall - 8/1/22
Love & Basketball - 8/1/22
Made of Honor - 8/1/22
Men in Black - 8/1/22
Men in Black 3 - 8/1/22
Men in Black II - 8/1/22
Miss Congeniality - 8/1/22
Monster-in-Law - 8/1/22
No Strings Attached - 8/1/22
Pawn Stars: Season 13 - 8/1/22
Polly Pocket: Season 4: Part 2: Tiny Taste Adventure - 8/1/22
She's Funny That Way - 8/1/22
Space Jam (1996) - 8/1/22
Spider-Man - 8/1/22
Spider-Man 2 - 8/1/22
Spider-Man 3 - 8/1/22
Top Gear: Season 29-30 - 8/1/22
The Town - 8/1/22
Woman in Gold - 8/1/22
Flight - 8/2/22
Ricardo Quevedo: Tomorrow Will Be Worse - NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIAL - 8/2/22
Buba - NETFLIX FILM - 8/3/22
Clusterf**k: Woodstock '99 - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/3/22
Don’t Blame Karma! - NETFLIX FILM - 8/3/22
Good Morning, Verônica: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/3/22
Lady Tamara - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/4/22
KAKEGURUI TWIN - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/4/22
Super Giant Robot Brothers - NETFLIX FAMILY
Wedding Season - NETFLIX FILM - 8/4/22
Carter - NETFLIX FILM - 8/5/22
Darlings - NETFLIX FILM - 8/5/22
The Informer - 8/5/22
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie - NETFLIX FILM - 8/5/22
The Sandman - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/5/22
Skyfall - 8/5/22
Reclaim - NETFLIX FILM - 8/6/22

New On Netflix The Week Of August 7: Day Shift, The Nice Guys, Locke & Key Season 3, And More

If you can’t do a job with a buddy, is it a job worth doing? The Men in Black aren’t the only partners having fun at work in Netflix’s August 2022 lineup, as the underrated crime comedy The Nice Guys has Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe rooting out some shady dealings in ‘70s Los Angeles. 

Or, if you’re looking for a more contemporary caper, Day Shift teams Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg against another problem in the city of angels: vampires. Careful though: blink and you might miss Locke & Key's third and final season bringing things to a proper close.

Riverdale: Season 6 - 8/7/22
Code Name: Emperor - NETFLIX FILM - 8/8/22
Team Zenko Go: Season 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/8/22
I Just Killed My Dad - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/9/22
The Nice Guys - 8/9/22
Bank Robbers: The Last Great Heist - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/10/22
Heartsong - NETFLIX FILM - 8/10/22
Indian Matchmaking: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/10/22
Instant Dream Home - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/10/22
Iron Chef Brazil - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/10/22
Locke & Key: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/10/22
School Tales The Series - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/10/22
Dope - 8/11/22
DOTA: Dragon's Blood: Book 3 - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/11/22
Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/11/22
13: The Musical - NETFLIX FILM - 8/12/22
A Model Family - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/12/22
Day Shift - NETFLIX FILM - 8/12/22
Never Have I Ever: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/12/22

New On Netflix The Week Of August 14: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Season 3, Fullmetal Alchemist The Revenge of Scar, And More

Animation fans, rejoice! Somehow Netflix has kept a lot of the full color goodies for the middle of the month, with The Cuphead Show and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe being among the offerings. Though if you’re a Fullmetal Alchemist fan, the latest Netflix original film The Revenge of Scar is also available, and not to be confused with the Disney direct-to-video sequel The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride.

Ancient Aliens: Season 4 - 8/15/22
Deepa & Anoop - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/15/22
Learn to Swim - 8/15/22
UNTOLD: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist (2 Parts) - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/16/22
High Heat - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/17/22
Junior Baking Show: Season 6 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/17/22
Look Both Ways - NETFLIX FILM - 8/17/22
Royalteen - NETFLIX FILM - 8/17/22
Unsuspicious - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/17/22
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Season 3 -- NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/18/22
Inside the Mind of a Cat - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/18/22
Tekken: Bloodline - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/18/22
The Cuphead Show!: Part 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/19/22
Echoes - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/19/22
The Girl in the Mirror (Alma) - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/19/22
Glow Up: Season 4 - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/19/22
Kleo - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/19/22
The Next 365 Days - NETFLIX FILM - 8/19/22
Fullmetal Alchemist The Revenge of Scar - NETFLIX FILM - 8/20/22

New On Netflix The Week Of August 21: Queer Eye Brazil, Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure, And More

More life-changing makeovers are on the menu, as Queer Eye Brazil brings another Fab 5 into the streaming family. The wholesomeness doesn't have to end there, as Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure continues the adventures of Rilakkuma and Kaori in a colorful, thrill ride laden setting! 

