Spoiler alert! This story will reveal spoilers about the 2005 movie The Family Stone, which is available to stream with a Prime Video subscription or Hulu subscription.

Families coming together for the holidays make for such a good starting off point for so many stories — including several on the 2025 Christmas movie schedule — especially if there’s a twist involved, like introducing your partner to your family. The 2005 flick The Family Stone offered a brilliantly heightened look into such a situation, and I was so excited to find out a sequel is in the works. To that end, there is one thing I’d love from The Family Stone 2, but also, I have a big concern.

The Family Stone featured an ensemble cast of impressive names like Sarah Jessica Parker, Craig T. Nelson, Claire Danes and, of course, Diane Keaton. Still, this one doesn’t find its way onto everybody’s list of favorite Christmas films. The titular Stones are an admittedly flawed bunch, and on top of having characters who are hard to like, this one is practically guaranteed to make you cry.

I get it, I understand every argument against it, and you’ll just never make me hate it. Before I get into my hopes and fears, though, let’s look at what we know about the upcoming sequel.

The Family Stone 2 Is In The Works Following Diane Keaton’s Death

We’re going to get into spoiler territory here, so turn back now if you aren’t aware of how the 2005 Christmas movie plays out. The Family Stone is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and following Diane Keaton’s death in October at age 79, writer-director Thomas Bezucha revealed to CNN that he’d already been thinking of catching up with the Stones.

While The Family Stone centers around Everett (Dermot Mulroney) introducing his uptight girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) to his judgmental family, the story takes a twist when the Stone children catch onto the fact that their mother Sybil has been diagnosed with a terminal illness (the implication is a recurrence of breast cancer).

Diane Keaton’s death made Thomas Bezucha want to “honor her even more,” with a sequel, despite the fact that it plagued him. He said:

The Family Stone 2 has not officially been green-lit, and none of the ensemble cast has officially signed on, but Thomas Bezucha said he has spoken to everyone and received unanimously positive responses. (Craig T. Nelson and Dermot Mulroney have both acknowledged the project.) The director also said he was only interested in doing the sequel if he could get the original cast back, so we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on this one.

I’d Love For The Sequel To Feature Another Introduction To The Stone Family

When Everett brought Meredith home to meet the family two decades ago, the next generation of Stones had already begun to form. Susannah (Elizabeth Reaser) was pregnant with her second child, and by the end of the movie, Thad and Patrick (Tyrone Giordano and Brian J. White, respectively) had adopted a son. I think it would be fun to see one of the Stone’s next generation — who would now theoretically be in their 20s — bring home a partner to meet the family.

In addition to the above couples, The Family Stone also saw Everett winding up with Meredith’s sister Julie (Claire Danes), Meredith getting together with Everett’s brother Ben (Luke Wilson), and Amy (in one of Rachel McAdams’ best roles) reconnecting with Brad (Paul Schneider). Any one of these couples could have borne children who could carry out the nod to the plot of the original film.

But here’s the twist: Maybe this time the family members aren’t quite such assholes? Perhaps Sybil’s death has softened them, or Kelly (Craig T. Nelson) has won them over with his “generosity of spirit” mantra that exactly zero of them abided by back in 2005. Here’s my big issue with that idea, though.

I’m Worried Making The Stones Likeable Would Reflect Badly On Diane Keaton’s Character

There’s no doubt in my mind that should The Family Stone 2 actually come to fruition, it will and should be a tribute to Diane Keaton. However, what happens when the Stone family members realize that Sybil was the problem all along? The ending of the first movie even takes a step in that direction, showing a much softer side to all of the family members as they gather for their first holiday without the matriarch.

If we’re being honest, I do believe Sybil Stone was the instigator, and it was an absolute treat to watch Diane Keaton portray this deliciously petty, overbearing, passive-aggressive mother. She mocked Meredith to her face for trying to be polite, she talked openly about Amy’s sex life despite her daughter’s protests and she facilitated pretty much all of the toxic behavior happening at the Stone family Christmas.

(However, I will never fault her for defending Thad and Patrick during one of the most awkward family dinners ever on screen, even if there was probably a better way to handle it. Protect these men at all costs.)

So regardless of whether or not a new person is being introduced to the Stone family in the sequel, I don’t know how you solve this conundrum: Either the family is still illogically mean and unlikeable, or they’ve turned into pleasant people now that Sybil has passed on and is no longer around to encourage the bad behavior. And what kind of tribute to Diane Keaton would that be?

Either way, it’s going to be admittedly difficult to see the Stones reunite without Sybil — the final scene of The Family Stone was already difficult — and I imagine Diane Keaton’s presence will be missed in every scene. Still, even knowing this, and with the concern I talked out above, I’m really hoping The Family Stone 2 comes together.

The 2005 film is available to stream on Prime Video and Hulu, if you’d like to relive the Stone holiday drama. It really can put your own family get-togethers into perspective, and some people say it’s better the second time around anyway!

Long before she ruled the Oscars red carpets and built a media empire, Reese Witherspoon was a small‑town teen from Nashville with big dreams and zero roadmap for Hollywood. When she auditioned for her early role in Wildflower (1991), she found herself under the wing of the late Diane Keaton, who hired her on the spot and then offered the kind of advice every young actress needs but rarely hears.

In a candid conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Witherspoon opened up about Keaton’s guidance. According to the Election star, the advice she received from the Godfather trilogy icon went beyond acting:

The Legally Blonde star reflected that after arriving in L.A., she felt a sense of unease about the cultural differences she was used to. She added:

Witherspoon explained that Keaton paused the audition take when she overheard the young actress’s accent and simply asked, “Who are you?” When Witherspoon admitted she was from Nashville, the filmmaker replied, “Are you making that up?” Then she cast her anyway: “Well, you’re hired today, tomorrow, and the next day.” The moment stuck with Witherspoon, who says the experience taught her early that authenticity, and not polish, can shape a career.

But the lessons weren’t relegated to only on set. Witherspoon recalls Keaton pulling her aside during filming of Wildflower and delivering a directive she still carries with her. The Big Little Lies star (available with an HBO Max subscription) recalled Keaton's words:

That advice, charming as it sounds, echoes through the professional diligence Witherspoon exhibits even today, in her posture, her voice, and her choices, all rooted in that early brush with a Hollywood veteran.

Growing up in the South gave Witherspoon a sense of humility and groundedness—two traits she credits for helping her manage the transition to Hollywood. Those attributes, in tandem with Keaton’s guidance, shaped the kind of career she built: one with both star power and substance. Witherspoon noted:

The mentorship came at a pivotal time in Witherspoon’s life. As a teenager entering a world she didn’t know, she found the wisdom of a seasoned actor invaluable. Now, decades later, the Cruel Intentions A-lister uses the same advice to guide others. She encourages young creatives to stay grounded, stay curious, and stay connected to what makes them who they are—not what the industry might try to mold them into.

Reese Witherspoon's most recent work, The Morning Show season 4, is available to stream with an Apple TV+ subscription.

The world is still whirling from the unexpected loss of cinematic icon Diane Keaton. The Oscar-winning actress passed away last week at 79, leaving behind one of the most distinctive and influential legacies in Hollywood history. Friends, collaborators, and fans have been flooding social media with memories and tributes, and one of the most heartfelt came from writer-director Nancy Meyers, who worked with the Family Stone actress multiple times and called her “a giant” in a moving remembrance.

On Instagram, Meyers shared a touching and funny reflection on what it was really like to work alongside the Annie Hall and Something’s Gotta Give star, pulling back the curtain on Keaton’s unique creative process and one delightfully quirky habit before filming. The screenwriter wrote:

It’s a small detail that feels somehow perfectly Diane Keaton, since she was known for her eccentric and totally original style. It's pretty clear she was an actress who approached every scene with full-hearted commitment and a sense of play, even in the middle of deeply emotional moments.

The two first collaborated on the 1987 comedy Baby Boom, where Keaton’s sharp comedic instincts and natural warmth helped redefine what a working mother looked like on screen. They reunited again on the remake of Father of the Bride (one of her and Steve Martin’s best movies) and its sequel, and on 2003’s Something’s Gotta Give, a film that not only scored the actress an Oscar nomination but also gave her one of her most beloved late-career performances. The Parent Trap scribe went on to write:

Few filmmakers ever understood The First Wives Club star’s rhythm, and that movie alone gave us a trove of offbeat, iconic quotes and moments, quite like Nancy Meyers did. She captured the perfect balance of Diane Keaton’s neurotic charm and unfiltered honesty, the qualities that made audiences feel they truly knew her. Together, they delivered some of the best romantic comedies of the past few decades, blending the Book Club performer’s emotional vulnerability with The Holiday writer’s razor-sharp wit. In her post, the Private Benjamin screenwriter also acknowledged the outpouring of love and grief being shared across Hollywood and beyond, continuing:

It’s hard to argue with that. From her roles in some of the best films of the ‘70s, like The Godfather, to Annie Hall, to Something’s Gotta Give, Diane Keaton redefined what it meant to be a leading lady. Her mix of humor and unshakable individuality made her one of the greats, and for those lucky enough to work with her, like Nancy Meyers, it’s clear that loss runs deep.

This weekend, the world lost one of its most impactful actors in Diane Keaton, who died at the age of 79. Keaton was a legend amongst performers, starring in iconic films like Annie Hall, The Godfather and Something’s Gotta Give over the course of her illustrious career. Since news of the Oscar winner’s death broke, legions of fans have been paying tribute to her as have fellow actors. Reese Witherspoon also memorialized Keaton, as she shared a sweet story about working with her years ago, and other stars had lovely responses.

How Reese Witherspoon Lovingly Paid Tribute To Diane Keaton

Before Witherspoon became the A-list actress and powerful producer she is today, she was a young actress hoping to break into the entertainment industry. Witherspoon reflected on that time in her career during a sweet moment at the Hello Sunshine Shine Away conference this weekend. Amid the event, Witherspoon acknowledged Keaton’s death with attendees and reflected on how one of her earliest auditions was for the late actress:

The thought of auditioning for a massive star like Diane Keaton seems intimidating enough, but I can’t even imagine doing it as a teenager. It goes without saying that Reese Witherspoon found herself in a prime position to make an impression at that point in her career. As Witherspoon went on to explain (as can be seen on Instagram), she did manage to make an impression when she finally had the opportunity to speak with Keaton personally. What ultimately played out was a funny exchange between the two actresses:

That was pure charm and kindness coming from the First Wives Club icon, and I love how, in that moment, she only encouraged Witherspoon as opposed to discouraging her. Still, I love the notion of Keaton – a California native – being humorously thrown off by Witherspoon’s Nashville-bred accent. Those cultural differences didn’t stop the two stars from becoming close when they filmed Keaton’s Wildflower, though. Witherspoon explained just how important Keaton’s guidance was:

Considering that Reese Witherspoon went on to headline great movies and even win an Oscar, I’d like to think she soaked up quite a bit of the knowledge imparted to her by Diane Keaton. I really appreciate how Witherspoon also pays respect to those who’ve inspired her, as she also recently did when Jane Goodall died. When it came to her Keaton tribute, Witherspoon lovingly finished it off by suggesting fans watch one of the late star’s movies and wear an eclectic ensemble in her honor.

Some Celebrities Dropped In Sweet Reactions Responses

Witherspoon’s sweet recollection of Keaton has since gone viral, so it’s probably not all that surprising that other stars have since reacted to her IG post. Kerry Washington and Candace Cameron Bure were a couple of the actors to weigh in, and their reactions as well as others can be seen down below:

• Love this. And you. - Kerry Washington
• Loved hearing this story. Thank you for sharing it 🥹💔 - Candace Cameron Bure
• ❤️❤️❤️ - Julianne Moore
• ❤️❤️❤️ - Natasha Lyonne
• ❤️ - Abigail Spencer

The love for Keaton has been more than evident since news of her passing hit the Internet. Bette Midler and Steven Martin paid tribute as well along with others like Viola Davis, Jane Fonda and Kate Hudson among others. It’s honestly been very sweet to see so many people showing love and memorializing Keaton not only for being a great actor but for also being a true original.

Diane Keaton leaves behind a storied filmography as well as plenty of mentees, including Reese Witherspoon. I feel confident in saying that Keaton’s legacy will live on, especially if Witherspoon and others continue to show their love for her. Meanwhile, we here at CinemaBlend continue to extend our thoughts to Keaton’s family and friends during this time.

On Saturday morning, it was revealed that Oscar-winner Diane Keaton had died at the age of 79. The news about the actress who starred in massive movies like Annie Hall and First Wives Club has led to an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood actors who loved her. Many of them, including Bett Midler, Steve Martin and more, had their own experiences working with her on the set of her iconic movies and called her a personal friend.

We’ll start with Bette Midler, who starred with Keaton in The First Wives Club back in 1996. She was quick to go on Instagram to say this:

Now, the third part of the trio, Goldie Hawn, has yet to comment on the loss at the time of this article’s publication, but her daughter Kate Hudson found the perfect scene of Keaton’s to celebrate the kind of presence she brought to the screen from The First Wives Club. Check it out:

The First Wives Club is such a quotable movie, and we’ll never forget Diane Keaton’s performance in it.

Another one of Keaton’s famed co-stars is Steve Martin, whom she was in the Father of the Bride movies with, and he paid tribute to her in a fittingly funny way. Here’s what he wrote shortly after news of her passing:

Keaton and Martin reunited with their Father of the Bride cast back in 2020 for charity, and seemed to be close. Martin found a lighter way to remember the talented actress, as we’d expect from the comedian.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who played their daughter in those movies, wrote this in an Instagram post:

Along with being in a lot of rom-coms and becoming a great director while still being an actor, Keaton played a lot of mom roles over the years, including in 2007’s Because I Said So with Mandy Moore. The This Is Us actress also penned a tribute to the late star, writing on Instagram:

Keaton is survived by her children, Duke and Dexter, whom she adopted in her 50s. The actress never married. Keaton's The Book Club co-star Jane Fonda also took to Instagram to say this:

Another fellow Oscar winner, Viola Davis, who never got to work with her, wrote this on Instagram following the news:

Similarly, Rosie O’Donnell sent all the love to Keaton’s family after hearing the news, which was originally reported by People. In her words on Instagram:

Here’s one more tribute from Octavia Spencer on Instagram. Clearly, a lot of women (inside and outside of Hollywood) really looked up to Diane Keaton:

As of right now, we don’t have details about Diane Keaton’s passing, other than she died in California with the Los Angeles Fire Department responding to her home at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 11.

