We just passed the halfway point of the year, and I can confidently say that Toy Story 5 is definitely one of my favorite 2026 movies. Pixar’s latest gave me everything I wanted out of a sequel to a franchise I’ve grown up with my whole life, and seeing Jessie finally get her moment is a big reason why. Days after I walked out of the theater with a big smile on my face over the new animated film, I decided to give its predecessor, Toy Story 4, another shot, and I’m very happy I did! Let’s get into it.

What I Thought About Toy Story 4 When It First Came Out

While it took me a double-take to believe it, Toy Story 4 came out seven years ago. I remember going to see it in the theaters opening weekend just like I did for its newest installment – but I recall being very disappointed and feeling kind of icky about it. Given, for context – it was the first Toy Story movie that came out since I became an adult.

My most potent memory about the movie was the Toy Story 4 ending where Woody and Buzz say goodbye to each other with “To infinity and beyond”. I can recall the heavy sigh the scene incited from me like it was yesterday. To me, I think it felt like Pixar was trying to recreate the perfect ending of Toy Story 3 with another heartfelt goodbye between two major characters, and it just didn’t hit the same as last time, in what I would consider one of the best Pixar movies ever made.

Otherwise, I remember liking Forky and thinking Toy Story 4 was OK overall, but just kind of unnecessary. What a difference seven years makes!

What I Think After My Recent Rewatch After Seeing Toy Story 5

After loving Toy Story 5 as much as I did, I started to question my previous feelings about Toy Story 4. Was it really as bad as I thought it was? After my latest viewing, I can confirm that I was way too harsh on the sequel, and I think I know why. Toy Story 4 had to follow Toy Story 3, and even though it had been almost a decade since it had come out at that point, I wasn’t sold on the idea of Woody, Buzz and the gang coming back yet. Technically, I still think of Toy Story 4 as the weakest of the movies, but really not by much.

This time, I really appreciated Toy Story 4 for how it took some time to explore Woody’s life post-Andy. I kind of think of it as a metaphor for being an empty-nester parent who’s trying to find your purpose after your kid goes to college. I haven’t had that experience myself, but I’ve seen my parents struggle to redefine themselves since I went away to college and became an adult. With that in mind, I found Woody’s journey to be really meaningful, and his decision to “retire” (which becomes a hilarious gag in 5) and go after Bo Peep isn't sad, but a really beautiful start of a new chapter for him.

After watching Toy Story 5, I also was curious about seeing more of Bonnie from before and how the toys adjusted to being part of her room before. I really like how both 4 and 5 explore different ways that toys can be helpful to kids through Bonnie – who I realized now is very different from Andy and very much of her generation. And, I'm happy we have multiple kids in the Toy Story franchise.

The conclusion that I’ve come to is that every Toy Story movie has been made with complete love and care, and I’ll be happy to take more as long as there’s another good story to tell. And I like how each one has a few different main characters to come back to depending on how I feel the next time I want to go back and watch a Toy Story movie. If you felt similarly to me about Toy Story 4, I very much recommend a rewatch!

Keanu Reeves is one of the world’s biggest modern movie stars, and he’s also generally seen as a pretty nice guy as well. Reeves himself doesn’t think this is an accident, as his advice to actors looking for their own big break is to do their job and respect the people they work with.

Although Keane Reeves puts it a little more bluntly than that. In speaking with E! About his new movie Outcome, Reeves drops some expletives when offering the advice about what he has learned during his decades working in Hollywood. He said:

It's a fitting statement, and something that is pertinent to the actor's new film. In Outcome, Reeves plays a movie star who finds himself being blackmailed and begins to try to make amends to various people he has wronged in an attempt to find his blackmailer. If the character had been a little nicer to people, maybe he wouldn't be in such a situation.

From all outward appearances, Keanu Reeves is somebody who doesn’t just say this, he lives it. Basically, everybody in Hollywood who has ever worked with the man has indicated that he’s just as nice a guy in real life as he often appears in his films. You don’t become the internet’s boyfriend by being a jerk.

It’s certainly worked for him. Keanu has been the star of multiple major franchises over his career, including massive hits like The Matrix and John Wick. Despite being seen as a one-note actor early in his career following the Bill & Ted movies, he’s been quite successful, and one has to believe that if it had been difficult to work with, that wouldn’t be the case.

It’s an often repeated afforism that respect should be earned, and not simply given. Reeves suggests that it’s ok to simply give a person respect at the outset, with the caveat that if that person does not deserve it, it’s ok to take respect away. It’s probably not a terrible strategy, and it likely makes a lot of people around him very happy.

We’ve heard a lot of stories out of Hollywood about various people, frequently movie stars, who seem to have bought into their own hype. They frequently make excessive demands and cause problems on set. While some of them still have careers, they do have reputations for being difficult to work with. Nobody wants to be remembered as the actor who screamed at Rebecca Ferguson. It's much better to be the actor everybody likes working with.

Honestly, this is advice that probably would work for just about anybody in any professional capacity, not simply acting. When in doubt, try to be more like Keanu Reeves. We’d all be better off if we took that to heart.

It has to be said that some weeks not a tons gets released on the various streaming platforms. And then there are weeks where it seems all the streamers conspired to release all their biggest content at once. Some of the best series and movies streaming in April are coming out this week. It’s a good thing Daredevil: Born Again is only coming out weekly, so there’s time for everything else.

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord - April 6 (Disney+)

Despite relatively short screen time in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul is one of the more popular of Star Wars’ villains. The character has a long and deep history that you won’t be familiar with if you haven’t watched animated Star Wars shows like The Clone Wars, and now your Disney+ subscription will give you an untold chapter in Maul's life in the new animated series Shadow Lord.

The Testaments - April 8 (Hulu)

The Handmaid’s Tale was a critical and fan favorite, but don’t let the fact that it has come to an end lead you to end your Hulu subscription. Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel novel, The Testaments, is set to make its debut as a series this week, with One Battle After Another’s breakout star Chase Infiniti leading the cast.

The Boys, Season 5 - April 8 (Prime Video)

Of all the superhero content one can find on TV and in movies, The Boys, available with a Prime Video subscription, is truly unique. No other series is quite so violent or holds the same sort of lens up to the genre. The show has been incredibly successful, and hopefully, with this fifth and final season, it will be going out on top.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair - April 10 (Hulu)

Of all the series reboots that we have seen in the last few years, Malcolm in the Middle is one that maybe was not on anybody’s bingo card. And yet this week we get the limited series that, as the subtitle says, promises that Life’s Still Unfair. The show finds an adult Malcolm who has spent his life avoiding his crazy family, forced to deal with them.

Outcome - April 10 (Apple TV)

In Outcome, coming with an Apple TV subscription, the biggest movie star in the world, Keanu Reeves, plays the biggest movie star in the world. Reef Hawk. However, while Keanu is the actor everybody loves, Reef is an actor that seemingly nobody likes. It’s a fact that leads him on a journey of self-discovery after a viral video ruins his reputation. From director Jonah Hill, the new movie looks to be equal parts funny and life-affirming, and it has an incredible all-star cast.

While there’s a lot to love streaming this week, the month is only just getting started. A new season of Netflix’s critically praised Beef comes out next weekend, and reality fans will be able to jump into a new season of Love Island on Peacock. Get ready.

Cameron Diaz’s return to acting continues to look less like a comeback tour and more like a carefully curated reunion run, and her latest stop just happens to involve Keanu Reeves. After reuniting with Jamie Foxx for Back in Action, she is now back on a red carpet with Reeves, promoting Jonah Hill’s upcoming Apple TV film Outcome. And their back-and-forth about their reunion has me so excited.

The pair were spotted together this week during an Apple TV press event, where they chatted about working together again for the first time in nearly three decades. As shared in a red carpet clip posted by Entertainment Tonight on Instagram, Diaz made it clear she was thrilled about the reunion, saying:

The Matrix franchise actor, in classic Keanu fashion, kept things simple and sincere, enthusiastically agreeing with her take and adding a cheerful, “It’s niiiice!” The energy between them felt easy and unforced, like two people who never lost the shorthand that comes from shared history.

Of course, that history eventually led the conversation back to their first film together — and that’s where Diaz tried to slam on the brakes. When Feeling Minnesota came up, the actress immediately attempted to disown it with playful embarrassment, joking:

Reeves wasn’t having any of it. From his perspective, the experience was a blast, regardless of how the movie itself landed. Diaz, meanwhile, doubled down on her self-deprecation, insisting:

In case you weren’t aware — I admittedly wasn’t — Feeling Minnesota was a scrappy, offbeat 1996 crime comedy that leaned hard into messy romance and indie chaos, and yeah, maybe it wasn't seen as one of the best movies of the 90s, . Directed by Steven Baigelman, the film stars Keanu Reeves as Jjaks, a soft-spoken drifter who falls head-over-heels for Freddie (Diaz), an ex-stripper who’s just married his volatile brother, played by Vincent D’Onofrio. What begins as an impulsive runaway romance quickly spirals into a Coen-adjacent tangle of stolen money, double-crosses, and bad decisions, all wrapped in peak ’90s indie quirk.

The movie wasn’t a hit, and critics were split. Still, in hindsight, it plays as an early, slightly unhinged showcase of the Charlie’s Angels veteran’s comic confidence and the Speed actor’s gift for portraying earnest romantics stuck in horrible situations. Reeves, smiling, calmly disagreed yet again, reiterating how much fun he had making the film all those years ago. At that point, the Vanilla Sky actress fully leaned into the bit, adding:

The exchange is funny on its face, but it also highlights where Diaz is now. She’s comfortable poking fun at her early work, confident in how far she’s come, and genuinely excited about reconnecting with collaborators she trusts.

That mindset carries directly into Outcome, a dark comedy directed by Jonah Hill, in which Reeves plays a beloved Hollywood figure whose life unravels after he’s blackmailed. Diaz plays one of his longtime friends, alongside Matt Bomer, rounding out a cast that feels deliberately chosen rather than nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake.

If the red carpet energy is any indication, this reunion isn’t about reliving the past. It’s about two actors meeting again with more confidence, sharper instincts, and a much better sense of humor. Fans will be able to enjoy this reunion thirty years in the making when Outcome lands on one of the best streaming services on April 10, 2026, for everyone with an Apple TV subscription.

I want to try out a new type of movie quiz this week. Rather than answering questions or solving clues, for this one, we're asking you to put each actor's movies in order. Don't worry, it's just four movies per actor, but it might be challenging, depending on how good you are at remembering when films came out.

I tried not to get too tricky with the actors or their movies, so hopefully even a casual movie fan will have fun with this one. I think the earliest titles referenced go back to the '80s and '90s, and they should be films that most movie fans will know well. Without any further ado, let's get to it!

It turns out that Keanu Reeves is a big fan of This Is the End, the celebrity-packed end of the world movie written and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The 2013 movie, which you can check out with a Netflix subscription, has cameos from 20 or so actors and pop stars, but it doesn’t have one from Keanu Reeves. Still, Reeves took a moment during a conversation with Rogen, Aziz Ansari, and Keke Palmer, while promoting their 2025 movie releaese Good Fortune, to talk about how much he loved the movie.

Keanu Reeves Is A Big Fan Of This Is The End

During the conversion on Esquire’s Table Read, which can be watched on Esquire’s YouTube feed, Reeves tells Rogen that he loves the movie (which is not something I had on my bingo card this year). Ansari, who is one of the many stars who appear in This Is the End, immediately chimes in with:

After Keke Palmer confirms that it’s the movie where Rihanna “slaps the shit out of Michael Cera” (it is), it sets Rogen off on a wonderful tangent about getting all those stars to appear in the movie. Ansari mentions that it’s “crazy” that they were able to get all those stars, and Rogen adds:

As Rogen goes through the list of people who went to New Orleans and joined in on the This Is The End fun, Reeves almost seems jealous that he didn’t get to be there. He’s clearly blown away that Rogen and company were able to pull it off. Ansari is, too, and he was there! For his part, Rogen still sounds pretty shocked by it, too:

I get exactly what Rogen said about it being part of the appeal for the likes of Kevin Hart, Paul Rudd, Emma Watson, Rihanna, and all the other stars who agreed to do the picture. An all-expenses-paid trip to The Big Easy to work for a few days on a movie and hang out with a list of stars like those in This is the End? I’m actually surprised there weren’t more people!

A lot of the conversation is Palmer, Rogen, and Ansari asking Reeves about The Matrix, including getting Reeves to recreate the “bullet time” scene. That, of course, is wonderful, but not at all that unexpected. Reeves toasting Rogen and Ansari for This is the End is much more unexpected, and in a lot of ways, more wonderful.

Reeves has a great knack for comedy, as Good Fortune shows, and he would have been perfect for a movie like This Is the End. It’s too bad we’ll never get to see how horrible his death could have been in the movie!

James Cameron is a filmmaker who will go down in history as the writer and director of some of the greatest films of all time. He's made so many hit movies it’s almost hard to count, but he thinks the list should be even longer, as Cameron recently claimed credit for writing the surfer crime movie Point Break.

In a recent interview, Cameron claimed credit for the film, saying that he “got stiffed” by the Writers’ Guild when it came to credit on the movie. The actual credit went to screenwriter W. Peter Iliff, but speaking with EW, you won’t hear him complaining. Iliff confirms that Cameron did work on the film and says he has nothing but respect for the Avatar director. The screenwriter said…

Iliff details the story of Point Break, which he wrote based on an idea from filmmaker Rick King, with Ridley Scott originally attached to direct. The movie would then jump around studios, and lose Scott to Black Rain, before it ended up at 20th Century Fox with Kathryn Bigelow directing.

Bigelow was married to James Cameron at the time, who was on the same lot making The Abyss. Iliff is honest that Cameron and Bigelow wrote the “production draft” of the script based on his original screenplay. One moment that Cameron specifically added was apparently the famous scene of Keanu Reeves' Johnny Utah jumping out of a plane after Patrick Swayze’s Brodie without a parachute.

As far as who gets the credit, the Writers’ Guild of America determines credit by having a jury of other writers review multiple drafts of the script, in order to determine who contributed what and decide how many of the authors should receive credit for the final product. W. Peter Illiff received sole screenplay credit, with Illiff and King receiving Story credit.

I’m not sure anybody would blame Illiff for being frustrated by Cameron’s recent comments that he deserves credit for writing the film. However, that doesn’t appear to be happening. Illiff, who says he hasn’t seen James Cameron in years, doesn’t appear to be bothered by the issue. He continued…

Illiff would go on to write the Harrison Ford-led Patriot Games and Varsity Blues, both the film and the follow-up TV series. James Cameron would go on to direct three of the top five highest grossing movies ever made. It seems everything turned out fine for all involved.

Zootopia 2 is a big deal. It’s officially the highest-grossing Hollywood movie of the year, surpassing even its incredibly successful predecessor at the global box office. Considering that level of success, it seems likely Disney is already contemplating a Zootopia 3, and it sounds like the director is already sitting on a brilliant idea that would theoretically involve Keanu Reeves.

It would be an understatement to say Zootopia 2 is full of cameos. Numerous stars who have appeared in previous animated Disney movies make brief voice appearances in the new film, so it would track that cameos would be a big part of a threequel if it were to happen. One fan on Twitter asked Zootopia 2 co-director and Walt Disney Animation CCO Jared Bush what star he would love to get in a future film. Not only did the filmmaker name-drop Reeves, but he also shared an idea he was pitched. Bush said…

Brilliant. No notes. Make this happen right away. Also, I don’t care what anybody says about nepo babies; Bush should hire his kid to work at Walt Disney Animation Studios, because he has some great ideas.

And the best part is that it wouldn’t even be that difficult to work the Baba Llama into Zootopia 3. We already know that the world of Zootopia has organized crime, so Keanu Reeves' proposed character could obviously work for Mr. Big, the artic shrew who runs the criminal world of Tundratown. It would be a hilarious cameo, and I need to see what a John Wick-inspired llama would look like.

The majority of the voice cameos in Zootopia 2 were from stars who had voiced characters in Disney movies before, though certainly not all. Even company CEO Bob Iger lent his voice to the film as a TV weatherman, calling back to his original on-screen job before he began his rise to the top of the House of Mouse. Reeves hasn’t lent his voice to a Disney project before, but he did appear in a Pixar movie, and that’s close enough.

While nothing has been officially announced, it seems all but certain that a Zootopia 3 is at least going to be a topic of conversation. Disney is going to want to make a sequel to its franchise that has two billion-dollar hits under its belt. The only question is, can they come up with a compelling story, and how quickly can they rev up the machine?

Zootopia 2 does include a little sequel tease, which indicates at least some consideration that a third movie could happen, even before the current one became the massive success that it is. While waiting for word on a threequel and a potential Keanu Reeves casting, check out the latest Zootopia film in theaters now and stream the OG flick with a Disney+ subscription.

When some bad guys broke into John Wick’s house in the first film, it didn’t end up going particularly well for them. Two years ago, some people broke into Keanu Reeves' house, and while they weren’t met by a killer assassin, they were eventually arrested, and now Reeves is very thankful to have his property back, including a very special John Wick watch.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that back in 2023, Reeves was the victim of a robbery orchestrated by South American thieves who apparently traveled across Southern California and robbed wealthy homes before returning home. He lost several watches, including a special watch from the set of John Wick. Chilean police, alongside the FBI, recently arrested several suspected members of the gang and searched their homes, and in doing so, recovered Reeves’ watches.

The actor was so happy to have this special property back, which was likely both worth a lot of money and very personally important, that he hand-wrote a letter of thanks. The letter begins:

That’s a pretty extensive list of agencies that were involved in this operation. The theft ring was reportedly based in Chile but would travel to the U.S. to rob homes and retail locations before returning home. Celebrities are the target of theft more often than you might think. Houses all over the U.S. were reportedly hit, but Southern California, and the homes of celebrities and sports stars, were apparently a significant focus.

It’s reported that Reeves lost millions in property, and the watches were only part of the loss. Not everything was likely recovered. It was initially reported that a gun from the set of John Wick, one of Keanu Reeves' best movies, was among the items stolen, and a phone with a picture of a gun that was apparently taken during the robbery was found, but there's no word that the gun itself was recovered.

However, Keanu Reeves was clearly happy to get his watches back. The one from the set of John Wick, which included some sort of inscription, was obviously irreplaceable, and the franchise is clearly very important to Keanu Reeves. Reeves ended his note to the authorities, saying:

Keanu Reeves has a reputation for being a pretty nice guy, and it’s things like this that have created that reputation. This could have been an email, but a handwritten note shows a level of care and appreciation that other forms of communication simply wouldn’t convey. We know how happy he is, given the time he took to say thank you.

