Before we get into this fairytale evening, let’s quickly cover some ground. For those that didn’t know, or recall how these two met, Spielberg plucked Zegler out of an open audition for his stunning West Side Story remake. She was cast as Maria, and the relationship was cemented. You can catch it with a Disney+ subscription.

That was 2018, and now 7 years later, the Jaws filmmaker is still rooting for her. After the August 27 performances, the 24-year-old posted a collection of familial-like pictures (along with a few throwbacks) of the duo. She shared that he’d attended earlier in the month and revealed how much he means to her. Along with it, she expressed how grateful she is he’s still so supportive, check out the sweet post below:

What a pinch me, full circle moment it must’ve been for her... and maybe even Spielberg himself! I mean, to be introduced to Hollywood via the Steven Spielberg stamp of approval is a tall order to deliver on. Yet, here she is beautifully pulling off one of the most celebrated musicals in Broadway history. And with him in the crowd still cheering her on, no less.

Needless to say, the relationship and the beginning of her career feel cinematic in their own right. To have this top-tiered historic Hollywood giant pick her out of a crowd and more or less continue as a solid guide and shoulder is too cool. I’m sure it has to be a little dizzying still at times on her end to have him as the person who launched her career.

Outside of her beginnings, Zegler has made her own way in Tinseltown. While the majority of her roles have received praise, West Side Story and The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, she’s also been met with a lot of backlash over personal comments. Most recently, which was earlier this year, the same happened for her 2025 movie title Snow White. And the rising celeb opened up about the discourse and remained steadfast in her beliefs.

It seems like this virtue is part of what makes her such a shining star, at least to me. Post Evita, she has a future project with Marisa Tomei lined up, but I do hope the West Side Story collaborators reunite on something. It’s hopeful, but maybe she’s a part of Spielberg’s under wraps 2026 movie schedule project? I’m just so happy to know Zegler still has him in her corner.

During its first week of release, The Life List accumulated 24.4 million views, per Tudum, putting it at the top of Netflix’s movies on both the global and US charts for the week. If you look at Netflix right now, the daily top ten puts it at No. 2. Kyle Allen, who plays one of the main love interests in the film, was amazed by all of this, writing on an Instagram post about the ranking:

Now, critics were split over The Life List. However, this rom-com about Alex (Sofia Carson) completing a bucket list her mom left behind after her death with the help of the family’s lawyer, Brad (Allen), has been deeply impacting audiences. In fact, it led some people to actually break up with their partners or quit their jobs in an effort to live their lives to the fullest.

It also stars the ever-lovely Sofia Carson and rising star Kyle Allen. Speaking about Allen specifically, he should honestly be considered one of the internet’s boyfriends at this point, and he’s incredibly charming as the lawyer Brad in the movie.

So, it makes complete sense that when Rachel Zegler saw Allen’s post about his rom-com and the question in the caption, she wrote:

She’s right, he is, and I think we’ve both known that for a long time.

I’ve known this and am not surprised by the success of this movie, because Kyle Allen is a great romantic lead. I was introduced to him in 2021’s The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (you can stream it with an Amazon Prime subscription). He was delightful, funny and emotional in that movie, and when I found out he was in The Life List, you better believe I hit play immediately.

Meanwhile, Zegler has worked with him before. They were both part of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story cast (you can watch that film with a Disney+ subscription). While Allen played a very small role in that movie as a Jet, he did get to show off his talent as a dancer, and I would assume this movie is why he knows the Snow White star.

It’s understandable why Zegler would leave a sweet comment on his post, and she’s also right for multiple reasons. However, focusing on The Life List specifically, Kyle Allen really is a "dream" as Brad, the sweet attorney who helps the film’s leading lady on her journey of self-discovery, grief and ultimately, love.

So, yes, Mr. Kyle Allen, people are using their Netflix subscription to watch The Life List, and I think it’s time for you to embrace that incredibly impressive ranking on the streamer’s top ten list.

Speaking with Jake Hamilton of our own Reelblend podcast, Chu says that Steven Spielberg has lived up to all of his expectations as one of the director's heroes. Spielberg helped launch Chu’s career and the two saw Wicked together recently, and then spent a lot of time talking about it after the fact. Chu explained…

Oh to have been a fly on the wall during this conversation. Steven Spielberg recently made West Side Story, a project that he had long wanted to do because of his personal love of musicals. One can imagine these two had a lot to talk about when it came to the work involved in directing some complex films.

While Steven Spielberg is no stranger to musicals, or to movies with heavy use of visual effects, West Side Story didn’t necessarily have a lot of those, so Spielberg likely had a lot of questions for Jon M. Chu regarding how he brought it all together. One would think Steven Spielberg knows everything thee is to know about making movies, but perhaps it’s his endless curiosity that makes him so good at his job. Check out Chu’s full comments on Spielberg below.

If most of us ever met Steven Spielberg, we’d likely be the one asking him endless questions. Chu admits to being apprehensive about answering some of them for feat that his way of doing things might not meet with the Oscar winner’s approval, but there’s certainly no indication that was the case. At this point it seems likely Wicked will win its own Oscars, as it will likely be in contention in multiple categories.

The closest I’ve ever gotten to Steven Spielberg is seeing his introduction at the beginning of the E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios Florida, but this whole exchange tells me that if I ever did have a chance to meet him or interview him, it would be everything I could possibly hope for.

Both directors have a very exciting future, Chu, of course, has the upcoming Wicked: Part Two set for next year, while Spielberg has an upcoming project of his own, though it's one we know little about. One imagines these two will have plenty to discuss going forward.

Lily James In Cinderella

When I think of a ball gown, to me the 2015 Cinderella look of Lily James is a great example of a dress that’s carpet ready. It’s somehow timeless and modern, it’s an indescribable blue color, and it brought an animated concept to life in just the perfect way. A top-notch stunner for any era.

Emma Watson In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

I know you thought I was going to bust out Hermione’s iconic Yule Ball gown look here, even though she’s said the scene was uncomfortable in the past. While it’s a sweet dress for a teenager, it’s the stunning red number Watson’s character wears to Bill and Fleur’s wedding I deem to be most red carpet-worthy.

Jennifer Lopez In Maid In Manhattan

Jennifer Lopez played a maid who borrowed a gown for a night out on the town in Maid in Manhattan. While the flick may not make anyone's list of best rom-coms, the dress is perfect for any best list. It was a peachy pink and very on trend in the early aughts, and its silhouette – and the iconic jewelry she paired it with – would very much still be on point on the carpet today.

Halle Berry In Die Another Day

Halle Berry may be more known for an iconic bikini scene in Die Another Day, but it's her purple dress that really stands out when she's playing Jinx. The color and silhouette are stunning years later, but this is one dress that's also even more brilliant once you see it from behind.

Julia Roberts In Pretty Woman

A far cry from the look we meet her in, Julia Roberts’ Vivian Ward dons a romantic red dress for a night out with Richard Gere’s Edward. The two end up entangling their lives in myriad ways, but the dress is still the most memorable moment from the movie for me.

Margot Robbie In The Wolf Of Wall Street

Black dresses will never go out of fashion, and Margot Robbie looks like a cool woman in a little black dress in Wolf of Wall Street. It's not the only fashionable moment in Scorsese's film, but it's the look I would choose if I were having to go to a fun event. The earrings amp the look up considerably, too. Her whole vibe has me rethinking my wardrobe.

Aubrey Hepburn In Sabrina

One of the most iconic ball gowns of all time, Hepburn’s famous Sabrina dress may never have happened if she hadn’t pushed and befriended designer Givenchy. They made movie history together, and red carpet history in other cases. This dress would not have been out of place there.

Natalie Portman In Black Swan

Black Swan may be one of the best psychological films, but the costume design is also superb, from outfits worn on the stage to everdaywear. The white gown Portman’s character wears from Rodarte has one of the coolest backs I’ve ever seen. Nearly 15 years later, I wish she or someone would bust it out again.

Lady Mary In Downton Abbey

Lady Mary was a bit of a fashionista across the entirety of the Downton Abbey series and its two subsequent movies, but this lush sapphire blue Prussian gown from 2019’s Downton movie stands out as a favorite and also the one that’s most red carpet worthy. Maybe in this day and age I’d drop the gloves, though (even if celebs like Taylor Swift and JLo are bringing gloves back).

Billy Porter In Cinderella (2021)

The Cinderella cast all had amazing outfits, but Billy Porter's fabulous godmother (Fab G) dress in the 2021 Cinderella is all bold colors and lush satin. It's very much a Porter-perfect look that still stands out years later.

Keira Knightley In Atonement

Keira Knightley’s green dress in Atonement is very much a dress of the era it is portraying, but it’s also the sort of classic look in the perfect color and fabric that could be worn by anyone, in any formal situation, in any time period. If I had to choose a dress to rock to a movie premiere or a wedding or pretty much any occasion, this look from the 2007 (but period) movie would be it.

Charlize Theron Snow White And The Huntsman

Hear me out: Charlize Theron looks so extra in Snow White and the Huntsman but she never looks more extra than when she’s wearing the dress with the extravagant shoulders. Puff sleeves come in and out, but I’m really ready for some avante garde looks to hit the red carpet and this is a great take on a totally unique style.

Kate Hudson In How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

The early aughts were a prominent time for formalwear gowns dominating movie posters, and the Kate Hudson rom-com era was no exception. The good news is the gold dress she sported opposite Matthew McConaughey still holds up more than 20 years later and is a color she should continue to sport on the red carpet.

Grace Kelly In Rear Window

Grace Kelly had a lot of iconic dresses in a lot of movies that could have fit the criteria of this list, but my favorite has to be her tulle look from Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. It's no wonder the ballet-inspired look has come back in 10 Things I Hate About You and other movies.

Jennifer Lawrence In Catching Fire

The Hunger Games has some solid fashion design, particularly when it comes to characters like Snow, Effie and others living in the capital. But if you really want to make a statement, how about a dress that catches fire and turns into a second fashion statement? Tell me you wouldn’t like to see this on the red carpet!

Kate Winslet In Titanic

When Jack and Rose meet in Titanic, she’s dressed for dinner in a gorgeous red and black beaded dress that would stand out in any crowd. It’s a good thing she catches Jack’s eye in this dress, or Titanic would have been a different movie.

Angela Bassett In Jumping The Broom

Listen: Paula Patton’s character has a lovely wedding dress in Jumping The Broom (not to mention a really cute purple plaid dress at the beginning of the movie), but Angela Bassett is the actress to keep your eye on. As the matriarch in a wealthy family, Bassett’s character is the one with the polished, structured looks I’d feel most confident in on the red carpet.

Rita Hayworth In Gilda

I’m not sure how many people revisit Rita Hayworth’s Gilda these days, but when I think of old Hollywood glamor, her satin gown and matching gloves always come to mind. This was the role that made Hayworth a household name and that dress would still have a moment if it debuted today.

Sonoya Mizuno In Crazy Rich Asians

There's a lot of just epic fashion in 2018's Crazy Rich Asians, but the stellar standout moment is Araminta's wedding, which just has so many great looks from the main cast. At the end of the day, despite the gorgeous setting and shiny, happy people, it's the dress that's to die for.

Vivien Leigh In Gone With The Wind

Leigh gets the opportunity to wear a lot of lovely fabrics in 1939’s Gone with the Wind but none seem as carpet worthy (somewhat ironically) as the dress made out of curtains. It's a memorable color combo and an all-time great movie look.

Hilary Duff In A Cinderella Story

While allegedly Sam is wearing an "old" wedding dress when she shows up in this gorgeous white number, the tulle look is a classic one. Hilary Duff wore the dress with pink Chuck Taylors on the cover for the film, and casualizing a dress with sneakers has become a popular trend in the time since.

Emma Watson In Beauty And The Beast

A Disney ballgown that really hits the mark, Emma Watson’s yellow Belle dress does the animated character justice while fitting the actress like a glove. The color might not work on everyone, but it’s such a perfect fit.

Whitney Houston In The Bodyguard

I think Whitney Houston’s Queen of the Night costume is probably the one we all think about first when we think about The Bodyguard, but it’s her simple black halter dress and beaded hair and bracelet accessories that would really stand out on a red carpet and give something a little special.

Aubrey Hepburn In My Fair Lady

Eliza may have made a bet with Professor Higgins to help her sound like a lady, but it's not hard to believe Audrey Hepburn at least looks like a lady in this dress. The thick, sparkling necklace gives it an additional upgrade. Beautiful.

Ariana DeBose In West Side Story

Ariana DeBose's yellow dress in Spielberg's West Side Story is a direct nod to the 1961 movie musical, but it's an updated take on the look. Originally, Rita Moreno wore a famous lavender dress, but DeBose's is an upgraded color and has a little more swish in it. It's gorgeous and the type of look I hope is popularized again.

Marilyn Monroe In How To Marry A Millionaire

Marilyn Monroe rocked lots of iconic gowns over the years, but the thing I like about this satin dress is the one shoulder strap. It's fitted like a glove and the pink color is fabulous. It's hard to pick one thing about this dress that is most successful. It's just perfect.

Barbara Bach In The Spy Who Loved Me

Plenty of Bond girls have had great outfits over the course of more than 50 years, but when Bond meets Anya Amasova, her navy gown really pops thanks to the Swarovski crystal trim. I love that it's not a flat color, and the leg slit adds a sweet extra touch.

Lana Condor In To All The Boys I've Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You

Lana Condor has a lot of beautiful clothing in the To All The Boys movies. Of all her sweet looks, my favorite is the one in the sequel that Stormy lends her from her impeccable collection. It's vintage perfect, and a lovely color to boot.

Lori Singer In Footloose

Lori Singer’s Ariel dress looks great on her, and it fits the character well. Despite the movie coming out in the eighties, the off-shoulder style comes in and out, and its simple silhouette would be perfect for a low-key movie premiere. As vintage is making a big comeback, perhaps it’s a style we’ll see back on the carpet in coming years.

Rachel Leigh Cook In She’s All That

Laney’s red makeover dress is on-trend now the ‘90s and early aughts are making a comeback. Its spaghetti straps and slim silhouette are simple, but would still really would turn heads on the red carpet today. I love the matching red pumps she pairs the look with as well.

Margaret Avery In The Color Purple

Shug Avery's bright looks in The Color Purple stand out. It may be more of a show dress, but if I had to kick it on the red carpet, I'd want something just as sequiny. Maybe I'd throw in some pearls to boot.

Anne Hathaway In The Idea Of You

A lot of people would say Ms. Hathaway's iconic fashion movies are either The Princess Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada, and while neither are wrong choices, my pick has to go to her character in The Idea of You. When Solene meets Hayes in her beautifully tailored, creamy Fendi number, his head was turned, but so was mine.

Luckily, we're likely to see many more red carpet-worthy looks on the big screen for years to come!

Past Lives

2023's Past Lives was a gem. The Celine Song written and directed romance story tells the story of two kids living in South Korea who never seem to have the right time to let a romance bloom from their friendship. In the end, the audience is left wondering what could have been, right along with the characters. 

Love Actually

There is no better example of unrequited love on film than that scene between Andrew Lincoln and Kiera Knightly in Love Actually. You know the one. After realizing he is in love with Juliet (Knightly), Mark (Lincoln) goes to her door and lays his cards out, literally, in the form of posters with his feelings written out for her to read. She is briefly entranced, but both realize they'll always only be friends. 

Casablanca

It's just never the right time for Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) in Casablanca. It's one of the greatest unrequited love stories ever told on film as these two seemingly soul mates are stuck remembering a magical time that they could never recapture. In the end, they do the right thing, make the correct decisions, and know that they will never be together. They will always have Paris. 

