May 21 marked the end of an era. After hosting The Late Show for 11 years, Stephen Colbert officially signed off as his program came to an end on the 2026 TV schedule. CBS canceled the late-night talk show last year, and it caused quite a stir in Hollywood and around the world, with many celebrities and fellow late-night talk show hosts showing their support for Colbert. That support has continued over the months, and following the finale, Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, and many more sent some sweet shoutouts.

Colbert went above and beyond for the final episodes of The Late Show, bringing on special guests and doing special segments. Thursday’s finale, which drew The Late Show’s biggest audience in 10 years, according to The New York Times, had appearances from some famous friends such as Jon Stewart and Bryan Cranston, and the host's fitting final guest was Paul McCartney. It was emotional and very sweet. And those feelings didn’t stop when the lights got turned off, as many celebrities took to social media to send messages to the beloved host:

• Samuel L Jackson: Your Comedic Salve will never be replaced for our wounded souls! Thanks for ALWAYS being our Dr FEELGOOD 🫵🏾‼️ @colbertlateshow @colbert
• Ryan Reynolds: Late night tv will never be the same. I’ll miss your tender embrace @colbertlateshow
• Jamie Lee Curtis: THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS @colbertlateshow @colbert
• Conan O’Brien: Here's to Stephen Colbert, a man of great integrity and wit. Onward, friend, to bigger and better things.
• Seth Meyers: For as great as he is on screen, Stephen is an even better person when the cameras stop rolling. A truly generous, kind and thoughtful man who elevates those around him. Can’t wait for his next chapter and grateful to know him.
• Marlee Matlin: One of my favorite interviews was with @StephenAtHome He GOT my humor. Wishing you only the best in your journey beyond your talk show. We need your voice more than ever! @colbertlateshow
• Barack Obama: For more than a decade, Stephen @Colbert has been one of the top voices of late night — making us laugh and, even more importantly, reminding us who we are and what America stands for. Michelle and I enjoyed being Stephen’s guests — even when the games were rigged — and we’re grateful to call him a friend.

All of these messages, plus many others, and the outpouring of love and support that Colbert has received in these last several months, show how much he and The Late Show matter. It’s clear that everyone has had a great time on the late-night talk show, and while many are still debating what truly led to the show’s cancellation, it’s obvious that a ton of people did not want it to happen.

In addition to the sweet messages, some late-night shows, such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, aired reruns for part of the week out of respect.

That being said, not everyone has been respectful, as President Trump’s post about the final show is as mean-spirited as you’d think. However, overall, the support for Colbert and his program has been overwhelmingly positive.

Earlier this month, Colbert revealed what he’s doing the day afterThe Late Show ends, sharing that his brother was actually getting married in D.C., and it’s much more important than what’s going on with the show. Colbert’s been busy with the final episodes of The Late Show, but he still has his priorities straight when it comes to his family.

With The Late Show’s cancellation, the future of late-night television is in question. Following Jimmy Kimmel Live’s brief suspension last year and the cancellation of The Late Show, it's unclear what could happen next. However, thankfully, Colbert was able to go out with a bang and surrounded by a whole bunch of folks who adore him and his work. Those who missed the finale of The Late Show can stream it now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Spoilers ahead for the penultimate episode of The Boys.

The Boys is a truly wild superhero project, and arguably one of the best Amazon Prime shows on the streaming service. Those with an Amazon Prime video subscription are currently watching the show's fifth and final season, and its penultimate episode, "The Frenchman, the Female, and the Man Called Mother's Milk," was a doozy. It also included a wild cameo from Samuel L. Jackson, with the show's creator Eric Kripke explaining how it went down.

The Boys Season 5 has been steadily building its tension, and Episode 7 featured a huge character death. But it also had Sam Jackson voicing a seriously angry hammerhead shark named Xander, who threatened to kill Chace Crawford's The Deep if he ever entered the water again. Kripke spoke to Polygon about how this wild cameo came together, saying:

Talk about thrilling. Samuel L. Jackson does have an iconic and distinguishable voice, and as soon as Xander started mouthing off to The Deep, it was clear who was the man behind the shark. While they were always going to shoot their shot, Eric Kripke and company lucked out that the Oscar-winning actor was a fan of The Boys, and was happy to get in on the fun. And just like that, Xander was born.

While this was a funny gag and a relatively quick cameo, the scene in question showed just how low Crawford's character is. Not only does The Seven no longer exist, but his blind loyalty to Homelander has resulted in the entire ocean turning against him. That means he can't use his powers, and has lost all his friends who live in the water. What exactly does he have to live for anymore?

Perhaps this is setting up The Deep to finally unite with The Boys against Homelander in the forthcoming series finale. The aquatic supe has been pretty unredeemable throughout the show's five seasons on the air, mostly out of fear of his boss. But now that he's been pushed out of both Vought and the water, it might be a good time for him to finally get on the right side of history. We'll just have to see what happens in the show's final episode.

The Boys airs new episodes Wednesdays on Amazon Prime as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

Star Wars Day is a special day for fans of the franchise, and it's particularly special whenever the actual stars of the series come out of hyperspace for a little nostalgia. This year, Samuel L. Jackson and Daisy Ridley both took time off their busy 2026 movie calendars, marking May the 4th with social media posts that gave fans a nice mix of behind-the-scenes memories and great pictures with the creator himself, George Lucas and more.

Jackson, who played Jedi Master Mace Windu in the prequel trilogy, shared a carousel on Instagram, which you can see below, with the message, “MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU,” followed by a fist emoji, several exclamation points and a purple heart. Naturally, that purple heart feels on brand for the actor who famously wielded one of the most recognizable lightsabers in the entire franchise.

The post included several images tied to Jackson’s time in the Star Wars universe, including behind-the-scenes shots with George Lucas, a Star Wars Insider cover featuring Mace Windu, and a great image of Jackson in costume alongside Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker. There was also a shot of Jackson holding Mace’s purple lightsaber, which is basically red meat for anyone still hoping the Jedi somehow survived his fall in Revenge of the Sith.

One commenter wrote that Mace Windu was “the only Jedi to beat Sidious in a duel,” while another argued that because fans “never saw a body,” Mace could still show back up someday. Walton Goggins also popped into the comments with a simple, “always YOU,” which somehow feels correct for a post celebrating one of the coolest Jedi to ever glare across the council chamber.

Jackson has long been open about wanting Mace Windu back in Star Wars, and the fandom has never fully let go of the idea. That is partly because Star Wars has made an entire art form out of unlikely returns, but also because Mace’s exit left just enough smoke in the air for fans to keep squinting into it. The man took Force lightning, lost a hand and went flying out a window, yes. But this is also a franchise where Darth Maul got cut in half and still found time to become a crime lord and is starring in his very own new Star Wars animated series, Star Wars: Maul–Shadow Lord, which fans and critics have been loving.

Ridley, meanwhile, used her Instagram Story to share a string of Star Wars Day posts, including a simple “Happy Star Wars Day to all who celebrate!!!” message over a video from a recording session. She also shared a photo of her behind the camera, check it out below:

One of the more interesting posts from Ridley came later, when she shared an Empire Magazine graphic ranking Rey among “The Greatest Star Wars Characters of All Time.” The image included Rey’s “I am all the Jedi” line from The Rise of Skywalker, which feels like a fitting Star Wars Day nod for a character fans have debated, defended and picked apart since The Force Awakens.

My personal favorite, though, was a photo of the Last Jedi cast smiling together at a black-tie event. It’s a small thing, but it’s a great behind-the-scenes snapshot and exactly the kind of warm franchise memory that works so well on May the Fourth. She also shared a fun image of John Williams' orchestra at work:

The timing is hard to miss, too. Ridley’s Rey is expected to return in a future Star Wars film, while Jackson’s Mace Windu remains one of those characters fans keep trying to will back into canon through sheer collective stubbornness.

For now, though, their May the Fourth posts did exactly what good Star Wars Day posts should do. They opened the blast doors on a few old memories and reminded fans why these characters still matter.

Posts like Jackson’s and Ridley’s land ahead of the franchise’s next theatrical release. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters May 22, 2026. But if you’re already itching for another trip back to that galaxy far, far away, all the Star Wars movies in order, along with the live-action shows and animated series, are streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

I’m pretty sure that if I ever met Samuel L. Jackson, I would be quite starstruck. Still, I had no idea that even other movie stars feel that way. James McAvoy appeared alongside Jackson in M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass, and the actor admits he still gets a bit starstruck because, in addition to working together, the pair still talk.

McAvoy has played everything from the leader of the X-Men to a monster with superpowers. The latter role, Split, acted as a stealth sequel to M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable, and its success resulted in the movie Glass, which brought McAvoy together with Jackson and Bruce Willis. Speaking with Empire, the Beast actor drops an F-bomb in describing what it's like to be treated as an equal by one of the greats. He said…

To be fair, James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson are both professional actors who are working in Hollywood on films that are frequently of about the same scale. The fact is that the two men should be seen as equals. However, McAvoy himself clearly has trouble seeing things that way.

And Samuel L. Jackson has seen incredible success, the kind few actors achieve. He’s been in massive franchises, including Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, resulting in him being one of the highest-grossing actors ever. McAvoy clearly sees Jackson as a step above professionally, and he considers his relationship with Jackson a significant career accomplishment. He continued…

Some actors in Hollywood don't have the best reputation, but Samuel L. Jackson appears to be one of those people that everybody loves. Any story from the set involving Jackson tends to be about how nice he is, how professional he is, or just how cool he is.

I can certainly appreciate the feeling. There are colleagues of mine whom I hold in very high regard, even though we may technically do the same job. Sometimes you just appreciate being in the same orbit as somebody that you respect. The X-Men actor feels that way about Samuel L. Jackson. I bet there’s somebody who feels that way about James McAvoy, too.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet streamed Tulsa King’s Season 3 finale via Paramount+ subscription, so be warned!

Another season-length journey into Tulsa’s criminal underground has ended, giving Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi a little time to breathe and get comfortable with his girlfriend Margaret — because they’re using labels now — before the next big threat comes crawling out of the New York City woodwork. The squad’s efforts to make above-the-board profits were granted in the form of a federal liquor license granted by Kevin Pollack’s Musso, while most of the immediate threats in Dwight’s life were put to pasture.

All in all, it was a solid way to wrap Season 3, which started off strongly before spinning its wheels a bit in the middle. and I think it handily delivered on two of my biggest hopes for Tulsa King ahead of the currently in-production Season 4 and the impending spinoff set in New Orleans. That said, “Jesus Lizard” did screw the pooch when it came to closing out one character’s storyline, at least assuming that storyline is indeed concluded. Pour yourself a rocks glass of that Montague and read on!

NAILED IT: Setting Up Samuel L. Jackson's Hitman For NOLA King

Tulsa King followed in the footsteps of many a traditional broadcast drama by introducing a brand new character destined to go off and star in an impending spinoff. To be sure, these final two episodes technically didn't serve as a backdoor pilot, as they were both firmly invested in wrapping up everything happening in Tulsa, but the ninth episode brought in the always excellent Samuel L. Jackson as the highly connected hitman already set to head up NOLA King, one Mr. Russell Lee Washington Jr.

Realistically, the crew could have just left the camera rolling on Jackson without giving him any direction, and I still likely would have come out of his introduction pleased as punch. But Tulsa King's writers brought Lee into Dwight's life in a way that immediately set up high stakes — he's on Quiet Ray's to-be-killed shitlist for refusing the task of taking Dwight out — and gave viewers a window into his world.

Namely, Lee is tired of being a hired hand, and wants to basically duplicate the success that Dwight has had, only in his stomping grounds of New Orleans. As a Louisiana native myself, I was ready for Jackson's accent to border on grating, but I think he handles it well enough, and I can buy into the idea that he lost some of it during his years living away from the city. All in all, I'm 100% more excited for NOLA King than I was before Lee was introduced, and I can't wait to see him mixing it up with the rest of that cast.

NAILED IT: Killing Off Jeremiah Dunmire In An Over-The-Top Brutal Way

Robert Patrick rules, without question, and he delivered as expected throughout Season 3 as Dwight's booze-minded antagonist Jeremiah Dunmire. But for as much as I like watching Patrick's work, Jeremiah was a hateful, spiteful and godawful human being without a speck of levity to lean into, and only self-serving motivations to guide him. Rarely have I wanted more to see a drama's season-long villain get taken out in the episode after they first appeared.

Understandably, Jeremiah continued breathing for episode after episode, making everyone's life worse around him as Dwight found different ways to invade and infect the Dunmires' illegal monopoly on bourbon distribution. It'd be one thing if Jeremiah was only mean to his enemies, but the person he arguably treated worse than anyone else was his own son Cole. Though I guess trying to calm Joanna by directly saying, "I don't hit women," didn't exude tranquility.

So when the finale started, I found myself wishing for Dwight to take Jeremiah out in the most pettily ruthless way imaginable: dragging him behind a car down a gravel road with his legs spread wide, or by having him lay down in a pit full of vipers. Or just like. throwing him into a woodchipper, feet first. But hey, Dwight managed to top each of those ideas by beating the shit out of Jeremiah and then essentially burning him alive at the stake. Good riddance.

MISSED THE BOAT: Giving Cole The Chance To Take His Own Father Out (Or To At Least Watch Dwight Do It)

For all that I cheered when Jeremiah Dunmire joined the flaming choir invisible, I found myself highly disappointed that Tulsa King's creative team didn't allow for the easiest example of poetic justice possible: allowing Cole to dish out some painful vengeance on his own to the man who made his life hell for decades on end. I mean seriously, after Jeremiah threateningly held that axe up to Cole's face in the penultimate ep?

To be sure, I fucking hate Cole Dunmire, and I almost want to hate Beau Knapp by extension for delivering all of the character's shitty expressions and all the insecurity on display in the way he aims to intimidate others by using his physicality. He's the personification of the phrase "Hurt people hurt people," though, and I guess I wasn't hating him so much as what Jeremiah made of him.

Thus, I desperately wanted Cole to be the one to completely ruin his dear old dad. Definite props to him for recognizing that the last straw exists, and for going to Dwight with all of the relevant info needed to save Joanna and take Jeremiah down. But we needed to see the big moment where Cole makes it clear that it was Jeremiah's own flesh and blood that caused his downfall, presumably then followed by Cole shoving a live grenade in his dad's mouth. Again, I definitely enjoying seeing Dwight light up the night with Jeremiah's beaten body, but Cole deserved to be the one to have sparked that flame.

Is this the last time we'll see Cole in Tulsa King? Does the death of his pops mean that he's in contention to either take over the family business, or will he jump ship and attempt to slot himself within Dwight's ranks? Or hell, might he even decide to join Lee on a trip down South? Hopefully we'll get some answers when the first Season 4 updates start dropping.

NOLA King will be hitting the 2026 TV schedule at an unforeseen date, so stay tuned for that, and also stay tuned for Tulsa King star Garrett Hedlund's other upcoming streaming show, the comic adaptation Criminal.

I don’t know when it happened, but my Facebook feed has been showing me random posts (not from friends) for months now. While I simply skip over most of these for one reason or another, one recently caught my attention with a dialogue about some of the best actors of all time and who had the best seven-year run. Is it Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, or someone else known for great movie characters?

Truth be told, plenty of great options were brought up in a Facebook post, and now I’m having a hard time deciding who is right or if there’s even an answer to this question. That said, I’ve come up with a list of a few Hollywood leading men who gave audiences some of the best ‘80s movies, even more of the greatest ‘90s films, and countless big-screen moments we’re still talking about years later.

Tom Cruise (1986 - 1993)

• Top Gun
• The Color of Money
• Cocktail
• Rain Man
• Born on the Fourth of July
• Days of Thunder
• Far and Away
• A Few Good Men
• The Firm

Tom Cruise was already a star-in-the-making by the time Top Gun came around in 1986, but this all-time great action flick took his career to new heights. In the seven years following his first portrayal of Maverick, Cruise would appear in classics like The Color of Money, Born on the Fourth of July, and A Few Good Men, to name just a few.

Harrison Ford (1977 - 1984)

• Star Wars
• Apocalypse Now
• The Empire Strikes Back
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Blade Runner
• Return of the Jedi
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Harrison Ford had some acting roles before portraying Han Solo in Star Wars, but his run of hits after taking audiences to the galaxy far, far away in 1977 made him one of Hollywood’s biggest badasses and sexiest men alive. He had a small part in Apocalypse Now, but his return as the “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, nerf herder” in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi was huge. The same goes for the debut of another one of his iconic characters: Indiana Jones.

Eddie Murphy (1982 - 1989)

• 48 Hrs.
• Trading Places
• Best Defense
• Beverly Hills Cop
• The Golden Child
• Beverly Hills Cop II
• Eddie Murphy Raw
• Coming To America
• Harlem Nights

A couple of years after Eddie Murphy breathed new life into Saturday Night Live, he took Hollywood by storm with his starring role in the iconic buddy cop movie, 48 Hrs.. In the years that followed the success of the 1982 comedy, Murphy had a string of hits that included classics like Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, and Coming to America, all of which are considered some of the funniest comedies of all time.

Tom Hanks (1992 - 1999)

• A League of Their Own
• Sleepless in Seattle
• Philadelphia
• Forrest Gump
• Apollo 13
• Toy Story
• That Thing You Do!
• Saving Private Ryan
• You’ve Got Mail
• Toy Story 2
• The Green Mile

There’s a strong case to be made for Tom Hanks’ run in the ‘90s being the greatest of all time. Over the course of the decade, Hanks went from one of the biggest up-and-coming actors in the comedy world to a two-time Oscar winner, a Hollywood leading man, and the star of the most transformative animated film franchise of the decade.

Samuel L. Jackson (1989 - 1995)

• Do the Right Thing
• Goodfellas
• Jungle Fever
• Juice
• Patriot Games
• Menace II Society
• Loaded Weapon 1
• Jurassic Park
• True Romance
• Pulp Fiction
• Die Hard with a Vengeance

I’m not going to lie, I had to leave off at least a half-dozen Samuel L. Jackson movies from this list to make it fit. Seriously, Jackson’s box office run from the late ‘80s through the early ‘90s is straight up bonkers. One of the best sci-fi movies of all time? Check, thanks to Jurassic Park. One of the most quotable characters of all time? Check, thanks to Pulp Fiction. And that’s just barely scratching the surface.

Jim Carrey (1994 - 2001)

• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
• The Mask
• Dumb and Dumber
• Batman Forever
• Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
• The Cable Guy
• Liar Liar
• The Truman Show
• Man on the Moon
• Me, Myself & Irene
• How The Grinch Stole Christmas
• The Majestic

Already one of the funniest names in comedy by the time he took over Hollywood, Jim Carrey became a force of chaos with his trifecta of comedies in 1994. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber all in the same year is straight up wild! But he followed it with hit after hit throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. Though Carrey’s best movie would come a decade later with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, let’s just look back on that run…

Brad Pitt (1994 - 2001)

• Interview with the Vampire
• Legends of the Fall
• Seven
• 12 Monkeys
• Sleepers
• The Devil’s Own
• Seven Years in Tibet
• Meet Joe Black
• Fight Club
• Snatch
• The Mexican
• Spy Game
• Ocean’s Eleven

Can we talk about how great Brad Pitt was throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s? I mean, he’s still great today, and some of his best work has been in recent years, but he had a stranglehold on American culture back then. Seven, Fight Club, Ocean’s Eleven, and more, all coming out over the course of seven years, is absurd. During the ‘90s, Pitt went from a supporting player to THE GUY in show business.