Here at CinemaBlend, we send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of the incomparable Diane Keaton.

Legendary actress Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79. She passed away in California, and no other details have been shared at this time.

Keaton, who was born in LA in 1946, passed away in California at the age of 79, according to People. At this time, her family and friends have asked for privacy, and the cause and date of her death have not been shared.

For over five decades, Diane Keaton made movies that, to this day, are iconic.

Her career really took off in the 1970s thanks to her roles in some of the best films of the ‘70s (and all time), like The Godfather. She appeared in all three of The Godfather films as Kay Adams. Back in 2022, she told People that the “kindest thing” anyone ever did for her was cast her in the first of these movies.

Keaton also worked with Woody Allen a lot at the start of her career. Then, in 1977, she starred in Annie Hall. She played the titular character, and ultimately, she won an Oscar for Best Actress. To this day, Annie Hall is considered one of the greatest rom-coms of all time.

Another hallmark of Diane Keaton’s career was her collaborations with Nancy Meyers. Their first project together was 1987’s Baby Boom. After that, they worked together on three more occasions, with Father of the Bride (which is one of her and Steve Martin’s best movies), Father of the Bride Part II and Something’s Gotta Give.

Speaking of Something’s Gotta Give, which she starred in alongside Jack Nicholson, that 2003 film marked Keaton’s fourth Oscar nomination. Her other nominations were for 1981’s Reds and 1996’s Marvin’s Room, and, as I noted, she won in 1978 for Annie Hall. That alone proves how iconic her career is, as it shows how it consistently flourished across decades.

However, obviously, her legendary filmography does not end there. She has 74 credits to her name, which include comedies like the highly quoteable First Wives Club, the Christmas movie, The Family Stone, and the Book Club movies, which she starred in alongside fellow icons Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen.

Outside of her work acting in films, she was also on Broadway, and earned a Tony nomination in 1969 for the play Play It Again, Sam.

She was a director as well, and helmed projects like Hanging Up, Wildflower and shows like Twin Peaks and Pasadena.

The last released film Diane Keaton starred in was the 2024 movie Summer Camp, which also starred Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard and Eugene Levy. It can be streamed with a Hulu subscription. She also had three films in the works – The Making Of, Constance and Artist in Residence – and according to IMDb, they are all in pre-production.

Moving from the professional to the personal, Keaton never got married. She did have two children, Dexter and Duke. She adopted Dexter in 1996 and Duke in 2001. She is survived by them.

We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to Diane Keaton's friends, family and loved ones. She will always be a legend, and her incredible work will be remembered forever.

The three Godfather films from Paramount have left an incredible mark on cinema history. All three were nominated for Best Picture, and the first two both won. Both are considered among the very best movies ever made. While The Godfather Part III doesn't have the same immense reputation, in more recent years, critics have come around on the movie. One reason all three resonate so much with viewers is the incredible dialogue. This is a list of some of the very best lines from all three movies, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and The Godfather Part III.

A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.

Family is very important to the Corleones, and this is made very clear early in The Godfather when Vito (Marlon Brando) tells his godson Johnny Fontaine that it is important to spend time with them. Johnny had a breakdown before it, so Vito was making sure he was still "a man."

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

Maybe of the most famous quotes from the movies is said by Michael (Al Pacino) while reminiscing about something his father told him. While sitting in the room that once served as his father's office, he offers a bit of advice that has been used many times over the years by many people. It's one of the most iconic lines ever.

That's my family, Kay, that's not me.

Early in the first movie, when we first meet Michael and his girlfriend Kay (Diane Keaton), he tells her a story about his father, Luca Brassi, and Johnny Fontaine. She is horrified by the violence in the story, but Michael assures her that he is different. Oh, how tragic that quote would become.

Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.

Poor Fredo (John Cazale) can almost never get anything right. Long before his betrayal of Michael in the second movie, he sides against Michael in a discussion with Moe Green (Alex Rocco). It's a mistake Michael quickly corrects and offers a stern warning to his older brother.

Senator, we're both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.

Early in The Godfather Part II, Michael meets with Senator Pat Geary (G. D. Spradlin) at the new Godfather's son's party. When the Nevada senator gets lippy with Mike, insulting him and his family, Mike points out that they both are playing the same game, but his family has nothing to do with it. The fire and anger in Michael's eyes are downright scary.

Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment

The Godfather III, released more than a decade-and-a-half after the second installment, doesn't have the same reputation as the first two movies, but it does have some classic lines that fit right in with the franchise. Michael spends all of his time thinking and worrying about his enemies, but he never hates them. Don't hate the player, hate the game, so to speak.

I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.

Sonny Corleone (James Caan) is a bit of a hothead, to say the least. He often lets hir mouth get ahead of his brain. It's something that Vito is working on. When Sonny speaks out of turn in a meeting, much like Fredo does with Moe Greene, Vito is quick to shut him down and apologize to Sollozzo for the outburst.

Do me this favor. I won't forget it. Ask your friends in the neighborhood about me. They'll tell you I know how to return a favor.

Young Vito, as portrayed by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II, is already full of sage advice and, as is evident by this quote, quite the reputation. Returning favors would be very important to Vito for the rest of his life.

I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.

Early on, while Michael is talking to Kay, we learn what making an offer someone can't refuse means. The first time we see it in action is when Vito promises that Johnny will get the movie he is hoping for, but thus far has been denied by the owner of the production company. Vito makes the offer, and Johnny gets the part. It leads to one of the most memorable scenes in The Godfather involving an innocent horse.

Every time I think I'm out, pull me back in!

While many rank the third movie a distant third when ranking the three Godfather movies, there is one line that people constantly quote and is as big a part of the series as any other. Michael is trying to go legitimate, but in the end, he's always pulled back into the underworld he has operated in for years.

Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

One of the most famous lines in the movie, after Paulie is killed, comes from Peter Clemenza. The oft-quoted line was actually made up on the spot by the actor who played Clemenza, Richard Castellano.

I've loved baseball ever since Arnold Rothstein fixed the World Series in 1919.

For baseball fans, the story of the 1919 Black Sox (immortalized on the big screen in Eight Men Out) is the most infamous in all of baseball history. For a gangster like Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), his memories are all positive.

My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.

Famously, it took decades for Al Pacino to watch The Godfather in its entirety. He'd seen bits and pieces on TV, and you have to wonder if he ever saw this gem of a line. It's something that rings true in almost any era. Powerful men do powerful things; where they stand is the only difference.

I don't feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies.

In The Godfather II, Michael reaches a point when he feels he must eliminate all who have betrayed him and fight him. The dark side of Michael is very dark. Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) tries to reason with his adopted brother, but there is no turning back for Michael. Everyone must be eliminated, including his own brother, eventually. At least in the first one, it was only his brother-in-law who betrayed him and got dealt with.

It's not personal, it's strictly business.

Everything the characters do in the movies is business. Vito and Michael know not to take anything personally. If someone needs to die, make sure there is a business reason to kill them. Never get emotional, never get personal.

I know it was you, Fredo, you broke my heart.

Fredo isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, and his stupidity is eventually his downfall. Sure, he feels slighted by his family, and that's fair. The way he tries to remedy the situation, though, by betraying them, is the wrong thing to do. The kiss of death Michael plants on his older brother in The Godfather II is emotional, but not nearly as heartwrenching as when Fredo gets his comeuppance.

If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone.

As Michael and his underlings plan out how to exact revenge on their enemies, Tom argues that Hyman Roth may be untouchable, at least for a while. Michael disagrees and explains that everyone can be reached.

Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

There are some that think The Godfather Part II is the best of the trilogy, and others, including Al Pacino, who believe the first is the best–possibly the best movie ever–and it's because of iconic lines like this. Luca Brasi never saw it coming, and when the fish is delivered to Sonny wrapped in Luca's bulletproof vest, everyone in the room understands what it means for Vito's loyal hitman.

Senator, you can have my answer now, if you like. My offer is nothing.

The conversation between Michael and Senator Geary is intense. There is an amazing tension between the two powerful men, and while Geary thinks his standing as a U.S. congressman trumps Michael's place as the godfather, Geary would be proven very wrong. It starts when Michael tells him exactly how much he will bribe the senator for a gaming license.

Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.

Vito Corleone is one of the greatest characters in film history, but he's not the most enlightened, as evident by this quote in the first movie. He gives Michael all kinds of good advice before his death, and while this one works for its day, it's not something you want to be throwing out there in the 21st century.

I didn't want your son, Michael! I wouldn't bring another one of you sons into this world!

One of the most intense scenes in the whole series comes in the second movie when Michael and Kay fight over the nature of Michael's business. Kay has reached her breaking point, and while Michael believes she lost a child due to a miscarriage, Kay bravely tells him she terminated the pregnancy. It sets Michael into a rage, and the couple never recovers from it.

Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders

In the long line of gangsters who attempted to go to battle with Michael Corleone, Moe Greene is one of the boldest. He insults Michael right to his face when Mike tries to explain that Moe's casino will be controlled by the family. Moe is a great character and has one of the best deaths in the whole trilogy.

I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen; I didn't ask who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with business!

Hyman Roth, like his old friend Vito Corleone, never lets things get personal. At least, he tries not to and puts up a facade that he does. Of course, that's not true, he goes after Michael for both personal and financial reasons, but not before pretending it's never personal.

I've always taken care of you, Fredo.

Fredo, Fredo, Fredo. It's so hard not to feel sorry for poor, hapless Fredo. Even Mike tries to do his best for Fredo, but the middle Corleone son just doesn't have what it takes. Michael spent a long time trying to help his brother, but in the end, the godfather had to do the worst thing imaginable.

Mr Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news at once.

Tom Hagen is the most loyal of all of the Corleone Family members, first to Vito, then to Michael. He's also a lawyer with a very special practice, serving only the family. When he tries to make a movie producer an offer that makes sense, giving a part in a movie to Johnny Fontaine, he is met with resistance. Later, the producer found it was an offer he couldn't refuse.

Your enemies always get strong on what you leave behind.

In the third movie, audiences get to see Michael return to Italy, and Michael delivers more sage advice about how to deal with enemies of the family.

Listen, whoever comes to you with this Barzini meeting, he's the traitor. Don't forget that.

Vito Corleone spends a lot of time advising his son after he retires as head of the family. One of the most important bits is about uncovering a traitor in the family. After the don dies, it's Sal Tessio who approaches Michael about a sit-down with his rival, Barzini. Michael then knows it's Tessio who has betrayed him.

I always thought that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone, something.

Vito knew that one of his sons would take over the family business, but he always assumed it would be Sonny. After Sonny is killed, there is only one option. Vito always wanted something different for Michael, but understood that Michael had the smarts and the skills to do anything, including yield real political power. Either way, Michael was going to be holding the strings.

Good health is the most important thing. More than success, more than money, more than power.

According to Michael in The Godfather Part II, Hyman Roth had been dying of the same heart attack for years. In Cuba, Roth admits that he is in poor health and seemingly doesn't have long to live. Even he senses his own mortality. Michael later helps the process along with the help of Al Neri.

I'm smart and I want respect!

Fredo does have a point that he legitimately feels passed over, but that doesn't mean he's right. His outburst in the den overlooking Lake Tahoe is intense, and it doesn't do Fredo any favors. First, he is cut out of the family, and later, after their mother dies, he is cut out altogether.

Tell Mike it was only business.

After Michael figures out that it was Tessio who betrayed him, there is only one option. Tessio goes out like a standup traitor, though, explaining it was about business, and Tom acknowledges that Michael understands that. But he still won't get off the hook, for old times' sake.

I believe in America. America has made my fortune.

One of the most powerful lines to open any movie has to be the one delivered by Amerigo Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) at the beginning of The Godfather. The whole trilogy is a uniquely American story, and that is clear from the very start.

Among the absolute best movies about female friendships, The First Wives Club is undoubtedly one to watch. The 1996 Hugh Wilson comedy stars Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler as three old friends who reconnect in their forties when their friend from college dies. They soon come to realize that they’re all facing similar situations, as each of their husbands has left them for a younger woman. This leads them to work together to exact revenge, though their efforts evolve into something more meaningful. And all the while, amidst some truly heartfelt and thoughtful scenes, hilarity ensues.

As you might expect from a film starring these three legends, there is no shortage of laughs to go around throughout The First Wives Club. So let’s get into some of the funniest and best quotes and scenes from the movie.

"You were with that man again, weren't you?"

As we’re being introduced to the characters, it becomes immediately clear that Annie’s daughter Chris is no fan of her own father, describing him as “that man” with evident disdain when she realizes who her mother spent the night with.

"You're forty-five. You know, if I give you one more face lift, you're gonna be able to blink your lips!"

Elise’s introduction in the present day has her meeting with her plastic surgeon (played by Rob Reiner) who expresses extreme reluctance to continue touching up her face.

"Fill 'em up!"

It really isn't funny to see just how desperate Elise is to maintain her youthful appearance as a Hollywood actress, knowing that the parts she’ll be eligible for are diminishing more and more. And yet, it’s also impossible not to laugh at the way Goldie Hawn delivers this line. She doesn’t want to hear her plastic surgeon’s protests, she just wants her lips filled up.

"You are married. You have a daughter. You're very happy. You don't need self-esteem."

Diane Keaton’s character faces resistance from above and below her own tier on the family tree. While Annie’s daughter disapproves of her efforts to patch things up with Aaron, Annie's mother (played by Eileen Heckart) is dismissive of the idea that “self esteem” is something Annie could possibly need.

"And your lips..."

As perfectly cast as First Wives Club is, I need to pause here and celebrate Maggie Smith as an unsung hero in this ensemble. While Gunilla plays a bigger role in the schemes of the First Wives Club later on in the film, we’re introduced to her first at Cynthia’s funeral, where she immediately comments on Elise’s freshly filled-up lips.

The Way Brenda Automatically Puckers Her Lips While Staring At Elise's Mouth

The First Wives Club is undoubtedly one of Bette Midler’s best movies, and she shares so many perfect moments with Goldie Hawn’s Elise. That includes this one early on, when she reintroduces herself to her old friend and can’t seem to help herself from leaning in to stare at Elise’s lips while she unconsciously puckers her own.

