Robert De Niro left us all deeply unsettled with his portrayal of Max Cady in 1991’s Cape Fear — which we at CinemaBlend not only think is one of the best movies of the ‘90s but one of the best horror flicks of all time — and now 25 years later, the proverbial torch has been passed to Javier Bardem for an upcoming Apple TV series. Critics were given 8 of the series' 10 episodes, and reviews are in ahead of its June 5 premiere.

In addition to Javier Bardem, the Cape Fear TV series stars Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson as Tom and Anna Bowden, the husband-and-wife attorneys who Max seeks revenge against. CinemaBlend’s Riley Utley watched Robert De Niro’s version for the first time recently, and still, she said she never could have predicted the show’s wild twists. She said:

For some fans — including our own Hugh Scott — this role appears to be precisely the manic performance we’ve been craving from Javier Bardem since No Country for Old Men, and Richard Roeper of RogerEbert confirms the Oscar-winner is a live wire of conflicting emotions on Cape Fear. In fact, Roeper says Bardem serves up “a combo platter of sexually charged charisma” as Max Cady. He rates the series 3 out of 4 stars, writing:

Daniel Fienberg of THR agrees with the other critics that the strong cast elevates the Cape Fear series — which he admits remains “generally entertaining, if not consistently gripping” throughout. However, Fienberg says he doesn’t feel like this book-to-screen adaptation with two prior movies needed to be stretched into a 10-episode series and says he thinks it’s about four hours longer than viewers will be able to sustain the sympathy and suspension of disbelief they’ll need to get through. His Cape Fear review reads:

Hunter Ingram of The Wrap says adapting the series into 10 hourlong episodes gives director Nick Antosca the time to soak in the dread of Max Cady’s tormenting tactics and the implosion of the Bowden family unit. That’s not necessary for this story, however, the critic says, but being able to watch Javier Bardem play such “deranged perfection” is a gift. Ingram writes:

Nick Schager of the Daily Beast has a wildly different take than the other Cape Fear reviews I read. calling it “TV’s worst movie remake yet.” Apple TV’s remake “unnecessarily and exasperatingly expands, remixes, and overcomplicates its source material,” Schager says, writing:

The critics who enjoyed the first eight episodes of Cape Fear largely admitted to some unbelievability or other nit-picks (though I don’t count “undeniably entertaining trash TV” as an insult), and the negative reviews admitted to high points of the series. Overall, the consensus is that Cape Fear is worth checking out when it premieres on the 2026 TV schedule, as it garnered a Certified Fresh 74% from Rotten Tomatoes’ critics.

The first two episodes drop Friday, June 5, with one episode weekly thereafter. The series can be streamed with an Apple TV subscription.

Usually when we talk about celebrity moms and their daughters, there’s usually talk of their offspring looking just like them when they were younger. Just take Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter Apple or Reese Witherspoon’s own doppelganger of a kid, Ava. But a different conversation is being had since Amy Adams walked the red carpet with her 16-year-old daughter, Aviana.

Adams and her husband Darren Le Gallo share one child together, whom they posed with at the Los Angeles premiere of Cape Fear, which Amy Adams stars in. Check out the family all together here:

Aviana has been stepping out more at events with Adams lately, between going to the Toronto Film Festival and Paris Fashion Week recently. She certainly looks like a combination of her parents while posing with them as they celebrate Amy Adams having a new project on the 2026 TV schedule. But, here’s what the internet is saying on Instagram:

• “She looks like Scarlett Johansson!! She’s absolutely stunning!!!” - @miss.scarlet-brielle
• “Does Amy Adams know she gave birth to Scarlett Johansson?” - @neutralchanges
• “Like a mix between scarjo and amber heard… what a gorgeous daughter 👏” - @darthfi
• “Her daughter looks just Scarlett Johansson!!!!! ❤️🔥” - @pochoclera_recomienda
• “OK so we were all seeing the same thing” - @ceeceejacobsen

Talk about a compliment! Scarlett Johansson is not only considered one of the most gorgeous women in Hollywood, she also became the highest-grossing actor of all time last year, before Zoe Saldaña took her spot after the release of Avatar: Fire And Ash over the holidays. While she’s already been likened to a movie star, Amy Adams has previously said that Aviana isn’t interested in being an actor like both her parents.

We totally see what everyone’s talking about. Aviana absolutely shares a likeness to another movie star. But, at the same time when you look at a younger photo of Amy Adams (this one below is from Drop Dead Gorgeous from when she was 24) she totally looks like her mama too. Perhaps, if Aviana’s hair color was her mother’s trademark red, we might be saying something else?

Aviana and Darren were being supportive to Amy Adams for her new series, which is a new adaptation of Cape Fear. It’s based on a novel that’s previously been made into a 1962 movie with Gregory Peck and a 1991 Martin Scorsese film starring Robert de Niro. This series stars Javier Bardem as Max Cady, Patrick Wilson as Tom Bowden and Amy Adams as Anna Bowden. We’ve known it’s been in the works since 2024.

Cape Fear premieres its first two episodes for those with an Apple TV subscription this Friday, June 5 with news episodes set to be released every Friday until July 31.

Following in the footsteps of two all-timer Hollywood legends like Robert Mitchum and Robert De Niro would be intimidating for anyone, but taking on a role like stalker-rapist Max Cady already requires a certain amount of quasi-psycho chutzpah. And hot diggity danger, Javier Bardem is truly embodying beast mode in the first trailer for the upcoming Apple TV series that’ll be the first episodic adaptation of Cape Fear, backed by mega-producers Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.

The first trailer seen above is arguably one of the most tense and blood pressure-raising ways to start one’s day, or to end it, depending on when you’re watching. Cape Fear co-stars Patrick Wilson and Amy Adams as attorney Tom Bowden and Anna Bowden, respectively, the parents of Lily Collias’ Natalie and Joe Anders’ Zack. They’re your typical, everyday, affluent AF, Southern family….with some regrettable skeletons in their shared closet.

Enter one such intimidation-minded skeleton, the aforementioned Max Cady, who is newly released from prison and is seems pretty interested in seeking vengeance against those who put him away. It wasn’t exactly an open and shut case, with Tom and Anna responsible for obscuring evidence that likely would have led to Cady going free. Let it be a lesson that the worst people you can possibly try to legally screw over are the ones you already believe are capable of humanity’s worst crimes. I say, I say, are ya taking’ notes, Tom, my boy? (That’s my best Foghorn Leghorn impression.)

It’s not a very complicated set-up, and the TV show looks like it’ll take full advantage of all the extra narrative time to really juice the hell out of Cady stalking and psychologically hounding the Bowden family. Javier Bardem really does look like a natural fit for the part, bringing all of the impulsive and intrusive terror of No Country for Old Men’s Anton Chigurh, but with the most charismatic and engaging personality attached. Not to mention the way his back tattoos seem to follow me no matter where I’m walking in the room.

Cape Fear was one of the best movies of the 1990s — despite not even being Scorsese’s top ‘90s film — so the idea to bring it back as a weekly series for the 2026 TV schedule takes a wild mind behind the scenes. Which makes it a perfect project for creator and showrunner Nick Antosca, whose A-tier anthology series Channel Zero remains my most treasured horror TV ever, and who’s also helped bring other classic characters like Hannibal Lecter and Chucky to the small screen.

Beyond the trio of huge stars fronting this series, the Cape Fear cast is as good as it gets. We have Silence of the Lambs great Ted Levine (who's also excellent in Netflix's Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen), a pair of Sons of Anarchy vets in CCH Pounder and Ron Perlman, The Wire great Jamie Hector, Daredevil: Born Again's Margarita Levieva, Paradise's Patrick Fischler and more.

June 5 is the big day when everyone with a Apple TV subscription can take part in sharing the Bowden family's ongoing dread, as Cape Fear will be dropping the first two episodes of its 10-ep season, with the first directed by The Intimidation Game's Morten Tyldum.

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

Glenn Close

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

Tom Cruise

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

Angela Bassett

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

Johnny Depp

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

Sigourney Weaver

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

Bradley Cooper

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

Annette Bening

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

Jim Carrey

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

Amy Adams

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

Samuel L. Jackson

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

Scarlett Johansson

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

Laurence Fishburne

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

Hugh Jackman

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

Michelle Williams

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

Saoirse Ronan

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

Matt Damon

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

Salma Hayek

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

Willem Dafoe

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

Carey Mulligan

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

Mark Ruffalo

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

Michelle Pfeiffer

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

Ralph Fiennes

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

Naomi Watts

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

Ryan Gosling

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

Alfre Woodard

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

Warren Beatty

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

Laura Linney

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

Ed Harris

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

Joan Allen

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

Richard Gere

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

Isabelle Huppert

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

Paul Dano

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

Stop me if you have heard this one before: In her latest movie, the brilliant Amy Adams plays a new mom who is overwhelmed by her son’s inconsistent sleep schedule, his fussy appetite, and the droning repetition of the day-to-day schedule that includes play dates, kid music, and messes. But at night, “Mother” (Adams) believes that she’s turning into a dog. OK, wait… I was with you until that part. But that’s the plot of NIghtbitch, an adaptation of a 2021 novel written by Rachel Yoder that burrows into the primal feelings of motherhood, and features a blistering performance by the always reliable Adams. When is Adams not good? It’s very rare. In fact, there’s a scene in Nightbitch that maybe was too convincing, as it forced several crew members to leave the set while director Marielle Heller filmed it.

This isn’t a spoiler. In fact, it might make you more curious for the lengths that Marielle Heller and Amy Adams went to create the atmosphere on Nightbitch. Throughout the movie, when the evening approaches, the overwhelmed “Mother” (Adams) begins to give into some animalistic urges. We’re never 100% sure if they are real or imagined. And in one, Mother thinks that she sees a growth on her lower back. It starts as a boil. But as she digs at it, it bursts open, and a dog’s tail emerges. It’s beyond gross.

So during a Nightbitch press day, I had to ask Heller and Adams about the creation of the prop. And Heller informed CinemaBlend that she viewed this as the “biggest, most disgusting, groany scene of the movie,” elaborating:

Rarely do you hear the words “puss” and “hair” and think that good things are on the way. However, as Heller goes on to say, people who read the novel will be expecting this level of dark, macabre humor in the movie. And Adams is always game for whatever. And yet, in an exclusive interview with CinemaBlend, even Adams claimed:

It’s something to behold. As is Amy Adams in Nightbitch. Honestly, I think that she is one of our strongest working actors, and tends to be underrated in movies like this. Nightbitch is a fascinating book-to-screen adaptation, one of many that need to be on your radar as the holiday season rolls along. Just, avoid this and The Substance if body horror makes you squeamish, as neither of them hold back in that department.

I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect when I first saw the title Nightbitch on the list of upcoming 2024 movies, and I was even more intrigued once I read what it was about. Plenty of other people, however, have been looking forward to this one. Nightbitch is an adaptation of the novel by Rachel Yoder, and fans are excited to see how its wild story translates to the big screen. Fortunately, they don’t have to wait any longer, because the Amy Adams-led film hit theaters on December 6. However, does it live up to readers’ expectations or does it lack the bite of the book it’s based on? Here's what the critics have to say about that.

Nightbitch stars Amy Adams as a former artist who now stays home with her and her husband’s (Scoot McNairy) 2-year-old son. In a twist that proves this is no ordinary stay-at-home mom tale, the Mother begins to worry she’s turning into a dog. David Fear of Rolling Stone says director Marielle Hunter makes a powerful statement on motherhood, writing:

John Nugent of Empire praises Amy Adams for a “remarkable” performance and says overall, Nightbitch provides an uncommonly honest and authentic depiction of motherhood. If anything, it might not be weird enough, as it feels like Marielle Hunter pulled some of the novel’s punches. Nugent continues:

Lena Wilson of IGN also feels the upcoming book adaptation doesn’t go as far as its source material. However, it is admittedly refreshing to see a new mother character on-screen who actually looks the part, Wilson says. Although, to speak in Amy Adams characters, Nightbitch’s Mother feels more Enchanted than Sharp Objects, the critic says, rating it a “Mediocre” 5 out 10 and writing:

Natalia Keogan of AV Club gives it a C-, musing that while Nightbitch certainly achieves relatability, it also presents a generic treatise on womanhood that reinforces more gendered conventions than it refutes. Keogan continues:

David Rooney of THR agrees with some of the other critics’ sentiments that in a story that’s already this weird, why scale anything back for the big screen? Rooney expresses disappointment that a book that dared to say out loud some dark truths about the unspoken conflicts of motherhood was defanged in such a way. The critic says:

It definitely sounds like there’s validation to be found in Nightbitch for mothers who have felt their identity being stripped down to just that nameless title. Critics have praised Amy Adams’ performance overall, with many saying she’s worth the price of admission, even if the script takes some of the fight out of the novel Mother’s dog.

If you want to check this one out for yourself, Nightbitch is playing in theaters now.

Superhero fans are witnessing the dawn of a new era, as DC Studios prepares to launch the DCU continuity. With that comes new takes on beloved characters as well as the introduction of power players who’ve yet to have the spotlight. Beloved Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane will once again take center stage via James Gunn’s Superman, though she’ll be played by Rachel Brosnahan this time around. Ahead of her debut, veteran Lois actress Amy Adams shared her take on Brosnahan playing the role while reflecting on Henry Cavill’s Supes performance.

The Oscar nominee is currently promoting her new 2024 movie schedule release Nightbitch and, while doing so, she recently took some time to reflect on the DC Extended Universe. More specifically, she discussed the legacy of her Man of Steel co-star, Henry Cavill, who famously played Clark Kent. The Nocturnal Animals alum had nothing but kind words to share for Cavill when reflecting on his turn as the noble and powerful hero:

While the films that Henry Cavill’s Supes appeared in received mixed to negative reviews, his performances were usually received with great positivity. Even now, the British actor’s turn as Clark Kent is well regarded by fans. It’s lovely to see Amy Adams giving her colleague his flowers for the work he did. The actress has long hyped up Cavill’s work as the DC hero. Adams even shared positive thoughts when it was announced in 2022 that Cavill would play Superman in the DCEU again, before plans changed.

On that note, David Corenwswet is playing the DCU’s Man of Steel alongside Rachel Brosnahan Lois, and they’ll be seen when their inaugural film opens as part of the 2025 movie schedule. As Amy Adams mentioned during her interview with Variety, she offers “luck” to every star who puts on that cape. Adams spoke about Brosnahan a bit more specifically, though, and her thoughts were sweet:

Like the American Hustle star, I can’t wait to see what Rachel Brosnahan brings to the role of the beloved journalist. The Enchanted icon isn’t the only Lois actress who’s shown love to the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star either. Superman & Lois’ Elizabeth Tulloch also wished Brosnahan well while sending positive vibes to her, James Gunn and David Corenswet. Needless to say, it would appear that Brosnahan has some big names in her corner as she steps into Lane’s shoes.

It’s exciting to think what the future holds for Lois Lane but, of course, we shouldn’t forget the contributions that Amy Adams (as well as Elizabeth Tulloch and others) have made to the character over the years. What makes me smile is that Adams is not only excited for her predecessor but also remains high on the work Henry Cavill did. Hopefully, fans will only continue to look back on Adams’ DCEU tenure in positive ways.

You can stream Man of Steel as well as other DC movies now using a Max subscription. Also, be sure to check out Superman when it soars into theaters on July 11, 2025.

Your favorite movie and TV star had to start somewhere and, sometimes, that somewhere is appearing in commercials. There have also been some cases in which an actor has already made it to the top but decided to lend their star power to a TV ad. You can find both kinds in the following collection of TV commercials featuring some huge celebrities.

Ben Affleck (Burger King)

An early blip in Ben Affleck's acting career was a commercial for the popular fast food chain, Burger King. The future live-action Batman actor and Academy Award-winning filmmaker plays a teen who accidentally invents Door Dash when his car phone intercepts a car from a girl who wants to order a whopper.

Cameron Diaz (Coca-Cola)

When Cameron Diaz was still a model primarily, one of her first experiences with acting – before making her feature debut in The Mask – was in a TV ad. The future Shrek movie star shines in an early '90s Coca-Cola commercial that feels a lot more like a perfume ad from the era in its alluring direction.

Paul Rudd (Super Nintendo)

All of Paul Rudd's versatile talents – from making us laugh in movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin to thrilling us as Ant-Man in the Marvel movies – can be traced back to a Super Nintendo commercial he did in the early '90s. He plays a very enthusiastic video gamer who attracts a crowd when he, somehow, hooks up his console to a drive-in theater projector for the ultimate experience of playing The Legend of Zelda and other favorites.

Jennifer Lawrence (My Super Sweet 16)

Jennifer Lawrence got to be the original My Super Sweet 16 girl without appearing on the actual reality TV series that documented wealthy young women's extravagant birthday celebrations. MTV ran dramatized promos for the then-new show starring the future Academy Award winner and Hunger Games movie star as the birthday girl who encounters a few mishaps during her festivities.

Brad Pitt (Pringles)

Years before he starred in Super Bowl Heineken ad helmed by his Fight Club director, David Fincher, the then-up-and-coming Brad Pitt got a taste of commercial acting by starring in a 1988 Pringles spot. He plays one of three surfer dudes who become stranded on the side of a California road when a trio of lovely women approach them for an impromptu Pringles party.

Amy Adams (Commercial Federal Bank)

Mainstream audiences first became aware of Amy Adams' impeccable singing talent in 2007's Enchanted but customers at Commercial Federal Bank were really the first to discover her. In 1997, the multi-Oscar nominee starred as an Olvia Newton-John lookalike in a parody of 1978's Grease for the bank.

Steve Carell (Brown's Chicken)

Steve Carell's channeled his inner Michael Scott long before leading NBC's The Office cast when he was just starting out acting in commercials. In the early 1990s, he played a Brown's Chicken employee whose clumsy mistake while setting up a marquee advertising "cholesterol-free cooking" accidentally convinces customers the food will cost them nothing.

Drew Barrymore (Pillsbury)

It must have been clear to anyone who spotted Drew Barrymore in her early Pillsbury commercial that she was destined to capture our hearts in E.T. the Extra-terrestrial just a few years later. The 1979 ad stars the then-four-year-old as a little girl whose mother cheers her up on a rainy day by making chocolate chip cookies.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Bubble Yum)

Before breaking out with his supporting role in Growing Pains and really hitting big leading the Titanic cast, the up-and-coming Leonardo DiCaprio did a few commercials. One sees the future Oscar winner demonstrate his natural charisma while demonstrating the powerful flavor of Bubble Yum bubble gum.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Alinamin V)

You may never be able to look at Arnold Schwarzenegger the same way again after witnessing the series of gobsmackingly bizarre ads the Terminator star filmed in Japan long after his big break. As the spokesperson for an energy drink called Alinamin V, the future California governor puts on a maniacally large smile and is sometimes seen riding the beverage's bottle into space or popping out of it like a genie.

Mila Kunis (Telephone Tammy)

Had Mila Kunis' Jackie Burkhart been a child of the '90s, Telephone Tammy – a doll who responds to your call with an included play phone – sounds like the kind of toy she would have grown up with. Not to mention the fact that the future That '70s Show cast member appeared in a commercial for Mattel when she was just starting out.

Morgan Freeman (Polaroid)

Future Academy Award winner and voice-over extraordinaire Morgan Freeman starred in a number of TV commercials early on in his career. One such ad was a 1970s spot for Polaroid, not as the man holding the camera that instantly prints out photos but the man telling the amateur photographer to cool it with the reshoots.

Britney Spears (Maull's)

Die-hard fans of pop superstar Britney Spears know that she started out as a child actor who worked with Ryan Gosling on The Mickey Mouse Club, among other rising stars. One of her earlier roles was a young girl who was apparently very excited to eat a home-cooked hamburger in a commercial for Maull's Barbecue Sauce, a local St. Louis brand.

Mark Hamill (Kodak)

Before playing Luke in the Star Wars movies made him familiar with technology from a galaxy far, far away, Mark Hamill represented what must have felt like a futuristic innovation at the time. He starred in a 1975 commercial for a Kodak camera that takes high-resolution photos from far away, allowing him to snap a shot of his girlfriend (and her mother) on a balcony while he stays on the ground.

Anne Hathaway (Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate)

Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway first showed her talent for performing in romantic dramas like One Day and The Idea of You in a 1996 commercial for Better Homes and Gardens. She plays a young woman who believes she and her boyfriend will still have time to spend before his family moves away until they learn the real estate agency has already sold the house.

J.K. Simmons (Farmers Insurance)

From his memorable roles in HBO's Oz and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies, J.K. Simmons was pretty well known by the time he was cast as Professor Nathaniel Burke of the University of Farmers for a long-running Farmers Insurance ad campaign. When he won his Oscar for Whiplash, host Neil Patrick Harris sang an impromptu parody of the company's commercial jingle.

Harrison Ford (Kirin)

Playing Han Solo in Star Wars and the title hero of the Indiana Jones movies made Harrison Ford an international star and one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He would also increase his notoriety in Japan by starring in a series of commercials for a regional brand of lager called Kirin.

Keanu Reeves (Corn Flakes)

Before playing a master of kung fu in The Matrix, a master of gun-fu in the John Wick movies, and a master of excellency in the Bill & Ted movies, Keanu Reeves played a master of sneaking a bowl of cereal for himself. The role of a waiter who enjoys some of the breakfast food he has been hired to serve comes from an '80s-era ad for Kellogg's Corn Flakes.

Betty White (Snickers)

Snickers had a funny ad campaign starring well-known actors as metaphorical representations of the out-of-character behavior of hungry people. One of the earliest, and funniest, stars the legendary Betty White as a dude who needs a bite of the protein-loaded candy bar when his performance in a casual football game is off.

Bruce Willis (Seagram's Coolers)

When he was best known for Moonlighting and before starring in one of the all-time greatest action movies, Die Hard, Bruce Willis had another claim to fame: Seagram's Golden. He served as the adult beverage's spokesperson in a series of ads, some of which utilized his musical talents.

Jeff Goldblum (Apartments.com)

It's a little strange how a performer as widely recognized and beloved as Academy Award nominee Jeff Goldblum would be hired to star in an ongoing ad campaign as an original character and not just as himself. Nevertheless, the star of Jurassic Park and The Fly is dazzling and dazzling in the Apartments.com commercials as Brad Bellflower.

Sharon Stone (Finesse)

In the 1990s, films like Basic Instinct and her Academy Award-nominated role in director Martin Scorsese's Casino made Sharon Stone one of the most esteemed, and desirable, actors of her time. In the 1980s, her looks helped sell Finesse shampoo as one of the most desirable brands in the hair care market.

Jack Black (Pitfall)

It appears that Jack Black's charismatic, high-energy sense of humor was something he possessed from a young age. Exhibit A: his appearance in a 1982 commercial for Atari's Pitfall, as a wide-eyed child in a safari hat enthusiastically recalling his experience in the jungle-set video game, years before he played a jungle-set video game character in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Burger King)

No one would have believed, in 1983, that an adorable six-year-old girl who became a recurring spokesperson for Burger King would grow up to become one of the fiercest horror Scream Queens in the genre's history. Yet, that would become Sarah Michelle Gellar's destiny after leading the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast as the titular defender against evil.

Tobey Maguire (Tropicana Twister)

In 1991, when he was still a teen, Tobey Maguire did an ad for a blended juice drink from Tropicana called Tropicana Twister. The future Spider-Man actor only briefly appears as a kid who breaks the fourth wall, suggesting that broccoli be added to the next unique flavor combination.

Courteney Cox (Tampax)

Before starring in the Friends cast as Monica Gellar, Courteney Cox was best known in the 1980s for dancing with Bruce Springsteen in the "Dancing in the Dark" video. However, did you catch the future Scream movies star's appearance in a Tampax ad as a gym patron?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pop-Tarts)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the most acclaimed former child stars who still act, with film and TV credits that back to the late '80s and early '90s like Angels in the Outfield and, of course, 3rd Rock from the Sun. If you go back even earlier than those classics, you can see the future Looper and Inception star in a 1991 ad for Kellogg's Pop-Tarts as a child who child urging his father to have breakfast before he leaves for work and offers him the toaster pastry.

Bryan Cranston (Preparation H)

Four-time Emmy winner and one-time Academy Award nominee Bryan Cranston has worn many faces throughout his career, from a hapless suburban dad in the Malcolm in the Middle cast to a ruthless drug lord as the lead of the Breaking Bad cast. Years before then, he wore the face of a spokesperson for Preparation H in a commercial from the early 1980s.

Willem Dafoe (Mercedes Benz)

With roles like one of the best Spider-Man movie villains, Green Goblin, and others, Willem Dafoe has proven time and time again that he plays an exceptional bad guy. Thus, he was the perfect choice to star in a Super Bowl ad for Mercedes Benz as the Devil, who almost convinces a young man to trade his soul for the car until he learns how affordable it is.

Geena Davis (WMET)

With an eclectic career that includes her Academy Award-winning role in The Accidental Tourist, the horror-comedy movie favorite Beetlejuice, and plenty more, it is clear Geena Davis can be anything. So, we imagine early '80s TV viewers who lived in the region where WMET broadcasted had no trouble accepting her as the voice of the local rock radio station when she starred in its enchanting commercial.

Jeremy Renner (Duracell)

Before he was defending the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Avengers, Jeremy Renner made a living as a commercial actor. One of his greatest hits was a 90s-era Duracell ad in which he plays a tourist in Mexico whose stereo battery harnesses the power of a herd bulls.

John Travolta (U.S. Army)

Years before he played Santa in a Capital One ad and sent up his role in Grease for T-Mobile, John Travolta starred in an Army recruitment promo in 1973. Just four years later, his Academy Award-nominated lead role in Saturday Night Fever made him one of the biggest stars on the planet.

I have mixed feelings on "the book was better" discourse when it comes to feature adaptations. On the one hand, it is obviously fair to compare a movie with its source material, but it's never a totally fair comparison. Not only do films have restricted creative real estate to work with in the form of runtime (which necessitates alterations and deviations by screenwriters), but there's something that feels weird about judging the images you conjured in your head as a reader next to a filmmaker's vision. Prose and cinema are different mediums, and expecting something to wholly align with your own imagination is unrealistic.

Nightbitch is a unusual instance, however, in that the film doesn't only cut out sequences and minimize certain elements; it has a different mood. With its body metamorphosis, animal violence, and intense rage, Rachel Yoder's novel is a bloody horror satire, but what writer/director Marielle Heller has made with her adaptation is better described as a fantasy-touched dramedy. It's a genre shift that really throttled me during my screening of the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival, and it's really difficult to put aside as I reflect on it – while still having a great deal of appreciation for its brutally honest commentary on motherhood, its characters, and yet another excellent turn from the always-reliable Amy Adams. (And for what it's worth up front, it's much better than the trailer that was released pre-premiere).

Adams plays the unnamed Mother, an artist who has quit her career to become a stay-at-home home mom caring for her two-year-old son (Arleigh Patrick Snowden and Emmett James Snowden) while her Husband (Scoot McNairy) spends most of the week out of town for work. The monotony of her life and lack of sleep and creative impulse wears at her soul and her relationships, but far more alarming is that between a tuft of hair growing on her back, her sharpening teeth, and heightened senses, she begins to consider that she might be growing into a dog.

Like Nightbitch's protagonist in her most canine form, Rachel Yoder's novel has sharp teeth; Marielle Heller's movie does not. The source material is funny, but the adaptation puts more of an emphasis on the comedy, and it is to the detriment of the story. It's lightly disturbing in the book when Mother starts digging into her plate snout-first at a restaurant with her child, has her son start sleeping in a dog crate, and feeds him raw meat. In the movie, the restaurant scene is played for laughs, the dog crate is replaced by a doggy bed, and the raw meat is cut out entirely. (There are other examples as well, but they start veering into spoiler territory.)

This isn't to say that Nightbitch isn't totally stripped of its original genre elements, as there is a nice bit of body horror when Mother discovers a swelling lump at the base of her spine and decides to prick it with a needle, and many a small animal meets a grisly demise. But those limited tastes actually make the tone change more frustrating along with the surprising cautiousness in the depictions of sex and violence.

All of the intensity of the transformation is removed in the film, and it lessens the impact of the larger message, but it isn't totally eliminated, and that is essential with this story. To the credit of Marielle Heller and Amy Adams, one of the big challenges in adapting Nightbitch is translating the predominance of Mother's rage-filled inner voice, and that's accomplished without heavily leaning on the common crutch that is voice-over narration. The film makes fun use of the "What I Wanted To Say/What I Actually Said" gag, and Adams simply does a fantastic job delivering the seething anger and exhaustion that gives way to passion and refreshed joy when she embraces her inner animal.

I've wondered if the release of Nightbitch was missing out on a spooky season opportunity by happening in December instead of September/October, but that choice makes a lot more sense now. The film may play differently with altered expectations (which I say in advanced of my own potential second viewing and for those of you who are reading this feature before your own screening), but for now, it's simply not the movie I was hoping it would be.