(500) Days Of Summer

(500) Days Of Summer is pretty much the classic version of the unrequited love story. Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel) start a casual relationship that Summer is completely honest about... at least at first. As Tom falls in love, Summer tries to keep it casual until it all comes to a head and Tom is left brokenhearted. 

Rushmore

Wes Anderson's 1998 classic Rushmore is one of the more uncomfortable examples on this list. High school student Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) becomes infatuated with a teacher (Olivia Williams) while his classmate Margaret (Sara Tanaka) falls in love with Max. Both are rebuffed by their crushes and it gets messier from there. 

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is not a smart man. He is a loyal man, though. That loyalty means that from a young age, he is in love with Jenny (Robin Wright). At no point in the many incredible events of his life does he ever fall out of love with his childhood best friend. Jenny, on the other hand, while loyal to Forrest in a way, lives a very different life and rebuffs Forrest throughout it, at least until the very end of her tragic life. 

Brokeback Mountain

One of the greatest examples of societal pressures leaving two lovers unable to find the love they crave with each other is Brokeback Mountain. Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) are passionate about each other, but their community would never accept their love, so they are forced to deny it and it creates an absolutely heartbreaking scenario. 

The Royal Tenenbaums

We'll admit, that this is one of the weirder, and frankly, more disturbing examples of this list. Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson), you see, is in love with his sister, Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow). It makes for some very uncomfortable moments, to be sure. It's obvious a love that is rightly forbidden. Sometimes you shouldn't root for the couple to get together. 

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby is the ultimate example of how destructive unrequited love can be. Gatsby, played in the Baz Luhrmann movie by Leonardo DiCaprio, has long regretted asking Daisy (Carey Mulligan) to wait for him. Instead, she marries George (Jason Clarke) and things get very tragic as a result. 

Lost in Translation

Bob (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johannson) are two people stuck in happy marriages who meet in a Tokyo hotel. Though they quickly bond during a night out on the town with each other, things remain pretty awkward. Neither seems to know what to do and as a result, nothing romantic happens. At least until the very end of the movie when they finally share a kiss and leave the end open. So maybe this one works out?

Pretty In Pink

Another classic example of love unreturned is poor Duckie (Jon Cryer) in Pretty In Pink. Duckie will do anything for Andie (Molly Ringwald) and while she is forever grateful for Duckie's loyalty and friendship, she is in love with Blaine (Andrew Shue). Famously, she chooses Blaine at the end, leaving some fans of the movie upset. 

Doctor Zhivago

Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and Lara (Julie Christie) have one of the greatest love stories of all time in the classic Doctor Zhivago. Unfortunately, war and other romantic commitments mean they never have a chance for that "happily ever after). 

There's Something About Mary

The thing about Mary (Cameron Diaz) is that everyone is in love with her. It's hard to say whose love is the most unrequited here because there are seemingly dozens of men left in the dust by her in There's Something About Mary. Obviously it finally works out for one of them, Ted (Ben Stiller) but then what about the rest? What about Brett Farve? He did nothing wrong! 

Great Expectations (1998)

1998's Great Expectations retells the classic Charles Dickens novel set in modern-day New York City. Finn (Ethan Hawke) falls in love with Estella (Gwyneth Paltrow) but she is evasive and, frankly, mean, about it. She leads him on and uses him to make her fiancee jealous. He never forgets her and eventually, years later, his love is returned. 

La La Land

La La Land is a classic example of two people never quite syncing up romantically when they clearly have a passion for each other. For one reason or another throughout the movie, the time never quite works for Seb (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone). They were just destined to be apart. 

Les Misérables

Les Misérables includes one of the most famous examples of unrequited love in Western storytelling. Eponine, played by Samantha Barks in the 2012 adaption of the musical, is in love with Marius, but he doesn't return the feelings and as a result, she gives one of the most stirring performances of a song on film with "On My Own."

Roxanne

Steve Martin's underrated comedy Roxanne is loosely based on the famous play Cyrano de Bergerac. Like Cyrano, Martin's character, C.D., has everything going for him, but his unnaturally large nose holds him back from professing his true love for Roxanne (Daryl Hannah). 

My Best Friend's Wedding

The title says it all. My Best Friend's Wedding is another classic example of how things happen between two close friends who maybe want more, but never take the leap and realize it's too late when one or the other moves on. It's a hard moment for everyone involved. 

Chasing Amy

There are a lot of problematic things in Chasing Amy that we don't need to get into here. Despite those problems, the story is still, at its heart, a story about a man (Ben Affleck) in love with a woman (Joey Lauren Adams) who doesn't reciprocate that love. She has no obligation to, but that doesn't make it less heartbreaking in the end for Affleck's character, Holden. 

Once

Missed connections, or bad timing, is the tale told in Once. Two musicians with an obvious connection both artistically and romantically never connect on the latter for a myriad of reasons and though both seem to want it to happen, life and fate keep them apart. It's a sad, and actually somewhat heartwarming story. 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) is like almost every high school in some ways. We've all had crushes in high school that go unfulfilled, but Lara takes things to an extreme, writing letters to all the crushes she has, and it's a lot. The letters are never meant to be read by the intended recipient but kept only for her. When the letters get out, things get very messy with love triangles and lots of hurt feelings. 

The Remains of the Day

James Stevens and Sally Kenton (Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, respectively) are servants in stately English country estates who have a very complicated relationship that seems like it should be more than it is. Sally is especially in love with James, but he refuses to let her in. There is regret on both sides in the end, though nothing ever comes of their love. 

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) just can't get over his ex, Sarah (Kristen Bell). When he finds himself stuck in the same Hawaiian resort as Sarah and her obnoxious new boyfriend, played by Russell Brand, things go from bad to worse. He obsesses over Sarah and is blind to the fact that Rachel (Mila Kunis) is the much better romantic option. Eventually, he realizes the choice is clear. 

Edward Scissorhands

Poor Edward (Johnny Depp) in Edward Scissorhands. He never really has a chance to find true love, despite his obvious attraction to Kim (Winona Ryder). She too, reveals her love to him, finally, but both realize it can never happen between them and they part forever. 

The Last Of The Mohicans

Like many classic stories of unfulfilled love The Last Of The Mohicans sees Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Cora (Madeleine Stowe) unable to truly be happy together because of the circumstances of their time and place in history. It's not that they don't try, it's that war and society won't allow them to live happily ever after. 

West Side Story

There is no more classic example of forbidden love than Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Many versions of Shakespeare's classics have been told on film, and West Side Story is one of the greatest of them all. Two people caught between their love for each other and their loyalty to their gangs find it impossible to be together in one of the most tragic stories ever told. 

An Affair to Remember

A tragic missed connection fouls up what could have been an amazing romance between Nickie (Cary Grant) and Terry (Deborah Kerr) in An Affair To Remember. For once, the stars align and it seems two lovers, caught in unhappy relationships, will ditch their partners to be together but fate intervenes tragically and it seems they will never end up happy. Or will they?

He's Just Not That Into You

So, do we really need to explain how this one works? The title alone tells you everything you need to know, right? He's Just Not That Into You is a movie with an all-star cast whose characters are in a lot of messy relationships and there are unrequited feelings all around. 

One Day

Dexter (Jim Sturgess) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) spent 20 years flirting with the obvious. They are great friends and at times, each one wants more, but it's never at the same time. 

Her

Well, this is one of the weirder ones here, for sure. Her is an unrequited love story about a man, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who is in love with a computer program with the voice of Scarlett Johansson. It's easy to see why things don't work out here, right?

Broadcast News

Broadcast News is an underrated classic from the '80s that despite a myriad of Oscar nominations, seems to be almost forgotten these days. That's too bad because it's a great movie. In the movie, there is a pretty messy love triangle between the three main characters, though none end up together. None of them seem particularly happy about it, either. 

Paper Towns

Unrequited high school love is something most people are familiar with and Paper Towns tells a fairly straight forward version of the classic tale of the socially awkward kid in love with the popular kid. Even though it's not the most original of stories, it's told in a great way and is a surprisingly sweet movie. 

Watchmen

If co-writer/director Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Watchmen had been released at any point other than the start of the MCU’s boom, it might have seen better box office returns. While the movie still holds up, one has to wonder if an era with larger IMAX capacity would have done this movie better.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

2015 was a good year for spy movies, with Kingsman: The Secret Service and Spectre both doing rather well at the box office. So maybe Guy Ritchie’s beloved The Man from U.N.C.L.E. should have thought about releasing in early 2016 instead, as the film’s breezy antidote to Daniel Craig’s James Bond arc could have been better appreciated.

The Rocketeer

The Rocketeer is one of the classic examples of a movie that had too much competition. With summer 1991 offering the likes of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, there was little room in people’s hearts for an underrated Disney take on comic book heroism. 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

It was almost instantaneously decided that Edgar Wright’s cinematic adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World would eventually be a cult classic. Flopping in theaters, the people who actually saw it kept the torch lit for future fans to discover. Perhaps Inception had better legs than Universal had thought. 

Alita: Battle Angel

There’s still a dedicated fan base who want to see a sequel to Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel. This would-be blockbuster’s debut saw it as the final 20th Century Fox movie to be released before the 2019 Disney/Fox merger’s completion; an event that would see various projects cancelled, sold off, or get lost in the shuffle.  

Tron

Nobody knew just how white hot E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial was going to be in the summer of 1982. Dominating the box office for a stretch that’s unheard of in the current market, Disney’s experimental sci-fi movie Tron was a casualty during that reign. Moved from a Christmas slot staked out in that same year, the arcade game wound up making more money than this cult classic would take at the movies.

The Last Voyage Of The Demeter

If you’re trying to craft a horror hit, even if you’re uncertain about the IP, a Halloween release date is your best chance at success. While director André Øvredal’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark bucked that trend with its well played August 2019 release, 2023 would see his film The Last Voyage of the Demeter crash into the rocks of misfortune.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Six years can make a difference when you’re trying to follow the next big thing. Gremlins 2: The New Batch taught the world that lesson as it failed to capture its 1984 predecessor’s box office bonanza in 1990. Between a crowded year at the box office, and the arrival of so many imitators throughout that stretch of time, it was hard for this actually well-liked picture to last past midnight.

The Thing

Maybe a major studio with two alien-centric movies should be a bit careful in how they release them. As if John Carpenter’s The Thing wasn’t disturbing enough on its own, the fact that the movie shared cinematic air with E.T.: the Extra-terrestrial not only buried the picture, it made it look even more frightening. Lucky for the world The Thing found its feet on VHS, and all was right with the world. 

Blade Runner

Sometimes a classic needs to give the world a little more time to catch up. Thanks to the meteoric rise of E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial in 1982’s box office calendar, director Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner seemed destined to obscurity. However, when the picture landed in rental stores quicker than Steven Spielberg’s cinematic phenomenon, people were ready to dive in. 

The Last Action Hero

Believe it or not, heading into the theatrical release of The Last Action Hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s meta action/comedy was being touted as “the big ticket for ‘93!” And then a scrappy upstart student film called Jurassic Park was unleashed, just two days earlier, and the rest was history faster than you could say “Big mistake.” 

Doctor Sleep

November 2019 didn’t do many movies favors when it came to cashing in on existing IP. While Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep had a good head of steam heading into its release into multiplexes, its arrival was met by the surprising box office victory of Midway. If only it had gone toe to toe with Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, perhaps the Halloween season could have booked more butts at The Overlook. 

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a movie that underperformed so horribly, it closed Square Pictures’ doors not that long after they first opened. While one could debate when the right time was to release an ambitious video game tie-in flick, it certainly wasn’t in the same stretch where Legally Blonde was conquering in pink and Shrek was making its name. 

Surviving Christmas

Long before the Hallmark Channel somehow convinced people it’s ok to watch Christmas movies year long, the Ben Affleck-led holiday comedy Surviving Christmas was a huge example of releasing a movie way out of season. Opening on October 22nd, 2004, the only defense this forgotten flameout has is that it was probably trying to beat The Polar Express and Christmas with the Kranks to the punch. 

Black Widow

Marvel’s Black Widow should have been the massive homecoming for the MCU that the early pandemic world was looking for. Unfortunately, this was also the time that Disney+’s short-lived Premier Access program was tested, in order to entice audiences to enjoy the film at home. Scarlett Johansson’s eventual lawsuit was only the beginning of the fallout, as the film performed nowhere near the level the MCU brass expected.

Turning Red

A week after 2022’s The Batman crushed it at the early pandemic box office, Disney/Pixar’s Turning Red tried to make a savvy pivot as a Disney+ streaming original. Though the film had an eventual theatrical re-release, the picture still failed to make a proper stamp on the box office.

Tenet

Literally the first movie that reopened movie theaters after the 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet became a champion of post-shutdown cinema. It also did as well as it could in the earlier, much more limited market that was available to theatrical titles; which only made it an eventual IMAX 70mm repertory favorite. 

Jersey Girl

Gigli was a theatrical bomb that was so devastating that its effects weren’t only felt by Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s ill-advised rom-com. With fears that Kevin Smith’s Jersey Girl would also crater as a result, the picture was tweaked to limit the appearance of Bennifer 1.0 in the film. It didn’t matter, because Smith’s heart on its sleeve family dramedy still tanked. 

The Village 

There’s a case to be made that M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village should have either been his first project, or a later career release. Riding the wave of “twist” laden movies like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs, the film was marketed as a spooky, twisted movie…which hides the actually sweet nature of its cerebral drama. 

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

In a more traditional period of release, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar could have been a surprise hit that raked in box office gold. But as a 2021 release that was eventually turned into a PVOD exclusive debut, Kristen Wiig and Anne Mumulo’s sunny fun seekers weren’t given the spotlight they truly deserved. 

Crossroads

Ok, get all the jokes out now. No, Crossroads isn’t a movie that never should have been released. While it was a decent hit at the 2002 box office, this could have been a white-hot hit if it was produced and released earlier in Britney Spears’ career as a pop princess.

Haunted Mansion

20 years after the Eddie Murphy starring spin on the same Disneyland attraction arrived, Haunted Mansion was the reboot that hoped to get it right. But with a critical drubbing, and a non-Halloween release date, director Justin Simien’s new tale in an old haunt was barely a ghost by spooky season.

Tron: Legacy

When all was said and done, Tron: Legacy actually did pretty well for itself in a December 2010 release slot. However, in the era where Pirates of the Caribbean, and eventually the MCU, would become Disney’s preferred ATMs, the legacy-quel would act as a minor point of light before another franchise dark age.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

While Star Wars started as a summer-based franchise, the Sequel Trilogy era saw The Force Awakens relocate the series to its current Christmas holiday tradition. So by the time 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story became a reality, its attempt to return to the May release slot of its youth was seen as a massive misstep. 

Star Trek: Nemesis

In 2002, Star Trek’s movies were on a bit of a roll. At least, the franchise was in a comfortable enough position that Paramount Pictures brass decided that releasing Star Trek: Nemesis against The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was a calculated risk worth taking. It was not, even with the presence of baby Tom Hardy playing a clone of Patrick Stewart.

UHF

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman, Ghostbusters II, and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids all came out in the summer of 1989. Weird Al Yankovic’s UHF…also happened. That pretty much sums up how audiences reacted to the cult classic in its initial release phase, but history only went on to prove that maybe Al should have sold his bologna in another space on the calendar.

Brightburn

Points have to be awarded to Brightburn, as the James Gunn-produced mashup of The Omen and Superman not only predated superhero fatigue, it actually happened before both of those franchises would make resurgences in popular culture. If only this R-rated thrill ride had opened with a little more distance from Avengers: Endgame’s debut almost a month prior.