A Cowgirl's Song - 8/21/22
Chad and JT Go Deep - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/23/22
Untold: The Rise and Fall of AND1 - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/23/22
Lost Ollie - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/24/22
Mo - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/24/22
Queer Eye: Brazil - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/24/22
Running with the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/24/22
Selling The OC - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/24/22
Under Fire - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/24/22
Watch Out, We're Mad - NETFLIX FILM - 8/24/22
Angry Birds: Summer Madness: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/25/22
History 101: Season 2 - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/25/22
Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure - NETFLIX ANIME - 8/25/22
That's Amor - NETFLIX FILM - 8/25/22
Disobedience - 8/26/22
Drive Hard: The Maloof Way - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/26/22
Loving Adults - NETFLIX FILM - 8/26/22
Ludik - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/26/22
Me Time - NETFLIX FILM - 8/26/22
Seoul Vibe - NETFLIX FILM - 8/26/22

New On Netflix The Week Of August 28: Under Her Control, I Am A Killer Season 3, And More

True crime fans are going to be thrilled to see I AM A KILLER enter its third season this month. On top of that, continuing episodes of Untold, as well as the dramatic thriller I Came By, should be enough to keep nail biters in suspense throughout August.

Under Her Control - NETFLIX FILM - 8/29/22
Mighty Express: Season 7 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 8/29/22
I AM A KILLER: Season 3 - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/30/22
Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/30/22
Club América vs Club América - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 8/31/22
Family Secrets - NETFLIX SERIES - 8/31/22
I Came By - NETFLIX FILM - 8/31/22

New On Netflix TBD August 2022

Last, but not least, here are two more titles debuting in Netflix's August 2022 catalog. They're just too shy to have a release date yet, so keep an eye out for any updates. 

Delhi Crime: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES
Partner Track - NETFLIX SERIES

All this and more awaits Netflix subscribers in August 2022. And would you believe this is the second streaming platform to land Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy this month? Not to mention, Riverdale Season 6, Constantine and Inside the Mind of a Cat are all part of the titles we didn't even mention!

Be sure to check this schedule frequently, as titles are subject to change and availability! We'll see you back here next month when September 2022's lineup becomes known to the world, surprises and all.

1997’s Men In Black features what is arguably Will Smith’s best role of his career to date, but like many Hollywood stories, there was another big name actor who almost got the part in the action movie instead of him. That person was Chris O’Donnell, who at a time had a number of hit movies like Scent of a Woman, The Three Musketeers and as Robin in Batman Forever. As Men In Black hits its 25th anniversary, the movie’s director recalls “underpromising” the ‘90s classic to O'Donnell so that he could get Will Smith on board. 

Men In Black director Barry Sonnenfeld recently shared that Hollywood producers' first choice for the sci-fi comedy ahead of production was Chris O’Donnell for Agent J opposite Clint Eastwood as Tommy Lee Jones’ role of Agent K. However, Sonnenfield was dead set on Smith. Here’s how he steered O’Donnell away in his words while recently discussing the film with Insider:

While speaking about Men In Black a quarter of a century after its original release (on July 2, 1997), Barry Sonnenfield shared that Will Smith was his top choice for one of the movie’s leads because his wife thought he would be the right fit for the part. In order to give Smith a chance, he downplayed the movie to Chris O’Donnell. He continued to share the story behind Smith nabbing the role, saying,

Barry Sonnenfield also shared that he thinks O’Donnell – who more recently has become famous for his role in NCIS – is a “good actor.” However, once his wife gave him the idea to cast The Prince of Bel-Air star he had a one track mind about it. At the time of the casting, another Will Smith classic, Independence Day had yet to come out, which ended up becoming the top grossing movie of 1996, preceding the release of Men In Black the following year. Those producers who preferred O’Donnell had no idea that Smith was about to become the biggest Hollywood star, but they surely must have been happy to see it happen. 

When sharing the Men In Black story, Barry Sonnenfield shared that it is his belief that “you always want to underpromise and overdeliver.” Alongside Men In Black, the filmmaker is behind the Addams Family movies, Wild Wild West (also with Will Smith) and most recently has directed multiple A Series of Unfortunate Events and Schmigadoon! episodes. 

Men In Black became the highest grossing movie of 1997, continuing a two-year blockbuster streak for Will Smith at the time. Twenty-five years later, Men In Black is still a classic and very much holds up among ‘90s films and there’s a lot of love for the sequels too. Happy 25th to Men in Black! 

25 years ago, Men in Black made its debut and once again crowned Will Smith the king of the Independence Day box office. Kicking off a sci-fi franchise that would see two sequels and a spin-off come down the road, director Barry Sonnenfeld’s comic adaptation is still as offbeat and heartfelt today as it was back on first glance. 

After revisiting the movie in honor of the occasion, I myself found that I still had a bunch of fresh thoughts connected to a movie I still know pretty well. In-between quoting memorable moments of dialogue, 11 different thoughts popped into my head, and I’d like to share them with you on this very important anniversary. Here’s what I was thinking while rewatching Men in Black. 

Men In Black Is A Better Sci-Fi Movie Than Independence Day

Take a beat to read that note and breathe, because I have an explanation for this. While Independence Day is a great action/disaster movie with sci-fi elements, that summary shows you where the movie’s bread and butter are. Meanwhile, when it comes to Men in Black, it’s the other way around.