Orlando Bloom (2001 - 2008)

• Black Hawk Down
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• Troy
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Elizabethtown
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Okay, Orlando Bloom probably isn’t the first person to come to mind whenever the conversation turns to great runs, but his seven-year stretch in the 2000s is out of this world. From the Lord of the Rings trilogy to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and examples of all the major genres in between, Bloom had hit after hit at the start of the 21st century.

After going through all these actors and their respective filmographies, I’m having a really hard time deciding who had the best seven-year run. I mean, Tom Hanks’ stretch in the ‘90s is in a league of its own, but Tom Cruise also had a firm grasp on things in the era. Harrison Ford kept striking back, and Samuel L. Jackson was just one bad motherfucker.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below…

Samuel L. Jackson has no shortage of fantastic performances and truly memorable movie roles under his belt over the last few decades. I love putting together a good movie quiz, but one of the things I really like about these types of quizzes is that they gives me the opportunity to dive into an actor's career, specifically as it relates to the characters they played. To say that this quiz has me wanting to rewatch several of Samuel L. Jackson's best movies is putting it mildly. Maybe you'll experience the same thing after you take this quiz!

We'll tell you Samuel L. Jackson's character's name, you guess the movie.

Director J.J. Abrams' next movie is in the works, and he’s landed two stars for the cast. Glen Powell, coming off his star turn in The Running Man on the 2025 movie schedule, and Jenna Ortega, who has been crushing it on Wednesday on the 2025 TV schedule (you can watch it with a Netflix subscription), are co-starring in the movie that, at least for now, has the working title Ghostwriter.

The title of the movie may not end up being Ghostwriter. Some reports indicate that is just a working title, and at least one source, the Providence Journal, has said the name of the movie could be Providence. That’s something we’ll just have to wait to find out, at least for a little while longer. Title or not, here’s everything we know about the movie so far.

When Will Ghostwriter Be Released?

This is a big question about this somewhat mysterious movie. In addition to not knowing what the title is for sure, we’ve also heard nothing about when the movie could be released. It has been reported, again by the Providence Journal, that the movie has wrapped filming as of August 2025, so it’s not unreasonable to guess that the movie could be released as part of the 2026 movie schedule, but that is far from confirmed.

Who Is Starring In Ghostwriter?

Here is where we do have solid information. We do know some big names that will star in the movie.

Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega’s stardom is rising fast in Hollywood, most notably as the titular star of Wednesday. The show is easily one of the most popular titles streaming on Netflix, as it follows the Addams family member as she attends boarding school at Nevermore Academy. Ortega’s performance in Season 2 has been praised by fans and critics alike.

2025 has been a big year for Ortega on the big screen, too. Earlier this year, she co-produced and starred in the dark comedy Death of a Unicorn, alongside Paul Rudd and Will Poulter. She also starred in Hurry Up Tomorrow with The Weeknd, which wasn’t all that well received, but her role was a real bright spot in the uneven movie.

Glen Powell

It’s fair to call Glen Powell one of the biggest stars in Hollywood right now. Over the last few years, he’s shown that he’s not only great for box office numbers, but that he’s versatile. He’s starred in action flicks like 2025’s The Running Man and 2024’s Twisters, not to mention co-starring in the 2022 megahit Top Gun: Maverick. He’s also starred in comedies like Anyone but You and Hit Man (which he also co-wrote). He also had a hit TV show in 2025 with Chad Powers, which you can stream with a Hulu subscription. We don’t know his role in Ghostwriter, but we’re confident he’ll be great, whatever it is.

Emma Mackey

British-English actress Emma Mackey scored her breakout role in Netflix’s Sex Education and has not slowed down. Since then, she’s co-starred in Death on the Nile and Barbie, and she’s been a part of three movies in 2025, including the upcoming Ella McCay. She is in the titular role for the latest movie from Hollywood legend James L. Brooks, which hits theaters in December 2025. Like the other cast members, we don’t know who she’ll be playing.

Samuel L. Jackson

One actor that truly needs no introduction is the great Samuel L. Jackson. Over the last 40 years or so, few actors have appeared in as many movies as Jackson, and with his role as Nick Fury in the MCU movies, he’s right at the top of the all-time box office numbers for an actor.

What Is Ghostwriter About?

I’m going to be honest here, you’re guess is as good as mine here. It’s been billed as a “fantasy film,” but otherwise, no one has any solid info on the film’s plot. Ortega told The Cut in May:

According to The Providence Journal, it appears that Ortega and Powell are playing a couple, and Jackson is a fantasy author. But take that with a grain of salt, as nothing has been officially disclosed.

Ghostwriter Has Filmed In Scotland And Rhode Island

In addition to filming around Providence, Rhode Island, the movie has also reportedly been shot in Scotland, in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. We know the movie has wrapped, or at least it appears as though it has wrapped, but like so much else surrounding this movie, there is an air of mystery to that, too.

J.J. Abrams Is The Writer And Director

It’s hard to believe that J.J. Abrams, once the hottest director in Hollywood, hasn’t written or directed a movie in six years. His last movie was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. That feels like a lifetime (and a pandemic) ago. He’s produced a handful of projects, including next year’s Flowervale Street, which is part of a huge upcoming year for Anne Hathaway. He also produced a great documentary about the Blue Angels that was narrated by Glen Powell in 2024.

Abrams created the TV show Duster with Josh Holloway for HBO Max in 2025, but it was met with middling reviews and viewership, and was canceled after just one season. It’s safe to say that after a meteoric rise, Abrams hit a pretty major bump in the road of his career, so a hit movie would be just what the doctor ordered to get things back on track. Maybe Ghostwriter (or whatever the title ends up being) will be that hit.

It was a sad day when it was announced that filmmaker/actor Robert Redford passed away in his sleep at the age of 89. He started acting in the 60s, and spent his career starring in movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All The President's Men and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (to name a few), directing films like Ordinary People and Quiz Show, among others, and founding and working on the Sundance Film Festival. He truly left behind a legacy that will be remembered forever, and now, A-list stars like Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and more have taken the time to pay tribute to the late actor and the effect he had on them.

You can thank Robert Redford for Scarlett Johansson’s acting debut. As a child star, she starred in one of the best horse movies, The Horse Whisperer, in which Redford directed and starred alongside her. The former MCU star made a heartwarming statement to EW, honoring the late actor/director and noting the impact he had on her:

Scarlett Johansson credited Redford in her tribute for first teaching her about acting and walking her "through all of the beats" of her Horse Whisperer character. As the JoJo Rabbit star walks in the shoes of a director with Eleanor the Great, Johansson made sure to credit the Santa Monica native for founding Sundance as a space for filmmakers to learn from each other.

Another Marvel alum, Samuel L. Jackson, also had the pleasure of working with the one-time Oscar winner. Robert Redford made his way into the MCU as S.H.I.E.L.D. head Alexander Pierce, sharing screentime with Nick Fury in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The Pulp Fiction actor took to Instagram to share kind words about meeting one of his “heroes” on the MCU set, writing:

Such kind words to send the five-time Golden Globe winner’s way. As heartbreaking as his death is, it appears Jackson looks back on feeling lucky he had the chance to work with a skilled actor he admired. As one of the Snakes on a Plane actor’s 2025 movie releases had him starring in the Western The Unholy Trinity, it feels fitting that one of his latest roles connects back to Redford’s beginning within that same genre.

Among the long list of talented stars who worked with the award-winning star/filmmaker was Jennifer Lopez. She took to her Instagram stories to write about the effect Redford had on her as they worked together in An Unfinished Life:

Jennifer Lopez’s tribute really highlights what a loving impact Robert Redford had on his co-stars. It’s clear that even though An Unfinished Life wasn’t directed by him, he admirably still took the time to bring his “wisdom” to the Hustlers actress to ensure they made a great project together.

Last but not least, Demi Moore took to her Instagram to throw back to Indecent Proposal, the ‘90s box office hit she and Robert Redford starred in. Her moving caption to the All is Lost actor is sure to leave you in tears:

It’s easy to want to go back to the last moment you shared with a beloved figure and repeat it all over again. But, even as the world mourns for Redford, those who knew him can celebrate the many ways he touched their hearts and the endearing memories he left behind.

Based on the many tributes that talented stars left for Robert Redford, it's clear the BAFTA winner left a huge mark on many who were lucky to know him as well as those who admired his work. Through his countless works of film and the knowledge he brought to his co-stars, I know Redford will forever be remembered.

Ever since Grand Theft Auto made the jump to 3D back in 2001, the outrageously popular video game franchise has given gamers some of the most cinematic gaming experiences of all time. While the stories, graphics, and sandbox open worlds have certainly helped in this regard, a lot of that “cinema” quality comes from the games’ A-list casts.

Here are 32 celebrities who appeared in Grand Theft Auto games, be it as a protagonist (or antagonist most of the time) or as DJs for the franchise’s iconic radio stations. There is a lot to go over, so let’s get to it…

Samuel L. Jackson (Frank Tenpenny)

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas took the franchise to new heights back in 2004, and a lot of that was due to the show-stealing performance by Samuel L. Jackson as crooked Los Santos police officer and primary antagonist Frank Tenpenny. The corrupt cop, who made life miserable for protagonist Carl “CJ” Johnson, was a villain you loved to hate.

Ray Liotta (Tommy Vercetti)

Before the late Ray Liotta voiced Tommy Vercetti in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002, none of the protagonists had a voice, or personality for that matter. That all changed when gamers took control of the revenge-driven mobster and walked the neon-lit streets and crowded beaches of this landmark game.

Burt Reynolds (Avery Carrington)

The supporting casts in each of the Grand Theft Auto games have been just as legendary as the primary heroes and villains, and the late Burt Reynolds helped make Grand Theft Auto: Vice City one of the best in this regard. His portrayal of cowboy land developer Avery Carrington was lights out. It’s just a shame we didn’t get more.

William Fichtner (Ken Rosenberg)

In addition to showing up in most of Michael Bay’s best movies, William Fichtner has appeared in a pair of the best Grand Theft Auto games. First introduced as anxiety-ridden and paranoid attorney Ken Rosenberg in Vice City, Fichtner would reprise the role in San Andreas, where Ken was just as insane.

Joe Pantoliano (Luigi Goterelli)

Joe Pantoliano, aka Joey Pants, was just one of many actors known for playing mobsters to show up in Grand Theft Auto III with his portrayal of Luigi Goterelli. The club owner, who is the first to give silent protagonist Claude some work in Liberty City, was made all the better by Pantoliano’s explosive dialogue.

Michael Madsen (Toni Cipriani)

The late Michael Madsen, best known for his work in some of Quentin Tarantino’s best movies, had a supporting role in Grand Theft Auto III. Madsen’s Toni Cipriani, a high-ranking member of the Leone Family crime syndicate, was a major player in the early goings of the game.

Cara Delevingne (DJ Cara)

Though Cara Delevingne’s character is never seen in Grand Theft Auto V, DJ Cara is one of the most engaging and hilarious DJs on the game’s vast collection of radio channels. Her transitions and commentary between tracks for Non Stop Pop FM are worth checking out, even if you don’t want to play the game.

Kyle MacLachlan (Donald Love)

Donald Love, the morally ambiguous owner of Love Media and Liberty City developer who gives the player some wild missions along the way, was voiced by Kyle MacLachlan in Grand Theft Auto III. Willing to do anything and everything to obtain power and money, Love was one of the strangest and most mysterious characters of the franchise.

Dennis Hopper (Steve Scott)

It’s hard to imagine anyone but Dennis Hopper providing the voice of Steve Scott in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The shark-obsessed and ambitious adult film director was one of the main allies Tommy Vercetti made along the way, even if his missions got out of hand!

Philip Michael Thomas (Lance Vance)

Lance Vance started as one of Tommy Vercetti’s most trusted allies, only to become his biggest rival in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City when he wanted a larger slice of the pie. Having the character voiced by Miami Vice star Philip Michael Thomas was just one of the many callbacks to the iconic ‘80s show.

Chris Penn (Eddie Pulaski)

Chris Penn played secondary antagonist Eddie Pulaski, one of the crooked C.R.A.S.H. officers, in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Officer Tenpenny’s right-hand man, this diabolical cop went to great lengths to get under CJ’s skin.

Debbie Harry (Doris)

Legendary punk and fashion icon Debbie Harry showed up in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City when she provided the voice of Doris. The Blondie singer did a great job of giving the Kaufman Cab dispatcher a whole lot of attitude, which led to some great interactions with Tommy Vercetti.

Danny Trejo (Umberto Robina)

Danny Trejo was already on his way to becoming one of the most well-known character actors in Hollywood when he portrayed Cuban gang leader Umberto Robina in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The crime boss gave Tommy Vercetti a number of missions throughout the midsection of the 2002 game.

Katt Williams (Himself)

Grand Theft Auto IV didn’t see as many celebrities voicing characters as previous iterations, but there were still a fair number of big stars in the game. In the case of Katt Williams, the comedian played himself in one of the in-game stand-up routines that protagonist Niko Bellic could watch throughout the game.

Jason Sudeikis (Richard Bastion)

Long before he played Ted Lasso (both in those wild NBC commercials and the popular Apple TV+ series), Jason Sudeikis played a very different type of American character in Grand Theft Auto IV. Sudeikis, who was still on SNL at the time, voiced Richard Bastion, the host of a right-wing call-in show on WKTT talk radio.

Wil Wheaton (Various Characters)

Stand By Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton voiced various characters in the Grand Theft Auto universe. In 2004’s San Andreas, Wheaton was the voice of Richard Burns, a reporter for WCTR, a role he reprised in Liberty City Stories the following year. He would also voice an alien in Grand Theft Auto V.

Ricky Gervais (Himself)

Ricky Gervais brought his brand of comedy to the digital world in Grand Theft Auto IV when he performed an extended stand-up routine in one of Liberty City’s comedy clubs. The 10-minute in-game activity has the comedian’s signature wit and knack for telling uncomfortable jokes in a hilarious way.

Michael Rapaport (Joey Leone)

Michael Rapaport was one of the big-name actors who made the Grand Theft Auto III cast one of the best of all time when he played Joey Leone. The son of Salvatore Leone was one of the player’s earliest contacts, and his missions remain some of the best in the game’s early stages.

Robert Loggia (Ray Machowski)

Though he didn’t reprise his iconic Scarface role (or at least something similar to Frank Lopez) in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Robert Loggia did have a great part in Grand Theft Auto III one year earlier. There are some wild characters in the 2001 game, but corrupt police officer Ray Machowski was in a league of his own. Kudos to those who still have his bulletproof Patriot in the garages after all these years.

Will Forte (Martin Serious)

Saturday Night Live alum (and WWE Raw host) Will Forte showed up in Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and the Damned, the first of two DLC expansions for the 2008 game. In the game, Forte provides the voice of Martin Serious, a shock jock in the vein of Howard Stern on WKTT talk radio.

Robert Davi (Juan Cortez)

Robert Davi, who appeared in movies like The Goonies and Raw Deal in the ‘80s, showed up in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as Juan Cortez, a retired Central American colonel and drug kingpin. The mysterious character, who admired Tommy Vercetti a great deal, provided for some wild (and difficult) missions.

Danny McBride (Duane Earl)

Danny McBride gave players one of the funniest radio DJs in the state of San Andreas when he voiced Duane Earl in Grand Theft Auto V. Host of the Beyond Insemination program on Blaine County Radio (this only became available after leaving Los Santos), Earl was right up there with McBride’s most well-known character, Kenny Powers.

Axl Rose (Tommy ‘The Nightmare’ Smith)

In addition to featuring Guns N’ Roses’ legendary “Welcome to the Jungle” track (it was also in the game’s trailer), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas also had the band’s lead singer, Axl Rose, portray a radio DJ. Tommy “The Nightmare” Smith could be heard on K-DST radio, aka, The Dust.

Lee Majors (Mitch Baker)

Lee Majors gave his voice to one of the coolest characters in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with his portrayal of “Big” Mitch Baker, the leader of a biker gang and owner of the Greasy Chopper bar. A major player late in the game, Baker worked with Tommy Vercetti for multiple jobs, including the Love Fist concert.

Tom Sizemore (Sonny Forelli)

On top of playing some of the craziest characters in Hollywood history, the late Tom Sizemore also voiced an unforgettable villain in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Sonny Forelli, the primary antagonist and leader of the Forelli Crime Family, was willing to do anything and everything to make life messy for Tommy Vercetti, which ultimately cost him in the end.

Phil Collins (Himself)

Phil Collins, yes, the Phil Collins, played himself in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The PSP game, which later came to PS2, featured the “In the Air Tonight” singer in a daring mission where the player had to thwart an assassination attempt. If the player beats the mission and pays $6,000 for a ticket, they can watch a full performance of Collins’ most popular song.

Ice-T (Madd Dogg)

Los Santos rapper Madd Dogg has one of the craziest and most unforgettable arcs in all of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. From having his lyric book and career stolen from him to thinking about ending things before going to rehab to becoming the biggest rapper on the planet, he goes through it. The story is made even better with rapper-turned-actor Ice-T bringing the character to life.

Faizon Love (Sweet)

Though Sweet may be the most annoying character in the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise (well, outside of Roman Bellic), Faizon Love’s performance in San Andreas is great. The Friday and The Parent ‘Hood actor went all-in with his portrayal of Sean “Sweet” Johnson, the older brother to the game’s protagonist. Sweet could be a lot at times, but Love added so much to the character.

James Woods (Mike Toreno)

Every Grand Theft Auto game has a character that’s so out there, they live in a world beyond good and evil. In the case of San Andreas, that responsibility falls into the lap of Mike Toreno, an undercover agent working for an unnamed and shadowy government agency voiced by James Woods. It’s hard to think of another actor who could play Toreno better than the Casino and Once Upon a Time in America actor.

Charlie Murphy (Jizzy B.)

Though we didn’t get to see too much of Jizzy B. before CJ took him out in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, this performance by the late Charlie Murphy made the owner of the Pleasure Domes nightclub a character many of us still think about 20-plus years later. The Loco Syndicate member was mean, vicious, and a little pathetic, but he was so much fun to watch.

Peter Fonda (The Truth)

The late, great Peter Fonda portrayed one of the wildest and most bizarre characters in Grand Theft Auto history when he took on the role of The Truth in San Andreas. A spiritual character who wasn’t shy of violence (or at least having CJ do his dirty work), the free-thinking and otherworldly ally was there for some of the game’s signature moments.

David Cross (Zero)

There’s a large portion of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas players who have never beaten all of Zero’s missions, so don’t even try to lie about it. Though most of us didn’t see his story to completion, the electronics expert and owner of Zero RC voiced by comedian David Cross is still beloved to this day. Just don’t ask us to beat the infamous “Supply Lines” level.

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

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

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

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

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

Even more celebrity reactions included:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The announcement from Stephen Colbert that The Late Show was being cancelled sent shockwaves through the late-night television world. Fans were shocked, as were other late-night hosts. Now it seems the repercussions of the announcement are even being felt outside of late-night TV, and even Paramount+’s Tulsa King is feeling the heat.

Tulsa King, the popular Paramount+ series starring Sylvester Stallone, is getting a spinoff. NOLA King will star Samuel L. Jackson and take place in the Big Easy. Normally one would expect a spin-off to a popular series, with a big-name lead actor, to generate a lot of positive fan reaction. Instead, a recent Instagram post promoting the show is full of comments from angry Stephen Colbert fans saying they won’t be watching the show, as they’re canceling their Paramount+ subscription in protest. Comments conclude…

• I love that “cancel paramount plus” is trending on Google! I stand with Stephen!
• My subscription to Paramount + will end. All good things must come to an end. #Stephencolbert ❤️
• I will not be renewing. You paid a bribe to trump. Colbert was telling the truth. I will not be watching any of your shows.
• Subscription Canceled.

