Y'all, I'm so tired, I could use a whole pallet of Booty Juice, but I can't seem to find it on shelves anymore. Which obviously means it’s beyond time for Ben Stiller & Co. to take audiences back into the world of Tropic Thunder’s all-star actor Tugg Speedman and Tom Cruise’s fan-favorite sleazeball Les Grossman. (Obviously Brandon T. Jackson’s Alpa Chino is also welcome, since Booty Juice was all him.) But how close are we to realistically getting a proper follow-ups?

Earlier in 2025, the Mission: Impossible franchise’s Christopher McQuarrie shared that he and Tom Cruise have had “fucking funny” conversations about Les Grossman, and said that there’s serious consideration been put into how to properly make that reprisal happen. Now, Ben Stiller addressed the idea of another Tropic Thunder project with Esquire, and it sounds like maybe getting into revival mode for the newest Meet the Parents sequel is greasing the mental gears to bring some of these characters back, even if there isn't a solid idea yet. As Stiller put it:

No shade on any generation within the Focker and Byrnes families, but I have to think if co-screenwriter John Hamburg can coax Stiller, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo and others back into the fold for a fourth film in this comedy franchise, somebody can crack the foundation on a way back into Les Grossman’s intimidatingly hairy arms.

Oh wait, what’s this? Ben Stiller already has this idea locked and loaded and is willing to share it with the world? Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but Stiller’s take on Les Grossman’s current career path sounds like an A+ launching pad for a new movie-within-a-movie. As he put it:

How brilliant would it be for Les Grossman to be one of the various billionaires making headlines for their attempts and interest in spending eleven figures on media companies. I could easily see Tugg Speedman and/or Robert Downey Jr.’s Kirk Lazarus in the middle of filming a movie for a studio that gets bought up in a merger, only for the project to go through major changes to better match Les’ vision. Or maybe it gets turned from an already finished movie into a TV series that requires complicated reshoots

Also, by having Tom Cruise’s character targeting a specific studio or platform, that would seemingly be an easy way to get a greenlight and a nice-sized budget. Whether or not it would end up being Netflix in the end, that’s a decisions to be made in rooms I’ll never see the inside of.

That said,, I think it’s worth pointing out that Tropic Thunder was distributed by Paramount, whose post-Skydance merger boss David Ellison is currently in a seemingly futile bidding war with Netflix to buy out Warner Bros. So I’m thinking DreamWorks Pictures and Red Hour Productions would probably avoid the Paramount route if all involved chose to partner with Netflix. On the flip side, Tom Cruise has been a vital piece of Paramount’s success thanks to Top Gun: Maverick and the Mission: Impossible franchise, so perhaps Les Grossman would try and pull a fast one on Ellison himself.

Ben Stiller has addressed why Tropic Thunder itself probably couldn't be made today, given the use of blackface (ironic or otherwise) and certain terminology. But it's not like that movie wasn't funny for 1,000 reasons beyond that. If we want more cringe moments, we don't need anything racial. Just throw Tim Robinson into the mix.

Seriously, though, even if it takes eons for this Tropic Thunder follow-up to come together, can we at least revive Booty Juice for 2026?

If the sight of Jack Black running around the jungle in the Anaconda trailers inspires you to have feelings of deja vu, it’s totally understandable: he’s been spending a lot of time in the wild as of late. Earlier this year, fans saw him doing some big time adventuring in A Minecraft Movie, and we are not that long removed from his work on both Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level (and the next movie is coming soon!). That’s a lot of time spent out in nature – but according to the star, nothing to date has compared to creature creepiness that he experienced in the making of Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder.

While Anaconda might feature Black working alongside a real snake, he recently told USA Today that nothing that happened in the making of the new action movie was akin to what he witnessed in the making of the beloved 2008 meta war movie. The actor was asked about running into “wild critters” while shooting in exotic locales like Australia and New Zealand, and he explained that the “worst” he encountered was actually in the United States:

Being an individual who freely admits to being terrified by basically anything with more than four appendages, I can’t say that I actually needed a warning from Jack Black to stay away from centipedes. That being said, because I’ve always been principally freaked out by the thought of all of those legs walking along my skin (shudder), I didn’t actually know how rough the arthropod’s bite could be.

Doing some quick research via WebMD, one discovers that centipedes are not deadly to humans, but they do have venomous pincers that they will use against humans if provoked. Different species of centipedes cause different reactions, but the effects of “bites” can be exacerbated by allergic reactions. Pain is certainly among the most common side effects, so Jack Black’s story checks out in that regard.

In Anaconda, the actor doesn’t have any scenes with insects, but he does have experiences with the titular giant snake, which not only bites but famously wraps around its prey and crushes it. If you’re into that sort of thing – in addition to the paired comedic stylings of Jack Black and Paul Rudd – you’re in luck, as the new comedy blockbuster is now playing in theaters everywhere.

When it comes to actor relationships in Hollywood, I can't think of any better mentor/mentee bond than Tom Cruise and Glen Powell. The two stars first got the opportunity to work together in the making of Top Gun: Maverick, and they have seemingly been close ever since, with the latter frequently turning to the former for advice about his career. As a seasoned veteran of the industry, Cruise has a lot of great experience that he can share, and that even includes how to act while wearing a whole bunch of prosthetics – as he did playing Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder.

Glen Powell recently went through the prosthetics experience himself in the making of the new Hulu comedy series Chad Powers, and it probably comes as little surprise that he looked to Tom Cruise to provide him with some tips on how to deal. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via TikTok), the Running Man star explained how turning to his mentor was a no-brainer given his work on director Ben Stiller's hit 2008 comedy. Said Powell,

In Chad Powers, Glen Powell plays Russ Holliday, a talented college football quarterback who flushes his entire career down the toilet when he blows a bowl game by dropping a ball on the 1-yard line while ramping up for a touchdown celebration. When he hits rock bottom years later, he devises a crazy plan: he steals the prosthetics kit belonging to his SFX artist father (Toby Huss) and attends a walk-on tryout at a Georgia college pretending to be a bumpkin named Chad Powers.

The makeup that Glen Powell wears on the new Hulu show isn't nearly as intense as the transformation that Tom Cruise underwent to play Les Grossman, but the prosthetics still meant adjusting the way he worked, and he got tips on how to make that happen from his former co-star. In the process, the actor also revealed the nickname that he evidently has for the Hollywood legend, saying,

Those of you now needing a Les Grossman fix (still waiting on that solo movie to happen...), Tropic Thunder is now available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. But for those of you who are excited for Chad Powers, the first two episodes are now available to stream with a Hulu account, and new episodes will debut every Tuesday between now and the end of October.

Of all the Tom Cruise movies that prove he’s more than an action star, one of my favorites is Tropic Thunder. Cruise played foul-mouthed, easily angered studio executive Les Grossman, a role he signed on for after two specific requests were met. But Cruise didn’t just don the fatsuit, prosthetic hands and bald cap just for the 2008 comedy. He also got back into character for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, and it was during that time that he called out fellow actor Michael Cera. Oh, how I wish there was video of this.

Cera, who’s most recently been seen in the 2025 movie release The Phoenician Scheme, talked about this encounter while appearing on The Louis Theroux Podcast. He crossed paths with Cruise in his Les Grossman form when the Top Gun actor was shooting pre-taped segments for the awards that saw Les “interacting with various people coming in and out.” Cera was one of those people, and he saw firsthand how much of a “leader” Cruise was on set, which explains why the following took place:

That’s your lesson of the day, kids: never interfere with Tom Cruise when he’s in the middle of shooting a scene. Obviously Michael Cera wasn’t doing this intentionally, and he made it clear in the interview that Cruise wasn’t actually mad at him. But even though the two had never met each other, Cruise didn’t hesitate to inform Cera that he was talking at the wrong time. Again, don’t mess with the man who played Mission: Impossible’s Ethan Hunt for nearly three decades in the middle of a take.

It’s not really surprising Tom Cruise did this considering how important filmmaking is to him, even by Hollywood star standards. The only thing that would make this story even better is if he called out Michael Cera in character as Les Grossman, profanity and all. Had that happened though, the lighthearted teasing that Cera mentioned below likely wouldn’t have happened:

Tom Cruise and Michael Cera have yet to star in a movie together, but I’ll cross my fingers that happens someday. If they left on good terms with one another 15 years ago, then let’s see how they do co-starring in a movie. Who knows, if that long-talked-about Les Grossman spinoff ever gets off the the ground, maybe Cera could appear in it, whether in a supporting role or just cameoing as himself.

In the meantime, both Michael Cera and Tom Cruise can still be seen on the big screen as The Phoenician Scheme and Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning continue their theatrical runs. Cera will also return later in the year for the Glen Powell-led film adaptation of The Running Man.

If you keep up with new movie releases, you probably already know Hollywood doesn’t make comedies quite like it used to. Take 2008's Tropic Thunder, for instance: There’s been so much talk about whether it could still be made today that people often overlook how hilarious the Ben Stiller film is. One of the best parts, and for my money, one of Tom Cruise's best roles, is the sleazy agent Les Grossman—his name says it all! For years, there have been whispers about a possible standalone film featuring Les Grossman, and it looks like we might be getting more of him. It sounds like it’s going to be "f—ing funny!"

In a recent interview, writer and director Christopher McQuarrie discussed the possibility of bringing the husky but dance-savvy Grossman back for a future project (or projects). McQuarrie, who has long collaborated with Tom Cruise, made these comments during an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast while speaking with host Josh Horowitz. He explained:

When asked whether Grossman would be the focal point of the project, the Top Gun: Maverick scribe points out that leading men have different responsibilities in movies, so this is the ultimate question. What does a return of the character look like? Would Les Grossman work best as a side character or could he lead a movie Michael Scott-style? Too much of a good thing is definitely not what I ultimately want.

The filmmaker explained the process he and Cruise have used for "riffing" on the character. According to the M:I director, it served as a way for both of them to "decompress," while on set for their most recent Ethan Hunt outing. He elaborated:

Honestly, it sounds like the two creators have gotten pretty deep into the Les Grossman possibilities. It makes sense. Cruise basically created and even pushed for the Tropic Thunder dancing and fat fingers, and has a vested interest in making the character work as his time playing Ethan Hunt comes to a close.

At the very least, it seems like both he and his longtime buddy are having a blast talking about what might happen. It would be a real bummer for Tropic Thunder fans if we don’t get to see more of Les Grossman on the big screen. Here’s hoping they figure out a cool way to bring him back!

While we wait for updates on a possible return of the Tropic Thunder OG, we can always check out Tom Cruise’s hilarious character, Les Grossman, since the movie is streaming with a Hulu subscription. As for the Jerry Maguire star and McQuarrie’s latest project, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is now in theaters, so don’t forget to look up the showtimes near you!

Some of the most amusing and iconic characters in cinematic history happen to show up the least in their respective films. Even more disappointing is when an already popular character’s involvement in a film is significantly reduced from their previous appearances.

And, then, there are those characters whose opportunity to become something special is ruined by, not just a lack of screen time but a lack of anything to substantially serve the story with. We cover them all in this list of movie roles who deserved more.

Boba Fett (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

It is a wonder how this galactic bounty hunter (originally portrayed by Jeremy Bulloch and voiced by Jason Wingreen) became such a wildly revered Star Wars character as he does very little in his appearances in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Even when Temeura Morrison inherited the character for Disney+'s miniseries, The Book of Boba Fett, he was upstaged by Pedro Pascal's title character of the show it was spun off from, The Mandalorian.

Raoul Silva (Skyfall)

Academy Award winner Javier Bardem’s brilliant performance as elusive cyber-terrorist Raoul Silva in 2012's Skyfall comes in pretty late into the plot. While the payoff to the preceding buildup is effective, the otherwise acclaimed Daniel Craig-era James Bond film could have potentially benefitted from more of his cat-and-mouse game with 007.

Beth March (Little Women)

Writer and director Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated Little Women is considered one of the strongest adaptations yet of Louis May Alcott’s celebrated 1868 novel. However, even its most adoring fans may agree that the March Sister who gets the least time to shine in the 2019 period drama is Beth, portrayed by Eliza Scanlen.

Clubber Lang (Rocky III)

With all the great characters who would recur in the Rocky movies, it is hard to believe that Clubber Lang is not one of them. Mr. T gives such an intense and mesmerizing performance as Sylvester Stallone's onscreen opponent in the 1982 sequel that deserved a later reprise in some way, shape, or form.

Frozone (The Incredibles)

Bob "Mr. Incredible" Parr’s (Craig T. Nelson) best friend and former partner-in-crimefighting, Lucius, better known as Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), is given the chance to show off his abilities in a few memorable moments from 2004’s The Incredibles. However, the ice-powered superhero deserved a more integral role in the acclaimed Pixar movie that could have provided a more solid and justified build-up toward his return from retirement in the final showdown.

Donny Kerabatsos (The Big Lebowski)

The joke about Steve Buscemi’s character in Joel and Ethan Coen’s beloved cult favorite comedy, 1998’s The Big Lebowski, is that he is rarely given a chance to speak by Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) for mysterious reasons. However, after finally learning more about Donny after his death from Walter’s impassioned eulogy, we wish we could have seen just a little bit more of his life.

The Five Wives (Mad Max: Fury Road)

One thing that makes George Miller’s 2015 post-apocalyptic thriller one of the best action movies of all time is what it consciously chooses to remain a mystery. However, what actually could have used more exposition in Mad Max: Fury Road is the group of young women (played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton) whom Tom Hardy’s title role and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) are racing to protect from Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne).

Batman (The Dark Knight)

Ironically, the most acclaimed installment of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of live-action Batman movies, 2008’s The Dark Knight, is the one that makes Bruce Wayne’s alter ego (Christian Bale) the least interesting character. Actually, one could argue the same thing about Tim Burton’s DC films, 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns, despite many believing that Michael Keaton is the best Batman actor yet.

Sloane Peterson (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

The core and most important relationship in John Hughes’ hilarious 1986 high school movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, is undeniably that of the eponymous troublemaker (Matthew Broderick) and his best friend, Cameron Fry (Alan Ruck). However, we should still know a little more about Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara), than we do, which is not much at all.

Darth Maul (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace)

Even the most casual fans of the Star Wars movies would likely agree that Ray Park's Sith Lord was killed off way too soon and should have appeared in at least one follow-up to 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Thus, Darth Maul's return in subsequent animated series and a scene from 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story is one of the few widely accepted retcons in pop culture history.

Charon (John Wick)

It is the late Lance Reddick's performance as Charon that made the minor role in 2014's John Wick so intriguing. However, it was not until 2019's Chapter 3 - Parabellum that we finally got just how hard-boiled the Continental's loyal concierge can be.

The Joker (Suicide Squad)

Many audiences might argue that Jared Leto’s iteration of The Clown Prince of Crime could have used even less screen time in 2016’s Suicide Squad. However, there are a few DC fans who believe the Oscar winner had the potential to make a better impression than he did – as evidenced by his appearance in the recut Zack Snyder’s Justice League – and, perhaps, should have been the main villain instead of a wasted B-plot.

Michael Myers (Halloween Ends)

While marketed as an epic final showdown between the quintessential horror movie Final Girl, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney), 2022's Halloween Ends instead focused largely on the tarnished reputation of a new character named Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) and his ill-fated romance with Laurie granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak). With very little screentime for the aging masked boogeyman, the finale to director David Gordon Green’s requel trilogy ended on a severely divisive note.

Boo (Monsters, Inc.)

Much of Boo's backstory is left a mystery, which is why it would have been appreciated to see her return in a sequel to Monsters Inc. instead of the otherwise well-received prequel, Monsters University. Not to mention, what happened to the adorable interdimensional traveler after she returned to her world? There had to have been an intense search for her during the many hours she was gone.

Ned Ryerson (Groundhog Day)

Stephen Tobolowsky’s annoying insurance agent deserved more to do than, essentially, repeat the exact same thing in his brief appearances in the hilarious 1993 time loop movie, Groundhog Day. On the other hand, the popular, bizarre fan theory that Ned Ryerson is really the Devil in disguise and the orchestrator of Phil Connors’ (Bill Murray) insane predicament is proof that the character has achieved icon status.

The Salesman (Sin City)

Perhaps Josh Hartnett’s contract killer, who seems to specialize in assisted suicide, is used the right amount in directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's visually astonishing comic book thriller, Sin City. Then again, the 2005 film noir favorite could have dropped a couple more hints and teases to his story to give "The Salesman" an even more memorable role.

Blanche (Drive)

Considering she was played by an actor who resembles a sultry, Silver Age femme fatale, Christina Hendricks’ role in Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 neo-noir thriller could have been iconic. Perhaps she could have if Blanche was given more than a page’s worth of dialogue in her three scenes from Drive.

Kaecilius (Doctor Strange)

When you cast an actor who has absolutely mastered the art of portraying villainy like Mads Mikkelsen as your antagonist, you better give him enough material to deliver. Unfortunately, the vengeful sorcerer Kaecilius is mostly an afterthought in the MCU’s Doctor Strange – the origin story of Benedict Cumberbatch’s surgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme – and is an even less memorable villain than Dormammu, who only shows up for one fun scene.

Scrat (Ice Age)

He was the face of the marketing for, arguably, Blue Sky Studios’ best-animated movie but is treated as an afterthought, appearing in funny interstitial bits outside of the main storyline. At least Scrat (whose name, a combination of “squirrel” and “rat,” is never even explicitly mentioned in any of the Ice Age movies) got to be the star of his own short spin-offs.

Dracula (Renfield)

Obviously, the star of director Chris McKay's 2022 horror-comedy movie is Dracula’s eponymous familiar, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult). However, the film does not spend quite enough time exploring his one-sided, abusive relationship with the ruthless vampire, who is portrayed brilliantly by Nicolas Cage.

Emma Watson (This Is The End)

A fictionalized version of the Harry Potter movies’ Hermione Granger actor only shows up for one scene in This is the End, in which she assumes a house full of male celebrities have ill intentions for her. Yet, it would have been fun to see much more of Emma Watson and her skills with an axe against the nightmarish circumstances outside in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s 2014 post-apocalyptic comedy.

Gorr The Godbutcher (Thor: Love And Thunder)

Some fans of the Marvel movies might say that Christian Bale’s vengeful antagonist is the best thing about Taika Waititi’s follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok. Unfortunately, Gorr the Godbutcher's screentime in 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder is, much like the tragic deaths of his family, not justified.

Helga Sinclair (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

In one of the best Disney animated movies from the 2000s, 2001's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, ambitious linguist Milo Thatch (voiced by Michael J. Fox) is recruited onto an expedition to find the eponymous fabled kingdom by the wealthy Preston Whitmore (John Mahoney). His personal assistant, the attractive Lt. Helga Sinclair (Claudia Christian) is considered the secondary antagonist of the story but boasts far more charisma than the main villain, Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke (James Garner).

Sandman (Spider-Man 3)

The final installment of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy is one of the most essential examples of the superhero movie genre's “too many villains” trope, with three villains fighting for screen time. The one with the most engaging and sympathetic arc – and, thus, the one who, arguably, should have been the only antagonist – is Flint "Sandman" Marko (Thomas Haden Church), whose biological makeup becomes bonded with sand after a bizarre accident.

Wizard (Taxi Driver)

The most deeply underrated character in director Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver is easily Peter Boyle's Wizard. The wise veteran cabbie is one of the few characters in the bleak 1976 drama whom Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) could genuinely call a friend and, perhaps, if he was around more, he could have helped steer the disturbed former marine in a more favorable direction.

Boris Podgorny (The Fabelmans)

Judd Hirsch’s Academy Award nomination for portraying a fictionalized version of director Steven Spielberg’s granduncle in 2022's The Fabelmans was well deserved. What the character, Boris Podgorny, really deserved, however, was to play a larger role in the story, as long as it would be accurate to the semi-autobiographical story that the esteemed filmmaker was crafting.

Luna Lovegood (The Harry Potter Movies)

Evanna Lynch portrays Luna Lovegood – a refreshingly positive fan-favorite character from J.K. Rowling’s magical Harry Potter novels. However, most fans of the Wizarding World would argue that the Ravenclaw was significantly underutilized in the blockbuster film adaptations.

Jeff Portnoy (Tropic Thunder)

The famously animated Jack Black has higher billing than Robert Downey Jr.'s Academy Award-nominated role in the cast of 2008's Tropic Thunder. Yet, his role as Jeff Portnoy – an unhinged comedian attempting a serious war movie – gets the least amount of screentime or material to work with in star and director Ben Stiller’s hilarious Hollywood satire.

Lady Sif (Thor)

One of the most heavily underrated MCU characters is Lady Sif, who has appeared in every one of Thor's solo movies but only briefly. We might go so far as to say that Jaimie Alexander’s portrayal of the Asgardian Goddess of War should have her own solo movie, or at least deserves a more substantial role in the franchise.

Rhino (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

Paul Giamatti’s cinematic iteration of the Spider-Man villain, Rhino, makes his grand entrance at the end of the widely reviled sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and was supposed to have a bigger role in a third installment starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. Of course, the poor reception to the 2014 film led to the cancellation of the follow-up before Tom Holland stepped in to play the MCU-canon webslinger.

Officer Benjamin Clawhauser (Zootopia)

Voiced by Nate Torrence, the doughnut-chomping Officer Benjamin Clawhauser is about the funniest character from 2016's Zootopia. For that reason alone, the tiger deserves a more integral role in the family-friendly police dramedy about anthropomorphic animals.

Garraka (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire)

The fifth installment of the Ghostbusters franchise gets its subtitle (Frozen Empire) from the main antagonist's power to create a second Ice Age. However, said malevolent entity, Garraka, officially shows up far too late in the 2024 sequel's runtime.

Tom Cruise has played some iconic movie roles from Maverick in the Top Gun movies to Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise but you simply cannot talk about Tom Cruise’s best roles without mentioning his performance in Tropic Thunder as Les Grossman.

A great deal has been said about the part over the years, but it’s still a phenomenal story regarding just how it all came together. Appearing on the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Podcast, Tropic Thunder star and director Ben Stiller talks about the two requests that Cruise had for his character. Specifically how his arms looked, and how he’d move his legs. Stiller explained…

The bit of Ben Stiller playing Tom Cruise's stunt double is an iconic sketch from the MTV Movie Awards. It’s made especially hilarious by the fact that Tom Cruise does all his own stunts, so any stunt double wouldn't have much to do. Although there are rumors he actually had a stunt double on Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. If you have never seen it or don’t remember it, it’s worth revisiting.

Stiller has spoken about Cruise’s requests before. Apparently, Stiller was largely against the whole dancing idea initially. Cruise had been taking dancing lessons and just wanted to use them in a movie at some point. Eventually during a makeup test, Cruise just started dancing, showing Still what the scene would be like, which sold him on the idea.

It’s hard to imagine Tropic Thunder without a dancing Tom Cruise, but it turns out we could have had exactly that. Stiller says that when he initially started talking to Tom Cruise about being in the movie, it was to play the role that Stiller himself would eventually take. And maybe Cruise would have taken if Stiller had ever actually asked. He continued…

But what’s even more fascinating is that apparently Tom Cruise didn’t simply create Les Grossman’s look or the way he moves. He actually created Les Grossman himself, as the character wasn’t actually in Tropic Thunder until Cruise suggested a character like that should appear. Stiller said…

So apparently we can thank Tom Cruise not only for being in Tropic Thunder but for making it a better film by his suggestions.

Tropic Thunder is one of those movies that, you may only really remember because one scene sticks with you. That scene is probably Tom Cruise, bald and overweight, dancing up an absolute storm. The dance sequence has become iconic, which makes it absolutely wild that the scene almost didn’t make it into the movie.

A recent viral Instagram post, which combines different interviews with both Tom Cruise and Tropic Thunder director Ben Stiller, lays out how the dance sequence wasn’t supposed to happen, but then happened anyway. The idea that Cruise’s character Les Grossman should dance was apparently an idea that Cruise had from the outset, but Stiller wasn’t sold as he wasn’t sure how it would fit into the movie. Stiller said…

Tom Cruise isn’t used to having people tell him no, this is the guy who fired an insurance company when they wouldn't let him climb a building, after all. It seems Cruise had been taking hip-hop dance classes, simply because it was a thing he didn't know, and so he wanted to use his new skills in a movie.

Cruise would get his chance to make his case for dancing Grossman during a makeup test. The point was to test the makeup that Cruise would wear in the film. The particular makeup test was for makeup that wouldn’t ultimately be used, but Cruise took the opportunity and simply started dancing, in order to show his director how it would look, and Stiller loved it. He explained…

We know Tom Cruise as a guy who does his own stunts. While his Tropic Thunder dance scene certainly isn’t his only iconic on-screen dance sequence, as his pantsless Risky Business scene is one of his most famous early scenes, this was a whole different sort of dancing, and there’s no argument that this guy can’t move. Check it out.

It's hard to imagine Tropic Thunder without a dancing Tom Cruise today. It’s not a scene that is necessary in the film as it regards the plot or even the characterization, but that doesn’t make it any less great. And it’s just further evidence that Tom Cruise is a great movie star because he understands what people want from movies, even if we don’t know it ourselves.

There has been the occasional rumor surrounding a return of Les Grossman, but thus far nothing has ever materialized.

Tropic Thunder is arguably Ben Stiller’s most controversial title by far, but may be one of the actor's best movies, depending on who you ask. The edgy comedy aimed its sights at poking fun at those actors willing to do virtually anything to win an award, but had mixed reviews. The reception was hot-button even back in its 2008 premiere due to its use of Blackface and offensive language regarding disabled people. Although Stiller has previously stood by the parody film, he has an honest answer about the likelihood of Tropic Thunder getting greenlit today.

The actor/director sat down with Collider to talk mostly about Stiller’s excellent crime-drama, Escape at Dannemora, but he also expounded on past, present and future projects of his. When asked about whether or not he thought that the outlandish action comedy would be possible today he had a very frank answer. He also revealed and credited Tropic Thunder seeing the light of day to a big-name director. He said:

The possibility of Tropic Thunder being made today seems virtually impossible unless there was a monumental overhaul of the script, and rightfully so. I do understand the angle and can see the humor in the idea, but the reality of what the movie is and the choices made just aren’t galvanized enough to say anything relevant to modern audiences.

Later, Ben Stiller weighed in on the choice of Robert Downey Jr.'s character’s use of Blackface, which the Iron Man star has reflected on before. He shared the thought behind it and how the angle was apparent enough that it wasn’t meant in any ill fashion:

It was more than dicey, to say the very least. The Reality Bites director seems to be coming to terms with the idea that not even the "right storyline" and "angle" can hold up anything that has much deeper weight to it. The honesty of his statement is nice to hear, and I’m glad he is this open about such a controversial piece of his work.

Beyond the 2008 film and how it'd be received today, Ben Stiller has plenty ahead for audiences–including an Adam Sandler sequel. His film return happens soon on our 2024 movie schedule with the film Nutcrackers which will be available with a Hulu subscription. And of course, we’re all anxiously looking forward to Severance Season 2, including Stiller along with his reunion with Adam Sandler on Happy Gilmore 2. Let’s just hope the 58-year-old continues to weigh in on about projects ahead.

If you’d like to watch Tropic Thunder, you can do so with a Paramount+ subscription. I you’d like to watch Escape at Dannemora, you can so with a Netflix subscription.

Although it’s not on our list of R-rated comedies that earn their R ratings, I’d say Tropic Thunder definitely qualifies. The controversial 2008 movie, which can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, follows a group of actors becoming stranded in the Vietnam jungle while shooting a movie about the Vietnam War. In the midst of all the swearing, gore and gunfire, Jack Black’s Jeff Portnoy is shown going through drug withdrawal after losing his stash of “jelly beans” to a bat, and eventually he ends up tied to a water buffalo. As it turns out, shooting the movie with this animal resulted in Black storming off the Tropic Thunder set, but fortunately, this story ends on a heartwarming note.

Jack Black recounted the incident with the water buffalo while appearing on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. After the title host shared his story about the time he got on a water buffalo for his TBS show, was thrown off and ended up with a hematoma, Black confirmed that he’d gone through the same experience when he was working on Tropic Thunder in Kaua’i, Hawaii. The School of Rock alum admitted that he’s “afraid of animals,” so he was understandably concerned about being put onto the water buffalo for a scene. He continued:

To provide a little more context, Jeff Portnoy was strapped to the water buffalo not just because of the withdrawal, but because he was pretending to be the prisoner of Robert Downey Jr.’s Kirk Lazarus, who was disguised as a rice paddy farmer, so they could break into the Flaming Dragon heroin factory and rescue Ben Stiller’s Tugg Speedman. Alas, the Tropic Thunder script did not call for the water buffalo to toss Portnoy off, so it’s fortunate that Jack Black landed the way he did, or he could have been badly injured. Upon getting his bearings, Black lost his cool, though given what he said below, I don’t blame him:

Because of this harrowing ordeal, Jack Black’s stunt double, Jimmy Waitman, stepped in and got onto the back of the water buffalo so the rest of those scenes could be shot. But here’s the final twist: the animal didn’t toss Jack Black off just because it was angry. As the actor explained:

Isn’t that sweet? I agree with Jack Black that it would have been nice if the animal trainers had known that the water buffalo was pregnant, but at least he got a water buffalo named after him. Does that make up for what he went through? Definitely not in Conan O’Brien’s eyes, but Black capped off that portion of the podcast episode saying he’d like to meet Jack the Water Buffalo.

Jack Black’s latest movie, Borderlands, is now playing on the 2024 release schedule, and he’ll next be seen co-starring with Jason Momoa in the 2025 movie Minecraft. In 2022, it was reported that there are still plans to bring back Tom Cruise’s Tropic Thunder character Les Grossman for either his own spinoff or as a supporting character in a different movie, but there haven’t been any updates about that since then.

Have you ever watched a movie and seen a fictional movie within it that you’d like to watch? I know I have. Sometimes the whole movie is about another movie, and sometimes it’s a brief mention or even just a poster in the background. Here’s my list of the movies within movies that I want to watch one day. 

Tropic Thunder (Tropic Thunder)

I remember the first time I saw the trailer for Tropic Thunder and said to my friend, “Oh, it’s been a while since there was a good Vietnam movie.” Of course, it’s not actually a Vietnam War movie, but they are filming one that I still want to see to this day. All great Vietnam movies have trials and tribulations during production, and this one certainly did too! 

Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red (This Is The End)

This Is The End is one of the most ridiculous movies ever conceived (in a good way), so it makes sense that I would left wanting more. More James Franco and Seth Rogan to be exact and what better way than to follow up the apocalypse with another the creation of a potential Pineapple Express franchise, starting with Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red? Save me from the end of the world, I need to see this movie! 

Habeas Corpus (The Player)

Throughout Robert Altman’s The Player, different stars making cameos make a number of movie pitches at the fictional movie studio. Most of them include the recurring joke that the movie should star Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis. Sure enough, right at the end of the movie, the fictional movie Habeas Corpus is filmed and you guessed it, Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis are the stars. Based on the lone scene show, of Willis rescuing Roberts from the gas chamber, I have to see the rest! I’d like to see the original ending too. 

Napoleon (Get Shorty)

Get Shorty is a movie filled with hilarious ideas for movies, but given the 2023 release of Ridley Scott’s Napolean, it had me yearning to see the version of Napolean starring Danny DeVito’s character, Martin Weir. DeVito hasn’t played a lot of serious roles, so seeing him, as the serious actor Martin Weir, playing a dramatic part would just be fantastic.