Showing us a world where aliens do exist, and a complete bureaucracy has been created to police them, Men in Black has more fun with that side of the coin. The action beats are still fantastic, but even when Agent J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are confronting the scum of the universe, there’s a wide-eyed sci-fi lens looking at it all. 

Will Smith Makes The Perfect Outsider Turned Expert

Comparing Will Smith’s characters between Men in Black and Independence Day is another fun contrast between the two films. Captain Stephen Hiller is a true blue cocky hero, with moments of disbelief that Will Smith was perfect for, even though he almost missed out on that ID4 role. The same cannot be said for James Darrell Edwards III, who we come to know as Agent J.

Occupying the right border between amazement and quick learner, Men in Black gave Will Smith a challenge in being able to handle himself confidently while, as Agent K puts it, knowing “precisely dick” about the world he’s entering. J is a smart ass, but he’s also very calculating, and has his own book he’s reading from when operating an investigation. To think we almost didn't see as much of this character, thanks to earlier Men in Black drafts focusing more on K.

Vincent D’Onofrio Should Have Gotten An Award For His Edgar Performance

As a young kid, Men in Black was my introduction into the world of Vincent D’Onofrio. Watching him play Edgar was a quick primer into how good of a heavy he could play, both as a jerk of a farmer and a terrifying alien bug. Looking back on this performance, the dude deserved some sort of an award, or at least a major nomination for the work he put in. 

Playing the true Edgar was easy enough, as D’Onofrio has the chops to be imposing. But to pair that with the off-kilter physicality of the alien walking around in an Edgar suit, and to still be imposing? That’s a skill that not many possess, and Vincent D’Onofrio deserved more recognition for that. 

Men In Black’s Dialogue And Comedy Still Holds Up 25 Years Later

It’s easy to go back to a childhood favorite like Men in Black and to be met with outdated aspects that stick out. Jokes about celebrities of the time to moments where the studio is obviously trying to cash in on its hot lead of the moment are surefire ways to kill a film’s longevity. Even with Will Smith, tabloids, and a Dennis Rodman joke acting as the film’s ultimate button, these factors don’t age the film adversely.

As Men in Black’s script and story still treat 1997 as the modern day, it doesn’t make it the total personality of the piece. Ed Solomon’s script uses a timeless lens to look at the world behind the everyday facade we interpret, and it’s got moments that are just as applicable now as they were back then. The best example, of course, is Agent K’s line about the difference between a person and “people,” which I still quote from time to time in conversation.

Agent L Deserved To Be In The Sequels

Ok, the last two points I’m going to flesh out at length are things I have sat with for quite a while. The first big thorn in my side is that Dr. Laurel Weaver/Agent L (Linda Fiorentino) absolutely should have returned for the Men in Black sequels. Why she didn’t has been a bit of a mystery, though that hasn’t stopped stories from being told. 

Without knowing a concrete reason why Linda Fiorentino didn't return for Men in Black II, all I can really say is that no matter the cause, losing out on Dr. Weaver's return is something that sticks out as one of the franchise's greatest missed opportunities. Though the Agent J/Agent K chemistry always works, it would have been good to see Agent L have a chance to co-lead the second film; especially since that would have given some more punch to Agent K’s return in Men in Black III.

I Still Don’t Hate The Original Men In Black Sequels

You’ve probably guessed by now that I’m not talking about any of the other Men in Black trilogy entries as if they’re a pox upon the land. Well, that’s because I actually enjoyed the movies that came after, save for Men in Black International. Nothing could have saved that spinoff, as even Sony’s chairman knew it went wrong. 

Though I prefer the time traveling antics of Men in Black III, there’s still some good to be found in that first follow-up. Missed opportunities, like the omission of Agent L, weren’t enough to sink either of the next two movies. Not to mention, the third installment went back to the fun sci-fi nature of the first movie, and showed off Josh Brolin’s perfect Tommy Lee Jones impression. There’s tons of reasons to love Men in Black III, people just need to be open to them. 

Other Random Thoughts I Had About Men In Black

There’s a bunch of other things I could talk about with Men in Black. Like how the novelization lets Agent K swear about his hatred of powdered coffee creamer, or that the movie’s Will Smith song “Men in Black” will never be overtaken by Men in Black II’s “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Your Head)”. This is stuff that’s not really a long discussion, but more of a bullet point; and to that effect, here’s my final thoughts about Men in Black: 

• Someone needs to put the Men in Black cartoon series on streaming.
• Face/Off and Men in Black makes for an awesome double feature.
• How has Jeebs not gotten a spin-off by this point?
• The Orion’s Belt twist is still as clever as ever.
• Tommy Lee Jones’ Spanish is first rate in the opening.

With all of that in mind, I hope that you get a chance to enjoy Men in Black again yourselves this weekend. 25 years later, and it's still as funny and insightful as it's ever been. Not to mention, the aliens of this universe are still some of the most visually exciting examples committed to the screen. If you haven't thought of rewatching this classic before, now's the time.