Keanu Reeves has so many badass performances in his career that can easily make audiences watch them on repeat. After all, he’s made us laugh time traveling with his best bud in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, being a vengeful gunslinger in the John Wick movies, and dodging slo-mo bullets in The Matrix films. As for whether the actor will watch his own movies, he hilariously said there are only three he’d see, and they’re interesting picks.

It’s completely normal for celebrities not to want to watch their own movies. Keira Knightley said she’ll only watch her films once, and Leonardo DiCaprio “rarely” revisits his works unless it’s The Aviator. As for Keanu Reeves, he said during a discussion at The New Yorker Festival (via People) if he’d be able to watch any of his best classic movie performances, and he gave a funny take on his only three picks:

I definitely see what Keanu Reeves means. He may not seek out one of his movies, but he’ll watch a favorite while channel surfing. Considering the Constantine actor has done four John Wick movies and its spinoff Ballerina, I was surprised he didn’t mention the franchise landing on his channel surfing radar.

At the same time, his top three movie picks make a lot of sense. The action movie Point Break (which is streaming on your Peacock subscription) changed everything for the Canadian actor. One behind-the-scenes fact about the Keanu Reeves movie was that director Kathryn Bigelow had to fight for the talented star to lead her movie since he only had a reputation for doing comedies back then. Thankfully, Point Break helped cement his status as a leading man in the action genre.

And, of course, no one, including Reeves, apparently, can pass off The Matrix movies. On its 25th anniversary last year, the award-winning actor expressed that the sci-fi flicks “changed my life” not only by being a part of pop culture history, but also for the positive impact they’ve had on audiences. To further change lives with The Wachowskis' films, the Parenthood actor even donated a huge chunk of his Matrix money for cancer research. You have to commend Reeves for using his fame to pay it forward in the best way possible.

Keanu Reeves may only watch three films from his filmography (what, no love for The Matrix Revolutions?), but you can’t blame the man, considering what a kickass performance he gives in each. As those roles helped him make a big name for himself in Hollywood, it makes sense for Point Break and The Matrix films to get the rewatch treatment.

Make sure to watch Keanu Reeves’ 2025 movie release Good Fortune, playing in theaters now. And if you’re in the New York area, you can find the action star reunite with his Bill and Ted co-star Alex Winter in the stage production of Waiting For Godot, playing at the Hudson Theatre now.

Celebrities aren’t always just like us. They live in million dollar homes; they drive nice cars; they wear French brands on the red carpet that are difficult to pronounce. However, sometimes they are ever-so-relatable, which is what happened when Amy Poehler recently asked a question most fans have had about other A-Lister Keanu Reeves for years: “Is Keanu as nice as he seems?”

It’s a straightforward and honest query, and one I think fans have always wanted to know more about. I feel even more confident guessing that now, as Poehler had the opportunity to speak with Keanu’s recent Good Fortune co-star Aziz Ansari, and she absolutely asked about whether or not the nice guy thing is real or a put-on. Thankfully, Ansari confirmed Reeves is too legit to quit.

Listen, Amy Poehler didn’t seem as enamored with the fact Keanu is still on a motorcycle more than 20 years after his infamous accident. She joked he needs to get off for “insurance” purposes, but I do think Ansari’s point that the actor is able to meld both badassery with being super sweet is exactly what his fans would have hoped to hear about the actor.

Check out the full clip from Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast, below.

This is the guy that did much of his own painful John Wick work over the age of 50. Yet, he’s also the guy who’s quick to give credit to all the stunt guys for making him look so good. He’s the guy on the red carpets with the cool artist girlfriend. But when questions about whether they’ll get married come up, he makes some rare and adorable comments fanboying out about Alexandra Grant. He’s a man with range, and it’s no wonder, the internet has been obsessed with Reeves time and time again.

Celebrities can run the gamut from grumpy to happy-go-lucky, and from genuine to “on” pretty much all the time. The Good Fortune actor has eclectic taste and a an offbeat personality, and it’s nice to hear he’s the real deal. On a personal note, I’m just as obsessed with Amy Poehler being as obsessed with Keanu Reeves as I am. So really, everyone wins here.

Few behind-the-scenes stories live up to the intensity of The Matrix, which is why it's not only one of the best movies of the ‘90s, but the best sci-fi movies of all time. Laurence Fishburne just shared one BTS story that might top them all. During a recent convention panel, the Boyz N the Hood star got candid about the now-iconic dojo fight scene between Morpheus and Neo, revealing that the brutal sequence wasn’t just movie magic. It left both him and Keanu Reeves literally black and blue by the time they wrapped filming.

During a recent New York Comic Con panel (via People), Fishburne, in his conversation with former co-star Joe Pantoliano, reflected on how much physical preparation went into making the scene one of the most legendary moments in sci-fi cinema. He explained:

For Fishburne, the injuries were just proof of how deeply committed everyone was to making the groundbreaking action movie feel real. The Man of Steel alum continued:

Pantoliano, who played Cypher in the original film, likened the fight choreography to “a ballet,” explaining that the seamless flow and minimal cuts helped change the trajectory of action filmmaking. He added:

Released in 1999, The Matrix redefined what action and sci-fi could look like on screen, blending philosophy, tech noir, and Hong Kong-style martial arts in a way Hollywood hadn’t seen before. The dojo fight between Morpheus and Neo remains one of the franchise’s most celebrated moments — a perfectly choreographed dance between teacher and student that also symbolized Neo’s first steps toward believing in his own power.

It’s fitting, then, that the scene took such a physical toll on the men behind it. Reeves (known for doing much of his own stunt work) and Fishburne, whose calm authority gave Morpheus his mythic edge, both poured everything into it — even when it hurt.

While Laurence Fishburne didn’t appear in 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections, he hasn’t ruled out returning to the franchise, if the story is right, of course. And, he might get his chance because a Fifth Matrix film is happening, sadly, without the direction of the Wachowski sisters.

For now, though, fans can revisit his defining turn as Morpheus, and that punishing, unforgettable fight, by streaming The Matrix trilogy. And lucky for viewers, its streaming for free with a Tubi subscription.

I saw Aziz Ansari's Good Fortune in theaters this week, and I was quite surprised by the movie. It’s tonally nothing like I would have expected from a comedy starring Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, and Ansari himself. In fact, it’s more of a downer in moments and more political than I would have anticipated, focusing on issues such as the housing crisis, cronyism in business and wealth inequity. To me, some of this worked, and some of it was kind of preachy; regardless, the movie has been full of surprises on the review front.

In fact, as Keanu Reeves’ popular character Ted would say, its debut was rather “excellent.” When I’d looked at early reviews ahead of the opening weekend, Good Fortune had around 60 reviews and was well over the 80% mark. In the last couple of days before Rotten Tomatoes officially certified it “fresh,” it has nabbed even more reviews and has settled into a comfortable 78% on the critics side.

But the biggest surprise to me? Good Fortune is the rare case where critics and audiences seem to be on exactly the same page!

Critics And Audiences Both Agree On Good Fortune

By the time of the writing of this article, Good Fortune settled into a 78% on the critics side and was matched with a 78% on the audience side. I cannot underscore how rare this is. A lot of movies that are critical darlings for journalists are not beloved by wider audiences. A lot of fun, silly (and sometimes big budget) movies that critics seem to despise really land more traction with people paying for the popcorn and movie tickets.

Sure, there are some clunkers everyone hates, and there are some big releases that hit on levels both critics and fans can appreciate. I’m looking at you, Inside Out 2 review, or Weapons releasing to fanfare on both sides earlier this year. However, to be a movie that’s seen as “pretty good” by folks on all sides of the spectrum just does not feel like it comes up that often.

This is why we often see big discrepancies between critics and the moviegoing audience at large. The Conjuring: Last Rites was a recent example in which many critics splatted the film (at 58% in total, though CinemaBlend's own review of Last Rites was positive). Meanwhile, the audience liked it pretty well — intriguingly at the same 78% Good Fortune has also settled into at the time I wrote this article. People look for different things from their moviegoing experience, and it’s rare for everyone to be on the same page about a movie that's pretty decent.

I’m still surprised Good Fortune hasn’t been a little more polarizing for some audiences, but that might say more about the people watching and reviewing the movie being aligned tonally with the comedians involved than anything else. And that might also be why it’s at a 78% rather than an 88% or 90% overall.

Regardless, Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari, and Seth Rogen Good Fortune landed some, well, good fortune with reviews when it came to their movie about a fallen angel, a gig economy worker and a wealthy business owner who swap places. Even though I was only OK on the movie personally, I’m happy to see fans and critics rally around a theatrical comedy. Now, if only that could translate into box office numbers…

Season 2 of Severance was about as well-received as the first. It gave fans some answers while also providing plenty of twists, but one of the most fun came early in Season 2, when we were introduced to the voice of the Lumon building, and we discovered that it sounds exactly like Keanu Reeves. However, the John Wick actor wasn't Ben Stiller's first pick for the role, and his reaction to learning that said first pick was Barack Obama was incredible.

Keanu Reeve's Severance Role Was Offered To Barack Obama

In a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast, Keanu Reeves was asked about the fact that Ben Stiller had revealed he had initially offered the role of the Lumon building to Barack Obama. It turned out the John Wick star had no idea. Keanu said simply…

So, the Kelce brothers got to break the news to Keanu Reeves that he wasn’t the first choice for the voice of the claymation Lumon building.

A lot of actors might be disappointed that they weren’t the first choice and only got the role after somebody else turned it down. Reeves, however, takes it all in stride. While he initially seems to feel bad that he was a second choice, he ultimately decides that he doesn’t care that he wasn’t the first pick. He’s just happy he got the job. Reeves said…

Keanu has found some incredible success being the second choice in the past. It's now a well-known story that he only got the call for The Matrix after Will Smith turned the role down. Clearly, he doesn't take offense at being a second choice, and it's simply a fact that many iconic roles came about after other actors said no.

Ben Stiller Explained How He Wanted Barack Obama In Severance

Back in March, Stiller relayed the story of how he actually asked Barack Obama if he would perform the voice-over that Reeves ultimately ended up doing. While Obama apparently has an Apple TV+ subscription, as he's a fan of the series, he was unable to do it because former Presidents are really busy. Stiller said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!…

Keanu Reeves has an amazing voice and ended up being a great choice for Severance. That said, I will now always wonder about what we could have heard, because Barack Obama could have been incredible in the role.

Perhaps, if Barack Obama’s schedule opens up, there will be future opportunities for him in Season 3 of Severance. He says he likes the show, so it sounds like he’d be willing. If not, I’m sure Keanu Reeves will be happy to fill in.

Horror flicks may be the primary focus for many movie lovers in October, but there’s always room for a good supernatural comedy, right? Aziz Ansari sure hopes so, as he makes his feature directorial debut with Good Fortune. With a cast that includes Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer and more, this one has been on our radar as one that must be seen in the theater, so are critics in agreement?

Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune — which hits the 2025 movie calendar on October 17 — stars Keanu Reeves as Gabriel, a guardian angel who loses his wings after failing to prove to down-on-his-luck Arj (Ansari) that switching lives with rich socialite Jeff (Seth Rogen) won’t make him happier. Matt Fowler of IGN calls the movie “funny, sharp, and sweet,” as it somehow upends the It’s a Wonderful Life cliché but still manages to embrace it. He rates it a “Great” 8 out of 10, writing:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY also says Keanu Reeves is “angelic” in this “heaven-sent” comedy, giving it 3 out of 4 stars. Aziz Ansari toes the line between hilarity and gravity, Truitt says, by using comedy to approach deep themes. The critic says:

Joe Schmidt of Collider rates Good Fortune 7 out of 10, writing that it’s a fine first effort from Aziz Ansari at the helm, as he weaves a simple yet satisfying tale of people realizing they can both cherish what they have and fight to make the world better. Keke Palmer steals the show, in Schmidt’s opinion, and Keanu Reeves is a “godsend.” In the critic’s words:

Tim Grierson of AV Club grades the movie a C+, noting that Good Fortune acknowledges the anger that economic inequality causes but doesn’t dig too deep. Grierson wonders if Aziz Ansari’s message lacks heft because the actor can’t fully recognize the plight of those struggling to make ends meet. The critic says:

Lindsey Bahr of the AP also says the life-affirming message that comes from Good Fortune feels hollow, despite the director’s good intentions. She gives it 2 out of 4 stars and writes:

While there are some questions regarding Aziz Ansari’s feel-good message, it appears that critics are mostly on board with his directorial debut. Good Fortune holds a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so if you want to see the hilarity that ensues amongst this cast — including Keanu Reeves, who is apparently worthy of all the angel puns — the movie is in theaters as of Friday, October 17.

You may know Aziz Ansari best as the man who taught you to “treat yo’ self” over the course of seven seasons on Parks And Recreation, but he also won multiple Emmys for Master Of None, the brilliant show that spent three seasons on the Netflix schedule between 2015 and 2021. Master Of None was both a critical and commercial success, marking a turning point in Ansari’s career as the industry began to take him more seriously as a writer. Now he’s moving into the world of features with his upcoming film Good Fortune.

Unsurprisingly, there are some major ways in which the new movie was inspired by the stories he was telling on Netflix all those years ago. I recently spoke with Ansari to celebrate the upcoming release of Good Fortune, and when I mentioned Master Of None, he said this:

Master Of None Season 2 largely centers around the lead character, Aziz Ansari’s Dev, falling in love in Italy. Packed with homages to classic Italian romance flicks, it is one of my favorite seasons of television ever made, and that’s in no small part due to the elements of the story that depart from our characters in the main continuity.

With the anthology episode Ansari mentioned, “New York, I Love You,” they took such creative risks as extended sequences in complete silence to put you right in the shoes of a deaf woman. Good Fortune isn’t taking any swings that big, but by focusing on the character Arj, an everyman in the gig economy that you may look right past in a big city like Los Angeles where the film takes place, they are clearly taking a page out of the Master Of None playbook.

Good Fortune is also produced in partnership with Alan Yang, Ansari’s Master Of None collaborator, so this is all very fitting. That same episode even includes a brief reference to Keanu Reeves, accidentally foreshadowing the fact that Reeves stars in Good Fortune as the angel Gabriel. Ansari has been gushing about working with the John Wick star, who managed to injure himself on set despite avoiding just that through five films in the action franchise.

Are you intrigued? Good! Because you can see Good Fortune in theaters on October 17 as a part of 2025’s movie release schedule. As for Master Of None, you can still catch it on Netflix.

Typically, when we talk about Keanu Reeves, we discuss his status as an action star or we’re getting excited about his new releases, like his most recent entry on the 2025 movie schedule, Good Fortune. However, every once in a while, we get sweet insight into his relationship with his long-time girlfriend, Alexandra Grant. This time, that peek into their personal lives came as they debunked rumors that they had gotten married and the actor made rare and adorable comments about his partner.

Keanu Reeves Shared His Thoughts On The Marriage Rumors And How Alexandra Grant Addressed Them

Here and there, we see Reeves and Grant at premieres together, and we get cute comments about their relationship occasionally. However, they really don’t say much about their home life. But when rumors started to circulate that they had tied the knot, Grant, who is a visual artist, took to Instagram to clarify that while the claims were nice, they are not married, writing in part:

Alexandra Grant posted that on September 24, and during the Good Fortune screening in New York City, the Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure star was asked about it. During a conversation with E! News, he got a question about how he reacted to the rumors, and in response, he said:

I love how they view this. While the rumors are not true, and they made that clear, in a way, it is nice that people thought they were married. However, they’re not. They are, indeed, a solid couple, though, as Reeves' other comments further prove.

Keanu Reeves Also Sweetly Gushed About His Partner

According to People, Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant met in 2011, and were friends for a while before they became a couple. In 2019, it was reported that they were dating, via Glamour, and they’ve been together ever since.

Then, over the years, we’ve heard Reeves make extremely sweet comments about his partner, and we’ve heard stories from the John Wick actor’s co-stars about meeting Grant. All of that makes it very clear how solid they are as a pair.

To that point, in a different interview, the marriage rumors and Grant addressing them were brought up again. In response to all of that, ET asked Reeves if his partner was the funnier of the two of them. He said she is, and then kindly gushed:

Well, that’s the cutest thing ever.

The love they clearly have for each other is always so wonderful to see when we get a peek into their lives. I also adore how they handle public speculation about their relationship, and how they so kindly and hilariously debunked the marriage rumors.

So, now that this is all cleared up, we know they're not married and that they are very much couple goals, we can appreciate the public appearances they make. Along with that, you can also support their work, and you can see Keanu Reeves in his most recent movie, Good Fortune, in theaters this Friday, October 17.

Aziz Ansari is making his directorial debut with the new film, Good Fortune, and he assembled a strong cast for this 2025 movie release. Joining Ansari in the movie are Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh and Keanu Reeves. Before collaborating with his castmates, Ansari admired the work each of them did. However, previous comments made by the comedian suggest he was particularly starstruck by Reeves. It seems their collaboration was actually foreshadowed as well, as Ansari explained to CinemaBlend.

There have certainly been instances in which TV shows have unintentionally predicted real-life events. (The Simpsons, anyone?) When it comes to Ansari and Reeves working together, it seems that was accidentally predicted in some way by the former’s show, Master of None. Ansari caught up with CinemaBlend’s Jeff McCobb to discuss Good Fortune, and MoN came up as well. After discussing a specific Season 2 episode from the show, Ansari shared the story behind a very interesting detail:

The episode in question is “New York, I Love You,” which mostly shifts the focus away from the series’ protagonist, Dev, and his friends and moves it to other New Yorkers. Among them is Samuel, a Burundian who works as a cab driver and has several roommates. It’s actually Samuel who refutes his buddy’s claim that he once drove the Bill & Ted icon to a club. Considering the existence of Good Fortune, this is now an interesting piece of Master of None lore, and Ansari even admitted it took him a while to make the connection:

This is a sweet coincidence if there ever was one, and I find it funny that everything worked out in the way that it did. Honestly, there couldn’t be a quirkier project for Aziz Ansari and Keanu Reeves to collaborate on than Good Fortune. Both directed and written by Ansari, this supernatural comedy sees Reeves play a “budget guardian angel” who ultimately loses his wings after attempting to help a down-on-his-luck guy (Ansari) via a body swap. The angel is then forced to live as a human and ultimately begins to see the work caused by his prior divine acts of intervention become undone.

