I'd argue that a lot of the magic that emanates from the Harry Potter movies is due to the stellar cast. British veteran actors brought J.K. Rowling’s characters to life in stunning fashion for the big screen, which made them all the more memorable to fans. As the years go on, franchise alums share insight into their work on the blockbuster series. Now, I’m laughing at Jason Isaacs’ story about how some of those actual Oscar winners sat around bored while Voldemort delivered those lengthy monologues.

To call the Harry Potter cast talented would be an understatement, as Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and more all either won or were nominated for Oscars before joining the fantasy franchise. So, you can imagine what a riot I had when hearing Isaacs speak at Liverpool Comic Con 2024 and share his recollection of seeing Fiennes as Voldemort performing his soliloquies. I would've found it compelling but, apparently, it was a different story, as Isaacs explained:

The idea of Jason Isaacs wondering how much longer Ralph Fiennes was going to go on with Voldemort’s famed speeches is hilarious. On that same token, I guess this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, as the Peter Pan actor previously spoke about the Harry Potter movies being “boring” to make due to how special effects-heavy they were. Still, I never considered how Voldemort’s monologues could contribute to the long hours on set.

Still, it's hard to deny that Voldemort knew how to make an entrance. With the Harry Potter antagonist being the ultimate evil of the series, of course, he was going to boast about “killing” The Boy Who Lived and try to gain new followers. Fiennes -- a Royal National Theatre alum and Tony winner -- also owned the role. Nevertheless, as Isaacs further stressed, Fiennes' Academy Award-winning co-stars were just tired after a while:

I'm suddenly getting mental images of people on set looking at their watches. Just think of the frustration of waiting for your cue, just so you can say your three lines and call it a day. I'd say one big thing to pick up from this story is that even Oscar winners and veteran actors can get impatient while on set. And, honestly, I love how relatable that is.

Make no mistake, though, as the stars didn't take issue with Ralph Fiennes' actual performance, which continues to receive praise to this day. It's because of the high standard set by Fiennes that the next actor to play Voldemort will have some big shoes to fill. And I wonder if his eventual co-stars will have the same level of patience that Jason Isaacs and co. had for Fiennes.

If you want to revisit Voldemort’s famed monologues, the Harry Potter movies are available for streaming with an HBO Max subscription or a Peacock subscription.

The horror genre has been thriving for years now, resulting in some of the best horror movies getting new sequels. Case in point: Nia DaCosta's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which was filmed right after the last movie (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription). That sequel is now available to rent or buy digitally, and a new exclusive clip is all about the unique relationship between Samson and Kelson.

CinemaBlend's Bone Temple review raved about DaCosta's horror flick, in particular the surprise amount of comedy that's included thanks to the drug-fueled bromance between Chi Lewis-Parry's Samson and Ralph Fiennes' Kelson. As you can see in the clip above, Parry spoke about his interpretation of this relationship, offering:

I mean, he's not wrong. While Samson went viral in the 28 Years Later movie thanks to his giant prosthetic penis, the Alpha infected got to show some very different sides to him The Bone Temple. Kelson's drugs allowed his rage to settle down, and seemingly even helped to reverse the affects of the virus. Not only did the two of them bond while getting high, but they even sang, danced, and connected in a deep level. Sounds like a zombie apocalypse version of a love story to me.

In the same clip from 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple's special features, the great Ralph Fiennes spoke about his character's developing relationship with Samson., In his words:

Seeing the Alpha regain some of his humanity was fascinating, including scenes where he's away from Dr. Kelson. We see as he begins to clean himself, dress himself, and even regain some memories. And his humanity was so palpable that fellow infected even attacked him.

Lewis-Parry went on to speak about another comparison to Samson and Kelson. Namely, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. In his words:

While Kelson ultimately perished at the end of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, it should be fascinating to see where Samson's story goes in the planned threequel. He was able to utter the doctor's name in this final scene, taking his new friend's body away from the titular Temple. Could Samson be the key to bringing the world back from the apocalypse? Only time will tell, but his bromance with Fiennes' character is part of horror history now.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is available to digitally rent or purchase now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get news about the third movie soon, especially now that Cillian Murphy has finally returned to the horror franchise.

Spoilers ahead for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

The horror genre's current renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down, with some of the best horror movies returning with new sequels. That includes 28 Days Later, which has treated fans to two new sequels in quick succession. The Bone Temple is in theaters now, and director Nia DaCosta spoke to CinemaBlend about one sequence that she was originally nervous about, and thinking about how "crazy" it would be.

The Bone Temple picks up immediately after 28 Years Later's ending, and we follow Spike as he attempts to survive living with the Jimmys. Ralph Fiennes also returns as Kelson, whom the cult of murders think is Satan himself. The third act features the Harry Potter star putting on a wild fire show and dance number to convince them he's actually the Dark Lord, to hilarious and epic results. I spoke with DaCosta ahead of the movie's wide release, and she shared her initial trepidation to that sequence, telling me:

The Candyman director clarified that she was joking about Alex Garland's reaction, although her nerves about bringing Ralph Fiennes' pyrotechnic performance of Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast" were very real. Luckily, she had some great support behind her in order to nail this memorable scene from 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

The Bone Temple's ending kicks off with this fiery musical number, and an outstanding performance by Ralph Fiennes. While Nia DaCosta was originally nervous about bringing that sequence together, she spoke to me about how her collaborators helped to pull it off. In her words:

She's not wrong. The entire sequence really came together in the theatrical cut of The Bone Temple, resulting in epic moments as well as some comedic beats. The Jimmys were raised in an apocalyptic world void of technology and rock music, so their reaction to Kelson made sense... even if it was funny to audiences to knew the truth about Fiennes' character not actually being Satan.

Later in our same conversation, DaCosta shared a few more reasons why this daunting scene in the horror sequel ultimately paid off. As she told me:

Filmmaking is a collaborative art form, and this is just one example of the way various departments come together in order to make a movie exist. On the page Kelson's pyrotechnic number was daunting, but Nia DaCosta worked and trusted her crew and designers, and it worked out in a big way.

The Bone Temple brought Cillian Murphy back to the franchise, and set up a third installment which would round out a new trilogy. It's unclear when that upcoming horror movie will will actually start production, but hopefully we get more information about that soon.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to wait and see if/when the threequel gets officially greenlit.

Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is an early favorite of mine in the 2026 movie schedule. I loved the previous film, 28 Years Later, and I may like this one even more. 2026 could be a down year for horror films, especially after last year was so strong, but it’s off to a great start here. The hero of the film, or one of the heroes, is, of course, Dr. Ian Kelson, played by the great Ralph Fiennes. Though we’re rooting for him, it’s impossible to relate to him, at least for me. However, his dedication to picking the right music for the right moment is something I can definitely relate to.

I’m Always Particular About My Music

Ask any of my friends, and you’ll learn quickly that music and the vibe it sets are very important to me. I’m constantly making playlists at the drop of a hat for almost any and every activity. If I’m going on vacation, I’ll create multiple playlists for each day. Not just each day, but each part of the day.

What should we listen to when we wake up? What will be the best music for setting the mood before we go out at night? Plane rides without curated playlists sound awful to me. Headed to New Orleans? Fire up Louis Armstrong and The Meters. Flying to New York City? Paul Simon and Wu-Tang, of course (yeah, I like to get a weird mix going). Survive the Zombie apocalypse? Iron Maiden has to be on the playlist. This is where I relate to Kelson.

The most notable moment, of course, is Kelson picking Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast” for that freaking amazing scene when he introduces himself to The Fingers. It’s not the only one, though, as he clearly puts a lot of thought into each Duran Duran song that he chooses when picking out which record to spin in his bunker. To quote another song in the movie: “Everything in its right place.” I get it. I’m with Kelson on this. It’s perhaps the only thing I’m with him on.

I Wouldn’t Survive Like Kelson

Let’s be real here, I write about pop culture for a living, and Kelson had years of medical training and practice before the Rage Virus ravaged the United Kingdom. There’s no way I would be able to survive as he does. I’d like to believe I'd do ok in a zombie apocalypse, but my survival skills would be more about making the right allies, as my encyclopedic knowledge of ‘80s movie quotes probably won’t kill any zombies. It will make my potential allies laugh, though.

I don’t even know where I would find enough iodine to be slathered in it day after day, and I definitely wouldn't come up with a way to maybe end the apocalypse. Nothing about my survival would be anything like Kelson’s. I could be part of a commune like the one Spike (Alfie Williams) was born into in 28 Years Later (which you can rewatch with a Netflix Subscription), so I do think my survival is possible. But living on my own, in a bunker, building a pyramid of skulls? Not likely. If I have to survive in a commune, I just hope there are Duran Duran and Iron Maiden records to play.

Major spoilers below for those who haven’t yet watched 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, so tread carefully!

Though we’re only in January, I want to go on record and etch into stone my belief that Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will emerge victorious as one of my top 2026 movie releases. (Read our review here.) From start to finish, it bucks expectations and delivers a completely unpredictable ending that sets up a hopeful future, but the element that really sets it apart from potential competition is a late-stage musical sequence that temporarily made my theater screening a hub of pure euphoria.

Throughout the story, Jack O’Connell’s Sir Lord Jimmy claims he’s following the dark guidance of “Old Nick,” a nickname for the devil, though the cult leader is just mentally disturbed as opposed to being a true demonic minion. Still, he wants to sell that notion to his followers, so he enlists Ralph Fiennes’ similarly offbeat Dr. Kelson to help out by taking on the role of Satan personified. Because Kelson doesn’t know the meaning of half-assing a task, he puts on a performance of Iron Maiden’s “Number of the Beast” that is not only arena-worthy, but also transcends the usual movie-going experience.

Kelson's Performance Is Gorgeous, Crafty, And Possibly The Most Magical Sequence In This Franchise

I might as well get it out of the way right now: I'm not the biggest Iron Maiden fan; which is to say, I'm not sure I've ever listened to them recreationally (though always admiring Eddie and the stellar album art). But even if Nia DaCosta and Alex Garland had written my absolute favorite song into 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple instead of “The Number of the Beast,” I don’t think I would have enjoyed it more than this final product.

As soon as the album art was shown on-screen, it became clear that Kelson is one of the coolest and most selfless horror movie characters to ever exist. The fact that he put all of this together in two days under threatening circumstances is baffling, but at no point did I take the time to wonder how speakers were set up or how he got all of his fire effects to work so perfectly. Rarely have I been so eager to just blissfully fall into a scene.

If I’d have been alone in the theater, it would have been an A+ time. But my screening was packed to the gills, and from what I could tell, everyone around me was having a blast. I could easily hear the cheers and awestruck laughter booming out from the crowd as goth Lucifer incarnate Ralph Fiennes commandingly stalked, climbed, thrusted and slithered his way around the giant skull pile as the Jimmy cult members stood around absolutely transfixed.

When the track was finished, the entire room burst into applause and gleeful noises, and had The Bone Temple just ended right there, I think most of us would have walked out happy. Confused, certainly, but still happy. Thankfully, the rest of the movie was equally pleasing, especially Cillian Murphy’s long-awaited return as Jim, and everyone applauded once more once the credits started to roll, albeit with slightly less enthusiasm than post-Maiden.

The challenge is now out for any other upcoming horror movies (or any outside the genre) to deliver a sequence as surprising, energetic, crowd-pleasing and magnificent as Ralph Fiennes' Iron Maiden performance. Anyone looking for a similar enjoyably jarring musical moment should read on.

The Bone Temple's Musical Sequence Reminds Me Of Alan Wake 2's Best Chapter

The Alan Wake games are far more aligned with quirky Twin Peaks-esque survival horror than the ravaged post-apocalypse of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, so the similarities aren't plentiful. However, 2023's Alan Wake 2 became one of the most-discussed horror games in recent years for its late-game stage dubbed "Initiation 4: We Sing."

Without going into spoilers, that stage has players guiding the titular main character through a TV studio all while a booming and boisterous Finnish metal song is performed by the in-game band The Old Gods of Asgard (real-world name: Poets of the Fall), with lyrics sung by different characters. The song progresses as the player does, but it's such a dynamic track that not even the repeated riffs get tiresome.

It was one of my favorite gaming moments of 2023 or any other year, and I'm far from alone in that respect. I didn't think any other horror franchise could come close to meeting that same level of spontaneous WTF exuberance, but 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple delivered it in spades. Something tells me they should get Nia DaCosta to direct that episode of the upcoming video game adaptation for the Alan Wake series comes to fruition.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now playing in theaters around the country. Hail Kelson!

Major spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, so be warned, and don’t make Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal angry.

Though I’ve already shared a lot of love for Nia DaCosta’s 28 Years Later sequel in my glowing Bone Temple review, I had to completely stay away from talking about the ending there (for obvious reasons), to the point where I could have burst. Now that the critically lauded genre-masher is now out there to watch amidst other 2026 movie releases, the time is right to talk about how wildly subversive the movie’s third act and conclusion is, and how antithetical to traditional horror it all feels.

Similarly to how Danny Boyle and Alex Garland shattered the mold anew by expanding this horror universe nearly three decades after 28 Days Later evolved the zombie subgenre, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple continuously upends expectations and breaks storytelling rules enough that the movie’s truly batshit endgame actually feels felicitously apropos. And lawdy lawd, has any horror movie ever delivered a cliffhanger quite like Samson? Drop the needle onto that Iron Maiden record, because it’s time to rip the skin off of this rule-breaking ending.

Rule Break #1: More Protagonists Survive Than Not

A large majority of horror features rely on two genre tenets: tension and body count. More often than not, protagonists are introduced and developed only to inevitably become villain fodder. The Bone Temple tweaks that formula both by having an antagonist group that outnumbers the good guys, and by limiting the overall number of new characters. (Neither are brand new concepts, obviously.)

So in the end, only one core hero is dead, along with one extremely minor protagonist and the group of barely developed family members. Meanwhile, Spike, Kelly (more on her below), and Samson are still alive, as are Cillian Murphy’s newly returned Jim and his daughter, and we can assume the pregnant Cathy who ditched Spike is still out there. And since we didn’t see Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Jamie or the infant Isla or others from the first film, I’m also counting them as survivors here.

Rule Break #2: A Sub-Villain Becomes An Anti-Hero

As the visually distinct member of Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal’s cult that gets the most screentime early on, Erin Kellyman’s Jimmy Ink is clearly set up to be the traumatized Spike’s guardian angel. (Or devil, in this case.) But that doesn’t keep her from following the brutal and disturbing orders that Jack O’Connell’s Jimmy lays out for his minions, under the fraudulent guidance of Old Nick. She’s totally into the idea of an evil dark lord, so it’s not as if she’s a pillar of virtue even by the end of the movie.

Still, despite her youth and naivety, she held room for the idea that Jimmy Prime was full of shit, so whenever the curtain was pulled back on that grand truth, she didn’t hesitate to punish him with the same sadism he made others suffer. In the end, reverting from her cult moniker back to Kelly, she and Spike take off as a duo, destined to team up with Jim and later make Jamie uncomfortable. How many horror movies give villains this kind of a vaguely redemptive arc?

Rule Break #3: The Big Bad Is Already (Presumably) Eliminated

Given Jack O'Connell's stellar Jimmy-fied introduction at the end of 28 Years Later, I fully expected his cult of personality to still loom large in a third film, in the way that horror's most sickening monsters can never quite be put down for good. But no Jigsaw-length reign for Jimmy, it seems, after he was given an inverted crucifixion ahead of likely getting ravaged by Samson, as hinted at by that jump scare.

Of course, the existence of the infected is still as dangerous and deadly as ever, so it's not as if this franchise's future will be free from baddies. Still, in the way that serial killers were always a threat while Hannibal Lecter continued sating his particular appetite, I even hoped Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal would be kept alive for sequel purposes, which definitely isn't my go-to desire with most modern horror movie antagonists.

Rule Break #4: All Signs Point To Hope In The End

Ever since Carrie rattled audiences with its shock ending, way too many horror movies have repeated the trick of undercutting a happily-ever-after conclusion with a last-second reveal that the central source of evil has not been conquered completely. It's truly a mild surprise anytime it doesn't happen, and once again, Alex Garland and Nia DaCosta sidestep such rote expectations and even go a step further by making The Bone Temple's ending all-out hopeful.

What better beacon of hope can there be than seeing Cillian Murphy's Jim is still alive after all these years? He also seems to have kept his wits about him since 28 Days Later's own hope-embracing ending, and it's too easy to foresee him taking Spike and Kelly in. (Which obviously means tragedy is coming, but still.) Though Kelson's death seemingly stalled any efforts to "cure" or reverse the Rage virus' symptoms, Samson's physiology itself is a secondary beacon of hope to latch onto, which leads us to the following...

Theory Time: I Believe Brains (Including Kelson's) Are Vital For Samson's Recovery

Though morphine alone is enough to stall Samson's bloodthirsty rampages, Kelson later leans into a mixture of medications to try and deaden the cloud of Rage in Samson's mind. The implication is that those efforts were successful, but I think Samson's own bestial and zombie-adjacent actions make for another unwitting stepping stone in the process.

Samson habitually returning to that destroyed train car plays into his humanity's continued presense, but it's seemingly only when he cracks open another person's skull and slurps on their brains that he has flashbacks to being a young boy inside that same train. This is quite the bizarre sequence for a franchise that has purposefully avoided traditional zombie movie elements like brain-eating. (After all, the infected are still technically alive.) So unless DaCosta threw it in there as a winking joke, it has to mean something.

Prescription meds often boost brain chemicals that patients are lacking, so it stands to reason that going straight to the source (i.e. another brain) would provide a far bigger dose of those same chemicals. Given the brains of the infected are already tainted, they likely aren't offering peak amounts of seratonin, oxytocin and whatever else would get Samson's mojo rising.

But what about Kelson's juicy, smart and information-filled brain? I think it stands to reason that when Samson left Kelson's bony empire, he went back to the train and imbibed on the brains of other infected, which would explain why the Alpha was still able to speak and have a somewhat clear mind after returning from a day completely free from the doctor's drugged-up injections.

Which leads to the second part of my theory: that eating Kelson's healthy brain will be like a Rosetta Stone that make's Samson more calm and rational on a semi-permanent basis. I think he'll be able to communicate with Spike & Co. in a way that makes it clear they're on the same side, and I think they'll find Kelson's research and figure out how to utilize it in a way that can help tamp down the Rage in others.

That's probably too optimistic an outcome, though, so maybe the idea will be that eating healthy human brains will be the only way to reverse the infection, thus providing a very disturbing moral quandary for Jim, Spike and anyone else who would love to spread the cure, but without also wanting to deplete the rest of the population.

However things turn out, one thing's for sure: I'll be in a theater seat ahead of opening night for any and all future 28 Years Later sequels, prequels, reboots, VR spinoffs, comic books and more. I probably don't need to show up at a theater to read a comic, but dammit, I'd also like some popcorn while I read.

Ralph Fiennes may not have been the primary focus of last year’s 28 Years Later, but the introduction of his character Dr. Ian Kelson left an impression on moviegoers, including myself, who did a pretty terrible job of hiding my sobs through his big scene. Now the sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is set to premiere with more Kelson, more of the Jimmy cult and tons of violence, and critics are giving their takes.

The sequel hits the 2026 movie release schedule on January 16, picking up where its predecessor left off, with Spike (Alfie Williams) being taken in by Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). In CinemaBlend’s review of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Nick Venable says he was entranced by the way Nia DaCosta takes an already-unpredictable franchise even further into unexpected territory. He ranks the film 4.5 stars out of 5, writing:

Robert Daniels of RogerEbert gives the upcoming horror flick 3.5 out of 4 stars, noting its bleakness, bloodiness and brutality. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is “a gnarly, mind-bending trek through inhumanity,” Daniels says, writing:

Jesse Hassenger of AV Club grades The Bone Temple a B+, saying it doesn’t quite live up to 28 Years Later but is still more than worthwhile. In Hassenger’s words:

Jas Keimig of the Seattle Times rates the movie 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing that the director takes the focus off of the zombies, turning the spotlight on the people living in virus-ravaged England and how they often pose an even greater risk to each other. Keimig continues:

Clint Gage of IGN gives 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple a “Great” 8 out of 10, calling it “easily” the most gruesome installment of the franchise, which is saying quite a lot. The sequel is “surprisingly funny, exceptionally brutal,” Gage says, writing:

The critics all seem to agree that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a worthy — though unequivocally violent — sequel, thanks in large part to Ralph Fiennes’ performance as Dr. Ian Kelson. The movie has been Certified Fresh with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, so if you have interest in this next chapter of the franchise, be sure to grab a ticket, because the film is in theaters as of Friday, January 16.

If you want a refresher of what came before the current movie, 28 Years Later can be streamed with a Netflix subscription.

The post-apocalypse that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland created for 28 Days Later helped shatter genre expectations, with the Rage virus helping breathing erratic new life into the threat of a zombified population. With 28 Years Later, the same duo transcended traditional horror sequels with the introductions of Spike, Dr. Ian Kelson, and the Jimmy cult. Now, with The Bone Temple, Candyman and Hedda helmer Nia DaCosta has taken this already unpredictable franchise into entirely unexpected territories, and I was entranced every single minute watching it.

Unlike its predecessor, which kicks off in an entirely new-to-viewers environment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple quickly forces audiences right back into facing harrowing plot finding Alfie Williams’ Spike being taken in by Jack O’Connell’s Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. It’s almost too easy to put oneself in Spike’s metaphorical shoes as he’s thrown into one potentially deadly situation after another, given how frighteningly barmy and unyielding the group’s leader can be as he continues a reign of terror. Or "charity," as he puts it.