We all know Hollywood loves a good (and sometimes not-so-good) crossover. But for every unexpected mash-up of movies or characters, there are probably a few that never made it to the big screen. One notorious example is the now-abandoned crossover between Men in Black and 21 Jump Street. While we’ll never get to see Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill suit up and wipe memories with the MIB, Phil Lord and Chris Miller have offered some insights into what the film might have been like. 

In 2012, 21 Jump Street became the rare TV-to-movie adaptation that was actually good. It was also a big enough hit to spawn a 2014 sequel and, soon after that, rumors of a potentially wild crossover with another major franchise: Men In Black. The plans for combining the two seemingly uncombinable stories eventually fizzled. But Jump Street co-director Phil Lord revealed on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast that it got a lot closer to becoming a reality than you might think:

Believe it or not, the efforts to make a 21 Jump Street/Men in Black flick got so far that there were even rumors of a director being hired for the project. And Chris Miller said they bandied about some pretty funny ways to expand the MIB universe to fit Channing Tatum and Jonah Hills’ hapless undercover cops: 

Okay, that does sound pretty funny. But by 2019, the plans for the movie were permanently scrapped. Phil Lord and Chris Miller eventually revealed the 21 Jump Street/Men In Black crossover failed because the worlds were deemed too different to make sense together in a film. Sadly, they may have salvaged both film series from a mashup that just wouldn’t have worked, but neither has thrived in the years since. 

Sony attempted a reboot with Men In Black: International, but it failed to resonate with fans. And we’re still waiting to see what happens next with the Jump Street series – it’s been years since there was news about a female-fronted spin-off. While we can’t expect to see either of these series coming back any time soon, at least there are plenty of other 2022 new movie releases to look forward to. 

I miss Men in Black movies. I’m well aware that Men in Black: International came out pretty recently (2019), but anybody who has actually seen it can tell you that that wasn’t MIB. At least, not the MIB that we came to know and love back in the late ‘90s, early 2000s, with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. No, the last true MIB came out in 2012, and that was Men In Black 3.

That feels like forever ago. The Men in Black franchise that I know and love is all about cool aliens and witty back-and-forth banter between Will Smith and whomever else he was paired up with. In other words, it was all about chemistry. The most recent MIB seemed to miss that point. But Men in Black 3, with its time traveling Agent J (Will Smith) going back to meet a younger Agent K (played by Josh Brolin), was the last time that we really got that classic MIB feel. That’s just one reason why I love the third movie. And here (Come the Men in Black) are five more.

Oh, and some spoilers up ahead.

Josh Brolin Makes For An Amazing Younger Version Of Agent K

Honestly, it’s kind of hard to surpass the first Men in Black. The relationship between Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K and Will Smith’s Agent J is just the epitome of he’s-the serious-one, and-I’m-the-funny-one comedy that I’ve loved ever since the Lethal Weapon franchise. Men in Black II lost something by having Agent K without his memory for most of the movie, but MIB 3 made up for it by pairing Will Smith with a much younger Agent K in Josh Brolin, so that we got an Agent K similar to the one we encountered in the first movie.

Let me tell you, Josh Brolin’s Tommy Lee Jones impression is spot on. Brolin is a magnificent actor, having played everybody from George W. Bush in W, to Thanos, but I think it’s pretty extraordinary for him to do an impersonation of an actor, and hold it up through the entirety of the movie. Josh Brolin’s no nonsense, steely glare made it feel like a legitimate sequel to the first Men in Black, because it was like I was watching Tommy Lee Jones all over again, and that is no small feat.

I Love The Time Travel Storyline

The first Men in Black was really fun, and the time travel story in Men in Black 3 is almost as fun as the story we got in the first movie. It’s the classic, go back in time and kill your enemy storyline, as a character named Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) is going back in time to kill Agent K before he can become a problem, and Agent J is going back in time to meet up with a younger version of his partner.

But, we get a lot of silly back in time jokes, like an appearance by Andy Warhol (Bill Hader), and a young version of Agent O, who debuts in this picture, but is also in Men in Black: International. Sure, Boris the Animal is no the Bug, played by Vincent D’Onofrio in the first movie, but the fun is still there, and the film has its heart in the right place by going back in the past. There are some easy Apollo 11 references in there, but why not, right? If you’re going to make this a period piece, then really go for it, and MIB 3 does so with gusto.

Will Smith Looked Like He Was Having Fun Again

I don’t know if you remember Will Smith back in 2012, but he was on a serious drama kick at the time. It really started with 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, but it continued with 2007’s I Am Legend, and 2008’s Seven Pounds. Sure, he fit Hancock in that eclectic filmography of his, but even that film was kind of dour and not really what I would consider fun. In truth, the fun Will Smith that we saw in blockbusters like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and (one of my guilty pleasures) Wild Wild West seemed to be an actor of the past. 

Men in Black 3 was kind of a last hurrah of the Will Smith of old who could be the coolest guy in the room, but also the funniest. Through his antics in MIB 3, he looks like he’s actually having fun again in a movie rather than dropping tears or killing dogs. Sure, Will Smith would later go back to doing serious affairs like Concussion down the line. But, the same Will Smith we see in Men in Black 3 later lent his voice to a pigeon in Spies in Disguise, and became the live-action version of the genie in Aladdin. So, Men in Black 3 was a glimmer of hope that the fun Will Smith was still in there, somewhere.