CBS claimed the decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was a financial one, as the economics of late-night TV simply didn’t support the show any longer. Still, some believe the decision is related to the recent lawsuit Paramount settled with Donald Trump, ahead of its planned merger with Skydance. Colbert referred to the lawsuit settlement as a bribe during his monologue just days before the cancellation announcement.

Whatever the reason for the cancellation, there seems to be a lot of people who are so upset by it that they’re taking it out on the parent company in the one way they know might have an impact, financially. It’s far from clear how many people are actually cancelling Paramount+ in reaction to the news, but if these Instagram comments are a microcosm, far more people are upset about Colbert than actually excited for the new show.

And that's not great news for a new show like NOLA King. Even if the number of actual cancellations isn't massive, the Colbert situation, drowning out any sort of promotion of new shows, won't be great for those shows. A show like NOLA King that hasn't even begun filming yet, will have plenty of time to recover. Other series coming in the short term might not be so lucky.

It will certainly be interesting to see what the future holds. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert isn’t actually ending for several more months, and quite a lot could happen in that time. If we continue to see this sort of reaction, Paramount+ could be in for a rough few months.

Samuel L. Jackson has made a career out of iconic quotes, but when it comes to Shaft, one of the best 2000 movies and a reboot of the blaxploitation classic, he’s got a line that never misses. So when the film’s 25th anniversary rolled around this week, the Jurassic Park alum took time from his busy 2025 movie schedule to mark the occasion by delivering the line fans still quote to this day, straight to camera, and with peak Sam Jackson energy. Seriously, I could put this on repeat.

Taking to his personal Instagram, the legendary actor dropped a quick video tribute, which you can watch below, that was short, smooth, and unforgettable. Rocking a t-shirt featuring an illustrated version of his take on Shaft (complete with purple detailing), the Argylle star stared down the lens and delivered the goods:

For those unable to listen at maximum volume, the esteemed actor voiced these highbrow words:

Yes. Yes, we can dig it. Fans began to pour into the comment section, racking up thousands of likes and some truly hilarious comments. From memes to movie quotes to heartfelt appreciation, the comments section turned into a celebration of not just Shaft but Jackson’s enduring cultural impact.

Here are just a few standout replies from the comments:

• “I’m using this on my soundboard 😂” — ompicturez
• “Who’s the man? Sam! You’re damn right. 😂” — codywizman
• “Ye smb take his phone bruh 😭😭” — jvstvysolooo_
• “Frankly my dear, I DON’T give a damn.” — ahaa.kenny_ (with an epic reaction GIF)
• “Happy 25th Anniversary!!! 💪🔥💪🔥” — godswife07
• “Great film mate... Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction got the shirts, u absolute ledgend.” — jamescoppard
• “Sam u getting posted unc 😭” — urlocaldk

Initially released in June 2000, Shaft was a slick, no-nonsense revival of the iconic franchise first launched by Richard Roundtree in 1971. Samuel L. Jackson’s take brought the character into a new era, sharper, cooler, and packed with endlessly quotable lines. Directed by the late John Singleton (whom Tyrese honored in the comments), the film resonated with audiences thanks to its unapologetic swagger and timely social commentary.

The action drama also gave The Hateful Eight veteran one of his most standout roles outside the MCU. Interestingly, his portrayal of Shaft went on to influence the comic book redesign of Nick Fury, who was reimagined in the Washington D.C.-born actor’s likeness. Years later, he turned that same character into a on big-screen fave across a variety of features and series.

Even 25 years later, that swagger hasn't aged a day, and neither has the fandom. Sam Jackson has kept busy with significant roles in past and upcoming Marvel movies, but this moment proved that Shaft still holds a special place in his filmography and his fans’ hearts. The man’s got hundreds of credits, but sometimes, all it takes is 10 seconds and a great quote to remind everyone why he’s a legend.

So if you're scrolling your feed and need a hit of cinematic serotonin, do yourself a favor: play that video. Then play it again. And again. Because when Samuel L. Jackson says it's his duty… You better believe him.

Cowboys, gunslingers, and revenge stories still captivated critics and audiences in the western genre. This past year, we had the Peter Dinklage-led western The Thicket with an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Ari Aster’s upcoming western movie, Eddington, already had a 66% critics score before its July release. As for Samuel L. Jackson and Pierce Brosnan’s new western, The Unholy Trinity, it’s insane the huge dichotomy between what critics and audiences say about it.

The 2025 movie release of The Unholy Trinity follows a mysterious figure (Samuel L. Jackson) and a new sheriff (Pierce Brosnan) who gets caught up in a young man on a quest to murder the man who led to his framed father’s execution. Based on the film’s trailer, we see what’s typical of an 1870s-set backdrop of mountain landscapes, saloons, and gunslinging action on horseback.

Rotten Tomatoes' contested scoring process marks a movie with a “Fresh” or “Rotten” score, as determined by a range of critics’ reviews. While an audience’s score has always been there, the site’s brand new popcornmeter is taking what audiences say more seriously with its “Hot” or “Stale” scale. In the case of The Unholy Trinity on Rotten Tomatoes, the dichotomy between critics and audiences is huge, receiving a “Rotten” 17% from the critics, but a 66% from its verified audience.

Based on 18 critics’ reviews, two reviews felt The Unholy Trinity was more for a straight-to-VOD or a television-made movie compared to a theatrical release. Many felt it didn’t offer anything original to the western genre, with a couple of critics reacting with the term “blasphemy.”

Audiences, however, had a more positive spin on the new western. While many expressed disappointment in many plot points being left unexplored, plenty were impressed with the cast, its action sequences, and found it an entertaining western.

Make an early call yourself after watching the trailer below.

This wouldn’t be the first time that critics and audiences haven’t been in agreement on Rotten Tomatoes. Movies like Jumper, Bullet Train, Waiting…, and more have had differing scales of critics and audience scores. In terms of the latest movies that have come out, fans and critics were not on the same page with A Minecraft Movie, with a 48% critics score and an 85% audience score. While the Lilo and Stitch remake received good reviews all around, critics didn’t like the Disney movie as much as audiences did, which was verified as “Hot” on the popcornmeter with a 93% audience rating, but a 72% critics rating. It proves right there that critics and audiences have very different visions of what makes a good movie worth watching.

The hugely contrasting opinions critics and audiences are having over Samuel L. Jackson and Pierce Brosnan’s new movie are incredible. The Unholy Trinity may have felt unoriginal to critics, but it looks like audiences were still entertained by what they saw. Sometimes, a solid cast and spectacular action sequences are clearly enough to win audiences over and give them a good time in theaters.

If you want to see why audiences are favoring the new western-crime movie, make sure to catch The Unholy Trinity in theaters now.

I need to talk about the movie Snakes on a Plane, but I'm tired, y'all. Specifically, I'm TIRED OF THESE MOTHERFUCKING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SEE THIS MOTHERFUCKING MOVIE. Ahem.

Even though many people might be aware of the reputation of this 2006 film, I feel like a lot of folks — looking at you, 20-somethings —probably haven't ever seen this movie the whole way through before. And, I'm here to tell you (or perhaps, to remind you) that this movie is way cooler than its oft-repeated quote.

So forget about your cocaine bears (which, would you believe was based on a true story?), your megalodon sequels (bad scores be damned!), and all those other ridiculous animal-centric movies, and let's talk about some MOTHERFUCKING SNAKES ON A MOTHERFUCKING PLANE!

Snakes Has A B-Movie Plot, At Best, And It Was Still Somehow Mainstream

Some people, Academy Award-winner Cillian Murphy as an example, might not be fond of B-movies such as Red Eye, which Murphy himself starred in. But me? I LOVE B-movies (and Red Eye is an absolute gem, by the way).

This is why I absolutely adore SOAP as well. Similar to Grindhouse, which featured Tarantino's supposedly “worst” movie, Death Proof, I love when outlandish films that seem destined for straight-to-DVD shelves make it to the big screen. (Not-so-fun fact: Red Eye is the only one of those three that made money at the box office, which may be why franchises like The Meg are rare now.)

Snakes is SUCH a B-movie, though, as evidenced by its simplistic plot: an FBI agent (Samuel L. Jackson) is escorting a witness on a flight to Los Angeles as an assassin attempts to silence the witness by using venomous snakes.

Ridiculous, right? Indeed, and it's all the better for it. We don’t normally get B-movies in front of mainstream audiences anymore, especially one like SOAP that cost $33 million dollars . (Most B-movies being made for only a fraction of that price, even today.) As such, it was really something special to see this kind of movie in theaters. and you really just had to be there. Speaking of which…

This Was One Of The First Films That The Internet Really Got Behind

Here’s the thing. The internet of 19 years ago is not the same internet of today.

For example, I remember the rumors about Cloverfield — my favorite monster movie, by the way — that were swirling around the internet at the time, specifically that it was speculated to be a Voltron movie. In contrast, there wasn't a single Voltron on that motherfucking plane.

I also remember how big the internet thought Snakes on a Plane would be. In fact, this was the first movie that I can remember where the internet went full throttle with fan buzz, years before netizens preached the word of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World in 2010.

The buzz was so big for SOAP, in fact, that New Line Cinema was apparently disappointed that it didn't perform better at the box office.

Because, remember. SOAP existed in a pre-meme world. This wasn’t like Morbius with the whole “It’s Morbin’ Time!” gags where it was clear that people were laughing AT the film rather than with it. No, back in 2006, there was general hope that the enthusiasm was real, and I genuinely miss those days.

This Film Was Peak Samuel L. Jackson

Now, while I definitely wouldn’t call Snakes on a Plane one of Samuel L. Jackson’s best movies, I will say that it may be the "most Samuel L. Jackson movie" of all time.

This flick fully leans into the actor embracing his public-beloved persona. Take his predilection for the F-word. Honestly, the whole movie builds up to that moment when he drops THAT line, and when he did, there was a huge pop in the theater.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily say it was the “chicken jockey” of its day, but I will say that we were all united when that moment happened, mostly because it was such a Samuel L. Jackson moment.

This was a time when people used to think that Jackson was in everything, and for him to star in a B-movie about snakes taking over a plane? Well, it just felt like peak Jackson.

Because honestly, this movie wouldn't have even worked without him. It would likely just have been some boring B-movie that you could find at Blockbuster at the time (like the knock-off, Snakes on a Train). But, Jackson elevates this movie into something greater, which is why I still love this film.

They Could Have Made This PG-13, But They Didn't. They Went For The R-Rating

Snakes on a Plane could have been Anaconda. What I mean is, it could have been the safe, PG-13 snake movie that was inoffensive and didn't have numerous F-bombs.

But, nope. SOAP isn't that. There are violent (but fun!) deaths, suggestive, sexual moments, and tons of cursing.

And, I commend New Line Cinema for going that route. They probably would have made a lot more money if they had gone PG-13, but they didn't.

Which is another reason why this movie rules. It’s unabashedly (some might say, needlessly) vulgar, and it makes the movie stand out for being so wild.

And, that's important. Because if it had been PG-13, I don’t think it would have been as good as it is, which brings me to my last point.

It's Still A Lot Of Fun, Even After All These Years

Lastly, watch Snakes on a Plane again (or for the first time!), because you'll still likely enjoy it.

For one thing, it's hilarious (I mean, it does feature Kenan Thomson, who can land a plane just because he once played flight simulator video games). It's also surprisingly thrilling for a B-movie (must have been that big budget).

But, most importantly, it's still just as fun today as it was back then. Yes, the silly premise and title are what generated all of the attention back in the day, but the film itself is actually really good.

Are there other silly horror movies that I'd rather watch instead? Sure! We do live in a world where Evil Dead 2 exists. However, I'm here to report to you that SOAP was a worthy watch back in 2006, and it's still a worthy watch today!

But, what do you think? Were you even around back then? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

As a longtime fan of Spider-Man, I can honestly say that I love the way Tom Holland’s portrayal has been handled in the Marvel movies in order so far. Inducting him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War and seeing him interact with the Avengers was a brilliant move, and his trilogy of solo flicks is a slam-dunk as far as I am concerned. As a result, Peter Parker’s fourth MCU adventure, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is easily among the upcoming Marvel movies I am anticipating the most.

However, it is crazy to think about just how different Holland’s Spider-Man movies could have been if one of Jon Watts’ original ideas for 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming had not been scrapped. Instead of making Tony “Iron Man” Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) the teen superhero’s mentor, the director had another important Marvel character in mind that would have created a whole different kind of dynamic. Did Watts and Marvel Studios make the right call by leaving this concept on the cutting room floor for Peter Parker’s first solo MCU outing? Read on and decide for yourself.

Nick Fury Was Going To Be Peter Parker's "Mean Substitute Teacher"

Prior to the official release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Jon Watts revealed to io9 that, before incorporating Tony Stark into the story, he was hoping to bring back Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and team him up with Peter Parker instead. Two years later, while promoting Spider-Man: Far From Home, the filmmaker would further elaborate on his vision for this concept with the following quote from USA Today:

Earlier in that same 2019 interview, Watts compares and contrasts Stark’s relationship with Peter to that of Fury’s with the webslinger. He refers to the “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” as a “cool uncle,” while the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. serves as something of a cruel stepfather. These drastically differing dynamics certainly were key to making Spider-Man: Homecoming and its first sequel entertainingly unique from one another, among other things, of course.

What Does Watts Mean By "Mean Substitute Teacher"?

You know, Jon Watts’ comment about making Nick Fury Peter’s “mean substitute teacher” in Spider-Man: Homecoming actually has me a little confused. I mean, is this meant to be taken figuratively and nothing more than a way to describe the character’s more demanding approach to mentoring Peter Parker? Or does he mean it literally, like how a post by the Instagram account Marvel True Facts interprets the quote as saying Fury would have kept tabs on Peter by going undercover at his high school?

I cannot find any direct quotes from Watts to confirm one or the other, but if the latter were true, that would have resulted in some crazy high school movie hijinks. Just imagine Fury, who would have been a well-known figure at this point as the man who brought the Avengers together, trying to blend in among the faculty. I can see him now, disguised under a short-sleeved dress shirt and tie and maybe a toupee. I assume he would also need a contact lens to hide his damaged eye, since the eyepatch would easily give him away.

The more I think about it, I cannot imagine this is actually what Watts meant. The hoops that Fury might have to jump through in order to pose as a substitute teacher without getting caught would be next to impossible. Plus, an undercover op such as this does not sound like his style, although it could have made Homecoming into one of the funniest superhero movies of all time if done right.

I'm Glad Tony Stark Ended Up Being Peter's Mentor

Overall, regardless of what the full intentions of Nick Fury’s ultimately scrapped role in Spider-Man: Homecoming would have been, I think most would agree that bringing in Tony Stark was the absolute right decision. For starters, it seems like the natural way of things to see the film continue to follow their relationship beyond their initial meeting in Civil War, which was already boasting “mentor-mentee” vibes by the way the veteran vigilante trusted him to help with his battle against Steve Rogers (Chris Evans).

On top of that, dialing back to Watts’ description of Stark as a “cool uncle” to Peter, that is the exact type of adult figure the teenager needed at that point in his life. We never saw Holland’s iteration of the character lose his Uncle Ben, since both the Sam Raimi movies and 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man had their own interpretations of that pivotal tragedy. However, its implied effects on him were clear in the actor’s portrayal, and seeing Iron Man show him the support he craved at that time made for a satisfying dynamic.

Plus, let’s not forget that, if Homecoming had not established Stark as Peter’s father figure, we might not have gotten the now iconic, heartbreaking moment from Avengers: Infinity War ending when they embrace right before Thanos’ snap causes Spider-Man to dissolve out of existence. And, of course, that led to their heartwarming reunion in Avengers: Endgame, bringing this deeply important MCU relationship full circle.

While I can certainly understand Watts’ desire to make a movie with Nick Fury and work with the Samuel L. Jackson, I would say it was best for the franchise to save that collaboration for the sequel. I also think most would agree that the Oscar nominee certainly brought the proposed “mean substitute teacher” energy to the screen when that time came.

Then again, as revealed in the Far From Home post-credits sequence, Peter was never actually talking to the real Fury, but his Skrull ally Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), but that’s beside the point. Maybe, at some point in the future, we will see another upcoming superhero movie that will officially bring these heroes together.

Samuel L. Jackson is one of our greatest living actors. He may only have a single Oscar nomination in his career, but he’s behind some of the most memorable roles in modern movie history. This makes it more than a little disturbing to learn that we might have been robbed of many of those roles as Jackson reveals he nearly died 35 years ago.

In a recent appearance on the Mad Sad Bad podcast, Jackson relayed a story about getting his foot caught in the door of a subway train, resulting in him getting dragged a significant distance. He says he believed he was going to die that day. He described the situation, saying:

I can only imagine what it’s like to have a true feeling that you might be heading toward death. It’s certainly not a feeling anybody wants to experience. Actors have occasionally been afraid they were going to die on a movie set when they were doing something dangerous. Tom Cruise risks his life on a regular basis, but nobody expects to be in fear for their life just using the subway.

Jackson saw what he believed would mean his death in the form of the train entering a tunnel, and no matter what he did, he could not find a way to escape it. He says that despite the speed of the train, the experience seemed to happen to him in slow motion, until the train actually slowed to a stop. He said:

Jackson says he didn’t actually learn what happened to cause the train to stop until two years later. He sued the transit system over the incident, and it was only when he was in court that he realized that it was a somewhat unlikely citizen who ultimately saved his life. Jackson explained:

It’s unclear how close Samuel L. Jackson actually came to death, but the situation sounds absolutely horrifying.

Anybody dying in a random subway accident would be terrible, but had Samuel L. Jackson actually died, the world would have been robbed of some iconic films and performances. While the actor had done some memorable character work by 1990, he wouldn't have his breakout role in Pulp Fiction until 1994. If we’d lost him four years earlier, we wouldn’t even have known what it was we lost.

If you thought Samuel L. Jackson might be slowing down his career now that he’s had over 200 credits in movies and TV shows, and he’s 76, you’d be wrong. Jackson, who has been in about a third of all the Marvel movies, not only has countless memorable moments in film history, he is the No. 1 highest-grossing actor to date. According to his wife, they have a special “pact” about when he’ll hang up his legendary career, and it doesn't sound like it's soon

LaTanya Richardson Jackson is the wife of Samuel L. Jackson and a fellow actor, celebrated 50 years with the Pulp Fiction actor two summers ago. Both of them remain booked and busy, with LaTanya recently earning her second Tony nomination for Best Actress In A Play. When talking about their careers in New York City on Thursday, here’s what she said about the subject of retirement:

While speaking to People, LaTanya revealed that both herself and SLJ are committed to living life to the fullest even in their seventh decade in the world, and that includes through continued work in their shared professions. It sounds like the couple have each other’s backs regarding supporting their continued careers, but will communicate with one another once it's time to start another chapter outside work.

Considering all the success this pair has seen, we imagine they certainly could retire tomorrow, but choose to stick around because they love the business so much. They also share just one child together, 43-year-old Zoe Jackson. LaTanya recently starring in the 2025 Pulitzer Prize winning play, Purpose. Check out the Jackson family below:

Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson are not only partners in life, they have also worked together on several projects over the years. Both having roles in 2006’s Freedomland and produced numerous projects, like Apple TV+’s The Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey. LaTanya also directed her husband in the Broadway production of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson before it became a Netflix movie a couple of years later.