The Core

It was bad enough that 2003’s The Core was unceremoniously delayed from its original release date in late 2002. But when the Columbia shuttle disaster killed all seven astronauts aboard roughly a month before the movie actually made it into the world, the timing couldn’t have been worse. 

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Between The Matrix Revolutions and Return of the King was a window that should have worked for potential 2003 blockbusters. Yet between potential Russell Crowe fatigue, and inflated production costs, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World saw the wind unjustly robbed from its sails. 

The Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections was a curious prospect from day one, as The Wachowski’s original trilogy seemed pretty open and shut. That unexpectedly meta approach, meshed with a controversial day-and-date streaming debut in 2021, marked a supposed low point in a once-dominating franchise. 

West Side Story

December 2021 was a bloodbath when it came to the glut of movies released in that very month. With the Disney/Fox empire pushing a lot of movies out in this early pandemic season of cinema, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake found itself crushed up against The King’s Man, Nightmare Alley, and Spider-Man: No Way Home…and that was just the competition from its siblings.

Steve Jobs

Part of Steve Jobs’ struggles manifested early, as a David Fincher-directed/Christian Bale-starring version of the Aaron Sorkin scripted biopic fell apart, despite holding great promise. The movie that resulted, with Danny Boyle directing an all-star cast led by Michael Fassbender, is a magnetic opus that deserves more love than it got.

Unfortunately, the ill-advised Ashton Kutcher vehicle Jobs may have played a part in sinking this beaut; along with an odd awards season release strategy…rolled out in the month of October. Which, just like a lot of the films we've just discussed, is prime proof that a movie at the wrong place in time can be unjustly seen as a failure. 

Han Solo and Princess Leia (Star Wars)

"I love you!" "I know!" And there you have the famous dynamic between Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) throughout the entire Star Wars franchise. The good-natured bickering, palpable tension and lasting love through both ups and downs between the rakish captain of the Millennium Falcon and the regal Jedi-turned-general make theirs one of the best couples in any galaxy. 

Joel and Clementine (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind)

Not even a Lacuna memory erasure procedure could make Joel Barish (Jim Carrey, in one of his best performances) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) forget each other in the 2004 Michael Gondry-directed classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Though both characters initially wanted to dissolve their relationship, getting to relive all of their moments together — both good and bad — made them, and us, want to see their romance rekindled. 

Jackson and Ally (A Star Is Born)

The love story between an established Hollywood star and a plucky aspiring singer has been told across several film versions of A Star Is Born — though the duo is known as Norman and Esther in previous iterations — but Bradley Cooper's Jackson and Lady Gaga's Ally reinvigorated the cinematic romance in the 2018 romantic musical, thanks to their electrifying chemistry and incredible duets. That devastating ending wouldn't hit nearly the same way without them.

Rose and Jack (Titanic)

James Cameron's Titanic does so much as a movie: one part historical drama, one part disaster epic, and one part onscreen romance for the ages. And guiding moviegoers through all of it is the instantly iconic pairing of scrappy third-class artist Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and sheltered high-class debutante Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet). 

Chiron and Kevin (Moonlight)

In the 2016 Oscar winner for Best Picture, we get to see Chiron and Kevin together through three periods of their lives in Miami, from their childhoods to teendom to adulthood. Their sweet connection turns sultry when the pair (now played by Trevante Rhodes and André Holland, respectively) reunites as grown men at a Florida diner, with Barbara Lewis' "Hello Stranger" crooning over the jukebox. 

Rick and Ilsa (Casablanca)

It's ironic that arguably the greatest cinematic romance of all time is actually between exes. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) may not be together anymore in the 1942 masterpiece Casablanca, as she has since moved on and married Czechoslovak Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). But they'll wistfully "always have Paris," and we'll always have them. 

Marianne and Héloïse (Portrait Of A Lady On Fire)

This subtle yet stirring 2019 drama from Céline Sciamma tells the story of a slow-burn romance between two young women in late 18th-century France: a young aristocrat named Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) and the painter commissioned to paint her portrait, Marianne (Noémie Merlant). Together, the LGBTQ+ movie couple crafts a connection as singular and stunning as anything found on a canvas. 

Tish and Fonny (If Beale Street Could Talk)

Director Barry Jenkins composes a stunning cast for this film adaptation of James Baldwin's 1974 novel, including Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bryan Tyree Henry and Regina King. But the heart of the story beats with its core couple Tish and Fonny, portrayed by KiKi Layne and Stephan James. The film is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping from highs (the birth of a child) to lows (wrongful incarceration), but the heart-wrenching love between Tish and Fonny threads it all. 

Ennis and Jack (Brokeback Mountain)

One of the best LGBTQ movies of all time, Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain broke hearts the world over with its beautifully rendered romance between Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), two Wyoming cowboys whose intense but repressed passion stretches across decades. The realities of early-'60s America meant that the men couldn't be publicly open with their relationship, which made their time together both savored and tragic. 

Elizabeth and Will (Pirates Of The Caribbean)

Although Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swann has several love interests throughout the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, including Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and James Norrington (Jack Davenport), even casual fans know that her one true love is none other than blacksmith-turned-pirate Will Turner (Orlando Bloom). Spanning five Pirates movies, the swashbuckling duo takes on everything from arrests and kidnappings to ghost captains and mysterious curses. 

Neo and Trinity (The Matrix)

To say that love changes the world in The Matrix films is an understatement: it literally is what brings Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) back to life and frees them from the confines of simulated reality. A true fusion reaction, the connection that they generate throughout the seminal sci-fi franchise is enough to power them through hardships both human and machine.

Reynolds and Alma (Phantom Thread)

Not every movie romance is a happily-ever-after breeze. For controlling couture designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and clumsy but calculating country waitress Alma Elson (Vicky Krieps), things aren't entirely smooth sailing after they meet-cute at the restaurant she works at and marry shortly thereafter, especially because the bride has taken to micro-poisoning her husband to render him sweet and submissive. Her actions are twisted, no doubt, but Reynolds ends up finding it all weirdly endearing, and so do we. 

Rhett And Scarlett (Gone With The Wind) 

One of the most iconic pairings ever on the big screen, Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) and Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) weather a lot throughout this four-hour 1939 Oscar winner, from civil war to typhoid fever to the loss of a child. Ironically, it's their very own natures that they can't outrun, from Rhett's ruthlessness to Scarlett's stubbornness. When the Southern belle finally realizes that she's really loved Rhett all along, it's too late, as he harshly leaves her with one of the movie's best parting lines: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

Clarence and Alabama (True Romance)

In sickness and in health, until arrest do us part — those could basically be the vows of Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) and Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette), a pair of newlyweds on the run from the Mafia after stealing a shipment of drugs. Things get unsurprisingly dark for our brazen bride and groom, but the sheer devotion that the two have for each other is a welcome bright spot. 

Gomez and Morticia (The Addams Family)

Who would have thought that one of pop culture's healthiest onscreen couples would be the exceedingly odd, decidedly macabre Morticia and Gomez Addams? Though incarnated by numerous performers on screens big and small, the portrayals by Anjelica Huston as Morticia and Raul Julia as Gomez in 1991's The Addams Family deliciously embody the characters' endless enthusiasm for each other. Madly in love, indeed!

Jesse and Céline (The 'Before' Trilogy)

It's incredibly rare to follow a beloved movie couple for years — in Richard Linklater's Before Trilogy, you movingly get to follow Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) across decades, from the star-crossed travelers who meet on a Eurail train and later fall for each other while playing tourist in Vienna in 1995's Before Sunrise, to the long-together older versions we find summering in Greece with their children in 2013's Before Midnight. 

Albert and Armand (The Birdcage)

Sure, stereotypes abound in Mike Nichols' 1996 comedy The Birdcage, especially surrounding Armand (Robin Williams, in a classic performance) and Albert Goldman (Nathan Lane), a gay couple whose son (Dan Futterman) is set to marry the daughter (Calista Flockhart) of a very conservative senator (Gene Hackman) and his wife (Dianne Wiest). But in the middle of all of the flamboyant hijinks, Armand and Albert prove to have the film's most stable relationship, one marked by compassion, communication and acceptance. 

Peter and Mary Jane (The 'Spider-Man' Trilogy)

Along with giving moviegoers a rain-soaked, upside-down lip lock we won't soon forget, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst's take on Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson imbued some palpable real-life chemistry into the beloved comic-book couple. In keeping with Spider-Man tradition, the actors briefly dated offscreen as well, though Dunst joked that filming that epic smooch was far less pleasurable than it looked.

Noah and Allie (The Notebook)

Let's be real, it would take a very special gentleman to have us rooting for anyone other than James Marsden to get the girl. It's good, then, that director Nick Cassavetes cast Ryan Gosling at his dreamiest opposite Rachel McAdams in this 2004 melodrama, widely considered one of the best romantic movies of all time. The actors' off-set connection (they dated IRL from 2005 to 2007) is passionately felt in the characters' constant bickering and bantering, not to mention those intense rainstorm smooches. 

Edward and Bella (Twilight)

Neither age (she's 17-year-old and he's a cool 104) nor species (she's a human and he's a blood-drinking, sparkly-skinned vampire) could keep them apart. No, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) remained astonishingly loyal to and protective of each other throughout the entire Twilight Saga film franchise, despite jealous werewolves, vampire armies and creepy half-vamp babies trying to get in their way (though Stewart hilariously does not agree with her character's infatuation). 

Katniss and Peeta (The Hunger Games)

Surviving tough times is a given in any relationship but few movie couples have been tested by as much hardship as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). The characters first bond as "tributes" in the government's annual Hunger Games — which require them to fight to the death until only one person is left alive — and despite the odds, they're able to parlay that trust and partnership into the franchise's best romance. (Sorry, Gale.) 

Emma and Adèle (Blue Is The Warmest Colour)

Much has been made about the physical intimacy between Léa Seydoux's Emma and Adèle Exarchopoulos's Adèle in the 2013 French drama Blue is the Warmest Color, but their connection goes far deeper than the film's explicit sex scenes. The feelings between the two young women are so raw and fierce that when they meet again at a restaurant after years of separation, we absolutely believe Emma when she says she will always feel "infinite tenderness" for what they had. 

Ron and Hermione (Harry Potter)

Some of the best romances come out of friendships, and the coupling between Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) is no exception. For years, Harry Potter fans watched as the young wizard and witch danced around their feelings for each other — granted, they were busy fighting the Wizarding World's darkest forces at the time — so when the longtime pals finally locked lips in Deathly Hallows — Part 2, the big moment felt completely earned. 

Jamal and Latika (Slumdog Millionaire)

It's the intense love and loyalty that Jamal (Dev Patel) has for Latika (Freida Pinto), who he first met as a kid in the slums of Mumbai, that fuels his every move in this Danny Boyle-directed musical drama. Whether he's stealing shoes at the Taj Mahal, taking a job as a chaiwala at a call center or winning India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Jamal is doing it all to get back to Latika. And when he does, it's only fitting that his whole world breaks out in song and dance. 

Romeo and Juliet (Romeo + Juliet)

They are the O.G. star-crossed lovers and in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 retelling of the Shakespearean classic, Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes beautifully lead the Romeo + Juliet cast as our eponymous pair and capture all of the intensity of first love. Yes, with family feuds, fatal duels and friar mix-ups aplenty, this relationship was doomed to fail, but at least it pulsed with youthful verve and captivating chemistry while it lasted. 

Oliver and Elio (Call Me By Your Name)

Some relationships may be short in span but sweeping in their impact. In Luca Guadagnino's 2017 masterpiece Call Me by Your Name, the romance between 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) and graduate student Oliver (Armie Hammer) — who is assisting Elio's father (Michael Stuhlbarg) for the summer — only lasts a few short, sun-soaked weeks. But the after-effects of their coupling ripple through both young men long after the cold settles in. 

Rick and Evelyn (The Mummy)

One of the best things about the romance between adventurer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) and librarian Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) is that it subverts that tired beauty-and-brawn stereotype. Evelyn is obviously lovely but she's no distressed damsel — she's as capable of deciphering hieroglyphics as she is sword-fighting the undead. And Rick is fittingly valiant but needs to be rescued himself every now and then. Together, they make the perfect mummy-fighting pair. 

Tony And Maria (West Side Story) 

Taking inspiration from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, there was always an undercurrent of tragedy between Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood), two Upper West Side teens tied to rival NYC street gangs. The relationship between the young lovers remains pure and passionate — iconically portrayed in that famous "Tonight" balcony scene — even as they get caught up in prejudice, violence and societal divides.

Mia And Sebastian (La La Land)

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have teamed up several times onscreen, including 2011's Crazy, Stupid, Love and 2013's Gangster Squad, but it was 2016's La La Land that best used their fizzy, years-honed friendship and produced their most iconic pairing as struggling jazz pianist Sebastian Wilder and aspiring actress Mia Dolan, who meet and fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles. 

Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie And Clyde)

Just because a couple is doing bad deeds doesn't mean we can't root for them, right? Yes, Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) were up to all sorts of criminal mischief in the 1967 neo-noir Bonnie and Clyde, from bank robberies to gang kidnappings, but their actions were powered by a passion so intense, it was deadly. 

Rocky and Adrian (Rocky)

Yo, Adrian! The relationship between Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and Adrian Pennino (Talia Shire) — who first meet over turtle food at a Philadelphia pet store — is one of the connecting threads of the Rocky film franchise. Despite her misgivings about Rocky's dangerous career, Adrian is a supportive, steadfast presence for Rocky both inside the ring and out, so much so that even when he loses, he still feels like a winner. 

Maria and the Captain (The Sound Of Music)

How do you solve a problem like Maria? You fall in love with her, of course! And who could blame Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) for catching feelings for the effervescent governess to his seven children, especially when she's played by the incomparable Julie Andrews? Watching his gruff, widowed military officer soften under Maria's care is, simply, one of our favorite things. 

10 Things I Hate About You - The Taming of the Shrew 

Arguably, one of the best rom-coms inspired by Shakespeare, and just one of the best rom-coms period, is 10 Things I Hate About You. Inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, the film follows Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) as he tries to date Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) because her sister paid him to. Along with the plot following the play relatively closely, the characters' last names as well as the Shakespearean dialog mixed into the film add to it all, making this a fun, edgy and loving homage to William Shakespeare. 

Anyone But You - Much Ado About Nothing

The surprise box office success Anyone But You is a classic enemies-to-lovers tale inspired by The Bard’s classic Much Ado About Nothing. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, this film features fake dating, a nearly disastrous wedding and lots of fun shenanigans, all around, while loosely based on Shapkespeare’s play, it’s a fun homage to it. 

West Side Story - Romeo and Juliet 

Rather than the lovers being from warring families, West Side Story is about two people from warring gangs in New York City. Tony and Maria are drawn together, despite their families' allegiances to the Jets and the Sharks, and what ensues is a tragic story about star-crossed lovers set to the brilliant score of Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. 

Strange Brew - Hamlet

I bet you didn’t expect one of Rick Moranis’ funniest movies to be loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The comedy legend co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred with Dave Thomas in the movie about two brothers’ quest to get and drink as much free beer as they could while taking down an evil, evil brewer. While it’s about as loose as you can get when it comes to its inspiration, Strange Brew does use madness in the same way Hamlet does and there are multiple characters named after the great poet’s characters, and the brewery is named after Hamlet's castle, Elsinore. 

Get Over It - A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Taking inspiration from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is about two boys who are in love with the same girl, Get Over It is an early 2000s rom-com with quite the love triangle at the center. Following Berke (Ben Foster), we see him try to win back his ex-girlfriend Allison (Melissa Sagemiller) by getting help from Kelly (Kirsten Dunst) and joining the school play, which is, of course, A Midsummer Night’s Rockin’ Eve. Overall, Get Over It is giving a little bit of High School Musical and a little bit of Shakespeare.