Gone are the majority of the main characters that filled out the bulk of 28 Years Later, from Jodie Comer’s Isla (obviously) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Jamie to everyone else in the island haven’s group. Returning, however, are Ralph Fiennes’ iodine-covered Dr. Kelson and Chi Lewis-Parry’s hulking infected alpha Samson. Not to mention Samson’s dangly bits, and those of several other clothing-lite members of the infected. (Spoilers: another non-infected character is also treated with a full-frontal shot this time around.)

As indicated in the previous film’s ending, though, this world has gone to the Jimmys, and no one is guaranteed a safe journey to tomorrow. Thankfully, theater-goers don’t have the same problems, even if the Jimmys’ actions are so palpably harrowing that I’m going to instinctively shift into a defensive stance the next time I see someone donning a tracksuit and a swath of gold chains.

Nia DaCosta and Alex Garland know we're familiar with this world's horrors, and they successfully shift the focus accordingly.

The number of horror sequels that essentially copy/paste formulas and storylines from franchise flagships is astoundingly high, and that approach almost never makes for a better (or even equally enjoyable) experience. Still, I'd have been totally understanding if DaCosta and Garland had stuck with the familiar for The Bone Temple given how much worldbuilding went into 28 Years Later itself. Instead, they deliver a wholly new chapter where even the most familiar characters and elements are sent in new directions.

Remember how awesome it was to see the infected tearing ass across London for the first time, or seeing Samson tear off and rip an enemy's spine out of its body? Those visceral elements still have a minimal presence but more as connective tissue for the next big thing and to draw a starker distinction between "then" and "now."

The Spike that won audiences over with his bravery and keen instincts in the first film is a defeated shadow now, cowering beneath the blonde wig he's forced to wear. Perhaps drawing inspiration from The Empire Strikes Back, we're seeing the protagonist at his lowest point yet, barely able to defend himself against the older cult members. Though not necessarily fun to watch, it's still a vital means to evolve the narrative and hero's journey, and the same holds true for Dr. Kelson. But before we dig into his arc, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal demands some attention.

I love hating the Jimmy cult, and Jack O'Connell's Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal is now an all-time horror villain.

Between on-screen appearances as the charismatically chaotic cult leader obsessed with DJ and notorious sexual abuser Jimmy Saville, Jack O'Connell was found stealing scenes last summer as the chilling bloodsucker Remmick in Ryan Coogler's Sinners. Impressively, none of that character's quiet menace is present in Sir Lord Jimmy, a malicious and narcissistic conman whose outspoken extroversion belies his ignorance. Each time Jimmy speaks, it’s as if he’s envisioning himself in his own true crime dramatization, and it’s a guilt-free blast to funnel hate at this obnoxious fuck throughout the movie.

From the earliest scenes where he viciously tests Spike’s willingness to join the group, to later machinations that remind us how human this cult of personality is, Sir Lord Jimmy is an all-timer of a movie villain, regardless of genre. He’s highly quotable, complete with group call-and-response that’s utilized throughout, and just when you think his limit of ruthlessness has been met, Jimmy pushes those goalposts back, most often with disembodied limbs. To say the upside-down cross comes into play is to say the sun is warm.

It helps that the irredeemable leader manifestly stands out from his tribe of misfit youths hardened by trauma and suppression. Forming an early bond with Spike, Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman) is arguably the brainiest, though with scars and ideas that speak to how low the intelligence bar is. Emma Laird’s Jimmima is perhaps the most wounded, which in turn makes her the most performative, particularly with Teletubbies-inspired dances.

Because discovering reasons to hate everyone is part of the fun, suffice to say that Jimmy Fox (Sam Locke), Jimmy Snake (Ghazi Al Ruffai) and Jimmy Jones (Maura Bird) each fall across different spots on the feral villain spectrum, and there’s little empathy shed when certain bodies drop. That empathy is saved for characters who unfortunately find themself in Sir Lord Jimmy’s crosshairs.

Ralph Fiennes Dr. Kelson takes the story into hallucinatory and unexpected directions that make future sequels all the more welcome.

If Spike's story equates to a trafficking thriller, and Sir Lord Jimmy culminates the nihilistic anarchy of The Purge, then Dr. Kelson's arc is kinda-maybe most like Oliver Stone's The Doors through the prism of Wayne's World 2's Doors-spoofing scenes. Or, to bring it back to Danny Boyle, it's as if Nia DaCosta brought Ralph Fiennes' bone-collecting medicine man through the gauzy haze of Trainspotting, but with a grander purpose than just getting high with the boys.

Kelson continues his mission to manufacture some kind of measurable bond with the predatory Samson in order to suss out remnants of humanity, all while being largely unable to reflect upon his own pre-virus years. Despite his implausible goals, Kelson finds reason to continue (beyond just staying alive long enough to do so), and therein lie several intriguing threads for the franchise's future.

Fiennes is incredible from start to finish, brandishing the same eerie and enigmatic behavior that made his character such a high point in last year's film, and this time with more of a near-childlike enthusiasm for interacting with others. (Even those who do not wish Kelson well.) I've already earmarked one third-act sequence that shall not be spoiled for best-of-the-year consideration. If that sequence alone doesn't earn Fiennes some kind of award nomination, my innate lower-case rage will know no bounds.

Had all 108 minutes of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple been set just around Kelson's giant skull pile, my rating might not have even changed. Thankfully, though, Nia DaCosta wasn't inclined to be so limited, and instead delivers a tense, emotional and darkly hilarious movie that also happens to feature a swinging bloody dong and people being skinned alive. I'd stand up and cheer if I wasn't scared to draw out any nearby infected.

P.S. Cillian Murphy. That's the post-script.

As we wait for HBO’s Harry Potter series, another star-studded adaptation of the beloved fantasy tale has been released. The first full-cast audio edition of J.K. Rowling’s books has been released on Audible, and between now and May 2026, all seven novels will get this treatment. I’m not kidding, the audiobook cast is stacked too, which is proven by the fact that Matthew Macfadyen is playing Voldemort. However, it turns out playing the villain is nowhere near glamorous, as he explained the wild way the director had him approach the role.

When Matthew Macfadyen dropped by to chat about his upcoming work on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he was asked about these new audiobooks and taking on the iconic villain role that Ralph Fiennes played in the movies. In response, the Pride and Prejudice actor explained how thrilled he was to do the part, saying:

As we all know, Ralph Fiennes’ performance as Voldemort is incredible and distinct. So, it seems like the Succession actor simply wanted to take inspiration from the Harry Potter movies (which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription). However, the books and the director of these new audiobooks had a different idea in mind, as Matthew Macfadyen explained:

To be fair, Voldemort does have a pretty soft voice in the movies. However, it sounds like for these new full-cast audiobooks, they wanted Macfadyen to make his voice even higher.

Along with having to change the way he speaks quite a bit, the actor also recalled what it was like to record the books in a studio. As he noted the props he was given and how he had to wear his microphone, I can see why he lovingly said he looked “deranged” while playing Voldemort:

Well, he may have looked silly with his wand and mic strapped to his head, but no one has to see it. And, he also didn’t have to commit to the black robes, bald head and no-nose look that Fiennes had in the films. However, no matter how silly he felt behind the scenes, it all helped him pull off the iconic part.

Plus, it sounds like Macfadyen had a blast with his “comfort wand,” as he joked with Meyers about using it as a back scratcher and wielding it while he said spells.

Now, while he had a fun time recording these books, I cannot wait to hear how menacing Matthew Macfadyen is as Voldemort. I also can’t wait to hear all the other actors in their roles, as these audiobooks feature also Hugh Laurie as Dumbledore, Riz Ahmed as Snape and many more.

On top of all that, Arabella Stanton, who is playing Hermione in the HBO series, will also voice the young witch for books one through three. So, we’ll get a sneak peek at her performance too!

So, there’s a lot to look forward to here. And while Matthew Macfadyen said he’d probably never be considered for He Who Shall Not Be Named in a screen adaptation, Voldemort hasn’t been cast for the series yet. So, I can’t help but wonder if his performance in the books could lead him to the new television series.

However, that is just a dream. What’s not is the fact that he fully committed to playing Voldemort in audio form, and you can listen to the first of these new full-cast audiobooks on Audible now.

Another Hunger Games novel is already among upcoming book adaptations in the form of the latest book, Sunrise on the Reaping. Unfortunately for the cast we got to know in the last prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it’ll once again tackle another period in history for the fictional dystopian world of Panem. Sure, it's a bit of a bummer for Tom Blyth, who embodied President Snow as a teenager so well, but what are the actor’s thoughts on getting replaced by Ralph Fiennes?

Back in May, it was announced that Ralph Fiennes would be playing a middle-aged President Snow amidst a star-studded cast of Sunrise on the Reaping stars. Here’s Tom Blyth’s thoughts on the casting:

In an interview with ScreenRant, Blyth shared his excitement for the next Hunger Games movie starring fan favorite Haymitch during his games at the 50th Quarter Quell. He’s admittedly on the outside this time around, but he’s very much willing to step aside for the actor behind Voldemort to take the reins. He also said this:

It’s a great response especially considering that Ralph Fiennes is a highly decorated actor who has been nominated for an Oscar three times, along with winning accolades from the BAFTAs and Tonys. While Blyth is definitely in acceptance of the scenario, he also has some hope for his version of the character returning at some point. Then there’s the time when he asked to be part of Sunrise on the Reaping. As he added:

Tom Blyth is 30 years old, whereas the character should be around 58 during the events of Sunrise on the Reaping. So there would have needed to be some intense prosthetics for Snow if Blyth had been cast in the role again.

It’s kind of fun that we’ll now get to see three iterations of the Panem leader across time, and of course Fiennes is going to do an incredible job of taking on the role that he’s called “very complex.” Sunrise on the Reaping is currently in production. A first look at Fiennes’ President Snow recently surfaced via a set photo (via X) of a propaganda poster featuring the actor in the role.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is being directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed every other Hunger Games movie except for the first one. You can mark your calendars for its release on November 20, 2026.

The witches and wizards of the Harry Potter universe are all pretty careful to avoid saying Voldemort’s name, but in the case of HBO’s upcoming Potter series, they couldn’t call out “He Who Must Not Be Named” even if they wanted to. Despite the book-to-screen adaptation being in production already, no one has yet been announced for the role, and one rumor suggests a huge change from Ralph Fiennes’ version of the villain.

Many changes have already been made to the Wizarding World of the movies (which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription or Peacock subscription) that will make the Harry Potter TV show “completely different.” According to entertainment blogger Daniel Richtman (via Sci-Fi & Fantasy Gazette), we might be seeing Lord Voldemort in a whole new way come 2027 — or should I say Lady Voldemort? According to Richtman:

Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of Harry Potter’s nemesis is so iconic that casting a woman in the role might go a long way in avoiding comparisons between the two. The report that women are being included in the Voldemort audition process doesn’t necessarily mean a woman will be cast, but it’s an interesting idea, to say the least.

Some fans do tend to get a bit touchy when changes are made to familiar characters, though. Just look at the criticism Paapa Essiedu has received since he was cast as Severus Snape, who was previously portrayed by the late Alan Rickman.

There were rumors a couple of months ago that You-Know-Who had been cast, but that The Powers That Be were keeping He Who Must Not Be Named’s identity under wraps until the premiere. Whether or not that plays out, fans had some wild ideas about who could play Voldemort.

Cillian Murphy seemed like a fan-favorite choice, but the Oppenheimer star shut down those rumors. Tom Hiddleston was another option, and it’s probably not because his name is already so close to Tom Riddle. Whatever decision is made is likely to be pleasing to many fans, if the rest of the cast is any indication.

Dominic McLaughlin is simply adorable as the new Harry Potter. Meanwhile, Arabella Stanton proved she can pull off the perfect Hermione Granger while reciting one of her character’s most iconic lines.

Other actors joining the Wizarding World for the HBO series include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid and newcomer Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. I’m excited for any tidbit we can get that's coming out of the upcoming series, as well as everything else that’s headed to the Harry Potter universe. The big question is just how long will we have to wait to find out who’s playing Voldemort?

The early 2010s saw something of a battle to the death among film adaptations of dystopian book series, and The Hunger Games was the clear winner. Not only did the original four movies starring Jennifer Lawrence all become massive hits, but the story has continued to expand with additional novels and films, including the upcoming prequel Sunrise on the Reaping.

One character who has been consistent throughout the stories has been Cornelius Snow. He was played by Donald Sutherland in the original films, and then by actor Tom Blyth in the prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Blyth won’t be back when the film version of Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters next year, as Ralph Fiennes will take over the role. But due to the fact that there are decades of time between the two films, Blyth told ScreenRant he isn’t convinced his time as Snow is entirely done. He said…

Sunrise on the Reaping is centered around the 50th Hunger Games and will follow the character of Haymitch Abernathy. Woody Harrelson played him in the earlier films, and Joseph Zada will play him in the new film. While Blyth won’t be part of the story, he certainly sounds more than happy to watch this one as a fan, saying…

While Blyth says now that it’s “cool” for him to sit this movie out, he also freely admits that he wanted to play Snow again. He apparently went to director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson to make sure they knew he was perfectly willing to undergo significant prosthetics to age him up to the role. He explained…

It certainly isn’t a crazy idea. One imagines that, if Donald Sutherland hadn’t passed away in 2024, there would have at least been a consideration to use CGI to de-age him for Sunrise on the Reaping, so going the opposite route to age up the other actor makes just as much sense. But then, when you have the chance to cast Ralph Fiennes, you should probably just cast Ralph Fiennes. Blyth certainly thinks so…

With decades of time still very available within the Hunger Games world, Blyth is certainly right that he might have the chance to play Snow again one day, but until then, we can all look forward to seeing Ralph Fiennes join the great actors who have played Snow, and put his own stamp on the role.

Sunrise on the Reaping will hit theaters on November 20, 2026. In the meantime, you can go back and see Blyth as Snow by streaming The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes with a Starz subscription.

Whoever puts on Voldemort’s robes for HBO’s Harry Potter series will have some big shoes to fill, and Cillian Murphy knows that. For a while now, the Oppenheimer star has been a top pick by fans for the legendary villain who was originated on screen by Ralph Fiennes. So, when asked about fans wanting this, Murphy politely said he didn’t know about it while also paying his respects to the man who played the dark lord first.

While the majority of the major Harry Potter roles have been cast and production on Season 1 – which will follow The Sorcerer’s Stone – has begun, we don’t know who will play Voldemort. We likely won’t for a while, too, considering he does not show up in his full form until Goblet of Fire. However, the speculation is running wild, with Cillian Murphy being named as a favorite by fans (and even Ralph Fiennes). So, Josh Horowitz asked him about whether there’s any merit to this speculation on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Oscar winner said:

So, it would seem that Cillian Murphy will not be playing Voldemort. And that’s kind of a bummer. As Fiennes said, the Peaky Blinders actor taking on the role of Harry Potter’s big bad is a “wonderful suggestion.”

Overall, it sounds like the Oppenheimer star hasn’t heard anything about potentially playing He Who Shall Not Be Named. It also seems like a part he’s not going to take on even if he is approached.

However, I do really appreciate how kindly he answered the question and the appreciation he showed for Ralph Fiennes. The Grand Budapest Hotel star’s portrayal of this brilliant villain is unforgettable, and Murphy is right, whoever takes on the part next will have big shoes to fill.

I also loved his response, because the Conclave actor recently dove into a franchise Murphy helped make famous. Earlier this year, the Harry Potter star was featured in the well-reviewed 28 Years Later, making this whole situation with the Wizarding World even better.

However, now I’m really starting to wonder who will follow Fiennes and play Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. So far, the series has been making fascinating casting choices that I can’t wait to see – I’m particularly excited for John Lithgow’s Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu’s Snape. Therefore, I’m sure whoever they cast as the franchise’s primary antagonist will be fantastic. It just probably won’t be Cillian Murphy based on his comments.

That’s OK, though. We get to see him in plenty of other projects (his new movie, Steve, premieres on the 2025 Netflix schedule on October 3), and I’m certain that whoever they cast to play Voldemort in the new Harry Potter series will be a worthy successor to Ralph Fiennes.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for 28 Years Later. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

There is an oxymoronic quality to the acting profession. The best in the world are able to transform themselves in front of our eyes and become wholly different people… but the best in the world also become some of the most recognizable people on the planet – making it all the harder for them to be convincing in their performances. Brilliant as Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Jake Gyllenhaal and Emma Stone are, there is always a certain picture of them that one keeps at the back of their mind while watching them work.

If an actor isn’t going to play the same kind of part for their entire career (and some of them do), but best antidote to this catch-22 is for them to constantly expand their range and never give people something they are expecting. Ralph Fiennes is easily one of the best modern examples of this: last year, he earned overwhelming acclaim for playing the moral center at the drama of Conclave, and there is no point watching his turn when you are thinking about SS officer Amon Göth from Schindler's List or Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies.

Fiennes' exceptional skills alone make any film better, but during and after watching Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, I have come to recognize a special way that the new horror feature utilized his talents. An air of mystery is maintained around him for the vast majority of the movie’s runtime, and it’s incredibly effective because I truly didn’t know what to expect. Would the story see him in full psychotic/villain mode, or would he present as warm and kind? With Fiennes in the part, I had no firm notion of what was coming, and that had its own part in upping the stakes in the narrative.

In 28 Years Later, protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams) sees a fire in the distance when he goes out on his first hunt, and he is told by his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) that it is the homestead of Kelson (Fiennes) – a mad doctor whom Jamie once spotted collecting dozens of dead bodies. Despite learning about this scary reputation, Spike feels that Kelson is the only hope for his sick mother, Isla (Jodie Comer), and he journeys with her to find him.

Jamie doesn’t exactly present as the most reliable source of information (one of the character’s most prominent scenes features him lying about Spike’s accomplishments during his first hunt)… but I had also seen the brilliant trailers for 28 Years Later prior to my screening, and I knew to expect Kelson covered in some kind of dark goo and wearing ragged clothing while living in a temple constructed from human bones. Most importantly of all, though, I knew that Ralph Fiennes could be equally successful playing an empathetic doctor or a violent psycho, and that provided a special dose of curiosity to my watching experience as the young hero got closer to his destination.

Of course, when Spike and Ilsa do finally make it to the doctor, they and we understand that Jamie was indeed wrong – and the performance by Ralph Fiennes is simply phenomenal. He may look scary, but that’s only because he has covered his skin in iodine, which he has come to understand via scientific observation repels individuals infected with the Rage Virus. And as for his temple of bones, it’s not the work of a savage; on the contrary, it’s his way of attempting to honor the dead. Even in chaotic times, Kelson understands the immortal importance of care, knowledge, and empathy, and delivered with Fiennes’ spectacular charisma, presence, and dramatic depth, it’s awesome and powerful.

There is no shortage of great performances in 28 Years Later (up to and including the surprise appearance by Jack O’Connell in the film’s final scene), but both the casting of and work by Ralph Fiennes deserve to be highlighted independently – contributing in a big way to make a great movie even greater.

There are plenty of book to screen adaptations being worked on at any point, but few are quite as popular as the Hunger Games movies. Following the success of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, another of Suzanne Collins' prequels is getting the movie treatment: Sunrise on the Reaping. Ralph Fiennes is taking on the role of President Snow, and recently reflected on taking the mantle from late actor Donald Sutherland.

What we know about Sunrise on the Reaping is limited, but the cast chock full of familiar faces playing younger version of beloved legacy characters. That includes Fiennes becoming the third actor to portray Coriolanus Snow. When speaking with THR about 28 Years Later, the Harry Potter actor got real about taking on the mantle from Sutherland. In his words:

There you have it. It sounds like the 62 year-old actor isn't trying to do an impression of Donald Sutherland when he portrays Snow in Sunrise on the Reaping. Although he is going to try to make it as complex and fascinating a characterization as his predecessor. For his part, he's got experience as a famous literary villain thanks to the Harry Potter movies.

All of the actors who are playing younger versions of beloved Hunger Games figures in Sunrise on the Reaping will likely have to tow this line. For instance, Elle Fanning is portraying Elizabeth Banks' signature character Effie Trinket. Jesse Plemons is taking on the role of Plutarch from the late actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman... which is pretty brilliant casting if you ask me. We'll even get a younger version of Hunger Games victors Beetee, Wiress, and Mags.

As previously mentioned, Fiennes is actually the third actor to play Snow on the big screen. Because prior to his casting for Sunrise on the Reaping, we were introduced to a young version of the character on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. In that first prequel he was played by Tom Blyth, and we watched as he went from an innocent student to the architect behind the games as we know them. And the forthcoming sci-fi blockbuster will offer another snapshot as the villainous leader of Panem, once again as the cruel and murderous leader we know him to be.

All will be revealed when The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on November 20th, 2026. But since it's not part of the 2025 movie release list, we might have to be patient before news about the forthcoming project. Luckily we can re-read the book as we wait.

At the moment, Ralph Fiennes is getting ready to play President Snow, a key Hunger Games character in Sunrise on the Reaping, who was originated on screen by Donald Sutherland. However, he’s also in Sutherland’s place with a different franchise, as we begin to wonder who will play Voldemort in HBO’s Harry Potter series. So, with that in mind, the original Dark Lord gave some silly yet sensible advice to the actor who will eventually take over the role.

Now, while the main Harry Potter trio has been cast alongside key Hogwarts faculty, like Dumbledore, who John Lithgow will play, we haven’t heard anything about Voldemort. That makes sense, because we don’t actually see He Who Must Not Be Named in his full form until Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. So, odds are, it’ll be a while before he’s cast.

However, Ralph Fiennes is already giving advice to the actor who will take on the role, as he told ET:

Again, while sort of a funny response, it’s 100% practical. The Conclave actor’s signature look as Voldemort was a long, billowing black robe. I imagine it can be difficult to look effortlessly menacing while trying to walk, and I would assume it’s an especially hard costume to fight in. So, practicing his walk in the robes makes sense.

Considering the Harry Potter movies are some of Fiennes' best films, it’s safe to say he nailed the robe walk, and he was truly terrifying as Voldemort, flowing robes and all.