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

Emma Stone – La La Land 

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

Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids

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

Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

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

Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

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

Amy Adams – Arrival 

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

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

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

Hugh Jackman – Logan 

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

Ben Affleck – Argo 

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

Jesse Eisenberg — The Social Network

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

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street  

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

Brie Larson – Room

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

Daniel Craig – Knives Out

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

Ryan Gosling – Drive

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

Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

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

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 

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

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

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

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel 

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

Natalie Portman – Black Swan 

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

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buys Club

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

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

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

Brad Pitt – Moneyball 

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

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther 

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

Margot Robbie – I, Tonya 

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

Florence Pugh – Midsommar

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

Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird

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

Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name

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

Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect

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

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years A Slave

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

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

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

Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

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

Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

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

Matt Damon – The Martian

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

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

Putting my cards from the 2024 movie schedule on the table, I honestly haven’t expected too many surprises from the remaining films on the lineup that will be debuting between now and the end of the year. That being said, even having a decent handle on what we know about Nightbitch hadn’t prepared me for what we’ve seen in the first trailer for director Marielle Heller’s latest.

For a movie that centers around the trials and tribulations of being a stay-at-home mom, this new flick has some very sharp teeth. Now I’ve read the synopsis for the Amy Adams starring film, and author Rachel Yoder’s novel has been on my “to read” pile ever since I saw it on shelves back in 2021.

But that knowledge didn’t prepare me for Ms. Adams actually turning into a dog in the middle of this Nightbitch trailer. And that moment, quite honestly, seems to lock the rest of this upcoming horror movie’s promising energy into place.

To be fair, I knew there was an expectation that saw Nightbitch’s protagonist reckoning with the possibility that she was turning into a symbol of four-legged freedom. That being said, I didn’t actually know a transformation of some sort would be shown, which is where the line between a dark comedy and a dark horror comedy seems to be drawn.

My expectations for Nightbitch have raised a bit higher after seeing this trailer in action, and that’s all thanks to Amy Adams’ transformation into a commanding husky/husky adjacent breed. As far as dog casting is concerned, landing a canine that feels like a natural fit to be Ms. Adams’ animal counterpart is another surprising joy that I’ve gotten out of seeing this first reel of clips from Searchlight Pictures’ genre-bender.

Knowing that Nightbitch is one of the upcoming book-to-screen adaptations we have to look forward to in the near future has this movie a bit more prominently featured on my radar. That much is especially true after this year's box office gave audiences a huge dog loving win through the release of Arthur the King, which apparently prompted Mark Wahlberg's thankful attitude towards viewers who loved that movie. But at the same time, if you loved Arthur the King, I don't think Nightbitch is going to be a slam dunk. 

I mean, if the distinction of whether or not Amy Adams is turning into a dog is features so distinctly in the first reel of footage, what is Marielle Heller’s movie actually hiding? Also, is there a potential for another addition to our list of moments where a dog saved the day in a movie that doesn’t involve another member of Amy Adams’ pack being killed? 

We’ll see what happens when Nightbitch looks to lead the pack at the box office when it debuts in theatrical release on December 6th. But if you’re keeping an eye on this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the picture will be making its festival premiere on September 7th.

Most actors don't just come out of the woodwork and immediately get awards attention, box office success and global stardom. Many start out taking bit parts in big movies or supporting character gigs opposite more successful performers. From Academy Award winners like Charlize Theron and Viola Davis to superhero stars like Tom Holland and Ben Affleck, here are 32 now-famous faces you might not remember popped up in famous movies before they were big. 

Matt Damon

In his movie debut, a very young Matt Damon can briefly be seen in 1988's Mystic Pizza as Steamer Windsor, the younger brother of Adam Storke's Charles, the clean-cut, country-club love interest of fun-loving pizzeria waitress Daisy (Julia Roberts). Steamer is present at an awkward dinner where Charles brings Daisy home to meet the family. 

Viola Davis

In the 1998 crime comedy Out of Sight, which is undoubtedly one of Steven Soderbergh's best movies, Viola Davis has a small role playing Moselle Miller, the wife of boxer Maurice "Snoopy" Miller (Don Cheadle). She would later go on to act alongside her Out of Sight co-star Jennifer Lopez in another crime flick, 2015's Lila & Eve.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The 1992 Martin Brest melodrama Scent of a Woman memorably stars Al Pacino as a blind retired colonel and Chris O'Donnell as the prep-school student hired to watch over him, but it also features Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his earliest performances as a fellow student named George Willis, Jr.

Carey Mulligan

The Bennet household is a bustling one in Joe Wright's 2005 adaptation of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice, so much so that you might have overlooked that — along with the likes of Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike and Jena Malone — a teenaged Carey Mulligan is one of the Bennet sisters. (It's just one of many movies that prove Mulligan should be a much bigger star.) 

Elijah Wood

Long before he embarked on a quest to destroy the One Ring as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, Elijah Wood was a successful child actor in films like The Adventures of Huck Finn, The Good Son, North and Flipper. However, before those starring roles, the pint-sized performer showed up as "Video Game Boy #2" in Back to the Future Part II.

Octavia Spencer

The 1999 Drew Barrymore comedy Never Been Kissed is jam-packed with unexpected actor appearances, from Jessica Alba to James Franco — together they play a dopey but popular high school couple — to Octavia Spencer. The latter plays a coworker of the main character Josie Geller (Barrymore) at the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Timothée Chalamet

With everything that goes on in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar — you know, that whole part about the astronauts who have to travel through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for humankind — viewers may have forgotten that a fresh-faced Timothée Chalamet as Tim, the teen son of Matthew McConaughey's Cooper. 

Brie Larson

Well before she received an Oscar or donned a superhero cape, Captain Marvel star Brie Larson was a tween actress who had a main role in the short-lived WB sitcom Raising Dad. One of her first big-screen gigs, however, was as a popular Six Chick in the 2004 Jennifer Garner favorite 13 Going on 30. (Don't feel too bad, Mark Ruffalo didn't remember her either.) 

Charlize Theron

If you're a fan of The Wonders, you no doubt remember band members Guy (Tom Everett Scott), Lenny (Steve Zahn), Jimmy (Johnathon Schaech) and the bass player (Ethan Embry). However, you may not so readily remember that Charlize Theron is also in That Thing You Do!, as Guy's ex-girlfriend Tina, who leaves him for her dentist. 

Joe Manganiello 

Before making the ladies sweat in the Magic Mike franchise, Joe Manganiello was making Peter Parker sweat for an entirely different reason in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series, playing the high-school bully Flash Thompson. His character dated Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane before she ended up with Spidey himself (Tobey Maguire). 

Seth Rogen

The titular teen protagonist of Donnie Darko (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) doesn't just have to deal with those disturbing visions of a rabbit-costumed man named Frank. He also has to deal with a pair of high school bullies, one of whom is played by Seth Rogen in his first ever movie appearance. 

Amy Adams

The Steven Spielberg-directed crime comedy Catch Me If You Can featured several now-well-known actresses before they were household names, including Ellen Pompeo, Elizabeth Banks and Amy Adams. The latter acted opposite Leonardo DiCaprio (played teenage con artist Frank Abagnale Jr.) as Brenda Strong, a young hospital worker who falls for Frank and his fraud. 

Keira Knightley

Given her uncanny resemblance to Natalie Portman, it's only fitting that a teenage Keira Knightley appeared as Sabé, a handmaiden and royal decoy for Portman's Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Even Knightley herself could use a reminder about who she played in the space trilogy!

Michael Fassbender

Years before memorable film roles in Inglourious Basterds, Jane Eyre, the X-Men movies and his Oscar-nominated turn in Shame, Michael Fassbender made his film debut in the 2006 action epic 300. He played the character of Stelios, a young, spirited and highly skilled Spartan soldier fighting under Gerard Butler's King Leonidas.

Sandra Oh

"Gupta? Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. The queen is coming!" It's one of the most memorable lines uttered in The Princess Diaries and it's said by none other than a pre-Grey's Anatomy Sandra Oh. Joining Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews in the beloved cast, Oh plays the humorous vice principal at Mia Thermopolis's school. 

Margot Robbie

Before her big breakout in The Wolf of Wall Street — and even longer before she painted the world pink with the phenomenon that is Barbie — rom-com fans got their first introduction to Margot in the 2013 romantic dramedy About Time. Robbie plays Charlotte, a woman that the main character Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is crushing on before he meets his true love, Mary (played by Rachel McAdams).

Joaquin Phoenix

The 1989 Ron Howard-directed comedy Parenthood already has a stacked cast — Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Keanu Reeves, Mary Steenburgen and Dianne Wiest, to name a few — before you even remember that one of the youngins in the movie is played by a teenage Joaquin Phoenix, then going by his birth name Leaf.

Samuel L. Jackson

It's hard to remember a time when Samuel L. Jackson wasn't a major movie star, but in the 1970s and '80s, the iconic actor was racking up bit parts in big titles, including Eddie Murphy's Coming to America. In the 1988 rom-com, Jackson plays a character known as "Hold-Up Man," an armed robber who has held up the local fast-food restaurant called McDowell's five times. 

Kristen Stewart

Though she has been acting professionally since grade school, Kristen Stewart didn't become a global star until she played moody teen Bella Swan in 2008's vampire romance Twilight. But years before that, she played a memorable part in the 2002 David Fincher thriller Panic Room, appearing opposite Jodie Foster as her character's daughter. 

Dakota Johnson

\Dakota Johnson had her big Hollywood breakthrough leading a beloved book-to-film adaptation, as Anastasia Steele in the erotic Fifty Shades film series. But she actually showed up in another huge movie five years earlier: 2010's The Social Network, as a college coed who spends the night with Sean Parker, played by Justin Timberlake. 

Gabrielle Union

Before she led the Clovers to cheer competition victory in 2000's Bring It On, Gabrielle Union was given supporting roles in '90s teen favorites like 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That. The latter was actually her film debut, in which she appeared as popular girl Katie, a member of Zack Siler's (Freddie Prinze Jr.) friend group. 

Nicolas Cage

Technically, Nicolas Cage wasn't in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. But Nicolas Coppola was — when he made his feature film acting debut in the 1982 coming-of-age comedy, the actor was still going by his birth name. However, the Oscar-winning star would later change his name professionally to avoid nepotism allegations. (He is, of course, the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, and a cousin of director Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman.)

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp memorably made his big-screen debut in the 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street, but movie fans might not remember that a short while later, he also appeared in Oliver Stone's war film Platoon as a young soldier fighting in the Vietnam War alongside the likes of Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Forest Whitaker and Kevin Dillon. 

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has had a prolific acting career ever since she was a tween, starting from when she starred as the young protégée of a hitman in the 1994 action film Léon: The Professional at only twelve years old. Though that was an instantly memorable introduction to the performer, you might have forgotten that only a year later, she worked alongside screen greats like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the Michael Mann-directed classic, Heat. 

Tom Holland

He's most famous for spinning webs as Spider-Man but long before that, Tom Holland was making his film debut (and making audiences weep) in the 2012 disaster drama The Impossible, as a young boy desperately trying to reunite with his family following a horrific tsunami. 

Vince Vaughn

The heartwarming 1993 sports drama Rudy — about a young man (Sean Astin) who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame — features an ironic pair of film-acting debuts. It was the first movie roles of both Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, playing teaching assistant D-Bob and tailback Jamie O'Hara, respectively. That duo would famously go on to star in the 1996 buddy comedy Swingers. 

Ryan Gosling

Another early football role for a Hollywood heavyweight, a young Ryan Gosling already had some big TV gigs under his belt (The Mickey Mouse Club, Young Hercules) before he appeared as Alan Bosley, the wiry cornerback of T. C. Williams High School's football team in Remember the Titans. And if you remember that locker-room singalong, you know the little Goose had charisma even then!

Mila Kunis

Yes, that is a mini Mila Kunis in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves — she played a friend of Wayne Szalinski's (Rick Moranis) niece, who throws a house party once it seems like all of the grown-ups have left for the evening. (Instead, the adults have been accidentally zapped to microscopic proportions, naturally.) 

Daniel Craig

Before he was Bond, James Bond, Daniel Craig was Ballard, John Ballard, in the 1998 historical drama Elizabeth. The British actor portrayed a priest-slash-assassin who conspired with the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston) to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I (played by Cate Blanchett) from the throne. Of course, Bond would never treat the Queen of England that way!

Jake Gyllenhaal

Given that filmmaking is a family business for Jake Gyllenhaal — he is the son of film director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, and the younger bro of the great actress Maggie Gyllenhaal — it's not a shock that the actor started young. He made his film debut at age ten in 1991's City Slickers, playing the son of Billy Crystal's character Mitch Robbins. 

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is best known for playing crisis management expert Olivia Pope in the ABC drama series Scandal, but more than a decade earlier, she showed off her fix-it skills as Chenille Reynolds in Save the Last Dance, helping Julia Stiles's character Sara better integrate into their South Side high school and hip-hop culture at large. 

Ben Affleck

Like his famous best friend Matt Damon, Ben Affleck also began his acting career as a child and while eagle-eyed moviegoers no doubt remember spotting him in early-'90s films like School Ties and Dazed and Confused, they may have forgotten his uncredited early cameos, such as "Basketball Player 10" in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie. 

Some actors are best known and even defined by a single character that has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world. However, in many cases, said iconic character does not necessarily reflect the performer’s strongest performance, which they often tend to save for the role that they hope will earn them an Academy Award nomination or, at least, challenges them the most. The following is our attempt to distinguish the most iconic roles from our choices picks for the absolute best roles of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Chris Evans

The role that skyrocketed Chris Evans to the A-list and the one he will always be most famous for is Steve "Captain America" Rogers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his talents are even better utilized in his scene-stealing performance in the Knives Out cast as the hilariously smug and conniving Ransom Drysdale.

Amy Adams

The world first fell in love with Amy Adams when she absolutely nailed the Disney Princess schtick as Giselle in 2007’s Enchanted. Yet, she is truly a captivating, commanding, and heartbreaking force to be reckoned with in Denis Villeneuve’s powerful 2016 alien invasion movie, Arrival, as linguistics expert Louise Banks — which, surprisingly, is not one of the six roles that earned her an Oscar nomination.

Kurt Russell

For many people, when they see Kurt Russell, they see the dystopian anti-hero Snake Plissken in Escape from New York from 1981 or helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in another great John Carpenter movie, 1982’s The Thing. Yet, even the actor’s biggest fans might agree that those performances pale in comparison to his acclaimed portrayal of Wyatt Earp in the 1993 Western movie classic, Tombstone.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie first captivated audiences everywhere as Naomi Lapaglia in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street and her portrayal of Harley Quinn in the DCEU immediately became one of the Batman villain’s most essential iterations. However, the Australian actor gave, arguably, her most captivating and essential performance as infamous figure skating champion Tonya Harding in the 2017 biopic, I, Tonya, which also earned her her first Oscar nomination.

Nicolas Cage 

Nicolas Cage is at his most iconic when he is at his most unhinged and few characters define that better than Castor Troy — a ruthless terrorist who switches faces with FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) in Face/Off. Of course, it is Cage's performance as severe alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas that earned him an Oscar win.

Julia Roberts 

Having been referred to as the Queen of rom-coms, it would make sense to call Julia Roberts’ strongest contribution to the genre — Vivian Ward from 1990’s Pretty Woman — the most iconic of her career. Yet, her strongest contribution to cinema might actually be her Academy Award-winning performance in the title role of 2000’s Erin Brockovich, which is based on the true story of a legal assistant’s crusade in a California water pollution scandal. 

Tom Hanks

Our choices for both the most iconic role and the best role of Tom Hanks’ career each earned him an Academy Award. While the lovable title hero of 1994’s Forrest Gump is easily the more famous, the actor is at his most gripping and moving as gay, HIV-positive lawyer Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia from the previous year.

Ryan Gosling

Playing Noah in 2004's romantic instant classic The Notebook broke Ryan Gosling into the mainstream and playing the nameless wheelman protagonist of 2011's Drive showed his action star potential. The first time critics and audiences truly began to notice his strengths as a versatile performer, however, was when he played a teacher wrestling with his vices in 2006's Half Nelson.

Robert Downey, Jr.

There was no better choice to play Tony "Iron Man" Stark — the role that effectively resurrected Robert Downey Jr.'s career — in what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yet, has the actor truly ever been better than when he played Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast in 2023? Just ask the Academy.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence breathed refreshing new life into the cinematic version of YA dystopian novel hero Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games movies. She especially breathed refreshing life into the already beautiful story of love and self-acceptance at the center of Silver Linings Playbook with her Oscar-winning performance as the widowed Tiffany Maxwell.

Jim Carrey

The one role that best represents Jim Carrey’s one-of-a kind erratic style of physical comedy is the ceaselessly goofy title hero of 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. There are certainly traces of that persona in unwitting TV star Truman Burbank from 1998’s The Truman Show, but the performance brought out a certain emotional depth and devastating earnestness we had not yet seen from the actor.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson was already a top A-lister when she was cast as Natasha “Black Widow” Romanoff for the MCU — a role that, arguably, became bigger than the actor herself. Yet, her infectious, Oscar-nominated performance in 2019’s Jojo Rabbit as Rosie — the mother of a young aspiring Nazi who is secretly hiding a young Jewish woman — is the heart and soul of Taika Waititi’s dazzling World War II-era satire.

Matt Damon

Is there anything better than watching Matt Damon kick butt in the Jason Bourne movies as the titular amnesiac spy? How about watching him pour out his heart and soul as a young and brilliant, but emotionally troubled custodian in 1997’s Good Will Hunting, which he also co-wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay for?

Jamie Lee Curtis

Playing Laurie Strode in Halloween may have made her the ultimate horror Scream Queen and playing IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All at Once may have finally earned her an Oscar, but neither reflect her absolute best work in our opinion. Her Golden Globe-winning role as Helen Tasker — a woman who discovers her husband (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a spy — shows the extent of her versatile range and is easily the performance from 1994’s True Lies.

Michael Keaton

When you think of Michael Keaton, the first character you picture could be Bruce Wayne from Tim Burton's live-action Batman movies or the title role of another Burton classic called Beetlejuice. Yet, the actor's defining role might really be the one that earned him his first Academy Award nomination: down-and-out actor Riggan Thomson in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).

Adam Driver

Typically, any Star Wars actor can call their role in the celebrated sci-fi franchise the most famous character they have ever played and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is certainly no exception. His performance as the Sith Lord is an essential highlight of the sequel trilogy, but his rich, emotionally devastating, and uniquely funny performance as Charlie Barber in 2019’s Marriage Story — his second Oscar-nominated role — really proved he was a force to behold.

Clint Eastwood

The Mount Rushmore of Western Movie Stars undeniably includes Clint Eastwood, whose own carving into the monument would probably be dressed like his three roles from Sergio Leone's "The Man with No Name" or "Dollars" Trilogy — made of up A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Well, forgive us, but we believe that coldblooded-killer turned mild-mannered family man William Munny from 1992’s Unforgiven — which he also directed — is his stronger and deeper contribution to the genre.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams is transcendent as the ultimate ruthless teen queen, Regina George, in the 2004 high school movie classic, Mean Girls. Yet, she is at her most grounded and most captivatingly understated in her Oscar-nominated portrayal of Boston Globe investigative journalist Sacha Pfeiffer in 2015’s Spotlight.

Tom Cruise 

Among Tom Cruise’s many iconic roles — especially Maverick in the Top Gun movies and Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies — we are not sure that we would include Ron Kovic in that least. Yet, we do believe the actor has never been better than in his impassioned, Academy Award-nominated portrayal of the real-life Vietnam vet-turned-war-protester in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July.

Emma Watson

Most people — especially Harry Potter fans — still see Hermione Graigner whenever they see Emma Watson. However, one role that came closest to replacing the talented wizard as the British actor’s most celebrated work is Sam Button from the tender 2012 coming-of-age drama, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is the face of two of cinema’s most iconic action movie heroes: Indiana Jones and Han Solo from the Star Wars movies. Yet, we have seen the legend give a performance as intense, grounded, and human as Detective Captain John Book in Witness, which also earned him his sole Academy Award nomination.

Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges had already achieved a storied and widely acclaimed career by the time he landed his definitive role as freewheeling burnout, The Dude, in Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 cult favorite comedy classic, The Big Lebowski. It would take another 12 years before he gave his definitive performance as disillusioned country singer Bad Blake in Crazy Heart, which made him an Oscar winner.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jack Dawson from James Cameron’s high-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner, 1997’s Titanic, remains the one role Leonardo DiCaprio is most often associated with despite winning his Oscar for 2015’s The Revenant. However, it is his remarkable portrayal of Howard Hughes, from his rise as an inventive aristocrat to his falls as a disturbed recluse, that earns the highest praise from us. 

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has an extraordinary collection of unique characters under her belt, but none are quite as distinct or recognizable as Satine in Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 musical smash, Moulin Rouge! Yet, the following year saw her give a transformative, Oscar-winning performance in The Hours as renowned author Virginia Woolf during a dismal time in her life.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale had audiences floored by his performance as Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, which solidified him as one of the best Batman actors in cinematic history. However, we believe we already saw him at his best in 2000’s American Psycho, giving a brilliantly nuanced performance as a strangely compelling sociopath named Patrick Bateman.

Natalie Portman

Rewatching the Star Wars prequel trilogy is made easier for even its harshest critics by Natalie Portman’s empowering, grounding, and ultimately heartbreaking performance as Naboo’s queen-turned-senator, Padmé Amidala. Yet, we have it on good authority that even those fans of a galaxy far, far away would rather rewatch 2010’s Black Swan and experience her unsettling, bravura, Academy Award-winning turn as Nina Sayers — a ballerina driven mad by her devotion to the lead role of Swan Lake.

Daniel Radcliffe 

Daniel Radcliffe certainly made for a great “The Boy Who Lived” in the Harry Potter movies, but even some of the franchise’s biggest fans might agree that the English actor has only gotten better since exiting the Wizarding World. In fact, some might say he has gotten better as the roles got weirder, and none have been weirder than when he starred in 2022’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story as a hilariously exaggerated version of the legendary musical parodist.

Kate Winslet

Much like Titanic made Leonardo DiCaprio a star, starring in the blockbuster historical tragedy as Rose Bukater turned Kate Winslet into one of the top actors of her time. In spite of her wonderful performance there, many would agree the role mainly paved the way for even better opportunities, such as her Oscar-winning performance in 2008’s The Reader as Hanna Schmitz.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac was certainly on the path to achieving A-list status before joining the cast of 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but playing the charming resistance pilot was his one-way ticket across the bridge. That same year, however, he delivered a captivatingly complex and intriguingly layered performance as tech innovator Nathan Bateman in Alex Garland’s classic A24 sci-fi drama, Ex Machina

Reese Witherspoon

As Elle Woods in 2001’s Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon brings warmth, humor, and authenticity to a character who could have easily been an annoying, one-note stereotype. As June Carter Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line, she absolutely steals the show from Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash with her powerful, Oscar-winning portrayal of the legendary singer.

Henry Cavill

Being, essentially, the spitting image of Clark Kent made Henry Cavill an ideal choice to play Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel, but not quite the perfect choice. The English actor’s signature charm, charisma, and sense of humor shine through much stronger as American secret agent Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which we think is gleaming proof of his 007 material.

Brie Larson

You could say that Carol Danvers has become such a popular character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because Brie Larson is the one portraying her in Captain Marvel and subsequent films. For that, we can likely thank her magnificent, heart-wrenching, Oscar-winning performance in 2015’s Room as a single mother held captive with her son.

There are the characters we cherish and the performances we adore. Both are equally important reasons for why we love our favorite actors.

With six Academy Award nominations and a highly eclectic filmography to her name, Amy Adams has proven that she can do anything. However, Nightbitch is hopefully the film that finally gets her taken seriously as a horror movie actor. That being said, one of her earliest credits is actually a horror-comedy movie — 2000’s deliciously campy mystery, Psycho Beach Party — but the horror genre is one of the few that she is not well-known for partaking in.

If this is the first you are hearing about this upcoming 2024 movie, I imagine it raises quite a few questions — the most pressing of which might be, “What is the significance of that bizarrely risqué title?” Could this be a slasher movie in which “Nightbitch” is the killer’s nickname, a vampire movie in which the title references the behavioral nature of Adams’ bloodsucker role, or could it even be a follow-up to her acclaimed 2016 thriller Nocturnal Animals? Believe it or not, none of those theories are nearly as strange as the actual plot, which we will reveal in the following guide to this upcoming horror movie.

What Is The Nightbitch Release Date?

Currently, Nightbitch is scheduled to hit theaters on December 6, 2024. The film was originally going to be released exclusively for audiences with a Hulu subscription until Searchlight Pictures, which is distributing the thriller, announced in early April 2024 that it would heading to the big screen instead.

What Nightbitch Is About

While the word “bitch” has taken on a relatively more insulting nature in modern society, the original definition simply refers to a “female dog” and is the inspiration for the title of Nightbitch. The film is being described as a comedic horror film that follows a suburban housewife who starts to take on the role of a stay-at-home mom. However, soon after, she begins to fall under the suspicion that, by nightfall, she becomes a canine.

This unique, surreal reinterpretation of lycanthropic lore comes from the mind of author Rachel Yoder, whose acclaimed 2021 novel of the same name serves as the basis of Nightbitch. According to an exclusive report by Deadline, Annapurna Pictures first bought the rights to adapt the book about a year before it was even published. This is Yoder’s debut novel, but she has also penned short stories and essays that have appeared in the likes of The New York Times and The Sun, among other publications.

The Nightbitch Trailer Is An Authentic Look At Motherhood With A Surreal Twist

Anyone who has ever been a mother can probably relate to what Amy Adams' character goes through in the trailer for Nightbitch. However, the clip offers a tease of some of the other things she seems to be going through that we hope no other mother can identify with. See for yourself by watching it here:

The Nightbitch trailer does a phenomenal job shedding light on the common frustrations of the average stay-at-home mother, from career sacrifices to never having enough time to managing every little catastrophe the children create (and the husband exacerbates, perhaps). It also does a good job of hiding whether or not the protagonist's nighttime transformation into a dog is real or just in her head. The overall tone feels more like an overt comedy than the quirky horror drama we initially envisioned but we cannot say we are not intrigued.

Amy Adams Leads The Nightbitch Cast

As established, Amy Adams is starring as the lead of the Nightbitch cast. Review what else the talented A-lister is known for, as well as who else is joining her in the upcoming creepfest, below.

Amy Adams

As previously mentioned, Nightbitch will not be Amy Adams’ horror debut, having starred in the aforementioned Psycho Beach Party from 2000 after earning her first acting credit with Drop Dead Gorgeous a year earlier. She went on to earn her first Academy Award nomination for 2005’s Junebug, followed by five more nods for 2008’s Doubt, The Fighter from 2010, The Master in 2012, American Hustle from the following year, and 2018’s Vice, most recently.

She also had a memorable recurring role on The Office, played a Disney princess to perfection in Enchanted, was the DCEU’s Lois Lane, and received an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Sharp Objects, to name a few achievements.

Scoot McNairy

According to Variety, Adams’ Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice co-star, Scoot McNairy, stars as her characters’ husband in Nightbitch, which will be the actor’s second horror release in 2024, following Blumhouse’s American update of Speak No Evil in September. His own previous and most notable experiences with the genre are alien invasion movies like Monsters and A Quiet Place Part II. He has also been in a few Best Picture Oscar winners — namely Argo and 12 Years a Slave.

Zoë Chao

Starring in Nightbitch in an undisclosed role is Zoë Chao, whose best known feature-length credits so far include Netflix original movies Senior Year and Your Place or Mine, Richard Linklater’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette, and the Peacock original sci-fi rom-com, If You Were the Last. You may also recognize her from TV shows like Facebook Watch’s Strangers, Max’s Love Life, the most recent season of Starz’s Party Down, and The Afterparty cast for Apple TV+.

Ella Thomas

Also as a currently unknown character is Ella Thomas, who got her start predominantly making guest appearances on hit TV shows such as How I Met Your Mother and Castle, to name just a couple, before landing a 25-episode stint on All My Children. One of her first leading roles in a film was in the Tubi-exclusive 2022 horror movie, Unborn, and, in 2023, she appeared in a crime drama called Desperation Road.

Garrett C. Phillips

We also have yet to learn details about Garrett C. Phillips’ role in Nightbitch, but do know that it will only be his second feature film after 2020’s Most Guys are Losers. His most recognizable credits so far are guest spots on TV shows like HBO’s Ballers, Peacock’s Saved by the Bell revival, and Blue Bloods.

Mary Holland

Mary Holland has a few credits in common with Zoë Chao — namely Senior Year and The Afterparty — and starred in the Netflix miniseries, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window, which seems to poke fun at stories similar to the Amy Adams-led The Woman in the Window. The comedian is also known for movies like Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Happiest Season, and TV shows like Blunt Talk and Veep.