"He starts working out. He grows a mustache. He gets an earring. I said, 'Morty, Morty, what are you, a pirate? What's next, a parrot?'"

As miserable as Brenda seems while talking about the collapse of her marriage following Morty’s mid-life crisis, it’s also hilarious the way she describes her husband's slow transition into a pirate.

When We Meet Shelly (And She's The Worst)

Sarah Jessica Parker enters the scene perfectly and immediately establishes herself as the worst — or maybe tied for the worst with Annie’s therapist? Shelly and Brenda’s disdain for one another is instantly apparent, and we’re never supposed to like Shelly, obviously, but Sarah Jessica Parker is just so great in every scene.

"Elise Eliot, The Crypt Keeper... wow."

Tact isn’t something that movie director Brett Arthurian (Timothy Olyphant) seems to have learned in film school as he brutally describes the character he envisions for Elise as “the Crypt Keeper.” It doesn’t help that Elise showed up for the meeting thinking she was being eyed for the role of the character’s daughter.

"I love you." "I want a divorce."

Aaron (Stephen Collins) is awful. That much is clear from this scene, wherein we see him and Annie cuddle after spending a romantic night out dining and dancing, only to return to Aaron’s hotel for some more romance. While Annie clearly thinks this is the first night of them starting over, Aaron reveals that he wants a divorce. Somehow he thought one last date would be a good prelude to that announcement.

"Annie, let's use this. He's found someone new. You're free. Closure!"

As if therapist Dr. Rosen couldn’t betray Annie’s trust any further, having engaged in a romantic relationship with Aaron while treating Annie, when Annie finds out about the relationship (moments after Aaron tells her he wants a divorce), Marcia Gay Harden’s character actually tries to use this nightmare of a situation as part of Annie’s therapy because… I don’t know.

"I'm SORRY!"

Naturally, finding out that her husband has been seriously dating her therapist, Annie loses it. As she should, because it's completely outrageous. But Diane Keaton manages to make the scene funny anyway by delivering a screamed-out “I’M SORRY!” to her soon-to-be ex-husband and his new girlfriend.

"And I starched them ... well, I mean, I supervised."

Of course Annie has to clarify her actual level involvement in the care of Aaron’s shorts when explaining to her friends what she went through as his wife to take care of his needs. She may not have actually starched Aaron’s laundry herself, but she did supervise.

When The First Wives Club Comes To Order

It’s an iconic moment when Elise, Annie and Brenda agree to join forces and exact revenge on their exes, and it includes a champagne toast. Annie’s glass contains their discarded wedding bands, and while I don’t know how I feel about her sipping from a glass containing three recently worn rings, it’s the gesture that counts.

"GOD Bless you!"

The moment Elise, Annie and Brenda enter the bar where they’re trying to find Annie’s daughter, Elise is recognized and hit on by a woman (played by Lea DeLaria) who’s clearly a huge fan and eager to let her know just how hot she thinks Elise is. Elise’s reaction to this encounter is pure and total elation.

"Mom, you know you're in a gay bar?"

Poor Chris is just hanging out, chatting up a pretty woman at a bar when who else but her mother should walk in and completely fail to read the room. Oh, Annie is fully aware that she’s in a gay bar, and she’s totally supportive of it, which is nice. But she doesn’t seem to see how her showing up here and interrupting her daughter at the bar might not be just a little bit mortifying for Chris. A bonus bit of funny in this scene is the way Brenda does seem to be aware and can’t seem to get away fast enough.

"It's the '90s, Bill. Downsize."

Elise is especially enthusiastic about liquidating her and Bill’s (Victor Garber) marital property, instructing the movers to literally take the desk out from under him at one point. And she's probably in the right to be a bit overzealous, given the circumstances. And her comment about how he should "downsize" as she's leaving is even more warranted, in my opinion, after he suggests that her current behavior is hormonal.

"I'm Monique! And you can be my mom!"

Bill’s girlfriend, Phoebe (Elizabeth Berkley) clearly idolizes Elise and doesn’t seem to be remotely aware that the feeling isn’t mutual when she meets her. In fact, after revealing that she’ll be playing Monique — the role Elise was hoping to play — in Brett’s new movie, she enthusiastically suggests that Elise play her mom.

"ForK."

Gunilla steps up to help out the First Wives Club by participating in a ruse to manipulate Shelly. That includes a fancy luncheon where Shelly talks non-stop (including berating Brenda at one point), and we get a true sense of just how hard Gunilla is trying to mask her disdain for Shelly by the way she curtly orders her to give her salad fork to the server.

"That chair is agony!"

Bronson Pinchot plays Duarto, Brenda’s friend and a decorator who agrees to help decorate Shelly and Morty’s apartment as part of the revenge plan. Upon arriving at their place, he immediately declares Morty’s chair “agony.”

When The Trio Escapes Morty And Shelly's Apartment On The Window-Washing Scaffold

Though The First Wives Club makes excellent use of the comedic talents of its three leads throughout the movie, never is that better demonstrated than in this scene, where Elise, Annie and Brenda have to use the window-washing scaffold to sneak out of Shelly and Morty’s apartment, and nearly plummet to their deaths. Annie’s fear, Brenda’s determination to handle the situation and Elise’s enjoyment of it all combine for non-stop hilarity.

"Elise, you look great!"

Amidst their escape from Shelly and Morty’s apartment, the trio find themselves outside some random couple’s window. Fortunately, the interrupted man and woman are only surprised for a moment before they insist on letting Elise know how good she looks. Of course, Elise loves this (and Brenda clearly can’t handle it).

"She has impeccable taste... for an actress."

Maggie Smith’s character drops this funny line while trying to encourage Shelly to bid on an item at an auction. When Elise bids to get the price up, Gunilla says whatever she has to in order to encourage Shelly to bid even higher. That includes a little dig at actors.

"With my money you bought it. I bought me a gift!"

Shelly doesn’t seem to understand why Morty is so upset at all of the money — literally hundreds of thousands of dollars, at least — that she spent at the auction. They were gifts! Of course, all of the money she'd spent was Morty's, so he technically bought himself a $300k Lamborghini, among other things.

"I drink because I'm a sensitive and highly strung person." "No, that's why your co-stars drink!"

It’s devastating to see the trio have a full-on argument when things aren’t going their way. And the barbs they throw at one another are intense, particularly when Brenda and Elise go head to head and pull out all of the stops. Case in point, Elise claims she drinks because she’s sensitive and high-strung, but Brenda quickly turns that around on her and says those traits of hers are why her co-stars drink.

"You think just because I'm a movie star, I don't have feelings? Well, you're wrong. I'm an actress. I have all of them!"

Don’t accuse Elise of not having feelings just because she’s a famous movie star. She’s an actress, after all. If anyone knows anything about feelings, it’s her — she has all of them!

"Bill is so wrong, you are not Satan."

Once again, Phoebe’s lack of awareness is ridiculous and kind of endearing, especially when we discover that she’s actually younger than anyone thinks. She also seems to think she’s saying something complimentary when she tells Elise that Bill is wrong about saying she's Satan.

"Fifty cents?"

As great as he is as a dramatic actor, Victor Garber has also proven adept at providing subtly hilarious comedic support in certain roles (he has one of the best quotes in Legally Blonde, for example, and I love him so much in Sleepless in Seattle). He makes Bill just so perfectly unlikable in this movie, which is why it’s so satisfying to see the character's reaction when Elise gives him his half of the liquidated marital assets, which is a total of fifty cents. Elise is generous though and decides to give him the full dollar for what she received for all of their fancy belongings.

"Oh, Daddy, I'm a lesbian. A big one."

Earlier in the movie, Chris begs her mother not to tell her father that she’s gay, wanting to drop that reveal on “that man” at the perfect moment. She finds that moment near the end of the movie when Aaron is anxiously about to go in to meet with the First Wives Club to find out what’s going to happen next.

The You Don't Own Me Finale

Earlier in the movie, Annie revealed that she was terrified to sing "You Don't Own Me" along with her friends. By the end of the movie, as we see in this iconic finale, she's gained enough confidence to belt out the song solo and with her friends, and it's perfection.

"Gunilla was a first, second, third and fourth wife, which accounted for her very comfortable surroundings."

Annie’s narration informs us that Gunilla is no stranger to being married, having been someone's wife more than a few times, which explains the lavish lifestyle we see her living.

"Honey, she's a quilt."

Near the start of the movie, Duarto accompanies Brenda to Cynthia’s funeral. After spotting Elise, Duarto inquires about whether o\r not Elise has ever had any work done on her face. Brenda’s response implies that “work” would be an understatement.

Some actors excel in dramas, others in action flicks; but there are also others whose best work happens to be in some of the best romantic comedies of all time. Nothing against Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan, or Colin Firth’s more dramatic or action-oriented work, but let’s be real for a second and admit that Four Weddings and a Funeral, When Harry Met Sally, and Bridget Jones’s Diary, as well as their other work in the genre, is why they’re so beloved.

That said, here are 32 actors whose best roles are rom-coms…

Hugh Grant

With movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’s Diary to his name (and many, many more), it’s no wonder Hugh Grant’s name comes up rather frequently when discussing the best rom-coms ever made. Sure, his work in Paddington 2 and Remains of the Day is great, but the man knows how to anchor a romantic comedy with that signature charm and wit.

Renée Zellweger

Sure, Renée Zellweger won her two Oscars in dramas – Cold Mountain and Judy – but that doesn’t mean those were her best roles. Again, they were both great, but don’t hold a candle to her work as the titular character in Bridget Jones’s Diary or her star-making performance in Jerry Maguire. More than 20 years after first playing those iconic characters, Zellweger’s work is still received with heaps of praise.

Julia Roberts

One of the queens of the ‘90s rom-com, Julia Roberts bookended the final decade of the 20th century with legendary performances in Pretty Woman and Notting Hill. Those roles, which should be revisited annually if we’re being honest, helped pave the way for Roberts’ stellar career.

Meg Ryan

It’s impossible to put together a list of Meg Ryan’s best movies and not include the likes of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, to name a few. The rom-com mainstay, who shared the screen with Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, and Kevin Kline over the years, has given us unforgettable moments and more beloved characters than just about anyone.

Cameron Diaz

My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, The Holiday, The Sweetest Thing, and countless other romantic comedies made Cameron Diaz one of the biggest stars of the past 30 years. The actress has shown off her more dramatic roles in everything from Any Given Sunday and Being John Malkovich, but her performances in those rom-coms can’t be touched.

Drew Barrymore

Long before Drew Barrymore became one of the premier names in the world of daytime talk shows, she held it down in the rom-com circuit. Fever Pitch, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, and The Wedding Singer are just some of Barrymore’s best romantic comedies. And while she does have a killer scene in the opening minutes of Scream, these are her most memorable performances.

Colin Firth

As much as we love watching Colin Firth play Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, his more modern take on the character in Bridget Jones’s Diary is the stuff of legend. Firth, a tremendous dramatic actor in his own right, has been a staple of the romantic comedy over the years thanks in part to those Bridget Jones movies, Mamma Mia!, and Love Actually. However, don’t let this take away from the greatness of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The King’s Speech.

Billy Crystal

When Harry Met Sally is one of the first movies to come to mind whenever the topic of hilarious Billy Crystal movies comes up. Filled with some of the funniest lines (and others filled with heartbreak and emotion), Crystal’s work in the rom-com genre is absolutely fantastic, be it movies like America’s Sweethearts or Forget Paris. And The Princess Bride sort of counts, right?

Cary Grant

Few Hollywood leading men have a resume as great as Cary Grant, an actor who appeared in dozens of romantic comedies over the years. Charade, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, and so many others have long cemented Grant’s place in the annuls of rom-com history, and those hilarious and heartfelt performances are still cherished many years after his death.

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was the king of the silent film and an actor who could do anything from drama to slapstick to romantic comedy better than just about every single one of his contemporaries. Chaplin’s 1931 rom-com, City Lights, helped define the genre and has been a benchmark for nearly 100 years.

Nia Long

Nia Long has so many great movies to her name, including Friday, Boyz n the Hood, Big Momma’s House, and Soul Food. This also includes some all-time great romantic comedies from the ‘90s like Love Jones, The Best Man, and Hav Plenty. Though her name doesn’t come up as much as it should, Long is still in a league of her own.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton won an Oscar for her titular in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, but the talented actress has several other iconic rom-coms to her name. Something’s Gotta Give, Manhattan, The Family Stone, and Baby Boom all show off the incredible skill and nuance of this once-in-a-generation actress. And this is coming from someone who thinks The Godfather is one of the top five movies of all time.

Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady are all some of the funniest movies of the 20th century, and all happen to feature the unmatched talent of Audrey Hepburn in iconic roles. The late actress had a great number of dramatic roles over the years, but her charm and charisma seen in these rom-coms made her one of the all-time greats.

Constance Wu

Constance Wu has all kinds of great film and TV roles on her resume, but for some, she’ll always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians. The massively popular romantic comedy about a Chinese-American NYU professor learning her boyfriend is a member of the richest and most powerful family in Singapore still hits more than a half-decade after its release.

Richard Gere

Though Richard Gere has killed it in dramas like An Officer and a Gentleman and musicals like Chicago, those performances don’t hold a candle to, at least culturally, to his role as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. Gere and co-star Julia Roberts would rekindle that spark less than a decade later with another great rom-com, Runaway Bride.

Reese Witherspoon

The Importance of Being Earnest, Sweeet Home Alabama, and Legally Blonde all allowed Reese Witherspoon to show off comedic skills in romantic comedies, and those roles remain some of her best. Sure, she won an Oscar for Walk the Line, but there’s no touching Elle Woods.

Henry Golding

Henry Golding had already had some success by the time he was cast as the uber-wealthy Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, but his performance in the 2018 romantic comedy sent him to the next level. He’s found success in movies like The Gentlemen and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare since then, but his rom-com performance is still his best.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes has long killed it in comedies, romance movies, and romantic comedies. Take Hitch for example. The 2005 rom-com starring Will Smith as a professional “date doctor” who meets his match in Mendes’ character was so much fun and allowed the actress to show off all of her skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Sandra Bullock

While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats, The Proposal, and Two Weeks Notice are just a few of Sandra Bullock’s all-time great romantic comedies. The Academy Award-winning actress has long been one of the best to attempt the genre, and she’ll have a long-lasting legacy because of those strong, vulnerable, and incredibly relatable characters.