So, whoever lands the role should heed his advice, and maybe learn from this next story about tights, too:

Listen, if it works, it works, and comfort and function are always key. I’d imagine it’d be hard to move period with tights that were constantly riding down. And I assume it would up the probability of tripping over those robes The Grand Budapest Hotel actor was talking about. So, he found a solution, and it seems like it might be a wardrobe tip the new Voldemort should take, too.

So, to any actors who might want to play this iconic role and follow in the footsteps of Fiennes, I hope you're listening.

Now, as we inch closer to the Harry Potter series, and eventually the introduction of its biggest villain, I hope we get some more sage and silly advice from Fiennes about how to play him. However, for now, this will have to do, and you can go back and watch his brilliant performance as Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies by streaming them with an HBO Max subscription.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Sunrise on the Reaping is quickly becoming one of the most exciting upcoming book adaptations thanks to all the casting reveals across the past month. The movie isn’t coming out until 2026, but as we anticipate Haymitch’s Hunger Games during the Second Quarter Quell, I figured it might be helpful for the fans to see all the major connections to the original Hunger Games movies to look forward to, since this movie takes place just twenty-four years before Katniss’s games.

Let’s get into it, but some (definitely not all) SPOILERS are ahead. So, if you want to go into the book or movie completely blind, bookmark this for later.

Haymitch’s Girl Has A Couple Of Connections To The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes

Haymitch is the central character of this prequel as the movie follows him at the age of 16, when he is reaped for the Second Quarter Quell from District 12. Early in the Sunrise on the Reaping book, we learn a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada has been cast, and looks a lot like Woody Harrelson) has a girlfriend named Lenore Dove, who will be played by Whitney Peak.

Lenore Dove hasn’t been seen in other Hunger Games movies, but she’s got a few connections to some familiar characters. Her cousin is Burdock Everdeen, who is Katniss’s dad and is speculated to be a second cousin to Lucy Gray Baird from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the female District 12 victor Snow mentored, played by Rachel Zegler. Covey member Tam Amber was also in Ballad and is Lenore’s adoptive uncle as well.

President Snow’s Appearances Will Build Upon His Prequel Storyline, Too

After Ballad told the story of Coriolanus Snow at eighteen, Sunrise will feature him once again, this time at the age of 58 and played by Harry Potter’s Voldemort actor, Ralph Fiennes. He will be the President at this point, and Haymitch brushes shoulders with him on quite a few occasions after he becomes a tribute.

When they meet in the book, Snow’s past with District 12 and the Covey is hinted at in a way that allows the audience to connect the teen and older versions of the character. There are many more details regarding Snow and Snow’s relationship that are delved into, but we’ll leave it here to avoid the big spoilers of the story.

We’ll Get To See Effie Trinket’s Early Involvement In The Hunger Games

When we first meet Haymitch in the original Hunger Games movies, he is accompanied by Effie Trinket, who is District 12’s escort and advisor from the Capitol. Elle Fanning has been perfectly cast as a younger version after the book features her origins in the game.

Effie’s sister, Proserpina, is part of the District 12 prep team during Haymitch’s games, and she helps out after the original stylist didn’t show up when she needed her. I can’t wait to see Effie and Haymitch interact for the first time after Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks played the characters so well.

Hunger Games’ Host Caesar Flickerman Will Be In The Middle Of His Career

Following Stanley Tucci’s iconic performances as Hunger Games host, Caesar Flickerman, Kieran Culkin has been cast as a younger Caesar. From previous books, we know that Caesar has been the host for around forty years when Katniss met with him, so Sunrise will see him about midway through his career at a time when he has to interview twice the number of tributes. More than anything, Caesar is usually used for comedic effect, so we’re curious how Culkin will approach the role.

We’ll Get To See Plutarch Heavensbee’s Early Days As A Rebel

Philip Seymour Hoffman famously played the role of Plutarch Heavensbee starting in Catching Fire, when he became the Head Gamemaker of the 75th Hunger Games and secretly was a commander of District 13’s rebels in the Second Rebellion. As we learn in Sunrise, Plutarch was a cameraman for the Capitol during Haymitch’s games, and yes, secretly a rebel. Jesse Plemons is set to play Plutarch this time around, who interacts a lot with Haymitch throughout the storyline.

Beetee Latier Has A Particularly Tragic Storyline In Sunrise On The Reaping

You may remember Jeffrey Wright in Catching Fire as Beetee Latier during the 75th Hunger Games when he is reaped again. The character is coming back for Sunrise with Kelvin Harrison Jr. taking on the role, and oof, this is a rough one. After Beetee, who hails from District 3, is the winner of the 34th Hunger Games, he also serves as the mentor to Wiress, who ends up being the victor of the 49th Hunger Games.

But, in the Second Quarter Quell, his involvement is because his son Ampert is reaped, and he’s assigned to mentor him as punishment for an attempt he made to sabotage the Capitol’s communication systems. Imagine having to watch your own son die in the Hunger Games? I’m not ready.

Wiress (And Mags) Are Haymitch’s Mentors Ahead Of The Games

Speaking of Wiress, she is set to be played by Stranger Things’ Maya Hawke after Amanda Plummer played her in Catching Fire. Wiress is fresh off of winning the 49th Hunger Games when she is chosen to mentor the District 12 tributes, including Haymitch, of course. Their other mentor is Mags (set to be played by Lili Taylor in Sunrise after Lynn Cohen), the victor of the 11th Hunger Games, who is later reaped during Catching Fire’s 75th Hunger Games.

Katniss Everdeen And Peeta Mellark Could Make A Cameo At The End

Along with both of Katniss Everdeen’s parents being mentioned as residents of District 12 in the book during Haymitch’s games, in the epilogue of Sunrise, the Haymitch we know from the original movies is visited by Katniss and Peeta after the events of Mockingjay to give him goose eggs. I have to wonder if Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will briefly reunite to complete Haymitch’s story at the end of Sunrise.

Now you’re pretty much ready for all the returning characters from the Hunger Games when Sunrise on the Reaping comes out. It’s coming to theaters on November 20, 2026.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is ramping up to be one of the most exciting upcoming book adaptations, and a lot of that has to do with all the great casting announcements rolling around over the past few weeks. Now, after Friday brought word that Ralph Fiennes is set to play President Snow in the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes actress Rachel Zegler had a fun reaction to the casting.

Fans of the movie franchise, of course, know Rachel Zegler played Lucy Gray Baird in the last Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which told President Snow’s villain origin story of sorts. It involved a teenage Coriolanus Snow mentoring Lucy, who becomes the District 12 tribute of the 10th Hunger Games. During the games, the pair fall in love before Snow ultimately turns on her, she escapes him, and he starts his path as Panem’s totalitarian leader.

Tom Blyth played Snow in that movie, and Donald Sutherland played the president at his oldest age in the original trilogy. Now, Fiennes is playing him at his middle age, and Rachel Zegler reacted to his casting in the funniest way, writing:

The actress made the comment on the official Instagram announcement of the casting of President Snow. It’s a hilarious comment that brings some perspective on Zegler’s side of things. Imagine playing a character who falls in love with another, and then learn a legendary actor like Ralph Fiennes is playing the same guy 40 years into the future?

Plus, Ralph Fiennes is probably best known for playing Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies. Now he’ll play another famed literary villain after the late Sutherland initially portrayed him in his 80s before Tom Blyth played him at the age of 18. In Sunrise on the Reaping, Snow is 58, which aligns very closely with Fiennes' own age of 62. So, between that and the fact that we know he can play a great villain, this is iconic casting.

Prior to Fiennes’ casting, a popular pick among fans for Snow was Donald Sutherland’s son, Kiefer Sutherland, who is perfectly aged for the role at 58. That’s not the direction Sunrise on the Reaping has decided to go with their pick for Snow. However, Fiennes is a distinguished choice who will ensure another interesting chapter of the Panem president being explored as a young Haymitch competes in the 50th Hunger Games.

The movie will also star newcomer Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove (who has a connection to Zegler’s character), McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch. Along with Ralph Fiennes being cast as Snow this week, there were a few other new announcements about Sunrise on the Reaping. Kelvin Harrison Jr. has been cast as Beetee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan and Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow.

The movie is being directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed all the other Hunger Games movies aside from the first one. He’s called it a “return to form” from the original movies due to it being closer in the timeline. That alone has got me excited, however, all this casting news makes me even more stoked for the film's November 20, 2026, release.

So, between Fiennes stepping into the role of another iconic villain, as Zegler hilariously pointed out, and all the other remarkable casting choices made, I think we're in for something special. So, stay tuned, folks.

Though it’s not set to debut on the 2025 movie schedule, the casting process for Sunrise on the Reaping is a huge event taking place on this page of the calendar. Fans of The Hunger Games have been following rather closely, while also having their own dream candidates for key roles in this Haymitch Abernathy-centric prequel.

And while the role of President Snow has finally been cast with an A-lister I’ll always show up for, there’s a huge missed opportunity that I have to talk about - as I still kind of wish it happened.

Ralph Fiennes Adds The Hunger Games To His Notorious YA Villain Trophy Case

I really cannot fault the logic that saw the powers that be casting Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes as the next iteration of President Coriolanus Snow. What’s crazy is that THR’s announcement of this Hunger Games news has actually landed on the three-year anniversary of actor Tom Blyth landing this very role in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes cast.

While commemorating this new move, producer Nina Jacobson offered the following statement:

Naturally, whenever someone mentions “Ralph Fiennes” and “YA” in the same sentence, images of his portrayal of Harry Potter’s Voldemort come flooding to mind. That’s with good reason, too, as the man used those skills that made him a chilling Nazi officer in Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust drama on a literary figure that swims in some very similar circles.

So casting through pop culture trauma is definitely a solid move, especially with this Conclave star. That being said, I have to side with the Hunger Games fans for a moment, as Sunrise on the Reaping has lost yet another prime opportunity to honor families in the performing arts.

I Still Wonder How Kiefer Sutherland Would Have Done As President Snow

I get that nepotistic casting isn’t always the answer, and I need to restate the fact that I still love Ralph Fiennes as the new President Snow. But just as loyal revolutionaries of Panem flooded TikTok hoping for Cooper Hoffman to succeed his father as the younger Plutarch Heavensbee in Sunrise on the Reaping, I was right there with them in casting Kiefer Sutherland as a younger version of his father’s menacing politician.

Once again, the actor who landed the gig is not a bad choice, especially with Jesse Plemons playing young Plutarch in this second prequel. But considering that Hoffman is another consummate performer who’s shone brightly in an Alex Garland war story, it’s another possibility that’ll live on in my head.

Even with my fan-casting brain warmed up, the potential reasons for not casting Cooper Hoffman or Kiefer Sutherland are just as valid. I wouldn't want either of them to be stressed by living up to their father’s legacies; with Hoffman previously discussing those pressures in his upcoming Stephen King film The Long Walk. It’s an unfair concept, as both men are exemplary performers in their own right, which circles right back to why they were fan-cast in the first place.

I will say, for someone who’s never been an intense fan of The Hunger Games, Ralph Fiennes’ casting as President Snow kind of inspires me to finally watch The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. There’s plenty of time to either catch up with or rewatch this landmark YA saga, as The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is set to dawn in theaters on November 20, 2026.

It’s a tragic coincidence that the late Pope Francis’ passing on Easter Monday happened so close to the recent Catholic holiday. And while there don’t seem to be any papal mysteries on the 2025 movie schedule at the moment, the 2025 Oscar winner Conclave is hitting its new streaming home, in yet another moment of coincidence. The public has certainly noticed these factors all playing out in a most peculiar way, and there have been both jokes and commentary on what this means.

While the matter of the Pope’s death and the papal conclave that will elect his successor are very serious, that hasn’t stopped people from making some light-hearted references to the news that Conclave is now available through a Prime Video subscription. As that development happened to break in this time of mourning, the conversation you’ll see in these social media reactions was bound to happen:

• “The marketing for this movie is crazy” - @firagawalkwthme
• “I guess it’s time to finally time to watch Conclave” - @QondiNtini
• “fine I’ll watch conclave. this marketing campaign is getting ridiculous” - @Niles100
• “I know Conclave has recency bias on its side, but it is funny that there was an actual movie from six years about about Pope Francis, portrayed by Jonathan Pryce in an Oscar-nominated performance, and I haven't seen a single person recommend or even mention it yet today.” - @jonathanmb32
• “Everyone who watched conclave should be able to vote for the next pope we are one of you now” - @lukasbattle
• “me and oomfs rewatching conclave tonight” - @evenstqrs

It does kind of feel weird that Conclave would overshadow the 2019 Netflix original film The Two Popes. Depicting Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) and Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) meeting upon the latter's decision to abdicate his holy seat, the story does have some potential reality-based parallels to its more recent counterpart. Though that film will probably also see an uptick in viewership, it's not exactly the sort of darling that the internet latches onto.

Meanwhile, Focus Features’ well-regarded picture focused on a Cardinal (Ralph Fiennes) overseeing a contentious papal election, has been a social media hit since it was released. Between Conclave’s all-star cast of fan favorites like Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, and the parallels between this film and Mean Girls, you couldn’t stop people from chattering about it on the internet (as proven above).

The buzz was so powerful that it saw Film Independent’s lighthearted live-reading of the script take shape with a cast that included Ayo Edebiri, Patton Oswalt, and Brett Goldstein. So the social muscles for Conclave have always been strong.

Conclave was probably always going to be a hot topic among social media fans, especially with a new streaming home. And as far as the timing is concerned, the week after Easter may have been chosen as a strategic window to avoid any sort of controversy leading up to the actual holiday. Which just goes to show that sometimes life is crazier than any situation art can throw at us.

Whether you’re looking to revisit Conclave or see it for the first time, you can currently stream that film on Prime Video. Or if you are interested in streaming The Two Popes, that picture is still available through a Netflix subscription.

There are tons of chilling and haunting moments throughout the Harry Potter movies; however, one small one that really makes me uncomfortable is when Voldemort hugs Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. The mix of sadness over Malfoy going back to his parents and the weirdness of He Who Shall Not Be Named embracing him made for quite an unsettling scene, and according to Tom Felton, it was also unsettling to film.

As I mentioned, this is an unnerving moment, and whenever I watch it happen, I wonder what it was like to play it out on set. Thankfully, Jake Hamilton asked Felton what it was like to hug Voldemort, and without hesitation, the Draco Malfoy actor said:

Listen, Voldemort is probably the last person I’d ever want a hug from. He is one of the most despicable Harry Potter characters, and Ralph Fiennes plays him in a way that truly makes him feel like he’s an untouchable, truly evil being.

What makes this moment even wilder is that it was unscripted. As Felton said, they filmed that sequence about 50 times, and his co-star only hugged him once. The fact that that was the take they chose to use in the movie makes this whole situation even more interesting.

Continuing his story, Tom Felton said that every time his co-star raised his arms while they filmed this scene, it was “terrifying,” explaining:

It’s also worth noting that this instance happened in front of the entire Harry Potter cast during a moment where it’s believed that Harry is dead and Voldemort is trying to get people to his side. When no one willingly walks over, Draco’s parents urge him to come, and he does. All of that alone is tragic and awkward, however, the hug really pushes it over the edge in a brilliant way.

I feel like Felton’s story further exemplifies why the Harry Potter movies are some of Ralph Fiennes’s best films. Even though he was “resistant” to play Voldemort at first, he ultimately said yes and gave an incredible, scary and surprising performance. This instance is proof of all that.

Overall, this scene in the final Harry Potter film is one of many that add up to create the epic conclusion that is Deathly Hallows. I love that the choice was made, and it sounds truly horrifying to be hugged by Voldemort both in that story and in real life, and I’m happy Tom Felton went through with it.

To re-watch the Harry Potter movies and this scene where Draco gets hugged by Voldemort, you can stream them all with a Max subscription.

Since the announcement of HBO's Harry Potter series, fans have had differing thoughts and opinions over the show’s existence. While some have been cautiously optimistic on the new casting, just with some understandably have stipulations for certain character designs. However, outside of the golden trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione, Voldemort has also been the subject for conversation, and I had no idea so many others felt this way.

If you’ve watched the original Harry Potter movies then of course you know this villain, who was played by Ralph Fiennes, is just as important as The Boy Who Lived. Both are crucial aspects to the book series as a whole, and considering so many in the Wizarding World are even afraid to say his name, the Dark Lord should look just as menacing. But according to a thread on Reddit, not everyone saw 'He Who Shall Not Be Named' the same way.

While the design choices for Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies was meant to minimize the use of CGI, the noseless look ended up becoming kind of a joke and meme. Apparently a collection of fans did actually find issues not just with the design, but also some of the acting choices Ralph Fiennes went with for the character.

• I def agree with the visual representation of him needing improvement. I think it’s a fine line between what’s in the book and him starting to look too much like a Marvel villain. To me he should almost look alien like. I do want to see the sunken cheeks and the red eyes this time around though for sure. I think there are ways to do the eyes that wouldn’t look too cgi and marvel-y.
• Fiennes is a great actor, but his acting in later Harry Potter movies feels “off” to me. While Voldemort is dramatic, he seems overdid it.
• He should be eternally cloaked and hooded. Show sides of his face: his hands, his cheeks, a part of his eye. Never reveal him fully, just show the audience glimpses, always from the side or the corner of the frame, like the camera itself is terrified to look at him. A visual metaphor for wizards refusing to say his name.
• Fiennes was... Ok. He wasn't scary. I hated his voice. And I agree that he seemed so weak and frail physically. I want to get the feeling of a major villain the way I feel when I see Darth Vader just standing there. He just didn't have much presence as the big bad.
• His portrayal always felt very off to me. He’s so terrifying that people don’t even say his name, even after he’s (supposedly) gone, yet he just feels like some dude in the films

Across a lot of the comments, many people attributed some of the issues with Voldemort to the lack of time the movies had to flesh him out. Some stated that his portrayal in the early movies before Goblet of Fire to be closer to how readers saw him portrayed in the books.

• I just think we didn’t get enough Voldemort in the movies to truly see the character as he is supposed to be portrayed. TV will have more time to flesh him out.
• Voldemort is supposed to be physically very frail, being described as “tall and skeletally thin”, his body “feeble and shrunken”. His portrayal was perfect in the first movie, sinister, cloaked, and hooded.
• Movie 1 & 2 did Voldy perfectly. But 4 onward? He was downright lame. His voice was all off, he wasn't nearly cruel enough

As a longtime fan of the Wizarding World since I was old enough to read, I can also admit that I was never the biggest fan of how he was portrayed in the later films. While I myself think some of the design choices were perfectly fine, I just thought if one or two things were tweaked, he would feel more menacing. At times, Voldemort just felt like a weird creepy guy than the Dark Lord, though this is not to say Ralph Fiennes did a bad job.

On the subject of who would play Voldemort in the HBO series, Fiennes has spoken in the past about how didn’t want anyone else to play Voldemort for Fantastic Beasts. However, recently he has shown his support for Cillian Murphy succeeding him, though that is far from an official announcement to who will play 'He Who Shall Not Be Named'.

Regarding casting, we recently got the announcement that John Lithgow has been selected to play Albus Dumbledore. That's it as far as actor news so far, as HBO has been quite sporadic with any updates about the series, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated as soon as more news starts flooding in.

If I had the 2025 movie schedule posted on my refrigerator door, I’d probably have a nice red circle around 28 Years Later. The same would go for the second installment of this would-be trilogy, especially now that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has a release date set for January 2026. Put 'em next to each other, and it looks like a pair of Rage-infected eyes. Like I said, I'm really jazzed about Danny Boyle's return to this modern horror classic.

Such anticipation means I’m always on the lookout for new details or news dropping about the rest of the Alex Garland scripted-legacy-quels. However, I fear I may have stumbled upon some accidental spoilers, which could involve the arrival of one fan favorite just as two newbies are leaving.

Good News: Cillian Murphy’s 28 Years Later Entrance May Have Just Been Revealed

Performer Danny Stafford, who’s billed as “Dr. Kelson’s Double” on his Spotlight CV, seems to be finished with his role in Nia DaCosta’s middle chapter in 28 Years Later’s grand story. We know as much because he made a Facebook post commemorating that fact dating back to last September; complete with some cryptic art and what looks like a photo of himself on set.

In his goodbyes, Mr. Stafford shared warm thoughts about returning legacy cast-member Cillian Murphy, complete with an inside joke from the set. While we knew Murphy wasn’t on deck for 28 Years Later, there was still a question as to when he might be popping up in this trilogy. Now depending on how deep you are in the fan community, some have actually spotted alleged photos of the Oppenheimer star shooting his return as Jim on set in the wild.

So now with Danny Stafford’s reported corroboration, we’re closer to confirming that Cillian Murphy will be back in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Though for all we know, Nia DaCosta is just filming a potential ending tag that leads into a hypothetical larger role for Jim in the final chapter.

That’s where the good news ends though, as it’s time to break some bad news that seems to be hidden right in front of our faces.

Bad News: We May Now Know Two 28 Years Later Characters Who Don’t Make It Out Of The Bone Temple

Mr. Stafford’s thank yous to the cast of 28 Years Later are pretty extensive, especially when it comes to the venerable Ralph Fiennes. With Dr. Kelson becoming “a much bigger part” in The Bone Temple, we knew that Round 2 would be a big deal for this mysterious party.

With the role scaling up, Danny Stafford’s role as a double was probably a necessity for this potentially major 28 Franchise character. Which has me wondering, is his wrapping on 28 Years Later’s first sequel a sign that Dr. Kelson dies during this adventure?

That’s not the end of the potential losses however, as a pretty major cast member is missing from Stafford’s post. Call me crazy, but the absence of Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s name in this rundown of collaborators has me thinking that his character Jamie isn’t going to live to see the curtain drop on 28 Years Later.