The 14 Fists of McCluskey (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood)

Like a lot of movies about Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood features a few fictional movies, including “The 14 Fists of McCluskey” with Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt-double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). There are a bunch of Easter Eggs packed into this one, including a reference back to Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and a clip from a real movie called Hell River from 1974 used as the clip in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Maybe Robert Rodriguez could direct it. 

Coming Home In A Body Bag (True Romance)

Christian Slater’s character, Clarence, in True Romance, is a huge movie fan and I trust his taste in film. His gushing praise of Coming Home In A Body Bag is all I need to hear to want to see it in real life. I love a good ‘Nam movie, and this seems like it could be one of the best. I’m unsure about the potential sequel, however, though it doesn’t seem like it’ll ever make it through production, given the events of the real movie it exists within. 

Bluntman and Chronic (Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back)

In this day and age of superhero movies, what the world needs is a Bluntman and Chronic movie, right? While “Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season” looks pretty hilarious in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, it’s really all about Bluntman and Chronic when you are talking about fake movies in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse. This is one that maybe could actually be real one day, right? I’ll keep believing. 

Angels With Filthy Souls (Home Alone)

In Home Alone, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) uses a clip to scare off the Wet Bandits from a movie called “Angels with Filthy Souls” and as a fan of old gangster flicks, it looks right up my alley. It was decades before I even learned this wasn’t a real movie! I sure wish it was. 

Machete (Grindhouse)

Talking about getting meta with things, Grindhouse is part of a double feature, and while it’s a real movie, it’s sort of presented as a fake one, and within it is another fake trailer for, “Machete,” among a couple of other films. All the films were eventually turned into real movies, but it’s the ones in the trailers I want to see. 

Home for Purim (For Your Consideration)

The Christopher Guest-directed movies have some of the best quotes in movie history and while For Your Consideration doesn’t quite reach the heights of Best in Show and Waiting For Guffman, it’s still great. The idea of a movie about the Jewish holiday of Purim is just perfect for the movie within the movie. In the end, predictably, the movie’s plot is changed to Thanksgiving, but the original idea sounds way more interesting. 

Hyde (Entourage)

The HBO show Entourage had countless fictional movies within the show about Hollywood stars. In the movie, made after the show concluded, included “Hyde” starring Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), who also directed the fake movie. In the real movie, the fake one is a huge hit, and even Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon) wins a Golden Globe for his performance! 

Somethin’s Cookin’ (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

The opening scene of Who Framed Roger Rabbit sets up the character of Roger Rabbit perfectly. The struggling toon star is a disaster while trying to film a movie called “Somethin’s Cookin’.” He just can’t get it right and apparently, he had a refrigerator dropped on his head 23 times. Who wouldn’t want to see how it finally turns out? Remember, stars, not birdies! 

The Three Amigos (Three Amigos)

The premise of Three Amigos is pretty classic. A town confuses three B-movie stars (Chevy Chase, Martin Short, and Steve Martin) for actual heroes and hires them to protect their town. It’s all based on a movie the town sees. That’s enough to sell the movie to me. A movie so good they are hired for real? Sold! 

Hail, Caesar! A Tale Of The Christ (Hail, Caesar!)

The Coen Brothers have used the “Capitol Pictures” name in a few of their movies, including Hail, Caesar!, starring George Clooney as a dopey film star in the 1950s. Capitol Pictures is the production company making “Hail, Caesar! A Tale of the Christ” which, judging by the title, sounds like a completely insane premise, especially since Julius Caesar died 44 years before the birth of Christ. I’m in! 

History of the World Part II (History Of The World Part I)

This one is something that we almost actually got to see. Mel Brooks’ classic History of the World Part I ended with a fake trailer for “History of the World Part II.” More than 40 years later, in 2023, Brooks produced History of the World Part II as a TV show for Hulu. The caveat is that the show didn’t include the promised bits the fake trailer included, so we’re still not getting the movie he promised! The show is great, but who doesn’t want to see the three completely inappropriate skits in the original trailer? I do.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day Starring Sylvester Stallone (Last Action Hero)

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Last Action Hero has a great poster for Terminator 2: Judgment Day. If you’re thinking to yourself, “Wait, that is a real movie,” you’re not wrong but in Last Action Hero the film stars Sylvester Stallone! As much as I love the actual movie, seeing Stallone as the Terminator would be amazing! 

Coming Up Daisy (Burn After Reading)

The late Cormac McCarthy is one of my favorite writers and his books have been turned into some great movies. The absurd idea that the noir author would write a “chick lit” book that’s being turned into a movie is one of the best jokes in the Coen Brothers’ Burn After Reading and I just have to see it.

Argo (Argo)

“Argo” was the name created by the CIA for the fake movie they used the supposed production of to extract hostages from the US Embassy in 1979 after the Iranian Revolution. In the actual movie, also called Argo, the fictional film is described as a sci-fi flick akin to Star Wars. I’m a big believer that the world needs more great sci-fi so this feels like a missed opportunity for a real movie. 

The Night the Reindeer Died (Scrooged)

Bill Murray’s Scrooged has a lot of over-the-top insanity when it comes to the movies and TV produced by Murray’s character Frank Cross on the TV network he runs. One of those is shown in a commercial on the station that opens the movie, “The Night the Reindeer Died.” Starring Lee Majors as a James Bond-type rescuing Santa at the North Pole. I’m seriously all in on this. It’s too bad Lee Majors can’t be the next James Bond. 

Deception (The Holiday)

Lindsay Lohan and James Franco in an action-adventure hit? Sign me up! All we get to see of this fake movie called "Deception" is a trailer in The Holiday, but Cameron Diaz and her team (including John Krasinski)  really sell it! 

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (The Man Who Killed Don Quixote)

Former Monty Python member Terry Gilliam is one of my favorite directors and while his movies aren’t for everyone, I love them all. Especially The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, which infamously took almost three decades to complete. Adam Driver stars as a commercial director who is reminded of the first film he directed, also called “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” which leads his character down memory road and on his own quixotic quest. If it’s that good, I’d love to see it, too.

See You Next Wednesday (An American Werewolf In London)

“See You Next Wednesday” is often used by director John Landis in his movies when he needs the name of a fictional film and it has become an Easter Egg for fans of the director. An American Werewolf in London is one example of the movie title being used as an adult film. The name is even seen on a movie poster at the movie theater where Michael Jackson watches the “Thriller” video. 

Jaws 19 (Back To The Future Part II)

Back in the ‘80s, it seemed like the Jaws franchise was going to go forever and get more and more ridiculous as it went. It was such a trope that it found its way into Back to the Future II when Marty (Michael J. Fox) sees a hologram for “Jaws 19.” Of course, now that Back to the Future’s future is in our past we know that the shark franchise didn’t keep making movies, but I sure wish it still did. 

Lightyear (Toy Story)

In 1995’s Toy Story, audiences were introduced to the toy Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen). Buzz was an astronaut from a blockbuster movie that had been turned into one of Andy’s favorite action figures. Of course, this is an example of a movie we finally did get to see when Pixar released Lightyear in 2022, but it was a long wait. 

Action Doctor (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World)

In Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Lucas Lee (Chris Evans) is a B-movie star and one of Ramona’s exes that Scott (Michael Cera) has to defeat to win her heart. Scott is a fan of Lee’s and in one scene lays out a number of his movies on DVD, including one called “Action Doctor” which sounds so ridiculous I just have to see it. 

The Old Mill (State And Main)

State and Main is an absurd and hilarious take on the ridiculousness of the movie business. It is about the troubled production of a movie called “The Old Mill” in a town that doesn’t, in fact, have an old mill. We never get to see how the movie turns out and I still want to. 

Stab (Scream Franchise)

In the Scream franchise, “Stab” is the meta-tastic film-within-a-film parody of slasher films in a movie meant to be pretty much the same thing. We’ve heard a lot of the movie, but now we need to see the whole thing! 

Sawdust and Mildew (Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult)

It’s fair to say that Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult is the least funny of the Naked Gun franchise, and mostly forgettable in every way. It actually makes the joke about the bomb at the Academy Awards funnier though, as the producers of “Sawdust and Mildew” stand up. It must have been a box office bomb. Still, I try to see as many of the nominated movies as I can. 

The Dueling Cavalier (Singin' In The Rain)

There are a couple of fake movies in Singin’ In The Rain but the one I want to see is “The Dueling Cavalier.” The movie is so bad that it turns into a Rocky Horror-like showing in the theater with the crowd yelling at the screen and acknowledging how bad it is, making it a must-see in my book. 

Salome (Sunset Boulevard)

The biblical story of Salome has never received a modern telling on the silver screen, but it almost did in Billy Wilder’s legendary Sunset Boulevard. The script in the movie was written by Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), but writer Joe Gillis (William Holden) is working to make it, you know, good. I trust that he could have! 

True Fear (One Cut Of The Dead)

One Cut of the Dead is one of the best zombie movies ever made, and in it, the characters are working to make their own zombie movie, eventually attempting to make the movie with the “real” zombies that are suddenly appearing. A movie about zombies in a zombie movie? I’m all in. 

Logjammin’ (The Big Lebowski)

Okay, so this is probably not a movie I’d want to see in the theater, as it’s of a very adult variety. But let’s be real, it actually looks pretty hilarious as Karl Hungus stops by to “fixin da cable.” while Bunny La Joya’s friend takes a shower. 

The aughts were, in many ways, known for the thriving studio comedy, with funny movies being amongst some of the best of the 2000s. Movies like Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall did numbers at the box office, and actors like Steve Carell, Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig emerged as movie stars. However, no comedy was remembered quite like Tropic Thunder, which separated itself by featuring stars outside of the comedy genre and thriving on its satirical themes. It remains a favorite of many, and is remembered for its controversial performance by Robert Downey Jr. Even if the role wasn’t serious, the Iron Man actor took the role very seriously, and according to Danny McBride, he never broke character.

McBride was recently interviewed by GQ, where he broke down some of the most notable roles throughout his career. Of course, his performances in The Righteous Gemstones and Eastbound & Down were mentioned, along with his character Cody in Tropic Thunder. The Ben Stiller-directed film was known for its all-star cast, but Downey is often singled out for his performance as Dirk Lazarus, and was even nominated for an Oscar. According to McBride, this is all for good reason, as the Oppenheimer star even found a way to urinate in character. He said:

The character Downey was playing differed so greatly from himself that he felt the need to make sure he got every element of the role right, including some of the unsanitary parts. This is even more meta when you consider that Downey was playing a method actor in Tropic Thunder who went to extreme lengths to embody a role. The performance is supposed to satirize the ridiculousness of method acting, and how something like this can go very wrong. Modern audiences may have missed the point of Downey’s character doing blackface being a criticism of the practice, but the performance and commitment can not be overlooked.

The idea of Tropic Thunder 2 has floated around over the years, but it’s unlikely that something so controversial could be made today. However, if it were to happen, Downey has over a decade of career-defining roles behind him, and possibly would be up for the challenge of making the character more relevant. The Marvel alum recently won an Oscar, and maybe he could implore his seasoned technique to a studio comedy sequel. There is certainly an audience for it, and based on this anecdote by Danny McBride, he would be game to work with a committed actor like Downey again in a heartbeat.

For some actors, having a “hot mic” could be something super embarrassing, especially when it allows for other actors to hear you get into character. However, this Tropic Thunder incident seemed to have the opposite effect for eavesdroppers. McBride ended up respecting Downey even more for his intensity, and the movie was probably funnier because of it.

Fans can revisit Robert Downey’s performance in Tropic Thunder now with a Paramount+ subscription. You can also see Danny McBride in The Righteous Gemstones, which is streaming for Max subscribers. For more information on other projects heading to streaming in the near future, make sure to check out our 2024 movie release schedule.

It’s been 15 years since Tropic Thunder was released, and it remains a favorite for many comedy fans and ranks as one of the best movies of the 2000s. The irreverent 2008 flick satirizes the movie industry, making for a hilarious film for those with a dark sense of humor. The cast is one of the most well remembered aspects of Tropic Thunder, as it features comedic heavyweights like Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Danny McBride, as well as major dramatic actors playing against type, like Robert Downey Jr., Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise. Now, Black is reflecting on what made the silly premise work for so many and Cruise’s iconic performance that surprised a lot of people. 

In Tropic Thunder, the Top Gun star plays Les Grossman, a caricature of a studio executive who is worried more about his film and the money it is costing him rather than the cast and crew that are in danger in the jungle. For the role, Cruise danced while wearing a bald cap, as well as big arm prosthetics that make him almost identifiable. He is absolutely hilarious, and some may not realize it was Cruise in the role until the credits start rolling. In a recent interview with Total Film, Black opened up about his experience making the film, as well as the stand out performance by Cruise, saying:

There was skepticism Cruise would be able to pull off that kind of a character before the Jerry Maguire actor starred in the comedy film. Before Tropic Thunder, Cruise had done mostly action films and dramatic work. He had already made three Mission: Impossible movies and was also nominated for Oscars for dramas like Magnolia and Born on the Fourth of July. This was completely out of Cruise’s comfort zone, but he totally nailed it and is one of the funniest parts of that movie. Many fans have hoped that the movie star would venture out into even more comedic work, including Black, who said:

I personally would love to see these two work together again. The two actors don’t really share any screen time Tropic Thunder, but I think their differences would make Black and Cruise a great comedic duo. I could totally see them both in a buddy action comedy movie like The Other Guys,or even a road trip movie like Due Date. Black’s enthusiasm for the prospect makes me want to see it happen, and makes me wonder why nobody thought to put these two together in the first place. 

While Jack Black may be totally game for Tom Cruise’s long-awaited return to comedy, it may not happen anytime soon. Cruise has a number of upcoming films slated that won’t be requiring his comedic timing. Mission: Impossible 8 is almost finished, and set to release in 2025, and he’s also been attached to a SpaceX adventure film for many years. In addition, Emily Blunt has been pushing for an Edge of Tomorrow sequel for a while, so that may take priority. However, Cruise did just recently sign a deal with Warner Brothers to make more movies with the studio, so maybe Jack Black could convince the actor that one of them should be a comedy. Tropic Thunder 2, perhaps?

Fans will have to wait and see if this long-awaited reunion could ever happen on the big screen. In the meantime, you can see Tom Cruise and Jack Black in Tropic Thunder, which Paramount+ subscribers can stream now. Black also has the movie Borderlands coming out on 2024 movie release schedule, followed by Minecraft in 2025.

In its nearly half a century on the air, Saturday Night Live has launched the careers of many icons who would go on to score some truly remarkable achievements. In fact, there are quite a few who have received attention from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for the talents they expressed on the big screen and, in some cases, from behind the camera. Let’s take a look at all the SNL stars with an Oscar nomination (and one with an Oscar win)… so far.

Dan Aykroyd (Best Supporting Actor, Driving Miss Daisy)

Following his stint as a founding SNL cast member, Dan Aykroyd went on to have a stellar movie career — including a few movies based on SNL characters, like The Blues Brothers. However, it is one of his more dramatic roles as Boolie Werthan in 1989’s Driving Miss Daisy that earned him recognition from The Academy. While Aykroyd did not take home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, the film took home four statuettes for Best Picture, Actress (Jessica Tandy), Makeup, and Adapted Screenplay.

George Coe (Best Live Action Short, De Düva: The Dove)

George Coe — who actually starred in the Best Picture Oscar winner Kramer vs. Kramer — was only credited as a Not Ready For Primetime Player on SNL’s very first episode, and he went on to occasionally appear in sketches throughout the freshman run. However, years earlier, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short for 1968’s De Düva: The Dove, which he co-directed with Anthony Lover. The filmmaker — who passed away in 2015 — also acted in the 15-minute parody of Ingmar Bergman films, alongside two-time Oscar nominee Madeline Kahn and Pamela Burrell of 1980's Popeye fame.

Joan Cusack (Best Supporting Actress, Working Girl And In & Out)

While only lasting on SNL for one season from 1985 to 1986, Joan Cusack went on to become the first alum to earn two Academy Award nominations not long after. Her first nod, for Best Supporting Actress, was for stealing the show in 1988’s Working Girl as Cyn. Her second nomination — and in the same category — was for her hilarious performance as one of the best ‘90s movie supporting characters, Emily Montgomery, in 1997’s In & Out.

Robert Downey Jr. (Win: Best Supporting Actor, Oppenheimer; Nominations: Best Actor, Chaplin; Best Supporting Actor, Tropic Thunder)

Though his single year on SNL is often forgotten, former Marvel movies star Robert Downey Jr. is known today as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic talents and his performances as recognized by the Academy are proof of why. He was first nominated for a dramatic performance as silent-era comedian Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough’s 1992 biopic, Chaplin, and again for his comedic performance as horribly misguided dramatic actor, Kirk Lazarus, in director Ben Stiller’s bold satire, Tropic Thunder, from 2008. He would finally take home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar (and become the first winning SNL cast alum) at the 2024 Academy Awards for his mesmerizing portrayal in Cristopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast as Lewis Strauss.

Michael McKean (Best Original Song, A Mighty Wind)

While best known to modern audiences for his Emmy-nominated work as Better Call Saul character, Chuck McGill, Michael McKean’s all-time biggest claim-to-fame are his collaborations with director and co-star (as well as fellow SNL alum) Christopher Guest on hilarious faux documentaries like Best in Show — one of the best movies of the 2000s — and A Mighty Wind. 

The latter 2003 comedy — about a folk music reunion concert — was nominated for one Oscar for the original song, “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow,” which McKean wrote with Annette O’Toole for Mitch & Mickey (Schitt’s Creek cast members Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara) to perform.

Laurie Metcalf (Best Supporting Actress, Lady Bird)

You would be forgiven if Laurie Metcalf's two contributions to SNL — a brief bit on “Weekend Update” and a short film also starring Catherine O’Hara — slipped your mind. She is much better known anyway for her role as Jackie on Roseanne (and The Conners), playing Sheldon's mom on The Big Bang Theory, and her Oscar-nominated role in writer and director Greta Gerwig's acclaimed A24 movie, 2017's Lady Bird, as the mother of the title character.

Eddie Murphy (Best Supporting Actor, Dreamgirls)

Another SNL veteran who has tried his hand at making music is Eddie Murphy, who had a Rick James-produced hit in 1985 with “Party All the Time.” However, some might say the peak of his musical talents (and acting talents) was his performance in one of his best movies, Dreamgirls, as titillating R&B singer, James “Thunder” Early. The role — seen as a comeback for the comedy legend at the time — earned Murphy a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination, but, much to the surprise of many, the statuette ultimately went to Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine.

Bill Murray (Best Actor, Lost In Translation)

After joining SNL as Chevy Chase’s replacement, Bill Murray, arguably, became an even bigger icon after he left the show — partially because of his willingness to branch out beyond comedy. Of course, writer and director Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation — one of the best movies produced by Focus Features — is not without its funny moments, but Murray’s performance as a fading movie star working as a spokesperson for a Japanese whiskey is a captivating meditation on loneliness. The Ghostbusters star absolutely earned his Oscar nomination for the role and, as some might argue, should have won.

Randy Quaid (Best Supporting Actor, The Last Detail)

The second person to become an SNL cast member with an Academy Award nomination before joining the show (after George Coe) was Randy Quaid, who was a regular for the 1985-1986 season. The performance that put the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation cast member in the running for an Oscar was 1973’s The Last Detail. He played Larry Meadows — a Navy seaman, dishonorably discharged for stealing, whom two first-class officers (Jack Nicholson and Otis Young) decide to show a good time before bringing him to prison.

Kristen Wiig (Best Original Screenplay, Bridesmaids)

The only Bridesmaids cast member to be recognized by the Academy for acting was Melissa McCarthy, but the brilliant Kristen Wiig — a member of, arguably, the best cast in SNL history — still got some deserved attention. Her script for the beloved 2011 comedy, which she co-wrote with her future Barb and Star co-star, Annie Mumolo, was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay that year. 

In addition to Robert Downey Jr’s win for acting in Oppenheimer, there are a couple of former backstage Studio 8H employees who have taken home Oscars – such as former SNL music director, Howard Shore. He won three Academy Awards for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies (scoring The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King and co-writing the song, “Into the West,” from the latter). Also, former writer Adam McKay has seven nominations under his belt, with one win for adapting The Big Short with Charles Randolph. 

Now, we'll just have to wait and see if and when any more Saturday Night Live alums from behind and in front of the camera become Oscar darlings.

There’s no single CinemaBlend opinion on anything. Through countless arguments over the years, I’ve learned we’re not even on the same page about how to define the word best, from our choices for the top 100 '90s movies to our picks for the best horror movies of all time. What makes a movie the best is impossible to nail down from one person to the next, though it's perhaps easier to consider when thinking about a decade of movies that came and went and can't be added to anymore. But for the most part, it's all about what you like.

It’s because of those clashing perspectives that this Best Movies Of The 2000s list is unlike any list that a single person from our team could have crafted, taking into account both Oscar-worthiness and popcorn-friendliness. The list accounts for movies that have aired 5,000 times on cable, and movies that have been shared lovingly from generation to generation. It’s a retro-hodgepodge of what we loved then and then, from Adam Sandler's raunch to Daniel Day Lewis' aplomb.

This list is CinemaBlend’s collective celebration of the 2000s, in all its neon-hued glory, and we hope everyone will find plenty to love, though a few disagreements and good-natured debate never hurt anyone. Let the arguments begin…

100. Avatar (2009)

While it's the last on this list, there's no denying Avatar's impact on the film industry back in 2009. The movie is a sci-fi masterpiece that features incredible visuals, mainly following the tale of Jake Sully, a human who finds love and acceptance within the world of the Na'vi, the native people of Pandora.

The film takes the audience on a wild ride for two and a half hours. While the story of saving a planet from foreign invaders could be more groundbreaking, the unique visual effects that fans get to see are. And now, with a successful sequel out more than ten years later, it's the perfect chance to revisit the original.

99. Erin Brockovich (2000)

Julia Roberts had established herself as one of the most beloved actors in the world in the 1990s, and as calendars flipped over to the year 2000, she didn’t waste any time starring in yet another critically acclaimed box office hit. Hitting theaters in March 2000, Erin Brockovich tells the story of the titular lawyer who started a landmark case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for groundwater contamination, and it’s a stellar work that further cemented the clear talents of director Steven Soderbergh. It’s thrilling and dramatic, but also funny and fun – in large part due to Roberts’ charm and charisma.

98. The Hangover (2009)

The Hangover is part travelogue and part comedic shitshow. It races its characters through what feels like an entire TV season’s worth of odd locations and ridiculous scenarios, somehow finding time for hospital visits, naked gangsters, weddings, Blackjack heaters, stolen tigers, missing babies and stun gun demonstrations. It sounds like way too much plot for an hour and forty minute movie, but the key to a good comedy isn’t the situations the characters find themselves in, it’s the rapport and natural chemistry between the actors/characters going through those situations. And Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms are fantastic together. Their clashing vibes, energy levels and comedic sensibilities somehow blend into a perfect cocktail, and with Oscar-nominated director Todd Phillips stirring the drink, The Hangover is able to turn its B-movie premise into one of the funniest comedies of the 2000s.

97. Cloverfield (2008)

The first decade of the Aughts saw one word playing into many of its most cherished cinematic successes: reinvention. For director Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield, two different types of genre favorites were mashed together to create a wildly new, very mysterious product: monster movies like Godzilla and found footage pictures such as The Blair Witch Project. 

Amping up the scale of what a handheld camera could cover, Cloverfield’s ingenious marketing campaign kept audiences guessing about what its true intentions were. In the wake of a mysterious/title-free teaser, it was anyone’s guess what writer Drew Goddard’s movie was about. To live up to the hype after stoking such anticipation for an unknown quantity only cemented Cloverfield as a certified success. In a market where it felt like the trailers gave everything away, a major studio movie broke with the norm, all in the name of a monstrous triumph. 

96. National Treasure (2004)

The race to steal the Declaration of Independence was on in 2004 as Nicolas Cage and his team of treasure hunters went on a high stakes mission to find the greatest treasure. This story sweeps across American history, and is held together by Cage’s protagonist and his drive to find this great prize, and protect the Declaration of Independence by stealing it, of course.

This Disney staple is a family classic, and an action adventure bound to entertain just about anyone. It was such a success that a sequel soon followed, and maybe, someday, National Treasure 3 will happen. However, let us not forget the majesty that is the original National Treasure. 

95. The Notebook (2004)

There’s a reason that when one thinks of the genre “romance” The Notebook instantly comes to mind. The 2004 Nicholas Sparks adaptation is nothing short of a timeless classic that gracefully dances between being a forbidden and second-chance love story. It’s the movie that made Ryan Gosling a Hollywood hunk matched by a passionate yet grounding performance by Rachel McAdams. Together they are a firecracker of chemistry who left a generation longing to kiss in the rain. Cliché and mushy as The Notebook can be, when the music swells on the final scene, it never ceases to remind us why it’s one of the most endearing and cathartic love affairs we’ve ever seen. 

94. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Though it's been nearly two decades since its release, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy still stands as one of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s greatest collaborations. The 70s-set movie marked McKay’s directorial debut and, with it, he masterfully injects humor and social commentary into a satirical workplace comedy set within the world of broadcast news. His screenplay is funny and occasionally, downright hilarious, but the cast truly makes the movie shine. Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell and more are just flawless. And of course, it’s Ferrell’s portrayal of the titular character that really puts it over the top.

93. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Anyone angling for a great sports drama that not only delivers sheer emotion but also captures the spirit of the pastime it’s tackling should check out Million Dollar Baby. Director Clint Eastwood’s Best Picture-winning film tells the story of an aspiring boxer (played by Hilary Swank), who teams up with a veteran trainer (Eastwood) in the hopes of achieving in-ring glory. The result is an emotionally affecting – and sometimes brutal – story about resilience and parental bonds. This boxing flick won Swank, Eastwood and co-star Morgan Freeman all Oscars and, when you see the movie, you’ll understand why.

92. Saw (2004)

2004's Saw revitalized the horror genre years ago, thanks to James Wan and Leigh Whannell, with its shocking twists and equally astonishing violence. But while the movie did include some truly grotesque “games” for Jigsaw’s victims, this was more than the mere “torture porn” that plagued the aughts. There was intention behind Jigsaw’s pain — making people think about the lives they’d led before forcing them to, “Live or die, make your choice.” 

The audience was along for the ride, trying to figure out why Adam (Whannell) and Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes) were chained up in a bathroom and how they could escape before it was too late. Thanks to some brilliant misdirection, the ensuing plot twist was truly gasp-inducing. These days you might not be able to get away with that ending, but don’t say you saw it coming back in 2004.

91. Super Troopers (2001)

Super Troopers From a plotting and acting perspective, Super Troopers isn’t exactly The Departed. Its basic premise, and even many of its specific scenes, are just nimbly bimbly excuses for the cast to make raunchy jokes about the natural absurdities of being a cop. That works, though, because the movie understands what we want as an audience: non-stop jokes and shenanigans about liters of cola, littering and smokin’ the reefer. From cat game to syrup fights to biker confusion, Super Troopers has its own vibe and unique sense of humor. It’s just out there, doing its own thing, and that’s why, more than two decades later, fans are still pulling over to watch it… even if they’re already pulled over and they can’t pull over any further.

90. War of the Worlds (2005)

Steven Spielberg wouldn’t be the first to adapt H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds novel for the screen, nor would he be the last. But his modern-day take on the 19th Century sci-fi novel certainly made an impression. From the main characters — led by Tom Cruise as Ray Ferrier, father to Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin) — to the various settings, to the unnerving sight (and sound) of the tripods emerging from below the ground to decimate or capture any humans in their path, War of the Worlds made its mark as an epic sci-fi action movie about survival and the choices a struggling parent has to make to protect his children from a worst-case-scenario. In true Spielberg fashion, the movie is thrilling and occasionally chilling, but also offers that added layer of a family element to keep us invested from beginning to end. 

89. Sin City (2005)

Most comic book adaptations aim to reimagine the characters and events of the source material in a way that more closely resembles reality. However, when director Robert Rodriguez teamed up with famed author and illustrator Frank Miller (acting as co-director) to bring his graphic novel series, Sin City, to the big screen, they did more than just adapt it. They brought it to life.

This anthology-style collection of three interconnected stories — all of which take place in the same hopelessly down-trodden, crime-ridden metropolis — is a masterclass in noirish storytelling (the razor sharp dialogue is straight out of a Raymond Chandler classic), astonishingly unique visual design (every beautifully grayscale frame resembles a comic book panel), and flawless acting from the entire Sin City cast, including Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, Mickey Rourke, and so many more amazing A-listers. When it comes to non-superhero-related comic book movies, this might be the best of them all.

88. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Anticipation for the feature adaptation of Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary — itself a reinterpretation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice — was high, to say the least, for those of us who adored the book, when it finally made its way into theaters in 2001. Renee Zellweger’s mix of charm, determination for romance and occasional awkwardness alone are reason enough to love the adaptation. Then factor in the excellent chemistry she shares with both love interests — Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver and Colin Firth as Mark Darcy — not to mention the fantastic supporting cast, well-timed bits of hilarity and genuinely heartfelt moments of romance and what’s not to love about Bridget Jones’s Diary? 

87. Taken (2008)

Taken isn’t the most emotionally complicated or the most realistic movie, but it has a really good sense of its own strengths and leverages that particular set of skills perfectly. Liam Neeson might not be the prototypical action star, but he’s an Oscar-nominated actor uniquely good at portraying single-mindedness and determination. Taken is able to harness the badass fatherly intensity of a desperate man searching for his daughter and pair it with ruthless action sequences that rely more on craftiness than brute strength. The result is one of the best and most rewatchable action movies of the 2000s, a tight 90 minutes that’s so much fun it produced two sequels, a TV series and an unexpected late career resurgence for Neeson.  

86. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Before Will Smith earned his third Oscar nomination for King Richard, and after his nomination for Ali, he received his second Academy Award nod for The Pursuit of Happyness. Based on the real story of Chris Gardner, the movie follows Gardner's struggle to find a job to provide for his son during a year when they are homeless. 

The movie is inspiring for anyone, featuring an uplifting and memorable story. That, paired with an incredible performance from Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith – who made his acting debut in the film – makes this the perfect movie to watch on any given day. 

85. The Bourne Identity (2002)

Before Daniel Craig came along and ushered in a new era for the James Bond movie franchise a few years later, Doug Liman’s The Bourne Identity welcomed audiences to the 21st century with this fresh, unique, and action-packed spy thriller. Matt Damon, who had already shown a great deal of depth in movies like Good Will Hunting and The Talented Mr. Ripley a few years earlier, became a bonafide action star with his portrayal of Jason Bourne, a trained killer with no recollection of his dark past.

There are few early 2000s action sequences as memorable as the movie’s iconic car chase through the streets of Paris. Audiences, used to seeing spies and assassins whipping around in souped-up sports cars were in for the ride of their lives with Bourne behind the wheel of a weathered Mini Cooper.

84. Love Actually (2003)

Love Actually has become annual holiday viewing for many since its premiere in 2004. Renowned rom-com filmmaker Richard Curtis struck gold with an A-list cast, as ten loosely connected plotlines each portray a different kind of love. Everybody’s sure to have their favorite stories within the movie, but they all strike an emotional chord, albeit in different ways. 