Jackson has at least seven projects in the works, and that doesn’t even count what could be next for him in the MCU after his long history as Nick Fury. The next two Sam L. Jackson movies on the way are Afterburn and The Beast. The first is a science fiction comedy starring Dave Bautista, and the other will reportedly star Jackson as a fictional U.S. president as he becomes trapped in a limo during a coup attempt. While neither of them have release dates yet, we expect at least one will join the 2025 movie schedule in the near future.

How amazing are the Jacksons! Honestly these two show that if you do something you love, who needs to rush into retirement!

In Hollywood, some actors have reputations for being great to work with, and others… do not. Samuel L. Jackson, according to most accounts, is one of the good ones. He says he really tries to be nice to everybody on the movie set, too, because doing so is easy, and because he knows there’s a possibility he’ll get paid back for it later.

In a video posted to Instagram by Masterclass, Jackson relays a sign that he saw while working on Die Hard With A Vengeance. The film was one of the actor’s biggest roles at the time, a co-lead alongside Bruce Willis, and he says there was a poster on the wall in the office that he took to heart. He explained…

It’s an idea that we’ve certainly all heard before, but I’ve never heard it put quite this way. While there’s a bit of a self-serving nature to it all, it doesn’t mean you can’t be genuinely nice to other people. It’s a lesson we can all learn that being nice is often just easier, it never hurts, and it might help.

There have been those times when actors and crew haven't always gotten along. Christian Bale once famously berated somebody on the set of Terminator: Salvation. Hugh Grant has admitted to losing his temper in a similar fashion. Tom Cruise famously laid into some of the crew of Mission: Impossible for violating pandemic protocols.

While these may have all been outliers for the actors, the fact that we know about them says something, and can certainly change the perception of a performer. Having a reputation as an actor who's great to work with is always ideal.

Samuel L. Jackson says following this simple rule has absolutely come back to him as he’s gotten jobs from producers that liked him because he was nice to them when they were much lower on the org chart. The beloved Die Hard sequel was a big role for the actor, but Samuel L. Jackson's best roles would all come later. He likely took this lesson to heart at just the right time.

In the end, Jackson simply sees it as a variation on the Golden Rule. Try to make sure everybody has a good day, because you want to have a good day. He said…

Movie-making is an incredibly collaborative business. There are all kinds of people doing all sorts of jobs on set. All of them are necessary, and they’re all working toward the same goal. There’s no reason not to just be nice to the people you’re working with.

Hopefully, we can all learn this lesson from Samuel L. Jackson.

May the Fourth started as something that only the diehard Star Wars fans celebrated, but now it’s essentially an official Star Wars holiday, with Lucasfilm often doing many different things to celebrate. However, the day of celebration has only expanded since then. Even Mace Windu himself, Samuel L. Jackson, is still celebrating two days later.

If Sunday was May the Fourth, then that makes Tuesday Revenge of the Sixth. It’s an especially fitting day of celebration considering this year marks the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and somebody set up Samuel L. Jackson with a sweet shirt that he's showing off on Instagram. Now I need to track it down.

A quick search reveals the shirt was apparently available as merch during the recent Star Wars Celebration in Japan. If anybody picked up an extra one and wants to send it my way, hit me up.

Star Wars as a franchise is full of great actors playing amazing characters, but it has to be said, I’m not sure anybody else has ever enjoyed being part of Star Wars more than Samuel L. Jackson. He’s talked about the excitement that he felt putting on his Jedi robes and picking out his lightsaber. Jackson has continued to advocate for the idea that Mace Windu survived the events of Revenge of the Sith. Clearly the man just wants to be in Star Wars again.

So honestly, if there’s anybody suffering from a Star Wars day hangover so heavy that he’s still celebrating two days later, it would be Samuel L. Jackson. He may be the biggest Star Wars fan of them all.

And Jackson isn’t the only one, as Bryce Dallas Howard, who has directed several episodes of Star Wars TV on Disney+, has recently said she wants to direct a Star Wars spinoff with Jackson reprising Windu. She’s apparently even spoken to Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni about the idea, though it’s unclear if there’s any real possibility it could happen.

Maybe the fact that Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith just had one of the best box office performances for a theatrical re-release ever will help convince Lucasfilm that there’s more to be done with those characters. Most re-releases don’t move the needle at the box office, but Revenge of the Sith outperformed The Accountant 2 in its opening weekend, which shows just how strong the love for the film and the larger franchise really is.

Since I don't think there's a day of the month that rhymes with any other Star Wars titles, I think we're finally done with May the Fourth this year. Of course, we're still getting new episodes of Andor, and next year we'll get The Mandalorian & Grogu, the first Star Wars movie in theaters in years. Celebrating this franchise isn't going to end any time soon.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies of the year is hitting theaters with Thunderbolts*. And while I'm hyped to see it, fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will also appreciate Samuel L. Jackson commemorating Avengers: Age of Ultron's ten-year anniversary.

Critics have been praising Thunderbolts*, and this weekend moviegoers finally get the chance to see the blockbuster for themselves. But the fandom is also looking back at the shred universe's history, especially thanks to Sam Jackson's recent Instagram post. He mused about the ten-year anniversary of Age of Ultron, check it out below:

Suddenly I'm feeling very nostalgic. While Age of Ultron was the second Avengers flick, in many ways it still feels like the early stage of the MCU as a whole. I mean, Joss Whedon's 2015 film was the first real appearance from Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff, who at this point is one of the most beloved figures of the entire MCU.

Aside from his talents and legendary career, Samuel L. Jackson is known known for his gregarious personality, which is on full display here as he talks about how much the MCU means to people. And in seeing this clip I can't help but wonder when the Pulp Fiction actor will be returning as Nick Fury yet again.

The last time we saw Fury was in The Marvels, which came shortly after the Secret Invasion finale. There are a ton of questions about that spinoff series still lingering, specifically about Nick's time in space and the timeline of when Rhodey was captured by the Skrulls.

Jackson often shares his excitement for more Nick Fury appearances, but the timeline of when this might happen is unclear. His name wasn't included in Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement, despite his character being the architect of the titular team. But maybe Nick Fury's role in that project or Secret Wars is meant to be a surprise for the fandom. After all, what we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited.

Of course, another big ensemble project is coming first, as it's officially the opening weekend of Jake Schreier's Thunderbolts*. But rather than Earth's Mightiest Heroes, we'll be following a scrappy group of antiheroes who are thrown together. The Thunderbolts* cast list is pretty stacked, with names including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

It should be interesting to see how this team and The Avengers interact, especially with so many of them confirmed for Doomsday. Luckily moviegoers can go meet the newest team from the shared universe now, as Thunderbolts* is in theaters as part of the 2025 movie release list.

If you’ve watched all the Star Wars movies in order, you know Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is arguably the prequel era’s biggest installment. The Force was strong at El Capitan Theatre this week, where hundreds gathered for the film's 20th anniversary. It was there that fans received an unforgettable surprise when Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker performers Samuel L. Jackson and Hayden Christensen, showed up, lightsabers in hand. Honestly, as a massive fan, I can't stop smiling about this.

The two actors -- who are still loved for playing two of Star Wars’ best characters stormed the stage in excellent fashion. They were decked out in casual, fan-friendly fits, as Jackson rocked a Darth Vader shirt. Christensen, for his part, sported a denim jacket and Revenge of the Sith ball cap. You can see the actors behind Anakin and Mace (which is one of Jackson's most memorable roles) in the image below:

The event was part of Disney’s 20th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This movie has grown on fans, arguably even some who used to bash the prequels. It stands as a vindication of Hayden Christensen’s Star Wars performance and has become one of those reasons why some people think the franchise's prequels are better than the sequel trilogy. Seeing the two actors back together wasn’t just for show; it felt like a nice nod to the fans who’ve stuck with the franchise through all the ups and downs.

And let's be real: Revenge of the Sith hits different two decades later. It’s the emotional anchor between the fall of Anakin and the rise of Darth Vader, and it’s stuffed with moments that still punch you in the gut. Knowing that the stars themselves wanted to celebrate it with the fans? That’s just pure magic.

What made the moment truly special was how genuinely excited both actors were. In a clip shared on the official Star Wars TikTok, Jackson cracked jokes and hyped up the crowd, even teasing about Mace Windu's epic (and possibly not final) fall from a window. (That's something he's long hinted could lead to a comeback.) Meanwhile, Christensen, who’s been on a bit of a victory lap lately with his return in both Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi, looked genuinely moved by the overwhelming support from the fans.

The return of these prequel castmates for a night like this says a lot about the lasting impact of the prequels. Even after all these years, and despite the early backlash those movies faced, the actors still clearly have a lot of love for the galaxy far, far away. They’re not alone, either. With stars like Ewan McGregor and Temuera Morrison also returning for Star Wars movies and shows universe in recent years, it’s clear the bond to this franchise runs deep.

If this is just the beginning of the Revenge of the Sith anniversary surprises, we’re in for an emotional ride and, honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way. You can catch up with both Mace Windu and Anakin’s adventures in the Galaxy Far, Far Away by streaming all the Star Wars movies and TV shows with a Disney+ subscription.

Within a vast galaxy far, far away, there are plenty of stories to explore that go outside of just the adventures of the Skywalkers. While some of them have been hit or miss, the shows Disney+ has to offer have been plentiful, and there is no end in sight of characters to lead their own stories. There have been rumors that we might see the return of Mace Windu, but now we’re hearing that we might have a spinoff that has him and his familiar purple lightsaber. Honestly, I’m freaking out if it becomes reality.

In an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, filmmaker and actress Bryce Dallas Howard was asked about what actors she would like to direct. After throwing out some notable names like co-star Chris Pratt, she mentioned Samuel L. Jackson, saying:

From there, Howard took it upon herself to go straight to Dave Filoni, trying to find a way to make a Mace Windu spinoff show happen. Of course, this was also her echoing fans who have been questioning whether or not Windu is actually dead. Howard continued, asking Filoni outright the question we fans have been asking for years:

Jackson has touched on this rumor once before, stating that Mace Windu is out there somewhere, probably on the same planet as Ray Arnold from Jurassic Park. Even co-star Hayden Christianson had a comment about the rumor that Windu might be alive. Considering that the Jedi Master is part of a collection of characters that fans have wished to see more of in the prequels they originated from, it’s only natural that fans and cast members alike want to see more of him.

With the success of Kenobi, Andor and Ahsoka, a show about Mace Windu would be interesting depending on how they go about it. And since Jackson himself is all for it, it’ll be similar to how Ewan McGregor would like to return as Obi-Wan Kenobi again.

As a longtime fan, I would love to see more of the purple lightsaber-wielding Jedi. It would be fascinating, especially if he did survive Revenge of the Sith. There are plenty of stories that could be told, and it has a lot of versatility to show more of the galaxy following the events of Order 66.

Either way, Samuel L. Jackson is onboard with being a part of any potential Bryce Dallas Howard project, Star Wars or otherwise. I for one would be very excited to see what Howard comes up with, and if it will indeed include Master Windu.

Like millions of people around the world, I spent five hours watching Marvel slowly roll out all those Avengers: Doomsday names in March 2025, and like a lot of people, I was bummed a few of the biggest MCU stars, including Ryan Reynolds, didn’t have a chair. While it may be true that we will see more additions as we work toward the release of the upcoming Marvel movie, I was shocked by some of the names left out of the excruciatingly long cast announcement.

That said, here’s a list of some of those beloved MCU actors I really hope we see when the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday opens on the big screen in May 2026. It’s a long list (no, not as long as that video), so let’s get started…

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds, who has played Deadpool since the Fox days, has made a habit of teasing his return to the MCU ever since the release of Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. I totally thought we’d see his name on one of those chairs in that seemingly endless lineup, which is why I’m so bummed the wise-cracking, R-rated, and lethal hero wasn’t included.

In an ideal world, Reynolds’ return would also include the likes of Dafne Keen, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Garner, and Leslie Uggams (you can’t have Deadpool without Blind Al).

Tom Holland

With the Spider-Man 4 release date so close to the Avengers: Doomsday rollout, it would be shocking if Tom Holland doesn’t show up in the massive crossover film a few months before his new Web-Slinger adventure. The highly in-demand actor seemed like a shoo-in to be included in the gargantuan list filled with all his MCU buddies. There are rumors that Holland won’t be in the next Avengers film, but I’m not totally convinced at this point.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has been a part of the MCU since he showed up in Tony Stark’s house and revealed himself as Nick Fury way back in Iron Man. Since then, he’s popped up in all of the Avengers movies, so I was a little saddened and surprised by his omission from the absurdly long cast list for Doomsday. I mean, Fury is still alive on the Marvel Cinematic timeline after the events of The Marvels.

Chris Evans

Even though his version of Captain America retired during the Avengers: Endgame ending, Chris Evans has reappeared in the MCU (Johnny Flame in Deadpool & Wolverine), so I wouldn’t be shocked if some character played by the franchise mainstay shows up by the time it’s all said and done. Evans has been cagey about a possible return in the past, but not seeing his name on the back of a chair is a little disheartening, if I’m being honest.

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo has been one of my favorite MCU actors ever since he took on the role of Bruce Banner/The Hulk in 2012’s The Avengers. He’s been there for all the major moments in the franchise since then, but now I’m starting to think his iconic character won’t be saving the planet, galaxy, universe, or multiverse with his old buddies next summer. This can’t happen. I mean, who’s going to give Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man an extra taco?

Benedict Cumberbatch

Is Benedict Cumberbatch bringing back Doctor Strange (third eye and all) for Avengers: Doomsday? I don’t know because the longtime Marvel staple wasn’t included in the longest line of chairs I’ve ever seen. The actor’s comments about his return to the MCU have been all over the place, with his most recent comments to Business Insider in January 2025 making it sound like he could possibly return.

Don Cheadle

Though the Armor Wars project seems to be up in the air, I thought Don Cheadle would for sure be a part of the upcoming Avengers movie. James Rhodes has been a part of the franchise since the very beginning, and Cheadle’s version of the character has had a part in three of the four crossover films to date.

Brie Larson

Another big name missing from the “Infinity Scroll of Chairs” was Brie Larson, whose Captain Marvel has long been one of the strongest heroes in the entire MCU. We last saw her in The Marvels back in 2023, so she’s due for a return at this point. The same can be said about co-stars Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani, who play Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan, respectively. I’d be shocked if they didn’t appear.

Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye has had one of the craziest journeys in the MCU over the years. The underrated Avenger has been through it all, and I’ll be bummed if he’s not part of Doomsday next year. He famously wasn’t part of the Avengers: Infinity War cast, so maybe, just maybe, we’ll see him in Avengers: Secret Wars in a few years.

Charlie Cox

With Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdoch very much a part of the MCU again with the recent arrival of Daredevil: Born Again, I will be shocked if the actor doesn’t appear in Avengers: Doomsday. His name is on the rise (both the actor and character), so his absence could be felt a great deal.

Also, I would love to see Cox’s Defenders co-stars like Mike Colter, Finn Jones, and Krysten Ritter have some kind of role in what appears to be the biggest Marvel movie in years.

Halle Berry

Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and several other major players from the original X-Men movies were all announced for Avengers: Doomsday, but there was one actress whose absence really bummed me out: Halle Berry. Whenever the music would change and the camera would pan to the right, I kept hoping to see the Storm actress listed on a chair, but it never came.

The same can be said about Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, and Hugh Jackman, three other major names from the franchise who are oddly missing from the cast list.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy

Though Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff seem to be finished with the MCU after the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the rest of the actors should still be in play moving forward. With Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, and Vin Diesel being major parts of the last two Avengers movies, it will be odd not to see them in the upcoming Doomsday. I really hope that changes, as I’d love to see that ragtag group of space scoundrels save the day again.

The Eternals

After Captain America: Brave New World referenced Eternals earlier in the year, it felt like maybe this oft-forgotten MCU movie would be getting some attention again. However, none of the actors from the 2021 epic were included in the Avengers: Doomsday rollout. I guess we’ll have to wait longer to figure out what’s going on with the group played by Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, and Barry Keoghan.

Other Marvel Stars I Want To See In Avengers: Doomsday

On top of all these names and various groups, I would love to see even more actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe show up in Avengers: Doomsday. From longtime staples like Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Hayley Atwell, and Scarlett Johansson (nobody stays dead forever, right?) to other fan favorites played by the likes of Benedict Wong, Dafne Keen, Lupita Nyong’o, Awkwafina, and Danai Guirara to actors introduced in post-credit scenes like Brett Goldstein and Charlize Theron, there are just so many familiar faces that could show up.

Will any or all of these actors show up in Avengers: Doomsday or its sequel? I really hope so.

I’m not going to debate with anybody on what Tarantino's best movie is–It’s Pulp Fiction.

However, when it comes to ranking the rest of his movies, you can start having discussions. While Tarantino has never made a bad movie (Death Proof has its merits!), he has so many good ones that you could make an argument for any movie in his filmography as his next best film.

However, while some flicks always float close to the top–Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill, and Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood are usually next in line–I, for one, have always felt that his eighth film, The Hateful Eight, is his next best movie after Pulp Fiction, and I don’t think it gets nearly enough credit. Here’s why.

The Movie Does So Much With So Little

By every metric, one might say that The Hateful Eight is rather small in nature. I mean, why wouldn’t they? Taking place almost entirely in one location, The Hateful Eight’s closest cousin is probably Reservoir Dogs when it comes to the size and scope of its setting.

This might be why I love The Hateful Eight, since Reservoir Dogs is my third favorite Tarantino film. The story takes place in a haberdashery in the middle of a terrible storm. In one of his best roles, Tarantino regular Samuel L. Jackson plays a bounty hunter named Major Marquis Warren with three corpses in tow.

By happenstance, he meets up with his old friend, John Ruth - “The Hangman” - played by Kurt Russell, in a stagecoach. Ruth is currently handcuffed to the fugitive “Crazy” Daisy Domergue (played expertly by Jennifer Jason Leigh), on the way to having her hanged, and a new sheriff named Chris Mannix (Played by Walter Goggins) hitches a ride with them. They’re all going their separate ways, but the storm gets so bad that they end up at the haberdashery together, along with four (or so we’re led to believe) others.

And, that’s it. It doesn’t seem like much, but what follows is one of the wildest rides Tarantino has ever taken us on. A lot of this is because the tensions are sky high, as there’s racial tension (Which I’ll get into later), but also the tension of former Confederate soldiers in the same tight space as Northerners.

The events that follow are like a powder keg. And, even though it’s not as bombastic as World War II (Inglourious Basterds), as expansive as slavery (Django Unchained), or one of the best martial arts movies of all time (Kill Bill), it still manages to be Tarantino’s second most thrilling movie for me, right after Pulp Fiction. It’s that good.

It Is Samuel L. Jackson's Second Best Tarantino Character, Right After Jules Winnfield

One could argue that the best role in Samuel L. Jackson’s career was as Jules Winnfield. Effortlessly cool and ruthless, but also the kind of guy who could change, Jackson’s role in Pulp Fiction is the kind of career-defining role that only comes once in an actor’s lifetime…if they’re lucky.

Jackson has found himself in most of Tarantino’s films, but The Hateful Eight is arguably his only leading role (Pulp Fiction comes close, but there are so many moving pieces in that movie that I don’t feel comfortable calling him the main protagonist).

In The Hateful Eight, he plays a conniving bounty hunter who makes friends with white people by showing them a fake letter from Abraham Lincoln. He’s also the kind of guy who would goad a racist into pulling out his gun by telling him an elaborate tale of how he sexually abused and killed his son.