I know that’s a lot to talk out, which is why I must remind you that this is all speculation from my Rage-addled brain. We might learn more soon enough though, as a recent update from the Film & Television Industry Alliance alleges that the third entry in this upcoming horror movie trilogy is looking to start shooting at the end of March. For now, 28 Years Later will start us down the path to dystopian England this summer starting June 20th.

Ralph Fiennes has plenty of notable movies within his filmography, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Menu, and most recently, the Oscar-nominated movie Conclave. But, there’s no doubt that one of Fiennes' best performances comes from the Harry Potter movies, in which he played the villainous Lord Voldemort. As celebrated his Wizarding World work is, it turns out Fiennes was initially “resistant” to joining the Potter cast. Ultimately, though, someone managed to convince him otherwise.

The British actor recently appeared at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (via THR), where he discussed not having much familiarity with Harry Potter before taking on the role of Voldemort. He was one of the many Potter actors who didn’t read J.K. Rowling books or didn’t see the fantasy film series in order. Ralph Fiennes didn't get too specific as to why he wasn't hyped about playing He Who Shall Not Be Named, but he didn't hold back when recalling his sister's funny appeal to him:

I mean, if a family member is trying to convince you, then there must be something to it, right? Looking at the situation today, it would've been a shame if Ralph Fiennes had turned down Voldemort. As a fan, I can’t imagine any other actor who would have embodied the role the way the Tony Award winner did. Fiennes brought the Wizarding World antagonist to life in a stunning way, conveying his terrifying presence, whispery voice and other eccentricities. He even wore tights to move with ease while playing the role, which shows his commitment (and desire for comfortability).

Interestingly, after the Oscar nominee played the dark lord in five Harry Potter movies, he became very protective of the role. For instance, he previously confessed that he didn’t want anyone else playing Voldemort in the Fantastic Beasts movies. While those films were prequels and arguably could've used another actor in the role, one can understand the Strange Days star. I honestly love to see that he still feels close to the villainous role.

Fortunately for Wizarding World fans of this generation, HBO is creating a Harry Potter TV series that will adapt all seven books. Now, Ralph Fiennes appears to be very accepting of a remake, with his belief being that it’s time to put a new spin the iconic series. In fact, he gave his input on who should play Voldemort, and he’s all in favor of Oppenheimer’s Cillian Murphy. The Irish actor also has piercing eyes and the incredible talent to play chilling characters, and I think he’d be the ideal star to portray the Elder Wand wielder next.

Having loved Ralph Fiennes’ performance as Voldemort, I'll say thank to his sister for convincing him to take the job. Without her, audiences would've never seen Fiennes give that haunting, unforgettable performance that continues to receive praise. You can see the Golden Globe nominee wreak havoc as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films using a Max subscription and or a Peacock subscription.

Some of the biggest and best actors have never won competitive acting Oscars. Some of those names might completely shock you as they have certainly put in the performances that make them worthy of winning the awards. There are a few on this list who have won honorary Oscars or won in other categories, like directing or acting, but none of these stars have been bestowed with the one they probably want the most. So here is our list of actors and actresses who have shockingly never won an Oscar for acting.

Glenn Close

At the top of the list of actors who have shockingly never won an Oscar has to be the great Glenn Close. For decades Close has been putting amazing performances on film, and yet that golden statue has eluded her. She has won multiple Tonys, Emmys, and Golden Globe awards, yet, despite an amazing eight nominations for either Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress, she's yet to win one.

Tom Cruise

There is no bigger "movie star" on the planet than Tom Cruise. While no one would realistically expect Cruise to be nominated for his action roles like in the Mission: Impossible movies (though, his stunt work in those movies should really be acknowledged), the Top Gun star has put in the work with Oscar-worthy performances in films like Rain Man, Jerry Maguire, Born on the Fourth of July, and Magnolia. He has been nominated four times, but he's yet to take home the prize.

Angela Bassett

In 1994 Angela Bassett lost out on the Best Actress Oscar for her incredible, transformative performance as Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It. Not to take anything away from the winner, Holly Hunter for The Piano, but it's frankly astonishing Bassett didn't win. Sadly, though she was honored in 2024 by the Academy, she still has yet to win a competitive Oscar.

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp has gotten a lot of bad press in recent years and that may hurt his future chances to win an Academy Award, but frankly, it's amazing he hasn't already won multiple Oscars, and yet he's never won even one. Despite three nominations and many other amazing performances, the Pirates Of The Caribbean star is still Oscar-less.

Sigourney Weaver

It's hard to believe that Sigourney Weaver hasn't even been nominated for an Oscar since the 1980s, when she was nominated thrice. In spite of wonderful performances in huge hits like Avatar and Aliens, she's still searching for that golden statue.

Bradley Cooper

Honestly, you can almost smell the desperation on Bradley Cooper to win an Oscar and that's completely understandable. Cooper is one of the best actors of his generation and has been nominated five times in an acting category (and another seven times in other categories), but hasn't won...yet. He'll surely get one.

Annette Bening

Five nominations and no wins. That's Annette Bening's resume at the Oscars and that is shocking. For decades she's been crushing it on screen and despite those nominations, most recently in 2023 for her incredible performance in Nyad, a win has eluded her.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey may have burst on the scene in wild comedies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask - and we can argue that amazing comedic performances don't get nearly enough love from the Academy - but his more serious roles, like in Man on the Moon and even The Truman Show are certainly worthy of Oscars. Despite multiple Golden Globe nominations and wins, the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind actor has never even been nominated for an Oscar.

Amy Adams

When Amy Adams was first nominated for an Academy Award in 2005 for her breakthrough performance in Junebug, a betting person would have bet everything that she would win an Oscar in her career. Yet here we are more than 20 years later and despite five more nominations, Adams is still Oscar-less.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has played every kind of character and starred in every kind of movie. From mega-franchises like Star Wars and the MCU, to more indie films like Pulp Fiction and Do The Right Thing, Jackson has done it all in Hollywood, except win a competitive Oscar and he's shockingly only been nominated once. He was honored by the Academy in 2021 for his body of work.

Scarlett Johansson

In 2020 Scarlett Johansson was nominated in both the Bet Actress category for Marriage Story and Best Supporting Actress for Jojo Rabbit. She lost out in both that year and despite an incredible career, they remain her only nominations.

Laurence Fishburne

Literally, since his breakout movie role when he was only 16 in Apocalypse Now, Laurence Fishburne has been putting in award-worthy performances. One of the most astonishing facts on this list, Fishbourne has only been nominated once, for What's Love Got to Do with It in 1994. Despite roles like Furious Styles in Boyz n The Hood, Professor Phipps in Higher Learning, and countless others, he still hasn't won.

Hugh Jackman

While he's best known for his work as Wolverine these days, the multi-talented Hugh Jackman has a ton of performances that have deserved more attention from the Academy. He's won every other award on the planet, including three of the "EGOT" awards, but he's still missing the "O."

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams has been nominated for an Academy Award five times, starting with her breakout role in 2005's Brokeback Mountain. She has yet to break through with a win though. Certainly, she will at some point, right?

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan was just 13 years old when she landed her first Oscar nomination for her performance in Atonement. The Lady Bird star has been nominated three subsequent times but hasn't been able to nail down an award yet. A win for Ronan at some point seems inevitable, given how she crushes every role she's in.

Matt Damon

Another one of the biggest movie stars in the world who has yet to win an acting Oscar is Matt Damon. His most recent of three acting nominations was for 2015's The Martian, and while he has won an Oscar for Best Screenplay for Good Will Hunting, an acting award has eluded him.

Salma Hayek

Despite her transcending performance in Frida, the great Salma Hayek wasn't able to win an Oscar in a stacked category in 2003 (Nicole Kidman won for The Hours). Despite numerous great performances, that remains Hayak's only nomination. For shame.

Willem Dafoe

Despite being one of the most reliable actors in Hollywood for more than four decades, somehow Willem Dafoe has yet to win an Oscar. It seems like every single role he takes on is award-worthy, and yet, despite four nominations, starting with Platoon, he still has yet to take home an Academy Award.

Carey Mulligan

2009's An Education garnered Carey Mulligan her first Oscar nom, and she's since nominated another couple of times, for Promising Young Woman in 2021 and Maestro in 2024. She's run into some stiff competition, but surely at least one of those performances was Oscar-worthy.

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo has been acting his butt off for decades. For that hard work, he's received four Best Supporting Actor nominations, and shockingly, not for his work in Dark Waters, which might be his best performance of all. It's confounding.

Michelle Pfeiffer

The great Michelle Pfeiffer landed her first Oscar nomination in 1988 for Dangerous Liaisons and picked up two more for The Fabulous Baker Boys in 1989 and Love Field in 1992. Since then? Nothing. Zip. She has not even received a nomination as one of the best actresses of her generation. That has to be remedied, as it makes no sense.

Ralph Fiennes

Between 1996 when he was nominated for The English Patient and 2025 when he was nominated for Conclave, the great Ralph Fiennes wasn't even nominated for an Oscar despite countless award-worthy performances.

Naomi Watts

With two nominations and zero wins, Naomi Watts finds herself on this list. She was first nominated in 2004 for 21 Grams and again in 2013 for The Impossible, but she hasn't lucked out with a win yet. Surely one is in her future though, she's too much of a force not to win one.

Ryan Gosling

Year after year Ryan Gosling has put up fantastic performances, so his inclusion on this list is among the most surprising. He seems like a shoo-in to have won at least one Oscar, right? In not for Barbie or Half Nelson, both of which he was nominated for, then certainly for La La Land. Alas, he's yet to take home a trophy.

Alfre Woodard

When Alfre Woodard was nominated for her first (and to-date only) Oscar nomination way back in 1983 for Cross Creek, you'd be crazy to predict she would not get another one for what is now more than 40 years. Despite amazing performances in films like 12 Years A Slave and many others, she has been shut out.

Warren Beatty

There was no bigger movie star than Warren Beatty in the late '70s and '80s and despite a slew of hits, Beatty has never won an Oscar. Beatty has been nominated four times for Best Actor, yet his only Academy Award win came for Best Director for Reds in 1982. He didn't even win for Dick Tracy! He wasn't actually nominated for that iconic role though, which is understandable.

Laura Linney

Over her long, impressive career, Laura Linney has been nominated for many awards. She's won multiple Emmys and multiple Golden Globes, but she's never taken home a golden statue from the Academy. Linney has been nominated three times, for 2000's You Can Count on Me, 2004's Kinsey, and 2007's The Savages, but lost out each time. Linney has never been in a movie that has won Best Picture, either.

Ed Harris

Ed Harris is one of the best character actors of the last 50 years and yet he's never won an Oscar. He's been nominated three times for Best Supporting Actor, for Apollo 13, The Truman Show, and The Hours, plus picking a nomination for Best Actor for Pollock, but alas, he's never won. Weirdly, he's also 0-3 on Emmy nominations too. He has picked up two Golden Globes though.

Joan Allen

Joan Allen is an actress flies a little under the radar despite putting in amazing performances in everything she is in. It might because she's been incredibly unlucky at winning awards, despite multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG nominations. That luck includes her Oscar nominations, of which she has three, for Nixon, The Crucible, and The Contender, but sadly no wins.

Richard Gere

Despite being box office gold since the early 1980s, Richard Gere has shockingly never been even nominated for an Oscar. He's been in beloved movies that have stood the test of time like Pretty Woman, An Officer And A Gentleman, Primal Fear, Runaway Bride and so many more, but no nominations. Crazy.

Isabelle Huppert

It might not be a huge surprise that a French actress like Isabelle Huppert hasn't won an Oscar, as obviously the winners are almost always from English-language films. Still, Huppert is one of the most decorated actresses of all time in her native France, having been nominated 16 times (and winning twice) for the César Award (France's version of the Academy Awards). She was nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for Elle but lost to Emma Stone (for La La Land).

Paul Dano

It almost seems pre-ordained that at some point Paul Dano will win an Oscar. In performance after performance, he just crushes it. From There Will Be Blood to Love & Mercy, the list of his amazing performances just keeps growing. Like others on this list, the fact that he hasn't even been nominated for an Oscar is mindboggling.

The horror business is booming in the market of 2025 movies. And in my personal opinion, I’d be putting the crown on the metaphorical head of 28 Years Later, an upcoming horror movie I’ve been waiting to see for almost that exact amount of time. The cloud of mystery surrounding this potential trilogy of legacy-quels is part of the allure, especially when you have actors like Ralph Fiennes teasing their new characters.

Conclave’s star has been especially fun to observe in action, as Fiennes’ previous 28 Years Later remarks laid out quite a foundation for what to expect from his role of Dr. Kelson. Pitching him as a “force for good” certainly counters some people’s expectation for what he might be doing in the virus ravaged UK. And yet, when Ralph Fiennes offered this update to Empire, it kind of gave me pause:

On the outside, that might not feel like too much of a red flag. One sort of read on this 28 Years Later character cooked up by writer Alex Garland is that he’s similar to Nosferatu’s Professor Von Franz (Willem Dafoe). This could very well be a scientific crackpot whose “out there” outlook could be considered so by the new society that’s formed in an England that’s been isolated from the world for almost three decades.

It took a little while for me to roll those words around in my head, but eventually I realized why Ralph Fiennes’ comments gave me a little bit of unease. To explain that, I’ll need to share with you a clip from 28 Days Later:

Survival, and what people have to do in order to ensure it, is a theme that’s always permeated the 28 franchise. With Alex Garland admitting “time” is 28 Years Later’s plot engine, surely the line between what’s barbaric and what’s justified in being “a force for good” has shifted, right?

Another piece of context for this character comes from director Danny Boyle, who will be handling the helming duties for the first and third entries of 28 Years Later’s trilogy. When speaking about how Ralph Fiennes’ character develops in Nia DaCosta’s middle entry The Bone Temple, the Trainspotting director shared this:

Maybe I’m overreacting and Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Kelson really is a force for good, who, at his worst, may have a rough edge and uncompromising survival instinct. That’s exactly what we saw Cillian Murphy turn into at the end of the original 28 Days Later, as Jim’s mild mannered nature was challenged in the third act.

Of course, now I’m wondering if the good doctor somehow fits into my theory about Jim’s role in 28 Years Later. Honestly, if I don’t cut myself off now, I might keep you good folks here the whole night. So just know that 28 Years Later kicks off with its first chapter’s arrival in theaters on June 20th, with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple landing in theaters on January 16th, 2026.

A Harry Potter series is officially happening on HBO is such a hard concept to wrap my head around. I’m so used to the Harry Potter movies and the stellar cast that that I can’t imagine a new cast and Wizarding World coming into play in my 2026 streaming schedule. While I may be personally weirded out by Harry Potter’s upcoming television remake, Lord Voldemort’s Ralph Fiennes is here to take us to school.

The Harry Potter films were a big part of my childhood, as it was my mission to see each movie the week it came out. Because Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and more veteran British actors portrayed the J.K. Rowling characters so well, it’s hard to believe there’ll be a new cast holding those wands episode-by-episode. While I may be weirded out at the idea of Harry Potter becoming an HBO series, Ralph Fiennes was here to school me and ET (via @infocmbr) during 2025’s Golden Globes on why a made-for-TV series of the boy wizard's adventures is a good idea:

Ralph Fiennes makes a lot of sense. It’s been over a decade since the final Harry Potter film, The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, came out. Maybe it’s time that the next generation experiences what my generation went through awaiting each installment. Considering I had to wait a year or two for each film to land in theaters, new fans will have it easy only having to wait each week for a new episode until the next season.

It’s clear that Ralph Fiennes still has a deep affection for his villainous Harry Potter character. When the Fantastic Beasts film series was rolling in 2019, the British actor said he didn’t want anyone to reprise Voldemort for the prequel franchise except for himself. The Tony Award winner did go down in history as being the first to portray He Who Shall Not Be Named, so it makes sense to find it weird to see anyone else portray the role.

But as time has passed since then with a Harry Potter TV show underway, Ralph Fiennes said he’s willing to hand over his wand to Cillian Murphy, calling him a “fantastic actor.” As the Irish actor has an acting history of playing complex roles in Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer, I’m sure the Oscar winner can pull off the famed antagonist role. I hope he knows that means he’ll have to lose the nose and wear tights like Fiennes did.

What we know so far about the upcoming HBO series is that casting will be going down in April to find 9-11-year-olds to play the magical trio. Succession’s Francesca Gardiner will be the series’ showrunner and Game of Thrones director Mark Mylod will direct multiple episodes. Speaking of Game of Thrones, the new Harry Potter series is expected to have the same budget as the Emmy-winning show. While we don’t know yet if each season will cover each book, the 2026 series plans to be released within the course of a decade.

It still seems like a weird concept that Harry Potter will be remade into a TV series, but Ralph Fiennes has a point that a new approach to the beloved fantasy series may be what this new generation of fans needs. Plus, David Heyman, who produced the film series, said the new show will present a more accurate portrayal of the books. This will be amazing for book fans like myself who will find book scenes that didn’t make their way into the movies come to life in the TV series.

Until the new HBO series comes in 2026, you can watch the film series that started it all with your Max subscription and Peacock subscription.

To put it mildly, Jennifer Lopez is an icon, whose career spans music, film and TV. When it comes to the silver screen, the 55-year-old multihyphenate has starred in memorable films, from Selena and Anaconda to Monster-in-Law and Hustlers. Another one of her most beloved films is the sweet 2002 romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan. Considering how popular the movie remains, many were ecstatic when Lopez recently reunited with co-star Ralph Fiennes and, afterwards, she penned a sweet message that provided hope for a sequel.

JLo was honored at Variety’s Creative Impact Awards in Palm Springs this weekend. The actress and songstress was specifically honored with the organization’s Legend and Groundbreakers due to her performance in the sports drama Unstoppable and her career in general. It was Ralph Fiennes, who presented her with the award and he paid a sweet tribute to his co-star in the process. Subsequently, the Marry Me star posted that speech to Instagram and wrote a lovely message:

That entire sentiment is very sweet, and it goes without saying that it was lovely to see the two actors cross paths after all these years. What really seemed to grab fans’ attention, though, was the “Love Don't Cost a Thing” singer implying that she wouldn’t be opposed to a sequel to their early 2000s film. A number of devotees flooded the comments section, where they shared excitement over the notion of a follow-up:

• Did THEE legend just say maid in Manhattan 2 maybe?😏 We need that - _jlothaqueen
• We need Maid In Manhattan 2 please 😍😍❤️❤️ - meeladelsol
• Maid In Manhattan 2 ?? OH YES PLEASE I AM ALREADY SEATED 🙇🏽‍♀️😍 - jxlo.lxpezx
• Maid in Manhattan 2 👁️👄👁️ Omg I need - camilanaiara18
• Let’s get that script going! ✍🏼 - divoandthecity

Directed by Wayne Wang and written by John Hughes (under a pseudonym) and Kevin Wade, Maid in Manhattan centers around hotel maid and single mother Marisa (Jennifer Lopez), who falls in love with senatorial candidate Chris (Ralph Fiennes). Marisa ultimately manages to convince Chris that she’s a wealthy socialite but must jump through hoops to keep up the ruse. While the film’s reviews were lackluster, it hit it big at the box office, earning $154.9 million worldwide against a reported $55 million budget.

Some may argue that the movie isn't in the top five when it comes to JLo’s best rom-coms, but it has certainly managed to charm audiences over the years. While the prospect of a sequel would apparently be exciting to some, one still has to consider what the film would be about. I’m honestly not sure what Marisa and Chris would be up to today, though I’m sure some producers could come up with an idea.

Of course, this is all just an idea right now, though it’s possible that a sequel to Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes’ film could come to fruition. After all, the past several years have seen multiple films receive follow-ups, and some of the sequels no one asked for have proved to be quite good. We’ll have to wait and see if Lopez and Fiennes receive the opportunity to reprise their roles. However, in the meantime, it’s just lovely to see the two reconnect amid awards season.

Maid in Manhattan is currently available to stream with a Netflix subscription. Also, be sure to keep your eyes peeled on the 2025 movie schedule, as it’ll feature new releases from both Mr. Fiennes and Ms. Lopez.

When it comes to casting the new Harry Potter series HBO is making, every role comes with a heavy weight, because the characters and actors who played them in the original films are beloved. However, recently, Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes was asked who should play The Dark Lord in the new adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s book series, and he was “all in favor of” one stellar Oscar-winning actor.

Since the announcement of the show, there’s been a bunch of chatter about who will be cast as the legendary Harry Potter characters. Plus, there has been tons of fan casting – for example, many would love to see Andrew Garfield play Lupin. Then, recently, news broke that Mark Rylance was a frontrunner for Dumbledore, marking the first major moment in this casting journey. Now, the original Voldemort, Ralph Fiennes, has voiced his support for Cillian Murphy taking over the role of the story’s big bad, saying the following on Watch What Happens Live:

This answer was in response to fans asking the Conclave star who he’d like to see play He Who Shall Not Be Named. They had thrown the Oppenheimer actor’s name in the ring, and in response, Fiennes enthusiastically supported the pitch for his 28 Years Later co-star.

Honestly, I get why he did too.

In the Harry Potter movies, The Menu performer plays Voldemort in a very quiet, subdued and collected way. That adds an ominous and genuinely creepy energy to the character as he slithers around the Wizarding World regaining his strength and working to defeat Harry Potter. Knowing Murphy’s work from Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer, he 100% has the energy needed to pull off this complex and truly evil role.

Plus, it’d be fun to see this actor take on such an iconic part.

Considering The Grand Budapest Hotel performer was part of the Harry Potter cast from Voldemort’s rise in Goblet of Fire through his demise in Deathly Hallows and said movies are some of the 2000's best, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the Dark Lord. Plus, we know it will take a powerful actor to pull off this iconic role.

I think Cillian Murphy has what it takes, though.