Michael Ealy

Over the years, Michael Ealy has put together a crazy good filmography, one that is filled with medical dramas and thrillers, action flicks and comedies, etc. But let’s not forget all the great work he’s done in the world of romantic comedies. Kissing Jessica Stein, Think Like a Man, and About Last Night have all shown what the talented actor is working with.

Adam Sandler

Though not the prototypical romantic lead, there are so many great Adam Sandler rom-coms out there. From The Wedding Singer to Punch-Drunk Love and 50 First Dates to Spanglish there’s so much variety and fun to be had with his stellar filmography.

Jennifer Garner

13 Going on 30, anyone? Jennifer Garner became one of the queens of the rom-com with the release of her 2004 comedy about a young girl who is transformed into a 30-year-old magazine editor and undergoes a massive transformation (both physically and emotionally). She’s also appeared in other great comedies of the era like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Love, Simon, to name a few.

Woody Allen

Woody Allen’s monologue in the opening minutes of Manhattan is honestly one of the best cinematic moments of the ‘70s and features some of Allen’s best writing. That’s saying something considering the writer-director-actor has been a part of so many great rom-coms over the years. Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Hannah and her Sisters have made us laugh, cry, and feel everything in between over the past 50-plus years.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway’s name doesn’t come up in the rom-com discussion as much as it should, which is a shame considering the Oscar-winning actress has killed it in movies like The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Love & Other Drugs, and so many others. Yeah, she was great in Interstellar and Les Misérables, but there’s no denying her performances in these romantic comedies.

Morris Chestnut

Okay, Morris Chestnut was AMAZING in Boyz n the Hood with his portrayal of Ricky Baker, but the man has become a legend in the rom-com game over the past few decades. Two Can Play That Game, The Best Man, The Brothers, The Perfect Holiday, Breakin’ All the Rules are all classics, thanks in no small part to Chestnut’s performances.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams’ career has been full of swirling tales of romance like The Notebook, The Vow, and Disobedience, but some of her best work has been in romantic comedies. Wedding Crashers and Midnight in Paris quickly come to mind, but her best performance can be found in About Time, an incredibly emotional and hilarious story of love, loss, and second chances.

John Cusack

Look at the best John Cusack movies and you’ll see iconic rom-coms like High Fidelity, Say Anything, Serendipity, Better Off Dead, and America’s Sweethearts. The vulnerability and likeability of the Hollywood star have made those movies, and the beloved characters he plays in each of them, such gems over the years.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson is amazing when it comes to roles in romantic comedies, and few could come close to her batting average in the early-to-mid 2000s. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Best Friend’s Girl, Something Borrowed, and A Little Bit of Heaven all come to mind in this regard.

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs has done it all, but he’s excelled tremendously in the rom-com world. Movies like The Wood, The Best Man, Brown Sugar, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back have shown just how charming and funny the classically trained actor can be.

Ben Stiller

Though an unlikely leading man in the realm of romantic comedies, Ben Still has long excelled in the genre. Over the years, we’ve had sensational comedies like There’s Something About Mary, Along Came Polly, Keeping the Faith, and even Reality Bites that have allowed the comedian-actor-writer-director to show off what he’s working with, and it’s been great all along.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Green on Friends, but let’s not forget that she has also been a longtime staple of the romantic comedy genre. The Break-up, Wanderlust, Just Go With It, The Switch, Rumor Has It, and several others have been perfect movies for Aniston to show off her skills.

Patrick Dempsey

From Can’t Buy Me Love to Made of Honor and everything in between, Patrick Dempsey has been a tour de force in the world of romantic comedies. He’s done great work on TV and in big-screen dramas over the years, but he particularly excels in the rom-com genre.

Acting and directing are two very different skills, and for someone to be able to do both is a mark of a hard-working and talented person. It doesn't always work out for actors, but it's remarkable how often it does. Here are 32 such examples of great actors who became great directors as well. 

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood's career has lasted an unbelievable eight decades. He started humbling with small roles in the '50s and as the decades have gone on, he's only gotten bigger and bigger. After directing his first movie, 1971's Play Misty for Me, he's gone on to helm a remarkable 39 more and has won 2 Best Director Oscars, for 1993's Unforgiven and 2005's Million Dollar Baby.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard has been in the lives and living rooms of Americans since he was just a kid as an actor on The Andy Griffith Show. He went on to star in Happy Days in the 1970s before directing his first low-budget film, Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He's since gone on to direct such classics as Splash, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and many others. 

Bradley Cooper

If the start of Bradley Cooper's directing career is any indication, you can expect huge things. So far, the actor-turned-director has only helmed two movies, A Star Is Born and Maestro and both have been nominated for Best Picture Oscars. Not a shabby record. 

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall got her first big break on the sitcom The Odd Couple but became a household name as Lavern in Lavern & Shirley. She didn't stay in TV though, instead, she started directing and made two of the most beloved Gen X movies of all time, Big and A League of Their Own. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck might not have been the first actor you picked to become a director, but his stellar career as an actor is matched by his work as a director. In fact, though he's never won an acting Oscar (something that should be remedied), he did win Best Director for Argo. 

Robert Redford

By the time Robert Redford directed his first movie, Ordinary People, in 1980, he was already one of the most legendary film stars ever. The second half of his career is as known for his directing as it is for his acting, with movies like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau's acting career started humbling with supporting roles in movies like Rudy and PCU. After he wrote and starred in Swingers, his star shined a little brighter. That was only the beginning though. Favreau has the honor of directing the movie that launched the most successful film franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Iron Man and its sequel. He's since moved on to Disney live-action remakes with The Lion King and The Jungle Book. Oh, and he also directed one of the most beloved holiday movies ever with. Elf.

Mel Gibson

The controversial career of Mel Gibson began with a small movie that made huge waves in his native Australia. Mad Max made him famous and by the late late-'80s, he was one of the biggest stars in the world. He then moved into directing and reached his pinnacle early with Braveheart for which he won Best Director. 

Richard Attenborough

As an actor, Richard Attenborough starred in massive hits across generations with movies like The Great Escape and Jurassic Park. As a director, he helmed some of the best biopics of all time, like Gandhi, A Cry Freedom, and Chaplin as well a the legendary war flick, A Bridge Too Far. 

Regina King

Regina King's directorial career is only getting started, but judging by her first movie, One Night In Miami, the future is bright. So far, the Academy Award-winning actress has mostly directed TV shows, but you can be sure more films will be coming her way.

Denzel Washington

What can we say about Denzel Washington that hasn't already been said? He's a living legend at this point, as a multiple Oscar winner and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's also one heck of a director with movies like Fences and The Great Debaters.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski became part of our collective family as Jim on The Office. Who would have thought from that role, his career in Hollywood would reach the point that he is a major power player? Now that he's moved into directing, the sky is truly the limit. The first movie Krasinski directed, The Hollars, made for a humble beginning, but his second, A Quiet Place established him as a force to reckon with and it's since become a franchise.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks might not have been an actor you'd have guessed would go into directing, like others on this list, but she has in a big way. She has shown she can direct blockbusters like Pitch Perfect 2 and indie darlings like that one about the bear who indulges in some, uh, white powder he finds, and goes on a rampage.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is quickly becoming a voice of a generation. Her direction and writing of Barbie has been praised far and wide for its snappy dialog and heartfelt message. Gerwig's acting career started in the mid-'00s when she was mostly in smaller, supporting roles. Since moving into directing, she's become a huge star.

Jordan Peele

Key & Peele was a huge hit for Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, and made them both stars. No one expected Peele to turn to directing horror movies, but that's exactly what he did and we should all be grateful for it. With massive hits like Get Out, Nope, and Us, the future is bright for Peele and for all of us too, who will get to watch his work.

Rob Reiner

Though he had a leg up coming from a Hollywood family, Rob Reiner has staked out a claim all his own in the entertainment business. First as an actor on the hit show All in the Family, then as the director of some of the most loved movies of all time. Starting with his first movie, This is Spinal Tap, and running through the '80s and early '90s, he had an unbelievable run that included The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Misery. Wow!

George Clooney

Not only is George Clooney one of the most bankable movie stars ever, he's also a fantastic director. His acting career is legendary and his directing career, while not quite at the level of his acting, is still fantastic. He's directed TV (Catch-22) and movies (The Boys In The Boat, The Midnight Sky, Good Night, and Good Luck, among others) and you can be sure there will be more from him.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's directing career hasn't always gotten the best reviews, but I'd say her movies are very underrated. The talented actress has an eye for behind the camera as well, and movies like Unbroken and First They Killed My Father are powerful movies.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton's acting career came on as a slow burn to fame, but his directing career started with a band. His first film was a masterpiece called Sling Blade. he followed that up with the underrated All The Pretty Horse and a few others, though his pace has slowed over the last couple of decades. Let's hope he finds that directing bug again. 

Ben Stiller

There was a time in the '90s and '00s when it seemed like Ben Stiller was in every movie released. Not only was he working hard in front of the camera, he was killing it behind the camera as well. Starting really with Reality Bites, and moving on to great movies like the controversial but hilarious Tropic Thunder, and the Zoolander movies. 

Jodie Foster

The great Jodie Foster has been an acclaimed actor and star since her teenage years and of course, that talent has translated to directing. Though lately she's done mostly TV work like directing episodes of Black Mirror and Orange is the New Black, she's done a few movies too, like Little Man Tate and Money Monster.

Kevin Costner

In addition to being one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Kevin Costner has never shied away from making epic films. Though he's only directed four movies in his career, they have all been big films. Starting with Dances With Wolves in 1990, he's since directed The Postman, Open Range, and 2024's Horizon: An American Saga.

Tim Robbins

The directing bug caught Tim Robbins in the early '90s and he directed a couple of great movies with Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking. He's directed a smattering of movies and TV shows more recently, but he's mostly stuck to acting over the last few years. 

Sean Penn

Since the early 1980s, Sean Penn has been wowing moviegoers with his impressive acting chops and diversity. In the '90s he dipped his toe into directing with his first film, The Indian Runner and has directed a good handful of movies since, with his best being Into The Wild in 2007. 

Zach Braff

Acting-wise Zach Braff's big break came as a regular cast member of the hit sitcom Scrubs. As a directed, he burst onto the scene with his very first movie, Garden State in 2004. He's continued directing here and there over the last 20 years, including the great movie about getting older, Going In Style, and a few others, in addition to some TV work. 

Warren Beatty

In the 1970s, there was no bigger movie star than Warren Beatty. By the end of the decade, he had moved into directing as well, starting with 1978's Heaven Can Wait and continuing the '80s and '90s with acclaimed movies like Red and maybe his most remembered, Dick Tracy in 1990.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is a force of nature. For decades she's been one of the best and most popular actresses in Hollywood, and though she's only dipped her toes into directing, mostly in TV, she's on this list for one important reason. Keaton directed the music video for "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and that is a stone-cold Gen X classic. 

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh might be as well known for his directing as he is for his acting, and that's really saying something. Not only has he directed some of the best Shakespeare adaptions for the silver screen, but more recently he's been killing it with his Agatha Christie adaptations. 

Leonard Nimoy

Appropriately, Leonard Nimoy's first foray into feature film direction came in the Star Trek franchise when he directed both Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Outside of the iconic franchise he helped make famous he also directed the beloved Three Men and a Baby. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has always been a self-starter. His work to get the original Rocky made is legendary and after it made him a huge star, he wasted no time getting into directing, starting with Rocky II and adding Rocky III, Rocky IV, and 2006's Rocky Balboa as well. Of course, he's also directed in two other franchises he was at the center of with 2008's Rambo and the first Expendable movie. 

Helen Hunt

This one might surprise you, but Helen Hunt has had an impressive career as a director. Most of her work has been on television on shows varying from her own Mad About You and This Is Us. She also has two feature films under her belt with 2007's Then She Found Me and 2014's Ride. 

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton is seemingly everywhere these days, popping up in all kinds of movies and TV shows from Star Wars stuff to Dark Matter. He's also started directing, but his output is limited, with 2015's underrated The Gift and 2018 Boy Erased. Let's hope he finds more time to direct in his busy schedule. 

When it comes to Hollywood, plenty of actresses, singers, and more have taken the world by storm. It could be from their legendary acting, brilliant singing, or even how they walk the runway, but one way or another, they become Hollywood it girls, the ones that everyone looks up to and wants to be. Today, we'll review more than 30 Hollywood It girls, their time in the spotlight, and where they are now. 

Audrey Hepburn

We need to mention Audrey Hepburn if we're talking about Hollywood it girls. The actress became a major it girl in 1960s for her roles in iconic films like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady, and several other classic films. She won an Academy Award for acting in Roman Holiday alongside Gregory Peck and is considered one of the most iconic faces in Hollywood history. The actress passed away in January 1993 at 63. 

Angelina Jolie 

Angelina Jolie really started building a name for herself in the '90s, then gained fame for her role in Girl, Interrupted earlier in the 2000s, and only continued to grow in popularity. Her starring roles in movies such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Wanted, Salt, and more in the early to mid-2000s garnered her the coveted Hollywood it girl status. She also won an Academy Award for Girl, Interrupted. There are so many great Angelina Jolie movies to watch. 

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno danced onto the scene as a Hollywood it girl 1962 with her starring role in the classic movie musical West Side Story, where she won an Academy Award for playing Anita. She continued to star in various films after in the 1960s and '70s. In recent years, she played Valentina in the new Steven Spielberg reboot of West Side Story and appeared in other films like 80 for Brady, Fast X, and more. 

Elizabeth Taylor 

Elizabeth Taylor became a Hollywood it girl around the time Cleopatra released in the 1960s. She would also star in films such as Father of Bride, A Place in the Sun, Ivanhoe, and many more. She also won the Academy Award for Butterfield 8, and starred in several films with her on-again-off-again husband, Richard Burton. Taylor passed away in 2011 at the age of 79. 

Drew Barrymore

Though she's been acting since childhood, Drew Barrymore was the Hollywood it girl in the 1990s, especially from her part in The Wedding Singer. Her small role in the Scream franchise was another big moment during the decade. Aside from that, she appeared in films like Charlie's Angels, Boys on the Side, Batman Forever, and more. In recent years, she became a host of her own syndicated talk show called The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews' best movies exemplify how she became a Hollywood it girl. Andrews is primarily known for two of her roles in the 1960s that shot her up to It girl stardom – The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins (for which she won an Academy Award), two highly iconic musical films where she showed off her acting talent and brilliant pipes. She continues to act to this day and often leads her iconic voices to several franchises. 