And all the while, you can tell he’s having a good time the whole way through. He’s the kind of character who you feel that Tarantino must have written the role with him in mind, and Jackson delivers each line with the kind of verve and attitude that only he can.

I loved Jackson in Jackie Brown, but I think this is Jackson’s second-best role in a Tarantino film. He’s just so much fun to spend time with.

This Movie Has Some Of Tarantino's Best Dialogue…Though It's SUPER Problematic

I was really upset when I heard that Tarantino’s supposed tenth and final film, The Movie Critic, was canceled. This is mostly because I look forward to every Tarantino flick since it means that we’ll get some of the best dialogue in the business.

And, speaking of some of the best dialogue, I think that The Hateful Eight has some of Tarantino’s finest…but I say that with a caveat. Even though I really love the conversations in this film (you can really hear the different walks of life of every character by the way they speak), I also think this is one of Tarantino’s most problematic screenplays, and it’s mostly because of the racial tension in the film.

Now, look. I get it. This is a film with a Black lead character and racist people from the South. And, with Tarantino’s 7th movie, Django Unchained, we had actors like Leonardo DiCaprio (In one of his best movies) dropping the N-word on more than one occasion. Hell, Tarantino himself dropped the N-word in Pulp Fiction. It’s something he’s been criticized a lot for in the past.

That said, it just feels particularly icky in The Hateful Eight. Maybe it’s because of the context. In Django Unchained, we had a slave who rose up and took vengeance. But, with the Civil War having ended by the start of The Hateful Eight, it just feels a bit worse.

That said, the dialogue is still authentic, even with how uncomfortable it makes me feel (It definitely isn’t satisfying like Django Unchained). Outside of the racism, though, it’s just a joy to listen to, probably more than any other Tarantino film for me.

The Ensemble Cast Is Probably The Best Tarantino Has Ever Assembled

I think there’s something to be said for a director who always seems to have the best actors in their films. One could argue that Tarantino himself just manages to use actors to their full potential (Like, what American even knew who Cristoph Waltz was until he delivered his Oscar-winning performance in Inglourious Basterds?).

That said, I think there’s even more to be said of a director who can not only use the best actors, but also have them work in an ensemble cast. I mean, that takes immeasurable talent, but Tarantino has done it on multiple occasions. Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, and Jackie Brown all showcase great ensemble casts, and they all work.

Aside from Pulp Fiction, I think The Hateful Eight has the best cast that Tarantino has ever assembled. And that’s because each actor has something to offer. I’ve already talked about Jackson, but Kurt Russell is fantastic as “The Hangman.” He’s both stalwart, but also a little dim. Bruce Dern as a dying Confederate General has a real spark, and Tim Roth worms his way into the story in the best way possible.

As one of the only females in the film, Jennifer Jason Leigh was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance, and it was well-warranted.

I mean, just across the board, everybody’s great, which is important, since this is one of Tarantino’s most challenging films to watch.

It Goes Down As Tarantino's Most Mean-Spirited-But Also One Of His Most Fun-Movies In His Filmography

I just said that The Hateful Eight is challenging to watch, and it is. But, not because it’s not fun, as it's very fun. The scene with the poisoned coffee while Ennio Morricone’s music plays (Did I mention the soundtrack is amazing?!), is one of my favorite moments in any Tarantino film ever.

Even so, The Hateful Eight is a really mean-spirited movie. The abuse Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character goes through is hard to stomach, even despite her evil ways, and the way the film ends on such a down note really doesn’t make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

And, as I already mentioned, the racism is a bit harsh in this film. None of the characters are good people, and to have them all stuck in one claustrophobic environment really does start to wear on you after a while.

So, even though I love this movie, I have to admit that it’s a hard film to sit through. But that also makes it even more interesting since it’s such a pleasure to watch, even when you’re wincing all the way through. What art!

But, what do you think? Are you somebody who also gives The Hateful Eight its flowers? For more news on all things Tarantino-related, be sure to swing by here often.

Bruce Willis turned 70 years old this week and while Willis has had to retire from acting due to health issues, his decades of incredible work and his popular characters will live on. It seems this may have been a consideration even much earlier in his career as Samuel L. Jackson says the actor gave him some advice once that ultimately led to him becoming the MCU’s Nick Fury.

In 1995, Bruce Willis returned to the Die Hard franchise for the third time. Die Hard with a Vengeance co-starred Samuel L. Jackson in one of his biggest film roles to date, following his star-making turn in Pulp Fiction. Speaking with Vanity Fair on the occasion of Willis’s birthday, Jackson said his co-star gave him some advice on that set, which he eventually took, even if he didn’t necessarily realize it at the time. The Avengers actor said…

It’s not hard to see exactly this play out in the careers of many stars. Bruce Willis himself returned to John McClain two more times after Die Hard with a Vengeance. He certainly had critical and commercial successes outside of the Die Hard franchise, but there were also plenty of films that failed to find an audience.

To be fair, not all of the movies he made that didn’t make money were bad movies, some of the best Bruce Willis films were not massive hits, but box office success is often a determining factor in an actor’s future prospects. If nothing else, returning to those franchises that audiences love helps keep your name in the public eye, which in turn will keep you in demand as an actor.

Samuel L. Jackson has certainly followed this model. He’s appeared as Nick Fury more times than most actors play any role, making him, statistically, one of the biggest names in the history of the global box office. After his first appearance at the end of Iron Man, Jackson has appeared in 12 Marvel movies, four TV shows and three video games as Nick Fury. Plus, I bet we'll see him again in an upcoming Marvel movie as he seems ready and willing to play the iconic character for the foreseeable future.

And that's in part thanks to the advice he got from Bruce Willis.

Willis clearly had an understanding of Hollywood that helped him navigate one of the most successful careers in recent memory. Whatever else fans think of his films, they’ll always remember John McClain.

Awards season always brings together the most eclectic group of people to celebrate the things that bring us all together. 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff departed the tennis court and left the racket at home, and replaced it with the red carpet, as she was spotted all glammed up for the 97^th Academy Awards ceremony earlier this month. While Gauff had a lot to share in regard to the process to be red carpet-ready, I am loving the story she shared about when she met Samuel L Jackson.

At a media event (via ESPN), Coco Gauff shared with reporters the grueling process she underwent to be ready to walk the red carpet. Gauff isn't against a little hard work considering the fact that she’s a professional athlete and a US open champion. But according to her, swinging the racket is nothing compared to getting ready for a red-carpet event. Hair and makeup started at 9:30am despite the fact that the event itself wasn’t until 4. Gauff did admit it was a long day, but she followed that by simply saying:

All that hard work in the chair seemed to pay off, as she made it onto Vogue’s list of the best dressed stars at the Oscars. Outside of that, at the actual event Gauff was surprised by the amount of people who recognized her throughout the evening. But there was one person who stood out to her the most:

It’s always cool to get to meet someone you admire or have seen in some of your favorite movies, especially when they come up to you rather than you going to them. Oscar night was quite big for a lot of people, not just for the 2025 winners. Gauff wasn’t the only person who got to have a cool meetup with a big star, Deadpool 3’s Dancepool was able to meet Robert Downey Jr. behind the scenes. Meanwhile Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield had a Social Network reunion that fans were loving.

With so many high-profile stars in one place, it’s always fun to see the meetups and crossovers between stars and genres. Though not everything from that night has been good and heartfelt meet-ups, as there were a few bouts of drama that happened at the Oscars.

While the meetup was cool for Gauff, there are rumors that there was some behind-the-scenes drama between Whoopi Goldberg and Halle Berry. There was also some drama regarding horror icon Tony Todd, who was not shown in the Oscars ‘In Memoriam’ segment which made fans and Todd’s family quite upset. This was rectified by adding him to the section on the official website, but those who are fans of his work were still upset that he wasn’t honored on the screen. Oh, and Goldie Hawn’s son accused her of blowing him off to talk to Andrew Garfield, although this seems to be more lighthearted compared to those other examples.

Awards season always has its ups and downs with so many big personalities and big stars being in the public limelight for all to see. But overall, it was quite the enjoyable night to watch and see all the fun meetups and glitz and glam that makes the award shows so entertaining for those of us at home. We now look forward to the rest of this year so we can make our predictions for the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.

While Star Wars fans were busy reacting to the Andor Season 2 trailer, which will be available to those with a Disney+ subscription on April 22nd, Lucasfilm also announced the return of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith to theaters as part of the 2025 Movie Schedule. The news came with a new poster commemorating the 20th anniversary that left even Samuel L. Jackson pumped for the re-release.

Unlike the original Revenge of the Sith poster *which featured Darth Vader’s looming presence behind floating heads of Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, and Natalie Portman, Jackson, and Yoda and gave away the epic lightsaber battle between McGregor and Christensen characters) the 20th-anniversary poster designed by Matt Ferguson is much simpler. That poster features the same looming Darth Vader presence and a smaller silhouette of the lightsaber battle, but instead of floating heads, it’s Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker that takes center stage. In addition, the background depicts the space battle and Mustafar.

The poster immediately grabbed the attention of Jackson, who played Jedi Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequels, who shared the poster to his 8.8 million followers, captioning it with a trio of fist bumps. Take a look:

If Jackson is excited, then so am I! The Revenge of the Sith rerelease doesn’t come as a huge surprise as Lucasfilm and Disney have made it a habit to give the films an extra theatrical run during big anniversary years. However, it is a big deal because it marks the first time the movie will be released in 4DX technology both in the US and worldwide. I don’t know about you, but experiencing Anakin Skywalker’s Darth Vader transformation on a big screen in high-motion chairs might give Disney Parks’ Star Wars-themed attractions a run for their money.

Episode III concluded the prequel trilogy when it was released in 2005 and was the last Star Wars film released before Disney acquired Lucasfilm and launched the sequel trilogy in 2015. The movie takes place three years after the star of the Clone Wars (which began in Episode 2) and begins with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker rescuing Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from General Grievous. As if Grievous escaping isn’t bad enough, Anakin forms a bond with Palpatine and turns on the Jedi when asked to spy on the chancellor. This leads to his embracing the Dark Side and forces the remaining Jedi into hiding -- even the powerful ones.

Unfortunately, Jackson’s Mace Windu dies in the film at the hands of Sith Lord Dath Sidious/Palpatine and Anakin. However, he’s reprised his role in the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars film, which is set in the three-year period between Episode II and Episode III. He also made a vocal cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which can be heard when Rey is fighting a resurrected Palpatine. And there have been rumors that Jackson will come back as Mace Windu again in the future, which the Pulp Fiction star is on board with.

Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith hits theaters on April 25th, where it will run in various formats for one week only. As of writing, tickets are not yet on sale.

Across the various Star Wars movies, few scenes more heartbreaking than Mace Windu’s death at the hands of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription. The sight of Samuel L. Jackson's Windu flying through a window isn’t easy to forget. Interestingly, it turns out that Mace’s demise was meant to be quite different. In fact, it would’ve involved the powerful Jedi being executed by another antagonist entirely. Quite frankly, I’m glad everything panned out accordingly.

How Was Mace Windu Originally Supposed To Die?

The comments on the original idea for Windu’s demise come from Daniel Logan, who portrayed young Boba Fett in 2002’s Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Logan recently appeared at GalaxyCon Richmond, where he shared BTS stories with fans. It was during the event that the actor expressed his belief that Boba should’ve been the one to kill Mace, given the Jedi killed his father, Jango. From there, Logan revealed that George Lucas actually intended for that to be the case when he began crafting Episode III years ago:

After reading these comments, which come via Popverse, you’re probably wondering just how the diminutive Fett would be able to get the jump on a skilled warrior like Mace. Well, Daniel Logan further alleged that the battle was plotted out in a way that would make sense. And, of course, it has to do with what went down between Jango and Windu (who should’ve appeared in the Prequel Trilogy more) during the events of Attack of the Clones:

Of course, the New Zealand-born actor – who was nominated for a Young Artist Award for his performance as Boba – didn’t get to play out the scene as planned. And Samuel L. Jackson apparently had something to do with that.

How Samuel L. Jackson Impacted Mace Windu’s Death, And Why I’m Glad About What What Played Out On Screen

Daniel Logan went on to claim that the Pulp Fiction actor took issue with the notion of his character being killed by a child. And, based on Logan’s recollection, the Oscar nominee made his thoughts quite clear to Mr. Lucas:

As blunt as that last part might seem and as much as I appreciate what Daniel Logan brought to Boba Fett, it was certainly the right call to have Mace die by Palpatine’s hand. Windu is an incredibly imposing character and deserved to die at the hands of someone quite powerful like the eventual Emperor of the galaxy far, far away. It’s a tragic scene, for sure, but it feels right for Windu to lose his life while trying to apprehend the sneaky Sith Lord. Quite frankly, the notion of him killed by Boba Fett in the Prequel Trilogy’s defining chapter just feels underwhelming.

Nearly 20 years since Revenge of the Sith hit theaters, Samuel L. Jackson continues to contend that Mace Windu survived the fall and has shared wild Mace-related theories as to how that could be. Around November 2024, it was also rumored that Mace would indeed return in some capacity, and that’s a prospect that gives me mixed feelings. Regardless, Jackson is game for a reprisal and enthusiastically responded to the prospect of leading his own Disney+ show.

As for Daniel Logan’s Boba Fett, the character did return on the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and, during an arc in Season 2, young Fett did indeed try to kill Windu. Logan reprised his role and did so again when the young Fett returned in Season 4. I'm sorry Logan's hopes for Boba didn't pan out, but I stand by my position on Mace’s demise. If there’s any consolation though, Logan’s version of the bounty hunter did manage to leave a mark on the overall franchise, of which the movies are streamable with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for keeps fans on their toes, thanks to its regular release of new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next upcoming Marvel movie is Captain America: Brave New World, which will put Anthony Mackie front and center as the new Cap. And the Hurt Locker actor recently explained that Samuel L. Jackson was partially responsible for Marvel's tight security related to their scripts. And the story is A+.

Fans who spent the Marvel movies in order know that the studio is notoriously secretive with scripts, not even allowing actors to take them home. While this is common knowledge at this point, the origin of this security measure actually goes back to the first Avengers flick. During a clip from The Graham Norton Show on BBC America's instagram, Mackie offered some context, saying:

Is it just me or does this feel like a plot point from The Office? It turns out that a clerical error is the reason Marvel studios is so crazy about its scripts, although I can't blame them. While having the first Avengers script leaked was bad enough, it would have been an even bigger deal for high stakes, secretive projects like Infinity War and Endgame. Why would Marvel take that risk twice?

Later in that same TV appearance, Anthony Mackie shared what happened to that fateful extra Avengers script. And it's not a great outcome, as he put it:

Ouch. Not only was the movie's script leaked, but apparently someone on the payroll was able to get a huge payday by selling the thing online. Suddenly those extreme security measures don't seem so crazy, do they?

What we know about Captain America: Brave New World has been limited, but the movie is officially in theaters now. Fans are eager to see how Anthony Mackie will fare as the new Cap, who doesn't have superpowers but does have a vibranium wings to help him fight goes like Red Hulk. Fans are also curious to see how the movie addresses previous projects like The Incredible Hulk and Eternals. The pressure is on for Cap 4 to deliver in theaters as part of the 2025 movie release dates, especially after some recent MCU box offie disappointments. Someone get this man a shield!

After a pretty eventful 2024, Samuel L. Jackson’s slate of 2025 movies is relatively chill. Which is probably why the beloved actor and pop culture icon had the time to be a part of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. It was a performance as awesome as any of Mr. Jackson’s work in screen and stage, and that fact was not lost on equally iconic director/collaborator Spike Lee.

More specifically, the man behind visions such as Da Five Bloods and Do The Right Thing cited the actor’s role in 2015’s Chi-Raq, a.k.a. “the movie that pissed off Chicago’s mayor.” When it came to discussing this hot button pop culture event in a recent Instagram post, Lee issued this emphatic and heartfelt thanks that clocked the flick as a potential inspiration:

If you missed Chi-Raq, don’t worry, Spike Lee’s take on Aristophanes’ Lysistrata is available for Prime Video subscription holders to enjoy. Between the name check to the director’s production company, as well as the presence of Mr. Jackson in a very similar role, the flick feels like a pre-requisite piece of further viewing.

But for anyone who may have questioned the politically charged nature of the Academy Award nominated rapper’s mindful spectacle, let this final piece of evidence have the last word. Here, for your review, is the trailer for Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq - which features Samuel L. Jackson’s Dolmedes pretty prominently:

It’s fair to say that everyone has their favorite Spike Lee movie. Some people might be huge Malcolm X fans, while others like CinemaBlend’s own Jerrica Tisdale have their reasons to favor Crooklyn as Lee’s best work. After looking a bit closer at the parallels between the messages of Chi-Raq and the Super Bowl halftime show, I wonder if Kendrick Lamar’s favorite has to be that underrated Spike Lee title?

No matter the answer to that question, we can definitely see the man's respect for Samuel L. Jackson. And just as the MCU vet isn't bothered by lacking an Oscar, he's probably all smiles right about now when seeing a dear friend compliment his latest gig in the public eye.

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.

Samuel L. Jackson has enjoyed one of the most remarkable careers in Hollywood history. You can’t even begin to construct a list of the best Sam Jackson movie moments without touching on some of the biggest franchises ever. Jackson was in Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park. He played Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and was a Jedi master in Star Wars. For real, any list of the 10 best Samuel L. Jackson movies is going to be leaving off multiple stone-cold masterpieces. So when Sam speaks up about the different impacts Die Hard with a Vengeance had on his career versus Pulp Fiction, you have to listen and accept what he says.

The reason this conversation even comes up is because Sam Jackson appeared in both of these movies with Bruce Willis, and released them around the same time: Pulp Fiction in 1994, and the third Die Hard movie, Die Hard with a Vengeance, in 1995. Speaking with Masterclass, Jackson shared stories of Willis – a Die Hard veteran – explaining to the Coming to America co-star that involvement in With a Vengeance was going to change his life. Here, listen to Sam tell it:

Maybe too much time has passed, and people have forgotten what a massive success the Die Hard franchise was, particularly through the first three movies. I wrote a book about Bruce Willis that tries to capture the impact of that series on his career, and the industry, but the way that Samuel L. Jackson sums it up really hammers the point home. Pulp Fiction was a major movie for Jackson. It earned him an Oscar nomination, and turned his monologue structured around Ezekiel 25:17 into a pop-culture lightning strike that none of us were going to forget.

Because as impactful as that movie was, its effects were dwarfed by Die Hard with a Vengeance. As Jackson explained, crowds embraced his cantankerous character, Zeus. They’d shout Die Hard quotes back to him when they saw him in the streets. And, more importantly, the film industry suddenly recognized Jackson as someone who could carry a blockbuster. As he recalled:

After appearing in Die Hard with a Vengeance, Samuel L. Jackson started ramping up his film credits. He continued doing prestige pictures like Eve’s Bayou. He collaborated with Quentin Tarantino on Jackie Brown. But you’d also find him in bigger-ticket items such as The Long Kiss Goodnight, Sphere, The Negotiator and, in 1999, Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. It makes me wonder if Zeus walked so that Mace Windu could run?

It makes me sad that we won’t get another Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson collaboration, as the former retired in 2022 due to an aphasia diagnosis. But we’ll always have Pulp Fiction, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and a string of excellent M. Night Shyamalan movies including Unbreakable and Glass to remind us of their combustible chemistry together.