She’s The Man -Twelfth Night

Starring Amanda Bynes as Viola, She’s the Man follows her as she attends a boys' boarding school disguised as her brother and gets all mixed up in the messy, messy, messy web of high school romance. While there she joins the soccer team, and falls for Duke, who is played by a young and dashing Channing Tatum, and from there, chaos ensues. Overall, this silly 2006 movie is fairly on point with the Shakespeare play it's based on, Twelfth Night. 

The Lion King - Hamlet

Leave it to Disney to rip your heart out and do it while referencing Shakespeare in a movie about lions. While The Lion King is not directly inspired by Hamlet, per Blu-Ray.com there are undeniable parallels that were leaned into, like the story centering around a fatherless prince and featuring an evil uncle. Also, plot points, like Simab’s exile and his return to Pride Rock, mirror the story of the legendary play. 

Men of Respect - Macbeth

What happens when you take the haunting tale of Macbeth and translate it into a tale set in the world of organized crime? You get Men of Respect. This movie tracks a hitman who is told a prophecy that he’s meant to lead his family. After that, we get a bloody battle for power that mirrors Shakespeare's play, however, instead of old-fashioned war, we are dealing with mob violence. 

West Side Story (2021) - Romeo and Juliet 

In 2021, Steven Spielberg shared his take on 1961’s West Side Story. Not only did we get to relive this classic retelling of Romeo and Juliet and witness one of the best musicals of 2021, but we also got a master’s take on a masterwork. Plus, the world was introduced to the vast talents of newcomers like Rachel Zegler (Maria) and Broadway performers turned movie stars, Ariana DeBose (Anita) and Mike Faist (Riff). 

Deliver Us from Eva - The Taming of the Shrew 

Inspired by The Taming of The Shrew, 2003’s Deliver Us From Eva tells the story of a man who is paid to date a woman whom many would consider “undateable.” Gabrielle Union plays the titular Eva, and she’s a health inspector with three younger siblings she’s raised. She is fake-turned-real courted by LL Cool J’s Ray. All-in-all it’s a unique take on The Bard’s tale about Katherina and Petruchio. 

O - Othello

Inspired by Othello, O is about Mekhi Phifer’s Odin as his best friend Hugo (played by Josh Hartnett) tries to convince him that his girlfriend, who is played by Julia Stiles, is cheating on him. Like The Bard’s play, this story is centered around jealousy and the mess that comes with it. However, instead of taking place in Venice, it takes place in a high school.

Just One of the Guys - Twelfth Night

Loosely based on Twelfth Night, Just One of the Guys follows Terri as she goes undercover at a different high school in an effort to prove that she’s a great journalist. While doing this, she meets Rick and develops quite a crush on him. What comes after that is a messy tale that involves a lot of jealousy and love. 

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead - Hamlet 

Have you ever wondered what minor characters are up to when they’re not on stage? Well, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead tries to answer that question. The film tracks two of the minor characters in Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – played by Gary Oldman and Tim Roth, respectively – as they go on adventures while the play goes on and attempt to figure out what’s really going on with Prince Hamlet.

Warm Bodies - Romeo And Juliet  

Inspired by The Bard’s tragic love story Romeo and Juliet, Warm Bodies takes us on a journey with R (Nicholas Hoult) as he falls in love with Julie (Teresa Palmer). However, the twist is, R is a zombie and Julie is a human. 

My Own Private Idaho - Henry IV 

Starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, My Own Private Idaho is about Mike and Scott, two gay hustlers, as they travel from Oregon to Idaho to Italy to try and find Mike’s estranged mom. Inspired by King Henry IV: Part 1, Phoenix’s character Mike mirrors Ned Poins and Reeves’ Scotty parallels Prince Hal and it explores power dynamics similar to the ones in the play. 

Strange Magic - A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Capitalizing on the more fantastical elements of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Lucas’s Strange Magic is about a curmudgeonly king played by Alan Cumming who hates love. He’s put in an order to kill Primroses, however, his view of the world starts to change when he meets Princess Marianne. 

The Boys from Syracuse -The Comedy of Errors

According to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s website, The Boys from Syracuse is the first musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s work. The project started on Broadway and became a film in 1940. This adaptation of The Comedy of Errors tracks twins separated at birth as they wind up in the same city, where they frequently get mistaken for one another. 

Chimes at Midnight - The Character Sir John Falstaff  

Orson Welles wrote, directed and starred in the 1966 film Chimes at Midnight. It is centered around Shakespeare’s Sir John Falstaff, who was a recurring character in Henry IV Part 1 and 2. It also features lines from Richard II, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor. All around the Shakespeare influence is massive and obvious in this work from a master. 

Scotland, PA - Macbeth

Taking the drama of a haunted king and placing it in the comedic world of Scotland, Pennsylvania, Scotland, PA. is a modern retelling of Macbeth. In this movie that stars Christopher Walken, Maura Tierney and James LeGros, we become familiar with Duncan’s Cafe and the power politics surrounding it, and like the play it’s based on things get weird…but in this movie, it’s in a dark and funny way. 

Were The World Mine - A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Were the World Mine heavily features A Midsummer Night’s Dream through its magical elements and by actually having the characters put on a production of the play in the movie. In this story, Timothy, an openly gay boy with a crush on a rugby player, is cast in The Bard’s play, and he finds a magical flower in the script that makes it so the people of his town start having romantic feelings toward people of the same sex. 

Kiss Me, Kate - The Taming of the Shrew 

The 1948 musical Kiss Me Kate, was an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, and in 1953 it got the movie treatment. The story is about two divorced actors who come back together for a musical version of the aforementioned Shakespeare play. And while they want to quit, they have gambling debt to pay off and have to finish the project, so their actual lives also line up with the characters they’re playing. 

Let The Devil Wear Black - Hamlet

Set in Los Angeles, Let the Devil Wear Black is a modern adaptation of Hamlet that follows Jack, a student haunted by his father’s death as he decides to take over his business. He then learns that his father might have been murdered, which leads him to investigate his family and the dangerous world around him. 

David and Fatima - Romeo and Juliet

As is expected with Romeo and Juliet, 2008’s David and Fatima is about two star-crossed lovers however, they’re from Jerusalem – Fatima, a Palestinian woman and David, an Israeli man.  

A Thousand Acres - King Lear 

Based on the novel of the same name that’s inspired by King Lear, A Thousand Acres tells the story of what happens after Jason Robard’s Larry Cook (who is King Lear) decides to divide his land among his daughters, Ginny, Rose and Caroline (who are played by Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jennifer Jason Leigh, respectively). What comes after that decision is a tragedy about how this tears the family apart, very similar to Shakespeare’s work. 

Thane of East County - Macbeth 

In Thane of East County, a group of actors are rehearsing a production of Macbeth. However, as they get into it, they start to actually do what the characters do in the haunting play, turning the film into a horror.

A Double Life - Othello

In the 1947 film A Double Life, we follow Tony as he takes the leading titular role in Othello. He becomes obsessed with the character, and the longer he plays him, the more reality and the play merge together. 

Renaissance Man - Hamlet

Renaissance Man isn’t necessarily an adaptation of Shakespeare’s work, but it is a direct celebration of it. The film stars Danny DeVito as a teacher who starts teaching literacy classes at a US Army base. While there he teaches the students about Hamlet, Henry V and more, giving them an appreciation for The Bard. Plus, it includes the iconic reciting of St. Crispin’s Day Speech from King Henry V, so we had to include it. 

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride - Romeo and Juliet

The Lion King had some serious parallels to Hamlet. Then, its sequel, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, kept the streak alive by pulling influence from Romeo and Juliet. Much like Shakespeare’s romance, Kiara and Kovu’s love story involves rival families, like the Capulets and Montagues, as it sees one lion from Simba and Nala’s pride fall for a member of Scar’s banished pride. 

All Night Long - Othello

The 1962 film All Night Long is a modernized version of Othello that takes place in the world of London jazz over the course of an anniversary party. It’s a story of jealousy and passion, just like the play that inspired it, however, this time, it’s to the soundtrack of ‘60s jazz. 

Pizza My Heart - Romeo and Juliet

Taking a silly turn, the ABC Family film from 2005 Pizza My Heart is a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. However, instead of fighting elite families, in this movie, the lovers have to deal with their families who are rival pizzeria owners. 

Forbidden Planet - The Tempest 

Forbidden Planet is a groundbreaking sci-fi film from 1956 that follows two living people on a planet and a group of astronauts on a mission there. However, it’s also an adaptation of The Tempest as it tracks isolated characters and shares similar plot points, but this movie is set on a planet rather than an island. 

Gnomeo & Juliet - Romeo and Juliet

As the name of this movie suggests, it’s based on Romeo and Juliet, however, the twist is this is a love story about gnomes who come from different gardens. Gnomeo & Juliet also features James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as the titular characters, and all around it’s a fun little animated romp.

As you can see, William Shakespeare has inspired and influenced work of all kinds, and he’ll likely continue to as movies continue to be made and his legendary plays live on. 

Below is a breakdown of every Best Picture winner from the first 40 years of the Oscars, several dozen or so landmark films that many cherish decades later as well as a few that some may have forgotten about entirely.

Wings (1927)

William A. Wellman’s Wings, which is a great war movie and romantic epic, had the honor of being the first film to be named Best Picture at the inaugural Academy Awards in 1929. Great performances from Clara Bow and Charles Rogers, as well as that iconic tracking shot, make this a worthy watch decades later.

The Broadway Melody (1929)

Harry Beaumont’s The Broadway Melody was the first of many musicals to be named Best Picture when this “talkie” took home the top prize at the second annual Academy Awards. Romance, music, and aspirations are plenty in this treasured classic.

All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)

Nearly 100 years before Edward Berger gave everyone with a Netflix subscription a first-hand account of the horrors of war with his 2022 Oscar-winning thriller, Lewis Milestone adapted Erich Maira Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front for the big screen in 1930. Tense, epic, and heartbreaking, this anti-war film doesn’t pull its punches. 

Cimarron (1931)

A lot of the great Western films have won an Academy Award or two over the years, and  Wesley Ruggles’ 1931 gem, Cimarron, was the very first to do so. Released in 1932, this period drama throws the audience into 19th-century Oklahoma for one wild land rush.

Grand Hotel (1932)

Following several groups of people in separate yet intertwined stories, Edward Goulding’s 1931 drama film, Grand Hotel, is a splendid and highly influential piece of cinema. Set in a luxurious Berlin hotel, this sprawling story of romance, schemes, and ambitious players is worth a watch.

Cavalcade (1933)

Taking place between the turn of the 20th century and the early 1930s, Cavalcade follows two couples as they navigate the good, the bad, and the in-between of life. In addition to playing into romance,  Frank Lloyd’s Best Picture winner also recreates some of the century’s most memorable and harrowing chapters.

It Happened One Night (1934)

Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night won all five categories for which it was nominated at the 7th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claude Colbert), and Best Adaptation. No wonder it’s still considered one of the best romantic comedies ever made.

Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)

We don’t see too many swashbuckling adventures winning the Oscar for Best Picture these days, but it was a different story in 1935 when Mutiny on the Bounty took the top prize. This adventurous seafaring drama follows a crew of sailors led by Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) as they depose their tyrannical captain and deal with the consequences.

 The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

We’ve seen several biopics take home the Best Picture award over the years, including The Great Ziegfeld, Robert Z. Leonard’s 1936 musical drama about Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. (William Powell) as the young theater producer makes a name for himself.

The Life Of Emile Zola (1937)

One of the best courtroom dramas of all time, The Life of Emile Zola follows Paul Muni’s titular author as finds new meaning in life after hearing of a victim of anti-semitism and dedicating his life and career to standing against hate. However, the plan isn’t without its own issues.

You Can’t Take It With You (1938)

Frank Capra’s You Can’t Take It with You, a satirical romantic comedy starring Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, and a young James Stewart, has a little bit of everything from laughs to romance to drama to social commentary. Oh, and it won Best Picture on top of that.

Gone With The Wind (1939)

One of the most well-known and controversial films ever made, Victor Fleming’s epic historical romance story about Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) finding meaning in the madness of the Civil War and its aftermath won Best Picture and nine other Oscars at the 12th Academy Awards.

Rebecca (1940)

Alfred Hitchcock became the first director to try their hand at adapting Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, and considering the film took home the Oscar for Best Picture at the 13th Academy Awards, it was a worthy effort.

How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Set during the late Victorian Era, How Green Was My Valley follows the tight-knit and hard-working Morgan family as they navigate life as miners in the South Wales Valleys. One of John Ford’s best efforts (which is saying something), this Best Picture winner will test you in every way.

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Though not your average World War II movie, Mrs. Miniver is a worthy addition to the list nonetheless. Set during the height of the global conflict, this Best Picture winner follows an English family as they learn to cope and live with the fear and decimation brought on by war.

Casablanca (1943)

One of the most iconic and quotable movies of all time, there was no way Casablanca wasn’t going to win the Best Picture upon its release. The story of a washed-up expat (played by Humphrey Bogart) as he helps a former lover (played by Ingrid Bergman) and her fiance escape Nazi-controlled Morocco never gets old.

Going My Way (1944)

Led by the late, great Bing Crosby, Going My Way tells a splendid story of a young priest as he attempts to make sense out of life while also inspiring the boys in his impoverished and tough-as-nails parish to form a choir and make something of themselves.

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend, one of the best additions to the film noir genre, might be one of the darkest movies to ever win Best Picture, but don’t let that stop you from checking out this must-watch thriller starring Ray Milland and Jane Wyman.

The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

One of the more harrowing war films ever released, The Best Days of Our Lives doesn’t shy away from the terrible nature of armed combat and how some soldiers never fully leave the battlefield, even long after the final shot has been fired.

Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

Gregory Peck had countless great movie performances over the years, and one of the best was in Elia Kazan’s 1947 drama, Gentleman’s Agreement. A young Peck plays a journalist who goes undercover to expose antisemitism in New York’s elite masterfully here.

Hamlet (1948)

In addition to winning an Oscar for Best Costume Design, Hamlet also took home the Best Picture prize at the 21st Academy Awards. Laurence Olivier’s adaptation of William Shakespeare's beloved play remains one of the best all these years later.

All The King’s Men (1949)

Inspired by the life and death of Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, All the King’s Men chronicled the rise and fall of southern politician Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford), and was rewarded handsomely for its riveting and dramatic story. Robert Rossen’s film won three Oscars, including Best Picture.

All About Eve (1950) 

Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s thrilling drama, All About Eve centers on an aspiring and scheming actress (played by Anne Baxter) as befriends and takes advantage of an aging Broadway star (Bette Davis) to further propel her career. Backstabbing, politicing, and incredible style make this Best Picture winner one for the ages.

An American In Paris (1951)

One of the most famous musicals ever made, An American in Paris is one of those movies you can watch, twice, or a million times without growing tired of its story about an expat (played by Gene Kelly) as he starts a new life in France, which is a long way of saying it’s a tremendous piece of art.

The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)

Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth is one of those movies that’s always fun to revisit because of its cast (James Stewart and Charlton Heston) are two of its top stars), incredible circus sequences, and a certain train crash scene that is just as epic today as it was 60-plus years ago.

From Here To Eternity (1953)

Fred Zinnemann’s From Here to Eternity has a little something for everyone including action, drama, romance, and an intense war story. Perhaps this is why the Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, and Frank Sinatra-led Oscar Winner is so beloved years later.

On The Waterfront (1954)

The “coulda been a contender” speech in On the Waterfront was enough to earn Marlon Brando a Best Actor Oscar and was certainly more than enough to win the Best Picture trophy at the 27th Academy Awards.