Ansari seemed to relish the opportunity to work with Reeves, who he believes is someone with “real movie star aura.” Through his involvement, Reeves apparently “turned the movie into something else,” which “excited” Ansari. It’s long been said that “the Lord moves in mysterious ways” and, whether you’re religious or simply believe in the power of fate, it’s downright delightful that Reeves and Ansari ended up starring alongside each other in this film years after that MoN reference.

Check out Good Fortune when it hits theaters on October 17. In the meantime, grab a Netflix subscription and stream Master of None.

One of 2024’s biggest hits and best video game movies, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, finally showed movie audiences to what gamers have known for years — Shadow the Hedgehog is awesome. Now, it seems SEGA may want to keep that momentum going. According to a recent report, the company filed a new Shadow the Hedgehog trademark in Japan this September, sparking speculation that something big is in the works for Sonic’s brooding rival.

Fan site Sonic City shared on X that the filing on Japan’s public trademark repository covers everything from clothing and toys to, most intriguingly, computer programs — a clue that has the fandom buzzing. While SEGA hasn’t confirmed whether this points to a new game, film, or series, the timing feels deliberate. With the success of Sonic × Shadow Generations and Keanu Reeves’ debut as Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, fans are convinced the “Ultimate Lifeform” is about to step into the spotlight once again.

Fans React To The SEGA Filing

As Sonic City notes, SEGA’s inclusion of digital software in the filing “indicates the company intends to keep the Shadow brand active across multiple mediums.” Translation: Shadow’s comeback isn’t a one-off, which has fans speculating wildly. Here are what some fans are saying:

• “It would be extremely funny if the 35th anniversary game was a Shadow ’05 remake.” – @PlatiPete
• “It’s probably movie related, but it’ll be so funny if at the game awards they say some shit like 'We’ll focus on our other characters that aren’t sonic,' and it’s just shadow again." – @MrBridge25
• “THE YEAR OF SHADOW ISN'T OVER” – @Hebitan2085 wrote, sharing a Shadow GIF.
• “It's most likely a Shadow the Hedgehog Paramount Plus series. Its very unlikely for SEGA to revive one of their worst performed games of the 2000s.” – @DaveTheRetroGuy
• “Would it not be a movie? Isn't a solo Shadow movie confirmed to be in the works?” – @XenoSonic_2

The question remains: what does this new registration actually mean, and which kind of Shadow project is SEGA really gearing up for?

Why SEGA Might Be Planning A Movie Or Streaming Series

The most obvious direction for this new project is cinematic. Following the success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 last year, the trademark could signal that SEGA and Paramount are laying the groundwork for a full-on Shadow the Hedgehog spin-off movie.

Paramount has already shown a willingness to expand the Sonic cinematic universe with Knuckles, the streaming series that debuted last year and is available to watch with a Paramount+ subscription. The show’s mix of humor and world-building proved there’s an appetite for character-driven stories set in this universe. A darker, more mature spinoff centered on Shadow’s tragic backstory would be a natural next step, and ideally suited to Keanu Reeves’ brooding intensity.

Interestingly, both Reeves and Idris Elba, who voices Knuckles, have expressed interest in spinoffs focused on their respective characters. A limited streaming series in the same vein as Knuckles could offer greater creative freedom and emotional depth, while keeping Paramount’s growing Sonic universe alive between major theatrical releases because, as fans may know, Sonic 4 has already been announced.

Could This Actually Be A New Shadow Video Game?

On the other hand, the inclusion of “computer programs” in SEGA’s new trademark filing has led many to believe this could point to a game-related project. With Sonic’s 35th anniversary approaching, a new video game makes a lot of sense.

A few fans joked about revisiting the divisive 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog game, but that seems unlikely. However, there’s also the chance SEGA is developing an entirely new game starring Shadow. Maybe a sequel or spiritual successor to Sonic × Shadow Generations, which performed well both critically and commercially and reintroduced Shadow to a new generation of players. Expanding that momentum with a standalone title would make a lot of sense.

The Real Takeaway From This Trademark Registration

Whether it’s a movie, show or game, Shadow’s resurgence is no accident. SEGA’s new trademark seems to confirm the company is doubling down on its most mysterious and marketable antihero. And I’m all in on the idea.

If this is a movie, we can likely expect Keanu Reeves’ Shadow to take center stage in a darker, emotionally charged story that expands the world introduced in the first three movies. If it’s a game, maybe we'll finally get a modern, story-driven experience fans have been clamoring for since the mid-2000s. However, if it’s a streaming series, well, let’s be honest, Paramount+ could use another hit outside of the ever-expanding Taylor Sheridan universe, and Shadow has the fanbase to deliver a pretty solid one.

As you wait for details on what lies ahead for Shadow, keep an eye on updates regarding Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

The John Wick franchise isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, as evidenced by Donnie Yen’s Caine spinoff and the anime prequel about the Impossible Task following the release of Ballerina on the 2025 movies schedule in June. However, the future of the main film series remains uncertain, despite Keanu Reeves’ character seemingly dying at the end of Chapter 4. In April, Lionsgate announced that John Wick: Chapter 5 is in development, but then in June, director Chad Stahelski indicated it’s not a sure thing yet.

I’m not here to talk about whether or not Chapter 5 should happen for narrative reasons. Instead, after watching the documentary Wick is Pain, which chronicles the making of the four John Wick movies, I’d rather focus on how Keanu Reeves makes a good point about the title assassin moving forward. Specifically, even by action movie standards, this franchise asks a lot of the actor physically.

Wick Is Pain Delves Into How Physically Demanding Playing John Wick Is

Now obviously an action movie star needs to be in good physical condition, and anyone who’s seen a John Wick movie could surmise that Keanu Reeves walked away with some bruises and scrapes. Still, Wick is Pain does a good job of laying out the physical toll that playing the title assassin has taken.

To name some examples, Jeremy Marinas, who did stunts on Chapter 2 and was Chapter 4’s stunt coordinator, said that he’s seen Reeves cough for 10 minutes straight or go to throw up in the bathroom during training. He also mentioned that Reeves is limping for real when John is limping because “his knee doesn’t work, his right shoulder doesn’t work, and his neck has a fusion.” Jackson Spidell, Reeves’ stunt double, said that when we “see Reeves in pain on screen, it’s probably real.” Producer Basil Iwanyk said that Chad Stahelski pushing Reeves past his comfort zone to play John Wick was “kind of healthy” for the first two movies, but was “almost barbaric” on the next two.

And yet, Keanu Reeves put his body through the wringer willingly, and because Chad Stahelski has worked with him for so long, he knows what the actor can handle physically and mentally. And yet, at the end of Wick is Pain, Reeves voiced this thought:

The title Wick is Pain even comes from a real-life interaction between Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski on the John Wick: Chapter 3 set. Reeves had a swollen knee while they were shooting the antique store fight scene, and when he asked Stahelski how he was doing, the director just looked him over and answered “Wick is pain.” Is that pain really worth him enduring now that he’s in his 60s?

Keanu Reeves Has Shared Concerns Before About Continuing To Play John Wick

This documentary isn’t the first time that Keanu Reeves has said he’s concerned about what continuing to play John Wick could do to his body. Last December, he shared that he doesn’t think his knees could handle doing John Wick: Chapter 5. Granted, it was reported in July that he’s receiving a sweet payday for Chapter 5, but he’s also allegedly been “perfectly honest about what he’s willing and not willing to do stunt-wise” given that he’s “put his body through hell for these movies.”

Even putting aside my opinion that John Wick: Chapter 4 ended the film series on a nearly-perfect note, I don’t think it’s a good idea to move forward with another movie if there’s added risk of doing permanent harm to Reeves’ body. We should consider ourselves fortunate he agreed to co-star with Ana de Armas in Ballerina, allowing us to spend sometime with the character between the events of Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Keanu Reeves went through a lot to make these John Wick movies, and if his body is telling him he can’t handle the same kind of beatings going forward, maybe he should listen to it.

Whether you agree with me on this subject or not, every John Wick fan reading should watch Wick is Pain if they haven’t already. The documentary is only available to rent or purchase as of this writing, but it’s well worth the price. After that, you can revisit the John Wick movies with your Hulu subscription.

It’s a big deal when actors do their own stunts and film their own action scenes. It adds a level of realism when you can tell the character is really the one doing the incredible thing. We love to see Tom Cruise do wild stunts and Keanu Reeves perform amazing action sequences. That said, movie productions and insurance companies don’t always love it because actors can get hurt doing that stuff.

Keanu Reeves recently proved that actors can get hurt anytime doing almost anything. The guy who has made four John Wick movies and thrown himself down a set of stairs without major injury recently spoke to Extra about the time he broke his knee making his new movie, Good Fortune just because he slipped. Reeves explained…

Good Fortune is a comedy that sees Keanu Reeves play an angel who attempts to show a down-on-his-luck guy, played by Aziz Ansari, that wealth won’t solve his problems by swapping his life with that of a successful man played by Seth Rogen. Things don’t go entirely to the angel’s plan.

Falling on your knee so hard that it cracks sounds like an incredibly unpleasant thing to have to experience. It also sounds worse than anything that we know happened on the set of the John Wick movies. The good news is that while the injury did send the crew into panic mode, it apparently didn’t delay the movie, as Reeves was shooting the next scene on schedule. Aziz Ansari said…

While the knee injury may not have been that big a deal at the time, it’s possible that it could have an impact on Keanu’s future in action movies. While we know John Wick 5 is in development, the actor has specifically stated that his knees may not be in a state to handle another movie. At 61 years old, Reeves is certainly getting older. It's been reported that one thing Reeves wants from any potential John Wick 5 is for the action to better reflect his age. Maybe add to that, no scenes near water. If you slip and fall, you can really hurt yourself!

The Matrix sequels have always lived in a strange limbo. The original 1999 film is canonized as one of the best movies of the 1990s and one of the most influential blockbusters ever made, while its follow-ups? Well, most folks wish that first movie had never been made into a franchise. The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were written off as bloated, confusing, and self-indulgent. These criticisms are so ingrained that it’s become cultural shorthand.

But here’s the thing: I recently rewatched Reloaded with fresh eyes, and I realized that the very things fans and critics railed against two decades ago might actually be the reasons it deserves a reappraisal. What if the supposed flaws—the orgy, the philosophy, the excess—are the secret sauce that makes the movie more ambitious, weird, and, yes, human than we gave it credit for?

Let’s break down each major complaint and why they are secretly the reason why Reloaded should still be ranked amongst the best sci-fi movies of all time.

The Zion Orgy Scene Is Weird And Unnecessary

On its release, Reloaded’s extended Zion rave/sex montage became an instant punching bag. Even today, people groan about “the orgy scene,” wondering why the Wachowskis derailed their sleek cyberpunk action with a sweaty drum circle. Sure, it probably won't make anyone's list of steamiest sex scenes, but it matters far more than many would probably think.

Why it rules: the sequence is a thematic anchor.

The Matrix films have always been about duality: the cold efficiency of machines versus the messy vibrancy of human beings. Zion is humanity’s last stand, and what we see in that scene isn’t frivolous because it’s survival expressed through rhythm, sweat, and intimacy. Humanity’s rebellion isn’t just guns and code; it’s touch, community, and joy in the face of extinction.

Yes, it’s awkward and indulgent. But that’s the point. It’s humanity refusing to be reduced to functions and numbers. When Morpheus gives his fiery “we are still here” speech, and the camera cuts to bodies in motion, it’s a visual metaphor for what makes humans worth saving. The scene is primal, defiant, and—love it or hate it—impossible to forget.

It’s Bloated With Lore And Philosophy

Another major complaint leveled at Reloaded is that the Wachowskis doubled down on lore and metaphysical jargon instead of simply giving us another round of “red pill vs. blue pill.” Suddenly, the plot’s tangled with exiled programs, the Merovingian, the Keymaker, and monologues that feel pulled from a grad school philosophy course. As The Austin Chronicle critic Marc Savlov put it in his write-up:

Why it rules: The Wachowskis refused to play it safe. Instead of a rehash, they delivered a sequel that feels closer to a religious text than a popcorn movie. And, for the record, I don’t find a comparison to the Blade movies to be a bad thing.

Reloaded is overflowing with mythic archetypes and layered world-building that dares to take its cyberpunk ideas seriously. Rather than simplify, the filmmakers gave us a denser, stranger mythology—one that rewards repeat viewing and invites us to wrestle with it the way Neo wrestles with prophecy and purpose.

Think about when the Oracle tells Neo he’s not special, or when the Merovingian (yes, a very polarizing character) lectures on cause and effect. These aren’t throwaway tangents, but thematic building blocks. The Matrix movies were never just about kung fu—they’re about free will, fate, and whether meaning itself can exist inside a closed system. That’s heady stuff, and it’s why the films still get debated in philosophy classes today.

So yeah, it’s bloated, and you may need a Matrix trilogy refresher from time to time. But the excess is the point. The Wachowskis weren’t interested in trimming complexity because they wanted to expand it, to turn a cyber-thriller into a mythic text.

The Fight Scenes Are Gratuitous And Pointless

Even fans of the film often concede Reloaded is stacked with more action sequences than the story strictly needs. From Neo’s dojo showdown with Seraph to the infamous “Burly Brawl” against hundreds of Agent Smiths (one of Keanu’s personal favorite trilogy moments), some viewers felt the fights were indulgent showcases that slowed the narrative momentum.

Why it rules: Let's be real. The fights in Reloaded are some of the best big-screen brawls of all time.

Start with the ghost-twin highway chase, which remains one of the most jaw-dropping set pieces of the 2000s. Warner Bros. literally built a two-mile stretch of freeway just to stage it, and the result is still a breathtaking marriage of practical stunts and CGI. Cars flipping, Morpheus sword-fighting on a moving truck, Trinity weaving through traffic—it’s operatic chaos in motion. Seriously, if you need a reminder of how badass it is, rewatch it below.

And the Burly Brawl? Sure, the CGI hasn’t aged gracefully. But back in 2003, watching Neo whirl a metal pole through a swarm of Smith clones felt like the future had arrived. The fight may seem cartoonish now, but it was revolutionary at the time —a moment when technology briefly kept pace with ambition. More importantly, it’s symbolic because Neo isn’t just fighting an enemy; he’s fighting the exponential spread of control itself.

The Wachowskis used action as a metaphor. Every punch and kick was a physical expression of ideas about resistance, replication, and inevitability. To dismiss these fights as pointless is to miss that they were always about more than spectacle—they were about what spectacle could say.

The Plot Is Too Complicated

This is the big one. The most common criticism of Reloaded is that it’s incomprehensible. The Architect’s verbose speech alone has been parodied countless times as the ultimate example of sci-fi gobbledygook. Viewers left theaters scratching their heads, unsure if the movie made sense or if it was just pretending to.

Why it rules: My hot take is that the confusion is the point.

Reloaded intentionally pulls the audience into disorientation because Neo himself is overwhelmed by systems of control that are bigger than he can comprehend. The Architect’s dialogue isn’t just technobabble, but is the cinematic equivalent of information overload. You’re meant to feel destabilized, like you’ve glimpsed the machinery behind reality but can’t quite process it. That’s not sloppy writing; it’s purposeful immersion.

The Wachowskis reflect the human condition within late capitalism and surveillance culture: systems are designed to be indecipherable, yet we must navigate them nonetheless. The disorientation is part of the story, a mirror of Neo’s journey toward enlightenment. By making the audience share in his vertigo, Reloaded transforms complexity into empathy.

Rewatch it with that in mind, and suddenly the chaos feels intentional—like a design rather than a flaw.

The Case For A Matrix Reloaded Reappraisal

Revisiting The Matrix Reloaded after two decades, I found myself struck not by its flaws but by its audacity. This isn’t a safe sequel. It’s messy, overloaded, and at times frustrating—but it’s also a bold work of art that dares to challenge its audience rather than spoon-feed them.

The Zion orgy scene may feel indulgent, but it’s a reminder of what makes humanity worth saving. The lore may be bloated, but it expands the franchise into myth. The fights may be over-the-top, but they’re some of the most inventive spectacles of their era. And the convoluted plot? It’s the narrative embodiment of what it means to resist a system that’s designed to confuse and control.

That doesn’t make Reloaded perfect. But it does make it more interesting than almost any blockbuster sequel of its era. In a landscape where safe, formula-driven franchises dominate, the Wachowskis’ willingness to get weird feels more valuable than ever.

So maybe it’s time to stop treating Reloaded like the disappointing middle child of the trilogy. Perhaps it’s time to see it for what it really is, or at least how I see it. It's an ambitious, messy, secretly great masterpiece that dared to be complicated in a world that craves easy answers.

Many of the biggest action stars of all time, in the best action movies, got their start in the 1980s and 1990s when action movies really started to dominate Hollywood. Stars like Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Keanu Reeves all started making their mark in those seminal decades in film. This gallery is a tribute to all the action stars who are still making movies today, but began their careers decades ago.

Keanu Reeves

While he broke out in comedies like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood, it wasn't long before Keanu Reeves was starring in big action flicks like Point Blank and Speed. Reeves isn't just an action star, but with the lead in two now-iconic franchises, The Matrix and John Wick, he definitely belongs near the top of any list like this.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's career started early. She was just 6 years old when she appeared in her first movie in 1982 alongside her dad, Jon Voight. By the late '90s, she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. She got into action movies with films like Gone In 60 Seconds and her biggest franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and while she has always kept one foot in more indie-type movies (including as a director), she's been a steady action star for decades.

Nicolas Cage

It's hard to come up with a Hollywood star with a more diverse acting career than Nicolas Cage. His rage is actually pretty amazing, and that certainly includes starring in some great action movies, like the iconic Con Air and the National Treasure movies.

Scarlett Johansson

Like a lot of actors on this list, Scarlett Johansson can't be pigeon-holed as simply an action star. She is, however, one of the major players in the MCU as Black Widow, and has starred in other action flicks like Jurassic World Rebirth and Lucy.

Wesley Snipes

Most of the biggest box office successes of Wesley Snipes' early career were comedies like Major League, Wildcats, and White Men Can't Jump. In the early '90s he transistioned into action movies with leading roles in the likes of New Jack City, Passenger 57, and Rising Son. He also starred in Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, and, of course, as Blade in three movies.