Nightbitch Is Rated R

With a title like Nightbitch, it sounds like this thriller was destined for an R rating from the beginning. Indeed, Bloody-Disgusting reported in June 2023 that the MPA did give the film that exact rating, citing language and sexuality as the deciding factors.

Marielle Heller Writes And Directs Nightbitch

At the helm of Nightbitch and credited with adapting the novel into its screenplay is Marielle Heller, who previously directed acclaimed films The Diary of a Teenage Girl in 2015, 2018’s Oscar-nominated Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood in 2019. She also helmed an episode of Transparent, two episodes of Casual, and a filmed performance of Heidi Schrek’s one-person show, What the Constitution Means to Me, which became available to stream with an Amazon Prime Video subscription in 2020.

Heller is also credited as a producer on the movie, alongside Adams, who has also been attached to produce the project since the beginning. According to AV Club, others signed on as producers include Megan Ellison, Anne Carey, Stacy O’Neil, Christina Oh, Adam Paulsen, and Sue Naegle.

Nightbitch Was Filmed In 2022 In Los Angeles

According to World of Reel, the cameras began to roll fror Nightbitch in L.A. in October 2022. It was early that year, in May, when Searchlight Pictures acquired the distribution rights from AnnaPurna.

We have certainly seen Amy Adams in some dark roles in the past, but nothing quite like this. So, count me in as doggedly excited for Nightbitch.

Very few people can say that they started out working their dream job and celebrities — excluding some well-known child stars, of course — are certainly no exception. Many of the biggest names on the A-list used to make a living doing something completely different than what they are now famous for, but at least some of them can say that one of their earliest jobs was especially different. Take a look at some of our favorite examples of not-so-average professions famous people took on before hitting it big.

Meghan Markle (Calligrapher)

Even before Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, she knew how the write like a princess. According to People, the former Suits cast member used to work part-time as a professional calligrapher, writing out wedding invitations for the likes of Robin Thicke and Paula Patton and even teaching the craft.

Whoopi Goldberg (Mortuary Cosmetologist)

Even before teaming up with a “spirited” Patrick Swayze in the 1990 romantic supernatural thriller, Ghost, Whoopi Goldberg knew a thing or two about the dead. The future EGOT winner recalled to David Letterman on Late Night how she used to work in a mortuary putting makeup on corpses and styling their hair.

Matthew McConaughey (Golf Course Armadillo Hunter)

Matthew McConaughey broke through in the industry with his unforgettable performance in Dazed and Confused in 1994. Earlier than that (as he revealed to GQ), the Academy Award-winning Texas native worked at Oak Forest Country Club initially to just rake the golf course sand traps, until he was asked to also help get rid of an armadillo infestation. All right, all right, all right.

Christopher Walken (Lion Tamer)

Did you ever notice how often Christopher Walken has played an animal — such in 2016’s astonishing The Jungle Book remake as King Louie or in the 1998 animated adventure, Antz? Well, as the Oscar-winner revealed to Vanity Fair, he actually has a unique connection with animals, having gained some experience with lion taming while working at a traveling circus.

Simu Liu (Birthday Party Spider-Man)

When Simu Liu led the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast in the title role, technically, that was not his first time playing a Marvel Comics character. While on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Chinese-Canadian actor shared that he used to dress up as Spider-Man and entertain children at birthday parties.

Jennifer Lopez (Law Office Tax Return Filer)

Most people know that one of Jennifer Lopez’s earliest jobs before becoming “Jenny from the Block” was dancing with the Fly Girls on In Living Color. Yet, the Bronx Times revealed that, before even then, she spent her Saturdays at the Thomas Lavin Law Office filing tax returns.

Margot Robbie (Sandwich Artist)

From the way Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn speaks so passionately about a certain breakfast item in 2020’s Birds of Prey, you might think the Australian actor knows a thing or two about making sandwiches, and you would be correct. The Academy Award nominee spoke to Sean Evans on Hot Ones about her time as a “sandwich artist” at Subway, where she actually invented a few delicious concoctions of her own.

Terry Crews (Courtroom Sketch Artist)

A lesser-known fact about Terry Crews is that he is an exceptional drawer and even showed some of the best examples from his portfolio on Jimmy Kimmel Live. During that same visit, the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast member and America’s Got Talent host recalled how he put that talent to great use by working for a television station sketching scenes from local trials in his hometown of Flint, Michigan.

Megan Fox (Smoothie Shop Banana Mascot)

One time when Megan Fox appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the actor fell prey to the host’s recurring “jump scare” gag, courtesy of a person dressed as up as a banana. The costume choice was in reference to the Transformers movies star’s first job at a smoothie shop, for which she would, sometimes, have to dress as the yellow fruit to promote the business.

Hugh Jackman (Clown)

While known best for playing very intimidating characters like Wolverine in the X-Men movies, Hugh Jackman is known to be a very funny and charming presence offscreen. It makes sense when you discover the Australian actor used to work as a clown, but would reveal to Howard Stern that his talents were limited to juggling and found entertaining children above three years old quite difficult.

Eva Mendes (Hot Dog On A Stick Vendor)

Fun fact: one of Eva Mendes’ earliest show business gigs was appearing in Will Smith’s 1998 “Miami” video before reuniting with him in Hitch seven years later. Before then, she made dough working at a “hot dog on a stick place,” which she revealed to Australia’s Will & Woody radio show (via Daily Mail) that she was actually fired from for giving an inappropriate Secret Santa gift to a coworker.

Sylvester Stallone (Girls Boarding School Dorm Bouncer)

Even if Sylvester Stallone had not written one of the best sports movies ever, 1976’s Rocky, he could have landed the title role of the aspiring boxer by his physicality alone. According to a profile by People, his jacked frame came in handy when he was 18 and started working at a Swiss boarding school to both teach gym and keep unwanted guests out of the girls dorms.

Wanda Sykes (NSA)

As one of the funniest people of her generation — and the star of one of Paramount+’s best stand-up comedy specials — it may come as a surprise to learn that Wanda Sykes used to work for an organization as serious as the National Security Agency. However, as she explained on The Rich Eisen Show, her job did not involve covert operations or filing classified material, but “buying stuff” for the office, mostly.

Chris Pratt (Coupon Salesperson) 

Before joining an insane amount of franchises (including the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies to the Jurassic World trilogy), Chris Pratt had humble beginnings as a supporting character on hit TV shows Everwood and Parks and Recreation. However, his true beginnings were even humbler, having revealed during an appearance on Conan that he once sold coupons door-to-door and did well enough to manage his own office of salespeople.

Taylor Swift (Praying Mantis Exterminator)

Years before taking on the world as a hit singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm where everyone in her family was given a different task. As she told Esquire, the star of the sensational “Eras Tour” had the job “picking praying-mantis pods off of the trees” so that customers would not have an invasion of multi-legged uninvited guests.

Brad Pitt (Chicken Restaurant Mascot)

With how many intimidating roles Brad Pitt has played, from Fight Club’s Tyler Durden to Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the last thing anyone would think to call the actor is “a chicken.” Yet, you would not have been wrong if, decades ago, you spotted him when he made a living dressed as the mascot for California chicken restaurant El Pollo Loco, as he recalled on The Ellen Show in 2019.

Cindy Crawford (Corn Shucker)

One of the most famous models of all time, Cindy Crawford, first took on that profession in Chicago when she was 17, at a rate of $1,000 per day. A profile for Town & Country mentions that the modeling gig “sure beat shucking corn for $4 an hour,” which is something she did for a summer when she was younger.

Helen Mirren (Amusement Park Blagger)

Academy Award winner Helen Mirren technically got her start as an actor by participating in the National Youth Theatre before she was invited into the Royal Shakespeare Company, but first started honing her performance skills as a “blagger” for a London amusement park. While appearing on Mark Maron’s WTF Podcast, she defined “blagging” as shouting “something incomprehensible out to someone just to get their attention.”

Taraji P. Henson (Pentagon Secretary/Tina Turner Cover Singer)

Some of Taraji P. Henson’s most famous roles, such as Shug in Hustle & Flow and Cookie (a notable TV divorcée) on Empire, are linked to the music industry — a fact that is made even more interesting when you discover she used to work on a Potomac River cruise ship singing Tina Turner covers. Per Vanity Fair, at that same time, the future Academy Award nominee’s day job was at the Pentagon as a secretary.

Steve Buscemi (Firefighter)

While not exactly a “weird” job, it is intriguing to learn that Steve Buscemi used to work as a New York firefighter before landing roles like Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs. He would later revisit this time in his both onscreen (in The King of Staten Island) and in real life when — per The Independent — he volunteered to help his old company, Engine 55, search for survivors of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

Ken Jeong (Doctor)

After starring in 2009’s The Hangover cast and the Community cast made him a star, Ken Jeong led his own sitcom called Dr. Ken. The short-lived ABC comedy was actually based on the comedian’s previous career as an internal medicine specialist, during which he pursued comedy merely to “let off some steam,” as he shared to NPR.

Ashton Kutcher (Cereal Factory Sweeper)

Before hitting it big as Michael Kelso in the That ‘70s Show cast and, later, making innovations in the tech industry, Ashton Kutcher got his start in the cereal industry. To be more precise, as he recalled on Hot Ones, the actor swept the floors of loose Cheerios shavings at a General Mills factory.

Halsey (DMV Photographer)

As a chart-topping Grammy nominee and a non-actor who nailed her SNL hosting gig, Halsey is a person who boasts many skills but has only demonstrated a few to the public, as it turns out. She revealed in a tweet that, when she was still “Ashley Frangipane,” she worked “loads” of different jobs, but the one that caught our eye was taking “license photos at the DMV.”

Zayn Malik (Boxer)

While he did not actually make a living doing this, before competing on The X Factor and joining One Direction made Zayn Malik a star, he trained in boxing in his mid-to-late teens. In 2013, he told Daily Star (via Digital Spy) that he aspired to pursue the sport full-time at some point.

Jennifer Aniston (Bike Messenger)

As part of the Friends cast, Jennifer Aniston became one of the highest-paid actors of her time, but in her earlier years, did several odd jobs for her mother’s advertising firm. One of them, as she shared on The Tonight Show, was being a bike messenger “for a day” that she admits she decided to finish out by taking a cab for final delivery.

George Clooney (Insurance Salesman)

Despite technically growing up in a show business family (his father, Nick Clooney, is a former TV personality, and his aunt, Rosemary, acted), it took time for George Clooney to find fame of his own. According to The Standard, the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker worked various low-paying jobs early on — one of which was going door-to-door, selling insurance.

Jon Hamm (Adult Film Set Dresser)

Very few A-listers would be willing to admit they worked in the adult film industry, but Jon Hamm had no problem talking to Howard Stern about it. For $100 a day, the Emmy-winning Mad Men cast member worked as a set dresser for, as he described them, “Skinemax movies.”

Amy Adams (Hooters Server)

Many people might say that they first saw Amy Adams when she appeared on The Office in its first season, but others might be able to claim she served them at Hooters. The Academy Award nominee told Entertainment Tonight that the restaurant chain gig was a “great way” to make ends meet during college before she found success as an actor.

Chris Hemsworth (Human Milk Pump Cleaner)

During a game of “True Confessions” with Kumail Nanjiani and host Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, MCU star Chris Hemsworth’s potentially false personal fact stated that he used to clean and repair human milk pumps for pharmacies to rent when he was 14. It turned out to be the truth.

Danny DeVito (Morgue Hairdresser)

An artist known for his morbid sense of humor — as he has demonstrated by his crazy moments as Frank Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and by helming movies like Duplex and Death to Smoochy — is Danny DeVito. Perhaps he got it from the several times he worked as a hairdresser for female corpses — a story he shared on The Always Sunny Podcast (via Unilad).

Channing Tatum (Exotic Dancer)

If you ever wondered how Channing Tatum learned to dance the way he does in 2012’s Magic Mike, according to an interview with Flicks and Bits, the drama was inspired by his own life before acting. In 2015, the actor recalled to Howard Stern how he started his brief exotic dancing career when he was 19 after dropping out of college.

Miley Cyrus (Undergarment Collector)

Miley Cyrus is one of the few examples on our list who actually did come from a show business family, but having a rock star like Billy Ray Cyrus as her dad also led to her first odd job. The former Hannah Montana star told Rolling Stone that, when she was much younger, her father used to pay her $10 for picking up women's undergarments that had been thrown on stage during his concerts.

Some of these jobs would make us thankful to eventually be an actor or singer if we were in any of these celebrity’s shoes. However, others sound like an interesting way to make a living.

Every A-list actor had to start somewhere and all you have to do to find out what your favorite celebrity’s very first gig was is take a look at their profile on The Internet Movie Database. We sifted through the much celebrated site and found the first IMDb credit of some of today’s biggest stars. 

Tom Cruise (Endless Love)

As is often the case with many actors, Tom Cruise’s very first role is nothing like Maverick from the Top Gun movies, Ethan Hunt from the Mission: Impossible movies, or nearly anything else the Oscar nominee is known for for. He appears in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 romance, Endless Love — starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt — as a student named Billy who describes the time he attempted arson at just 8 years old. 

Jennifer Lawrence (Monk)

While appearing on Conan to promote the film that earned her her first Oscar — 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook — Jennifer Lawrence recalled the embarrassing story behind her screen acting debut in an episode of Monk from the crime drama's fifth season called “Mr. Monk and the Big Game.” She thought she was playing a member of a high school basketball team that Tony Shalhoub’s title character helps take over, but would discover a little too late that she was playing their mascot.

Robert Downey Jr. (Pound)

It’s no wonder Robert Downey Jr. is such a confident and charismatic onscreen presence when you learn he has been in the game since he was 5, having debuted in 1970’s Pound. Written and directed by his late father, Robert Downey Sr., the bizarre, X-rated, avant garde drama stars a cast of characters who appear human, but are really dogs waiting to be adopted, including the future Academy Award nominee and Iron Man actor as a puppy. 

Zoe Saldaña (Law & Order) 

Years before she became one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Zoe Saldaña’s career started when she appeared in the second half of a two-part Law & Order episode called “Refuge,” alongside Orange is the New Black cast member, Selenis Leyva, as her sister. Coincidentally, Saldaña would also appear in a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode in a different role years later.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Romper Room)

As he revealed to David Letterman in 1995, Leonardo DiCaprio made his show business debut at 3 on the children’s program Romper Room, but was so excited to be on camera, he had to be removed for disruptive behavior. He later appeared on shows like 1989's The New Lassie (pictured) or Growing Pains, paving the way for him to reach A-list status in the Titanic cast and win his overdue Oscar for The Revenant. His wild success today desperately makes us wish we could see his Romper Room footage, which may remain a lost relic, unfortunately.

Jenna Ortega (Rob)

At just 10 years old, Jenna Ortega proved she was destined to be a top Scream Queen when she made her debut on an episode of the short-lived CBS sitcom, Rob, called “The Baby Bug.” The future Emmy-nominated Wednesday cast member gets in (and wins) a fight against the title character — played by former SNL star, Rob Schneider — over a baby doll.

Nicolas Cage (The Best Of Times)

When his name was still Nicolas Coppola, the man who would be Nicolas Cage starred in a failed pilot for a coming-of-age ABC sitcom from 1981 called The Best of Times. The future Oscar winner’s scenes are a precursor to the iconic manic energy he would exhibit in movies like Vampire’s Kiss or Face/Off that every Cage fan should seek out if they can.

Margot Robbie (Neighbours)

Just like many other A-list Australian actors, Oscar nominee Margot Robbie got her start on a long-running soap opera called Neighbours when she was 17. The lead Barbie cast member actually appeared in one episode from 2022 to reprise her role as Donna Freedman.

Denzel Washington (Wilma)

Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is a living legend of the big screen, but made a name for himself on the small one. His very first gig was Wilma — a made-for-TV biopic about Wilma Rudolph that aired on NBC in 1977 — as the Olympic track sprinter’s then husband, Robert Eldridge.

Meryl Streep (Everybody Rides The Carousel)

Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep has done some great voice acting over the years, including an episode of The Simpsons, a Wes Anderson movie called Fantastic Mr. Fox, and her first job: Everybody Rides the Carousel. Originally airing on CBS in 1976, the animated film is inspired by psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson’s “Eight Stages of Development” and Streep lends her voice to the “Stage 6” segment, which covers intimacy. 

Harrison Ford (Dead Heat On A Merry-Go-Round)

We’ve seen Harrison Ford play an intergalactic pilot in the Star Wars movies, a daredevil archaeologist in the Indiana Jones movies, and other intimidating professions, but it all started when he played a bellboy. He appears in one scene from writer and director Bernard Girard’s 1966 crime thriller, Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, delivering a message to a “Mr. Ellis,” which is really an alias for the con man protagonist, Eli Kotch, played by James Coburn.

Scarlett Johansson (Late Night With Conan O'Brien)

When Scarlett Johansson appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien to promote one of the best 2000s movies, Lost in Translation, the host recalls that the future Marvel star’s first paid gig was a bit on his show from a decade earlier. She played a Spelling Bee champion who turns out to have a habit of missing a letter or two, as exposed by Andy Richter.

Robert De Niro (Three Rooms In Manhattan)

New York just happens to have been the setting for many great Robert De Niro movies, such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and his very first gig — as an extra — called Three Rooms in Manhattan. You can very clearly see the two-time Oscar-winner in the background during a scene from the 1965 French drama about an actor’s romantic encounter with a woman in the Big Apple.

Amy Adams (Drop Dead Gorgeous)

The first time you saw Amy Adams might have been on The Office or in 2007's Enchanted or even in one of her many Academy Award-nominated performances — such as from Doubt or Arrival. However, her true introduction to the world was in an underrated ‘90s movie called Drop Dead Gorgeous — a mockumentary-style dark comedy in which she plays a contestant for a beauty pageant plagued by a murderous plot.

Brad Pitt (Hunk)

Fittingly, one of Hollywood’s most iconic “hunks” debuted in a movie called Hunk, in which a computer nerd’s deal with the devil makes him a looker. However, Brad Pitt is not the titular hunk of this 1987 comedy, but an extra who can be seen in the top right hand corner of the frame, enjoying some sun on the beach, for one scene.

Tom Hanks (He Knows You’re Alone)

In 2023, two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks spoke to Jess Eagle about getting his SAG card for starring in a low budget slasher called He Knows You’re Alone as a psych student who befriends an engaged woman stalked by a killer. The Forrest Gump star would make a few other contributions to the horror genre, such as Joe Dante’s The Burbs, an episode of Tales from the Crypt, the Halloween special Toy Story of Terror, and as one of his best SNL characters, David S. Pumpkins.

Sandra Bullock (Hangmen)

The movie that skyrocketed Sandra Bullock to the A-list was one of the best action movies of all time, Speed. The Academy Award winner’s very first movie (and acting gig in general) was also an action flick from 1987 called Hangmen, in which she plays the girlfriend of a teen whose father must stay one step ahead of a terrorist organization that has infiltrated the CIA.

Ryan Gosling (The All New Mickey Mouse Club)

When he was 13, Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mousketeer on Disney Channel’s variety series, The All New Mickey Mouse Club, where he introduced the world to his skills as an actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. He would later utilize these skills to much acclaim in the likes of La La Land and Barbie, but where he learned to be a stoic, intimidating action hero in other great Gosling movies like Drive and Blade Runner 2049 remains a mystery.

Julia Roberts (Crime Story)

Julia Roberts became America’s Sweetheart in the 1990s, but what officially launched her career was Crime Story — an Emmy-nominated 1960s-set detective drama that aired in 1980s, starring Dennis Farina and produced by Michael Mann. The Oscar winner appears in Season 1’s “The Survivor” — which you can check out with a Peacock subscription — as the teenager daughter of Farina’s character’s love interest, who is discovered to have survived a harrowing assault.

Ben Affleck (The Dark End Of The Street)

Ben Affleck’s career began when he played a young boy named Tommy in the 1981 drama The Dark End of the Street, which follows a teen couple whose information about a murder could save an innocent man’s life. That sounds like the kind of thriller that the Oscar-winning star and director of Argo could handle from behind the camera, too.

Michelle Yeoh (The Owl Vs. Bumbo)

Before becoming a martial arts movie legend, Everything Everywhere All At Once star Michelle Yeoh made her acting debut alongside martial arts legend Sammo Hung in this Hong Kong-based action-comedy. Kung also directed The Owl vs. Bumbo, in which two former thieves are forced to become mentors at a youth center.

Zendaya (Shake It Up)

Zendaya became an Emmy-winning actor for her role in the Euphoria cast as a troubled teen. However, when she was actually a teen, she got her start as a Disney Channel star on Shake It Up, in which Rocky Blue (Zendaya) and her best friend, CeCe Jones (Bella Thorne), land gigs as professional dancers on a hit variety show.

Jake Gyllenhaal (City Slickers)

Jake Gyllenhaal earned his first Academy Award nomination for playing a cowboy in one of his best movies, Brokeback Mountain. Somewhat coincidentally, the Spider-Man movie villain actor made his debut as the son of an aspiring cowboy (played by Billy Crystal) in the classic ‘90s comedy, City Slickers. 

Florence Pugh (The Falling)

Even before landing her Oscar-nominated role in 2019’s Little Women cast, Florence Pugh became an awards darling right out the gate with 2014’s The Falling. In fact, both she and Game of Thrones cast member Maisie Williams were nominated for Young British/Irish Performer of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards for their performances in the coming-of-age period thriller.

Matt Damon (Mystic Pizza)

Years before reuniting with her in the Ocean’s Eleven cast, Matt Damon made his acting debut alongside Julia Roberts in Mystic Pizza. The future Jason Bourne movies star appears in a small role from a memorable dinner scene in the 1988 romantic dramedy.

Jamie Lee Curtis (Quincy M.E.)

Three years before landing her big screen debut in the first Halloween movie, Jamie Lee Curtis tried screen acting for the first time in a Season 2 episode of Quincy M.E.  Her small, but still memorable, role is a woman whom the titular medical examiner (played by Jack Klugman) accidentally walks in on at a department store changing room. This prompts her to tell him that he won’t find what he is looking for here with a level of spunk that would become signature for the Academy Award winner.

Johnny Depp (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

Wes Craven’s 1984 supernatural slasher not only saw the debut of classic horror villain, Freddy Krueger (Robert England), but also of one of the biggest celebrities of all time. Johnny Depp’s career began when he joined the A Nightmare on Elm Street cast as Glen Lantz, who, arguably, has the best death scene in the film at the hands of the razor-clawed, dream-infiltrating boogeyman.

Brie Larson (The Tonight Show With Jay Leno)

Eight-year-old Brie Larson launched her career by starring in a series of faux ads for The Tonight Show during its Jay Leno era. The now Academy Award winner for Room and Captain Marvel actor recalled the experience on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show before showing a clip of her in a sketch called “Road Kill Easy Bake Oven.”

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite being known best today for his brazen sense of humor, Deadpool movies star Ryan Reynolds started his career in a most earnest way. He starred in 18 episodes of the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen — which was also known was Hillside — in the role of Billy. 

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

While her breakthrough role was the lead of Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway broke out in 1999 on a TV show called Get Real. The short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS’s Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Jackie Chan (Big And Little Wong Tin Bar)

Fitting how one of the most quintessential kung fu movie actors, Jackie Chan, got his start in a movie from 1962 about the art itself called Big and Little Wong Tin Bar. You almost feel like you are watching the birth of a martial arts master as the future Rush Hour star plays a student of martial arts.

How does your first job compare to these?

Celebrities are just like us, especially because they have off days just like the rest of us. The unfortunate truth is that when people like George Clooney or Scarlett Johansson have those moments, it’s more visible than when the rest of us encounter them. Especially when those sour notes become the lowest rated movie from major Hollywood stars like them. How many of these acting performances in notable disasters -- based on the critics freshness scores on Rotten Tomatoes -- do you remember? 

Meryl Streep - Lions For Lambs (2007) - 27%

If a movie like Lions for Lambs is the lowest rated film in your canon, you’re probably a legend like Meryl Streep. And that just so happens to be the film that ranks in the last slot on her history with the Tomatometer. Then again, the also iconic Tom Cruise co-starred in this picture, and his lowest ranked film scored even lower on the same scale.

Tom Hanks - The Bonfire Of The Vanities (1990) - 15%

One of the most infamous box office disasters in history is still Brian De Palma’s adaptation of The Bonfire of the Vanities. There are many reasons that it flopped, and Tom Hanks has shared thoughts on the matter on occasion. He’d certainly know the subject inside and out, as even he called out his own miscasting, in this supposed lowest point of his filmography. 

Angelina Jolie - Original Sin (2001) - 12%

How bad could a movie be that pairs Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas in a torrid love affair? Well, it can apparently be horrific if you’re going by Jolie’s RT resume. 2001’s Original Sin sits as her lowest ranked film, with not even its unrated cut able to generate a sizzle around the picture.

Denzel Washington - Heart Condition (1990) - 10%

Try this on for size: Denzel Washington once haunted Bob Hoskins, as a lawyer whose donated heart goes into Hoskins’ hard living detective. That was an actual plot for the ‘90s comedy Heart Condition, and you can see why critics weren’t exactly kind to this one; even with the charms of Washington and Hoskins involved.

Amy Adams - Serving Sara (2002) - 4%

Some stars are collateral damage for other stars’ failed starring vehicles. When Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley’s rom-com Serving Sara crashed and burned, it took Amy Adams along with it. Well, in the context that it’s her lowest rated film on Rotten Tomatoes. Other than that, Ms. Adams seems to still be riding high, as she totally should be.

George Clooney - Grizzly 2: The Revenge (1983) - 8%

On one hand, Grizzly 2: The Revenge is a campy horror movie that looks like it’s earned its 8% RT score. At the same time, it’s kind of unfair to Clooney, as well as co-stars Laura Dern and Charlie Sheen, to be lumped in with the film’s failings as their characters are a classic case of disposable young teen victims.

Viola Davis - The Architect (2006) - 11%

The Architect couldn't have possibly been someone's attempt at cashing in on Crash's Best Picture win, could it? It sure seems like it, and critics weren't biting at writer/director Matt Tauber's adaptation of this stage drama. Actor Viola Davis survived this metaphorical wreckage though, and two years later she'd find herself in Doubt, with her first Academy Award nomination to show for it. 

Matt Damon - Suburbicon (2017) - 28%

Suburbicon had a lot going for it: an all-star cast that included Matt Damon, Oscar Isaac, and Julianne Moore, a script with Coen Brothers involvement, and George Clooney in the director’s chair. And yet, this attempt at pitch black satire of the idyllic ‘50s collapsed under its own ambitions, acting as the rock bottom of Damon’s resume. 

Taylor Swift - Valentine’s Day (2010) - 18%

Sorry Swifties, but Taylor can’t always win. Case in point is her role in the ensemble rom-com Valentine’s Day; which acts as the lowest ranked project she’s racked up as an acting talent. Though if you count the record-breaking Eras Tour movie, that’s the absolute tops. It may be apples and oranges, but it's something fun to keep in mind.

Ryan Reynolds - R.I.P.D. (2013) - 12%

Admit it: you probably thought X-Men: Origins - Wolverine was going to be Ryan Reynolds’ lowest rated movie. As it turns out, that’s not even in Reynolds’ bottom 10 movies. What did happen to be the Deadpool star’s lowest rated film was the misguided comic book romp R.I.P.D. That’s right folks: it’s rated even lower than Green Lantern!

Sandra Bullock - Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) - 4%

When a movie like Speed becomes a breakout hit, you’d be crazy not to try and make a sequel. That’s not a guarantee that you should make that next movie, as we saw with 1997’s Speed 2: Cruise Control; the movie that is the low water mark for Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock’s Rotten Tomatoes scores. 

Tom Hardy - This Means War (2012) - 26%

How does a romantic action-comedy where Tom Hardy and Chris Pine fight over Reese Witherspoon lose? If you’ve seen This Means War, you might have an answer to that question already handy. Tom Hardy’s lowest ranking effort on his own personal Tomatometer, it’s one of his rare losses when it comes to the world of movies. 

Julia Roberts - Mother’s Day (2016) - 8%

Actors, be careful when accepting roles in all-star ensemble rom-coms. It’s a genre that’s given us Love, Actually, but also gave us Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Mother’s Day. Taylor Swift can count that first film as her lowest RT score, and Academy Award winner Julia Roberts has the last one in that line as hers. So live and learn.

Ben Affleck - The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) - 5%

What’s the last thing Ben Affleck wanted? A mid-profile flop like The Last Thing He Wanted. This is the absolute bottom of Affleck’s Rotten Tomatoes scored films, which may or may not surprise some film fans. Your range of shock probably depends on how you feel about Jersey Girl and/or Gigli. Which is saying something, as Gigli was disowned by its director.

Scarlett Johansson - The Spirit (2008) - 14%

After Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City and Zack Snyder’s 300 became surprise hits with audiences, author Frank Miller’s work seemed poised to take off. And then The Spirit came along, and cratered those hopes along with Scarlett Johansson’s Rotten Tomatoes scores. You Lucy apologists out there just scored an important victory for the next time someone questions your taste in movies.