As these characters navigate the holidays, Love Actually tackles themes of grief, infidelity, unrequited love, workplace romance and more, while never losing its charm and eliciting tons of laughs. Throw in infinitely quotable dialogue (“Let’s get the shit kicked out of us by love!”), an infuriatingly hilarious cameo by Rowan Atkinson, and one absolutely iconic dance from Hugh Grant, and you’ve got yourself a classic.

83. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

In a decade greatly defined by bubblegum romantic comedies where audiences can take comfort in the same three act structure often ending in wedding bells, (500) Days Of Summer flipped the genre on its head. Romance and love can be a tricky, complicated thing that not only may be finite, but clouded by one’s fantasies, projections of potential and manic pixie dream girls. Marc Webb’s indie rom-com announces up front that it is “not a love story” and cleverly plays with structure as Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tom falls for Zooey Deschanel’s Summer. Between its stunningly memorable soundtrack, creative use of mixed media against its gorgeous L.A. backdrop, (500) Days Of Summer is a dark horse of a romantic comedy that tackles the expectations vs. reality of love with a sharp wit. 

82. Knocked Up (2007)

Most romantic comedies try a lot harder at one of those two things. They’re either romantic movies with a few solid laughs sprinkled in or they’re clearly comedies that shoehorn a romance in there as an afterthought. Knocked Up works so well because it tries really hard at both. It succeeds a little more as a comedy, given it has Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, Craig Robinson, Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd, but it also takes a lot of time and care with its love story and has many thoughtful things to say about relationships and parenting. It never takes the easy way out or betrays itself for a cheap, inauthentic laugh, which lets the natural chemistry between Rogen and co-lead Katherine Heigl grow into a budding relationship you actually root for. 

81. Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

As proven decades ago by George A. Romero, slow zombies are quite scary – but in 2004, director Zack Snyder and screenwriter James Gunn teamed up to show us just how freaky fast zombies can be. Dawn Of The Dead is a movie that stays true to its source material, gathering a bunch of strangers in a shopping mall as the dead come back to life, but it has its own energy and no shortage of standout moments. The beginning is a terror, the ending is deeply unsettling (including the material in the end credits), but the baby is where this one hits its peak.

80. Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans will make you laugh, cry, cheer and feel a whole range of emotions as you go on a journey with newly integrated T.C. Williams football team to win the state championship. This incredible movie about bringing a football team together is led by Denzel Washington, and it’s not only regarded as one of his best movies, but it’s also widely known as one of the greatest sports films. 

Washington and Will Patton lead the stacked cast of Remember the Titans, which includes Wood Harris and Ryan Hurst as the team’s leaders. Along with them, the movie also features Donald Faison, Craig Kirkwood and Ethan Suplee as well as a very young Ryan Gosling and 10-year-old Hayden Panettiere, among many others. Overall, it’s an inspiring and moving movie about acceptance and determination. Let’s just say Remember the Titans always has us saying “We want some more!” 

79. Juno (2007)

While Elliot Page was an actor at a young age, Juno was the movie that made him into a household name. And for good measure, as Jason Reitman’s quirky 2007 flick delivers in both comedy and heartfelt, human moments. Page earned an Academy Award nomination at the time for his performance, which surely feels justified. 

2007's Juno centers around its title character, a teenage girl who accidentally gets pregnant. She decides to carry the baby to term, arranging an adoption with a married couple (played by Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). After being filled with plenty of funny moments (and a killer soundtrack) the ending provides an emotional catharsis that puts Juno above many movies around its time.

78. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

It’s no wonder that Disney has been trying for 20 years to recapture the lightning in a bottle that was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Inspired by a theme park attraction, but blazing its own trail, Pirates created one of modern cinema’s most iconic characters in Captain Jack Sparrow. But the rest of the cast, including Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and a scene-stealing Geoffrey Rush, is no less compelling. From sword fights to ship battles, Black Pearl’s action is near perfect, with the Johnny Depp vs. Orlando Bloom duel a textbook example of how to tell a story with an action scene. It set a bar so high that even its own sequels were never going to clear it.

77. Ray (2004)

Cinema lovers have been graced with plenty of great biopics over the decades, and Ray certainly stands as one of the best. Directed by Taylor Hackford, the movie chronicles the life and career of the great Ray Charles. James L. White’s screenplay effectively tells Charles’ story, chronicling his professional and personal highs and lows in the process. And of course, the production is (appropriately) infused with incredible music. There are plenty of great performances on display, but it’s Jamie Foxx’s uncanny – and Oscar-winning – turn as the titular musician that really makes this period drama worth a watch or two.

76. Unbreakable (2000)

M. Night Shyamalan had an unenviable task in 2000 – following up his overnight sensation, The Sixth Sense. Was that movie a flash in the pan? Or would Shyamalan live up to the billing he was receiving in the press as, “The next Spielberg?” Remarkably, Shyamalan came up with a deeper, more meaningful film that also started the bandwagon for superhero-movie fascination, only with a meditative origin story for a strong man (Bruce Willis) who doesn’t recognize his invulnerability. Pulp Fiction co-star Samuel L. Jackson tapped into his fiendish side to play Willis’s nemesis, a man plagued with brittle bones who assumed that his opposite had to exist in the world. But it was Night’s ability to generate an intense mood that boosted Unbreakable. We rode a wave of increasingly suspenseful tension until the moment Willis donned his raincoat and embraced his destiny. Unbreakable started a trilogy, but also guaranteed that Shyamalan was here to stay as one of our most original and effective storytellers. 

75. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall occasionally gets overlooked as being just another rom-com from the aughts – specifically the rom-com featuring the oddball pairing of Mila Kunis and Jason Segel, but I can’t imagine that anyone who’s lumping this movie into just another group of rom-coms has seen it recently because it is profoundly and consistently weird. 

Segel’s TV composer main character dreams of creating a Dracula musical featuring puppets called A Taste For Love. He also wants to get over his titular ex-girlfriend - hilariously played by Kristen Bell, who somehow ends up in the hotel room next to him having loud sex with her new rock star boyfriend. That messy journey of acceptance and moving on, amidst all its weirdness or maybe because of all its weirdness, never feels like a cliche. It’s consistently funny and has so many thoughtful things to say about relationships, break-ups and finding yourself. Don’t write it off.

74. School of Rock (2003)

Jack Black was many things in 2003, though many wouldn’t have considered his comedic stylings family-friendly until School Of Rock. Black’s musical abilities from his band Tenacious D paired with the wholesome story of teaching some kids how to rock, was fun for everyone and really skyrocketed him further into the mainstream and into more roles for younger audiences like Kung Fu Panda and Nacho Libre. Sure, he’d still do raunchier stuff like Tropic Thunder, but this movie was imperative to show the range he had as an actor. 

Let’s also not forget this movie boasted other celebrities who are notable talents in 2023, like Miranda Cosgrove and The White Lotus showrunner Mike White. Oh, and the music is still as great as it was then, even decades later. There’s a strong message here about the importance of teaching children about music and helping them follow their passion, and it’s that message that will keep this movie relevant for decades to come. 

73. Up (2009)

Pixar Animation Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, has always been known for its films that have reached a broad audience, starting with their debut full-feature film, Toy Story. However, in 2009, the studio released Up, the first Pixar film to receive a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Up is mainly about Carl, an older man living a lonely life, and to fulfill his promise to his late wife, he travels across the world in a floating house to South America – with the help of a local wilderness explorer who tags along for the ride. 

A lot can be said about Up, from its stunning animation to the beautiful soundtrack, but nothing beats the story. It's a tale of a found family and of finding love and compassion in places you would never expect. And you must always remember – the wilderness must be explored!

72. District 9 (2009)

Coming in at 72 on the list might just be an indicator of how underrated District 9 is, considering it’s one of the best science fiction movies of the 2000s. Neill Blomkamp’s feature walks the line between messaging about the various mistreatment marginalized groups are subjected to, to how humanity would respond if aliens were really discovered to be on Earth. Given recent reports at government hearings, it isn’t all that unbelievable that it wouldn’t take long for humanity to get back to normal after finding a bunch of alien refugees on Earth. 

Perhaps the best compliment to pay District 9 is that it’s a phenomenal standalone sci-fi movie with no sequels or prequels. This could be why it’s typically lower on the sci-fi lists as there may be a community of people that simply forgot about it as the years went on. Now is the time to revive the credit it deserves and maybe bump it up a few notches on future top lists. 

71. Shrek (2001)

Think of every DreamWorks Animation movie you can think of – I bet Shrek is one of the first that pops into your head. 

Shrek was a momentous occasion for DreamWorks Animation when it was released. It was a huge box office success, received rave reviews, and was even the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature winner. The movie mainly follows Shrek, an ogre whose swamp is suddenly overrun with fairytale creatures, and to get them out, he must save Princess Fiona from a tower guarded by a dragon on a mountain of lava and bring her to Lord Farquad. 

The DreamWorks Animation film created an empire of Shrek success. With numerous sequels and spinoff movies, Shrek is one of the most successful animated franchises ever. The first film featured some great CGI animation for 2001 but also had the hilarity of adult jokes that parents would get while their kids enjoyed the fantasy, animation, and love story. Besides, who wouldn't love listening to Eddie Murphy crack jokes as Donkey for an hour and a half? 

70. Mulholland Drive (2001)

There are two sides to David Lynch: the fairly normal filmmaker who wants to tell a linear story in a somewhat straightforward manner (examples include The Elephant Man and The Straight Story), and the absolute bonkers off-the-wall batshit fever dream of an avante-garde video artist (examples include Eraserhead and Inland Empire). What makes Mulholland Drive such a beautiful film, is that it’s the perfect balance of these two sides of the iconic writer/director. In fact, without spoiling anything, the film even has a pivotal moment where it completely changes tonally, effectively showing these two distinct sides of Lynch. Perhaps more importantly, this tonal switch is expertly pulled off by the film’s star Naomi Watts, who, between this and 2001’s 21 Grams, was at a point in her career where she was showing off her chops with an authenticity that was hard not to notice. Mulholland Drive will show you the full range of skill you need to see from both Watts, and the legendary auteur that is David Lynch. 

69. Watchmen (2009)

“Unadaptable” is a word that’s been used when approaching the most ambitious literary adaptations. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel Watchmen was one such project, earning that brand after decades of potential adaptations failed to tackle the ambitious superhero narrative properly. 

Even in light of multiple cuts, and the ending being substantially altered from what was depicted in the 1985 source material, Watchmen is a miracle to behold. Somehow, the complicated narrative told through various mediums in that graphic novel was streamlined into a product that didn’t water down the full story. 

Only Zack Snyder’s third directorial effort, Watchmen is a powerful statement of the man’s developing skills in that point of his career. Arriving in the wake of Iron Man and The Dark Knight, it proved comic adaptations could be more than market-driving crowd pleasers. In the case of Watchmen, such movies could also be masterpieces.

68. Sideways (2004)

How the hell did Sideways, a dialogue-driven dramedy about a schoolteacher who loves wine, become such a mainstream pop-culture phenomenon? Try going wine-tasting without hearing a joke about drinking from the spit bucket, or somebody saying, “I am not drinking any fucking merlot!”

Sideways’ writer and director, Alexander Payne, has always told stories that are rather grounded in reality. Aside from Downsizing where he literally shrank Matt Damon, these are movies about common issues that most folks can relate to. The Descendants is about grief, About Schmidt is about aging, and Sideways is about letting go. With the script came Payne’s first Academy Award, a life-changing role for Paul Giamatti, and one of the best films of that decade. The bleak nature of the ending with just a dash of hope is a testament to real-life, and relatable for the average person. That is how a movie about a failed middle-aged writer with a drinking problem managed to cement its place in film history. 

67. Lost In Translation (2003)

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an American actor past his prime. Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is a young, married, recent college graduate. Both are in Tokyo — Bob to shoot promos for a Japanese whiskey and Charlotte to follow her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi) on his latest assignment — and overcome with feelings of loneliness and disillusionment until a chance meeting at their hotel bar gives the unlikely duo a sense of fulfillment when they both need it most.

Lost in Translation is one of the first films produced by Focus Features and is still considered to be one of the production company’s best releases two decades later for the refreshingly unique — albeit, unlikely — love story that still manages to warm hearts from its unforgettable opening shot to its cryptic, much-debated final moment. The charming, invigoratingly honest dramedy also managed to be a major turning point for Murray (who earned his sole Academy Award nomination), Johansson (a breakthrough performance), and second-time writer and director Sophia Coppola, who earned a well-deserved Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

66. The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

In the mid-2000s, big screen comedy underwent a titanic shift. Through the late ‘90s and the turn of the century, the genre was dominated by the so-called Frat Pack (Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson)… but then along came The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the directorial debut from Judd Apatow. The film is hilarious and sweet, with a collection of wonderful characters exploring the high highs and low lows of sexuality and romance in the 21st century – and while not everything about it has aged perfectly, it does a tremendous job at leaning into the talents of its stars. And it’s a game-changer.

While it’s Steve Carell’s movie, a huge part of its legacy is featuring the breakout performance by Seth Rogen. In the wake of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Rogen and Apatow became the biggest names in funny, with not just their own comedic voices becoming popular, but also their improvisation-heavy styles.

65. Hot Fuzz (2007)

Hot Fuzz is the kind of action movie where every second feels crafted by a team of action movie fans, as opposed to a cast and crew just going through the motions. Co-written by the A+ pair Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, starring Pegg opposite frequent co-star Nick Front, Hot Fuzz is mostly set far from metropolitan skylines and endless high-rises, and its quaint Wicker Man-esque village makes for a wildly unique setting for any story filled with this many Point Break references.

As the second film in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Hot Fuzz built on Shaun of the Dead's already stellar cast with a host of UK legends such as Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Bill Nighy, Edward Woodward, Billie Whitelaw, Olivia Colman, Bill Bailey, and the list goes on and on. (When you have Cate Blanchett making uncredited appearances, you're doing something right.) Unlike the other two Cornetto films, though, Hot Fuzz probably deserves another straightforward sequel set in this universe, with a new killer crime for Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman to get crackin’ on.

64. Walk The Line (2005)

Music biopics might feel like they’re a dime a dozen, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t gems to behold in the genre, and one of those is absolutely James Mangold’s Academy Award-winning drama, Walk the Line. In it, Joaquin Phoenix portrays country music legend Johnny Cash through his tumultuous rise to fame, which includes his relationship with eventual wife, June Carter (Reese Witherspoon).

Sure, on one hand, we’ve seen music’s superstars descend into alcoholism and drug addiction on the big screen time and time again, but it’s how all the pieces of Cash and Carter’s story are put together that make the film a must watch. As such, the performances of the leads are everything here, and seeing June attempt to staunch her feelings for her married co-performer, while also trying to knock some sense into him as she watches his addictions grow and Johnny become more erratic, are some of the best parts of the movie. Witherspoon didn’t win a Best Actress Oscar for nothing, and Phoenix is at his peak here, as well.

63. Lilo & Stitch (2002)

With Walt Disney Animation fresh out of its renaissance after the ‘90s, the 2000s were a particularly experimental period for the studio which, looking back, found inspiration from numerous science fiction classics. The best 2D animated movie from the House of Mouse of the decade is a lively spin on E.T., but this mysterious alien is an intergalactic fugitive with a bad temper who falls to the Hawaiian Islands, becomes best friends with a young orphaned girl who teaches him the gospel of Elvis Presley. 

Not only is Lilo & Stitch an incredibly quotable, fun, family adventure, it’s one of Disney’s most authentic and original films that speaks to finding one’s ohana in unexpected places amidst great loss. Few Walt Disney Animation movies have felt as simultaneously intimate and commercial as Lilo & Stitch. Experiment 626 remains a gem that made Disney’s growing pains of the 2000s worth the while. 

62. Monsters, INC (2001)

Before Up, The Incredibles and even Finding Nemo, there was Monsters, Inc. Pixar’s decision to make its fourth feature a story about a company that generates scream-based power in a world inhabited by ferocious creatures may have seemed odd at the time. However, it ultimately turned out to be an inspired (and very) lucrative decision. Set in the world of Monstropolis, the film centers on two pals – both employees of the titular corporation – who must return a human child to her world in order to keep her out of harm’s way. And the result is a hilarious and heartwarming romp about loyalty and tolerance.

Pete Docter – who’d go on to direct Up, Inside Out and more – really proved himself as a filmmaker with this directorial debut. The flick is beautifully animated and populated with plenty of lovable characters. Speaking of which, John Goodman’s James P. “Sully” Sullivan and Billy Crystal’s Mike Wasowski still stand as two of Pixar’s most popular creations. The interactions between the two sometimes mirror the interplay of some of cinema’s best comedic duos. Monsters, Inc. would spawn a sequel and TV spinoff, but it’s the 2001 movie that’s truly an eclectic piece of storytelling.

61. The Hurt Locker (2008)

Best Picture award, but the voters got it right when it came to the prize handed out at the end of the 21st century’s first decade. Director Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker is a heart-stopper that tears down the wall between film and audience: when Jeremy Renner’s Staff Sergeant William James is suited up and defusing bombs, you hold your breath in fear, terrified to feel the heat of the fiery explosion that will result with one false move by the protagonist.

Screenwriter Mark Boal’s work puts us directly in James’ mind – a soldier who is incapable of leaving the battlefield behind – and Jeremy Renner’s turn is a career best. In retrospect, it’s wholly understandable why Renner’s performance changed the trajectory of his career and turned him into the Marvel-bona fide star that he is today.

60. Moulin Rouge (2001)

On paper, Moulin Rouge is a movie that just should not exist. The premise alone, a modern jukebox musical set in 1890s Paris, creates a level of cognitive dissonance on its own that suspension of disbelief should be impossible. It’s the sort of thing that only a director like Baz Luhrmann would even try, but somehow, he not only makes it happen, he makes it work.

Everything about Moulin Rouge goes hard. The performances, the songs, the sets. It creates its unreality so perfectly that it’s near-impossible to avoid being swept up by it and brought along for the ride. And the absinthe-infused magic is so far removed from reality that even 20 years later Moulin Rouge feels just as fresh. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor are perfect as the star-crossed lovers. We know how the story will end before it begins, but it doesn’t make any of it less heartbreaking. Luhrmann’s films can sometimes focus on style over substance, but there’s no lack of substance here. 

59. Elf (2003)

Elf is probably the most recent Christmas movie that became an instant classic. Jon Favreau crafted a delightful and bonkers story for the 2003 movie, with Will Ferrell offering one of his most iconic performances of all time. And it’s a movie that’s re-watched annually by countless families every Holiday Season… or other times in the year when you need a good laugh.

Elf’s concept is both ridiculous and simple; Buddy is a human raised by elves who eventually goes to New York City to find his birth father (played by Godfather icon James Caan). The juxtaposition between Buddy’s eternal optimism and the hard streets of the Big Apple is fodder for countless funny bits throughout its runtime. There’s also a touching story about family and the holiday spirit that makes Elf a true beloved Christmas movie. Plus, it’s got a pre-Game of Thrones appearance by Peter Dinklage. And of course, Santa (I know him!).

58. Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

In the 1950s, few people were as outspoken about the threat of Communism than Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy, whose blacklisting of anyone he deemed suspicious was so notoriously frequent that “McCarthyism” — a term associated with fear mongering — was coined after him. One of the few people brave enough to take a stand against him was CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow, whose defiance of the politician and the Red Scare nearly cost him his career, but also made him into one of the most influential icons of his craft.

This monumental moment in journalism history is dramatized with nearly the same level of passion for truth and justice in Good Night, and Good Luck. — named after the famous concluding catchphrase of Murrow, portrayed here in an Academy Award-nominated performance by David Strathairn. George Clooney, who also plays Murrow’s producer, Fred Friendly, earned his first Oscar nominations as a director and co-writer for this riveting history lesson, made even better with Robert Elswit’s gorgeous cinematography and exquisite acting from the star-studded ensemble, which also includes Jeff Daniels, Patricia Arquette, Robert Downey Jr., and Frank Langella.

57. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Wes Anderson’s style is so distinct that it has become something of a joke in pop culture, frequently being parodied on shows like Saturday Night Live. When folks reference Wes Anderson, and the trademarks of a Wes Anderson film, they’re primarily lifting it from The Royal Tenenbaums. The point is, Tenenbaums is by far the most Wes Anderson-y film to ever Wes Anderson; absolutely jam-packed with quirkitude, a variety of eccentric characters and deadpan dialogue delivery. This is the quintessential hipster flick that helped to define a generation of indie millennial film buffs.

Aside from The Royal Tenenbaums’ effect on pop culture, it truly exists as a wonderful, honest, hilarious, and heartbreaking film. Over twenty years ago when the film was released, there wasn’t a lot like it in mainstream American cinema, with the somewhat privileged (yet painfully relatable) themes it explores being limited to conversations had by those gathering to watch Jean-Luc Godard in their NYU dorm rooms. With his first Oscar nomination, The Royal Tenenbaums introduced much of the world to Wes Anderson, and many still consider it to be his finest work to date. 

56. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Oftentimes sequels don’t measure up to their predecessor, but Spider-Man 2 is one of the exceptions. Director Sam Raimi and screenwriter Alvin Sargent kept the best elements from the first Spider-Man movie and improved upon them, with the follow-up doing an excellent job exploring how Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker handles the burden of heroism and trying to balance his web-sliding activities with his civilian life. However, Spider-Man 2’s MVP is Alfred Molina, whose more sympathetic take on Doctor Octopus quickly cemented him as one of the best superhero movie villains of all time. It’s no wonder we still have yet to see another actor play the tentacled antagonist in a live-action movie. As a bonus, I love how the movie recreated the panel from 1967’s The Amazing Spider-Man #50 of Peter Parker leaving his costume behind in the garbage. A touch like that is a great Easter egg for Marvel fans, but is also just a gorgeous shot for the casuals watching the tale unfold.

55. Ratatouille (2007)

Pixar Animation’s eighth feature film, Ratatouille, is as surprising as its premise. It came at a time when the studio was high on a winning streak, redefining how we looked at toys, bugs, monsters, cars, superheroes and fish. Sure, making an audience empathetic to rats feels like a stretch, but the 2007 movie had a fresh and quirky way in that kept Pixar at an all-time high. What if one rat was secretly a gourmet cook in Paris, France? The results are so charming. 

Fronted by a charismatic voice performance from Patton Oswalt as Remy, packed with decadent and often mouth-watering animation greatly displayed inside a top-tier French kitchen and beautifully underlined by an all-time great score from Michael Giacchino, Pixar told a hilarious underdog story with the creativity and wonder the studio remains beloved for. It’s one of those movies that has one doing a double take at every human and animal you encounter next time you walk outside in playful curiosity about the world thinking “Anyone Can Cook.” 

54. Superbad (2007)

Seth Rogen has touted himself as a “permanent teenager,” and never has that title been truer than in the 2007 teen buddy comedy Superbad. The movie — which he penned with Evan Goldberg and stars a number of the regular Judd Apatow players — carries the funky vibe of the 1970s throughout, but its story is timeless. The only thing more relatable than high-school seniors Seth and Evan (played perfectly by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) trying to get to a party to impress some girls was their underlying anxiety over not knowing what would happen to their friendship after graduation.

The laughs come a mile a minute — some may say it’s the funniest movie of all time — with an impressive cast that also includes Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Emma Stone and, of course, Seth Rogen. But in the end it’s the friendship at the heart of the story that makes this one worth watching again and again. Superbad is also responsible for giving us “McLovin,” for which we should be forever grateful.

53. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

One of the most intriguing stories related to the crime of check fraud is that of Frank Abagnale Jr., who impersonated various professions, passed off millions of dollars worth of phony checks, and outran the FBI between the ages of 16 and 21. At least, that is what the fraud prevention consultant claimed in his memoir, Catch Me If You Can. The book inspired an excellent movie of the same name.

This 1960s-set crime drama stars future Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio as the young, elusive con artist, who enters an intense, enduring game of cat-and-mouse with two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as a veteran FBI agent who will stop at nothing to bring him to justice, even if he becomes friends with him in the process. Following Minority Report, director Steven Spielberg completed his one-two punch of masterfully entertaining films in 2002 with this dazzling, devilishly charming, and even heartwarming tale. 

52. Cast Away (2000)

Everybody scream “Wilson!” with me! Now, let’s all break into violent sobs as we remember Tom Hanks losing his best friend… a volleyball with a face painted on it. Cast Away is a miracle. It’s essentially a one-man show that you can’t pull your eyes off of, because you root so hard for Hanks and want to see how he’s going to get off the deserted island on which he is stranded. Director Robert Zemeckis places us in Hanks’ sandals, so we feel frustration as he fails to get a makeshift raft over the incoming tide, and elation when he figures out how to start a fire. Hanks already was viewed as one of our greatest actors before he single handedly carried this survival story, but the gripping performance earned him his fifth Oscar nomination. (He lost to Russell Crowe in Gladiator.) Listen to this remarkable stat: Zemeckis filmed Cast Away’s first half with a chunky Hanks, then had to pause production while his leading man lost enough weight and grew enough hair to play his marooned self in the movie’s second half. During that pause, Zemeckis filmed an entire feature: 2000’s marital thriller What Lies Beneath, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford.

51. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

One thing to know about Ang Lee is that he keeps audiences guessing when it comes to his projects. And given his body of work leading up to the 2000s, not too many people might’ve expected him to helm a wuxia martial arts epic with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yet movie lovers should be so glad he did. His seventh directorial effort is a masterpiece featuring beautifully choreographed fight sequences, impeccable production design, imposing performances and more.

Based on Wang Dulu’s 1942 novel of the same name, the highly ambitious production centers on a seasoned warrior and his equally skilled ally (and love interest), who aim to hunt down the former’s fabled sword so it can be delivered for safekeeping. Their quest ultimately leads them down a path neither could’ve ever imagined. Ang Lee assembled a highly formidable ensemble of actors led by Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi, who all give career-best performances. The martial arts genre features a wide array of movies, but few can meet the standard set by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

50. Legally Blonde (2001)

“What? Like it’s hard” to be one of the top 50 movies of the 2000s? It’s not for Legally Blonde, that’s for sure. Casually going to law school at Harvard to win back your ex-boyfriend is a far-fetched idea, but Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods doesn't just pull it off, she succeeds in grand fashion, obviously.  

Elle Woods is such an icon, she’s funny, gorgeous, and hyper-intelligent, and seeing her harness all of that to succeed at Harvard was empowering. Reese Witherspoon and the cast of Legally Blonde are also on their A-games in this movie, creating a hilariously smart and unique story. From Jennifer Coolidge’s “bend and snap” moment with our leading lady to the adorable rom-com subplot between Elle and Luke Wilson’s Emmett, the film is packed with memorable stories from fabulous characters.

Since then, Withersoon’s lawyer’s story has expanded into a sequel and a Broadway musical, because a world with more Elle Woods in it is “So Much Better.” 

49. Tropic Thunder (2008)

Tropic Thunder is a relentless and vicious commentary on the motion picture industry and all the absurdities associated with it. For two unyielding hours, Ben Stiller’s satirical action comedy mercilessly skewers the executives, the actors, the directors, the writers, the agents and even an explosives coordinator, painting them as deeply flawed and emotionally unstable people who will do anything to stay relevant and protect their own fragile egos. From blackface to stolen valor to exploiting the mentally handicapped, there’s no line they won’t cross in pursuit of their next award, their next paycheck or their next high.

Tropic Thunder shouldn’t work. From one angle, it’s a big budget, big studio action comedy filled with explosions, fart jokes and Tom Cruise dancing to Flo Rida. From another angle, it’s a deeply clever satire that repeatedly and without apology seeks out complicated and problematic subject matter. It’s a movie within a movie disguised as another movie, but instead of a disorganized mess, it somehow all comes together thanks to a fantastic script, an Oscar-nominated Robert Downey Jr. performance and the greatest little kid reaction shot in the history of movies.

48. Gladiator (2000)

Russell Crowe went on an absolute tear in the 2000s with a number of memorable movies, so it’s no surprise that the one he won the Best Actor Oscar for is on this list. Gladiator is an absolute triumph from start to finish, with knockout performances led by the direction of Ridley Scott. Maximus is an immediately likable character brought down to the lowest point of his life. He keeps fighting and survives solely because of the revenge he hopes to deliver to Commodus. 

And while Joaquin Phoenix did not win an Oscar for his nominated performance as Commodus, Maximus’ journey isn’t quite as sweet without him being every bit as unlikable as he should be. When the big scene finally comes for Maximus and Commodus to square off, how can you not be on the edge of your seat? Without a doubt one of the best gladiator movies of all time.

47. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

While not strictly a love story, Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire definitely owes a lot to the genre, as Jamal’s (Dev Patel) lifelong love for childhood friend Latika (Freida Pinto) drives much of what he does. The drama follows Jamal as he relays the events of his young life that have led him to correctly answering questions on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, after he’s arrested and tortured for cheating.

As Jamal takes us through the harrowing events of his childhood that led him not only to fall for Latika, but to compete on the show in an effort to find her again, we’re taken through an action-packed tale of survival under extreme circumstances, what a young man will go through to save the love of his life, and how we all probably know a lot more than we think we do. Definitely hard to watch at times, but inspirational nonetheless.

46. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

On one hand, Jonathan Daylon and Valerie Faris’ Little Miss Sunshine is one of the funniest movies of the 2000s, but on the other hand it’s one of the most tragic stories to come out of the decade. The “road trip from Hell” setup had been done countless times prior to the film’s 2006 release, but rarely had the subgenre been as effective, emotional, or laugh out loud funny.

Michael Arndt’s hilarious, heartbreaking, and nuanced screenplay, which earned him an Oscar, doesn’t play it safe by avoiding life’s tragedies (both major and minor), but instead faces them head-on, creating a cathartic experience for his characters and audience alike. Transformative performances by the late Alan Arkin (he also won an Academy Award), Abigail Breslin, Toni Collette and the rest of the Little Miss Sunshine cast make you feel their characters are family, which is the heart and soul of this outstanding film.

45. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Keira Knightley’s Pride & Prejudice is hardly the first take on the novel of the same name, but the 2005 film arguably set the standard for modern Jane Austen movie adaptations. The love story between Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) is beautifully told, and made all the more memorable for the cinematography, soundtrack, and chemistry between the stars. In fact, the cast was stacked with stars who either already had or would become big names, including Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan, and Kelly Reilly in addition to Knightley and Macfadyen. 

The world of the Bennet family in this Pride & Prejudice feels lived in and domestic in a way that adds a touch of modern realism to a Regency-era period drama and contrasts the more austere beauty of Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley estate. The film isn’t as faithful to the book as the beloved 1995 BBC miniseries, but it hits the important beats of the original Jane Austen story in just over two hours while also being completely accessible to viewers who haven’t read the book, with moments like the iconic hand flex of Mr. Darcy that fans far and wide know well. 

44. Adaptation (2002)

Adaptation is a book adaptation about the adaptation process. Understood? Wonderful. 

Nicolas Cage plays dual roles as the most neurotic possible version of screenwriter Charlie Kauffman, as well as his fictitious twin Donald Kauffman. Originally hired to write the film adaptation for Susan Orlean’s bestseller The Orchid Thief, Charlie Kauffman experiences a debilitating case of writer’s block, stemming from a slew of mental health issues including social anxiety, body dysmorphia and depression. This sends him on something of a tortured artist’s odyssey that leads him to write himself, and the experience, into his script. Thus, we get Adaptation, a hybrid of both the story of The Orchid Thief, and Kauffman’s experience adapting it.