Halle Berry

You might not think of Halle Berry as an action star... until you remember how many superhero movies she's starred in. Not only was she an important part of the X-Men franchise, but she was also Batwoman in 2004 and has also starred in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

This one is a little tricky. Technically, action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger had his first role way back in 1970 with Hercules in New York, but that was really a one-off B-movie that was soon forgotten. After he spent the 1970s winning every bodybuilding trophy on Earth, he entered Hollywood properly in 1982 when he starred in Conan the Barbarian. Everything since is action history.

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. doesn't jump off the page as an action star. The Oscar winner has proven he can star in any genre, but as the anchor of the MCU movies for more than a decade, he definitely belongs on this list.

Tom Cruise

There's nothing to be said about Tom Cruise that hasn't already been written, right? One of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, Cruise has starred in action movies like Top Gun and its sequel, a couple of Jack Reacher movies, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and great one-offs like Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report, to name just a few. Plus, he famously does a ton of his own stunts, which shows just how much he belongs on any list of big action stars.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich started as a model, but transitioned to movies with films like Return to the Blue Lagoon and Dazed and Confused. Soo,n though, she started popping up in legendary action movies like The Fifth Element and, most notably, as Alice in six Resident Evil movies.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the '80s, a whole slew of action-first stars emerged, and one of the most popular was Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme first gained fame in No Retreat, No Surrender, and followed that with hits like Bloodsport and Cyborg.

Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron can be divisive, but you can't argue that he knows how to create female action star leads with great parts and great casting. Linda Hamilton is a legend from her appearances in the Terminator movies over the years.

Kurt Russell

Okay, we have to acknowledge that Kurt Russell's career started when he was a child star with Disney way back in the 1960s. In the '80s, he fully dove into action flicks in a big way with movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, all directed by one of the decade's best directors, John Carpenter. He's since been in a slew of action movies.

Mel Gibson

With the Mad Max franchise and the Lethal Weapon movies, Mel Gibson would be on this list even if those were his only movies. Of course, he has so much more, like Braveheart, Ransom, and many of the other best action movies of the '90s.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton debuted in 1991's comedy Flirting, and in the '90s and beyond, she's starred in action movies like Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and 2012. She's also starred in TV shows like Westworld that fit in this genre, too.

Dolph Lundgren

One of the pillars of cheesy (and awesome) '80s action is the great Dolph Lundgren. From fantasy heroes like He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe to communist boxers like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, he's been a staple for decades in lots of action movies, including part of the O.G. cast in The Expendables franchise.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu kicked off her career in the early '90s, and before too long, she started doing some awesome action movies. Probably the most notable are the Charlie's Angels movies and the Kill Bill movies, but she's also got some less-well-known ones like The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA, and even superhero movies, like Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Jason Statham

Like other actors on this list, Jason Statham didn't start in true action flicks. His first roles were in the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but within a couple of years, he became a full-blown action hero in The Transporter and The Italian Job. Now it seems like he's in all the biggest action franchises, like The Expendables and the Fast & Furious movies.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the terrifying true story Monster. She's also been in acclaimed dramas like The Road, Cider House Rules, and Bombshell. Of course, she's starred in a whole slew of great action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Æon Flux, and a few of the Fast & Furious movies.

Jet Li

Jet Li started out in movies in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he quickly established himself as one of the great martial arts stars in Chinese-language films. After a decade and a half in Hong Kong, he moved to Hollywood in the late '90s, starring first as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. He became such a big action star that he was included in the first three Expendables movies.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner might not seem like the typical action star, but he definitely is. Movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Postman, and the incredibly underrated Waterworld prove that when he wants to be, he can be a great action hero.

Michelle Yeoh

Like some other actors on this list, Michelle Yeoh starred in martial arts movies in Hong Kong in the '90s. Her breakout film in the West was as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, where she showed the whole world her stage fighting and stunt skills. Since then, she's been in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bruce Willis

There's no way this list would be complete without the great Bruce Willis! Die Hard will always be one of the best action movies of all time and in many ways helps define what a action movie in the 1980s looked and felt like. Only Willis could have pulled off the the wit and charm of John McClane. He's been in a ton of action movies since, of course. He is now retired, due to his health, but he worked right up until he no longer could.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz took a long hiatus from acting, finally returning in the 2025 Netflix release, appropriately called Back in Action. While she may be best known for her roles in romcoms like There's Something About Mary and The Mask and dramas like Gangs of New York and Vanilla Sky, she's had her fair share of action hits too, like Charlie's Angels and Knight and Day.

Steven Seagal

It's easy to forget just how huge an action star Steven Seagal was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He actually sort of dominated the box office with movies like Hard To Kill, Above The Law, Mark For Death, and Out For Justice. He reached the artistic pinnacle of his career with 1992's Under Siege. It's not just a great movie for teenage boys like his first four movies; it's legitimately a great movie, with great performances from Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Sure, he's not making movies on that level anymore, but he's still been churning out straight-to-video-type releases for decades.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller's breakout came in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension in 1984, but he really hit the big time with 1987's classic RoboCop. Sure, it was insanely violent, but RoboCop had a unique political message, too. Weller's been going strong ever since.

Robert Patrick

The iconic T-1000 in Terminator 2 became one of the great action villains of the 1990s. Robert Patrick played the role of the callous, cold robot killer perfectly. It established him as a legit action star, and he's been busy ever since.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke isn't only an action star. In fact, most of his roles have been in serious dramas, starting with movies like The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9½ Weeks in the 1980s, but he's definitely proven his action bona fides with roles in Iron Man 2, Sin City, and The Expendables.

Matt Damon

Anyone who has starred as Jason Bourne in four films deserves to be on this list. Sure, Matt Damon might not be the first actor you think of as an action hero, but come on! You can't deny that he belongs on this list for those films alone. Throw in movies like The Martian and Elysium, and he definitely should be here.

Dwayne Johnson

We're making a slight exception here. Technically, Dwayne Johnson's first movie credit came in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, but he had been quite famous for years for his work in the WWE throughout the 1990s. So while he didn't get his start in movies until later, he was a well-established star years before that. Of course, in the two and a half decades since his first movie role, he's become one of the biggest action heroes of all time.

Zoe Bell

This is another interesting case. Zoe Bell's first acting role in a movie was in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in 2007. However, she had already built a legendary career as a stunt woman going back to the 1990s. With the Academy Awards (finally) adding a trophy for best stunts, we're going to include Bell here, because she's been performing in movies for decades.

Will Smith

He started as a rapper, then got into acting with comedy, and in the '90s, Will Smith became a big action star with movies like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and Men in Black. He's proven to be a very versatile actor over the years, starring in every genre of film you can think of.

The importance of security and at least feeling safe at home is something that we all think about, but when one is famous it might be an even bigger concern. While anyone’s home can be broken into, celebrities are known for spending thousands on private security and top-of-the-line systems to keep their homes safe, but even with that, numerous celebs like Keanu Reeves, Brad Pitt, and Nicole Kidman have recently seen their property burglarized, and a security expert has given a mind-boggling reason for it.

Why One Security Expert Says Celebrities Are Being Robbed So Often Right Now

There are a number of unfortunate reasons that famous people are targeted for crimes, but one that we see most often is that their celeb status usually means that their homes are filled with expensive goods. In fact, the recent shocking double murder of American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband is thought to be due to the couple coming home and encountering a thief who was already inside.

The New York Post spoke with Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills owner Kris Herzog to get an idea of why so many famous people are dealing with their houses being robbed right now, and his answer might shock you. Of the thieves, Herzog said:

As you may have guessed, this would mean that fancy security systems immediately become useless, which is the main problem. However, the tactics and troubling details don’t stop there:

Obviously, everyone will remember the horrible 2016 Paris robbery that Kim Kardashian (who recently returned to the city to testify at the trial) had to endure, but others have dealt with intruders being able to violate the privacy of their homes, which is something the Skims founder's younger sister, Kendall Jenner has experienced more than once.

This June saw Brad Pitt’s home hit, with criminals climbing a fence and then ransacking the domicile. On Valentine’s Day, the house of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban was broken into when an intruder broke a window to gain entry, and late 2024 saw the watches stolen from Keanu Reeves’ home the previous year found…in Chile.

While celebs are often jetting off to amazing locales for fun or work, this also means that they are away from home frequently, and leaving the protection of their valuables up to security systems doesn’t seem to be enough anymore. Apparently, a number of the “signal-jammer gangs” don’t even call the L.A. area home, but are from South America. The outlet notes that they enter the city as tourists but have pre-arranged home theft sprees, and can even steal items “to order.”

They then leave the country (having the items fenced by others) and local police usually have trouble with being able to identify them (even with fingerprints or DNA evidence), because they are from other countries. All of this has made security a lot more difficult for celebs, and Herzog believes that they are “easy targets” because “they make [bad] security decisions.” This is one reason he uses off-duty police officers to patrol his clients’ homes in uniform and “retired police cars” that still look like the real deal. He added:

So, it would seem that the best advice is to bank on real people being on hand to protect your property. Let’s hope that, at the very least, as many future crimes as possible can be stopped without tragedy striking and people getting hurt, or worse.

While a great deal of the focus of Netflix and all the other streaming services is on producing new original content, my favorite thing about them has always been that they act as libraries for older movies, allowing me to watch my favorite movies for the 100th time, or allowing me to easily catch movies i missed for the first time.

This week, I noticed that Wanted, a 2008 action movie starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, was now available with my Netflix subscription. I remember wanting to see the movie when it originally came out, but for whatever reason, that never happened. I never got around to actually watching, hell, I only watched Jaws for the first time recently, so I took the opportunity to do so, and discovered that it’s a pretty fun action flick, with a remarkably stacked cast. Although part of the reason I loved it may have been all the ways it reminded me of my favorite modern action franchise.

Wanted Gave Me Serious John Wick Vibes

One of my concerns sitting down to watch Wanted was that, in the more than a decade since it was released, the action, as cutting edge as it may have been at the time, may have become dated. These days, I compare basically any movie action sequence to the best of the John Wick franchise, and even today, most movies come up short by that metric.

Wanted’s action isn’t as good as the best of John Wick. It’s not even on par with middle-of-the-road John Wick. However, what surprised me was how much Wanted felt like almost a prototype John Wick, as many of the details of the older film would find their way into my favorite franchise. These connections are almost certainly unintentional. Neither Chad Stahelski nor David Leitch worked on Wanted as stunt performers, but that makes the connections all the more intriguing.

It Has A Secret Society Of Assassins

The most obvious connection between the two is that both Wanted and John Wick have stories built around secret societies of professional assassins. Wanted has The Fraternity, while John Wick’s organization is called the High Table. The Fraternity is specifically referenced as being 1,000 years old. The exact age of the High Table is unclear, but it’s been indicated to be even older.

The High Table is actually one of my favorite parts of the entire John Wick franchise. I love the way the movies have built it up over time, the way it has its own currency and even its own hotels. The world-building of Wanted isn’t nearly on that level. This is likely due to the fact that the original comic book source material sees the group as actual supervillains, so the assassin element is grafted on. Perhaps if Wanted had ever received the attempted sequels, things could have been expanded upon in a way to make The Fraternity as intriguing as the High Table.

Wanted Has Its Version Of The Bowery King

John Wick has some pretty eccentric characters throughout the franchise, but none are quite as much fun as The Bowery King. Lawrence Fishburne’s character is the leader of a group under the High Table who often play the parts of the area’s homeless population, leading to them looking less clean-cut than John Wick and others. The Bowery King uses pigeons as a way to gather and send information to his people.

If the Bowery King’s pigeons are “rats with wings," then he’s not that different from The Exterminator, a member of the Fraternity who has an affinity for actual rats. It’s not hard to imagine that in the John Wick universe, The Exterminator would be one of the Bowery King’s soldiers. Although I’m not sure the Bowery King would have sacrificed his pigeons in the way that Wanted kills a lot of rats.

It’s Even Got Common

One of the best things Wanted has going for it is its incredible cast. It’s got James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman in major roles. Terrance Stamp is there in a solid supporting role, and a very young Chris Pratt is there in a pre-Parks & Recreation appearance. There’s even an actor who would go on to be a big part of John Wick: Chapter 2.

Years before Common would appear in the first John Wick sequel as Cassian, he appeared in Wanted as a member of The Fraternity, simply called The Gunsmith. His role in Wanted is much smaller, but it’s not exactly hard to see that Cassian and The Gunsmith have a lot in… well, common.

The Final Action Sequence Is Very John Wick

At the end of the day, both John Wick and Wanted are movies focused on building great action sequences. That said, they come at them very differently. John Wick is all about practical stunt choreography, and while Wanted certainly has plenty of that, it’s equally concerned with its cool CGI bullet firing sequences, which are, without question, still pretty cool.

There isn’t necessarily an action sequence in Wanted I would compare favorably to anything in John Wick, although the big finale sequence, which sees James McAvoy’s character jump through a window and start mowing down everybody he sees, comes close. The sequence isn’t filmed in the same way a John Wick fight scene would be, but the concept, seeing the hero mowing down countless bad guys, picking up fresh guns along the way, and firing through the dead skull of a previous victim, is absolutely something we could see in the next John Wick movie, whenever it happens.

In all honesty, I wish I had seen Wanted back in 2008, as I probably would have enjoyed it more. In the years since, action cinema has been raised to a level that makes the movie feel like a product of its time. Still, Wanted was a step on the path that brought us to a world where the John Wick franchise exists, and did its part to inspire, however unintentionally, the best action movie franchise ever.

As recently as 2020, Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov expressed interest in still making the sequel. Perhaps if it ever happens, it can take some inspiration from John Wick.

It’s been a month since Ballerina was released onto the 2025 movies schedule, and while I had a good time watching the John Wick spinoff like many film critics did, it never quite reaches the heights of the main film series. One of the reasons for that is because, as my colleague Hugh Scott pointed out, it screws up the John Wick timeline in a major way. Thankfully, a deleted Ballerina scene has resolved this plot issue, though now a new question has taken its place in my head.

Before I get into those questions, though, watch the deleted scene for yourself below, courtesy of IGN:

This Deleted Scene Clears Up John Wick’s Role In Ballerina's Second Half

Ballerina primarily takes place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 and several months afterwards, but ahead of John Wick: Chapter 4. We’re reminded in the spinoff how in Chapter 3, Keanu Reeves’ character had his “ticket punched” by Anjelica Huston’s Director, head of the Ruska Roma. Meaning, in exchange for safe passage to Casablanca, John’s ties would be forever severed from the crime syndicate that raised him and Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro. That’s why it was strange when John resurfaced in the second half of Ballerina to kill Eve on behalf of The Director, as he wasn’t supposed to be affiliated with her anymore.

Well, we have our answer for why this happened: there was a new deal in place. This deleted scene shows John, now missing his ring finger, resting on some kind of transport (I’m guessing a ship) when he gets a call from The Director. She agreed to arrange for him to get where he needs to go in exchange for a favor, and now she’s calling in that favor: kill Eve Macarro to appease Gabriel Byrne’s Chancellor and prevent a war between the Ruska Roma and the Cult. So that explains why John was so willing to help The Director out during the spinoff: he was merely honoring his side of this agreement.

Where Was John Wick Traveling To?

While I am curious why John Wick sought out The Director for help given how things ended between them in Chapter 3 (don’t forget she got her hands stabbed by Zero for giving John passage), that’s not the question on my mind after watching this deleted Ballerina scene. I’m more curious about his destination aboard that transport. Where was John going, and why was it necessary considering the condition he was in?

Remember that at the end of John Wick: Chapter 3, Ian McShane’s Winston shot John on the New York Continental’s rooftop, and the skilled assassin ended up falling off the building. Winston did this so as a way to publicly declare his allegiance to the High Table and secretly make sure John wasn’t actually killed (he only shot at the bulletproof parts of the character’s suit). Nevertheless, between that and all the other injuries he sustained in Chapter 3, John was in rough shape and only survived because he was taken to The Bowery King’s underground hideout.

At the beginning of John Wick: Chapter 4, it seems as though John Wick had been recuperating in New York City the entire time since Chapter 3 ended, but Ballerina showed us he was well enough to carry out at least one mission across the globe. Or maybe it was two, as apparently John needed to get somewhere else before The Director interrupted his journey? Where was it, and what did it have to do with his recuperation or vendetta against the High Table?

Maybe another deleted Ballerina scene will answer this question, but I’ll be ok if it doesn’t. I’m just glad the major plot issue I was thinking about after seeing Ballerina in a theater has finally been resolved. If only this scene had actually been included in the movie.

Nobody, and I repeat, NOBODY seems to like the Keanu Reeves dud, 47 Ronin. Oh, wait. Did I say nobody? What I meant to say was, one body actually likes it, and that one body is me. Because even though it isn't the greatest action movie, and some sources labeled the movie as “a disaster,” upon release, I've always thought it was thoroughly enjoyable, while not necessarily a “good” movie.

That's because not every movie has to be a five star film. Because sometimes, a movie can be cheesy, stupid, and vapid (just watch Batman & Robin or Troll 2 if you don't believe me) and still be super enjoyable. And, do you know what? I think 47 Ronin fits that mold. That's why I aim to defend the much-derided movie, right here, right now. Because Keanu Reeves has played several badass characters in his lengthy career, but Kai from 47 Ronin often doesn’t get mentioned, and I’m mentioning him, dammit!

First Of All, Nobody Is Going To Tell Me That A Movie Featuring Keanu Reeves In Feudal Japan Is Anything But Awesome

2013’s 47 Ronin is not the first time that the famous story has been put to screen (That would be 1941’s The 47 Ronin). That said, it is the first (and only) time that we got to see Keanu Reeves in the story, and nobody is going to tell me that that is anything but awesome.

Now, for those who don’t know, the story of the 47 ronin is actually based on an historical event. Taking place in the 1700s, 47 former samurais avenged the death of their feudal lord, Asano Naganori, after he had to commit seppuku (basically kill himself honorably). It’s one of the most popular stories in Japan, and there have been multiple retellings of it. But again, none of them feature Keanu Reeves, who plays a half-Japanese, half-English outcast who bands with other warriors.

In the story, Reeves plays a man named Kai, who is adopted by Lord Asano (played by Min Tanaka). Of course, since Keanu Reeves is dreamy (even as an outcast), Lord Asano’s daughter (Ko Shibasaki) falls in love with him because really, how could she not? Again, Keanu Reeves is dreamy.

But, this puts Kai smack dab in the middle of problems, as Lord Kira (played by Shogun actor, Tadanobu Asano, who, as far as I know, is not HISTORICALLY related to the actual Lord Asano that this story is based upon) wants Lord Asano’s daughter for himself, so he enlists the help of a witch to kill the Daimyo and his men, and Kai comes to the rescue.