However, Ralph Fiennes's stamp of approval is nowhere near an official announcement, and odds are we’ll have to wait a very long time before we find out who is playing Voldemort. This is because the character is not in his full form until the fourth book/movie. Therefore, it wouldn’t make much sense to cast him at the start (unless they want to use that actor’s voice or likeness in Sorcerer’s Stone when Voldemort's revealed to be on the back of Professor Quirrell’s head).

So, while we wait for official casting news and updates about this upcoming Harry Potter series, let’s keep our fingers crossed that they’ll make great choices like the one the original Voldemort actor supported. Meanwhile, if you’d like to go back and watch Ralph Fiennes as the legendary villain, you can stream the Harry Potter movies with a Peacock subscription or Max subscription.

Lord Voldemort is one of the smartest villains of all time, so it’s no surprise his wardrobe matches his vibe. An oversized billowing black robe can only do so much, and the man who played "He Who Shall Not Be Named," Ralph Fiennes, recently talked about wearing tights while playing the role. Fiennes specifically revealed why he wore them when portraying the fictitious foe, and the amount of changes that went into those tights is surprising. However, I totally get why they were made.

The 61-year-old actor has been a semi-regular face amid the 2024 movie schedule. One of his most successful titles is the exciting mystery film Conclave, which CinemaBlend praised. He's been promoting that thriller film and recently chatted about tit on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live. Fiennes, of course, still fields questions about playing Harry’s nemesis regularly, and Cohen was interested to know more about his wardrobe, specifically, his tights. Via People, Fiennes was frank about the accessory, saying of the undergarment:

If you're like Ralph Fiennes, me or anyone else who has ever donned the piece of clothing, you probably already know where this is going. The Grand Budapest Hotel alum is alluding to how uncomfortable tights can get while wearing them for long periods of time. Whether they're shifting around, don’t breathe well, etc. they can be a bit of a logistical nightmare.

The actor and producer revealed exactly what was wrong with his pair and how the costumers modified the essential Voldemort accessory. Apparently, the costume piece transformed into something way more comfortable and didn’t rely on the tights’ waistband for stability:

Who knew Lord Voldemort was so old fashioned when it came to his choice of attire? But, seriously, a garter belt to clip on in order uphold each tight stocking is so much better and more flexible than a traditional pair. I’m relieved to hear that everything came together for the fan-favorite actor. Otherwise, he may not have been so jovial on set due to being uncomfortable.

The Schindler’s List alum has found much success since the end of his Wizarding World days. I, for one, am definitely looking forward to the anticipated sequel 28 Years Later, especially after Fiennes' revealing update. The film is set to hit theaters amid the 2025 movie release schedule. Considering his role as a doctor in that movie, I'd assume that Fiennes didn't have any precarious costuming situations on that set. And, with tights, garter, and the rest of his Voldemort costume now part of his past, let's hope the Oscar nominee doesn't have any more of those moments.

If you’d like to watch Lord Voldemort in all his evil glory, stream the Harry Potter film series with a Peacock subscription or a Max subscription.

Director Edward Berger’s Conclave is a fascinating thriller. The story centers on cardinals of the Catholic Church gathering in Vatican City to elect a new pope, and though the religious organization is meant to be built on piousness and faith, the men engage in a battle for power full of betrayal and secrets. At the center of this madness is Ralph Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence, and he offers a fascinating perspective for the film, as his arc isn’t about ambition: it’s about being a witness.

I had the great pleasure of asking Ralph Fiennes about the special role earlier this month during the virtual press day for Conclave (which is now playing in theaters), and I asked both him and Edward Berger about the great contrast at the center of the film. I noted that Cardinal Lawrence is an audience surrogate as the drama unfolds, and the actor found that to be an apt take, saying,

In Conclave, Cardinal Lawrence is given the authority to oversee and manage the titular group for the papal election, but it’s a position he is vexed by as a result of a diminished personal faith in the makeup of the modern Catholic Church. Needless to say, his faith is not restored by his colleagues’ demonstrated desire for power, their backbiting, and their attempts to overtly dictate the philosophical future of the religion.

Continuing, Ralph Fiennes credited his director for giving him the space and opportunity to do what was required for the character in the performance – which put an emphasis on Cardinal Lawrence listening to others:

Of course, what Ralph Fiennes was witnessing on set was a collection of phenomenal performances from some of the best fellow actors currently working today – including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.

One of the best films of the year, Conclave is now playing in theaters everywhere, and it’s a movie that you are going to want to see as soon as possible. As I wrote about in my five-star CinemaBlend review, the twist ending of the film is a jaw-dropper, and there is no better way to avoid spoilers than by just going to see the movie.

28 Days Later was a unique take on the zombie concept that, and it garnered praise from fans and critics alike over 20 years ago. The film received one sequel in 2007, 28 Weeks Later, and fans later hoped for a threequel. Well, now, not only will they receive a third movie with 28 Years Later, which is on the 2025 movie schedule, but they can also look forward to multiple new films. Cast member Ralph Fiennes just shared some details regarding what can be expected, and he's getting me pumped for what's to come.

It was known that 28 Years Later would act as some sort of direct sequel to 28 Days Later, with Cillian Murphy set to reprise his role from the original film. Still, up to this point, the exact plot of the new movie, or movies (with three being planned) was unclear. While speaking with IndieWire, Ralph Fiennes revealed that he will be playing a doctor in the new movies, and he explained how his character fits into the overall story. Fiennes said…

Each of the previous two films focused on different people who simply tried to survive in the new world they had been subjected to. Interestingly, the new film will center on a character who apparently have never known any other world. It’s actually a very intriguing concept that we don’t see often and will likely set 28 Years Later apart amongst zombie movies. Writer Alex Garland revealed that time will be a major element in the latest films, which makes this even more interesting.

As the title indicates, 28 Years Later will take place decades after the initial infection, and it seems that the dangerous creatures (which used to be human beings) will still pose major threats to anybody trying to navigate the world. While the new film will feature both franchise veterans and new faces, from what we can assess, the latter group of characters will truly take center stage.

Ralph Fiennes also revealed that the producers are wasting no time in plotting out the trilogy of new films. It was known that the first movie had already completed filming but, apparently, the second film has as well. That's exciting news and, hopefully, these upcoming flicks will live up to the high standard set by the original movie.

While 28 Days Later is not currently available to stream, 28 Weeks Later can be accessed using a Paramount+ subscription.

The world was saddened by the announcement of Dame Maggie Smith’s death a few weeks ago. Since then, friends, family and past colleagues have continued to share their condolences and fond memories of the late British icon. Out of all her movies, most know her from the Harry Potter films as Professor Minerva McGonagall. Most recently, none other than Voldemort himself shared a great tidbit about his experience with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie actress.

Ralph Fiennes spent six years as the sinister antagonist in the Wizarding World, quite opposite to Smith’s revered head of Gryffindor House. Though they played adversaries, they were very friendly on set. The Conclave actor was recently asked by Entertainment Tonight what it was like filming Harry Potter with the Gosford Park actress, and he revealed it to be quite comforting, saying:

Despite both being prominent British actors, Ralph Fiennes only worked with Maggie Smith in the Wizarding World franchise, but it’s clear she had an impact on him. Even in this brief anecdote, her charm and humor shines through. An ironic side eye is even something I can picture Professor McGonagall doing, but it turns out that’s all Maggie. The Sister Act actress had a special way of transmitting her own personality in her fictional portrayals.

In all the tributes following Smith’s death, her former co-stars made sure to emphasize that “lethal humor” The Menu actor is talking about. This is especially true for the young actors in Harry Potter, who she clearly had a huge influence on from a young age. To them, Smith was a maternal figure in a way, putting their nerves at ease and guiding them with kindness in what is such a tough industry. From their tributes on Instagram, they all felt very close to her, especially Daniel Radcliffe who worked with her on his very first set. Smith later referred him to play the Boy Who Lived, so we have her to thank for our beloved Harry Potter. I can’t imagine the magical films without both of them.

Of course, I can’t picture anyone else playing the sinister villain Voldemort either, and to think Ralph Fiennes almost turned it down. Fiennes' catalog of movies is pretty impressive, but I’d argue a main role in the Harry Potter films will be any actor’s legacy. I’m sure now the Skyfall actor’s quite glad for the films given it allowed him to work alongside the Downton Abbey legend, given he wished he could have experienced more of her talent. He continued:

It's a great loss indeed. Maggie Smith brought so much life to the screen and continued to do so as recent as 2023 at age 88 in The Miracle Club. She always did what she loved, acting, no matter the circumstance. She even filmed some of the Harry Potter movies while actively undergoing chemotherapy. Had they offered her a role in the new Harry Potter series at 89, even if it was just a cameo, I like to think she would have taken it.

On that note, whoever is cast as McGonagall in the Max television adaptation of the beloved series will have some big shoes to fill. I know Max will honor this character and her original actress well, as they have already started to do. I recently sat down to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and teared up when I saw they wasted no time adding an In Memoriam message before the title screen. You can see the message for yourself as well as enjoy some of Maggie’s best performances in the Wizarding World franchise from start to finish with a Max subscription.

[NOTE: This review is partially adapted from my reaction to Conclave following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival]

Arriving just in time for award’s season, Edward Berger’s Conclave can be likened to a wolf in sheep’s clothing. With its bevvy of respected and acclaimed stars and story centering on the Catholic Church, you may get the impression at a quick glance that it’s a stuffy, dry drama, but that would be a major misconception; this is a riveting, gorgeous political thriller with razor sharp teeth. As someone whose knowledge about papal elections extends to knowing the differences between the black smoke and the white smoke, I hung on every delicious revelation and twist during my screening, and my face of awe and surprise morphed into an ear-to-ear grin witnessing what is unquestionably one of the best endings in 2024 cinema.

Berger’s follow-up to the acclaimed All Quiet On The Western Front, the film is a stunner that is phenomenal in every respect – from the genius performances by the brilliant ensemble cast to breathtaking production design, costuming and cinematography that leaves you wanting to hit pause and frame stills for your walls. It’s a work of art set within a specific world, but it’s also an awesome reflection of modernity and where we are in 21^st century society.

Based on the book of the same name by author Robert Harris, the film centers on Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who finds himself with the responsibility of conducting a papal conclave following the death of the pope – a responsibility he wishes to refuse given a recent crisis of faith in the operation of the Catholic Church. Initially, it seems as though the sequestered election in Vatican City is a two-horse race between the well-liked and modest Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), who is expected to further the progressive movement of the church, and the ultra-conservative Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto). But it only takes the first round of ballots to throw everything into disarray and into the realm of the unexpected.

In addition to far more nominees being named and getting support than expected, including Lawrence himself, there are controversies that swirl around candidate Cardinals Tremblay (John Lithgow) and Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), and there is also the mysterious arrival Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz), an in pectore cardinal who arrives from Kabul, Afghanistan. Over time, masks come off and secrets are revealed, and in contrast to the organization’s image of piousness and faith, the men scrape and claw at one another for the chance at grasping power, and Lawrence stands at the center as horrified witness.

Conclave is a gripping thriller that always keeps you guessing at what revelation is coming next.

If you're a fan of the outstanding television series Succession, you're going to find that Conclave hits a lot of the same buttons of intrigue (albeit on the whole, the characters are far less contemptable). The thirst for power rears its head in many forms as men vie to be the leader of the Catholic Church, and the constant stream of politicking, backbiting and exposés is enthralling. Dynamics are always shifting with each new ballot that is cast over the course of several days, and while the collection of cardinals is meant to be cut off from the rest of the world, there is a persistent flow of fresh intrigue that keeps the audience guessing – with Isabella Rossellini’s furtive Sister Agnes operating her own levers amid the drama.

Given the bounded scale of the story, Conclave puts all of its energy into establishing the various personalities, which not only enhances the intrigue but also creates the stakes. Whether it's because of what certain political stances might mean for the future of the church or because of what some of the men are willing to do to win the election, you clearly understand that some of these people should most definitely not be named as the new pope, and the audience gains a hunger to see potential power ripped from their grasp (again, I'll make a Succession comparison).

Can anyone really be surprised Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini assemble as one of the best ensemble casts of 2024?

Bringing these complex characters to life are actors whose names you're going to be hearing a lot in the coming months, as they are going to be big parts of the upcoming 2024 awards season chatter. Ralph Fiennes is the amazing lynchpin of the ensemble, wearing intense stress and burden on his face as Cardinal Lawrence orchestrates the titular papal election while not recognizing his own place in the church’s future beyond it, but Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, Isabella Rossellini and Lucian Msamati deliver some of the best supporting actor performances of the year. It's stunning in reflection to recognize the extent to which our perspectives on their roles change from the film's beginning to end, and in that way, we are Cardinal Lawrence.

Conclave is a visual feast with awe-inspiring design.

While your brain is wrapped around the constantly evolving election drama in Conclave, your eyes are bathed in remarkable aesthetic beauty. The movie may only see its characters occupying a limited number of locations, but there isn’t a hint of visual fatigue as the film is constantly presenting bold and impressive imagery. With great credit going to cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine and costume designer Lisy Christl, the contrasts of red and white are vivid and gorgeous, and there are individual shots that breathtakingly evoke paintings of the renaissance (and Edward Berger delightfully lets you enjoy the moment).

If the described quality of Conclave here doesn’t convince you to go see it immediately, what hopefully should is the fact that it features one of the best twist endings in recent memory, and you’re not going to want to have it spoiled for you (ironically, had me whispering, "Holy shit!" aloud when the truth comes to light). With two months left in the year, it still feels a touch early to make too bold proclamations reflecting on 2024 as a whole, but I nonetheless with unabashedly say that it’s one of the year’s greatest cinematic experiences.

The next addition to the Hunger Games franchise is on the way, and we're about eight months away from heading back into the dystopian world of Panem with The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping. It is certainly one of the most anticipated book-to-screen adaptations on the 2026 movie schedule.

If you're new here or don't keep close watch over The Hunger Games franchise, we've got you covered. The successful franchise has expanded its lore into the world far beyond the original story trilogy of books. First, the four successful films were adapted from The Hunger Games trilogy; there was an earlier prequel released in 2023 titled The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

That film was successful, so it was only a matter of time before another story within the world of The Hunger Games would be told. That movie is soon approaching, so here's everything we know about another prequel, Sunrise On The Reaping, set between the original series and Songbirds and Snakes, including the release date, the cast (including some very exciting news about Jennifer Lawrence), and more.

What Is The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Release Date?

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released in theaters on November 20, 2026. Getting a release so close to the holidays hopefully means good things about the movie, and that everyone involved believes it'll be a hit. Recently, the writer of Sunrise On The Reaping, Billy Ray, sat down with CinemaBlend and was asked bluntly if this would be the final movie in the franchise. His response was... maybe? Here's what he told us:

Ray not only wrote this latest installment of the series, but the first movie as well, so he has his pulse on the franchise. It all comes down to author Suzanne Collins, according to Ray:

Right now, Collins hasn't announced another book after Sunrise, so I guess we'll just have to see what the future holds after November.

The First Trailer Has Been Released

The first trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping dropped in April 2026, and we've gotten our first good look at a lot of the characters. Check out the teaser trailer released late last year:

It's hard not to get excited after seeing this. Let's go!

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Is A Prequel

The movie is based on the 2025 novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins, who, of course, wrote the original trilogy. The book follows the 50th annual Hunger Games, 24 years before the Hunger Games in the first book and movie, where Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) began her revolution against The Capitol, and in honor of it, twice as many tributes are picked to play.

We know a little about the 50th edition of the games because we know the winner was Haymitch Abernathy. Haymitch, of course, was played by Woody Harrelson in the original series. In that series, he is a pretty broken man, but he gets himself together to help Katniss and Peeta. He is one of only two winners to ever come from District 12 before Katniss and Peeta both won the 74th edition in the first Hunger Games.

So, the movie is set 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games trilogy and begins on the morning of the Second Quarter Quell, when we find out there will be twice the usual number of tributes for these games. Four from each district, instead of the usual two.

The first four Hunger Games movies followed the story of Katniss Everdeen, a tribute to the 74th Hunger Games, who broke the system and ended up starting a revolution against the Capitol. The prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, followed the origin story of the main villain of The Hunger Games series, Coriolanus Snow.

Now, we're going to get Haymitch's story, which is a great way to continue this franchise. Haymitch has always been a character that people loved in the first trilogy, so it would make sense that this would be the next story to tell.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Cast

The cast of Sunrise on the Reaping is, in a word, fantastic. It's a mix of up-and-comers and established veteran stars. Many of the characters we know from the original movies will be in this one, albeit younger versions of themselves, including President Snow (Donald Sutherland in the original series; Tom Blythe in Songbirds & Snakes), Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks originally), Plutarch Heavensbee, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman first, and Caesar Flickerman, who was played by Stanley Tucci in the originals. Here's everyone we know so far:

Joseph Zada As Haymitch Abernathy

The hero of the movie, Haymitch Abernathy, is being played by Joseph Zada. Zada has worked in television, but this promises to be a big breakout for the young actor. Haymitch, of course, was played by Woody Harrelson in the original films, and Zada certainly looks the part of the hero before his PTSD dragged him down in later life, as we saw with Harrelson's version of the character.

Mckenna Grace As Maysilee Donner

Maysilee Donner, played by McKenna Grace, is Haymitch's fellow District 12 tribute and his ally in the games. Grace may just be 19 years old, but she's already got a long resume that goes back more than a decade with appearances in movies like I, Tonya, Gifted, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and its sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, as well as 2025's Five Nights at Freddy's 2.

Ralph Fiennes As President Coriolanus Snow

One of the most important characters in the franchise is President Coriolanus Snow, and to reflect that, once again, they cast a heavyweight in the role, none other than the great Ralph Fiennes. I can't wait to find out where he takes the menacing villain. Snow, of course, was originally played by Donald Sutherland, who passed away in 2024.

Jesse Plemons As Plutarch Heavensbee

I think it's safe to say that most will agree that Jesse Plemons is the perfect actor to cast for a young Plutarch Heavensbee, following in the footsteps of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not only does he have the acting chops on the same level as Hoffman, but he bears quite a resemblance to the late actor who played the character originally.

Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle

Oh boy, does this one look fun! Legend Glenn Close is playing Drusilla Sickle, the Capitol chaperone, like Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks, originally) was in the first movies. I have no idea how over the top this performance will be, but I can't wait to find out. Her appearance in the trailer is magical, and working with her must have been a treat for all the actors on set.

Elle Fanning As Effie Trinket

Speaking of Effie Trinket, she will be played by Elle Fanning in the Sunrise on the Reaping. After how amazing Banks was in the originals, these are big shoes to fill, but we're confident the 2026 Oscar nominee is up to the task.

Kieran Culkin As Caesar Flickerman

Caesar Flickerman, played by Stanley Tucci originally, will be played by Kieran Culkin, which seems like it could be perfect. Culkin usually plays characters with a little edge to them, and Caesar, at least Tucci's version, was pretty smooth. I'm really curious to see how this works out, but Caesar, the host with the most, with a little more edge, could be a lot of fun!

Maya Hawke As Wiress

Wiress, who won the 49th Hunger Games (one year earlier than when this movie is set), will be played by Maya Hawke. In the previous movies, she was played by Amanda Plummer.

There are quite a few big-name actors who we know will appear in some new and returning characters, as well:

• Billy Porter as Magno Stift
• Iris Apatow as Proserpina Trinket
• Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier
• Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan
• Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow
• Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird
• Jefferson White as Mr. McCoy
• Edvin Ryding as Vitus

We also know from a report in December 2025 in The Hollywood Reporter that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will be reprising their roles as Katniss and Peeta. How that will work, as those characters have yet to be born in the era in which Sunrise is set, I have no idea, but I'm very cool with the idea!

It also opens up the idea of other possible cameos from the original films. The first that comes to mind is Julianne Moore as Alma Coin. I don't want to see the movie totally fall into fan service like that, but a few cameos would be great.

Francis Lawrence Is The Director

Director Francis Lawrence is once again going to be at the helm of this film. This will be the fourth time he will be in the director's chair for a Hunger Games movie.

Lawrence is responsible for not only the prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, but also the second film, Catching Fire, and both parts of Mockingjay in the original Hunger Games movies. The only one that he did not direct was the first film, which came from director Gary Ross.

Lawrence has also worked on other films outside of The Hunger Games movies, including the Will Smith-led I Am Legend and the romantic drama Water for Elephants, as well as Constantine. His most recent film, The Long Walk, was one of CinemaBlend's favorite movies of 2025.

The film wrapped principal photography in November 2025, so it's off to the editing room for the production team, and into the waiting room for fans of the series. Hopefully, we'll see a new full trailer soon, and when we do, we'll be sure to update this story!

We see it all the time, serious actors with some major dramatic skills tearing it up in lighter, more comedic roles. Actors who’ve made us cry in Best Picture winners have gone on to make us fall over with side-splitting laughs, which can sometimes be harder than you’d think.

In the past, we’ve talked about some of the great dramatic performances by comedians, but today we’re going to turn our attention to the other side of that coin and highlight 32 serious actors who crushed in in comedic roles.

Robert De Niro (Meet The Parents)

Robert De Niro, an Oscar-winning actor known for serious parts in some of Martin Scorsese’s best movies, including Raging Bull and Goodfellas, as well as his turn as a young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, showed the world that he was also one of the funniest stars in Hollywood with his portrayal of the iron-fisted Jack Byrnes in Meet the Parents. The deadpan expressions, the playing on his gangster roles, and his chemistry with Ben Stiller make this an all-time classic.

George C. Scott (Dr. Stranglelove)

George C. Scott will always be remembered for his portrayal of U.S. General George S. Patton in Franklin J. Schaffner’s Patton, but the acclaimed actor also crushed it in a more comedic role a few years earlier. His take on General Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove is nothing short of magnificent and hilarious as it gets. The satirical tone of this iconic anti-war film is biting, as is Scott’s legendary performance.