These days, such a meta concept is somewhat commonplace, but over 20 years ago, this was the most bonkers script since Kauffman’s Being John Malkovich. Malkovich was even worked into Adaptation’s storyline, with John Cusack, Catherine Keener and the titular John Malkovich playing themselves. The point is, this film is WEIRD in the best of ways, yet still managed to grab Oscar nominations for Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep, as well as a win for Chris Cooper. Adaptation is perhaps the greatest cinematic insight into the creative writing process, and the effect it has on one’s psyche, ever made.

43. Love & Basketball (2000)

The best romantic comedies might get a lot of attention from fans of lovey dovey stories, but romantic dramas deserve our eyeballs as well, and Love & Basketball is one that really should be praised. This romance (which is also a fantastic sports drama) tells the story of Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps), two talented, basketball-obsessed kids who bond over their love of the sport, but have several trials as they attempt to take their relationship from friends to lovers in their high school and college years and, later, in their twenties.

Gina Prince-Bythewood’s feature-length directorial debut does an amazing job of showing how hard it can be for two people who are so dedicated to their craft to make time for one another, especially as the pressure to succeed in their sport pulls them in different directions. But, it goes much further than that, with each of their complicated family dynamics and emotional wounds taking this love story to the next level.

42. Minority Report (2002)

If you had the chance to predict and prevent a tragic crime, the choice sounds obvious, right? That is until you are faced with the possibility that the prediction is wrong and your arrestee was destined to be innocent. That provocative idea was the basis for a 1956 short story by prolific science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick, which was later adapted into one of director Steven Spielberg’s most exciting films of the decade, if not his full career.

Tom Cruise stars as John Anderton — the chief for a special police unit that uses a trio of clairvoyant siblings to detect future murders — who begins to question their seemingly “perfect” system when he makes the horrifying discovery that the potential perpetrator of his next case is himself, forcing him to go on the run. The truth behind this prediction revealed in the brilliant twist ending of Minority Report is one of the many fascinating and thought-provoking aspects of this astonishingly inventive sci-fi masterpiece that is not quite dystopian, but far from utopian either.

41. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Over the past few years, there have been great strides for representation and diverse stories in Hollywood. But back in the early 2000s, this wasn’t exactly the case. Which is why Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain was such a groundbreaking movie upon its release. Hollywood simply wasn’t telling queer love stories through major blockbusters, let alone honoring them with major Awards Nominations.

While there’s been some backlash about straight actors playing LGBTQ+ roles, Brokeback likely only got produced because of its bankable (and yes straight) lead actors. For their part, both Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger offer moving and complicated performances that still stand up today. Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway also really deliver, which is par for the course for those talented actresses. This quartet of performers tell their characters’ stories through decades of time, and to devastating results. And the acclaimed film is still so beloved that it’s being adapted for the stage on the West End, starring Mike Faist and Lucas Hedges. 

40. American Psycho (2000)

Author Bret Easton Ellis’ novel American Psycho is a shocking literary experience. There are scenes in it that will make even the most seasoned horror fan blanche – and reading it, you can understand why it was deemed unadaptable for a time after its publication. When it did finally get brought to the big screen, co-adapted by screenwriter Guinevere Turner and director Mary Harron, the material was understandably pulled back a bit, but the movie still remains a scary and biting satire that takes aim at the hardcore capitalism in the 1980s.

Years before he became a big screen legend playing Batman, Christian Bale became a horror icon with his performance as Patrick Bateman – a white, rich sociopath who enjoys torturing and slaughtering women… but who nonetheless blends in with all the rest of New York’s white, rich sociopaths. It’s a rich cinematic experience that manages to be both satisfyingly scary and surprisingly funny.

39. 28 Days Later (2002)

Certain movies can be credited as causing shifts so powerful, an entire genre felt its influence. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland’s 28 Days Later is one such film, as this lo-fi British horror-thriller would go on to see interest in movies like Dawn of the Dead (2004) and Shaun of the Dead being boosted. 

Revitalizing the zombie genre, while not calling its own creatures by the Z-word, the normal rules didn’t apply in this horror masterpiece. In the world of the previously coma-ridden Jim (Cillian Murphy), the vicious “infected” could come from anywhere, with blazing speed. Survival, in some situations, could be measured in a heartbeat, with a drop of blood or saliva making the difference. 

Stocked with a who’s who of actors like Brendan Gleeson, Christopher Eccleston, and Naomie Harris, 28 Days Later did for zombies what Scream did for slasher films. Challenging the status quo with relentless energy, the film is all at once terrifying, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland resurrected the undead genre with stunning results.

38. Amelie (2001)

One of the most delightful stories committed to film. French ingénue Audrey Tautou was perfectly cast as the title character Amelie, who is believed to have a delicate heart condition and so is overprotected by her doting parents. As a result of her gently-imposed isolation, Amelie develops an overactive imagination, which leads her on a series of whimsical adventures. Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet embraces magical realism as a style, with Tautou basically gliding through this giddy fantasy as she works to make the lives of everyone around her happy, and possibly find love on her own in the process. Amelie seems to transmit joy, and if you aren’t uplifted by Tautou’s effervescent performance, you might want to check to ensure you still have a pulse. Now, go borrow someone else’s lawn gnome, photograph it in front of a celebrated vacation spot, and spread the joy of Amelie with anyone who hasn’t yet seen this delightful gem. 

37. Donnie Darko (2001)

There may not be a more aggressively strange and maddeningly perplexing movie on this list than Donnie Darko. Yet, its mysterious and nearly off-putting nature may be the reason why — despite nearly becoming a cable TV movie (if not for Christopher Nolan’s praise) and ultimately bombing at the box office — it remains an enduring cult hit.

At its core, writer and director Richard Kelly’s feature-length debut is the story of an emotionally troubled young man (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose struggle to navigate adolescence in the late 1980s is worsened by visions of an apocalyptic soothsayer in a horrifying rabbit suit, but it is much more than that. It is a sharp coming-of-age satire on par with some of John Hughes’ films, a classic time travel movie, and a pervasively grim fantasy tale that serves as a perfect Halloween tradition, among other things. Above all, however, Donnie Darko is unique enough to defy categorization, resulting in a one-of-a-kind experience. 

36. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

If we’re only including one adaptation of the Harry Potter series on this list, it has to be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The source material has our lead trio entering into their teen years with more studies than ever and higher stakes all around. New characters are introduced, major reveals transpire and there’s also that twisty bit of time travel. Oh, and let’s not forget the bone-chilling Dementors, whose powers include dredging up a person’s darkest memories and fears. 

Those things on their own give Prisoner of Azkaban an edge over some of the other books, but Alfonso Cuarón’s adaptation does more than just bring one of the best installments of the series to life. New layers of the magical world emerge on the screen thanks to the cinematography, not to mention Cuarón’s vision and patient approach to the pacing, which gives us the chance to really soak in the surroundings in any given scene. Whether it’s showing the change of seasons at Hogwarts or the stunning sight of Harry soaring over the lake on the back of a Hippogriff, it’s more than enough to set the film above its predecessors and raise the bar firmly for the adaptations that would follow. 

35. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

The Devil Wears Prada is already a classic. While the film quality itself is high, the movie has also become part of the fabric of pop culture, thanks to its quotable lines and the unbelievable performance of one Meryl Streep. Anne Hathaway is regularly transformed into a meme thanks to the scene where Annie shows up to work post-makeover in Chanel Boots.

Aside from the pop culture of it all, The Devil Wears Prada is a delightful movie romp. The fashions are aspirational, and the cast is truly on top of their game. Special points to Emily Blunt, who became a household name following her performance as Emily. And considering how light and frothy even the movie’s drama is, the rewatchability of this book to movie adaptation cannot be understated. If you haven’t watched Devil Wears Prada recently, by all means move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me.

34. The Lord Of The Rings Movies (2001-2003)

There are very few fantasy movie franchises out there that have been great all the way through. They have their dips and slides, but if there’s one major fantasy franchise to rule them all, it has to be The Lord of the Rings movies. 

The film franchise mainly follows Frodo Baggins as he travels with the Fellowship on a quest to destroy the One Ring in order to take down the person who made it, Sauron. But don't take that premise at face value – there is so much more to this story than meets the eye. 

The Lord of the Rings movies are perfect in every shape and form. From the battle sequences to the visual effects to the acting, there is much to love and adore about these films. The Lord of the Rings delivers in ways fans can't even imagine. There's a reason why the franchise is so popular years later – and how spinoffs, such as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, have been released in recent years. The love keeps pouring in. 

33. Casino Royale (2006)

When James Bond was given his iconic Walther PPK in Dr. No, Sean Connery’s initial incarnation is told the weapon has “a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window.” The same could be said for 2006’s Casino Royale, as the introduction to Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies wasn’t shy about changing things up, and surprising even the most experienced 007 fans with how it would depict Commander Bond’s exploits.

Director Martin Campbell’s franchise reboot was as lean and mean as they come. Casino Royale showed 007 getting his ass handed to him, and his heart broken. Such vulnerability didn’t weaken the character, but rather it humanized him and added a suspense that the Bond movies had lost for some time.

Daniel Craig stepped into the role of the modern James Bond as if it were a tuxedo perfectly tailored for his presence. Wryly funny, yet cold and calculating when he had to pull the trigger, Craig made the role his own from frame one. To see such an iconic series redefined so perfectly, after 20 movies and over four decades of history before it, is something that still astonishes as much now as it did upon initial viewing.

32. Batman Begins (2005)

One of the most notorious bombs in Hollywood history is 1997’s Batman & Robin — a movie that, despite having some fans, is so cartoonishly absurd and dismissive of the source material’s essential themes and tone that it would be the last we would see of one of DC Comics’ most important characters on the big screen for years. The Caped Crusader’s resurgence in cinema — and in modern pop culture — can be traced back to when director Christopher Nolan went back to basics and all the way back to the beginning of his war on crime in Batman Begins.

Christian Bale immediately asserted himself as one of the best actors to play Batman with his grounded and stoic performance as a Bruce Wayne desperate to rescue his beloved Gotham City — one of the most stunningly realistic and effectively grimy depictions of the burdened metropolis — from the cesspool of crime and corruption it has become. While it is not widely considered to be the absolute best of the live-action Batman movies so far (more on that one later), most would agree that Batman Begins is one of the best superhero movies in general for its refreshingly earnest and complex approach to comic book lore, exhilarating action sequences and technical mastery, and reinventing the Dark Knight for a new generation without losing sight of what made him an icon in the first place.

31. Children of Men (2006)

In a dystopian future, environmental malpractice has led to constant war, famine, and total human infertility. So imagine the surprise felt by former political activist Theo Faron (Clive Owen) when he learns that a young female refugee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) is pregnant, and is poised to deliver the first natural childbirth in eighteen years. 

Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron was coming off of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (considered by many to be the best film in that saga) when he unleashed his talents on Children of Men. His breathtaking approach to editing and cinematography propels the action forward at a feverish pitch, with Cuaron often choosing to stage his movements in long, eye-popping, unbroken shots that lure the audience to the edge of their seats. Cuaron says this is a movie about hope, but you have to endure a lot of credible despair to finally unearth it. It’s worth the effort.

30. Ocean's Eleven (2001)

As times change, what’s considered popular is as fluid as water itself. Sometimes a movie can be ahead of the curve in that respect, dictating a whole era of cool in its very existence. Director Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven did just that, as both an uber slick heist movie, and as a modernized remake of a pre-existing film. 

The 1960’s Rat Pack extravaganza about war veterans looking for one big score was turned into a gathering of thieves, assembled by one man (George Clooney) looking for something more than cash. While the stakes were changed, and the number spelled out in the title, this film nailed the breezy energy that made the original so lovely.

Be it an all-star cast including Bernie Mac, Carl Reiner, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts, the insanely slick soundtrack, or even just the way George Clooney could rock a suit without a tie, Ocean’s Eleven doesn’t telegraph its style. It presents it with great confidence, and allows you to decide if it’s worth your while. It’s a love letter to the past, while playing to the viewer of today; with a result as cool as that drink you just ordered at the bar.

29. Chicago (2002)

If you look at just about any list of the best musicals of the 21st century, it’s basically a guarantee that Chicago will be there. The adaptation of Bob Fosse’s long-running musical is one of few musical films to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Catherine Zeta-Jones took home a trophy as well for her stellar performance as the “All That Jazz” singer who killed her husband and sister, Velma Kelly. This film has intrigue, sex, murder, genius performances and a whole lot of jazz, and it's truly a masterful musical adaptation.

Rob Marshall ultimately made a musical that stays true to its stage roots, but also heightens the entire story through movie magic. Take “Cell Block Tango” for example, the majority of the song is performed on a stage, and the women singing about murdering their husbands are in black costumes similar to the wardrobe from Broadway. However, it’s bigger as a whole, and it flashes between the actual prison, and this staged dream-like sequence. By doing this for every number, the film both elevated and paid homage to its predecessor, which is just one of the many reasons it’s so incredible.

28. Iron Man (2008)

From being the first self-financed Marvel Studios production, executives initially being opposed to casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, and most of the dialogue being improvised since the script wasn’t finished when production began, there was a lot that could have gone wrong with Iron Man. And yet, the end result stands as a triumph in large part due to Downey’s performance as the genius/billionaire/playboy/philanthropist.

But of course, one can’t discuss Iron Man without addressing how it changed the film franchise game. Once Nick Fury emerged from the shadows and mentioned the Avengers Initiative in the post-credits scene, that was the first big tipoff that this movie was the first chapter in a shared universe, just like in the original Marvel comics. More than a decade later, the MCU still stands as a Hollywood powerhouse, and many franchises, both superhero and from other genres, have followed in its footsteps. 

27. Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

The slacker bastard child of George Romero's Dead films and Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead is a rarity in cinema, and not just for having the gall to sacrifice the soundtrack to 1989's Batman. It's a largely perfect amalgam of authenticity and parodical storytelling, anchored to the comedic whims and wiles of  director Edgar Wright, his co-writer Simon Pegg,  and Pegg’s co-star Nick Frost. As it goes with that trio’s other film on this list (see #65), Shaun’s biggest strength is its characters who feel real enough to legitimize the zombie apocalypse chaos, while also making viewers care about them even when the gory threats aren’t around the corner.

Shaun of the Dead may go down as the funniest horror movie to have ever existed, while also delivering some genuinely disturbing moments throughout that keep the adventure from falling too far into the funnies. Simon Pegg even transcends the dual genre description by spinning palpable emotion out of his struggle to prioritize the safety of his relationship, his BFF, and his mom. And if that wasn’t enough, it allowed moviegoers to spend some time in the Winchester, and that’s a slice of fried gold that makes everyone’s life better.

26. Moon (2009)

Whenever we sit down for a sci-fi film, especially one that takes place on a remote station somewhere away from our planet, we all know that we’re in for a twisty tale, and Moon certainly fulfills that promise. Duncan Jones’ 2009 directorial debut (he also came up with the story) focuses on Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), the lone human working a mostly automated mining facility on the far side of the moon, who begins to have troubling hallucinations as he nears the end of his work contract.

What follows is surprising, as not only does the story take several intriguingly unexpected turns, but it also examines what it’s like to be isolated from others (including loved ones), holding on to a sense of community, and one’s willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. Throw in a creepy AI, which can’t quite be determined as a helper or a hindrance for a time, and you get science fiction gold.

25. The Incredibles (2004)

Released during the early years of the superhero movie’s surging popularity, The Incredibles still holds up tremendously after all this time, despite so many other offerings from Marvel, DC and other studios being delivered nearly two decades after its release. To be sure, Pixar’s sixth full-length feature does a spectacular job at both honoring classic superhero stories and tropes, as well as poking fun at them, including the hilarious ‘no capes’ gag. But The Incredibles’ greatest feat isn’t how it handles these larger-than-life elements, but rather how it makes these characters feel relatable and complex in the midst of the action.

From Bob and Helen Parr being concerned about their children’s welfare, whether they’re living everyday life in suburbia or fighting bad guys in costume, to understanding that Syndrome’s sinister motivations stem from the hurt he endured as an adolescent, The Incredibles never pushes aside its humanity in favor of spectacle; instead, they compliment each other quite nicely. Throw in outstanding vocal performances from actors like Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter, and Brad Bird excelling as both the director and screenwriter, this movie stands out not just as a superhero movie, but as one of the greatest entries in Pixar’s library.

24. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Join Us In Creating Excellence. More powerful than any anti-drug ad, Requiem for a Dream hit theaters in 2000 and has stood the test of time as possibly the most affecting portrayal of addiction to date. Based on the Hubert Selby Jr. book of the same name, Darren Aronofsky’s film explores more than just the heroin addictions of Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans’ characters. Ellen Burstyn’s obsession with being on television and fitting into her red dress is haunting, and there’s no questioning why the role earned her an Academy Award nomination.

The work behind the camera was equal to the all-around horrifying performances, as Darren Aronofsky and cinematographer Matthew Libatique added to the story in how every shot was framed, the choreography of the characters’ movements, and the use of sound effects and split screens. The score was worthy of praise all on its own, with "Lux Aeterna" — the song that played over the climax of the film — leaving such an impression that it has gone on to be re-orchestrated for several other movie and video game trailers. 

Combine all of this and add a little of Christopher McDonald’s Tappy Tibbons J.U.I.C.E., and you’ve got a real feel-bad movie that may never fully leave you.

23. Oldboy (2003)

Because many have such good storylines, South Korean films have become some of the biggest international movies.. A few examples could be Parasite and The Wailing. One movie in particular stands above many of them, and that's Oldboy. 

Directed by Park Chan-wook, the film is loosely based on the Japanese manga of the same name and focuses on Dae-su, a man imprisoned in a cell that looks like a hotel room, for fifteen years, without knowing who the person was behind his capture. But when he gets his chance at freedom, he makes it his mission to find out who committed the crime all those years ago – only to find out there is much more to his imprisonment than he thought. 

Oldboy is incredible. The action scenes are probably some of the best recorded on a movie screen and have been imitated many times – just the corridor fight scene itself is enough to satisfy any action-movie fan. The story is intriguing all the way until the end, which will blow the minds of first-time viewers. Truly, Oldboy is a staple of the South Korean film industry – and a fantastic movie of the 2000s. 

22. Collateral (2004)

Michael Mann had already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest directors in the world of crime thrillers, but he further made a case for himself with his 2004 thriller, Collateral. Clocking in at exactly two hours, this cool, violent, and ruthless neo-noir classic not only sees one of the best Jamie Foxx performances with his portrayal of cab driver Max (a role that should have earned him an Oscar), it also introduces one of Tom Cruise’s most unhinged characters: Vincent, a mysterious and deadly assassin.

Cruise, who was coming off movies like Minority Report and The Last Samurai, is incredibly refreshing as the film’s antagonist, and it shows a side of the star that audiences don’t get to see as much. Seeing the actor’s undeniable charm and big-screen energy used to breathe life into someone who is pure evil is quite the experience, and really messes with the viewers’ mindset. In addition to actors like Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, and Jada Pinkett Smith, the movie also treats the city of Los Angeles less like a backdrop and more as another character, one that feels more alive as the story goes on, much like Mann’s 1995 heist film, Heat.

21. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Since the early days of moviemaking, Walt Disney’s viewpoint of the fairytale has had a stake in popular culture. It’s G-rated, soft and sweet, and there’s always a happy ending. Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth brings to life a fairytale that redefined what a fantasy movie can look like with its distinct and unforgettable vision. Set in 1944 Spain as the country picks up the pieces of the Spanish Civil War, the R-rated fantasy film follows a young girl named Ofelia as she faces the violent reality of the Francoist period and stumbles upon a dark wonderland in the shadows (or at least the shadows of her imagination). 

As del Toro was coming off two more commercial movies in Blade II and Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth is a breathtaking highlight in an all-time great filmmaker’s career. Across two hours, the Spanish-language movie brings to life an extraordinary vision that beautifully balances being twisted and innocent all at once with memorable horror, gore, mythical creations and a ton of gorgeous practical creature effects. How does he balance a magical quest with political drama? Some especially memorable words in Pan’s Labyrinth answers that question: If “door is locked,” one must “create your own.” In a landscape where fairytales can be predictable, del Toro opened a wonderfully defiant world of his own with Pan’s Labyrinth.

20. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) And Vol. 2 (2004)

After turning the heist movie on its head with 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, and changing the way audiences perceive movies in general (and winning a screenwriting Oscar) with 1994’s Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino very quickly made himself into one of the most unique and esteemed icons of the medium. However, after releasing his 1997 Elmore Leonard adaptation, Jackie Brown, we would not see him direct anything for another six years. Little did we know that he was planning to come back with something big — so big, that just one movie was not enough to tell the story. Based on a character Tarantino created with star Uma Thurman on the Pulp Fiction set, Kill Bill follows a deadly assassin initially known only as The Bride — one of the greatest female action heroes — who wakes up from a four-year coma with a furious urge to punish those who tried to put her to sleep permanently, with her former boss (David Carradine) being the primary target. 

For years, it was debated whether or not the stylistically disparate halves of the story — with Vol. 1 being an ode to ‘70s kung fu movies and Vol. 2 counting as Tarantino’s first western, essentially — should count as one film. Well, even if the director had never officially clarified that he does see Kill Bill as one movie, we still would have designated one spot for both volumes of this exquisitely crafted, gorgeously choreographed, visually and emotionally breathtaking epic on this list, because that is the only way to experience "the whole bloody affair.” 

• A Kill Bill Quote To Remember: “That's right. I killed your master. And now I'm gonna kill you too, with your own sword, no less, which in the very immediate future, will become... my sword.” (The Bride)

19. Training Day (2001)

In 100 years, when film historians look back to determine why Denzel Washington was considered one of the best actors of his generation, director Antoine Fuqua's Training Day should be at the top of any screening list. Detective Alonzo Harris is a special kind of monster, and Washington’s work offers incredible escalation and power. At first, he just seems like a hardened detective who has made some scary discoveries about how best to patrol the city of Los Angeles, but he becomes a whole different kind of beast by the end – one that King Kong ain’t got nothin’ on.

But while Training Day features an all-time great performance from one of the all-time great actors, not to be ignored is just how terrific the movie as a whole is. Ethan Hawke is also at the top of his game as up-and-coming officer Jake Hoyt, who faces death and peril as he slowly understands the real game that Alonzo is playing, and David Ayer’s screenplay is special – packing the believable character arcs and growing stakes into a limited 24-hour time frame. Even on the tenth viewing it is successful at raising your pulse and getting you to invest in the protagonist’s peril, and that’s the mark of a truly great thriller.

• A Training Day Quote To Remember: “You gotta control your smiles and cries, because that's all you have and nobody can take that away from you.” (Jake Hoyt)

18. The Wrestler (2008)

Still considered one of the best movies of 2008 more than a decade later, Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is a grueling battle royale of emotions that doesn’t pull any punches with its story about a broken-down professional wrestler looking for one last shot at redemption. Channeling both the triumph and tragedy, and the agony and ecstasy of putting one’s life on the line day-in and day-out for decades, Mickey Rourke gave audiences the performance of a lifetime with his portrayal of washed-up wrestler, Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a one-time larger-than-life titan caught somewhere between his past and uncertain future.

There are a lot of parallels between the character and Rouke’s own journey in this semi-autobiographical drama, which adds a tremendous amount of depth to not only his performance, but also the movie in general. Though wrestling is often considered a fake sport, Rourke’s performance and Aronofsky’s commitment to portraying the industry in an honest and genuine light is incredibly real. The physical, mental, and emotional pain can be felt in each of Randy’s movements, heard in his voice, and seen in his eyes as the former champ wrestles in high school gyms and attempts to make ends meet by taking on shifts at a local grocery store deli. Then there are the religious allegories that are explored through Randy’s character, as well as Marisa Tomei’s Cassidy, which make it all even more potent.

• A The Wrestler Quote To Remember: “I'll tell you somethin', I hate the fuckin' 90's.” (Randy Robinson)

17. Finding Nemo (2003)

Pixar has created some of the greatest animated films of all time, and Finding Nemo may be the studio’s true crowning achievement. It is as beautifully animated as it is emotionally powerful. The undersea world of Nemo is gorgeous simply to look at, and that’s just as true today as it was when the film was released. 

2003's Finding Nemo’s voice casting is second to none. Nobody does neurotic like Albert Brooks. Nobody can play clueless like Ellen DeGeneres. Nobody plays a tough guy of questionable sanity like Willem Dafoe. These are the actors you would cast if you were telling this story in live-action, and they bring it all to the voice performances in a way that truly brings these characters to life.

And Finding Nemo is able to balance its emotional extremes perfectly. We’re used to Pixar movies making us cry but years before Up, Finding Nemo opened with an incredibly heartbreaking moment. But after that, it’s able to be hilarious, scary, and even exciting. Finally, it concludes with the sort of resolution that stands the test of time, as young children will see the film and relate with Nemo, then grow up, and begin to understand Marlin in a new way.  Nemo does it all, not bad for a clownfish with a bad fin. 

• A Finding Nemo Quote To Remember: “Of course I like you. It’s because I like you, I don’t want to be with you. It’s a complicated emotion.” (Marlin)

16. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

“I think this just might be my masterpiece.” That’s the final line in writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, and coming as it does at the end of 153 minutes of perfection, it’s hard not to read it as a message directly from the filmmaker to the audience. In 2009, Tarantino was coming off of a low point in his career with the disappointing theatrical release of Grindhouse, but his follow-up is a phenomenal World War II epic that only he could make: Nazi-killing action packaged in a love letter to cinema.

Two stories – the revenge of Mélanie Laurent's Shosanna Dreyfus and the mission of the titular troop – play out in parallel with equal captivating energy right up until they collide in the (literally) explosive finale. While there isn’t a star in the expansive ensemble who doesn’t deliver a memorable performance (from Brad Pitt to Michael Fassbender to even Mike Myers), there isn’t a person who can watch the film and not walk away mesmerized by the work done by Christoph Waltz in his star-making turn as Hans Landa. It’s not an easy thing to blend a vibe of dastardly evil with sharp charisma, but Waltz is a force in the role, and it remains the best thing he has done in his career.

• An Inglourious Basterds Quote To Remember: “Well, you don't got to be Stonewall Jackson to know you don't want to fight in a basement.” (Lt. Aldo Raine)

15. Spirited Away (2001)

Studio Ghibli is one of the world's most-known anime film studios. Co-founded by legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki, the studio has created some of the best anime films of all time, one of which is Spirited Away – which Hayao Miyazaki directed. 

Spirited Away is about a journey into the spirit world following the young Chihiro. Taking place in Japan, we follow the little girl, who happens to be moving to a new neighborhood with her family. When her parents decide to take a shortcut to their new home and explore what looks to be an abandoned amusement park, Chihiro is forced to go along. However, there's magic everywhere, and her mom and dad turn into pigs against their will for eating a gluttonous feast. For her to get them back, she must work for the spirits in the bathhouse, so they can return to the human world. 

The premise itself sounds like a lot at first, but it's become Studio Ghibli’s – and Hayao Miyazaki's – highest-grossing film. It’s also the only anime film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the only hand-drawn film (so far) to accomplish the task. The movie features themes about love and learning to grow up and be brave. It's the perfect gateway movie into the anime film – indeed, one of the best movies of the 2000s. 

• A Spirited Away Quote To Remember: “I don't need any help; this place is full of soot.” (Kamaji)

14. The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is a battle of wills between two talented and irreparably flawed magicians, who can’t stay out of each other’s lives. Their differing roles in a shared tragedy push them apart and then repeatedly back together, as their initial determination to succeed steadily gives way to an obsession for vengeance. That obsession drives them to sacrifice and abandon everything healthy about their lives until they’re each left with only a singular drive to sabotage the other.

Based on that description, The Prestige sounds like a really dark movie. In many ways, it is, but in director Christopher Nolan’s hands, it’s also often really fun. It has a sense of wonder and mystery about it, as it not only dives into the idiosyncrasies of magic but also the exciting possibilities of science in the 1890s and early 1900s. It was a time and place in which anything felt possible, and you really feel that hopeful uncertainty thanks to a timeline that jumps to and fro and fantastic performances from Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall and a perfectly cast David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. Like a great magic trick, the first time you watch The Prestige, you’re fascinated by the spectacle and simply along for the ride. Then every time you rewatch it afterwards, you’re blown away by all the subtle skill required to pull it off.

• A The Prestige Quote To Remember: “Nobody cares about the man in the box.” (Robert Angier)

13. There Will Be Blood (2007)

Looking back, 2007 was one of the best movie years in recent memory, considering classics like No Country For Old Men, Zodiac, and Superbad all premiered on the big screen. But one of the biggest, baddest, and most arresting of those releases was Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood. An epic period drama about oilman Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) doing everything in his power and stepping on anyone in his way in his quest for wealth in the early 20th-century oil boom, the movie is a deep and vast exploration of a man’s psyche and desire to become the biggest player in the game.

While Day-Lewis’s performance is tremendous and more than deserving of the Oscar he received, it’s made even better thanks to his character’s conflict with Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a religious zealot who is just as tenacious and hungry for power as his counterpart. Several of the movie’s most iconic scenes (like the oil-town baptism and shocking ending sequence) are the result of the actor’s tremendous chemistry and ability to play off each other’s words. The pair, who get along like oil and holy water, create a dynamic that’s not quite a battle between good and evil, but instead something much deeper than that, which adds another level to this incredible cinematic achievement.

• A There Will Be Blood Quote To Remember: “You're an orphan from a basket in the middle of the desert, and I took you for no other reason than I needed a sweet face to buy land.” (Daniel)

12. In Bruges (2008)

Prior to 2008, Martin McDonagh was established as a talented and popular playwright, but he had ambitions to make his way into movies. In 2004, he directed the incredible short film Six Shooter (which won an Academy Award), and then he moved to features. He made his debut with In Bruges, and anyone who saw it instantly recognized McDonagh’s potential to become one of the best filmmakers working today (potential he has made good on with the genius of Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin).

In Bruges takes a high concept premise – two hitman hide out in Belgium waiting for instructions after a job goes bad – and weaves a remarkable meditation on life and death. It’s a dark comedy (and a hilarious one at that), but it has a beautiful blend of tones that radiate from the genius work of stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. Farrell and Gleeson have a unique chemistry that works on both comedic and dramatic levels (it’s far from a mystery why McDonagh reunited them for The Banshees of Inisherin) and the bizarrely rage and logic-filled energy that Fiennes brings in the third act is icing on the cake.

• An In Bruges Quote To Remember: “I kinda like hearing people having sex. Means at least somebody around here's happy.” (Ray)

11. Almost Famous (2000)

If a 15-year-old going on tour with a raucous rock band wasn’t enough of a hook, Almost Famous also happens to have one of the most memorable posters/ DVD box covers of all time. It focuses on the enigmatic Penny Lane, the heroine of Cameron Crowe’s film, whom everyone loves to love and admire and most don’t bother to understand. With distinct shades and tendrils of blonde hair, she draws you into her world of Humble Pie and heartbreak, and in between commentary on what made the ’70s the ’70s and a slick soundtrack including Led Zeppelin, The Who and of course Elton John, she helps turn the film into one of the best of the 2000s.