Through his work across the history of Marvel movies, the timeline of Star Wars movies and more, Samuel L. Jackson has shown broad range and continued to hone his talent across decades of acting experience. For an actor of his caliber, it’s kind of surprising that he’s only ever been nominated once for an Academy Award (outside of the honorary statue he brought home in 2021).

Some might stoke a passionate defenses for the veteran of the Marvel and Star Wars cinematic universes; however, the man himself isn’t bent out of shape one bit. In conversation with The L.A. Times, the noted f-bomb dropper admits that the annual chase for that golden path doesn’t necessarily motivate him. So, what does keep Samuel L. Jackson going in his career pursuits?

Knowing that The Avengers alum values the blockbuster entries in the pantheon of the best Samuel L. Jackson movies as much as any actor would treasure an award-winning act is unsurprising. Even when you’re watching Jackson at work in something like the Star Wars movies, you can see that he’s having fun with what he does.

Further explaining why he doesn’t pay too much mind to the Oscars, Jackson also admitted to no regrets letting “statue chasing” projects go in favor of other projects. Providing a self evaluation of his mythically awesome career, the Jurassic Park co-star pretty much summed it up in a manner most fans would totally agree with. In Samuel L. Jackson’s eyes, he’s very quotable. In fact he's...

Honestly, there is not a more perfect summary of what you could call the Jackson Oeuvre. And that’s something that we’ve seen the Argylle cast member wear rather proudly on his chest, as seen through several Samuel L. Jackson t-shirt photos on social media. Hell, you could even put the quote mentioned above on its own t-shirt, in the font of his most recognizable projects, and it would probably sell quite well.

Seeing as he’s a fan of the many times characters like John Shaft, Mace Windu, and even his solo Academy Award nominated role as Pulp Fiction’s Jules Winfield pop up on such garments, it would perhaps make even more sense to chase those sort of projects. But possibly the best thing about Jackson is that he takes roles across the board, from popcorn flicks to b-movies, to awards contenders and big budget successes. He's a stable, solid player at the box office with a great reputation for fun.

Oh, and if anyone’s actually made Mr. Jackson’s perfect Secret Invasion t-shirt, make yourself known. Whatever 2025 movie release next gets to benefit from his exceptional talents is probably going to need some fresh one-liners for more memes and tees. Maybe it'll even be an Oscars contender this time.

Since the 1980s Samuel L. Jackson has been providing some of the most memorable moments on screen. With hundreds of credits to his name, he is one of the most recognizable actors of all time. This list is dedicated to some of his best moments in some of his most famous movies. For the sake of the children, we've left off some of his more memorable moments using the colorful language he is good at. But no matter, these moments are all fantastic as well!

Jurassic Park

As the computer tech in Jurassic Park, way too much falls on Samuel L. Jackson's shoulders to save the park and possibly the world. Still, the chain-smoking character does all he can. That includes rebooting the whole system, which means everyone needs to "hold on your butts."

Django Unchained

Jackson's character in Django Unchained is, well, unhinged. The scene where he has Django strung up and explains what kind of slave he intends to make of Django is one of the most insane scenes in a movie full of craziness. It's scary... and fantastic.

Avengers: Infinity War

Throughout the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jackson's character Nick Fury has provided many amazing moments. One of the best is at the end of Avengers: Infinity War after Thanos snaps his fingers. Just as Fury is turning to dust along with half of the universe, he starts to utter the words that have made Samuel L. Jackson famous that involve a mother... only he disappears before he can get the words out.

Coming To America

Well, there isn't much you can quote from his short scene as a potential stick-up man in Coming To America and still keep this list rated PG, so we'll just have to hope that you know exactly what we're talking about here. If you know, you know. And if you don't, we might be forced to thrash you.

A Time to Kill

In a career filled with intense scenes, the one when Jackson's character is on the witness stand during his murder trial in A Time To Kill may be the most intense. When he can't help but burst out why he felt he had to murder the men accused of assaulting his daughter and where he hopes they are burning is just an incredible bit of acting.

Die Hard With A Vengeance

There are a lot of cool scenes in Die Hard With A Vengeance but one that shows exactly what kind of person Jackson's character is when he must answer a phone from the puppet master while facing down a cop who doesn't know what is going on. He HAS TO ANSWER THAT PHONE.

Thor

The post-credit scene in the first Thor movie is great. It's classic Nick Fury, one step ahead of every. Well, everyone but Loki. Still, his cool, calm, and collected demeanor is on full display here.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Throughout the prequel Star Wars movies, Mace Windu could have been a lot cooler. It's just one of the many things to criticize about those films. One thing you can criticize is how cool his death is and how close he came to changing the entire future when he takes on Palpatine in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Had he not been betrayed by Anikin at the moment, there might not have been a need for the rebels, as the Empire would have been dead on arrival. So close, yet so far.

Shaft

Shaft isn't Samuel L. Jackson's best movie, but there are still only a handful of actors who could have ever pulled the role of the private...detective... that won't cop out when there is danger about. He's awesome in the role and while there are plenty of pretty great action scenes, it's the moments like the one in the coffee shop when he confronts the gang members and shows zero intimidation. It sums up all that is John Shaft.

Pulp Fiction

There really isn't a question here - not only is the Ezekiel 25:17 speech his coolest moment in Pulp Fiction, but it's one of the coolest moments in any movie, ever. He's got some other amazing moments in the movie, like his negotiation with the two robbers in the diner at the end, but come on, nothing touches that opening scene in the movie.

Captain America: Winter Soldier

Nick Fury is mostly the guy behind the guys in the MCU. He's the guy motivating and planning for the superheroes and rarely a superhero himself. That isn't the case in Captain America: Winter Soldier when he is attacked in his truck and audiences get to see why he is who he is and why he is trusted to run the whole shebang.

Kingsman: The Secret Service

In Kingsman: The Secret Service, Samuel L. Jackson plays a most unconventional villain. The weirdest moment of the movie has to be when he orders all the McDonalds to eat. It's weird, and yet somehow works in a hilarious way, only adding to his unconventional take on the role. Odd? yes? Memorable? Without question.

Snakes On A Plane

It's clear what scene we're talking about here. It's that scene where he's just had enough. He's sick of all the uh...annoying snakes on the... uh, plane. Snakes on a Plane shouldn't have been the hit that it was and that line, and his delivery of that line, is 100% made it a hit. Truly memorable.

The Great White Hype

Some people don't appreciate The Great White Hype. Many haven't even heard of it, but it's one of the more underrated comedies of the '90s and in it Jackson plays a boxing promoter loosely based on Don King. His negotiation with the #1 contender for a title shot is one of the funniest scenes in the movie, with Jamie Foxx matching Jackson line for line, but Jackson's character coming out on top, of course.

Menace II Society

The poker game in Menace II Society is scary. Though Samuel L. Jackson only has a supporting role as the gangster father of Caine, everything a viewer needs to know about him is shown in that one scene when he gets angry at another player for owing him money and shoots him dead right there at the table. In front of his young son.

Do The Right Thing

Samuel L. Jackson is the epitome of cool in Do The Right Thing as the DJ of the local station. The opening monologue sets up the movie beautifully and it's a voice you can listen to all day, just like the characters in the movie do.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Nick Fury is not only known for being tough as nails, he also provides a lot of comic relief in the MCU. Take, for example, his exchange with Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Fury can't believe he's ended up in Parker's bedroom arguing with a teenager. We feel you, Nick.

The Banker

The best scene in The Banker isn't the golf course scene, but getting to see Samuel L. Jackson in 1960s golfing attire makes it the most memorable. It's just so great you want to spend the whole movie there, watching him in that getup.

Argylle

2024's Argylle was met with mostly mixed reviews and while some loved it, others found it just too meta and annoying. Like his role in another Matthew Vaughn film, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Jackson is really only seen a few times on screen and each time is memorable, like when has his eyes scratched out in what has to be a nod to the MCU, right?

Iron Man

At the time, no one could have known just how big the MCU would become, but Nick Fury seemed to know all along when, in the post-credit scene in Iron Man, Fury shows up at Tony Starks home and proposes the "Avenger Initiative." It's among the most memorable scenes in the whole franchise and we didn't even know it at the time.

The Hateful Eight

Director Quentin Tarantino clearly loves writing characters for Samuel L. Jackson as every time he's in one of Tarantino's movies, it leaves a lingering impression. Like the scene in The Hateful Eight when Jackson's character tells Bruce Dern's character that he knew the day Dern's character's son died, it was the day he met him. It's a line you'll never forget.

xXx

xXx is a way better movie than a lot of critics give it credit for. Sure it's completely ridiculous and "over-the-top" doesn't even begin to describe how off-the-wall it is. But it's got some amazing action sequences, like the one in the diner when Jackson's character recruits the titular "XXX" played by Vin Diesel.

The Avengers

Nick Fury has a lot of inspiring moments in the MCU and at the top of the list of his best is the speech he gives to the assembled Avengers after Phil Coulson is killed. There is no doubt you want to run through a wall for both Nick and Phil after that speech in The Avengers.

Patriot Games

Sometimes people forget that Samuel L. Jackson is even in Patriot Games, despite being in a scene that everyone remembers. After Jack Ryan returns to teaching after thwarting the attack on the Royals in London, he is presented the "Order of the Purple Target" by his fellow teachers at the Naval Academy, namely one played by Jackson.

Jackie Brown

Samuel L. Jackson's character in Jackie Brown has a wild look and an even crazier disposition. That attitude comes through most clearly in the scene Jackson shares with Chris Tucker where he convinces Tucker's character to get into the trunk of his car so he can murder him. Talk about unforgettable...

Captain Marvel

At the end of Captain Marvel, after we all learn how Nick Fury lost his eye, we learn something else - how he named The Avengers Initiative. It turns out, it comes from Carol Danvers' call sign etched on the side of her plane that he has a photo of. It's a pinnacle moment in the series, and we learn about how important Captain Marvel was from the very beginning.

Hard Eight

Samuel L. Jackson really makes the most out of a somewhat small, but very pivotal role in Paul Thomas Anderson's debut film Hard Eight. Though his character meets an unceremonious end, it's not until after he has an amazing scene with Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) after confronting him about some old business.

Black Snake Moan

Jackson's role in Black Snake Moan is... hard to take. The whole movie is pretty hard to watch and even if you understand his character's motivations, his actions don't really justify the means to the end. Still, that scene in the beginning when his character is rocking out on stage is at once very cool, but also a little bit scary as Jackson really shows the audience both sides of the character.

Sphere

Sphere really could have been a great movie. The film was adapted from the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, but it all felt a bit rushed like it was produced and filmed too quickly to cash in on the hype of Jurassic Park. Still, it has some cool scenes like when Jackson's character confronts the realization that they all may die down in the deep.

Long Kiss Goodnight

Long Kiss Goodnight is a decent action flick with some great comedic moments between the two co-stars, Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays a detective hired by Davis' character to find out about her past, which she doesn't remember prior to being found washed ashore eight years early. It turns out that Davis' character is a former CIA assassin and like Jason Bourne has retained her training, if not her memory. In one scene she scolds Jackson to "take lessons" on fighting someone and he responds that he "took lessons!"

Rules of Engagement

There is something about Samuel L. Jackson on the stand in a court of law that really brings the best out of the actor. Just like in A Time To Kill, he's at his best in Rules of Engagement when he is being interrogated and it's a completely unforgettable scene, admitting he did what he was accused of doing but having good reason for it.

True Romance

Even if a movie is only written by Quentin Tarantino but not directed by him, like True Romance, it's like the words were only supposed to be delivered by Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson really only has one line in the movie and each word is dirtier than the last as he explains what he likes to do with the women he hooks up with. It's one of the most iconic moments in the movie, even if it's only a minute or so long.

There is nothing more iconic than a good looking leather jacket on a movie star. There are as many styles of jacket as there are stars, which makes looking good easy. From Marlon Brando to Keanu Reeves, leather jackets have been a part of some of the most incredible looking costumes ever. So, here is our list of some of the most iconic leather coats and jackets in Hollywood history.

Marlon Brando In The Wild One

This list wouldn't be complete without including the O.G. leather look on Marlon Brando in The Wild One. The 1953 film about a biker gang was not only a big hit in theaters, but it was a huge influence on society. From the outlaw biker gangs who took inspiration from the look to regular folks who saw the leather jackets as the coolest of cool.

Wesley Snipes In Blade

Wesley Snipes is the coolest-looking superhero in Blade with his iconic look in leather and sunglasses. Everything about the costume and the character oozes cool and defines Blade's renegade nature.

Arnold Schwarzenegger In The Terminator Movies

Leather jackets definitely provide a look for someone to say "Don't mess with me," and nowhere is this more true in Hollywood than when Arnold Schwarzenegger wears one in the Terminator movies. Starting with the first movie, he's usually seen in one and you definitely don't want to mess with him.

Rooney Mara In The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Leather jackets have always been a symbol of rebelliousness in Hollywood. In The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, it's the perfect look for Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) to portray both her anti-social nature and her tough exterior. You can't imagine wearing anything else.

John Travolta In Saturday Night Fever

In the 1970s, no one was cooler than John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. The strut, the hair, the dancing, and the leather jacket all made that possible. The look is so iconic that people are still imitating it today, five decades later.

Carrie-Anne Moss In The Matrix Movies

It's safe to say that The Matrix movies would not be the same if the characters were dressed in anything but the coolest and toughest-looking leather jackets and coats. From Neo to Morpheus to, of course, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) in her amazing looking long leather coat. It's just such an amazing bit of costume.

Brad Pitt In Fight Club

Not every leather jacket has to be black to look completely awesome. Tyler Durden's reddish-brown jacket in Fight Club has become one of the most famous looks in Hollywood. Of course, it's easy for Brad Pitt to pull off almost any look, but he might just look his coolest in Fight Club.

Hugh Jackman In The X-Men Films

Leather jackets have been used a lot over the years to depict both heroes and anti-heroes. Nowhere is this more clear than on Logan aka Wolverine, as depicted by Hugh Jackman in the X-Men and now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Logan is anti-social to an extreme and his leather jacket definitely indicates that you don't want to pick a fight with him.

Olivia Newton-John In Grease

The costumes in Grease are amazing. Of course, the T-Birds' jackets are fantastic, but it's the leather jacket that Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) dons in the last act that looks the most amazing. She completely changes her look and the jacket is what inspires the whole thing.

Keanu Reaves In The John Wick Movies

Keanu Reaves loves to wear leather in his movies, but the brown leather jacket in the first John Wick movie is probably the coolest. It's great because it's cool as heck, but it's not too over the top for the retired assassin. It makes John Wick seem normal, yet completely cool and ready for anything.

Eddie Murphy In Raw

In his standup movie Raw, Eddie Murphy takes the cool leather look to the next level. Not only does he have an amazing purple leather jacket, he compliments it with matching leather pants. It wasn't the first time he wore a leather outfit on stage, he wore a similar red one in his first standup movie, Delirious, but the purple one in Raw tops the red one in every way.

Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds

Dangerous Minds isn't the best movie in Michelle Pfeiffer's filmography, despite having an amazing soundtrack, but for an actress who had a whole bunch of iconic looks in the '80s and '90s, her jeans and leather jacket look in the movie is one of the most memorable. It's a costume that tells you so much about the character without saying a word.

Steve McQueen In The Great Escape

It's hard to argue that Steve McQueen isn't one of the coolest stars in Hollywood history. Of course, you can earn that kind of praise without at least one leather jacket. In The Great Escape, McQueen's brown leather bomber jacket is the epitome of cool. Even when he is covered in dirt, he looks great, but it's when he's wearing the jacket that he looks his best.

Tom Cruise In Top Gun

In the '80s, there was no movie cooler than Top Gun and there was no cooler character than Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise. The leather bomber jacket Cruise wore in the movie became so iconic and such a key characteristic of the role that when Top Gun: Maverick released its first teaser, the jacket was a big part of it.

Harrison Ford In Raiders Of The Lost Ark

There is something about a distressed leather jacket that brings authenticity to a character that few other costume pieces can. Nowhere in film history is this more true than with Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in all of the Indiana Jones movies. The jacket, along with the hat and the whip, completely define the character in every way. Is there any other kind of jacket you could ever see Indy wearing? Of course not.

Uma Thurman In Kill Bill

There are a lot things that make Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill cool, but Uma Thurman's yellow leather motorcycle jacket tops the list. It's become an iconic costume over the years, and while not everyone could pull off the look, Thurman certainly does and everyone loves it.

Mel Gibson In The Mad Max Movies

As distressed leather jackets go, Mel Gibson's in the Mad Max movies is among the best looking. Looking into a dystopian future, it makes complete sense that leather jackets would still be part of the fashion. They are almost indestructible and have that classic look that almost no other piece of clothing has.

Joey Lauren Adams In Chasing Amy

This one flies a little bit under the radar, but it's an amazing look and deserves to be on this list. Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) in Chasing Amy has a lot of "rock and roll" to her style and nothing says rock star like leather.

Samuel L. Jackson In The MCU

As Deadpool asks in the post-credits scene in the original Deadpool movie, "Did you expect Samuel L. Jackson in a saucy leather number?" Well, yes, frankly we might have, since Jackson, playing the cooler-than-cool Nick Fury often shows up in a fantastic-looking leather jacket in the MCU. It is something we expect (even if Deadpool wasn't in the MCU at the time).

Tom Hardy In The Dark Knight Rises

Great Villains are often in leather. In The Dark Knight Rises Bane wears one of the greatest leather coats ever. The fur-lined brown leather number is perfect for his character and it's a look that not every villain could pull off, but Bane (Tom Hardy) certainly does.

Halle Berry In Die Another Day

Halle Berry has a few iconic outfits in the Pierce Brosnan-led James Bond film Die Another Day and while her bikini may be the most famous, the red leather jacket she wears for a lot of the movie is one heck of a look too. Sure, the movie isn't the best Brosnan-era Bond film, but you can't deny how great Berry looks in her costumes.

James Dean In Rebel Without A Cause

Seven decades after his death in 1955, James Dean is still the epitome of cool. Though he only starred in three movies, his impact on pop culture is immense. His red leather jacket in Rebel Without A Cause is one reason why. Because Dean's career was so brief, we don't have a lot of "looks" from him, making the jacket that much more iconic.

Kurt Russell In Escape From New York

If you want to look cool and look like you just don't care about anything, a distressed leather jacket can tell a lot of people just how you feel without saying a word. Take the look of Snake Pilsson (Kurt Russell) in Escape From New York. Has anyone ever looked tougher, cooler, and more aloof in an action film? No, not really.

Sigourney Weaver In Aliens

Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is one of the most amazing characters in action movie history. Of course, that means she must look cool as heck in leather, and she does in Aliens. It's not her most iconic look, but come on, you can't deny how awesome it is.

Tom Cruise In Mission: Impossible

Let's be honest, Tom Cruise always looks good in a nice leather jacket, but if you're ranking his costumes by how good looking they are, the jacket he wears in the first Mission: Impossible is at the top. When he is doing his sleight of hand with the disc with the NOC list on it while wearing the jacket is one of the best non-action scenes in the whole series.

Peter Fonda And Dennis Hopper In Easy Rider

If you wanted to be a rebellious hippie in the late 1960s, a leather jacket was a good place to start with your look. Especially if you were on a motorcycle like Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in Easy Rider. Fonda has a more traditional biker look with his black leather jacket, but Hopper's character goes for a sweet suede jacket with some awesome fringe. Both look amazing.

Anne Hathaway In Get Smart

Get Smart might not be the best movie that Anne Hathaway has ever been in, but her white leather coat looks fantastic in it. It's not the only time Hathaway has shown up in an iconic leather look, who could ever forget her look in The Dark Knight Rises, it is a unique look that you don't see in a lot of movies. Of course, she completely pulls it off.