The rest of the movie is Kai gaining the trust of the other warriors, and then kicking a lot of ass, which brings me to my next defense of the movie…

The Action Set Pieces Are Really Cool!

Now, Keanu Reeves has been in a lot of cool action movies over the course of his career. He kills several characters, effortlessly, in the John Wick movies, knew kung fu in The Matrix flicks (Which I still wish hadn’t been given sequels), and was a kick ass exorcist in Constantine (Which I’ll get into soon).

That said, how many other Keanu Reeves movies feature him rocking a sick red armor while he battles a golem samurai to the death? Well, while scrolling through his filmography, I have found that there is only one, and that movie is 47 Ronin.

In fact, this fight scene–which, come on, even YOU have to admit is badass–is actually one of many that are really cool in this movie. 47 Ronin is the kind of film that really forgoes any sense of logic, and just goes for broke when it comes to the battles.

For example, when Kai is fighting in the slave pits, the blades clashing and clinking is frenetic and exciting. Does it really matter that Kai has to fight a literal ogre?

I mean, apparently, yes, it does because nobody else seemed to think these fight scenes were cool back in 2013. But, I implore you to watch this movie again (or, to watch it for the very first time), and go into it with the switch on your brain turned all the way off because the fight scenes alone make this movie worth seeing. Yes, 47 Ronin is no John Wick, or The Matrix (Though, I like this movie a hell of a lot more than The Matrix Revolutions), but do either of those films feature a shapeshifting witch? Oh, and about that.

I Also Like The Magical Elements

I mentioned Constantine earlier (and can we get that sequel already?!), but only because even though Reeves has been in a lot of kickass movies in his career, there really aren’t that many fantasy or supernatural stories. Yes, we have them here and there, like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Devil’s Advocate, and The Gift, but barely any out-and-out fantasy flicks besides Constantine…oh, and 47 Ronin.

Because while a lot of people will probably tell you that a movie with a shapeshifting witch that can turn into a dragon is stupid, all I can say is, are we watching the same movie?!

Yes, the special effects leave a lot to be desired, even back in 2013, but I love just how mystical and otherworldly this movie is.

Rinko Kikuchi plays Mizuki the Witch, and she does a great job of chewing scenery. And, throughout the film, we see her wizardry, which turns this historical film into an historical fantasy, and I adore that!

Plus, as I already said, how many other films do we have in Reeves’ career where he gets to fight a dragon? As far as I know, this is the only one, which certainly makes it unique! Come on now, Keanu Reeves fans, you can at least give me that one, can’t you?

After Seeing Him In The Wolverine In The Same Year, This Was The Movie That Really Made Me Take Notice Of Hiroyuki Sanada

Sure, everybody knows Hiroyuki Sanada now. He won an award for his role as Yoshii Toranaga in the FX miniseries, Shogun. But, even though I’d seen him in other films prior to 2013, it wasn’t until the double whammy of The Wolverine (which also deserves its flowers), and 47 Ronin, where he plays the leader of the Ronin, Oishi, that I truly took notice of him.

And, I’ve been following his career ever since. What’s cool about 47 Ronin is that he has such a prominent role. Yes, Keanu Reeves is the main character, of course, but Hiroyuki Sanada is featured heavily in the film.

It’s Oishi, after all, who emerges with Kira’s head at the end of the movie (Which, in an odd coincidence, it’s Sanada again who decapitates Asano at the end of Shogun).

In fact, even though we mostly follow Kai throughout the whole movie, I’d really consider this Oishi’s story, since he has the most to lose (and gain) once he becomes the leader of the Ronin.

So, if anything, this movie rocks because it also makes Sanada such a heroic figure. See? This movie isn’t all bad, is it?

Lastly, I Just Really Love Samurai Movies

Finally, I love 47 Ronin because I just love samurai movies! And, while I wouldn’t call it one of the best samurai movies ever made (I mean, it’s no Harakiri), I would say for a mostly American-produced samurai flick, it ain’t half bad.

Granted, since this stars Keanu Reeves, it’s about as much a samurai movie as the Tom Cruise-led, The Last Samurai, but still! It stars Keanu Reeves…as a samurai! Of sorts. And it also has magic and a love story! What else do you want?

For me, I don’t need anything else. As I said at the start, when I saw this movie back in the day, I turned my brain off, and when I watched it again recently, I made sure to turn my brain off again, so I enjoyed it. Both times. I would never say it’s one of Reeves’ all-time best movies, but I also wouldn’t say it’s his worst, either. Not by a long shot.

It doesn’t take itself too seriously, it has some awesome fight scenes, and it’s a Keanu Reeves movie. Give it another shot (or watch it for the very first time!).

But, what do you think? Are you set in your ways and don’t even want to bother watching it, or do you secretly enjoy it just like I do? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Fans of The World of John Wick are eating well right now. Following the recent release of Ballerina, we’re getting at least two more spinoff projects, in the Donnie Yen-led Caine and an animated prequel from the director of Ultraman: Rising. However, the biggest news for any fan is going to be that John Wick: Chapter 5 is in development. Although the movie is far from a sure thing at this point.

It’s been confirmed that a new chapter in the John Wick franchise starring Keanu Reeves is very much something the studio wants to make. But at this point, a few things are standing in the way. The most important is the script, as franchise leader Chad Stahelski has said he’s not certain he can “crack” the reason for such a movie to exist. But there is another possible hurdle, the fact that Keanu Reeves is getting older. An unnamed source recently told In Touch Weekly that Reeves will only do the movie if the action is more geared toward his age. The source claimed…

While the source claims Keanu Reeves is still more than happy to push the limits of what he’s capable of physically, it’s simply that where that limit is today isn’t where it was back when he made the first John Wick movie over a decade ago. As such, Reeves will need a script that takes this into account.

At this point, very little is known about John Wick: Chapter 5 and what it may entail. All we know is that the story that came to a close with John Wick: Chapter 4 will remain over, and the new film will start some sort of brand new story, while also dealing with Wick’s apparent death at the end of the last movie. It seems that Reeves’concerns are being discussed as part of putting the script together. The source continued…

Fans of John Wick probably don’t need to worry too much. Reeves is still in remarkable shape for 60 years old, so he’s likely still capable of plenty of the action that we’ve seen in the franchise. It simply means that action sequences will need to be devised in a way to focus on what he can do, and not on what he can’t. We probably won’t see John Wick get thrown down the stairs multiple times in the next film.

One thing that likely won’t be an issue? The money. Keanu’s John Wick deal reportedly means that he gets paid very well for the sequels, after taking a lower salary for the first movie. And considering each ensuing John Wick film has made more money than the one before, expectations are that paying Reeves will be worth it. According to the source…

Of course, none of this matters until we actually have a script for John Wick: Chapter 5. Hopefully, that isn’t too far away.

I’m a huge fan of the John Wick franchise, and while I was a little frustrated with the timeline issues in Ballerina, I thought it was a solid, though not spectacular, movie. However, the spinoff’s disappointing box office has me concerned that the franchise can only succeed if Keanu Reeves is the star, and I hope that’s not the case.

Ballerina Has Big Stars, But Not Big Returns

Ana de Armas certainly has the star power to carry a movie, and the rest of the Ballerina cast, including Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, Anjelica Houston, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick, bring plenty of glitz and glamour to the film as well. Then, of course, there is the star of the franchise, Keanu Reeves. Reeves was originally only announced as a cameo in Ballerina, but he ended up with a bigger role.

That star power didn’t translate to box office power, though. According to the latest numbers from Box Office Mojo, Ballerina has brought in just under $92 million worldwide. That is on a reported budget of $90 million. There is still time for the movie to make a little more money in theaters, but I think it’s safe to say that wherever the final numbers land, it will be underwhelming. That has me worried about the future of the franchise, especially in projects that don’t include Reeves, like the planned spinoff starring Donnie Yen as his character, Caine.

Can The World Of John Wick Succeed Without John Wick?

Director Chad Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad (along with writer Shay Hatten) have created an incredible world in the John Wick movies. They’ve managed to do the seemingly impossible these days in Hollywood: build a new franchise without relying on existing I.P. The four films have all been successful with fans and critics alike, and while Ballerina has been generally praised by reviewers and audiences who have seen it, it seems not enough people are excited to see a movie that isn’t focused on John Wick himself.

This leads to the natural question: as popular as the character is, and as great as all the movies have been, including Ballerina, can this franchise succeed without the titular character? It’s a question I can’t answer yet, but if it's going to, the box office returns will have to be better.

The Future, With And Without Keanu Reeves

John Wick 5 is on the way, and it’s a safe bet that it will be massively popular, just as the first four have been. Reeves and Stahelski will be back, and it's hard to imagine it won’t be as good – and as successful – as the first four. Stahlelski is also excited about the Caine spinoff, which won’t feature Reeves.

On the flip side, however, is the undercurrent of both Ballerina’s less-than-stellar box office numbers and the spinoff prequel show, The Continental, that didn’t set the world on fire, either. The show, starring Mel Gibson and Colin Woodell, which you can stream on Peacock, got mixed reviews, and while it continued to build the world, it didn’t bring a whole lot more to the table.

So, that leaves us where we are today. We know the future of the John Wick franchise is bright when Reeves’ now-iconic character is the focus, but it has me wondering if it can be without him. I sure hope so, because I really want more of the this world in my life.

The first of what will be several movies set in the World of John Wick arrived over the weekend. And, while Ballerina failed to win the box office on its opening weekend, it received solid reviews from both critics and fans. Above all, Ana de Armas is getting a lot of positive buzz due to her performance. That includes kind words from John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, who recalled one particularly cool instances that exemplifies de Armas' badass status.

John Wick does make an appearance in Ballerina and, with that, he was on hand for the film’s premiere. While speaking with THR on the red carpet, Reeves was asked what he thought was the most “badass” thing Ana de Armas did on set, and the only thing better than what he said was what he didn’t say. Reeves takes a step back and remains silent as he truly contemplates his answer, by apparently running through their entire fight in his head. Check it out:

Far too often, especially on a red carpet, celebrities who get peppered with questions have canned responses that frequently don’t really answer the question and often don’t include much interesting information at all. But Keanu Reeves stops to think, because he wants to give the best possible answer to the question. As somebody who, on occasion, gets to ask famous people questions, I appreciate the thoughtfulness on display.

And, to be sure, Keanu Reeves does have an answer to the question. After thinking about it for a moment, the most “badass” thing that Ana de Armas apparently does in Ballerina is try to give the best possible action performance, by taking what she did in rehearsal and improving on it once the camera is rolling. Reeves said…

Fans saw some of what Keanu and Ana de Armas did to prepare for Ballerina and, seeing the final execution of that work on the screen, it’s difficult not to argue that both stars brought their next-level game. Ballerina may not be quite at the level of the John Wick films, but the new movie is certainly a worthy addition to the larger franchise.

It’s far too early to tell if we’ll see more of Ana de Armas in the John Wick franchise. While the events of Ballerina have us questioning the John Wick timeline, the franchise is only going to grow from here and, as more spinoffs and sequels are created, opportunities for de Armas’ character to return will certainly be there. It seems certain if that happens, she will bring her A-game, and Keanu is already a big fan.

The following contains minor spoilers for Ballerina.

I am an unapologetic fan of all things John Wick. I've seen all the movies. I've been to the Las Vegas Continental. I love the Keanu Reeves-led franchise, and so the fact that we’re not only going to get more John Wick sequels, but prequels and multiple spinoffs, makes me a happy guy. As such, I was very much looking forward to seeing the first of those spinoffs, the Ana de Armas-led Ballerina.

Overall, I think Ballerina was a solid effort. The action sequences, while not quite up to the same standard as the John Wick films, were still well done, with a few really standout moments. Ana de Armas held her own throughout the film, as so many of us hoped she would. But while Ballerina was a solid action movie, I felt it was lacking as a John Wick film, and not because it didn’t have enough Keanu Reeves.

Ballerina’s Villains Are Less Interesting Because They’re Outside The Rules

Ballerina introduces a new group of professional murderers that had not been previously mentioned in the John Wick movies. The group is referred to as a cult, and the description is proven to be apt as they all live together, insulated from the rest of the world.

But what sets them apart from the rest of the characters we know is that this cult does not operate within the rules that have previously been established. It’s made clear that this cult has something of an uneasy peace with the world that exists under High Table. They’re given access to High Table resources like the Continental, but mostly so that world can keep an eye on them.

We see how this new group operates when they attempt to manipulate the High Table assassins into carrying out a killing on the grounds of the Continental. In the end, when that doesn’t quite work, they have no problem pulling triggers themselves and "doing business" on hotel grounds.

While I love Gabriel Byrne, and was excited to see him in Ballerina, I found the villains of the movie boring because operating outside the rules simply means we can ignore the rules, and the rules are what make the World of John Wick special.

The Rules Are What Makes The World Of John Wick Interesting And Unique

If you're going to create a new story set in the World of John Wick, it needs to take the rules of the world into account. Those rules might be limiting in some ways, but that simply means finding creative ways to use the rules (or to embellish them) in order to make the story work.

Even Ballerina does this a little. When Ana de Armas' character is threatened with death for breaking the rules, she points out she was only ever defending herself, and that she never actually killed anybody on Continental grounds. The rule against "conducting business" is suitably vague enough that this works.

With another major spinoff, Caine, starring Donnie Yen, on the way, as well as an animated John Wick prequel. I hope the new films take a lesson from Ballerina and not follow in these footsteps. Don't ignore the rules; instead, find creative ways to use them that will make your action and your story more interesting.

The rules of the John Wick universe are far from clear, and they’re more than a little bizarre. The gold coin-based economy makes basically no sense, but I don’t care. The rules are what make John Wick movies different from other action movies, and as we see more sequels and spinoffs, and whatever else in the John Wick universe, I hope we see more movies that find interesting ways to use the rules, and not simply ignore them.

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina is one of the most hotly anticipated movies on the 2025 movie schedule. As a big fan of the franchise and the world it has created, it was high on my list, too. I was a little worried about how the reported problems with the production, including director Len Wiseman stepping away at one point because of a health issue, would turn it into a disaster on screen.

I’m happy to report that it isn't the hot mess I feared it could be. Ballerina is actually pretty good. It does seem, however, that the production turmoil has led to a real problem with the franchise’s timeline. Before I go any further, I have to make it clear that there will be major spoilers ahead for Ballerina (and the third and fourth John Wick movies, for that matter), so proceed with caution if you haven’t seen the Ana de Armas-led action movie.

Just What Were The Original Plans For Keanu Reeves In The Movie?

Since very early on in the development of Ballerina, we've known that Keanu Reeves, who, of course, plays John Wick in four movies in the franchise, would make an appearance. We also knew that Ballerina would take place between the third and fourth installments of the John Wick movies. We just didn’t know how big a role Reeves would have, or how it would work into the plot.

Early in the movie, Eve (de Armas) sees Wick come to the theater where she is training with “The Director,” played by Angelica Huston. What Eve sees, from a different perspective, is what audiences saw in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. Wick is branded over his tattoo, indicating he is out of the Ruska Roma. As he is leaving the theater, he and Eve have a brief encounter. I have to wonder if this was originally supposed to be the full extent of Reeves’ participation in the movie.

Reeves Has A Much Larger Role Than I Expected

It’s well known that the director of the four principal John Wick movies, Chad Stahelski, stepped in after initial production wrapped to do re-shoots with Reeves, but just how much work he did is subject to debate. Some reports claim there were extensive re-shoots, but Stahelski himself has downplayed just how much he did. Stahelski told The Hollywood Reporter,

Reeves’ role is much bigger than I thought it would be, with Wick appearing in much of the final act. It seems that at least some of this footage is what Stahelski is responsible for. It is also the part of Ballerina that really messes with the franchise timeline.

When Did That Final Scene In Austria Take Place In The Timeline?

We know the story is supposed to take place between the third and fourth John Wick movies, and the first scene with Reeves in the theater seemingly confirms that, as we see the scene from Parabellum. We also know that Wick is in bad shape at the end of Parabellum, barely clinging to life after falling from the roof of The Continental. He’s certainly not in any kind of shape to travel to Europe and take on a village of assassins, as he does alongside Eve in Ballerina.

Most speculation is that there are about six months between Parabellum and Chapter Four, and we know that during that time, however long it is, he is recovering from his extensive injuries with The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne). We also know that Wick has been expelled from the Ruska Roma by The Director, yet it is Wick whom she calls to help Eve in the village of their rivals. There is no possible way that he could have gotten back in fighting shape and back on good terms with The Director in those few months between the third and fourth movies.

Maybe The Village Battle Came After Chapter 4?

The only possible explanation is that there is a much larger time jump between the first time Eve meets him at the theater and when he joins her in the mountain village. It has to come after the events of Chapter Four, and after Wick has again recovered from the injuries he received in that movie.

Unfortunately, none of that is made clear, so we’re left to wonder just what is going on. It seems entirely possible that the final fight scene in Ballerina could have come many months after the scene in the theater, as Eve has already completed both her training and her first mission protecting the daughter of a rich client.

BUT – that’s not actually possible either, as at the end of Ballerina we see Eve checking in to The Continental with Charon (Lance Reddick) at the front desk, and Charon was tragically killed in Chapter 4.

We’re Going To Have To Suspend Belief Here

In the end, there just isn’t a way to explain how the timeline isn’t screwed up by Ballerina. Either John Wick would be too beat up to be that powerful in the village, or Charon has come back from the dead. Either way, it makes no sense.

That’s not to say it ruins Ballerina or the John Wick franchise. Given the complications of the production and the film's delays, we all just need to be okay with the glitch in the matrix, so to speak. This film still delivers in the ways I want to see in the John Wick universe film, it’s just a little frustrating that the creative forces behind the franchise have elegantly built a really fun world, and this is a blemish on it.

If you want to catch up or rewatch all four John Wick movies, you can do so with a Peacock subscription, which is how I made sure I wasn’t going crazy with these timeline questions.

It’s always thrilling to see the (movie) stars realign with one another, especially if they initially hit it out of the park. A pair many have been waiting on to do just this is Keanu Reeves and his Speed co-star Sandra Bullock. After their 1994 smash and excellent high octane chemistry, they had a so-so romantic fantasy follow up, and they're now gearing up to reunite in a new romantic thriller. Reeves is hyped for the reunion, but realizing how long the duo has tried to get this rolling is surprising to me.