It’s a career-defining performance for Kate Hudson, and she’s not the only one who delivers. Jason Lee grows a mustache and long hair to fall into his hilarious lead singer role while Billy Crudup is similarly unrecognizable as the talented and moody Russell Hammond. Patrick Fugit plays William Miller, younger than most but wiser than some, and he finds a terrific foil in Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays famed music writer Lester Bangs. Throw in great work from Frances McDormand, Zooey Deschanel and even Jimmy Fallon and it’s a masterclass of terrific performances. If it’s been a while since you’ve revisited the movie, maybe throw on some purple-tinted sunglasses and kick back to the tune of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.” Settle in, you’re almost home.

• An Almost Famous Quote To Remember: “If you never take it seriously, you never get hurt. If you never get hurt, you always have fun. And if you ever get lonely, you just go to the record store and visit your friends.” (Penny Lane)

10. No Country For Old Men (2007)

No matter what kind of film genre is up for discussion, the power and breadth of the Coen Brothers' filmography is worthy of inclusion, and they don't make 'em much better than 2007's No Country for Old Men. An adaptation of Carmac McCarthy’s 2005 novel that’s every bit as faithful as it is chilling, the film meticulously dips its toes most heavily into the cinematic waters of crime thrillers and westerns. That said, Javier Bardem’s unflinching hitman, Anton Chigurh, would be at home in any horror narrative, with his Two-Face-esque coin flips and an unstoppable drive that rivals Jason Voorhees or Michael Meyers. At least if a big ol’ stack of cash was also their end goal.

Despite being one of Joel and Ethan Coen’s driest films regarding their signature screwball humor, the movie is an exercise in tension that thrives on its lack of levity, though it’s hard not to smile whenever Woody Harrelson is on the screen in any capacity. With a stellar cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt and more, No Country for Old Men is, to date, the only Coen brothers masterpiece to win them the Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture, with Bardem taking the gold for Best Supporting Actor. It’s not the awards that best signify its impact, however, but the bolt pistol gripped in Chigurh’s ever-steady hand.

• A No Country For Old Men Quote To Remember: “Well all the time ya spend trying to get back what's been took from ya, more is going out the door. After a while you just have to try to get a tourniquet on it.” (Ellis)

9. Memento (2000)

Talk about a movie that you definitely need to watch without your phone in your hand. Christopher Nolan’s Memento is a mind-bending combination of different angles that demands and deserves your entire attention. The story is told backward, broken up by clips of a black and white, forward-moving montage of a mysterious one-sided phone call in a hotel, led by Guy Pearce, whose character Leonard, also happens to have anterograde (or short-term) amnesia, stopping our protagonist from creating new memories as he looks for his wife’s killer, who also gave him this debilitating injury.

As mentioned, Nolan basically begins at the end and works his way back, for the most part. The juxtaposition of the timelines bring the audience into the obvious confusion that Leonard lives with every day. "Even if you get revenge, you're not going to remember it," he's told by his new friend Teddy (played by Joe Pantoliano) but his reply shows just how far his love and determination will go, stating "My wife deserves revenge whether or not I remember it."  Toss in Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) to add some confusing sympathy (or treachery) and you will probably want a second viewing just to wrap your mind around what you might have initially dismissed as unimportant plot points from this Nolan classic. You’ll notice that Nolan has popped up numerous times on this list (and rightfully so) and he has also once again recently hit it out of the park with 2023’s Oppenheimer.  

• A Memento Quote To Remember: “So you lie to yourself to be happy. There’s nothing wrong with that. We all do it.” (Teddy G.)

8. Wall-E (2008)

Do you know who is a genius? Sound designer Ben Burtt. You might not know his name, but you certainly know the movies he contributed to over the years, including Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and 2009’s Star Trek. Burtt designed the “vocals” for R2-D2, Darth Vader’s heavy breathing, and the “voice” of E.T. But, his work truly soared when he lent dialogue to the adorable Waste Allocation Load Lifter assigned to an abandoned Earth. MIraculously, the first half of Pixar’s ingenious WALL-E works as a silent film, following our main character as it goes about its daily routine with a pet cockroach in tow. WALL-E’s life is upended when another robot named EVE arrives, searching for any sign of life. 

From there, the fate of humanity starts to be revealed, and it’s rather grim. Director Andrew Stanton’s animation for the film ranks as some of Pixar’s most magnificent, embracing the scorched orange of a deserted Earth and then painting with vivid colors for WALL-E’s eventual outer-space adventure. The environmental messages of the film are important without ever being preachy. And, the eventual romance felt and shared by WALL-E and EVE will lift every single heart, with the lovers sharing hardly any words. 

• A Wall-E Quote To Remember: “I see the ship's log is showing that today is the 700th anniversary of our five year cruise. Well, I'm sure our forefathers would be proud to know that 700 years later we'd be... doing the exact same thing they were doing.” (Captain B. McCrea)

7. The Departed (2006)

There are crime films and then there are Martin Scorsese crime films, and when it comes to The Departed, the director doesn’t let us down. A remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, the 2006 movie gives us a range of characters to root for, root against or simply watch just to see what they’ll do or say next. That includes Leonardo DiCaprio’s undercover cop character Billy Costigan, Matt Damon’s sneaky, spying Colin Sullivan, Jack Nicholson’s mob boss character Frank Costello, and Vera Farmiga’s well-meaning therapist Dr. Madolyn Madden. To say that things get complicated might be understating it, but it’s the complexity of the characters and their roles in this story that makes The Departed such a fantastic and gripping movie from beginning to end. 

In a way, it’s all business for everyone involved, but it’s also personal for each character on some level or another. It’s impossible not to feel anxious for DiCaprio’s character as he attempts to navigate the criminal world without being caught for who he really is, just as it’s impossible not to grow increasingly frustrated by Matt Damon’s character for posing as an upstanding law enforcer who’s actually up to no good. It’s thrilling, stressful, riveting and ultimately satisfying, and that’s not even factoring in Mark Wahlberg’s character every time he has something to say (that’s just a bonus). 

• A The Departed Quote To Remember: “You know what I like about restaurants? . . . You can learn a lot, watching things eat.” (Frank Costello)

6. Best In Show (2000)

Nobody does mockumentaries like Christopher Guest, and 2000’s Best in Show is an absolute masterclass. The mundane musings of everyday conversation combine with outlandish characters and awkward situations to deliver one of the best movies of the decade. The dog show is the event that brings these unique and individually brilliant characters under one roof, but it’s no Maguffin. As bonkers as each dog-lover’s trip is to get to the show, everything is turned up to 11, if you will, when they all come together, and the event itself is perfectly colored by Fred Willard’s commentary.

There’s a reason this phenomenal cast has stuck together to appear in other projects. The chemistry between Eugene Levy’s Gerry and Catherine O’Hara’s Cookie (with her “hundreds” of boyfriends) left people begging for more, which they got in A Mighty Wind. Jennifer Coolidge was excellent in her attempts to substantiate her marriage to her ancient sugar daddy husband by saying they bonded over a love of soup and the ability to “not talk or talk forever.” The genius casting of John Michael Higgins and Michael McKean gave audiences the married couple they never knew they needed. 

Best in Show exploits the banal in some situations while heightening reality in others, to where Harlan Pepper naming nuts and the couple describing how they met at Starbucks (but two different Starbucks) land laughs just as hard as Gerry’s literal two left feet or Cookie walking with her knee out of socket.

• A Best In Show Quote To Remember: “Why don’t they put the bloodhound — put on one of those Sherlock Holmes hats and put a little pipe in his mouth? Are they ever allowed to do anything like that? Dress up the dog in a funny way? It would really get the crowd going. You know what I mean? The Sherlock Holmes hat with a pipe. I don’t know if you could make it look like smoke is coming out of the pipe.” (Buck Laughlin)

5. Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher’s greatest accomplishment, and that’s saying a lot. The director has spent countless hours analyzing the compulsion that drives people to seek the truth – be it lawyers parsing through statements to figure out who invented Facebook (The Social Network), or detectives tracking a serial killer who is inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins (Seven). But Zodiac is Fincher’s magnum opus, an engrossing true-crime thriller based on the books of Robert Graysmith tracking the diligent work of three men consumed by the search for the identity of the Zodiac Killer. 

Jake Gyllanhaal serves as the ideal audience surrogate, a puzzle designer for the San Francisco Chronicle who gets swept up in the mystery of the serial killer, who antagonized the police and the media as he committed vicious murders around San Francisco in the 1970s, Fincher painstakingly recreates the time period with breathtaking visuals and top-notch costuming and set design. His emphasis on the bustle of a newsroom is particularly spot on. The film also lingers in the haze of fear, anxiety, and suspense that comes from a killer on the loose. But it’s the supporting roles of Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo, as well as an inability to truly deliver a concrete ending, that makes Zodiac such a rewatchable movie, and a captivating masterpiece.

• A Zodiac Quote To Remember: “I am not the Zodiac. And if I was, I certainly wouldn't tell you.” (Arthur Leigh Allen)

4. Mean Girls (2004)

From wearing pink on Wednesdays to shouting “You go Glen Coco” it’s undeniable that Mean Girls has seriously influenced pop culture over the last (almost) two decades. So, “get in loser,” it’s time to appreciate this beloved coming-of-age comedy from Tina Fey.

This movie is a classic teenage tale about a girl who moves from Africa to the United States where she experiences the rude awakening that is high school by way of The Plastics. While it’s your typical coming-of-age story, it’s infused with the signature sense of humor from Fey – who was in the midst of her legendary run at Saturday Night Live – and it shows the high school experience in a totally unique way with a cast of characters played by actors who have since become icons. 

Not only did the film solidify Lindsay Lohan as an early 2000s star, it also simultaneously jumpstarted the careers of many in the Mean Girls cast, including little known actresses like Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried. On top of that, its legacy has lived on, as it was adapted into a Broadway musical, and is eventually coming back to the screen with an adaptation of said stage production. To say this film is a quintessential 2000s classic almost feels like an understatement because of the lasting impact it has managed to have on people of all ages since its release in 2004. 

• A Mean Girls Quote To Remember: "She doesn't even go here!" (Damian)

3. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

You could argue that Jim Carrey makes much better dramatic movies than he does comedic features. And that opinion is coming from someone who adores Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, as well as Dumb & Dumber. But when you factor in the dramatic detours he embarked on for The Truman Show, Man on the Moon, and this incredible romance, you begin to wonder how many Oscars Carrey might have if he got the industry to treat him seriously, instead of talking out of his ass (literally). 

Carrey and Kate Winslet are magnificent as Joel and Clementine, two soul mates who undergo a radical procedure to have their memories of each other erased after a bitter argument. Only screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) could keep such a twisty premise from flying off the rails. And while the side-mission actions of the memory technicians can get a little silly, we remain wholly invested in Joel and Clementine’s complicated journey because of the heartbroken and beautiful chemistry shared between Carrey and Winslet. It’s a real challenge presented to these stars, as we’re not supposed to know whether Joel and Clementine are better off together or apart. But the satisfying resolution says as much about fate as it does about the existence of true love, so long as we remember how and when to look for it.

• An Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Quote To Remember: “Constantly talking isn’t necessarily communicating.” (Joel Barish)

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

It’s been said before, but it’ll be said again – The Dark Knight is one of the greatest superhero films (and one of the greatest movies) ever made. Christopher Nolan’s ambition as a filmmaker has been well-noted, but even he outdid himself with his 2008 follow-up to 2005’s Batman Begins. The second chapter in the journey of Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne sees the iconic DC Comics hero going up against the dangerous and unpredictable Joker. All the while, the Caped Crusader and his allies must also contend with mob bosses and Harvey Dent, Gotham City’s honorable district attorney who becomes the deformed Two-Face.

Where does one even start when it comes to singing this movie’s praises? There’s the impeccable screenplay, massive set pieces, engrossing score and much more. Yet I suppose what stands out the most are the performances, especially that of the late Heath Ledger. The actor, who posthumously won an Oscar for his work, fully committed to his role as the Clown Prince of Crime and is absolutely mesmerizing. His villainous turn is just one of the many reasons why Nolan’s film is a thrilling and compelling piece of work that’s still incredibly entertaining now, over a decade later.

• A The Dark Knight Quote To Remember: “Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! You know, I just...do things.” (The Joker)

1. City Of God (2002)

Making its Brazil and festival run in 2002 and eventually hitting theaters in the U.S. and elsewhere  in the year that followed, Fernando Meirelles’ City of God, based on Paulo Lins’ semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, served as an inflection point in the world of cinema and served as a preview of what the the next few years would look like. Told through the eyes of young photographer Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues), the movie explores the life of street kids in the Cidade de Deus (City of God) favela in Rio de Janeiro, an expansive slum filled with endless supplies of drugs, ruthless gangsters, and corrupt cops who allow the madness to continue. One of the most violent movies of the 2000s, City of God is a lesson in brutality, especially whenever depicting the exploits of Li’l Dice (Douglas Silva), a ruthless and sociopathic young criminal who stops at nothing in his quest for complete control. Oddly enough, the older version of the character known as Li’l Ze (Leandro Firmino) never comes off as cold blooded as his younger self, which further illustrates the movie’s point about youth and violence. 

At the same time, City of God is also one of the most beautiful movies of the 2000s, and not just on an aesthetic level (though César Charlone’s cinematography is out of this world). The endearing spirit of those who wish to escape a life of crime, ranging from Rocket to the ill-fated drug dealer Benny (Phellipe Haagensen), adds a level of heart and soul one may not expect from a two-hour crime drama about young criminals with short fuses and, in many cases, tragically  shorter lifespans. 

• A City Of God Quote To Remember: “You need more than guts to be a good gangster; you need ideas.” (Rocket)

How we put this list together

Using a combination of internal recommendations and other best of lists, we compiled a spreadsheet of all the movies from the 2000s that we considered to be culturally relevant and/or critically well-reviewed. We pushed together some multi-part movies like Kill Bill and Lord Of The Rings and then had our staff of almost 30 go through and assign a score for each movie they’ve seen based on their own personal opinions. We disqualified any movies that didn’t get a minimum number of ratings and dropped the lowest score for each, as if we were judging a figure skating competition. We then ordered the top 100 based on average score and had someone who gave that movie a particularly high score write up a paragraph explaining what’s so great about it. This rigorous scientific process resulted in Idiocracy being slotted at 101, an omission I’m still furious about.

Tropic Thunder has always been a controversial topic. Between the use of blackface in the movie and the depiction of someone dealing with a mental disorder, there has been a lot of debate about the issues surrounding the choices made in this film. Now, a decade later, a fan asked the film's star and director Ben Stiller to stop apologizing for the film, and he responded to set the record straight, and share his feelings about the action-comedy. 

As entertaining as Tropic Thunder was to audiences, it did brew a storm of controversy with the disabled community because Ben Stiller portrayed an actor who played a mentally-challenged farm boy who can talk to animals in the film-within-a-film. Audiences also noted Robert Downey Jr.'s use of blackface in the film, and the problems with that. Twitter user Benny S., tweeted at the Meet the Parents actor to stop apologizing for making Tropic Thunder as he thought it was a hilarious movie. The actor/director responded to them by tweeting:

If Ben Stiller claims he never made any apologies for making Tropic Thunder, where was that fan getting his accusations from? It could be from a post in 2018 when another Twitter user joked about boycotting Tropic Thunder due to the cancel culture we live in. Stiller responded then with his apologies for the movie and that it was made with good intentions.

It’s possible that with this Twitter response being from four years ago, Ben Stiller may not even remember this social media moment. It’s been over a decade since Tropic Thunder came out, and people are still questioning whether this is a movie worth taking offense over or seeing it for the satire it was intended to be. Movies like this may always have a divided audience of those who see the humor in the situation and others who feel some humor is too offensive to be shown to a wide audience.  

Along with Stiller addressing the controversial moments in the film, Robert Downey Jr. reflected on his use of blackface saying that he understood Stiller’s intentions for making jokes about actors who will go out of their way for an Oscar nomination. He also made sure to point out that the majority of his Black friends took no offense to his role, however, he understood those who did. There may be people right now who still don’t get the joke behind RDJ’s character, but others today still find humor in what Tropic Thunder set out to do. 

It looks like Ben Stiller is proud of his controversial movie Tropic Thunder, and has no apologies for it, however, he does understand the debate surrounding the flick. 

Be sure to check in on our 2023 movie releases to find out what the stars of Tropic Thunder are up to next. 

Speed runs of the various games that inspired 2023’s new movie release The Super Mario Bros. Movie have answered all sorts of questions that pop up over the years. One that may or may not have come up in those runs is the quickest way to return Princess Peach to her stately castle, where Toad, Mario and Luigi await. Well, a viral meme may have found the latest, and best, answer to that question: hire Tropic Thunder’s Les Grossman to negotiate with Baby Bowser.

Thanks to TikTok user “Jonkari P,” we now have an idea of what that situation would look like, and it’s-a f’n great. Tom Cruise’s infamous hard case can be seen, with co-star Matthew McConaughey playing the Luigi to his Mario, in the clip shared below: 

Admittedly, this new clip isn’t the previously teased Les Grossman spinoff, an idea that’s “fixated” Cruise and frequent collaborator Christopher McQuarrie. Rather, this is an edited moment from Tropic Thunder, in which Grossman lights into the representatives of the Flaming Dragon faction that holds Ben Stiller’s Tugg Speedman hostage in the film. That being said, it’s a better fit than you’d expect.

Bowser, coincidentally played in The Super Mario Bros. Movie cast by fellow Tropic Thunder star Jack Black, is pretty much a flaming dragon-adjacent creature, and by association, so are his children and other incarnations. Fictitious biology lesson aside, that’s not enough to stop this Tom Cruise-invented character from striking the fear of Nintendo into Bowser Jr. This, in turn, leads to Princess Peach being shot back home through the power of a canon.

The actual casting of Chris Pratt as the voice of Mario led to an understandable backlash, and it’s a serious subject that can and will be discussed as we make our way closer to the project’s release. However, a fun hypothetical scenario would be to ponder whether or not that same reaction would have been present if Tom Cruise, in a more PG-rated Les Grossman persona, got the role instead. 

The answer’s more than likely still a yes, because as original Super Mario Bros.star John Leguizamo pointed out, the lack of ethnically appropriate casting would still be an issue. That serious issue aside, it's admittedly a fun hypothetical we can now enjoy through the power of viral humor.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie presses start on its box office journey on April 7th, only at a theater near you. The Les Grossman spinoff of Tropic Thunder hasn’t been greenlit just yet, but there’s always a chance that this meme could potentially boost the profile of that character to the point where it’d be crazy to say no. Legacy-quels can always appear when you least expect them; just ask anyone who's seen Top Gun: Maverick!

Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. may have been the leading men of Tropic Thunder, but depending on who you ask, some might say Tom Cruise stole the show as ill-tempered, foul-mouthed studio executive Les Grossman in the action comedy. Donning a fatsuit, prosthetic hands and bald cap to bring this character he invented to life, Cruise’s performance, which included sweet dance moves, scored a Golden Globe nomination, and there’s been talk for years about Grossman coming back. Now those efforts are reportedly being revived, with Cruise looking to make this happen with Christopher McQuarrie.

Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie have been tight ever since the latter took over directorial and writing duties on the Mission: Impossible franchise, starting with 2015’s Rogue Nation (though McQuarrie did do uncredited rewrites on Ghost Protocol). These two are currently in the midst of working on Mission: Impossible 8, a.k.a. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two, but the public can also see their work together now in the form of Top Gun: Maverick, which McQuarrie co-wrote. Following the success these two have jointly had on stories focused on Ethan Hunt and Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Deadline reports that Cruise and McQuarrie are now “fixated” on Les Grossman, although it’s unclear if they’re looking to craft an entire movie around him or include him in one of the other film projects they have cooking.

The prospect of a Les Grossman spinoff movie first emerged back in 2010, two years after Tropic Thunder came out. In 2012, Michael Bacall, who wrote this version of the spinoff, said the story would explore the origin of Grossman’s anger issues. A decade later, one wouldn’t have been faulted for thinking that this project had been shelved, but evidently Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie are determined to bring this character back to the big screen. Should they stay the course on a straightforward spinoff, two questions come to mind. First, will Bacall’s script still be used, or will someone else be hired to deliver a different take? Second, will any other Tropic Thunder characters appear in it?

As already mentioned though, there’s the possibility that Les Grossman could simply retain his supporting character status in something else Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie are working on. Deadline’s story also mentioned that the duo have an "an original song and dance-style musical” that Cruise is intended to lead, as well as “another original action film with franchise potential.” It’s hard to envision Grossman fitting organically into either of these projects, although the image of an angry Grossman belting out songs in a musical is entertaining enough that I’d gladly pay to see the final product. We already know Grossman has the moves, as you’ll see in the clip below, so why not throw singing into the mix too?

To be clear, just because Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie are working on these projects doesn’t necessarily mean all of them will see the light of day. Maybe something Les Grossman-centric stands a better chance of moving forward because it’s tied to a popular comedy, or maybe studio executives are more interested in Tom Cruise leading another action movie or showing off his musical chops (he previously sang in Rock of Ages) rather than reprising a character from a movie that was released almost a decade and a half ago. Oh, and let’s not forget that Cruise also still has that movie he intends to shoot in outer space with Doug Liman. No doubt that one will carve a lot of time out of his schedule.

CinemaBlend will continue sharing updates on what’s coming up in Tom Cruise’s career, but for now, you can still see Top Gun: Maverick scoring box office records in theaters alongside plenty of other 2022 movie releases, and we’ll see the actor back in action as Ethan Hunt when Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One arrives on July 14, 2023.

Mickey Rourke made headlines not too long when he said some not-so-nice things about Tom Cruise's career. But, upon creating this list, I'd have to disagree with Rourke's opinion that Cruise has been playing "the same effing part for 35 years," because honestly, he really hasn't. 

In fact, Tom Cruise actually has a pretty diverse list of roles in his filmography. So much so, that I'm kind of blown away by just how many unique roles the superstar has taken on over the past 40 years or so. Plus, with movies like Top Gun: Maverick, which is still making plenty of money at the box office, and the upcoming Mission: Impossible 7, where it legit looks like Tom Cruise came close to dying a few times, he doesn't look to be ending his career anytime soon. So, here are the best Tom Cruise movie performances from every decade since the '80s. How many of these classics have you seen?     

'80s: Born on the Fourth of July (1989) 

In Oliver Stone's second movie in his Vietnam trilogy, Tom Cruise got his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, though he lost to Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot. That said, Cruise's portrayal of a gung-ho, all-American boy who wants to fight in Vietnam, only to ultimately become paralyzed and disillusioned with his country is a performance for the ages. 

Tom Cruise goes through a wide range of emotions throughout the movie, from victim to activist, and it just goes to show that Cruise isn't just an actor who stiffly runs away from explosions. He's the real deal! 

'80s movie runner up-Rain Man (1988) 

When we did our list of 10 Tom Cruise movies that prove he's more than an action star, the one movie that really sticks out to me is Rain Man. And that's because even though everybody likes to point out Dustin Hoffman's Oscar-winning performance, it's Tom Cruise who's really carrying that movie. Cruise plays a selfish, egotistical car dealer who, throughout the course of the film, learns to drop his guard and let his brother back into his life. Yes, Hoffman is incredible in his performance, but it's Tom Cruise's character who has the biggest change, and thus, it’s really his story in the end.    

'90s: Eyes Wide Shut (1999) 

Fun fact, but Eyes Wide Shut is the first Rated-R movie that I ever saw in the theaters by myself. I mean, how could I not? Stanley Kubrick made some of the best movies ever, so it was an honor to see Kubrick's very last film on the big screen. But, I had no idea at the time that Tom Cruise could play such a jealous, sex-starved man who would willingly try to get into a secret society where people wear masks and have orgies.   

But, he did do a movie like that, and it's Eyes Wide Shut. Kubrick's final film is one of Cruise's best performances since the whole movie is a maddening erotic thriller, and Cruise plays the part of the jealous husband who is both titillated and terrified by this new world he's entering. Nicole Kidman -- who was married to Tom Cruise at the time -- is also excellent in it, making it both a time capsule of their marriage, and also showcasing a time when Tom Cruise didn't mind shedding his movie star image for something dark and sinister.  

'90s movie runner-Jerry Maguire (1996) 

And then, on the complete opposite side of the spectrum is Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire, a romantic comedy sports drama about an agent who fails in both love and work, but ultimately wins out in the end. Jerry Maguire is absolute proof of Tom Cruise's range as an actor when juxtaposed with Eyes Wide Shut, since he's actually lovable and fun in Jerry Maguire, as opposed to being distant, and borderline misanthropic in Eyes Wide Shut. There's a reason why he was nominated for Best Actor for this film. You can't not love him in this movie.  

2000s: Collateral (2004) 

Very likable Tom Cruise had definitely played unlikable characters in the past, like the doctor in Eyes Wide Shut, or the motivational speaker in 1999's Magnolia, but he never played an all-out villain like he did in Michael Mann's Collateral. In the film, Cruise played a hitman who gave a taxi driver (Jamie Foxx) the night from hell as he assassinated his targets one by one. 

Cruise played a stone cold killer in the movie with aplomb, and it was actually quite terrifying to see how easily he could slip into the role of a killer. To this day, I still want to see more villainous turns out of Tom Cruise. He's really good at it!

'2000s movie runner up: Tropic Thunder (2008) 

Tom Cruise has been in comedies before -- I mean, one of his biggest early roles was Risky Business back in the '80s. But, he's always been cool, no matter what movie he was in. Well, in 2008's satirical comedy, Tropic Thunder, Tom Cruise was definitely not cool as studio exec, Les Grossman. In the role, he pounded down Diet Cokes and cursed a lot.

The performance is also completely fearless in making himself look like a tremendous jerk. When Tom Cruise finally decides to pack it all in and leave acting for good, I'm pretty sure that Les Grossman will be the role that shows that Tom Cruise, for at least one movie, could be utterly unlikable, but hilarious at the same time. 

'2010s: American Made (2017) 

Tom Cruise once spoke about his interest in being in American Made and how he was fascinated by the real-life figure that the film was based off of, Barry Seal. That said, if you actually research Seal, you'll find that he and Cruise couldn't be any further apart when it comes to looks. That said, the story of Barry Seal is so larger-than-life that it feels like only a bona fide star like Tom Cruise could possibly play the part.

And he plays it with gusto! Cruise makes Seal, who is said to have been working for the CIA as a pilot, into a likable rogue. He's our entry point into this world of crime, and he is an excellent entry point at that. You feel safe with him in these very unsafe conditions, and if that isn't acting, then I don't know what is. 

'2010s movie runner up-Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation (2015) 

And lastly, I want to talk about the Mission: Impossible movies, since this is the kind of action-heavy stuff that Mickey Rourke may have been referring to when he commented on Cruise's career, but honestly, Cruise is GOOD at doing action movies, and the Mission: Impossible films are consistently excellent.  

I want to focus on Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation, which our very own Mike Reyes called "the best film of the summer" at the time of its release. And I tend to agree with Mike, especially since Rogue Nation arguably had Cruise's most intense stunt at the time of him hanging onto the side of a plane as it was taking off. The fact that Cruise is not only willing to act his heart out, but also put his safety on the line for our entertainment just goes to show how lucky we are to have Tom Cruise in our lives. He's done it all! 

And, that's the list. But, what is your favorite Tom Cruise performance over the years? For more news on Cruise and other great actors, make sure to swing around here often.  

When it comes to some of the funniest movies of the last twenty or so years, I often think of a few actors. People like Robin Williams or Adam Sandler pop up, but one that I’ve always personally loved the most was Ben Stiller. From shows from my childhood to films I’ve only just seen, Ben Stiller has been a big name in movies. 

But, where exactly can you watch the best Ben Stiller movies? What streaming platforms have some of his best work? Look no further than right here, because we have a list of his best films (so far) and how you can stream them. 

Zoolander (2001)

In this hilarious comedy, Zoolander follows Derek Zoolander a model who isn’t the brightest bulb. But soon, he finds himself in a world of trouble, and has to figure his way out of problems he never thought he'd experience. 

Zoolander is one of those movies where if you’ve seen it, you never truly forget it. Ben Stiller is stellar in his starring role, making Zoolander, while silly, an entertaining character to root for. Will Ferrell also had a major role in this movie, and honestly, it was one of Ferrell’s best movies, because it makes me want to see him play the villain way more. While there was a sequel, Zoolander 2 is pretty bad, so it's better to just stick to the original.

Stream Zoolander on Paramount Plus.
Rent Zoolander on Amazon.

There’s Something About Mary (1998)

There’s Something About Mary, one of Stiller’s first major starring roles, is a powerhouse comedy about Ted, who's still in love with his high school crush and devastated over an accident that happened years ago that caused them to drift apart. Now, it’s several years later, and he has the chance to possibly reunite with her and fix the mistakes of his past. 

Something I’ve always loved about this movie is the chemistry between both Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz. It’s because of their relationship in this movie that I feel I can call this one of the best romantic comedies out there. 

Stream There’s Something About Mary on Starz.
Rent There’s Something About Mary on Amazon.

Megamind (2010)

In this fun DreamWork's animated movie, Megamind tells the story of a supervillain who grows bored of life when he finally defeats his nemesis. Soon, his experiments to create a new hero end up causing more trouble, and now he must become a hero himself to stop the terror. 

Ben Stiller voiced Bernard, a small part in the film, who was a museum curator, but his part was important as it played a key role in Megamind trying to win the affections of his true love, and Stiller’s voice-acting talents were great for the role as he had that perfectly academic voice that made Bernard likable. 

Stream Megamind on Amazon Prime.
Rent Megamind on Apple TV.

Meet The Parents (2000)

If you’re looking for another hilarious comedy, be sure to check out Meet the Parents. Starring both Ben Stiller and the legendary Robert De Niro, Meet the Parents tells the story of a young man who wishes to propose to his girlfriend, but must meet the parents first, and her dad ends up throwing a wrench in his plans. 

Meet the Parents is a great movie. Really, from beginning to end you will be laughing your ass off. Both Stiller and De Niro have such fantastic chemistry that it always makes me wonder why they weren't in more movies together, and they create hysterical moments that will make you snicker. 

Rent Meet the Parents on Amazon.

Dodgeball (2004)

Next up, we have Dodgeball, a hilarious sports comedy. This great movie is about a group of men who team up to try and stop their local gym from getting bought by a huge health company. In order to do that, they enter the ultimate dodgeball tournament. 

I could go on for hours about how fun this movie is, and Ben Stiller is just another fantastic part of this cast. White Goodman is such an iconic role for him and seeing him as a villain is always a treat. He's so fun to see angry and upset, but in his own goofy way. Plus, you get to see some sick dodgeball moves. Who thought that dodgeball could be so entertaining? 

Rent Dodgeball on Amazon.

Reality Bites (1994)

Another one of Stiller’s first major starring roles, Reality Bites is another fun romantic comedy that tells the story of a young woman who is trying to document the life of her friends in her own reality show, called “Reality Bites,” and the struggles that they face on a daily basis. 

At first, you wouldn't expect this movie to be as good as it is, but once you get into it, you can tell that it was made by a cast who truly wanted to show a good, funny story. The three leads - Ben Stiller, Ethan Hawke, and Winona Ryder - are all fantastic in their roles and have such wonderful chemistry that I want to see them in more movies together. Stiller shines above the rest as Michael Grates, and gives an excellent portrayal of someone working in television, and shows how an artistic vision can be changed just to fit a certain aesthetic. 