Robert Downey Jr. - Johnny Be Good (1988) - 0%

Even at the height of his powers as a young performer, Robert Downey Jr. had his fair share of unsuccessful films. None of those flops had the power to counter the absolute 0 that 1988’s Johnny Be Good scored. To his credit, the movie was more of a starring vehicle for Anthony Michael-Hall, but this one still has to sting. 

Jennifer Lawrence - House At The End Of The Street (2012) - 12%

A survivor of many threats thrown at her on the big screen, Jennifer Lawrence can battle some tough forces and still come out the victor. Just look at her 2012 output, which saw her score her lowest RT result with the horror film House at the End of the Street; but also saw her on the road to winning her first Oscar in Silver Linings Playbook. 

Dwayne Johnson - Tooth Fairy (2010) - 17%

The failure of Black Adam was a humbling that some probably believed Dwayne Johnson had coming. Longtime fans of The Rock would know better though, as looking back a bit further in his career, you start to run into movies like Tooth Fairy. That practically makes Black Adam look like Batman vs. Superman if you think about it long enough.

Anne Hathaway - The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) - 5%

While Anne Hathaway's career highlights are abundant -- including The Devil Wears Prada, Interstellar, Rachel Getting Married (for which she was nominated for an Oscar), and Les Miserables (for which she won an Oscar) -- like every other actor on this list, she's not immune to the occasional poorly-received movie. In her case, it's a very low rating for the 2020 movie The Last Thing He Wanted. 

Henry Cavill - Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005) - 0%

We’re not going to say that Henry Cavill’s part in Hellraiser: Hellworld is part of his tough luck with James Bond. If an actor can star in a movie like this and still be invited to audition for Casino Royale, then maybe their acting chops were honed enough to be a part of the James Bond movies after all. 

Charlize Theron - The Last Face (2016) - 8%

A lineup like Jared Harris, Javier Bardem, and Charlize Theron is something a movie would kill for. Adding a director like Sean Penn just sweetens the pot if you’re a certain type of moviegoer. Well, that combination did work on 2016’s The Last Face, and it was a result so abysmal that it came in as Charlize Theron’s worst rated film on Rotten Tomatoes.

Bradley Cooper - Brother’s Justice (2010) - 0%

There was a time when Dax Shepard decided to co-direct a mockumentary where he pretended to try and become an action star. That movie was Brother’s Justice, and good luck remembering it ever existed past it being mentioned here and now, as Bradley Cooper’s lowest rated movie of his career. 

Halle Berry - Dark Tide (2012) - 0%

Even in the presence of infamous trash fires like Catwoman, there’s a movie that reigns even higher in Halle Berry’s not-so-greatest hits. 2012’s Dark Tide is the deep end of the pool for the X-Men alum, being thrashed by critics upon its release. Want to know what happens to a flop that’s struck by lightning? The same thing that happened to Dark Tide.

Will Smith - After Earth (2013) - 12%

“Wild Wild West was less painful than After Earth.” Will Smith’s dig at this infamous bomb is admittedly more entertaining than the movie itself, even if his slam of the M. Night Shyamalan directed picture unfairly slams Wild Wild West as anything but a silly fun house of comedy. Your mileage may vary on that gigantic spider adventure, but we can all agree that at least it isn’t After Earth, which is Smith's lowest rated movie.

Nicole Kidman - Grace Of Monaco (2014) - 9%

Going into its release window, Nicole Kidman’s Grace of Monaco looked like an awards season darling waiting to happen. But a last minute shift that robbed the movie of a domestic theatrical release, plus an infamous difference between the theatrical and “writer’s” cut changed those fortunes oh so quickly; and with an RT score to prove it.

Morgan Freeman - Just Getting Started (2017) - 4%

You can’t help but want to root for a movie like Just Getting Started. A comedy where Rene Russo, Tommy Lee Jones, and Morgan Freeman collide sounds like a fun night out on paper. Alas, that recipe doesn’t always cook up a winner, and this absolute stinker proves it, marking the tail end of the spectrum of films Freeman has starred in. 

Emma Stone - Movie 43 (2013) - 4%

Considering how many big ticket stars were suckered into making Movie 43, it’s surprising that it hasn’t cropped up as the nadir of more of the filmographies on this list. Which may be a compliment to Emma Stone, as if this is the movie that’s supposed to represent her “worst,” then maybe Aloha wasn’t as big of a misfire as we thought.

Tom Cruise - Cocktail (1988) - 9%

Out of all the movies that Tom Cruise is known for, Cocktail seems to be one that people rarely talk about. A dramedy digging into the highs and lows of being a hot shot bartender, it feels like Top Gun with a liquor license. This flick might hold its liquor, but its Tomatoes are scattered on the floor, resulting in the worst hangover on Cruise’s resume.

Natalie Portman - Planetarium (2016) - 15%

A Natalie Portman period drama can be hit or miss, and in the case of Planetarium, it apparently was the latter. You're probably wondering how you haven't heard about a movie where Portman and Lily Rose Depp play sisters that can see ghosts during the '30s. Well, this is the same year that Portman starred in Pablo Larrain's Jackie, and that film was the clear winner of the Black Swan star's year in 2016.

Brad Pitt - Cool World (1992) - 4%

How bad do you have to screw up to land a movie named Cool World with an insanely cool Brad Pitt all the way at the bottom of his filmography? If you really want the answer, you should see the film for yourself. Some bombs of great infamy just have to be experienced firsthand to truly understand the failure they brought upon their stars.

Jennifer Aniston - ‘Til There Was You (1997) - 5%

The “stable friend” is a character that can still provide a breakout hit for an actor, as even the balanced party of a movie like ‘Til There Was You gets some laughs. But not even a gag involving Jennifer Aniston and a kitten could save the film, which seems like a surefire formula that’s hard to pass up. Even in 1997, this movie’s response seems particularly harsh. 

Chris Hemsworth - Red Dawn (2012) - 15%

Remaking a Patrick Swayze classic like Red Dawn seemed like a match made in Hell since day one. Even though Chris Hemsworth was already the god of thunder in Thor, that didn’t make up for a movie so dubious that even the horribly photoshopped posters didn’t seem to care about selling it.

As you can see with the films we've just recalled, it didn't exactly crush the careers and dreams of these heavy hitters of the movies. At the same time, we'd recommend not mentioning them in polite conversation, unless you're absolutely sure that the situation is ripe for a fun story about some bad times. 

When you look at the landscape of Hollywood A-List actors, it’s hard to believe how many haven’t been nominated for an Oscar. Even crazier is looking back on previous nominees like Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman’s careers and seeing where their first brush with golden glory came from. That’s what we’re gathered together to do today, as we look back on a who’s who of acting talent, and those first projects that put them on The Academy’s map! 

Meryl Streep - The Deer Hunter

Where does one begin when talking about Meryl Streep’s own personal golden dynasty? Well, if you want to start at the beginning, you’d take it all the way back to 1978. That’s when Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter put Ms. Streep on the Academy’s radar for the first time. At the time of publication, Streep is the most nominated person at the Academy Awards, thanks to a whopping 21 nods.

Daniel Day-Lewis - My Left Foot

The year 1990 marked an important moment for iconic actor, and three-time Academy Award winner, Daniel Day-Lewis. The now-retired thespian found himself winning on his first time out, with his nomination for the role of Irish writer and painter Christy Brown in My Left Foot. His portrayal of Brown, who created art while living with Cerebral Palsy, was only the beginning of a legacy involving method acting, which led to several more nominations and wins in the process.

Amy Adams - Junebug

Let’s put aside the fact that Amy Adams and Arrival were failed by awards boards in the 2016- 2017 season. Outside of that grudge that some still hold dear, Adams has a total of six Oscar nominations to her credit. That’s pretty amazing, with the first nod coming from her performance in 2005’s Junebug. With that noted, we can go back to grousing about how she deserves to be at seven nods, thanks to Denis Villeneuve’s brain-breaking masterpiece.

Leonardo DiCaprio - What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

While Leonardo DiCaprio could finally call himself a winner as part of 2016’s Academy Award nominees, the path to that victory for The Revenant kicked off in 1994. A hot young talent, DiCaprio’s first nomination was for his role alongside Johnny Depp in the drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Turns out, when it was winning time for Leo, the answer to that question was, “A bear.”

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

One of America’s sweethearts, Sandra Bullock can be counted as a member of the First Timer's Club. Her first nomination was also the one that won her the trophy, as the 2010 Academy Awards yielded a golden win for her role in The Blind Side. Despite the recent controversies and lawsuit from Michael Oher that have hit that film’s story about the football player and the Tuohys, this is a hard-earned win, and the first of two nominations so far for Ms. Bullock. 

Tom Hanks - Big

We all know that Tom Hanks is Academy Award-winning royalty, as America’s Dad has six nominations and two wins under his belt. Looking back at the fact that his first competition for Oscar glory came from 1988’s Big, it’s an impressive feat for happening so early in Hanks’ career as an actor. It’s even more stunning when you take into account that it was for a comedy performance, which isn’t as prevalent at the Oscars as one would hope.

Viola Davis - Doubt

Despite the title of the film she was first nominated for, there was absolutely no Doubt when it came to Viola Davis’ status as an Oscar contender. Her first round came in 2008, through that very film mentioned; and she would eventually be nominated three more times, at the time of this publication. Her first win came in 2016 after she starred with fellow Oscar titan Denzel Washington in the film adaptation of Fences. (It's also worth mentioning that this actress is also in the elite club of EGOT winners.)

Peter O’Toole - Lawrence Of Arabia

Tied with Glenn Close for the most Oscar nominations without a win, the late great Peter O’Toole banked his first Academy Awards nod with the movie you’d most expect. Thanks to the director David Lean’s 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia, O’Toole began a dance with Academy voters that only saw him net a 2002 Honorary Academy Award. 

Jodie Foster - Taxi Driver

In the world of Disney actors turned Academy Award contenders, Jodie Foster will always be one of the most notable in that field. At the age of 15, Foster saw her first nomination through her only Best Supporting Actress nod to date. The eventual victor for films like The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, Jodie first competed for Oscar glory through the role of child prostitute Iris Steensma in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. 

Morgan Freeman - Street Smart

Even movies with Oscar buzz can become buried in the sands of time. Just ask Morgan Freeman, who first saw himself nominated at the Academy Awards in 1987 for Street Smart. A crime drama starring Christopher Reeve as an ambitious reporter profiling Freeman’s pimp character Leo “Fast Black” Smalls Jr., it’s a movie that most wouldn’t remember; especially when compared to the other films the prestigious actor would be nominated for.

Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth

Playing royalty almost feels like a shortcut to winning big-time gold. However, Cate Blanchett is one of those exceptions that sets the rules. While she would later win trophies for The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, Blanchett’s first bid for an Academy Award came in 1999, thanks to the titular role in director Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth. 

Anthony Hopkins - The Silence Of The Lambs

Horror is one of those genres that doesn’t seem to get much love on the awards circuit. However, when the results are something as chilling as director Jonathan Demme’s adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs, containing Anthony Hopkins’ equally unsettling performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, it’s hard not to take notice. Score another First Timer’s Club victory, as Hopkins took home the gold his first time up.

Charlize Theron - Monster

Portraying the criminal mind provides such an allure for actors and auteurs alike. A case proving that point was Charlize Theron’s portrayal of convicted killer Aileen Wuornos in Patty Jenkins’ film Monster, her first nomination out of three at the time of this writing. Theron won the Best Actress trophy on the first try in 2004, all thanks to this tale of true crime. 

Christian Bale - The Fighter

Able to disappear completely in any character he plays, Academy Award winner Christian Bale has four nominations to his name. Equally split between Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor accolades, his first roll of the dice in 2011 landed him a win in the former category; thanks to David O. Russell’s The Fighter. 

Kate Winslet - Sense And Sensibility

The works of Jane Austen are another one of those sources that seem to periodically score nominations at the Oscars. Kate Winslet’s first is part of the proof, as the first of her current total of seven Academy Award nominations (and one win) came from 1995’s Sense and Sensibility. Ms. Winslet’s heart would go on to win Best Actress…in 2009, for Stephen Daldry’s The Reader.

Denzel Washington - Cry Freedom

Let’s see if King Kong knows this piece of movie trivia. Actor Denzel Washington has had 10 Oscar nominations, with two wins coming from that pool. While most would be tempted to cite his win for Glory as the first time he was nominated, that is incorrect. Washington’s first Academy Awards ceremony happened two years earlier in 1988, for his part in the film Cry Freedom. 

Kathy Bates - Misery

Frightening characters can make for the most golden of dreams, as was proven with 1991’s Academy Awards. Kathy Bates took home her first award on her first nomination, through the role of Anne Wilkes in Rob Reiner’s Misery. A “brilliant” adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, this fan favorite is one of many that’s seen the famed horror author’s work turning in some of the most well-regarded films and performances of all time.

George Clooney - Good Night, And Good Luck/Syriana

Here’s a wild story: George Clooney’s first Oscar nominations came from not one, but two films he was involved with. 2006’s Academy Awards saw the ER veteran land and win Best Supporting Actor for his role in Syriana, while one of CinemaBlend’s 100 best movies of the 2000s, Good Night, And Good Luck., netted him a Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay nod in that same contest.

Helen Mirren - The Madness Of King George

Did you know that half of Helen Mirren’s four Oscar nominations came from playing royalty? Surely most know of Mirren’s win in 2007 as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen. But, dear readers, another queen marked the start of Dame Helen’s Academy Awards history. Her Best Supporting Actress nod in 1995 for The Madness of King George would be her initial foray into this circuit, playing Queen Charlotte to Nigel Hawthorne’s titular monarch.

Judi Dench - Mrs. Brown

Dame Judi Dench is another regal figure that practically screams “Oscar” when you see her. Another member of the club of actors winning as royalty, Dench would win in 1999 for her as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. That was only on her second try, because in 1998 Dame Judi received her first nomination, playing Queen Victoria in the film Mrs. Brown.

Dustin Hoffman - The Graduate

And here’s to you, Mr. Hoffman; Oscar came a’calling very young. At 30 years old, Dustin Hoffman saw his first Academy Award nomination through starring in 1967’s The Graduate. What may be more surprising than the actual 6-year age gap between himself and co-star Anne Bancroft is that his first Oscar win would take place 12 years later, with 1980’s Kramer vs. Kramer.

Susan Sarandon - Atlantic City

Five nominations and one win are actor Susan Sarandon’s Academy Award legacy, at the time of this writing. But her first nomination was from an Oscar-buzzed title that most folks may not remember: 1981’s Atlantic City. With nominations in “The Big Five” categories, Sarandon and the film at large walked away empty-handed that year.

Russell Crowe - The Insider

Before his name was Maximus Decimus Meridius, Russell Crowe found himself heading to the Oscars under a different moniker: Jeffrey Wigand. Nominated for the first time in 2000, Crowe’s role in Michael Mann’s whistleblower drama The Insider gave the Australian actor his first golden thrill ride. One that he’d repeat in 2001, and win for through the strength and honor of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.

Angela Bassett - What’s Love Got To Do With It

Surprisingly, Angela Bassett only received her second nomination as part of 2023's Academy Awards, thanks to Marvel Studio’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Bassett’s first nomination came from playing royalty of a different type, as her lead role in the Tina Turner biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It saw her walking the Oscar red carpet in 1994.

Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Count this as another shocker in Oscar nominations history: Gary Oldman only received his first Academy Awards nomination in 2012. You’d think the Bram Stoker’s Dracula actor would have had more than the three nods and one win he currently holds. However, his dreams of golden splendor only started after he played George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 

Julia Roberts - Steel Magnolias

With three nominations and one win, Julia Roberts’ odds of firing you up or making you cry with her Academy Award-nominated projects are officially even. Her first time in the race came in 1990, in the dramedy classic Steel Magnolias. For those of you who haven’t seen the film, we’ll leave it to you to find out which bucket this particular nom falls into on your own time.

Al Pacino - The Godfather

Some roles are such an indelible part of an actor’s career, they just had to land an Oscar nomination for it. Al Pacino is certainly one of those cases, as he would turn his first Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Godfather into a Best Actor nod in The Godfather Part II. Both stem from his portrayal of Michael Corleone, the favorite son who descended into darkness and power.

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married

“It came true.” Those three words marked the end of Anne Hathaway’s journey to Oscar gold, with her second nomination and first win for Best Supporting Actress in Les Miserables. But the beginning of Ms. Hathaway’s Academy Awards journey was in 2009, when she was nominated for Best Actress in Rachel Getting Married. 

Matt Damon - Good Will Hunting

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck both won their first Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, thanks to 1998’s Good Will Hunting. But much like other members of the First Timers Club in this list, Damon’s first victory was also his first time at the dance. How ‘bout dem apples indeed.

Jennifer Lawrence - Winter’s Bone

The second time was the charm for Jennifer Lawrence, as her role in Silver Linings Playbook made her a winner in 2013. That wasn’t too long after her initial foray into Oscar victory, which came in 2011 thanks to her lead role in the neo-noir gem Winter’s Bone. Who’d expect any less from the eventual "girl on fire" that would lead The Hunger Games to box office domination?

Ben Affleck - Good Will Hunting

Sailing on the same current as his writing partner and longtime buddy Matt Damon, Ben Affleck’s first Oscar nomination came from his co-authoring of Good Will Hunting. And to think, if Damon and Affleck’s hijinks involving the script hadn’t worked, we may never have seen either contributor go on to the storied careers they enjoy today.

Samuel L. Jackson - Pulp Fiction

Fans of Samuel L. Jackson are about to engage in some harsh language, as the current MCU star only has one Academy Award nomination. While it’s rightful for his Best Supporting Actor-worthy role in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, the man’s gone on to deliver several other powerhouse performances worth at least a nod or two. This is something that not even the tastiest beverage could wash away.

As an actor, you never know where that first win or nomination is going to come from. And when you're an A-lister as iconic as the people we've just discussed, those initial impressions are all the more interesting to look at as time goes on. Who knows where these blockbuster draws will find their next brush with golden glory, and how it will compare to these humble beginnings? 

The list of Best Picture winners is short, and exclusive, which means that even some of the most acclaimed, decorated, and generally well-liked actors of all time haven't taken home the grand prize at the Academy Awards. You might be surprised by the number of celebrities we have listed below — many of which have Oscars of their own — that have never starred in a Best Picture winner.

Denzel Washington

As one of a few actors who have two Oscars to their name, you might assume that some of the best Denzel Washington movies were also guaranteed a Best Picture win, right? Surprisingly, the star of Glory and Training Day has never made a movie that won the Academy's big prize, but at least he can say that King Kong still ain’t got nothing on him.

Heath Ledger

If what many consider to be one of the Academy’s greatest mistakes (awarding Crash Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain in 2006) had not happened, Heath Ledger’s name would not be on this list. However, the late Australian actor still left behind a stunning legacy only so many actors can dream of. Notably, he won a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as the Joker in one of the best superhero movies, The Dark Knight.

Christian Bale

Five of Christian Bale’s best movies have been nominated for Best Picture (The Fighter, American Hustle, The Big Short, Vice, and Ford v. Ferrari), but to no avail. At least his performance in The Fighter — David O. Russell’s 2010 boxing biopic — earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Robert Downey Jr.

It is already hard enough to believe that Robert Downey Jr. has only two Oscar nominations (for Chaplin and Tropic Thunder), and that none of his many great movies outside of the MCU have achieved the highest honor, either. However, things could change at the 2024 Oscars, given his stunning work in the Oppenheimer cast and the promising chances for Christopher Nolan’s glowing biopic.

Toni Collette

Toni Collette is an extraordinarily talented actor with the accolades to prove it, including an Oscar nomination for 1999’s The Sixth Sense. However, the classic M. Night Shyamalan movie is also one of a few Toni Collette movies to be nominated for Best Picture (also including 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine), but she hasn't been in a winner yet.

Will Smith

From TV sitcoms to sci-fi blockbusters to critically acclaimed biopics, Will Smith’s filmography is pretty extraordinary, but it does not include Best Picture winners. If that does change for him soon, he may be unable to celebrate the honor in person. This is because he has been banned from future ceremonies for the next decade after slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars — which also happened to be the night he won Best Actor for King Richard.

Harrison Ford

Two of Harrison Ford's most iconic characters were featured in two Best Picture Nominees -- the original Star Wars movie, where he played Han Solo, and the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark -- but neither of them won. At least Ford, who does have an Oscar nomination for fellow Best Picture nominee 1985’s Witness, can say those films, among others, made him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

Scarlett Johansson

Some of the most significant films of Scarlett Johansson’s career were Best Pictures nominees — such as her breakthrough role in one of the best movies of the 2000s, Lost in Translation, and her dual Oscar-nominated performances the same year for Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story. Of course, none of these films took home the top prize.

Ryan Gosling

There was a time when it seemed like Ryan Gosling would not be eligible for a list like this when we thought La La Land won Best Picture in 2017. However, it turned out to be a case of mistaken envelopes and the real winner was Moonlight. The Barbie cast member was also in the nominated film The Big Short, and there are sure to be more Ryan Gosling movies getting Oscar consideration.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close is one of those actors whose longtime losing streak at the Academy Awards — eight nominations, zero wins — continues to baffle audiences. Add on the fact that none of her best movies have won Best Picture either and the notion becomes simply unspeakable.

Jennifer Lawrence

The Academy loves Jennifer Lawrence — nominating her four times and awarding her the Best Actress Oscar for 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook. However, they seem to like her just a bit more than Jennifer Lawrence’s best movies, none of which have received the Best Picture award.

Julia Roberts

I suppose Julia Roberts’ multiple nominations and one win — for Erin Brockovich — had me convinced that she had been in a Best Picture winner at some point. In truth, said biopic from 2000 is actually the only Best Picture nominee among Roberts’ filmography so far, and it lost to Gladiator.

Meg Ryan

Would you believe that Meg Ryan has never been nominated for an Academy Award? Well, what if I told you that none of her movies — which include some of the best romantic comedies of all time, like When Harry Met Sally — were considered for the top prize either? Some talents just do not get the recognition they deserve.

Laura Linney

Curiously, Laura Linney has been nominated for her performances in 2000’s You Can Count On Me, Kinsey from 2004, and 2007’s The Savages — none of which even received Best Picture nominations. She has been in a Best Picture nominee though — Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River — however, that did not win either.

George Clooney

For a while, George Clooney’s filmography seemed to consist primarily of Best Picture nominees, such as Syriana (for which he won Best Supporting Actor) and Good Night, and Good Luck (which also earned him nods for writing and directing). However, in terms of the Best Picture category, that’s all any of them ever amounted to being; nominee.

Samuel L. Jackson

With a resume as lengthy and renowned as his, you would think Samuel L. Jackson has been in at least one Best Picture winner but he has not… yet. He has starred in quite a few Best Pictures nominees — many of which are Quentin Tarantino movies like Pulp Fiction, for which he received his sole Oscar nomination.

Hugh Jackman

Tom Hooper’s 2012 adaptation of Les Miserables earned eight nominations including one for Best Picture and and another for Best Actor for Hugh Jackman, but those categories were not among the three it did win. At least the Australian X-Men movie star has had the honor of hosting an Oscar ceremony before.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt has won a Golden Globe for Gideon’s Daughters, a Screen Actors Guild Award for 2018’s A Quiet Place, and three BAFTA nominations for The Devil Wears Prada, a special “Rising Star Award” from the same year, and The Girl on the Train. However, never has the Academy given her a nod, nor have any of Emily Blunt’s movies even been nominated for Best Picture.

Jake Gyllenhaal

The fact that Jake Gyllenhaal has only been nominated for an Oscar once — for Best Supporting Actor in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain surprisingly enough -- is crazy. To learn that said LGBTQ+ romance movie is the only film of his to receive a Best Picture nomination is equally baffling.

Matthew McConaughey

Mathew McConaughey has starred in two films nominated for Best Picture — Dallas Buyer’s Club, for which he won his Best Actor Oscar, and The Wolf of Wall Street — which were both released in 2013. Even with favorable odds like that, neither acclaimed drama took home the gold that year.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has been nominated for three Oscars, and she took home one in 2011 for Black Swan. Darren Aronofsky’s twisted tale of ambition gone too far is also the actor’s only film to be nominated for Best Picture.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman is one of those actors who was overdue for his Oscar for a long time before he broke the streak with his transformative performance as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. Before (and after) his win, the British actor appeared in just a couple of Best Picture nominees — namely Oliver Stone’s JFK and David Fincher’s Mank.  

Amy Adams

The fact that none of Amy Adams’ movies have earned a Best Picture Oscar — despite six being nominated, including American Hustle and Arrival — is not particularly shocking. What is shocking is that the actor also has six nominations of her own and has never won any of them.

Angela Bassett

Years after she was nominated for an Academy Award as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It, Angela Bassett made history as the first actor to receive an Oscar nomination for a Marvel movie performance (as Queen Ramona in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). Yet, her first Marvel movie, 2018’s Black Panther, is her only Best Picture nominee. 

Jeff Bridges

In addition to taking home an Oscar for Crazy Heart, Jeff Bridges has many Best Picture nominees under his belt, from 1971’s The Last Picture Show to Hell or High Water from 2016. Not a single one of them took him the grand prize, but I think the Academy’s biggest misstep in regards to acting legend was not nominating him for playing The Dude in The Big Lebowski.

Michael Caine

Despite two Academy Award wins to his name (one for 1986’s, Hannah and Her Sisters, and the other for 1999’s The Cider House Rules) Michael Caine cannot say he has starred in a Best Picture. Unfortunately, since the 90-year-old actor told The Telegraph that he is “sort of retired now,” he may never receive that honor.

Robin Williams

The late Robin Williams led a tremendous, widely beloved career that really made us laugh, through movies like 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire, as well as cry, like with his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting. That 1997 favorite and 1989’s Dead Poets Society are the only two Best Picture nominees he starred in.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry gave a landmark performance in 2001's Monster's Ball which earned her a historic Best Actress Oscar win. However, that film was not nominated for Best Picture, and neither has anything else the actor has starred in.

Sean Penn

Sean Penn has won Best Actor twice -- first for 2003's Mystic River by director Clint Eastwood and second for the title character of the powerful 2008 biopic, Milk. Neither of those acclaimed dramas got a Best Picture win, leaving the Fast Times at Ridgemont High cast member empty-handed in that particular regard.

Sandra Oh

With 13 Emmy nominations to her name, former Grey's Anatomy cast member Sandra Oh is better known as one of the greatest modern actors from the small screen. That would explain why her otherwise impressive big screen career -- which includes Alexander Payne's Best Picture-nominated Sideways -- does not include any grand prize winners at the Oscars at the moment.

Bradley Cooper

The otherwise bewildering fact that none of Bradley Cooper's many Oscar-nominated performances -- such as in 2012's Silver Linings Playbook or 2014's American Sniper -- nor his many Best Picture-nominated films -- including the two aforementioned films -- have resulted in any wins is not particularly a concern of mine. What I am surprised, and concerned, about is the snub for directing A Star is Born, which hopefully gets made up for when the upcoming Netflix movie, Maestro, comes out.

Viola Davis

I am happy that we live in a world in which an actor of momentous talent such as Viola Davis has been recognized and rewarded by the Academy with her Oscar win for 2016's Fences. That alone makes me, at least, content with the fact that there are still no Best Picture winners on her resume as of today.

Perhaps there will come a day when the names on this list change drastically and many of the actors above can say they have been in a Best Picture Oscar winner. For now, just keep cross your fingers and keep your hopes up for the next ceremony.

I’ve been told time and time again that Arrival is a masterpiece, and it’s one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. I have absolutely no reason for waiting seven years to watch this film. I love Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Denis Villeneuve also blew me away with Dune. I knew I’d like this movie, and I did, I adored it. What I wasn’t expecting was for the ending to break my brain, but I’m so happy it did, and we have to discuss it. 

What Happened At The End Of Arrival

Basically, the end of Arrival reveals that the alien’s language makes it so time is not linear, and you can see the future, or at least that’s how I understood it. There’s a pivotal scene in the movie after one of the aliens dies saving Louise and Ian, where Amy Adams’ character goes back to talk to the surviving creature. It reveals to her that they came to Earth to give the gift of time, or the ability to see into the future. This realization completely flipped my understanding of what I was watching on its head.

For the entire movie, we’re led to believe that Louise has taken this mission to translate an alien language after she lost her daughter. I was viewing the film from her perspective with an air of grief to it. However, this turned out to not be the case at all. What I assumed were flashbacks were actually flashforwards. 

With this new knowledge, Louise uses it to figure out the information needed to convince a Chinese general to stand down, and she essentially stops a world war from breaking out. This all happened because she looked into the future to find an answer to a question the general gave her at a party long after the war ended. 

After the mission and Louise coming to the realization that the aliens’ language allows her to see the future, these moments we’ve already seen start to become reality. We also realize that Louise knew about her daughter Hannah’s fate, which is that she’d die of a terminal illness at a young age. We also learn that Jeremy Renner’s character, Ian, is Hannah’s dad who leaves them. 