ET chatted with the A-list actor, who was attending the 2025 movie calendar premiere of the John Wick spinoff Ballerina. To start off the conversation, they asked Reeves how he felt about being on set with Bullock again after all these years. He shared that he and his The Lake House costar wanted to land another project together, and thanks to an old Speed producer, it’s now a reality. However, the timeline on the now unnamed Amazon MGM project took some time to secure, with Reeves stating:

Thank goodness for their past producer and this idea he pitched alongside the film’s writer, Noah Oppenheim (Jackie, Zero Day). During Speed’s 30th anniversary last year, talks of a threequel were on the table, pending some terms, but I’m glad to see we’re getting something entirely else to add to the Bullock/Reeves catalog. After all, the sequel was a flop and it landed the Jack Traven actor in "movie jail" for turning down the 1997 installment. Still, I am surprised for even A+ Hollywood names it took them this long to nail something down together.

Finding the right title, genre and time in their respective schedules is understandable. It does sound like that it’s been a process in coordinating things properly (I do trust their word because both deliver stellar work). But, outside of the current multi-year search in re-joining ranks with one another, their track record checks out in these slow-paced timelines. It was 12 years between Speed (which you can stream with a Max subscription) and The Lake House (available via VOD services), and now, it’ll likely be at least 20 before this new romantic thriller hits theaters.

While this title is getting into the full pre-production swing, both have some fun titles heading our way. The Miss Congeniality star is returning to her witchy roots in Practical Magic 2 alongside Nicole Kidman. The Bill & Ted alum will next appear in Aziz Ansari's comedy Good Fortune.

Both flicks should hold us over until the highly anticipated and exciting Bullock-Reeves return to screen. Hopefully it won’t take them so long in the future if they choose to team up again.

The red carpet shimmered brighter than a mirrored jewelry box as Ana de Armas and the radiant cast of the upcoming Ballerina took center stage at the John Wick offshoot's premiere, serving only the highest of fashion. With elegance and enough sparkle to put a Swarovski showroom to shame, the ladies of the not-quite-a-spinoff action movie arrived dressed to kill, sporting tulle and sparkles, and they were absolutely En Pointe.

In one image from the event, which you can see below, de Armas was front and center, dazzling in a lavender, body-hugging gown drenched in sequins. Her look struck the perfect balance between classic Hollywood and cold-blooded assassin, very much in tune with the character's lethal grace in her 2025 movie release. Her cascading waves and understated glam, which she shared a closer look at on her Instagram account, gave her the poise of a prima ballerina and the firey visage of a woman you do not want to cross.

Joining her in this couture corps de ballet was Catalina Sandino Moreno (far left), whose crystal-dusted ivory gown flowed like chiffon. Though plot details are under wraps tighter than a dancer’s bun, one thing’s clear: Moreno’s role is central, and her front-and-center red carpet presence proved it.

Victoria Comte (to the right of de Armas), the young actress portraying the childhood version of de Armas' character, steals the spotlight in her delicate frosted-tulle dress, reminiscent of a fairytale. However, her confident stance reminds us that this story isn't about damsels in distress; instead, it's centered on strong survivors. Clearly, Young Eve is in very capable acting hands.

Then there was the iconic Anjelica Huston, striking in a no-nonsense black suit that radiated power and precision. While the other women floated in flowing fabrics and shimmer, Huston stood firm and commanding, like the ballet mistress of this symphony of violence and revenge. Her presence, both on screen and on the red carpet, exudes pure gravitas—no pirouettes needed.

Keanu Reeves, who reprises his role as John Wick in the film, arrived looking sharp, as always, in a dark suit and tie. On-screen, Wick tangos with Eve in a tension-laced gunfight teased in the trailer. Off-screen, Reeves brought the calm intensity of a danseur noble—a man who’s been through all four acts and is still standing.

The rest of the fantastic Ballerina cast, featuring Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Gabriel Byrne, strengthened the lineup. Reedus and McShane maintained a Wick-inspired aesthetic, mainly wearing all-black outfits, with McShane sporting a suitably plum undershirt. In contrast, Byrne added a subtle twist with a muted teal suit, introducing a hint of color without disrupting the noir mood. Together, they formed an impressive supporting ensemble on stage, and surely, at the box office when the film drops.

Ballerina is the latest title in the expanding John Wick universe, following the prequel series The Continental, which is streaming with a Peacock subscription. A few weeks ago, it was announced that several other exciting projects related to the franchise are also in development.

Don't worry if you haven't seen The Continental; neither has cast member Ian Shane. He refused to watch because he disagreed with how his character was portrayed. Fortunately, it's not necessary to catch up on the series before watching the Ana de Armas-led film, which will be released in theaters everywhere on Friday, June 6th.

When it comes to actors pushing the boundaries of action movies today, few come close to Tom Cruise. The 62-year-old A-lister has performed some of the most impressive stunts ever put to film, including those he undertakes in the 2025 movie release Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Of course, game recognizes game, and Tom Cruise has no problem shouting out others who produce excellent work. That was the case when he shouted out Keanu Reeves, and his comments have me hoping for a collaboration between the stars.

There are plenty of excellent Keanu Reeves performances but, when it specifically comes to his work in the action genre, the John Wick films are amongst his greatest achievements. It would seem that Tom Cruise is definitely a fan of the work Reeves and his collaborators have done. While on the red carpet for The Final Reckoning, Cruise gushed about Reeves and how he’s personally enjoyed the actor’s work over the years:

Something I never tire of seeing or hearing is an actor showing support for a fellow artist, and the Edge of Tomorrow star is absolutely right. The Wick films are a showcase of incredible action, which is in great part due to the efforts of franchise director Chad Stahelski, stunt coordinators and stunt actors along with the leading man and some of his co-stars. During his chat with Extra, Tom Cruise showered even more praise on the creative team’s efforts:

Why These Comments Make Me Feel A Team-Up Should Happen (And Soon)

Considering how great Keanu Reeves and Tom Cruise are at what they do, I’m honestly now just thinking about how I'd love to see them headline a film of their own. It’s actually surprising they’ve yet to work together on a blockbuster, especially considering their vast experience with action and thriller films, and their ability to use their bodies in ways most actors don't try. (Plus, they've both been in Hollywood for a long time and I'm a little surprised have not crossed paths.)

The obvious pitch would be for Cruise and Reeves to play to characters who have to team up to complete some sort of dangerous task. However, I personally like the idea of a story that requires the two actors to play characters pitted against each other. (Just imagine how awesome a hand-to-hand fight between those two stars would be.)

As far as the general public knows, such a project isn’t in the cards, but the stars do have other titles on the docket. Tom Cruise is starring in a yet-to-be-titled film from Alejandro G. Iñárritu, which is set to hit theaters in 2026. As for Reeves, he’s set to reprise his role as John Wick in the upcoming spinoff film, Ballerina, which stars Ana de Armas, who Cruise also admires. Reeves is also set to play the Baba Yaga in a fifth film, for which a release date has yet to be announced.

I take comfort in the fact that the aforementioned leading men are still going strong and delivering top-tier entertainment. Hopefully, they’ll be able to continue to contribute great work in upcoming action movies as long as they would like and are able. And, all the while, fellow fans, keep your fingers crossed for a Cruise/Reeves collaboration.

Keanu Reeves is one of the most dynamic and keeps-us-on-our-toes talent we have in Hollywood today. Reeves' decades' worth of stellar performances span genre, form, and style, yet the A-lister remains a bit of a mystery to the public. From starring in The Matrix franchise to cameo-ing in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (and so much more), he always delivers, but what is he like on set? ​​Good Fortune’s director, Aziz Ansari, gives his perspective on the question.

The comedian caught up with EW to talk all about his directorial debut, which is headed to theaters in the latter half of the 2025 movie calendar. The Parks & Rec alum revealed that ahead of casting, he’d never met the Speed star, but all went well while filming (other than Reeves tripping over a rug and injuring himself for the first time ever on set). He had nothing but glowing things to say about his veteran co-star and equated him to one of the last performers to have a "real movie star aura." Ansari shared:

Okay, so the public and professional sides of Reeves apparently aren’t too different, which makes this fan feel better. As far as I'm concerned, it makes sense why he is so magnetic in any role he takes on. The intentional curtain the mega celeb has up works on everyone!

The stand-up also mentioned the first time meeting the Bill & Ted actor was when he knew he had to book him, saying:

The first meeting even sounds like a great cinematic performance for Reeves! And I can clearly imagine, and hear, The Master of None alum’s processing in my head, funnily enough. Opposites do sometimes attract, and the funnyman and icon are an unexpected but pretty fun pairing.

Ansari reiterated how thrilled he was about the whole thing, from casting to presently talking about his debut. In his words:

The praise of his leading "budget guardian angel" (per the teaser) has me stoked for this release. I’m glad the novice director went back to work on this feature after Ansari's first directorial debut attempt got canned after set drama involving his then-star Bill Murray. In my opinion, Reeves was the perfect pivot person to start again with, alongside longtime pal Seth Rogen, who also appears in the film.

While I can’t wait for this comedy, I’m also looking forward to the John Wick star’s upcoming action flick, Ballerina. While what we know about Ballerina remains relatively limited, it’ll be so fun to see the John Wick world expand. Which leads me to the question: will we, or Aziz Ansari, come to know Reeves more as the actor after Good Fortune hits theaters? Time will tell.

The John Wick franchise became more than just a saga following Keanu Reeves’ title assassin when it delivered the Peacock subscription-exclusive prequel series The Continental in 2023. Now we’re about to enter spinoff territory again with the 2025 movie release of Ballerina, which stars Ana de Armas in the lead role. This time though, Reeves gets to partake in this side quest as John Wick, although this didn’t mark the first time he and de Armas met. A decade ago, the former showed the latter choreography from the first John Wick movie.

Ana de Armas, who has previous action experience from No Time to Die, The Gray Man and Ghosted, reflected on that experience while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She and Keanu Reeves first worked together on Knock Knock, and after they made each other’s acquaintance, he showed off some of the moves he’d done for John Wick, which hadn’t been released yet. In de Armas’ words:

As well he should have been! While Keanu Reeves had no idea at the time that John Wick would spawn a popular franchise, the action choreography alone was enough to make it stand out from the crowd. So Ana de Armas and everyone else in that restaurant got a special tease for what was to come, and man, I wish I could’ve been there. When John Wick was released in October 2014, it was met with positive critical reception and made $86 million worldwide, somewhere around three-four times its budget. Chapter 2 was greenlit a few months later, and the rest is history.

Now the time has come to spotlight Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro in Ballerina, as we’ll see her training to exact revenge on the people who killed her father. That will include her clashing with John Wick, and de Armas went on to explain just how much these movies mean to Keanu Reeves, whom she’s now worked with three times (they also co-starred in Exposed):

Ballerina takes place between the events of the third and fourth John Wick movies. As such, we’ll find Reeves’ character after he was found by The Bowery King, but before he started carrying out his mission of vengeance against The High Table. Although John Wick: Chapter 5 is in development, if it doesn’t get off the ground it’s entirely possible Ballerina will be the last time we see him playing the character since Chapter 4 ended with him being presumed dead.

But ultimately Ballerina is Ana de Armas’ platform to shine on, and her other co-stars include Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, the late Lance Reddick, Gabriel Byrne and Norman Reedus, among others. The action flick, which arrives in theaters on June 6, was directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten, and John Wick helmer Chad Stahelski oversaw the reshoots, although he’ll go uncredited for that work.

Throughout the history of filmmaking, stunt performers have been invaluable parts of various movies. So it’s fitting that stunt work will be honored by the Oscars in a few years time. A film franchise that’s been at the forefront of quality stunt work is John Wick, which is headlined by Keanu Reeves. As a result of his work in four main films (and a spinoff), the leading man has certainly put his body through the wringer. Something Reeves wants to be clear about, though, is actually what he does on set in relation to stunt work in his movies.

Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski – the director of the John Wick films – have recently been promoting the documentary Wick is Pain. The film provides a deep dive into the making of the hit series of movies, including the stunt work involved. A portion of fans may be under the impression that Reeves performs a sizable amount of his own stunts. However, the fan-favorite actor clarified during a screening of the doc (via The Hollywood Reporter), that much of the credit should go elsewhere:

Quite frankly, I love to hear the Canadian actor give his stunt double, Jackson Spidell, his flowers. It goes without saying that stunt actors really are among the unsung heroes of Hollywood. Due to insurance reasons, personal preferences or other variables, most lead actors can’t perform the vast majority of their own stunts. That’s when stunt doubles are called in and, without them, some of the biggest action sequences in film history wouldn’t be possible. The Speed icon later punctuated his point with another sentiment:

This isn’t all to say that Keanu Reeves is any kind of slouch, of course. In Wick is Pain, Jackson Spidell noted that if viewers ever actually do see John Wick in pain, Reeves isn’t faking it. During past interviews, the A-lister has also discussed his participation in action sequences – some of which resulted in Reeves throwing up. Reeves admitted that after shooting the fourth film in the franchise, he needed a rest from the gym. However, with a fifth Wick film now in the works, he’ll likely have to return at some point.

When it comes to that upcoming Wick installment, my hope is that it’ll be released at a point at which it can compete in the Academy’s Achievement in Stunt Design category. Chad Stahelski – a former stuntman – was a driving force behind the category being added, and it’ll make its debut at the 100th Oscars in 2028. Keep your fingers crossed that that’s the case and, as you watch or rewatch Wick films, try to be as cognizant as Keanu Reeves is of the important roles stunt actors play.

John Wick is set to appear on the big screen this summer by way of the spinoff film Ballerina, which hits theaters on June 6 as part of the 2025 movie schedule. Wick is Pain is also available to buy on digital platforms now.

The John Wick franchise is known for its incredibly choreographed stunt work. We’ve seen lots of behind-the-scenes footage of the work Keanu Reeves puts in to get it all perfect. He makes it all look quite easy, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t pay a physical price.

Keanu Reeves does a lot of his own stunt work in the John Wick movies, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some help. A new documentary, simply titled, Wick is Pain, takes a look at the making of the action series and its growth from an independent action film to a massive franchise. In the documentary (via USA Today), one of Reeves’ stunt men, Jackson Spidell, says that if John Wick ever appears to be in pain on screen, it’s probably not acting on the part of Keanu Reeves…

Wick is Pain is a great name for a documentary about the franchise, as it is all about pain. The first movie starts with John Wick suffering from emotional pain. From there, he ends up in one fight for his life after another. As the story in the films largely takes place over a short period of time, John Wick has little chance to physically recover, which just means more pain.

While John Wick: Chapter 4 finally let the character rest, it seems that John Wick is being called on once again. Chapter 5 is now a project in development, and Reeves admits that going back to play the titular character is something he needs to really think about. Playing John Wick has its own workout routine, and making the last movie took such a toll, he stayed out of the gym for a long time. Reeves said…

Of course, Keanu Reeves likely did need to go back to the gym for his appearance in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. The trailers for the John Wick spinoff show him going toe-to-toe with Ana de Armas. We’ve even seen some behind-the-scenes footage of de Armas and Reeves practicing, which is basically like going to the gym.

The good news for Keanu Reeves is that it will likely be a while before he needs to go “full John Wick” again. John Wick: Chapter 5 is still pretty far in the future. In fact, the next time Keanu plays John Wick, he won’t need to go to the gym at all, as he’ll be voicing the character for an animated prequel.

Any fan of the John Wick franchise has to be looking forward to the release of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. The film will take fans back to the strange underworld created by the Keanu Reeves-led franchise, and it will include his titular character in a much bigger role than we initially believed. In fact, fans are so excited to see Keanu in some behind-the-scenes fight footage from Ballerina that some appear to have forgotten Ana de Armas is in this movie too.

Sharing behind-the-scenes training from John Wick movies is almost a staple of the franchise. We know just how hard this team works to get its action sequences perfect. Ballerina star Ana de Armas was sure to share some Instagram footage of her training with Keanu Reeves himself, and to be sure, it looks great. Check it out.

Both de Armas and Reeves are looking good here. As a massive fan of the John Wick franchise, I’m looking forward to Ballerina's release on the 2025 movie schedule in a month. However, based on the comments included on the post, most fans aren’t nearly as excited to see the title character of the film as they are excited to see Keanu as John Wick once again. Comments include…

• Imagine working with Keanu Reeves? Ana won at life 😂 -scarlyolsen
• How Keanu said “you do your thing” 😍 he is just the kindest human being in this planet -yeahalis
• Omg! I love this! Love seeing behind the scenes training videos of John Wick movies. Keanu is too sweet. Can't wait to see this two fight in Ballerina! 🔥🔥-johnwickfanatic
• How great is Keanu Reeves! He is my love! 😍❤💪👊🔥🔥🔥-sushiyant_2025
• Keanu Reeves 😍😍 -hir1to

While there are certainly some comments talking about how good de Armas looks, most seem focused on just how great Keanu Reeves is. They’re certainly not wrong. He is great, but the Knives Out actress is the one really showing off how hard she’s working here, and she is the star of the movie.

De Armas was incredible in her small role in the last James Bond movie, and Ballerina is giving her a real chance to show off what she can do, possibly cementing her place as a modern action star alongside John Wick himself.

While the Ballerina trailer seems to indicate that Keanu Reeves' appearance in the film is more than a simple cameo, it’s probably not a major supporting role either. If people are only really excited for the spinoff film to see John Wick again, it’s likely that a lot of fans may end up disappointed. However, personally, I'm excited to see both him and de Armas as the action heroes they are in this next movie that hits theaters on June 6.

Remember Speed? The 1994 action movie that paired Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves aboard an out-of-control bus was a critical and commercial success, and you may be among the people who think the actors should be paired back together in a Speed standalone sequel (Reeves didn’t return for Speed 2). While such a project is not in the cards for now, word’s come in that Bullock and Reeves will be re-teaming for this first time in years. That’s welcome enough news on its own, but I’m also jazzed about the kind of movie they’re doing this time around.

This piece of news comes from us to THR, which reports that Bullock and Reeves have signed onto a yet-to-be-titled romantic thriller from Amazon MGM Studios. While the two previously dabbled in the romantic genre together in 2006’s The Lake House, this movie sounds like it’ll be more intense. Alas, no plot details are available at this time, with the thriller, which is being written by Jackie and Zero Day’s Noah Oppenheim, only being described as “propulsive.”