Stream Reality Bites on Starz.
Rent Reality Bites on Amazon.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty tells the story of the titular character, a normal man with a seemingly average life, but who has a brilliant imagination that takes him to new places. Through this imagination, his life is changed. 

I truly love this film with a passion. I think that Stiller’s acting in this film, particularly, is his best. He shows a full range of emotions; giving us some funny moments, as well as some heartbreaking ones, making this movie enthralling to watch. As someone who grew up with an active imagination, I can understand the need to step into your own made-up world every once and a while. 

Stream The Secret Life of Walter Mitty on Amazon Prime.
Rent The Secret Life of Walter Mitty on Apple TV.

Flirting With Disaster (1996)

Another one of Stiller’s first major films is Flirting with Disaster. This fun black comedy tells the story of Mel, who was adopted as a young child and now has a baby of his own. However, he refuses to name his newborn son until finding his biological parents. When Mel gets a lead in the case, it takes him on a wild adventure.  

To be honest, I’ve always really loved Flirting with Disaster. I think that out of many of the films here, this is one of Stiller’s most underrated, as it really shows his capability as an actor to not only hold our attention as a lead, but to make us laugh, and the fact that this whole adventure takes them across the United States to so many states is hilarious to me. Someone else I love in this movie is Josh Brolin, who shows great comedic timing in one of his best movies, hands down. 

Stream Flirting with Disaster on Pluto TV.
Rent Flirting with Disaster on Amazon.

The Night At The Museum Franchise (2006-2014)

The Night at the Museum franchise is a fun movie trilogy that tells the story of a man who takes a job as a night guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. However, things get a bit strange when everything in the museum comes to life once the sun sets. 

As a kid, this was one of the first movies I watched with Ben Stiller. His Larry Daley was this silly man who had no idea what to do when the museum started to come to life, but he learned to adapt, and even make friends with the exhibits, which is what made Stiller perfect for this role. He had this NYC attitude which, paired with this script, created an amazing viewing experience for both kids and adults. 

One of my favorite pairings that he had was with Robin Williams’ character. Truly one of the best movies to watch if you love Williams. It’s a shame Night at the Museum 4 won’t happen. 

Stream the Night at the Museum Franchise on Disney+.
Rent the Night at the Museum Franchise on Amazon.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Tropic Thunder is a crazy comedy about a director wanting to get as authentic shots as possible while shooting a war film. So, he drops his actors into a jungle in order to capture their true responses. However, as they film, they discover that there's a real war to survive. 

Stiller stars as Tugg Speedman, and something about Stiller as this big-time action star running around scared in the jungle has me hollering every time I watch this movie. He is just so hilarious in every scene he's in. While they have recently come out and denounced some of the controversial scenes, such as the use of blackface on Robert Downey Jr., the film still has its hilarious moments that are pure serotonin to my brain. 

Stream Tropic Thunder on Paramount Plus.
Rent Tropic Thunder on Amazon.

The Madagascar Franchise (2005-2012)

Let’s look at the Madagascar franchise. This series, following a lion, a zebra, a hippo, and a giraffe from the Central Park Zoo, tells the story of how they ended up on the island of Madagascar because of a plane crash, and now their lives have changed forever. 

Ben Stiller voices Alex the Lion, one of the main characters and someone who likes meat quite a lot, and his voice-acting is just perfect. I can’t imagine someone else playing that character, as his voice not only provides that NYC sass but the emotional depth Alex needed. It’s not the best DreamWork's movie - that crown is still owned by The Prince of Egypt - but certainly a fun one, indeed. 

Buy Madagascar on Amazon.

Stream Madagascar 2 on Netflix.
Rent Madagascar 2 on Amazon.

Stream Madagascar 3 on Netflix.
Rent Madagascar 3 on Amazon.

Tower Heist (2011)

Last but not least (for movies, at least) we have Tower Heist, a hilarious buddy comedy between Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy. In this fun movie, two men find out that they have fallen for their employer's Ponzi scheme. So, they decide to steal all his money from his home - in hilarious ways. 

So many people forget about this movie, and I don’t know why. It’s so good. There are so many amazing reasons to watch Tower Heist, from Ben Stiller’s as Josh Kovaks, who brings the house down with his hilarious portrayal of the building manager, to Eddie Murphy’s return to greatness with funny jokes. These two need to be in more movies together. Tower Heist is simply not enough. I must see more. 

Stream Tower Heist on Starz.
Rent Tower Heist on Amazon.

Honorable Mention: His Friends Episode (Season 3, Episode 22) (1997)

Okay, while this isn’t a movie, I have to mention this. Friends had some amazing guest stars, but Ben Stiller is one of my personal favorites. In this Season 3 episode, Ben Stiller guest-starred as Tommy, a love interest of Rachel’s who really likes to yell. No, that’s not the right word - scream. 

And, my God, it’s so funny. There’s something so hilarious about seeing Ben Stiller angry. He just seems like a carefree kind of guy, so to see him get so upset and scream at things makes my side hurt every time I watch it.

Stream his Friends episode on HBO Max.

With all these great films, one can only wonder what Ben Stiller might be doing next. Maybe popping up in some new 2022 movies? That would be a dream.  

Tropic Thunder has been a continual topic of conversation in the years since its 2008 release. The movie has a notable cameo from Tom Cruise, a stacked cast, a lot of funny jokes… and a few more jokes that look particularly bad when taken out of context and put into meme form. Central to this is Robert Downey Jr.’s Kirk Lazarus, a character written to poke fun at Hollywood’s penchant for going too far to try and win Oscars. In the film, he plays an actor who has a medical procedure in order to play a Black character.

This character’s behavior and obsession with prestige leads to one of the most notable jokes in the movie, in which Kirk Lazarus explains that it's more advantageous from an awards perspective to play characters who have challenges but still succeed. He brings up Forrest Gump and Rain Man as examples, then says you "never go full r-word" like Sean Penn in I Am Sam because people won't vote for that at the Oscars. 

The joke wasn’t ad-libbed, and apparently, as it was being written into the script, Ben Stiller gave the I Am Sam creatives a heads up. In a recent interview with THR, director Jessie Nelson recalls getting the call from Ben Stiller, who produced alongside his longtime partner Stuart Cornfield, as well as directed and acted in Tropic Thunder. 

To note, times have changed, even with the Oscars, since both I am Sam and Tropic Thunder came out. In the same interview, Jessie Nelson says flat out she would not have made the movie “without a lead being from the community” if the film was being made today. Nelson also says the point of the joke Tropic Thunder made on the big screen nearly seven years after I Am Sam came out didn’t offend either herself or the movie’s lead Sean Penn.

Insofar as Robert Downey Jr.’s character Kirk Lazarus taking thing too far, this has also become a topic of conversation in the Internet era. It’s one Downey Jr. addressed previously, noting that Ben Stiller “knew exactly what the vision” for the comedy was and that he “executed it.” The point of the role was not to make Kirk Lazarus a permissible human being but to spotlight hypocrisy in the industry. Robert Downey Jr. ultimately told Joe Rogan the social commentary aspect is why he said yes to Tropic Thunder, recalling,

Oddly, in that same interview, Robert Downey Jr. had mentioned that I Am Sam actor Sean Penn had already passed on the role of Kirk Lazarus. I have no idea if the joke was written into the script before then, but that’s an interesting connection to touch on. Meanwhile, I Am Sam turned 20 back in December, if you haven’t revisited the film in a while, you can catch the Sean Penn starrer streaming on Netflix.

If there was ever just one piece of information about a Hollywood actor that I didn’t know I needed, it would be how Matthew McConaughey smells. Apparently the star doesn’t feel the need to wear deodorant, but his Tropic Thunder costar Yvette Nicole Brown says the questionable hygiene choice suits him, and that he smells like “Good Living.” That's exactly how I would imagine the down-to-Earth man would smell.

Apparently Yvette Nicole Brown made a point to get to know Matthew McConaughey’s scent when they were working together on Tropic Thunder because she had heard he claims to have no odor despite the fact that he never wears deodorant. As Brown said in her interview on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show, McConaughey has the sweet scent of “Granola and Good Living.” Here it is in the actresses’ own words:

Yvette Nicole Brown says she’s a huge Matthew McConaughey fan (you and me both, Yvette), and I honestly can’t think of anything that screams crazy fan behavior more than being cast on a big production opposite someone like McConaughey and making the conscious decision to sniff him. No shade, though, because I would have done the same thing, and I’m elevated to now know just how the face of Wild Turkey smells.

Unlike Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey wasn’t knee deep in mud in Tropic Thunder for the majority of the movie. He played a big name Hollywood agent in a clean suit in his scenes with Yvette Nicole Brown, and I would wager that he smelled a little different in films like Mud and Dallas Buyers Club.

There’s a lot of controversy going around concerning celebrities and their bathing habits and level of hygiene. While it sounds like Matthew McConaughey is a little more liberal with his habits, it doesn’t sound like he (or anyone within smelling proximity) is any worse off for it.

Matthew McConaughey is an on-brand guy, and it would seem that even his scent is on board with how he brands himself as someone who is one with nature and at peace with the cosmos. While he doesn’t make movies super frequently these days, you can get your dose of McConaughey through his new YouTube channel - it’s just a shame technology hasn’t mastered the art of transferring smells through the screen yet!

Ben Stiller’s longtime producing partner Stuart Cornfeld, who helped him produce projects like Tropic Thunder, has died at the age of 67. Ben Stiller recently paid tribute to his friend Stuart Cornfeld, saying the world will be less better without him. After all, he's had a long career in the film industry and contributed to a number of iconic projects.

Ben Stiller posted on social media that friend Stuart Cornfeld was “funny, smart, talented and cool as a person gets.” Stuart Cornfeld loved movies and therefore the late producer's friend Stiller encouraged everyone to go IMDd him to see what he had created throughout his career. You can check out Ben Stiller’s full statement below.

According to IMDb, Stuart Cornfeld, indeed, had a long and successful producing career. From early acclaimed 80s films like The Elephant Man and The Fly to Ben Stiller’s hilarious comedies like Zoolander and Dodgeball, Stuart Cornfeld had a major hand in developing all of them.

Of course, Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld were notable partners on the comedy Tropic Thunder, bringing characters like Tom Cruise’s Les Grossman to life. At one time, Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld even secured the rights to Les Grossman spin-off. Though, as of today, there hasn’t been much news on that front.

After Ben Stiller posted his tribute on social media, a bunch of other celebrities responded, sharing their heart-felt condolences and their own experiences with Stuart Cornfeld. Paul Scheer, a comedian that recently acted as a judge on Netflix’s Nailed It, said Stuart Cornfeld was one of the funniest guys he’s ever met. Check it out:

Seth Green, who made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in Shazam!, said Stuart Cornfeld was a brilliant gentleman and taught him a lot about producing and work ethic. Check it out:

While he’s primarily known for being a producer, Stuart Cornfeld also acted in smaller roles in movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Old School, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Fans of Fast Times will recognize Stuart Cornfeld as the “Pirate King” at Captain Hook’s Fish and Chips.

It’s an understatement to say Ben Stiller has experienced a lot of loss this year. On top of losing his good friend and producing partner Stuart Cornfeld, he also recently lost his father and fellow actor and comedian Jerry Stiller. Jerry Stiller died at the age of 92 and left behind an impressive legacy in Hollywood, appearing in many hit comedies, like Seinfeld and Zoolander.

Ben Stiller also paid tribute to his father after his passing, saying he was a great dad and grandfather and a dedicated husband to his wife Anne for 62 years. Afterward, Ben Stiller received an outpouring of support from the community with many celebrities also giving their condolences.

Stuart Cornfeld is survived by his ex-wife, Johanna Went, and sisters Lois and Ellen.

For the rest of his life (and long afterward, more than likely), Robert Downey Jr. will be remembered by his biggest fans as Iron Man, having been the one to kick off the enduring Marvel Cinematic Universe by portraying the superhero in 2008. Yet, hopefully you realize that there are plenty of other Robert Downey Jr. movies worth watching.

While the “known for” section of his IMDb profile consists of four of his more notable appearances as Tony Stark, and comic book movies have made up most of the previous decade of his career, Robert Downey Jr.’s versatility goes much further than playing a “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.” For instance, the actor’s impeccable comedic timing, which has also been key to his charm when playing Iron Man, might clue you into his background as a funny man, having first broken out (so to speak) as a Saturday Night Live cast member in the mid-1980s.

I will not be discussing that extremely brief stint, however, for this list, in which I will rank my choices of the best movies starring Robert Downey Jr. without counting any of the Marvel movies. To some, that may sound like a greater challenge than inventing time travel, but I have compiled 10 films below, two of which earned the actor his double Academy Award nominations.

10. Weird Science (1985)

Robert Downey Jr. sets the tone for John Hughes' endearing sci-fi comedy in the first scene, in which his character, Ian, and his partner-in-crime, Max (Robert Rusler), commit their first act of torment on Gary Wallace (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt Donnelly (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) by pantsing them in front of the women’s gym locker room. Yet, the brutal bullies get their comeuppance when they see the lovable geeks spending time with the beautiful Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), who is actually a genie they created with an enchanted computer software program. Weird Science is not on par with other Hughes classics like The Breakfast Club, but it helped cement RDJ's comedic talent (more effectively than SNL did, at least), paving the way for him to portray one of comedy's greatest icons... but more on that later.

9. Charlie Bartlett (2007)

Robert Downey Jr. would return to the high school genre with another coming-of-age comedy that is less bizarre than Weird Science, but a far more grounded and thought-provoking film which John Hughes would have been proud of. Charlie Bartlett stars Downey as Nathan Gardener, a high school principal who butts heads with precocious titular character (a young Anton Yelchin), not just for making himself the student body's resident psychiatrist, but also for dating his daughter (Kat Dennings). RDJ capably transitions from hilariously intimidating to intimidatingly manic as the plot thickens, and this is one of his best and most criminally overlooked performances in recent memory.

8. Bowfinger (1999)

Speaking of criminally overlooked, one of the funnier films of Robert Downey Jr.’s career, in my opinion, is also one of the better long forgotten comedies of the 1990s, which comes from writer Steve Martin and director Frank Oz (whom you may also recognize as Yoda). Downey plays hot-shot producer Jerry Renfro, who gives the desperate Bobby Bowfinger (Martin in the title role) the green light on a cheesy sci-fi flick if A-list action star Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) is cast, forcing Bowfinger to shoot the film without Ramsey knowing he is in it. Despite a relatively smaller role, Downey does not waste a moment of his time on screen in Bowfinger, using the same signature smugness he redefined to make it lovable as Tony Stark, in an appropriately slimier manner to help bring this brilliant satire on the cutthroat environment of Hollywood full circle.

7. Tropic Thunder (2008)

Speaking of Hollywood satire, I would call Tropic Thunder the absolute funniest film of Robert Downey Jr.'s career for the brutal shots it takes at show business, despite its life in infamy as a result. In particular, I am referring to Downey's controversial performance as a white, Australian, prima donna master thespian who goes full method to play a black man in the Vietnam War-era biopic within the film. This major plot point is one of Tropic Thunder's many understandably offensive gags, yet is also crucial to the film's bold and clever commentary on the ridiculously misguided lengths some actors are willing to go in hopes to achieve recognition which, ironically, earned Downey his second Oscar nomination.

6. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Robert Downey Jr. won his second Golden Globe for donning a faux, yet relatively convincing, British accent to play the iconic 19th century private investigator, proving (just a year after his debut as Iron Man) he has what it takes to lead more than one franchise. Under the direction of Guy Ritchie, Sherlock Holmes, which also stars Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, re-imagines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation as more of an action hero than previous, and subsequent, iterations. But, Downey's dazzling portrayal still honors the detective's anti-social predilections, addictive personality, and, most importantly, his incomparable powers of observation, which carry through, satisfyingly so, in the 2011 sequel. The actor alone is reason enough, as far as I am concerned, to look forward to the upcoming third installment.

5. Natural Born Killers (1994)

Robert Downey Jr. also donned a faux accent (this time Australian) to play Wayne Gale, a yellow TV journalist chronicling the bloody trail left by Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Juliette Lewis) in director Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers. Downey chews gaping holes into the scenery in this role, who could more accurately be labeled as the true film's antagonist for his obsessive, sensational coverage of senseless violence, mirroring the unfortunate reputation associated with some forms of media in real life. Thus, this drama (originally penned by Quentin Tarantino) and its aim to shed light on the distasteful glorification of violence in real life, keeps it more relevant today than ever.

4. Good Night, And Good Luck. (2005)

The media is honored for its more heroic deeds, however, in director George Clooney's Academy Award-nominated sophomore effort, which is named after the iconic sign-off phrase of broadcast icon Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn), and profiles his costly war against the exploitation of Communist paranoia at the peak of the Cold War. Robert Downey Jr. gives a heartfelt performance as CBS employee Joe Wershba, who faces a career-threatening challenge of his own in keeping his marriage to colleague, Shirley (Patricia Clarkson), a secret. Good Night, and Good Luck. came out at a time when the actor's career was beginning to change for the better, and starring in this beautiful shot, marvelously acted portrait of social justice was a good sign of that.

3. Chaplin (1992)

During what seemed to be the peak of his career at the time, Robert Downey Jr. starred in yet another period piece about a respected figure of the media whose personal life gets in the way of his groundbreaking work. In this case, it is the incomparably influential comedy mastermind Charlie Chaplin, in director Richard Attenborough's dramatization of his meteoric rise as the most recognizable name of the silent film era as the writer, director, and star of classics like The Gold Rush and Modern Times. Although Chaplin is ultimately bogged down by the typical narrative conventions of biopic formula, Downey's stunning, unmistakable portrayal of the film star earned widespread praise from critics and audiences alike, as well as his first Academy Award nomination.

2. Zodiac (2007)

Before they became MCU royalty, Robert Downey, Jr., Mark Ruffalo, and Jake Gyllenhaal shared the screen in this modern classic based on one of the most grisly unsolved cases of the late 1960s and early 1970s. As San Francisco Chronicle crime reporter Paul Avery, Downey expertly captures the weariness of a journalist on the road toward disgrace after becoming a reluctant investigative mentor to his Zodiac Killer-obsessed colleague, Gyllenhaal's Robert Graysmith (whose book serves as the basis for the film). From director David Fincher, Zodiac is a deeply haunting, brilliantly acted, dialogue-driven masterpiece that has been largely influential on the brazen authenticity that true crime dramas have attempted to emulate since.

1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

If you ever wanted to know how prolific action movie writer, and known Christmas-lover, Shane Black earned the job to helm Iron Man 3, think of it as a repayment from star Robert Downey Jr. for casting him in his directorial debut. Based on the novel by Brett Halliday, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is widely credited as Downey's pre-Marvel career revival moment as he puts all the best shades of his versatile talents into the performance of Harry Lockhart, which is why it's at number one on this list. As a thief posing as an actor who needs to research a role and accompanies a homosexual private eye, aptly named Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), on a messy murder investigation, even Downey himself agrees that this refreshingly original, darkly comic crime thriller is just about his best work to date.

What do you think? Are these the Robert Downey Jr. roles that we should be giving more attention to, or do even these films not hold a candle to his work as Iron Man? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for more updates on the former Marvel star, as well as more rankings of your favorite actors’ movies, here on CinemaBlend.

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No movie is too old or too young to go viral, so long as the internet has a reason for resurrecting its image. The world is seeing this happen right now with tweets surrounding Robert Downey Jr’s performance as Kirk Lazarus in the 2008 film Tropic Thunder managing to put the film’s name into the world of trending topics. It seems to be because of the fact that some people who got wind of this particular role didn’t get the joke behind the character.

One of the top posts on Twitter today is the following collage of hot takes surrounding Tropic Thunder:

Three separate tweets from younger skewing users have called out Robert Downey Jr. for allegedly “getting a pass” in playing the character who was “a dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude.” This isn’t the only controversy that Tropic Thunder has faced, as in the film’s initial run, the “Simple Jack” plot point had disability advocates making similar claims when it came to writer/director/co-star Ben Stiller’s character, Tugg Speedman, playing a mentally disabled character.

Both of these hot spots of controversy fall under the same umbrella defense that has been issued by filmmaker and fan alike when it comes to this delayed cultural litigation of Tropic Thunder’s intent with those characters. It’s something that even Robert Downey Jr. found himself addressing earlier this year, as he broke down exactly why he felt Kirk Lazarus’ pigmentation surgery storyline wasn’t as controversial as some said it was.

But just as it brought up the issue, Twitter has indeed offered some defensive insight into why it wasn’t that big of a deal. What’s even more interesting is the fact that one of the users being highlighted for criticizing Tropic Thunder’s allegedly insensitive behavior actually issued a revised statement, reversing their opinion after seeing the film:

And then, there are other users who, while defending the film’s content, have also called it out in equal measure:

The response echoes a comment another person made about how a lot of people commenting on the issue have probably never seen the film in question.

The issue of whether Tropic Thunder is offensive or not has cropped up in the past. While the artistic intent has been explained time and time again by those related to the movie, there will still be audience members who decide to accept or reject such a viewpoint based on their own personal views.

That’s just the subjective nature of art, and it’s in place with 99% of the movies, television or any other form of art that people choose to enjoy. So long as these discussions can be had with ears and minds open to their fullest extent, the debate surrounding Tropic Thunder and other films of its ilk will be a constructive and rewarding experience.

Tropic Thunder is available for rental or purchase on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr.’s latest film, Dolittle, is currently available in those formats as well, in addition to 4K UHD.

Tom Cruise is freaking insane. I’m not talking about him jumping on the couch or his personal life at all. I’m talking about the characters he plays in his movies. The dude gets totally absorbed in any character he embodies. And this can be scary at times since he usually does his own stunts. This means that’s him running along the side of a building!

Over Tom Cruise’s long career, he’s played a multitude of characters, some tame, some not tame. But this list is not about the tame characters. It’s about the hardcore ones! Now, “hardcore” is a very subjective word, and you might not think that some of these characters are really all that metal at first glance. But just hear me out. Every one of these characters is hardcore with a capital H. Or should I say a capital TC? Actually, no, that doesn’t make any sense. Well, anyway, on with the list!

10. Joel Goodson (Risky Business)

Joel Goodson (Get it? Good? Son? Goodson!) is a good kid. Or so one would think. But that’s before his parents leave him alone with a house to himself and he starts dancing around in his underwear and having sex on the subway.

But what makes Joel Goodson hard freaking core is when he starts dealing with Guido the killer pimp! Madness ensues. I mean, just imagine. You’re a high school kid with your whole life ahead of you, and when the college admission dude comes to your house to interview you, you slap him on the knee (while a party is going on right behind you, no less), toss on some shades and drop an F-bomb right in front of him. You don’t get much more hardcore than that.

9. Frank T.J. Mackey (Magnolia)

“Respect the cock!” A lot of people like to think this is a game, but it’s not. At least not when it comes to motivational speaker, Frank T.J. Mackey. Frank T.J. Mackey is so hardcore that he can thrust his crotch in front of cheering men and still make it not seem homoerotic when it definitely is, and is most likely meant to be.

Frank T.J. Mackey is so hardcore though because he can go on an interview and straight up LIE about his family history, and then profanely ask the interviewer what her question was again. That takes commitment.

8. Les Grossman (Tropic Thunder)

First Joel "Good son" and now Les “Gross Man”. Well, at least these last names aren’t subtle. But Les from Tropic Thunder does not give a crap about what you think. It's his way or the highway. He’s a studio exec and he’s going to save this sinking ship of a production, even if somebody else's life depends on it.

Les Grossman is so hardcore that he can get some heroin runners on the phone and shut them the hell up. You know why? Because he’s Les freaking Grossman. He’s also one hell of a dancer. Side note: what’s with Tom Cruise and dancing? He really loves to bust a move.

7. Barry Seal (American Made)

Based on a real life person, Barry Seal (At least in the movie, American Made) starts out working with the CIA, then ends up smuggling drugs. And then guns! Of course he manages to attract the attention of the DEA in the process.

But he’s a great flyer. Not quite Maverick-great (I’ll get to him later), but damn good all the same. And anybody who can run from the DEA and laugh about it is hardcore in my book.

6. Jack Reacher

Even though the author, Lee Child, thinks Tom Cruise is too old to play Jack Reacher (and also, apparently, too short) Tom Cruise proves that he can still kick some ass, even into his 50s.

What makes Jack Reacher so hardcore is that he’s a street fighter and a sick driver. He's also tough as nails. Ask Jack Reacher who the hell he is, and he’ll tell you. He’s the guy you didn’t count on. Just proving that age and height ain’t nothing but numbers.

5. Major William Gage (Edge of Tomorrow)

Major William Gage is having a rough day. Again and again and again. After “dying” in a brutal war with some space creatures, he wakes up the day before it happened only to find that he keeps ending up in a loop, a la Groundhog Day.

But unlike Bill Murray's character, Major William Gage learns to become a complete bad ass, dying over and over again until he’s ready for full battle mode. And what’s more hardcore than being willing to die a grisly death after grisly death until you finally “git gud"? When the hell is the sequel coming out? That’s what I want to know.

4. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Top Gun)

Maverick is on a highway to the danger zone every second of his life. He’s a reckless man, often taking risks that the higher ups don’t like, but when it comes to a dogfight, he’s the guy you want backing you up.

Maverick is hardcore because he always feels the need for speed. Plus, his inverted maneuver shouldn’t even be possible in an actual dogfight. Only the hardcore need apply. I’m super psyched for the sequel.

3. Lestat (Interview With the Vampire)

You can only truly tell how hardcore Lestat is when you compare him to his apprentice, Louis. Lestat likes drinking human blood. Louis, played by Brad Pitt, is drinking from rats because he doesn’t want to hurt humans. Louis drinks a girl’s blood because he can’t help it during the plague. Lestat turns said girl into a vampire.

But the most hardcore scene of Lestat is when he drinks some swamp creatures' blood after the little girl and Louis try to kill him, and he greets them again by playing a Piano Sonata. How can it be? Well, it’s because “there’s life in these old hands still.”

2. Vincent (Collateral)

Vincent is so hardcore that he takes a cab to his killings. As a no-nonsense hitman, Vincent is probably Tom Cruise’s most badass character to date. But this list isn’t about being badass. It’s about being hardcore, and Vincent is that, too.

He kills people over a briefcase, can survive a car crash, and even makes his driver tell his boss that he’s going to shove the taxi cab right up his fat ass. Because not only is Vincent hardcore, but he also wants to make other people hardcore, too. How nice of him.

1. Ethan Hunt (Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation)

Ethan Hunt could have filled up almost this entire list since he gets more and more hardcore in every Mission: Impossible movie. Really, you just have to take your pick. And it’s all the more impressive because Tom Cruise does his own stunts in these movies, making the danger factor even more extreme.

But what’s your favorite Ethan Hunt moment? Is it the one where he’s running on the side of a building in Ghost Protocol? What about the motorcycle scene in Rogue Nation? The motorcycle scene in Fallout? Seriously, every action scene is more hardcore than the last. But my favorite is definitely when Ethan Hunt is hanging onto a plane as it’s taking off in Rogue Nation. Like, what is wrong with Tom Cruise? Is he nuts?

He is! And that’s why he’s so awesome. Lee Child might think he’s too old to keep doing these action movies, but as long as the man has hardcore in his heart, why not? Long live Tom Cruise!

2008 was a big year for Robert Downey Jr., mainly because it marked his debut as Tony Stark, a role he’d play for the next 11 years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, several months after Iron Man’s release, Downey was seen in the comedy Tropic Thunder, where he played Kirk Lazarus, an extremely method actor who underwent a “pigmentation alteration” surgery to play the African American character he’d been cast as, Staff Sergeant Lincoln Osiris.

Given blackface’s ugly history in the United States, having Robert Downey Jr. don blackface, even for satirical purposes, became a topic of conversation at the time, and has become even more so in the decade since. Reflecting on his time on Tropic Thunder, here’s what Downey recently had to say about why he accepted the role:

So had history unfolded differently, we might have seen Sean Penn as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder instead. However, it was not to be (though if you look closely, Penn still cameoed in the movie), and when Ben Stiller approached Robert Downey Jr. for the role, the latter felt that in addition to this being an unusual opportunity for him to play a “black” character, he would also be able to lampoon actors who go way too far with certain roles.

Robert Downey Jr. also noted during his interview on The Joe Rogan Experience that he trusted that Ben Stiller would be able to pull off this character approach properly as opposed to having it turn out terribly offensive. In Downey’s words:

Of course, opinions are subjective, so while Robert Downey Jr. had some friends who were okay with him donning blackface in this manner, there were plenty of others who found this aspect of Tropic Thunder distasteful. As for where Downey’s head is at with Tropic Thunder now, while he acknowledges that there are folks who don’t like how Lincoln Osiris was handled, he maintains that he went into the role with the best of intentions, saying:

The Tropic Thunder role would later net Robert Downey Jr. an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor (his second time getting Oscar recognition, the first being for Chaplin), but he lost in that category to Heath Ledger performance as Joker in The Dark Knight. Although there were plans to make spinoff centered on Tom Cruise’s character, Les Grossman, nothing ever surfaced with that, so Tropic Thunder remains a one-and-done tale and is one of the more… interesting entries on Downey’s resume.

Robert Downey Jr. can currently be seen in Dolittle, and his upcoming movies include All-Star Weekend and Sherlock Holmes 3. Keep up with what’s hitting theaters later this year with our 2020 release schedule.

We might be seeing a lot less Jack Black movies in the future. In a recent interview, the actor admitted that his latest film, Jumanji: The Next Level, might very well be his last. With Black concentrated on spending more time with his family, as well as working on his music and other projects (which includes his popular YouTube channel), the performer admits that movies aren't what he is looking to do. While he might squeeze in a few TV gigs along the way, it sounds like acting is something that Black wants to put on the back-burner — at least, for the time being. Which is truly a shame.

There's no denying that Jack Black is an exceptionally versatile and gifted performer. Whether it's comedy, drama, musical or seemingly any other genre, the actor has a great physical presence, a wealth of energy, a ton of charisma and a great on-screen personality. To lose his acting talents would be a tremendous shame, though it's understandable that he wants to spend more time at home and focused on his other time-eating projects. Nevertheless, let's take a look back at Jack Black's best movies throughout the years, all of which showcase his wide range and tremendous talents.

10. Nacho Libre (2006)

Nacho Libre is a movie that doesn't work for everyone. Co-written by School of Rock scribe Mike White and directed by Napoleon Dynamite filmmaker Jared Hess, it is a fitfully dumb, exceptionally juvenile sports comedy centered around its title character, Nacho Libre (Jack Black), a priest in Mexico who moonlights as a wrestler to support the orphanage he helps run. It is based (quite loosely) on a true story, but it is a largely absurdist, entirely goofy slapstick comedy that often relies on pratfalls, corny asides, and dumb jokes galore. But it's also a movie with a rich and beating heart, one that prides itself on being gleefully inspiring in addition to being consistently amusing, and it's boosted by a quirky-but-charming Jack Black turn.

Critics were largely divided on Nacho Libre, notably with some folks believing that it's a one-joke movie that overstays its welcome. While Nacho Libre isn't quite as inspired as some of Jack Black's other, better movies, it does have an unexpectedly sweet demeanor, one that is elevated by the fine character work provided by Black and his surprisingly sweet and sincere performance. By the end, Nacho Libre turns into a rousing, winsome, if largely unorthodox, sports comedy, one that showcases the strength of Black's physicality as a comedy star and his emotional depth as a character actor.