It Was A Return To Form After The Somewhat Disappointing Second Movie 

I know there are probably fans of 2002’s Men in Black II, but I am not one of them. A lot of it feels like a chore to watch, since Agent J is trying to get Agent K back into MIB after wiping his mind in the first movie. And like, that could have been cool if it was done right, but for some reason, MIB II feels like it was done wrong. 

It’s not as funny as the first movie, and having Agent K essentially be a different person than he was in the first movie didn’t do the film any favors. I actually went back and watched all three movies over again before I watched Men in Black: International, and I found myself checking my phone almost the entire movie. That’s not good!

But, MIB 3 feels like the sequel we should have gotten after the first movie. It retains the humor of the first film, and most importantly, it has Agent J interacting with Agent K again, albeit, a younger version, for the most part. When I watched MIB 3 again, I was thoroughly invested all the way through, and it rekindled my love for the franchise. If only Men in Black: International was better…

It's A Nice Bookend For Tommy Lee Jones And Will Smith, Agents K and J, Respectively 

Lastly, Men in Black 3 is a nice ending to the MIB franchise. And yes, I know that Men in Black: International is, so far, the last film in the series, but I consider the first three movies as a trilogy, and Men in Black: International as a spin-off of sorts. This is kind of like how I view Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Not part of the original trilogy, but like a fever dream or, better yet, like it never happened. Honestly, I really just don’t like The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I’m sorry.

Back to Men in Black 3! Once everything is tidied up with Young Boris the Animal, we see young K neuralyze a kid Agent J before J became an agent, and we learn that Agent K has really been Agent J’s guardian angel ever since he was a child. This is a really sweet and interesting turn of events that strangely reminds me of 12 Monkeys, which I didn’t put a spoiler for at the beginning of this paragraph, so you’ll just have to watch that movie if you want to get what I mean there.

Are you a big Men in Black fan like me who loves the third movie in the series? Or, do you just love Will Smith movies in general? However you feel, make sure you stop by here often!

The film industry is littered with stories of projects that could have been. Tom Selleck was almost Indiana Jones. Eric Stoltz originally was cast as Marty McFly in Back to the Future. Even recently, we learned that Quentin Tarantino wanted Tom Cruise to play Cliff Booth before he eventually settled on Brad Pitt. Pitt ended up winning an Oscar.

Director Barry Sonnenfeld has his fair share of casting stories from his illustrious career. He worked on Big, which almost starred Robert De Niro. And he shepherded the Men In Black series, which almost added Mark Wahlberg. Sonnenfeld knew that Men In Black 3 would involve time travel. And he knew he wanted Josh Brolin to play the part of Young K, the agent made famous by Tommy Lee Jones. While guesting on the ReelBlend podcast, Sonnenfeld opened up and explained:

In the 2012 sequel Men In Black 3, Agent J (Will Smith) must time travel to 1969 to prevent an evil alien named Boris from executing a young K (Brolin), thereby maintaining the present day timeline that K knows and loves. The franchise was always going to have Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. They made Men In Black memorable (as witnessed by the dismal Men In Black International). But the series almost took on Mark Wahlberg, who in 2012 was coming off of The Fighter and Ted, and had proven he could hold down comedies such as The Other Guys and Date Night.

Barry Sonnenfeld recalls:

Ah yes. Hollywood. Where you very often get a role (or lose a role) because you are the friend of a friend of a friend. Josh Brolin ended up being a terrific young Tommy Lee Jones, fully committing to his interpretation of the Oscar-winning actor. As Sonnenfeld recalls:

And he puts it to good use, in movies like The Fugitive, In the Valley of Elah, JFK and No Country for Old Men. Want to hear all of Barry Sonnenfeld’s stories? Press play on the ReelBlend episode. It’s a fantastic listen:

What do you guys? Would Mark Wahlberg have made a better K? Or was Brolin the right choice to act opposite Will Smith in Men In Black 3? Cast your vote in our poll.

This poll is no longer available.

We all have to get our start somewhere. For Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld, that start included being a cinematographer on porno movies, but he nonetheless learned some key things about moviemaking during his time working on X-rated material, particularly pertaining to one of the five basic senses.

While recently chatting about his new memoir, Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother: Memoirs of a Neurotic Filmmaker, Barry Sonnenfeld mentioned how years before he penned the book, for his own “edification,” he wrote a chapter about the nine porno movies he worked on in just nine days right after graduating film school. When asked what the porn industry taught him that he could apply to mainstream filmmaking, Sonnenfeld responded:

Uh, yeah, I can imagine, what with all the fluids involved. Still, even if Smell-O-Vision porno was off the table, I imagine such a gimmick for regular movies could still end up being problematic at times. It’s one thing for the visuals of a movie to be enhanced through various means, but if you throw in certain smells that aren’t pleasant as a way to further immerse audiences into the environment of the fictional story, that could be a turnoff.