Marty (1955)

Ernest Borgnine and Besty Blair play unlikely romantic partners in Marty, a 1955 drama about the complicated lives of New Yorkers who will do anything and everything to find true love in the maddening world.

Around The World In 80 Days (1956)

In 1956, Michael Anderson transformed a classic Jules Verne novel into one of the funniest, most adventurous, and eye-catching films of the 20th century with his adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days. It was a booming success as it took home Best Picture and numerous other Oscars.

The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

When it comes to World War II movies about POWs attempting to overcome seemingly impossible tasks, The Bridge on the River Kwai is one of the best to do it. Winner of seven Oscars, including Best Picture, this star-studded adventure film brings a lot to the table.

Gigi (1958)

Directed by the late, great Vincente Minnelli, the 1958 musical, Gigi, features swirling musical numbers, and an all-time friends-to-lovers story with its tale about a Parisian playboy (played by Louis Jourdan) trying to change his ways and become the one and only for the young and precious courtesan-in-training (played by Leslie Caron). 

Ben-Hur (1959)

Willian Wyler’s larger-than-life period drama, Ben-Hur, is one of those movies people mostly remember for one scene, which is the chariot race in the case of this 1959 epic. The rest of the movie is just as intense and fun to watch, which explains the Best Picture win.

The Apartment (1960)

When Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon teamed up for 1960’s The Apartment, it was all but guaranteed that it would become a massive success and eventual winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

West Side Story (1961)

From the battles between the Jets and the Sharks to the swirling romance of lovers caught on opposing sides to over-the-top musical numbers, there’s so much to love about West Side Story. Academy voters must have felt the same way, as this 1961 gem won a total of 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

If you’re looking for proof that sometimes longer movies are better movies, Lawrence of Arabia is going to get the job done. Epic in just about every possible way, this four-hour biopic dives into the various stages of T.E. Lawrence’s (Peter O’Toole) life and just works. It works so well.

Tom Jones (1963)

In 1963, Tony Richardson turned his attention to Henry Fieldling’s novel Tom Jones and created one of the greatest and most endearing Best Picture winners of all time. With Albert Finney in the titular role, this landmark comedy is worthy of all praise.

My Fair Lady (1964)

George Cukor’s 1964 adaptation of My Fair Lady is one of those cinematic masterpieces that just gets better with age. Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, and the other actors appearing on screen make this comedy about two high society types trying to transform a beautiful yet uncivilized woman into a duchess oh so grand.

The Sound Of Music (1965)

Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer helped make The Sound of Music not just one of the most iconic Best Picture winners of the ‘60s, but also one of the most cherished musicals of all time.

A Man For All Seasons (1966)

A Man for All Seasons takes the story of Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) going to war with the Catholic church over the concept of divorce and turns into an unforgettable cinematic experience. 

In The Heat Of The Night (1967)

Before it was turned into a long-running TV show of the same name, In the Heat of the Night was a revolutionary and well-respected crime drama about a Black detective (played by Sidney Poitier) as he goes from being accused of murder to hunting down those responsible for it. Nothing is off the table in Norman Jewison’s landmark mystery film.

As you can probably tell by now, the first 40 years of the Academy Awards saw some of the most iconic and legendary films to ever grace the silver screen. But as we all know, this is just the beginning of the story…

Over the past few years, there's been a ton of discussion about the importance of representation, whether its queer stories or ones focused on people of color. The #OscarsSoWhite movement has helped to increase the discourse, although there are some acclaimed TV and film projects that focus on interracial relationships that do a great job at this. Let's break it all down 

A Bronx Tale

While the discussion of representation in the media is fairly new, there are a number of projects that pre-date it and still managed to tell powerful stories about interracial relationships. Robert De Niro's 1993 drama A Bronx Tale is definitely in that category, and did a great job with approaching the film's sensitive subject matter. Specifically related to to the relationship shared between Calogero (Lillo Brancato Jr.) and Jane (Taral Hicks).

Set in 1968, we follow Italian-American Calogero and see as he falls in love with a Black girl named Jane. Their relationship is star-crossed, and while we see how much the young lovers like each other, Calogero ultimately is forced to deal with the inherent racism that he feels. And director/actor Robert De Niro deserves praise, especially as he also contributes to A Bronx Tale's Broadway musical adaptation. 

Looking

Looking ran on HBO for two seasons, and its life was tragically much too short. Luckily for fans (who can stream the show with a Max subscription) the network ended up greenlighting a Looking movie to wrap up the story. And through all incarnations of the franchise, the main love story has been between Jonathan Groff's Patrick and Raúl Castillo's Richie. And the show definitely didn't shy away from conversations about their interracial relationship during that time.

Patrick falls for Richie immediately in the first episode, in one of the best TV meet cutes of all time. But Groff's protagonist makes some serious missteps along the way, including fetishizing Richie and focusing on whether or not his new lover was circumcised. Fetishism can definitely be a problem in the queer community, and Richie appropriately tells him off at first, before eventually opening up and sharing his culture with Patrick later on in the series. 

The Big Sick

Michael Showalter's The Big Sick hit theaters back in 2017, and transformed Kumail Nanjiani from a character actor to a bonafide leading man. The movie is arguably one of the best romantic comedies in modern memory, thanks to the excellent performance and writing involved. And the story also told a different type of romance that had discussions about being in an interracial relationship.

Early on in The Big Sick, Kumail meets Emily (Zoe Kazan). They're originally an unlikely couple, as she pokes fun at the comedian and they originally decide to just have a NSA hook-up. But they fall for each other, which ends up conflicting with his strict Pakistani family, who want to see him marry another woman from the community. It's moving watching the way the film's couple connects due to their differences, and the conversations between Kumail and his family definitely offers an accurate look at generational differences, the immigrant experience, and (of course) interracial realtionships. 

Girls

This one might not be what folks expected, but it's a romantic plot point that stuck with me in the years since it aired. Back in Season 2 of HBO's coming-of-age comedy Girls, Lena Dunham's protagonist Hannah briefly dates Sandy, played by the incomparable Donald Glover. He only appeared in two episodes, with his final one offering an excellent take on the issues that can sometimes arise within interracial relationships. 

Girls has plenty of sex scenes during its run, including some intimate sequences between Hannah and Sandy. During this chat they come to a disagreement about Hannah's work as a writer, and things soon become untenable. Hannah tries to claim that she "doesn't see race," something that Glover's character finds unacceptable as a proud Black man. They have a hilariously uncomfortable fight which results in their break-up, and shows how harmful and downright ridiculous it is to "ignore" someone's race when dating, rather than embracing it.

West Side Story

Romeo and Juliet are the quintessential star-crossed lovers, and their story has been adapted countless times over the years. One of the most iconic is West Side Story (and the remake is streaming now with a Disney+ subscription), both the stage musical and the two movie adaptations. The story follows a young couple, Tony and Maria as they fall in love in 1957. But rather than the Capulets and Montagues, the forces keeping them apart are two rival gangs: the Jets, who are white and the Sharks, who are Puerto Rican immigrants. 

While the material might be a bit dated by today's standards, it's a tale of an interracial relationship that has withstood the test of time and helped to change minds. It's touching seeing Tony try and understand Maria's culture and language, and how he tries to stop his Jet compatriots from resorting to violence. Unfortunately, we all know how tragic the ending of West Side Story ultimately is. 

Obviously this list is a small one, and there have been many more interracial relationships shown on both television and film. Some other titles include Monster's Ball, the sci-fi series Sense8 (which is available with a Netflix subscription), and many many more. But I though the conversations in these five projects were particularly powerful and effective in the way they approaches these connections. 

Hopefully we get more powerful stories of this nature sooner rather than later. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates as well as the TV premiere list to plan what you're watching next-- either on the small or silver screens. 

Amy And Nick - Gone Girl

Amy (Rosamund Pike) and Nick (Ben Affleck) appear to have had an idyllic marriage until their lives were uprooted and they ended up in rural Missouri in Gone Girl. Amy, who is seriously pissed off about Nick’s affair, decides she’s not only going to send him on a wild goose chase of a scavenger hunt to reveal she knows, but she’s going to fake her own death and pin it on him. Vicious. 

Alex And Dan - Fatal Attraction

It’s impossible to defend Dan (Michael Douglas) completely here, after all, he chose to have the one-night stand with Alex (Glenn Close) in Fatal Attraction. Everything that happens after that though? Yeah, that’s 100% on Alex. What started as a passionate night between two successful people ends with her doing horrible things. Everyone points to the bunny scene, but let’s remember she slits her wrists to get him to stay the first time. The toxic relationship was even rebooted as a TV show. 

Nicole And David - Fear 

Once described as “Fatal Attraction for teens” by Brian Grazer, Fear, starring Mark Wahlberg as the just ever so slightly obsessive David, and Reese Witherspoon as the shy, sheltered Nicole, is just about as disturbing. What starts as first love soon gets very, very dark when David goes completely psycho on Nicole, including one of the most memorable confrontations on film when he appears outside her door and she watches through the peephole.

Alabama And Clarence - True Romance

In True Romance, Alabama (Patricia Arquette) is a sex worker hired by Clarence’s boss to seduce him for his birthday. Instead, she falls for Clarence (Christian Slater). In an attempt to free her from her pimp, he ends up killing a bunch of people and leaving with a suitcase full of drugs. It’s a classic story: girl meets boy, boy murders drug dealer, boy and girl get chased to California and end up almost dead at the hands of the mafia. 

Veronica And J.D. - Heathers

Imagine going from the cool click in high school to a serial killer. That’s exactly what happens to very Gen-X movie character, Veronica (Wynona Rider) in Heathers after J.D. (Christian Slater) transfers to her school and they fall in love. Veronica was never comfortable in the “Heathers” click, but it goes to the extreme when she and J.D. start killing off the popular kids. After he decides everyone needs to die, Veronica finally stops the damage, though it’s too late for some. 

Edward And Connie - Unfaithful

Unfaithful is a tough movie to watch at times. It's the rare example on this list where everyone is good, and everyone is bad. Connie (Diane Lane) finds herself seduced by a stranger and hides the affair from her husband, Edward (Richard Gere). She's distracted enough by her lover that Edward gets suspicious, and after a private detective finds out the truth, he confronts the lover and kills him in a fit of rage. 

Tessa And David - Unforgettable

In another rarity on this list, Unforgettable actually has a happy, healthy couple: David (Geoff Stults) and Julia (Rosario Dawson). The unhappy one in the relationship is David's ex Tessa, played by Katherine Heigl. She sets out to ruin Julia's life when she finds out David is going to marry her. It's truly a rampage for the ages, as she even tricks Julia's abusive ex-boyfriend back into Julia's life and things only get worse from there.

Oliver And Barbara Rose - The War Of The Roses

The War of the Roses has to be one of the darkest of dark comedies. It's kind of Kramer v. Kramer meets a disturbing Home Alone. Oliver (Michael Douglas) and Barbara Rose (Kathleen Turner) are two very rich people going through a very nasty divorce. The level of comedic violence is through the roof. There is no one (and no dog) safe when these two are battling it out. It's funny, sure, but wow is it dark. Woof. 

Claire And Noah - The Boy Next Door

It's twisted enough when a teacher sleeps with a student. It gets even more messed up when that student becomes a stalker intent on ruining the teacher's life and her family. The Boy Next Door has nothing about it that isn't completely screwed up. Claire (Jennifer Lopez) barely tries to put up a fight when Noah (Ryan Guzman) seduces her, even though she's a teacher at his school. She learns pretty quickly just how out of hand things can get when Noah gets as obsessive as Fatal Attraction's Alex. 

Mickey And Mallory Knox - Natural Born Killers

There are few more messed up couples in movie history than Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Juliette Lewis) in Natural Born Killers. Their killing spree captivates a shocked public and leads them on the kind of adventure that only the most psychotic would ever want to go on. It was always bound to end up this way, with Mallory’s horrifying upbringing and Mickey’s lifetime of crime; it only took the two meeting to set off the murder spree. They're a couple and it's a movie we still can't stop talking about all these years later 

Chris And Rose - Get Out

In the instant classic Get Out, Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) thinks he’s found the love of his life in Rose Armitage (Allison Williams). While he may be nervous to meet her parents, because he’s Black and she’s white, he is calmed by her welcoming and friendly mom and dad. It’s not until a little later, after noticing some very off things about the couple’s domestic help, that he senses something is wrong and by then, it’s too late. Rose’s family is nothing like he first thought and he barely makes it out alive. 

Romeo And Juliet - Romeo + Juliet

Romeo Montague (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Juliet Capulet (Claire Danes) in Baz Lehrman’s film version of the classic Shakespeare tragedy, Romeo + Juliet, are lovestruck teenagers who cannot live without each other. Sadly, it’s a forbidden love, as their families are the Hatfields and McCoys of 16th-century Italy. That doesn’t stop the two lovebirds, but by the end, as the world knows, it all ends in the most tragic way possible. 

Tony And Maria - West Side Story

The West Side Story...story... has been told countless times on high school stages across the country, and of course on Broadway, but it's the two movies (the first in 1961 with Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood as Tony and Maria and the 2021 version with Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in the roles) that have become beloved classics. Based on Romeo and Juliet, it tells the story of forbidden love between two people in rival gangs in New York in the 1950s, and like the Shakespeare play, it ends in tragedy, with Maria witnessing the Tony's murder. 

Carly And Zeke - Sliver

Carly (Sharon Stone) is excited to move into her new apartment, and is more excited when she meets a neighbor, Zeke (William Baldwin). They begin a steamy romance, but that causes another neighbor, Jack (Tom Berenger), to get insanely jealous. Jack stalks Carly and tries to convince her that Zeke is a bad person, but Jack has been murdering other tenants of the building. Finally, Zeke reveals he's got cameras in every apartment, and Carly confronts Jack, shooting him in self-defense after he tries to attack. She ends it with Zeke, who it turns out is pretty damn creepy himself, watching the tenants in his secret monitor room. 

Cecilia And Adrian - The Invisible Man 

In the latest, great take on The Invisible Man, the marriage between Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) and Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is already really bad, but it gets much worse. Adrian is controlling and abusive, so Cecilia drugs him and gets away. Adrian, she's led to believe, dies by suicide and leaves her millions. That's only the beginning, as it turns out he can make himself invisible and the the physical and psychological torture increases to nightmarish levels. 

Laura And Martin - Sleeping With The Enemy

It's not that hard to deduce what is going on in a movie called Sleeping with the Enemy, but that only begins to describe how awful Martin (Patrick Bergin) is to his wife, Laura (Julia Roberts). The level of violence is, frankly, shocking. He abuses her in every way possible until she is finally able to fake her own death and escape to Iowa. Martin finds her eventually, and the confrontation at the end is epic, with Laura getting the revenge she desperately tried to avoid by disappearing. 

Nick And Catherine - Basic Instinct

Sharon Stone, who plays Catherine in Basic Instinct, made a name for herself playing sexy sirens in steamy romance films, but this one put her on the map in that regard. Catherine is an accused murderer being investigated by Nick (Michael Douglas). She's diabolical in her deceit, or at least the viewer is led to believe so, until we learn that the truth is something completely different, with a twist at the end...or was it?

Joel And Clementine - Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a pretty weird movie, which fits the pretty weird nature of the relationship between Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet). In a new type of procedure, both separately have their negative memories of their relationship erased after they break up. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) they keep the good ones. In the end, they try to make a go of it one more time, but you can't help but wonder if it's going to end well or not, as it's never resolved. 