There’s an extra layer to this Speed reunion too, as Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves will also reunite with producer Mark Gordon, who produced the action flick. Gordon and Oppenheim reportedly brought the idea for this action thriller to the actors, and from there the development process began. Bullock will produce via her Fortis Films banner, Reeves and Gordon are producing alongside Bibby Dunn through The Mark Gordon Company, and Oppenheim will carry out these same duties with Sarah Bremner through Prologue Entertainment.

One of the reasons Speed was so successful was because of the excellent chemistry Reeves and Bullock shared while they were playing Jack Traven and Annie Porter, respectively. Unfortunately, the premise of The Lake House meant that these two didn’t share nearly as much screen time together, and the movie also didn’t end up getting many positive reviews. Whatever this romantic thriller ends up being about, here’s hoping it fares better, as I'm looking forward to seeing that chemistry again.

While Keanu Reeves hasn’t been seen on the big screen since John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2023, he did voice Shadow the Hedgehog last year in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which can now be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription. Next month, he’ll reprise John Wick in the Ballerina spinoff, and then his next movie, Good Fortune, opens in October on the 2025 movies schedule. As for Sandra Bullock, her last two movies, The Lost City and Bullet Train, came out in 2022. In addition to this romantic thriller, she and Nicole Kidman are also returning for Practical Magic 2.

Keep your eyes peeled on CinemaBlend for more news on Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves next movie together. Also, if you’re now in the mood to rewatch Speed after reading this article, it can be accessed with a Max subscription.

I am a massive fan of the John Wick franchise. As somebody who thinks John Wick is the best modern action franchise going today, I’m stoked that we’re seeing the universe expand with multiple spinoffs, and even, down the road, a proper John Wick Chapter 5. Even though I thought the ending of Chapter 4 was perfect, if somebody wants to give me more, I am here for it.

Unfortunately, that next proper installment is probably a few years away. While we’ll have three other movies in the next few years, including the upcoming Ballerina with Ana de Armas, the Donnie Yen-led Caine, and an animated prequel, I have been in desperate need of a John Wick fix of late. Luckily for me, I found just the place to scratch that itch when I checked into The Continental Hotel… in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Continental Hotel Brings The World Of John Wick To Life

Area15 in Las Vegas is an entire immersive entertainment venue. It’s where you’ll find the mind-bending Omega Mart, as well as later this year, Universal Destinations & Experiences' full-time horror establishment, Universal Horror Unleashed. It’s also home to the John Wick Experience.

The experience only opened last month, but since I was planning on spending a few days on vacation in Las Vegas anyway recently, I added it to the itinerary. I had to leave the family behind, as I was pretty sure an immersive experience based on a violent movie wasn’t going to be the best place for my toddler, but honestly, that just made the whole thing better, as I could focus on the world around me.

From the moment I approached the building, the story began. The doorman makes sure you’re somebody who belongs before letting you in. Once he does, you’re welcomed at the front desk of the Continental Las Vegas. I checked in early, was directed to the bar, and was told I would be texted when my "room" was ready.

I honestly could have spent the next hour just sitting in the bar, and you can, as the bar isn’t limited to those doing the experience. I had enough time, so I ordered a drink and took a seat in the lounge. The bar alone transports you from the Las Vegas outside to the World of John Wick perfectly.

Then my phone buzzed, and I had received a text that my room was ready.

You Can Play Along Or Just Watch The Story Unfold

I met my party, all strangers to me, and a bellhop at the elevator to be taken up to my room. However, part of the way up, the bellhop received a call that the hotel manager wanted to see us. So, instead, we entered a room that resembled the switchboard area seen in the John Wick sequels. She spoke to us briefly, mostly setting the stage for the story to come. On the wall, we saw the ticker board of current contracts, including one for Mr. John Wick.

After the Accountant leaves, a pneumatic tube fired up, and my group had to solve a simple puzzle. Upon doing so, the contract board changed, revealing the names of everybody in the group. I saw my own name now on the board, with a $1.5 million bounty attached to it. Apparently, my night was about to get interesting.

I won’t go into too much detail from here about the story itself, other than to say it’s set somewhere during the events following John Wick: Chapter 2. Our hero has a contract out on him, and I, and the rest of my party, are all guilty of aiding and abetting his escape. As such, the protection of the Continental has been rescinded. We’re being given a head start, but people are going to be coming from us.

What follows is a combination of role-playing and an escape room. Most of the rooms you enter have an actor playing a role, and some sort of activity to engage in. Interacting with the actors isn’t necessary, and playing along isn’t required. You can just stand back and watch it all play out. I enjoyed playing my part as a hunted assassin and had some fun exchanges with the Casino Dealer and the Tailor. Though I was the only one who seemed interested in playing along.

Fans of escape rooms will likely be disappointed if they go into this looking for puzzles to solve. There are only a couple of times that anything resembling that is required, and both are exceedingly easy.

This is by design, both to keep the pace of the game going and to keep the players moving, as there are only about 10-20 minutes between groups, so things will stall for latter groups if those in front move too slowly.

Eventually, you’ll escape from the Continental and find yourself at a second bar, with a second cocktail menu, while the first bar is formal and classy, the second feels a bit rougher, which, as the beverage above shows, goes for the drinks as well.

There Was Only One Thing Missing From The Standard John Wick Experience

If I have a major complaint about the experience, it’s that when buying a drink at the bar, I had to use a credit card like some sort of normie. While gold coins are available in the merch store, and are also provided as part of the more expensive VIP experience, and can be used as part of the story, I would have loved to have been given the option to purchase a couple of gold coins when I checked in.

They’re little more than glorified drink coupons at that point, but it would have made the experience of feeling like I was inside the Continental Hotel that much more real if I had been able to slide one of those coins across the bar rather than my credit card.

Las Vegas’ John Wick Experience Is A Must For Franchise Fans

If you want to be John Wick, this isn’t quite what you’re looking for. However, I’d argue that the thing that makes the John Wick movie franchise truly unique is the incredibly creative world that it gave us. The John Wick Experience makes that world feel as real as it ever has by placing you inside it with characters that feel like they belong, and for that, it’s something I’d wager all fans should check out.

It certainly scratched my itch for all things John Wick. And while a return trip likely wouldn't be much different, if I had the right group of friends, and if we all brought our suits, I'd likely go back and do it again.

For an experience that’s barely an hour long, and starts at $50 per person (and can be more expensive based on time of day and the level of package you want) it’s perhaps a bit on the steep side if you’re simply breaking down the amount of money spent and the time allotted. But if you’re a fan, I’m not sure you can put a price on walking into the Continental Hotel. Just remember, no business may be conducted on hotel grounds.

Ah the theater, while most people go to see their favorite stage productions of favorite actors, you can find an interesting collection of humans occupying the seats. If you’ve never been people watching before a stage production, I highly recommend it. You never know who you’ll see in those seats, and examples like this are why you should. And what an awesome sighting to catch.

While waiting for the curtain to rise for the production of Much Ado About Nothing starring Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, a fan spotted another famous face amongst the crowd. None other than Keanu Reeves, John Wick himself. Posted to a fan page on Instagram, he's spotted sitting beside girlfriend and artist Alexandra Grant, chatting with another audience member in front.

This isn’t just a coincidental star sighting. Reeves is set to star in Waiting for Godot on Broadway in the fall, which is also directed by Jamie Lloyd, the same director for Hiddleston and Atwell’s Much Ado About Nothing. It was also pointed out by fans in the comments of the post, for those who don’t know; Reeves was a cast member of the 1993 film version of Much Ado About Nothing, that was directed by Kenneth Branagh, not to be confused with Joss Whedon's 2012 version.

This isn’t the first semi-recent throwback for Reeves’ 1993 Ado, co-star Kate Beckinsale recalled a time when he saved her from a wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet. Luckily Keanu aka ‘The Internets Boyfriend’ was there to help her out.

So Reeves' surprise appearance at the Theater Royal is probably one part scoping out the work of his next director, supporting another showing of Shakespeare’s work that he was once part of, and of course date night. It’s just fascinating since Hiddleston and Atwell are on stage, and you happen to catch a seat next to the Matrix icon. There’s a lot of talent in one room and it’s quite a lucky chance encounter. Hopefully the show itself was still the star of the evening.

As mentioned, Reeves is going to be hitting Broadway in the fall. There are also the growing entries for John Wick fans, and for those with a Netflix account, in June we have the animated BRZRKR movie. And to top it all off, Constantine 2 is closer than we may think, so overall there’s no shortage of new content from Reeves, on stage and on screen. So I think he deserves a night to enjoy the theater.

It’s an exciting time to be a movie fan because there’s so many actors in their 20s and 30s who are proving to have A-list star quality – from Timothée Chalamet to Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Glen Powell, or Jenna Ortega and Sydney Sweeney. I’m a big fan of all those names, but it’s time to talk about how we should be naming Keke Palmer among them. Sure, she falls into the category of child stars who made a comeback, but Palmer has too many huge and exciting projects on the way to be called anything but one of the biggest young actresses in Hollywood.

Earlier this year, Keke Palmer of course starred in One Of Them Days with SZA, which actually crushed at the box office with a $51 million worldwide haul against a reported $14 million budget. While certainly audiences were looking for a good comedy to start their year, I think undoubtedly Palmer was a huge selling point for the film, and women in the industry who are doing it like Keke Palmer are few and far between.

I Can’t Get Over How Funny Keke Palmer Is In One Of Them Days

When I walked out of One Of Them Days when it hit theaters in January, I was just happy. Along with critics having a blast with it, I had such a good time at the movies watching Palmer and SZA’s buddy comedy. I know I’m going to return to it when I need a few belly laughs, because there just aren't enough female buddy comedies like it. The movie proved further that there’s no shot Palmer has “no charisma” like her character says about herself as the down-on-their-luck besties hilariously tried to come up with their rent in the matter of hours.

The movie then arrived for those with a Netflix subscription at the end of March, and shot right to the top of Netflix’s top 10, making it one of the most popular movies being streamed at the moment. What makes the Netflix domination better is how much the movie deserves to reach its status.

Next, Palmer Is Set To Keep Her ‘Good Fortune’ In A Comedy Alongside Keanu Reeves And Seth Rogen

In honor of Keke Palmer finding huge success with a comedy, which is very hard to do in the present landscape in Hollywood, I decided to hunt around for what she’s up to next, and boy, was I not bummed out. Even though Keke Palmer has the baggage of being on Nickelodeon as a kid and recently became a first-time mother herself, she’s clearly hustling and being sought after with what she has next.

Her next project set to be released, which is among upcoming 2025 movies coming out in October, is another comedy called Good Fortune. The movie -- written and directed by Aziz Ansari -- will have Palmer starring alongside Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen and Sandra Oh! Is Palmer here to revive the theatrical comedy? I think she might be.

Anyway, in Good Fortune Reeves playing an angel named Gabriel who has Ansari’s and Rogen’s characters body swap to show the former struggling man that money won’t solve his problems. It leads Gabriel to lose his wings and all sorts of mayhem to occur following his actions. I’m so ready for this.

She's Also Going To Team Up With Eddie Murphy For A Movie!!

Another upcoming project that Palmer has under her belt will have her actually collaborating with comedy legend, Eddie Murphy. It’s a heist movie called The Pickup from the director of The Blackening and the Ride Along movies. It’s an Amazon Prime movie that also has Pete Davidson and Eva Longoria involved, so you know it’s going to be a funny one. I just need to see this pair’s chemistry like right now!

I’m Also Hyped For The Filmmaker She’s Working With On An Upcoming Sci-Fi Comedy

I was also excited to read that Keke Palmer will be the star of Boots Riley’s next movie, I Love Boosters, with Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield, Naomi Ackie, Eiza González, Poppy Liu, Taylour Paige and Will Poulter. The film is apparently about a group of shoplifters who target a fashion icon. Boots Riley directed a movie called Sorry To Bother You in 2018 that was absolutely wild and riveting, and I love that Palmer is getting a chance to be in more auteur projects alongside some pure fun comedies. I mean she was just incredible in Jordan Peele’s Nope, she deserves the range she’s getting in her career.

And, She Also Signed On For A Remake Of One Of My Favorite Weird ‘80s Movies

As if all those projects in and of themselves aren’t exciting already, per a Variety report from this past September, Palmer has also signed on to star in a remake of The Burbs for Peacock. I know it’s not one of the most popular '80s movies, but I watched the original The Burbs movie, which stars Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern and Corey Feldman, when I was growing up and I loved its weird, dark humor.

If you’re not hip to it, it’s about residents of a suburban neighborhood who start to suspect their neighbors are ritualistic murderers. While Palmer is doing all sorts of original stories not based on any IPs, I definitely can’t wait to see her spin on this classic, because I actually think she’s one of the few people who could really make it as funny (or funnier) than the cult classic.

I'm So Just Happy Keke Palmer Is Becoming A Bona Fide Movie Star Now, As She Should

Didn’t I tell you Keke Palmer is absolutely on fire? Of course, I don’t know at this point which of these movies will actually be good and which one’s might bomb, but I think her upcoming resume really shows how big a star Palmer is. And, it’s time for the public to recognize Keke Palmer as such, because it feels like she’s only just now starting to get her flowers!

A lot of people, if they met Keanu Reeves in person, would probably have some amount of difficulty actually talking to him. He is the internet’s boyfriend, after all. He’s become a nearly mythic figure in Hollywood. Ana de Armas is a pretty big star herself, but there was a time when she wasn’t, and she apparently embarrassed herself in front of the actor when they first met.

Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas will share the screen later this year when the John Wick spinoff Ballerina arrives in theaters, but it will actually be the second time the two have been in a movie together. Ten years ago, they co-starred in the thriller Knock Knock. On stage receiving the CinemaCon award for Action Star of the Year (via THR), de Armas revealed that she was afraid to speak to Keanu when they had dinner together because her English wasn’t very good. She said…

De Armas may have been trying to avoid embrassassing herself with what she felt were her poor English skills, but it seems she did not avoid that. The topic of Reeves' biggest movie to date, The Matrix, came up, and the star asked de Armas if she had seen the film.

Unfortunately, she didn’t quite understand the question. She continued…

Things have come a long way. Reeves also discussed John Wick at the dinner, a movie that he had just completed. Nobody could have guessed that John Wick would become a franchise and that it would spawn spinoffs that would bring the two actors back together.

Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as John Wick in Ballerina. It's also been confirmed that John Wick 5 is in development. Perhaps Ana de Armas will return the favor and appear in that one.

Ana de Armas might be a bit embarrassed by the story, but apparently not enough to avoid telling it in front of a lot of Hollywood elites and media. Honestly, it’s a pretty endearing tale, as most of us would probably embarrass ourselves in front of Keanu Reeves. Plus, today, Ana de Armas is a major star in her own right, somebody a lot of people would probably be too nervous to talk to if they had the chance.

John Wick: Chapter 4 seemed designed to be the end of the story of Keanu Reeves’ killer of assassins but this week we received conformation that’s not the case. Not only is John Wick: Chapter 5 in development, but the World of John Wick is growing even more, with three other John Wick projects currently on the way. The most exciting of them all may be the new film, Caine, starring Donnie Yen, and he is certainly excited for it.

In addition to Ballerina staring Ana de Armas being on the 2025 movie schedule and John Wick: Chapter 5 in its early stages, we’re set to get an animated John Wick from Ultraman: Rising director Shanon Tindle and an additional spinoff starring Donnie Yen’s Caine, who was introduced in John Wick: Chapter 4. Not only will Yen star in the movie, he will also direct it. And Yen responded to the news on Instagram in a simple way that, as a fan, has me seriously pumped up. He said simply…

As a fan of the entire John Wick franchise, and of Donnie Yen specifically, I am also ready, and can’t wait to see this new movie when it arrives. Donnie Yen has always been one of the great martial artists in film history and seeing more of his work, done in the John Wick style, and under his own direction, adds up to what could be an absolutely incredible action movie.

Of course, Donnie Yen’s comment on Instagram also raises some important questions, because, why is Donnie Yen telling John Wick that he is ready? The new Caine movie will be set following the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, the story in which John Wick apparently died. We know that, if a fifth movie is happening, John Wick won’t stay dead. Could this mean that, like Ballerina, John Wick might make an appearance in Caine?

It’s certainly a possibility. What we initially thought was only going to be a Keanu Reeves’ cameo in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina now looks to be a bit more than a simple cameo, as Wick will be called in to stop the titular Ballerina played by Ana de Armas. It wouldn’t be that surprising if some reason is given for Wick and Caine to cross paths again.

Of course, Ballerina is set prior to John Wick’s “death” so an appearance by Keanu Reeves in Caine would require an explanation that isn’t needed in Ballerina. Still, it’s all quite possible.

Whatever happens and whoever appears in Caine, it’s an exciting project for fans of Donnie Yen and the World of John Wick. Production on the spinoff is supposed to start later this year, so a 2026 release date isn’t outside the realm of possibility.

The Matrix remains a groundbreaking movie, with CGI slo-mo action that lives and dodges bullets in our heads rent-free decades later. Not only was the action movie a standout for being one of the best films of the ‘90s, but it gave audiences one of Keanu Reeves’ best performances of that decade. If you can believe it, Will Smith was almost cast as Neo in The Matrix, and his recent anecdote explaining why he turned it down actually made his decision more understandable to me.

It’s hard to believe why anyone would turn down the chance to join The Matrix, at least with the hindsight of having seen it. Getting to take part in kickass fight scenes in a digital world of unlimited possibilities sounds too good to pass up. However, Will Smith ended up turning down The Matrix back in the ‘90s after the Wachowskis tried to pitch it to him, and he got real with Sway’s Universe with a logical motivation behind turning it down.

That hilarious explanation really does make a lot of sense. The Wachowskis probably felt that glorifying the special effects and stunts and preaching their unique vision would have sold their movie to a star who helped turn other sci-fi movies like Independence Day and Men in Black into mega-blockbusters. However, their attempts fell flat on Smith's ears.

Of course The Matrix does have a complicated plot of aliens inserting a realistic, digital world into the minds of unsuspecting humans, all while using them as an energy source. And that technically has nothing to do with the bullet-time cinematography. So maybe if there was fear of the plot going over the heads of prospective choices, the special effects could win them over. Keep in mind that in the ‘90s, CGI was still developing and not common to have a whole movie be so computer-generated heavy like today.

I can understand Wild Wild West being an easy choice for Will Smith to make compared to The Matrix. He’d be reuniting with his Men in Black director, Barry Sonnefeld, and not have to worry about CGI action sequences in a gun-slinging flick. However, the former sitcom actor’s honest take on the box office flop Western was choosing that flick in hopes of becoming “the biggest movie star” compared to believing in the project. Fortunately, the King Richard actor has plenty of excellent performances in his career that make any commercial failures insignificant.