9. Jesus' Son (1999)

Admittedly, Jesus' Son isn't as well-known as a few of Jack Black's other movies. This independent dramedy earned a great deal of acclaim upon release, but it didn't find as wide an audience as some of the actor's other, bigger movies later in his career. Nevertheless, this period drama, which is adapted from a short story collection from author Denis Johnson, is a winning title, and it is benefitted from its talented cast, including Jack Black.

As an orderly in a hospital where our lead character, played by Billy Crudup, works, Jack Black doesn't get a ton of scenes in Jesus' Son, but he does participate in an amusingly gruesome scene which showcases his talents for understated humor, something that often gets ignored when he's asked to play it big and broad. Nevertheless, Jack Black is an actor of many talents, and he plays a part in the small-but-appealing success of Jesus' Son.

8. Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

While not as strong nor as memorable as the previous two Kung Fu Panda movies, Kung Fu Panda 3 is a sweet, emotionally touching trilogy capper that provides audiences with one final chance to get acquainted with Jack Black's wonderful voice performance as Po. In this second sequel, our kung fu fighting lead character reunited with his biological family, while also attempting to become a master of chi in order to defeat his biggest foe yet.

Though this sequel isn't as consistently funny or as distinctive as its predecessors, it features another exceptional voice performance from Black playing one of his best, liveliest, most passionate, and most beloved roles throughout the wide course of his movie career — animated or otherwise.

What often makes Jack Black's best roles as good as they are is the high volume of passion and emotion that he infuses inside them. He carries every emotional beat with a stunning crescendo of humor and heart, and it's clear that he cares deeply for the characters and the material itself. Even when he's playing an animated panda, Black brings such a depth of humanity to his performances that he makes you believe in the plight of this kung fu fighting character, resulting in arguably the best trilogy of films created by DreamWorks Animation yet. Kung Fu Panda 3 is a fitting franchise finale.

7. King Kong (2005)

Peter Jackson's epic 2005 remake of King Kong wasn't everyone's personal favorite. Its extended three-hour runtime, mixed with a few melodramatic tendencies, resulted in an old-fashioned blockbuster that wasn't what audiences in the mid '00s were anticipating — not even from the Oscar-winning director of the astounding Lord of the Rings trilogy. Nevertheless, this under-appreciated re-imagining was a flawed but stunning achievement, and it proved Jack Black with an opportunity to expand his resume by applying his well-proven talents into an Oscar-caliber blockbuster from a hit director.

As Carl Denham, the filmmaker who obsession with his film takes many dangerous turns, Jack Black plays only one piece in the giant epic puzzle. But his contribution helps contribute rather than damages its splendor. The actor's broad performance style plays into the macho director's big, bold desire to make something outstanding, particularly with his financial standing and seemingly everything else on the line. It's another astounding epic accomplishment from mid-period Peter Jackson, one that allowed Black with a fine chance to prove his major talents in this major cinematic remake.

6. Tropic Thunder (2007)

After several attempts to translate his boisterous comedy into more raunchy material, Jack Black finally found an R-rated comedy worthy of his comedy chops with Ben Stiller's provocative Hollywood satire, Tropic Thunder. Playing a vain, drug addled comedy star trying to make his serious dramatic turn in an overblown war drama, one that goes awry when an experiment to toughen up the actors in the jungle goes askew, Black can sometimes be playing third bill behind co-writer/director Ben Stiller and Academy Award-nominated Robert Downey Jr. in a truly unforgettable, multi-layered performance. But Jack Black more-than-holds his own in the movie, particularly when his loose grip on reality only continues to get unhinged.

Thanks to the movie's heightened tone, Jack Black makes exceptional use of his broad comedic skills, allowing his character to divulge deeper and deeper into madness — particularly as (and even despite when) the character's drug addiction becomes an even more serious problem. While Tropic Thunder is ultimately an ensemble piece, Black's performance is just one key into the movie's surprisingly deft success. In another movie that could have easily gone south in a number of different ways, Tropic Thunder succeeds thanks to the many talents of its performers — including Jack Black.

5. Bernie (2012)

Jack Black and director Richard Linklater elevated themselves into the major leagues with the phenomenal success of 2003's School of Rock, but it took 2012's Bernie to finally reunite the actor and filmmaker. While this dark comedy didn't quite find the same success as their previous work, it's another triumph for both the performer and storyteller, particularly with Black providing one of his best performances in the title role of Bernie Tiede.

Telling the stranger-than-fiction story of a beloved Texas funeral director who shakes up a small town when the 39-year-old kills his 80-year-old millionaire wife, Bernie blends drama and documentary as it allows Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, and Shirley MacLaine to dramatize this sensational story while real-life interviews from actual town residents paint us a picture of his true-life tale through their pointed and often amusing perspectives.

It's through Black's touching, poignant performance that we see the humanity of this warm, complex figure, as well as the different reasons why the residents were willing to believe in Bernie's innocence and good character, even despite this terrible crime. It's a gentle, engrossing story told with care, insight, and heart, and it continues to show how Jack Black and Richard Linklater still do some of their best work with each other.

4. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Jack Black is an exceptionally animated performer. It only makes sense that he would lend his voice to a major animated production. While it didn't work out the first time around when he provided his voice to 2004's underwhelming Shark Tale, DreamWorks Animation found a project that suited the performer's comedic, dramatic skills in the role of Po in 2008's exceptional Kung Fu Panda. What could have easily been another sub-par animated family film turned into a surprisingly engaging, emotionally satisfying character piece, one that provided a great character for Jack Black to embody.

This computer-animated martial arts comedy centers around an eager, if clumsy, panda with aspirations of becoming a great kung fu warrior. Through a series of happenstance and destiny, Po suddenly finds himself a peer among his kung fu idols when he's selected to become an apprentice. While it is an uphill battle, the team must turn the designated "Dragon Warrior" into a formidable kung fu expert before the villain Tai Lung destroys the land.

It is a simple formula told enjoyably and commendably through its fast pace, liberal use of humor, and overwhelming heart. But it also provides Black with another character through which he can apply his passionate, energy, and sharp comedic timing into a role, allowing the character to bristle with life as his journey grows over the course of the narrative. Added in the deep-seated respect for Chinese culture, its immensely beautiful designs, the plethora of likable characters, and a fine number of exceptional action beats, and you have got a kung fu comedy that kicks butt and wins your heart.

3. High Fidelity (2000)

For many folks, High Fidelity is the movie that put Jack Black on their radars. In his scene-stealing supporting turn as Barry Judd, a passionate music fan who works in a record store with our main protagonist, Rob Gordon (John Cusack), Black cemented himself as a performer to watch, an energetic and appealing screen performer who could feel both larger-than-life and someone who you know all-too-well in your day-to-day life. Suffice to say, it was a great role, letting Jack Black play to his strength. High Fidelity played a big hand in paving the way for Black's film career as we know it today.

Particularly in contradiction to John Cusack's more mellow screen presence, Jack Black is a firecracker in High Fidelity, taking up all the air in the room and filling it with his volcanic personality. While that might come across as off-putting under a weaker performer's hand, in this movie and with Black's performance in particular, it worked very well, allowing us to be taken into this store dynamic and appreciate the in-depth conversations on life, love, and (above all else) music found therein. This charming character piece is John Cusack's movie, ultimately, but Black often takes it home.

2. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

While the original Kung Fu Panda was an unexpected hit, both critically and commercially, its excellent sequel was even more surprising in its own successes. It's a darker, more character-driven story, one that relies more heavily on emotional and dramatic pathos to tell its introspective story, and it results in a meatier, more engaging and cinematically rich sequel that proves to be even better than its predecessor. Kung Fu Panda 2 also features Black's finest voice performance in the series, allowing him to show his fine talents as both a comedic and dramatic lead performer in key, deft ways.

Progressing and expanding upon Po's character, Kung Fu Panda 2 still provides the wit, humor, heart, charm, and kung fu action wizardry that made the original movie such a rewarding success, while also adding some key dramatic and subdued moments that showcase a maturity and a grace that only benefits this addition to the franchise. It provides equal parts belly laughs and heart tugs, while also providing animated sequences that are even more gorgeous than before and fluid, vivid kung fu action sequences that rival the best in the genre. Kung Fu Panda 2 kicks more booty than before, resulting in not only one of the best animated movies of the decade but one of Jack Black's funniest, finest, and most emotionally engaging films yet.

1. School of Rock (2003)

While School of Rock wasn't Jack Black's first film, it was undoubtedly the one that turned him into a household name. For damn good reason too. This charming, entertaining ensemble comedy, crafted to fit Jack Black's oversized talents, was a wonderful showcase for Black's musical, comedic, and dramatic skills, while also providing a consistently funny, heavily quotable, and massively heartfelt studio comedy through which director Richard Linklater finally translated his well-proven expertise as a sensitive filmmaker into worldwide success. Indeed, School of Rock rocked folks' socks off.

Centered around Dewey Finn, a struggling rock musician who impersonates his roommate Ned Schneebly (played by screenwriter Mike White) to work at a prestigious boarding school, where he teaches the students how to become a school-themed rock band, School of Rock is the type of premise that simply wouldn't work without the immensely appealing talents of its lead performer. Indeed, through Black's endearing Dewey Finn/ Faux Ned Schneebly, we grow to admire the camaraderie he forms with his students, while also translating his passion for hard rocking and building a band worthy of his big-headed ambitions.

The result is a constantly funny, appealing studio comedy that earned Black a Golden Globe nomination for his lead role. Rightfully so, too. Through School of Rock, Jack Black became a mainstay performer, and it's not hard to see why, thanks to this movie.

These are only a mere few of Jack Black's best performances. Particularly when you take into account his scene-stealing role in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, his musical prowess in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, his understated nuance in Margot at the Wedding, his heartbreaking supporting turn in Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot, or his winsome work in Be Kind Rewind, to name only a mere few titles from his extensive resume, it is evident that Jack Black is an enormously talented actor with a diverse, eclectic range of talent. If Jumanji: The Next Level is truly his last film, then it's a great shame to lose such a talent performer from the screen. But at least we can look back on all the work he has done in his film career and smile.

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Who could forget Tom Cruise's legendary performance as Les Grossman in 2008's Tropic Thunder? Not only did he invent the character, but he also almost got an entire movie centering around that character. How cool would that have been? It's no wonder Grossman ranks among Cruise's best characters ever. Cruise's genius, coupled with his innate ability to feel out characters before they're even fully fleshed out, helped turn Grossman into the phenomenon he is now.

Speaking to popular late-night host Conan O'Brien during “ConanCon,” Tom Cruise explained how the now-famous character came to be. After Conan showed a clip of Cruise's dance performance from the film's end credits, Cruise said that learning to dance and learning comedy were among many things he wanted to perfect. In his words:

Because Tom Cruise created one of Tropic Thunder's best characters, he demanded that his input be put in to the finished product, and he was willing to learn whatever it took to get the job done. It was, and it was glorious. Les Grossman proved so popular and so in-demand that Cruise agreed to bring him to the MTV Movie Awards back in 2010. It's amazing what hilarious mid-credits dancing can do for your career.

After that earlier tidbit, Tom Cruise circled back to Les Grossman and said what everyone in the room (and probably on the planet) wanted to hear:

Man, he's good. I mean, c'mon. Who doesn't love sausage fingers and a proclivity for outrageously bad dancing? The guy has a good eye for what the audience wants, and boy, does he deliver. I'd love to see more of him if the franchise is ever revisited. Here's to hoping it is!

In the last five or so years, Cruise has taken on more serious, more action-heavy roles, some of his more recent ones being Doug Liman's American Made and the fourth, fifth, and sixth installments in the wildly popular Mission: Impossible franchise. He has always had remarkable range as an actor, a fact that his various film roles clearly reflect.

If you're itching for a new Tom Cruise performance, you can catch him in Top Gun: Maverick when it hits theaters in June 2020. Or, you know, you could just watch him in Tropic Thunder or any of the Mission: Impossible movies for the millionth time. It really doesn't ever get old and it satisfies two very different moods.

Nowadays Tom Cruise is mostly known as an action star who’s accepted so many impossible missions, the stunt coordinators need to figure out how to top themselves on a more frequent basis. But Cruise hasn’t always been the total man of action that the world sees him as. In fact, on either side of landing the role of Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise, the actor has made quite a few films that showcased other acting muscles that were always present.

In particular, there are a handful of films that deserve quite a bit of attention, as they show off varying degrees of Tom Cruise’s success as both a leading man and a supporting player. All are off the beaten path of his action, and each film has that unique spark that makes it a Tom Cruise movie.

Risky Business (1983)

Early on in his career, Tom Cruise was cast in iconic teen movies of the ‘80s like All The Right Moves, and most notably in writer/director Paul Brickman’s Risky Business. Playing as a sort of John Hughes-style comedy, Cruise plays Joel, a teenager who accidentally embroils himself into a caper that involves prostitution, wrecking a Porsche and having to replace an expensive vase. And while there’s a lot of comedy to be had, there’s certainly some drama with Joel’s dealing with officially being in over his head, while head over heels for Rebecca DeMornay’s Lana.

Tom Cruise’s chemistry with her, Curtis Armstrong’s Miles and Joe Pantoliano’s Guido allows Risky Business to showcase his early range of acting abilities in an impressive extent. The Cruise swagger is there, but it’s tempered by a young insecurity. But what really makes Risky Business a prime example of Cruise film magic is the fact that it plays similar notes to a Hughes teen comedy, but isn’t afraid to go into darker, more R-rated territory with those themes.

Rain Man (1988)

The story of Raymond and Charlie Babbitt, two brothers who reunite unexpectedly after their father’s death, is the core to director Barry Levinson’s Academy Award-winning film Rain Man. And operating in that core is both Tom Cruise as Charlie, as well as co-star Dustin Hoffman as Raymond, the older brother with Savant Syndrome he never knew he had. Their road trip of a lifetime not only helps them connect as siblings, but it also allows them to get into some misadventures that help them learn a little more about each other.

Watching Tom Cruise’s Charlie evolve from an eager opportunist who’s using his brother for money, to someone who actually loves and cares for Hoffman’s Raymond, is a truly emotional experience that Rain Man banks on to its great success. Those dramatic chops wouldn’t be going away any time soon, and without his chance to stretch into heartfelt drama in this film, another Tom Cruise movie classic may not have ever happened.

A Few Good Men (1992)

Before making a leap to action laden spectacle, but after passing his years as the dewy eyed teen heartthrob Tom Cruise once represented, character-driven drama was an avenue that presented many great opportunities. We saw it before with Cruise’s heartfelt performance in Rain Man, but that felt like a big windup for the role of Daniel Kaffee in director Rob Reiner’s feature adaptation of A Few Good Men.

In the role of LTJG Kaffee, Tom Cruise takes on a role that sees him enter the genre of courtroom drama, with the words of writer Aaron Sorkin on his tongue nonetheless. The same intensity he brings to leaping off of buildings or skydiving from great heights is brought to cross-examination and instigating testimony in A Few Good Men, with Tom Cruise getting to square off against Jack Nicholson in a scene that’s still as memorable to this day as when the words “You can’t handle the truth!” were first shouted back in 1992.

Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Tom Cruise almost always plays the hero in the films he acts in. That’s kind of what makes them Tom Cruise movies, as he’s very rarely been known to play a baddie. But when he’s given the choice to let himself off the moral leash, like in director Neil Jordan’s Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, it’s an absolute thing of beauty seeing him torment not only his victims, but also his beloved cohort Louis, played by Brad Pitt.

As the story of his association with Lestat is told in an extended flashback, it’s Louis who’s in control of the story. That being said, Tom Cruise’s Lestat is one of his most engaging and memorable performances. While his menace can be darkly comic, author Anne Rice’s legendary brat prince is also exceedingly threatening when he wants to be, and Cruise knows just when and where to push that particular needle in his portrayal. It’s a shame there weren’t any further sequels to Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, as this was a Cruise movie that the man himself really did sink his teeth into.

Jerry Maguire (1997)

It’s one of the quintessential films in the Tom Cruise movie canon: writer/director Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire. A light-hearted tale of a superstar sports agent who has a breakdown, only to build himself back from the ground up, it’s one of those Cruise movies that almost always makes the short hand list of best films starring the man himself. It is also probably the most legwork that the actor has been given as a central romantic lead.

While Cameron Crowe films do play the heartstrings as a full-fledge symphony, Jerry Maguire actually gives Tom Cruise a lot more to do than just romance Renee Zellweger to death. Cycling through Jerry’s self-assured form into the full-on “Show Me The Money” spiral incite by friend and client Cuba Gooding Jr., and finding himself changed into a more lovable person, is the sort of thing that Rain Man primed Cruise to follow in his career. And sure enough, that experience gave him the proper grounding to help this film help itself into pop culture immortality.

Magnolia (1999)

Sometimes, villains aren’t theatrically inclined vampires or silly entertainments. Sometimes they aren’t even villains, but come off as such. Frank “T.J.” Mackey is one such role, and writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson created him in the film Magnolia so that Tom Cruise could eventually come in and knock out one of his most dramatic performances yet.

As a pick-up artist who gives seminars to teach men how to “tame” women, Tom Cruise’s Frank has some deeper issues to deal with that help keep Magnolia’s revolving storyline in time. Those problems stem from the absence of his father, played by the late Jason Robards, and how his departure from the family left Frank all alone to take care of his dying mother. Showing that Cruise is as good an ensemble player as he is a lead, this Cruise movie is emotionally devastating, so you may need some time to prepare or recover after watching.

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Cameron Crowe and Tom Cruise re-teamed in 2001 for the film Vanilla Sky, an English language remake of the Spanish film Abre los Ojos. Rather than return to the same mill that made Jerry Maguire famous, Crowe created Cruise’s role of David Ames for one pretty big purpose: to engage on a mind-bending mystery so twisty, it’s still one of the greatest rug pulls in any film. So forgive us if we don’t say a lot about the film’s story, and what it’s all about.

As self-centered media mogul David Ames, Tom Cruise yet again turns on the boyish charm alongside co-stars Cameron Diaz, Jason Lee and Penelope Cruz. Through the lens of Vanilla Sky’s examination of love, loss and reality, that charm gets transformed into so many other emotions, some of which Cruise has to portray through an expressionless mask. By time you’ve finished this film, you’ll see why it’s no ordinary Cruise movie, and why that’s totally a good thing.

Collateral (2004)

Previously, we learned the valuable lesson that while Tom Cruise movies stand to benefit from casting him as a hero, it’s an even better idea to let him go dark once and a while. As fate would have it, the Michael Mann directed film Collateral would take that advice with interest, as Cruise was cast as Vincent, a hitman on a very dangerous mission. In the hero slot this time around is Jamie Foxx, as Max, the cab driver who is hired by random choice to ferry Vincent about the underbelly of L.A. for a night of professional murder.

Much like his performance as Lestat, Tom Cruise gets to play into gallows humor quite a bit in Collateral, but still knows how to keep the scared, but rapidly evolving Max in his place. When that relationship starts to break own, we get to see Cruise at his most lethal. There’s still some action chops to be had in Collateral, but that’s interspersed with such thrilling close quarters drama between Cruise and Jamie Foxx that the action is more of a cherry on top rather than the sundae. And if this movie was a sundae, the ice cream would be Cruise’s cold, hard stare.

War Of The Worlds (2005)

Tom Cruise and director Steven Spielberg are one of those pairings that are so absurdly memorable, you wish they’d done more films together. Out of the two films that the powerhouse duo created together, their adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds modernized a sci-fi classic in a pretty refreshing manner. Playing one of his rare turns as a movie dad, Cruise’s Ray Ferrier struggles to find and protect members of his on-screen family, as Martian invaders start to take over the Earth.

Now in this role for War of the Worlds, Tom Cruise gets to touch upon a hybrid of his skill set that allows him to play doting father to Dakota Fanning, but also to be a totally cold menace when the need arises. All it took was one particular scene with Tim Robbins playing a basket case survivalist to allow that cross-section to exist, and it’s something we haven’t seen from a Tom Cruise movie in some time.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Rounding out our selection of Tom Cruise movies that are off of the action beat is a film that sees Cruise as more of a supporting character who works from the comfort of his own office. But after seeing co-writer/actor/director Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, you can see how some would make a case that this film belong to Cruise, as he stole every one of his scenes in the whole movie through the character of studio chief/human blast furnace Les Grossman.

Despite Tropic Thunder’s narrative being focused on Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. trying to make their way out of actual peril after getting lost while shooting a Vietnam war epic, Tom Cruise’s Grossman is one of those people who doesn’t take orders. He gives them, and how dare you look at him as if you didn’t know that already. Cruise got to swear up a storm, share key scenes with both Matthew McConaughey and Bill Hader, and even learned how to dance in a fat suit for Tropic Thunder. Not to discount anyone else’s contributions, but that certainly qualifies for a spot in the Tom Cruise movie pantheon; and we’ll still gladly take that spin-off if you please.

Everyone knows Tom Cruise more these days as Ethan Hunt, and so long as the Mission: Impossible franchise is still around, that’s mostly what he’ll be known for. But if you look close enough in the man’s resume, you’ll still see him deliver other off-beat films here and there, like The Last Samurai or American Made.

So after taking a good look at the movies mentioned above, feel free to be inspired to discover your next favorite Tom Cruise movie you didn’t even know about, if only to remember that he should be known for more than just his work in the realm of action.

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The time has come, once again, to say goodbye to some dear friends in the Netflix streaming library. Their bags are packed, ready to go, but if you've got the time, they'd like to say goodbye properly. Which is why we're giving you the list of those awesome movies you should be watching before it's too late, as all of these titles will be walking out the door during the month of July. Yes, this heartache is a familiar one, and if you want to remember the torches doused in June, you can go back to that month's honored listing of departing titles. If you're ready though, here are the movies you should start queuing and viewing within the next month.

Beerfest

Whenever Broken Lizard's merry band of comedians gets together, it truly is something spectacular. It's only been a couple of months since Super Troopers 2 brought the team back together to sequel-ize the group's biggest hit, but it would be understandable if the fans are hungry for some more of those antics. If that's true for you, then you should probably watch Beerfest on Netflix before it's taken off the menu. Well, that, and some bumped up Netflix numbers could only help the chances for Potfest's actual reality. So do it for the cause.

Before Midnight

Richard Linklater is a director who is obsessed with time, more specifically the development of people over large swaths of time. While he would condense this approach into one film with his Academy Award nominated film Boyhood, he would tackle a similar theme with his sprawling Before trilogy - to which Before Midnight acts as the current finale. Seeing Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke revisit these characters over the course of two decades has been a refreshing alternative to most romantic dramas, or most films, tend to do these days, and they're always teasing another go 'round to do it again. Whether you're new to the series, or an old faithful, this one deserves your undivided attention.

Breakfast At Tiffany's

Classics never go out of style, and Breakfast At Tiffany's is an undeniable classic. While we'd like to think that Audrey Hepburn's iconic performance as Holly Golightly will be heading somewhere it belongs, like the Filmstruck library, we're not so sure that'll be the case. Which means that this could be your last chance for some Henry Mancini scored romance for the time being. So take a half day, pour some Rose, and prepare yourself for that moment when "Moon River" kicks in, and makes you wistful for the past.

Bring It On

Bring It On's inclusion on this list marks an early hit for a director who has gone on to bigger things. In this case, Bring It On became the cheerleading saga that started an entire direct-to-video franchise, thanks to director Peyton Reed. While folks are going to flock to Ant-Man and The Wasp, most probably don't know that its director made his feature film debut with Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union's cult classic clash of the cheer squads. But if you watch Bring It On, and then re-watch Ant-Man, you can see why he was such a good choice to join the MCU's director's stable in the first place.

Cocktail

In the pantheon of Tom Cruise roles, Cocktail's Brian Flanagan is probably one of those ones that sits in the middle, between the Mission: Impossible series and that recent Mummy movie that everyone was talking about for the wrong reasons. It's a shame too, as his natural charm fires on all cylinders in one of the movies that helped Disney branch out into R-rated content, through their fledgling Touchstone Pictures label. Admit it: your life has been missing some Tom Cruise bartending action, and seeing that photo of him really getting into it above has made you realize this fact. Fulfill your destiny, and scratch that itch on your Netflix queue.

Lethal Weapon

With films like The Omen, Superman, and The Goonies already under his belt, Lethal Weapon's Richard Donner decided he didn't have enough blockbusters on his resume, and decided to lend his talents to Mel Gibson and Danny Glover's career-making franchise. You can debate the merits of the sequels all you want, but there's no denying that Shane Black's original entry is as solid as Gibson's Riggs is crazy.

Michael Clayton

Is it possible to be critically praised, nominated for numerous awards, and still be underrated? If Michael Clayton is any indication, yes, it really is. Tony Gilroy's legal thriller that harkens back to the pot boilers of the 1970's had a good head of steam on it back in 2007, but as time has passed, the buzz has died down. That's a total shame, as not only is this some of George Clooney's finest work navigating a morally ambiguous character, but the script on this one's so good that it uses every member of its cast to their fullest potential. Also, the last 20 minutes are the most engrossing finale you'll see on a film of this type.

Tropic Thunder

The summer season demands movies as funny and as irreverent as Tropic Thunder. Ben Stiller's comic focus cut deep into blockbuster filmmaking, method acting, and the advantages of having the best agent in the world, in this comedic hit, and the best part is, it still holds up. And if you thought you liked Tom Cruise in Cocktail, just wait until you see him in this movie. If you haven't seen it, or if you've forgotten what his role is, we'll let you rediscover that gem for yourself. You've earned it, folks.

V For Vendetta

Alan Moore loves to grouse whenever a graphic novel of his creation is adapted into something like V For Vendetta, and sometimes the crowd sides with his complaints. In the case of the updated approach to the book's story involving neo-fascism, it was the best way for the audience to access the true meaning behind the source material. By adding a more modern context to V's quest, the spirit of the story lives on for another generation to enjoy - and it's most certainly an enjoyable, incendiary film. Watch it on a night you can go to a fireworks show right after, and you won't be disappointed.

Wanted

Damn 2008, you were so slick, weren't you? Iron Man, The Dark Knight, Tropic Thunder, and freaking Wanted all dropped in the same, high-octane year, and we're all the better for it. This film is a trifecta of seeing James McAvoy evolving from lowly office worm into a professional assassin, Angelina Jolie continuing to kick all sorts of ass, and Morgan Freeman using language we don't normally hear coming from his mouth. Any of these things done well in one film is a treat, but wrapping them with the action-packed flare that Wanted does is the whole smash. Also, if you thought you hated Chris Pratt after Avengers: Infinity War, take a gander at this film's first act and get back to us.

At around this time 10 years ago, the movie world couldn't have imagined what was about to happen. With a year that started with the American remake of One Missed Call, it wasn't long after that point that the first surprise hit of 2008 would hit theaters. What would follow throughout the entirety of 2008 was a series of game changers and underrated hits mixing it up, marking a new epoch in modern cinema.

The doldrums of the early Aughts were officially gone, and our current era of experimental and groundbreaking filmmaking officially was upon us. And in the year 2008, the following 10 films turned out to be the most memorable entries into contemporary box office history.

10. The Wrestler

2008 was a year that saw some successful comebacks mounted by folks like Robert Downey Jr., and in the case of Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke. The latter film tells the story of Rourke's Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a wrestler who tries to rescue himself from the depths of personal and professional obscurity, in the name of making up with his daughter and being able to stand proud once again. While playing a fictional character, Rourke lends a semi-autobiographical flare to his performance, drawing on his own experiences as a boxer. There are moments when you can literally see his heart breaking on screen, and Aronofsky captures all of this beautifully in one of the relatively warmest and most poignant films of his career.

9. Step Brothers

Released in the thick of Will Ferrell's streak of comedy hits, Step Brothers was the second team-up between Ferrell and Talladega Nights co-star John C. Reilly. It was this movie that cemented the partnership between the two clowns, and it's quite possibly their best work together, as their man-child personas raised all sorts of hell for their beleaguered parents, played by Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins. If you don't remember the words "Catalina Wine Mixer" and their original context, then it's time you go back and watch this one fresh.

8. Burn After Reading

After the Coen brothers won the trophy for Best Picture with No Country For Old Men in the previous year, the brothers would release a dark comedy to sort of balance out the bleak outlook their Cormac McCarthy adaptation held on the human race. While the cartoonish characters of Burn After Reading aren't exactly nicer, better, or smarter people, they are indeed a hell of a lot funnier. John Malkovich's fired CIA agent-turned-provocateur starts the madness off when he loses his memoirs, and everyone from George Clooney and Tilda Swinton, to Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins gets involved in the game. But quite possibly, the MVP of Burn After Reading is Brad Pitt's bubble-headed gym employee, who never knows what he's doing but does it in style.

7. Cloverfield

Picture this: 2007 -- the first Transformers movie is about to screen, and you're sitting through the previews. Out of nowhere, a mysterious trailer starts to play, where a farewell party turns into a scramble for life and death that looks more like a monster movie. For months, the film was known as "1-18-08," without any official title or plot details given until months later, when Cloverfield was officially named. With a brilliant viral marketing campaign that told the story leading up to the actual film, a tale of larger-than-life monsters and New York City's destruction was in the cards. In the end, all of the teasing made the wait worthwhile, as Matt Reeves' rewarding film would be the start of a whole new universe that continues to this day.

6. Tropic Thunder

Topical humor doesn't always age well in cinema, but as far as Tropic Thunder's digs at Hollywood go, they're still as fresh as they were the first time through. Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. were a comedic triple threat in this movie that spoofed everything from the power of celebrity to the movie-making system itself, and did so with an equal measure of laughs and explosions. With a trio like that, you could easily rest on the A-plot to make all of the laughs. However, that's not the case with Tropic Thunder, as it also staffs its B-plot with the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Bill Hader, and most hilariously of all, Tom Cruise in a fat suit playing the world's meanest studio head. Hey Paramount, how about that Les Grossman movie we were promised?

5. Iron Man

The second seismic shift in Hollywood to take place in 2008 was another big decision to come out of Paramount's gates. Taking a chance on the then-still-recovering Marvel Comics brand, the studio made arrangements to help them create the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Robert Downey Jr. taking the lead as Tony Stark, Jon Favreau's Iron Man was seen as a hell of a gamble on what was once a B-level title in Marvel's ranks. Of course, all it took was one kick-assed adventure, and a hell of a post-credits teaser that promised the full Avengers Initiative, and the world was ready for the MCU's full-fledged takeoff. Everything that happened after that point would make comic book movies a multi-billion dollar game, with Disney eventually buying Marvel as a result of the success this film would see.

4. Frost / Nixon

Ron Howard has an amazing gift of turning historical events into perfectly crafted suspense dramas. He'd done this prior with Apollo 13, but Frost / Nixon was arguably the harder project of the two to pull off. While still interesting in their own right, the legendary interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon aren't a natural fit for what some may consider a silver screen friendly pot-boiler. And yet, with Michael Sheen and Frank Langella facing off as they did in the stage version of that same story, the infamous interviews came to life in such a way that a filmed adaptation was more than just a good idea. Once again, history came to life, and drama was served another well-regarded entry into its canon.