Dolly Parton 

When I think of Hollywood it girls, I often think of Dolly Parton. This country star has become a staple in the world of music and shot up to Hollywood it girl status in the 1980s, with a combination of her iconic music and her roles in films like 9 to 5 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Diana Ross 

Diana Ross is an incredible singer who became a Hollywood it girl as the lead vocalist from the Motown girl group, The Supremes, back in the 1960s. But from there, she had a solo career that expanded decades. To this day, Ross continues to perform and make music. She also won several awards for her role in Lady Sings the Blues. 

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was another iconic voice from the late 1960s and became an even bigger star in the latter half of the decade, becoming one of the biggest Hollywood it girls out there. Some of her songs that you might recognize include "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "I Say A Little Prayer" and more. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 76.  

Brooke Shields

Back in the early 1980s, all anyone could talk about was Brooke Shields. The actress became big at a young age for her modeling, and then began to star in films such as The Blue Lagoon, Endless Love, and more, which truly cemented her status. She played Van in Holiday Harmony in 2022. 

Judy Garland 

You can't get more Hollywood it girl than Judy Garland, someone who starred in one of the most iconic movies ever, The Wizard of Oz, and became a well-known Hollywood it girl from the 1930s onward. Garland primarily became known for her role as Dorothy, but she did star in several other movies (such as Easter Parade, Summer Stock, A Star Is Born) and more before she died in 1969 when she was 47. 

Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald was the Hollywood it girl in the mid-1980s, appearing in several major coming-of-age teen films that I'm sure most of us know today. Some of these that really cemented her status as a Hollywood it girl were The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and more. Ringwald still acts, both on TV and in movies. For a few years she played Archie's mother in the hit CW show Riverdale. 

Cher

Cher is a singer who became known for her deep voice and style, and also her acting. Cher has been around since the 1960s, and has been a Hollywood it girl for several decades. The late '80s was where we got several songs synonymous with Cher today that really cemented her place in the music industry, like "I Found Someone" and "If I Could Turn Back Time." Today, Cher still works on music. 

Barbra Streisand

Barbara Streisand is a singer who also became a prominent voice of the late 1960s. Specifically, her role in Funny Girl made her stand out even more, a part that she won an Academy Award for, and from there she only grew in stardom and it-girl status.  Streisand still works on music and has achieved EGOT status over her time in Hollywood. 

Goldie Hawn 

Goldie Hawn gained fame for her role in the sketch comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-On but blew up even more after her time in the 1960s film Cactus Flower, which really cemented her status as a Hollywood it girl. She appeared in several other movies, such as Shampoo, The Sugarland Express, Private Benjamin, and more. She's been the partner of Kurt Russell for many years and even appeared alongside him in Overboard, and more recently, The Christmas Chronicles 2. 

Tina Turner

Tina Turner is a legend in the world of music, becoming super famous in the early 1970s, especially with her release of "What's Love Got To Do With It." The singer is known as the "Queen of Rock and Roll" and has released such well-known tunes as "Better Be Good To Me," "The Best" and many more. Tina Turner unfortunately passed in 2023 at the age of 83. 

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts’ best movies are mainly from the 1980s and 1990s, making her the Hollywood it girl of the time. Pretty Woman was one of Roberts' best movies that cemented her status as an it-girl, but she appeared in several films throughout the 1990s, like My Best Friend's Wedding, Notting Hill, Runaway Bride, and more, and even won an Academy Award for Erin Brockovich in 2000. She appeared in Ticket to Paradise in 2022. 

Liza Minnelli

The daughter of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, is known for her work as an actor, singer, and dancer, and for also achieving EGOT status. Minnelli's status as it girl really started to appear in her part in Cabaret in 1972, but she also starred in other movies like Arthur and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, as well as many others. The actress most recently had a cameo appearance in Halston in 2021. 

Carly Simon 

The iconic Carly Simon has worked in music for many years and became a major it girl in the early 1970s. She released songs such as "Haven't Got Time For Pain," "You're So Vain," "Mockingbird," and more. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Donna Summer (1975) 

Donna Summer, a disco legend, released music such as "Love to Love You Baby" and "I Feel Love," among many other iconic music from that time in the mid-1970s. Both songs were huge hits among the rest of her discography. She passed away in 2012 at the age of 63. 

Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet primarily gained fame from her role on The Cosby Show in the 1980s, which she reprised in the college-set spinoff A Different World. Aside from that, she also starred in movies like Angel Heart, which further cemented her status as a leading lady. She held a recurring role in Ray Donavan in 2016. 

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is known for numerous roles, going back to 1970s, and was a great Hollywood it girl, specifically beginning from her time in The Godfather movies. She also appeared in films such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleep, Love and Death, and Annie Hall, which won her an Academy Award. Keaton was in Book Club: The Next Chapter in 2023. 

Olivia Newton-John

You couldn't go anywhere in the 1970s without hearing about Olivia Newton-John. Not only was the actress known for her role in Grease in 1978, but she also had an excellent singing career, releasing hits like "I Honestly Love You" and "Physical," which only further showed just how much of an it girl she was. Newton-John passed away in 2022. 

Pam Grier

Pam Grier has appeared in several memorable action films. Coffy in 1973 was really what brought her to stardom, but she continued to shine in films like Foxy Brown, The Big Doll House, Women in Cages, The Big Bird Cage, The Arena, Sheba Baby, and many more. Years later, she also starred in Jackie Brown, one of Quentin Tarantino's films. She appeared in Pet Sematary: Bloodlines in 2023. 

Meryl Streep 

While I will always consider Streep an it girl all the time, she became well-known at the end of the 1970s and '80s for her starring roles in movies like Kramer vs. Kramer (which won her an Academy Award), The Deer Hunter, and Sophie's Choice. In 2023, held a recurring role on the great Hulu TV series Only Murders in the Building. 

Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett was an actress known not only for her beautiful and luxurious hair, but for her acting in the series Charlie's Angels from 1976 to 1981. She also appeared in Harry O and The Six Million Dollar Man. She unfortunately passed away in 2009 at the age of 62. 

Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals rose to fame from her role in Flashdance in 1983 and continued appearing in other significant movies, including Vampire's Kiss, Devil in Blue Dress, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Cycle, and more. Today, she still acts and appeared in the 2022 film Luckiest Girl Alive and was a part of the guest cast of the Disney+ Star Wars series, The Book of Boba Fett. 

Winona Ryder

While many people remember her well for her role in Beetlejuice, she began to appear in several films in the late 1980s and 1990s. Her biggest one in my opinion was Edward Scissorhands in 1990, which really showed off her acting prowess and made her an it girl, but she also appeared in films such as Heathers, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Age of Innocence, and Little Women, among others. She has a starring role in the hit Netflix binge-able series Stranger Things.

Janet Jackson

While Michael Jackson was a Hollywood it guy, his sister Janet was undoubtedly a Hollywood it girl. Janet Jackson is a legendary voice in the music genre and released hits during the 1980s like "Nasty" and "Rhythm Nation," among others. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Naomi Campbell 

Naomi Campbell was a massive influence in the modern-day fashion industry, becoming the first-ever Black woman to headline the covers of both Vogue France and Time in the late 1980s. Aside from modeling, Campbell also worked in acting and music. She more recently appeared in Black is King in 2020 and was a part of the docu-series The Super Models. 

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston rose to fame in the late 1980s for her songs like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Greatest Love of All," but later starred in The Bodyguard in 1992, which included several hit songs on its soundtrack, including her iconic version of "I Will Always Love You." She also starred in several other films like The Preacher's Wife and Waiting to Exhale, further showing her Hollywood it girl status. Houston passed away in 2012. 

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon gained a lot of fame for her roles in movies in the late 1990s, such as Cruel Intentions and Election, but became huge with her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde in 2001, which is genuinely one of Reese Witherspoon's best movies, and has since appeared in several other films. She even won an Academy Award for her co-starring role in Walk the Line. She has a co-starring role in the Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show, alongside Jennifer Anniston. 

There are so many amazing Hollywood it girls out there that we could talk about, but these are just some that have taken the world by storm. Who knows who is going to end up becoming the next Hollywood star that tops this list? 

It often feels like rom-coms are a dime a dozen, but the truth is that the best romantic comedies are ones built on several things. Fans of the genre enjoy snappy dialogue, inventive and/or realistic complications for the central couple, a swoon-worthy love story, and, of course, main characters portrayed by actors who have more than enough on-screen chemistry to make all of those pieces come together. 

What’s great about romantic comedies is that we’ve gotten more than enough couples like this over the past two plus decades, but some of them have either only partnered one time (which, granted, may be because their pairing is still relatively new), or haven’t been in a film together for many years now. So, let’s take a look at the (mostly) rom-com partners that we really think should make another movie together!

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

This duo probably feels like a no-brainer to you, and, well, it should! Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have memorably joined forces for two rom-com hits, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, plus the 1990 cult favorite romantic comedy, Joe Versus the Volcano, so there’s no reason for them not to really round things out with a fourth film. I’d be down for a second chance romance where they learn to love again, wouldn’t you?

Diane Keaton And Keanu Reeves 

Yes, yes… Already I’m cheating here, but only a tiny bit. While the magnetic on-screen coupling of Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves wasn’t the main focus of Something’s Gotta Give, I have spent the past 20 years wishing they were. So, let's get these adorably crazy kids back together! They could play any kind of couple (bickering marrieds who are clearly still hot for each other, two folks who shouldn’t get together but can’t help themselves, etc.) and I’d be in the theater on opening night.

Lana Condor And Noah Centineo

Honestly, there might not be a cuter couple on this list. The dreamy teen romance movie pairing of Lana Condor and Noah Centineo was, obviously, gifted to everyone with a Netflix subscription in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, and there’s a reason that so many people fell head over heels for them. These two sorta sparkle together on screen, and I’d love to see them reunite in a romance (or any comedy) that’s got more of an adult edge to it.

Alison Brie And Jason Sudeikis

We all adore it when a rom-com gives us something different, and 2015’s Sleeping with Other People does just that with its story of friends who openly acknowledge their sexual tension, but purposely avoid doing anything about it so as to not screw up what they have. Alison Brie and Ted Lasso cast lead Jason Sudeikis are amazing as the friends in question, and I’d love to see them bring their casual, but still sexy, chemistry to another film. 

Jenny Slate And Jake Lacy

A true pleasure of watching Obvious Child was seeing the relationship between Jenny Slate and Jake Lacy’s characters develop as she has trouble revealing that she’s getting an abortion several weeks after their one-night stand. They work great as a duo with a clear attraction that’s impeded by a secret, and we’d really appreciate it if we could watch him warm her butter and make her tea in a movie that sees them as fully coupled characters.

Constance Wu And Henry Golding

I cannot tell a lie; some of the reason for Constance Wu and Henry Golding making the list is simply because we are all dying for the Crazy Rich Asians sequel we’ve been promised for several years now. While we wait, I’m hoping we can at least get those two into another fun rom-com where he can bring his posh, suave energy to meet her adorably spunky, girl-next-door verve.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

What’s not to love about Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, especially when they star opposite each other in a romantic story? They were sweet, sexy, bantery, and slightly goofy together in Crazy, Stupid, Love, then had all of that with more emotional depth in La La Land, and also had the same chemistry in Gangster Squad, but with an added veneer of danger. It’s been a rough few years; the world needs more of their exact thing, OK?

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

I know, I know! Matthew McConaughey doesn’t make rom-coms anymore, but that’s honestly no reason why he can’t re-team with Kate Hudson, 20 years after they first hit the screen together in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. The engaging push-and-pull of their romance in that film can easily be translated to, say, a movie where each is portraying a lawyer on the opposite side of a big murder case. There! Someone make that movie!

Queen Latifah And Common

Just Wright might not be the first movie you think of when it comes to Queen Latifah or romantic comedies, but it’s hard to deny that watching her play off of Common as they slowly go from not-quite-enemies to lovers was a genuine treat. Now all we need is the right vehicle for them so their individual easygoing charm can show us how well-matched they are on screen.

Jennifer Garner And Mark Ruffalo

There’s a reason that 13 Going On 30 is still so popular almost two decades later. That reason is Jennifer Garner’s joyful, weirdo energy as a teen suddenly transplanted to her adult life, sure, but it’s also how Mark Ruffalo calmly reconnects with the childhood friend he’d long ago lost touch with. They're just sweet together, OK? We saw them in The Adam Project. We need more!

Sandra Bullock And Channing Tatum

The luminous and hilarious pairing of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum was definitely not on my rom-com bingo card, but damn, it was a joy to behold once we got it. In The Lost City, they were perfect as a starchy and grieving romance novelist and her incredibly sweet but somewhat dim cover model who get caught in a life-or-death situation in the jungle, and all I can hope for is that we someday have a sequel to enjoy.

Billy Eichner And Luke Macfarlane

If an opposites attract energy is your thing, there’s no way for you not to enjoy the pairing of Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane. The Bros stars only just met up on screen in 2022, but we’d love to see them reunite in a rom-com that switches Eichner’s intense characterization and Macfarlane’s laid-back vibe around for additional laughs.

Meg Ryan And Hugh Jackman

Kate & Leopold is the rare romance where Meg Ryan’s character is less than sweet for much of the film, but watching her early ‘00s driven career woman begin to soften with the attentions of Hugh Jackman’s fancy man from the 1870s was a delight. Now if we can just get them to play off of one another when both are from the modern day, all will be right in the world.

Anne Hathaway And Chris Pine

We all know that The Princess Diaries 2 is so beloved that fans have wanted to bring the cast back for the now in development third movie for nearly 20 years, and part of that was because of the sweet, (sorta) slow burn love story between Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine’s characters. While everyone would love to see them as a long-married couple in a sequel, we’d also take them as, oh, I don’t know, bickering co-workers who can’t deny their attraction, so let’s stop stalling and get this coupling back on the big screen!

Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant

Look, I know that Hugh Grant is fully in his slimy villain era right now and is hilariously against even attempting rom-coms again. But! I think that makes the potential of this Notting Hill pairing coming back together even more appealing. Let him play a con-man who tricks Julia Roberts into falling in love, only to steal all her money and force her to track him down with a hilarious vengeance. I’d buy a ticket for that, OK?