The movie ends at the start of Ian and Louise’s romantic relationship, with her knowing exactly how it will end. 

Why My Brain Broke Watching Arrival 

When I tell you I audibly gasped when I realized what the aliens’ gift was, I genuinely mean it. My mind was literally blown. My brain broke. I was in awe. Arrival deserved its rave reviews, and there are great reasons why it’s a sci-fi movie with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes (it’s sitting at 94% to be exact). 

The moment I found out Louise could see into the future, and that her daughter was not in the past, it made me rethink literally everything. Much like how humanity had to re-examine their reality when the aliens landed on Earth in this movie, I was left contemplating life, love and time. 

As a fan of Villeneuve, I was obviously here for the gorgeous sci-fi landscape he created, and the grand, yet simple, message about the power of open communication he was delivering. However, the ending will live in my brain rent-free forever, and it’s what solidified this film as a masterpiece. 

I love films that mess with our perception of reality and subvert our expectations. It’s not easy to pull this off, and it’s especially hard to both pull off a plot twist and have it add even more meaning to the film. Watching Arrival reminded me of the first time I watched Interstellar. While they’re both massive grandiose sci-fi flicks with twists that are mind-boggling, they’re also intimate commentaries on the importance of family and the power of communication, as cheesy as that may sound. It was having that realization mixed with comprehending the aliens’ gift and language that broke my brain. 

How Arrival Subverted All My Sci-Fi Expectations 

Looking back at critics' reactions to Arrival it’s clear that it floored them upon first watch, much like how it blew me away. I think one of the major reasons for that is how it subverts sci-fi expectations, especially with the point it hammers home at the end. 

When I think about sci-fi, my brain goes to big action movies that take place in space. That view has changed over the years as I’ve watched films like Dune and Interstellar. However, Arrival was the film that really made me reconsider my view on the genre, and this shift in my understanding of it contributed to how mind-blown I was at the end of the film. 

Aliens and a spaceship are central to this story, yes. However, the primary plot point has to do with two parties simply trying to figure out how to communicate with one another. I’ve always been told that at its core, sci-fi can speak to what’s going on in our own lives, and Arrival did exactly that. 

Thinking about how our world could be better if we kept lines of communication open, took our time and didn’t jump to conclusions is so valuable. Denis Villeneuve was able to clearly illustrate that point through a movie that happened to involve two massive aliens, a really cool spaceship and a plot twist involving seeing into the future. 

The Greater Meaning Behind The Ending Of Arrival And Its Message About Communication

As I’ve noted throughout this article, at its heart, Arrival is a story about communication. What ends up saving humanity is Louise figuring out how to speak the aliens’ language, her realization about how they perceive time, and a phone call that makes it so the lines of communication between the nations are reopened. There was no big battle, instead, it was the sharing of valuable information that led to the conflict’s resolution. 

That alone was mind-boggling and moving. However, what truly broke me was when Amy Adams’ character told her daughter:

That’s when I fully realized Ian was Hannah’s dad, and that these two stories were not linear, but rather more cyclical. 

What ended up dooming their relationship was the withholding of information and the lack of communication. So, when Louise actually told Ian that she knew what would happen, presumably to their daughter, he left. This commentary on human nature and how fallible we are was deeply moving. Coming to that realization, along with taking in all the other elements of Arrival’s ending, especially the seeing the future aspect, is what truly led to my brain being broken as the credits rolled. 

Overall, Arrival is a masterclass in sci-fi and just great storytelling in general. Not only did the cast and crew of this film deliver a thrilling space-based movie, but they also created a profound commentary on the human condition and communication. In the end, it blew my mind, and I’ve been thinking about the film ever since I finished it. 

You can stream Arrival, and pick apart its incredible ending for yourself with a Paramount+ subscription or a Netflix subscription. 

Even though Zack Snyder’s fans won the battle to get the director’s four-hour cut of Justice League released to HBO Max, it turns out there remains a different version of the story that the director wanted to tell – and if he succeeded in adding it to his finished movie, it would have turned DC movies as we know them on their head. Snyder and his screenwriter Chris Terrio were working on drafts of Justice League while the director was busy filming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. They wanted connective tissue to bond the films, which explains why Snyder included the Batman Knightmare future sequence in BvS, and had a time-traveling Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) popping up in Bruce Wayne’s Bat Cave. Snyder planned to pay those moments off… as well as a romance between Batman (Ben Affleck) and Lois Lane (Amy Adams).

There have been rumors of a Batman and Lois relationship for some time now, with Zack Snyder fans combing his existing material for hints as to where it might have emerged in the narrative. Snyder, himself, came on the ReelBlend podcast and shared details for his Justice League sequels, which would have carried a massive arc for Henry Cavill’s Superman and included a baby for Lane. But during a recent appearance on Pizza Film School, as hosted by Joe and Anthony Russo, Snyder opened up about his and Terrio’s plans for Batman and Lois, why they did it, and why they ultimately pulled back. 

As Snyder put it:

As if Zack Snyder needed more motivation for his versions of Superman (Henry Cavill) and Batman (Ben Affleck) to be mad at each other. But yes, you can easily see how a resurrected Superman, learning that Batman was dating his one true love, would take that poorly. It likely would lead to a scene similar to this one, only far more intense:

Zack Snyder has been leaving breadcrumb trails to the story he wanted to tell in his Justice League sequels, and even applauded one fan who came close to deciphering all of it based on symbols included on a t-shirt. That’s how thorough Snyder fans are when it comes to the various theories surrounding how his SnyderVerse might have played out. Expect more of these theories to swirl after Snyder screens his three DC movies in California at the end of this month, and use our guide to Upcoming DC Movies to prepare for the stories coming out of James Gunn’s rebooted universe of films.  

Writer/director Adam McKay’s instincts for political satire have always been killer. Thanks to movies like The Big Short, Vice and Don’t Look Up, laughs are often paired with sharp barbs about actual social issues that have plagued the world at large. While it’s not something we should expect to see on the 2023 new movie releases schedule, McKay’s latest movie is re-teaming him with Amy Adams, as well as bringing Robert Pattinson and more into a story that is absolutely a killer. 

Deadline has reported that the Academy Award winner has his next film planned, and it’s titled Average Height, Average Build. The premise so far is simple, but absolutely in Adam McKay’s wheelhouse. In this movie, Robert Pattinson will be playing a serial killer who has made friends with a lobbyist, played by Amy Adams. His purpose: to get the laws surrounding murder changed so he can do his job a lot easier. 

If you thought that was amazing, just wait until you see who else is on deck, with this project aiming to get into production either in late 2023/early 2024. Also slated for the cast of Average Height, Average Build are fellow superstars Robert Downey Jr., Forest Whitaker, and Danielle Deadwyler. 

While Whitaker and Deadwyler’s roles aren’t specified just yet, Downey is set to play a retired detective who’s obsessed with catching Robert Pattinson’s serial murderer. Much like the forces assembled for his Don’t Look Up cast, Adam McKay has assembled a lineup of prime talent that can deliver his vision with cutthroat precision. 

If this isn’t an example of the right concept in the right hands with the right cast, I don’t know what is. Reuniting McKay with his Vice lead Amy Adams is already the first step into potential greatness. But with Pattinson and Downey set to play adversaries in the realm of law and order, Average Height, Average Build has crossed into a sort of rarified air of potential. 

Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Pattinson have been known to go wild from time to time in their careers. Specifically, the two performances that come to mind in such an ecosystem are Good Time, which is one of Robert Pattinson's best movies, as well as Downey's semi-controversial Tropic Thunder gig. A Downey/Pattinson showdown of crazy could be something beautiful, especially when presented against such a politically charged backdrop. 

If that promise is realized, and with the striking roster that's been put together to do so, this could be another awards darling for McKay to put on his resume. Average Height, Average Build is currently shopping around for a studio home, after which it’ll presumably get into production with the cast specified above. Presumably we might be able to see this movie debut at some point in 2024 if the intended plan holds up. 

If you still haven’t seen Adam McKay’s incendiary satire Don’t Look Up, those with a Netflix subscription don’t have to wait to catch up. Meanwhile, you can next see Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17, which has wrapped production for its March 9, 2024 release date. 

Many people who have tuned in to catch the highly anticipated sequel to the early aughts Disney classic Enchanted seem to be having a magical and hilariously fun time watching it. As more viewers continue to watch Disenchanted they are sharing their thoughts about the nostalgic sequel, and we’ve compiled a few of the very best ones. 

Even though the film has received mixed reviews from critics, it’s clear that fans have been having an absolute blast as they stream Disenchanted with their Disney+ subscriptions. Take this user as an example, they, like me, grew up with Enchanted and used a both hilarious and accurate iCarly meme to tweet about their affection for Disenchanted. 

I feel like this meme in particular really captures what it felt like to sit down and watch Disenchanted all these years after Enchanted. I was 8 years old when the first film came out, and I truly was enchanted by it, so watching the sequel as a 23-year-old brought back all my warm, magical feelings and love for the original. 

Another person on Twitter also tapped into all the nostalgic feels with a hilarious meme from The Office, as they posted: 

Others were psyched to see the return of James Marsden’s over-the-top and lovable Prince Edward. While it felt like there wasn’t enough of Edward in the trailers, and he wasn't in too much of the movie, he did provide some of the most memorable moments, in my opinion. One fan was also incredibly enthusiastic about Marsden’s return as the prince, tweeting: 

While there were lots of fans commenting on the movie as a whole, others were hyper-focused on the music, especially because we actually got to hear the queen herself, Idina Menzel belt her heart out. I mean hearing the Wicked star sing “The Magic of Andalasia” and absolutely slay the power ballad “Love Power” was so fun. 

One person on Twitter captured their excitement while watching the Frozen star’s shining moment in Disenchanted, posting: 

As for the other songs in the film, this user posted a funny meme about Giselle’s tendency to break out into song anytime something went slightly wrong, tweeting: 

I feel like this tweet also encapsulates the general energy of evil Giselle in the movie, and watching Amy Adams switch from good to evil was wicked fun. 

If you re-watch the movie, I’m sure all these silly thoughts from fans will add an extra layer of fun and nostalgia to your viewing. Also, if you go back and watch Disenchanted make sure to look out for all the fun Easter eggs that are peppered all over the sequel. All these fun callbacks and nostalgic memories tied to Disenchanted really do make it a fun and magical addition to the 2022 movie schedule, especially if you grew up loving Enchanted. 

It's been over 15 years since Enchanted charmed audiences and left them begging for more. It took years, but the Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted finally hit Disney+. I loved the original film and have been anxiously waiting for this sequel.

I enjoyed the original because it acted as a tribute to Disney animated films and also poked fun at them. Amy Adams gave a delightful performance as Giselle, and Patrick Dempsey and she have charming on-screen chemistry. You root for their happy ending. Enchanted gave Disenchanted an excellent blueprint to follow.

Disenchanted premiered just in time for the holiday season. It’s a light family film with plenty of musical numbers, talking animals, and wicked villains.   While revisiting Giselle and the gang, I had plenty of thoughts about this Disney+ original movie.  

Warning Disenchanted and Enchanted Spoilers Ahead. Proceed with Caution. 

Disenchanted Makes Me Want More Disney Movies With Multiple Villains 

“Badder” is My favorite song and moment from Disenchanted. It reminded me how much fun a film can be when two villains go at it for supremacy. More movies should show villain-offs. Maya Rudolph and Amy Adams were at their most wicked (and entertaining) during this musical number. 

The brief mentions of some other iconic Disney villains make me want to see even more villain solo movies. We need more villain solo movies, and also more movies where the villains battle each other or even team up to take down a hero.  I know the Descendants franchise exists, but I want to see Ursula teaming up with the Evil Queen or Maleficent and Jafar working together. 

It’s time for Disney to let villains become the focus even more. 

Nancy And Edward Need Their Own Spin-Off Movie 

After rewatching Enchanted,  I was reminded how great James Marsden is in the original film. He really is the perfect Prince Edward. Only an actor like James Marsden can play an incredibly goofy, slightly dimwitted character and make him somehow still kind of charming and lovable.

Seeing him in Disenchanted just reminded me once again how fun this character is and how Marsden plays it so well. Nancy is a major part of Enchanted, but the film limits how it uses her. Her main purpose is to be a barrier to Robert and Giselle’s happy ending. 

Disenchanted allows Idina Menzel and Nancy to shine. She gets a few musical numbers and also more of a personality. Watching Prince Edward and Nancy together just makes me want to see more of them in the human world and Andalasia. 

If Disney decides to expand or continue the world of Enchanted, a spin-off about Nancy and Prince Edward is the logical next step. They’re so great to watch on-screen together. 

Disenchanted Makes Me Miss When Morgan Wasn’t A Moody Teen 

Look, I understand being a teenager sucks. It sucks even more for teen girls, but moody teens in movies make me want to apologize for my past sins as a teen. They are not fun to watch. Unfortunately, sweet-little child Morgan (Rachel Covey) turns into moody teen Morgan (Gabriella Baldacchino) in Disenchanted. She is infuriating at times. 

In Morgan’s defense, she isn’t the worst teen character. Most of her disrespectful behavior (calling Giselle the stepmom, not her real mom!) is brought on by feeling left out because of the new baby Sofia. And worrying that Giselle doesn’t love her as much because she isn’t her birth daughter.

Her insecurities give her a little bit of an excuse to be terrible. However, she makes it hard to root for her until Giselle goes full evil step-mom. Then Morgan steps nicely into the hero role. You almost can forgive her moody teen ways… almost. 

Amy Adams Is Deliciously Fun As A Villain

Amy Adams has given a lot of great performances (some of them you may have forgotten), but Giselle is one of her most fun characters. She is sugary sweet in Enchanted, and Disenchanted allows her to find her villain within. Disenchanted’s strongest moments are when Giselle turns into the wicked stepmother. 

These moments are fun and give the film the weight it needs to add tension. I enjoy both wicked and sweet Giselle. Amy Adams giving great performances in both films proves that she’s an actor overdue for an Oscar. Maybe not for Disenchanted, but for one of her many great films and performances. 

I’m Glad Disenchanted Has More Animation 

Enchantment’s incorporation of an animated element has always been something I really liked about the film.  Before Giselle heads to New York City,  the first ten minutes are pure animation. Disenchanted uses animation throughout the film.

We first see it as Pip (Griffin Newman) reads the story of Giselle to his children. Then animation is used when Morgan goes to Andalasia. We also see glimpses of an animated Edward. It’s just fun to see the film use more animated elements in Disenchanted. 

This almost makes the film more of a hybrid movie of animation and live-action.

It’s Nice To See Giselle, Robert, Morgan, And Sofia Find A Happy Ending In The Suburbs 

TV shows and movies love New York City, so often the suburbs get a bad reputation. It’s portrayed as boring, mundane, and the place where you lose your soul and spirit -- we’ve all seen those movies and shows. So I completely expected Disenchanted to end with them all moving back to NYC. 

This is why I was pleasantly surprised when they decide to stay in Monroeville and make it work. It shows that a suburban life doesn’t have to be this hellhole that movies and TV shows sometimes make it appear to be. It can be a new fresh and exciting beginning. 

Other Thoughts 

Disenchanted has some Easter Eggs and other things we need to discuss. 

• I love that Rachel Covey, the original Morgan, has a short cameo. It makes me glad that she still got to be involved. 
• Gabriella Baldacchino is a pretty good recast, since Rachel Covey and her look kind of similar.  
• The film really has something against cats. I never associated them with evil villains until this movie said it.  
• Idina Menzel could really sing anything and make it sound great.  
• Did the singing appliances remind anyone else of The Brave Little Toaster?  
• Morgan and Tyson (Kolton Stewart) are a cute couple, so it was nice to see a sprinkle of their romance in the movie. 
• I loved seeing well-known Broadway stars, such as Ann Harada and James Monroe Iglehart, have cameos.  
• Glad to see Alan Tudyk voice yet another character that I loved. 
• Pip definitely needs to join the list of adorable creatures who need more screen time. 

Disenchanted is one of the holiday upcoming movies that I was most looking forward to watching. It doesn’t quite have the same spark as the original film, but it’s an entertaining movie of its own. 

Stream Disenchanted on Disney+. 

SPOILERS are ahead for Disenchanted, now streaming with a Disney+ subscription. 

Fifteen years after Disney fans first fell in love with Enchanted, Amy Adams’ Giselle, the cast from the original, along with some new faces have come together for Disenchanted. The sequel follows Giselle and Patrick Dempsey’s Robert as they move out of New York City to the suburbs with a teenage Morgan and their new baby. Although Giselle has spent a lot of time outside of the animated Disney princess world of Andalasia when we catch up with her in Disenchanted, the movie is packed full of Disney references, just like the first movie. 

Disenchanted sees Giselle’s new town looking like home when she wishes for a fairytale life. It leads to numerous opportunities for Disney easter eggs. As director Adam Shankman recently shared with us: 

Adam Shankman spoke to Disenchanted’s Disney easter eggs during the movie’s virtual press conference, in response to CinemaBlend’s question on the subject. He continued by sharing some specific moments from the film, saying: 

That’s right. During Gabriella Baldacchino’s tune titled “Perfect,” Morgan, who is hypnotized like the rest of the town to be a fairytale character, takes up the role of being a classic Disney heroine. As Shankman explained, the scene calls back to various Disney “I Want” songs. Looking back at the scene, I definitely see it. Morgan clutches a piece of material just like Aurora does with Phillip’s cloak in “Once Upon A Dream” and a splash of water erupts behind her like The Little Mermaid’s “Part Of Your World” as she sits on a ledge. 

I’m sure there’s more in that scene alone. Speaking to easter eggs elsewhere in Disenchanted, Shankman also said this:

Sounds like we could spend an entire viewing looking out for Disney references! As Giselle’s fairytale wish comes true, she becomes an evil stepmother, and Morgan becomes the hero of the story. With that, Adams gets to emulate a new side of herself and reference many Disney villains with her clothing, and Pip gets turned into a cat who looks just like Cinderella’s Lucifer. Speaking of Cinderella, the Disenchanted director also pointed out that Jayma Mays and Yvette Nicole Brown wear evil stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella’s iconic dresses as well. 

The movie arrived on Disney+ this weekend to mixed reviews from critics overall and CinemaBlend’s raving Disenchanted review rating it 4.5 out of 5. You can make your own decision as to if the sequel is good or evil. But no matter way, you gotta love that Disenchanted continued the tradition of including all the Disney callbacks as Enchanted did. 

It’s been 15 years since Amy Adams brought her fairytale charm to New York City through princess-to-be Giselle, and fans of the live action Disney film have been looking forward to its sequel Disenchanted for quite a while. The time is finally here, as the movie is currently available for streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The Disenchanted cast sees the return of our old favorites — Patrick Dempsey as Robert, Idina Menzel as Nancy and James Marsden’s Prince Edward (though the trailers don’t show nearly enough of him). There are also quite a few new names to the universe, including comedy greats Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown and Oscar Nuñez.

Disenchanted will see Giselle and Robert moving their family out of Manhattan and into the suburbs. With Adam Shankman directing and Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz behind the music, we’ve been promised some major musical moments, including Idina Menzel finally getting to sing. The reviews are in to tell us what we need to know about this Disney+ sequel before deciding whether or not to settle in for a movie night with the fam. Let’s see what the critics have to say, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Disenchanted. Our own Mike Reyes rates the movie 4.5 stars out of 5, saying it one-ups the original and is one of Disney’s best of the year: 

Amelia Emberwing of IGN agrees that this is a “mostly successful” effort, rating the movie a “Good” 7 out of 10. She warns that people hoping for simply more of the original movie might be disappointed, as Disenchanted takes the story in a different direction. The critic says:  

For Moira Macdonald of The Seattle Times, this movie was well worth the wait, Amy Adams is still a dream, and the sequel is filled with lavish musical numbers. The critic rates it 3 out of 4 stars, saying: 

Not all of the critics enjoy Giselle’s turn as a villain, however. Owen Gleiberman of Variety opines that Amy Adams’ goody-two-shoes character was the highlight of Enchanted, and her transformation into a wicked stepmother leads to a “scattershot” sequel. He says: 

Lovia Gyarkye of THR is also underwhelmed with the follow-up to Enchanted, saying it lacks charisma and curiosity, despite the best efforts of its talented cast. According to the review: 

Giselle's sweet naivety was unquestionably part of what made Enchanted such a classic 15 years ago, and it seems like the critics aren’t all in agreement about the arc her character takes in the long-awaited sequel. Others, however, give it their full endorsement. If you’d like to check Disenchanted out for yourself, the movie is available now for streaming on Disney+. If you’d like to start planning your next trip to the theater, be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule, and see what’s coming to the big screen in 2023.

There’s certainly a strategy in the inner workings of Disney that determines what movies go to streaming, and which ones head to theaters. For two of the more recent films that have been deemed Disney+ originals, a heady current of nostalgia has carried sequels from fond wishes into actual reality. In the case of Hocus Pocus 2, the result was a cute legacyquel that pleases crowds and honors its legacy well. 

With the studio’s latest roll of the dice, director Adam Shankman's Disenchanted, Disney has delivered a sequel that goes above and beyond, expanding the Amy Adams-led story into something even richer and more beautiful.

Catching us up with the life and times of Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey), the follow-up shows us the happy couple uprooting their lives from New York City and heading to suburbia. Growing concerned about her life outside of happily ever after and an ever complicated relationship with her stepdaughter Morgan (Gabriella Baldacchino), Giselle makes a desperate and magical wish she thinks will change her life for the better. 

At this point, the stage in the film is set for what seems like a standard Disney fairy tale, right down to the title of the sequel being Disenchanted. That’s not what audiences are about to experience, though, as what winds up unfurling isn’t just a revisiting the jokes of the first film with a villainous twist.

The sequel to Enchanted is an improvement on the original, and one of the best Disney films of the year.

When it debuted, Enchanted was a sly satire of the traditional fairy tale that also knew when to stick to the formula. It was what made the movie so popular in the first place, as Disney was poking fun at itself with the wide-eyed Giselle while never belittling that innocence. Disenchanted sees our princess still very optimistic and pulling for the best, but also brought a bit more down to earth. 

If anything, the magical element introduced by Amy Adams’ protagonist allows Disenchanted to skew in the other direction. Amping things back up into pure storybook beauty, the rest of Giselle’s family starts to act as if they were in a classic Disney movie. 

Just as brilliantly as Enchanted toed the line between worlds, Disenchanted sends its universe into fully realized, and brilliantly colored life. Musical numbers are plentiful, allowing Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz to yet again weave their magic in the Disney catalog. The villainous twist to this film’s story isn’t merely used as the easy narrative path, as Amy Adams gets to have a lot of fun slowly turning into an evil stepmother. 

Amy Adams’ villain era adds another layer to this well-crafted continuation.

You could practically call Disenchanted a Jekyll and Hyde spinoff with the way that Adams shifts between her bright and chirpy side and the darkness that slowly takes her over in the film. It isn’t a mere scenery chewing transformation either, with a real struggle being depicted between the two halves of Giselle. And if you thought Amy Adams’ songs were fun when she’s goodying things up, her number as an evil opponent to Maya Rudolph's similarly vicious Malvina is one of the best in this impressive new slate.

By embracing the magic that she came from, Disenchanted puts Giselle in a novel position. The very way of life that instilled her with her natural sunshine is now working against her, and it’s just as compelling as seeing her trying to become a more normal, well-rounded person through her previous New York adventure. Humor is still very much present, but the development of the characters in Brigitte Hales’ screenplay (from a story by writers  David N. Weiss, J. David Stem, and Richard LaGravenese) doesn’t happen merely to drive a sequel story. 

Most exciting is the facet of Disenchanted’s story that continues to keep the focus on its female characters. Going as far as to send the male figures in the family off on the standard heroic quests, the spotlight is firmly on Giselle and Morgan for the most part. Working from an organic strategy, the results allow for a movie that wins you over with – what else–  a pure, beating heart. 

Disenchanted finds fresh magic that recalls the best of Disney adventures past. 

The traditionally labeled “princess movies” of Disney’s storied history tend to focus on a heroine who wants some sort of “adventure in the great wide somewhere.” In Disenchanted, the whole universe gets to feel that yearning, and many lessons are learned as a result. The same could be said for this Disney+ original, as through tribute, Easter eggs, and musical references from past tales, the endgame is something that will truly delight fans of such things.

Classical stories are alive and well, but it never feels like Disenchanted is leaning on any one scenario in particular to make an overt message. There’s love for the characters, and the Disney legacy felt from start to finish. Just as before, Giselle and the world around her are treated with the utmost care, and all we have to do is let ourselves get caught up in that world all over again.  

As the evolution of Disney’s princess-centric stories has made great strides on the animated front, the live-action remakes seem to have been lagging behind in recent years. Disenchanted is the sign that while the studio should definitely keep pursuing better in the realm of flesh and blood acting, it’s more than high time to put the same energies into those films that have catapulted the animated canon to beautiful heights. 

The DC Extended Universe is known for keeping fans on their toes, thanks to twists both in front and behind the camera. One recent development that broke the internet was Henry Cavill once again suiting back up as Superman for a cameo in Black Adam. What’s more, he’s expected to star in another upcoming DC movie. Now Man of Steel’s Amy Adams has reacted to Cavill returning as Superman, and shares her thoughts on potentially playing Lois again. After all, you can’t have Clark Kent without Lois Lane!

The DCEU was kickstarted with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, with Henry Cavill and Amy Adams at the foreground of the story. The two actors would collaborate on Batman v Superman and Justice League, but (prior to Black Adam) had both been noticeably absent from the shared universe. She was recently asked by Variety about her co-star returning as the Last Son of Krypton, and she responded saying:

Clearly there’s a lot of love shared between Henry Cavill and Amy Adams thanks to their years playing Superman and Lois Lane opposite each other. They had to bring an epic love story to life, and it sounds like the Doubt actress is glad that he’s finally returned to his signature role. But the question is, who else is returning alongside him?

Amy Adams’ comments to Variety come from the premiere of her new Disney+ sequel Disenchanted. Eventually the conversation turned to the DCEU, which actors like Adams are no doubt used to at this point. While the specific plans for Henry Cavill’s next movie as Superman are currently a mystery to the public, there seems to be universal excitement. And his co-star is no exception in this regard.

But then there’s the big question: will/would Amy Adams return to the role of Lois Lane opposite Henry Cavill? She got honest about this prospect in the same interview, revealing there currently aren’t any plans. She said:

What a class act. While Amy Adams no doubt has a connection to the role she played throughout Zack Snyder’s DC trilogy, she’s not totally taking ownership of it. Namely because so many people have portrayed Lois throughout the years. She would seemingly understand if someone else got the gig, although it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking on the role opposite Henry Cavill.

Henry Cavill only appeared very briefly during the Black Adam’s mid-credits scene, but it definitely sent the internet into a frenzy. When The Rock’s character is speaking with Amanda Waller about how no one on Earth could stop him, Supes suddenly appears. He’s expected to have a starring role next, but it’s unclear if it’ll be a Man of Steel sequel or another project entirely. 

Black Adam is still in theaters now (although it was dethroned from the #1 box office spot), and you can check out Disenchanted on Disney+ on November 18th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. Just don’t expect to see any DC titles, as Shazam 2 was pushed back to 2023. 

15 years ago, Amy Adams became a live-action Disney Princess in Enchanted, and it was a smash hit. As the actress returns to Giselle in Disenchanted, which is part of the latest Disney+ releases coming this weekend, the actress is reminiscing about the moment her delicate and song-and-dance fairytale character was introduced to audiences. 

CinemaBlend attended the Disenchanted virtual press conference, Amy Adams was asked to recall an early memory about the original 2007 film that sticks with her today. Here’s what she shared: 

The original movie came out during 2007’s Thanksgiving holiday to a No. 1 opening weekend and an overall $340.5 million worldwide haul. The movie also received a lot of critical acclaim and the adoration of Disney fans. Disenchanted will premiere on streaming exclusively for those with a Disney+ subscription. 

Disenchanted follows Giselle and Robert over a decade after the events of the first movie. The pair are married and have a baby of their own, and Robert’s daughter is a teenager. When they decide to move to a fixer upper in the suburbs, the family reaches new tensions that leads to Giselle wishing for a fairytale life. With real magic listening in on her wish, she changes the whole makeup of her new town, including becoming an evil stepmother to Morgan, as the Disenchanted trailer teases.

During the press conference, Amy Adams also spoke to how it felt to reprise her Enchanted role all these years later, saying:

Beside Amy Adams, we're also reuniting with Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Idina Menzel, along with a ton of new Disenchanted cast members, like Maya Rudolph as the villain, newcomer Gabriella Baldacchino as a teenaged Morgan and more. Just like Enchanted squeezed in a ton of Disney references, so does Disenchanted as a new story about these beloved characters unfold.  

You can see Amy Adams’ return as Giselle when Disenchanted lands on Disney+ on Friday, November 18. 