Matt Dillon In The Outsiders

The greasers in The Outsiders are mostly known for their jean jackets, but one greaser, Dally (Matt Dillion) wears a leather jacket and he looks exactly the part in it. It's not the cleanest jacket in the world, we wouldn't expect it to be, but man it looks so cool!

Laurence Fishburne In The Matrix

Like many of the characters in The Matrix, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) looks totally iconic in his leather duster. Sure it's not a "jacket," but there was no way we could leave it off of this list!

Jon Voight In Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy is a little bit of a forgotten movie these days, but it was a massive hit when it was released. Those who know, know. Jon Voight's suede jacket with the long fringe isn't a look everyone can pull off, and even in the movie it's not always the best look, but looking back, it's safe to say it belongs on this list as one of the best in Hollywood history.

Jason Momoa In Fast X

It's not hard for Jason Momoa to look cool, I think we can all agree. Still, in Fast X, that black and white snakeskin-looking leather jacket is simply amazing. It's not a look that anyone can pull off, in fact, many would look ridiculous in it, but not Momoa, not by a longshot.

Emma Stone In La La Land

Red leather is a fantastic look, though not everyone looks good in it. Emma Stone in La La Land isn't just anyone though. Stone just looks fantastic in the jacket and it, along with all the others on this list, has become iconic.

There’s nothing quite like a great onscreen duo. From heroes and villains to your favorite buddy cop team the big screen is full of some great team-ups. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) has no shortage of great pairings, but one of the best has to be Captain Marvel and Nick Fury. Brie Larson sent a shout out to Samuel L. Jackson on his birthday, he just turned 76, and fans are ready to see these two together again.

Larson and Jackson have been together for more than just Captain Marvel. They also appeared in Kong Skull Island together as well as The Unicorn Store. It was with a behind the scenes shot of that latter movie, with the two of them eating ice cream, that Larson used to wish her “bestie” a happy birthday on Instagram earlier this week.

These two certainly looking like they were having a wonderful time together when this picture was taken. Larson’s comments here show just how much she loves Jackson and Jackson has reciprocated the love himself, it does appear the two really enjoy working together.

Larson and Jackson were at their buddy cop best together in the original Captain Marvel, when Larson’s Carol Danvers and Jackson’s younger Nick Fury worked together to battle an alien threat. That movie went on to make a billion dollars at the global box office. I’m not saying that the fact that sequel The Marvels wasn’t as warmly received is due to the two of them having limited screen time together, but it may have been part of the reason.

A lot of other fans would seemingly like to see the two of them on screen together again, be it in an upcoming Marvel movie, or really just anything. Many fans responded to Larson’s birthday wishes with comments of their both wishing Jackson a happy birthday as well and hoping to see the pair on screen together in the future…

• Happy Birthday to Samuel L Jackson. Can't wait to see you two work together again. - jjdaborn
• The best duo!! Love Unicorn Store!! - vetmed11
• You know I was looking for this post on his birthday! - distractedbyflight
• Happy Birthday to the legend. Ngl, cinema would be complete the day that we get a Sam and Brie "Bad Boys" type buddy cop movie - sharjeelmoghal

If Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson really want to work together again it seems likely they will. Both are big stars who have significant control over their own careers. The only question is if it will be in the MCU or in some unrelated project. Despite the last movie’s box office disappointment, and Nick Fury’s own Secret Invasion series not being a big hit, it seems unlikely we’ve seen the last of their heroes.

I’m a huge fan of horse operas, and I’ve watched many of the best westerns of all time.

However, one thing that has always kind of bugged me about the genre is that a number of classic westerns either A: Don’t feature any Black characters whatsoever, or B: feature Black characters, but in a minute role, or in a demeaning fashion (I’m looking at you, 1931 Cimarron).

That’s why when I see Black characters featured prominently in westerns, I get super excited. So, here are just a few such examples. Yah!

Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) - Unforgiven

The story of a disfigured sex worker, and the bounty her friends put on the men who did it to her, Unforgiven is often seen as a meditative western, starring none other than Clint Eastwood. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and I often go back and forth on whether I think The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, or Unforgiven is the better western.

Eastwood, who also directed the Oscar-winning film, is the star of the picture, and he plays William Munny, a former outlaw who has a failing farm and needs the money. He enlists the help of his friend, Ned Logan, played by Morgan Freeman, as well as a rather green cowboy who goes by the name of “the Schofield Kid”.

Well, unlike Munny, who still has the heart of a killer, Ned doesn’t, and he’s conflicted about coming back into the field. In one pivotal moment, he shows he can no longer kill a man, as he truly did leave that life behind. And, I just love how three dimensional his character is. Ned is a man who wants to help – both the sex workers, as well as his old riding buddy – but he really struggles because he feels like he can’t anymore.

Unfortunately, Logan comes up against the villainous Little Bill (who is definitely a cop who doesn’t follow the rules), and his story is a tragic one. But, it’s also memorable in a genre that doesn’t always have memorable performances for Black actors.

Cuffee (Danielle Deadwyler) - The Harder They Fall

In this predominantly Black western directed by Jeymes Samuel, a cowboy named Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) seeks vengeance against a terrifying outlaw named Rufus Buck (Idris Elba). As a plus, basically all of the principle characters are based off of real people, so this story doubles as historical fiction.

With a cast as stacked as this one, I literally could have picked any of the characters, but I’m choosing Cuffee, played by Danielle Deadwyler, since she’s the most fascinating to me.

Based on the real Cathay Williams, who was the first (and ostensibly only) woman to serve in the U.S. Army during the American Frontier Wars (she posed as a man), Cuffee is interesting because she is probably the best shooter out of the bunch of sharpshooters. Hers is a tale of being both underestimated, but also feared, for her proficiency with a firearm.

My favorite moment is when she squares up against Cherokee Bill (Lakeith Stanfield), since it has all the hallmarks of a battle for the quickest hand. Honestly, I wish there were more excellent roles for Black women in westerns. We don’t get nearly enough of them. Speaking of which…

Moses “Mo” Washington (Letitia Wright) - Surrounded

In a post-Civil War America, Mo Washington (Letitia Wright) is a free woman looking for gold. But, due to unforeseen circumstances, Washington has to stay with an outlaw (Jamie Bell) as others go out for help after her stagecoach was attacked.

Wright, who I first learned about through Black Panther, is an indomitable force in this movie. You know she’s tough since she plays a former Buffalo Soldier, but her toughness is put to the test when dealing with Jamie Bell’s character, who offers a pretty ostentatious performance.

But, Mo plays it cool. As a Black woman, there are many who don’t take her seriously. That is until she whips out her pistols and makes them take her seriously.

Much like Cuffee in the last entry, Mo understands that she’s underestimated, which is why it’s all the more satisfying when she puts ignorant men in their place.

Buck (Sidney Poitier) - Buck And The Preacher

In this exciting western, which was also Poitier’s directorial debut, he plays a former soldier named Buck who helps get other Black people across the country through indigenous territory. Buck has struck a sort of agreement with the indigenous people, which comes in handy later when white bounty hunters try to get Buck to stop his work. It all culminates in an exciting conclusion.

Buck and the Preacher is a really fun film, and I regret that I didn’t mention it in my list of Sidney Poitier’s best movies after he passed. Also starring Harry Belafonte as the “Preacher” (I put it in quotes since he’s not really a preacher), and Ruby Dee as Buck’s wife, the film is action-packed and humorous in all the best ways.

One thing I love about Buck is that he sticks to his guns and doesn’t run from his duties to help other African Americans. I also like that he always seems two steps ahead, and that he has formed a sort of kinship with the indigenous people, as they both find a common adversary who they can rally against.

There may be more recognizable Sidney Poitier movies, but when it comes to westerns featuring Black characters, Buck and the Preacher is certainly one of the best.

Daniel Holt (Jeffrey Wright) - Ride With The Devil

Ang Lee's Ride With the Devil is a western like no other.

Telling the story of the warring factions between the Jayhawks and the Bushwackers back in Civil War times, Ride With the Devil tells a complicated tale of white men killing each other.

So why, pray tell, is it on this list, then? Well, because of Jeffrey Wright's character, Daniel Holt, a former slave who is fighting on the Confederate side since his freedom was bought by his Southern friend.

This is definitely one of Jeffrey Wright's best roles because he plays such a complex character. And this is because he's not conflicted about which side he's chosen. He'd rather fight beside his friend than fight for his potential future, which is a unique perspective, to be sure.

Django Freeman (Jamie Foxx) - Django Unchained

In this revisionist western from Quentin Tarantino, a former slave (Jamie Foxx) is enlisted by a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to hunt down some suspects, only to eventually become a bounty hunter himself; unchained, as it were.

I like to watch Django Unchained during Black History Month, because it's just so satisfying to watch as a Black man.

Django goes from being shackled to shooting a plantation owner dead in his own mansion. What's not to love?

Django is a particularly fascinating character, though, since he flourishes so wonderfully. My favorite part is when he's decked out in that fancy blue outfit, and he kills a racist jerk with gusto. I mean, seriously. How cool can you possibly get?

Major Marquis Warren, "The Bounty Hunter" (Samuel L. Jackson) - The Hateful Eight

In yet another western by Tarantino (which was supposedly a sequel to Django Unchained before Tarantino scrapped the idea), a collective of people with different motives are stuck in a cabin together during a snowy winter day. Violence ensues.

Some might say that Tarantino did Jackson dirty in Django by making him an Uncle Tom-esque character, but if so, he did right by him in The Hateful Eight, where Jackson is arguably the coolest character in the movie.

Playing a bounty hunter this time around, Jackson manages to get one up on pretty much everybody he encounters. This makes an argument for Major Marquis Warren being one of the greatest characters in Jackson's lengthy career.

Not everybody adores The Hateful Eight when considering Tarantino's filmography, it's actually my second favorite movie of his (right after Pulp Fiction, of course), and Jackson's character is definitely the reason why.

For more news on any future westerns, be sure to swing by here often!

While we all have high hopes when it comes to how our favorite celebrities behave when the cameras are off, by now most of us are well aware of the fact that there are usually aspects of their personalities that we simply don’t see during the standard interview or red carpet appearance. Yes, much like regular people (which famous folks are, just with amazing jobs) celebs like Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington are multi-faceted human beings who can bring a lot to the table in many different areas of life, and, according to Jackson there’s one secret about the potential Gladiator II Oscar nominee that people really don’t see coming.

The Secret About Denzel Washington That Samuel L. Jackson Said People Don’t See Coming

When someone has been famous for over 40 years like Denzel Washington (he rocketed to fame on St. Elsewhere starting in 1982), it’s incredibly hard to imagine that there’s anything we don’t know about them, especially when they generously grant regular interviews even when not starring in the long-awaited sequel to one of the best movies of the 2000s as a member of the well-received Gladiator II cast, like Washington does.

However, during a chat with the LA Times, fellow superstar actor Samuel L. Jackson noted that there’s something about Washington that actually surprises people. When speaking about his long-time friend he said:

The 1995 Academy Award nominee (for his legendary role in the Quentin Tarantino classic, Pulp Fiction, of course) was reflecting on what it meant for Washington to present him with an honorary Oscar in 2022, because he and the Glory star go way back to their New York theater days, before either of them were anywhere near being household names.

Now, even if you only watch that clip of Washington introducing his buddy so he can hand over his honorary award, you can see that he can be quick to laugh when the moment’s right. And, many of his public appearances do see his wit shine through at one point or another, but it’s probably true that no one would guess that the man who yelled “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!” is “one of the funniest people on the planet.”

Of course, this is part of what makes The Equalizer lead so effortlessly cool, isn’t it? If we truly know everything about a celebrity it can easily lead to them losing some of their mystique, and that bit of mystery seems to be key to keeping us hooked on everything they do, though no one could ever say that Washington’s talent alone won’t continue to have us going to theaters in droves for as long as he wishes.

Now, if somebody could just get him in a rom-com, already…

Denzel Washington produces what is very much a family affair in The Piano Lesson, which hit the Netflix schedule November 22 after a limited theatrical release. The two-time Oscar winner serves as a producer on the film — an adaptation of one of playwright August Wilson’s most influential projects — while son Malcolm Washington makes his directorial debut and John David Washington stars as Boy Willie Charles. Critics had the chance to screen the movie before its release on the 2024 movie calendar, and they’re raving about the haunting family drama.

In The Piano Lesson, a family in the 1930s argues over a 137-year-old piano, as Doaker Charles (played by Samuel L. Jackson who originated the role of Boy Willie in 1987 at the Yale Repertory Theatre) explains the instrument’s legacy and how it pays homage to their ancestors as Boy Willie wants to sell it. Our own Corey Chichizola said while it has its flaws, The Piano Lesson is a moving piece on generational trauma, writing:

Many critics are lauding Danielle Deadwyler in particular for her performance as Berniece, and Carla Renata of The Wrap also notes that Samuel L. Jackson is hilarious. Meanwhile, John David Washington turns in his best performance to date as Boy Willie, who — along with Deadwyler — is the dynamic cinematic duo Renata never knew she needed. The critic writes:

Robert Daniels of ScreenDaily agrees the adaptation is executed perfectly with the help of its powerhouse performances. Daniels says Black audiences and awards voters will resonate with The Piano Lesson. He continues:

Steph Green of Empire also praises Danielle Deadwyler but overall doesn’t see much elevation from the stage production to the screen. Green gives the film 3 out of 5 stars, saying:

Maureen Lee Lenker of EW grades the movie an A-, saying The Piano Lesson packs a message so powerful about trauma and the necessity of confronting it that audiences will be thinking about this one long after its 2-hour runtime. The critic continues:

The above critics seem to agree this is one of the best movies to stream on Netflix, and that’s further bolstered by its 90% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If this offering from the Washington family sounds like it will resonate with you, fire up that Netflix subscription, because it’s available to stream now.

There are popular movie franchises, and then there's Star Wars. The beloved property (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) is constantly expanding, with fans spending decades watching the Star Wars movies in order. The fanbase is curious about upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, and a new rumor claims that Samuel L. Jackson might be returning a Mace Windu. Although as a fan myself, I've got conflicted feelings.

For years now, Sam Jackson has maintained that Mace Windu survived Revenge of the Sith, hoping one day to reprise that role in the galaxy far, far away. Now a rumor from Twitter from a notable scooper claims that Jackson is in talks to return. But I'm worried that whatever that project might be will fail to be at the quality level that the character and Jackson both deserve.

The debate about whether or not Mace Windu was alive has been going on for years now, so there's a a ton of hype and expectations surrounding any potential reprisal for Sam Jackson. And since Star Wars shows have ranged in quality over the years, I'm hoping it more Andor than The Acolyte.

The rumor about Sam Jackson's possible return doesn't offer any clue as to what it might be. We don't know if there's a movie, a voice performance in an an animated project, or even a live-action TV spinoff in the works. So if its more of a cameo or a quick episode of TV, then perhaps the stakes aren't quite as high. But if Mace Windu is getting his own project, I want it to be great.

Ewan McGregor's return in the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series was solid, so there's definitely reason to believe that Lucasfilm could stick the landing. But there was an overarching story connected to both the prequels and OG trilogy to pull from, including a reunion with Darth Vader and young Leia and Luke. If Mace Windu survived his seemingly fatal encounter with Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith, what came next is a total mystery.

Only time will tell if this rumor comes to fruition, but Samuel L. Jackson's ongoing passion for his signature Star Wars character definitely make sit feel possible. That's the exact type of excitement that landed him a purple lightsaber when debuting as Master Mace Windu in the prequel trilogy.

It's been years since The Rise of Skywalker ended the Skywalker Saga, with the franchise only growing on the big screen. While Lucasfilm announced a new trilogy, the timeline of these projects is unclear. So who knows? Maybe one of them will include Mace Windu.

The Star Wars franchise is streaming in its entirety on Disney+. Be sure to check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

Superhero movies have become the most popular genre in cinema. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe stands above them all, they’re certainly not the only superhero movies out there. There are plenty of upcoming superhero movies from multiple studios. Even Disney has other superhero films thanks to Pixar's Incredibles family, and somebody just discovered the strangest connection between the MCU and The Incredibles.

A video is going viral on Instagram that shows two moments in superhero movies side by side, both including Samuel L. Jackson and helicopter crashes. One is the post-credits scene of Avengers: Infinity War and the other shows Frozone from The Incredibles looking for his super suit. Both include a strikingly similar helicopter crash. Check it out.

Both scenes show a helicopter spinning out of control and crashing into a high rise building. The timing between seeing the helicopter and seeing the explosion are so similar in both scenes that it’s impossible not to wonder if this is more than just a coincidence.

It is just a coincidence, of course. Still, the way the two scenes fit together is quite impressive. It looks like it could be intentional, and some fans seem to truly believe that the scene from Avengers: Infinity War was handled that way specifically because of the scene in The Incredibles. Others may know it wasn’t intentional, but they’re still having fun with it all. Comments include:

• You just made me realize people died in the Incredibles
• Part of me thinks that the crashing helicopter in this scene was a homage to Samuel L Jackson's role in the Incredibles
• That was straight up my first thought on watching that scene, I’m glad I wasn’t alone 😂
• They 100% made that Marvel scene like that because of The Incredibles 🤣
• Multiverse of Samuels

While The Incredibles and the MCU may both be superhero focused, they are certainly very different stories. The Incredibles has always been about a family first and superheros second. Having said that it it’s hard to imagine that any superhero story today isn’t taking some influence from the MCU, so the idea that the MCU took some inspiration from The Incredibles is nice. With a Fantastic Four movie coming from Marvel, perhaps Pixar's superhero family really will have an influence on Marvel's first family.

The current list of upcoming Pixar movies includes the recently announced Incredibles 3. What that movie will be about is unknown, it’s unclear if there is even a script or a story idea right now. While franchise director Brad Bird specifically didn't want Incredibles 2 to reference popular superhero movies, that doesn't mean that Incredibles 3 won't include some soert of reference. Perhaps it won't be overt, but if there is even the slightest chance that the connection between these two films was done on purpose, perhaps the new Incredibles movie could return the favor.

The streaming wars have been in full effect for years, with new streaming content arriving every week as various services compete for supremacy. Those with a Netflix subscription will soon be treated to the film adaptation of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson. And while it's not a perfect movie, I found it to be a moving meditation on generation trauma.

Denzel Washington is a producer on The Piano Lesson, and famously originated the role of Boy Willie Charles. In the film that role is being played by his son John David Washington, and I had the chance to see an early screening at the Hamptons International Film Festival. I thought that the film's pacing and runtime were a detriment, but was still taken by the way Malcolm Washington's film portrayed the complexity of generational trauma.

In recent years there's been much more of a conversation about the way that trauma can be passed down from parent to child, or even generations down the line of one's family tree. And folks have particularly been getting educated on the way racism and atrocities like slavery have emotionally affected the Black community now.

The Piano Lesson is set in 1936, characters like Boy Willie and Berniece are even closer to their ancestors that were slaves. The stunning carvings on their heirloom piano literally bare the faces of his family's faces and stories. And their debate about whether or not to sell the piano for a profit offers two very different perspectives on that type of generational grief. Is it better to honor the past even if its painful, or to move forward and upward?

The way the supernatural element of the story is woven into the film's more grounded central question also helps to really tell this story. This leads up to a finale that allows the entire narrative to pay off in a big way.