Jennifer Lopez And George Clooney

Sure, sure. I’m cheating this entry a bit because, technically, Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney didn't star in a traditional rom-com together, but who among us can deny that they were HOT in Out of Sight? No one, that’s who! I say we get these two into a proper romantic comedy, but maybe one that’s not another Lopez wedding movie, just to switch things up.

Sanaa Lathan And Omar Epps 

Yes, this is another, more direct, fudging of this article’s concept, because Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps were a romantic drama pairing in Love & Basketball… but they were SO GOOD TOGETHER. Watching them play out a long-term path to eventual happiness was extremely satisfying, but maybe this time we can use that chemistry of theirs for a couple that has more good times than stressful ones.

Cristin Milioti And Andy Samberg

The chances that Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg will strike time loop movie gold again after Palm Springs is incredibly unlikely, and we wouldn’t want them to try. Instead, why not let these two portray criminals on the run for separate crimes who accidentally cross paths and fall in love while they’re on the lam? They can give us that same adorably wacky enthusiasm that we all loved the first time around that way!

Kristen Stewart And Aubrey Plaza

If you saw Happiest Season, then you saw the undeniable spark between Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza as their characters (Who weren’t even dating!) dealt with a lot of toxicity during Christmastime. They managed to genuinely bond (and look great doing it) over their similar relationship trauma, so I say we go ahead and give these two an even bubblier romantic comedy where they can actually freakin’ end up as a couple! 

Gemma Chan And Harry Shum Jr. 

Obviously, we didn’t get a real romance between the characters played by Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr. in Crazy Rich Asians, but the movie sure did set up the promise of fulfilling the epic love story that was a part of Kevin Kwan’s novel trilogy. Fans got a very brief scene of them looking all cute and dreamy with each other and dancing during the mid-credits scene, so hear me now: WE NEED THAT ASTRID AND CHARLIE SPINOFF, ASAP!

Issa Rae And Kumail Nanjiani

It may be hard to cast two people who have perfect romantic chemistry, but it could be even harder to find a duo who can portray the first glorious blush of falling in love, that same couple once they’ve begun to fall apart, and then play them as they start to get closer… because they’re on the run after being accused of murder. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani are those people, and we’ve been wanting them back on screen since The Lovebirds to do something just as crazy and rom-commy again.

Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas

If you’re looking for a bickering duo who are hot together no matter what, that’s Sweet Home Alabama’s Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, for sure. I’m sure they’d be great doing anything on screen, but also doubt anyone would mind if they paired for a story that would let them fight (and fight through) their attraction until they finally admit their feelings for each other.

Rachel McAdams And Domhnall Gleeson

You know what’s coming, right? After being apart for a decade, it’s About Time that Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson join forces again to bring fans another lovey dovey couple, and we don’t even care what the set up is!

Sarah Hyland And Tyler James Williams

Never has it been more enjoyable to watch a woman who’s not sure about the whole marriage thing date a man who’s very much ready for a long-term commitment than in The Wedding Year, and that was because of the well-matched chemistry/comedic energy of Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Williams. I think these two would be fantastic in an action/adventure rom-com like The Lost City!

Kristen Bell And Dustin Milligan 

Though Kristen Bell and Dustin Milligan starred in The People We Hate at the Wedding, which was more of a straight ahead comedy, they had a definite romantic comedy storyline and played off of each other beautifully. I’m imagining a cinematic rematch for them that involves both of their characters being messy and a bit angry this time, and I think they’ll be a delight to watch once again.

Vivian Oparah And David Jonsson

Even though Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson are a very new rom-com pairing, as their starring vehicle, Rye Lane, debuted in early 2023, there’s no doubting the fizzy joy one gets from watching their characters meet cute and end up slowly becoming attracted to each other over the course of one eventful day. These two can do anything together next, but I don’t think anyone would mind a sequel where we get to see this romance progress!

If nothing else, while we wait to see if these rom-com partners get back together on the big screen, we can all at least go back and enjoy the amazing films they’ve already given us!

When Book Club came out in 2018, it was the hilarious premise and an all-star cast that drew many people in. In the movie four lifelong friends, played by Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, get together for book club, and they decide to read 50 Shades of Grey. What follows is a funny and heartfelt adventure of these women going on their own journeys to find love, and at the core of it is them reading the bestselling, and provocative, bestselling novel by E.L. James. When Erin Simms and Bill Holderman decided to write a sequel to Book Club, they immediately knew it would be challenging to write a follow-up and pick a book that lived up to 50 Shades, and Simms explained how they worked to create a sequel that differentiated itself from its predecessor while also having a sincere message. 

In Book Club: The Next Chapter, the ladies decide to read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho -- talk about a tonal shift. The book is all about working to improve oneself and the importance of focusing on what really matters, in the movie’s case that’s love. Erin Simms told CinemaBlend that to make a worthy sequel, she figured they needed to go in a completely new direction because they wouldn’t be able to top 50 Shades. She explained: 

That’s when they decided to choose The Alchemist for the next movie's focus. It’s hard to compare the two novels, because they are totally opposite in every respect, and that's part of the reason why they liked the idea. Simms continued to talk about why they decided to go with the Coelho book as the focus of the movie, saying:

Following in the footsteps of the fairly well-reviewed Book Club, the sequel on the 2023 movie schedule does take a tonal pivot by putting The Alchemist at the center of the story, and I can see why Simms felt the need to do that. By doing this the sequel succeed in diversifying itself from the first movie, but as CinemaBlend’s review of Book Club 2 explains, the philosophical book also made the movie a little tonally confusing.  However, overall, they were able to successfully convey their message of taking opportunities as they come, and living life to the fullest. 

To see how Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen react to 50 Shades of Grey, you can stream Book Club with a Paramount+ subscription, and to see the ladies read The Alchemist and go on an Italian adventure you can see Book Club: The Next Chapter in theaters now.  

When you take four legendary actresses – Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen in this case – and give them a silly premise with a big heart, you get Bill Hoderman's 2018 film Book Club. The movie, which is about four older ladies coming together to read 50 Shades of Grey, was an unexpected and fun play on mature characters finding love. However, the filmmakers and stars have now tried to re-create the “slightly scandalous” and “totally fabulous” fun with Book Club: The Next Chapter, and it falls a bit short. Rather than leaning into the silliness, this follow-up takes itself a skosh too seriously.

In Book Club: The Next Chapter, Diane (Diane Keaton),  Vivian (Jane Fonda), Sharon (Candice Bergen), and Carol (Mary Steenburgen) reunite after the pandemic for the Italian adventure they have always dreamed of. While Diane is happy in her relationship with Mitchell (Andy Garcia), the other three ladies are all dealing with major life changes as Carol and Bruce (Craig T. Nelson) deal with a health scare, Sharon finally retires, and Vivan gets engaged to her partner, Arthur (Don Johnson). As the women grapple with these major changes, they realize it’s time to take the trip they always wanted to go on. And during that opulent Italian vacation, the gals end up in a bit of trouble that ultimately brings them closer together.  

While this drive to take a fantasy trip and live your best life with your closest friends is heartfelt to an extent, it’s also fairly cliché. It’s this basic premise and preachy mentality – especially in comparison to its predecessor – that makes this movie a sequel that falls short. 

The movie’s high points come when it lets Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen do what they do best.

When you have four absolute powerhouses in a movie, you should make sure to capitalize on their talents. To an extent, Book Club: The Next Chapter does do that, and when it does, the movie really works. Letting Jane Fonda be her extra self, and having Mary Steenburgen tap into the physical comedy she aces in Book Club get magnificent results. 

The same is true for Candice Bergen, who shines as the all-too-serious Sharon and has some of the funniest lines in the movie. Playing a judge who is very committed to doing her job right, even when it’s not necessary, she has a "straight man" dynamic within the ensemble. Bergen is a genius when it comes to making a dramatic or awkward situation funny – whether she's the only person taking a wedding ceremony seriously or getting caught hooking up with a guy on a water taxi. Her deadpan delivery at the cop who catches her on the boat is hysterical.

Likewise, Diane Keaton she is at her strongest when they let her be her quirky self, but when the movie takes itself too seriously, a lot of that earnest attitude is delivered through Keaton’s character, who frequently preaches about her dislike of marriage. In the first movie, Diane and her stubbornness are what make the film work, the actress uses her ability to switch between comedic and dramatic moments to create a quirky character. She’s a woman who doesn’t want to fall in love, and through a series of funny, and heartfelt dates, she eventually realizes that her line of thinking may not have been the most efficient. All these ideas remain in the sequel, and it works really well sometimes. However, the issue is it makes her seem like she didn’t learn anything  from the previous story. 

In the end, this movie almost does what the first one did so well. When it lets these four ladies do what they do best, the movie is at its highest, but those high points don't come as often as they do in Book Club. 

Book Club: The Next Chapter lacks the self-aware goofiness that the first movie thrived on. 

The reason the first Book Club worked was its silly premise and the commitment to the bit. This idea that four older women would read 50 Shades of Grey together and react is hilarious, and the silliness of this idea is constant throughout the movie. The result of this approach and the self-awareness of just how ridiculous it is, is how we end up with a heartfelt story of these friends finding love in a time when they thought they couldn’t. There’s unexpected heart in the movie, and it’s written in a way that is both clever and moving in its own way.

In Book Club 2: The Next Chapter, they aren’t trying to be coy, and they aren’t going for a silly premise. While it’s hard to top the first Book Club’s conceit for the sequel, going in the opposite direction doesn’t totally work. Rather than picking the second 50 Shades or another novel that would make for an unexpected and funny book club choice, the titular group chooses The Alchemist, which is a serious and philosophical book by Paulo Coelho. While this story of travel and the pursuit of dreams is admirable and important, for this movie, that moral is a bit too on the nose and far too drama-heavy. The moral is plastered on the screen from the get-go in the sequel, and hammers home its lesson by reiterating it rather than having it coyly revealed through a funny movie. 

This is the kind of movie that wants you to get tipsy with your gal pals to enjoy.

Wine is just as present in the movie as the women are. For every adventure they take, a glass of red or white awaits them. If you go see this movie, you should do the same thing as the stars: grab your gal pals and a bottle of wine, and just have a blast with it. Despite its efforts to the contrary, Book Club 2: The Next Chapter is meant to prompt a fun night out with your friends. 

Some of my best memories with my friends were started by us watching a movie together, whether they are good, bad or mediocre – so long as it made us laugh and prompted fun conversation. This movie can do that; being able to chat through it, laugh with it, and share a bottle of wine with your pals whilst these ladies get up to their European adventure hijinks would be the ideal viewing experience. As someone who watched it alone, I had a hard time investing in the story and finding the fun in it because there wasn’t someone to share it with. 

While this movie has some clear flaws, and is not nearly as fun as its predecessor, you can at least tell these four women had a blast making it. Being able to see the fun they’re having on-screen makes Book Club: The Next Chapter a pleasant watch, but you'll want a bottle of wine and your friends near for the optimal viewing experience.

Reese Witherspoon’s offspring have become hot topics in recent years as fans have watched them become young adults. Every other week, a new debate about who the children favor more – her or their father Ryan Phillippe – continues to emerge. Witherspoon's son Deacon Phillippe has captured a bit of attention online from viewers and other celebrities. A recent post by Oscar winner Diane Keaton led to some confusion amongst the masses, as she mistook Phillippe for a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Witherspoon couldn’t help but notice the faux pas, and had to step in to correct her.

The hilarious discourse began after Diane Keaton posted an innocent Instagram video about some beautiful men. The blink-and-you-miss-it moment happened right out of the gate with her first photo. Seeing the clear mistake, the Morning Show star had the step in to correct it. Reese Witherspoon was looking out for the screen legend from a possible cancellation. But instead of getting into a mama bear mood, she had a simple funny response. Check out her reaction to Keaton’s appreciation post below:

The Legally Blonde 3 star just wanted to let Diane Keaton and her followers know it was her son, not Leonardo DiCaprio, in the beginning. At least Reese Witherspoon knew Keaton made a clear mistake. She even laughed it off knowing how Keaton didn’t mean any harm. But her son might see it as a compliment to be compared to a star as huge as DiCaprio. While the screen legend made an innocent faux pas, Witherspoon might have to watch out for others now that’s he’s 18.

The cute moment was just part of Diane Keaton’s waspy quirky charm. Since the days of Annie Hall, Diane Keaton has evolved from a talented, yet quirky ingénue to a lovable eccentric who moves to her beat. As a Hollywood veteran, the celebrated actress has appealed to multiple generations over the decades. That’s most evident by her massive following on Instagram and her sustained influence in her decades-long career. Confusing Reese Witherspoon’s son for Leonardo DiCaprio was pretty on-brand for the Oscar winner.

Reese Witherspoon’s defense may have spoken more to the two women’s history. Diane Keaton directed Witherspoon in the 1991 television film Wildflower, which was one of Witherspoon’s earliest roles. It appeared that connection played a role in the Sing 2 star’s response to Keaton. Witherspoon knew Keaton had an innocent disposition with no ill intent.

At least it’s been confirmed that Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe created some beautiful children. Of course, Witherspoon may not be worrying about the social media hoopla as her career is in full swing. Diane Keaton’s career hasn't slowed down either, but if you want to get all her quirkiness, check out some of her best films.

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It’s hardly controversial to say that The Godfather movies are treasured film classics… or at least, the first two are. 1990’s The Godfather Part III, on the other hand, was met with mixed critical reception upon its initial release, and while it did later earn seven Academy Award nominations, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who finds it measures up to its predecessors. However, the director’s cut of The Godfather Part III arriving soon may fare differently, and it already has a fan in Diane Keaton, known in the Godfather world for playing Kay Adams-Corleone.

It was announced earlier this year that director Francis Ford Coppola returned to the editing bay to piece together a new version of The Godfather Part III, which is officially titled Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. Coppola invited some of the stars of the threequel to watch this new take on its events, including Diane Keaton, Al Pacino, Talia Shire and George Hamilton. Here’s the praise Keaton recently heaped upon the director’s cut:

Diane Keaton clarified later in her interview with Variety that she was indeed among those who “didn’t appreciate” the original version of The Godfather Part III. That said, she’s certain that people’s opinions about the movie will change once they see the director’s cut. The actress, who’s also well-known for movies like Annie Hall and Something’s Gotta Give, noted that seeing Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone not only reminded her of the fun she had filming the threequel, but was also one of the few times where she didn’t mind watching herself on-screen.