Lee And Gray - Secretary

Years before 50 Shades Of Grey became a cultural phenomenon, there was Secretary,  starring Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lee, a submissive in work and eventually sex, to Gray, played by James Spader. He is ashamed of his behavior, but can't stop, and she doesn't want it to. It's a disturbing movie for some, but really, we don't want to kink shame anyone and in the end, maybe this is how they are supposed to be. 

Slim And Mitchell - Enough

The violent abusive husband Mitchell (Billy Campbell), is like the Terminator in his relentless pursuit of his wife and victim, Slim (Jennifer Lopez). He seems to find her wherever she is and continues to abuse and torment her. Finally, Slim has had enough and hatches a plan to end the pursuit forever. 

Dean And Cindy - Blue Valentine

Blue Valentine is just tragic all around. Barbie star Ryan Gosling plays Dean, a down-on-his-luck slacker and heavy drinker who somehow gets Cindy (Michelle Williams) to date him, despite being way out of his league. The movie goes back and forth between the beginning and end of their relationship, and it's a powerful way to show that not everything has a storybook ending. Sometimes, things can go very, very wrong, even in relationships that start off higher than the moon. 

Everyone has gone through difficult breakups, and had hard relationships. Hopefully, very few have anything even remotely close to the ones on this list. Still, it's good to reminder how good some of us have it even when things aren't going exactly as we want. 

In a new report from GLAAD, the organization committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion in entertainment found that Walt Disney Studios had more LGBTQ+ inclusive films than any other major studio in 2021. That being said, Disney was graded with an “insufficient” rating by the organization, signaling that Hollywood still has a long way to go when it comes to representation. 

Among the lowest graded studios was Lionsgate and Paramount Pictures, who received a “failing” rating with zero LGBTQ+ inclusive films last year. Warner Bros. got a “poor” rating, with only one film passing its representation test, In The Heights. The rest of the major studios, Sony, United Artists, Universal and Disney were hit with an “insufficient” rating, which is the highest inclusivity scores to be handed out for last year's report. 

Disney improved from previous years where it received “poor” and “failing” grades with five total LGBTQ+ inclusive films including Eternals, Cruella and Jungle Cruise in 2021. This year the studio continued to represent the queer community with its major releases, between replacing a previously cut same-sex kiss in Lightyear, introducing it’s first openly queer lead in a Disney animated feature film with Jaboukie Young-White’s Strange World character along with additional nods in Marvel films, despite many of them being pretty miniscule. 

So while Disney could certainly do more in regards to LGBTQ+ inclusion on film, at least there remains a concerted presence within its films than other studios. Per the 2021 results, LGBTQ+ inclusive films that passed GLAAD’s test for authentic representation from major studios actually fell quite a bit from previous years. 

Last year it was 56 percent, which is lower than the last four years. The test, called the Vito Russo Test, will give a movie a pass rating if it contains a character that is identifiably part of the LGBTQ+ community, who is not predominantly defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity along with having to be tied to the plot in a significant way and must not be outwardly offensive. 

As we now look back at 2022, Paramount Pictures did include a queer final girl in Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Scream character and Universal released the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio with Bros. We wonder which studio is leading 2022? We’ll continue to follow Hollywood representation among 2023's movie releases here on CinemaBlend. 

Josh Andrés Rivera, who played Chino in the critically acclaimed 2021 West Side Story, has been cast in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes as Snow’s close friend, Sejanus Plinth, per a Lionsgate press release. In Suzanne Collins’ prequel book, which the movie is based on, Sejanus is a Capitol citizen formerly from District 2, who becomes a mentor to a male tribute from his home district. 

Rachel Zegler and Josh Andrés Rivera not only share the experience of being in West Side Story together, they are also an item in real life. Following the casting news, Zegler took to Twitter to buzz about the news: 

The West Side Story co-stars have previously gone public with their relationship, with Zegler posting to Instagram in May that Rivera is her “everything” and “one incredible man.” She also quoted the most romantic and sweetest quote from A24’s biggest hit Everything Everywhere, All At Once. Check it:  

In West Side Story, Josh Andrés Rivera had a supporting, but a vital role in the beloved musical as a love interest-turned-villain. Much like Rachel Zegler, Steven Spielberg’s take on West Side Story was the actor’s first role ever. Since working with the legendary filmmaker, Rivera has also filmed a thriller called Cat Person alongside Sucession’s Nicholas Braun, The Many Saints of Newark’s Michael Gandolfini and Coda’s Emilia Jones.

Since Zegler debuted her role as Maria in West Side Story, the actress has been cast in the upcoming Shazam sequel coming later this year, as well as the live-action Snow White for Disney and the animated film Spellbound. In The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes, she’ll play the lead tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, who is being mentored by a young Snow before his tyrannical rule. In the book, she is a singer who uses her voice to her advantage in the competition. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who previously helmed three out of four of the Hunger Games movies. The prequel takes place in Panem during the 10th Hunger Games (many decades before the 74th from the original story). We can look forward to the upcoming movie from the Hunger Games franchise hitting theaters on November 17, 2023.  

Back in 2020, Ansel Elgort was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old in 2014. He denied this, claiming the relationship was consensual. Following this, a Twitter user claimed Elgort sent her nude photos when she was under age. This came after West Side Story had wrapped filming, and was a cloud that seemed to follow the movie’s press tour. Rachel Zegler was asked about the accusations a number of times, recently opened up to Elle about how hard it was at the time. As the Golden Globe winning actress explained,

While press tours are notoriously grueling for talent, Rachel Zegler’s time doing this for West Side Story seemingly had its own emotional weight to it. It sounds like being asked by journalists about Ansel Elgort’s controversy was triggering for the actress, particularly given her age. And there’s no telling how many of these interviews occurred.

For his part, Ansel Elgort was also on the press tour for West Side Story, doing on camera group interviews about his work with Steven Spielberg and company. There’s been no charges against the Baby Driver actor, who maintains he was innocent of any wrongdoing. And since the musical movie hit theaters, Elgort has also celebrate the release of a new HBO Max series, Tokyo Vice. He’s also an executive producer on the project.

Later in Rachel Zegler’s same interviews, she further explained how uncomfortable and disappointing it was to be asked about Ansel Elgort’s sexual assault allegation– which really has nothing to do with her. She explained how it mirrors the struggles of being a woman in Hollywood, in her words:

Now that Rachel Zegler has finally been honest about these complicated feelings about Ansel Elgort and West Side Story, hopefully the 20 year-old New Jersey native will be able to move past them. Professionally she’s got a number of thrilling movie projects lined up including Shazam 2, playing the title character the new Snow White, plus the animated movie Spellbound. And with a Golden Globe in hand, there’s no telling where her career might go.

Rachel Zegler can be seen in Shazam! Fury of the Gods on December 16th, while West Side Story is now available to stream from home. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

She is also one of the few actors to be the second to win Academy Award for playing the same character. Her West Side Story co-star Rita Moreno became the first Latina actor to be recognized by the Academy when she won the award for the 1961 version of the Stephen Sondheim musical. 

Ariana DeBose had some stiff competition, going up against Jesse Buckley for The Lost Daughter, Judi Dench for Belfast, Kirsten Dunst for The Power of the Dog and Aunjanue Ellis for King Richard. Here was her reaction to the big win during the telecast: 

Upon accepting the award from H.E.R. and Daniel Kaluuya, who memorably won Best Supporting Actor last year, DeBose said "Yikes!" "Oh my word" and "What is this?" in disbelief. Then she said these words: 

This is the first Oscar experience for DeBose, who got her start as a dancer and notably as "The Bullet" in the original Hamilton Broadway cast before recently starring in Netflix musical, The Prom, AppleTV+ series (also a musical) Schmigadoon! and soon as a character in Spider-Verse spinoff Kraven the Hunter. 

The actress went on to call her experience filming West Side Story "the summer of a lifetime" and thanked Steven Spielberg, who she said he is "stuck with her now." DeBose took a moment to highlight the Anita before her, Rita Moreno, who was in attendance at the Oscars as well. She said this about the legendary actress, who returned for 2021's West Side Story: 

Ariana DeBose also touched on her history-making win for the LGBTQ+ community by reminding viewers on national TV she is "openly queer" along with speaking to them through the screen. In her words: 

Congratulations to Ariana DeBose for her much deserved recognition at the Oscars. You can check out the actress’ performance in West Side Story with a Disney+ subscription. You can keep updated on the 2022 Oscar winners right here on CinemaBlend. 

While this year's Academy Awards broadcast will be dealing with some degree of controversy following the decision to not give out all the Oscars live, it should nonetheless be an interesting show. Follow along with us live as we update the list below as the awards are given out.

Best Picture

• Belfast
• CODA
• Don't Look Up
• Drive My Car
• Dune
• King Richard
• Licorice Pizza
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• West Side Story

Best Directing

• Belfast, Kenneth Branagh
• Drive My Car, Ryusuke Hamaguchi
• Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson
• The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion
• West Side Story, Steven Spielberg

Best Actress In A Leading Role

• Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
• Penélope Cruz, Parallel Mothers
• Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
• Kristen Stewart, Spencer

Best Actor In A Leading Role

• Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
• Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
• Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick... BOOM!
• Will Smith, King Richard
• Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Best Actress In A Supporting Role

• Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter
• Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
• Judi Dench, Belfast
• Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
• Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

Best Actor In A Supporting Role

• Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
• Troy Kotsur, CODA
• Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
• J.K Simmons, Being the Ricardos
• Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

• Belfast
• Don't Look Up
• King Richard
• Licorice Pizza
• The Worst Person in the World

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• CODA
• Drive My Car
• Dune
• The Lost Daughter
• The Power of the Dog

Best Animated Feature Film

• Encanto
• Flee
• Luca
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines
• Raya and the Last Dragon

Best International Feature Film

• Drive My Car, Japan
• Flee, Denmark
• The Hand of God, Italy
• Lunana: A Yakin the Classroom, Bhutan
• The Worst Person in the World, Norway

Best Documentary (Feature)

• Ascension
• Attica
• Flee
• Summer of Soul(...Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
• Writing With Fire

Best Production Design

• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• West Side Story

Best Cinematography

• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• West Side Story

Best Costume Design

• Cruella
• Cyrano
• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• West Side Story

Best Film Editing

• Don't Look Up
• Dune
• King Richard
• The Power of the Dog
• Tick, Tick...BOOM!

Best Makeup And Hairstyling

• Coming 2 America
• Cruella
• Dune
• The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• House of Gucci

Best Music (Original Score)

• Don't Look Up
• Dune
• Encanto
• Parallel Mothers
• The Power of the Dog

Best Music (Original Song)

• "Be Alive," King Richard
• "Dos Oruguitas," Encanto
• "Down To Joy," Belfast
• "No Time to Die," No Time to Die
• "Somehow You Do," Four Good Days 

Best Sound

• Belfast
• Dune
• No Time to Die
• The Power of the Dog
• West Side Story

Best Visual Effects

• Dune
• Free Guy
• No Time To Die
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home

Best Short Film (Animated)

• Affairs of the Heart
• Bestia
• Boxballet
• Robin Robin
• The Windshield Wiper

Best Documentary (Short Subject)

• Audible
• Lead Me Home
• The Queen of Basketball
• Three Songs For Benazir
• When We Were Bullies

Best Short Film (Live Action)

• Ala Kachuu - Take And Run
• The Dress
• The Long Goodbye
• On My Mind
• Please Hold

Did your favorite film of 2021 take home an Oscar?

Speaking with Lin-Manuel Miranda during a Vanity Fair interview, both participants were asked about working in the Spanish language for their respective projects. In DeBose’s case, previous remarks of being “intimidated” by West Side Story’s dialogue were cited, which led her to explain those fears a little further:

Anyone with a Latine surname can relate to what Ariana DeBose described above, as one of the first questions people would tend to ask someone like her is whether or not they speak the language. In the case of Steven Spielberg’s wildly-praised remake, the Spanish dialogue in West Side Story seemed all the more important to get right, as it remained untranslated in the final film. Those audience members listening for authenticity would be more likely to pick out any flaws, which only adds to the intimidation. 

Scared as she may have been, Ariana DeBose still went for Anita, the role originated by Rita Moreno in the 1961 film adaptation. It’s a good thing that she did too, as the eventual process of shaping up West Side Story’s latest incarnation provided DeBose with a safety net that helped her learn pretty quickly. Here’s how things played out, starting with the audition itself:

Building a formidable career through roles of stage and screen, Ariana DeBose had already distinguished herself with some pretty cool hallmarks. Her most recent accomplishment in West Side Story could be her crowning achievement thus far, especially if DeBose ends up winning the top honors in a pretty competitive field. It's hard to imagine the success of this film without Ariana DeBose's part to play in the overall formula, making her decision to pursue the opportunity even more impacting.

West Side Story is currently available for streaming, both on HBO Max and Disney+. You can also obtain the film, on physical and digital media, wherever you purchase your films. Next up for Ariana DeBose is a role in Henry Cavill and Matthew Vaughn’s espionage adventure Argylle, as well as her latest casting in Sony’s Kraven the Hunter movie. Last, but not least, don't forget to tune in for the 93rd Academy Awards, which will air live on Sunday, March 27th, only on ABC! 

The only non-white actors in the running for a performance Oscar this year are King Richard’s Will Smith and The Tragedy of Macbeth’s Denzel Washington in the Best Actor category (both of which have been recognized by the Academy before) alongside first-time nominees Ariana DeBose and Aunjanue Ellis in the Best Supporting Actress category. Now let’s take a look at great performances the Oscars overlooked. 

Colman Domingo (Candyman/Zola)

Let’s start with a Best Supporting Actor that was not among those picked by the Academy, but absolutely deserves to be recognized for his performances. Colman Domingo. The more “award season” pick is Zola, but the more I think about it, Domingo also pulled off an incredible performance in Candyman as well that I'd also pick over a couple of this year’s other nominees. In Zola, Domingo gives an affecting performance as a man on a stripper road trip (based off a real Twitter thread) as his character of Abegunde "X" Olawale takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and intensity as the secrets of the plotline are uncovered. 

Additionally, Domingo is an absolute highlight in Candyman as William "Billy" Burke, a Cabrini-Green resident who forwards the Candyman legend through Yayha Abdul-Mateen II’s character. All around, Domingo is proving again and again he’s one of the best actors working today and deserves more recognition for his work. Hopefully when TV nominations come around he’ll get some love for his role on Euphoria as well. 

Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) 

The Oscars have clearly been making an attempt to recognize more foriegn films in recent years, especially with the historical 2020 Academy Award moment when Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite won Best Picture. Ahead of this year’s telecast, there’s a key international feature being recognized, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car. But how do you recognize that film without its guiding lead performance, Hidetoshi Nishijima?

The Japanese actor carries a huge weight in the drama about an actor/director as he mourns a profound loss throughout the three-hour film. The performance is very internal and stoic, which is especially difficult for an actor to communicate to audiences. As crowded as this year’s Best Actor category is, Nishijima’s role in Drive My Car is something special. You can check out the movie now with an HBO Max subscription. 

Dev Patel (The Green Knight)

Throughout Oscar history, only a few actors of Indian descent have nabbed an acting nomination. Merle Oberon in 1935, Ben Kingsley four times between 1983 and 2004 (including his win for Gandhi) and Dev Patel in 2017 for Lion. The actor should have earned his second nomination this year (this time in the Best Actor category) for his role in The Green Knight. 

David Lowery’s perilous journey through the legend of Sir Gawain asks a lot of the actor as 90 percent of the film puts the focus on his character. Dev Patel plays a reluctant protagonist who must face the elements as he travels to meet the Green Knight along with driving an emotional narrative that subverts long held tropes about what it means to be a hero. 