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Along Came Polly)

Though we could have included Rusty from Twister or Brandt from The Big Lebowski, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance in Along Came Polly is just too good to overlook. Though he’s atrocious at basketball (and in most social situations), Sandy Lyle is a force of comedic nature. It’s crazy that Hoffman went from Cold Mountain to this 2004 rom-com to Capote in the span of three years.

Tom Cruise (Tropic Thunder)

Tom Cruise steals the show in Tropic Thunder, which is no easy feat considering Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. sit atop the cast of this outrageous 2008 action comedy. But hey, Les Grossman, Cruise’s over-the-top and ill-tempered Hollywood exec is unforgettable in every single one of his scenes, especially whenever he dances.

Meryl Streep (Death Becomes Her)

Though not a slapstick or “laugh-a-minute” comedy, Death Becomes Her does feature some wild and hilariously comedic performances from the likes of Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, and Meryl Streep, who kills it with her portrayal of Madeline Ashton. The Oscar winner does get to show off her serious skills in the movie, but her character’s darkly humorous personality is worth a watch.

Leslie Nielsen (Airplane!)

It’s wild to think that Leslie Nielsen, an actor mostly remembered for spoof films, started out as a very serious dramatic actor. But that all changed with landmark comedies like Airplane!, where his deadpan humor and signature charm truly shined.

Kate Winslet (The Holiday)

Kate Winslet is known for dramatic movies like Titanic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Revolutionary Road, but the talented dramatic actress was able to show off her comedy chops in The Holiday. This 2006 Nancy Meyers romantic comedy showed off a different side of Winslet, one we haven’t forgotten nearly 20 years later.

James Caan (Elf)

James Caan wasn’t really known for his comedy. Sure, his characters had some humorous lines in The Godfather and Thief, but drama was always his bag. And that’s what makes his performance in Elf so great. We weren’t used to seeing Caan share the screen with someone like Will Ferrell, and that juxtaposition of personalities made it so much fun to watch.

Morgan Freeman (Bruce Almighty)

Morgan Freeman will go down as one of the best dramatic actors of all time, and for good reason. His work in The Shawshank Redemption, Glory, and countless other movies is the stuff of legend. However, let’s not forget that he also put on one of the funniest performances when he played God in Bruce Almighty.

Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

A little more than two decades after playing the vile Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List (and only a few years after portraying Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies), Ralph Fiennes proved he was a great comedic actor with his take on M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel. Equal parts hilarious and charming, this performance was a breath of fresh air.

Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon)

After playing more serious roles in films like The Color Purple, Witness, and Silverado, Danny Glover showed off his comedy skills in Richard Donner’s iconic buddy cop action film, Lethal Weapon. Though he was more straight-laced compared to Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs, Roger Murtaugh gave us some laughs.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kidergarten Cop)

Kindergarten cop isn’t just one of the funniest Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, it’s also one of his best. Featuring some of the actor’s most memorable one-liners, this 1990 action comedy showed that the Austrian bodybuilder-turned-actor was more than an ice-cold robot or trained killer.

Jeff Daniels (Dumb & Dumber)

Two years after playing Colonel Joshua Chamberlain in Gettysburg, one of the best Civil War movies ever made, Jeff Daniels played a vastly different type of character in Dumb and Dumber. The obnoxious and absurdly dim-witted Harry Dunne would end up becoming one of the more dramatic actor’s most famous roles.

Jack Nicholson (As Good As It Gets)

Jack Nicholson, one of the most well-known dramatic actors of the 20th century, has popped up in comedies over the years. Perhaps the best of the bunch, As Good as It Gets earned the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Terms of Endearment star his third Oscar.

Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski)

Whenever the topic of the best Jeff Bridges movies comes up, it doesn’t take long for the conversation to turn to The Big Lebowski. Still considered to be one of his most iconic roles, the performance also showed that the largely dramatic actor could pull off an incredibly funny and beloved character.

Liam Neeson (Extras)

Liam Neeson is best known for his work in dramas like Schindler’s List and the Taken action movie franchise, but the decorated actor with that ice-cold delivery has shown off his funny side over the years. His attempt at improv on Extras is the stuff of legend, as is work in The Lego Movie.

George Clooney (O Brother, Where Art Thou?)

George Clooney often rides the line between comedy and drama in the likes of the Ocean’s movies and several Coen Brothers projects, and one of the best examples of that is found in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a 2000 loose adaptation of The Odyssey. The scheming and conniving Ulysses Everett McGill is one of the all-time great movie characters.

Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie)

The Graduate, Kramer vs. Kramer, Midnight Cowboy, and All the President’s Men were just a few of the movies that showed off Dustin Hoffman’s incredible dramatic acting skills. It’s a similar story with Tootsie, the beloved 1982 comedy in which Hoffman plays an unlikeable and hirable actor who decides to dress like a woman to land a gig on a daytime soap opera.

Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire)

Cuba Gooding Jr. was out of this world in early 1990s dramas like Boyz n the Hood and A Few Good Men, but he was even better in Jerry Maguire as Tom Cruise’s titular character’s temperamental and needy client Rod Tidwell. The over-the-top performance was hilarious beyond belief.

Timothy Dalton (Hot Fuzz)

Timothy Dalton, an actor best known for playing James Bond and showing up in adaptations of Jane Eyre, got to show off his comedy chops in Hot Fuzz, Edgar Wright’s satirical action comedy. His take on Simon Skinner is just as great all these years later.

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Leonardo DiCaprio teamed up with Martin Scorsese for the fifth time in 2013 to make The Wolf of Wall Street. While previous collaborations like Gangs of New York and The Departed were far more dramatic, this hopped-up and raucous biopic allowed the actor to be outrageously funny on screen, and it paid off.

Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa)

Up until starring in Bad Santa, Billy Bob Thornton was mostly known for dramatic roles in films like Monster’s Ball and Sling Blade, but this 2003 R-rated comedy changed all of that. Over the line, vulgar, and one of the funniest performances of the 2000s, Thornton’s take on a mall Santa was an instant classic.

Brad Pitt (Burn After Reading)

Burn After Reading isn’t the best Coen Brothers movie, but it does feature one of Brad Pitt’s funniest performances. Chad Feldheimer, Linda Litzke’s (Frances McDormand) lovable yet moronic coworker is just so silly, so memorable, and so dumb. You just can’t help but love him.

Michael Caine (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)

On top of being an actor who’s appeared in the most Christopher Nolan movies, Michael Caine is also one of the all-time greats of screen and stage, with dozens of iconic films to his name. And while he’s mostly known for his dramatic work, his portrayal of the dastardly Lawrence Jamieson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is so dang good.

Matt Damon (Dogma)

Long before he showed up as an actor playing Loki in Thor: Ragnarok, Matt Damon did it for real in Kevin Smith’s 1999 comedy, Dogma. Sandwiched between Rounders and The Talented Mr. Ripley, the actor’s portrayal of a fallen angel banished to Wisconsin was great and showed a funnier side.

Samuel L. Jackson (The Other Guys)

Samuel L. Jackson in The Other Guys is on a whole other level and is funnier than anything else the actor has done over the years. Sure, Pulp Fiction and Jurassic Park are better movies, but his short yet memorable performance as a gung-ho cop who throws caution (and himself) into the win is comedy cold.

Alan Rickman (Galaxy Quest)

Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Alexander Dane, a Shakespearean actor fed up with life and his career direction in Galaxy Quest, is so funny yet so heartbreaking. The way the Die Hard actor (who was also classically trained) finds the balance between comedy and tragedy is perfection.

Russell Crowe (The Nice Guys)

Russell Crowe made a career out of giving commanding, and largely dramatic, performances in everything from Romper Stomper to Gladiator, so it was great to see him play a more comedic role in The Nice Guys. This 2016 Shane Black film also starring Ryan Gosling, felt like a throwback to buddy action movies of yesteryear, and allowed Crowe to try a different approach to character-driven stories.

Mandy Patinkin (The Princess Bride)

Tony and Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin has given incredible dramatic performances in movies like Yentl and shows like Homeland, but he’s probably best known for his portrayal of Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride. The skill with a sword, the dashing good looks, and a killer backstory make this not only a great cinematic character but also a hilarious icon of the fantasy genre.

Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda)

Kevin Kline is great in just about everything (especially The Big Chill and Dave), and that includes some great comedies. One of the best featuring a serious and dramatic actor’s work is A Fish Called Wanda. The despicable and charismatic Otto West steals the show whenever on screen.

Christian Bale (The Big Short)

Though not the most standard comedy of the past few years, The Big Short is funny in a frightening and thrilling kind of way. Adam McKay’s biographical crime dramedy about the events that led to the 2007 housing market crash and subsequent economic crisis does feature one of Christian Bale’s most interesting and hilarious performances with his take on hedge fund manager Michael Burry. Not a totally likable guy, but a great character without a doubt.

Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok)

Thor: Ragnarok is still considered one of the best Marvel movies years after its release, and that’s mostly because of Chris Hemsworth’s new and improved portrayal of the “God of Thunder.” While the character was more serious in the first two movies (and two Avengers films), the more light-hearted and silly superhero was a comedy tour de force.

In my opinion, Dogma stands as the best Kevin Smith film in his entire catalog, which is why it's a shame that it's so hard to get your hands on it. A big part of my love for the film comes from the late, great Alan Rickman’s unforgettable role as the angel Metatron. In a video recently shared online, Smith reminisced about a hilarious encounter with the Love Actually actor that revealed an unexpected tidbit about how the Harry Potter franchise star ended up living near Ralph Fiennes—aka Voldemort himself—in real life.

In a video posted to his Instagram, Kevin Smith reflected on how his friendship with Alan Rickman extended well beyond the Dogma set. Whenever the Silent Bob performer found himself in England, the Sweeney Todd actor would make an effort to attend his shows, showing his support in a way that always surprised the director. It was during one of these visits in London that Rickman shared a particularly amusing concern about his new apartment in New York City.

The Red State filmmaker fondly recalled a conversation with the scene-stealing Die Hard villain actor. Alan Rickman shared that he had finally caved and bought an apartment in New York but quickly realized there was a catch—he hadn’t considered the potential downside of moving into the same building as his friend and fellow star of the Harry Potter movies, Ralph Fiennes. As the Tusk filmmaker tells it, the late actor began:

It’s both a hilarious and slightly terrifying thought—imagine the chaos if fans had discovered their favorite on-screen rivals/allies were neighbors. Kevin Smith laughed at the memory, calling the whole situation:

And honestly, I agree with him. It’s an absolutely adorable story about the late, great English actor. Many arguably just know Alan Rickman for his stern and commanding portrayal of Severus Snape, which is understandable considering his iconic portrayal in the Harry Potter series. However, the Cop Out helmer's story captures a more playful side of the actor that we fans didn't often get a glimpse of—one who was very aware of the impact of his work on his admirers but still maintained his unique sense of humor about it all.

For fans of the Galaxy Quest star, this tale is a small but endearing insight into the man behind the characters they loved. While you can’t get your hands on a copy of Dogma without throwing down some major money, you can revisit Alan Rickman’s work in the HP franchise, as all movies are streamable with a Peacock subscription.

As for Kevin Smith's latest film, The 4:30 Movie, is just hit theaters as part of 2024 movie schedule. It's also available on all streaming platforms where you rent your movies.

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

Emma Stone – La La Land 

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

Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids

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

Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

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

Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

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

Amy Adams – Arrival 

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

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

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

Hugh Jackman – Logan 

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

Ben Affleck – Argo 

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

Jesse Eisenberg — The Social Network

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

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street  

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

Brie Larson – Room

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

Daniel Craig – Knives Out

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

Ryan Gosling – Drive

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

Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

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

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 

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

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

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

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel 

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

Natalie Portman – Black Swan 

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

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buys Club

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

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

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

Brad Pitt – Moneyball 

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

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther 

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

Margot Robbie – I, Tonya 

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

Florence Pugh – Midsommar

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

Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird

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

Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name

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

Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect

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

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years A Slave

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

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

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

Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

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

Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

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

Matt Damon – The Martian

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

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

It’s been over a decade since the Harry Potter movie series was completed, so you would think there would be nothing new to discuss, but you would be mistaken! It's possible you've revisited the Wizarding World recently with a Peacock subscription, but if you haven’t checked the flicks out in a while, you may have forgotten Voldemort's strange laugh at the end of Deathly Hallows: Part 2. After seeing this trippy edit of the laugh in multiple different language dubs, you will never forget it again. 

There's no doubt Voldemort is a chilling antagonist, hence why people are nervous to say his name out loud. That laugh definitely adds a layer of strangeness to his portrayal that will make you do a double take. It's even wilder in multiple languages, as the tweet compilation below shows:

Have your own opinion, but this is why I love the internet. Someone had too much time on their hands and created a compilation around some weird, specific pop-culture finding, and I cannot thank them enough. This is one of those videos that will never fail to make me laugh every time it comes across my feed.

Some of Ralph Fiennes' best roles are oddball ones, and Voldemort ranks among them. Commenting on the Harry Potter franchise, he actually was asked about the laugh track in an interview with the Irish Examiner. He said he didn’t remember doing the laugh or what it was for. But about his acting choices when it came to portraying the villainous wizard, the Oscar-winner said:

For context, the scene in which the Voldemort laughing meme was pulled from is a quintessential scene from the book and movie. The evil wizard has just killed his mortal enemy, 17-year-old wizard Harry Potter. The reason for his bloodlust stems from when Harry was bestowed the title as The Boy Who Lived for surviving Voldemort’s first murderous attempt years earlier. So when he finally believes he has succeeded, Voldemort parades Harry’s lifeless body in front of the rebel forces, laughing alongside his loyal Death Eaters. 

I remember seeing this scene in theaters with everyone for the first time back in 2011, and the entire room was holding its breath. Fiennes is genuinely disturbing in his role as Lord Voldemort. But to be honest, I won't be able to take that scene seriously ever again.

This is not the only time the actor has been known to succeed in creepy roles. However, Voldemort is probably his most well known. Yet, it's also true the Wes Anderson alum almost turned down Voldemort when he was approached by the producers. Can you imagine Harry Potter without Fiennes as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? The Wizarding World would not be right. But thank goodness he was cast, because now I have this hilarious meme of Voldemort laughing in different languages to watch on loop. 

How many times have you watched an incredible acting performance and looked up to see how many awards it won only to find out that the Oscar went to someone else that year? It’s shocking how many times this has happened over the years for some of the greatest actors and actresses of all time. Here are 32 times an incredible performance didn’t win an Academy Award for one reason or another.

Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction)

Though he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction, Samuel L. Jackson’s name wasn’t called at the 67th Academy Awards. This is nothing against Martin Landau’s performance from Ed Wood, but Jackson’s foul-mouthed and righteous hitman is an all-time great character that should have been recognized.

Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver)

Robert De Niro received an Oscar nomination for his career-defining portrayal of Travis Bickle in Martin Scorsese’s 1977 psychological thriller, Taxi Driver, but the unhinged and memorable performance wasn’t enough to win Best Actor. It’s hard to be mad, as Peter Finch’s Academy Award-winning turn in Network is the stuff of legend.

Harrison Ford (Witness)

One of the best actors without an Oscar, Harrison Ford has only one Academy Award nomination to his name, the 1985 crime thriller, Witness. Though not Ford’s most iconic character, his take on Philadelphia detective John Book as he goes to great lengths to protect a young boy is nothing short of amazing.

Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption)

Morgan Freeman gave the performance of a lifetime as Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding in The Shawshank Redemption. If the movie would have come out any other time besides 1994, a year dominated by Forrest Gump, there’s a good chance the aging prisoner and accomplished smuggler would have earned Freeman an Oscar.

Bill Murray (Lost In Translation)

Bill Murray’s portrayal of cynical, washed-up actor Bob Harris in Lost in Translation will forever be one of the comedian’s most beloved roles. While Sean Penn’s performance in Mystic River is more than deserving of an Oscar, it’s a shame the iconic comedian didn’t get properly recognized for a once-in-a-decade showing.

Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)

Whoopi Goldberg showed off a more dramatic side with her lauded portrayal of Celie Harris-Johnson in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of The Color Purple. It’s absurd that the emotional, dynamic, and powerful performance didn’t win Goldberg a much-deserved Oscar, which went to Geraldine Page in The Trip to Bountiful, instead.

Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List)

Schindler’s List features one of the best Ralph Fiennes performances with his portrayal of Nazi work camp commandant Amon Goeth in Steven Spielberg’s 1993-defining film. And while the movie won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Fiennes’ unforgettable turn was not among them. Instead, he lost out to Tommy Lee Jones from The Fugitive.

Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie)

If you’re looking for one of the best New York City movies, Tootsie has you covered. If you’re looking for a movie featuring an acting performance that should have won an Oscar but didn’t, Sydney Pollack’s 1982 comedy has you covered there as well. Seriously, how Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of Michael Dorsey wasn't awarded is something we just don’t get.

Denzel Washington (Malcolm X)

Denzel Washington eventually won a Best Actor Oscar for his unforgettable turn in Training Day, but the actor was robbed nearly a decade earlier after not winning the big prize for his take on the titular Civil Rights leader in Spike Lee’s Malcolm X.

Florence Pugh (Little Women)

Florence Pugh was already a rising star at the time of Little Women’s release, but her portrayal of Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s coming-of-age drama took her to new heights. Though she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, Pugh lost out to Laura Dern from Marriage Story.

Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained)

Here’s something wild to think about – Jamie Foxx not only didn’t win an Oscar for his performance in Django Unchained, he wasn’t even nominated for Best Actor. Admittedly, it was a stacked list of actors – Daniel Day-Lewis, Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Denzel Washington – but not even being named is just something.

Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

The Wrestler felt like Mickey Rourke’s big redemption arc, more so than the character he portrayed in Darren Aronofsky’s great wrestling movie. Despite pushing himself to the breaking point from both a physical and emotional standpoint, Rourke lost out to Sean Penn’s take on Harvey Milk in Milk.

Michael Keaton (Birdman)

Michael Keaton gave the performance of a lifetime in the 2014 mind-bending drama film, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), one that seemed to channel the actor’s past in such a way it felt like an autobiography. However, stealing the show as Riggan Thomson, a.k.a., Birdman, wasn’t enough, as the prize went to The Theory of Everything’s Eddie Redmayne instead.

Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)

Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for an Oscar on four separate occasions, but not a single win, which is something. One of the performances that deserved an Academy Award the most was that of Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird. The portrayal of a confused high school senior on the verge of entering the next stage in her life lost out to Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Tim Curry (Clue)

Tim Curry’s portrayal of Wadsworth in Clue, a butler or undercover FBI agent depending on which ending you watch, is a role that is beloved by fans of the classic murder mystery comedy. However, it wasn’t recognized at the Academy Awards or other ceremonies, which is the real crime.

Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)

Rosamund Pike’s take on Amy Elliott-Dunne earned the sole Academy Award nomination for David Fincher’s Gone Girl, a nod that was more than deserved. However, the incredibly nuanced and dynamic performance failed to win the Best Actress Oscar, which went to Still Alice’s Julianne Moore instead.

Jimmy Stewart (Rear Window)

Jimmy Stewart is one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors of all time and his portrayal of L. B. "Jeff" Jefferies in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window is one of the his top-tier performances. However, his take on an injured photographer who uncovers a murder mystery didn’t even get a nod at the Academy Awards.

Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind)

Kate Winslet gave one of her most powerful and unique performances in the 2004 sci-fi dramedy, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Her take on Clementine Kruczynski, a woman who had all memories of her ex-boyfriend wiped from her brain, was rich, beautiful, and iconic, but just wasn’t enough to win Best Actress.

Al Pacino (The Godfather)

Al Pacino put himself on the map with his portrayal of reluctant crime boss Michael Corleone in The Godfather. The gradual evolution of the character over the course of the film’s three-hour runtime should have been enough for an Oscar, but like co-stars James Caan and Robert Duvall, who were also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, he didn’t get the win.

Gloria Swanson (Sunset Boulevard)

Gloria Swanson’s "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." line from Sunset Boulevard is one of the most iconic quotes in all of Hollywood and part of an Oscar-worthy performance. While Swanson was nominated for her take on aging film star Norma Desmond, she didn’t take home the top prize.

Jack Nicholson (The Shining)

Though considered one of Jack Nicholson’s best roles, his portrayal of Jack Torrance in The Shining didn’t result in an Oscar win. In fact, Nicholson wasn’t even nominated for the unforgettable performance. 

John Cazale (The Godfather Part II)

John Cazale’s Fredo Corleone in The Godfather Part II is one of cinema’s great tragic figures as well as one of the late actor’s best characters. What’s even more of a travesty is the fact that the late actor didn’t even receive an Oscar nomination for his efforts. Tragically, Cazale would never receive an Academy Award nomination prior to his shocking death in 1978.

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

Angela Bassett received her first Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Tina Turner in What’s Love Go to Do with It?, but the miraculous turn as one of American music’s most famous and influential figures didn’t earn her a Best Actress win. 

Edward Norton (American History X)

Reformed neo-Nazi Derek Vinyard is one of Edward Norton’s most controversial and complex characters of his career, and the American History X performance earned him a Best Actor nod at the 71st Academy Awards. However, Roberto Benigni from Life Is Beautiful ran away with the top acting prize.

Ingrid Bergman (Casablanca)

Somehow, Ingrid Bergman, who was astonishing as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca, not only didn’t win Best Actress at the 16th Academy Awards, she wasn’t even nominated for her iconic portrayal of a woman caught between two men and two different lives in the 1943 black-and-white classic.

Paul Giamatti (Sideways)

In a perfect world, Paul Giamatti would have won the Oscar for Best Actor in Alexander Payne’s Sideways, but alas, that is not the reality in which we live. Miles Raymond is one of Giamiatti’s best characters and carried the movie about two friends on a wine trip they’ll never forget.