Continuing in his interview with THR, Barry Sonnenfeld explained that the reason he jumped into pornos right after film school is that he was a sought-after cinematographers, and he felt if he bought a used 16 mm camera, he could call himself a cameraman without feeling like a “dilettante.” So he and one of his classmates bought such a camera together and rented it out to shoot those nine pornos, which ended up paying for approximately 60% of the entire cost of the camera.

In addition to walking away with thoughts on Smell-O-Vision, Barry Sonnenfeld also imparted some advice during his time in the porn industry. The filmmaker recalled:

Not long after working in adult entertainment, Barry Sonnenfeld was hired as the director of photography for the 1982 documentary In Our Water. After that, he was hired onto The Coen Brothers’ 1984 movie Blood Simple in the same position, and he went on to be the cinematographer for movies like Raising Arizona, Big and When Harry Met Sally.

Barry Sonnenfeld made his directorial debut with 1991’s The Addams Family, and along with returning for the sequel, Addams Family Values, his other notable directing credits include the first three Men in Black movies and Get Shorty. The last movie he helmed with 2016’s Nine Lives, which was met with mostly negative reception. Sonnenfeld opted out of shooting last year’s Men in Black: International because he doesn’t get along with the franchise’s producers.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for all the biggest updates in movie news, and keep track of the movies that have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic with our comprehensive guide.

This is nothing new, but superhero movies are currently the biggest flicks on the planet right now. Disney/Marvel, and to a certain lesser extent, Warner Bros./DC are by far the most dominant companies when it comes to cinema these days, but they’re not the only superheroes in town.

Not by a long shot. There’s actually a long history of superhero movies that have little to no connection to Marvel or DC, and these are just a few of them. Now, some of these movies you may not even consider to be “superhero” movies at all. But if Joker can get away with being called a “superhero” movie, then I don’t see why some of these other picks wouldn't also fill that bill. And if you're looking for a list of superhero movies that aren't based on comics at all, you can find that here.

10. Spawn (1997)

It’s hard to believe, but Spawn was once one of the biggest comic book series in the world, and it still has massive appeal. But while 1997’s Spawn may not visually hold up today, the story of Al Simmons, a.k.a., the spawn from hell, is still really fun, if not a bit silly and a little too corny at times.

But what makes Spawn still work today is what made it work back in 1997, and that’s the performances by Michael Jai White as the titular Spawn, and John Leguizamo as Clown. Spawn, as a movie, may not be high art—and we’re definitely looking forward to the ostensibly dour new one that's supposed to be coming out soon. But as a comic book movie about a guy who goes to hell and then comes back again pissed off, it’s a guilty pleasure and scary good fun for sure.

9. The Rocketeer (1991)

While we’re still waiting for the remake, the original Rocketeer is still so good, we think we can wait just a little bit longer for the update. The story centers around a stunt pilot who finds a jet pack and starts being super heroic. There are also Nazis, and it’s a period piece, but it still feels fresh and modern, even today.

Which makes sense, since Joe Johnson directed it. That name should ring a bell since he also directed the first Captain America movie. You know, the period piece. With Nazis. Which reminds us. We really should do that double feature of The Rocketeer and Captain America: The First Avenger that we've been meaning to do. It’s the American way.

8. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Okay, look, I already know what you’re going to say. One, the Kingsman comic book series is published by Icon, which is an IMPRINT of Marvel Comics. And two, The Kingsman agents aren’t even “superheroes.” Well, I’m going to address both those points. To that first point, there’s a reason why Marvel created Icon, and it was to keep the top talent from going elsewhere. But in doing so, it’s also pretty much an indie-brand, so it’s Marvel, but not entirely. And as for it not being a superhero movie, did you see Colin Firth in that church fight? If that’s not superhero material, I don’t know what is.

The story concerns a British secret service agency that's full of all of the spy stuff you would find in a James Bond movie, but also full of all the action you would find in a big budget superhero movie. Because that’s what it is when you boil it all down--a superhero movie. With spies. We really can’t wait for the prequel.

7. Kick-Ass (2010)

Another Matthew Vaughn/Mark Millar collabo (Mathew Vaughn directed Kick-Ass and Kingsman. Mark Millar wrote both the Kick-Ass and Kingsman comics) Kick-Ass was also initially under the Icon umbrella, but was then later republished by Image Comics. To put it bluntly, Kick-Ass was Deadpool before Deadpool was a mega-franchise. And by that, I mean the movie, of course. Not the comic book character.

Kick-Ass was the super violent, super profane superhero movie that predated 2016’s Deadpool, which would eventually make R-Rated comic book movies popular. The story deals with a comic book-loving nerd who wants to fight crime for real, but then gets stabbed, goes through surgery and then finds out that he has a delayed reaction to nerve pain, which is when the real ass-kicking begins, since he's pretty much invulnerable to pain. And even though the movie is over a decade old, it's one of the first films that made going viral an actual plot device. Pretty prescient.