3. In Bruges

Up until the production of In Bruges, writer/director Martin McDonagh was primarily known for stage plays that conveyed his brand of dark humor and violent action. Yet, 2008 brought him his first full-fledged feature film, with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson taking the lead roles of hitmen exiled to the idyllic European city of the title. But, in true McDonagh fashion, the plot unravels like a finely crafted watch, in a fashion that truly shows off his playwright roots. With clever profanity, quotable sequences, and a third act that walks a bittersweet line of closure, In Bruges is a hell of a feature film debut for a writer/director (see how he evolved with the current Three Billboards), and still holds up to this day.

2. Wall-E

In the midst of their boundary pushing phase, Pixar created a film that opens with almost an entirely dialogue free first act, relying solely on the names of its characters, and some broad silent humor. This is the ingenious way that Wall-E opens, as it helps us identify with our hero's limited vocabulary, but also his limitless capacity for altruism. What starts as a simple day in the life story of a trash-collecting robot turns into a love story, which then mutates into a revolution against a future where Capitalism has run rampant, and humanity is at its laziest. And all of that is done in such a way that kids can still enjoy it! Wall-E is one of the last films from Pixar's "lightning in a bottle" era, and it's destined to be a classic as the years go by.

1. The Dark Knight

What happens when you take a comic book story, but infuse it with an extremely grounded / gritty air about it? You get a film like Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, which basically feels like Michael Mann's Heat, only told on the Gotham City battleground. Heath Ledger's Joker is the lynchpin to this narrative, and he holds everything together in brilliant fashion that his scenes can't help but grab you by your lapels - even after a decade. But the morals on ever evolving surveillance technology, the truths that are best concealed, and the limits to which an untethered hero should operate within all cement The Dark Knight as the best film of 2008, as well as the best comic book film that's ever been made. Well, at the very least, it's the best DC movie, hands down.

This poll is no longer available.

Tom Cruise has had a lot of great roles over the course of his career, but of the supporting characters he's played, Les Grossman might just be the best. The studio executive who represents the worst of Hollywood appeared in the comedy Tropic Thunder, and as the story goes Tom Cruise was actually crucial in creating the character. Cruise created the idea of a studio executive character for the comedy and then agreed to play him, but he had two requests: that the character had "fat hands" and that he had to dance. Cruise recalled:

Back when Ben Stiller was still trying to get Tropic Thunder -- a comedy about clueless actors trying to make a war film -- made, he asked Tom Cruise to take a look at the script. At this point in time, there was no Les Grossman or any studio executive in the movie. Crusie was the one who suggested that they need that type of character to put pressure on the main characters to create their movie. This was the missing piece of the puzzle for Stiller, and a few weeks later, he gave the script back to Cruise. Cruise loved it and wanted a part. The only role that was really open was the newly-created Les Grossman, and Cruise went "Yeah, I can do that."

Ben Stiller had assumed Tom Cruise would play the role looking like, well, himself, but the only way Cruise could see himself doing this was if he had fat hands and danced. Cruise told BBC Radio 1 that he did a makeup test for the whole look of the character, and while he was in wardrobe, he offered to show some moves for Stiller. Later, Stiller added music and edited it together and clearly loved it. Cruise is super funny in the movie, and he clearly had a blast yelling ever kind of profanity he can think of.

You can next see Tom Cruise in American Made, which hits theaters on September 29, 2017. For more movies dropping in 2017, take a look at our movie release schedule.

Not everything has to be highbrow all of the time. As moviegoers, we would become exhausted if every single piece of cinema represented an intellectual exercise that preached big ideas in grandiose ways. Sometimes all we want to do is sit back, relax, and watch an incredibly stupid comedy to help us take a load off. That's just how human beings are wired.

However, as counter intuitive as it may seem, just because a movie is conventionally stupid, doesn't mean it's not also brilliant. CinemaBlend has compiled a list of seven perfect examples of movies that used their inherent stupidity to mask absolutely genius ideas. Take a look at our entries and let us know what "stupid" films you think are actually smarter than they get credit for. Without further ado, let's get started with an example of crass filmmaking that made a serious point back in 1999...

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Trey Parker and Matt Stone's now iconic Comedy Central cartoon has become legendary in recent years for its biting social commentary, but in its earliest days it really relied on simple premises and crass humor to get laughs out of a Gen X audience. That all changed with the release of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Channeling all of the hatred and vitriol that they received from parents' advocacy groups into a single film, Parker and Stone use the obscene humor and low-budget sensibilities that made them famous in the first place and present a surprisingly intelligent commentary on the state of censorship and the impact of vulgarity. The show itself has evolved considerably since the days of Bigger, Longer & Uncut, but the film remains a watershed moment in South Park's history that deserves far more respect than it receives.

Idiocracy

Ignoring some of the loonier jokes (like Fuddruckers eventually evolving its name to ButtFuckers) Mike Judge's Idiocracy has in many ways become the standard by which we judge modern satire of American culture. The film follows a terminally average 21st century man (Luke Wilson) who awakens from a cryogenic sleep 500 years in the future to find that intelligence has more or less been bred out of American society. In this future, a TV show called Ow My Balls dominates the ratings, the human language has been gutted through the overuse of slang, the world faces a serious environmental crisis brought on by use of sports drinks for irrigation, and the Oval Office has become occupied by a gun-toting macho man with former ties to the world of wrestling. Kind of eerie, right? Despite its cartoonish quality, Idiocracy has some serious things to say about the importance of education in our society, and (particularly in this election season) it has become a major reference point for the state of our collective intelligence.

Tropic Thunder

Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder quite obviously spoofs classic war movies like Platoon and Apocalypse Now, but it does so much more than that. Everything, from the fake trailers that precede the film, to Robert Downey Jr.'s black face, to the entire "never go full retard" speech, all provide audiences with an immaculate satire of the entire film industry. Tropic Thunder is a movie that could only been made by people who have starred in hits as well as flops, and almost the entire cast -- from Downey Jr. to Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise to Matthew McConaughey -- fit that bill to a T. It's a self-aware, pitch perfect satire that's not afraid to acknowledge the individual failures of its whole ensemble.

Team America: World Police

Although it's often considered the less popular younger sibling of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Team America: World Police is a far smarter movie than it ever gets credit for being. Released shortly after the American invasion of Iraq, Team America uses Thunderbirds-esque marionette animation to completely skewer the sort of gung-ho patriotism that characterized the United States in a post-9/11 environment, while still reserving criticism for those on the far left as well. The film's entire message can be summed up in its theme song, "America, Fuck Yeah," which is a loud and bombastic exercise in excessive patriotism and vulgar humor, which is a combination as American as peanut butter and jelly.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

There's an obvious genius to the underlying comedic style of Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat that's simply too good to ignore. Aside from his ability to stay in character and completely ad-lib phenomenal, cringe-worthy interviews with unsuspecting subjects, the movie goes one step further by actually having a pretty strong, sobering message. Under the guise of a witless outsider, Cohen uses Borat to hold a mirror up to American society circa 2006 (which admittedly hasn't changed much in the last decade) and expose seriously problematic issues of racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry that plague the United States. Sure, we all remember the naked wrestling scene in the hotel, but Borat has far more to say than it ever gets credit for.

Galaxy Quest

Galaxy Quest is an oddity of a film. It's primarily a send-up of the 1960s show Star Trek, but it's also incredibly ahead of its time for the way in which it perfectly satirizes fandom. The film follows the cast members of a long ago cancelled sci-fi series that find themselves abducted by aliens inspired by the technology, society, and aesthetic depicted in fictional show that made the ensemble famous. Trekkies, conventions and general die-hard fans existed long before the prominence of the Internet, but Galaxy Quest took those ideas into the mainstream for a Hollywood film; one whose theme has aged incredibly well over the last two decades. It's legitimately weird to watch the film in 2016, because so many of the ideas that it lampoons still show up in straight-faced sci-fi romps like Star Trek Beyond.

Dogma

Kevin Smith has done quite a bit right and quite a bit wrong throughout his long career, but it's time we acknowledge that Dogma might actually represent his magnum opus. Centering on a pair of angels (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) intent on forcing their way back into heaven -- which will subsequently lead to Armageddon -- the film follows a group of misfits intent on stopping them and saving the universe. It's a movie that completely takes down organized religion while still leaving room for someone to have personal faith in a higher power in the process. The film uses incredibly lowbrow humor to make seriously highbrow points, and Kevin Smith fires on all cylinders as a writer, director AND as an actor, because of course Jay and Silent Bob feature prominently in this one. The best scene in the movie? Affleck and Damon bickering like an old, married couple before brutally murdering an entire corporate board room.

Think of the greatest comedy movies from your childhood: Austin Powers, Hot Shots!, and Scary Movie – just to name a few. All of these are spoofs. There was a time when the spoof genre reigned supreme above all other forms of comedic cinema, but sadly that era seems to have come to a close. Despite its long history of iconic films – ranging from Naked Gun to Spaceballs – the spoof genre has experienced a sharp decline in quality in recent years, leaving all of us to wonder where exactly things went wrong.

In recent years we have seen plenty of mediocre spoofs come and go, and yet none have managed to capture the magic of the genre during its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s. The recent release of 50 Shades of Black only further solidifies the notion that we’re witnessing the death of the modern spoof. After dissecting some of the most beloved – as well as most painful – spoofs in recent memory, we may have figured it out. Let’s take a quick look and examine the reasons why this once great genre is on the verge of its inevitable death

Modern Spoofs Lack Focus

One of the most egregious issues facing modern spoofs is the simple fact that most of them lack a specific target when it comes to whatever topic they lampoon. For an example of such a phenomenon one need only look at the recent release of 50 Shades of Black. Despite the fact that the Marlon Wayans comedy frames itself as a parody of the recent 50 Shades of Grey, it goes off on needless tangents to poke fun at other recent cultural touchstones like Magic Mike and the Kardashian family – firing wildly at whatever subject seems ripe for parody. When this happens the spoof no longer becomes a spoof, it’s basically a "best of" compilation of pop culture references over the last few years.

On the other hand, some spoofs have become so specific in their subject matter that they essentially act like inside jokes. Movies like Meet the Spartans and A Haunted House do not tell their own story; they take the stories of movies like 300 or Paranormal Activity and simply inject slapstick humor or grossout gags into plots we have already become familiar with. The best spoofs of all time take easily identifiable genres and tropes, but still manage to tell their own story. One can watch a movie like Airplane! without having seen any of the classic 1970s disaster movies and still pick up on the ideas and genre cliches that are being made fun of.

Internet Comedy Has Stolen Spoof's Niche

Perhaps it’s unfair to say that the spoof genre as a whole is "dying." However, we can say with near certainty that movie spoofs are most certainly on the way out due to the increased prevalence of Internet comedy. There was a time when film – and to a lesser extent television – represented the only potential outlet for spoof-style comedy; that’s simply no longer the case. Websites like Cracked or Funny or Die have become more suitable platforms for this style of humor, often distilling entire genres or movies into more digestible and economical forms of entertainment with short sketches and memes.

Social media has also stolen much of the spoof genre’s thunder because user generated content on platforms such as Vine, YouTube, and Snapchat offers the same type of wacky, outlandish humor without the cost of admission. This is arguably one of the more hopeful points we can make because it points to the idea that spoofs themselves aren’t going away, they're merely changing shape and adapting to the times we live in.

Modern Spoofs Have The Wrong People Behind The Camera

Comedy movies are a form of auteur cinema where filmmakers have their own distinct style and taste. Mel Brooks produced some of the best spoofs of all time during the 1970s such as Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, while David Zucker picked up the torch during the 1980s and 1990s with films like The Naked Gun and Airplane!. However, the moment the Wayans became face of the spoof genre with the Scary Movie franchise is when spoofs started to become a laughing stock (and not in a good way). Their spoof films started off strong enough, but have weakened over the years with the likes of A Haunted House and the recent 50 Shades of Black.

As much as I want to put all of the blame for the death of the spoof genre upon the shoulders of the Wayans – it's really Marlon flying solo at this point – that simply isn’t the case. The real culprits are Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg. Over the last decade these two have been responsible for some of the most glaring examples of how not to do a spoof – Epic Movie, Vampires Suck, The Starving Games, etc. – with complete impunity. Throughout their careers they have received numerous Razzie awards, and yet Hollywood producers continued to allow them to tarnish the genre because their movies are cheap and make money. If the genre as a whole hasany semblance of a chance for survival, then fresh blood must be brought in and put behind the camera.

Recent Spoofs Rely On Lowbrow Humor

Look, we’re not saying lowbrow humor doesn’t have its place in spoof movies, it does, but modern spoofs have become decidedly reliant on the tactic to generate laughter. There’s a scene in the recent 50 Shades of Black during which lead female character gets her head caught in an elevator door that repeatedly opens and closes on her. It’s pure slapstick – with absolutely no relevance or foundation in the story – that simply drags on and on. That’s far from the only example; far too many spoof films utilized unnecessary slapstick or gross-out gags that pander to an audience’s most basic sense of humor. Audiences are smarter than these directors think, and deserve better than that.

The best spoofs mix in clever jokes and gags. Say what you will about spoofs like The Naked Gun or Airplane! but the fact of the matter is they didn’t rely on lowbrow humor to garner laughs. Did they implement lowbrow? Absolutely. One need only remember the scene in which Elaine (Julie Haggerty) has to – literally – blow the autopilot in order to get the plane to fly itself once more, only to find herself interrupted by Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen). A scene such as that works because it relies on Nielsen’s facial expression to achieve its desired effect, and not necessarily because of the implications of oral sex.

Satire Has Become More Popular Than Spoof

Spoofs have generally become less and less common to find in theaters these days, and that’s because something else has taken their place: Satire. Although we often hear the two terms used interchangeably, they have inherent differences to one another. Spoofs take existing genres and properties and exaggerate them, playing them for goofy effect. On the other hand, satire tends to examine it in order to dissect it and mock it in some way. Spoofs exaggerate subjects while satires provide commentary.

Recent years have seen a growing prominence in critically acclaimed comedic satires. Tropic Thunder skewered the entertainment industry, the Jump Street franchise satirized the prevalence of Hollywood sequels and reboots, and Borat satirized basically everything about American culture. Does this mean that Hollywood isn’t producing any spoofs of note anymore? Of course not, but they have become decidedly less prevalent in recent year – likely due to the final entry on this list…

Spoofs Have Seen Declining Box Office Returns In Recent Years

It’s a sad, simple truth that spoofs just don’t make the kind of money that they used to. Based solely on the numbers it’s clear to see that the genre was at its strongest in the years leading up to the turn of the century. Franchises like Austin Powers and the early Scary Movie entries are the highest-grossing spoofs of all time, with films from the 1980s and 1990s following closely behind. However, the last decade has seen a sharp decline in box office earnings for this particular genre; millions of dollars are nothing to scoff at, but recent years have seen some of the least profitable spoofs of all time.

The exact cause of this decline remains unclear. On one hand it could have to do with people losing faith after a string of low quality spoofs in recent years, and on the other hand it could simply indicate a shift in the general audience's taste. Even recent spoofs that were generally considered strong comedies, such as MacGruber or Casa De Mi Padre, barely made an impression at the box office – grossing $8.5 million and $6 million at the box office, respectively. Hope remains alive that the cult following of MacGruber can still revive the franchise with a sequel, but overall the era of spoof comedies as box office gold has definitively come to an end.

Tom Cruise has played many iconic roles over the course of his career - from the still-active Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible films, to Frank T.J. Mackey in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, to Ron Kovic in Born on the Fourth of July - but ranking right up towards the top is his supporting turn as studio executive Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder. It's ridiculous, crude, and unlike anything we've seen from the movie star before - but what may surprise you is that the character was actually Cruise's idea to include.

Diving into the making of Tropic Thunder, Grantland has published an oral history of how the Les Grossman role came to exist - and while there are no quotes from Cruise, the story does feature input from Ben Stiller, screenwriter Etan Cohen, co-star Bill Hader, and many more. As the story goes, the film was in development for a number of years in a form similar to what's available on Blu-ray and DVD today, but it was after Tom Cruise had a chance to read it that the entire game was changed. The star was being considered for the lead role in the movie - Tugg Speedman -as this was how Stiller got the screenplay into Cruise's hands. As it existed at the time, the movie only had one real villain - the 12-year-old drug king. After reading the script, it was Cruise who, according to producer Stuart Cornfield, came up with the idea of a "greedy pig studio executive who really represents the gross part of Hollywood."

As it turns out, the idea for this character was a total revelation for Ben Stiller. He notes in the article that the idea actually turned out to be the perfect piece that allowed the rest of Tropic Thunder's dominoes to fall. Said the actor/director,

But while Tom Cruise may have added significant creative contributions to the Tropic Thunder script, apparently it still wasn't a slam dunk getting him to sign on as Les Grossman. According to the article, conversations slowed down after Ben Stiller first gave Tom Cruise a copy of the revised draft, as the Mission: Impossible actor started to get busier. Eventually Stiller decided that he wanted to play the lead for himself, but it was at this time that Cruise finally got in contact with him. Said Cornfield,

Of course, the rest is cinema history. Though he was nearly unrecognizable under all of his makeup, Tom Cruise wound up stealing every Tropic Thunder scene he was in, and only made the movie that much better.

Tom Cruise is one of those rare actors who climbed to superstar status and never really vacated the position. Since the early ‘80s he’s consistently turned out top-notch, entertaining movies, and he has another on the way this weekend with Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation. To mark the occasion of his fifth time playing international secret agent Ethan Hunt, we thought what better time to count down his ten best characters.

This was a tough list to make. We have some die hard Cruise fans among us (Top Gun shaped my life more than I’m entirely comfortable admitting), and as we all have our favorites, there were some heated arguments had during construction. There are great movies where the character may not have been the most memorable, on the on other side of that coin, there are great roles in less notable movies. That said, we think this is a solid list. Let us know what you think we should have included or left off in the comments below.

10. Les Grossman, Tropic Thunder

Tom Cruise isn’t known for being a comedic actor. He can certainly be funny, but scanning his resume, you don’t find a lot of straight-up comedy. That’s what makes his turn as hard-ass studio executive Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder so memorable and hilarious. It’s also one of the few roles, especially recently, where he’s heavily made up, to the point where he’s almost unrecognizable. You can’t help but laugh as Cruise, so out of his usual wheelhouse, screams and rages and belittles his subordinates. And who knew that you always wanted to see Tom Cruise dancing around his office to a hip hop jam, but there it is. So don’t piss him off or you’ll have to get a binding resolution from the United Nations, because he is talking scorched earth, motherfucker!

9. Lestat, Interview With The Vampire

Tom Cruise covered with pasty makeup, full of intense stares and heaving sighs, and prosthetic fangs? Didn’t expect that one, did you? But that’s exactly what you got in Neil Jordan’s adaptation of Ann Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, which featured Cruise as the fan-favorite bloodsucker Lestat. The casting initially met with big question marks from fans of the book, as well as Rice herself, who criticized the choice, though she came around to praise his performance. He embraced the character’s ambiguous sexuality, his charm, his petulance, his theatricality, and the philosophical questions that plague the immortal rogue. This is a role that required Cruise to show a different side of his personality and skills as an actor, and Lestat is one that stands very much apart from anything he did before or has done since.

8. Bill Cage, Edge Of Tomorrow

When you think of a typical Tom Cruise movie, you imagine him in the lead, as the hero, and those are certainly true to a degree in the sci-fi actioner Edge of Tomorrow. Sure, he does ultimately save the day and get the girl and all of that usual heroic stuff, but when Bill Cage starts on his journey, he’s anything but your standard Tom Cruise lead. Spineless, sniveling, and without a heroic bone in his body, his ad exec turned fast-talking military officer finds himself on the front lines of an alien invasion where he is killed off almost instantly upon stepping into battle. Cursed to relive the same day over and over again, Groundhog Day style, he gets a little further each time, until he is humanity’s last hope. His journey is to become your usual steel-jawed Cruise hero, but he plays much of the movie drastically against type. And getting to watch him kick the bucket time after time is also a total blast.

7. Frank TJ Mackey, Magnolia

When you think of Cruise, there’s usually a certain amount of ego involved. He’s the lead, he’s the hero, but in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia he takes a supporting role as part of a large ensemble, and plays a heel to boot. And he was rewarded with an Oscar nomination for his onscreen efforts as Frank TJ Mackey, a narcissistic self-help guru that encourages men to worship sex and who lies about his past. His quiet performance, which blends into the larger tapestry of the film, encompasses the pain and trauma and reconciliation he undergoes, and the role allows him to transcend the movie star trappings he often falls into and show off things you didn’t know he had.

6. Charlie Babbitt, Rain Man

Rain Man’s Charlie Babbitt is not quite a con man, but he’s not far off. Self-centered and up to his eyeballs in debt, he learns that he has a brother, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), in a mental institution. On the road trip that ensues, they bond, count cards, get Raymond laid, and Charlie learns some important lessons. Hoffman’s performance is the obvious, showy one that people watch and praise, and as such it’s easy to skip over Tom Cruise doing some of his best work along side of that. Confused, desperate, and trying to process a ton of new information, Charlie is the true central character in Rain Man, the real emotional core, and Cruise handles it with a deft, delicate touch. He’s so good and so natural that you hardly even notice.

5. Joel Goodsen, Risky Business

Before he played Joel Goodsen in Risky Business in 1983, Tom Cruise was starting to make a name for himself as a handsome newcomer in movies like Losin’ It, Taps, and The Outsiders. It was this role, however, that really made people sit up, take notice, and say this kid is going to be a star. Playing a teen who wrecks his dad’s Porsche when his parents are out of town, and turns his house into a brothel for the night in order to pay for the repairs, Cruise is cocky and brash, but also vulnerable and scared and in way, way over his head. This is the role that really showed he could lead a movie, the one that truly helped make him a star, and from there his career trajectory went from upward to meteoric.

4. Ron Kovic, Born On The Fourth Of July

Cruise had already become a huge international star, but 1989’s adaptation of Bourn on the Fourth of July brought a different kind of recognition, in the form acclaim for his acting and award nominations, including his first Oscar nom. His transformative performance as disillusioned real-life Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic is strong and simple and incredibly powerful. Together with director Oliver Stone, he shows the hidden, lingering consequences of war, and how the problems of that conflict, from both a personal and national perspective, were not easy fixes and were never truly resolved. Even down to small details, like flinching at the sound of firecrackers, Cruise’s performance is visceral and authentic.

3. Jerry Maguire, Jerry Maguire

Few Tom Cruise roles are beloved in the same way as the title character of Cameron Crowe’s 1996 romantic comedy-drama Jerry Maguire. So many of Cruise’s best roles feature the superstar playing against type, and though he’s been a romantic lead before, he had never been one like this. Cruise plays a slick, cynical sports agent who undergoes a massive transformation both professionally and personally. Doing some of his best work, Cruise’s performance was praised across the board and earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. How can you not love that scene of him drunk on the couch with the little kid?

2. Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible

For years, Tom Cruise has been adamant about doing his own stunts whenever possible, putting himself in harms way for our entertainment. Nowhere has that been more prominent than as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies. He even fired an insurance company on Ghost Protocol because they wouldn’t sign off on a particular sequence he wanted to perform. Ethan is charming and suave, a reckless gambler willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, and is full of sharp banter for his rogues gallery of compatriots. Up to and including the latest installment, Rogue Nation, more than anything, the Mission: Impossible films illustrate just how far Cruise is willing to go in order to sell a movie and prove that, even as he gets into his 50s, he’s still one hell of an action star.

1. Maverick, Top Gun

Tom Cruise was famous before Top Gun, well known as a heartthrob and leading man. His turn as renegade Navy pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Tony Scott’s 1986 action drama, however, made him a goddamn superstar, and he never looked back. His badass, live-life-on-the-edge fighter pilot is cocky and rash, oozes charm and charisma, and is impossible not to watch, whether he’s playing volleyball shirtless, riding his Kawasaki Ninja (I wanted one so bad as a kid) recklessly through traffic, piloting a supercharged F-14 Tomcat, or holding his dying best friend in his arms (I still get choked up over Goose). Top Gun is where Tom Cruise truly became Tom Cruise, the personality rather than the man, and it shaped my life more than I’m entirely proud to admit (true story, the kid who grew up next door went to the Air Force Academy largely because he fell in love with the idea of flying during our repeated viewings of Top Gun). Top Gun is where Tom Cruise taught an entire generation how to be awesome.

Today is the day when, all around the world, fireworks are ignited as people celebrate the departure of 2014 and the arrival of 2015. So it seems only appropriate that we would end our year in cinema with a bang as well:

This is the latest supercut to come our way from the folks over at Screen Junkies, and it's pretty hard to argue with their choices for the most memorable cinematic explosions. They borrow from multiple genres and multiple generations to assemble what is a pretty fantastic collection of big boom moments from his history of blockbusters.

Some of these explosions are fairly recent - like the one from James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy - and some are just so memorable that we will never forget them - like the explosion of the Death Star in the original Star Wars - but can you name all of the movies that are featured in this video? Give it your best shot and then check your answers below, courtesy of the video's description on YouTube:

• Fight Club
• Lethal Weapon 3
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
• The Mask
• Face/Off
• Die Hard with a Vengeance
• Independence Day
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• The Dark Knight
• Transformers: Age of Extinction
• Tropic Thunder
• The Expendables
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Star Wars
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• Die Hard
• Django Unchained
• Caddyshack
• V for Vendetta
• Strangelove
• Ghostbusters
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• Robocop (1987)
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• The Terminator
• Speed
• Oz The Great and Powerful
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• Mary Poppins
• Rio
• Paul
• The Theory of Everything
• Neighbors
• The Croods

This compilation has just about everything you'd want on it, from the rooftoop boom in Die Hard to the jungle bombing in Tropic Thunder, and it even includes a surprising number of movies from this past year... but there is one gripe that I have. The intro from Fight Club is cool, but how could you not include the shot of the towers exploding at the end? The Dark Knight was in there a few times - so why no love for David Fincher's cult hit?

While we're talking about 2014 coming to an end, it feels appropriate to thank all of you awesome readers out there for spending another year with us covering an amazing year in film. We saw a lot of amazing stuff unfold over the last 12 months, and have a great deal to look forward to next year, so be sure to come back in 2015 as we head off on a brand new cinematic adventure!

Product placement has become an unfortunately big part of modern studio filmmaking, but there are some ads in movies that we can still appreciate: the fake ones. Rather than actually trying to tell us something, they merely exist as a fun gag or even sometimes as a plot device. And now you can see a whole bunch of them mashed together in this fantastic new supercut.

Created by the good folks over at Screen Junkies, this new video brings together clips from more than 30 different movies, all advertising some kind of strange in-movie product. The selections are all over the map and come from all different genres - and like with most supercuts, half of the fun is trying to figure out what movies the clips come from. Thanks to the video's YouTube description, you can match all of your guesses against the full list of movies in order:

Anyone else find it kind of strange that not a single one of these movies was made before 1980? This isn't a gag that was only created in the last 34 years, right?

Not all of these clips are strictly "Fake Ads in Movies," as the Prometheus portion was actually part of the film's marketing campaign and the Punch Drunk Love example is from the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed short film Mattress Man Commercial, but that doesn't undercut how enjoy able this video is. After all, it reminded me that UHF exists, and while it does cut down the Spatula City commercial quite a bit, that just led me to watching it in full on another YouTube page:

Do you have a personal favorite, either that was included in this supercut or was left off? The Big Red spot from Talladega Nights is pretty fantastic, the Starship Trooper videos are amazing satire, and the Fruity Oaty Bar jingle from Serenity is pretty damn catchy. Hit the comments to tell us what you think!

We all know the set up: a huge battle has just taken place. Both sides have endured heavy casualties, and just when we think all of the good guys are going to walk out alive, one of them slumps over. Removing their hand from their abdomen, they reveal that they were hit just five minutes away from retirement, and they're fading fast. The hero(ine) is a wreck, because they really liked this person. In fact, they may have even loved them, if only to increase the dramatic potential of the moment ten fold. After some half choked words from the soon-to-be deceased, our protagonist utters those classic words of futility: "Don't you die on me."

Vulture showcased a particularly effective supercut of this classic dramatic device, and it's every bit as fun as you'd expect it to be. Well, it's as fun as a compilation of death scenes can be, which ultimately depends on two things: whether it's actually a death scene, and which film/performer is using the cliché.

For example, Anthony Hopkins telling Alec Baldwin not to die on him in The Edge and Nicolas Cage telling one of his fellow prisoners not to die on him in Con Air isn't exactly an equal reaction. The reason being that besides the difference in the level of the performance between the two men, Cage's accent in Con Air is hysterically awful. Naturally, it's more convincing when Odin himself uses his dulcet, Welsh tones to will you to live; though an argument can be made for a good case of laughter being used to jump start the human heart.

Then there are the MVP's of this clip reel: the actors and actresses that know how to play that death scene, rather than milk it. As far as the guys represented in this clip go, no one beats Viggo Mortensen telling his trusty steed Hidalgo not to go gently into that good night. And with her simple understatement of grief, Sandra Bullock's scene from Practical Magic clinches the win on the female side of things.

However, there's one example that I think should have been included that was sorely absent. If any of you remember Tropic Thunder like I do, you'll remember Robert Downey Jr.'s Kirk Lazarus giving it his all with his own variant of the scene. Unfortunately the complete scene isn't available online, but you can see and hear the bare basics in the trailer. Set the marker to 0:20, and laugh copiously.

The reason that example works so perfectly is because it's such a perfectly meta example that shows what's wrong with that type of scene, while at the same time exploiting that wrongness in a decent enough proportion to make it funny. The scene takes what has become a joke, and lets itself in on the joke in an effective manner.

While the cliché of "don't you die on me" scenes isn't going to wear away anytime soon, perhaps we can hope that filmmakers will take a cue or two from the best examples on display in this video. Remember: aim to be more like Viggo Mortensen and less like Nic Cage. But if you can't manage either then Robert Downey Jr. is just fine.

Fake trailers are one of the evergreen and consistent recurring memes on the Internet, giving fans and sometimes even filmmakers the chance to do everything from fake a Batman trailer to inventing a new hero who'll eventually get a movie of his own. The fan-made and jokey trailers will always have a comfortable home on the Internet, but they reached a kind of legitimacy in 2008, when three fake trailers ran before Tropic Thunder, both getting huge laughs and introducing the three actor characters we'd be following into their Vietnam movie.

Now Ben Stiller, the director of Tropic Thunder and star of the Scorcher 6 fake trailer, wants to keep the silliness going. Deadline reports Stiller and his Red Hour Media are going forward with The Fake Trailer Project, a series of digital shorts in the tradition of the Tropic Thunder trailers, including the involvement of A-list actors and directors. The shorts will be distributed online, one per week, sometime last this year, with "a partner to be named shortly"-- probably something like Funny or Die, but hey, who knows what site might want to step up to the plate on this. Stiller already has some of his familiar collaborators on board, including Tropic Thunder co-writer Justin Theroux, Reno 911! veterans Tom Lennon and Ben Garant, and perhaps most surprisingly, Clueless director Amy Heckerling.

If we use Funny or Die as an example, where they can get everyone from Paris Hilton to Allison Janney to spoof their reputations and get silly on camera, the possibilities here are really endless. Participating in a fake trailer to go online doesn't take much time and offers pretty positive free publicity, and given how many people Stiller knows he can probably get pretty much anyone to participate. Here's hoping Robert Downey Jr. and Tobey Maguire make the list-- I've been dying for a sequel to Satan's Alley since 2008.

Tropic Thunder - Fake Trailers!! - Watch more Funny Videos