Since Disney+’s inception, the House of Mouse has been steadily releasing TV and movie content. One of the most hotly anticipated upcoming original movies coming to the streaming service is Adam Shankman’s Disenchanted, which serves as the sequel to 2007’s classic Enchanted. But the first two trailers for the new movie are missing one major piece to the original’s success.

When Enchanted hit theaters back in 2007, it was a critical and box office hit. As such, fans have been waiting for the sequel Disenchanted for quite some time. And while the trailers have revealed the plot and even a brief clip of Idina Menzel singing, what they’re missing is adequate screen time for James Marsden’s Edward. After all, he was the biggest screen stealer from the first movie.

The fun of Enchanted’s comedy came from Disney cartoon characters suddenly being dropped in New York City. Both Amy Adams and James Marsden were hilariously bonkers in their performances as Giselle and Edward respectively, although the X-Men actor was really chewing the scenery. While I’m eager to see him and Idina Menzel’s Nancy return in Disenchanted, the fact that Marsden has so little screen time so far gives me pause.

That’s not to say that James Marsden is totally absent from the first Disenchanted trailers. He and Nancy magically appear at the home of Giselle and Robert (Patrick Dempsey), bringing with them a song and gift for the family. But as the footage has focused on the main story about Giselle turning into a villain, pushing Edward to the background. Indeed, it was Idina Menzel’s Nancy who got more focus rather than everyone’s favorite cartoon Prince. As a reminder, you can check out the latest full trailer for Enchanted’s sequel below.

Of course, the total amount of footage released from Disenchanted is still very limited, at least until its release for those with a Disney+ subscription. So it’s more than possible that Disney’s marketing wants to save James Marsden’s most comedic beats as Edward in the streaming sequel. After all, trailers have been known to spoil movies before, to the dismay of moviegoers. 

Given how many years it’s been since Enchanted was released in theaters, this movie is a very long time coming. Fans have asked the cast about a potential sequel for years now, and it was thrilling to learn that it finally came together. Of course, the pressure will be on to deliver on expectations, given how beloved the OG movie is.

It certainly looks like Disenchanted will be quite different from its predecessor, moving the action out of New York City entirely. We’re also being introduced to a number of new characters, joining the quartet of returning actors. We’ll just have to see how much screen time James Marsden ultimately gets as Edward.

Disenchanted will release exclusively on Disney+ on November 18th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Over the past few years we've seen Disney+ become a powerful force in the entertainment world, delivering both TV and movie content. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming releases has been Adam Shankman's Disenchanted, which serves as a sequel to the 2007 classic Enchanted. And the movie's trailer reveals Amy Adams' villain era, and shows Idina Menzel singing for the first time in the franchise.

The first Enchanted movie was a box office and critical success, and fans have long waited for a sequel to finally arrive featuring the same starring cast. Luckily Disenchanted is almost here, and will allow Idina Menzel to use those magical vocal cords, after noticeably not singing at all in the first movie. As you can see in the trailer above, which also shows Amy Adams' Giselle turning into a villain.

The trailer opens on protagonists Giselle and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) in the midst of their happily ever after. They move out of the city with his daughter Morgan (Gabriella Baldacchino), who doesn't seem thrilled about the change of location. Eventually things get magical, starting with the arrival of James Marsden and Idina Menzel's Edward and Nancy. The two sing a quick Andalasian diddy, which I hope isn't the only time we'll get to hear the Wicked icon sing in this long-awaited musical sequel which is arriving for those with a Disney+ subscription. 

This new trailer for Disenchanted help to reveal the main plot of the upcoming movie, which seems to revolve around a spell and magical wand wielded by Amy Adams' Giselle. When wishing for her life to be a fairy tale, eventually she herself becomes a wicked stepmother. And the spell also branches out to the town at large, including new characters played by Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Glee's Jayma Mays. 

Of course, it doesn't look Giselle will be the only villain seen throughout Disenchanted's reported 120-minute runtime. The other antagonist is Maya Rudolph's new character Malvina Monroe. If Giselle is a wicked stepmother, it seems like Malvina is an evil queen in the new movie. What's more, she somehow has her own  powers, which will result in a magical battle between her and Amy Adams' protagonist. 

While this new trailer for Disenchanted helped to reveal the broad strokes of the upcoming streaming movie's plot, it doesn't seem like the House of Mouse revealed too much of its contents. And as such Adam Shankman and screenwriter
Brigitte Hales should be able to pack twists in the mysterious project. And among the surprises to come are the new songs written by the great Alan Menken. Luckily for fans, the wait until its release is nearly over.

Disenchanted will arrive exclusively on Disney+ November 18th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

We’ve long awaited our reunion with Amy Adams’ Giselle following the 2007 hit Enchanted, and now we finally have our first peek at its upcoming Disney+ sequel. Just as the Disenchanted cast took the stage at the D23 Expo to share with Disney fans what Giselle’s been up to, the trailer also dropped online. It looks like we can now expect the fairytale character turned New Yorker to transition to life in the suburbs with some exciting reunions, new music and a ton more magic spells. 

In the debut trailer for Disenchanted (above) and set to stream this fall, Amy Adams’ Giselle is still singing to animals in high rise buildings, but she and Patrick Dempsey’s Robert are getting ready to start a new life away from the Big Apple. However, their new home is a “fixer upper," and its problems lead Giselle to look to magic to solve her problems. 

As we learn in the first look at the sequel, when they show their new home and life to old friends James Marsden’s Prince Edward and Idina Menzel’s Nancy Tremaine, Edward gives Giselle a way to make a wish and change things to work in her favor. However, when she decides to wish for a “fairy tale life,” everything goes “terribly wrong” as Giselle puts it, because suburban life begins to look like a place right out of a storybook. And, in a wild twist, Giselle appears to become the “stepmother” stereotype to her adoptive daughter against her will. 

As you may recall from the 2007 film, as Giselle falls in love with Robert, she also creates a loving relationship with his young daughter, Morgan. When we pick up in Disenchanted, Morgan is now all grown up and played by Gabriella Baldacchino instead of Rachel Covey, and Giselle has a new child with Robert. However, as all these fairytale things pop up around their new town after Giselle’s wish is granted, such as talking animals, music numbers and jaw-dropping ball gowns, she begins doing terrible things to Morgan, like locking her in rooms and pushing her into wells. Will Giselle become her own fairytale world’s villain? 

With the trailer capping off with Giselle catching herself saying “Wicked good!” in a bit of a bad gal tone, we’re going to have to get ready to see a new side of the usually gentle protagonist. All the while, there’s a new major character in Maya Rudolph’s Malvina Monroe, who is a major player in the suburb. She gives off big villain vibes too, especially in one scene where she rocks an all-black fairytale getup we previously got a look at back in May. 

Along with the trailer reveal, Disney also revealed the official Disenchanted poster. Take a look:

The tagline is “Happily Never After.” As a longtime fan of Enchanted, the trailer for Disenchanted has me super excited for the sequel. And while we have a good idea of what the plot will be, there’s a lot left to find out about the movie, including Alan Menken’s original music for the movie, following his work on the previous film. Disenchanted is coming to those with a Disney+ subscription on November 24.  

Of the many live-action tales Disney has amassed in recent memory, one of the best is arguably Enchanted. It wasn’t a remake, but rather a comedic imagining of how a Disney princess might react to the real world. After years of conversation around a sequel, the House of Mouse has made a sequel called Disenchanted. We finally have the first official look at the Disney+ movie, and the costumes are certainly something else. 

Ahead of the highly-anticipated release of Disenchanted, Disney+ posted an image from the film along with announcing when we can expect to see Amy Adams’ return as Giselle. Check it out: 

Amy Adams’ Giselle can be seen on the left wearing a whole new look for the Andalasian. She is wearing a peacock-inspired dark blue dress and her red locks in a beautiful updo. She is giving the side eye to a new character played by Maya Rudolph, and I’m sorry, but she clearly is wearing a black wig and a crown that looks straight out of a Renaissance faire gift shop. 

Maya Rudolph is set to play the villain in Disenchanted following Susan Sarandon playing the evil Queen Narissa in the 2007 original. The new character is reportedly named Malvina Monroe, and she’ll be the woman overseeing a new neighborhood that Giselle and her family move into. Malvina will have ill-intentions that will serve as the main conflict of the film, but for now, we’re unsure what exactly those intentions are. 

Disenchanted will see the return of Patrick Dempsey as Robert, who Giselle falls in love with in New York City after falling out of the animated world of Andalasia. James Marsden and Idina Menzel will also reprise their roles of Prince Edward and Nancy, respectively, after the pair fell in love and got married at the end of the 2007 Disney flick. 

Giselle’s happily ever after in Enchanted involved her remaining in New York as Robert's romantic partner and presumably the new mother to his young daughter, Morgan. In Disenchanted, Morgan will be all grown up (and played by newcomer Gabriella Baldacchino). The entire Disenchanted cast list is stacked with talents also including Oscar Nuñez, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jayma Mays among others.  

What’s peculiar about the new image is when Enchanted had its characters wear fairytale costumes, it’s usually in animation. Perhaps Giselle and Malvina are in some sort of faire or festival, and the costumes are supposed to be this wild. We won’t have to wait too much longer considering it’s also been announced that Disenchanted is coming this Thanksgiving. If you want to mark your calendars for that, the release date is presumably November 24, 2022, or at least on that week.  

Either way, it’s great to see Amy Adams back in her beloved Disney character, 15 years after the release of Enchanted. I'm wondering how Giselle has changed since she first stepped into Times Square in a massive wedding gown. Disenchanted, which wrapped production last summer, was directed by Hairspray and A Walk To Remember director Adam Shankman, and will include new music from legendary Disney composer Alan Menken. 

Disenchanted will be available to watch exclusively with a Disney+ subscription when it drops later this year. 

Quicker than you can say Disney live-action remake, in 2007, Amy Adams’ Giselle went from 2D to 3D and in the flesh during Enchanted. The modern musical fairytale served as a fun love letter to the Mouse House's classic princesses and was a charming comedy for the whole family. After a 15-year break and numerous questions regarding the sequel’s future, Disenchanted has finally arrived, bringing with it those beloved characters as well as some new faces to the Disney+ exclusive.  

So, before or after you watch the Adam Shankman-directed musical comedy (with new music from Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz), you will probably want to know where you’ve seen and heard the Disenchanted cast before. Well, worry no more, for we have put together a quick yet comprehensive rundown of the actors in the long-awaited sequel.  

Amy Adams (Giselle)

An Enchanted movie just couldn’t happen without Amy Adams, and the actress is indeed returning to the role of Giselle from Disenchanted. The movie will take place 15 years after Giselle’s happily-ever-after with Robert and follow the couple as they move to a new house in a town called Monroeville. When speaking about reprising the role last year, Adams said it was “humbling” to do even more singing and dancing “not in my 20s.”

Since last taking on the leading role in Enchanted, Adams has become one of the most prolific and decorated names in Hollywood, earning two Golden Globes (American Hustle and Big Eyes), multiple Oscar nominations for movies like The Fighter and Vice, and praise for roles in the likes of Arrival, Sharp Objects, and Nocturnal Animals.

Patrick Dempsey (Robert Philip)

Giselle’s true love Robert is also back, with Patrick Dempsey returning to complete Enchanted’s sweet romantic pairing. In the 2007 flick, Giselle and Robert were complete opposites and from completely different worlds, with her being from a literal fairytale and him being a widowed divorce lawyer. But as the events of the film take place, Robert and Giselle fall for one another and form a cute family with Robert’s young daughter, Morgan.

Dempsey, who was in the early days of his run on Grey’s Anatomy when Enchanted was released, has remained just as busy since then, despite leaving the medical drama in 2015 (he did briefly return for the show’s 17th season). Movies like Made of Honor, Bridget Jones’s Baby, and The Art of Racing in the Rain have all featured the versatile actor in the past decade-and-a-half.

James Marsden (Prince Edward)

The jolly singing Prince Edward of Andalasia also returns in Disenchanted. James Marsden plays the role once again after he provided some particularly memorable and hilarious moments in the original. While he and Giselle originally fell in love in the fairytale world, once Giselle met Robert, Edward also found a new partner in Robert’s girlfriend Nancy, and at the end of the film, they got married in Andalasia.

Already a massive star prior to his appearance in Enchanted thanks in part to the X-Men movies, Marsden has continued to be a major force in Hollywood. Roles in movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and its 2022 sequel, as well as appearances on the shows like 30 Rock, Westworld, Dead to Me, and The Stand have all kept Marsden in the spotlight the past decade-plus. 

Idina Menzel (Nancy Tremaine)

Nancy Tremaine is also back for Disenchanted, once again being played by the talented Idina Menzel, who has since become a Disney princess herself as the voice of Elsa in Frozen. Funny enough, in the first movie, Menzel did not get to sing a single song, despite her incredible voice. This time around, it looks like the actress will get a music number or two. Which makes sense, because as you can imagine, spending time in Andalasia inspires the song in people. 

In addition to portraying Elsa in the incredibly successful Frozen franchise, Menzel has also appeared in the 2021 Prime Video adaptation of Cinderella as well as the A24 movie Uncut Gems alongside Adam Sandler in 2019.

Gabriella Baldacchino (Morgan Philip)

Robert’s daughter Morgan has grown up since Enchanted, and in Disenchanted, she will return. However, the original actress has been replaced with newcomer Gabriella Baldacchino. Morgan was originally played by Rachel Covey, who is not currently working in acting (Covey has gone on to write and score her own musical called, Painting Faye Salvez though). 

Baldacchino is 21, has a musical theatre background and will make her feature film debut with Disenchanted. 

Maya Rudolph (Malvina Monroe)

Disenchanted's villain will be played by Maya Rudolph, as the actress herself shared in 2021. In the 2007 movie, Giselle was haunted by Susan Sarandon’s Queen Narissa, who was Prince Edward’s evil stepmother, a sorceress who felt threatened by Giselle becoming the new queen. Rudolph’s character, Malvina Monroe, oversees the new neighborhood Giselle and Robert move into, leading to some major conflicts.

Rudolph, who is probably best known for her time on Saturday Night Live and role in the 2011 raunchy comedy Bridesmaids, has done a little bit of everything throughout her career. Comedies and dramas, animated movies and live-action adventures, she’s done it all. She currently leads the Apple TV+ original series Loot.

Oscar Nuñez (Edgar)

Also among the new cast joining Disenchanted is Oscar Nuñez, who provides the face and voice of Malvina’s magical mirror, Edgar.

Nuñez is well known for playing Oscar Martinez on The Office alongside Steve Carell, John Krasinski and the rest of its hilarious cast throughout the show’s run The funny actor has also been seen in movies like 2009’s The Proposal and 2017’s Baywatch. He also showed up in the 2022 action romance film The Lost City earlier in 2022.

Yvette Nicole Brown (Rosaleen)

Disenchanted is packed full of great comedy actors. Yvette Nicole Brown is also part of the Disenchanted cast as Rosaleen, one of Malvina’s evil neighborhood minions. 

The actress is best known for playing Shirley in Community, Dani in CBS’ The Odd Couple and as Dina in ABC’s The Mayor. She has also held numerous movie roles in films, including Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Avengers: Endgame, and Repo Men, to name a few. 

Jayma Mays (Ruby)

Also in the cast of Disenchanted is Jayma Mays, who takes on the role of Ruby, another one of Malvina’s neighborhood cronies. 

Mays is most recognizable as Emma Pillsbury in FOX’s musical series Glee. The actress has also previously held roles in 2011’s The Smurfs movie, Paul Blart: Mall Cop and in a recurring role in The Millers. 

Kolton Stewart (Tyson Monroe)

Locke & Key’s Kolton Stewart, appears in Disenchanted as Tyson Monroe, the son of Maya Rudolph’s villain. 

Like much of the cast of the Disenchanted sequel, Stewart has a song and dance background. His previous work includes roles on shows like The Expanse, Timeline, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, to name only a few.

Ann Harada

Another Broadway talent joining the musical is Ann Harada, who shows up in Disenchanted as one of Robert’s fellow commuters 

Harada was notably part of the original cast of award-winning Broadway musical comedy Avenue Q as the character of Christmas Eve, along with taking the stage for Les Misérables, 9 to 5 and Cinderella. Harada recently appeared  in the Schmigadoon! cast on Apple TV+ and guest starred in Blue Bloods.

Michael McCorry Rose 

A newcomer to Hollywood, Michael McCorry Rose is part of the Disenchanted cast as one of the commuters on the train into New York City, as seen in the movie’s magical trailer.. 

The actor has been part of Broadway musicals, including the Tony Award winning musical A Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder, along with being part of the casts of Wicked and the first National Tour of Anastasia. He has long collaborated with one of the Disenchanted songwriters, Stephen Schwartz, and has also performed with orchestras and symphonies.

James Monroe Iglehart

Broadway’s Genie James Monroe Iglehart appears in Disenchanted as another one of the commuters on Robert’s train into the city. 

The actor won a 2014 Tony for bringing Genie to life in the Aladdin stage musical, but he also took the mantle of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton from 2017 to 2021. He also voiced the role of Lance Strongbow in Disney Channel’s Tangled series among many other TV credits.

That’s quite the exciting group of actors leading the Disenchanted cast, which can currently be watched with a Disney+ subscription. If you want to know what other movies are set to come out in the final weeks of the year, check out all the upcoming 2022 release dates here on CinemaBlend. 

Stream Disenchanted on Disney+.

When it comes to the iconic sitcoms of the late 1990s and early 2000s, one that always pops into my mind is That ‘70s Show, a sitcom featuring a group of teenagers living in the 1970s and learning to grow up in this crazy decade. There's a new spinoff, That ‘90s Show, in production, so it’s only fair that we revisit this great comedy. 

With eight seasons under its belt, there were plenty of random guest stars on That '70s Show, from eventual big-time movie stars to TV legends, none of whom were that big at the time, and you might have forgotten they even appeared on the show. If you’re looking to see who guest starred on the series, here are eight actors that you might have forgotten about. 

Dwyane Johnson - Rocky Johnson

Now, Dwayne Johnson is a household name. He’s popular on social media, is a box-office and streaming magnet, and has a hilarious friendship with Kevin Hart. Everyone probably knows about this wrestler-turned-movie star nowadays, as Johnson's starred in some amazing movies and explored multiple different business ventures, but there was a time where Dwayne Johnson was mostly just known as The Rock in the WWE. 

One of his first roles ever was actually portraying his father, Rocky Johnson, another big-time wrestler, during the That ‘70s Show episode, “That Wrestling Show,” in Season 1. It’s always fun to look back on this episode and think of how far he has come as an actor. 

The Sprouse Twins - Bobby And Billy

Before Dylan and Cole Sprouse became huge from their mega-popular Disney Channel show, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, they had a small appearance on That ‘70s Show, in the episode, “Eric’s Depression,” during Season 4, where they are featured in some hilarious scenes alongside Kelso in the Funland amusement park. 

I’m sure at this point, you’ve heard of the Sprouse twins. As popular as the Olsen twins, in my opinion, both Dylan and Cole Sprouse have gone on to do many things in the spotlight. Cole Sprouse became even bigger by joining the Riverdale cast and has played Jughead Jones for six seasons now (and counting). Dylan Sprouse has starred in several movies like After We Collided and The Curse of Turandot. 

As someone who grew up watching both of them on television, I loved watching this episode with them as little kids. It’s so cool to remember how much they’ve done since then. 

Yvette Nicole Brown - Sgt. Davis

You know, I have seen Yvette Nicole Brown everywhere on TV, in so many different shows, from the Nickelodeon series, Drake and Josh, the cast of Community, to her several guest appearances on The Talking Dead as a Walking Dead superfan. However, when she was first starting out on TV, she had a guest role in That ‘70s Show, during the episode, “You’re My Best Friend” in Season 8. 

It’s so funny to re-watch her as Sgt. Davis, as even then you can clearly see her personality shine through on the screen for the small time she’s there. I always love watching her act. 

Jenna Fischer - Stacy Wanamaker 

Before she became one-half of the most famous couple on The Office as Pam Beesley, Jenna Fischer had a guest role on That ‘70s Show, where she played Stacy Wanamaker in the episode, “Don’t Lie to Me,” during Season 7. 

Her character owned a bridal store and was the complete opposite of the sweetheart that Pam Beesley is - a snob who warns Jackie that she should find someone to marry before her ‘expiration date.’ Just shows how great of an actress Jenna Fischer is. 

Amy Adams - Kat Peterson

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that Amy Adams was a huge part of my childhood, starring in films like Enchanted (which is getting a sequel soon) and The Muppet Movie, while later taking on more mature work in films like Arrival and shows such as Sharp Objects. 

But, before her big break, she had a guest role on That ‘70s Show in the Season 2 episode, “Burning Down the House,” portraying Kat Peterson, one of the most popular girls at school, whom Jackie wants to impress. 

Fun fact - this was actually Amy Adams’ first-ever television role. It’s insane to remember how much she has accomplished as an actress since this first appearance. 

Rachel Bilson - Christy

While many probably know Rachel Bilson from her famous role as Summer Roberts as part of The O.C. cast, when she was first beginning that role, she had a guest-spot on That ‘70s Show. She portrayed Christy, a guest at Mitch’s wedding in the Season 6 episode, “5:15.”

It’s always fun to re-watch the episode and see how she was only interested in speaking to Fez (played by Wilmer Valderrama) when he started acting as if he was rich. Gotta love a gold-digger - and Bilson played it perfectly. 

Jim Rash - Fenton 

Before he was the Dean in the Community cast, Jim Rash played Fenton in That ‘70s Show, a character that would pop up every now and again at a jewelry store, beginning in Season 5 and helping Eric (originally) to buy Donna’s engagement ring. However, he soon becomes the landlord for both Fez and Kelso. 

As someone who had no idea who he was when I originally watched That '70s Show, it’s a joy to re-watch this show again as a Community fan and see him as Fenton. His character is so different from the Dean in Community, and that shows off his acting skills. 

Leslie David Baker - Janitor

Last but not least, we have Leslie David Baker, who portrayed a janitor in the That ‘70s Show episode, “Backstage Pass,” during Season 3. While Leslie David Baker is known more for his iconic role as Stanley Hudson as part of The Office cast, it’s always fun to revisit his small guest role in this show before he became known for that part, and his one little scene with Eric always makes me snicker. 

There are plenty of other fun guest stars who appeared on the show, such as Betty White, Alice Cooper, and many others, but these are some of my personal favorites that you might have forgotten about. Be sure to keep an eye out for them on your next re-watch of That '70s Show.

Dear Evan Hansen has been a huge hit musical on Broadway since it arrived to the New York stage in 2016 and went on to become a Tony-winning production, including receiving the Best Musical accolade. Last weekend, the coming-of-age story’s movie adaptation hit theaters, and fans of Dear Evan Hansen, along with movie fans who’d never watched it on stage, had the chance to see it on the big screen. So now we answer, how did the movie play with audiences? 

Dear Evan Hansen follows the eponymous socially anxious teenager (played by Ben Platt), who is asked to write letters to himself by his therapist. When one of his classmates, Connor, dies by suicide, Evan Hansen becomes unexpectedly connected to him when his parents come to believe that one of Evan’s letters was a suicide note by Connor. 

Critics did not connect with Dear Evan Hansen overall, with many reviewers pointing to “glaring problems” in Stephen Chobsky’s movie and the musical itself. CinemaBlend’s own Corey Chichizola gave the movie a positive review, saying that the movie actually “improves' on the original musical in his 3.5 out of 5 star review. Although Dear Evan Hansen seems to be a decisive movie among audiences, it did receive an impressive A- Cinemascore. So from a moviegoer’s perspective, it was well worth the watch in contrast. 

Let’s get into the big internet discussions among fans about Dear Evan Hansen. First off, many had a bone to pick about the Dear Evan Hansen movie adaptation. 

A Lot Of People Had Problems With The Musical Adaptation 

Movie musicals are often subjected to more scrutiny than the usual adaptations because Broadway fans really know their stuff and truly love the productions they love. In terms of Dear Evan Hansen, a lot of fans are finding joy in making fun of the movie version, with tweets like this: 

Dear Evan Hansen is not your typical movie musical because it takes place in a very palpable place of the present day rather than being based in a fairytale or olden times. It stars Ben Platt, who made the role of Evan Hansen famous on stage, but is currently a decade older than a high school student (we’ll get to that later). It seems like the movie was not impressing even some musical fans: 

Not every musical is going to hit the same! One Broadway fan went as far as to call the movie worse than 2019’s Cats, which is an absolutely savage comment if you’ve read the peculiar buzz around that movie. 

There were plenty of well-reasoned negative reviews about Dear Evan Hansen to add to the conversation. The movie deals with the subject of teen suicide and mental health, and that makes it an especially complex subject to set to the screen. Many have characterized it as “flawed,” especially in terms of its lead character, Evan Hansen: 

Evan Hansen going along with a lie relating to someone’s suicide was not swallowed easily by a lot of audiences. Here’s another disappointed fan: 

Along with the story itself, Ben Platt as the lead also bothered some people. We’ll head to that conversation next. 

The Reactions Were Harsh About Ben Platt's Age 

Ever since the Dear Evan Hansen movie was announced, and especially when the movie’s first trailer came out, a 28-year-old Ben Platt playing a high school student has become somewhat of a meme for the movie. Seriously, people on the internet can’t get enough of making fun of him: 

That one is a tad extreme, but a lot of it may have to do with some of the hairstyling and wardrobe decisions as well for Ben Platt. Additionally, Platt was paired with younger actors playing his classmates, in turn making him being older more obvious. Some of his co-stars, include 22-year-old Amandla Stenberg and 24-year-old Kaitlyn Dever, are honestly not that much younger, but Platt having played a college freshman in Pitch Perfect almost ten years ago doesn’t help. 

The Steve Buscemi “How do you do, fellow kids?” meme from 30 Rock has also been prevalent when people talk about Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen. Additionally, people are having fun making other comparisons at the expense of the Tony-winner. 

You could make the argument that no one knows the character quite like Ben Platt, considering at one point in time he played the character eight times a week. On the other hand, perhaps it was time for the role to be passed on to a younger actor. It’s a contentious topic, but not everyone was turned off by Platt in the role: 

It goes to show that between some heavily negative comments about Dear Evan Hansen, the movie also had plenty of fans too. Let’s close out with those. 

Dear Evan Hansen Struck A Meaningful Chord With Many

Nitpicks aside, Dear Evan Hansen still pleased a lot of people and they took to social media to share their emotional reactions. One fan said it was “everything” he wanted, sharing that the entire theater he went to see it with were in tears thanks to the musical: 

Another fan wanted to particularly shout out to Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Connor’s sister Zoe in the film. She also really loved the new music that was added just for the movie. One of the new songs is called “The Anonymous Ones,” which was written and sung by Amandla Stenberg in the movie: 

Dear Evan Hansen definitely sounds like a tearjerker and it created a profound experience for many people who experienced the movie in its first week. As another fan added: 

There’s certainly a lot of opinions about Dear Evan Hansen and whether you like it or not will defer from person to person. 

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While Disney has regularly been adapting animated blockbusters in live-action, the House of Mouse told a wholly original hybrid story with 2007’s Enchanted. Over a decade later a sequel is finally coming, titled Disenchanted. Amy Adams recently teased the movie’s ‘humbling’ musical numbers, hopefully including a duet with Idina Menzel.

The cast of Enchanted was stacked with Amy Adams starring alongside Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, and Idina Menzel. Despite her iconic singing voice, the latter actress didn’t get to sing in the original film. But Adams did, and it turns out that filming Disenchanted was an entirely different experience for the Arrival actress. As she explained,

While cartoon characters like Enchanted’s Giselle don’t age, the rest of us do. And for Amy Adams, that meant a somewhat more challenging experience with aspects like choreography. But despite this, something tells me the six-time Oscar nominee will end up nailing the musical numbers of Disenchanted.

Amy Adams’ comments about filming Enchanted 2 come from her recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. While sharing excitement for the upcoming sequel and the addition of newcomers like Maya Rudolph, Adams got open about the difficulty that comes with playing Giselle the second time around. We'll Just have to wait and see exactly what musical surprises are coming in the upcoming project.

Disenchanted is expected to be released exclusively on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

As previously mentioned, Amy Adams isn’t the only musical talent involved in the Enchanted franchise. James Marsden sang a number of times in the original movie, starring in Hairspray that same year. But fans are perhaps most excited about Idina Menzel’s character Nancy finally getting a musical number.

The end of Enchanted saw Idina Menzel’s Nancy living in the cartoon kingdom of Andalasia with Edward, while Giselle stayed in the “real world” with Robert. Because she’s presumably been living her life as a Disney princess, the opportunities for the Frozen star to belt it out are endless. We’ll just have to wait and see if Amy Adams gets to duet with Menzel throughout the course of the movie’s runtime.