6. The Crow (1994)

“It can’t rain all the time.” That’s true, but what’s also sadly true is that we’ll likely never get a reboot of The Crow. But that’s likely for the best since the original is so classic, it’s probably better left untouched (especially since its three sequels, to put it nicely, were not great follow-ups to the original).

The story is about a murdered rock star who comes back from the dead to avenge his girlfriend, who was raped, as well as his own death. It’s a dark movie, both literally and figuratively, and it was a great, Rated-R counterpoint to Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, which came out two years earlier.

5. Men In Black (1997)

Here come the Men In Black. M.I.B. is another movie you might not at first think is a superhero flick, but all you have to do is see the heroics of Agents K and J, played by Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, respectively, to understand how this is a superhero film to the nth degree. I mean, I’m not the first to say this, but the Men In Black (film-wise, anyway) were the Guardians of the Galaxy long before the actual Guardians of the Galaxy were a thing.

What makes this superhero film great is the wild assortment of aliens the Men in Black face off against. It’s a superhero, sci-fi classic from the 90s, and one that any superhero fan would feel right at home with watching.

4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

While I’m well aware that most people would consider Scott Pilgrim vs. The World more a love letter to video games than superheroes, I can argue that Michael Cera’s titular Scott Pilgrim is indeed a superhero. I mean, how else could he battle all seven of Ramona Flower’s evil exes… and survive? Plus, it features both Captain America and Superman. AS VILLAINS! So yeah, that’s saying something.

But seriously, Scott Pilgrim is all about awesome fights and awesome music. Scott Pilgrim may not seem tough or wear a cape, but, as the saying goes, not all heroes wear capes.

3. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008)

I liked the first Hellboy. It introduced us to the character and set him in a real world setting. But Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is the movie that converted me into a Hellboy fan. More of a fantasy film than anything else, Hellboy 2, for me anyway, is what Blade 2 and Pan’s Labyrinth would be if they were mashed together and if they toned down the seriousness a little bit. And the only reason I mention those two seemingly random movies is because they were both filmed by the Academy Award winning director, Guillermo del Toro. And if you also ask me, this is his best movie to date.

Ron Perlman is fantastic as the titular character, and all the other characters in the film feel more fully fleshed out and real in this sequel, most notably Abe Sapien. It’s also a really fun movie that never takes itself too seriously, which is why it’s so enjoyable. Unlike most people, I didn’t think the most recent Hellboy remake was terrible, but it couldn’t hold a candle to Hellboy 2. Nothing could.

2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Totally tubular, dude. The first TMNT movie is still the best out of all the turtle movies since it really dug into the lore of the (super)heroes in a half shell. Drawing more from the gritty comic books than the cartoon at the time, the first Ninja Turtles movie to hit theaters is probably also the most iconic.

This version features the Foot Clan as a bunch of adrift teenagers, and there’s almost a sense of sadness in the overall film that elevates it from just being some movie about talking turtles who also know martial arts. And I can hear the music in the fire scene in my dreams sometimes. It keeps me up at night.

1. Dredd (2012)

Honestly, if you asked me what is the best comic book movie of all time, I’d say Dredd, which only gets better and better the more I watch it. Is Dredd a superhero? No. He’s more like a supervillain, which is what makes the character so fascinating. In a world as messed up as Mega City One, an authoritarian figure like Dredd IS the hero.

Karl Urban is everything Sly Stallone wasn’t in the first Judge Dredd movie—quiet, angry, and deadly. And his performance is what has made so many people who missed Dredd in the theaters fall in love with the character at home, since it quickly became a cult classic. Dredd may not have the flash and pizzazz of something like The Avengers, but when you have a character as cool as Judge Dredd, you don’t need any bells and whistles.

And that's the list. There are other superhero movies out there that aren’t even based on comics. But for those that are and are not based on any major DC and Marvel properties, these were definitely the best. But what are your favorite superhero movies outside of DC and Marvel? Come on. I know there’s got to be a Tank Girl or Barb Wire fan out there somewhere.

Will Smith has been a movie star for a quarter-century at this point, and in recent years, he’s been quite candid about some of the missteps in his career, like how he passed on The Matrix. With his first sequel in a long time, Bad Boys for Life, hitting theaters next week, the actor has opened up about the sequels in another one of his franchises. Will Smith admits that he ‘fumbled’ with the Men in Black follow-ups, saying:

While speaking with the host on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Will Smith was explaining that part of the reason Bad Boys for Life took so long is that he didn’t want to make a sequel just for the sake of it as a cash grab. The actor hasn’t done many sequels in his career to begin with, and it seems that the experience of the Men in Black sequels also played a factor in his apprehension about returning to Bad Boys and Mike Lowrey.

Will Smith admits that he fumbled the Men in Black sequel, but the actor doesn’t explicitly state which sequel he is talking about. So he could mean 2002’s Men in Black II or 2012’s Men in Black 3. Or perhaps he thinks he fumbled both films. Since he doesn’t dig too deep into it, we don’t know how exactly he thinks he fumbled the Men in Black sequel.