Taylour Paige (Zola)

The Best Actress category this year is jam-packed with talent including Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Kristen Stewart’s memorable performances, but it’s clearly skewed toward not only the experiences of white women, but privileged white women (with the exception of Cruz). It’s too bad the Academy overlooked Taylour Paige’s performance as a part-time stripper in Zola. 

Along with the wild based-on-a-true-story road trip movie being entertaining, it also highlights the very real threats that Zola got mixed into. In Zola, the stripper becomes wrapped into the world of sex work and other dangerous activities she did not want to be part of, and it's made more real through Paige's performance. 

Ruth Negga (Passing) 

Rebecca Hall’s Passing adapts a classic ‘20s novel about the topic of “racial passing” in 1920s Harlem through the narrative of two old friends Clare and Irene, played by Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson. Both actresses deserved more recognition for their work on this film, not only at the Oscars but during award season in general. Ruth Negga plays Clare Bellew, a Black woman who lives as a white passing woman during the era, with a white husband and all. 

Things change for Clare when she spots her childhood friend Irene passing for white at a club and they strike up a conversation. Negga’s performance is very unique in that there’s a restraint about the character, who seems to be very much putting on a mask through her demeanor to fit into being white passing. The audience watches as she lets loose a bit with Irene’s social circles. Overall, Negga represents a huge part of history and continued uncomfortableness to be in one’s skin, especially as a light-skinned Black woman. 

Tessa Thompson (Passing) 

The second performance in Passing that the Oscars overlooked was with Tessa Thompson. Whereas Ruth Negga plays a woman in passing, Thompson’s role as Irene is more reserved and quieter, but just as powerful. Irene sometimes lives in passing, but typically lives out a life as a Black woman. She’s a more passive character than Clare, but both women’s arcs and dynamics drive the powerful story that is Passing.

Jennifer Hudson (Respect)

The final pick here is the most surprising snub because everything about it seems to scream Oscar nomination. Jennifer Hudson has long been attached to playing Aretha Franklin in a biopic. Before the Queen of Soul died in 2018, she picked Hudson to play her and all these years later it came together with Respect. The actress and singer beautifully transforms into Aretha in this film that takes her from being a shy preacher’s daughter to a powerhouse. 

Experts fully predicted Hudson to be nominated for her second Oscar with Respect, and yet she was snubbed this year from the Best Actress category. It’s especially shocking because most performance nominees award actors portraying well-known people. 

Despite these performances not getting a voice in this year’s Academy Awards, you can tune into the Oscars when they air on ABC on Sunday, March 27. 

After 60 years on the cinematic shelf, Steven Spielberg brought West Side Story back to the big screen for a beautifully-executed take on the beloved musical. Now that the movie is among 2022’s Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture, it’s time to speak more closely to the elements that make the film great, including Paul Tazewell’s incredible costume design. 

Paul Tazewell’s work on costumes in the Broadway realm is prolific, with In The Heights, Hamilton and NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live under his belt. West Side Story is his first time doing costumes for a movie, and they are worth paying attention to. The most iconic fashion moment of them all, has to be the return of Maria’s white dress from the 1961 version. While speaking with CinemaBlend, Tazewell shared why the production chose to keep one costume between the West Side Story movies very much the same. In his words: 

As Paul Tazewell shared, Steven Spielberg only had a couple requests from his costume designer when it came to his vision of the film, one of which included Maria’s dress being white with the red belt once again. Here’s the pair of Maria and Anita’s getting ready for the dance in the 1961 and 2021 versions: 

West Side Story's costumes are intentional and actually speak to the character’s journeys with the color palettes specifically. Paul Tazewell did something similar with the jackets Alexander Hamilton wears in Hamilton. With this film, he was intentional about giving the Jets cool tones to wear, to express the native New Yorkers who are “drained of color and drained of hope in some ways,” whereas the Sharks, who are the immigrants from Latin countries, don more warm colors, like reds and yellows. Tazewell expanded further on Maria’s dress in particular: 

Early on in the film, right before Maria goes to the dance and meets the man she would fall in love with, i.e. Ansel Elgort’s Tony, she wears an innocent and more proper white dress. However, Ariana DeBose’s Anita adds her red belt to it, which, as the designer shared, signifies her coming into womanhood on that night. 

It may feel like a small detail, but it’s intentional elements of West Side Story like this that make it one of the most beloved films of the past year. Ahead of the 2022 Academy Awards telecast airing on March 27, you can stream West Side Story on Disney+ and HBO Max now. 

Fans loved the movie, as well as critics, and it’s one of the Best Picture nominees at the 2022 Academy Awards, but now, it’s your turn to check out the latest adaptation of the classic musical. Here is how you can see West Side Story streaming, and how soon that is going to happen.

When Is West Side Story Streaming?

If you, like many movie fans, have been eagerly awaiting the release of West Side Story on streaming since it debuted in theaters back in early December 2021, you're in luck, because you don't have much longer to wait. Currently, the set release date for West Side Story to begin streaming is March 2nd, 2022. So, you'll soon be able to watch it for the first time, or revisit the wonderful musical while at home.

Where Is West Side Story Streaming?

Make sure that you have that Disney+ subscription, as West Side Story is going to be dancing its way over to the popular streaming service when it drops on March 2nd. And, even when you finish watching the movie, there is so much more to watch on Disney+, from its fantastic original shows, to some of the best original movies. 

Will West Side Story Be Available To Stream Or Rent Anywhere Else?

As of February 2022, there isn’t another service available where you can stream the film. That’s not to say that there might not be another home for it in the future, however, since West Side Story is a motion picture from 20th Century Studios, which was bought by Disney four years ago, I’d say it’s a safe bet that the movie will stay on Disney+. 

If you can’t wait that long for it to pop up on Disney+, the film is still in theaters as of February 2022, so be sure to go and check it out before it fully moves over to streaming. 

If You Want To Know More About West Side Story And Its Stars...

If you’ve already seen West Side Story and want to learn more about its fabulous stars, there's plenty for you to check out. Ariana DeBose was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita in the film. This is her first major award nomination - but I’m sure it will not be the last. You can check out some cool things about Ariana DeBose. 

The other big star of West Side Story was newcomer Rachel Zegler, whose life has changed immensely. After her big role in the musical, she is set to take on the role of Snow White in the new live action Disney adaptation, alongside Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Zegler has spoken out about her role in the musical many times, and how proud she is that the musical gets to represent Latinas now, and how important it is to have that. 

Lastly, if you have any interest in watching the original West Side Story movie- which also starred Rita Moreno, who was in the recent adaptation - be sure to check it out on HBO Max. 

Stream West Side Story (1961) on HBO Max.

What are you the most excited for with the latest adaptation coming to streaming soon? All I know is that the soundtrack is going to be stuck in my head for hours! 

The 1920s-1930s

Wings (1927)

Director: William A. Wellman

Starring: Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen

What it’s about: According to History.com, the first movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards (before they were called Oscars) was Wings – an action-packed, silent epic following two World War I fighter pilots and their bitter feud over the same woman.

How to watch Wings

• Stream Wings on Tubi
• Rent or buy Wings on Amazon
• Buy Wings on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Broadway Melody (1929)

Director: Harry Beaumont

Starring: Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love

What it’s about: There is a romantic rivalry at the heart of The Broadway Melody – a musical about show business dreams and the first “talkie” to win the highest honor at the Academy Awards.

How to watch The Broadway Melody

• Stream The Broadway Melody on Tubi
• Rent or buy The Broadway Melody on Amazon
• Buy The Broadway Melody on Blu-ray on Amazon

All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)

Director: Lewis Milestone

Starring: Lew Ayres, Lewis Wolheim

What it’s about: The first adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, – and only the first to be nominated for Best Picture before Netflix’s 2022 version (one of the best war movies on Netflix) – won the prize for its heartbreaking depiction of World War I from a German soldier’s perspective.

How to watch All Quiet on the Western Front

• Stream All Quiet on the Western Front on Tubi
• Rent or buy All Quiet on the Western Front on Amazon
• Buy All Quiet on the Western Front on Blu-ray on Amazon

Cimarron (1931)

Director: Wesley Ruggles

Starring: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne

What it’s about: Edna Farber’s novel about a newspaper editor and his involvement in the late 19th-Century Oklahoma land rush inspired Cimarron – the first Western to win at the Academy Awards, including the top prize.

How to watch Cimarron

• Rent or buy Cimarron on Amazon
• Buy Cimarron on Blu-ray on Amazon

Grand Hotel (1932)

Director: Edmund Goulding

Starring: Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore

What it’s about: An iconic ensemble leads the thrilling, romantic interwoven stories told in Grand Hotel, which was only nominated for Best Picture but managed to take it home.

How to watch Grand Hotel

• Rent or buy Grand Hotel on Amazon
• Buy Grand Hotel on Blu-ray on Amazon

Cavalcade (1933)

Director: Frank Lloyd

Starring: Diana Winyard, Clive Brook

What it’s about: Several notable and tragic events of the early 20th Century are seen through the eyes of a well-to-do English family in Cavalcade, which also earned awards for Frank Lloyd and art director William S. Darling.

How to watch Cavalcade

• Rent or buy Cavalcade on Amazon
• Buy Cavalcade on Blu-ray on Amazon

It Happened One Night (1934)

Director: Frank Capra

Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert

What it’s about: Frank Capra, Clark Gable, and Claudette Colbert each won their first Academy Award for It Happened One Night – one of the most charming and influential romantic comedy movies ever made.

How to watch It Happened One Night

• Stream It Happened One Night on Tubi
• Rent or buy It Happened One Night on Amazon
• Buy It Happened One Night on Blu-ray on Amazon

Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)

Director: Frank Lloyd

Starring: Clark Gable, Charles Laughton

What it’s about: Mutiny on the Bounty is a thrilling adventure, inspired by a real incident from 1789, about a ship crew rebelling against their sadistic captain.

How to watch Mutiny on the Bounty

• Rent or buy Mutiny on the Bounty on Amazon
• Buy Mutiny on the Bounty on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Director: Robert Z. Leonard

Starring: William Powell, Luise Rainer, Myrna Loy

What it’s about: The Great Ziegfeld is a lavish, fact-based tale about the ups and downs of show business that also took home an award for Seymour Felix’s choreography.

How to watch The Great Ziegfeld

• Rent or buy The Great Ziegfeld on Amazon
• Buy The Great Ziegfeld on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Life Of Emile Zola (1937)

Director: William Dieterle

Starring: Paul Muni, Gloria Holden

What it’s about: The following year, the Academy gave the Best Picture Oscar to another fact-based drama, The Life of Emile Zola, which follows the titular French writer and his fight against the unjust Dreyfus affair.

How to watch The Life of Emile Zola

• Stream The Life of Emile Zola on Max
• Rent or buy The Life of Emile Zola on Amazon
• Buy The Life of Emile Zola on Blu-ray on Amazon

You Can't Take It With You (1938)

Director: Frank Capra

Starring: Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart

What it’s about: You Can’t Take It with You – based on playwrights George S. Kaufmann and Moss Hart’s brilliant, romantic class satire – won Best Picture the first year the Academy started calling the statuette “Oscar.”

How to watch You Can’t Take It with You

• Rent or buy You Can’t Take It with You on Amazon
• Buy You Can’t Take It with You on Blu-ray on Amazon

Gone With The Wind (1939)

Director: Victor Fleming

Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Hattie McDaniel

What it’s about: Still the all-time highest-grossing movie when adjusted for inflation, according to Box Office Mojo, Gone with the Wind made Oscar history as the first color film to win Best Picture and Hattie McDaniel became the first Black person to be nominated and awarded by the Academy when she won Best Supporting Actress.

How to watch Gone with the Wind

• Stream Gone with the Wind on Max
• Rent or buy Gone with the Wind on Amazon
• Buy Gone with the Wind on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 1940s

Rebecca (1940)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Laurence Olivie, Joan Fontaine

What it’s about: It is hard to believe that Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar himself, but his adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s riveting suspense novel, Rebecca, at least earned him the honor of saying he helmed a Best Picture winner.

How to watch Rebecca

• Stream Rebecca on Filmzie
• Buy Rebecca on Blu-ray on Amazon

How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Director: John Ford

Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O’Hara

What it’s about: Famous for beating Citizen Kane for the top prize is How Green Was My Valley, which is based on Richard Llewellyn’s story of one family’s struggles in a Welsh mining village in the early 1900s.

How to watch How Green Was My Valley

• Rent or buy How Green Was My Valley on Amazon
• Buy How Green Was My Valley on Blu-ray on Amazon

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Director: William Wyler

Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon

What it’s about: As World War II was still raging, the Best Picture Oscar went to Mrs. Miniver, which chronicles the early days of the earth-shattering conflict through the eyes of a middle-class British family.

How to watch Mrs. Miniver

• Stream Mrs. Miniver on Max
• Stream Mrs. Miniver on IndieFlix
• Rent or buy Mrs. Miniver on Amazon
• Buy Mrs. Miniver on Blu-ray on Amazon

Casablanca (1943)

Director: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

What it’s about: The events of World War II were very much an influence on the story of the heartbreaking classic about unrequited love, Casablanca, in which former lovers reunited over political intrigue in Morocco.

How to watch Casablanca

• Stream Casablanca on Max
• Rent or buy Casablanca on Amazon
• Buy Casablanca on Blu-ray on Amazon

Going My Way (1944)

Director: Leo McCarey

Starring: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald

What it’s about: The Academy must have been in the mood for something lighter when it awarded Best Picture to a musical called Going My Way, which also earned Bing Crosby his sole Oscar.

How to watch Going My Way

• Rent or buy Going My Way on Amazon
• Buy Going My Way on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Director: Billy Wilder

Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman

What it’s about: Following World War II’s end, the Academy sought darkness again and gave the top prize to Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend – a film noir classic following an alcoholic’s days-long bender.

How to watch The Lost Weekend

• Rent or buy The Lost Weekend on Amazon
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The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

Director: William Wyler

Starring: Myrna Loy, Fredric March

What it’s about: While many films set around and released close to World War II intended to glorify the conflict, The Best Years of Lives took a more honest approach to its psychological effects, by following a trio of traumatized veterans struggling to readjust.

How to watch The Best Years of Our Lives

• Stream The Best Years of Our Lives on Amazon Prime
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Gentleman's Agreement (1947)

Director: Elia Kazan

Starring: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire

What it’s about: A renowned journalist goes undercover as a Jewish man as research for a series of articles covering anti-Semitism in Gentleman’s Agreement.

How to watch Gentleman’s Agreement

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Hamlet (1948)

Director: Laurence Olivier

Starring: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons

What it’s about: Sir Laurence Olivier also did uncredited screenwriting work on and gave an Oscar-winning performance in the title role of Hamlet – the first talkie based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy and the first non-American film to win Best Picture.

How to watch Hamlet

• Stream Hamlet on Max
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All The King's Men (1949)

Director: Robert Rossen

Starring: Broderick Crawford, John Ireland

What it’s about: Broderick Crawford earned an Oscar for his lead performance in All the King’s Men – based on Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel following the triumphant rise and fall of a corrupt politician.

How to watch All the King’s Men

• Stream All the King's Men on Tubi
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The 1950s

All About Eve (1950)

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Starring: Anne Baxter, Bette Davis

What it’s about: “Fasten your seatbelts” for All About Eve – the dazzling drama in which the title character schemes to assume the life of an aging Broadway star.

How to watch All About Eve

• Rent or buy All About Eve on Amazon
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An American In Paris (1951)

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Starring: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron

What it’s about: A painter struggles to find work in France in the essential romantic musical, An American in Paris, which also won Best Original Score.