It’s hard to visualize a special effects heavy movie without seeing the finished production. After Will Smith got the chance to see The Matrix, he admitted he finally understood The Wachowskis’ pitch from years ago:

Back in 2022, Will Smith said that if he were to time travel to his time in Wild Wild West, he’d tell his younger self he shouldn’t have turned down The Matrix. At the same time, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor also came to the realization that everything was meant to be the way it played out. As it was originally going to be him as Neo and Val Kilmer as Morpheus, Smith acknowledged that it would have been a different movie and that “it’s good the way it is.”

It looks like The Matrix was the big movie that got away from Will Smith. But with a mind-rattling pitch that makes it hard to picture yourself in the sci-fi flick, who could blame him? But, at least Smith would eventually star in I, Robot five years later, which was another unnerving movie about the future of A.I. So, everything really is meant to be.

A lot of fans, myself included, got very excited when Lionsgate confirmed that John Wick: Chapter 5 was officially in development. The movie had been talked about almost as soon as John Wick: Chapter 4 stopped filming, but this week, the studio confirmed at Cinemacon that the fifth film is on the way.

Of course, there is one issue that the new sequel will need to overcome. There’s the small, insignificant issue of the title character being dead. Even Kanye West, who frequently uses social media to cause all sorts of choas, used it to ask how the next movie will overcome Wick’s apparent demise. West said on X:

Exactly how John Wick will come back from the dead is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. The last movie ended in a way that gave the story of John Wick a perfect ending. Having said that, it’s not like that ending didn’t, very intentionally, leave itself open for a potential return.

At the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, Keanu Reeves’ character appears to have been fatally wounded, and the movie cuts from watching him bleed to death to his grave. However, there was clearly a lot that would have needed to transpire between those two moments. Even Winston and the Bowry King, standing over John’s grave, talk around the man, indicating he may not actually be buried there.

John Wick is supposed to have freed himself from the vengeance of the High Table, but for a man who had once tried to simply get out of the life of a professional assassin, perhaps he thought faking his death was the only way to be truly free. John Wick: Chapter 5 won’t need to do anything particularly incredible with its story to explain that John Wick is actually still alive.

If nothing else, I think Kanye West can relax as I don’t see the new movie making John Wick a “mystical character.” He’s already a nearly invincible killing machine. He doesn’t need to be The Crow too.

There were no details given regarding John Wick 5, so while there is reportedly a story in place, there likely isn’t yet a polished script,. Thus, filming is likely still a long way off. Fans of the franchise won’t need to worry too much however, as there are three separate spin-off projects in development as well.

We’ll see the Ana de Armas-led Ballerina spin-off, complete with Keanu Reeves's appearance, later this year. A spinoff movie starring Donnie Yen’s Caine, which will also be directed by him, is also in development. Finally, we have an animated movie that will tell the story of John Wick’s “Impossible Task” that freed him from the life the first time around.

Keanu Reeves’ John Wick seemingly died at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, with the final scene featuring Ian McShane's Winston Scott and Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King standing over the character’s grave… but the assassin’s journey on the big screen isn’t over. In fact, things are significantly heating up in the future of the franchise, as today we got news of three new John Wick projects that are officially in development, including John Wick: Chapter 5.

CinemaCon, the annual convention for movie theater owners, is playing out in Las Vegas this week, and during this morning’s studio presentation from Lionsgate, the studio announced that the John Wick franchise is expanding in a major way. While director Len Wiseman’s Ballerina starring Ana de Armas isn’t set to arrive on the big screen until the summer, there are now three other features on the way as well, the titles including John Wick: Chapter 5, the spinoff Caine starring Donnie Yen, and an animated prequel film.

John Wick: Chapter 5 Is Officially A Go

Despite the death of the titular character in John Wick: Chapter 4, it took very little time after the release of the film for chatter to begin about a John Wick: Chapter 5, with a studio executive confirming development of the project in May 2023. Director Chad Stahelski has shared some doubt about the sequel, but now it has been announced that both he and Keanu Reeves are officially attached to make another film.

Specific plans for production have not been revealed, and the official announcement included neither a release date not the name of a screenwriter who will pen the script. Apparently, however, Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski and producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee have found a story that they want to tell.

When one considers the box office performance of John Wick: Chapter 4, this isn’t the most shocking development – even with acknowledging the death of the eponymous hero. The 2023 sequel was the biggest hit yet for the series, as it finished its run at the box office earning over $440 million worldwide (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum previously set the franchise high water mark making $326.7 million in 2019.

Needless to say, John Wick: Chapter 5 is a project that we here at CinemaBlend will be keeping a close eye on as it continues to move through development.

Caine Is Getting His Own Movie, And Donnie Yen Will Both Star And Direct

One of the key reasons why John Wick: Chapter 4 was such a massive success with both critics and audiences was the exciting franchise addition of Donnie Yen as the blind, hyper-skilled assassin Caine, and it was announced today that the hype has been translated into a spinoff film. A new spinoff simply titled Caine is now in the works, and it is coming together very fast.

Donnie Yen will not only be back to star in the upcoming action movie set in the world of John Wick, but he is also going to direct it as well. Yen last provided an update about the film earlier this year, but the project now has the greenlight, and production is going to start in Hong Kong in 2025.

Mattson Tomlin, best known for creating the Netflix animated series Terminator Zero, has been tapped to write the screenplay for the film. The filmmaker’s other upcoming projects include The Batman Part II, which is being written in collaboration with director Matt Reeves, and BRZRKR, which is based on the comic of the same name and has Keanu Reeves attached to star.

Details about the story are being kept a secret for now, but it has been confirmed that Caine will be taking place after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4 and the titular protagonist earning his freedom from the sinister assassin organization known as the High Table. The character was originally going to be killed by Rina Sawayama’s Akira in the end credits of the last John Wick movie, but an audible was called to spare the character’s life, and that has opened the door for the spinoff.

A John Wick Animated Prequel Is Going To Tell The Story Of John’s Impossible Task

While both John Wick: Chapter 5 and Caine will both be expanding the John Wick canon beyond the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, Lionsgate also announced a new film that will be exploring the past. While the project seemingly doesn’t have an official title just yet, an animated prequel movie has been given the green light, and it will tell the story of the legendary Impossible Task that Keanu Reeves’ character completed so that he could leave the assassin life behind and live a life of peace with his wife.

Shannon Tindle, who most recently co-wrote and directed the Netflix animated film Ultraman: Rising, is taking the helm of the developing film and collaborating with screenwriter Vanessa Taylor, who was a co-executive producer on the second and third seasons of Game Of Thrones and co-wrote Guillermo del Toro’s Best Picture-winning 2017 film The Shape Of Water.

In an official statement, Chad Stahelski (who is a producer on the project) described the developing prequel feature as a “John Wick anime” – which informs us about the animation style that will be employed – and Keanu Reeves will be back to voice the movie’s lead character.

A release date for the animated John Wick prequel has not been announced.

Clearly the future of the action franchise is quite bright, and we will continue to follow all of the big developments with these three movies in the weeks, months and years ahead. Audiences will be able to see the next story in the canon, Ballerina, when it arrives in theaters everywhere on June 6, and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend in the coming days for more exciting news out of CinemaCon.

The next time you watch a comedy movie, see if you can picture the star engaging in fisticuffs with a criminal and taking down their henchpeople in a shootout. You never know: they could be Hollywood’s next great action hero.

It may seem unlikely until you realize that many of the best action movies and TV shows of all time have been led by or featured pivotal roles played by stand-up comedians or actors who broke through in funny flicks or even classic TV sitcoms. See for yourself by taking a look at some comedically talented actors who beat the odds by becoming action stars.

Will Smith

After initially coming to prominence as a rap artist, Academy Award winner Will Smith proved he had a charismatic onscreen presence as the star of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast in the early 1990s. In 1995, he was cast in director Michael Bay's buddy cop movie, Bad Boys, and, the following year, led Roland Emmerich's action-packed alien invasion flick, Independence Day. There would soon be so much more where those came from.

Cheech Marin

Along with his partner, Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin essentially became the face of stoner comedy, especially after co-leading the classic '70s movie, Up in Smoke. His career would take a turn when he appeared in 1995's Desperado, leading him to become a staple of Robert Rodriguez's movies, and, eventually, began portraying a type of character his roles from the Cheech & Chong movies would try to avoid alongside Don Johnson in the hit cop show, Nash Bridges.

Chris Pratt

By channeling much of the same comedic energy from his scene-stealing breakout role in the Parks and Recreation cast as Andy Dwyer, Chris Pratt helped make 2014's sci-fi odyssey, Guardians of the Galaxy, a light breath of fresh air into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His fun, heartfelt performance as Peter "Star-Lord" Quill also convinced Hollywood he was leading man material, opening the door for him to star in the Jurassic World movies and Amazon Prime's The Terminal List, to name a few.

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd made his major motion picture debut in the hilarious high school movie classic Clueless before later hit comedies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Knocked Up made him one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors in the genre. He found the perfect role to become inducted into the MCU in the form of Ant-Man, playing the shrinking superhero with the same everyman quality that made him an A-lister.

Michael Keaton

Because Michael Keaton got his start in stand-up comedy and had been best known for movies like Night Shift and Mr. Mom at the time, comic book fans were up in arms over Tim Burton's decision to cast him in his live-action Batman movies, Batman and Batman Returns. The Oscar nominee has since been regarded as one of the best actors to play the Dark Knight (if not the best) and would even return to superhero movies as one of the best Spider-Man movie villains, Vulture, in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Nicolas Cage

It is easy to forget that Nicolas Cage started out in comedies like Valley Girl and Peggy Sue Got Married before blowing us away in high-octane thrillers like Con Air, Face/Off, and Gone in 60 Seconds. Then again, it is also easy to tell that the Oscar winner has a comedy background from some of his action movie credits, including the three listed above and his even Cagier roles, like from Mandy and Willy's Wonderland.

Damon Wayans

You may have forgotten he was on Saturday Night Live, but you should surely remember Damon Wayans from his days on the In Living Color cast and from sitcoms like My Wife and Kids. Hopefully, you did not also forget about his roles in '90s crime thrillers The Last Boy Scout (opposite Bruce Willis) and Bulletproof (opposite Adam Sandler) or when he took over as Roger Murtaugh for Fox's series adaptation of Lethal Weapon.

Robert Downey Jr.

After lasting one season on Saturday Night Live, appearing in several '80s teen comedies like Weird Science, and earning his first Oscar nod for playing Charlie Chaplin, Robert Downey Jr.'s career would hit a snag in the early 2000s. Luckily, he would make an inspiring comeback after leading the 2005 noir thriller Kiss Kiss Bang Bang before kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the title role of Iron Man and playing Guy Ritchie's version of Sherlock Holmes.

Eddie Murphy

Many credit Eddie Murphy with single-handedly saving Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s, right before making his feature debut alongside Nick Nolte in Walter Hill's 1982 buddy crime thriller, 48 Hrs. Just two years later, the comedian led his own acclaimed action-comedy movie called Beverly Hills Cop, which made him Hollywood's biggest star.

Bruce Willis

In the mid-to-late 1980s, Bruce Willis was best known for playing David Addison on Moonlighting, starring opposite Kim Basinger in Blind Date, and appearing in commercials for Seagram, which is why audiences initially laughed when they saw him as John McClane in the trailer for Die Hard. However, the 1988 action classic would immediately skyrocket the actor to stardom and turn him into a top Hollywood action star, later known for leading thrillers like The Fifth Element, Armageddon, and Sin City.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx's stand-up career led him to join the In Living Color cast and lead his own self-titled sitcom before his Oscar-winning performance in the 2004 music biopic, Ray, and Oscar-nominated performance in Collateral the same year opened wider doors for him. He went on to star in more thrillers like Jarhead, The Kingdom, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Electro, and White House Down.

Alan Ritchson

One of Alan Ritchson's first major acting credits was playing doltish college football player Thad Castle on the uproarious sitcom Blue Mountain State before landing a small role in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, doing performance capture for the 2014 and 2017 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, and playing Hank "Hawk" Hall on Titans. The 6'3" actor's defining, star-making turn came when he was cast in the title role of the hit Amazon Prime TV show, Reacher, leading to his casting in Guy Ritchie's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu landed her breakthrough role on the hit workplace dramedy Ally McBeal as Ling Woo. Soon after, she achieved cinematic stardom in 2000's Charlie's Angels, teamed up with Antonio Banderas in the 2002 spy thriller Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever, and was cast as ruthless assassin O-Ren Ishii in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.

Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk wrote for Saturday Night Live for years in the 1980s before co-leading his own acclaimed sketch comedy series with David Cross called Mr. Show, which was his main claim to fame for years. However, he stumbled onto a new career path when he joined the Breaking Bad cast as Saul Goodman, who earned his own prequel spin-off called Better Call Saul, before leading his own action flick called Nobody.

Martin Lawrence

Martin Lawrence led a successful stand-up career that turned into a successful TV career with his hit sitcom, Martin, in between starring in movies like Do the Right Thing and Boomerang. In 1995, he played Det. Marcus Burnett, for the first of multiple times in Bad Boys and even went on to play a cop in a few more overt comedies, namely Blue Streak and Big Momma's House.

Ryan Reynolds

For years, even after starring in more earnest thrillers like Smokin' Aces and Safe House, it seemed like Ryan Reynolds' defining performance would forever be the title role of National Lampoon's Van Wilder, which paved the way for him to star in more raunchy comedies like Waiting... or Just Friends. However, that would change in 2016 when he led Deadpool, which is still very much on the side of silly but is also as action-packed as any other comic book movie.

Sam Richardson

Sam Richardson quickly became a favorite in the comedy landscape for his hilarious performances in shows like I Think You Should Leave, Veep, and Ted Lasso. He would later go on to impress audiences in Amazon Prime's action-packed time travel movie The Tomorrow War opposite Chris Pratt, as the lead of the 2021 horror-comedy movie Werewolves Within, and in Paramount+'s Star Trek: Section 31.

Keanu Reeves

As the star of franchises like the John Wick movies and the Matrix films, in addition to favorites like Speed and Point Break, Keanu Reeves is one of the most prolific action stars in cinema history. Thus, it is sometimes hard to believe that he is the same actor who, excellently, played one-half of the titular duo from the Bill & Ted movies.

John Goodman

John Goodman began rising to prominence on the groundbreaking sitcom Roseanne as Dan Conner (whom he would reprise in the revival series The Conners). However, he has managed to cover just about every genre you can think of throughout his career, including action films like Kong: Skull Island and Atomic Blonde.

Emily Blunt

It might seem like a stretch to call Emily Blunt a comedy star, but she did find her breakthrough film role with a hilarious scene-stealing performance in 2006's The Devil Wears Prada. She would later prove she could play someone with a rougher exterior when she starred opposite Tom Cruise in the thrilling time loop movie, Edge of Tomorrow, and in Denis Villeneuve's stunning Sicario.

Rick Moranis

Rick Moranis is one of the most treasured comedic actors of his time, from his days at SCTV starring alongside Dave Thomas as the McKenzie Brothers (who led their own 1983 movie, Strange Brew), to appearing in films like Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. In the middle of those comedy classics was a role in Walter Hill's dystopian "Rock 'n Roll fable," Streets of Fire.

Bill Burr

Bill Burr used to mock the Star Wars movies in some of his stand-up bits, which gave The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau a funny idea to bring him into the galaxy far, far away. He cast the Massachusetts-born comedian on the series as a mercenary named Migs Mayfield, which Burr has since recognized as one of the highlights of his career.

John Leguizamo

Despite getting his start as a stand-up comedian, many of John Leguizamo's earliest acting roles have actually been in action movies, including Die Hard 2 and Executive Decision. In addition to more humorous credits, like To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar and the Ice Age movies, more thrillers would come his way, such as the John Wick movies and Violent Night.

Owen Wilson

Owen Wilson may be closely associated with comedies like Bottle Rocket, Meet the Parents, and Zoolander, but the actor has diversified his talents over various styles. He has even tried his hand at the action genre a few times, most notably in Behind Enemy Lines, No Escape, and Disney+'s MCU-canon series, Loki

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks' first major show business breakthrough was a sitcom called Bosom Buddies, which led to roles in comedy films like Bachelor Party and Turner & Hooch. It was his Oscar-winning roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump that opened the door for him to star in intense dramas like the acclaimed war movie Saving Private Ryan and the sci-fi epic Cloud Atlas.

Val Kilmer

Some of Val Kilmer's most iconic roles include Iceman in Top Gun, Doc Holliday in the Western movie classic Tombstone, and the title role of Batman Forever. However, his breakthrough films were the ridiculous spy parody, Top Secret!, and the college comedy, Real Genius, in the early-to-mid 1980s.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis rose to fame as Jackie Burkhart in the That '70s Show cast and as the voice of Meg on Family Guy before acquiring A-list fame. Her action movie credits, namely the video game movie adaptation Max Payne and the Wachowski's ambitious sci-fi adventure, Jupiter Ascending, have not been her most esteemed efforts, but we will still count them.

Randall Park

Randall Park is best known for leading the sitcom Fresh off the Boat, his hilarious cameo on The Office as "Asian Jim Halpert," and for hit comedy movies like The Interview and Neighbors. He has also become a staple of the comic book movie genre with his role in the MCU as Agent Jimmy Woo and as Dr. Shin in the Aquaman movies.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf started making a name for himself when he was a teen as Louis on the Disney Channel original comedy series, Even Stevens. He went on to make a Hollywood breakthrough in the Transformers movies, which led to his roles in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and, eventually, David Ayer's 2014 war drama, Fury.

Malin Akerman

Before she became the first actor to play Silk Spectre II in live-action in 2009's Watchmen, Malin Akerman rose to fame in comedy movies like 2007's The Heartbreak Kid and shows like Children's Hospital.

Jim Belushi

Just like his late older brother, John, Jim Belushi broke out on Saturday Night Live. Unlike John, Jim achieved a brief career in action movies, such as Red Heat with Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Principal, and Oliver Stone's Salvador.

Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine was already an Oscar-winning movie star when he was cast as the lead of the hit sitcom, McHale's Navy. Eventually, he would appear in more earnest action-oriented titles, such as a made-for-TV adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, John Carpenter's Escape from New York, and 2010's RED.