It’s possible he was unhappy with his own performance or how the films performed financially. Or maybe he just thought they were creatively disappointing. Whatever the case, Will Smith was not entirely happy with the way the sequel experience in the Men in Black. It’s a sober and honest reflection from the actor that shows he feels some ownership over the Men in Black sequels and whatever shortcomings he perceives them as having.

Anecdotally, I think Will Smith’s opinion on Men in Black echoes the sentiment of many fans. The first Men in Black was a highly successful and popular film that became part of pop culture. The sequels, whatever their merits, simply don’t and arguably can’t live up to that. And for what it’s worth, it’s not like the Men in Black franchise fared any better without him.

You can definitely understand how given his experience with Men in Black, Will Smith might be reticent about Bad Boys 3. Fortunately, the actor seems to be quite happy with how things turned out, no fumbling this time around.

Will Smith also told Jimmy Fallon that he didn’t want to remake the previous films with Bad Boys for Life. He wanted this to be a new film and a new experience that stands on its own and isn’t simply playing the hits of what came before. In his mind, they accomplished that by setting the film 25 years after the first one and showing that these characters have grown. Perhaps in his mind, the Men in Black sequels failed to do these things.

The future of the Men in Black franchise is unknown, but you can catch Will Smith in Bad Boys for Life, in theaters on January 17. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to keep track of all the biggest movies coming this year.

You can’t stop Will Smith. Whether the praise they receive is genuine or ironic, Will Smith movies always manage to thrive as pop culture monuments and the man himself is still one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.

Mr. Fourth of July may have seen weirder days lately, to say the least, leading the villainous ensemble cast of DC’s Suicide Squad, doing double duty as his present-day self and a younger clone in Gemini Man, and making a largely unexpected turn as the Genie in Disney’s live action Aladdin remake. However, there are still more than enough classic Will Smith movies that remain timeless upon rewatch.

With that in mind, how do the best movies on Will Smith’s resume rank among each other? Let’s see if we can narrow it down.

15. Hancock (2008)

Before Will Smith filled the shoes of DC supervillain Deadshot in 2016’s Suicide Squad, in 2008, he took a different kind of “super” role. As the title role of Hancock, Smith plays a boozy, anti-social, homeless nobody who also happens to harness abilities such as lightning speed, incredible strength, indestructibility, and flight.

Superheroes are commonly perceived as having a squeaky-clean reputation and a flashy costume. Putting an actor like Will Smith, who seems tailor made to play a comic book hero, in a role that flips that persona on its head makes it all the more fun.

14. Aladdin (2019)

Disney’s live action remake of its 1992 animated classic about magic lamps and extravagant palaces is probably not the first thing you picture when you think of Will Smith, even if it is the highest grossing film of his career. However, imagine what the Guy Ritchie Aladdin could have been without the actor as the Genie.

Not only does he exhibit good chemistry with Mena Massoud in the title role, he redefines the role originated by Robin Williams to something all his own, complete with decent hip-hop renditions of Alan Menken’s classic songs. 2019’s Aladdin might not have been nearly as much fun as it turned out to be without Will Smith.

13. Focus (2015)

A year prior to their collaboration as criminals who flirt with each other in Suicide Squad, Will Smith and Margot Robbie first paired together in this dramedy as… two criminals who flirt with each other. Hmm, go figure.

From the writing and directing duo Gleen Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy Stupid Love), Focus is a funny, sexy thriller that sees Will Smith playing veteran con man who meets his match (professionally and romantically) with Margot Robbie. It’s appropriate for date night or even just to quench your thirst for a good crime flick.

12. Concussion (2015)

Will Smith is the kind of actor who can switch from leading blockbusters to portraying real people with no fault in his transition. Among the many examples is his Golden Globe-nominated performance in the 2015 biopic Concussion.

Will Smith plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, an accomplished pathologist who made the first discovery of a kind of football-related head trauma, which the NFL would rather keep under wraps. Concussion depicts Omalu’s dedication to the truth as a riveting David and Goliath story.

11. The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)

In 2016, Will Smith played a desperate, broken man visited by mysterious, spiritual guides in Collateral Beauty. Perhaps he chose that role because, after playing a mysterious, spiritual guide in The Legend of Bagger Vance, he wanted to see what it was like on the other side.

Will Smith stars as the title role of this Robert Redford-directed fantasy about a golfer desperate for a comeback (Matt Damon) who puts his game, and his life, back together with the help of a magic caddy. The Legend of Bagger Vance is an inspiring feel-good movie that sees Smith playing way out of type, for the time, that is.

10. Independence Day (1996)

In Roland Emmerich’s explosive sci-fi extravaganza, we saw both the destruction of the White House and the birth of a movie star. Many credit Will Smith’s unmistakable charisma as the secret to this film’s lasting appeal.

Will Smith skyrocketed to leading man status after playing a tough air force pilot tasked with defending the Earth from malevolent extraterrestrials piloting 15-mile wide battleships this blockbuster. It is fitting that this film is called Independence Day, since soon after its release, Smith would be crowned the King of the Fourth of July weekend.