Disenchanted is currently expected to arrive on Disney+ sometime in 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Film adaptations of musicals have certainly taken off in the past few years, such as Hamilton last year and In The Heights this summer. Now we’re going to see a movie adaption of the smash hit musical Dear Evan Hansen, which won several Tony Awards and will continue its Broadway run after it resumes production after the Covid-19 delay. Evan Hansen, a high school student with Social Anxiety Disorder, has a therapeutic self-intended letter stolen by a classmate named Connor Murphy, who later dies by suicide. Connor's family mistakes the letter as a letter sent to Evan by Connor. Evan then inserts himself into the boy's past, leading to a series of lies and confrontational events.

Ben Platt portrayed the original Evan Hansen in the show’s Broadway run, and he reprises his role for the movie musical (a decision that led to some controversy). The movie musical was directed by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and also features Amy Adams, Kaitlyn Dever, Julianne Moore, Amandla Stenberg, Nik Dodani, Danny Pino, and Colton Ryan. Dear Evan Hansen will premiere in theaters on September 24, but critics have started to share their official reviews, so let's check them out.

Let’s start with the home team. CinemaBlend’s Corey Chichizola enjoyed Dear Evan Hansen, especially Ben Platt’s return to the titular role. Platt won a Tony Award for originating Evan Hansen on Broadway, and Chichizola argued that the actor killed it this time around, too. He also noted that this film iteration allows for viewers to see even more details in the actor’s face, which helps to immerse us in his journey. He also really enjoyed the performances from the supporting cast members, though he noted that some of them were underused, which is a result of the musical having to be condensed into a shorter runtime. Overall, here’s what he said:

Steve Pond from The Wrap also commended Platt’s star quality as Evan Hansen, but he also praised the other characters like Stenberg, Dever, Adams, and Moore. While Pond noted that the narrative is a little too messy at times and that it could have gone with a more nuanced approach to addressing mental health issues, he argued that you will still enjoy the movie musical overall, saying:

Michael Rechtshaffen from The Hollywood Reporter had a somewhat mixed opinion of the drama. He really enjoyed the acting from the main characters (definitely sensing a pattern in these reviews) and the beautiful moments of human connection the film offers. But he argued that those intimate moments too often bump up against distancing cutaways and music video cliches that take away from the impact. Rechtshaffen thought director Chbosky leaned too much into the drama formula aspect, saying:

IndieWire’s Tina Hassannia did not have a very positive review of Dear Evan Hansen. She criticized Chbosky’s direction, such as making Platt’s larger-than-life characterization of Evan Hansen too pronounced, as that affectation works well on stage, but looks too “creepy” on screen. Hassania also noted that the mix of dialogue and song was too choppy. She argued that unfortunately, the music is what will make the drama lose the audience, saying:

Valerie Complex from Deadline also had many criticisms of the movie musical, though she did praise the singing, particularly from Amandla Stenberg. But Complex considered Dear Evan Hansen “terrible,” criticizing the storytelling and the shallow statements on community and class structure. She also argued that it was a problematic choice to force the audience to feel sympathy for a compulsive liar whose mental illness is exploited. Overall, Complex noted:

Well, those were pretty mixed reviews. You'll be able to check out the teen drama soon, as Dear Evan Hansen debuts in theaters only on September 24th. Until then, plan your next movie-going experience with our 2021 new movie release guide.

2021 has become the year of the movie musicals, with a variety of beloved stage productions being adapted for the screen. Dear Evan Hansen is the latest of these projects, helmed by Perks of Being A Wallflower’s Stephen Chbosky. Tony Award winning star Ben Platt is back as the title character, and truly manages to shine in this emotionally exhausting drama.

Dear Evan Hansen became a hit Broadway musical when it debuted back in 2016. Ben Platt had already been in movies like Pitch Perfect, but his ability to weep and sing through such an emotional story was a star-making moment that led to way more TV and film roles. Luckily for those of us who were unable to see his run in New York, that performance has now been immortalized through this film adaptation.

The story of Dear Evan Hansen is a dark one, with mental health and sucide at the center of the narrative. The isolated Evan has a chance encounter with Conner Murphy (Colton Ryan) shortly before his suicide, and a misunderstanding endears him to a mourning family. This includes his crush Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever) and her parents (Amy Adams and Danny Pino). It’s a story about connection, lies, and mourning that makes for an emotional moviegoing experience. Luckily filmmaker Stephen Chbosky is experienced with telling authentic teenage stories.

This difficult material is buoyed by the music of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, who became household names thanks to their work on The Greatest Showman and La La Land. Every musical number helps to raise the stakes, especially when Ben Platt is given the time to embody Evan Hansen’s social anxiety and longing for acceptance. Acceptance is ultimately a theme of the movie, although we’ll have to sit with Evan’s lies and the discomfort that causes throughout most of the movie’s runtime.

Ben Platt Gives The Same Heart And Commitment That Won Him A Tony For Dear Evan Hansen

As previously mentioned, Ben Platt won a Tony Award for originating the title role of Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. His return to the role years later was the cause of some backlash by naysayers, although the film performance doesn’t falter. Platt sounds killer singing those beloved songs, and also gets more stillness and time with the character this time around.

Dear Evan Hansen opens with the show’s biggest anthem, “Waving Through the Window,” which allows the audience to see his invisible Evan feels. This is invaluable to the audience’s experience of the story, which is one where Ben Platt’s character lies time and time again to a mourning family. His own anxiety and isolation makes the situation easier to digest, but the part of Evan needs to be played perfectly in order for the audience to be on his side.

Despite the various cards that may be stacked against him, Ben Platt's triumphant return as Evan is an emotional tour-de-force that deserves to be seen on the big screen. Fans will be able to see every micro expression in the actor’s face, which helps us to be immersed in the title character’s journey. And while the material of Dear Evan Hansen is super heavy, Platt time time again dodges opportunities for melodrama.

Supporting Cast Members Like Julianne Moore Are Underused

Of course, Ben Platt isn’t the only familiar name bringing the story of Dear Evan Hansen to life in Stephen Chbosky’s film adaptation. Platt is the only original actor in the cast, allowing for icons like Julianne Moore and Amy Adams to play the roles of Heidi Hansen and Cynthia Murphy. The movie also got a ton of attention for casting Last Man Standing’s Kaitlyn Dever as Evan’s love interest Zoe. In the end, the movie is a deeply emotional experience filled with stunning performances, although some cast members like Moore do end up being underused.

As is the case with every film adaptation of a Broadway musical, certain songs from Dear Evan Hansen were cut in order to condense the narrative into its 137-minute runtime. While this helps to streamline the story, it also leaves supporting characters like Evan’s mother Heidi without as much screen time. Julianne Moore sings and acts the hell out of the ballad “So Close, So Small”, but unfortunately her other two big songs were cut out of the film adaptation. But unsurprisingly Moore is able to make the most out of every scene and brings a quiet sincerity to the film.

Amy Adams’ role is also smaller as a result of these cuts, although Enchanted fans will be thrilled to hear her singing alongside Kaitlyn Dever and Danny Pino in “Requiem.” But given the pedigree attached to Dear Evan Hansen’s cast, the film does ultimately leave one wanting more from those talented names. For her part Dever gives a solid performance as Zoe, and is able to duet with the likes of Ben Platt.

The Dear Evan Hansen Movie Improves On The Original With Inclusion And Closure

While there are notable cuts in Dear Evan Hansen, there are ways that the movie adaptation improves on the narrative. For one, more inclusion and diversity is brought to the starring cast of actors. Evan’s friend Jared (Nik Dodani) is queer in this adaptation, while the Murphys are a mixed family featuring Cuban American actor Danny Pino as Larry. Additionally, the role of supporting character Alana is expanded, with actress Amandla Beck getting a new song in the process.

But perhaps the best change in Dear Evan Hansen comes from the movie’s ending. While the show’s conclusion is a bit vague, audiences will be given appropriate closure by the time the credits roll. That being said, it’s an emotionally grueling process to get through to the end, so pack your tissues.

Dear Evan Hansen is a solid movie musical with some gorgeous performances. While the story might have suffered a bit in its journey to the screen, it’s ultimately a moving piece that asks some tough, contemporary questions. Now we’ll just have to see if “You Will Be Found” heading back to theaters to see it all shake out on the big screen.

Sometimes when movie casts reunite for a sequel, it’s hard to recapture the winning chemistry they had the first time around. It sounds like that wasn’t the case for the cast members of the highly anticipated Enchanted 2, though -- at least according to Idina Menzel. She revealed what it was like to reunite with co-star Amy Adams, and it sounds like the actresses had yet another magical experience on set.

In Enchanted, Idina Menzel played Nancy Tremaine, a woman caught between two charming men -- Robert Phillip and Prince Edward. For Disenchanted, the Disney+ sequel, she will reprise her role, alongside Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden. Filming recently wrapped on the sequel, and the actress recently gave US Weekly an update on her experience-- and she had nothing but good things to say:

Idina Menzel also had plenty to say about her Oscar-nominated co-star and what it was like to work with her again after so much time in between Enchanted and Disenchanted. The Tony-winning actress continued:

Back in 2007 when Enchanted was released, Amy Adams was just beginning to make a name for herself in Hollywood. Her performance as Giselle is still regarded by many as one of her best to date. Still, in the years since Enchanted, she’s earned numerous accolades and become one of the most recognizable stars of this generation, thanks to a wide range of roles in films like Arrival and American Hustle.

So it’s cool to hear that Idina Menzel -- who has become a superstar in her own right thanks to her other Disney character, Frozen’s Elsa -- was so excited to reunite with her co-star. It’s also good to know that despite how much success she’s gained, Amy Adams remains down to earth -- even when she’s playing a princess, it sounds like she’s keeping it humble.

While Idina Menzel’s great experience on the Disenchanted set should be enough to get fans excited, there’s much more where that came from. From the time the sequel was announced to the recent celebration of production wrapping, we’ve heard tons of buzzworthy details -- including hints from director Adam Shankman that there will be some huge musical numbers. We also know that the film will bring a few classic Disney characters into the fold.

Disney+ hasn’t announced an official release date for Disenchanted yet, but it seems likely that the film will hit the streaming platform some time in 2022.

While generally speaking, one sees the job of a professional Hollywood movie star as looking like it's pretty awesome overall, there are certainly elements of making movies that are likely less fun than others. For some that may be the physical work of needing to get into particularly athletic shape, which is usually accompanied by a strict diet. For others, it could be the emotional toll of having to exist in the headspace of a particular character. Or, for Amy Adams on the set of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it could be having to get your ears vacuumed out after getting a severe ear infection on set.

That's apparently what happened to the actress who played Lois Lane in Batman v Superman. It's also what happened to Ian Seabrook, the director of photography who filmed Adams' underwater sequence near the end of the movie. In a recent piece for Insider about the underwater sequence in Jungle Cruise, Seabrook reveals that the underwater set for the superhero film had a serious rust issue, which resulted in both actor and director suffering. According to Seabrook...

Near the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Amy Adams' Lois Lane tosses a kryptonite spear into a deep pool of water to get it away from Superman. However, when it's realized that the spear is the best weapon available against Doomsday, she jumps in the water to go get it.

The entire area where the final battle takes place is abandoned and full of junk, and apparently to make the scene realistic the crew just used actual junk and didn't pay attention to whether or not it was marine-grade material. Throw normal metal in the water and you get rust. Spend enough time in a pool full of rust and your ears will suffer.

The good news is that Ian Seabrook took extra care of the set of Jungle Cruise to make sure that nobody needed to see an ENT after filming was complete. Seabrook is apparently something of an expert in filming underwater, so if your movie needs that, you call him.

While a lot of underwater sequences in movies are simply handled with CGI now, for those of us that love to see practical effects continue to be used in movies, it's great that there are people not just willing to do things like film underwater but dedicated to the task. As long as those people are out there and available to be called on we probably haven't seen the end of real underwater sequences. Hopefully, with fewer ear infections going forward.

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Disney is known for crafting beloved family friendly animated musicals. But before the House of Mouse started doing remakes of movies like Aladdin, it mixed both animation and live-action in 2007’s Enchanted. The sequel Disenchanted recently wrapped, and we can see how Amy Adams and director Adam Shankman celebrated this achievement.

Since Enchanted hit theaters well over a decade ago, fans were beginning to worry that a sequel would never happen. But the beloved characters will return to the screen in Disenchanted, including Oscar nominee Amy Adams as Giselle. And with the movie finally in the can, Adams and Adam Shankman celebrated, as you can see below

And just like that Disenchanted is officially in the can. While it’ll be some time before the project is completed and given its bells and whistles like visual effects, but the Enchanted sequel has never felt more real. We’ll just have to wait and see what musical adventures are coming our way with the Disney flick.

The above image comes to us from director-producer Adam Shankman’s personal Instagram account. While not actually revealing any sets or costumes for Disenchanted, it’s thrilling to learn that the project has taken such an exciting step forward. Although it does look like Amy Adams is still rocking some of Giselle’s magical hair in this image.

Enchanted’s sequel is currently expected to get its release on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Not much is known about Disenchanted, but the limited information is definitely helping to buoy excitement for Disney fans out there. The new movie will once again feature musical numbers written by Broadway legends Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. The starring cast will also be back to join Amy Adams, including James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, and Idina Menzel. Fans are especially hoping that the latter actress gets a song this time around, as Menzel didn’t get to sing in the first Enchanted.

At the end of Enchanted, Giselle was living her happily ever after in the real world with Patrick Dempsey’s Robert and his daughter Morgan. Meanwhile, Idina Menzel’s Nancy and James Marsden’s Prince Edward got married in the animated world of Andalasia. But the drama is continuing with Disenchanted, and I can’t wait to see how the last 15 years have been to that motley ensemble. There will also be a bevy of new characters in the streaming sequel, including a villain played by the always delightful Maya Rudolph.

Disenchanted is currently expected to hit Disney+ sometime in 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

For any Disney fan who grew up watching and rewatching Mouse House classics like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, 2007’s Enchanted was a breath of fresh air. The movie starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey lovingly made fun of and paid tribute to the studio’s trademarks through a satire of the Disney Princess story by following Giselle as she ventures into New York City. And finally, a sequel is coming with Disenchanted.

The long-awaited followup to Enchanted is currently being filmed in Ireland, with Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Idina Menzel returning, and Maya Rudolph playing the movie’s new villain. So let’s take a look back at one element of the original movie that made it so clever: all the great animated Disney movie references interlaced throughout the film.

The Storybook Opening

Back in the day, an animated Disney movie would always start with a storybook opening sequence. The title of the film would show up on a large book sitting on a stand as the first moments of the story unfolded into the animation. Enchanted does the same thing, and at a time when it had been a long while since Disney used this opening at all. The reference is a great wink to the Disney movies of yesteryear and far from the only one that calls back to the studio’s classics.

Part Of Your World Vs. True Love’s Kiss

In the early animated portion of Enchanted before Giselle goes into live-action in the middle of New York City, she sings a classic princess “want” song with her animal friends about how she’s looking for “True Love’s Kiss.” In the scene, she crafts a makeshift prince out of items around her house. The scene is reminiscent of Ariel’s big “Part of Your World” song in The Little Mermaid. He has the same stance as Eric’s statue, and just like Ariel, when she does find her man, they move very fast with wedding plans.

Tidying Up Like Snow White And Cinderella

Another especially major Disney moment comes during Giselle’s “Happy Working Song.” In the sequence, Giselle sings as she tidies up Robert’s apartment with the nearby animals. It’s a fun moment because it shows what it would actually look like if rats and birds helped someone clean up. It’s slightly less endearing in the real world. Throughout the song, there’s a few visual references, most obviously with some moments in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but additionally with a moment where Giselle’s reflection is in a sud bubble, like Cinderella.

Multiple Disney Princess Actresses Make Cameos

Some more hidden Disney references in Enchanted happen throughout the film. But hey, if you know, you know! Three actresses who voiced major Disney princesses appear throughout the film. First, The Little Mermaid’s Ariel Jodi Benson is the receptionist at Robert’s law office. Then, Beauty and the Beast’s Belle Paige O’Hara can be seen starring in a soap opera while James Marsden’s Prince Edward is flipping through channels. And lastly, the singing voice of Pocahontas Judy Kuhn answers the door alongside a number of children when Edward is scouring the city for Giselle. It's pretty amazing the production added them in!

A News Reporter References Classic Princesses Too

Some more classic Disney Princesses get a brief, but subtle shoutout also when James Marsden is looking at the TV (or the “magic mirror,” as he calls it) and sees Giselle on the TV. Giselle is being interviewed by a reporter who calls herself Mary Ilene Caselotti. Her name is a reference to three voice actresses of princesses: the voice of Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora Mary Costa, the voice of Cinderella's Ilene Woods and the voice of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' Adriana Caselotti. That’s a tough one to catch, so if you did, you’re officially an advanced Disney lover.

The Bella Notte Restaurant

Here’s a soft ball; of course Enchanted also made one of the restaurants named Betta Notte after the song in Lady in the Tramp. Giselle and Robert go to the restaurant in the film and Prince Edward looks for her there later once an incident with Narissa’s henchman Nathaniel happens while he is trying to dispose of her. Also, the poisonous drink he supplies her in the restaurant is an apple martini, which Robert jokes is poison, but it straight up is. Hey, it’s on the nose, but it’s pretty fun that Disney really went there with all these fun references.

The Mary Poppins Chimney Sweeps In That’s How You Know

Okay, I’m not going to lie, when I heard of this detail, I wanted to sit down and cry because it’s so, SO adorable. The show stopping number in Enchanted is “That’s How You Know” and it’s littered with Disney references, including Giselle and Robert gliding down a boat like The Little Mermaid’s “Kiss The Girl” moment. But the best Disney reference in the song is when the actual chimney sweep dancers from the original Mary Poppins movie show up as the older men they now are to do a little dance and offer up flowers to some ladies.

Susan Sarandon’s Narissa Pay Homage To Disney Villains

I could go on with so many more Enchanted nods at other Disney films, but let’s end on a major device for a few great references. The movie’s villain is Susan Sarandon’s Narissa, who is a mixture of a number of famed villains. For one, she uses a crystal ball to track people just like Ursula. Then she dresses herself up like an old hag to trick Giselle into being poisoned like Snow White. Finally, she turns herself into a dragon like Maleficent does at the end of Sleeping Beauty. She’s a whole lot of evil villains in one, and it was super entertaining to see Disney pull it off in live-action at the time.

Now that we’ve gone down memory lane, it’s clear that Disenchanted needs to do some more fun Disney referencing as well. There’s got to be a Frozen reference in there, right? Especially since Idina Menzel has since become an actual Disney celebrity as Queen Elsa after playing Robert’s girlfriend back in 2007. Disenchanted is expected in 2022, so until then, we’ll be dreaming of the music-filled sequel.

For the past year we’ve been waiting to see Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, and Bryan Tyree Henry team up for the claustrophobic thriller The Woman in the Window. The movie is adapted from the 2018 novel from A.J. Finn and directed by Pride and Prejudice’s Joe Wright. Now that the movie has landed on Netflix, we can finally talk about the audience consensus for the new streaming release.

Now, originally, The Woman in the Window was set to hit theaters last fall, until the Fox film was delayed (for obvious reasons). It was later removed from the release schedule and announced as a Netflix title, raising some eyebrows. On the critic front, it’s been greatly panned and for the past week, but it has been high on the streamer’s trending movies. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what the social media chatter has been surrounding The Woman in the Window on Netflix.

Overall It’s Mixed, But Some People Really Liked It

Considering all the bad reviews, a lot of people went into The Woman in the Window expecting a disaster, but that’s not what everyone saw. There’s a range of opinions on the movie that we’ll get to throughout this piece, but first we should recognize the true fans of it. Check out this short review:

The Woman in the Window has fans who have read the book before seeing the movie, and by this Twitter user’s measure it was a good adaptation of the novel, which he really dug. He wasn’t the only one, either. Another fan took to social media to not only second the ‘I don’t get the hate’ take, but send some love the way of Amy Adams and Julianne Moore (who will soon co-star in Dear Evan Hansen). So, here you go:

It’s always interesting to watch a movie that is being broken apart as much as The Woman in the Window and not feel like you 're watching the same film as those critical of it. It’s always better when you like a movie, but it can also just be odd when you feel like you didn’t watch the same thing everyone is talking about. As this person shared:

Hey, movies are subjective! That’s the beauty of them. If you liked something someone else hated, congratulations, you have different tastes then that person. Now, let’s dive deeper into the other elements of The Woman in the Window.

It Left A Lot Of People Bored And Confounded

While it’s been established that there are a lot of different opinions here about Amy Adams’ latest role, and there are those who weren’t feeling it due to the tone and structure of the movie. It sits at one hour and 40 minutes and follows an agoraphobic woman and psychologist who spies on her neighbors and reports a crime in their apartment. One viewer made some progress on the movie before taking to social media to ask people if it was even worth it to keep going:

In reply, a lot of people told her it was “a waste of time,” while others referred her to the book instead. It goes to show that the pacing just didn’t grab some people. Another Woman in the Window viewer complained about the stillness of the movie, which involves a lot of Amy Adams nearby a window. If you like people watching, this might be the movie for you, though:

Some people just couldn’t believe what they were watching. One admitted that they felt like they were hallucinating in the back half of the film, and decided to actually watch it again to see if it was real. It sounds like the movie surprised some viewers in a negative way:

How puzzling. It’s comments like this that may have more people pressing play, purely out of curiosity of what goes on in the film.

Punch The Cat Was A Fan-Favorite

Some movies find an unexpected twist in the characters who fans gravitate towards, and on social media one might be surprised to see so many people ditching praise for the all-star cast to write up posts about Amy Adam’s cat in the film, Punch. One viewer wasn’t super impressed with The Woman in the Window, but chose to give a shout out to the white kitty, because praise is given, where praise is deserved:

Another person was ready to send Punch straight to award season with its performance and cuteness:

Considering the movie revolves around Amy Adams’ character in her home as she deals with witnessing a deadly stabbing, Punch serves as an important companion to her throughout the panic. Another viewer couldn’t help but empathize with Punch’s role in the film, as Adams' Anna Fox deals with the disturbing events throughout the movie:

Long live Punch! That looked like a stressful work environment, but we can't wait to follow more of your work.

It Couldn’t Escape Rear Window Comparisons

At the beginning of The Woman in the Window, the movie references Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window with a scene of the movie being shown on a TV. It seems to be tipping its cap off to a movie that must have influenced it. If you’ve seen the classic Hitchcock movie, though, the set up is quite close to this Netflix movie. And, many people on social media were not here for this film borrowing from it:

Some people actually thought The Woman in the Window was supposed to be a Rear Window remake. One viewer called the movie straight up plagiarism while viewing the film, saying this:

It sounds like if you’re a big fan of the ‘60s classic, the movie may rub you the wrong way. It could be noted that the novel’s author, A.J. Finn, was subject to a controversy about aspects of his life, career, and plagiarism, following a report in The New Yorker, that he has since addressed.

Now that you’ve heard what some fans had to say, what did you think? Vote in our poll and check out what’s next for Amy Adams with her upcoming projects, including a sequel for Enchanted!

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Although 2007’s Enchanted poked fun at a lot of classic Disney tropes and even included some actors from past Mouse House movies, such as The Little Mermaid’s Jodie Benson, it didn’t include any direct crossover with past Disney properties. Well, evidently that won’t be the case in Enchanted 2, a.k.a. Disenchanted. If a new report is accurate, the forthcoming sequel will feature Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs.

Supposedly Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful and Doc will play a “pivotal role” in Disenchanted that includes them participating in a musical number. This information comes from The DisInsider, which also provided supposed details about Disenchanted. Although the sequel is coming out more than a decade after its predecessor, evidently that same amount of time won’t have passed within this fictional world, with Disenchanted either taking place shortly after Enchanted or, at most, just a few years later.

Disenchanted’s premise reportedly sees Giselle, Robert and Morgan moving to a house in the suburbs, which is being overseen by Malvina Monroe, the movie’s main antagonist. When problems start popping up at their new home, Giselle wishes to transform her family’s life into a perfect fairytale. Unfortunately for her, the spell backfires in bad way, forcing Giselle to race to save Robert and Morgan, as well as Andalasia, before the clock strikes midnight.

If this is indeed Disenchanted’s plot, then I can understand how Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs would enter the picture. If life becomes a fairy tale, then it makes sense for the men who helped out Disney’s first princess to suddenly show up. But that leads me to another question: does this mean other characters from Disney fairy tale adaptations could appear in Disenchanted, such as the mice from Cinderella or the fairies from Sleeping Beauty? If you’re opening the door for classic Disney properties to bleed into the Enchanted world, it’d be weird for only Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to be represented, right?

In any case, along with Amy Adams returning as Giselle for Disenchanted, it’s also been confirmed that Patrick Dempsey will reprise Robert. As for Morgan, evidently a new actress will be brought in to play her rather than Rachel Covey reprising the role because she’s “now too old to play the character.” That’s why, as I noted earlier, it sounds like Disenchanted won’t be too far separated from the events of Enchanted, because otherwise Morgan would be in her early 20s now, so the older age wouldn’t be an issue, whether Covey played the character again or someone else.

Disenchanted is also bringing back James Marsden and Idina Menzel as Prince Edward and Nancy Tremaine, respectively, who were last seen getting married in Andalasia. Apparently the chipmunk Pip will also return, although it hasn’t been revealed who will voice him this time around, with director Kevin Lima and Jeff Bennett having shared the role on Enchanted. There’s no word yet on if we’ll see Timothy Spall reprise Nathaniel, Queen Narissa’s former henchman who became a successful author.

Disenchanted doesn’t have an official release date yet, but the sequel (which Hairspray’s Adam Shankman is directing) is already in the midst of principal photography, and it will be released exclusively on Disney+. Make sure you’re subscribed to the streaming service so you’ll be able to watch that movie and plenty of other original programming.

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Ever since Zack Snyder’s Justice League became available on HBO Max, DCEU fans have been comparing and contrasting the two versions. Which moments in the film were Snyder’s and which ones Warner Bros and Joss Whedon added and subtracted from the theatrical cut after the Man of Steel director stepped away from the film due to a personal tragedy? While there are some obvious scenes that were changed or removed to look out for, such as a lot more screen time for The Flash and Cyborg, according to one of the film’s editors, even Snyder almost let a Whedon line remain in his film.

When the editors of Zack Snyder’s Justice League broke down putting together the 4-hour-cut on The Rough Cut podcast, Carlos Castillón remembered a moment when a Joss Whedon line almost sneaked itself in. In his words:

Yeah… that was the line. “You smell good.” The scene between Amy Adams and Henry Cavill’s Lois and Clark happens once the pair reunite after Superman is killed at the end of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Castillón continued to share how they caught the line:

Apparently, since much of the same team worked on Joss Whedon’s cut and Snyder’s, there was a bit of overlap on the sound side of things. It would have been an incredible amount of work for the sound team to throw away everything they worked on in Whedon’s version, so some sound layers were used, but often altered. That’s how “You smell good” almost made it in the film, but Snyder’s wife and producer, Debbie Snyder, caught the line, and it was changed to what Lois was supposed to say, which was “You spoke.” In both films, Cavill replies with “Did I not before?”

As the Snyder Cut editor pointed out, it doesn’t make sense for Lois Lane to be so concerned with Clark’s smell after thinking him to be dead. It’s just unnatural and odd. However, it does make some sense for Lois to be shocked to hear Cavill’s voice after she watched him get buried and then fight off the Justice League like a killing machine once they resurrect him with the Mother Box. The line has been made fun of since it came out in 2017 and, thankfully, the particular stench of that moment didn’t stick around for Snyder’s version.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is currently streaming on HBO Max. You can sign up for the service using this link and check out what’s coming down the pipeline for the DCEU with the upcoming lineup here on CinemaBlend.

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The DC Extended Universe has had an interesting life, starting with Zack Snyder's set of movies. Snyder brought an ultra serious tone and five-film vision to the projects, although there has been some backlash to certain plot points. Writer Chris Terrio worked on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as the original script for Justice League. Terrio recently broke his silence about what it was really like working in the DCEU, and is defending one controversial scene from BvS involving Lois Lane.

When Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released back in 2016, it didn't fare well critically. This is at least partly due to so much of the movie being cut, making the plot confusing. The bad reviews went viral thanks to an infamous Ben Affleck interview, and BvS endured quite a bit of hate from the public. Chris Terrio believes that the public's feelings about the movie resulted in extra criticism, especially regarding Lois Lane's opening sequence in the fictional country Nairomi. As he explained,

While Chris Terrio understands some criticism about Batman v Superman, especially the theatrical cut, he doesn't believe Lois Lane's dialogue in her first scene are one of them. Because that line is actually a very specific reference.

Chris Terrio opened up about his time working in the DC Extended Universe in a long-form interview with Vanity Fair. He got honest about exactly how he contributed to Zack Snyder's pair of movies, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In addition to talking serious smack about Joss Whedon's cut of Justice League, Terrio also addressed a variety of criticisms about his pair of blockbusters.