Henry Fonda (12 Angry Men)

An amazing courtroom drama, 12 Angry Men is still arguably one of the best movies of all time. While its star, Henry Fonda, received a Best Picture nomination as a producer, his dynamic and rich portrayal of a juror who insisted on getting things right didn’t earn him an acting nod, which is a real miscarriage of justice.

John Goodman (The Big Lebowski)

You can add John Goodman to the list of great actors who have never received an Oscar nomination, which just doesn’t make sense. It’s especially maddening when you consider his legendary portrayal of Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski, a character loosely based on John Milius, per Far Out Magazine.

Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line)

Joaquin Phoenix has since won an Oscar, but his portrayal of Johnny Cash in James Mangold’s 2005 biographical drama, Walk the Line, was more than deserving of the top acting prize at the Academy Awards. What’s interesting is the fact that Phoenix was beat by his future The Master co-star, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won for his take on Truman Capote in Bennett Miller’s Capote.

Ellen Burstyn (Requiem For A Dream)

A little more 25 years after winning an Academy Award for Best Actress thanks to her outstanding performance in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Ellen Burstyn had another shot at capturing an Oscar with her turn as Sara Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream. Her take on a woman battling unchecked depression, anxiety, and a diet of weight loss pills gave audiences one of the most incredible and sympathetic characters of the early 21st century. Unfortunately, this also happened to be the same year Erin Brockovich was released. 

Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood)

There Will Be Blood is remembered more than a half-decade after its release because of the Academy Award-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, but one of the three-time Oscar winner’s castmates was also deserving of recognition. Paul Dano’s Eli Sunday (he also played the smaller part of Eli’s twin brother, Paul) is one of the more fascinating characters of modern cinema, and he should have received an Oscar for his troubles. Dynamic is an understatement for this overzealous, petty, and temperamental preacher.

Robert Shaw (Jaws)

Steven Spielberg’s 1975 summer blockbuster, Jaws, won three Academy Awards – Best Filming Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound – but Robert Shaw, who acted his tail off as the boat captain, Quint, wasn’t recognized. This shameful act by the Academy, especially after watching the USS Indianapolis monologue, still stings nearly 50 years after the fact. That scene alone deserved a Best Supporting Actor nomination and win.

Many of these actors won an Academy Award either before or after these movies and performances we just covered, but it’s just wild to think about how some of these roles didn’t take home the big prize at the Oscars.

Over the decades, Hollywood has offered up multiple adaptations of Roald Dahl’s work — such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and more — that effectively and authentically capture the iconic stories’ signature whimsical tones and surreal styles. Yet, I do not believe there has ever been a filmmaker better suited to bring the seminal British author’s vision to life on screen than the equally whimsical and surreal Wes Anderson, who first tried his hand at a Dahl adaptation in 2009 with the stop-motion animated Fantastic Mr. Fox, and is now revisiting the author’s world with The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

The primary storyline of this 2023 Netflix original movie follows a wealthy aristocrat — played by Benedict Cumberbatch — who learns of a man who can see without the use of his eyes that seeks to harness this skill for himself to benefit his gambling habit. It is hard to believe that this new 37-minute dramedy marks the two-time Academy Award nominee’s first collaboration with Anderson, and as it turns out, he is not the only member of the Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar cast joining that club here. Let’s talk about who plays who and what other movies and TV shows you may recognize them from in the following breakdown of this esteemed ensemble.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Henry Sugar, Max Engelman)

Starring in the title role of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar — as well as that of another character named Max Engelman — is Benedict Cumberbatch, whose second Academy Award-nominated performance (after playing Alan Turing in 2015’s The Imitation Game) came from his last Netflix original film, The Power of the Dog. This is technically not his first Dahl adaptation, having participated in a remote reading of James and the Giant Peach by multiple celebrity as a Covid-era charity benefit, and most definitely not his first literary adaptation, with title roles in the hit series Sherlock, 2018’s The Grinch, and the Marvel’s Doctor Strange movies being his most celebrated credits.

Before becoming a household name, he also played Stephen Hawking in 2004 biopic for BBC (before serving as his vote for 2010’s two-part documentary, Into the Universe) and worked with director Steven Spielberg on War Horse, and following his fame, voiced Smaug in the Hobbit movies, played the Star Trek movies’ new Khan, are appeared in Best Picture Oscar winner 12 Years a Slave. Some of Cumberbatch’s more recent, notable credits include his Emmy-nominated turn as the title role of Showtime’s Patrick Melrose, a memorable cameo in  1917, and 2021’s Amazon Prime original biopic, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.

Ralph Fiennes (Roald Dahl, Policeman)

For his second collaboration with Anderson after 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ralph Fiennes is taking on the illustrious role of Roald Dahl himself — which is not his first time playing a renowned author, having played Charles Dickens in 2013’s The Invisible Woman. It is also not the first time he has played a real person in general, having given a chilling, Oscar-nominated performance as Amon Göth in 1993’s Schindler’s List, played fraudulent game show winner Charles Van Doren in Quiz Show the following year, and starred in another Netflix original, 2020’s The Dig, as archaeologist Basil Brown, to name a few examples. 

Like Cumberbatch, many of the English actor’s best known roles are also literary figures, such as his second Oscar-nominated role in The English Patient, Voldemort from the Harry Potter movies, the most recent “M” from the James Bond movies, or Alfred Pennyworth in The LEGO Batman Movie. Some the iconic characters he has originated including Harry from In Bruges and The Menu cast’s sinister Chef Slowik. 

Dev Patel (Dr. Chatterjee, John Winston)

As Dr. Chatterjee and John Winston, we have Dev Patel, who, curiously has a few things in common with Ralph Fiennes. Dev has also given an Oscar-nominated performance in a Best Pictures Oscar winner (2008’s Slumdog Millionaire), starred in a few movies revolving around hotel setting (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, its sequel, and Hotel Mumbai), and has multiple leading roles in previous literary adaptations — most notably The Personal History of David Copperfield in the title role and the acclaimed A24 movie, The Green Knight, as Sir Gaiman.

Of course, the London-born actor — who made his big break in the original Skins cast — actor also has a few biopics under his belt, namely 2015’s The Man Who Knew Infinity and Lion from the following year. Patel is also know for playing Zuko in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender, creator Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom cast on HBO, and is about to make his feature-length directorial debut with another Netflix movie called Monkey Man, which he also wrote, produced and stars in.

Ben Kingsley (Imdad Khan, Croupier)

Playing the guru whose unique skill Henry Sugar covets and a gaming table runner is Sir Ben Kingsley, who is also working with Anderson for the first time here. Though he was in Schindler’s List with Fiennes and, like Cumberbatch, is also part of the MCU thanks to his controversial role as Trevor Slattery in Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi. Like most of his The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar co-star, the English actor has starred in many a biopic — most famously 1982’s Gandhi, for which he won a Best Actor Oscar — and many other literary adaptations, such as 2005’s Oliver Twist, Disney’s 2016 The Jungle Book remake, and the hit Martin Scorsese movies, Shutter Island and Hugo.

Crime thrillers are another area where Kingsley has thrived, having stunned in 2000’s Sexy Beast and Lucky Number Slevin from 2006, but you can find him in just about any genre you can think of. He’s done horror with Species, sci-fi with A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, and even low-brow comedy with Mike Myers’ The Guru, to name just a few examples of each category, among others. This is also just his latest Netflix exclusive, following 2017’s political satire War Machine, the platform’s 2018 Watership Down miniseries adaptation, and 2019’s The Red Sea Diving Resort.

Richard Ayoade (Dr. Marshall, Yogi)

Appearing in the roles of Dr. Marshall and Yogi is Richard Ayoade, who last worked with Fiennes in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Kingsley in The Boxtrolls, and Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. He is best known in the United Kingdom as a presenter for unscripted series like Travel Man (which earned him a BAFTA nomination), hilarious TV comedies like The IT Crowd (which earned him a BAFTA win), and directing many amusing projects, including his 2010 feature-length debut, Submarine (for which he also received BAFTA attention).

American audiences might also recognize Ayoade’s face from the 2012 sci-fi comedy, The Watch, or from the beloved family movie, Paddington 2, as a forensic investigator. However, they may better recognize his voice from the Soul cast, from his  Mandalorian  droid named Zero, as Professor Marmalade from 2022’s The Bad Guys cast, and as the lead in creator Dan Harmon’s Krapopolis, most recently.

Log into your Netflix subscription now to stream The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar on Netflix now. Also, keep in mind, that — according to Tudum — this is just the first of several Roald Dahl-inspired shorts from Anderson and featuring many of these actors that fans can look forward to.

Chances are if you don’t recognize Ralph Fiennes' name, you have likely seen at least one of his movies. The acclaimed British actor has almost 100 credits to his name, and he has worked across all genres. From massive franchises, like Harry Potter and James Bond, to Oscar favorites, like The English Patient and Conclave, to fun genre work like The Menu, he’s done a bit of everything, and a lot of it is worth seeking out and watching. So, for the actor who has seemingly done it all, we’ve compiled a list of his best films.

The Harry Potter Movies (2005 - 2011)

Ralph Fiennes almost turned down the role of Voldemort, and thank goodness he didn’t, because he went on to bring one of the most infamous villains in history to life. From 2005 to 2011, the actor portrayed Lord Voldemort in four of the Harry Potter movies (Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows Parts One and Two), with a sinister and snake-like quality. He was truly terrifying and unrecognizable in the role, and to this day, I’m still terrified of Voldemort because of the actor’s haunting performance.

The Harry Potter series remains one of the most beloved and formative stories of modern times with one of the greatest casts, and Fiennes helped shape that by playing he-who-shall-not-be-named.

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Conclave (2024)

Deemed one of the best movies of 2024, Conclave is a cinematically gorgeous movie from Edward Berger about choosing a new pope. Ralph Fiennes leads the stacked cast as Cardinal Lawrence, the man tasked with overseeing the conclave. What follows is a pulpy and intense thriller of sorts about these men trying to choose the new leader of the Catholic church, and it’s irresistible and wickedly entertaining.

As our perfect review of Conclave and Ralph Fiennes 2025 Oscar nomination proves, this film 100% belongs on his list of best work.

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The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) 

The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of Wes Anderson’s best movies, and at the center of this candy-colored symmetrical world is Fiennes's charismatic M. Gustave, the concierge of the hotel. The film follows Gustave and his lobby boy Zero as they embark on an epic, hilarious and beautiful adventure because of a painting called “Boy with Apple.”

In true Wes Anderson fashion, Fiennes is joined by an epic ensemble cast that includes Tony Revolori, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson and more. It’s truly a lovely movie with a stellar cast that is led by Fiennes’ unforgettable performance.

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Schindler’s List (1993) 

This film follows Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) a businessman who runs a factory that is staffed by Jews. When World War II begins, and the Nazis begin exterminating Jewish people, he starts protecting them, and ends up saving the lives of many. Fiennes plays Amon Goeth in the film, a Nazi work camp commandant. This film was one of the actor’s first roles, and it’s still remembered as one of his best films to this day.

In 1993, Schindler’s List won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Steven Spielberg; it was also nominated for 12 Oscars total. These nominations included nods in the acting categories for both Fiennes and Neeson. Fiennes also won a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in this extremely impactful film.

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The Menu (2022)

As our review of The Menu states in its headline, this movie is a “bold and delicious class warfare satire” in the form of a horror movie. Led by Anya Taylor Joy, Nicholas Hoult and Ralph Fiennes, the story follows a couple (Joy and Hoult) as they venture to an island to visit the restaurant of an acclaimed chef (Fiennes).

Speaking specifically about Fiennes, his character Julian Slowik is quietly powerful in a horrifying way, and that’s in great part because of the actor's performance. And seeing him verbally spar with Joy’s character as she uncovers the horrors of this exclusive restaurant is remarkable.

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Coriolanus (2011) 

Fiennes made his directorial debut and starred in the modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play Coriolanus. The story is based on the Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, who is banished from Rome and teams up with his enemy to plot revenge on the city. Gerard Butler and Brian Cox also joined Fiennes in the film playing Tullus Aufidius and Menenius, respectively.

The director and star of this film also has a rich history with Shakespeare. On Broadway, he starred in Hamlet and Faith Healer. He’s also been in productions of The Tempest, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Richard II, and Julius Caesar, among others.

After directing Coriolanus Fiennes went on to direct two other films. In 2013 he released The Invisible Woman, and in 2018 he directed The White Crow.

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The English Patient (1996)  

The English Patient is a sweeping story told between two times connected by Fiennes' character Almásy. We meet his character toward the end of World War II, however, he’s almost unrecognizable because he was badly burned in a plane crash. The story then flashes back to before the crash, and we see Almásy in an intense affair with Katharine Clifton. Starring alongside Fiennes is Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche and Colin Firth.

The film won Best Picture along with nine other Academy Awards in 1997. Fiennes was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The English Patient is definitely a big sweeping epic, and it makes sense why it’s one of the roles Fiennes is well-known for.

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In Bruges (2008)  

Fiennes joins Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy about two hitmen who are stuck in Bruges. Farrell and Gleeson play the two hitmen. Fiennes plays Harry, their very, very angry boss who ends up going to meet the two because they aren’t listening to his directions. This film marked McDonagh’s first feature film as a writer and director. He has since gone on to make the critically acclaimed films Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin.

In Bruges is simultaneously hilarious and bleak, a signature tone for McDonagh films, with quippy fast dialogue and epic action, and it’s all held together by outstanding performances from Fiennes, Farrell and Gleeson.

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The End Of The Affair (1999)  

This film tells the story of a long affair and the mystery as to why Sarah Miles suddenly ended it. The story is told from the perspective of her lover Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes), and he begins the film saying “This is a diary of hate,” which I think sets the scene appropriately. Throughout the film, Bendrix works to solve the mystery of why Sarah left him.

Joining Fiennes is Julianne Moore as Sarah and Stephen Rea as her husband Henry Miles. The story is based on the 1951 novel of the same name by Graham Greene and was praised for its performances, specifically by Moore and Fiennes.

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The Constant Gardener (2005) 

Following the murder of Tessa Quayle, her husband Justin Quayle goes on an odyssey to figure out who did it. The story takes Justin across three continents and reveals many secrets, and he’ll do everything he can to uncover what happened to his wife.

The film was directed by Fernando Meirelles and starred Fiennes as Justin, and Rachel Weisz as Tessa. The Constant Gardener was also critically acclaimed earning three Academy Award nominations, and an Oscar for Rachel Weisz.

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James Bond Movies: Skyfall, Spectre, And No Time To Die (2012-2021)

Ralph Fiennes took over the moniker of M from Judi Dench in Skyfall, and ran MI6 through the end of Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007 in the James Bond movies. The actor behind M saw Craig’s Bond all the way to the end, and said he thought the No Time To Die ending was a “bold and strong decision.”

Much like 007, there have been many actors to play M, including Bernard Lee, Robert Brown and Dame Judi Dench. A fun fact about this character: Fiennes' M is the first head of MI6 whom we also know the name of, Gareth Mallory.

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Red Dragon (2002)  

Fiennes took on a darker role as the serial killer Francis Dolarhyde in the prequel to the critically acclaimed film The Silence of the Lambs. The story follows Will Graham as he tries to solve a murder by going to the notorious serial killer Hannibal Lecter for help.

Along with Fiennes as the terrifying Tooth Fairy, Anthony Hopkins returned as Hannibal Lecter, and the two were joined by Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Mary-Louise Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

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The Lego Batman Movie (2017) 

Although Voldemort is in The Lego Batman Movie, Ralph Fiennes does not reprise his role as the dark lord, he instead plays Batman’s butler and right-hand man, Alfred Pennyworth. He brings his suave voice to the iconic character that helps Batman get over his teenage angst, and makes sure he gets some sun every now and again. This movie is a hilarious and heartfelt take on the character of Batman, and tells the story of Bruce Wayne on a journey to find friends.

Joining Fiennes is an epic ensemble cast that includes Will Arnett as Batman, Michael Cera as Robin, Rosario Dawson as Batgirl, Zach Galifianakis as the Joker, and a slew of other famous funny people making up the massive group of villains trying to defeat Batman.

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Quiz Show (1994) 

Directed and produced by Robert Redford, Quiz Show tells the story of the Twenty-One quiz show scandals from the 1950s. The film follows Fiennes’ character Charles Van Doren, a contestant on the show who fell from grace after fixing a loss.

The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including best supporting actor for Paul Scofield. Along with Fiennes and Scofield, John Turturro, Rob Morrow and Hank Azaria also starred in the film.

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Ralph Fiennes's career truly is long and legendary, and he’s not slowing down. With a filmography that spans nearly four decades and features massive IP projects and smaller prestige films, he’s proven time and time again that he’s a staple of the film industry, and he continues to do that with the projects he takes on.

Warning: a four course meal of SPOILERS for The Menu is about to be served. This is your official warning that things are about to get messy.

It’s rare that a new movie release like The Menu can truly shock an audience. Yet that’s exactly what director Mark Mylod’s film does, as it concealed its twists and turns from even the appealing trailers for the main course. By time we as an audience get to The Menu’s ending, the results are just as shocking as the decisions that made it all happen. 

Which means that if you’re as surprised as we are by how it all tied up, it’s time to really look at what happened in those final moments of The Menu. As such, this is your final warning that spoilers are coming in, hot and ready for your enjoyment.

If you want to learn more about the movie without spoiling the experience, check out our official review for The Menu elsewhere. Or even better, you can take a detour to a special guide of spoiler-free things to know about The Menu before enjoying the film yourself. As for those of you still looking to dine, it’s time to feast upon the secrets of The Menu. 

What Happened At The End Of The Menu?

The Menu is an evening of fresh hell that leaves one sole survivor in its wake: a woman named Erin, who operates throughout the film under her alias “Margot” (Anya Taylor-Joy). A last minute substitute for Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), whose date cancelled on him, she technically wasn’t supposed to be at Hawthorne, the high-end restaurant that The Menu uses as its setting.

As an outsider, Margot/Erin positions herself as the one person that actually challenges the enigmatic Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), Hawthorne’s creator and curator. Laying down the greatest challenge of all, she mocks the dishes that have been served throughout the night, and says the one thing no chef ever wants to hear: she’s still hungry. Anya Taylor-Joy wasn't kidding when she said facing off against Ralph Fiennes was "a gift," as that privilege allowed her character to find a way out of a most unpleasant demise.

Demanding a good old fashioned cheeseburger and fries, Margot gets her wish from a surprisingly obedient Chef Julian. Asking to take her leftovers to go, The Menu’s functional protagonist gets to sail off back to the mainland and eat her burger in peace. Everyone else, on the other hand, dies in a massive explosion that Chef Slowik planned as a tribute to that classic campfire favorite S’mores. 

Why Chef Julian Slowik Planned The Menu’s Killer Feast

What the hell could have been going through Julian Slowik’s mind when planning out the events and courses of The Menu? That’s the question that sits at the heart of each bloody reveal, and is answered in the final act of the movie. As it turns out, Chef Julian is suffering the same crisis so many geniuses in the past have encountered: he’s lost his love for his profession.

The Menu’s fateful night boils down to Julian Slowik losing his passion for cuisine thanks to dealing with critics and persevering in the world of cutthroat perfection. Reaching a point where his best just doesn’t seem good enough, and facing the choice of mediocrity or death, our chef chose the latter. While what we knew about The Menu prepared us for a twisted journey, it never hinted at this massive plot point. 

Chef Julian’s last supper isn’t just a simple serving of obscure haute cuisine, however. Exposing the secrets of his diners, the meals shared throughout The Menu symbolize different pieces of criticism that culminate in one hell of a dessert plate. Everyone from cheating spouses to shady finance bros literally get roasted as a result. 

How Margot/Erin Survived The Night

As we mentioned before, Margot/Erin was the only person who wasn’t expected to be at The Menu’s deadly dinner service. In fact, one of the biggest twists in her tale is the fact that Tyler fully knew the evening was going to end with death, and invited her to join him without divulging that detail.

Being the only truly “innocent” person in the room, Chef Justin had no quarrel with her. It’s part of why he consistently questioned why Margot was present in the first place, and offered her opportunities like joining the kitchen staff. Better still, Margot’s defiance helps give her information she needed to survive the night. 

Ever defiant, she digs through Slowik’s personal residence on the island and learns of his past as a promising burger chef. Using that information, Margot makes her order of a burger and fries, knowing that was what Justin was used to cooking back when he still loved cooking. The Menu may have been about the finest dishes known to humanity, but it’s a simple fast food classic that makes the most impact at the end of the night.

Before taking his own life, and the lives of his diners, Chef Justin gets one last chance to go back to the glory days. Cooking a meal from a time when everything was promising and people actually appreciated his work, The Menu’s imposing antagonist experiences a moment like in Ratatouille when harsh critic Anton Ego is transformed through the power of food. The main difference, of course, is that Ego didn’t burn down the restaurant, taking everyone with him once he felt that brief moment of respite.

Showing a true understanding of people, as well as an ability to read the room rather perfectly, Margot/Erin escapes with her life and one tasty burger. After a night of sheer terror and dark comedy, with the added twist of a stranger being willing to see her die in exchange for the best night of food possible, she’s most certainly earned that simple joy in life. If only the rest of The Menu’s cast of characters had the smarts she did, they might have escaped their fates a bit easier. 

Perhaps that’s why the film is such a treat to behold. Much like a Saw trap, there was a potential solution that could have freed the room from dying as dessert. And yet, in a room where life became a dark joke, only the sharpest mind in the room could avoid the punchline.

Hashing out the ending to The Menu might have left some of you hungry for seconds. If that’s the case, you can still catch the movie in theaters and marvel at the reactions of first-time viewers as an added bonus. However, if you’ve read through this spoiler-filled rundown of Searchlight Pictures’ latest without sampling the goods yourself, it’s still worth traveling to a theater near you to experience it firsthand. Just don’t spoil the surprises for anyone else, as that would be the most evil deed of all.