One particular element of The Godfather Part III that Diane Keaton thinks has been significantly improved in the director’s cut is Sofia Coppola’s role as Mary Corleone. Coppola (who nowadays is chiefly known for her film work behind the cameras) stepped in at the last minute to replace Winona Ryder, and her performance was among The Godfather Part III’s most criticized elements. Keaton argued that the director’s cut gives Coppola more of a chance to shine, saying:

Among the changes Francis Ford Coppola made for The Godfather Part III’s director’s cut include shuffling some scenes around, altering some music cues and tacking on a new beginning and end. Although there was once talk about making The Godfather Part IV, it doesn’t look like such a project will ever happen. So if you’re one of those people who was disappointed with how The Godfather Part III wrapped up the crime saga centered on Michael Corleone, perhaps this new telling of its events will be more to your liking.

Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone will be available to purchase on Blu-ray and on-demand starting December 8. If you’re curious about what movies are heading to theaters in the near future, scan through our 2021 release schedule.

On the positive side of 2020’s shenanigans, we’ve been treated to loads of awesome reunions over Zoom throughout the year. Between the Parks and Recreation crew producing a brand new episode virtually and Josh Gad bringing a ton of famous casts back together, including The Goonies kids, there's been no shortage of memorable moments. Now, the nostalgia train has made a stop at Nancy Meyers’ Father of the Bride, which teamed with Netflix on Friday to broadcast a part 3(ish) to fans for a good cause.

Father of the Bride is one of those endearing comfort movies that just puts a smile on many of our faces when we think about it. Sometimes cheesy? Yes, but escaping to that world is a good headspace to be. Netflix replicated the effect of these movies with a cute 25-minute reunion featuring the entire Banks family from the original movies: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, George Newburn. And of course, Martin Short’s Franck made an appearance, too! Check it out for yourself below:

Anyone else misty-eyed? That was adorable. The reunion, which was written and directed by Nancy Meyers, aired on Netflix’s YouTube channel to benefit World Central Kitchen, an organization providing meals to families during the COVID-19 pandemic. During Father of the Bride Part 3(ish), the Banks family got back together for a family Zoom chat. It led to a surprise in true Banks’ fashion and enlisted some perfect special guests to add to the family.

Black Widow’s Florence Pugh played the daughter of Steve Martin and Diane Keaton’s character. As fans will remember, Keaton’s Nina Banks gave birth at the same time as her daughter, Annie, in the 1995 sequel. Annie’s son was played by Dear Evan Hansen’s Ben Platt, who brought his Tony-winning voice to close out the Zoom wedding by singing The Way You Look Tonight.

The storyline revolved around the youngest Banks sibling, Matty -- played by Kieran Culkin -- who reveals to his family that he’d like to surprise his fiancé Rachel (X-Men’s Alexandra Shipp) with a Zoom wedding and forgo their plans for a big wedding in Tuscany for now. (And sidenote: after seeing Culkin in Succession, it was so strange seeing him play a nice guy.) Steve Martin’s George is obviously shocked and a little disapproving but, once the rest of his family gets on board, he decides to roll with it.

The best bit of casting done for the Father of the Bride Zoom wedding has to be Robert De Niro appearing as Rachel’s father. De Niro and Martin hinted at some awkward antics between them within a few minutes and, now, I’m wishing we could see this rival in-law relationship play out on the big screen. Of course, De Niro has done something of this sort in Meet the Parents, but adding him with Steve Martin in the mix? Perfect.

The Father of the Bride Zoom did get a little too into the COVID antics for my liking – I just imagine they live in a parallel world where pandemics can’t touch them, OK? But hey, it makes sense, they were brought together to help with COVID relief. Another sweet part of the reunion was George Banks' voiceover, which played over his son's marriage which was spliced with scenes from the original movies.

Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more movie and TV news.

After Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves had a Something's Gotta Give reunion at the 2020 Oscars, I needed more. I did not know "more" would be this spliced John Wick scene with Diane Keaton -- shared BY Diane Keaton. But now that this random mashup scene is in my life, I want Diane Keaton to be in John Wick: Chapter 4. Let her go through Halle Berry's training for the next movie.

Keanu Reeves' clip is from the most recent John Wick movie, 2019's John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, but Diane Keaton's clip is from the 1996 movie The First Wives Club. Check out the mashup:

To quote Keanu himself: Whoa.

I love that Diane Keaton is using Instagram to continue her Keanu Reeves connection from the Oscars, which aired just a couple of weeks ago. Diane and Keanu got to present the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (one of Parasite's many Oscar wins) and chatted about making their 2003 romantic comedy.

Re-watch that Oscars presentation:

In Something's Gotta Give, Diane Keaton's character Erica ultimately picks Jack Nicholson's Harry over Keanu Reeves' Julian. But after watching the Oscars, writer/director Nancy Meyers quipped that maybe the other characters got together after all:

I need this to keep going. Keanu Reeves is now filming The Matrix 4, but he should also be filming John Wick: Chapter 4 pretty soon. Diane Keaton was recently in Poms, Book Club, and The Young Pope, and she has another romantic comedy coming out called Love, Weddings & Other Disasters. But it's about time this wonderfully eccentric lady got her action hero groove on, so what say you, Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski? John Wick 4 is currently scheduled for release May 21, 2021.

Zara Hayes’ Poms is a film made with admirable intentions. It’s not exactly a secret that older women rarely get opportunities to be prominently featured in big studio features, and this is a movie that not only puts together an ensemble featuring some of the best veteran actresses in the business, but constructs a plot that is all about the unfair perception of their demographic. In that respect, it is most definitely relevant and timely, and it should be celebrated for that approach. What’s unfortunate, however, is that it doesn’t really do much to stand out beyond those core principles, nor does it properly take advantage of the talent involved.

Based on an original screenplay by Shane Atkinson, the story centers on Martha (Diane Keaton), a single woman with no children who makes the decision to move into a retirement community following a terminal cancer diagnosis. Initially she is content to spend her remaining days in isolation, perpetually cynical about making new friends and the various local communal events, but it’s thanks to the influence of her outgoing, sex-positive neighbor Sheryl (Jackie Weaver) that her philosophy begins to change.

Although she initially bridles at the idea of joining one of Sun Spring’s many clubs, Martha is convinced by Sheryl to go after an unfulfilled dream from her childhood and start her own cheerleading group. It’s an idea rejected by the community at first, particularly the big woman on campus, Vicki (Celia Weston), but the two women don’t let concerns about insurance or lack of interest get them down. Following a bit of recruiting, Martha and Sheryl are able to put a team together – including characters played by actresses Pam Grier, Rhea Perlman, Carol Sutton, Phyllis Somerville, Patricia French and Ginny MacColl – but that’s only the first hurdle. They not only have to create a routine in preparation for the forthcoming Senior Showcase, but also convince basically everyone to take them seriously.

This is a summation of Poms’ first 30 minutes, and if you’ve ever seen a film before you can probably do a pretty accurate job speculating what occurs in the hour that follows. As unconventional as it is to see a mainstream film with an ensemble of actresses over 65 years old, it’s as conventional as it can be in basically every other respect. There is hardly a single underdog sports movie cliché that isn’t employed at some point, and it’s difficult to feel entirely engaged with the story when you know exactly how every single scene is going to begin and end.

What only accentuates this disappointing aspect of the movie is the fact that you can plainly see opportunities that are left on the table, most notably with the tone. In short, it fails to embrace the very real potential for dark comedy and edginess into which it occasionally dips, and one is left wondering what it could have been if it had decided to try and pursue an R-rating. There are certain bits set up that have real potential to be funny – such as the notion that Rhea Perlman’s character killed her overbearing, caveman-thinking husband so that she could join the squad – but too often it feels like Poms is afraid of offending audiences’ potentially sensitive sensibilities (which honestly feels counter to its big picture message).

Adding to the disappointment is the fact that the movie doesn’t really seem to know what to do with its large ensemble – to the point where it basically stops trying. Perhaps the only trope that’s not employed by the film is giving each member of the squad a special skill that helps them stand out from the rest of the pack, and the result is that the parts other than Martha and Sheryl basically all blend together. It’s both surprising and terribly unfortunate just how little Pam Grier is given to do in the script, accentuated by the fact that her character’s name isn’t even mentioned until shockingly late in the runtime.

I went into my screening of Poms with the most open of minds – recognizing that the film would potentially suffer the same struggle as its characters in the minds of other critics and not be taken seriously simply because of its logline about senior citizen cheerleaders. Even accepting the approach at face value, though, I was still left disappointed. There is a lot more that could have been done with this story and the awesome talent involved, and it’s unfortunate that it ultimately comes up short.

As it has been written in the Sacred Book of Streaming, the content provider giveth, and yet they taketh away. Well, we've seen what Netflix has already deemed to giveth to us all throughout September, so now it's time to see what's up for the taketh part of the bargain. And trust us, there's some really good movies on here, some would have even been good for Halloween. So if you're in the mood to celebrate early, this list is your friend. But even if you're not in the mood for some early scares, there's a couple flicks on here worth your time and attention.

The Omen

Movies like The Omen are classics for a reason, despite the popular level of parody they've received over time. You might be inspired to laugh because so many gags about demon children and ominous choirs have been had by now, but if you look past that, Richard Donner's horror classic is still stylish and spooky as hell. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick love each other so damned much in this movie, and they love their little Damien as long as they can, before succumbing to the truth. It's that gradual fade into reality that really drives this flick home, and it holds up like nobody's business.

Something's Gotta Give

Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton doing a romantic comedy together is something that should have happened a lot more throughout the course of Hollywood history. At least, that's what it feels like after watching them effortlessly play off of each other in Something's Gotta Give, which is already somehow 14 years old! The film certainly plays just as well as it did on day one, as it succeeds in a lot of places a typical rom-com tends to fail through. The entire cast is engaging, there's no falsely engineered conflict that stretches the film's credibility, and ultimately Nicholson's character is put on a journey of self-discovery that rings pretty true. It's fun, it's cute, and it's a great farewell to summer.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Man, who was put in charge of removing Netflix movies in September? Whoever decided A Nightmare on Elm Street should be taken out before Halloween even goes into full swing should be reprimanded. Or at the very least, have their account restricted to Kids Only mode for the month. Nightmare launched the slasher franchise that made Wes Craven a household name, and Freddy Krueger a cultural icon, so obviously it's perfect fall viewing. Only, it's not going to be here in the fall, so you'd better watch it now while you can.

Frailty

This year, we lost two titans of character acting talent: Bill Paxton and Powers Boothe. And both of those men are in full form in Frailty, the film directing debut of Paxton, which also found some space to make Matthew McConaughey a little more familiar to the world. A horror film that relies on atmosphere and performance, Frailty is one of the most underrated favorites of even the genre's most ardent fans, and it's earned its reputation in spades. With Paxton as the father that teaches his sons to supposedly fight evil, McConaughey as the son spinning the story, and Boothe as the FBI agent who's taking it all in, these three roles hold up a world of demons and trouble in a film that's always deserved a couple more soldiers in its army.

Scream

As if Wes Craven helping kickstart horror films in the 80's wasn't enough, the man also helped deconstruct the house he built in the 1990's. With Scream, audiences that were well versed in the methodology of their favorite screen killers found themselves in for a treat, as a smart-assed movie took those traditions and subverted them with a deft touch. Not to mention, it was the movie that basically reinvigorated horror, as the fact that such a functional parody of the standard "rules" of the game forced anyone who wanted to make their way in the world of the scary think twice before writing the words "I'll be right back." Try to remember the rules as you take this one for a last spin on Netflix.

Hope Floats

Believe it or not, there was a time when Sandra Bullock was considered the up-and-coming queen of both romantic comedies and dramas. While she leaped over that fence and became Hollywood royalty, regardless of genre, Hope Floats is still evidence to that time when America's Sweetheart was just getting started. What helps this film stand out in her early filmography though is her chemistry with one Harry Connick Jr., who easily shines alongside Bullock as her love interest. Here's hoping those two can make another film like this one at some point in the future, because Hope Floats really makes a good case for making it happen.

Lilo and Stitch

While we're getting some Disney favorites back onto Netflix this month, through the returns of Mulan and Hercules, we're sadly losing another one of the Mouse House's titles to the vault, Lilo and Stitch. A franchise that spawned two sequels and a TV series, and somehow never ruined itself, the story of a little girl and her alien is a film that ranks up there with Disney royalty. What's better, it was one of the final films in Disney animation's pre Princess and the Frog era that was hand animated, and it shows in each frame. Beautiful in message and visuals, flip this one on for your kids after a night barbequing in the backyard.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

There's one big admission that has to be made about Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: if you're a fan of the original, you'll probably have some bones to pick with the film. But put those aside for a moment, and hear us out, because this dark gem of a musical still deserves a place at the table. The fact that a major studio let Tim Burton even dream of making this movie is a miracle in and of itself, but the fact that it worked is a bigger feat in and of itself. Plus, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were in the middle of their hot streak together under Burton's direction, and it shows. But if you need that one big draw to pull you into the world of murder and meat pies, let it be this: you get to hear Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron-Cohen sing, and they're pretty damned good, too.

Philomena

Steve Coogan and Judi Dench are one of the best comedy teams in the recent history of film, and Philomena is the absolute proof of this fact. With Coogan's snark and Dench's wide-eyed deadpan, the true story of a journalist trying to help a woman find her son has a huge streak of good natured humor between the two sides of the aisle. And yet, when it comes to the dramatic and emotional moments, both performers gamely portray the heartbreak and uncertainty that such a quest comes with. While it was lost in the best picture nominated shuffle in the same year that saw Argo take the top honors, Philomena deserves an audience, if anything to see just how much you can do with two really good actors and a simple story of reunion.

Déjà Vu

Tony Scott and Denzel Washington is a combination that always worked, and it's been proven time and again over the several times they worked together. And yet, Déjà vu is probably one of the movies that tends to find itself slotted behind the obvious double feature of awesome that is Crimson Tide and Man on Fire. Not only does this movie bring the typical pulse pounding action and humor that the two collaborators loved to bring to their projects, it works with a pretty novel sci-fi concept that works. It also helps that while Déjà vu is technically sci-fi, that portion of the story doesn't overtake the seriously crafty action beats. If you've missed this one, and you're a fan of either Scott or Washington, then you owe it to yourself to correct that immediately.