Both Justice League and Batman v Superman are currently available on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Later in his same interview, Chris Terrio went on to explain exactly why Lois Lane uttered that line during Batman v Superman's Nairomi scene. Rather than being lazy writing, it was a direct reference to famed journalist Marie Colvin. As Terrio put it,

Being a filmmaker is a tricky thing, as each movie becomes the property of the public after its release. Each moviegoers has an opinion, and this is especially true for major properties like the DC Extended Universe. So when Batman v Superman's theatrical cut failed to meet expectations, it was the subject of countless memes and jokes. That's why Chris Terrio believes that Lois Lane's dialogue was the subject of some backlash.

The reaction to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice came shortly before production began on Justice League, and resulted in the studio pushing for a lighter tone. Chris Terrio clearly has thoughts about the power of that reaction, and how it would ultimately affect the theatrical cut of Justice League. Luckily, Terrio and Zack Snyder's vision was finally revealed thanks to the Snyder Cut.

The next installment in the DCEU is The Suicide Squad on August 6th. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer launched the careers of several actors including Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, but did you know they’ve had their fair share of up-and-comer guest stars who have all blown up into huge stars? Wonder Woman 1984's Pedro Pascal and Amy Adams are superstars now, but let’s look back at their humble beginnings along with some other familiar faces.

Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal had a one-episode appearance as Eddie in the Season 4 opener, “The Freshman”. A fellow freshman at UC Sunnydale, he and Buffy bonded over looking for her dorm, and they promised to hang out and help each other out through the school year. Poor Eddie is immediately attacked by a vampire after Buffy leaves. He later pops back up as a vampire Buffy has to dust. Pascal first picked up some traction with Game of Thrones and Narcos, but has since gone supernova, playing the titular character in The Mandalorian and starring as the villainous Max Lord in Wonder Woman 1984. If that wasn’t white hot enough for you, he’ll next be seen playing Joel in the hotly anticipated adaptation of the video game, The Last Of Us for HBO.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams popped up in the Season 5 episode, “Family” as Tara’s nasty cousin, Beth. Turns out Tara has demon heritage and all women in her family eventually turn evil. Her family shows up to take her home, except, surprise! This was actually bullshit and Tara is human and it was made up to keep the women in line. Beth wins extra terrible points for calling Tara a “selfish bitch." Amy Adams has since become one of Hollywood’s A-list, including being nominated for six Oscars. Her big screen breakthrough was in the 2007 Disney hit, Enchanted. Since then she’s been in tons of notable movies including American Hustle, playing Lois Lane in the Zack Snyder-verse and starring and producing the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects, based on the Gillian Flynn novel.

Wentworth Miller

Playing Gabe Petronzi in the Season 2 episode, “Go Fish”, Miller played a Sunnydale High School swim team jock-turned Creature from the Black Lagoon. Turns out monsters have been killing swim team members and Buffy thinks he’s next so she plays bodyguard. In reality, the swim team coach has been giving the members chemicals and they’re not actually dying, they’re turning into lizard/fish/monster-people, which Miller's Gabe ends up turning into as well. Wentworth Miller went on to star as the main character in Fox’s Prison Break. More recently, he’s portrayed fan-favorite villain Captain Cold on CW’s The Flash and its spinoff, Legends of Tomorrow. He also came out in 2013, and in November 2020 he put the kibosh on a sixth season of Prison Break stating he doesn't want to play straight characters.

Kal Penn

There’s not a lot to say about Kal Penn’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer appearance, except that it was in a really, really bad episode. Penn played Hunt, a UC Sunnydale student in the universally panned Season 4 episode, “Beer Bad.” Buffy picks up some drinking buddies to drown her sorrows over being jilted by Parker in the previous episode. But since this is Buffy, it turns out a frustrated bartender added a special potion to the beer that turns the students into cavemen. Bonus points because Kal Penn also showed up on Angel as a completely different character! Kal Penn’s most famous role is as Kumar in the Harold and Kumar series. He also had a recurring role on House, but he had to leave it because he took up a job in the Obama administration in 2010 as Director of Public Engagement.

Clea Duvall

Clea Duvall popped up early in a Season 1 episode ("Out of Sight, Out of Mind") of Buffy, playing Marcie Ross. Marcie was so unpopular, even super-losers like Willow and Xander didn’t notice her. Being that they live on a Hellmouth Marcie feeling invisible to everyone LITERALLY TURNED HER INVISIBLE. Cordelia and other popular girls start being victims of her stealthy attacks. After they stop Marcie, we get a weird, X-Files-esque ending in which some G-Men come and take her to a school that will help her. Except they take her to a secret assassination school for invisible kids, the end. Clea Duvall had a string of late '90s hits including The Faculty. She’s also had a steady TV career, most recently as the girlfriend to the first daughter and secret service agent to Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Veep. Most recently, she wrote and directed the holiday rom-com Happiest Season on Hulu, starring Kristen Stewart.

Michael Cudlitz

"The Zeppo" is a great Season 3 episode where Xander feels undervalued and starts hanging out with some trouble-making teens. Turns out they’re trying to raise Bob (Michael Cudlitz) -- a former meathead from Sunnydale -- from the dead and then intend to blow up the school. What’s fun about this episode is Xander’s goofy side plot with Bob is front and center while the dramatic world-ending plot takes a back seat. Michael Cudlitz has had a long Hollywood career in supporting roles including the John Wells TNT cop drama Southland. However, undoubtedly his biggest role was playing Abraham on the AMC zombie hit, The Walking Dead. Most recently he starred in the 2018 show The Kids Are Alright which was cancelled after one season.

Amber Tamblyn

The Joan of Arcadia star played Janice, Dawn’s friend, in the Season 6 episode, “All The Way," when Dawn and her friends participate in Halloween hijinks. You see in Buffyverse Halloween is supposed to be the safest night of the year as demons take the night off. However, the boys Dawn and Janice are with didn’t get the message and are actually vampires who are plotting to kill them. Known for daytime soap General Hospital before her breakout role in 2003’s Joan of Arcadia, Amber Tamblyn is also known for her role in the ensemble coming-of-age drama The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants. She can next be seen in the FX adaptation of Brian K. Vaughan’s Y: The Last Man.

Rachel Bilson

Rachel Bilson, much like Kal Penn, had a very small part, playing Colleen, a potential Slayer in the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. By this point in the season, the Scoobies are bursting at the seams with potential slayers, with everyone housing them in their various abodes. Xander has a dirty dream about two of the Slayers having a pillow fight. One is played by Rachel Bilson. That’s it. That’s her whole appearance. I guess it’s reasonable to assume she’s there off-camera helping out in the final battle at the Hellmouth? Don’t shed too many tears, though, as she would breakout on the 2000’s mega-hit The O.C. the very same year. Bilson filled her post-O.C. years with guest roles in television before landing her leading role on the popular CW show, Heart of Dixie. More recently, she starred in Take Two on ABC, which was cancelled after a season.

John Ritter

This is a bit of a cheat as this was more stunt casting than casting a future star. Buffy’s mom starts dating Ted (John Ritter) in this Season 2 episode. He seems like a perfect boyfriend, but Buffy doesn’t quite warm to him. Ted reads her diary and learns about her slaying, to which Buffy gets upset. He slaps her, and then she unleashes a can of slayer whoop-ass on him, accidentally killing him. Buffy feels bad about this the next day, but don’t worry, he shows up alive in her bedroom the next night! Is he a demon? No, he’s a robot. Look, early Buffy episodes had some weird plots. John Ritter passed away in 2003 from aortic disease. He’ll best be known for the '70s sitcom Three’s Company. He also had a string of movie hits in the '90s, including Problem Child. He fell ill while rehearsing for his ABC sitcom, 8 Simple Rules and after a brief attempt at heart surgery, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Conchata Ferrell

Conchata Ferrell played Ruthie the school nurse in the Season 2 episode, “Go Fish." She helped the swim coach use the abandoned Soviet Union drugs to help make the swimmers faster. When she tried to shut down the experimentation, the coach threw her into the pit of mutant high school athlete lizard dudes and they ate her. Ferrell passed away in 2020 from complications from a heart attack, but had a long career in Hollywood. A working actress, she’s best remembered for playing Berta, the sharp and sassy housekeeper in over 200 episodes of the Chuck Lorre hit, Two and A Half Men.

Danny Strong

This one is also kind of a cheat, Jonathan is a fan favorite character who recurred in the early seasons of Buffy as a dorky, lovable high school classmate, and eventually made it to “big bad” status in Season 6 as part of “The Trio." Jonathan, Warren and Andrew teamed up to mostly annoy Buffy but thanks to Warren accidentally killing Tara with a stray bullet, eventually graduated to full-on supervillains. After a bit of redemption, things take a grim turn for Jonathan when a demon-influenced Andrew sacrifices him for his blood so they can open up the Hellmouth, RIP Jonathan.

The real reason to include Danny Strong on the list is he’s had a pretty successful career as a writer and producer, post-Buffy. He won writing Emmys for both Recount and Game Change for HBO, he wrote the last two movies in the Hunger Games franchise and co-created and executive produced Fox’s breakout hit, Empire. He’s also kept busy on the acting front, most recently appearing as the Secretary of Treasury in the Showtime Wall Street drama, Billions.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been a veritable who’s who for guest actors. These are only ten but there’s also been Whedonverse alums like Nathan Fillion, currently seen protecting and serving on ABC’s The Rookie, and Felicia Day, who’s an all around geek queen, including a recurring role as a demon hunter on the recently wrapped up CW hit, Supernatural. Which actor were you more surprised to learn was in Buffy? Let us know below!

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The West Wing boasted a star-studded cast that has stood the test of time, with series regulars including Martin Sheen, Allison Janney and Robe Lowe. But many of the young actors who guest starred on the political drama, which aired for seven seasons from 1999-2005, went on to have phenomenal careers of their own, such as Elisabeth Moss, who played the youngest of President Jed Bartlet’s three daughters, and Amy Adams, who helped the White House staffers after they were stranded at a farm in Indiana. With more than 150 episodes, The West Wing’s sets were graced by hundreds of actors, so it’s to be expected you might have forgotten that these future stars were among them.

Evan Rachel Wood - Hogan Cregg

Long before True Blood and Westworld, and even before she was a troubled teen in Thirteen, a 14-year-old Evan Rachel Wood played press secretary C.J. Cregg’s niece Hogan Cregg in Season 3’s “The Black Vera Wang.” C.J. (Allison Janney) and Hogan, accompanied by a Secret Service agent (Mark Harmon) went shopping for a dress for Hogan’s junior prom. Evan Rachel Wood oozed star power on screen with acting heavyweights Allison Janney and Mark Harmon. You likely didn’t recognize her back in 2002, but this performance is hard to forget.

John Gallagher Jr. - Tyler

You might know John Gallagher Jr. from the 2020 horror Come Play, or as Liam Dempsey, who had a relationship with Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores in Westworld’s third season. But back in The West Wing Season 4’s “20 Hours in America: Parts 1 and 2,” a 17-year-old John Gallagher Jr. played Tyler, who tried to help Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford), Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) and Donna Moss (Janel Moloney) get out of Indiana after they missed the motorcade on a campaign stop. John Gallagher Jr. gave an understatedly comedic performance, as the group was flummoxed by Tyler’s ex-girlfriend, a time zone snafu and a train headed the wrong way down the track. Though John Gallagher Jr. went on to star as Jim Harper on the The Newsroom, another Aaron Sorkin creation, the actor said on “The West Wing Weekly” podcast that Sorkin didn’t remember Gallagher’s decade-old stint on The West Wing until they were filming the last episode of The Newsroom, Season 1.

Amy Adams - Cathy

Amy Adams has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Actress for American Hustle, and won two Golden Globes. She’s been in everything from kids movies like The Muppets and Enchanted, to the dark thriller Sharp Objects to the 2020 drama Hillbilly Elegy and even three episodes of The Office. But before all that, Amy Adams was Cathy, a farmer’s daughter in Season 4’s “20 Hours in America: Part 1.” Cathy’s family hosted an event for President Bartlet’s re-election campaign at their farm in Indiana. When Josh, Toby and Donna were left behind, Cathy tried to help them get back to the motorcade, all while engaging the staffers in a political dialogue about the struggle farmers face. Is there anything this woman can’t do?

Elisabeth Moss - Zoey Bartlet

A Hollywood A-lister today, Elisabeth Moss was 17 years old when she began playing President Bartlet’s youngest daughter Zoey (her older sisters were played by Nina Siemaszko and Annabeth Gish, who are no schlubs themselves). Zoey was featured in 25 episodes of The West Wing, as she had an on-again-off-again relationship with Dulé Hill’s Charlie Young, and she even had a major story line, getting kidnapped at the end of Season 4. So while she’s not exactly forgettable in the role, Zoey Bartlet seems a lifetime away from Mad Men’s Peggy Olson, The Handmaid’s Tale’s June Osborne and scores of other acting credits and accolades.

Ashley Benson - Suffragette

In Season 4, Episode 6, “Game On,” 12-year-old Ashley Benson got one of her first acting credits, playing one of three children helping to campaign for a candidate in California’s 47th Congressional District who passed away. Will Bailey (Joshua Malina), who managed the campaign, called the trio “Sally and the Suffragettes,” and they recited the poster they made to encourage voters: “It doesn’t matter who you vote for. Make sure you vote.” Just two years later, Ashley Benson landed a recurring role as Abby Deveraux on Days of Our Lives and is today most best known for playing Hanna Marin on Pretty Little Liars.

Danny Pudi - Santos Aide #2

In his first credited role, Danny Pudi played an aide to presidential candidate Matt Santos, specifically “Santos Aide #2” in the Season 7 episode “Two Weeks Out.” It was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance, but it goes to show that even the smallest roles on The West Wing were filled with now-familiar faces. Danny Pudi is best known for playing Abed Nadir on Community, but he also does a lot of voice work, including the voice of Huey Duck on the DuckTales series that premiered in 2017.

Bellamy Young - MaryLou Meriwether

Many came to know Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant, first lady in the Shonda Rhimes political drama Scandal. But that wasn’t her first time in the White House. Back in 2014 a blonde Bellamy Young played North Carolina lawyer MaryLou Meriwether in The West Wing Season 5 episode, "The Stormy Present,” as she met with Josh Lyman about a copy of the Bill of Rights that was stolen from her state at the end of the Civil War. Bellamy Young went on to have roles in series including CSI: Miami, Dirty Sexy Money, Scrubs, Criminal Minds and Prodigal Son. In addition to Scandal, Shonda Rhimes’ other creations Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and How To Get Away With Murder featured a bevy of actors who first appeared on The West Wing, including James Pickens Jr., Joshua Malina, Taye Diggs and Michael O’Neill.

Liza Weil - Karen Larsen

Speaking of Shonda Rhimes actors, Liza Weil of Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder fame had a role early in her career as Karen Larsen, a governmental aide who leaked Chief of Staff Leo McGarry’s medical records to expose his history of drug and alcohol abuse in Season 1’s “Take Out the Trash Day.” Karen (a fitting character name, though it didn’t hold any significant meaning back in 2000), is fired and then un-fired by Leo McGarry (John Spencer) after the two have a conversation about how addiction has affected their lives. Just months after this episode aired, the world would meet Liza Weil in perhaps her most recognizable role, Paris Geller on Gilmore Girls.

Jane Lynch - Lucy The Reporter

When you’ve got stars in the press pool, your casting directors are doing something right. Jane Lynch wasn’t a household name back in early aughts when she played reporter Lucy in two of The West Wing’s best episodes, “In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part I” and “Two Cathedrals.” Jane Lynch is widely known for her role as Sue Sylvester on Glee, and has most recently been seen as the host of the rebooted game show Weakest Link. With more than 200 acting credits to her name, Jane Lynch has come a long way from The West Wing press room. What’s next?

Nick Offerman - Jerry

Before Nick Offerman became a pop culture sensation as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, he got his start with a guest role as Jerry in The West Wing Season 1’s "The Crackpots and These Women.” Jerry was part of a three-person team who met with C.J. Cregg to pitch an 1,800-mile wolves-only road — a cost to taxpayers of only $900 million. The trio played it completely straight as C.J. practically laughed them out of the room. It was a great early look at how talented Nick Offerman is at dry humor.

Omar Benson Miller - Orlando Kettles

Before starring on Ballers with The West Wing regulars Richard Schiff and Dulé Hill, Omar Benson Miller was hilarious as Orlando Kettles in the Season 4 episode “Election Night.” Orlando found himself in legal trouble — and unable to play in his final high school football game — after getting pulled over with an open can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Omar Benson Miller shined opposite Charlie Young (Hill), as Charlie accompanied Orlando to cast his vote in the presidential election. Since The West Wing, Omar Benson Miller has also appeared on CSI: Miami (with another West Wing alum, Emily Procter) and The Unicorn.

Ty Burrell - Tom Starks

Eight years before we met our favorite real estate agent Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, Ty Burrell guest starred as Tom Starks in the Season 3 episode “The Women of Qumar” to talk about seatbelt laws with Rob Lowe’s Sam Seaborn. In an otherwise-dry scene, Ty Burrell brought the deadpan humor, as he defended the honor of Rotarians like his father and himself to Sam, whose father was an Elk. “You won’t catch a Rotarian not wearing his seat belt,” Tom told Sam. “An Elk, maybe.”

Eric Stonestreet - White House Counsel Staffer

Speaking of Modern Family, before playing the hilarious Cameron/Fizbo the Clown on Modern Family, but after working security at a Garth Brooks concert, Eric Stonestreet played a staffer in the White House counsel’s office on Season 2’s “Bad Moon Rising.” Eric Stonestreet was a competent assistant to White House counsel Oliver Babish (Oliver Platt), and even got to use the series’ secret code about “an old friend from home,” which alerted White House staff of an emergency without panicking those around them.

David Burtka - Bruce The Intern

David Burtka made his TV debut on The West Wing in the Season 3 episode, “The Black Vera Wang,” as Bruce, a White House intern who found himself in trouble after putting some re-gifted moose meat up for auction on eBay. Bruce was confronted by Donna Moss, who had received the meat from Josh Lyman after a trip to Helsinki. Bruce came out on top of that situation, though, as he got to keep his job and the $210 Donna paid to get the moose meat off eBay. David Burtka is known for his work on the stage and screen, a common thread amongst West Wing actors. He was also on seven episodes of How I Met Your Mother with now-husband Neil Patrick Harris,

The West Wing is currently streaming on HBO Max, including A West Wing Special To Benefit When We All Vote, a stage production of the Season 3 episode “Hartsfield’s Landing” performed by the original cast ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Check back regularly to CinemaBlend to stay up to date on all the latest streaming news.

Telling the incredible true story of Frank Abagnale, a teenager who performs several cons worth millions of dollars, 2002's Catch Me If You Can features an all-star cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and Christopher Walken, and the skilled hand of Steven Spielberg at the helm. It became one of his splashiest successes in the early 21st century, resulting in over $350 million at the box office, widespread acclaim, and two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor for Walken and Best Score for John Williams, respectively.

Now that it's been nearly 20 years since the film's glitzy premiere, what is the high-profile ensemble working on now? Let's take a look and find out!

Leonardo DiCaprio (Frank Abagnale)

As Frank Abagnale, our smart and sophisticated teenager who becomes an ace con artist, Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of his best performances in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. A bonafide A-list movie star, DiCaprio is an Oscar-winning actor for his lead performance in The Revenant. He's also well-known for his work in Titanic, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Departed, Gangs of New York, Romeo + Juliet, The Aviator, Inception, Blood Diamond, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Great Gatsby, and Django Unchained, to name only a few titles.

Most recently, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood. He also made an uncredited appearance in the mini-series, Grant, where he served as an executive producer. Next, DiCaprio is filming a role in Adam McKay's Don't Look Up. Additionally, he's expected to enter production on Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon starting in February 2021. He's also set to produce this new Scorsese joint. Furthermore, outside of acting, DiCaprio is a producer on Atari and several more upcoming movies and shows.

Tom Hanks (Carl Hanratty)

Playing the part of Carl Hanratty, a hard-nosed FBI agent tracking Frank Abagnale's unlawful trial, Tom Hanks played the second lead in 2002's Catch Me If You Can. A two-time Oscar-winning actor for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks is unquestionably one of the most famous celebrities on the planet. Some of his most notable credits include (but aren't limited to) the Toy Story movies, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, Big, Splash, Captain Phillips, Cast Away, The Green Mile, The Da Vinci Code, Sleepless in Seattle, You Got Mail, A League of Their Own, Turner & Hooch, The Polar Express, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. He also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in That Thing You Do! and Larry Crowne.

Most recently, Tom Hanks starred in Greyhound, which he also wrote, and News of the World, which he also produced. Additionally, he made a cameo as himself in Amazon Prime's Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Next, Hanks stars in BIOS. Currently, he's filming a role in Elvis, and he's set to play Geppetto in Robert Zemeckis' Pinocchio.

Christopher Walken (Frank Abagnale Sr.)

In the role of Frank Abagnale Sr., Frank Abagnale's father, Christopher Walken gave an Oscar-nominated performance in Catch Me If You Can. Having appeared in over 100 movies and TV programs throughout his extensive career, Walken is best known for his Oscar-winning performance in The Deer Hunter. He's also well-known for his work in Pulp Fiction, Annie Hall, A View to a Kill, Batman Returns, The Dead Zone, The Dogs of War, Vendetta, Seven Psychopaths, The Prophecy, The Jungle Book (2016), Antz, Irreplaceable You, Kangaroo Jack, The Stepford Wives (2004), Balls of Fury, Domino, The Rundown, and Blast from the Past. Additionally, Walken was famously in Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" music video.

Most recently, Christopher Walken was seen in The Jesus Rolls, The War with Grandpa, and Wild Mountain Thyme. Next, the actor stars in Percy. He's also set to frontline AppleTV+'s Severance and Amazon/BBC's The Offenders.

Martin Sheen (Roger Strong)

As Roger Strong, an attorney and Brenda's father, Martin Sheen plays a notable supporting role in 2002's Catch Me If You Can. Most notable, Sheen is known for his starring roles in Badlands, Apocalypse Now, and The West Wing. His other famous film credits include The Subject Was Roses, The Amazing Spider-Man, Gettysburg, The American President, Spawn, Dead Presidents, The Departed, O, Bobby, The California Kid, Hot Shots! Part Deux, and Catch-22 (1970). Additionally, on television, Sheen was seen in Grace and Frankie, Anger Management, Columbo, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco, Tales from the Crypt, and Two and a Half Men.

Most recently, Martin Sheen was seen in The Devil Has a Name. The actor also reprised his role as President Josiah Bartlet for A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote. Next, Sheen will appear in Judas and the Black Messiah, which arrives February 2021 in theaters and HBO Max.  He also recently filmed a part in 12 Mighty Orphans. Additionally, he'll be seen in the seventh and final season of Netflix's Grace and Frankie later this year.

Nathalie Baye (Paula Abagnale)

Playing the part of Paula Abagnale, Frank's mother, Natalie Baye had a maternal role in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. An actress with more than 80 films on her resume, Baye is best known for her work in Tell No One, Every Man for Himself, Strange Affair, La Balance, The Young Lieutenant, Day for Night, The Assistant (2015), The Mouth Agape, The Ant Bully, Laurence Anyways, Queens of the Ring, It's Only the End of the World, Venus Beauty, and An Affair of Love.

Most recently, Nathalie Baye appeared in the dramedy film, My Best Part. She can also be seen in a recent episode of Call My Agent! Next, Baye stars in Haute Couture and Lui.

Amy Adams (Brenda Strong)

In the role of Brenda Strong, the daughter of Roger who works at the hospital and eventually earns Frank's affection, Amy Adams found one of her first high-profile parts in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. Following this early performance, Adams would go on to become a six-time Oscar-nominated actress for her leading and supporting work in Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter, The Master, American Hustle, and Vice. She's also well-known for Enchanted, Arrival, Julie & Julia, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Muppets, Nocturnal Animals, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, and Talladega Night: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, as well as Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Charlie Wilson's War and HBO's Sharp Objects.

Most recently, Amy Adams starred in Netflix's Hillbilly Elegy this fall. Next, she'll frontline Netflix's The Woman in the Window. Adams will also be seen in Zack Snyder's Justice League and Dear Evan Hansen. Her other upcoming titles include Disenchanted and Nightbitch, as well as the upcoming mini-series, King of America.

James Brolin (Jack Barnes)

As Jack Barnes, an associate who has an affair with Frank's mother, James Brolin plays a crucial side character in 2002's Catch Me If You Can. A two-time Golden Glob and Emmy-winning actor, Brolin can be seen in The Amityville Horror (1979), Fantastic Voyage, Westworld (1973), The Car, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Traffic, The Master of Disguise, Burlesque, The 33, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Ted & Venus, Night of the Juggler, Capricon One, The Boston Strangler, and Gable and Lombard. His television credits include Marcus Welby M.D., Hotel, Pensacola: Wings of Gold, Castle, The Reagans, Life in Pieces, Community, Pysch, Law & Order: SVU, Monk, The West Wing, Batman, and Steel Cowboy. Additionally, Brolin also directed and starred in My Brother's War, I'll Be Home For Christmas, and Royal Hearts.

Next, James Brolin will narrate Netflix's upcoming series, Sweet Tooth.

Nancy Lenehan (Carol Strong)

Playing the part of Carol Strong, Brenda's mother, Nancy Lenehan had a notable supporting role in Catch Me If You Can. Outside of this performance, Lenehan's other notable film credits include Smokey and the Bandit II, She's Having a Baby, Stoogemania, Pleasantville, Beauty Shop, A Better Life and Sex Tape. Additionally, on television, the actress can be seen in People of Earth, Grace Under Fire, My Name Is Earl, Worst Week, Veep, Married to the Kellys, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ER, Dharma & Greg, Gilmore Girls, Everybody Loves Raymond, That '70s Show, Nip/Tuck, The Middle, The Bernie Mac Show, Ally McBeal, The Golden Girls, and ALF, as well as Newhart, Family Ties, Murphy Brown, Mad About You, Boy Meets World, The Practice, Caroline in the City, and Just Shoot Me!

Most recently, Nancy Lenehan appeared in episodes of CBS's Man with a Plan, NBC's Superstore, ABC's Bless This Mess, and FXX's Cake.

Jennifer Garner (Cheryl Ann)

As Cheryl Ann, a model-callgirl who has an interaction with Frank Jr., Jennifer Garner made a cameo in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. Only a year before she appeared in this film, Garner headlined ABC's Alias, for which she won a Golden Globe Award. She's also known for her leading role in 13 Going On 30, as well as her work in Daredevil, Elektra, Juno, Valentine's Day, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Dallas Buyers Club, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, The Invention of Lying, Miracles from Heaven, Love Simon, Catch and Release, Mother's Day, Mr. Magoo, and Peppermint.

Most recently, Jennifer Garner appeared in Quibi's Home Movie: The Princess Bride. Next, Garner stars in Netflix's Yes Day, which she also produced. It premieres on March 12th. Currently, she's filming a role in another Netflix movie, The Adam Project. Garner is also signed on to star in AppleTV+'s mini-series, My Glory Was I Had Such Friends. Additionally, she's expected to frontline the musical comedy, Fantasy Camp.

Ellen Pompeo (Marci)

Playing the part of Marci, Ellen Pompeo found one of her earliest roles in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. Shortly following this fim's release, Ellen Pompeo's profile rose when she took on the titular role in ABC's medical drama, Grey's Anatomy. She has appeared in over 360 episodes of the long-running program. Her other TV credits include Law & Order, Strangers with Candy, Friends, Repeat After Me, Doc McStuffins, and Get Real. She was also a judge during the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.

Additionally, Ellen Pompeo can be seen in Old School, Daredevil, Art Heist, Life of the Party (2005), Undermind, Coming Soon, In the Weeds, Mambo Cafe, and Moonlight Mile. She also appeared in deleted scenes for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And the actress can be seen in Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" music video. Presently, Pompeo remains at the forefront of Grey's Anatomy. She also recently played Dr. Meredith Grey in an episode of Station 19.

Elizabeth Banks (Lucy)

In the role of Lucy, Elizabeth Banks plays a brief supporting role as a bank teller in 2002's Catch Me If You Can. Most notably, Banks is known for her work in The Hunger Games movies, the Spider-Man trilogy, Wet Hot American Summer, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The LEGO Movie (and sequel), Power Rangers (2017), Magic Mike XXL, Role Models, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Slither, Invincible, Love & Mercy, The Next Three Days, W., and the Pitch Perfect movies. On television, Banks received two Emmy nominations for her recurring role in 30 Rock. She also appeared in Scrubs, Modern Family, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later. Additionally, Banks directed Pitch Perfect 2 and wrote and helmed Charlie's Angels (2019).

Currently, Elizabeth Banks hosts ABC's game show, Press Your Luck. Most recently, Banks was seen in FX's Miss America. Also, she appeared in Modern Family's series finale. Next, Banks is expected to star in Call Jane. Also, she's soon expected to star in and directThe Invisible Woman for Blumhouse.

You can stream Catch Me If You Can on Netflix here. You can also stream it on Showtime here and on SundanceNow here.