When it comes to some of the most anticipated films of 2022, one that's been on my list is The Menu. From the moment the first trailer came out, I was intrigued by the idea that a movie about a simple tasting menu could be classified as horror, and yet, The Menu did that and more. As someone who has seen the movie, oh boy, is it something. 

But I’m not here to share my thoughts on the film. I’m here to tell you what to expect heading into The Menu, without revealing any spoilers. So for those who are heading to the theater this weekend or still deciding if you want to watch this 2022 movie release, here are five things you should know beforehand.

The Menu Is About A Couple Who Are Given A Unique Dining Experience

The film tells the story of Margot and Tyler, a young couple who gets the chance to eat at a remote island and have a several-course tasting meal from a famous celebrity chef, known as Julian Slowik. The meal focuses on molecular gastronomy – sort of infusing chemistry into the meal, and the dining experience itself is art. 

But as the night progresses, more secrets are revealed to the guests, creating havoc. This isn’t the first time that food has been the center of a film, as there are great examples such as Ratatouille, or even the 2014 film, Chef, but The Menu takes this premise to a whole other level that I don’t think anyone is quite prepared for. 

The Film Is Darkly Funny – With Its Horror Aspects Chilling To The Bone

Something I love is when horror films aren’t afraid to also be funny – it’s why I love horror comedies so much. But The Menu is on a different level of dark humor. It doesn’t need to really show off that it’s trying to be funny because the jokes that are said land within the context of the movie, and while they are certainly dark jokes, they will undoubtedly make you laugh. 

But that laugh will usually be followed up by a scene so, uh, intriguing in its horror aspects that you’ll want to turn your face away from the screen for a moment if you happen to be squeamish. The suspense is built up brilliantly, and the payoff is delicious in both its comedic delivery, and its horror moments. It’s the perfect blend of genres. It’s a very familiar kind of horror comedy, but it works better than a lot of other movies I have watched. 

The Menu Cast Includes Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy And Nicholas Hoult

Ralph Fiennes, known for many all-star roles, takes on the lead part of Julian Slowik, but there are plenty of other great leads. 

Margot and Tyler are played by the lovely Anya Taylor-Joy and the talented Nicholas Hoult, both giving performances of the year, in my opinion. They are joined by an all-star cast featuring the likes of John Leguizamo, Judith Light, Janet McTeer and many many more. Truly, this film's cast is stacked from the moment it starts to the moment it ends, and it doesn’t slow down for a moment with the acting performances that are delivered. 

The Menu Is Very Much Rated R – And Is Under Two Hours

Yeah, The Menu is not for kids. While I can see how certain horror comedies might be ok for some kids (like maybe Freaky or Shaun of the Dead), this one is not the one to take your children to. It’s a hard R for the mature content that is featured, but that just means that you’re going to get a really good horror experience. 

The film is also under two hours, so you won’t be sitting in the theater for a ridiculous amount of time like you probably will for some other movies... 

The Menu Is Directed By Mark Mylod, Known For Succession And Shameless

The last little bit of info is that The Menu is directed by Mark Mylod, who has been super influential in the television industry. He was a director of episodes and executive producer of both Succession and the popular Showtime series, Shameless, and has directed several other episodes in many other shows too. Some include Game of Thrones, Amazing Stories and more. 

It’s always cool to see exactly who is going to be directing horror films and looking at their background, and I think with his vast knowledge of many genres, The Menu is in good hands. 

What are you looking forward to the most about The Menu? It’s certainly going to be a unique movie-watching experience – you’ll almost wish you were a guest at this fancy dining experience…until everything changes, that is.  

There are horror movies that are more of the same thing, like a franchise we’ve seen a thousand times over and over again, or some offering the same kind of slash and dash expectations that we always think of when we remember the most iconic horror movies. 

And then, there are horror movies that truly change the game and turn such interesting premises into scary stories – like a creepy Airbnb for Barbarian earlier in 2022, or, what we’re going to talk about today, the weird tasting menu for a chef in The Menu. 

The highly-anticipated film has finally been released, along with its star-studded cast that includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes and so many more. If you just went to see the movie and you’re wondering the actors look so familiar, here is where you might have seen The Menu cast before. 

Ralph Fiennes (Chef Julian Slowik)

Starting off strong, we take a look at Ralph Finnes, who plays Chef Julian Slowik in The Menu, the chef who designed this tasting experience. Fiennes is an actor who has been in the business for years, appearing in several big-time films. Most people probably know him for his famous role as Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise, but Fiennes has been in plenty of other amazing films. 

Some of his best live-action performances have been in movies such as Schindler’s List, The English Patient, the Duchess, The Hurt Locker, the Wes Anderson-directed The Grand Budapest Hotel, The King’s Man, and more. He portrayed Gareth Mallory in the most recent Daniel Craig James Bond films, and voiced Ramses in The Prince of Egypt. Truly, a man of many talents – and the perfect choice for the lead of this film. 

Anya Taylor-Joy (Margot)

Next up, we take a look at Anya Taylor-Joy, a young actress who has been making strides in the world of movies and television the past several years. She portrays Margot in The Menu. 

Taylor-Joy made headlines for her performance as Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit, but she has done plenty of other work in the industry. She had a big role in the series, Peaky Blinders, but besides that, she’s appeared in many great films as well, including The Northman cast, Radioactive, the A24 horror film The Witch, Last Night in Soho, 2022’s Amsterdam, Emma. and so many others. She also appeared in the M. Night Shyamalan flick, Split, and its sequel.  

Nicholas Hoult (Tyler)

Margot's lover in the film is Tyler, and he's portrayed by Nicholas Hoult. The young actor has made strides in his career by appearing in well-regarded movies such as About a Boy, but became famous when he appeared on the hit teen show, Skins, as well as in the X-Men franchise. 

Since then, he’s only grown in his talent. He’s on the Hulu original series, The Great, which is getting a third season soon, but has appeared in a variety of different movies such as Mad Max: Fury Road, The Banker, the forbidden romance film Warm Bodies, Tolkien, The Current War, Clash of the Titans, and so many others. 

Hong Chau (Elsa)

Portraying Elsa in The Menu is Hong Chau, an actress who has been around for ages in the movie industry. Soon, she is also going to be appearing in the anticipated 2022 film, The Whale, but she’s appeared in a variety of previous films and TV shows. 

In terms of television, she was a part of the hit HBO series, Watchmen, as well as the sci-fi series, Homecoming. She was also a part of the show Treme, and had a recurring part in Big Little Lies

In movies, she’s had roles in films such as Inherent Vice, Downsizing, American Woman, Driveways, and more. 

Janet McTeer (Lillian Bloom)

Next up, we take a look at Janet McTeer, who portrays Lillian Bloom in The Menu. McTeer got her start on Broadway, but also transferred her talents to television and movies after that. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Tumbleweeds, but has appeared in many films since then, such as Albert Nobbs, Wuthering Heights, Hawks, The Woman in Black, Maleficent, Me Before You, the Divergent series, and so many more. 

In terms of television, she was the star of the series, The Governor, and has been in several shows such as The White Queen, The Honourable Woman, as well as Ozark on Netflix.

Reed Birney (Richard)

Reed Birney portrays Richard in The Menu, and like many others on this list, he’s worked on both Broadway and Off-Broadway, but has used his talents for the film and TV industry, as well. Some of his most known work in film includes Crimewave, Twelve Thirty, Morning Glory, Jackrabbit, The Hunt, Lost Girls, and more. 

He’s guest starred on several television shows, but most notably had a recurring role on House of Cards, and is currently on The Blacklist and Titans. Most recently, he portrayed Sylvester Lisko in Home Before Dark. 

Judith Light (Anne)

Judith Light is arguably one of the most known talents on this list since she has been around for decades and has done so much. She started her career on Broadway, but has made a name for herself in Hollywood, with a lot of work in the television industry. 

She was the star of Who’s the Boss? on ABC, and only continued to have major roles in popular shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ugly Betty, Dallas, Transparent, and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Most recently, she was a part of the Season 2 cast of American Horror Stories. 

Light has also had plenty of time in the spotlight on film. Some of her most known have been Before You Know It, Digging For Fire, We’ll Never Have Paris, and in 2021, she was a part of the Tick, Tick…Boom! cast.

Paul Adelstein (Ted)

Moving on, we take a look at Paul Adelstein, who plays Ted in The Menu. Adelstein is mainly known for his role as Paul Kellerman on the popular drama, Prison Break, but has had many major roles in television shows since, including Private Practice, I Feel Bad, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Scandal, Chicago P.D. and more. 

Adelstein has also appeared in several movies, including Mothers and Daughters, Intolerable Cruelty, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Missing Person, and most recently in 2022, he had a part in The Greatest Beer Run Ever.

Aimee Carrero (Felicity)

Next up, we have Aimee Carrero, who plays Felicity in The Menu. Carrero is mainly known for her voice work, as she voiced She-Ra in the popular under-the-radar series, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and she’s also voiced Princess Elena in Elena of Avalor. But, other than that, she’s also had several main roles in television shows such as Young and Hungry and Level Up. 

Carrero also appeared in multiple films, including Wander Darkly, The Last Witch Hunter, Devil’s Due, and Holidate. 

Arturo Castro (Soren)

Arturo Castro plays Soren in The Menu, and the young actor has done plenty of work before his role in this 2022 horror film. Castro is primarily known for his roles on both the Netflix television series, Narcos, as well as his role as Jaime Castro on Broad City. But, he also appeared in several other shows as guest stars, including Room 104, Flipped, The Terminal List, and more. 

Castro has also appeared in movies such as the 2022 film, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Dating and New York, Yes Day, Lady and the Tramp, and others. 

Rob Yang (Bryce)

Rob Yang plays Bryce in The Menu, and like his co-stars, has done plenty in television and movies. He portrayed Dr. Degroff in One Life to Live, Don Seong in The Americans, Logan Kim in The Resident, and most recently, Deputy Steve Park in the Showtime original series, American Rust. 

In movies, he’s made appearances in films such as The Unidentified, Certainty, Stockholm, Pennsylvania, Glass, and The Kitchen.

Mark St. Cyr (Dave)

Next up in The Menu cast is Mark St. Cyr, who portrays Dave. Most notably, he has had a main recurring role in the popular Disney+ series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, but St. Cyr has also had big roles in several other television shows, including Giving Me Life (in the Land of Deadass), Doomsday, Finding Me: The Series, The Verge, and Mumbai Chopra: Misadventures of an It Girl. 

He has also appeared in films like Marshall and Triple Threat. 

John Leguizamo (Movie Star)

Last but not least, we take a look at a literal movie star, John Leguizamo – who literally portrays a movie star in The Menu. Leguizamo is sort of a legend in Hollywood, as he has been in so much great work. 

Some of his best films include the 2014 movie, Chef, Super Mario Bros., Carlito’s Way, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Romeo + Juliet, Body Count, Moulin Rouge!, Collateral Damage, and 2014's John Wick. Leguizamo is also known for his voice work, as he voiced Sid in the Ice Age movies, and Bruno as part of the Encanto cast.

That’s right – he’s the Bruno we can’t talk about. 

Leguizamo has also done some television work as well, having main roles in shows such as Bloodline, The Kill Point, and a recurring role on ER. He also had a part in the acclaimed miniseries, When They See Us. 

With so many amazing stars, it’s no wonder that The Menu is probably going to be an amazing hit. And now, you can find some other awesome stuff to watch, too – after enjoying this feast of a movie first, of course.  

Halloween has come and gone, and Thanksgiving is already upon us. What better time, then, to release a horror movie centered around food? The Menu stars Ralph Fiennes as celebrity chef Julian Slowik, who hosts a small group of wealthy foodies, writers and celebrities for an exclusive meal at his restaurant, which is located on a remote island. Suffice it to say these guests have a few surprises headed their way. The movie garnered pretty positive reactions when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and now the reviews are here to tell us more about The Menu. 

Along with Ralph Fiennes, the film centers around the young couple Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), who are among Chef Slowik’s guests. Other members of the ensemble include Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, John Leguizamo, Paul Adelstein and Mark St. Cyr. Let’s see what the critics have to say ahead of the movie’s November 18 theatrical release, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of The Menu. Eric Eisenberg rates the film 4.5 stars out of 5, praising its multi-layered mystery and well-blended genres. He also warns us to avoid spoilers, so we will be sure to do just that in the excerpts below. Eisenberg says: 

CinemaBlend’s Corey Chichizola screened the film at TIFF, and he also gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars, saying even non-horror fans can appreciate The Menu because of its comedy. See what he and Hannah Saulic have to say in our spoiler-free video review: 

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics rates the movie at 3 stars out of 5, saying with each course, The Menu gives viewers something new to chew on. The building tension is broken up by plenty of humor — sometimes too much of it, this critic says: 

Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly grades The Menu a B+, calling it a “glossy, skewering satire,” in which we can savor the suffering of the ultra-rich. The critic praises the ensemble cast, particularly Ralph Fiennes, she says, who makes the most of his role: 

Aaron Neuwirth of We Live Entertainment, gives the movie a User Rating of 7, highlighting how director Mark Mylod keeps things exciting even with the characters contained to a room, and he keeps us invested in the characters regardless of how unsympathetic they are. More from the review: 

Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post gives the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, saying its “seared, carefully julienned heart” is in the right place, even if it takes things too far to the extreme: 

The critics definitely have me intrigued about this one! If this movie sounds appetizing to you, you will be able to catch it in theaters starting Friday, November 18. You can see what else is in store for the box office for the remaining weeks of the year with our 2022 Movie Release Schedule, and take a peek at what’s coming to theaters in 2023 as well. 

It’s a good time to be a horror fan. The genre has been thriving for years now, and one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming horror movies this year has been Mark Mylod’s The Menu. The new dark comedy features an outstanding ensemble cast, lead by The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy. And she recently spoke to CinemaBlend about the “gift” of facing off against Voldemort himself, actor Ralph Fiennes.

Anya Taylor-Joy has become a bit of a scream queen over the years, thanks to her performances in flicks like The Witch, Split, as well as horror-leaning projects like Last Night in Soho and The New Mutants. She’s returned to the genre with The Menu, which sees her facing off against the great Ralph Fiennes. As you can see in the video above, I had the privilege of speaking with the movie’s cast ahead of its wide release, where I asked Taylor-Joy what it was like sharing so many scenes with the Harry Potter icon. She shared a peek behind this process, saying:

Talk about a dream. While other actors might have been nervous when sharing scenes with the great Ralph Fiennes, it looks like Anya Taylor-Joy thoroughly enjoyed sparring with his character Julian Slowik. Luckily The Menu features a series of private scenes between the movie’s two leads, where they were able to craft a fascinating dynamic for their characters.

Later in our conversation, Anya Taylor-Joy further explained how the unique way director Mark Mylod (Succession) shot The Menu made her solo scenes with Ralph Fiennes all the more special. Namely because the ensemble of actors were largely together the whole movie, filming on one singular set. As she offered:

Luckily for moviegoing audiences, The Menu is in the midst of its opening weekend, so we can watch Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes’ work on the big screen. Although the Queen’s Gambit actress wasn’t the only member of the movie’s cast who enjoyed working with Fiennes. Watchmen’s Hong Chau plays Elsa in the new horror flick, and she also spoke about the experience working with him. In Chau’s words:

While filming movies is known to be a long and grueling experience, it sounds like getting to see Ralph Fiennes perform live helped make it a thrilling shoot for Hong Chau. Because who doesn’t want to sit in the front row as the acclaimed actor performs a thrilling monologue? Sign me up.

The Menu is in theaters now, and features more familiar faces like Judith Light, John Leguizamo (who recently weighed in on the Super Mario Bros. casting), Nicholas Hault, Broad City’s Arturo Castro, and Ozark star Janet McTeer. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. There are still a handful of horror projects hitting theaters before the New Year. 

While Ralph Fiennes may have been Jennifer Lopez’s love interest in one of JLo’s best rom-coms Maid in Manhattan, in real life the actor ended up being a decoy for her and Ben Affleck back in the early days of Bennifer. While the actor was out promoting his role in his latest movie The Menu, he revealed that he was caught with JLo by the paparazzi, which ended up acting as a decoy to the public to hide the early days of her and Ben Affleck's relationship.  

The Menu actor was asked on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen about his thoughts on the power couple getting back together, especially since he was a decoy for them the first time around. Fiennes admitted that he was set up after Cohen asked in shock if that was true, saying:  

Before Bennifer got back together and married in 2022, which JLo admitted may not be the best idea for everyone, the two were engaged from 2002 to 2004. Maid in Manhattan was released in 2002, and Fiennes revealed he ended up playing decoy to hide the two’s relationship from the public, explaining: 

Fiennes then continued the story, explaining what happened to the photo the next day. The Grand Budapest Hotel star said: 

It makes sense why Fiennes was caught/used as a decoy. At the time, and honestly still, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s relationship has been highly publicized. The media seems to always be out trying to snap pictures of the two actors and their romantic partners, so naturally, Fiennes got caught up in it.  

According to the timeline of Bennifer, the two met in 2001 while filming Gigli, and in 2002 she and her husband at the time Cris Judd got a divorce. It tracks that JLo and Affleck could have been together when Fiennes and Lopez were filming Maid in Manhattan. 

As for Fiennes, he was married to Alex Kingston, known for playing River Song on Doctor Who, from 1993 to 1997, and hasn’t been married since. 

I love that the actor is able to look back on his time as a decoy and laugh about it. It’s also nice that he wished the couple well in their new marriage. While Bennifer has been making headlines for their relationship and their movies, Fiennes has stayed busy with multiple movies on the 2022 movie schedule. You can catch the actor in his creepiest role since Voldemort in The Menu, which hits theaters on November 18. 

No Time to Die might’ve been the last time audiences will get to see Ralph Fiennes as MI-6 head M. The film served as Daniel Craig’s swan song after playing James Bond for two decades. The franchise wanted to make sure Craig would never return by killing him off in an explosion. Months after Bond 25 was released, Fiennes offered his honest thoughts about Craig’s Bond being killed off.

The Schindler’s List actor finally spoke about 007’s No Time to Die death in a profile with The New York Times. The Oscar-nominated actor was looking back on his prolific career across stage and screen. The conversation turned to his tenure as M in the beloved spy franchise. Some actors might look at losing their franchise star as an upsetting moment in their career. Fiennes was quite the opposite as he mentioned being for the risky decision.

Who knew Fiennes felt so much pressure taking over for Dame Judi Dench? But the Voldemort actor did have some major shoes to fill considering Dench played Bond’s boss over seven films, going back to Goldeneye. A generation or two had grown up with the MI6 leader being a stern motherly figure to the international spy. Hearing her voice and seeing images didn’t help the film and stage actor feel comfortable taking over the pivotal role. Luckily, he found his footing upon assuming the role of M in Spectre.

The Harry Potter star understood the long-running franchise is needing a refresh after following the same cast for five movies. After Craig’s departure from the Bond franchise, the search for a new 007 has begun with new parameters for the potential candidate. Getting a new Bond doesn’t mean the No Time to Die cast isn’t open to returning for another film. Having some holdovers from the Daniel Craig era would make the transition to a new 007 easier for audiences. But given Craig’s lengthy tenure, it might be time for a new M, Moneypenny, and Q to serve as the backbone for a new James Bond.

Fiennes has been defending multiple decisions lately. He recently came to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s defense over her controversial comments about transgender women. The 59-year-old actor isn’t just defending his past work as he will return to the stage as renowned urban planner Robert Moses in the play Straight Line Crazy. The No Time to Die star will return to the big screen in the horror comedy The Menu, which arrives in theaters on November 18.

You can revisit Ralph Fiennes’ time as M by streaming the James Bond movies in order through an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Once you’re done bingeing the Bond films, look into what upcoming movies are dropping in 2022.

The Wizarding World has been entertaining audiences for decades, with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels growing into multiple film franchises, theme parks, and even stage plays. But the acclaimed author has been in hot water for the last few years over her comments about transgender women. While plenty of actors from the movies have come out against these ideas, Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes recently defended Rowling in the midst of her controversies.

While the Harry Potter franchise continues to be part of the pop culture landscape, some fans are attempting to separate the Wizarding World from its creator. J.K. Rowling’s comments about the transgender community has resulted in massive outcry. Some even boycotted the behemoth property altogether, as Warner Bros. put its support behind her. Actor Ralph Fiennes recently offered his perspective on the controversy to the New York Times, where he was quoted saying:

He Who Must Not Be Named has spoken. And it seems like Ralph Fiennes has taken umbrage with J.K. Rowling receiving so much hate online over her views about transgender women. And given the sensitive nature of the discourse, smart money says that plenty of Harry Potter fans are going to have a reaction to what the Voldemort actor had to say about the ongoing situation.

Ralph Fiennes’ comments to the New York Times about J.K. Rowling stand in juxtaposition with what most of the Wizarding World actors have said about the matter. When the story first broke the internet, the trio of Harry Potters stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint all issued statements in support of the trans community. Fantastic Beasts’ Eddie Redmayne did the same thing, which turned heads since Rowling is writing that spinoff series. As Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton recently clarified, she only came to the set a handful of times for the eight-film Harry Potter franchise.

The controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling dates back to 2019 and 2020, and revolve around her controversial views on transgender women, and sex vs gender. Her statements resulted in a massive backlash, with organizations like GLAAD calling them “cruel” and “inaccurate.” And activists condemning her comments on trans women, who are already a vulnerable group. But the author has only doubled down, while also receiving massive online hate including death threats. And it seems like that extreme reaction is that Ralph Fiennes is taking the most umbrage with. 

Ralph Fiennes’ new movie The Menu will hit theaters on November 18th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.