How to watch An American in Paris

• Rent or buy An American in Paris on Amazon
• Buy An American in Paris on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)

Director: Cecil B. DeMille

Starring: James Stewart, Charlton Heston

What it’s about: The Greatest Show on Earth brought all the excitement of the circus to the movie theater and, as depicted in The Fabelmans, inspired a young Steven Spielberg to pursue a career in filmmaking.

How to watch The Greatest Show on Earth

• Stream The Greatest Show on Earth on MGM+
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From Here To Eternity (1953)

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed

What it’s about: One of the most exciting and romantic war dramas of all time is From Here to Eternity, which includes one of the most iconic movie kisses and for which Frank Sinatra won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

How to watch From Here to Eternity

• Rent or buy From Here to Eternity on Amazon
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On The Waterfront (1954)

Director: Elia Kazan

Starring: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden

What it’s about: Marlon Brando won his first Academy Award for playing a down-and-out former boxer who “coulda been a contender” in On the Waterfront, which also earned Elia Kazan his second Oscar.

How to watch On the Waterfront

• Rent or buy On the Waterfront on Amazon
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Marty (1955)

Director: Delbert Mann

Starring: Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair

What it’s about: Ernest Borgnine gives an Oscar-winning performance in the title role of Marty – a Bronx butcher who receives an unexpected chance at love when he meets the equally disillusioned teacher, Clara.

How to watch Marty

• Stream Marty on Amazon Prime
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• Buy Marty on Blu-ray on Amazon

Around The World In 80 Days (1956)

Director: Michael Anderson

Starring: David Niven, Cantinflas

What it’s about: Based on Jules Verne’s seminal, inventive adventure novel, Around the World in 80 Days follows two explorers attempting to do just what the title suggests.

How to watch Around the World in 80 Days

• Rent or buy Around the World in 80 Days on Amazon
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The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

Director: David Lean

Starring: Alec Guinness, William Holden

What it’s about: Future Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Alec Guinness won the Best Actor Oscar for playing one of many POWs forced to build a doomed railroad during World War II in The Bridge on the River Kwai.

How to watch The Bridge on the River Kwai

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Gigi (1958)

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Starring: Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan

What it’s about: Winner of all nine Oscars it was nominated for, Gigi is a sweeping musical about a friendship between a rich playboy and a courtesan-in-training that blossoms into more.

How to watch Gigi

• Stream Gigi on Tubi
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Ben-Hur (1959)

Director: Willian Wyler

Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins

What it’s about: Charlton Heston won Best Actor for playing the title role of a Jewish prince wrongfully sold into slavery in Ben-Hur – a quintessential period epic that is also celebrated for its editing by experts of the craft.

How to watch Ben-Hur

• Stream Ben-Hur on Tubi
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The 1960s

The Apartment (1960)

Director: Billy Wilder

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine

What it’s about: One of Billy Wilder’s most definitive achievements was The Apartment – an inventive comedy about an insurance clerk who allows his coworkers to have romantic encounters in his Manhattan home.

How to watch The Apartment

• Stream The Apartment on MGM+
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West Side Story (1961)

Director: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise

Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer

What it’s about: William Shakespeare’s seminal romantic tragedy, Romeo & Juliet, is given a modernized, musical update with West Side Story, which Steven Spielberg would later reimagine in 2021.

How to watch West Side Story

• Stream West Side Story on Amazon Prime
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Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

Director: David Lean

Starring: Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness

What it’s about: It is hard to believe that Peter O’Toole never won an Oscar, even for his performance in the title role of Lawrence of Arabia, which is about how England’s T.E. Lawrence led Arab tribes against the Turks during World War I.

How to watch Lawrence of Arabia

• Stream Lawrence of Arabia on Max
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Tom Jones (1963)

Director: Tony Richardson

Starring: Albert Finney, Susannah York

What it’s about: Four Oscars went to this adaptation of Henry Fielding’s period novel, Tom Jones, which follows the romantic exploits of the chivalrous, titular lothario.

How to watch Tom Jones

• Stream Tom Jones on Max
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My Fair Lady (1964)

Director: George Cukor

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison

What it’s about: Based on the stage musical of the same name, My Fair Lady is the largely influential story (it was the basis for She’s All That) of a phonetics professor who wagers he can make an upper-class citizen out of a working-class, Cockney woman.

How to watch My Fair Lady

• Rent or buy My Fair Lady on Amazon
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The Sound Of Music (1965)

Director: Robert Wise

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer

What it’s about: Another iconic musical that earned the top prize at the Oscars in the 1960s is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews as a governess who teaches the children of her employer about the joys of song.

How to watch The Sound of Music

• Stream The Sound of Music on Disney+
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A Man For All Seasons (1966)

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Starring: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller

What it’s about: Sir Thomas More’s defiance of the Catholic Church’s prohibition of divorce inspired the play A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt, who would win an Oscar for penning the screenplay of this enthralling adaptation.

How to watch A Man for All Seasons

• Rent or buy A Man for All Seasons on Amazon
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In The Heat Of The Night (1967)

Director: Norman Jewison

Starring: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger

What it’s about: In one of Sidney Poitier’s best movies, In the Heat of the Night, he plays a Black detective asked by a Mississippi police chief to help solve a murder he was unjustly accused of.

How to watch In the Heat of the Night

• Stream In the Heat of the Night on Tubi
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Oliver! (1968)

Director: Carol Reed

Starring: Ron Moody, Mark Lester

What it’s about: Based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver! is a musical that tells the story of a young orphan who adopts the art of pickpocketing in 1830s London.

How to watch Oliver!

• Stream Oliver! on The Roku Channel
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Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Director: John Schlesinger

Starring: Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman

What it’s about: The first and only Best Picture winner to receive an X rating is Midnight Cowboy, in which a Texas hustler in Brooklyn forms a deep bond with a rebuffed local.

How to watch Midnight Cowboy

• Stream Midnight Cowboy on Amazon Prime
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The 1970s

Patton (1970)

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden

What it’s about: George C. Scott brilliantly embodied one of the most famous military figures in history to Oscar-winning acclaim in the monumental biopic, Patton.

How to watch Patton

• Rent or buy Patton on Amazon
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The French Connection (1971)

Director: William Friedken

Starring: Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider

What it’s about: In addition to earning a Best Director Oscar, William Friedkin arguably redefined the cop thriller with The French Connection, starring Gene Hackman in a winning performance as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle.

How to watch The French Connection

• Rent or buy The French Connection on Amazon
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The Godfather (1972)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino

What it’s about: The mafia thriller genre was inarguably redefined by one of the best ‘70s movies, The Godfather, starring Marlon Brando in an Oscar-winning performance as Don Vito Corleone.

How to watch The Godfather

• Stream The Godfather on Paramount+
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The Sting (1973)

Director: George Roy Hill

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford

What it’s about: In the classic heist thriller classic The Sting, a pair of grifters plan a huge con to avenge the murder of their mutual friend.

How to watch The Sting

• Stream The Sting on Netflix
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The Godfather Part II (1974)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro

What it’s about: Francis Ford Coppola won Best Director after completing his adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel with the, arguably, more powerful follow-up, The Godfather Part II, starring Robert De Niro in an Oscar-winning performance as a young Don Vito Corleone.

How to watch The Godfather Part II

• Stream The Godfather Part II on Paramount+
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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Director: Milos Forman

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher

What it’s about: A movie that gets real about mental health is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which features one of the greatest Jack Nicholson performances as a petty criminal who leads a rebellion against a sadistic nurse after an insanity plea gets him sent to a mental institution.

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Rocky (1976)

Director: John G. Avildsen

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire

What it’s about: Sylvester Stallone was nominated for both writing and starring in the title role of Rocky – one of the best sports movies ever made, which inspired an ongoing franchise of beloved boxing films.

How to watch Rocky

• Stream Rocky on Pluto TV
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Annie Hall (1977)

Director: Woody Allen

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton

What it’s about: A neurotic comedian looks back on his unique relationship with a free-spirited, aspiring singer in Annie Hall, which remains one of the best romantic comedy movies of all time.

How to watch Annie Hall

• Stream Annie Hall on Tubi
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The Deer Hunter (1978)

Director: Michael Cimino

Starring: Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken

What it’s about: Less a war movie and more an analysis of post-war trauma, The Deer Hunter – one of the best Robert De Niro movies – is the harrowing and controversial story of a veteran and his struggles to find his friends after becoming separated in Vietnam.

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Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)

Director: Robert Benton

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep

What it’s about: Both Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep received Oscars for their performances in Kramer vs. Kramer as a separated couple embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their young son.

How to watch Kramer vs. Kramer

• Rent or buy Kramer vs. Kramer on Amazon
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The 1980s

Ordinary People (1980)

Director: Robert Redford

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton

What it’s about: Dysfunctional family dynamics are also at the heart of the devastating drama, Ordinary People – one of Donald Sutherland's best movies – for which Robert Redford won his sole competitive Academy Award.

How to watch Ordinary People

• Stream Ordinary People on Pluto TV
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Chariots Of Fire (1981)

Director: Hugh Hudson

Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson

What it’s about: Vangelis earned his sole Academy Award for his instantly recognizable score for Chariots of Fire, which follows two young, British track runners of differing backgrounds at the 1924 Olympics.

How to watch Chariots of Fire

• Rent or buy Chariots of Fire on Amazon
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Gandhi (1982)

Director: Richard Attenborough

Starring: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud

What it’s about: Sir Ben Kingsley, who is of Indian descent on his father’s side, disappears into the role of the titular, iconic proponent for non-violent resistance in the rousing historical biopic, Gandhi.

How to watch Gandhi

• Stream Gandhi on Tubi
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Terms Of Endearment (1983)

Director: James L. Brooks

Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson

What it’s about: It is hard to believe that Shirley MacLaine has just one Oscar, for her performance in Terms of Endearment – a drama tracing the relationship between a woman and her daughter that is often funny, until it is devastating.

How to watch Terms of Endearment

• Stream Terms of Endearment on Paramount+
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Amadeus (1984)

Director: Milos Forman

Starring: Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham

What it’s about: Milos Forman earned his second Best Director Oscar for Amadeus – a retelling of the life of renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as told by a fellow musician who claims to have enviously murdered him, Antonio Salieri.

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• Rent or buy Amadeus on Amazon
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Out Of Africa (1985)

Director: Sydney Pollack

Starring: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep

What it’s about: A big game hunter and a Danish baroness fall in love in 20th-century Kenya in the tender, powerful romance, Out of Africa.

How to watch Out of Africa

• Stream Out of Africa on Netflix
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Platoon (1986)

Director: Oliver Stone

Starring: Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe

What it’s about: American soldiers are subjected to relentless, senseless brutality while serving in Vietnam in one of the greatest war movies to win Best Picture, Platoon.

How to watch Platoon

• Stream Platoon on Amazon Prime
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The Last Emperor (1987)

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

Starring: John Lone, Joan Chen

What it’s about: The story of Pu Yi – who would become the last person to serve as the monarchical leader of China – is revealed in The Last Emperor, for which Bernardo Bertolucci earned Oscars for both writing and directing.

How to watch The Last Emperor

• Stream The Last Emperor on Max
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Rain Man (1988)

Director: Barry Levinson

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise

What it’s about: Dustin Hoffman gives one of the most esteemed performances of his career as an autistic savant opposite a stellar Tom Cruise as his previously unwitting younger sibling in Rain Man – a beautiful story of redemption through brotherly love.

How to watch Rain Man

• Stream Rain Man on Tubi
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Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Director: Bruce Beresford

Starring: Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman

What it’s about: Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman make an irresistible pair as a disgruntled, elderly widow and her chauffeur in one of Freeman’s best movies, Driving Miss Daisy – an inspirational story about redemption through friendship set between the 1950s and 1970s.

How to watch Driving Miss Daisy

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The 1990s

Dances With Wolves (1990)

Director: Kevin Costner

Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonell

What it’s about: Kevin Costner won a Best Director Oscar for Dances with Wolves – the first Western to win Best Picture since 1931’s Cimarron – in which the Yellowstone cast member also plays the title role of a Civil War-era soldier who learns the ways of a Native American tribe.

How to watch Dances with Wolves

• Stream Dances with Wolves on Amazon Prime
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The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

Director: Jonathan Demme

Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins

What it’s about: An FBI trainee seeks help from a cannibalistic former psychologist to catch a killer in The Silence of the Lambs – one of the best horror movies ever made and the only film out of a handful of horror movies nominated for Best Picture to win so far.

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• Rent or buy The Silence of the Lambs on Amazon
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Unforgiven (1992)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman

What it’s about: The Academy would show its taste for the Western again by giving the top prize to one of the best Clint Eastwood movies, Unforgiven, for which the star won his first Oscar as both director and producer.

How to watch Unforgiven

• Rent or buy Unforgiven on Amazon
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Schindler’s List (1993)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes

What it’s about: Arguably the best Steven Spielberg movie is the film that made him an Academy Award-winning filmmaker as director and producer, Schindler’s List – a technically magnificent, emotionally distressing portrait of the Holocaust.

How to watch Schindler’s List

• Stream Schindler’s List on Netflix
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Forrest Gump (1994)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright

What it’s about: In one of Tom Hanks’ best movies, the actor gives his second Oscar-winning performance as the simple-minded title hero of Forrest Gump – an endearing revisionist history drama from director Robert Zemeckis.

How to watch Forrest Gump

• Stream Forrest Gump on Paramount+
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Braveheart (1995)

Director: Mel Gibson

Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau

What it’s about: Mel Gibson became an Oscar-winning filmmaker as the director and producer of the historical epic Braveheart, in which he also stars as Scottish warrior William Wallace in a bid to free his people from England’s tyrannical rule.

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• Stream Braveheart on Pluto TV
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The English Patient (1996)

Director: Anthony Minghella

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche

What it’s about: A French-Canadian nurse indulges in an affair with a British, semi-amnesiac plane crash victim in the romantic World War II-era drama, The English Patient.

How to watch The English Patient

• Stream The English Patient on MGM+
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Titanic (1997)

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet

What it’s about: Sparks fly between a wealthy young woman and a poor young man while on an ill-fated luxury ship in Titanic – James Cameron’s heavily dramatized retelling of the 1912 tragedy that became the highest-grossing film ever for a time.

How to watch Titanic

• Stream Titanic on Paramount+
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Shakespeare In Love (1998)

Director: John Madden

Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench

What it’s about: A young William Shakespeare indulges in an affair with a woman who inspires some of his most iconic work in Shakespeare in Love, for which Gwyneth Paltrow and Judi Dench also won Oscars for their performances.

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• Stream Shakespeare in Love on Paramount+
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American Beauty (1999)

Director: Sam Mendes

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening

What it’s about: Following his own death, a forty-something suburban dad recalls the bizarre last few weeks of his life through overhead narration in American Beauty.

How to watch American Beauty

• Stream American Beauty on Pluto TV
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The 2000s

Gladiator (2000)

Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix

What it’s about: Russell Crowe gives an Oscar-winning performance as the hero of Gladiator – a thrilling period piece that surely had audiences “entertained” and spawned the sequel, Gladiator II, in 2024.

How to watch Gladiator

• Stream Gladiator on Paramount+
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A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly

What it’s about: Russell Crowe headlined back-to-back Best Picture winners in the early 2000s – the second being A Beautiful Mind, in which he plays real-life mathematician John Nash, whose struggles with mental illness almost threatened his career.

How to watch A Beautiful Mind

• Rent or buy A Beautiful Mind on Amazon
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Chicago (2002)

Director: Rob Marshall

Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellwegger, Richard Gere

What it’s about: Catherine Zeta-Jones danced her way to Oscar glory in Chicago – the cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical inspired by the infamous “Murderess Row” case of the late 1920s.

How to watch Chicago