All that being said, I don't think that The Piano Lesson is a perfect film. The movie's pacing and runtime bogged it down at points, which is no doubt because it's an adaptation of a full stage play. Both plays and movie musicals often have this issue with trying to fit a 3-hour play into the runtime of a film. And that's no doubt why Wicked is getting a pair of movies.

It remains to be seen if subscribers rank The Piano Lesson as one of the best Netflix movies in November. But I have to assume that it'll be a similarly moving experience for plenty of audiences. August Wilson is one of the greatest American playwrights of all time for a reason, and only time will tell how many people around the world watch the film.

The Piano Lesson hits Netflix on November 22nd. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your movie experiences for the New Year.

Did you know Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson are good friends? While the major Hollywood actors haven’t shared the screen for over 30 years, they remain close. So when Jackson was recently honored at the Museum of Modern Art’s 16th annual Film Benefit, Washington shared warm words about his friend and how their relationship got its start.

When Denzel Washington took the stage to help honor Samuel L. Jackson, he started by saying “Lord forgive me, Samuel Jackson is a bad motherfucker,” (the latter of which is a word that Jackson is very famous for adding to movies) before getting into how the two actors’ friendship began 45 years ago. In Washington’s words (via People):

Early in both of their careers, before each of them found big breaks in Hollywood films, they crossed paths in New York while they were both doing theater. (Jackson is one of those actors who didn’t strike big until after 40!) As Washington recalled, he was an understudy for a production of the Richard Wesley play The Mighty Gents before he was given a shot to take over the role after the original cast member was fired after opening night. In four decades he had never told Jackson that it was him who gave him the “confidence,” but took the time during the MoMA event to make sure the 75-year-old knows now. How sweet!

The two actors would go on to star together in the 1990 Spike Lee flick, Mo’ Better Blues. While speaking at the event, Denzel Washington shared that Jackson’s daughter Zoe Jackson is like a “daughter” to him and his wife before saying these words:

Washington has been open about there being “very few films left” that he’s interested in, but hopefully there will be another one he and Jackson can do together. The next of upcoming Samuel L. Jackson movies is The Piano Lesson, which serves as the directorial debut for one of Denzel Washington’s sons, Malcolm Washington. It also co-stars Washington’s other son, John David Washington, along with Ray Fisher, Erykah Badu, Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins. Denzel Washington produced The Piano Lesson as well.

The Piano Lesson is coming to select theaters on November 8 and will be available for those with a Netflix subscription on November 22.

Steven Spielberg is a prolific filmmaker, and his 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park is considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. The cast for that movie was killer, including Samuel L. Jackson as engineer Ray Arnold. While Jackson was killed offscreen, he recently offered a funny take on what he thinks happened to Ray.... and hold onto your butts.

Sam Jackson's performance in Jurassic Park was pretty iconic, although fans remain disappointed that we didn't actually get to see him die onscreen. While appearing on The Tnoight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, the 75 year-old actor mused about what might have happened to Ray Arnold, saying:

Honestly, that's a spinoff I'd like to see. While Ray is almost definitely dead, it's fun to imagine him living on Isla Nublar alongside a pack of raptors. And if Chris Pratt's Owen Grady was able to train the dinos, whose to say that Sam Jackson couldn't have ridden one? Seriously, I can't get the visual out of my head.

Samuel L. Jackson has played a number of characters whose fate was left ambiguous. In the conversation with Fallon, he name drops Star Wars' Mace Windu, who some fans think survived his encounter with Palpatine. Those curious to talk out that theory can re-watch his time in the galaxy far, far away with a Disney+ subscription.

While the Jurassic franchise has continue producing new content over the years, including animated shows which are available with a Netflix subscription, as well as the Jurassic World films. Alas, Jackson's character Ray hasn't been seen from or referenced since his limb was discovered in the original movie.

The beloved property will once again hit the big screen with Jurassic World: Rebirth, which stars Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. The specifics of the story are a mystery to the public for the time being, but perhaps Ray will at least get an easter egg or mention in the upcoming 2025 movie. Unfortunately, we'll likely never get to see Samuel L. Jackson's story play out, where Ray is able to befriend and eventually ride velociraptors from the closed park.

Jurassic World: Rebirth is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 2nd, 2025. Hopefully we get more information and footage about the forthcoming blockbuster sooner rather than later.

Hollywood is a tough place to get your big break. Many actors struggle for years before they finally hit it big. These stars put in the effort and stuck with it until they finally became huge stars after they turned 40. Stars like Steve Carell, Kathy Bates, Alan Rickman, and many more actors like them are household names now, but it took them years to get there.

Steve Carell

Like so many other people Steve Carell started his career at Second City in Chicago. He then kicked around television for a while, with roles on the Dana Carvey Show and eventually at The Daily Show. It's when he left that show to head the cast in The Office that his career exploded and he became one of the most beloved stars on earth.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has one of the most impressive resumes in Hollywood, but it took him a long time to get there. His first credit came in 1972 when he was 24, but it would take another two decades or so, after a series of smaller roles in the late '80s, that he would land the role of Jules Winfield in Pulp Fiction and have his career completely explode.

Alan Rickman

The late, great Alan Rickman started acting in theater in the mid-70s, finding regular roles throughout the early '80s. Then, in 1988, at age 42, he made his feature film debut in a little movie called Die Hard. To this day, Hans Gruber is a legendary villain. He would go on to star in dozens of movies, most notably the Harry Potter films, before passing away in 2016 at age 69.

Betty White

Though Betty White had a little success in her 30s with her eponymous TV show for NBC in the '50s and minor hit Life with Elizabeth in the same decade, it really wasn't until after her 40th birthday in 1962 that she really rose to big stardom. After her 50th birthday, she was cast in the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and after her 60th birthday, she teamed up with Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty in the role she's probably best known for today in Golden Girls.

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman was born in 1937, but it would take almost 50 years for the legend to truly break out in film. After working here and there as a dancer and as a stage actor in the 1960s and '70s, he scored his breakout role in 1987's Street Smart, starring alongside Christopher Reeve. His performance earned him the first of his Oscar nominations and by 1989's Glory, Freeman was a bonafide star.

Bea Arthur

Like her Golden Girls co-star Betty White, major success came later for the great Bea Arthur. Though she was a steadily-working actor starting in the 1940s, it wasn't until she played the character Maude Findlay, first in All In The Family, then her own spinoff called Maude, that Arthur reached the heights of fame. She was nearly 50 at that point, but her star never faded after that.

Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy didn't set out to be an actor. After serving in the Marines and graduating from Columbia University in 1965 with a degree in history, he caught the theater bug and started working in regional theater. In 1983, after a few smaller roles, he scored his first big role as the sheriff in First Blood at age 45.

Kathryn Joosten

Kathryn Joosten is best known for playing the beloved Mrs. Landingham in The West Wing and like her character, her real-life story is truly inspiring. She spent the first half of her life first as a nurse, then as a stay-at-home mom, raising two kids. At the age of 42, after divorcing her husband, Joosten began working in local theater in her hometown of Chicago. At age 53, she moved to Orlando and became a performer at Disney World. Soon after she moved to Hollywood and started landing parts in TV. Amazing.

Kathy Bates

Though she made her film debut in 1970, it would be more than two decades later, after working in theater and in bit TV parts, before Kathy Bates would become a star. It was, of course, he now-legendary performance as Annie Wilkes in Misery that would vault her to stardom. Truly one of the best female villains in Hollywood history.

Bryan Cranston

Most people certainly think first of Breaking Bad when they hear the name Bryan Cranston and with good reason. Cranston was 52 when he first starred as Walter White. Of course, that wasn't his breakout role, which came eight years earlier when he starred as the dad in Malcolm In The Middle ]. While he has been acting in movies and TV for years, it was that role, after his 40th birthday, that really put him on the map.

Viola Davis

EGOT winner Viola Davis found success on the stage first, winning two Tonys before turning 40. In 2008, at age 43, she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Doubt, but it was 2011's The Help, for which she was nominated for another Oscar, that vaulted her to superstardom.

Rodney Dangerfield

Rodney Dangerfield has one of the best stories of perseverance in Hollywood history. Though technically his career started in the 1930s, his stand-up was so bland that he eventually gave up and became a salesman. In the 1960s, he re-invented himself and his act and it was a hit, with some of the best one-liners of all time. Suddenly the guy that got no respect was getting respect by talking about how he got no respect! It wasn't until 1980, at almost age 60, that Dangerfield landed his first starring role in a movie, in Caddyshack.

John Mahoney

John Mahoney started his career as the "old guy" at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. After years as an English teacher, the future Frasier star gave up his career and started acting in his late 30s. By the late 80s, well into his 40s, he was landing roles in movies like Say Anything... and Moonstruck.

Jane Lynch

It's easy to say that Glee was the project that really made Jane Lynch famous, but she got her big break before that when she found her way into the Christopher Quest universe, where she was responsible for some of the wittiest one-liners in Best In Show.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais took a roundabout way to comedic fame. He started in music, moved to radio, and eventually found his way onto the popular British show The 11 O'Clock Show. It was in 2001, however, at age 40 when he co-created and starred in The Office. The rest is well-known history.

Michael Emerson

Michael Emerson took the very long trail to fame, and his story is inspirational. He struggled for years as an actor, first in New York, then later in Florida where he taught acting as well. He stsarted landing work in the theater in the late '90s, but got his big break in a guest spot on The Practice in 2001. Of course, he's best known for playing Ben on Lost.

Peter Dinklage

Though he found steady work in the early '00s, Peter Dinklage really shot to superstardom when he was cast as Tyrion Lannister in Game Of Thrones when he was 42. Today, that character is still, and will likely always be, one of the most beloved in TV history. Tyrion also happens to the character who appeared in the most episodes of Game of Thrones.

Larry David

Larry David's career had a lot of ups and downs in the early years. His first major gig was as a writer on SNL, though he didn't find much success there. At age 42, in 1989, he co-wrote a TV pilot for what became Seinfeld and his career took off. On screen, after playing a few minor roles onSeinfeld, he found even more fame with HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Melissa McCarthy

While she did have some big supporting roles in her 30s in Gilmore Girls and Samantha Who?, Melissa McCarthy's career exploded when she started as Molly in Mike & Molly, in 2011, at age 41, she co-starred in Bridesmaids, where she completely stole the show, earning an Oscar nomination in the process.

Margo Martindale

Margo Martindale has become one of the best character actors in Hollywood, but it took her a long time to get there. She worked in community theater for years before she regularly started landing TV roles in her late 30s. After her 40th birthday, her career took off with dozens of memorable supporting roles in both film and TV.

Leslie Jones

Saturday Night Live is generally thought of as a young person's game. Most cast members join very early in their careers and by the time they are 30, they are moving on to other things. Leslie Jones is an exception to that. She didn't join the cast until she was nearly 50, but she made an immediate impact. Since leaving the show, she's continued to star in things like 2016's Ghostbusters and Coming 2 America in 2021.

Ty Burrell

Modern Family took the world by storm when it debuted in 2007 and one of the leads of the show, Ty Burrell, became a huge star. This came after years in Hollywood in supporting roles and, eventually, a starring role in the short-lived show Out of Practice. It was Modern Family that made him a household name.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer started landing bit parts and supporting roles in the mid-90s, but it was 2011's The Help that put the Academy Award-winner on the map, after her 40th birthday. Not only did she win for her role in The Help, but she's been nominated for others as well, including for her work in Hidden Figures and The Shape of Water.

Patrick Stewart

While Patrick Stewart steadily found work in the theater and in smaller supporting roles in TV and film, it wasn't until he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 that he became a household name. He was 47 at the time and he's only gotten more famous as he's gotten older.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton basically made his own fortune in Hollywood after years of smaller supporting roles, he wrote, directed, and starred in Sling Blade. The movie was a low-budget masterpiece and he's been starring in big roles and winning awards ever since.

Hannah Waddingham

Many actors get their start in the theater, just like Hannah Waddingham. With a fantastic singing voice and wonderful acting chops, it makes sense that this is where Waddingham would first find success. It would take a couple of decades for her to equal that on screen with roles in shows like Game of Thrones, and, of course, her greatest claim to fame, Ted Lasso.

Richard Farnsworth

Without a doubt, the late Richard Farnsworth had one of the most incredible careers in Hollywood history. He had uncredited roles in some of the most famous Hollywood epics including Gone With The Wind, The Ten Commandments, and Spartacus. He didn't earn his first credited role until he was 46 in a movie called Texas Across the River in 1966. Then in the 1970s, he became a well-known character actor in projects like Roots, The Natural, and Misery.

F. Murray Abraham

After scoring a handful of supporting roles in movies in the 1970s, F. Murray Abraham became a household name after his Oscar-winning performance as Antonio Salieri in 1984's Amadeus. It was truly a career-making role and one that is still loved today by fans.

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson was 41 when he starred in one of the greatest movies ever made, even if it's a movie you can only watch once. As Oscar Schindler in Schindler's List, Neeson immediately became world famous. It's safe to say that role will always keep him famous, too.

Lucille Ball

It's really hard to believe that Lucille Ball was over 40 when she became famous on I Love Lucy, but it's true. The comedian worked in show business for decades before she and her husband Desi Arnaz created the now-legendary TV show and her fame never faded for the rest of her life.

Tommy Lee Jones

Like a lot of actors from Texas, Tommy Lee Jones does things his way. The Harvard grad worked for decades, even winning a Golden Globe and an Emmy before he truly found fame and became a leading man in the 90s with movies like The Fugitive and Under Siege.

Ken Jeong

it's not often that someone switches careers from medicine to drama, but that's exacting what Ken Jeong did. Though he always had a love of acting, he originally pursued a more traditional career as a doctor, while acting and doing standup on the side. By the mid-2000s he was earning enough to leave medicine behind, and in 2011, at age 40, he broke out in a huge way in the Hangover.

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.

After getting the public’s attention in 1992 with Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino delivered Pulp Fiction two years later. Met with critical acclaim and performing excellently at the box office, some would argue it’s Tarantino’s best movie, with its cast being just one of the ways it shines. Included in that lineup of talent is Samuel L. Jackson, who played Jules Winfield, and for Pulp Fiction’s 30th anniversary, the actor recalled the moment when he knew the film was “something special.”

Although Jackson has been professionally acting since the early 1970s, there’s no question that Pulp Fiction played a big role in boosting his professional profile. Playing Jules even netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and while Martin Landau ended up winning that category for playing Béla Lugosi in Ed Wood, Tarantino’s movie still did a remarkable job of making Jackson a household Hollywood name. Taking to his Instagram page, the Nick Fury performer shared various behind-the-scenes photos of the making of Pulp Fiction, promoting the movie, attending premieres for it and so forth, as well as wrote this caption:

Pulp Fiction opened wide in theaters on October 14, 1994, five months after it played at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Palm d’Or, the event’s top prize. That’s a big enough honor by itself, but for Samuel L. Jackson, seeing how well it was received among general moviegoers was what tipped him off that he’d taken part in an especially special movie. Clearly he was correct considering how much Pulp Fiction is talked about to this day, whether it’s fans simply discussing their favorite scenes or learning about behind-the-scenes facts from Tarantino’s second movie.

Samuel L. Jackson’s co-stars in the Pulp Fiction cast included John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer. Jackson in particular had a lot of memorable moments in the movie, the most well-known of the bunch being when he recited Ezekiel 25:17 before executing someone. In addition to the earlier Pulp Fiction tribute post, Jackson also uploaded a video of himself spouting off the tweaked biblical passage:

If you now find yourself in the mood to watch Pulp Fiction, it can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription. Otherwise, check out Samuel L. Jackson’s latest project, the Peacock miniseries Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, and check back with us for news on Quentin Tarantino’s 10th and final movie, which will not be The Movie Critic as previously planned.

Snakes on a Plane is not one of Samuel L. Jackson’s best movies. It is, however, one of his films that likely won’t be forgotten if only because of a single line. Samuel L. Jackson’s line about the “motherfucking snakes” was something the movie absolutely needed to have, but it almost didn’t, leading to what Jackson indicates must have been a pretty expensive swear word.

In an interview with GQ, Samuel L. Jackson said that he was interested in being on Snakes on a Plane as soon as he was aware of the project's existence. Jackson says he advocated for the movie to let him swear more, but the planned PG-13 rating limited the language Jackson was allowed to use. He explained…

Samuel L. Jackson did have an impact on some aspects of the production. At one point the working title of Snakes on a Plane was changed to a more generic name. According to Jackson, this was done so as not to give away the movie. However, Jackson said the title Snakes on a Plane was why he’d wanted to make the film, and he got them to change it back.

That was an important decision because that title lit the internet on fire in 2006. The film got more pre-release buzz online than most films saw in those days, largely from fans who were just excited by the combination of a title that made the movie sound like a B-movie you'd watch at a drive-in and Samuel L. Jackson, whose swearing is famous. It seemed like a perfect match. Fans practically demanded an R-rating so Jackson could swear to his heart’s content.

Eventually, reshoots were ordered, and Snakes on a Plane was transformed from the PG-13 movie it was planned to be, into the R-rated movie we have today. Jackson points out that reshoots cost money so that F-bomb wasn’t cheap. He continued…

While reshoots aren’t uncommon in massive tentpole blockbusters, they would have added a more significant percentage of the budget for a much smaller project like Snakes on a Plane. Still, it was decided that it was worth it because of the buzz surrounding the film.

In the end, it unfortunately wasn't worth it. Snakes on a Plane was a box office disappointment. As we have learned countless times since internet buzz does not equal success, just ask Morbius. Still, the movie might always be remembered if only because of a great title and one iconic line.

When George Lucas created the original Star Wars he clearly had no idea what massive behemoth he was making. The movie would capture the imaginations of a generation, and generations to come. Today there are several upcoming Star Wars movies and TV series, but new additions used to be much rarer. When it was announced that a prequel trilogy was coming, to say people were excited was quite the understatement, and that didn’t just mean the fans, but also the cast, like Samuel L. Jackson.

Many stars just wanted to be part of Lucas’ new Star Wars movies in some way, including Samuel L. Jackson. Looking back on the experience with GQ, the former Mace Windu reveals that when it came time to film his first scenes, he didn’t even know what role he was playing. He just got on a plane and showed up, finding out details as he went along. Jackson said…

While secrecy surrounding major franchise movies is commonplace today, it was less common back when The Phantom Menace was filming. But even now it would be rare for an actor to arrive on set having not seen a script at all or to not even know what character they were playing. Even after Samuel L. Jackson figured out his character was named Mace Windu, he had no idea who Mace Windu was beyond somebody who talks to Yoda.

It wasn’t until Jackson started getting in wardrobe that he realized he was playing a Jedi, at which point he got very excited. Any Star Wars fan would lose their mind realizing they were going to be a “real” Jedi in a Star Wars movie, and the ultra-cool Samuel L. Jackson was no exception. He continued…

That lightsaber handle would eventually get a special Samuel L. Jackson-inspired inscription. The story about Mace Windu’s purple lightsaber is fairly well known. Jackson made the request of George Lucas, and initially, Lucas seemed against the idea but ultimately gave the actor what he wanted. It sounds like the entire experience from beginning to end was a dream for Samuel L. Jackson. Check out his full comments below.

Samuel L. Jackson has a stated interest in playing Mace Windu again, as the Jedi’s fate in the Star Wars prequels is just ambiguous enough that an explanation for his survival could be contrived. While there hasn’t seemed to be much interest in that idea, the prequels have been reevaluated in recent years, and opinions on them are not quite as harsh as they once were. One imagines Samuel L. Jackson would be very excited to hold that lightsaber again.