While Diane Keaton might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think about The Godfather, her performance as Michael Corleone's long suffering wife Kaye Adams is still a fine and memorable turn in the classic movie. It turns out that Diane Keaton herself has actually been disregarding her work in The Godfather, too. The legendary actress has now admitted that, until recently, she hadn't watched The Godfather in around 30 years because she always saw herself as the outsider in the film. Diane Keaton admitted,

Of course, Diane Keaton isn't wrong with her assumption, because Kay Adams-Corleone is one of the few non-Italian characters in both The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. In fact, Kay Adams is constantly kept at arms length regarding the family business throughout the films, and as things escalate throughout the second movie, the audience even sees her become a prisoner in her own home. Still, The Godfather is a movie that's on cable fairly often, and you'd have at least expected Diane Keaton to have a quick peek at her performance at some point over the last thirty years, especially since she's in the iconic final shot of the first film.

Diane Keaton admitted at the Tribeca Film Festival that she finally sat herself down to re-watch The Godfather for the first time in three decades recently. As you'd expect the actress was blown away by just how engrossing and gripping the gangster epic was, especially because she still found herself overwhelmed by the film even though she was watching it on a computer. Diane Keaton recalled,

Diane Keaton made the above revelations during the emotional reunion of The Godfather's cast and crew at the closing night of The Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday night, which came after the first two films were screened back to back over an absorbing 7 and a half hour period. As well as Diane Keaton, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire and co-writer and director Francis Ford Coppola took part in the wide-ranging discussion, which was hosted by director Taylor Hackford and was supposed to last 45 minutes but actually went on for an hour and twenty. I will forever be thanking my lucky stars that I was in attendance at the once in a life-time event, and stay glued to CinemaBlend over the next few days for further stories and revelations from the panel.

In addition, Paramount will release all three films in the epic Godfather crime saga on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on Tuesday, May 9.

4 Surprising Things We Learned About The Godfather Movies From The Tribeca Reunion

The midseason TV lineup this year is filled with a wide variety of programs, and perhaps none is so niche as HBO's new show about a modern papacy. The Young Pope takes viewers to Vatican City and into the heart of the Catholic Church for a look at the beginnings of the first American pope. Although it gets off to a somewhat shaky start, the hilariously non-angelic series becomes something truly remarkable as episodes pass, and The Young Pope could easily become HBO's newest smash.

The Young Pope opens on the newly elected Pope Pius XIII (Jude Law), formerly known as Lenny Belardo. who at the age of 47 is the youngest man and first American ever to ascend to the highest position in the Catholic Church. He is an unconventional pope who was elected for reasons far more contemporary than his piety, and the cardinals who elected him soon discover that he is not going to be as cooperative as they had believed when he brings in his friend Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) to serve as an advisor. He butts heads with Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Voiello (Silvio Orlando) as he tries to maintain the order of the papacy, and both sides are willing to resort to extremes for the sake of their visions of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Michael Spencer (James Cromwell) is a wild card after losing the papacy to his former pupil, and confessor Don Tommaso (Marcello Romolo) is conflicted between his vows and his duties to his new Holy Father.

The most notable aspect of the new series from the very first scene is just how visually stunning it is in its recreation of the Vatican. The juxtaposition of humbleness and opulence among members of the clergy is effective in building up this fictionalized version of the Catholic Church. Lenny's rejections of certain elements inherent to both humility and superiority work because the show pulls out all the stops to create the contrast. There is a blending of tradition and modernity as well, and any viewers who never expected to see a man discussing the different varieties of Coke while dressed in the garb of a pope are in for a surprise. Throw in the music choices that range from "Ave Maria" to "All Along the Watchtower," and The Young Pope is unlike anything else on television, especially religion-focused programming.

I'll admit right now that I didn't think much of the first episode upon my initial viewing. The opening minutes of the premiere are largely dissonant from the rest of the hour, and so the somewhat bizarre lead-in feels gratuitously edgy and designed to misleadingly hook viewers via shock and awe. The tone and pacing lack balance, and the episode comes to a fairly unsatisfying conclusion. None of the actors particularly impressed me with just the first episode, although Diane Keaton is nearly unrecognizable in her performance as Sister Mary and Jude Law has the perfect classic good looks to convey a pope who is simultaneously conventional and radical. Law's cheekbones look like they come out of a Renaissance painting, but the look in his eye is one that is far from one we'd expect from a pope. Still, despite the aesthetics and Keaton and Law, the first hour just didn't work for me.

The Young Pope really takes off in the second hour, however, and I believe that the series would have been better served if the first couple of episodes were presented as a two-parter or even a mini movie rather than as two separate installments. Episode 2 pays off on the bizarre opening of Episode 1, and it balances out the tone and raises the stakes in a way that promises ongoing action rather than just Vatican squabbling. All things considered, the series feels like a Vatican City spinoff of Game of Thrones that features less murder and nudity.

If you're not inclined to see the Catholic Church portrayed in an unflattering light, I'd recommend that you check out a different show. If you enjoy the political and religious machinations that apposite HBO dramas offer, The Young Pope could be exactly what you need to get through the Thrones hiatus. The show does take some getting used to, so I will suggest that you at least stick around for two episodes before giving final judgment.

Created, directed and co-written by Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, The Young Pope is co-produced by the U.K.'s Sky and France's Canal along with HBO, and it was received well enough internationally that a Season 2 has already been ordered. Hopefully The Young Pope will be as much of a hit on the American side of the pond as it was overseas. It's not exactly perfect, and I can only hope that future episodes continue to improve on the flaws of the first. Either way, it couldn't be more gorgeous, and its binge-worthy intrigue and drama could sustain it for a long run.

The Young Pope premieres on Sunday, January 15 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. Take a look at our midseason TV premiere schedule to see what else you can catch on the small screen in the coming weeks.

Turns out Life Itself is all about real estate, which I’m told is all about location, location, location. The soon-to-shoot dramedy from Wimbledon director Richard Loncraine stars Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton as long-time married couple Alex and Ruth who get caught up in a bidding war when they put their Manhattan apartment of 40 years on the market. As production prepares to kick off, The Wrap reports Cynthia Nixon, who became a New York City icon as a cast member on the groundbreaking comedy series Sex and the City, has signed on to play Ruth’s niece and real estate broker.

Early reports on the film revealed it will take place in the course of a whirlwind weekend where the couple at its center is forced to face their past in the apartment and what the future without it could hold. Remarkably, Life Itself will mark the first time the storied stars (Keaton and Freeman) have appeared in a film together. However, it won’t be the first time Keaton and Nixon have collaborated. The pair both appeared in the 1996 drama Marvin’s Room. Keaton fronted the film opposite Meryl Streep and a young Leonardo DiCaprio, while Nixon had a small role as a retirement home director. This will be Nixon’s first time working with Freeman though.

Since Sex and the City wrapped in 2004, Nixon has returned to reprise her role of stern lawyer Miranda Hobbes in two spin-off movies. Aside from that, she fronted the short-lived comedy series Tanner on Tanner, snagged a recurring role on the Showtime dramedy series The Big C and in the fantasy mini-series World Without End. She has also popped up in a handful of smaller films, including Derick Martini ‘s 1970s-set family drama Lymelife, the Quentin Crisp biopic An Englishman in New York, and the critically cheered Woody Harrelson vehicle Rampart. And of course, the two-time Tony Award-winner returned to the stage in the 2006 production of Rabbit Hole--in the role Nicole Kidman played in the movie version—and in the 2012 production of Wit.

Basically, while it seems likely that Nixon is grateful for the opportunity to work once more with Keaton, who has proven an inspiration to countless actresses over the years, it’s unlikely Life Itself marks a major shift in Nixon’s career. She’s established and renowned in film, television, and theater, and has been making a career in each of these arenas for years. Still, it’s always good to hear that she's joined a cast, as she brings an incredible sharp sense of comedy with her. Lest we forget:

Production on Life Itself will begin next week in New York City. No release date has yet been announced, but it’s expected to open sometime next year.

Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton have had long careers, both of them have won Oscars, and both of them are so popular and prolific that you'd have to assume they crossed paths at some point, right? Nope. The two will be filming their first movie together this year-- and even better, they'll be getting romantically involved to do it.

Myriad Pictures announced the two will star in Richard Loncraine’s comedy Life Itself, and they’ll play a long-married couple, so they’re really going to get some screen time together in a plot that sounds more enjoyable than most of the feel-good projects that Keaton usually gets herself into. The film is Loncraine’s first since 2009’s My One and Only, and he’s reteaming with that film’s screenwriter Charlie Peters (3 Men and a Little Lady), who adapted it from the much-loved novel Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment.

A subdued screwball comedy, Life Itself covers one weekend in the lives of Alex (Freeman) and Ruth (Keaton), an older New York couple who feel they are getting too old for their apartment of 40 years. They’re enticed to sell for financial reasons, and then a series of bad circumstances occur, which allows them to reflect on what they’re leaving behind. I’m not part of an aging New York couple, but I still get a tad nostalgic for places I’ve lived in the past, and the times I shared with people. The key will be keeping the schmaltz on the ground floor.

Keaton, who just had The Big Wedding hit theaters not long ago, will next be seen teaming with Michael Douglas for the rom-com And So It Goes. And Freeman has the magical heist flick Now You See Me coming up, and will be in the “please let this be a classic” older man comedy Last Vegas.

No word on a production schedule for Life Itself.

Though he's never gone away, exactly, Michael Douglas is due for a comeback-- and seems to have it coming in spades, with a role playing Ronald Reagan in the political drama Reykjavik and, coming much sooner, a splashy part playing Liberace in Steven Soderbergh's biopic Behind The Candelabra, due on HBO next year. Diane Keaton, who's been acting almost exactly as long as Douglas has, needs a comeback much more-- she hasn't starred in a movie anyone actually saw since Something's Gotta Give nearly 10 years ago, and a splashy role in the HBO series Tilda failed to materialize when the show wasn't picked up.

So maybe Douglas can help Keaton pick up a little steam, with the two of them teaming up for And So It Goes…, a romantic comedy from As Good As It Gets writer Mark Andrus. According to Deadline Douglas will star as a "self-absorbed and eccentric realtor" who suddenly winds up taking care of a granddaughter he barely knows. Keaton play his "determined and lovable" neighbor who helps him take care of the kid, and while there's no romance specifically described in the plot writeup, well, I think you know where this is going.

Let's be honest: this sounds like it could be awful, more like other recent Keaton films like Mad Money or Darling Companion than Annie Hall or the recent aimed-at-older-audiences film Deadline compares it to, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. But Douglas and Keaton are the kind of talents you take seriously no matter what, and I'm excited by the idea of seeing them team up, especially if it gives Keaton another shot at leading a strong romantic comedy. Maybe it's naive to hope for the best here, but I'm rooting hard for her comeback, and I'm going to assume this is it until proven otherwise.

Ideally Robert Redford would have collaborated on a series of comedies with Diane Keaton back in the 1970s and ‘80s. But since we lack a proper time machine, we’ll have to settle on the Hollywood icons co-starring in The Most Wonderful Time, a holiday comedy that was recently acquired by Relativity Media, according to Deadline.

Redford and Keaton are eyeing this ensemble piece, which would be centered around multiple characters as they prepare for the busy holiday season. Steve Rogers -- whose credits include Stepmom and P.S. I Love You -- penned the screenplay, which will be directed by Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam).

The creative credits of the collaborators have me worried that Time will be maudlin and sappy, but it’s possible we’re going to get a snappy Love, Actually-type project, depending on what direction Rogers’ script chooses and which actors Nelson continues to bring in. The screenwriter actually compares the project to Amelie, with characters clinging to their pasts, which prevents them from living in the proper present.

Truthfully, I’d give Most Wonderful Time a shot just to see if Redford can bring a little Ordinary People to the proceedings, or if Keaton can contribute some of the warmth and humor that once lifted The Family Stone, Father of the Bride or her countless Woody Allen comedies. There’s likely to be more casting news on Wonderful Time as the production moves forward. If Relativity decides to hit theaters during the holidays, we might have to wait until November or December 2013. We’ll report more once we know for sure.

The career paths of Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton are pretty similar, if you think about it. Both formally starred in some of the greatest movies of all time and collaborated with some of the most talented directors out there only to start taking on bad parts in terrible movies in recent years. The De Niro that made in Taxi Driver under Martin Scorsese is not the same as the De Niro that starred in Little Fockers, and Keaton that made Annie Hall with Woody Allen is not the same Keaton that starred in Because I Said So. That said, the idea of them teaming up for the first time since Marvin's Room might sound good on paper, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Variety reports that the pair, as well as Katherine Heigl and Amanda Seyfried, are attached to a new wedding comedy titled Gently Down The Stream. Written and directed by Justin Zackham, the film is about a divorced couple (De Niro and Keaton) who pretend to still be married for the sake of their adopted son on his wedding day. The roles to be played by Heigl and Seyfried are unspecified, though you can probably expect that one of them will play the bride-to-be. Production is scheduled to start in July.

I'm going to close this article out with the following information: before they worked together in Marvin's Room, the last film that featured both Diane Keaton and Robert De Niro was The Godfather Part II. Think about that and then read the plot description for Gently Down The Stream again.

The first trailer for Morning Glory seems kind of great, like a modern day riff on Anchorman, until the last twenty seconds or so when Harrison Ford says something incredibly sappy, the teeny bopper pop music swells, and suddenly it feels like I’m in a Jessica Simpson music video, circa 2002. But before that, Harrison Ford plays a cranky, crotchety, asshole news anchor brought out of retirement by the smart, perky, driven Rachel McAdams to co-host a morning show with Diane Keaton. And it’s kind of great. Morning Glory is a comedy and while Ford’s not very good at comedy, he is really good at playing cranky (and I'm pretty sure he's wearing SexPanther). Meanwhile Rachel McAdams is good at, well, anything, but especially good at showing up in my dreams.

So if you’re willing to overlook the sappy, shlocky, self-help crap tacked on at the end, give the first trailer for Morning Glory a shot. If it’s good, it’ll be the first time Harrison Ford has been watchable since shacking up with Ally MacBeal. Check out the trailer below or in HD on Apple.